Claire began to panic, "Myrnin, I have to go!" she screamed, nearly hysterical, and didn't wait for a reply. She ran out onto the streets faster than she ever has before, tears blurring her sight.
Could her long walk to the lab have been the death of Shane? Why couldn't she just be the bigger person? She could have made things okay between them, now she could open the door to find him dead and they had still been upset with each other. She wouldn't have been able to tell him she loved him. Claire was sweating and her lungs were burning but she would not stop running, not for anything. She would readily kill whoever and whatever got in her way. Hysterical, choked sobs escaped her mouth as she ran. She was getting closer to the house; she could see it just around the corner. She threw open the gate and realized she left her key in her bag which was left in the lab in her haste to leave.
She banged desperately on the door, ignoring the screaming of her hand in the process. Eve opened it, looking panicked, "Where's Shane?" Claire yelled.
"Up in his room—" Claire shoved past her and raced up the stairs, slamming Shane's door open, banging it into the wall. Shane stared at her, startled as brief anger passed in his eyes, until he saw her sweating, shaking, panting and teary eyed form, "Claire?"
She didn't wait; she threw herself into his arms, crying hysterically, "Oh, God, you're okay!"
"Claire, what's wrong?" he began rubbing his hands over her arms in search of injury, which were in a chokehold around his neck, "Are you hurt?" he asked frantically.
She shook her head, burying it in his neck, barely able to breathe from the running and crying.
"Okay, alright," Shane cooed, rubbing her back and laying her down on the bed next to him, "breathe, Claire. Come on, calm down, talk to me."
It took Claire a while to finally be able to breathe and when she could, she looked at Shane's worried face through pink eyes, tears still running down her face, Shane wiped them away with his thumb, but they were quickly replaced, but at least the sobs that shook her whole frame had stopped.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"Brandon," she whimpered.
He instantly panicked, "Did he touch you? What happened? I knew I shouldn't have let you out of the house—"
"No," Claire interrupted, "I didn't see him."
Shane stared at her, "Alright, come on, Claire, you're not making any sense."
Claire took a deep breath, "I went to the lab, Myrnin was doing something in the back and there was a note with my name on it. I thought it was from him, but it was from Brandon, saying that if he couldn't have me, he'd have you. That I'd have a bloody present when I got home. I thought he— I thought you were—" she couldn't finish, but understanding flashed in his eyes and she knew she didn't have to.
"Did you run all the way here?" Claire nodded.
"I forgot my book bag and everything in it. It's still in the lab."
He crushed her to his chest where she grabbed his shirt in her hands, "It's okay, I'm okay. I'm right here, alright?" Claire nodded into his chest, "Hey, look at me," she obeyed, staring into the eyes she loved, "Right here, okay?" Claire nodded, tears flooding her eyes again.
"I thought I lost you, that I wouldn't get a chance to make things better between us."
Shane smiled crookedly, "Can't get rid of me that easily. Please, you think some psycho vamp can get me down? You underestimate this." he gestured to himself and Claire managed a small giggle, making Shane smile wider, "There's your beautiful smile." His smile faltered after a minute, "I'm sorry for being such an ass to you. I just hate the thought of you in danger. And around him."
Claire didn't feel like talking anymore, so she touched his cheek gently, "Does that mean I'm forgiven?" Claire nodded and kissed him. Shane chuckled, "Well, if it's that easy, I should get death threats more often."
She shuddered, hiding her face in his shoulder again, "Right, sorry." He whispered, "Why don't you stay home for a few days? Relax for a bit and calm down." To his surprise, Claire agreed, she didn't want him out of her sight for a while. She warned him of this, telling him that he might get tired of her and he just chuckled, "Claire, I could never get tired of you. For the next few days, we can sit and relax and be around each other without interruption. No work, no school, no studying. Under normal circumstances, I hardly get to see you because you're always so swamped with that stuff. No phone, no books, just me and you."
Well, there you have it. Shane is okay :) did you really think I would kill him off, though? I could never. Thanks for waiting so patiently, I loved this part:) sorry it's so short, but I kinda couldn't go any farther without making it extremely long, or without giving things away. Hope you enjoyed :)