Okay-I'm updating this. Thank you Narutorox you rock for reviewing all the time! I did get the names the first time, sorry I didn't mention it, I appreciate the suggestions and thankyou for finding those names for me! :) Review...or else! Yeah I don't know what the or else is but...you won't like it! So please review! And to those who have you're awesome! :) And I would really appreciate it if you would give me some name suggestions that I asked for previously. Twenty-four days till Christmas people! Woo-who! :D

**Claire**

The next morning, Claire wakes up feeling completely fine, until she looks at her clock and sees she has a test in thirty minutes. Gently, she removes Shane's arm from around her waist. He mumbles something incoherent and rolls over onto his stomach, burying his face into the pillows. Claire smiles before standing up and wobbling a bit as the room momentarily spins. It only lasts a second and she's completely fine, yeah, perfectly fine.

Claire goes to her dresser, contemplating her clothing choice because she knew what she'd see if she looked in the mirror, two neat, red, little holes on the side of her neck. Finally, after much internal debate, she decides on a light blue sweat shirt that could zip up to her chin and her customary pair of jeans paired with her beat up Converse. If she was Eve, she probably would have worn some elaborate scarf or something, but this would have to do.

She hops in the shower, one of the quickest she had ever taken, and zips the sweatshirt up almost to her chin, knowing it will look ridiculous in the hot Texas heat. She had hoped to avoid her roommates, as none of them were really morning people, but Eve was busy making herself breakfast.

"Hey," Claire says as she gets herself a thermos full of coffee with added cream and sugar. "Why are you up so early?"

"The girl with the morning shift got sick," Eve says with a groan. "I got called like an hour ago and it didn't sound optional. Why are you up so early?" Despite the early hour, Eve was wearing full Goth, fishnets, clunky boots, black leather skirt covered in chains and zippers, and a red T-shirt with a bedazzled skull in the middle, topped with ghost makeup, blood red lip stick, and crazy black hair.

"Class, like right now. Gotta go." Claire says as she goes to scoop up her bag and head out the door, trying to avoid questions.

"Whoa, hold up girl, what's with the sweatshirt in the ninety degree heat?" Eve asks intercepting her, eyebrows raised, arms crossed.

"I like it," Claire says weakly with a shrug. "Besides, it gets cold in those classrooms."

"Yeah, uh-huh. You look so guilty Claire, and with that sweatshirt practically zipped up to your chin, I can guess why. You get how dangerous that is, don't you?"

"I—I don't know what you're talking about." Claire stammers, turning to grab her bag as a way to hide the blush of embarrassment creeping onto her face.

"Don't B.S me Claire! You're a horrible liar by the way. I'm not saying you shouldn't, I'm just saying that you need to be careful."

"Why is it okay when you let Michael do it Eve?" Claire asks indigently, looking back at her. "Do you make sure you're careful with him?"

"Of course I do!" Eve says frowning at Claire. "But we both know that Shane doesn't rule Impulse land as the King of Control. Besides, we can all tell that something's wrong with him."

"Thanks for your concern," Claire snaps, no longer able to control her anger. "But I didn't think I was allowed to get involved with what happens between you and Michael, and I don't want to! So I get that you're worried but, quite frankly, it's none of your business. And I know that something's wrong with Shane but he's going to be fine, he's finally talking to me, and I'm helping him okay? Now I really have to get to class Eve." Claire says, slinging up her backpack and walking out the door, but not before seeing Eve, wide eyed and mouth dropped open in shock.

Walking down the street, Claire can't help but smile a little. She was always good, quiet, little Claire. She wasn't supposed to cause a confrontation like that; the fact that Eve seemed so shocked proved that. Sure, she stood up for things, important things, life and death things, but this was for her. It felt good.

After her test, which she was the first to finish and that she knew she aced, Claire knew she had to go to Myrnin's. She had been avoiding him for weeks, every time she went, the topic of Shane somehow came up and it always became tense and uncomfortable. But he had been calling her constantly, and trying to get through the portal at the house. Claire just didn't want to deal with it, but she knew soon Amelie would intervene and that was something no one wanted. As far as Amelie was concerned, Claire practically belonged to the town.

