Melancholy Afternoons (Claire)

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"We should" What? "Yes. Yes, we can put a rush on your passport and you can make sure it's okay with your leader and.. we'll just go! Let's just go!" What?! Claire's eyes went wide with shock that he actually was agreeing to this. Then again it was better than moping around in the condo day in and day out. Hell, even at the museum things kind of sucked. Nobody wanted to go to the museum when the sky look like it was going to swoop down and suck you up into it. Or get struck by lightning. That would really hurt.

"Are you.. are you serious?" "We'll book our flights today.. draw out a map, make a plan. We'll order whatever supplies we need and put a rush on it. We can be out of here in five days, tops." Holy crud he's not kidding. Cheyenne was going to murder her if she left the city, but she had a feeling if she cleared it with their leader it would be okay. Yeah, sure, Guardians were needed since the tree cracked open but Claire could barely open a can of soda without managing to screw it up, what sort of help would she be? Really.

"If you're more interested in site seeing we should stay north; Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco.. if you're more for a walk on the wild side then Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda and Senegal are what we should do." She was not a 'walk on the wild side' kind of person usually but what the hell, there was a first time for everything, right? "Wild side. Definitely wild side." She nodded her head to confirm her answer. She'd have to juggle around some of her credit cards, figure out which one to put the tickets on, and she'd need to do a rush on her passport. She already had the application filled out and her picture taken she just needed to send them in.

She listened to him strum the ukulele, getting a nice little rhythm going and smiled at him. "Frank will love this. Actually.. he really might. I haven't taken a vacation in like three years and I think he'll be relieved that I won't be around to get naked in his office anymore," she said and shook her head at the thought, shuddering loudly. She was going to be scarred for the rest of her life from that.

"Don't stop dancing.. Do you wanna hear a song? Here, I'll play a song and you dance. I can't really sing. I have to sing goofy." "Well I have to dance goofy so we're two peas in a goofy pod." She told him and when he started to play and sing she couldn't help but laugh. He was so cute and she kept faking her way through different dance moves. Bouncing on the bed she plugged her nose and wiggled her body, bending her knees and sinking towards the bed before bouncing back up and doing the next awkward dance move. She was awful. This was why she didn't go to clubs or go dancing when Cheyenne asked her to.

"You know what? I think I'll dye my hair for our trip. We need to just leave the city behind for a little while and I think I want to be... blonde. Yes. I am going to go blonde. For Africa." A part of her hoped they wouldn't be the only white people there. She was awkward enough when she blended in with a crowd but when she stood out? She didn't even want to think about it right now.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"Well I have to dance goofy so we're two peas in a goofy pod." He only smiled wider as his fingers strummed on the small instrument, his eyes locked on her as she danced silly for him. "Alright." He said and chuckled. "You dance goofy for me." Griffin looked down at his ukulele.

"Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away.." He sang and laughed, his green eyes back up on hers. "If you can use some exotic booze, there's a bar in far Bombay.. Come on and fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away." His voice lowered and got huskier as he sang and also a little more nasal. It was clear he was messing with his voice more to be silly than anything else despite the sweet Frank Sinatra song he sang. He had always enjoyed ol' blue eyes. "Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru. In llama land, there's a one-man band, and he'll toot his flute for you. Come on fly with me, let's take off in the blue. Once I get you up there, where the air is rarified.. Weeee'll just glide, starry-eyed. Once I get you up theeere, I'll be holding yoooou sooooo near.. You may hear.. all the angels cheer, 'cause we're together." He couldn't help it anymore. Between his own stupid voice and her own silly dance he could hardly concentrate on the words to the song and just had to stop though his fingers never stopped moving on the ukulele.

"You know what?" "What?" He asked feeling in higher spirits than he could ever remembering feeling despite everything going on. "I think I'll dye my hair for our trip. We need to just leave the city behind for a little while and I think I want to be... blonde. Yes. I am going to go blonde. For Africa." Claire? Blond? He pictured Cheyenne for some reason. The girls looked similar but not identical. Claire was scrawnier and much paler. There was also something more girlish about his girlfriend as opposed to her sister who seemed mature. Not mentally, just physically. He considered it was probably the more pronounced curves. Claire would look odd as a blond, but in a nice way.

