Bonjourno! How be you on this fine day? ...Enjoy Chapter 4, folks! :D Keep reviewing and tell me what you think of this chapter - it's my favourite so far! xxx

'Up On Cloud Nine'

Claire stepped through into Myrnin's lab, taking care to seal the portal behind her. It was exactly the same as it had been yesterday, only now the lights were turned up. Claire sat down on the couch with a sigh. She was relieved to take the weight off her ankle. Tipping her head back to rest on the couch, she realised just how tired she was. But God, she didn't think she could face going back to the Glass House right now. Claire didn't think she could face anyone, but least of all Shane. Stupid boyfriend issues.

She curled up on Myrnin's couch, pulling the multicoloured quilt over herself. Some part of her noted absently that it smelt like Myrnin. Like old books. It was comforting. Claire wondered what Myrnin would say if he came back and found her here. He'd probably be angry, she thought. Myrnin hated people being in his lab without permission. Particularly when he wasn't there. Claire lay there for a while, just staring into space. Then she sighed and sat up, glancing at the new clock she'd made Myrnin buy.

It was later than she'd thought. As in, past sunset late. Shit. Michael and Shane were gonna be pissed. She jumped up, swaying slightly as her brain complained. Claire dug her phone out of her pocket, switching it on. She had five missed calls, and two very attitude-y texts from Eve telling Claire to 'Get her butt home now, or she was going to be on dinner duty for the rest of the month.' Claire shoved the phone back into her pocket, and took the risk of opening her second portal in one day.

She stepped into the living room and Eve pounced on her immediately. She was yelling at her, but Claire's exhausted brain couldn't process what she was saying. She sagged onto the couch, putting on her best 'sorry' face for Eve. A few things her friend was saying drifted across the room to her, but they slipped her mind as soon as she heard them. Eventually Eve ran out of steam and just stood there glaring at her from underneath her rice-powder makeup. Claire's body felt kind of floaty, like she were made out of cotton candy. She grinned sluggishly and held her hand up for Eve to inspect. Eve's face was a big question mark, which made Claire's grin stretch even wider. Claire felt odd. Sort of like she was viewing her life from afar. She was so high up, she was probably on cloud number one billion, Claire thought. Her friend took a step towards her, looking slightly worried.

"Um, Claire?" She asked, and Claire laughed and clapped her hands, delighted to find that her ears were fully functional again. "Yeah...Michael! Get in here!" Eve yelled. Claire winced at the volume and clapped her hands over her ears, making shushing noises at Eve. Who just stared at her with an odd expression on her face. Michael walked into the room and asked her what she wanted. Eve just pointed at Claire, who was now examining her reflection in the mirror. As they watched, she lifted the lid of her left eye and poked it, hard. Claire jumped back with a shocked cry of pain, staring in apparent horror at her reflection.

"Well that wasn't very nice." She told herself sternly. Michael just stared at Eve, speechless.

"What the..." Eve shook her head, looking bemused.

"It must be the drugs she was given for the pain." Michael said. "Can you ring Theo and ask him what he gave her?" Eve nodded and dug out her Bedazzled phone. Claire looked up when it started to ring, and with a cry of happiness rushed over to Michael, flinging her arms around him. He stood there for a moment, shocked, then patted her on the back awkwardly. Claire giggled, and let go. She swayed a little, then fell, straight onto her butt. She giggled again, then couldn't make herself stop. It was like her body had a mind of it's own. Claire just lay there, laughing so hard it made her sides hurt.

In her drugged state, Claire was dimly aware that she didn't normally behave like this, but she didn't care, because right then something else distracted her. A hole opened in the wall out of nowhere, and a gorgeous young man stepped through, wearing a frock coat and pirate boots. He was followed by an older man wearing spectacles and carrying a doctor's case. Claire sat up, frowning. She distinctly remembered seeing the pirate man before, but she couldn't remember where exactly. Maybe we're lovers, she thought, and giggled again. The man was approaching her now, and up close she could see how handsome he was. He had lovely dark eyes, and lovely kissable lips, and his hair was all...bouncy. She reached out and bounced his curls, just to prove it. He looked momentarily surprised, and said something to the older man.

The doctor nodded and said "Yes, I'll take her there myself."

Claire frowned. She wasn't being taken anywhere. Not with this man. She turned to look at pirate man. Maybe with this one, though. A name floated out of her brain to her. Myrnin. She liked him, she decided. And Claire knew what to do when you like someone. She stood up, not feeling dizzy at all now, and cleared her throat. Both men turned to look at her. She smiled and pointed at Myrnin. When he just stood there, she, sighed, and made a flappy motion with her hand that her brain told her meant 'Come here'. Brains could be quite helpful sometimes, she thought.

Anyway, Myrnin finally got the message and zoomed over so fast she didn't have time to blink. Claire smiled secretly and made a motion for Myrnin to lean closer, as if she would whisper into his ear. He dipped his head to her height, and Claire enjoyed the look of shock on his face as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. It wasn't an innocent peck, either. Myrnin hesitated, one arm held awkwardly at her back. Claire kissed him until she finally got a response. His lips started to move under hers, and his other arm moved to wrap itself tightly around her waist. Sparks seemed to fly between them as the kissed - Claire even slipped her tongue in his mouth at one point, daring him to try it. He did, and she bit down on his tongue playfully. Not hard enough to hurt though. Claire felt an annoying nagging at the back of her head, a feeling that she was forgetting something. She shook the thought away angrily and continued to kiss Myrnin. She thoroughly enjoyed it, too, until someone started yelling. Claire broke away from Myrnin and turned around to tell whoever it was to shut up - couldn't they see that she was busy? Then she saw who was doing the yelling. Something in her mind snapped back into place for a moment.

Shane.

Oh God, how could she have forgotten? She turned around. Myrnin was standing behind her where she'd left him. His hands were clasped in front of him and he looked sheepish. His lips were slightly swollen. Claire forced herself to turn and look into the eyes of her friends. They all looked so shocked, and the one who was yelling - Shane, she reminded herself - looked angry and hurt, too. She felt momentarily guilty, but managed to hide that under another bout of uncontrollable laughing. Didn't they realise how funny they looked? With their big, wide eyes and their mouths hanging open like that. The laughter stopped as suddenly as it had come, and Claire realised she was laying on the floor again.

"Well that's a stupid place to be." She slurred as she sat up, rubbing her head. Had she fallen? Claire saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and looked around in time to see the doctor man coming towards her with a big needle, which he promptly stuck into her arm.

"Oh." That was all she had time to say before the blackness took her.