Hiding The Skeleton in My Trunk (Flynn)

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"You two plan on getting your happy asses out here soon or are Flynn and I having this little cookout without you two."

It had taken a bit of time but Claire and Griffin had managed to get out of the museum and away from all the ruckus undetected. On their way out of there Claire had managed to boost two bottles of champagne out of a banquet cart and took those with her! It was going to be a long night and she was going to need herself a decent drink.

It took some time for them to hail a cab with the mess and the fire department and the police showing up but when it finally came Claire climbed into the back and scooted over so that Griffin could get in on the same side.

"Megsy Isle please." She instructed to the cab driver, which was an Indian man and Claire stared at him a little longer than she meant to at first. Why were cab drivers such a stereotype?! Claire would never understand that.

She tried to stay quiet most of the trip, twisting off the cork and taking sips of the champagne during the ride. But almost as soon as they got in the car Cheyenne had called her up. "We're on our way." She told her sister before she hung up on the girl. She wasn't in the mood to talk to Cheyenne over the phone. Not in that very moment.

Looking over at Griffin she offered him a little grin, but her eyes showed that she wasn't feeling all that happy in that very moment. Although Claire's life usually reflected sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, that night was definitely not the best night of her life. But they did manage to get that skeleton out of there!

"Chey says they're just waiting on us." Was all she said to Griffin, keeping it short and simple. Not only did she not want the cab driver to hear what they were planning, but she just didn't feel very sociable with Griffin after their failed kiss.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

Griffin was at a loss for what to do with Claire. He felt as though he couldn't win with her. He had already spoiled everything by pulling away from the kiss, but he couldn't allow her to feel for him under false pretenses. He wasn't as he seemed, and he wasn't able to divulge secret information to her. He'd ruined everything with her and he had no idea how to fix it. He could tell her he knew they were called Avisaille, and if she asked he could always tell her the truth! But the secret!

His eyes moved to her in the cab over and over before he would pull his gaze away and look out the window again, occasionally letting out a soft, defeated sigh. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her. It was in his nature to want to help, but he knew in the end he would only hurt her. "Claire.." he started to say when her phone rang. He wasn't even sure she heard as she picked the phone up. "We're on our way." Was all she said before hanging up. He knew it was Cheyenne on the other end and again he looked out the window, running a hand along his mouth and down his chin, his fingers scratching against his stubble.

"Cheysaysthey're just waiting on us." He could tell by her tone that she didn't want to talk, and honestly in the back of the cab there was little he could say that he hadn't said already. Plus they were about to meet up with Cheyenne and if he said anything between the cab and by the time they saw her sister, the secret would really be out!

He needed Flynn.

"Alright." He said softly, gazing longing at her. This moment should be a happy one. Had he known this would be the price of the heist, he might not have suggested it in the first place. The bottle went up to her lips and he frowned a little. He could see how miserable she was and not only was he helpless, but he was to blame.

"Claire?" He said softly, his tone nervous. "I'd like it very much if we could have dinner together maybe tomorrow. If...that's alright?" He asked, wanting to spend some time alone. "I...can cook." He gulped, not sure if she would accept his invitation or not. Hell, he wasn't even sure why he was extending it! Would he really tell her? Could he? Could Claire be trusted?

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire would have been perfectly fine sitting there in complete silence. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs as she took another sip from the champagne. She hated champagne! But it was starting to numb her up and that was exactly what she needed right in that moment.

"I'd like it very much if we could have dinner together maybe tomorrow. If...that's alright?"

When Griffin asked her if she wanted to have dinner the next night she raised a brow and slowly her head turned so she could look over at him. She looked completely unlike herself. She seemed much less tense and even her expression seemed at ease. Although she might have looked a little on the miserable side she also looked very calm! Something that didn't happen often with Claire.

"I...can cook."

She wasn't sure what he was trying to do. Did he still feel bad for pulling away from her when she kissed him? Was he trying to set up another dinner between the four of them, or was this just a private invitation for her alone? She couldn't tell and maybe the alcohol was affecting her more than she'd like to admit.

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Claire said bluntly to him and leaned her head against the back of the seat. She didn't want to go to his place again. At least not so soon, and especially alone. That just wouldn't work for her. She let the cab fill with silence before she turned her head lazily to look at him again. She had one opened bottle in one hand and another bottle in the other that wasn't even open yet.

