Sorry, I've been away so long! I've experienced a few days of writer's block. But now I'm back with Chapter three! Hope you all enjoy it, and now you will all get to see Claire's reaction. Yay!

Chapter Three: In Translation...

Claire, Kate, and Shannon walked into the restaurant and snagged a table near the dance floor and the bar.

"Claire, what do you want to drink?" Shannon asked getting the drinks for the girls.

"Just a daiquiri Shan," Claire said. Shannon walked off to the bar and Kate sat next to Claire at the table.

"So, what's the real reason you wouldn't dump us tonight to go with Charlie?" Kate asked. Claire looked down at the napkin she was fingering. "Are you not over Thomas yet?" Claire looked at Kate.

"I am, I'm just having some trust issues. I mean, Thomas cheated on me. I have to just wait a little for my trust to grow some more," Claire said.

"So, you like Charlie?" Kate asked smiling. Claire nodded and blushed.

"Yeah, I really like him. He's cute, and sweet, and funny," Claire said. Kate smiled. Shannon came back with the drinks then.

"What are we talking about?" Shannon asked taking a sip of her martini.

"Charlie," Claire said.

"Oh, so what do we think?" Shannon asked. Claire and Kate laughed. A few minutes later, the girls looked over their menus when a waiter came up to them.

"Excuse me girls, these came from you from three men at the bar," he said setting them down. Shannon winked at Kate.

"Who would do that?" Kate asked playing along. Shannon shrugged. Claire took her drink. Along with it she had a note.

"What's it say?" Shannon asked.

"Hey, Claire. Turn around," Claire said. The girls gave her puzzled looks and Claire turned around.

Leaning against the bar was Charlie with a beer in his hand. He smiled at Claire. Jack and Sawyer were standing behind him and they waved.

"Let's join them!" Shannon said. The girls all grabbed their things and walked over to the guys. Shannon immediately hugged Sawyer and kissed his cheek. Jack and Kate hugged. Claire walked over to Charlie and smiled at him.

"Hi Claire," he said.

"Hi Charlie," she said. They stood their in silence for a few minutes.

"You want to sit down?" he asked motioning to a stool at the bar. She nodded and sat down, he sat next to her. Kate came over and leaned down to Claire's ear.

"Ask him some questions, get to know him," she whispered before taking Jack out onto the dance floor.

"Did she just tell you what I think she did?" Charlie asked smirking. Claire nodded. Charlie laughed. "Well, I'll start off, you look very nice tonight Claire."

"Thanks, you do too," she said looking over his jeans, black hoodie, and t-shirt.

"Same thing I wear pretty much all the time," he said. She smiled.

"No, but it's nice because it's all you. It's a thing you're comfortable in," Claire commented. "Truthfully, I would rather be in sweats and a t-shirt tonight."

Charlie laughed. "So, Claire, where did you grow up?"

"Here, in Sydney. My whole life," Claire said. "You?"

"In Manchester way over in England. Great place to grow up," Charlie said. Soon, they knew a whole lot about each other. What they liked to do in their spare time, how they got their jobs, what Claire was majoring in school, and anything they could want to know.

Claire, who decided to be the designated driver stopped after the second daiquiri. It was Charlie's turn to be the designated driver and he stopped after that last beer.

Claire watched as her half drunk friends hung all over Charlie's half drunk friends. Claire giggled at them and Charlie watched her. He thought about how pretty she was when she giggled. He then got an idea.

"You hungry?" Charlie asked. Claire looked at him and nodded. "You want to go back to my place and get something to eat?"

"Sure," Claire said. She then looked back at their friends. "They won't notice?"

"Are you kidding? Jack and Sawyer could be here for another two hours. We'll only be gone an hour tops," Charlie said hopping off the barstool and holding out his hand to help Claire down. Claire took his hand and stepped down. They walked out into the cool Sydney air and Claire threw her arms around her shoulders.

"Are you cold?" Charlie asked touching her arm. Claire shook her head. "Nonsense, here." Charlie took off his hoodie and put it around her shoulder's.

"Thanks," she said putting her arms through the sleeves. His scent was on it and she smiled. "Are we going to take your car or Kate's?"

"I'd thought we'd walk, we only live two blocks from here," Charlie said.

"Okay," Claire said. They walked down the sidewalk. "You sure you aren't cold?"

"No, I'm fine," Charlie said smiling. Claire smiled back. They arrived at the apartment building a few minutes later. "Come on, we're on the sixth floor."

Charlie and her rode up in the elevator and went to his apartment. Claire looked around the living room. It seemed like a typical bachelor pad, but it had this homey feeling to it.

"Nice apartment," Claire commented. Charlie was in the kitchen. Claire hopped onto one of the barstools at the bar in the kitchen.

"What'll it be?" Charlie asked. "I'm told I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich." Claire laughed. She was truly craving for something else.

"I know this may sound silly, but do you have any peanut butter?" Claire asked. Charlie looked at her surprised.

"Yeah, we should," Charlie said. "You like peanut butter?"

"Yeah, I'm probably the only Australian who does," Claire said. Charlie laughed and got two plates down and grabbed four pieces of bread. He sat them down on the bar as he stood opposite Claire.

They each started to make their own sandwich. "So, Charlie, you found out what I'm majoring in school. Did you go to school?"

Charlie sighed. "Yes, did. I majored in music theory." Claire looked at him.

"Do you play anything?" Claire asked. He nodded. "What?"

"The guitar," Charlie said.

"You'll have to play for me sometime," Claire said. Charlie smiled at her. The first girl to take an interest in his music.

"I will," Charlie said throwing the knife into the sink. Claire closed the peanut butter up.

"What jobs come from music theory?" Claire asked.

"Not many, but I'm thinking of starting my own music store. Selling instruments and sheet music, CD's and other stuff," Charlie said. Claire looked up at him.

"I like that idea, better then me, going to teach," Claire said.

"No, you like kids, that's great. You'd probably make a great mum," Charlie said. Claire smiled. "My brother Liam is a teacher. He's a music teacher here in Sydney at Rose Bay High School."

"What made him go into teaching?" Claire asked.

"My mum. She's a teacher in Manchester. They both love school and education. Liam, is doing great, has a wife named Karen and a beautiful daughter Megan," Charlie said.

"What does your dad do?" Claire asked.

"Works for a travel agency," Charlie said. "But he was the one who taught me how to play guitar." Claire smiled. She was really starting to like Charlie's family too. "What do your parents, siblings, do?"

Claire's smile dropped. "Well, my mum was a housewife. My dad worked for a pharmecutical company. I'm an only child. My dad left me and my mum when I was seven. My mum left me when I was 17. That's when I met Kate and Shannon. I've lived with them ever since."

"Oh," Charlie said. He was heartbroken to learn that Claire's life had been horrible. And because of Shannon, he learned Claire's ex had cheated on her. Charlie had officially labeled him a bastard.

They ate the rest in silence. A little later Claire looked up at Charlie. "Do you think we should get back?"

Charlie looked at his watch. "Yeah, let's go Claire." He went over and helped her up. They walked back to the club.

"Here's your jacket back," Claire said taking it off.

"You keep it for awhile," Charlie said. Claire smiled and nodded. She wouldn't mind that at all.

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Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I really did! We got to know a little more about the two. More exciting things coming up in the next chapters! I'm sorry, I didn't have time to update Better Than Paradise II. I will this weekend though! Along with chapter four of this story!

Until next time,

Bloomy Angel