Right, we're back in business! I could finally be bothered to type this all up - I have major cramp in my wrist but the pain can surely be healed with the soothing ointment of lots (and lots) of reviews :) The good news is that I have gotten over all my writer's block crap, the bad news is there is no Myrnin in this chapter :'( ... Anyhooo I hope you like it, a longer chapter as promised - I know you all hated the short ones, I did too, but they were necessary to move the story along! Anyway, read on! :D xxx Thanks for all the amazing reviews! :) x

'Under Your Skin'

Claire's POV

Claire had got back from the lab to meet nothing but stony silences from all three of the other occupants of the Glass House - although Michael looked sympathetic.

She quickly showered and changed, then went straight to bed. Exhaustion had hit her like a ten-tonne truck, and she fell straight into an uneasy sleep. Claire tossed and turned all night, her head filled with dreams of Myrnin. They alternated between steamy kisses and him drinking her blood.

She was relieved when she opened her eyes to find it was morning already. Claire climbed out of bed slowly; she was so stiff and achy from yesterday. She undressed and was brushing her hair in the mirror when she caught sight of herself and gasped loudly.

There were two livid purple wounds at her neck and on her wrist where Myrnin had bitten her. But there were also big, dark bruises all over her arms and on her left shoulder. She frowned, trying to think where they could have come from. Memories of Myrnin gripping her tightly as he kissed her flooded her mind, and she bit her lip. She looked like the result of an abusive relationship. Maybe I am the result of an abusive relationship.

Claire got dressed carefully, making sure to choose a long-sleeved shirt to cover all the bruises. She wore a scarf to hide the bite marks, even thought the weather was nowhere near cold enough for her to need one. She didn't want to raise any awkward questions.

After getting dressed and applying a bit of makeup, Claire headed downstairs to grab some breakfast. As she munched her cereal, she tried to decide what to do with her day. She didn't have class, there was no way she was going to Myrnin's, and everyone here hated her at the moment. She supposed she could go visit her parents, but it would definitely raise awkward questions if her mom caught sight of her bruises. They already disliked Shane, and all her dad needed was the slightest whiff of trouble, and he'd be onto him like a dog with a bone. Claire finished her cereal and went into the kitchen to wash her dishes, idly wondering what Myrnin was doing. It was kind of odd, thinking of him all alone in the lab. She often wondered what he did with his spare time...

Claire shook herself, irritated. She had promised herself that she would distance herself from him as much as possible after what had happened in the lab yesterday. Had it only been yesterday? It felt like weeks ago since she'd felt Myrnin's lips on hers, his hands on her body...He'd messed up all her feelings; she'd thought that she knew what she wanted, but now she wasn't so sure.

I love Shane, she thought fiercely. It was true. She did love him. But she was starting to think maybe she was a little in love with Myrnin too. But that's completely ridiculous. I mean, yeah he's hot, but he's vampire hot. And he's crazy. And dangerous. And he doesn't feel anything for me other than blood lust.

The first three were definitely true, but (according to Oliver) the fourth was open to debate. According to Oliver, Myrnin was convinced he was in love with her. But...he couldn't be. He just couldn't. Claire sighed, feeling like she was hitting her head against a brick wall. It was no use. She couldn't even fathom out the workings of her own mind; how could she expect to understand Myrnin? He made a point of going out of his way to be unpredictable, seemingly just for the fun of irritating and confusing her.

Putting her clean dishes away in the cabinet, she made a decision about what to do with her day. The morning part of it, at least. She needed her caffeine fix and wanted the chance to talk to Oliver - and she had nothing better to do.

She didn't bother to leave a note explaining where she was. Let them make their own assumptions.

Claire left the house, and closed the door behind her with a purposefully loud bang. She made into to Common Grounds in record time, and caught sight of Oliver behind the counter as she pushed the door open.

He didn't look up as she approached, but he murmured,

"Back again, Claire?" When she drew near. From a distance, Oliver looked normal, but up close she could see he was tired.

"Are you OK?" She asked before she could stop herself. She bit her lip as Oliver looked up sharply. He looked as if he was going to snap at her for a moment, but then he simply shrugged and said,

"I have been better."

His tone of voice made it clear that there was to be no further discussion on the matter. Claire just felt she should be grateful he hadn't bitten her head off. Quite literally.

"What do you want, Claire?" Oliver said abruptly. Obviously not in a good mod, then.