"But I can order up some mean Chinese food if you want to come to my place." It wasn't that she didn't want to be around him, she just didn't want to be out of her comfort zone. After everything that they had done tonight she didn't need to feel that awkward.

"I'm totally hogging this, do you want some?" She stretched her arm across the back of the cab and practically hit Griffin in the shoulder with the champagne bottle by accident.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"I don't think that's such a good idea." His heart sunk lower at the rejection. He gulped and nodded his head, understanding why she said no. He wouldn't try to convince her, not after the night they'd had. He could tell she wasn't feeling all of this and he knew that telling her was a bad idea, but in a weird way he knew he owed her some sort of explanation. Tonight wouldn't be good. She was drinking and there was no chance of them being alone. Plus, he needed to converse with a fellow Avisaille on the subject before going through with it.

"But I can order up some mean Chinese food if you want to come to my place." the words surprised him and he looked back up at Claire. He didn't know id she had a roommate or anything, but if she had he was sure she would have mentioned it by then. All he'd heard about was her pet cat who her sister hated.

The more he thought about it the more he thought it sounded like a better idea. She wouldn't run from her own apartment if she became terrified of him. Worst she could do was lock herself in the bathroom and he could at least try and converse with her through the door before making himself scarce.

When she swung the bottle at him he put his hand up to stop it so she wouldn't hit him or spill it by accident. Actually, he was a little surprised the driver hadn't told her to put the drink away. Having an open container in the car was illegal, after all! "No...that's okay." He said about the drink, gently pushing it down and away. He wanted to have his wits about him that evening. "And I would love to have some Chinese food with you. I'll bring dessert." He offered, licking his lips. "Does seven work? We should be done work by then."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"Seven? Yeah seven's great for me!" Claire made a note that she would have to try and clean up her apartment a bit before he came over. But then again she'd probably forget to since her mind was already thinking of something else. Like that champagne. She was going to hate life in the morning when she was sick. And it was almost inevitable that she'd be sick, even though she hadn't even had that much! She'd only taken three sips of the champagne so far, but she was pretty sure that she'd have more before the night was over.

She fell silent again though and since Griffin declined the drink she took the cork and started to push it back into the bottle. She too was surprised that the cab driver hadn't said anything. Maybe he just didn't care. But drinking in a car was definitely illegal! Even if you weren't the one driving it.

The drive seemed to drag on in the silence. She didn't know why the driver didn't put on some music or anything either! It was pitched black since the street lights of the city didn't follow them out of the city since Megsy Isle technically wasn't part of the city at all.

She wasn't sure where exactly they would find Cheyenne and Flynn but she was pretty sure she knew which exit that Cheyenne would take to get to the Isle and she scooted forward in her seat and wrapped her arms around the seat in front of her so she could stay there and not slide backwards. "Can you get off at the next exit? Then you can just drop us off and we can walk the rest of the way."

"Yes miss." The taxi driver said with a nod of his head to show he understood. "Please sit back now miss." He requested and looked in the rearview mirror.

Claire slowly loosened her grip on the seat and slid back and slouched a bit, leaning a little sideways. She felt sluggish even though she wasn't tired! Maybe it was just the fact that all the adrenaline was gone from her body and left her feeling lazy.

Not even ten minutes later the cab was pulling up onto the shoulder of the road after turning onto the exit that Claire asked and the girl got out of the cab with both of the bottles of champagne in her hands.

"That'll be thirty-four and sixteen cents."

Claire set the bottles down on the road and stuck a hand into her cleavage to pull out some of her cash. Only.. it wasn't there! "..crap!" She said and pulled the front of her dress out to try and look inside. It wasn't ladylike but she didn't care in that moment. "All my stuff.. it's gone! I must have left it back at the museum on that damn cart!" Claire said and felt her eyes beginning to well up with tears. She was going into a panic, not realizing that Griffin had actually grabbed all of her stuff and was currently holding onto it.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

Griffin felt twitchy there in the backseat. The drive was so long and he wanted to get out in the night and do what they had come there to do. He was glad when Claire finally told him to stop. He got out of the car and pulled out his wallet, having every intention to pay the driver for the trip, but it didn't take Claire long to start her panic.

