A Curators Dream (Claire)

[CUPCAKE]

Chey was annoyed that her sister wasn't as amused as she was by her antics. Deciding she didn't want to call complete attention to them by stabbing the kid, she decided she would taunt him instead. She leaned over and whispered filthy things into his ear, his freckled cheeks turning a deep shade of red as he squirmed in his chair. Claire on the other hand busied herself by talking to her father. “Hey um.. dad? That’s.. that’s what I call you, right? Dad? Father? Mister.. person..?” Daniel turned to his daughter, an amused but confused look on his handsome young face. "Dad's always worked in the past." He teased with a soft chuckle. The other couple turned to themselves and started talking, Claire's mother shooting a look in Claire's direction, not really an angry one, but not a pleased one either. She herself was glad to be out of the conversation, though she didn't like Claire interrupting.

“How’s it going? Did you like the salad?" He cocked his brow. "It had too many grapes." He said back, almost as awkward as the girl beside him who loved to rant. "So listen, I’m not really sure why exactly I’m here but do you think I could skip out early? Must’ve been something I ate.. or something..” The man frowned, clearly hurt. "I'm getting an award tonight.." He reminded softly, surprised that Claire wouldn't remember that. Even Cheyenne remembered that, and she hated him. Not that he was particularly fond of the girl either, but mostly because of her poor attitude. He studied his daughter a long moment, reaching a hand up and sliding it over her pale forehead. She felt cool to him, but she had seemed very pale before, and still did. She'd barely touched her salad also. Finally he gave a nod. "If you need to leave early I understand.I mean, we come to these stupid things every year, so whats one year without my baby?" It wasn't intended to make her feel guilty, but he supposed it would. "Is everything okay, though? You'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?"

A flash of a memory shot through Claire's mind, almost like electricity, forcing its way among the memories she already held. This one, though, was foreign and alien and very different from any other memory she held.

"He's stupid looking." "I think he's cute." "His eyes are too far apart." "But they look just like yours." Cheyenne shoved her little sister, glaring at her. "Ow!" Claire yelped, pouting back. "They don't look like mine because they look like his dads and his dad isn't my dad." "But his dad is my dad and I don't have his eyes.." "That's cause you got nana's eyes you big dummy." The blond girl rolled her eyes as she stared at her sister, then back at her new baby brother. Claire sighed and rested her head on the side of the crib, staring down at the red haired child. The dark patch of fuzzy hair on his head was the same shade as hers, his skin the same fair, pale color where as the blond child beside her had slightly darker skin, skin that didn't burn as easily in the sun. Claire had always be envious at the way Cheyenne could run around and get tan while she herself burned to a damn crisp, even with sunblock. She felt bad for the baby, knowing he'd have the same fate with skin like that. "Well, I think he's cute." Claire said softly and her older sister rolled her eyes. "You think he's cute now, but he's gonna grow up and be a jerk, just like his stupid dad." "Hey!" Claire defended, glowering at Chey. Chey had always been jealous that her father had been the one to come back and marry her mom, while she herself had no idea who her dad even was. "Well it's true. He didn't even ever come visit you until last year. Seven years is a long time to wait to meet your kid, Claire, everyone knows that!" "He didn't know!" "I bet he did. I bet he didn't care at all, because he's a jerk, which means you're part jerk, jerk!" Claire shoved her sister, her eyes glimmering with tears. "I am not!" Her dad had apologized, he swore he didn't know, but Chey had never believed him, and told Claire every chance she could. "Are too!" Cheyenne growled and shoved Claire back, making her fall down into a basket of toys. The baby began to cry and Chey's eyes grew. She turned on her heels and darted from the bedroom, not wanting to get in trouble for waking the baby. She'd been yelled at several times for that already, even when it hadn't been her fault at all. Claire sniffled and wiped her eyes, wiggling free from the basket as the baby settled down. She looked down into the crib again, tilting her head as the baby made eye contact with her. She smiled sadly at him, wondering if her sister was right. Was her dad a jerk? Did he really know all along? "You're not a jerk baby, Jack." She said softly. Claire reached in and picked the infants pacifier up and pushed it back into his mouth. He watched her until his deep blue eyes finally flitted shut, and Claire let out another long defeated sigh before leaving his bedroom. If mom caught her messing with the baby she'd be punished for sure.

"Claire?" Daniel's voice was soft and concerned, seeing his daughter zoning out. "Maybe your sister should drive you home.. you're not looking well.."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

From what Claire could gather from the little tidbits of a conversation that her and her father were having she had become something of a daddy’s girl. There was no memory of previous conversations with this man or any idea of what sort of relationship they shared. "If you need to leave early I understand.I mean, we come to these stupid things every year, so whats one year without my baby?" Well if that wasn’t a guilt trip then she didn’t know what was! "Is everything okay, though? You'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?" She stared at him for a moment just thinking about it before she scoffed, “Uhh, yeah! Of course I would!” She spoke with playful sarcasm. If he was her father then he’d know that she was only playing around with the demeanor she spoke.

Before she could say anything more to reassure her father that she would be fine and if there was anything wrong that she’d let him know, she felt like a migraine was coming on. Except it wasn’t a migraine at all.. she was remembering a time when she was just a little girl with Cheyenne fighting over whether or not their new baby brother was cute or stupid. Of course Cheyenne was her typical bitchy self even as a little girl. Man, did they fight.. they fought over Claire’s dad coming back when she was a little girl. Her daddy had told her how much he loved her and missed her when he came into their lives. She recalled all of her feelings and memories of their little talk around their baby brother. Claire was hurt when Chey called her a jerk. ”You’re not a jerk baby, Jack.”

