The trek up to her room felt like it took forever, but also felt like it took no time at all. She was still trying to come to grips with the fact Shane had arrived in Salem. When she arrived by herself she had hoped her friends would follow and then life in Salem happened. Things were very not normal here; something the others really didn't need to deal with. They had enough going on in their lives when it came to Morganville. God, she was happy he was in Salem though and that made her selfish.
Once in her room, she sat down on the edge of her bed. The computer chair was left for Shane if he wanted it unless he wanted to sit next to her. Which was also allowed. Oh, it was very allowed.
She started to pick at the knee of her skinny jeans as if trying to create a hole. Her gaze was kind of on her knee, but she kept glancing at Shane through her lashes. Would he just vanish?
"I...know." She did know Shane had meant to help the situation when he called his father. None of them could have known what had awaited all of them when the man showed back up in Morganville. The glint of the kitchen knife as it came down- Claire frowned deeply as she shoved that memory out of her head.
I'm sorry.
Those two words did a funny thing to Claire's heart. It kind of felt like she had just been hit by a semi-truck right in the chest. A faint gasp escaped her before she was up off the bed to tackle Shane in a hug, not caring much about the plate of food he had. "D-don't!" Saying sorry meant it was all too real. Saying sorry meant it was all Shane's fault. It wasn't! It wasn't all Shane's fault. If Claire had just handed the book over in the first place, if she had done things differently then none of this would have happened.
"I started it all. It isn't- no, Shane. It is my fault. I'm sorry! I put all of you in danger and now...I'm sorry." She wasn't crying again so that was a plus, but she was holding onto Shane as if she thought he was going to vanish from Salem right then and there. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she let out a faint sneeze. He really did smell of the fire, but she wasn't letting go. No, she was not going to let go of Shane yet.