He knew her well. He knew she would forget her things which was precisely why he had stowed them away for her in the safety of his own pocket. "All my stuff.. it's gone! I must have left it back at the museum on that damn cart!" "Claire, stop.." He pleaded, pulling out two twenties and handing them to the driver. "I have your things." He explained, gently pulling her from the cab and then fishing all of her stuff out to show her. "Don't worry, I took them at the museum so they wouldn't get left behind. It's okay." He tried reassuring, licking his lips and trying to make sure she was okay.

He reached for the closed bottle of champagne and offered her things to her to put back in her cleavage. When she'd taken everything he nodded towards the path to the spot he knew Flynn would have chosen. He'd only been to the isle with her once before, but they had discussed it on occasion. They had even brought it up when discussing last minute details a few nights prior.

"Are you okay to walk?" He asked knowing she was wearing really high heels. Her poor feet, he thought to himself. "If you like you could wear my shoes. Or I could carry you." He offered, not wanting her to be in pain for the semi long walk ahead. He could hear the waves crashing already, and a sense of freedom filled him. This had to be the most peaceful place on earth.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire was a mess in heels. But that was normal! However, the tears weren't. Claire sniffled and wiped her eyes on the back of her hands before any actual tears could fall onto her cheeks and then she offered a nervous little laugh. "..I knew that.." She said referring to the fact that Griffin had her things. She was being ridiculous getting so emotional! This was why she didn't drink! The entire night was just a roller coaster ride of emotions for her though.

"I'm okay.. I'm alright.." She said more to herself and waited until the cab started to pull away, throwing her things back into her bra as if there were little compartments to hold them all.

"If you like you could wear my shoes. Or I could carry you."

Claire knew she would be fine and it was really sweet that Griffin was offering to help her so much but she shook her head and laughed again almost as if she was laughing at herself. "Oh man. I'm sorry, I'm just.. tonight's been a really long night. I don't think I'm cut out for a burglar's life." She told him and one by one she slipped off her shoes and held them by the heels in one hand. She showed her shoes to him and then put her arm back down to her side.

"I'm okay to walk. It doesn't bother me." She actually liked to walk around barefoot. Mainly at home but it was nice to not wear shoes sometimes. The muscles in her calves seemed to scream at her when she went flat footed however since they'd been stretching the entire night. It was always a pain going from heels to flat foot after long days but she knew it was only a matter of minutes before she would be fine. She limped for a few strides, did a little hop as if that was going to make her legs feel better and even kicked her legs out in front of her. "Ah! There. Now we're good. Nice and limber."

She allowed Griffin to guide the way, staying close to his side since it was so dark out. The nicest part about Megsy Isle was that because of the lack of lighting you could see all the stars out there. And the sky looked beautiful. "Only half a moon tonight." She commented looking up at it. She was definitely glad that the museum banquet didn't land on the full moon or else they would have been in big trouble. Or at least Claire and Cheyenne, that is. "It's always so beautiful out here at night. Sometimes I wish I could just live on the beach."

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

Her tears concerned him, but he tried not to let it show. It had been a long night for all of them and he knew she was feeling weird about what had gone on between them earlier.

"Don't apologize." He pleaded softly. "It has been a long night. You're entitled to a few tears." He smiled and nudged her gently, hoping to put her mind at ease as he sent a gentle smile her way.

H watched her take her shoes off and carry them along. He wanted to offer to carry them for her but he had a feeling she would just say no, which was fine. She was entitled to take care of herself and he knew he was being a little overly helpful and kind to make up for any hard feelings he may have made her feel earlier.

He enjoyed watching her let loose once more, kicking her legs out to get them stretched. He would never understand what it was like to be a woman in heels. Fortunately they didn't make them for men. The though made his feet cry out.

The walk was peaceful. The smell of the sea filled their noses and the salt from the water drifted the trough the breeze, sticking to them and making their skin a little salty. He loved it. He loved the way sea wind swept hair looked and he found himself watching Claire as they walked, her red hair only slightly visible in the dark night, whipping around gently. It put a smile on his face. "It's always so beautiful out here at night. Sometimes I wish I could just live on the beach."