"You'd look beautiful even if your hair was green. Silly, but beautiful." He smiled sweetly at her and put his palm against the strings of the ukulele to stop the sound. He stared up at Claire before placing the instrument down and standing on the bed with her. He reached up and pulled some of the silly things off her head and tossed them on the bed, finding her eyes. "This is what we need." He said softly, nodding his head. "A change.. time away from this darkness.. time together, to get to know one another better. I want to know everything, Claire. Every...every silly little goof up you've made." He smiled and a soft laugh came through his nose. "Every accomplishment.. This is what we need. This can be the beginning for us. Africa.." He licked his lips and then smiled wide. "We should celebrate! We'll go out for lunch, drink wine, wear...silly things.." He wrinkled his brows and looked down at her ensemble. "Or maybe we shouldn't wear silly things.."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

The song he picked couldn't have been more suitable for him and the goofy voice he used to sing it only made it better. She laughed and bounced around, dancing even sillier now that he was singing the way that he was.

"You'd look beautiful even if your hair was green. Silly, but beautiful." "Hmm.. you know I always thought orange was my color. Like Vitamin C? You know.. that one chick who sang that one song about Graduating and then the sunshine one.." Her eyes wandered around, trying to think about the words to the song before she sand them. "I was lying in the grass on Sunday morning of last week," she started to sing, bobbing her head from side to side as if she could hear the tune in her head. "Indulging in my self defeat.."

"This is what we need. A change.. time away from this darkness.. time together, to get to know one another better. I want to know everything, Claire. Every...every silly little goof up you've made." He started to peel the layers of odd little things she had put on herself. "Every accomplishment.. This is what we need. This can be the beginning for us. Africa.." The beginning, huh? The corners of her lips curved down as she gave a 'not bad' look to him and a nod. "I like the sound of that. And we're so watching Lion King tonight!"

"We should celebrate! We'll go out for lunch, drink wine, wear...silly things.." Claire chuckled softly when he wrinkled his brows looking at what she was wearing. "Or maybe we shouldn't wear silly things.." She shook her head and leaned in so she could playfully brush her scrunched up nose against his, "no silly things. But yes to the wine. Lots of wine!" They could get drunk before happy hour!

"Let's swing by my place too. I-If you don't mind." She put a hand on his chest and ran her thumb in little circles against his skin. "I mean.. well I have been here the last two nights. I'm running out of clothes. I could get some more clothes.. stay longer?" She had a feeling that Griffin wouldn't mind her staying over. The fact of the matter was neither of them wanted to be alone right now and with his condo being larger than her shack of an apartment it just made more sense to stay at his place. But Claire never really asked someone to stay over before. When it came to her sister she'd tell her if she was crashing at her place but that was it. She didn't do slumber parties.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"no silly things. But yes to the wine. Lots of wine! Let's swing by my place too. I-If you don't mind." He couldn't take his eyes off of her and his heart beat harder when she slid her hand onto his chest, her thumbs moving in small circles and making his stomach squirm in a strange way. "I mean.. well I have been here the last two nights. I'm running out of clothes. I could get some more clothes.. stay longer?" The very idea of it thrilled him to no end. Having her there all the time would be amazing!

"You never have to leave if you don't want." He said softly, and he meant it. Griffin placed his hand on top of hers on his chest, pressing it to his heart. He wanted her to know how deeply he cared for her. Words couldn't describe it. He didn't know how to describe it in a way that made sense. She completed him in a way. Even Griffin knew that was a cheesy line, though. He wasn't interested in feeding her cheesy lines, not realizing he already often did.

"Alright, we really should get dressed or I'm going to stand here and kiss you all day, because that's all I really want to do, and we have a lot to do if we plan on heading to Africa." He pressed his lips to hers briefly and stepped off the bed, helping her do the same.

Griffin offered Claire some sweat pants to wear when they finally did leave the house. They went to Claire's house first so she could pack some things to stay with him a few nights and then they headed off to grab a bite to eat. As promised they shared a bottle of wine, both getting tipsy, but not overly so. He promised more wine later.

