Okay, sorry, this chapter is not the dance chapter. The dance chapter will be in the next chapter. This is the group getting prepared for the dance. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Five: Do No Harm

Claire wiped the sweat off her forehead. She was working on what she thought was the hottest spring day in the history of Sydney. Her shift was over in about ten minutes. She couldn't wait because Charlie was picking her up and they were going to the mall and he was going to help her pick out a dress for the dance.

Claire walked over to the booth to see Sawyer and Shannon sitting in it kissing. Claire cleared her throat. The couple looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but the booths are not for making out. Do that at your own homes," Claire joked.

"Sorry Claire," Shannon said blushing.

"So, when's Prince Charlie coming to sweep you off your feet?" Sawyer asked as Claire sat his coffee down in front of him.

"Soon," Claire said. Shannon looked up towards the door.

"Or now," Shannon said. Claire looked up and smiled seeing Charlie walk up in his usual t-shirt, jeans, and he was wearing sunglasses.

"Hey Claire," he said hugging her. Claire hugged him back.

"Hi," she said. "Have a seat, I'll go change and get my stuff." Claire left the table and Charlie sat across from Sawyer and Shannon.

"Look at you," Shannon said. Charlie scrunched his brow up in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked taking his sunglasses off.

"You are grinning like an idiot!" Shannon said. "You really like her don't you?" Charlie blushed. Sawyer looked at him closely.

"Sawyer you're a great guy, but would you kindly stop checking me out?" Charlie asked. Sawyer rolled his eyes.

"You don't look like you like her, you love her don't you man?" Sawyer asked. Charlie's face dropped.

"Love? It's too soon to be in love," Charlie said playing with his t-shirt. Sawyer laughed.

"Sawyer, leave him alone. He can be in love with Claire," Shannon said.

"I'm not in love!" Charlie protested.

"Charlie, you smile like an idiot whenever Claire is around, you blush every time she smiles at you, you talk very fondly of her, you hug her all the time, always concerned where she is. I could go on," Shannon said.

"No, no need to. But Shan, I just like her. Maybe one day it could evolve to love, but not yet," Charlie said. Shannon sighed and sipped her water.

"Hey Charlie, you ready?" Claire asked coming back to the table. Charlie stood.

"Yeah, let's get going," Charlie said. Claire waved bye to Shannon and Sawyer. Charlie looked over his shoulder at them, Shannon smirked.

"Have fun you two," Sawyer said. Claire looked at him strangely and then looked at Charlie. Charlie shrugged and laughed it off. Claire and him started to walk away; Charlie shot Sawyer a look over his shoulder and then opened the door for Claire.

At the mall...

"So, what exactly are you going to be buying today?" Charlie asked.

"My dress, I found it the other day. Shoes, jewelry, maybe a new purse," Claire replied. "You need anything?"

"No, I'm good. I have everything that I need," Charlie said. Claire dragged him to the dress shop. It was the one that Shannon worked in, with Shannon's discount; the dress was going to be affordable.

"Here it is," Claire said dragging him over to the rack. She pulled a beautiful yellow dress of the rack. It was thinned strapped and went down in a v to the top of her breasts. It had a red sash belt. The bottom hung straight, but the back fanned out (okay, the dress kind of looks like what Cate Blanchett had on at the Oscars, to me anyway).

"What do you think?" Claire asked. Charlie smiled.

"It looks nice," Charlie commented. He couldn't really tell, he needed to see it on her before giving his final decision.

"I think I'm going to go try it on," Claire replied. "Just to make sure." Charlie and her walked over to the dressing rooms. Charlie sat in one of the chairs while Claire went into one of the rooms.

Charlie's body filled with anticipation of seeing Claire in her dress. His leg started jiggling and he wrung his hands in excitement.

"Okay, I'm ready. You have to give me your honest opinion," she said from behind the door.

"You can count on me," Charlie said. Claire opened the door and stepped out.

"Well, what do you think?" she asked expectantly. Charlie's heart soared, she looked bloody gorgeous. He stood.