Claire walks to the alley by the Day house, stopping to wave to Gramma Day, who sat rocking on her front porch with a pitcher of iced tea waiting in case Claire wanted to come up and chat, but Claire just wanted to get this over with. She walks down the narrow alley towards the ramshackle shack the led to Myrnin's layer.

Claire takes a deep breath before taking out her key, turning it in the padlock and opening the door which creaks loudly, shattering the complete silence. Claire slowly walks down the steps, into Myrnin's lab, which of course, is a complete mess with lab tables pushed everywhere, papers, books, glass, equipment and other unidentifiable things. Claire sighs knowing that she'll have to pick it up or no one will.

"Claire!" Myrnin says suddenly says popping up behind her making her force down a shriek. "Ah! You're here! Good! There is so much to do!"

"Yeah I can see that, when did the tornado hit?" Claire asks dryly.

"Oh that?" Myrnin asks taking in the mess and dismissing it with a wave of his hand. "No not that. Something of much more importance. Come—" He starts grabbing her hand and beginning to yank her away, but suddenly he freezes, staring at her. No, staring at her neck.

"What Myrnin?" Claire asks yanking her hand away, of course, he doesn't let go. Slowly, his other hand reaches for the zipper on her sweatshirt. "Myrnin let me go!" Claire says, desperately trying to get away. She really didn't want to deal with this right now. Myrnin ignores her, and he slowly unzips her sweatshirt ripping it off her, leaving her in a T-shirt. Myrnin stares at her neck, at the two red holes there, his face filled with a mixture of protective fury and worry before he quickly covers it with a blank mask.

"Claire," Myrnin asks, voice deathly quiet. "Who bit you?"

"None of your business!" Claire snaps, glaring up at him. "Now let me go!" She tries to pull away again, but he keeps his grip painfully tight.

"Was it Shane? Tell me Claire!" He asks shaking her so hard her teeth rattle. "Because if so, this seems a very foolish way to remain human as I believe you have chosen. Do you not realize how dangerous this is? Do you not realize that he could easily lose control? That he could kill you Claire? How do you think that would affect your Shane? Do you think he would be able to live with the guilt? Or would he choose to join you?"

"Myrnin stop it please!" Claire says desperately, on the verge of tears. Things had started to go so well and now everyone seemed to be turning against her.

"Fine," Myrnin says finally releasing her, making Claire stumble back, rubbing her aching wrist which was sure to have a bruise by tomorrow. "I am through with you today. Go." He turns from her, back rigid with tension.

Claire stares at him speechless. Why did he care if Shane bit her, how did that affect him? And why was everyone so sure that Shane couldn't control himself?

"I said go!" Myrnin roars whirling back around, his eyes a blazing red. Claire quickly snatches her sweatshirt and scoops up her backpack, walking up the stairs as fast as she could backwards, not wanting to take her eyes off of him. He stares right back the whole time with barely contained fury, his eyes ruby red. When Claire reached the top, she runs as fast as she can out of the shack and through the alley. At the end, she's gasping and she pauses a second to sit and catch her breath on the side walk.

"Everything all right?" Claire hears a voice asks and turns to see Gramma Day holding her shotgun and looking extremely dangerous despite being a little old lady who looked like she couldn't harm a fly normally. People in Morganville were full of surprises; they had to be, if they wanted to survive.

"I'm fine Gramma," Claire says with a weak smile. "He's just in a bad mood."

"Not my favorite neighbor, that's for sure," Gramma says with a scowl. "If you ever want me to take care of him for you, just let me know, you hear?"

"I will," Claire assures her. "Thanks."

"Sure thing honey, you have a good day now." She says before settling back into her rocking chair and depositing her gun beside her.

"You too!" Claire calls as she pulls her sweatshirt back on and zips it up before heading back down the street towards home. No one would be home by now and a boring day of studying was just what she needed.