”Claire?” Claire must have disappeared into her own mind for how long she didn’t know. ”Maybe your sister should drive you home.. you’re not looking well..” She must have stopped breathing at some point during her memory because she gasped loudly, her wide eyes growing moist as she looked at her father in total surprise. She could remember her brother when he was just a baby.. she recalled Cheyenne teasing her about her father.. her memories were different.. “I-I..” She looked around the table and could see that her mother was growing furious with her from the way her nostrils were flaring. “I’m really sorry. I’ll catch the next one okay, daddy?” Claire offered and leaned it to give her father a kiss on the cheek while she stood up, crouching down to try and not draw attention to herself as she hurried across the banquet hall and pushed through the doors.

Claire didn’t stop until she was outside of the Remington hotel and a wave of cool air smacked her in the face. It had become too claustrophobic indoors. Claire just wanted to run.. run until her head could clear up. Too bad she didn’t wear sneakers to this thing. Instead of running off like a crazy lady down the sidewalk in high heels she just leaned against the building and pulled out her cell phone. Her first number to call was Griffin.. but he didn’t know who she was. So calling him was out of the question! She scrolled through the names and numbers, some familiar and some unknown to her, but she stopped on Fred’s and pursed her lips to the side, pondering whether or not she should bother. But then she decided what the hell and shot Fred a text. She’d rather deal with him than Chey or her mom right now. When u leave can I get a ride?

[CUPCAKE]

“I-I..” Both of Claire's parents were looking at her, though one with fury the other with concern. “I’m really sorry. I’ll catch the next one okay, daddy?” Her father offered a sad smile and nodded. "Alright, sweetheart." He said slowly, knowing he would hear it from his son and possibly wife. Why did Claire get to leave? I didn't want to come either! He already heard it in his mind. Claire was up and out in a matter of seconds. Cheyenne watched her sister move and looked at her step-father. "Is she going?" She asked, her eyes wide with questioning and annoyance. When he confirmed she was, she asked if she could go too but her mother stepped in and refused. "She's my ride!" Chey insisted in a hiss. "Maybe Claire shouldn't be driving. She didn't look well." Dan said. "We paid for five tickets!" Sarai insisted in a growl. Chey folded her arms and rolled her eyes as her step father tamed the wild beast that was her mother. Finally the older woman huffed and angrily said for their daughter to leave if she wanted. Finally Chey got up and moved quickly towards the doors her sister had disappeared from several minutes before.

Fred on the other hand had seen Claire dart from the room and rushed after her. It took a minute for him to realize which was she went, always surprised at how well she could maneuver on those heels when she was focused and not being a total klutz. A minute after she got outside, he did too, his phone going off at the same time though he didn't look at it. Whoever messaged him could wait.

"Hey.." He called out to her, coming closer. She looked paler than usual, and upset. What had happened? "What Happened?" He asked coming up to her and reaching up to brush a hair from her face. "Are you okay?" Just then the doors flung open again and Cheyenne made her way over, glowering at Fred before reaching her sister. "What's going on with you?!" She asked, scared and frustrated, even more so by Fred's presence.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

”Hey..” Claire hadn’t even put her phone away when Fred came outside grabbing her attention. ”What happened?” Geeze either he’d ran out there when he got her text or he saw her leaving and followed. She looked away when he moved a bit of her hair out of her face and rolled her shoulders. ”Are you okay?” Maybe she was just overreacting. Maybe she should just go back in there, apologize to her mom and dad and just suck it up. She wondered how someone else in her position would react if they came to the realization that they were mentally ill. “I’m fi-” The doors flung open and out of the corner of her eye she caught Chey heading toward them and she did not look happy. At least it wasn’t mom. ”What’s going on with you?!”

Claire looked back and forth between the two of them trying to decide what was the best course of action. She could kick her heels off and dash away! Yes.. that sounded like an excellent plan! She’d just slip off the right and then the left... but she didn’t. She decided to go with her next best idea; talking. “Nothing.. okay, everything. I remember Jackson. Remember that one time when we were kids,” her words were directed to Cheyenne but she kept looking at Fred so that he didn’t feel like he was excluded from this conversation. “We were really young and Jackson was just a baby. You called me a jerk because my dad wasn’t around when I was born and so that made me and Jackson jerks too. Remember? God, Chey.. you were a bitch even when we were kids. That doesn’t change no matter what I remember. But the point is I remember him being there!” Claire started to take a few steps back as she grew more animated with every word she spoke. Her hands here waving around to emphasize her words, her fingers wiggling and her arms out away from her body. “But then there’s times I remember where it was just you, me and mom. Dad wasn’t there when you first shifted. Neither was Jackson!”

She stopped for a moment and gave her sister a sad look, hoping she wouldn’t get pissed off and snap at Claire to chill out again. She needed to catch her breath but then she was off again! “Oooh!” She snapped her fingers and pointed at Cheyenne, like that would help her remember too. “Remember that time mom almost caught you with Steve Schultz? She came home early from some stupid date she had with a random dirtbag and you had to get him down the fire escape before she came in our bedroom? I knocked that ugly mirror she liked off the wall and it shattered, just so that she wouldn’t catch you guys? I was grounded for like two months,” She laughed nervously and shrugged again. “Probably not though.. not if dad was there.. how about that Billy guy that mom went out with? He had like that crazy mullet and fish face?” Their mother was a slut and Cheyenne knew it! Or at least she thought Chey knew it.. “I don’t remember dad.. I don’t remember a lot of things.. and I can’t just snap out of it. I can’t pretend that everything is fine because it isn’t! I want to remember everything! I want to remember dad coming back when we were kids.. remember mom not being a sleazy skank hag..”

Claire looked over at Fred and spoke softly, “I want to remember dating you,” for whatever reason that Claire wanted to keep that a secret from Cheyenne before it was gone now. “And not remember dating someone who doesn’t even know who the hell I am. I mean how crazy is that, right? Right?!” She wanted to remember more! She wanted to remember taking the photos that her and Fred took.. she wanted to remember Jackson growing up and all the things that she’d done with her father!