"You would love Seychelles." He said as they walked further along together. "It had one of the most magnificent beaches I'd ever seen. They even had pink sand." He said with a chuckle, looking her way still. He suddenly found himself wanting to see her there. He could only imagine her face on a beach like that. "It's off the coast of Zanzibar." He explained, not sure if she knew her geography well enough. "Perhaps one day you and I will go see it." He said lightheartedly taking a deep breath and looking ahead.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire had never heard of Sychelles before but she had heard of Zanzibar! She liked the thought of pink sand, finding the thought of it very pretty. She loved hanging around the beach even though she wasn't the kind to flirt or join into the beach games like volleyball. She preferred to lay across her towel under a big umbrella and read a book. She loved her books, Claire did.

"Perhaps one day you and I will go see it."

She looked up at Griffin, her hair flying behind her from the breeze and she grinned at him. Although she didn't want to be a downer, she didn't ever see them going to Zanzibar together. One, because she couldn't afford a trip like that. And two, because it was clear that there was obviously nothing between them that would cause them to go. But she wasn't going to say that to him. "I'd like that." Was all that she said and then grew quiet for a spell walking beside him.

Although the breeze always felt nice, there were times when it would just be too humid and it would make Claire's hair frizzle and get hideously large. Fortunately for her the humidity wasn't too high and her hair wasn't sticking to her face the way it could. She was definitely thankful for that!

"I don't know where they are." Claire confessed that way if he didn't know where they were going then at least he'd know that she didn't either. "I could call them. Or we could just keep walking until we find them. Although Cheyenne will probably have a cow if she has to stay up there alone with Flynn and the skeleton. Not that there's anything wrong with Flynn! Or the skeleton for that matter. Cheyenne's just.. well, a bitch?"

Claire didn't cuss that often and when she did it was because there was no better explanation for it. And the fact that she called her sister a bitch to Griffin made her actually laugh. "Oh wow, she'd kill me if she heard me say that. Even though she knows it's true. I probably shouldn't call her names, I'm sorry." She apologized as if it had offended Griffin. Truth be told she wasn't sure if it would or not. She was usually on better behavior around him.

"You'd think tonight was a full moon with the way we've been acting! I mean, look at tonight! I'm cursing like a sailor, we stole an exhibit that could definitely land us in prison for a really really long time if they catch us. And I wouldn't do well in prison! I'd end up some large woman named Bubba's new girlfriend in prison. And I don't think I could live up to being Bubba's girlfriend.. no way, no how." She shook her head realizing she was ranting. "...and there I go again! Just yapping away! Aha.. aha ha.. stop me anytime, Griffin. Seriously." She said almost sternly to him trying to get herself to stop talking.

"I'm so nervous and.. and.. I might say something that maybe I shouldn't? Di-do you have the open bottle?" She stretched her hand out for it as if that were the only thing she could think of to shut her up.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

As they continued to walk, Claire started to babble as Claire often did when she was feeling...well, there wasn't always a reason for Claire to babble the way she did. It didn't matter how often she did it though. Griffin never grew tired of the string of words the fluttered from her mouth, digging a hole deeper and deeper to bury the girl in, only Griffin never saw it as bad as Claire did. In fact, Griffin loved it in a way. It was sweet and endearing, and every time she did it he thought that. He couldn't be the only person to think that..

"I know where they are." He explained softly but he was certain she hadn't heard him as she continued to yammer on and on. "Cheyenne's just.. well, a bitch?" The sentence made his brows raise and he looked down and over at Claire, an amused sort of smile on his face as she began correcting herself and apologizing.

Griffin chuckled and then let out an actual little laugh. "Please, don't apologize. It's fine." His tone was lighthearted, glad that somehow they had managed to get back to the way things had been prior to the evening, but Griffin knew deep down that it likely wouldn't stay that way. Or maybe it was only he who saw things as being semi back to normal.

"...I'd end up some large woman named Bubba's new girlfriend in prison. And I don't think I could live up to being Bubba's girlfriend.. no way, no how." The statement made him laugh once more, forcing him to bring a hand to his mouth to cover it. "I think you'd make a fine girlfriend for Bubba." He teased softly, his hand back down at his side as he strolled casually at her side.