"Claire, you look beautiful," Charlie said. Claire's face lit up in a smile.

"Really? You think so?" Claire asked. Charlie nodded. "But there is one problem, I'm not fully zipped up in the back. Could you help me?" Claire turned and Charlie saw part of her bare back.

He hesitantly hovered his hands over her back. He moved her hair over her shoulder and zipped the dress up slowly. He then ran his hands down Claire's shoulders. His hands rested on her arms. Claire leaned against him feeling the warmth from his body.

Charlie came back to his senses and pulled away. Claire looked at him. "So, is the dress good?" she asked.

"Yeah, you look great in it," Charlie said nonchalantly. Claire nodded and smiled. She went back to the dressing room to change while Charlie sat back down.

"How could I do that?" Charlie asked himself. He hit the palm of his hand against his head a few times. When he looked up, a woman was looking at him. He blushed and turned away.

Claire came out a few minutes later, dress in tow. "You ready to go?" Charlie nodded and stood. They paid for the dress and left.

After shopping for everything else, Charlie decided to be a gentleman and buy Claire something she wanted.

"Charlie, really you don't have to buy me anything. I'm fine," Claire said.

"No, really. I'd love to buy you something, just say whatever you want and it's yours," Charlie said. Claire giggled. "But nothing too expensive where I can't afford it."

"I want to show you something," Claire said. She led Charlie over to a sort of antiques store. "You see that music box right there?"

"Yeah, the one with the stars on it?" Charlie asked. Claire nodded.

"I've always wanted to buy that but I've never had enough money," Claire said. "It cost 300.00. You don't have to buy it, because it's so expensive. I just wanted to show it to you."

"Why?" Charlie asked knowing there was a story behind it.

"It plays my favorite lullaby, 'Catch A Falling Star'. My dad always use to sing it to me before he left," Claire explained. "One day I'm going to come here and buy it."

"You should, you deserve something like that. If it important to you then you should get it," Charlie said. He looked at all the stores and then noticed the ice cream parlor. "You want some ice cream?"

Claire smiled at him. "Sure." They walked over to the parlor. Claire and Charlie both got chocolate ice cream cones and sat at one of the tables. They ate in silence for a little when Charlie spoke up.

"Claire, if you don't mind me asking, what happened between you and your ex boyfriend?" Charlie asked. Claire looked at him.

"Shannon told you didn't she?" Claire asked. Charlie nodded meekly. Claire sighed. "He cheated on me, we only went out for two months. I thought I was in love." Charlie looked at her, eyes full of concern.

"I'm so sorry Claire," Charlie said.

"It's okay, I'm over it. He was my first boyfriend too," Claire said.

"I had no idea he was your first boyfriend," Charlie said.

"Yeah, I was just really shy in school," Claire replied. Charlie smiled at her. Claire smiled back. "But don't worry, he didn't do anything to me. We didn't even have sex."

"Oh," Charlie said raising his eyebrows.

"Let me take a guess, you're not a virgin?" Claire asked. Charlie shook his head. "That's okay." They sat in silence the rest of the time they ate.

When they were done they got ready to leave. Charlie helped Claire pick up her bags so each of them had a free hand.

"So, did you hear Jack and Kate are going to the dance together?" Claire asked. Charlie nodded.

"They'll be the next to get together," Charlie said. Claire giggled, but then her hand brushed Charlie's and she stopped. Charlie looked down at her and slowly edged his hand over. Their pinkies touched and then their ring fingers and middle fingers, then their pointer finger and finally Charlie intertwined his fingers through hers and cupped her hand in his.

"Don't be afraid to trust again Claire," Charlie said. Claire smiled at him.

"Don't worry Charlie, I trust you," Claire said softly. Charlie smiled at her as they walked out of the mall.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Okay, we're starting to get more romantic now! I really liked writing this chapter! Next chapter is the dance! Yay! Thanks to everyone for the reviews!

Until next time,

Bloomy Angel