She really didnt want to end up in a jar, like Ada had before her. A ghost, slowly going mad because she couldnt touch, be touched, be human. Although in Adas case, shed been a vampire. But still, Ada hadnt exactly come through it with all her marbles. Oh, shed seemed to do her job, running the systems; shed kept the portals open and the boundaries closed, issued alerts when residents tried to flee, probably even done a lot more that Claire had never seen. But in the end, Ada had gotten less and less sane, and more and more determined to keep Myrnin all to herself, and never mind the rest of Morganville.
And Myrnin hadnt been able to admit that there was a problem.
That brought a bad flashback of Adas proper Victorian school-mistress image standing in front of her, hands folded, smiling. Waiting for Claire to die.
Well, I didnt die, Claire thought, and controlled a shudder. Ada died. And Im not ending up like Ada, some insane thing trying to stay alive at any cost. . . .
She flinched as someone touched her shoulder, but it was Shane. He grinned down at her. Hospitals freak you out?
They ought to, she shot back. Youre always ending up in here.
Not fair. Youve had your turns, too.
She had, more than she liked. Claire scrambled to her feet, grabbed her stuff, and saw Dr. Mills standing a few feet away. He was smiling. That was a good sign, right?
Hes fine, the doctor said, in such a soothing voice Claire knew she was looking anxious. Or panicked. Whatever he was accidentally exposed to, I cant find anything thats off. But if you start feeling odd, dizzy, experiencing any pain or discomfort, be sure to call me, Shane.
Shane, his back to the doctor, rolled his eyes, then turned and said a polite thank-you. How much do I owe you, Doc?
Dr. Mills raised his eyebrows. I see youre wearing Amelies pin.
Shane was, haphazardly stuck in the collar of his shirt; hed bitched about it at first, but Claire had insisted they all wear the pins, all the time. Amelie had promised that they would identify them as a special kind of neutral, free from attack by any vampiresthough shed yet to test out the theory.
Apparently, they were also gold cards, because Dr. Mills continued. Theres no charge for services for friends of Morganville.
Shane frowned, and it looked like he might argue, but Claire pulled on his arm, and he let himself be led away to the elevators. Never turn down free, she said.
I dont like it, Shane said, before the doors even closed. I dont like being some charity case.
Yeah, well, trust me: you couldnt afford his bill anyway. She turned toward him as the elevator beeped its descent to the ground floor, and stepped closer. Youre okay. Youre really okay.
Told you I was. He bent down, and she turned her face up, but they had time for only a quick, sweet kiss before the doors opened and they had to dodge out of the way of a gurney with a patient on it. Shane took her hand, and they walked out of the hospital lobby and into the late-afternoon sun.
On the way out she caught a glimpse of a face in shadows, pale and sharp and hard. An older man with a vivid scar marring his face.
Claire stopped walking, and Shane continued on for a step before looking back at her. What? he asked, and turned to see where she was staring.
Nothing was there now, but Claire was sure of what shed seen, even in that brief flash.
Shanes father, Frank Collins, had been watching them. That was unsettling, creepy. She hadnt seen Frank in a whilenot since hed saved her life. Shed heard that hed been around, but seeing him was an entirely different thing.
Frank Collins was the worlds most reluctant vampire, and besides that, she was sure that he was the person Shane least wanted to see.
Nothing, she said, and focused her attention back on Shane with a smile that she hoped was happy. Im so glad youre okay.
So, how do we celebrate my okayness? Its my day off. Lets go crazy. Glow-in-the-dark bowling?
No.
Ill let you use the kiddie ball.
Shut up. I do not need the kiddie ball.
The way you bowl, I think you might. He grabbed her in an exaggerated formal dance pose and whirled her around, backpack and all, which didnt make her any more graceful. Ballroom dancing?
Are you insane?
Hey, girls who tango are hot.
You think Im not hot because I dont tango?
He dropped the act. Shane was a smart boy. I think you are too hot for ballroom or bowling. So you tell me. What do you want to do? And dont say study.
Well, she hadnt been going to. Although shed considered it. How about the movies?
How about borrowing Eves car and going to the drive-in movie?
Morganville still has a drive-in theater? What is this, 1960?
