Chapter 7- Unspoken Desires

"You did a lot of shopping," Seth replied flopping down on the chair exhausted.

"Well don't you know some bum stole my Louis Vutton, I can't just walk around the city naked…I need clothes."

"I'm sure the guys wouldn't object."

Shannon smiled back at him, and then looked down at her watch. "Did Boone call you?"

"Umm…no why?"

Shannon crossed her arms, "I don't know…I just was wondering."

"No, when he goes to the Hamptons with Isabella he usually stays all night, and besides Isabella is trying to teach him how to surf so…"

Shannon laughed wickedly. "Boone…surf? Get out of here,"

"He's not that bad," Seth defended.

"Like a toddler on training wheels…my boy…I mean my brother lacks certain abilities, and any thing physical he's such a wimp at it."

Seth reached for a throw pillow and propped it behind his back. "Were you about to call him your boyfriend?"

Shannon scowled, "Um…no, of course not. We're like related, that's disgusting."

"Okay, so what do you want to do tonight."

"I have to hide all of this stuff, before he gets back. Do you think he'll like the shirt I got for him?"

"Well since he bought it, I hope so…"

The door opened and Boone stepped in. He tossed the keys to his Red Mustang on the counter, and then walked into the den with them.

"Where's your girlfriend?" Shannon asked.

"Back home,"

Shannon smiled satisfied.

Boone's eyes wandered over the bags curiously. "Um…how did you buy all of this stuff? I thought you didn't have any money…unless you lied."

Shannon smirked, "It was a donation,"

Boone bent down to pick up a bag from a store he recognized in the village. "Most people don't donate clothes from American East!"

"Why are you yelling?" Shannon asked calmly.

"Because my credit card is gone." Boone said trying to keep a calm tone.

Shannon stared back at him in disbelief, "So…why are you yelling at me. Oh I get it, you think I took it."

Boone nodded, "In a matter of fact I do Shannon,"

Shannon leaned close to him, "I didn't. Seth bought all of this stuff for me."

"Um…not really," He said.

Shannon turned to him angrily.

Seth stopped smiling.

"I'm going to get you later," She threatened.

Seth smirked, "Bring it on,"

"Just shut up," Shannon said.

Boone reached for Shannon's arm, "I have to talk to you."

"I don't wan…"

"Shannon!" he yelled. He was so angry his whole face was turning red.

Shannon raised her chin defiantly. "Fine."

She yanked her arm out of Boone's grasp, and walked upstairs. Boone followed her into his room, and then closed the door behind them.

"You're out of control."

Shannon smiled.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because you're so sexy when you're worked up."

"Don't try and change the sub…"

"Are you really trying to surf? I would pay to see that, you would look so hot on the board."

"Shannon…"

Shannon walked over to him, "Shh, I'm sorry. I swear it won't happen again."

Boone clenched his jaw. She wasn't listening to him! She always did this.

Shannon waltzed over to him, "I'm glad you left that bitch at home,"

"Don't call her that."

Shannon shrugged, "She doesn't deserve you," She tucked her hands in his pockets and brought him close to her.

Boone reached for her hands, and took them out of his pockets. "I don't want you anymore. I'm over you."

Shannon stared back at him with a disbelieving expression. "You're lying…"

"No, I'm not…your moving out."

Shannon scowled, "Don't be ridiculous, and where am I going to live?"

"Isabella and I are looking for a place."

Shannon looked away from him. She was on the verge of tears but she didn't want to let him see her cry. "I got it…am I burden?"

"You make yourself one." Boone replied.

Shannon pushed him out of the way, "You're so weak! How can you let that woman control you."

"She's not…"

"She has you wrapped around her finger, but you don't even see it! You're so weak Boone, you're not even a man!"

"Maybe I'm not…because what man would let you take advantage of them there whole life."

"I never took advantage of you."

"You did, and you still are. You don't care about me or anyone else…would you care if I died."

Shannon gasped, "Don't say that!"

"You left me to die once, you'll do it again."

Shannon looked down.

"You're mean, and you'll always be that way. And I don't need it." Boone reached in his pockets for a carton of cigarettes, and then walked towards the window.

"When did you start smoking?" Shannon reprimanded.

Boone shrugged, "We'll talk more later… need a break."

"Don't smoke."

Boone laughed, "You think I'm going to listen to you."

"Do you want to have yellow teeth, bad breath, and die quicker." She growled.

"The sooner I get away from you the better," Boone tossed the cigarettes on the floor, and then sat down by the window. "I came to New York City to get away from you, you weren't supposed to show up like this."

"Well things happened, and I…"

"You came here." He groaned.

Shannon sat down on his bed, "I did."

"You never fully explained what happened to you, Did he take your money?"

