After her furniture arrived, Claire escaped the apartment with Peter. They had went to dinner, and when Peter dropped her off at home afterwards, Claire slipped away. She refused to linger around the house, waiting for him to mock her again. She was just walking aimlessly, unaware of her surroundings. She thought about dinner, and how awkward it was now that Peter wasn't her uncle. Did that change anything? He seemed wary of her, like she'd done something wrong.
A few hours later, and hundreds of thoughts later, she wandered back home. Her feet led her to the front door, and she heard voices inside. They were muffled, but she recognized one as Sylar's, and the other was softer, more carefree. Hesitating, her hand stayed on the doorknob as she tried to eavesdrop on what was being said.
The last thing she wanted to do was walk in on Sylar bringing a chick home, and possibly doing the deed on her new furniture.
With that thought, anger suddenly flooded through her. To hell with him! That's my furniture, and this is my house! He can't run me out of here!
Claire flung the door open, but the anger washed away from her face immediately. Her friend, Laura, was sitting on the couch. She was chatting with Sylar animatedly about something. When Claire stepped into the living room, closing the door shut behind her, their eyes turned to her.
"Claire," Sylar said, his voice cheerful and his eyes held laughter in them. He was playing the charitable host in her absence. The thought of him being able to hold his character so well sent shivers down her spine.
"You're finally home. I told you she'd be back soon." He smiled, looking over at Laura.
Laura had light cappuccino colored skin and dark chocolate eyes that shone with challenge. She was never taken by surprise, and her attitude was like a fire; it blazed so brightly that it drew others to her. She was a friend from college, one of the few friends she did have. She hadn't seen her in the past few weeks.
"Hey girl," Laura greeted her, standing up from the couch that she and Sylar were sitting on. "Man, I don't hear from you for a few weeks and you're life's been flopped upside down. You've got your own crib, a hot dude, and you're dad's gone." She stepped closer, her height towering over Claire.
"Whats up with that?" She asked, placing a hand on her hip, but a quirky smile tugged at her lips. Laura was strong and independent, and it intimidated most people. When Claire stood her ground the first week of school, and showed Laura just how tough she was, Laura showed her who she really was. Even though she could be classified as a bitch, Laura was loyal and very caring. Even if she didn't like to show it.
"Sorry I haven't called. Things have been hectic, I've got so many new things going on," she said, her eyes trailing from her friend's face to Sylar's. What had he told her?
"Obviously," Laura said, turning her face to look over at Sylar. "I bet he's been keeping you busy."
Claire's eyes widened, and she took a step back. "W-what? No!" Claire exclaimed loudly, looking over at Sylar confused. He stood up, shrugging lightly. "I didn't say that. She just assumed."
"That's why there are two rooms here, Laura. He's just… a family friend who needed a place to crash for a while."
Laura lifted a dark, trimmed brow and gazed at Claire. Her embarrassment showed on her cheeks, but she didn't say anything else about it. Sylar walked past the girls, heading to his room. "I'll see you around, Laura." He waved once, and slipped into his room.
"Why ain't you hitting that? He's a stud." Laura whistled low once and then turned to laugh at Claire's 'ew' expression.
"Uh, no," she said simply, and then tried to change the subject. However, Laura beat her to it.
"Anyways, the girls are going out to the club this weekend. You want to go?" Crossing her arms over her large chest, she waited patiently for Claire's answer. Claire moved over to the couch, taking a seat. She laid her head back, trying to think about what was going on. Should she go out with her friends and have fun? She already had so many things to worry about…And then the answer was clear. She needed this. She needed to get out.
"Yeah, sure."
"Great. I invited your boy toy, too." She grinned down at Claire, and Claire shot up from her seat. "Why?" She asked in a low hush, leaning towards Laura. "I really don't want him to come. Shouldn't this be… like a girls night out or something?"
"Oh, please. Bring another guy if you want. I don't care. But if you're not gonna snag him up, I will." Winking once, she went to the door. "Only if that's alright with you…?" Laura tossed it out there as a question, and Claire sighed. "That's fine with me…"
----
How would she be able to enjoy herself tonight knowing that Sylar was hovering all around her? She should have said no, she should have told Laura that she had other plans. Instead, she felt like she was babysitting a monster. Everything Sylar did, Claire watched him intently, as if he were going to turn this club into a blood bath.
"I'm not going to go on a rampage and starting massacring everyone in sight, Claire." His voice was a low whisper in her ear that made her shiver in the hot club. It was dark, little specks of light shone down on the floor, flashing excitedly. The music was loud, it thundered off the high walls, and bounced around the building. They were in a dark corner, at one of the few tables in the nightclub.
Laura was chatting with another one of their friends, and her other friends were all on the dance floor. It was where she wanted to be, free of her troubles and free of Sylar.
