His Wayward Girl

Chapter one

"OK ,goodnight you guys!" I waved to my fellow employees as we parted our ways. Dear God had it been a long day! One might think that working in a coffee shop would be all comforting and relaxing but that is SO a misconception . You see this modern world relies far too much on coffee if you ask me. I must say that more then half of the adult population could be diagnosed as clinically addicted. People get all grouchy about it too if they don''t get it right away. It's great deal more stressful then you would think.

"Are you sure you don't need a ride home Claire?" One of my co-workers looked at me from the front seat of his car but I respectfully declined on the knowledge that he had urge to get into every woman's pants and I was probably one of his last conquests. Disgusting pig.

I began my walk home. I took comfort in the steady clunk of my shoes against the pavement. Cars zoomed by me at their usual speedy pace and a trail of street lights lit my way. The moon was bright in the clear night sky and the cool breeze blowing on my face was refreshing, yet relaxing at the same time. If it wasn't for all the light pollution of San Fransisco I'm sure I could have seen the trillions of stars that danced across our universe. Unfortunately I was stuck in this city, I always had been and probably always would be. Don't get me wrong, San Fran is amazing, the people here are severely entertaining and the culture is exciting and upbeat so I can't really explain why I don't like it. I guess our tiny brick house had never felt like home to me. Even though that was where I had grown up my whole life it was like this place made me feel like a fish out of water, better yet a bird with no sky. It wasn't like I was a misfit or I didn't belong... I just knew that I needed to be somewhere else you know?

I guess I should have more hope for myself, as a girl who recently graduated from high school and can officially buy her own cigarettes and go to real jail(for all you slow people out there that means I'm eighteen). But strangely I don't feel confident in my future at all. Sure I got accepted to a college and everything and I guess I'll go because that is what everyone else does, but that doesn't mean I'll like it. In fact I am pretty sure I will despise it. After all my dad wouldn't let me go to college anywhere out of the state of California because he is frighteningly over protective and wants to control me as much as he can. OK so maybe that is a little bit of an exaggeration but still that's the way that it feels sometimes.

Anyway my relationship with my dad is besides the point, the point actually is that I simply feel like I am going from one flawed education system to another flawed education system where everyone rooms together and shares one big bathroom.

Ugh, I am so not a fan.

Finally after my long walk home I reached my front steps. Our house was just like any other in the city, small but not uncomfortable and confined by other brick buildings that surrounded it. It was nothing fancy, but it was enough.

I heard a horn honk in the distance as I pushed my way into our messy house. I dropped my purse on the floor and kicked off my shoes. Thank God. It had been a long day at work. I was met with sounds that were not pleasant but altogether too familiar to me. They were the sounds of my mother and father's raised voices.

"Oh so you're telling me Jim that you are not going to allow me to fly out to take care of my own sister?" My mom was getting to the danger zone, I could always tell.

"Yes, yes that is what I'm saying Holley. You could ruin everything by going back there, by going back to them." I sighed and was about to trudge up to my room but decided to stay and listen to what they were talking about. Mom has a sister? That's news to me!
"Emily needs me there, she doesn't have any other family and I'm not about to miss another birth of my niece or nephew." I was even more shocked now, trying to make my way closer to the kitchen without being caught eaves dropping. I have an aunt? And cousins for that matter? What was all of this about? I had always thought our family tree was rather lacking on the whole 'distant relatives' branch.

"And what about Claire? What are we going to say to her. You and I both know that she can never go back there Holley, not ever." Whoaaa they were talking about me now? What did any of this distant family drama have to do with me? I heard my mom slam something down on the counter. This had just gone from interesting to mind blowing!

"You know what Jim, I've been thinking you might be wrong about that too. She deserves to know her family, her past." My head was spinning now and I really could not for the life of me comprehend what the hell they could be talking about. Why couldn't I go back? And where couldn't I go back to for that matter?

"You're crazy woman! Absolutely insane and I won't allow you to do this to Claire. Go if you want, but don't tell her where and don't tell her why." This was bad...this was really really bad.