The sky was still ominous, dark and scary with lightning flashing through it. It made Griffin uneasy, but he tried to focus on being with Claire, holding her hand, and kissing her now and then to ease his mind a little. She was, as always, full of energy and he fed off it. They did some light shopping looking for things for their trip, and Claire even found an insanely hideous women's suit that looked like it belonged in Africa, over in the vintage shop. She insisted she had to wear it, and who was he to stop her? She would look ridiculous, but he didn't care. He loved how ridiculous she was.

At one point Cheyenne called and Claire excused herself to talk to her sister, Griffin watching her cautiously form afar. He never knew what sort of mood Claire might be in after speaking with her sister who had a tendency to be a mood ruiner. He picked out some wine while she walked around talking to Cheyenne, his arms already full with a bag of fresh goods to make supper that evening. Finally Claire returned to him and he smiled as she explained Cheyenne would be coming over shortly. With that they purchased their wine, and with full arms headed back to Griffin's.

Griffin was putting groceries away and doing some light cleaning when there was a knock on the door. "I'll let you have some time with her." He told Claire gently, pecking her lips. "We'll start dinner in an hour. Tell Chey she's welcome to stay." He told her before heading towards the bedroom with the computer set up. He needed to look up some trip details so they could review it in the morning!

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

Cheyenne was a damn mess since this whole dark bullshit started. Even worse, her SISTER had decided that she was going to bunk up with her stupid boyfriend. How is it that Claire get's a boyfriend and suddenly decides that Cheyenne is a second rate person in her life? TWICE she bailed! Not once, twice and all Cheyenne wanted was a LITTLE sister time, but apparently that was too difficult. When Claire texted her and asked her to come to Griffin's she nearly lost it. No! She didn't want to go to stupid bird man's cushy apartment, she wanted to go to Claire's hole in the wall and browse her shoe collection so she could feel happy again. GAWD why did Claire need to be such a clingy, needy bitch? She was the most selfish sister in the world.

Cheyenne didn't text Claire back right away knowing she would freak on her if she did. She needed to eat first, and run, and take a shower. After all that she ate again and then called Claire, who OF COURSE was out with, gasp! Griffin! "Jeez, are you surgically sewn together now or something?" She snapped at her sister bitterly, but she finally caved and said she would go to Griffin's house. Internally she knew she would go off on the boy if he even looked at her funny, but she tried not to think about that. In a way she really was happy Claire had someone, especially someone like Griffin who she knew was a good guy who wouldn't take advantage of her. she just wished that their relationship was timed a little more conveniently.

Seething a little less now, Cheyenne made her way up the elevator and got off on Griffins floor. She went to his door and knocked, waiting for her sister to open the door. When she did she offered a bright, fake smile. "Oh, I'm looking for my sister, Claire. I forget what she looks like, though. Because she's been avoiding me." Her eyes narrowed and she let herself in, looking around and not seeing Griffin. She turned at folded her arms, glaring at Claire before her eyes softened and she pouted. "I missed you, Claire bear.." She told her sister begrudgingly, her arms dropping as her brows knitted. "What the hell's going on? I keep shifting! You haven't even told me everything about the stupid tree splitting, and the black dude getting his wings cut off? The fucks going on?" She looked around again, "And where the hell's Griffin? I thought he'd be glued to you or something."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Grab a bag full of clothes and toiletries from home including favorite pillow? Check. Eat and get a pretty good buzz going? Check. Buy the most ostentatious suit ever made on the planet? Triple check with a side of awesome. That's right! Claire bought a vibrant pant suit to wear to Africa. It had all the right tones and patterns and it just screamed African pimp at her. She was going to be an African pimp.

When they went shopping for food for the evening Cheyenne finally answered her back when she asked her to meet her at Griffin's place. She didn't sound too pleased but Claire didn't care. It was the best she could do with how crazy everything was at the moment. With Griffin, who seemed to get upset whenever she left his side to shifting every night, and let's not forget Mordecai's lifeless and wingless body that she helped carry away.