There was something about Claire that Griffin couldn't resist. It had been there since he'd met her months ago, but after the kiss he couldn't help but put things into perspective. It wasn't just that he cared for Claire. It was more. He cared for Flynn, but not in the way he did Claire. It was a new feeling, something deeper, stronger, like she could do no wrong, like the thought of waking up tomorrow and never seeing her again crushed him. He would be devastated if he'd never see Flynn again, but somehow it was different with Claire.

"...and there I go again! Just yapping away! Aha.. aha ha.. stop me anytime, Griffin. Seriously." He wasn't entirely sure what to do to make her stop. There wasn't any way to make her stop that he could think of other than taping her mouth shut. He watched her again, opening his mouth to speak when she spoke again. "I'm so nervous and.. and.. I might say something that maybe I shouldn't? Di-do you have the open bottle?" He suddenly felt bad for Claire, realizing she wasn't as amused by her own antics as he was. He'd found it charming, but to her it was a curse, and he knew he shouldn't lose sight of that again. He would have to try and stop her when she got that way for her own sake.

She was reaching for the bottle and he let her grab it, but didn't let go of it, allowing her to try and pull it from him unsuccessfully. She would be worse if she were completely inebriated and he knew she would have regrets the next day whether she truly had anything to regret or not.

"There's nothing you can say that you shouldn't." He told her gently, stopping their walking so he could look at her more clearly. She needed to know that it was okay, that everything was okay. His hand moved to her cheek, cupping it softly. "Drinking will make it worse. If you want the champagne, I won't stop you, but considering how self conscious you are about the things you say in your rants, you might want to reconsider." He let go of the bottle, leaving it to her discretion. "But I meant what I said.. there's nothing you need to keep from me. I will never think any less of you. Ever. Please, just keep that in mind. Yap all you want with me. Honest, I actually love hearing you speak. the things you say are silly, but you say them without thinking which means they're from the heart. I value that, and you should too."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire was ready to grab the bottle, pop the top off and guzzle down some bubbly but Griffin didn't let go of it! She looked up from the bottle to him and wondered why he wasn't letting go. Was he planning on pouring it down her throat or something?!

"There's nothing you can say that you shouldn't."

Claire laughed a little at that statement but then she shut her mouth. It wasn't really funny at all and she wasn't laughing at him. It was just that she knew there were so many things that she wasn't allowed to say. "Cheyenne would say otherwise." She muttered more to herself than to Griffin under her breath and looked away from him.

"Drinking will make it worse. If you want the champagne, I won't stop you, but considering how self conscious you are about the things you say in your rants, you might want to reconsider."

He was right. There was a part of her deep down though that made her want to drink. Because if she drank and it slipped then at least she'd have an excuse. Oh, did you know that during a full moon I like to take a jog? Did I mention that I do it on all fours and I grow fur and sprout whiskers? That's right, buddy boy! I do it as a Cheetah, pretty crazy, right?! Claire was insane and she knew it. She knew she couldn't just say that. Even if she said that she was drunk and didn't know what she was saying it wouldn't fly. She didn't know if she'd exactly get into trouble but it was a possibility, and she didn't do well when she was in trouble!

"But I meant what I said.. there's nothing you need to keep from me. I will never think any less of you. Ever. Please, just keep that in mind. Yap all you want with me. Honest, I actually love hearing you speak. the things you say are silly, but you say them without thinking which means they're from the heart. I value that, and you should too."

She started to think about what he was telling her and looked at the bottle again once he let it go and gave it over to her. Between that bottle, the unopened one and her shoes that she was holding it was pretty much impossible for her to uncap it. And she wasn't about to ask Griffin to do it for her. Not only did she get the feeling that he didn't much care for her drinking, but she knew he was right.

Claire took a few casual steps backwards, just sort of walking around in the same spot over and over again as if she just needed to keep moving. "Oh yeah?" She asked and nodded her head, holding all her items up in the air at shoulder length as if she were afraid she were going to knock them into something.. like a shrub? There was nothing around her, but it made sense to her! "What if I told you.. that on a full moon I like to howl at the moon? I'm actually a werewolf!" She gasped as if this was such shocking news, letting it sink in before she started to laugh at herself.

For some reason calling herself a werewolf was actually quite amusing for Claire, and she couldn't stop laughing! She hopped around a bit and keeled over trying to get herself to stop but the fit just kept going.

