New Beginnings (Morganville Vampires)

Confessions

Claire's Point of View

I arrived back at Amelie's house just as the sky was turning from black to grey. I had been in deep thought on the walk back, debating whether to tell Amelie about what Oliver had said. In the end, I had decided to at least ask her; then I wouldn't be stuck in my room wondering what the answer would be.

I was walking down the pathway when I heard gravel crunch. I turned around and saw Stephen.

"Oh, hi." I said. Lame...

"Hello. Didn't mean to startle you. Is this where you live? On the secret part of town?" Stephen walked up the drive to me. I nodded then changed my mind and shrugged.

"Yes... Well, no I am just staying here for a while." I said. Why couldn't I get out a sentence that wasn't completely lame? Then I noticed his clothes; all black. Black t-shirt, Black trousers, black trainers. Red flag. I had learned to listen to red flags; last time I ignored them I got turned into a vampire. "Black clothes. They're nice."

"Yeah. I ran out of any other colours." Stephen smiles. I smiled back.

"Um... I really should get going." I said, turning back to the house. Stephen grabbed my arm.

"I thought you hated it here? The last conversation I remember, you wanted to get back to the Glass House."

"Wow, you have a good memory." I said, twisting my arm out of his hand but he only held on tighter.

"Its only been a few days. Why don't you come with me somewhere? The park? I hear it's lovely." Okay, Stephen is officially creeping me out.

"Well, I would except for two things... 1 let go of my arm and 2 the sun's coming up soon so unless you find some shade I can't join you."

"Done." Stephen let go of my arm and shook of the coat, I had no idea he was wearing. He gave it to me and I put it on after some hesitation.

"Going somewhere, Claire?" I spun around.

"Um... Yeah. The Founder's Square. I'm going to be inside, don't worry." I said, getting my hand through the sleeve. Amelie piercing gaze went to Stephen.

"Your not going anywhere with him."

"Who says? I'm very certain you are not her mother." Stephen replied. Just as the first sun rays crept over the horizon Amelie pulled me back under the roof of the garage.

"I don't need to be. Young vampires do what I say and unless I get proof that you are no threat, you will not be seeing Claire." I bristled. Here she was again, telling who I could and could not see.

"You can't tell me who I can see, Amelie! He's not the stalker!"

"And you have proof, do you?" Amelie asked.

"I don't need any. He's just like anyone else!"

"He's not coming in and you are not seeing him again. That's the end of it. Gérard, take Claire to her room." Amelie ordered. She's always ordering people. I took of the coat and handed it to Stephen, my arm started to smoke and would have instantly burst into flames if Amelie hadn't pushed me back. After a glare at me, she handed the coat to Stephen then went inside. Gérard gave me a hand up and led me inside.

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I watched Stephen out of the window until he left. I sighed and sat on the bed and thought over what I should do. I'm still mad at Amelie for banning me from seeing Stephen, but this annoying feeling called curosity got the better of me.

So I sighed again and got up and went downstairs. I went to the kitchen to look for anything to drink.

"Claire, come here." Amelie said. I sighed and grabbed a glass of water and went to the room Amelie was in.

"I was just going to get a drink."

Amelie gestured to the maid and she nodded and disappeared out of the kitchen. "What did you do, when you went out?"

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"I went to Myrnin's. He said you didn't come." I could sense Amelie was hoping I didn't say that I was Stephen.

"I went looking for Oliver."

"Why?"

"Just to chat. Why do you want to know? Also before you say anything, Oliver made sure i got back before the sun came up." I looked at the floor and heard Amelie exhale.

"You were gone a long while."

I looked back up. "Worried? I can take of myself, Amelie. After all I'm a vampire now and have been living in this town long enough."

"Yes, but you are still young." The maid came back with the tray and I got the cup and poured it into the green cup. An idea popped into my head. I didn't know if it was a good idea or not, but it was worth a try.

I went to put the cup on the desk and brushed Amelie's hand. She must have been thinking of something, because she tensed and pulled her hand away. Then I had another idea, one that Oliver suggested actually.

I couldn't just grab her hand, that wouldn't end well so I needed to think of something.

"What's that on your hand?" I asked.

"What? Nothing." Amelie said. Okay, now or never. I grabbed her hand when her attention was elsewhere and checked it over for about a split second before Amelie pulled it away. "I don't need you anymore. Go to your room and I will send for you when needed."

I looked at Amelie. Why did she have to be so good at wearing masks? But still, I could see I did something.

"Do you love me, Amelie?" I asked quickly, before I lost my nerve.

Amelie paused. "Why did you hold my hand? I thought you hated me for what I did."

"Yeah, but I need to know. Oliver thinks so and I think I... I don't know. It's just that you have been acting like strange... Like not before when I come to you or... Never mind."

"Well... Yes. In a way. But not in love as you young people see it nowadays."

I blinked and couldn't stop staring for about a minute or 10 I don't know. "Um... You do love me? For how long? Is this so you can keep me forever? You do know I have Shane right?"

"Of course and I already explained about the reason behind your turning, it is nothing to do with any selfish desires." Amelie replied. "Also I don't remember when I start to develop these... But I have changed a little since you have been here. I guess it must be that."

"I uh..." I started. Amelie put a finger to my lips.

"Go to your room. I will send for someone." She said then waited expectantly. Stumbling a bit, so unnatural for vampires but vampires are unnatural anyway, I walked up the stairs and to my room closing the door with a click.