Okay, now that the romantic tension is over, I can relax and let the romance of Charlie and Claire pour in. This chapter will take place two weeks after the dance. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Seven: Raised By Another

"Charlie, I have to study," Claire said to Charlie. Charlie was busy kissing her neck. The two were sitting in the living room of the apartment, Claire was trying hard to study for her final exam.

"I know, but I want some love too," Charlie said. Claire giggled and kissed him softly. Claire dropped her pencil and crawled into Charlie's lap pushing the kiss to the next level. Charlie wrapped his arm around her waist.

Boone came up the stairs then and saw what they were doing. He cleared his throat and Claire pulled away. She blushed.

"Um, hi Boone," Claire said smiling.

"Hi Claire," Boone said smiling. "Hi Charlie."

"Hi Boone," Charlie said. "Sorry."

"It's okay, it's not like I haven't gotten caught before. Listen, Claire, mom is getting really worried about you girls and Jack, Sawyer, and Charlie being here all the time. But she doesn't know about Shannon sneaking over to see Sawyer," Boone explained.

"What does she need to be worried about? We're adults and we have boyfriends, nothing wrong with that," Claire said.

"Okay, but sooner or later, she's gonna want to talk to you girls," Boone said.

"Oh, Boone! Can't you tell Sophia that we've all had the sex talk?" Claire asked. Charlie laughed.

"Hey, not my fault you all are horny," Boone replied. Claire scoffed and threw a pillow at Boone as he walked back down the stairs. Claire then turned back to Charlie.

"You okay?" she asked with concern looking at his face.

"Yeah, why?" Charlie asked.

"Nothing, it's just you look a little pale," Claire said. Charlie smiled.

"I'm okay love," Charlie said kissing her softly. But he really wasn't, his stomach was all twisted in knots and he felt sick. Claire looked at him again.

"You're sweating, are you sure you're not sick?" Claire asked feeling his forehead. Charlie sighed.

"Claire, I'm fine," he said bitterly. Claire nodded and got off his lap. "Claire, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it that way."

"Charlie, what's wrong? I know something is wrong with you," Claire said. Charlie stood and pulled her into his arms. He had to tell her, it was now or never.

"Claire, I'm going through withdrawal," Charlie said. Claire looked at him confused.

"From what?" Claire asked.

"Heroin," Charlie said. Claire looked at him and pulled away from his embrace.

"What?" Claire asked.

"I was going to tell you, I stopped the night of the dance. When you came into my life I knew I needed to stop. I should've told you earlier," Charlie said reaching for Claire. She pulled away.

"How did you get on it?" Claire asked her voice cracking.

"Two years ago, when my friend Tommy offered it to me," Charlie said. Claire looked at the floor. "I wanted to stop for you, I care about you Claire and didn't want you to go through this."

"So, you thought you could just hide it?" Claire asked. "All those times we were together it didn't come up?"

"No! I mean yes, I...I didn't want to hurt you," he said looking apologetically. Claire felt a tear run down her face. "I'm sorry." Claire sniffed and walked up to him.

"Charlie, my dad, was on heroin. That's why he left, he chose the drug, not me or my mum. The last I heard from him was he was a junkie living on the streets. I don't want you to be like that," Claire said. Charlie hugged her.

"I'm not going to be like that. Jack knows and he took all the drugs away from me, trashed them. He's going to help me get clean," Charlie said. "I need all the help I can get."

Claire looked up at him. "I want to help you." Charlie smiled and kissed her softly.

Later that night...

After Charlie left, Claire managed to study a little more. Claire lay on her bed studying some more when she heard a knock.

"Come in," she said. Shannon came in. She was dressed up real nice. Claire sat up and closed her book. "Where are you going?"

"Sawyer's coming to pick me up. I'm going to his place; I'll be back at midnight, promise. Kate won't cover for me, will you?" Shannon asked.

"Shan, no. Boone already told me your mum is having a fit because we're always going over there. If she finds out you snuck out, our asses will be over the line," Claire said.

"I know, but if you cover for me, I'll pay you back somehow. Please?" Shannon asked. Claire sighed.

"Okay," Claire said. Shannon hugged her.

"You're a lifesaver," Shannon said. She left the room. A few minutes later, Claire heard a noise and looked out her window to see Shannon sneak out the bedroom window. Claire sighed and went back to studying.

A few hours later...

Claire had fallen asleep on the bed, her textbook still open on her stomach. Kate walked in hurriedly and shook Claire awake.

"What?" Claire asked sitting up. Kate sat down, she looked upset.

"We're in trouble, Sophia found out that Shannon snuck out," Kate said. Claire frowned.

"What's happening?" Claire asked.

"Boone found out and he kept it a secret too. Sophia came to check on us, found Shannon gone and now she wants some answers," Kate said. Claire sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Okay, I'll call Shannon," Claire said taking out her cell phone. Kate nodded and ran back out to the hallway.

Claire quickly dialed Shannon's cell phone number. She hoped that Shannon wasn't asleep.

"Claire? What's up?" Shannon answered.

"Shan, your mum found out! You need to get home now!" Claire said. Shannon didn't even answer. She just hung up; Claire hung up and walked out to the living room.

"Claire, did you see Shannon tonight before you went to bed?" Sophia asked. Boone and Kate looked at her.

"No, I didn't," Claire said.

"Did she say anything at all about going out tonight?" Sophia asked.

"Shannon always says that sort of thing," Claire said. They heard thumping coming from down the hall. Sophia pushed past the girls to Shannon's room.

She opened the door and Shannon sat on the floor. Kate, Claire, and Boone filed in behind Sophia.

"Hey everyone, what did I miss?" Shannon asked.

"Shannon, living room, now," Sophia said. They all walked to the living room. The girls sat on the couch. Sophia stood in front of them and Boone watched from the hallway.

"Now girls, I know you three have boyfriends now but that does not mean you can sneak out of the house to go and please yourselves when you want to," Sophia said.

"But, mom, Claire and I are 21, and Kate's 22. We're old enough to make our own decisions," Shannon said.

"Shannon Elizabeth that is enough from you. I think you've gotten yourself in trouble even more," Sophia replied. Shannon shut her mouth and glared at her mother.

"Mom, maybe we should give them a break," Boone said sticking up for them. Sophia looked at him.

"No, I don't think we should give them a break," She said. She turned back to the girls. "Now, I know only one of you has snuck out, but you two might try the same thing. I have new rules for you to follow."

The girls looked at each other preparing for the worst. "Number one, those boys are not allowed over here anymore. Number two, you are not allowed over at their house. Number three; each of you will follow a curfew. It will be, 8:00 on weeknights and 10:00 on weekends. Do I make myself clear?" Sophia asked.

"But that's not fair!" the girls yelled. Sophia put her hand up.

"Do I make myself clear?" she asked sternly. The girls looked at each other. "Good," Sophia said.

"Mom, isn't that a little harsh?" Boone asked.

"Boone, stay out of this," Sophia said and she was off. Boone smiled downhearted at the girls and walked down the stairs.

The girls all looked at each other, they all knew that these rules were meant to be broken.

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Okay, so now the guys are banned from the house. What could happen? Stay tuned to find out. Thanks for the reviews for chapter six!

Until next time,

Bloomy Angel