When they arrived back at Griffin's place Claire was trying to sort her things and help Griffin tidy up around the condo, not that they had much tidying up to do. When she heard the door she knew her sister had arrived and was ready for her. She loved her sister to death but sometimes she just wanted to strangle her. "We'll start dinner in an hour. Tell Cheyenne she's welcome to stay." She thought about telling him that Chey wasn't staying but then felt a little guilty. She had blown her sister off enough already and if they ate early enough then Chey would have plenty of time to get home before the shift occurred.

She watched Griffin disappear into the room before she opened up the door to none other than Cheyenne who looked like a fake ray or sunshine. "Oh, I'm looking for my sister, Claire. I forget what she looks like, though. Because she's been avoiding me." Claire just rolled her eyes and shut the door once Cheyenne was inside. "I missed you, Claire bear." When she turned to look at the blonde she saw how quickly she changed from angry bitch to pouty... pout person. "I kno-" "What the hell's going on? I keep shifting! You haven't even told me everything about the stupid tree splitting, and the black dude getting his wings cut off? The fucks going on? And where the hell's Griffin, I thought he'd be glued to you or something."

"Shh!" Claire waved her arms around in the air as if that would get Cheyenne's attention and get her to shut up. "That 'black dude' was their leader. And I don't know what is going on. Someone murdered him and then the tree split open and this dark smoke went shooting out into the sky. That's all I know. You know, apart from whats on the news. Chey its not just us.." Claire wanted to keep her voice down so that she didn't upset Griffin and even looked toward the bedroom. "He's like.. molting. Like he's shedding feathers more than usual and he's so depressed I can't leave him alone."

Claire moved over to the couch and sat down sideways so her back was against the arm rest. "You haven't been shifting out in public have you? You're staying home at night right?" It was her turn to narrow her eyes at Cheyenne but it was more of a 'you better be home shifting and not letting anyone see you' eye narrowing move. "You better be staying inside!"

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

"Shh! That 'black dude' was their leader." Her sister was waving her arms around like an idiot, which was nothing new. Claire had a tendency to act like an idiot. It never ceased to amaze Chey, either. She swore that the girl would have grown out of it, but nope! The older they got, the spazzier Claire became. It was miraculous in a way. "And I don't know what is going on. Someone murdered him and then the tree split open and this dark smoke went shooting out into the sky. That's all I know. You know, apart from whats on the news. Chey its not just us.." What did she mean not just them. The other Therians? Because that was fucking obvious. She knew Kit's bar was a fucking ghost town!

"He's like.. molting. Like he's shedding feathers more than usual and he's so depressed I can't leave him alone." Cheyenne looked at the room that Griffin was clearly hiding out in. He was losing feathers? That was weird.. Why was he being such a baby about all this? So what, his leader died. Big deal! She would make a sad face if Livingston died, but she'd get over it. No disrespect, she was just a person though. "I think it's okay to leave him alone for, like, a couple hours to come see your sister. I mean, I did practically raise you." She reached out and shoved her pointer hard into Claire's shoulder.

Chey followed her little sister to the couch and plopped down next to her, still sulking a little that she had to drag her ass all the way to Griffins to get to hang out with her stupid sister, away from all her glorious shoes. "You haven't been shifting out in public have you? You're staying home at night right?" Chey rolled her eyes. Did she think she was an idiot? "You better be staying inside!" "Yeah," She said sarcastically, "I've been taking my ass down to the steps of City Hall to shift every night for the fucking city to see. Seriously, Claire? C'mon!" She huffed and shook her head. "Yes, I've been home every night, and fortunately I was home that first night. Fucking freaked right out, too. Jesus I was scared, it was like mutare all over again! Not knowing what the fuck was going on but clearly I did." She sighed and relaxed, putting down her guard a little.