When she was finally able to settle down she shook her head and held up the bottle almost like she was trying to tell him to give her a minute, but it was awkward because of the bottle. "I think I broke myself tonight. That or it's this champagne. I think it's cheap." She made a face at the bottle and then held it down by her side again.

Cheyenne would kill her if she could only hear the things that Claire was saying. And she seemed to almost sober up at the thought of her sister and how upset she was going to be with her when she finally saw her, which was going to be sooner than Claire would like given the circumstances.

"Hey, do you think you could do me a tiny.. super small favor?" Claire asked him and stopped pacing around like a maniac so that she could actually look serious herself for a moment. She took a deep breath and then let it back out before she decided to say what she was going to say next. She had to try and do some kind of damage control, right?

"D-do you think we could keep this whole 'Avisaille'" she rolled her eyes when she said the name as if it weren't a big deal, bobbing her head from side to side while she did so, "nickname just between us? It could be like a code name or something. People won't understand and it's kind of a silly nickname anyway, you know what I mean?" She hoped that he would agree with her. It had been bugging her since she had said it and realized that he had overheard her. That among other things.

"Maybe we should say something else instead! You know, around Chey and Flynn? We could call him.... Herbie! Herbie.. I like Herbie. We should call him Herbie. It's WAY easier to say than that other thing that we were saying. Totally easier.." She hoped it didn't sound like she was as desperate as she felt when she said what she did. The last thing she needed was for Griffin to call Herbie an Avisaille in front of Cheyenne, she'd flip!

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

When she countered with her own bogus story he simply grinned, folding his arms across his chest and watching her try to figure out something she shouldn't tell him. He chuckled when she said she might be a werewolf and shrugged his shoulders. "All I ask is that you don't hang out with me on a full moon. I hear werewolfitis is contagious." He teased. She was laughing at herself which was a good sign, and in turn he had to laugh back a little.

"I think I broke myself tonight. That or it's this champagne. I think it's cheap." He wasn't sure which it was, but either way he was just glad to see her smiling again. He wasn't sure after earlier if he would ever get the privilege of seeing her smiling face again. "You're fine." He assured her.

"Hey, do you think you could do me a tiny.. super small favor?" The question peaked his interest and he gave a nod. "Anything.." "D-do you think we could keep this whole 'Avisaille' nickname just between us? It could be like a code name or something." Her words confirmed one thing in his mind; either she herself was a Guardian, or she knew one well enough to have disclosed their identity to her. He pursed his lips and then gave a short nod as she continued.

"Maybe we should say something else instead! You know, around Chey and Flynn? We could call him.... Herbie! Herbie.. I like Herbie." Griffin watched her panic a little and then he plastered on a playful sort of smile as they began walking again towards where he knew to find Flynn.

He could ease her mind and just promise he would call the man Herbie, or he could even go so far as to ask why, but he didn't want to do the latter knowing it would upset her. But he also didn't want to lead her on any more than he already had. He knew it was an Avisaille. Hell, he was an Avisaille! Not that he was ready to tell her that.

Instead he walked along and gave a shrugging nod. "I can call him Herbie if you like." He said calmly, looking back at her for a second, a twinkle in his eye before moving forward once more. "But you know as well as I that Herbie isn't the proper name to use for a winged man." His heart raced in his chest as he gave away that he was in on the secret. "An Avisaille is an Avisaille, Claire. But I promise I won't call him that in front of the others if it makes you more comfortable."

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

"Bitch!" Cheyenne grumbled at her phone when Claire answered and then hung up on her. She was not in the mood for this! She had gone out of her way to help her sister, giving up a perfectly good night out, and for what? To hang out with her sisters crushes sexy female BFF and roast some skeleton? No! This was unacceptable! She almost called Claire back but decided it was a stupid idea since the girl would just not answer.

Plus, she sounded annoyed. Maybe something happened? Maybe she got busted somehow and was fired? Cheyenne seriously doubted it since they got away, but who knew. All she knew was she was stuck there, for who knew how long, waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting..

