"The one person I didn't want to see." Claire said sarcastically

"Oh, don't be like that." Brandon said as he brushed his fingers along her arms

Claire rolled her eyes. He'd been following her around like a pup and a hungry one at that.

"I love the bracelet." He added

Claire finished the small can of Red Bull and stood. Brandon did as well as if to follow her. She turned to him and glared.

"I know you find it difficult, but stop. I'm not going to let you touch me and if you try, I'llkick your ass." She growled

He chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night because, it certainly won't be that little protection." He said glancing at the bracelet again

Claire saw Oliver who was cleaning the counter stop. He lifted the counter and moved in between them.

"Now Brandon, you know the rules here. You don't attempt to corrupt anyone in my establishment let alone someone protected." He said "Make your way out and do it now. I am tired of you bothering my customers."

Brandon looked at her again.

"Just like old times." He said then turned on his heel and stalked out

Claire looked Oliver confused, but he was already making his way back behind the counter. Did she miss something? Old times…what old times? She huffed and threw the can away. As she turned to walk out, she saw Eve walk in. A smile twitched at her lips then confusion. It was like she was seeing an old friend, but she only met her earlier today. She was nothing, but a stranger. It was relieving to see someone she knew though.

"Eve!" she blurted before she knew it

The goth girl now dressed in a black corset with a black skirt and tights with skulls turned and looked at her. She seemed bright eyed at first then it died. She waved and made her way to a table on the other side of the room. Claire felt immediately stupid. Of course, she wouldn't want to hang around me, she doesn't even know me. She couldn't blame her, she hung around vampires. They aren't even alive for Christ's sake. That made her one pathetic human being. Not to mention if she were killed or something no one would know let alone care.

C'mon Claire just get up and go talk to her. The worst she could do is blow her off and even then she'd be used to it. That kind of thing came with being smarter than the smartest. Getting up, she started walking and ran right into someone or rather someones.

"Hey, watch it bitch!" one said and by the looks of it she ruled the threesome

The one to her right whispered into her ear briefly and the leader just looked at her. She looked at Claire as if analyzing her. Claire so badly wanted to smack that look off her face. These people, no matter where she went looked at her as if knowing her. She was starting to feel more and more in the dark, but at the same time feeling like she knew them. How could she know them though? She'd never been her.

"Freak?" she said

"What did you just call me?" Claire asked with a sudden spark of fury raging in her all of the sudden

The name pissed her off and without even knowing this girl let alone her name; Claire wanted to scratch her face off. Her lackies on each side of her looked ready to pounce all on their own though.

"It is you." She smiled crudely "I can't believe it. here, I thought you were gone."

"What?" Claire asked

"Oh, c'mon freak you don't remember me?" she smirked "I mean I did throw you down the stairs." She smiled even more

Claire took a step forward and noticed the one on the left advanced as well. The look in her eyes said she knew the meaning of clinically insane. Claire didn't back down though. Something about these chicks seriously pissed her off and it wasn't just because they had the uppity attitude and they probably had people around wrapped around their little fingers.

"Move." Claire said coldly

People in the room were now staring, including Eve. She saw how close they were and she even saw the dark look crossing Oliver's face. Looking back at Claire, she saw her fists clench. In the next instant Michael's words faded from her mind and protecting Claire snapped back into action. Eve was up and grabbing Claire and dragging her back.

"Not now Monica." Eve snapped "Be a bitch elsewhere."

"Looks like the protector has stepped in now." Monica faked a scared look and Jennifer and Gina mimicked her

"Monica!"

Everyone looked at Oliver now.

"There had been enough disturbances tonight!" he growled "Claire, I think it'd be best for you to head home, Eve will walk you."

Eve didn't disagree with him either, not this time. Granted, she didn't come around here very much anymore unless Michael was playing, but that was it. Without looking at anyone else she pulled Claire out by the wrist before Claire could say anything.

"I could've taken care of myself." Claire mumbled

Eve went to argue different, but stopped. She wasn't talking let alone looking at a seventeen year old anymore. She was full grown now with a protection bracelet she realized. For half a moment she wondered, who was the protector. Sam? Oliver? Brandon? She did see him talking to her earlier.

"Right." Eve said "Sorry."

"It's fine, really." Claire said

They stood there quietly for a few minutes outside the coffee shop. Claire looked down at her bracelet. Now, she was a fuss. Could there be any more stress added on to her life? None of this was supposed to happen. She was supposed to get an amazing job, an amazing place, an amazing boyfriend which came later of course, but with everything that was happening, it would never happen unless her sudden popularity came out to be a good thing.

Thinking about it again she frowned. Since when had that Monica chick pushed her down the stairs?