"How are you?" She asked, changing the subject as she softened a little, going up and down between clingy sister and pissed off bitch. It wasn't her fault, really. She got a little bipolary around the full moon. "How's this...dating thing going? I haven't even seen you since you two became official." She licked her lips and looked at the room Griffin was in before leaning in close to Claire, her bright blue eyes coming back to her sisters green ones. "Is he a complete beast in bed or is he that sort of sensual-snuggle-slow-fuck type? I totally see him as one of those." She nodded, her voice down knowing Claire wouldn't want Griffin to know they were talking about his mad nookie skills.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Cheyenne knew just how to be the right amount of bitch without going too overboard. She rolled her eyes at her sister again and shook her head. "I've been taking my ass down to the steps of City Hall to shift every night for the fucking city to see. Seriously, Claire? C'mon!" Claire could have said something mean back but she held her tongue the way she did so often around her sister. "Yes, I've been home every night, and fortunately I was home that first night. Fucking freaked right out, too. Jesus I was scared, it was like mutare all over again! Not knowing what the fuck was going on but clearly I did."

Claire heaved a sigh nodding her head at what her sister said. It was true. Claire had panicked and whimpered and whined like a tortured animal after it had happened. "How are you?" She raised a brow at Cheyenne and remembered how weird her sister was around full moons. It was like Claire and how she'd be sluggish one minute and then she'd act like Speedy Gonzalez on crack. Right now she was on the more tame side thankfully. "Awesome." She nodded and stuck her lips out a bit and pursing them. She was a lot of things and awesome could be considered one of them. She was going to get the hell out of dodge for a while.

"How's this...dating thing going? I haven't even seen you since you two became official. Is he a complete beast in bed or is he that sort of sensual-snuggle-slow-fuck type? I totally see him as one of those." "What?" Claire leaned away from her sister before slapping her leg and shaking her head. "Oh my god. Really, that's all you think about isn't it? You're like a sex machine don't you have an off switch somewhere or is it embedded into your skull and unattainable?" She looked around and leaned to the side like she was trying to look at the back of Cheyenne's head. "Seriously. I... don't think it's any of your business." She turned her head to look away. Claire loved her sister and sure, when they finally did the deed she would be the first person to know but every time she asked Claire felt a little ridiculous telling her that they hadn't done it yet. So until further notice she'd just tell Cheyenne to mind her own business on that subject.

"Griff said you could stay for dinner tonight if you want." She said in an attempt to change the subject away from her sex life now. "Oh! And I kind of need your help with something. I bought this hair dye and remember when I dyed my hair in high school it turned pink? Well I don't want to do that again." She stuck her hands together in front of her like she was going to pray to the almighty saint Chey and puckered out her bottom lip to make her look even more pathetic. "Please?"

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

"Oh my god. Really, that's all you think about isn't it?" She shrugged and then nodded innocently. "You're like a sex machine don't you have an off switch somewhere or is it embedded into your skull and unattainable?" Cheyenne smirked at her little sisters accusation. She didn't have an off button, which was precisely how she nearly fucked her brother. The thought sent a wave of nausea through her and her mouth watered in that I'm going to barf way. She willed herself not to think about Brett, her long lost brother.

"Seriously. I... don't think it's any of your business." Claire was pretending to look for that magical mystery sexy button which made Chey roll her eyes. Leave it to Claire to be stupid. She knew the none of your business comment meant they hadn't gone there yet and Cheyenne just rolled her eyes. Did she think she was stupid? If Griffin had boner her, Claire would be gushing about it in some way, telling her how sweet he was or romantic, or how he was a complete beast in the sheets. "Fine, whatever." She said rolling her eyes again and leaning back, willing to drop the subject for now.

"Griff said you could stay for dinner tonight if you want." She raised her hands and did jazz fingers as a sarcastic little "Yaaaay.." hummed from her lips. How nice of him to let her stay for supper, and to let her come over, and to have the privilege to see HER DAMN SISTER! But Chey kept it to herself, only because she knew how much this stupid relationship, which had taken nearly a fucking YEAR to come about, meant to her sister and though she thought it was a little dumb she knew it made Claire happy. And despite her being a bitch to the girl pretty much a hundred percent of the time, she did want her to be happy.