"Soo..." She pursed her lips and looked over at Flynn, "You know what? We're going to need some kindling. I'm just... yeah, you wait here with Jack-o and I'll get some stuff to burn." She didn't want to make small talk, she wanted to get the show on the road and maybe go get a drink after. If there was time she might even be able to have a fling! Flings always made her feel better.

Since they were pretty much on a beach there wasn't much wood, but there was the occasionally branch here and there since the woods weren't terribly far, and there were trees scattered sporadically there.

While walking she thought about everything going on and how she would get Claire and Griffin together. Her thoughts wandered here and there; about her sister, life, the skeleton... The myth had to be real now. There was no denying it.

She had been wandering around for some time now, her arms full of small branches and twigs. It would have to do! Then she heard talking.

Cheyenne moved in the direction of the voices and soon saw Claire and Griffin meandering their way up towards where the bonfire was about to take place. "God, FINALLY!" She called out, making her way towards them. "The hell took you two so long? Do you have any idea how awkward it is making conversation?" She asked and then looked at Griffin. "No offense. Cool chick, just...we have nothing in common. Yeah. SO! Let's get this show on the road, kids. I have drinks to drink here!"

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"An Avisaille is an Avisaille, Claire. But I promise I won't call him that in front of the others if it makes you more comfortable."

Griffin's words made chills run up Claire's spine and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight. One thing her human and her feline selves shared was that her hair stood up no matter what if she felt the way she was feeling in that moment. Was it fear? Panic?

Claire stopped walking and just stood there staring at Griffin with her wide green eyes focused on his face, almost as if she were searching for something else. She had NOT expected him to say that! Did he know what an Avisaille was, or was he just playing around with her since that was what she had called it? She couldn't be sure which it was and that made her even more nervous. But she was frozen there, unable to move or do anything but look at him with that look of complete shock.

She knew that she couldn't just stay silent like that for long. It just wasn't natural for Claire! And she was about to say something but the sound of another voice scared her so bad that she jumped, dropping everything that was in her hands into the sand.

"God, FINALLY!"

If her eyes could grow any wider they would have in that moment as she spotted her sister. She definitely couldn't say anything now! At least not in front of Griffin! And she couldn't say anything to Griffin in front of Cheyenne!

"The hell took you two so long? Do you have any idea how awkward it is making conversation?"

Blinking several times Claire finally seemed to take notice that her hands were empty and she bent down to grab up her shoes along with the two bottles of champagne. As much as she tried not to, she managed to get sand all over her hands and on her dress when she picked everything up from the ground.

"HI!" She said in a very loud voice to her sister, giving the biggest smile she could muster. It was her 'nothing's wrong I swear!' look although she was sure that Cheyenne knew it well. "We're here! Ha..haha.. we can get rid of the evidence now so we don't go to jail! Because Herbie doesn't want me to be Bubba's girlfriend, oh NO!" She said nervously and chuckled with a little 'heh..heh..'

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

Griffin hadn't seen the look on Claire's face right away since he turned away. It wasn't long before the duo became a trio as Cheyenne found them and made her way down. "None taken." He said to the girl, knowing she hadn't meant anything cruel by what she said, it was simply the way the girl was. When Cheyenne appeared he turned and blinked at Claire who looked as if she'd seen a ghost. He'd sent her into a tailspin and he knew it, but he had every intention of coming clean the following night. He knew it was probably a bad idea considering she hadn't been able to keep the fat she knew what an Avisaille was a complete secret, but she had never intended for him to hear her, so it wasn't completely her fault. She'd never seen the remains of one before and to those unaccustomed to what wings looked like, he knew it was probably a shock

In a way he was glad Cheyenne had intervened when she had. He didn't want to have the conversation that evening, but at the same time he wanted to just get it over with. Still, there was work to be done first and they could all talk later.

"We're here! Ha..haha.. we can get rid of the evidence now so we don't go to jail! Because Herbie doesn't want me to be Bubba's girlfriend, oh NO! " He wasn't sure if he should be amused or feel bad for the girl. She was so uncomfortable in her own skin and now she had so much more to think about! He knew about the Avisaille, and she had no idea until a moment ago.

"I'm going to go check on Flynn. I'll see you two in a moment." H excused, making his way away from them. He had the feeling that Claire needed some time with her sister, and he definitely needed the excuse to be alone with Flynn. He sighed as he continued on the path alone.