Enigmatical

By wired2damoon

Chapter 5: Dublin Airport And Discussing Dates

A/N: Thankies to all that's reviewed so far, they've been lovely, hope to get some more too!

-wired2damoon-

- General POV -

"Flight 3A to Forks Washington departing in ten minutes from Gate 24B."

The mass of black hair with purple-streaked highlights, flew about the shoulders as the head swung around.

That was the announcement they were waiting for.

With a sigh escaping the lips, the shoulders hunched, the young woman made her way through Dublin airport and towards Gate 24B.

It was going to be one hell of a long flight…

- Quil's POV -

Claire was up to something, I could feel it.

I've been sitting in her kitchen now for twenty minutes and she has not spoken to me once.

Never, has she ever, been silent for more then twenty seconds, never mind minutes.

There was definitely something amiss, and I was going to find out what.

"Claire…" I started coyly, "what're you gonna get up to today?"

Wow I'm transparent…

"Oh…um…n-not much…thinking of going out with Ness, she's home at two-thirty and you know Erin the exchange student will be here at seven so…uh…I'll just, probably, hang out till then," she smiled, before turning away from me to dry some dishes.

I frowned. That was weird, she sounded too hesitant, too unsure, too suspicious.

Or I am just being paranoid?

"I thought Jake and Nessie were home this morning?" I couldn't help but ask, knowing that I was prying too much but felt a bit aggravated at the thought that Claire might be lying to me.

I saw Claire's shoulders stiffen suddenly as my words sank in and I instantly knew that was suspicions were right, she was hiding something from me, lying to me.

Damn, it's like I've been slapped in the face! What can she possibly not tell me? Does she not trust me? Is she in trouble? Did someone hurt her? Could I help her?

Oh God, I sound like an over-emotional girl don't I? I can't help it, worries like this always flow through my mind when it comes to Claire. I'll never forget when she fibbed and told me she wasn't allergic to peanuts and ended up in the emergency room. I made her promise me on that day never to lie to me again, otherwise I'd never forgive myself.

"Oh yeah…she is home already, what I meant was that I'm going to see her at two thirty, you know, give her some time to rest before I drop by," she murmured, her back still turned as she moved around the kitchen, putting the dishes away.

I nodded silently, over-analysing her response as per usual, "alright cool, hey you mind if I come? You know, see the boss and all?" I smirked inwardly, knowing Jake hated it when I called him boss.

Claire whirled around suddenly, her eyes widening, "no you can't come!" she exclaimed wildly.

Ow, my heart's taking such a hit right now…

I frowned, trying my best to look utterly confused, "uh…why not?" I asked, not knowing whether I wanted her to know that I'm hurt or not.

Claire flushed a deep crimson colour, her eyes trailing the ground, her hands clasped firmly behind her back, "uh…you know…it's just, just that I'm you know, going to be having girl-talk with Ness and like it's strictly, no boys allowed and that…that includes werewolves. Hey why don't you head over to Sam's and I'll send Jake over to meet you there?" she asked, lifting her eyes from the ground, but still not glancing in my direction.

I felt my face still, my jaw set.

What the hell is she hiding from me!? If I don't find out now, I'll go insane!

"Hey Claire is there something you hiding 'cause -"

" - Quil, why don't you have a girlfriend?"

I gasped. Well that sure as hell caught me off guard.

"W-What?" I asked unsteadily, fearing where this conversation may lead.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at the floor again, but gently she shook herself, looking like she was inwardly arguing something, before stepping closer to me, leaning over the counter, resting her palm in her hand and staring straight into my eyes, her nose an inch from mine.

"I said, why don't you have a girlfriend? Or date?" she asked clearly, her eyes shinning brightly with determination.

I blinked, my breath hitching at the intense stare she was giving me, a little unnerved by our close vicinity. To be honest, I was feeling a little hot under the collar.

Damn hormones! Why do they have to kick in now? No, why does she have to be so beautiful? No, why did I have to imprint on her! Grr!!

"Uh…I…I do date Claire, what makes you think I don't?" I rambled, seriously not knowing what else to say. I mean, would I actually be able to convince her that I am actually interested in a woman? You know…that isn't her?

She leaned back and folded her arms indignantly, it would seem she wasn't satisfied with my answer.

"Oh really, you date do you? So how come I've never heard of all these fantastic women?" she snapped, her demeanour changing suddenly, from curious to downright demanding.