"Oh! And I kind of need your help with something. I bought this hair dye and remember when I dyed my hair in high school it turned pink? Well I don't want to do that again." Oh Jesus, she was doing the pleading pout thing she did so well. It never worked on Chey. Ever. "Please?" She hated the pathetic look. The reason she was going to agree wasn't because of her stupid pout, but because she was her sister and she would do anything for her. "Fine, but only because I don't want to see you crying and freaking out about having pink hair. It's hard to get you back to earth when you're in panic mode. Since when do you want to change your hair? What, you get a boyfriend and suddenly you need to change for...he's not making you dye your hair, is he?" That didn't seem like Griffin, but she'd only met the dude once. What if becoming her boyfriend changed him! He WAS being clingy! "Did he go all psycho boyfriend on you?" Her eyes narrowed. "Is this a supervised visit?!" She hissed. No way Claire would be so dumb as to get sucked into one of those! Especially with a lion for a sister. Cheyenne had no problem eating those damn chicken wings for dinner.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"Fine, but only because I don't want to see you crying and freaking otu about having pink hair. It's hard to get you back to earth when you're in panic mode. Since when do you want to change your hair? What, you get a boyfriend and suddenly you need to change for...he's not making you dye your hair, is he?" "What?" Claire gave Cheyenne her best are-you-serious look and shook her head. "Did he go all psycho boyfriend on you? Is this a supervised visit?!" Oh. My. God.

"Cheyenne!" She gave her sister a stern look. She was being ridiculous. BEYOND ridiculous! "Yes, Griffin is one of those guys who says they like you just the way you are and then makes you change everything about yourself. Come on, Chey! Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? It's Griffin!" Of course dying her hair wasn't his idea. But she'd had red hair all of her life except the time it was accidentally dyed pink.

"I just need a change. With everything going on.." she closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened her eyes again she propped her elbows on her knees and held her head up with her hand, turning it to the side so she can still look at her sister. "We're going to take a vacation and I want to dye my hair for it. Sort of like a fresh start. Chey you weren't there that night." Claire's face grew serious and she sat up again. "You didn't see what I saw. I see him and the tree whenever I close my eyes. And the shifting and the weather I just have to get away."

She didn't expect Cheyenne to understand. But Claire never really needed something before. She hadn't taken a real vacation in forever. "We're going to go to Africa." She braced herself for Cheyenne to blow up. She'd probably get pissed off and say that Griffin was trying to steal her away and how she wouldn't see her.

"And its not like you need me around," she said quickly, trying to stop her before she went all postal. "You have a brother now and like a ton of friends. You have more than enough people to keep you occupied!"

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

"Cheyenne!" "What!" She snapped, thinking her feelings were completely legitimate! How was she supposed to know what kind of guy Griffin really was. He'd always seemed nice but that didn't mean anything! "Come on, Chey! Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? It's Griffin!" She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips before letting the annoyed look drop. "Yeah, yeah, yeah.." She grumbled and sighed.

"I just need a change. With everything going on.." Claire looked genuinely drained and Chey didn't even see it until now. Vacation? With Griffin? She was going to leave the city now with everything all shitty like this? She felt a twinge of jealousy, wanting to go with her sister. Not as a third wheel, but the two of them! She could see why Claire wanted to escape, though. Shifting every night had been difficult, and she hadn't seen the tree splitting like Claire had. She didn't have to deal with a b boyfriend who was taking it too hard. She just had to care about herself, really. "I see him and the tree whenever I close my eyes. And the shifting and the weather I just have to get away." She never stopped to think about the effect seeing the dead Avisaille would have on her sister. Cheyenne had never seen a dead person in real life before. In movies, sure, but movies weren't anything to the real thing.

She sighed and then nodded. "Where yah going?" She asked softly, wishing she could have been able to comfort her sister, but Claire didn't want comforting from Chey anymore. She got it from Griffin, and if he was anything like she expected him to be, he was a lot different at comforting than she was. Cheyenne was the kind of person to tell you to buck up, Griffin seemed the type to coddle and it seemed like they had needed coddling from each other. Gaaay... "We're going to go to Africa." Her jaw dropped. "Africa!" She demanded, genuinely hurt now. Europe? Sure, fine, whatever. Asia? Okay... Asia would be okay. Arctic? Fucking whatever but AFRICA?! She seethed quietly. There were cheetah's in Africa. There were cheetah's and there were lions. If Claire was going to go to Africa with anyone then it should be with her so they could run together with their animal brothers and sisters.