I know, goofy, but its kind of cool. Somebody bought it a few years ago and fixed it up. Its the hot place to take a hot date. Well, hotter than the bowling alley, because . . . privacy.
It sounded weird, but Claire thought that in fairness, it did seem more romantic than the bowling alley, and less old-folks than ballroom dancing. Whats showing?
Shane gave her a sidelong look. Why? You planning on watching the movie?
She laughed. He tickled her. She shrieked and ran on ahead, but he caught her and tackled her down to the grass of the park on the corner, and for a couple of seconds she kept laughing and struggling, but then he kissed her, and the sensation of his warm, soft lips moving on hers took all the fight right out of her. It felt wonderful, lying here on the grass, with the sun shining on them, and for a few minutes she was floating in a soft, warm cloud of delight, as if nothing in the world could ever ruin this feeling.
Until a police siren let out a sharp burst of noise, and Shane yelped and rolled off of her and up to his feet, ready for . . . what? Fighting? He knew better. Besides, as Claire struggled up to her elbows, she saw that the police car that had pulled up to the curb wasonce againChief Hannah Moses. She was laughing, her teeth very white against her dark skin.
Relax, Shane; I just didnt want you scaring the little old ladies, Hannah said. Im not hauling you in. Unless youve got something to confess.
Hey, Chief. Didnt know kissing was against the code.
Theres probably something about public displays of affection, but Im not so much bothered by that. She pointed at the western horizon, where the sun was brushing the edge. Time to be getting home.
Shane looked where she pointed, and nodded, suddenly sobered. Thanks. Lost track of time.
Well, I can see how. She waved and pulled away, off to deliver helpful encouragement to other wandering potential victims. It was different from the way Monicas brother, Richard Morrell, used to do things, and before him the old police chief, but Claire kind of liked it. It seemed . . . more caring.
Shane held out his hand and pulled her to her feet, and helped her dust the grass off, which was mainly just an excuse to be handsy. Which she didnt mind at all. Did you see my ninja move? That was fast, right?
You are not a ninja, Shane.
Ive watched all the movies. I just havent gotten the certificate from the correspondence course yet.
She smiled; she couldnt help it. Her lips were still tingling, and she wanted him to kiss her again, but Hannah was rightsundown was a bad time to make out in public. Ive thought about the drive-in.
And?
She fell in beside him as they walked toward home. I dont care whats playing after all.
His eyebrows rose. Sweet.
Michael wasnt home when they got there, but Eve was, buzzing around upstairs. Claire could immediately tell, because either it was Eve in those shoes, or the hoof beats of a small pony. Not that Eve was large; she just . . . clomped. It was the big, heavy boots.
Its chili-dog night, Shane said. How many?
Two, Claire said.
Really? Thats a lot for you.
Im celebrating the fact that you didnt fry out your brain being stupid.
He crossed his eyes and let his tongue loll, which was disgusting and funny, and smacked the side of his head to put everything back right again. Jurys still out on that one. Two chili dogs, coming up.
Hey! Claire called after him, as she leaned her backpack against the wall. No onions!
Your loss!
I meant for you! Not if you want to get kissed tonight!
Damn, girl. Harsh.
She grinned and ran up the stairs, intending to use the bathroombut Eve was breathlessly rushing toward it. Wait, wait, wait! she squeaked. I have to finish my makeup! Please?
Claire blinked. The outfit, even for Eve, was a little much . . . a skintight black minidress with all kinds of lacing and buckles, fishnet hose, and big plaid boots with two-inch-thick soles that came up to her knees. Sure, she said. Uhwhere are you going?
Coryyou know, the girl from the UC coffee bar, the one who isnt a butthead?shes going to this rave thing, and I promised her Id go with, just so she doesnt feel so weird. Shes not much of a partyer. Itll be an early night, but I promised her Id be ready by seven
Shes picking you up?
Yeah. Why? You need the car?
If youre not using it.
Knock yourself outjust please let me have the bathroom!
Claire sighed. Go ahead. And thanks. Oh, and be careful?
Please. I am the queen of careful. Also, princess of punk fabulousness.
She was probably right about that last part, anyway. Claire continued on down the hall to her room, closed and locked the door, and opened up her dresser to go through her choices for underwear. She wanted something pretty. Something . . . special.