[CUPCAKE]

Fred was as aggravated by Cheyenne's presence as she was by his. He glared at the older girl for the way she spoke to his girlfriend, feeling almost helpless to do anything to stop her. Claire hated when he interfered, so normally he stayed out of it. Then again, this wasn't his Claire.. not entirely.. "Nothing.. okay, everything. I remember Jackson. Remember that one time when we were kids, we were really young and Jackson was just a baby. You called me a jerk because my dad wasn't around when I was born and so that made me and Jackson jerks too. Remember? God, Chey.. you were a bitch even when we were kids. That doesn’t change no matter what I remember. But the point is I remember him being there!” Chey frowned while Fred had to stifle his smile. Fred liked that she knew her sister was a bitch, even if Cheyenne grew hot at her words. She didn't even remember that specific time, but how many times had she called Claire a jerk because her dad came back? She was a kid! She was jealous! “But then there’s times I remember where it was just you, me and mom. Dad wasn’t there when you first shifted. Neither was Jackson!” Chey remembered the time before Jackson and Dan entered her life too, but it had been before her mutare. Her eyes shifted to Fred, not liking that she mentioned the shift. Did he know? Had she told him?!

Claire started going on an on about things that Chey had no recollection of. Things like being caught with boys she didn't know and escaping on fire escapes, and breaking mirrors.. she'd done dumb stuff before, and Claire had saved her ass plenty in the past, but not with the things she was talking about now. Was her sister really losing it? "How about that Billy guy that mom went out with? He had like that crazy mullet and fish face?” She stared at her sister like she was crazy, because she really was crazy. “I don’t remember dad.. I don’t remember a lot of things.. and I can’t just snap out of it. I can’t pretend that everything is fine because it isn’t! I want to remember everything! I want to remember dad coming back when we were kids.. remember mom not being a sleazy skank hag..” God, why did Fred need to be there for this? The older girls blue eyes looked on with concern as her sister spouted nonsense. What did she mean she didn't remember all that stuff? She just said she remembered Jack! “I want to remember dating you, and not remember dating someone who doesn’t even know who the hell I am. I mean how crazy is that, right? Right?!”

Fred felt a warmth in his stomach as he stared at Claire, genuinely feeling bad for her, while Cheyenne's eyes narrowed and turned to the boy beside her and then back to her sister. "Are you fucking kidding me!?" She snapped. "You swore you would never date a highway!" She snarled at her sister, throwing her arms in the air for emphasis. Fred turned on her, gritting his teeth. "Oh, for crying out loud will you get over yourself?!" He spat, finally fed up with Cheyenne's shit. She was the reason they couldn't openly date, because eight years ago she swore she would disown her sister if she ever touched him or his brother. The whole thing was stupid and childish. "Growup, Chey. Don't punish us for what my idiot brother did to you, what, a decade ago? We've been together a year, and you know what? We're happy. She's happy you moron, and she's content to know her older sister won't dare screw her current boyfriend behind her back." Chey looked appalled and stared at her sister for confirmation, but Claire had no idea what the hell either was talking about because this was all news to her. "You are seriously going to stand there and tell me you're dating him!" Fred rolled his eyes. "She doesn't remember anything, have you been paying attention to anything anyone's said? No, probably not, because no one's life matters but yours." "Oh, fuck you, Fred!" He didn't give her a response, gritting his teeth and turning to Claire. "You should go home and rest." He said softly. "I'll drive you. I can drive your car if you want a get a cab back here tonight to get my car, that way it's at your house." "No way, if anyone's driving her it's me!" Chey interjected, stomping her foot. "Claire, tell him!"

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

It was like she was being pulled into two different directions. On one side she had her sister who looked like she was ready to tell Claire to just shut up and deal with it on her own. On the other side was Fred who looked calm and like he was willing to comfort her during her psychotic break down. ”Are you fucking kidding me!?” And there was the devil on her shoulder; Cheyenne snapping at her. ”You swore you would never date a highway!” “Highwind,” Claire corrected her sister under her breath but she was pretty sure they didn’t hear her. ”Oh, for crying out loud will you get over yourself?!” Cheyenne and Fred started bantering between each other, fighting in front of her like she wasn’t having a breakdown right there outside of the Remington Hotel. ”You are seriously going to stand there and tell me you’re dating him!” ”She doesn’t remember anything, have you been paying attention to anything anyone’s said? No, probably not, because no one’s life matters but yours.” ”Oh, fuck you, Fred!” Claire just stood there watching them argue about whether or not she was dating Fred and whether or not Cheyenne cared about anyone but herself.

Claire watched them bicker in silence, her eyes going back and forth between the pair of them, the corners of her mouth curling down into a frown. She’d known her sister her whole life and the blonde that was in front of her was not the same girl she’d grown up with. ”You should go home and rest.” Came Fred’s gentle voice, ”I’ll drive you. I can drive your car if you want and get a cab back here tonight to get my car, that way it’s at your house.” ”No way, if anyone’s driving her it’s me!” Cheyenne shot back like a jealous child. ”Claire, tell him!” They wanted her to pick... her family or her boyfriend. She could just leave them both standing there and hail a cab on her own and let them fight it out. Obviously they had issues that they needed to settle. Or more like Cheyenne had issues with Fred’s brother that she needed to figure out.

“I know we’re sisters, Chey.. and we’ve always been close. But right now I don’t know you.” It hurt her to say that to Cheyenne.. even though they didn’t have deep conversations Chey had always been there for her. But right now Chey was there for Chey. She stepped closer to Fred and reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his and pulling him toward her. “Come on.. Chey’s got the keys she can take the car tonight..” Claire was watching her sister, waiting for her to lash out at her as she tried to pull Fred away. “Fred’s taking me home. We’ll talk tomorrow morning, okay?”