"And its not like you need me around," Did she think that's why she was upset? "You have a brother now and like a ton of friends. You have more than enough people to keep you occupied!" "That's not the point!" She blurted out, getting angry again. "Why Africa? WE should be going to Africa together, not you and Birdy McBirdypants!" She snapped not even caring if Griffin heard her. "How the hell can you afford Africa!? You have a enough Jimmy Choo's to open a fucking boutique, c'mon!" She knew she was acting like a baby, but fuck! "Is this about Brett? Are you all pissed because I found out I had a fucking brother? TWO fucking brothers?! Because I didn't want a brother, Claire, fuck!" She stood up, "You know what... whatever. Have fun in Africa with your little boyfriend, I don't even care. send me a fucking telegram." She stood up and stormed to the door. Fuck this! Fuck all of this!

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"That's not the point! Why Africa? WE should be going to Africa together, not you and Birdy McBirdypants!" Claire didn't see what the big deal was. Cheyenne was clearly overreacting and she was being rude on top of that! "How the hell can you afford Africa!? You have enough Jimmy Choo's to open a fucking boutique, c'mon!" "Okay now you're just being kind of mean," Claire said trying to stay calm but it was obvious that she was annoyed. She had credit cards and if she used like seven of them then she would be able to afford her ticket! Maybe she should sell some of her shoes.. she was pretty sure now wasn't the best time to ask Chey if she'd like to buy a pair or two off of her.

"Is this about Brett? Are you all pissed because I found out I had a fucking brother? TWO fucking brothers?! Because I didn't want a brother, Claire, fuck!" How did the conversation take such a sudden turn of events? Her sister was acting like a little brat and even though she really wanted to spend some time with Cheyenne and to even hug her sister, at that very moment she just wanted to get away from her. She wasn't going to talk to her if she was going to act like that.

"You know what... whatever. Have fun in Africa with your little boyfriend, I don't even care. Send me a fucking telegram." She got up to her feet and leaned her head to the side with her shoulders slumped forward just watching her sister storm to the door. "Seriously? You're just going to storm out like a chil-- you know what just-- fine!" What did she care?! Cheyenne was going to act like a total whack job then Claire wasn't going to stand around and listen to it. She'd dye her own hair! And if it came out pink then she would just make sure to steer clear of clashing colors for a while!

She was growing flustered and upset and she waited for Cheyenne to open up the door. When she did Claire wasn't far behind and made sure to shut it quickly once she was out in the hall. Even if Cheyenne grew a heart and decided to apologize, Claire wouldn't want to hear it right now. Her sister was probably just upset and jealous because Claire was getting out of the city for a little bit. And yeah, Claire was jealous about Cheyenne having TWO brothers! All she'd had was her sister all her life, it wasn't like their mom did any of the raising with them, and now Cheyenne found out she had more family. She knew what her father looked like.

She pressed her forehead to the door and just stood there with her eyes shut, sniffling softly. Claire just wanted things to go back to normal.. she wanted her sister to not be mad at her and think that Griffin was a crazy possessive boyfriend, she wanted Griffin to be happy again and she wanted to unsee what happened at the tree. When she took a step away from the door she rubbed at the moistness beneath her eyes and sighed. If she wasn't going to have to shift in a couple of hours she'd totally drag Griffin right back out and go shoe shopping.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

The girls voices were muffled as they talked, and Griffin was happy Claire had some time with her sister. He knew he had been hogging her, and he knew that Claire probably had some things she wanted to talk to her sister about privately, things he wouldn't understand and possibly things about him. He didn't have a brother or sister to confide in, but he knew if he did he would want to do so, and often. The voices in the other room sounded a little louder and angrier now and he got up from him place at the computer, moving to the door. "WE should be going to Africa together, not you and Birdy McBirdypants!" His brows raised, not offended by the insult but genuinely confused. Had he done something to offend Cheyenne?

"Okay now you're just being kind of mean," Claire had a point. Cheyenne was being mean. What had gotten into them? He genuinely felt bad for Claire, knowing she had been looking forward to seeing her sister. Maybe not completely, but a little. Much more than she let on. Griffin cracked the door open a little, hearing them go off on each other, but he wouldn't intervene. It wasn't his place to and all he could do is help pick up the broken pieces of Claire once Cheyenne had successfully shattered her.

