Chapter 19- Shannon the Nanny
Claire ran through Central Park. "Charlie, keep up!"
"Hold on love, just a little out of breath, I'll be fine, just…" Charlie stopped, he placed his hands on hiswaist and then looked around the busy park as he tried to catch his breath.
"Charlie, c'mon!" Claire exclaimed smiling.
"I just need a quick break, just for one second so I can…Um…"
Claire playfully shook her head, "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie,"
"Claire," He replied back.
Claire turned Aaron's stroller around, and then headed back towards Charlie. "Aaron was getting a little workout and so was I, we happened to have a flow, but look what you did Charlie you destroyed it."
Charlie smiled, "Just call me Charlie the destroyer, I always manage to mess everything up."
"Nah," Claire patted Charlie's damp dirty blonde hair as she sat down. "I've been doing some thinking."
"Oh," Charlie said pulling up the legs of his gray sweats.
Claire smiled down at his legs, "What's wrong with you silly,"
"You know when people don't work out, and their whole body starts to itch, because they haven't…"
Claire raised an eyebrow, and then leaned closer to Charlie. "Itching? Should we get that checked out?"
"C'mon Claire, you know when…"
Claire smiled, "I know, so when exactly is the last time you ran?"
Charlie looked thoughtfully up at the sky, and then at the golden, brown and red leaves that were starting to fall from the trees. "Don't quite remember…oh, actually I do. Remember that time when you wanted that cheesecake from Juniors right before you had Aaron."
Claire nodded fondly, "That wasn't too long ago."
Charlie stretched out his arm and then wrapped it around Claire. "I easily get out if shape, maybe I should take up pilates?"
"An English man in a room full of Upper East side sophisticates doing pilates?"
"It would be funny, would you do it?"
Claire leaned forward to check on Aaron who had fallen asleep. "My son is easily seduced by the Fall weather, what am I going to do when Winter comes?"
"Trick him, and wrap him up in bundles of clothing," Charlie laughed.
"Nah, he's too smart, he'd know the difference between Fall and Winter, wrapped up or not. So what were you saying about pilates?"
"We should do it."
Claire giggled, "Are you serious?"
"Or yoga?"
"Charlie?" She sat back in the bench and then crossed her legs. "Are you serious?"
"Serious as a bomb in Central Park," Charlie frowned as soon as he said this.
Claire clicked her tongue, "Ohh Charlie…"
A little kid with red hair, and an ice cream cone stopped in front of Charlie and Claire. His eyes grew wide, and he then threw his ice cream cone at Charlie.
Claire gasped, "That wasn't very nice,"
The kid started to cry, "Mommy, the mean man said he was going to bomb the park! Mommy, Mommy!"
Charlie shook his head, "No…"
A woman who Charlie and Claire both assumed to be his mom ran over to her son. "Shh, Billy what's wrong?"
Claire reached under Aaron's stroller for some baby wipes, and then tried to clean off Charlie's shirt. "It was a misunderstanding," She said as calmly as possible.
Billy pointed his finger accusingly at Charlie, "He's a mean man mommy."
"No, I'm nice!" Charlie exclaimed.
"Mean!" The kid spat back.
Claire tried to hold back her laughter. Where did this kid come from?
"He said he was going to blow up the park, I'm scared."
"Ohh bloody murder," Charlie cried with an unbelieving smirk.
"Charlie, not helping." Claire whispered.
The mom picked up her son, "In these times and ages, shame on you for be so callous about jokes, do you see how worked up he is? I ought to call the cops, and…"
"That is really not necessary," Claire replied tossing the baby wipe in the trash.
"Ma'am, I assure you that I didn't threaten to…" Charlie paused as he glanced at the kid.
"He did! He did!"
"Let me introduce myself, I'm Charlie Pace, a vocalist and guitarist for the band Driveshaft," He extended his hand.
Claire gently pulled a golden lock out of her face as a gentle breeze blew by.
The woman scowled back at Charlie, "Drive who?"
"Driveshaft!" Charlie exclaimed.
"I haven't heard of such nonsense…c'mon Billy let's go." The woman cast disapproving glares back at Charlie and Claire and then started to walk away.
Claire cleared her throat, "Well that was interesting."
"It was a bloody joke, a bad one, but…Claire that kid threw his ice-cream at me!"