[CUPCAKE]

Blue and brown eyes stared expectantly at Claire to make a decision, both frustrated with the other who was trying to obtain her favor. Finally Claire opened her mouth and spoke, the others waiting in annoyed anticipation. “I know we’re sisters, Chey.. and we’ve always been close. But right now I don’t know you.” The words were an angry slap in the face and Cheyenne frowned, glowering at her sister. She wasn't really going to pick Fred, was she!? Claire moved to the idiot boy and laced her fingers with his, making Chey turn red as her body tensed. Her hands balled itno hists at her side and she looked as though she were about to throw a toddler style tantrum right there in front of the hotel. “Come on.. Chey’s got the keys she can take the car tonight..” The younger girls said as she pulled her boyfriend away. “Fred’s taking me home. We’ll talk tomorrow morning, okay?” "Don't even bother!" Chey snapped, angry and hurt. "I hate you, Claire! You're making a huge mistake, and you know it!" But it didn't matter what she said because it was clear Claire wasn't about to change her mind. "You'll remember how stupid it is to be with him and then you'll come crawling back telling me I was right, you wait!" She yelled after them, tears moistening her angry, blue eyes. She was hurt her sister wouldn't choose her, and instead of going back in she stalked the other way, not wanting to be at the stupid benefit and not wanting to go home and sulk. She would go to a bar and drink until someone brought her home. Claire could go get her stupid car tomorrow with her spare keys!

Fred was relieved when Claire took his hand and he led her away from her sister without saying a word, not until they were alone. "Sorry you had to do that." He finally said, leading her to the parking garage. He pulled out his valet slip and gave it to the guy. He pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Everything's going to be alright, Claire. Okay?" He offered as they waited for the protection of his car. "How you holding up?" He asked as they waited. As she answered the guy pulled his BMW up. It wasn't one of the new, sleek beamers, but rather an older sedan. It had been given to him by his father when he turned 16. It had been his mom's car, and she went ahead and got a new one passing this to Fred. His brother had gotten his fathers car a couple years before that. Fred never found a reason to upgrade, though. The insurance wasn't bad and he didn't have an outrageous bill to pay each month so he could eventually own it. Plus he took decent care of the car so it was still in great working condition, even if the mileage was a bit high.

Fred opened Claire's door for her and then went around, sliding into the drivers seat. He waited a moment before speaking to her again, hoping by her silence that she was okay and just processing, completely unaware of the memory she was receiving. As soon as Claire had sat down, another pain ripped through her mind as a memory forced its way between the folds.

Cheyenne gripped Claire's arm tightly, her blue eyes piercing her sisters. She looked young, maybe seventeen, and exactly as Claire remembered her looking, only she was wearing a schoolgirl uniform, and not the sexy dress up kind. Claire was wearing the same gettup. "Do you like him?" Claire knew the him she was referring to was Fred and she instinctively shook her head. Truth was she did like Fred. Maybe not as a boyfriend, but as a person he was genuinely pretty nice. Maybe a little nerdy, and in desperate need of a haircut, but he was friendly enough.. "No." Claire made a look of disgust even though she didn't mean it, pretending to be appalled by the question. "Good, because if I ever find out you like one of those highways for real I will disown you!" She growled. Claire knew Chey had a run in with Fred's older brother and he had told the school she was a slut, and he'd been right in the accusation, but she didn't know the gory details. "I don't, I swear! Sheesh." Chey, not completely satisfied, let go of Claire's arm and watched her walk out the door to the crappy BMW the was parked out front. Claire breathed a sigh of relief ot be away from her older sister and slid in beside Fred. "You okay?" He asked, immediately sensing something was up. She forced a smile and gave a cute little "Mhm!" Before he drove off. Her head turned and she looked out the window at the large house she was leaving behind. It was such a huge change from the apartments she'd grown up in. "So.. did you think about what I'd asked?" His voice was soft and nervous and she turned to look at him. His hair was so curly, and long! He wasn't that bad looking.. "Yes." Claire bit her lower lip as Fred kept peaking at her as they drove. They were working on a project together for World History, but it was mostly a ruse to hang out without Chey flipping out, Claire giving the excuse that the teacher paired them up, though it was a lie. "Look, if I go to the formal with you Chey will seriously murder me." She saw the anger and disappointment mixed on his face, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel. "I'm really sorry! You don't know what it's like living with her." "It's fine. Nevermind." "No it's not, because I really want to go with you, and if I do she's going to go all Carry on me. You ever see that? Carry? With the pig blood? She's going to do that, and then I'm going to--" "Claire, I said it's fine, alright?" She shut her mouth hear the finality in his voice, slumping low in her seat. She felt guilty that she had to say no, but she did. It wasn't worth the fight with Chey. Things would be easier after she graduated next year, though. "I'm not going to go with anyone else, so you know." She added softly. "But you can invite someone else if you wanted.. I wouldn't be mad or anything." He sighed and nodded. "Thanks." It was bordering on sarcastic but she dropped it, staring out the window again. "So do you have any topic ideas for the project?" He asked, changing the subject as they headed to the library yo do their work, all talk of formals done for the day.