In the back of the drawer, neatly folded, was a bra-and-panties set that Eve had bought her for her birthdayway too revealing, Claire had thought, since it was mostly net and little pink roses. But . . . cute. Very cute. Eve had handed it to her and whispered, Dont open it in front of the guys. Trust me. Youll blush. And she had saved it to open in private, and stuck it in the back of a drawer, although shed been delighted. It was like a sexy little secret she hadnt known if shed ever actually be brave enough to share.
Now she took a deep breath, stripped off her jeans and top and plain underwear, and put on the new bra and panties. They fitnot that she expected anything else from Eve, who had an eye for that kind of thing. She was afraid to look, but Claire made herself walk over to the mirror on the back of the door.
After the blinding shock of OMG, she tried to be objective and not cover herself up with a blanket. She looked . . . naked. Well, almost. But . . . the longer she looked at it, the better she liked it. It made her tingle, just a little. What really made her tingle was the idea of what Shane would say when he saw her like this.
Because she intended for him to see it.
The jeans and T-shirt didnt seem good enough anymore. Claire went to her closet and pulled out and rejected things that just werent right until she found a top shed almost forgotten aboutan impulse buy in Dallas, like the pink wig up on the shelf that she wore when she was in a silly mood. This was a soft, silky button-down shirt in dark red, and it fit really welltoo well for her to feel comfortable wearing it to school, or to the lab, or anywhere else, for that matter.
But for this, it was perfect.
She dressed, added a touch of lipstick, and headed back. Eve was still in the bathroom, of course. Claire banged on it on the way by and yelled, Vampire attack!
Tell them to bite me later! Eve yelled back. Claire grinned and skipped down the steps, and arrived just as Shane came out of the kitchen, carrying two plates loaded with chili dogs.
He didnt quite drop them. He put them on the table and said, staring at her, New shirt?
She smiled. Bought it in Dallas. Do you like it?
Oh, come on. Whats not to like? Especially with the easy-open buttons.
You did not say that out loud.
Huh. I thought I did, actually.
Claire slipped into her chair. Hed gotten her a cold Coke, too, which was perfect. So were the chili dogs. Hed even left off the onions. Delicious, she mumbled around a mouthful, and then thought that probably spoiled her fancy new look.
Her fancy new look, though, was nothing compared to Eves outfit, and just as the doorbell rang, Eve came clattering down the stairs in her buckles and laces and fishnets and boots, and Shanes eyebrows climbed high. He chewed chili dog, swallowed, and said, Is there some holiday Im missing? Girls Dress-up Day?
Yes, Shane, and its a secret you will never share, Eve said. You just benefit. So shut up.
You look like a Goth factory exploded all over you! he called as she ran down the hall.
Love you, too, jackass!
The door slammed. Shane grinned and took a huge bite of his second hot dog. Shes so sensitive, he mumbled.
Thats because youre not.
What?
Claire sighed. Never mind. I should know better than to think guys would ever figure that out.
Okay, this is not a conversation I ever intend to have. Did you get the car?
Eve said its fine.
Shane wolfed down the rest of his food in record time, before shed even tried to start her second hot dog. She shook her head, took her plate into the kitchen, and put it in the refrigerator for later . . . although she was pretty sure Shane would sneak back and eat it, too, if she didnt get to it first.
He was practically bouncing up and down to leave when she came back with the car keys, which she pitched to him underhanded; he fielded them without a pause as he headed for the door.
Shotgun! Claire yelled.
He laughed and opened the door, and took a giant step back, because, of all people, Amelie was standing there. She didnt come inside, although she could have; as Claire joined Shane, she looked at each of them in turn with her cool gray eyes reflecting the hallway light in a strange kind of way. Amelie was wearing her hair down these days, which was still odd to Claire, whod become so accustomed to that white-gold hair being fastened up in a crown. The long hair made her look much younger. Shed changed how she dressed, tooinstead of the formal, stiff suit jackets and skirts, shed put on dark pants and a black, silky shirt. She was wearing a gold pendant in the shape of a lily, with a red stone in the center. It looked beautiful, and expensive, and old.