"Kids can be such bullies," Claire whispered kissing Charlie's cheek.
"This was my favorite workout shirt," Charlie pouted.
"I know," Claire comforted with a smile.
"Actually it wasn't…but it's ruined."
"I'll buy you another shirt that says "First Driveshaft takes over England, then America…and then World Domination!" Claire laughed wickedly, and then paused. "In spirits of October," She gently poked him in the side, "I just thought I would scare you."
"Shaking in my boots," Charlie replied.
Claire stood up, "I was thinking about getting a job sometime in the future,"
Charlie lazily held out his hands. "My legs are too tired, I believe I need your assistance mi lady."
Claire pulled Charlie up, "At first I was thinking about checking out this astrology center in Brooklyn, but then I changed my mind."
"Why?"
"Well I don't want you to think you're getting married to a lunatic."
"Try it Claire, but you know you don't have to work…I'll take care of you, I already made a promise."
"I know Charlie," Claire placed her hand under his jaw. "I just would feel better if I did something around the house, I mean you buy groceries, and I cook, and you make a mess, and I clean…."
"Am I that messy?"
"Oh boy Charlie, boxers on the floor, Hershey's wrappers in the sink, guitar on the table, toothbrush on the floor, must I continue,"
"Hershey's wrappers in the sink?"
"I was washing the dishes and apparently you had a late night chocolate craving. I found three Hershey's wrappers stuffed inside a cup with ice and milk."
Charlie grinned, "Opps,"
"I just feel like I need to do something else. I want to contribute, and maybe bring home the bacon for once."
"Let's go to the store, bacons like $2 right,"
Claire hit Charlie, "More than just bacon. I want to buy spaghetti, chicken, potatoes, and by Thanksgiving, maybe even a turkey!"
Charlie rubbed his stomach, "Mmm…Turkey,"
Claire placed her hands against Charlie's stomach and then gently tugged on his shirt so she could bring him closer to her. "After Thomas left me…I realized that I couldn't be dependent on anyone anymore, I have a baby now and…"
"We have a baby," Charlie corrected.
Claire's cheeks flushed at Charlie's last comment. "You're so incredible Charlie,"
Charlie did a series of jumping jacks, "As are you dear…now I'm pumped, I'm ready, let's go," He took off running.
Claire grabbed the handles of Aaron's stroller and then started to run after Charlie.
He stopped again two minutes later.
"What's wrong now Charlie?" Claire asked stopping Aaron's stroller right by him.
"Cramp," Charlie whined.
"Charlie!"
Shannon threw down her luggage as soon as she came back into Boone's loft in Manhattan. She wanted to run to Claire and tell her about the whole crazy trip to the Hamptons, about the boat catching on fire, and then Boone saving her, and not to mention their steamy kiss in the rain. A satisfied smile crept across her face, well maybe not the last part, because Claire still thought Shannon liked Seth.
"Look who's back," Seth said strolling towards the door in his boxers as he held a piece of pizza in his hand.
"Why don't you get dressed?" Shannon snapped.
"Because I don't feel like it,"
Boone stepped in afterwards without Isabella.
Shannon turned around, "Where is the bitch?'
"You mean my soon to be fiancé?" Boone corrected.
Shannon narrowed her eyes back at him. So they were back to these games. "Where is she?"
"Um…she had to go back to her apartment, she claimed she had enough of you,"
"The feelings mutual,"
Seth smirked and then headed back into the den to watch the rest of the football game.
Boone closed the door behind him, and then stared blankly at Shannon. "Are you going to move your bags?"
"After I get something to eat, no one cooked me breakfast this morning,"
"Well you're capable of pouring some cereal and adding milk."
"All you had was frosted mini wheats, those are gross." Shannon complained.
"I like them, so deal with it."
He made a move to past her, but Shannon grabbed him by the sleeve of his tan sweater. "What Shan,"
"I liked that kiss we had earlier,"
Boone looked towards the window. He scowled when he saw beer bottles lined up against the ledge. How could Seth throw a party while they were gone, leave the place a mess, and like that wasn't bad enough, leave beer bottles around a recovering alcoholic.
"Did you hear me?" Shannon asked persistently.
Boone tore his eyes away from the bottles of Jack Daniels, and Budweiser. "What?"
