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Chapter 12

I was awaken to the laughing of the guys. It sounded like they were having a good time with whatever they were doing. I opened my eyes to see Tyler and Pogue. Tyler was sitting in the arm chair and Pogue was sitting in front of me. I smacked him in the back of the head for waking me up. It was his loud laugh after all.

"What the hell Ab's?" Pogue rubbed the back of his head.

"That's for waking me up Christian." He glared at me and I new what was coming. I bolted from the couch and took off running up the stairs. Pogue was right behind me. I ran to my room and locked the door. Like that would really keep him out. Caleb and Sarah were still asleep, but my slamming of the door woke them up. Apparently Kate and Reid were downstairs somewhere.

"What's going on?" Caleb asked. Pogue banged on the door.

"Abby you better open this door."

"Not a chance Christian."

"Why do you torcher him?" Caleb asked.

"I've asked him to stop calling me Abby, but does he? No he doesn't" I walked over to my desk and sat down. Caleb and Sarah both climbed out of bed. Caleb went to the door, turned and smiled at me. "You wouldn't?" Caleb nodded his head yes and opened the door. I jumped up and put my bed in between us. Caleb and Sarah hurried out of the door and closed it.

Pogue smiled at me. He started to come around the bed. I went to dive across it, but he jumped on the bed too. He pined me down and started tickling me.

"Pogue!" I gasped. I could hardly breath. "Stop!….Please!" At that moment my door burst open.

"Clair I-" In my door way stood Shane. Pogue stopped tickling me, but we both froze and looked at him. "Never mind." He closed the door and I snapped out of it.

"Shane!" I pushed Pogue off and rushed to the door. I yanked it open and saw Shane at the top of the steps. "Shane wait. We were just playing around."

He stopped and turned to look at me. I could see the hurt all over his face. "Yeah. Sure looked that way." He took off down the steps before I could say anything else. I had tears running down my cheek cause I didn't want to lose Shane. At that moment Eve came out of the bathroom.

"What happened?" I wiped my face and shook my head. Pogue came out of my bedroom and came to stand by me. Eve looked between the two of us.

"Sorry Ab's." He gave me a sideways hug.

"You didn't do anything Pogue. Shane's just overreacting." I looked at Eve and she was giving me the tell me now face. "Pogue and I was playing around. I called him by his first name which he hates. He chased me into my room and started tickling me. Shane came in and got the wrong impression and now he's mad at me."

"Oh don't worry about him. He'll get over it. Why don't you come to work with me for a little while. Drink some coffee, keep me company."

"Sure. Why not. Just let me throw some clothes on."

Thirty minutes later Eve and I were at the Common Grounds. I order a coffee and found a table in the corner. I had brought my lap top with me and was trying to figure some more things about my families relations with the vampire and maybe find out who the other vamp was in the picture.

Oliver brought my coffee to me. "Hello Claire. May I sit?"

"Sure," I said a little surprised.

"Busy today," he said, and settled into his chair. "I wanted to talk to you about Eve."

"Okay." I said slowly.

"I'm concerned about her." He leaned forward onto his elbows. I closed my lap top down and rested my hands on top of it. "Eve seems distracted. That's very dangerous, and I'm quite sure that by now you understand why."

"Yes. I know what the problem is and I intend to fix it."

"I might be able to help. If I had something to trade. Something Brandon might want. Or we might be able to bypass Brandon all together, and make a trade with some one….else."

"Who?" Oliver smiled, and his dark eyes looked sharp and cool.

"Claire. Do you really expect me to tell you? The more you know about this town, the less safety there is for you. Do you understand that? I've had to create my own peace here, and it only works because I know exactly what I'm doing, and how far I can go. You- I'm afraid your first mistake might be your last."

I gritted my teeth. My mouth was dry and I tried to swallow, but got nothing but a dry click in the back of my throat. I didn't need to be dealing with a bunch of vampires right now when I had to get Shane out of his deal. Plus I have to keep watch for Chase.

"No-"

"Don't." His voice was a little harsh this time and I flinched. "The only reason you're here today is because you know Brandon will be in here and you want to make a deal."

"I'm not making no deal with Brandon. And no offense, but if I need your help I'll ask for it." Oliver nodded his head and got up and walked back behind the table. I opened my computer back up and went back to my research.