"So, my place or yours?" He asked, not liking her silence and not sure which way to go. "Or neither. We could go grab a bite if you're hungry. Just talk over coffee.. I know you love your caffeine.."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Clear wasn’t blind. She could see that Cheyenne was obviously hurt that she picked Fred over her, but if she was going to act like a selfish bitch and make Claire choose then she was going to go with the lesser of two evils! Cheyenne stormed in one direction while Claire and Fred took to the other, walking in silence until they had gotten far enough away from Cheyenne that they could actually breathe without thinking she was going to claw their eyes out. ”Sorry you had to do that.” She didn’t feel like she had to do anything. Claire had no obligation to anyone. Not when she couldn’t be sure that the bagel she had yesterday morning was actually a bagel. She could have had a scone or a muffin and she wouldn’t know! ”Everything’s going to be alright, Claire. Okay?” She gave him a nod but didn’t say anything in response. She was still thinking about her sister.. why was she acting so selfish?! It made her angry the more she thought about it. A part of her wanted to just call Cheyenne up and yell at her for being Chey! ”How you holding up?” She snapped out of her little rage dream and rolled her shoulders while tilting her head to the left like she didn’t know. “I’ll be fine. I just don’t know when. Chey just really gets me mad, you know? She can be so.. ugh.. just a brat.” At that point she felt like she wasn’t any better than her sister the way she was complaining about her. Maybe she should just shut up about her.

When the valet guy brought up the vehicle Claire squinted her eyes at it like she was trying to see something that wasn’t there. Nope. She didn’t recognize it. Fred was nice enough to get the door for her and she offered a small smile to show her gratitude and then slumped into the front seat. Almost as soon as her butt hit the seat she felt the sharp pain in her head again that lasted for only a second or two. She reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose but the pain she felt now was only an echo of the spark. She saw Cheyenne dressed in a private school uniform. Claire had on a matching one that didn’t look hardly as good on her as it did on Chey. Chey was making her say that she didn’t like either of the Highwind brothers. Claire lied for the sake of not having to deal with Cheyenne’s freak out. She couldn’t deal with her sister going all hell in heels and making life harder than it already was in high school! The memory went on and on.. she was in Fred’s car. She could feel how tense it was in the vehicle when she told Fred she couldn’t go to the dance with him but it was okay if he took someone else.. she really wanted to go to that dance with him! But because of Chey they’d just have to be project partners..

”So, my place or yours?” Claire stared at her hands in her lap. She was remembering pieces of her past.. little snippets here and there. She remembered an instance with Fred, proving that she didn’t just get into the car of a creeper who had manipulated pictures in his and her phone of them. Good thing, right?! ”Or neither. We could go grab a bite if you’re hungry. Just talk over coffee.. I know you love your caffeine..” Claire did love caffeine.. she tried to remember what they ended up working on. What project did they pick? Did he go to the dance with someone else? Did she go or did she stay home and watch sappy chick flicks with her other boyfriends, Ben & Jerry? She didn’t know! She looked over at him finally and realized she didn’t buckle her seatbelt yet and reached for the safety strip and pulled it over and around to click it in its latch. “Your place.” She didn’t even have to think about it. She didn’t want to go home. Everything was too strange. And if they went out she might possibly freak out even more if she bumped into someone else she didn’t recognize. Or what if she bumped into Griffin? She couldn’t think of that.. she’d made up an entire relationship with Griffin.. he was probably just a regular guy who she’d seen and thought was a hottie. Maybe she saw him right before she lost her memories? Maybe she had been looking at him and bumped her head and she was suffering from some sort of mild case of amnesia. Yeah! Yeah.. that was probably it.

“Do you remember that formal dance that you asked me to go with you to?” Why couldn’t she remember more?! “You know.. the one where you asked and I said I couldn’t because Chey wouldn’t forgive me, and we made that excuse that we had a school project to work on. Did you end up taking anyone to that?” She didn’t want to ask if she even went. Maybe she’d be able to tell if she went depending on what he said. She might not have remembered but at least she could now say that she had a memory with him in it.. She sucked in a sharp breath and then let it out awkwardly. “..boy was high school a hoot, huh?!”

[CUPCAKE]

“Your place.” Fred nodded, giving her a sidelong glance, surprised she wanted to come home with him but glad for it. It meant she would probably be his for the night, which was good because he wanted to make sure she was alright, and the best way to do that was to monitor her all night. He'd have to call Geoff later and see if the guy would do him a favor and see Claire on such short notice, which might not be possible but he had to do what he could for her. Regardless of her sudden lack of memory at least she had the good sense to keep trusting him. Maybe the kiss had helped after all.

“Do you remember that formal dance that you asked me to go with you to?” The question threw him for a loop. Didn't she say before she didn't remember him at all? How would she remember that if not him? Then again, she had no recollection of Jackson either, and she remembered him being born. Maybe her memory was coming back in spurts? Did that even make sense? “You know.. the one where you asked and I said I couldn’t because Chey wouldn’t forgive me, and we made that excuse that we had a school project to work on. Did you end up taking anyone to that?” He pursed his lips, having tried to block that particular memory from his mind. He felt like an idiot for weeks, months even, convinced she didn't actually like him and had used Chey as an example. “..boy was high school a hoot, huh?!” He looked at her again and shook his head. "I hated high school." He said softly, but she knew that. A lot of times she was the reason he even went. Claire wasn't popular, but she wasn't in the outcast crowds either. I guess if you were to rank her she would be a B, not quite royalty, but almost. Chey was the queen bee, though. She was popular because she was gorgeous and feared. "But to answer your question , no." He said softly, wondering if they'd ever actually talked about this. He didn't think so. "I didn't go to that formal." His voice was hushed, unsure why she would ask that of all things. "I sulked at home." Fred pulled into the lot outside his complex and parked his car, cutting the engine as he turned to her completely. "How much do you remember, and how much do you not?" He asked, not sure if it was a fair question, but he needed to know. "You didn't even know me an hour ago, not even an hour ago, and now you're asking me about the formal when we were sophomore's?"

