“Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves and, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys they’d just walk around naked at all times.” 

 -Betsey Johnson

Chapter Six

Well, I was tired as hell, but I made a promise. Michael asked me to take Claire to school. When she came downstairs she was wearing some of her new clothes. Shorts and a white t-shirt. She was short, but she had long legs. If I wasn’t so exhausted I might compliment her. She made eggs and I started to fry some bacon. We were the only ones up and she had been skipping class the past few days. I convinced her-she listened to me. She trusted me. I liked that she trusted me. “What are you doing up so early?”

“Ask Michael,” I said bitterly. 

“You doing something for him?”

“Yeah. Don’t expect me to dress up or anything.” 

“What?”

“What you see is what you get. I’m taking you to class. You’re going back today, right?”

“You’re kidding.” She was horrified. I shrugged. “You’re kidding. I’m not some six-year-old who needs her big brother,” Ouch! “to walk her to school! No way, Shane!” 

“Michael thinks you should have an escort. Brandon was pretty pissed. He could find a way to take it out on you, even if he can’t do it himself. He’s got plenty of people who’d kick your ass on his say-so.” I glanced down, “Like Monica.”

“Monica belongs to Brandon?” Claire’s voice was deathly quite. 

“The whole Morrell family does, far as I know. He’s their own personal badass. So.” I rubbed my hands together and tried portray a good mood. “What exciting classes do we have today?”

“You can’t go to class with me!” Her eyes were wide. I was starting to enjoy this. 

“Hey, you’re welcome to knock me out and stop me, but until you do, I’m your date for the day. So. What classes?”

“Calculus II, Physics of Sound, Chemistry III, chem lab, and Biochemistry.”

“Holy crap. You really are smart. Right,  I’ll take some comics or something. Maybe my iPod.” She glared at me which only made my smile. She was cute when she was trying to be lethal. 

“I always wanted to be a big man on campus. Guess this is my chance.” I teased her further. 

“I’m dead,” she moaned and stuffed her face in her hands.

“Not yet.” I frowned, “That’s kind of the point.” 

*****

She was checking me out as we walked to TPU. It was in small little glances, but it gave me a rush and a smile. I found that I was even ignoring the naive flirty glances the college girls were giving me. I don’t know what she was doing to me, but I liked it. She stopped all of a sudden, and I kept going until she didn’t follow. “Monica. Monica’s going to be hanging around. She usually is. She’ll see you.” Oh. I put on a mask. 

“I know.” I cared about Claire. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Especially not by Monica’s hand. “Let’s go.”

“But-Monica!” Dammit, she was making a scene. I kept walking but she stayed put. “Hey! You’re supposed to be with me, not leaving me!” 

“Monica’s my business. Drop it.” I waited for her and she caught up. “She doesn’t mess with us, I won’t mess with her. How’s that?” Claire didn’t like the answer, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I forgot about it and focused on looking for threats. I almost stopped walking. She was standing in the middle of the quad. Surrounded by people kissing her ass. “Son of a bitch.” I looked down and got hot. I could see Alyssa. It hurt. It hurt so bad. I felt a hand on my elbow. Michael. No don’t pull me out! Lyssa.... Don’t-

“Not here. She won’t come in.” That voice was like a bucket of water. I looked at Claire. She was staring up at me concerned, her hand still on my arm. 

“Why not?”

“It would embarrass her.” I nodded, she was shallow like that. I walked Claire to class and sat next to her. I could feel her glancing at me. All I could think about was that night...and Monica. I wanted to kill her. I was tense all over. Finally the class got a break, and I hurried out of the room. Claire cached up with me and I sighed. 

“She’s gone. Quit worrying about me. I’m okay.” 

“She-Eve said she burned you house.” I tensed more and I felt tears come to my eyes. No I didn’t cry. And especially not here. I couldn’t cry here. In front of Claire. “And-your sister-?”

“I couldn’t get her out. She was twelve, and I couldn’t get her out of the house. That was my job. Watch out for her.” Damn the tears. I walked to the bathroom and into a stall. I punched the wall and let a few tears fall before pulling myself together. 

*****

Zombie killing. I’m telling you. Forget therapists! About five hundred zombies dead later and we were walking into Claire’s chem lab. I was seriously interested in what this teacher dude had arranged for the experiment. Could make good weapons with this knowledge. I kept asking questions and soon enough the teacher came over. “Hey, man. Shane Collins. I’m-what’s the word I’m looking for? Auditing. Auditing the class. With my friend here. Claire.” 

“Oh. Right. Okay, then. Just-follow along.” The guy was clueless. Nonetheless, I smiled at Claire and leaned close. 

“Hey. Any of this stuff gonna blow up?”

“What? Um...yeah, if you do it wrong, I guess.” Claire looked at me like I was an idiot. 

“I’m thinking about practical applications. Bombs. Things like that.” 

“Shane!” She chastened me. I just grinned and I swear as I was leaned in she inhaled my scent. That made me smile even wider and I shot her a subtle flirty look. She took a deep breath and turned back to the materials in front of her. I realized that she went faster than everyone else. She already knew what to do. I reached for some bottle looking thing, but Claire slapped my hand. I grinned wider and watched her some more. She was fascinating. She worked so efficiently, never hesitating in her actions. She was amazing in her own way. She was at ease. I saw the back of Claire’s shirt dampen and I already was holding the culprit. Claire’s scream pierced the room and didn’t-couldn’t-look at her. The girl was someone I vaguely remembered. One of Monica’s, I knew that. She tried to slap me, but I had a hell of a lot of weight on her and knew how to use it. I shook with tension. I heard the TA’s yell of shock and then he was telling someone to call an ambulance. Whatever this bitch had poured on Claire’s back was still in her hand. I twisted her arm behind her back and she dropped it. 

