Chapter Eight
Claire's POV
I finally convinced Shane, Michael, and Eve that it was okay for me to go back to school. I have one semester left and then I graduate. Shane insisted on going with me since he doesn't have to work today. Which is why Shane and I are currently at Common Grounds getting coffee.
I catch a glimpse of Jason at one of the table but I ignore him as Shane hands me my coffee and holds the door open for me. My class starts in about 15 minutes. It's a lab which I'm sure won't be as boring for Shane as the lectures I have later. Good thing he brought his Ipod.
"You don't have to come with me," I say as I hear the door faintly open behind us. Again, I ignore it. I know it's Jason. Everytime I go somewhere, he's there. I've been out of the hospital for about a week now. He twines his fingers with mine and takes a sip of his coffee.
"Well, I'm not going to let you go alone. Not after what happened last time," he says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. I roll my eyes.
"I wasn't alone, I was with Eve. She just had to go to the bathroom," I say, feeling the need to stick up for the situation. He shakes his head in frustration.
"That counts as being alone," he says. His jaw muscle is tense. I squeeze his hand.
"Shane, you can't follow me everywhere for the rest of my life. You have your own life to live," I say, looking at him seriously.
"And I don't want that life if your not in it. I love you," he says stubbornly. I pull him to a stop and look at him.
"Shane, someday, I'm going to die," he winces," I can't be the only thing you live for. I could die at any point in time. I could get him by a bus. I could be shot. I could..."
"Please, stop," he pleads, his face pained.
"My point is: I could die at any second and I don't need you running off and doing something stupid if I do," I say, glaring at him for good measure. He remains silent and we begin walking again. We make it to school and I hope for a normal day. I'm never that lucky though. Never.