---

Chey knocked gently on the door before opening it. She watched the hunched over body for a moment before her eyes trailed to the unconscious girl in the bed. The heart monitor beeped softly, but otherwise there didn't seem to be any change at all in her sisters condition. "I guess she didn't wake up." The girl said softly and Griffin didn't move to look at her, only shook his head slightly from side to side. Chey offered a cup of tea to the shell of a man before taking her seat. He accepted the beverage but didn't sip from it, letting it warm his hands instead. "You should go home and sleep. Go see that little boy of yours." "Flynn has him." "What's that have to--" "I'm not leaving her." Griffin's voice was firmer than Chey had ever heard it. her eyes widened as he looked up at her. Griffin was frightened, she could see it in his eyes. "Alright, alright.. Jeez." Chey had to admire the guy for that, and he was the only reason she actually felt comfortable leaving. Griffin was the one to tell her about Claire, and she knew she could trust him, even if he was a little moody.

When he found her he'd brought her to the hospital and hadn't left her side since. He hadn't really slept, other than for dozing on and off in the chair he was in, and the only thing he ate was a donut Chey had brought him, and only because she wouldn't shut up about it. He'd been in that chair for nearly thirty six hours now. Chey left now and then, mostly to get food and nap. She had gone to work, too, but Griffin had stayed put, unable to leave her side. Claire was his world. If anything happened to her, he wasn't sure how he would move on. The doctors were boggled by what happened. She was a medical marvel, as were the three other patients who were brought in. It was on the news now and authorities were trying to find a link between them. He'd been interviewed briefly by a doctor but they realized he didn't know any more than the other coma victims friends and families. The nurses told him her condition was stable, but Griffin wasn't an idiot. He'd been paying close attention, and he knew her heart was weakening. The peaks on the monitor weren't as high as they were when she came, and her heart was slowing. Not significantly, not enough for anyone to worry, but her heart was beating just a little bit slower than it was two days ago.

The door suddenly opened and a pleasant looking woman in her early forties with a kind smile came in wearing a nurses outfit. She had been the nurse assigned to all he coma patients and she worked every other shift. She smiled at the Chey but Griffin ignored her completely, watching Claire instead. "Just going to collect another sample." She said softly, pulling out her syringe. She took blood from Claire's arm, which was what she seemed to be doing every time she came in to visit, and then did an overall check on her vitals. She wrote it all down in her chart and then gave the girls hand a gentle squeeze before leaving once more.

Had Claire opened her eyes, she would have known the nurse immediately, since she had a gourmet chocolate business on the side.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

”I hated high school.”

“Yeah, so did I..” Claire looked out the window and watched the lights go by. Unless you were popular or had a bajillion friends high school was awful and not like the movies portrayed it. There was no happy endings where the guy got the girl and suddenly you became Molly Ringwald at the end of Sixteen Candles. Life didn’t happen that way. It did get better after graduation though when you never had to see your tormentors again if you didn’t want to.

”But to answer your question, no.” So Fred didn’t go to the formal.. Claire couldn’t remember if she had either. She probably would have wanted to stay home but Cheyenne probably dragged her anyway. ”I sulked at home.” The car came to a stop and she looked over at him, feeling the same way she had when she first had to let him down. ”How much do you remember, and how much do you not?” She wasn’t sure what the answer was to that question.. ”You didn’t even know me an hour ago, not even an hour ago, and now you’re asking me about the formal when we were sophomore’s?”

Claire shifted in her seat, positioning herself so that she was facing Fred and leaned against the door trying to get comfortable. “I didn’t remember anything an hour ago. But then I remembered Jackson. It was like something triggered it. When I got in your car I remembered you asking me what my answer was going to be. I still don’t remember meeting you though.. it’s confusing. I know I’m confused! You’re probably in the same boat..” She felt uncomfortable trying to explain it, because she wasn't sure what she was explaining. "Can-can we go inside or..?"

[CUPCAKE]

Fred watchedas the girl shifted in her seat, positioning herself so that she was facing him and leaning aainst the door. "I didn't remember anything an hour ago. But then I remembered Jackson. It was like something triggered it. When I got in your car I remembered you asking me what my answer was going to be. I still don't remember meeting you though.. it's confusing. I know I'm confused! You're probably in the same boat.." his lips pursed lightly, nodding. He was confused. Very. He didn't want to make her feel bad though, not like her sister had. That's why she chose him over her, wasn't it? He slowly nodded, looking into her lap instead of her brilliant green eyes. "Can-can we go inside or..?" He forced a sad smile and nodded. "Course we can."

Fred got ou of the car and then locked it as the pair walked up to he complex he lived in. He held the door for her and called th elevator. They rode in silence to the third floor and Fred internally fought with himself about reaching for her hand or not. He didn't always hold it, especialy these days, but he wanted to now. He wanted her to touch him carelessly as she had prior to that evening. Reassurance that she loved him or at least knew him! He brought her to his apartment and opened the door, stopping before letting her in. "You have a key." He informed her. "I guess it's with your keys that your sister has, but.. you do have a key. It has a green ring around it." He looked down at their feet for a moment. "So you know.. when you get your keys back you could come by." He explained before pushing on through the door to his home.

The apartment was nothing fancy. He had a couch and an old chair siting around the TV, which was decent sized, but not flat screen. Fred had never been much of a television watcher. There was a couple bookcases filled with books. Medical books and texts, regular everyday reading books, and magazines. He even had an old encyclopedia collection among the volumes. In the corner was a desk with a computer, the screen wide and large, papers scattered around. Fred moved in to the small open kitchen, dropping his keys on the counter and opening the fridge. He'd paid for a seat at the benefit, as required, but all he'd eaten was the salad and a roll. "You hungry?" He asked peaking at Claire who was looking around though she had followed him to the kitchen. "Thirsty? I have wine. And hard liquor." He teased with a small smile. It felt like when he was in the friend zone all over again; having her so close and yet so far away, and all he wanted was to hold her. "I could make something, or just order Indian? Chinese? Anything, really.. it's not that late."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire was glad that they weren’t going to spend the night talking in a parked car. The journey up to Fred’s apartment was short but the awkward silence between them made it feel like it took forever just to reach his door. ”You have a key.” Claire looked up at Fred for the first time since they left the car. ”I guess it’s with your keys that your sister has, but.. you do have a key. It has a green ring around it.” She hadn’t paid any attention to the keys that she’d tossed to Chey when they left her apartment. ”So you know.. when you get your keys back you could come by.” She offered a weak smile but didn’t have a response ready so she just stayed silent.