"Like I trust you," she said between clenched teeth. Instead of staying at the table to find out though, she pushed herself from the table and turned to shout at Laura that she was going to the dance floor. When she didn't follow, Claire got lost in the mass of bodies and let the music take her away.
She was in a trance, her feet moved to their own accord, and her body slinked with the beat. Her hips rocked back and forth as the tempo picked up, and Claire closed her eyes. She wanted to let go, she wanted to be free of all of these burdens. How could she make them disappear? How could she make all of her troubles go away?
A warm body came up behind her, and instead of turning around and pushing the person away, she continued to dance. The body moved with hers in a tantalizing rhythm. She spun, grinning at the stranger behind her. He was tall, dark and handsome. For a moment, his face reminded her of Sylar. But when she seen his soft blue eyes, she was set at ease. It wasn't him.
She danced with him for a few minutes, his hands were on her waist. A few minutes later, his hand had crawled to her bottom, which was snuggly wrapped in tight jeans that accented her curves. But when his hands started traveling all over her body, she began to worry. His touch was growing possessive and his breath was hot on her neck.
A moment later, he was yanked from her. The space in front of her was cold, and she searched in the darkness for him. She moved towards where he was standing, and spotted Sylar picking the man up in the air, this time with his hands. Before she could think, Claire lunged at Sylar. With one arm, Sylar was holding the man in the air, and he had his other arm coiled back, ready to slam into his face.
When Claire launched herself at him, she latched herself to his other arm and drug him down. "Stop it!" She shrieked, it was almost like a whisper in the booming club though. Sylar had heard her, he felt her body pressed against his. Instead of dropping the man, his hold on his neck tightened. "Get off, Claire. Or I'll be obliged to use something a bit more forceful."
She pulled him, yanking on the arm in her constricted grasp. "No! Just stop!" When he didn't move, she knew what she had to do. She had to make him angrier, had to make him focus on her instead of this poor man.
"Don't be jealous. I let him. I wanted him. Who the fuck are you to keep me away from what I want?"
A muscle in his jaw clenched, and his thick brows furrowed together. He tossed the guy away, and he slid across the floor through a crowd of people. Now people were beginning to watch, and Claire looked around her frightfully, trying to find a way to hide from his lash of anger. What was she thinking? She should have let that guy be pummeled by Sylar's fist, it was better then her being humiliated in front of a crowd of people.
She turned on her heel, and sprang through a crowd of people, getting lost within the flood of bodies. Sylar followed her slowly, trying to spot her through the people. She would stand out easily, she always did. She was the light in a dark room, her honey blonde hair shone through the dark mass, and he slid through the bodies to get to her. However, when he got there, she had already made it to an exit, and the door shut quickly behind her.
Growling lowly, he followed her out of the door. When he stepped outside, the alley was empty. She was gone.
Claire had made a right when she made it outside, and she flew out of the alley, making a left. She had to escape, but where would she go? Her feet carried her down the sidewalk, the heels at the end of her legs making it hard for her to get far. Pausing just for a second, she yanked them off of her. She dared a glance behind her, but the sidewalk was empty. Instead of risking it, Claire continued to run.
She had to get somewhere safe, but where could she go? She wouldn't go back to the apartment, not tonight. That would be the first place he would check for her. She had to let things cool down before she could risk going back there again, maybe he'd spare her from any punishment he thought she deserved.
Before she realized where she was, she found herself outside of Peter's apartment. She pounded on the door brutally, not thinking of the time or whether he was sleeping. When the door swung open, a heavy-eyed Peter opened the door. In light blue boxers.
Her mouth dropped open for a second, and before he could even speak her name, she brushed past him and shut the door behind her. Claire didn't think, she didn't give herself time to. She tackled him, wrapping her arms tightly around his slim waist.
He was awake now, and his eyes were wide with shock. What was she doing here? All dressed up, without shoes, and hugging him so tightly for. She looked scared. "Claire, what happened?" He asked her, wrapping his arms around her tiny frame, clutching her to him strongly.
"Are you hurt?" He asked, drawing her away from him. Claire shook her head, and allowed herself to let him go. "No, I just… I didn't know where else to go."
"What happened, was it Sylar? It was him…" Peter said, his tone getting louder as he got angry.
"I'll kill him, I swear I will!" He proclaimed, and his energy surprised Claire.
"No… Please, it's not that big of a deal. I… I just needed someplace to go. I needed a place to go until things died down. We got into a fight, he's furious. I just…"
She cracked, and her body shook as the tears erupted from her eyes. Immediately, the anger fled and concern overwhelmed him. He wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her against him. Her face buried into his chest as her hot tears soaked his shirt.