“It was an accident!” She yelped and I twisted her arm tighter, my jaw tightening. “I tripped! I’m sorry! Look, I didn’t mean it....” Lying bitch. I growled quietly and her eyes widened. 

“We’re not working with H2SO4 today. You’ve got no reason to be walking around with it,” the TA spoke. I squeezed her arm tighter. “Claire? Claire, how bad is the pain?” 

“I-it’s okay. I’m okay.” Right. Fighter in her own way. Stubbornness. “Can I put something on?” Put something on? I glanced back and the TA had cut through her shirt and bra. God, no wonder she was playing it off. But her back was bright red and looked painful. I almost forgot about the bitch troll I was holding. I wanted to lean next to Claire and shield her body from the class. The TA told her that she had to keep her shirt off. He turned to the girl and told her she would be speaking with campus officials. I leaned forward. 

“If you ever touch her again. I will kill you and that bitch you call a leader. I know how to use a stake. It will work just as well with you. Though a knife might be quicker. I’ll kill you. Remember that. Never touch her,” I whispered it in her ear. 

I heard Claire behind me, “Sir? Sir, can I have a make-up in the lab work and-” her voice cut off and I shoved the girl to the ground before turning and crouching beside Claire. I took her hand and squeezed. 

I whispered, “I’m sorry Claire. I’m so, so sorry.” I had failed at protecting her and seeing her there, hurt and unconscious, I promised myself never to fail again. The ambulance came in and put her on a stretcher. I quickly grabbed her shirt as they lifted her as to avoid flashing anyone more than me-I had definitely caught a glimpse. I followed the paramedics and rode in the van with her. 

“What’s your name?”

I glanced at a paramedic, “Shane Collins.”

“I’m Tim.”

“Hey.” I didn’t look at him. 

“Boyfriend?” I looked at him questionably. Was he hitting on me? “Are you here boyfriend?”

Oh, “Yes.” It came out of my mouth before I could stop it. 

“What are her parents names?”

I hesitated, “Um, I’m not sure. Her name is Claire Danvers. Maybe the school would know?” I rubbed Claire’s shoulder and I called Eve. She didn’t answer and I was thankful. I left her a message. I looked back down at Claire. We got to the hospital and I had to wait in the lounge while they did their magic. I rubbed my hands on my forehead. My phone rang. 

“Shane?”

“Yeah?” 

“What’s going on with Claire? Is she okay?”

“She’s gonna be fine. One of Monica’s bitches threw some chemical over her back. It was burning.” 

“That bitch! You’d think she wouldn’t cross the line.”

“Why not? She’s done it before.” 

“I’m sorry Shane. I didn’t mean- “

“It’s fine.”

Eve sighed, “See you at home?”

“No. I’m gonna stay with her.”

“Shane...you don’t have to feel bad. So you slipped up, who cares?”

“I do!” I closed my eyes and sighed, “I’m sorry Eve.” 

“It’s fine.”

“So I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“Shane, tomorrow?” 

“Yeah. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

“You...”

“What, Eve?”

“You really care about her, don’t you?”

“Yeah...I do.” 

“See you tomorrow Shane.” 

“Bye.” I hung up and sat back. 

“Shane?” I stood quickly and the nurse smiled. 

“Claire is gonna be fine. She’ll be waking soon, would you like to see her?”

“Yes.” She showed me the way to Claire’s room. She was asleep on her side and I frowned. “Thanks.” The nurse shut the door behind her and I sat pulled a chair up next to Claire. I told her again how sorry I was. She moaned and blinked a couple of times. Her brow furrowed and she glanced around, her gaze settling on me. “Emergency room.” I smiled, she was cute when she was sleepy. “Damn, Claire. Warn a guy before you do a face-plant on the floor next time. I could have looked all heroic and caught you or something.” 

She grinned, “You caught Gina.” Her speech was slow and slurred. Her eyes widened and she giggled, “You caught Geeeeeeeeena.” If I didn’t like her I would’ve so used this against her later. 

“Yeah, ha-ha, you’re high as a kite, you know? And they called your parents.” 

She smiled, then frowned, the gasped, then looked at me desperately, “Parents?” She lifted her head but just went back down, “Oh. Ow. Not good.”

“Not so much. Mom and Dad were pretty freaked to hear you became a lab accident. The campus cops forgot to mention the part where Gina deliberately threw acid on your back. They seem to think it was one of those funky accidents.” Stupid ass authority. 

“Was it? Accident?” Claire looked so hopeful. 

“No way. She meant to hurt you.” Claire plucked at the gown she was wearing. 

“Killed my shirt.” 

“Yeah, pretty much.” I paled remembering her boobs and then thought of something else. “I’ve been trying to call Michael. I don’t know where he is. I don’t want to leave you alone here, but-”

“He’s okay,” she told me this softly and grabbed my hand without actually realizing it. “I’m okay.” I grinned sadly. I reached out and smoothed her hair back. Despite everything, she was beautiful. She needed to sleep, though.

“Yeah. You’re okay. I’ll be here when you wake up.” She nodded and then drifted off. I continued to stroke her face letting my hand trace her cheekbones and lips. Damn. I really like her. Like I wanted to.... I chuckled, like I wanted to be her boyfriend. She was only sixteen.... I sighed. She made me better though. Like when she had pulled me out of that awful vision after I saw Monica. She was just...good. Innocent. And...mine. I wouldn’t let anyone touch her.