"Uh-huh, except when I point out that it was totally Sam Witwicky in here making me laugh, I'm sure that I'd be able to get character references from a lot of people showing that you are just the kind of guy to do that to a girl," Claire pointed out, biting playfully down on her lower lip to stifle (and cope with) further pain. "Besides, you won't have an alibi set for what you were doing at this time of day."

Smiling, Claire held an arm out for the strip of black cloth, tugging it lightly over and reaching back to tie it around her head, lifting it just high enough that it went across her forehead rather than over her eyes. In a way, Sam had pinned down exactly what Claire wanted: space. But she knew as well that she had caused trouble for herself, in this respect. Dug a hole of her own that she could only pull out of through her own means.

"Can I just pretend to be a ninja instead?" she asked, lips curved in a smirk.