Once the door was unlocked Claire stepped inside and first thing she did was look around. It was like walking into a stranger’s home for the first time. There was nothing that gave her comfort or gave a sense of familiarity. If she had a key then clearly she’d been there on multiple occasions. But nothing triggered a memory.. maybe if she sat down on the couch or in the chair? If she flicked on the television set or picked up one of the books he had laying around? Maybe she’d give it a shot later on but right now she was going to follow Fred through the apartment like a lost puppy. ”You hungry?” When they went into the kitchen she looked around once more, letting her green eyes scan every single tile and cupboard for some familiarity. She hadn’t even touched her salad at the benefit and couldn’t recall the last time that she had eaten something. She still wasn’t hungry but maybe food would help a bit. ”Thirsty? I have wine. And hard liquor.” Because alcohol was the solution to everything! ”I could make something, or just order Indian? Chinese? Anything, really.. it’s not that late.” Really, the only thing that sounded good to eat was a can of tuna fish.. she could totally eat it without mayonnaise or anything on top. Just straight out of the can was delicious. “Whatever wine you have. And I don’t care.. anything you want to eat is fine. I bet you know what I like,” She chuckled softly and rolled her shoulders leaning against the counter hoping that she would be out of his way.

“You could have stayed at the benefit. I would have been fine. I was thinking of going to the park.. thought maybe if I climbed up into the tree nobody would notice. Think it heals amnesia? I wonder what would happen if you tried to chew on some of its bark..” Native Americans used tree bark as aspirin once upon a time ago, right? Maybe the Tree would shed some of its magic juice and fix her up. She could always try it tomorrow after she got some sleep. Maybe it was a good thing she wasn’t out roaming on her own though. She gripped the edge of the counter and hoisted herself up on top with her legs swinging freely around, something she normally did at home. Or at least she thought she did. She liked sitting on counters. She still couldn’t believe that she chose Fred over her sister.. what possessed her to make that choice?! Sure, maybe Chey would have bitched her out and whined incessantly but she knew Chey.. she was starting to feel guilty about what she’d said to her. “Which Chinese place? Is it the one that has the baby scallops with lo mein noodles? That place is pretty good. And the guy is easier to understand than the other one.” It was true! One place she tried ordering shrimp chow mein and ended up with three spring rolls with beef and broccoli... it was still a mystery how that happened.

“So I’m going to assume I come here a lot if I have a key.. what do we normally do? Like do we hang out.. read..?” He had a lot of books.. “Watch movies? I mean it is still early like you said it’s not that late.. not like I’m tired or anything. We could play Twister!” She snapped her fingers and pointed at him like it was the best plan ever. But really.. she wasn’t sure what the hell to do now except sit there on his kitchen counter.

[CUPCAKE]

"Whatever wine you have. And I don’t care.. anything you want to eat is fine. I bet you know what I like,” In theory he did know what she liked, but this wasn't the same Claire, so he didn't want to assume what she liked and what she didn't. For all he knew she hated tuna fish sandwiches now. He pulled out a bottle of pinot grigio and opened it up, pouring her a deep glass full and then himself before setting to work pulling out menu's, He already knew he didn't have enough stuff in the house to make something, and truth be told she was never a fan of his cooking. Truth be told he was never a fan of his cooking. They tended to order out a lot.

She was going on about how he could have stayed at the benefit, and deep down he knew he should have, but he would have never forgiven himself for letting her out of his sight, not like this, not with her all messed up. Claire might not love him the same way he loved her, but that didn't mean he would easily let her run off with her brain all fogged up. "I'm pretty sure nothing will happen if you try and chew bark." He said slowly with a hint of a smile. "But if you wanted to try, I won't stand in your way."

He put the menu's down beside her and then grabbed a couple of Chinese ones, knowing she was usually good to have some Chinese. “Which Chinese place? Is it the one that has the baby scallops with lo mein noodles? That place is pretty good. And the guy is easier to understand than the other one.” He cocked a brow. That was a pretty detailed answer, and they'd have that conversation a few months ago. Golden Palace had been her favorite take out place because they spoke good English and she preferred the baby scallops. "Golden Palace. Yeah.. we can order from them." He got her order, which was what she normally ordered from there strangely enough, and then browsed the menu for his own choice since he wasn't like Claire in the sense that he always got the same thing. Fred needed variety in his food, which was why he had nearly three dozen take out menus. Finally he made a decision and called the order in.

