Danny POV -
Sarah and I sat in a both and I constantly watched Claire. I had flown home the day before yesterday for a break. I wasn't needed in London until Monday and I desperately needed to see Claire. I hadn't planned on crashing her date, I had really no intentions of doing anything like this..I just didn't know exactly what my intentions were. Lately I had felt seriously guilty about how I acted. I was with Sarah and liked her,but something was pulling me towards Claire the more I saw her. I had talked to Mark and Glen about it and they thought it was pretty serious. "Mate,you need to sort your feelings out. Ya can't string two girls along" Mark had advised me. It was weird for him to be serious, he was always a messer. So when he gave me serious advice, I tended to take it. Calling Sarah I had planned to take her out. I tried my hardest to focus on her,not asking how Claire was or even where she was. I was shocked when Sarah had brought me to the pub and I found Claire on her date with this guy. So, now I sat sat looking at two people at once. I was half focusing on Sarah who was right in front of me,but expanding my view to Claire who was two booths away from me. "Will we eat here?" Sarah asked me. It took me a while before I answered her. I was focusing on the evil's that Claire was shooting me every few seconds. I never got to see her date's face,just the back of his head. But as Claire laughed away, I guessed she was enjoying herself. "Babe?" Sarah asked me. her voice getting slightly narkey. "Oh yeah if you want " I said absent mindfully . I picked up the menu and scanned it. I picked the house burger and tried my hardest to focus on Sarah. " What do you think of the song I sent you?" I asked her eager to know did she like my new material. "Oh.. I didn't get a chance to listen to it" she lied,her face froze I could tell she wasn't interested at all. I shook it off as I noticed Claire's date get up. He went to the bar and I recognized his face to my shock. He worked in the studio's we recorded in when he went back home. He was a pretty nice guy, knew his bit about music and had a lot of cash,like me he could afford the nice things in life. I watched as he ordered drinks and food at the bar. "Is that Claire's date?!" Sarah asked astonished. "Yeah, I know him..nice guy " I commented as I looked at him. "Do you?, go over then" Sarah pushed as she dragged me over to him. "Ben,hi mate" I said as I stood beside him at the bar, Sarah hanging out of my arm.
Ben turned and looked at me "Dan! Hi man how have you been?" he asked as he shook my hand. "I'm good just out with my girlfriend, you?" I asked him as I called the barman. "Just on a date actually" Ben said as he pointed out to Claire. "That's my sister" Sarah budged in as she flashes a smile at him. "Oh really! Hi" Ben said as he shook her hand. I looked over at Claire who was texting someone,she looked incredibly pissed off. I seen a girl with red hair approach us. "Oh Izzy.." Sarah hissed. "Sarah.." Izzy smiled at her, but it wasn't warm. This was the Izzy who had emailed me. Izzy shot me the coldest look I had ever seen, she must have figured out who I was. "Danny.." she muttered. I smiled back at her,but it wasn't warm enough to break the ice. "What you doing here?" she questioned Sarah. "Danny is taking me out for lunch so I decided we go here"Sarah explained,but I now seen she just wanted to crash on Claire's date. "We were just heading, I didn't realize Claire's date was here. Don't want to crash it " I said honestly. Ben started shaking his head "No buddy, join us! " he offered. I shook my head, dead against the idea but before I could say no, Sarah was sitting in Claire's booth. I sighed and walked over, Ben was sitting beside Claire now and I tried to tell them both there was no need. "Seriously babe, let them have their date" I moaned but Sarah shushed me. "Its fine" Claire hissed.She was absolutely furious and she had every right to be. But I needed her to understand I had no part in this gate crashing of her date. Hell, I didn't even know she was going to be here. It was Sarah who picked the place. "I never seen you in here Danny, are you local?" Claire sarcastically asked,but someone I was the only one who picked up on it. "No..never been here before. Sarah picked the pub" I explained,hoping she would get it. "Yeah, I decided to come here, didn't know you would be here" Sarah smiled at Claire.
