Chapter Five

Claire Claire pulled her long blonde hair into a high ponytail and grabbed her keys. She spent an hour after her morning classes getting groceries before she had to go check in with Sydney at the coffee shop. She had so much pep in her step that she tripped on the last stair at her apartment complex and skinned her palms and knees. She didn't care because nothing could bring her down today—figuratively speaking, of course. She drove her small Honda toward campus and raced toward the library to check in with Sydney. She stood with her back to her, vigorously writing on a clipboard and speaking to a coworker on the other side of her. Claire cleared her throat, not wanting to interrupt, and smiled when Sydney turned around to look at her. "Hey! There she is. Claire, this is Delia. Delia, this is Claire." They exchanged greetings while Claire grabbed her apron and her coffee house T-shirt from underneath the counter. "Delia is working the morning shift, and you'll relieve her around three for the evening shift. Delia seemed quiet with mousy brown hair and a quaint smile. "On busier days, like the weekends and Monday mornings, you'll work a double. I'll introduce you to other co-workers as you work with them. Today, I will work with you both, so I can train you. I will explain it all to you later, Claire. I'll have your tax forms to fill out when you get back. See you at three." "See you then," Claire said. She found herself wandering toward the library because she hadn't had a chance to look through the fiction section yet. In her free time, she enjoyed reading. She wasn't sure how much time she'd have to leisurely read but would take her chance when it came. The second floor to the library was full of rows upon rows of books and a few glass study rooms that weren't occupied. Claire walked down the rows one by one, her fingertips skimming the paranormal books that she'd grown accustomed to over the years. She snagged one from the third shelf up and flipped through the pages, wondering how an author came up with such a vivid story that had no real hold. Claire didn't believe in ghosts, goblins, or monsters. Even the sexy vampires and werewolves the girls fawned over in their spare time. Though they sounded magical, in real life, it seemed so ludicrous to think of seeing it in person. A deep chuckle slid down Claire's back. She dropped her book, startled forward, and fell against the shelf. She turned on her heel to see Axel Davers standing inches from her. The last time that happened, it'd been after a school pep rally. He'd cornered her in the breezeway that lead to the stairs and bleachers. She vividly remembered the smell of his spearmint gum as he told her how that skirt made her look like fat and that she needed to stop taking up space so often. Axel bent down and snagged the book from the ground, his dark eyes scanning the pages and then the cover. It was a vampire romance, and it caused heat to crawl up Claire's cheeks. When he glanced up, he smirked. "Is this as close to a romance you've ever gotten, Claire?' he asked in that deep baritone that caused havoc months before. Claire snatched the book from him and shoved it back into its place. "Why do you care? Have you ran out of girls to screw around with already? Are you really that bored you have to stalk me and make my life miserable?" Axel's gaze felt different than she remembered. The plush look of his lips were pink and inviting. What was she thinking? He didn't even deserve her fantasizing about him. He definitely didn't deserve her. Axel ignored her question and picked up the end of her ponytail and rubbed it in-between his fingers. He'd never openly touch her this way. If he shoved her into lockers or tripped her on the stairs, he never physically touched her in a way that seemed almost … dare she say flirty? She moved and took her hair with her, putting up her palm to warn him. His heated gaze traveled to her palms, and he reached out and grabbed her hand, cradling it like a precious child. Electricity snaked up her arms, causing goosebumps and heat to coil inside of her. It felt like witchery. "What happened to your hands?" he asked. Claire remembered tripping on the stairs, but he didn't need to know that. "I'm bored of you already," she said, walking back down the aisle toward the stairs of the second floor. Before she had a chance to make it from the aisle, four rough fingers slid around her wrist and halted her. Claire stared at him. "What?" Axel swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbed deep in his throat. "I want to start over." Claire blinked several times, trying to make sense of what he meant by that. Start over how? Was she supposed to forget everything he did to her? Forget the crass remarks he mumbled in class or the rude way he spoke about her to other boys? She chuckled lightly, and then it spilled out heavily. She slipped from his grasp and placed her opened palm on her chest. "You're serious? You torment me for years, and then you expect me to forget it? Forgive you and what? What do you want from me, Axel? It's been two months, not two years. The sight of you still burns my stomach. It still makes me want to run and hide, praying you don't see me. I prayed every night that your family would move. That I would come to school and you wouldn't be there. Now you're here? So many colleges accepted you, and you go here? It's the universe playing an evil prank on me. And I don't deserve it." She stepped toward him, and poked her finger into his chest, ignoring how taunt his chest felt. "And you don't deserve my time. Piss off, Axel. I won't let you ruin the next four years of my life." Claire left him standing in the aisle of the romance section while she walked quickly toward the stairs. She didn't sense him following behind her, and she let out a sharp sigh of relief. There was something so foreign about the way he gazed at her. It felt almost admiring. She didn't like it. When eight o clock rolled by, Claire washed the blenders while smiling to herself. There was something so rewarding about making her own money. After hours of Sydney showing her the ropes of making different coffees, making sure she understood the recipes, and responsibilities of keeping the displays stocked, and the numerous different responsibilities as a barista, she finished off the night with washing out the blenders. Sydney turned the open sign to closed and rested against the door. "That was a busy shift for your first one." Claire glanced over her shoulder and chuckled. "I loved it. I learn better by doing." Sydney laughed. "Sure thing. I'm going to finish up here, and you can take off. I printed off your schedule for the week and stuck it in the top of your purse. I'll see you tomorrow after classes." Claire whipped her hands on a towel that hung around her waist. "Okay. Are you sure you don't want me to stay and help?" "Nope, you've had a busy day. See you tomorrow." Claire grabbed her bag and walked out of the library toward the parking lot. Claire looked over her schedule, realizing she'd spend most of her free time working or studying, which worked fine for her. She didn't need too much free time to realize her lack of a social life. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she dug it from the depths. She pulled out a text from Cat about a party coming up the next day. Claire never partied in high school, but she promised herself she'd put herself out there more in college. She figured it was the same one Tegan mentioned the day before. Biting her lip, she debated on agreeing to go. Why not? It wouldn't hurt to attend a couple, especially before her school load became too much. Claire: I'll be there.