Breakfast Club Claire Novels & Stories

LISA'S POV I must have dozed off. One minute I was staring at Eddie’s perfect face, memorizing the way his lashes brushed his cheeks, the next thing I knew the room was filled with the sharp click of cheap hospital shoes and the familiar scent of too-sweet coffee. “Knock, knock,” Claire’s voice sang from the doorway, and before I could answer, she barreled in like a storm system wearing yoga pants and a smug grin. “Look what I scored,” she announced, holding up a paper cup like it was an Olympic torch. “One semi-drinkable coffee, two packs of peanut butter crackers, and the world’s smallest packet of saltine crackers. Honestly, I feel like I conquered Everest.”

Her bob-cut hair gave a hip look to her calm features. Claire took a big bite of the burger before swallowing it down with a mouthful of fizzy drink. “I…” She took another sip from the straw, a loud one, fetching much more attention than she already had the second they entered through the doors. “I don’t know,” she admitted in a small voice. Grandma raised her eyebrows, apparently amused. “Since when did you make hasty decisions, Claire?” There was a teasing tone in her voice.

Then he hurriedly left with a bagel for his breakfast. Jeff made Clare his signature's French toast, which she wholeheartedly enjoyed. It wasn't long before the other castle's housekeepers were peaking around the doors and the windows just to have a glimpse of Clare Leighton. Then Shirley came into the kitchen and found Clare chatting away with Jeff, Isabel, and Hannah. "Good morning, Shirley," Clare said in a cheerful voice. Shirley paused for a moment before she cleared her throat and made a small bow, which surprised Clare. Then she realized that she had forgotten herself and who she was supposed to be in this castle.

RUE The stairs feel longer this morning. My feet are bare against the polished wood, and there’s a lingering ache in my legs from the heels and the hours of standing yesterday. I pull Alessandro’s hoodie tighter around me and make my way toward the breakfast room. Halfway down the stairs, I hear footsteps, fast and light. Then Claire appears around the corner with her phone in her hand and that familiar mischievous grin stretched across her face. “There she is,” she says, pointing at me like I’ve just been summoned by the press. “Mrs. Vanilli, the icon herself.”

She opened her bag and found a pair of black jeans and a sea-blue top which she quickly put on. She walked into the club. All the chairs were turned onto the tables. Laura was sitting at the bar counting and putting into bundles the money made from the previous night. Clara greeted her but she didn't respond. She was so engulfed in the counting of her money that she didn't hear Clara greet her. Clara went out to get some food. Outside the clubhouse, she runs into Jessica. Jessica, had a smile on her face "You were going on a job hunt without me?" Clara raised her hands in defence "Noooo, how can I? I was going to get some food. Let's go together,"

Claire pointed at the screen. I followed her finger. Grayson was looking dead into the camera, with nothing behind his eyes. "He's not our problem." I scooped Claire up and walked toward the back. "Let's go eat breakfast." I shut the door behind us, sealing off the sound. There was a bowl of mushroom soup and a plate of fried eggs on the table. I picked up a spoon and started feeding Claire. Outside, there was a sudden commotion. "Holy hell, look at that car. I've never seen anything that expensive in my life."

She got up from the sofa in the dress she wore to the club and looked around the sitting room strangely. "Why is everywhere this silent? Where is Finn?" She wondered. She didn't have enough time to think, she was getting late for work. Claire went to her room and took a shower. Under the shower, she began to think hard, trying to remember what had happened, but her brain was blurry. She got dressed and went to the kitchen with her bag hanging on her hand, counting her steps as she moved, she was expecting to meet a breakfast there. When she got there, she was met with disappointment. Everywhere was so clean and new like it had not been used for days.

She nodded and then giggled. ‘I’d rather kiss you more, but I think we need to get up so I can make you my delicious pancakes,’ she said before she ran to her bedroom to get ready. Clara comes to the kitchen blushing like a tomato when she makes eye contact with Sebastian as he drinks his coffee. ‘He’s so cute with his unruly hair, and that mouth is so…,’ she bites her lower lip. How she will remember the recipe to make pancakes is beyond her. She was on autopilot. Recalling the ingredients by heart as she thought about Sebastian’s lips, how they tasted, and how they felt when he kissed her behind her ears. ‘Ohhhh... that was my favorite,’ she blushed.