Shannon looked up at Boone surprised.

"I wasn't born yesterday, he did didn't he."

Shannon shrugged.

"How did you let him do that Shannon? Did you share your bank account with him?"

"I was drunk, he got me to sign some papers…"

"Drunk! Shannon, that's barley an excuse…"

"It was for you, when you almost killed yourself." She snapped.

Boone swallowed down a lump in his throat. "I don't think this is going to work anymore."

"So you're really going to kick me out."

"I'll still visit you,"

Shannon stood up, "So I guess what we had doesn't mean shit to you."

Boone looked back up at her wounded, "What did we have?"

Shannon searched for the right words, "We had…there was something there."

"Like what, harsh words, and constant backlashes from you? I used to love you…"

Shannon walked over to him, and placed her hand over his mouth.

He hated how she made him feel like a child. Like he was always in her control, and the words he said had no value.

"Don't say anything you're going to regret later." Shannon whispered.

Boone closed his eyes.

Shannon moved her hand away, "No matter, how I treat you…"

"You what?" he asked.

"I love you,"

Boone smirked, "You give some tough love."

"I know no other way." She said.

Boone stood up, and walked away from her. Whenever she got to close, he always felt like she was smothering him.

"Don't walk away from me."

Boone opened the door, "Your "charm" doesn't work on me anymore Shannon,"

Shannon glared back at him, "I'm staying here. That woman is not chasing me out of this house."

Boone sighed, "Isabella, wants to move in here."

Shannon's mouth dropped, "And you're trying to give her my spot! What the hell is wrong with you? We've known each other forever, and you're so quick to sell me out."

"I still want you close by, not this close though, You'll be living a couple blocks away, and it's in walking distance."

"I don't walk."

Boone glanced down at Shannon's long slim legs.

"What are you looking at?" Shannon asked.

His eyes drifted back up to her. "Um nothing."

"How about you let Isabella move in there, I am loving this loft, and I don't want to leave."

Boone scowled, "Shannon,"

"I'm staying." She walked past Boone and out the door.

"We have new neighbors," Seth said as Shannon came back down stairs.

"We do?" Her eyes drifted towards a woman with a baby, and a short man with big ears. Shannon smiled amused. They made a good couple, they didn't look rich like Boone though.

"Hi," Shannon said dryly.

"Charlie, could you hold Aaron for a second?" the woman asked.

"Oh yeah…just wait one second love, I'm trying to get the melody perfect for this new track." Charlie responded.

Claire playfully rolled her eyes, "Well I guess…"

"I'll hold him," Seth offered.

Shannon smiled. She imagined Seth would look cute caring for a baby…not as cute as Boone though. She daydreamed about having a family with Boone briefly as she watched Claire hand Aaron to Seth.

Boone came home from work.

Shannon was sitting by the crib watching Access Hollywood, as the baby cried.

"Aww…Ashton," Boone said pulling the baby out of his crib.

Shannon smiled. She wasn't made to be a mother, but Boone was made to be a father. She watched as the baby quickly stopped crying as soon as he scooped him into his arms.

"Have you been a good boy?" He asked in a high pitched baby voice.

Ashton smiled.

"He likes you more than me," Shannon complained.

"Well you don't hold him," Boone said.

"Eww, I don't like babies."

"He's our kid, you got to realize that."

Shannon scowled, "I just wanted you…not the brat."

"Who wants a bottle?" Boone asked in another high-pitched tone, as he playfully kissed Ashton's red cheeks.

Shannon smiled.

Boone leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. "I wanted you both,"

Shannon was still smiling widely when Claire approached her.

"Hi, I'm Claire Littleton."

"Hi, sorry about that…I'm Shannon Rutherford nice to meet you."

Claire smiled, "This place is ridiculously big…Charlie suggested that we live here, but I don't know? How do you get used to all of this space?"

"You'll get used to it." Shannon replied.

Claire looked around in wonder, "Your loft is so nice,"

"Thanks," Shannon replied acting like it was her place.

Seth looked up at her, but smiled. "Um…Claire,"

"Yes, Hon?" She asked.

Seth smiled, and then held Aaron away from him, "I think he just spit up on me."

Shannon cackled, and placed her hands on her knees.

Charlie stared back at her in surprise.

Shannon placed her hand over her mouth. She knew it wasn't that serious, but that reminded her why she hated babies.

Claire took Aaron from Seth, "I'm sorry about that, look what you did Aaron." Claire said softly.

"So what's the deal? Are you two married?" Shannon asked.

"Oh we um…" Claire glanced at Charlie who was busily strumming the chords on his guitar. He looked up at her, "What's wrong love?"

Claire shook her head and smiled back at him.