" FINE!" My mother's shout made even me cringe, "I'm leaving tomorrow first thing in the morning." With that my mother ran out of the kitchen and past me. I was now sitting on the side of the hallway that peered just into the kitchen. My mom nearly tripped over me as she rushed for the stairs. We were silent for a moment, she was simply looking down at me and I was looking up at her with questioning eyes.

"Baby," she spat out through her tears. I struggled to get up from my sitting position on the ground, "baby I am so so sorry. How much did you hear?"

I swallowed hard. Lie or truth?Lie or truth? "I uh... I heard ...enough. What's going on mom?"

My mom tensed as my father came to lean in the door way, I knew that she must not have been comfortable knowing that he was watching her every move. " It's kind of hard to explain Claire Bear."

I hardened, glaring at both of my parents now. "Well try." I crossed my arms over my petite frame.

"Your father," my mother explained bitterly, "well dear, your father does not approve of my family. Unfortunately my sister needs me right now though so I have to go. Do you understand?"

"Of course I understand! Don't talk to me like I'm a child mom because I'm not. I'm eighteen years old damn it. Why can't I go too huh? What about the 'Claire can never go back' deal?"

Both my mom and my dad visibly flinched, they were probably hoping I had not heard that part.

"We can't tell you that Claire." My dad finally spoke, "There are some messed up people in the town you're mother is going to and we would never want any of them to...take advantage of you."

My mom shot an icy glare in his direction, " He would never do that and you know it."

I felt like a little kid again, you know when people spell things out so you don't understand what they are saying. They would be all like ' we are going to get C-A-K-E after C-L-A-I-R goes to B-E-D'. Yeah, it was kind of as annoying as that shit only on a completely agonizing level.

"Look," I felt my temper rise, "I don't know what the hell you are talking about, but I expect that both of you will stop talking in riddles."

My mom sighed. I knew she would be the one to come clean with me, I mean I had always been old for my age and it was always my mom who talked to me as an adult, which I legally was now so I guess the point is moot. "Claire, I have a sister that I love very dearly. I lost contact with her because she... ran in the same circle as some people that your father did not approve of."

My dad scoffed, "For good reason."

My mother continued like he had not interrupted, " The point is I want to go back because my younger sister is having her third child. I think it's about time you knew you're family Claire, and I know that it's about time for me to go back to them."

I swallowed hard for a moment, refusing to look at either of my parents and simply glared at my toes. What could I say to that? What could I do? My mom and dad were on opposite sides and I now inadvertently had to choose between the two. If I went with my mom I chose her side, if I went with my dad I was on his. My mouth went dry, I had always feared this day. It was like a divorce but kind of worse because it was shrouded with so much mystery.

On the one had I could go back and learn about my childhood (apparently) and on the other I could stay where I had always known it was safe and I was taken care of. It may not sound like it but it was a hard decision to make.

It was all too much. I looked up at my parents for a split second before I turned on my heels and walked to my shower. I had chosen no one's side but my own. I needed to think this all over. I mean I don't think it has sunken in yet. Family secrets and forbidden towns were for soap operas, that sort of crap was not for real life, and if it did happen in real life it certainly did not happen in mine! I'm Claire Newman! I'm the short girl who likes to wear high heels, watch old movies and play her acoustic guitar. I'm not Claire Newman, the girl with an interesting past and an even more interesting family, at least not that I know of.

I threw myself into the shower and let the warm water relax my now tense muscles. I was not going to make a decision, at least not tonight. I needed time to think about all this, just to process it for a little while. I will give them my choice when I'm ready to damn it! When I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my now dripping hair I knew that I would not sleep all night, and unfortunately I was right.

So I just became far too inspired to keep this story unwritten any longer. I love Quil and Claire oh so much that I simply had to write one, that and the plot would not stop popping into my head during astronomy class. Anyway I would love it if you would all review please, because that makes me happy. And I have found in my muse an amazing plot line for this story so please stick in there with me.