“So I’m going to assume I come here a lot if I have a key.. what do we normally do? Like do we hang out.. read..?” His dark eyes moved up to hers. Read? He gave a nervous sort of laugh, wondering if this was a trick question. “Watch movies? I mean it is still early like you said it’s not that late.. not like I’m tired or anything. We could play Twister!” She snapped her fingers and pointed at him like it was the best plan ever. He scratched the back of his head, sure he didn't actually own Twister, though he knew Claire did. It wasn't a game he had ever played with her. In fact, he wasn't sure he'd ever played at all. He moved a little closer, standing in front of her, his body close to hers but not so much that she might freak. His head tilted to the side as his dark orbs gazed into the depths of hers. "We don't get to see each other all that much, so when we do hang out we usually do a lot of catching up." He explained, sipping his wine and chancing a hand on her knee gently. "We talk about our week, getting into more details than we do on the phone since by the time we talk one of us is ready to pass out if not both of us. I have to share what little free time we get with your sister and your other friends, though. You're a busy girl, Claire." He teased softly, his thumb grazing over the soft flesh of her bony knee. He looked down at his fingers, his brows creasing as he sighed. "But we usually chat, eat, drink, then go to bed together." He didn't need to spell it out any more than that. "I don't expect you to do that last part though. Talking, eating and drinking is fine. Sometimes we watch movies. I have most of your favorites here since I don't have cable. All the old 80's crap you like." His smile grew, genuinely teasing her again since she always hated when he called her movies crap. Breakfast Club wasn't all that bad. "I wouldn't be opposed to kissing you more though, if you wanted." There was a soft hope in his voice and he pulled his hand back nervously, afraid of her getting frightened off by his words. "Whatever you wanted to do, I'm game. Even if it's telling you your entire life story." Again the boyish smile creased his lips, his glass of wine tipped back at his mouth once more.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire was glad that they were going to order from Golden Palace. She always forgot the name of that place and always asked the same thing. She couldn’t count all the times she had to be told where she liked her chinese food from. She could remember the rules to any Hasbro kid’s game but the name of her favorite Chinese restaurant? Nope!

She was grateful and thanked Fred for the glass of wine, taking a slow sip and then setting it down beside her on the counter. ”We don’t get to see each other all that much, so when we do hang out we usually do a lot of catching up.” She nodded and stayed quiet just listening. When he placed a hand on her knee she tried her best not to squirm around, looking at his hand and then back up to his face. We talk about our week, getting into more details than we do on the phone since by the time we talk one of us is ready to pass out if not both of us. I have to share what little free time we get with your sister and your other friends, though. You’re a busy girl, Claire.” She scrunched up her nose at him teasingly. ”But we usually chat, eat, drink, then go to bed together.” Ah.. ‘catching up’.. she knew what that meant! She hoped he wasn’t thinking about catching up with her tonight because she was not about to get funky with someone she hardly recalled. ”I don’t expect you to do that last part though. Talking, eating and drinking is fine. Sometimes we watch movies. I have most of your favorites here since I don’t have cable. All the old 80’s crap you like.” Her jaw dropped and she gave his shoulder a light, playful shove. “Don’t you dare.. the 80’s were amazing! Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? Random musical numbers thrown in for no apparent reason? How can you not love that? I would love a random, pointless musical number in my life.” She tried that when she was a kid with Cheyenne... she woke up before Chey one morning, put in Ferris Bueller at the parade scene and then bounced around on Chey’s bed singing to the movie. Chey wasn’t amused..

”I wouldn’t be opposed to kissing you more though, if you wanted.” Weeeeeell that stopped her from talking anymore. She could tell though that he wasn’t going to try and push her into anything that she didn’t want to do. ”Whatever you wanted to do, I’m game. Even if it’s telling you your entire life story.” She couldn’t deny he had such a cute little smile.. the way he spoke and smiled was almost like Griffin.. she picked up her wine and took another slow, long sip of it and then set it back down so that she could hop off the counter carefully so that she didn’t step on Fred’s toes with her heels. “Okay..” She hiked up her dress past her knees so that she could kick off her heels, kicking them away from them and then dropped her dress again and took a step toward him. If Cheyenne could sleep with strangers every other night then surely she could kiss someone who she’d been secretly dating for a year... even if she couldn’t remember him well. “I don’t think I want to hear the embarrassingly awkward tale of my own life.” She took a step closer and wrapped her fingers around the collar of his jacket, hesitating for a split second before she pulled him toward her so that she could mash her lips against his. It was firm at first but then she softened the kiss, gently brushing her lips against his before slowly pulling away. “Where’s the closet? I want to change before food gets here.. 80’s night?” He better believe she wanted to watch one of her movies! “You pick,” she offered and then hopped over her discarded high heels and headed for Fred’s closet. She was going to play dress up! Or down. Whichever!

[CUPCAKE]

hred's eyes were stuck on her as she slid from the counter, his stomach squirming with anticipation as she lifted her dress, but she only kicked off her shoes. Something about not be able to have her only made him want her more. Like maybe things would be normal again somehow. She dropped her dress and started to close the distance between them, his heart beating hard. "I don't think I want to hear the embarrassingly awkward tale of my own life." She came closer still and her fingers curled up around he collar of his coat. Fred was strangely nervous but excited, s if it was their first kiss when it was anything but.

It wasn't her normal kiss. They'd kissed earlier, but he'd been in control. She was more awkward, lacking her usual comfort. He kissed her anyway, melting into Claire's lips as long as she let him. He was confused and upset, but she was still there with him, still his to some degree. Before h could get too into it, she was pulling away. "Where's the closet? I want to change before food gets here.. 80's night?" It was a weird question, where the closet was but he pointed her in the right direction. "80's night it is." He agreed tenderly. "You pick," He nodded as she skipped off to find her own clothes or his. She had so much clothes that she could afford to leave some here, but that didnt stop her from wearng his stuff half the time.

While she was getting dressed Fred went over and grabbed Ferris Bueller out for them to watch since she had mentioned it, and truth be told he liked the movie. He set it all up and then pulled his jacket off and tie, followed by his button down shirt. Left in a white t-shirt and dress slacks he grabbed their glasses and the bottle an sat down just as Claire came out, his eyes meeting hers and taking her in. It felt like every other night, but different somehow. She wouldn't complain about her boss and he wouldnt complain about his. "Food will be here soon. I set up Ferris Bueller." He told her, scooting so she would have enough space to sit without be pushed against him like she usually was. "Am I still required to get up and dance during the float scene?" He did a decent Ferris impersonation, or so Claire said.