"You know what... whatever. Have fun in Africa with your little boyfriend, I don't even care. Send me a fucking telegram." "Seriously? You're just going to storm out like a chil-- you know what just-- fine!" The door open and slammed shut, making Griffin jump a little. He opened the door a crack and peaked out, seeing Claire there at the door. He watched for a moment, his own heart broken for her. Cheyenne had been cruel, but he knew she was jealous. Griffin had swept in during a difficult time and selfishly claimed Claire all to himself, not stopping to think about the repercussions. She had wanted to go see her sister and he had begged her to stay and let her come here. in many ways he knew this was all his fault.

He heard Claire sniffle and he wondered if she was crying. He came out of the room and approached slowly. "Claire?" He called out, his voice soft and gentle as he stepped nearer. "Are you okay?" He reached out and laid a hand gingerly on her shoulder, wanting to wrap her in his embrace but unsure what sort of mood she would be in and he didn't want to smother her.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire had been so wrapped up in her thoughts and upset with her sister that she didn't even see Griffin heading out of the bedroom. "Claire?" His voice made her jump and she turned to look at him, wiping at her eyes again. "Hey," she said softly and gave him the best smile she could muster. "Are you okay?" She felt his hand on her shoulder and she gave a forced chuckle. "What? Yeah, I just have a contact in my eye.. or a feather or something.." She shook her head and looked down.

It was pretty obvious that Griffin had heard her arguing with her sister, and if he hadn't then the slammed door would have definitely given it away. "I don't think Chey wanted to stay for dinner," she said trying to be funny but was sure she didn't pull it off too well and stepped closer to the Avisaille and leaned into him placing her head on his chest. She sniffled once more and wiggled her nose, willing herself to stop before she was too emotional and flew off the deep end.

It didn't take long for her to settle down, taking deep breaths and feeling better being so close to Griffin. Usually it was the other way around for her and she didn't want to be touched or hugged or in the same room as someone when she was upset unless it was her sister. But Griffin was just so soft spoken and sweet how could she want to be away from him ever?

"She's all sorts of mad right now. She's always a little bipolar during a full moon so she's probably just going to be that way until we stop shifting." Claire said with her face against Griffin's chest so it came out all muffled. Maybe she should have gone to see her sister more, and maybe she'd make a note to go see her tomorrow to try and smooth things over. Even if Cheyenne was the one acting like a bipolar witch Claire knew she would have to be the one to go over and apologize if she wanted to see her sister again.

Wrapping her arms around the man and holding him a little tighter she lifted her head a little so she could look up to him. "Can we open that other bottle of wine now?"

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"What? Yeah, I just have a contact in my eye.. or a feather or something.." She shook her head and looked down, and Griffin felt his heart sink. He didn't like seeing Claire like this and had no idea how to cheer her up. "I don't think Chey wanted to stay for dinner," When she leaned into him he wrapped his arms tight around her and kissed the top of her head. "More for us, then." He offered softly, combing his fingers through her hair as he cradled her lightly against him.

"She's all sorts of mad right now. She's always a little bipolar during a full moon so she's probably just going to be that way until we stop shifting." He nodded and sighed into the top of her head, feeling his warm breath push back against his face as her hair absorbed it. "She'll calm down." He promised softly, not knowing if she would or not. "Can we open that other bottle of wine now?" He nodded again. "Of course."

Griffin pulled his head up and moved a hand to her chin, bringing it up so he could look down into her eyes. She looked upset still and he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers and letting them linger there for a moment. Finally he pulled away a little and then pecked her lips twice. "We'll have a nice evening just the two of us. We have a lot of planning to do before your shift." He kissed her again a little deeper this time, showing her how much he genuinely cared about her.

"Maybe you could go see her tomorrow. She might like to spend some time with you away from me. I promise I won't compromise you any more than I necessary." He said with a slight grin after pulling away. He reached and took her hand, bringing her with him to the kitchen. "No let's get you tipsy."

END THREAD