Our food came and we ate in silence, I waited patiently for Ben to start this "Catch up" he had mentioned at the bar,but there seemed to be no sign. "How did you two meet?" Sarah pressed. It was a question I was curious about too. "Um" Claire said, I could see a light blush form across her cheeks. I was glad to see something of the old her was left. She looked completely different and I missed the old Claire. "We met online" Ben announced as he bit in to his burger. Claire blushed mad red, and quickly excused herself. She was mortified to be caught out that she was internet dating. I felt so bad,even though I wasn't the one who asked the question. "Babe can you let me out there, wanna go out for a smoke" I smiled. Sarah winced "You gotta stop..it's gross" she complained. I ignored her complaints and went outside. Swiftly taking out my phone, I called Claire. Two rings and she picked up.
"WTF are you doing here!" she snapped at me. "Well..hello to you as well. I told you, I didn't pick the place. When I went to leave Sarah had already sat down. She picked the place for god sake!" I complained back. "Yeah yeah, I heard that bit. What are you doing back in Ireland!" she asked annoyed. "I'm not needed until Monday so I decided to take Sarah out " I lied, well half lied. "When did you start internet dating?" I asked her, hoping she would blush. I could just imagine her in the bathroom,cheeks rosy red. "I was drunk!" she protested. "I'm not judging..just think you could do better" I stated. Claire hung up. Looking at the phone, I laughed. I had gotten right under her skin and I guess I kinda wanted to. I didn't want her to date someone like Ben. He was nice and all,but not what she needed. She needed someone else. At the back of my head, I was who she needed, but I pushed that back even further. Putting my phone back in to my pocket, I walked back to the table to find Claire cuddled up to Ben. "You just missed it Danny! Ben asked Claire out!" Sarah squealed. "Double date.." I muttered to myself,but Claire caught on and raised an eye brow in sarcasm. "So Danny, I have a business deal for you" Ben started. I sat forward, this would be fun turning him down. "You are gonna be doing photo shoots,press etc. Why don't you have Claire do your make up?" he said. I stopped dead, I wouldn't have to turn this one down at all. "yeah,sounds like a great deal man. We actually need a make up artist..Lisa our usual one is off having a baby". Claire shot me daggers, "No no,dont be silly" she moaned and protested,but there was nothing she could do. "No Claire,you told me how much you wanted to do make up! Come on you can't work in Ikea for the rest of your life" Ben exclaimed to Claire. He was right,she couldn't. She was far too good for that shit. I would take care of her,show her this amazing life I was blessed to have and pay her well. Claire shot a look over at Izzy who nodded. "Fine" she mumbled and sipped on her wine. I felt someone kick my leg under the table,it wasn't near strong enough to hurt me but I got the message. "Excuse me, I need to make a phone call regarding Claire working. Claire could I tare you away for a few minutes?" I asked casually as I got up from the booth. Claire nodded and followed me outside.
"SERIOUSLY! are you looking for a fucking slap!" she yelled at me once we were outside. I laughed " I am looking out for you actually, why do you want to work in Ikea forever?" I calmly asked her. Claire was caught out by my question. "No..course not" she moaned like a child. "Then! come work with us!. I will make sure your taken care of and paid bucket loads. All you gotta do is fix my make up and that its. Your not obliged to stay around after that" I said holding my hands up. "But my parents.." she sighed. "They will be happy!" I commented back,knowing it for a fact that they longed for her to move on from Ikea. Claire was the only one keeping herself here out of fear of failure. "Your parents want you to move out, they want you to succeed but you won't cause your so scared of failure. But I am gonna push you! make sure you do this!" I demanded. Claire frowned, "I don't wanna spend any more time with you than I have to" . " I know you don't..but you need to change your life" I muttered as I ran my fingers through my hair. I was frustrated enough as if was. "Claire,just please give in and let me change your life" I begged,stepping closer to her and resting my hands on her hips. Claire sighed " Ok...just take your hands off me" she sighed as she stepped back in to the pub.