I honestly didn't know what to say. I mean, what exactly did she want to hear? God, why can't she be three years old again, her scariest question being why chickens and penguins can't fly even though they're birds and I'd think of her just as my little sister?

Rolling my eyes, I took my safest bet and went with something I knew couldn't fail. "Because Claire-bear, I didn't think you'd be interested in my love-life", I replied matter-of-factly, folding my arms and mimicking her every movement.

Her eyes narrowed, her lip pouting in the most adorable look that I hadn't seen since she was five.

I'm such a sucker.

"Of course I'd want to know about the women in your life Quil! You're my best friend, why the hell didn't you tell me?" she asked, looking a bit hurt now, probably feeling like I left her out.

Oh hell, I've gone and upset her now, good going Ateara!

"No, no Claire, it-it isn't that I didn't want to tell you or anything it's just that, well, I thought you wouldn't…like care and you know you have your own teenage stuff," I grumbled, my heart sinking as the lies just kept flowing from my lips.

This, of course, seemed to infuriate her more.

"What do you mean 'teenage stuff'? Do you think I can't handle 'adult' dating-issues or conversations? I'm not a kid anymore you know Quil!" she spat, striding around the counter and right up to where I sat, gob- smacked on the kitchen stool.

I couldn't help but smirk as I was still towered over her whilst sitting.

"Claire-bear, I'm well aware you're not a kid anymore", I replied, blocking from my thoughts the fact that I've been dwelling on Claire's continued 'growing up' more then what some would call healthy, "I just didn't want to bore you with the details".

Yeah, that and the fact these woman are completely imaginary.

Claire slowly raised her hand and pointed her finger at me, "so tell me now Quil, I've got a little time before I've gotta go."

My eyes stared at her pointed finger for a moment, completely panicking, before fabricating the most believable story I could manage.

"Uh well, I uh, dated a woman a few months ago, named uh, Blaire…"

Oh holy mother of fuck, did I just say Blaire?

Claire, thankfully, didn't see the resemblance and egged me on impatiently, "and…?"

I let out a sigh of relief, "and uh, she was nice and had uh, blonde hair and brown eyes and was very tall and had really long legs and -"

" -Okay, okay, I get it, she was beautiful," she cut across, sounding a little annoyed.

No one is more beautiful then you, my mind replied automatically.

"Well I wouldn't say she was amazingly beautiful but you know she was pretty, modest, quiet…" I replied, trying to make this imaginary woman sound a little like Claire but not too much.

I mean Claire isn't pretty - she's beautiful and she definitely modest about that, but she's far from quiet - she's opinionated and I love her for it.

"Why did you guys break up?" she asked, her tone softening all of a sudden.

I frowned at her, "uh, differences of opinions I guess…"

She stared at me blankly, "meaning…?"

I really am racking my brains now, what the hell could I tell her about my fake break-up?

"Was it the sex? Was it terrible? Was she not imaginative enough?" she blurted suddenly, her cheeks completely pale, with no trace of a flush.

I shifted uncomfortably on the stool before standing up, walking around her (being careful not to touch her), and got a drink from the fridge.

Dear God this girl is tricky! I mean, how the hell do you tell a 16-year-old that you're a near 30-year-old virgin without them getting suspicious or laughing in your face?

I'd better think of something, and fast!

"Uh…well…no it wasn't the s-sex really, but uh…it was more that we fought a lot over my job", I finished, rubbing my neck nervously, my back still turned to her.

"Quil, you're a mechanic, how did you fight about cars?" Claire asked, sounding bewildered.

I turned to her and laughed, saying the first thing that came to mind, "she hated cars."

She looked astounded by my reply, "what!? How could she hate cars? That has to be a sin!"

I smirked, that's my girl!

"She said that I cared more about the cars then I did about her", wow, this lying thing is getting easier…

Claire nodded, "well I can understand where she was coming from…"

I squinted at her, "what? What do you mean by that?"

She shrugged as I sat back down on the stool, gazing down at her, my interest peaked for her response.

"Well…I mean, it is like those cars mean everything to you. There's nothing you love more."

As soon as the words left her mouth I was on my feet in a split second, a mere inch from her.

"That's not true Claire! I can think of one thing I love more then cars!" I almost snarled, insulted at Claire's ignorance at not knowing she would always be the most loved and cherished in my whole life.

