"Claire what the hell do you think you're doing?" Michael asks again whilst approaching us.
Claire opens her mouths then closes it, she is honestly doing a fantastic impression of a goldfish.
"Well?" Michael's getting impatient, he turns to me with a look of incredibility on his face.
I can tell that he won't be getting very far with Claire so I take one for the team. Speaking fast and earnestly I try to clear the air.
"Look, Michael, nothing happened, it was just an accident…I mean…it wasn't Claire'sfault…" I trail off, knowing that we're in the wrong.
There is nothing good or honest about this whole fucked up situation. There is simply nothing we can say to make it better. And I just know, that if this gets to Collins, then I am screwed.
"Claire, can I speak to you alone please?" Michael asks whilst keeping direct eye contact with me. His jaw in clenched and I think I can see the little muscles clenching with the effort.
The act that he's dismissing me pisses me off. It's not fair that he's gonna twist Claire's arm for the truth.
I step forward, "Michael, man, let's just chill and forget this whole thing. Okay? I'm sorry that you saw this-"
He punches me. Hard.
It's one of those left hooks that makes a cracking noise when it connects with bone. And coming from a vampire, it fucking kills.
"Michael!" screams Claire, grabbing on to my shoulders and then softly hovering a fingers over my face. "What do you think you're doing? He didn't do anything to you!" Her voice has risen and her frown lines are back.
"Claire, what have you done? You're with Shane. Shane? You know him. The love of your life and all that shit Shane. He doesn't deserve this."
I'm in too much pain to move my mouth, but right now I don't think there's any need to, Michael and Claire are clearly having some kind of showdown.
Claire's voice is suddenly softer, vunerable. "Please. Michael, please don't tell him."
He starts to walk off but then turns to us with a look of disgust on his face. "If you don't tell him, then I will."
Suddenly it's just me and Claire, alone, watching Michael's back leave.
Don't you just love clichés? So, this story may be coming to an end soon. Maybe. But for now the question is who will eventually tell Shane? Thanks for reading! x