"I- wanted to know if it was true. What you said." She stuttered, and Oliver's eyes narrowed. She licked her lips nervously. "About Myrnin."

"Of course." He snapped. "What could I possibly gain from lying to you about that?"

She shrugged. Oliver sighed, folding the cloth he was using over his forearm. He looked more tired than she could ever remember seeing him as he leant forwards, placing his palms on the counter.

"I suppose it could be part of some elaborate plot to overthrow Amelie and take control of the town?" Claire suggested, earning a wry smile from Oliver.

Then he looked up at her abruptly, looking as if he smelt something foul, and ripped Claire's scarf off her neck before she could even process his movement.

"Hey! She yelped, flushing in embarrassment and anger as he caught sight of the bites. She tried to grab the scarf back out of his hands, but he simply refused to let go, so she resorted to holding her shirt up around her neck and hunching her shoulders slightly in case anyone saw. "Give it back." She hissed.

"Tell me where you got those wounds."

"Give it back"

"Tell me where you got those."

"See if you can guess." Claire retorted.

"Myrnin." Oliver said softly. She raised an eyebrow. He shrugged. "Who else?"

Claire held out a hand for her scarf, but as she did so, her sleeve hitched up, exposing the bite on her wrist, too. Oliver frowned, and grabbed her hand, holding it in an iron grip whilst he pulling up her sleeve, showing her other bruises. His frown deepened, and Claire bit her lip again, well aware of how bad this looked.

"He did these, too?" Oliver questioned in a low murmur. Claire just nodded mutely. "When?"

"Y-Yesterday. The bites were the day before."

Oliver seemed surprised, and Claire realised she'd made a mistake in telling him the bruises happened on a different occasion. She so didn't want him to know she and Myrnin had kissed. What was it Myrnin liked to call it? Snogging?

"How did you get the bruises?" Oliver asked sharply, studying her reaction. She looked away, furiously trying to think of a feasible lie. She drew a blank.

"I fell down." She said lamely.

"The truth, Claire." Oliver said in a dangerous tone. He was still gripping her hand tightly, preventing her from walking away.

"I-It was an accident. Myrnin did it by accident." At least that was the partway truth.

From the look on Oliver's face, he still didn't believe her.

Claire got defensive. "Why do you want to know anyway? Like you care." She scoffed.

"I am not completely incapable of human emotion, Claire." Oliver said grimly. "Nor am I entirely convinced by your answer. How exactly did Myrnin give you these?"

Claire swallowed nervously. Oliver was going to be angry when he found out she had completely (if unintentionally) ignored his advice.

"Uh- we were..." She couldn't help blushing and saw his eyes narrow slightly. Why is he even bothering to ask all these questions? She wondered suddenly, growing suspicious. "Look, it doesn't matter how it happened, OK?" She snapped, trying to wrench her hand out of his grasp. He held it firm, there wasn't even any change in his grip. If she pulled any more, her wrist would break. "Let go! What do you want me to say? That it happened when -when I was making out with Myrnin? Because OK, yeah, it did!" Claire shouted at him, venting her anger and frustration. Then she practically collapsed at the end, dry sobbing a little hysterically. After a few minutes, she realised that the whole shop had gone suspiciously quiet.

Crap. What did I do?

She couldn't believe she'd just said that to Oliver. Claire raised her head warily. Oliver was standing in front of her, arms crossed over his chest, regarding her with an odd expression on his face.

In the awkward silence that followed, someone laughed really loudly and a little nervously, and conversations all around the room hesitantly started up again.

"You're gonna kill me now, right?"

Oliver looked surprised and a little amused. "Why would I do that?"

"Well...because I ignored your advice and then shouted in your face." She said in a small voice.

"True." Oliver murmured, then looked at her, eyes sparkling with amusement at her real fear. "Are you trying to convince me?"

Claire shook her head vigorously and Oliver actually laughed before turning serious again.

"But Claire, whilst I cannot stop you should you choose to pursue Myrnin's...affections, I do strongly advise that you do not."

Claire nodded, her mouth dry. Oliver gestured to her arm, and the deep purple bruises that were still showing.

"You'll get a lot worse than that, and that's if he manages to remain in control."

Claire didn't need Oliver to put emphasis on the if to know that he clearly didn't think it was likely that Myrnin would stay in control of himself for long.

And there we are! Nearly two thousand glorious words of absolute rubbish! I hope you liked it, and please please please please please please please please please please please please please review! :) xxxxx