As she craned her neck upwards to look at me, her sea-blue eyes shown with interest, "oh yeah Quil, and what would that be?"

Was it just me or did she sound hopeful? Yeah right Ateara, its more like you're hopeful…

You Claire, only you, I wanted desperately to say.

"Y-uh Mac 'n' cheese", I replied, nervous at my near slip-up.

Claire smiled wirily and it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Ha, ha, very funny", she responded sarcastically.

I nodded, a little twitch attacking my eye but I just waited for her to continue.

"So…" she started hesitantly, "would you, you know…ever, like, date again?"

My eyes widened, this caught me completely off guard. Was she saying what I always hoped she would say?

"Well…uh that all depends on the woman…" I murmured, not looking at her.

This, it seemed, was exactly what Claire wanted to hear.

She smiled the smile I loved and laughed happily, "well that's good then Ateara, because I've got you the perfect date!"

My heart stopped.

No, scratch that, the whole universe came to a halt.

Did she just say what I think she just said? She found me a…a date?

"W-What do you mean Claire-bear?" I asked, hoping I sounded braver than I felt.

She threw me her 100 watt grin, "I said, I got you the perfect date, this Saturday in Port Angeles."

A million questions flowed through my mind in that second.

How did she find me a date so suddenly? Why did she want me to date? What was the sudden interest in my love life all about? But instead of asking all these I went with my safe bet…

"What's her name?"

It was out of my mouth before I could even think about it.

What the hell is the matter with me? Why would I want to know what this woman's name is, its not like I'd have any interest in her! Maybe I just wanted to humour Claire.

"Oh, her name is Courtney, and she's a…uh…well…it's not important what she does…" she trailed off, fumbling with the hem of her shirt, her head bent lowly.

That caught my attention, why was it not important what she did for a living?

"Uh Claire listen, I think its uh…nice of you to set me up and all but uh…I'm not really looking to date right now you know?"

I really hoped that sounded sincere, I'm terrible at being firm when it comes to Claire.

Just like I thought, Claire looked set to kill.

"But Quil…" she almost whined, "I went to a lot of trouble setting this date up you know! Please, all I want is for you to be happy…"

I'm happy with you.

I sighed and ran my hand over my face tiredly.

"Please Quil…" she begged, her beautiful, melodic voice, sending tremors through my veins, "c'mon just go on the date, please, for me…"

Oh hell. She really knows how to play me.

I groaned, knowing I was defeated, "alright Claire-bear, I'll go on the date."

Laughing, she clapped her hands and bounded towards me, enveloping me in a large, tight hug.

I stood up from the stool and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her off her feet.

It was much easier to hug back if she was a little closer to my level, which was near impossible usually as I was nearly two feet taller than her small frame.

"Oh Quil, you won't regret this, I promise, I'm going to find you your dream woman," she murmured, resting her head in the nape of my neck.

You're my dream woman.

Feeling her soft breath against my skin made me grip her waist tighter, and Claire giggled heartily.

"Quil! Quil stop you're…you're tickling me!" she gasped, her body shaking as she laughed.

I smirked and gently poked her, laughing loudly as she let out a very girlish squeal.

"Quil! S-Stop! P-Put m-me down!" she stuttered through giggles, pulling her arms from around my neck and slapping me lightly on the back.

"Okay, okay", I sighed, leaning down and placing her back safely on the floor.

Stepping back and staring up at me, she flashed me her beautiful grin, "well, I gotta head out now Quil, but I'll see ya later and we can talk about Alice jazzing you up a little for your big date."

I frowned at her, I did not like the sound of that.

Unfortunately, Claire did not want to talk more about it, as she was now flailing about and flinging her coat around her shoulders.

"Claire what do you mean 'jazz me up' exactly?"

She just kept walking towards the door.

"Claire?"

"I'll see you later Quil."

"Claire what did you-"

"-BYE Quil."

"Claire-"

She closed the door with a dignified snap, without as much as a backwards glance.

Crap…what had I gotten myself into now?

A/N: Well, there you have it. Up next, bloopers where Quil's date is concerned, a nice (or terrible) moment with Cody and Claire AND the mysterious exchange student arrives!! Feel free to review, guaranteed warm fuzziness in your hearts with every click of the button!! -wired2damoon-