The Switch (Morganville Vampires)

Chapter 4

Amelie's Point of View

After I sent the text to Claire as she was so obviously struggling, I came down the stairs. Mr. Collins is making food so I walk up to him.

"Hello Mr... Shane." I say. He turns round.

"Oh hey. Making tacos. Want some?" He asked.

"I'm good, thank you." I said. Shane looked at me strange, then went back to cooking. "I'm going to see Myrnin now."

"Alright Claire." Shane said. I went out of the house and started walking. I arrived at Myrnin's accommodation and went down the stairs to his lab.

"Myrnin." I called. I heard a scrambling noise and Myrnin appears.

"Hello Claire. I wasn't expecting you." Myrnin said.

"It's not Claire, it's Amelie." I said. "I see you are hard at work repairing the machine." I said. Myrnin blinked, then nodded.

"Yes, yes I am." He said. "It will still need a few more hours to uh, charge then you can change back." Myrnin said.

"How long will that take?" I asked.

"Um... About seven

hours." He said. I sighed.

"Please hurry up." I said and left.

Back at the Glass House, I am sitting on the sofa watching Shane play a game.

"You are very good." I said, smiling a little. He looks at me.

"You alright?" He asked. I nodded, confused by his question.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"You never made that comment before." He said. I sighed.

"So because I have never made a comment before, means there is something wrong with me?" I asked tensely. Shane shakes his head.

"No! Just chill alright? I didn't mean there is anything wrong. It's just you have never said that." Shane said. I sighed a leaned against the back of the sofa.

"Fine. Continue playing your game." I said. Shane un-paused his zombie game and carried on playing it occasionally casting glances my way. After what seemed like forever of Shane trying to beat his high score Little Claire's other housemates come in.

"Hey Claire, how was college today?" Michael asked.

"It was fine, thanks." I said. "You should have some food. Shane made tacos." I said. Avoiding any other questions, I got up and went to the kitchen.

"Hey CB." Eve said. I looked at her confused. Why was she calling me CB? I sighed.

"Hello." I greeted her. I still didn't forgive her the time she slapped me when I refused for them to get married.

"So how was work today?" Eve asked.

"It was okay. Where have you been?" I asked her.

"Just at the university grounds doing my coffee job. Oliver is being such a dick lately I couldn't work there. He expects me to do all of the work. And before I left right, he made me stay after my shift had ended because I refused to clean up the spill bitch Monica had made." Eve said. She does swear a lot. I was wondering where Claire had been getting it from.

"Oh really." I said disinterested in what she thought of my second in command Oliver. I poured myself a glass of water and took a sip. The water was cold and refreshing.

"So what are you doing tomorrow?" Eve asked. I shrugged a little.

"What are you doing?" I asked."

"I have work, duh. Left your intelligent mind at Myrnins?" She asked. I glared at her and squeezed the glass tightly without knowing it.

"No. I was just asking." I said curtly. Eve looked at me.

"Sorry I was joking. Jeez no need to get all protective of him." Eve said. I sighed and concentrated on breathing to get my simmering anger under control.

"It's fine." I said. "And I am not protective. He is my friend." I said.

"Kay cool. Hey are you having any dinner?" She asked. I shook my head. "Kay." She put food on her plate and went to the living room. I drank the rest of my water and put it in the sink then was about to go upstairs to little Claire's room but I heard their voices. I crept closer to the door that is ajar and listened.

"Claire's been acting really strangely. She got all defensive and tense and angry when she said a comment that she had never said before." I heard Mr Collins say.

"What was the comment?" I Michael said that.

"I was playing the zombie game and she said I was good at it. Then she looked a little pissed when I asked her about it." Shane said.

"Well maybe you said something that offended her?" Michael, I think asked.

"Nope." Shane said. My hand clenched to a fist. Liar.

"What we talking about, guys?" The annoying Eve said.

"Just talking about how Claire has been acting strangely." Michael, I think said. I am more certain now as I crept closer.

"Yeah she was weird with me as well. We were talking and she asked me what I was doing tomorrow. I said work duh, cos she should know that then I think she almost broke a glass and was glaring at me." Eve said. I couldn't help it, I thought. You were treating me like I am dumb.

"Oh right. But you were joking right?" Michael asked.

"Obviously," Eve said. "Claire would never get angry about something as simple as that." They were all silent for a moment then Shane spoke up.

"Maybe I should go and check on Claire." He got up and I silently but quickly went up the stairs to Claire's room. I picked up my phone and "texted" her. I still don't completely get the idea of this.

Claire how do you stand to be around these people? Eve insults me and your boyfriend asked if there is something wrong with me.

Amelie

I sighed. It was only a short text but enough to let her know the extent of her problems. I sent her another text.

You also really need to sort out your wardrobe. Your boyfriend won't be attracted to you for much longer if you keep these horribly outdated clothes.

I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." I said. Shane opened the door. He looked at me for a while then came in and shut the door.

"Uh hey are you alright? Not that there is anything wrong with you but it's a friendly question." Shane asked. I nodded.

"Yes I am fine, thank you." I said.

"And about the way you talk..." He started.

"What about it?" I asked him suspiciously.

"Nothing! Just um... It's weird that's all." He said.

"This town is slightly weird it's bound to rub off sometimes." I said.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You are not like this!" He yelled at me. I momentarily forgot I was in Little Claire's body, (apart from the heartbeat) and I glared at Shane.

"I am Claire. Your girlfriend. And there is nothing with me. We are all subject to change here in this little town so you better get used or God help you." I said to him and went past him and out the door. I glared at Michael until my or Claire's brown hair obscured my vision.

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