Eve looked at Claire about ready to ask her if she wanted someone to walk her home, but Claire had a dazed look on her face.

"Claire?" she reached out worriedly

Claire didn't hear her. Something was itching at her brain.

"She pushed me down stairs?" Claire asked

Eve just shrugged.

"Ugh, that's going to bug all night." Claire huffed

Eve chuckled a little.

"You have a ride home?" Claire asked

"Uh, well I do, but he's busy inside-"

"Alright, I'll walk you." Claire interjected

"No, that's alright. It's dangerous at night." Eve said

"Seriously? No, you're not standing out here like vamp food." Claire said

"And you?"

"Protected." She said holding her bracelet up

"Right." Eve said in a quieter tone

This wasn't how things were supposed to be. None of it. They were supposed to be strong and stick together like a screwed up family. They started walking, but the silence kept driving an even bigger wedge between them.

"Where do you live?" Claire finally asked

"716 West Lot Street. It's Gone With the Wind meets the Munsters." Eve smirked

Claire giggled a little at her description and for some reason it sounded like she'd heard it already. All of this wasn't getting any easier and she was starting to get a headache from it all.

"Okay, I'm going to sound like an idiot here, but do you know me?" Claire asked as they walked

"Well, yeah." Eve replied nonchalantly

For some reason she let out a sigh of relief. Maybe it was because she wasn't completely insane like all the other people. Then again, she felt like she knew her too.

"We met at the TPU coffee shop." Eve said smiling

It faltered though and Claire caught. There was something else that this goth wasn't saying. Even more, she could hear footsteps behind her. Grabbing Eve by the hand, Claire sped up, but didn't look back. She didn't want to see who was following her. In her other hand she felt her metallic bracelet coming undone. Eve must've heard it too, because, she was also speed walking. Looking at the street signs, Claire knew they were almost there and couldn't have been happier because the footsteps sounded closer. Eve veered right and dragged Claire across the street and up the walkway of 716 West Lot Street.

Claire let go and ushered her up the steps. As she turned to face who the follower was, she heard the door open behind her and Eve rambling. He came out of the shadows and up the walkway.

"Claire,"

Claire sighed in annoyance. Really? Now?

"Thought I'd see you home safely, but then I saw you with her and thought you'd be bringing me dinner." Brandon grinned, his fangs out

"Get lost blood leech!" came a harsh yell from behind

Brandon advanced on Claire and Shane who was standing in the doorway with Eve jumped from the stairs and ran at Brandon. Getting in a swing at him, he was thrown aside which gave Claire the distraction she needed. The bracelet dropped from around her wrist into a long necklace like Mardi gras beads. She gripped them tight and as Brandon looked up she whipped them at him and they wrapped around his neck with her catching the other end. Brandon screamed in agony as his neck burned. Claire yanked them tighter and looked over at Shane.

"You alright?" she asked

He just looked at her half dazed which turned to complete amazement and nodded. She turned to Brandon who was hissing at her. She kicked him in the stomach.

"It's silver Brandon. Doesn't it feel good?" Claire asked her eyes were slits "It's what you get for trying to attack me and my newly found friends."

A few seconds later, she let him go and he stumbled backwards.

"You bitch! Once I tell Amelie and Oliver you're through!" he spat

Claire nodded with a smile playing at her lips.

"Who do think gave me the silver? Oliver handed it to me himself." Claire said "But go ahead and tell them. Just don't leave out how you tried to kill us first."

Brandon growled under his breath. She thought he'd come for seconds, but he just turned and vanished.

"Holy shit."

Claire looked back at Eve and so did Shane. He was just as surprised as her.

"Intersting tactic." He said

Claire shrugged. It was nothing new to her. She'd taken the bracelet to Myrnin's face the first time she met him, which scared the living hell out of her. She ran straight back to her house and hid in her room till Amelie found her.

"Well, I should go." Claire said no feeling awkward

She smiled at Shane lightly and waved up at Eve. Before Shane knew what he was doing, he reached out and grabbed her by the arm. He breath staggered a little though as he did. She was real, he was touching her.

"Why don't you stay a little while? The least I could do is offer you something to eat for taking some serious heat for Eve." He said

Claire paused not knowing what to say. She was literally speechless. She could back talk a crazy vampire, but not talk to a guy? What the hell! Her heart stuttered.

"Uhhh, sure." She squeaked

She smiled and let go. Claire walked up the steps and inside while winding her bracelet back around her wrist.

"Michael's gonna kill you." Eve said with a slight grin, she knew if he didn't do it she would've

"What's new?" Shane snipped back

Alrighty, I've done my part to entertain you and I hope it was a good job, so now you leave a review. It's the least you could do.