Claire sat down there calmly as she directed the driver on which way to take home. She was actually excited inside on the fact that Tristan Jenkins was actually giving her a lift home. They arrived in front of her home and she turned to say thank you to him. He turned away uninterested in what she was saying.
“Just get off.” he breathed out.
The man was too rude and Claire felt like talking back at him but she knew better. She simply turned to the driver and smiled.
“Thank you sir,” she said
“It’s Alfredo miss.” the man said.
Tristan groaned angrily and Claire got off the car. She stood there watching them leave and then stuck her tongue at the car as it went past. She now sighed and went inside the house. As she knocked, the door was flung open and her step mother flung herself at her.
“Oh Claire darling, you had me worried sick,” she said embracing her.
Claire could not understand what was the reason for her playing nice to her and then saw her father seated on the sofa. The woman let go of her to look her over.
“Are you hurt anywhere?,” the woman asked
“Cut it mother, how would she be hurt when she was dropped off by a really nice car,” Deanna said distastefully as she walked around and began heading to the stairs
“Deanna be nice,” Lucille said
“Oh whatever,” was the reply.
The woman told her to ignore her and said that her father had been worried. Claire nodded and greeted her properly before entering the house. She greeted her father and without waiting for his reply, headed for the stairs. The man stopped her and then demanded to understand why a car had dropped her off.
“I thought you were taking a bus?,” he demanded
“Come on Willows, Claire is grown up now. Certainly we understand what happened right Claire?,” her step mother cooed and went to sit down.
Claire took only but a moment to understand what she was doing. She could not believe her ears and argued immediately before her reputation was stained.
“That was only my boss.” she said
“Oh, I never knew bosses now give lifts to their employees,” her father said
“He only came in today, I finished late and he decided to help me out. And for the record sir, I owe you absolutely no explanation.” Claire stated and bounded off the stairs.
She could not believe her father would take what her step mother was saying seriously obviously supporting her over her. She got to her room and discovered her room door was open. Claire dashed inside worriedly to find Andrew squatting beside Miller as he ate whatever ever it was he was giving him.
“Hey Claire,” he said
“What are you doing here?,” Claire demanded as she fell on her bed
“Well, he kept mewing and mother obviously would not hear of it, she was going to have him taken out. I thought I should save him for you and bought him a couple of treats. He’s a nice pet though,” Andrew said standing up.
Now that seemed like her step mother and not that show she had been putting up before her father. Claire although felt her privacy had been infiltrated knew she had to play nice. She had not given the cat enough to see him to this point as she had absolutely no idea she was going to stay out that long. She did not know why Andrew was also being the one taking it upon himself to feed it.
“Thanks Andrew,” she simply said.
He nodded and decided to leave her room. At the door, he suddenly paused and Claire knew the reason was going to manifest at the moment. He said that there was a little outing he was going to be making with his friend and would like Claire to join.
“You do remember him right? The one you met in my room the other day,” he said
“I met him outside your room,” Claire corrected
“Okay, well you should come,” he said
“I have work.” she said
“I know but you just, think it through. It’s in the evening and we might shift it to Sunday if you will.” he said
“Hmmm hmm.” was her uninterested response.
The boy turned away and shut the door. Claire got up after him and locked the door before slumping on the bed. She did not understand what they took her for, maybe the dumbest person on planet earth. Claire had such a rough day and all she wanted now was to shower and get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow, she would have to face Dracula in his castle again. Yes, that seemed to fit Tristan’s personality so well. He was Dracula, really handsome and enticing but a beast within. She got off bed and went to get a good wash.
Claire was about getting into her pyjamas when her phone rang. She swore under her breath as she wondered why her father would be calling her on phone when they were in the same house. She ignored it and then it rang again. She might have ignored it still when she suddenly remembered she had given Jake and his mother her contact. Claire rushed to get the phone and it certainly was Jake calling.
“Hi Jake,” she said sitting on her bed
“Hey gorgeous. How was work today?,” he asked her.
Claire thought about all that had happened, work had been really bad that day but she said she was fine. He was glad and said he was calling to check on her.
“Is that Claire?,” his mother asked in the background.
Claire sighed inwardly as she remembered a scene like this again. It was the day before she came there when her father had called her to make her go to another place, Claire wondered if that offer was still valid. Jake’s mother however yanked the phone from his hand and spoke with her. She missed Claire all day and recounted how she had successfully burnt the cookies she was trying hard to make.
“We had charcoal for dinner Claire,” Jake shouted
“Oh shut up Jacob. You loved that charcoal,” his mother said.
Claire smiled, they were like the family she really wanted to have. They spoke for a while and they said their good nights. Claire laid the phone aside on the side stool and climbed into bed. Silently she prayed to good to give Tristan Jenkins a really bad stomach so he would not have to come to work and give her a phase two of the days ordeal. After the prayer, Claire went to bed.