Shannon raised an eyebrow, "It's okay if your not married, I mean I'm living with two guys."

Seth pulled off his shirt, "But one happens to be your brother so he doesn't count."

"Yeah, sure whatever."

"Well, we're actually engaged." Claire said showing Shannon her ring.

Shannon's eyes widened at Claire's ring. "Oh wow, that thing is beautiful."

"I got it from this nice store in Brooklyn. The guy there is a crazy fellow, who I happen to know." Charlie explained with a wide smile.

"She's staying," Boone said into his phone.

"What? Boone," Isabella complained.

"I talked to her, but she doesn't want to leave, and I can't make her."

"C'mon, it's your house. I'm starting to think, she has control over you…"

"No she doesn't." He snapped.

"We talked through this already, the plan was that she moved out, and I moved in."

"Izzy, I'm sorry."

"I thought you wanted to live together?" Isabella asked.

"I do,"

"So then why aren't you pushing it? Unless you want to live with her…"

"She can't make it alone, I…"

"Boone, she's 21! And besides she'll be living down the street from you."

Boone placed his hand to his forehead. "If I kick her out, she might leave New York,"

"Isn't that what you wanted? Boone you're confusing me."

Boone allowed his hand to slide down his face and then covered his mouth. "I don't know what I want."

Isabella sighed, "Obviously,"

"I want to live with you too but…"

"But looking after your sister is more important."

"I didn't say that." Boone defended quickly.

"But you're thinking it…I don't want to talk about this anymore. I have a headache, and this conversation isn't helping."

Boone exhaled, "Isabella, just give me some time."

"Of course I will, but I just don't think your sister is healthy for you. Boone she left you when you almost died in the hospital. What kind of family is she? I was there, and so was your mom…heck, even Shannon's dad was there for you, but she was gone."

"I know,"

"She'll hurt you again, and once again. I'm going to have to pick up the broken pieces."

Boone closed his eyes. The sad thing was Isabella was probably right, but he didn't want to see that. "Maybe she's changing."

Boone could've laughed at himself for that statement.

Isabella was quiet on the other line, "Sweetheart,"

"I know…I take that back."

The door creaked open, and Boone watched as Shannon stepped in.

"Boone, come meet OUR new neighbors," She said.

"Hold on," He said to Isabella.

"Who is that?" Shannon asked.

"No one," Boone looked down at his phone, and thought about taking it. "I'll be right back," He said into the receiver quickly.

As Boone walked past. Shannon clapped her hands together mischievously. She knew who was on the other end of that phone. It was Isabella.

"Talk to you later," She mumbled closing Boone's flip phone, and then reopening it after she was sure the call was lost. "If you want to play games, then we can rumble, because there is no way, you're getting him."

As soon as Shannon heard footsteps coming up the stairs, she walked towards the window.

Boone opened the door, "There really nice…the guy he has like a band called Driveshaft, and their trying to become famous in America…like Coldplay, and the Killers,"

"That's cool," Shannon said.

"Yeah, it would be cool to have a band."

"I guess so," Shannon replied examining her nails.

Boone sat back down on his bed, "They invited us to dinner tonight."

"Oh that's great," Shannon said still very uninterested.

"But I had to turn them down…and invite them over here," Boone said looking down at his phone.

Shannon rested her head against the glass window, and then turned outside to glance at the sun which was disappearing behind Manhattan's skyscrapers. "Why would you do such a stupid thing?"

"Because Isabella is coming over here tonight, she's cooking dinner for us."

Shannon raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, "Oh really,"

"Yeah, don't create trouble okay…I don't even know why I'm asking. This is my house…"

Shannon yawned, "Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of destroying your dinner with Isabella,"

"You said that sarcastic,"

Shannon opened Boone's closet, "I got this for you, while Seth and I were on our little spree."

Boone shook his head in amusement, "You mean you bought this for me with my own money."

"Yeah, technically so," Shannon handed him a bag from American East.

He took the bag, and nodded back at her.

"Look at it Boone,"

He sighed, "Fine," Boone pulled out the black graphic tee, It was inscribed, "I've stolen her heart, where's the doctor."

Shannon smirked, "Cheesy huh,"

"Kind of," He replied.

"Where is the doctor?" She asked.

Boone stared back at her confused, "Huh?"

Shannon stared deep into his eyes, "Thanks for not kicking me out."

"I…"

Shannon kissed him on the cheek, "You're a doll," With that she walked out, already plotting how to sabotage Isabella's dinner.

(Thanks for the support as always!

I hope you'll don't mind if Charlie and Claire are there neighbors, I thought Claire could help Shannon to be a nicer person somehow, and maybe play matchmaker along the way. But this is still a Shoone story, all the way, with a touch of Charlie and Claire added in.)