The touch on her shoulder had her tensing. She was acting like some huge cry baby in front of Shane, but she couldn't really stop herself. Every day before this she had been able to tell herself that it wasn't real. That it was all some horrible nightmare. She told herself those things, but she never fully believed. Now Shane was in Salem and he smelled of the fire.
"It's real, it's real." She lifted the edge of her hoodie to wipe her face clean of her tears.
She could do this.
The microwave beeped angrily. Claire glanced over her shoulder at Shane before moving to check the temperature of the pasta. She yanked the door open and peeled the wax paper off the dish. There was steam so that was a good sign. She carefully pulled the dish out of the microwave and set it on the counter. Once that was complete she grabbed Shane a fork and stabbed it into the middle of the pasta.
"What...what is the last thing you remember about home? I need to know, Shane. People can come for different points in the timeline and- are we from the same place? Have you experienced more or less than me?" Would this place be cruel enough to yank Shane from the fire and from before his dad had brought that knife down? Claire quickly redid her messy bun with shaky hands as she tried not to think of that idea.
"I'm going to have to explain this place to you. Do you...do you want to eat that in my room? I don't really have clothes for you to change into, but I can like febreeze you?" Her nose wrinkled slightly as she tried to joke. God, she felt like crying more. She also felt like kissing Shane, but the last thing she needed was for Tony or Bruce to walk in on that. Shane was real and in Salem.