Shannon pursed her glossed lips in Boone's direction and then dug her nails deeper into his sweater. "Remember us on the beach, it was pouring rain, and you kissed me so passionately." She fanned herself. "Dare I say I enjoyed it."
Boone raised an eyebrow in her direction. "What do you want?"
"You,"
He sighed exasperatedly.
"Okay, can I borrow your credit card, there is a sale at Bloomingdales and I wanted a new dress."
"Take it,"
Shannon's eyes widened as Boone reached in his pocket for his wallet, and then handed her his Gold Master Card. "I'm giving you a limit of $1,000."
"Seriously?"
"I just came back from the worst trip to the Hamptons of my life, I don't want to argue, I just want to clean up this place, and then go to sleep." Boone glanced at the beer bottles once more.
"I guess I can help you," Shannon offered.
Boone moved around her, "I know you don't want to, go ahead."
"Go to sleep, I'll help you clean up."
"Are you possessed?"
Shannon's mouth dropped, "What?"
"Why are you being so nice?" Boone bent down to pick up some panties, and then quickly dropped them.
Shannon laughed, "You don't know where those have been! Seth had some ho's over last night."
Seth peeked his head from in the den. "More like four."
"You better get yourself checked out." Shannon frowned.
"You know you want to sleep with me too." Seth smirked. He walked closer to Shannon and then reached for her arm.
"Hey man, why don't you get dressed," Boone said impatiently.
"Shannon likes it," Seth said stroking her arm.
"Don't touch me, I don't know where your hands were last night." Shannon pushed Seth away.
He laughed. "You're so hot,"
Boone clenched his jaw. "Fcking stop,"
Seth's mouth dropped, "Damn, why are you so over protective of your sister?"
"Because she…I…just leave her alone okay." Boone then stalked into the kitchen.
"Is your brother in love with you?" Seth asked.
"What?"
"Are you and him carrying on some sick West Virginia kind of relationship?"
"Hell no, what the fck is wrong with you?"
"You two just act weird around each other,"
Shannon stepped over a pair of boxers, "I'm hoping those are yours."
"Yeah,"
Shannon nodded, "Help my brother clean up this shit, after all you made it."
"Where are you going princess?" Seth asked blocking the door.
Shannon waved him away, "Move before I kick you in the balls, and don't think I won't, ask Boone he'll tell you."
"You kick your brother in the balls?"
Shannon shrugged, "So?"
"That's mean."
"Who said I was nice, I sure as hell didn't." Shannon snapped.
"Why is there a bra in the freezer!" Boone yelled from the kitchen.
Shannon turned around to face a very angry Boone. His cheeks were redder than usual, and his pale blue eyes stared back at Seth coldly. "I'm taking that as my cue to leave, Don't kill each other while I'm gone boys," Shannon then pushed Seth out of the way, and headed out the door.
Her cell phone vibrated on her hip as she closed the door behind her. She quickly grabbed it, "Hey it's Shannon, talk."
"Hey Shannon are you back?" Claire asked on the other end.
"Yeah, hey what's up?"
"I know you just got back and all, and if you want to say No then I understand…"
"Just ask me Claire," Shannon interrupted.
"Charlie has this party tonight and he wanted me to go with him, but I need a babysitter for Aaron and I was wondering if you could…um possibly watch him?"
Shannon impatiently pressed the elevator button. Did Claire just ask her to watch her baby? Her drooling, spitting up, disgusting, but semi-cute baby? No way! No freaking way. But Claire was so nice, but who cared. Shannon hated babies, she hated them with a passion, and they hated her.
"It's okay," Claire said gently.
"Sure," Shannon volunteered. Oh God, what did she just get herself into?
(Hey Kristen, no idea, Saraiyu, Sunny102, Dee, Ponyboysgirl, Orlando-crazy, and sUmMeRiTh thanks for the reviews last chapter! I was planning on adding Sawyer, Jack and Kate in this chapter, but it's kind of late, and I have to beta this, then post, and then get some sleep for boring classes tomorrow! I will start next chapter off with Jack and Kate, and add even more Charlie and Claire…and of course Boone and Shannon…oh and Sawyer…how could I forget him. I might update again this week, I am hooked to writing this story, thanks for reading and reviewing again everyone. Peace.)