YOU'RE LOSING ME ✦ WOLVERINE

CHAPTER EIGHT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH — 2007

FOR THE NEXT few nights after their city trip, Logan had slept more peacefully than he had in the past year every night.

He always went back to his motel room, but the next morning after their library visit, he rolled out of bed, in a routine to go see Clara. She'd invited him to come over after lunch time, after she had cleaned her apartment. And he had gone. They'd turned on the TV, avoiding the news channels, and settled on some comedy movie neither of them had seen before. Clara microwaved popcorn for them, and Logan felt young again, being with her.

He was pretty sure she was really close to finishing up on Scott's motorcycle. It had been three days since their weekend adventure, a week since he had arrived in town, and he realized on his walk over to Clara's shop, that he was dreading leaving.

He liked Clara, he realized. Liked going to Jerry's and drinking with the two of them, chatting about things that they liked or didn't matter. Life was so normal this way. Not that he disliked the excitement of the X-Men, but...Having a friend to hang out with, finding a routine to slip into, was nice. It felt like what he needed after the past year.

He slowed down his walk, and started to take in the town. Clara was so isolated in her little corner of town. Maybe...Maybe he could stay here just a little bit longer, and help her come out of her shell before he left.

Logan slowed to a stop, at the intersection before he needed to turn. He thought about it. He...Was he...Developing feelings for her?

The thought made him incredibly uncomfortable. He didn't think he could ever get over Jean. She had been it for him, for so long. What hurt most was the fact that she had never even truly been his for any of those years.

But...Maybe Clara could be his, if he allowed himself.

He stopped, shaking his head. What was he thinking? He just fucking met the girl, he didn't even know how old she was. There didn't need to be anyone after Jean. He didn't need anyone after her.

He made himself continue walking, turning the corner and crossing the street. Clara could be his friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

Nothing more than that.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Clara waited in the garage for Logan, reading her new book.

The last shipment had come in the day before, and she estimated that there was at least only a day or two left until she finished working on the motorcycle.

The thought of finishing made her sad. One, because it had been fun to work on it. Two, it meant Logan was going to be leaving to get back to his friend, Scott.

She kind of wanted to ask about him. But from his reaction hearing just his name those few days ago...She was going to hold off. She wanted to have his company for as long as she could possibly have it.

Hearing his footsteps approach, she slipped her book in the drawer of the desk, and leaned over to see him coming.

"Hey," Clara said, smiling at him. "I think I'm nearly done—"

"Good." Logan cut her off, and sat down in the office chair. "Good."

Clara stared at him for a moment, and then looked away, getting up from her chair. She hesitated over the play button on her cassette tape player, and then hit play anyway. Toto began to play through the speakers, and Clara rounded the desk to grab some tools from her worktable.

"Mind if I smoke?" Logan asked from behind her, and Clara hadn't even responded yet before she heard his lighter.

"Something on your mind?" Clara asked as she brought her tools over to the motorcycle, sitting down on the floor.