Claire Emerson

Three

It was finally dark outside and the children had finished unpacking so the family decided to go to the boardwalk. Sam and Claire were excited while Michael just watched over them but he was secretly happy to be out.

After playing some games and eating snacks they heard music playing so they went to go to the concert that just so happened to be there on the beach. They stood together by a barrel with fire in it to keep themselves warm.

The guy was singing and playing the Saxophone. Sam and Claire's focus was on the guy playing while Michael's gaze shifted to something else. More like someone else. He saw the most beautiful girl in the world running past him and into the stands. When she turned around she had the most amazing smile on her face and you could see how happy she was to be there.

Eventually Sam and Claire noticed their brother wasn't paying attention to the concert and looked back to where he was looking. They both saw the beautiful girl and immediately knew that's who got his attention. Sam pushed his brother's head back to the concert and Claire laughed.

Michael's head kept turning to look at her though. Just something about her wouldn't let him look away. Claire didn't realize the girl had left until Sam grabbed her arm and the two were following Michael who was trying to tail the girl.

"Where are we going?" Claire called to her brothers as she tried to keep up. Neither one answered her and she just rolled her eyes following the two. Eventually the Emerson's lost the mysterious girl and they slowed down. Claire was walking next to Sam who was right behind Michael.

"So where we going?" Sam asked his brother.

"Nowhere." Michael responded flatly still trying to look for the mysterious girl.

"So what's our rush?" Sam asked again, "you're chasing that girl aren't ya?"

"Of course he is Sammy." Claire laughed at her brothers. Michael looked back and glared at her. "Michael. Just admit it. You're chasing her." Claire was pushing past people to keep up with the boys in front of her.

"I'm at the mercy of your sex glands bud." Sam offered himself to his brother.

"Sammy!" Claire said in disgust.

"Sam. Don't you have something better to do than follow me around all night?" Michael stopped his two siblings.

"Yeah." Sam spoke dreamily as he looked at where they were stopped in front of. "Actually I do." Michael left with Claire trailing behind.

"Claire!" He stopped her.

"What? I could be of service. Like a wingwoman you know?" She patted his shoulder. He gave her a small glare and she let go of him. "Alright alright. I'll go. Just be careful not to get lost okay?" He nodded and walked off. Claire didn't know what to do now. Both of her brothers had been distracted so now she was alone.

Claire started walking in whatever direction her feet were leading her. She came to the edge of the boardwalk and leaned against the railing and took a deep breath. She could hear the ocean over all the noise and she felt relaxed and at home. This is exactly what she needed. Until she felt a person stand next to her.

"Out of this entire railing you come this close to me?" She asked the stranger loudly making sure he heard her.

"I've never seen you around before, that's all. Thought you might've been lost." She turned her head to the right and noticed a guy with straight blonde hair that was in a mullet. His hair was crazy everywhere on his head but it looked good.

"My family and I just moved here." She told him.

"Why's that?" He asked with a smirk on his face.

"Should I really be telling my life story to a stranger?" She scoffed making him smile.

"I'm Paul." He held his hand out for her to take. Claire looked at his hand and sighed. She took his hand and shook it before introducing herself.

"Claire."

"See now we're not strangers anymore." Claire rolled her eyes and laughed.

"My parents went through a divorce. So my mother, my two brothers and I moved here to live with my grandpa." She explained.

"Ah okay. Well I have lived here my whole life. I live with my four brothers and my sister?" To Claire he didn't seem so sure about calling his sister his actual sister but she shrugged it off.

"Big family huh?" She laughed.

"Yeah you could say that. So why aren't you playing a game or something? Isn't that was girl's normally do?" Claire scoffed at his words.

"Some girls do. But not every girl is the same." Paul nodded his head in understanding.

"Got it." He opened his mouth to say something else but quickly shut it as he turned his head. Claire could feel eyes on her and she turned around to see who it was. When she looked back she saw three men who looked about Paul's age staring at them. More like staring at her.

She stared each one down but the one that stood out the most to her was the blonde guy with spikes in his hair and a mullet like Paul's. Something about him drew her near but she didn't recognize him. She also wasn't about to go introduce herself to these people. When she saw them together she had a feeling something was off about them.

"It was nice meeting you Claire." Paul spoke to the girl with a half smile on his face. "I hope to see you again soon sometime."

"You too Paul." She watched as he walked away and joined the crew on their motorcycles. Paul's head turned in another direction along with the two men near him but the guy she noticed was still staring at her.

Claire looked down as she could feel blood rushing to her cheeks. She looked back up when she noticed the girl Michael was following with a kid right behind her. She noticed her brothers not too far behind so she jogged over to the two and saw the girl get on the back of the blonde guy's bike.

This aggravated Claire. She couldn't have been jealous right? She hasn't even met the guy yet. But Claire knew Michael was upset because of the look on his face when he saw the mystery girl on the back of another guy's bike.

Claire saw the girl smirk at Michael along with the guy in front of her. The guy's gaze shifted back to Claire and his smirk faded away. He started his bike along with the rest of the group.

"Come on she stiffed ya." Sam hit Michael causing Claire to let out a small laugh. She followed right behind Sam and the three of them walked away.

The laugh caught David's attention and he couldn't help but wonder what it was about this girl that drew him in. He overheard the conversation she had with Paul of course. His secret let him be able to do so. He felt bad for her. He could sense she was hurting but he didn't know why. He wanted to know. And for a second, David got his humanity and wanted to help the girl he has yet to know.