[claire] what better way to bond

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony ran his fingers through his newly wet hair. as he waited for Claire. They both had just had hard workouts and he was sweating from head to toe. This was nice. He and Claire were friendly again. Anthony really hated fighting with her, she just got him so mad sometimes. She always put him out to be the bad guy and it pissed him off. He wasn't the bad guy, anymore. Things and people change. He was proof of it. Anthony was nothing like he use to be. He had matured. Anthony also made up with his mother last month. He would never have a relationship with his father though. That man did way too many fucked up things to him when he was a kid. He hated the that man with a passion and that would never change. Anthony finished up his vitamin water just as Claire was coming out of the girls lover room. He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, "Took ya long enough." he said with a smile. "What do you girls do in there?" he asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

Anthony placed his arm loosely over Claire's shoulders as they were outside of the gym. "I don't know about you, but I am starving." he smiled down to her, "Let's go get food." Anthony headed in the direction of the small cafe that he usually always eats in after he works out. It was the perfect little place and the AC was always blasting. He needed it. He was still sweating from that workout. When they reached the cafe, Anthony removed his arm from Claire's shoulders and opened the door for her, After you madam," he said as he did a mock curtsey. Anthony followed Claire to a table and placed his bag in the seat across form her. He lifted his shirt up to wipe the sweat off of his face and then sat down. The waitress come over and Anthony ordered a water. He waited for Claire to order and then gave a small smile to the waitress as she said she'd bring those right over.

outfit

[Claire Jayne Madden]

Claire moved away from the hand air dryer where she had bent over to dry her hair after she had taken a quick shower in the bathroom of the gym. When she lifted her hair she smoothed it over her shoulders, leaving it only a little damp so that it would curl on its’ own later. Maybe working out hadn’t been the smartest idea. Anthony was so good at lifting weights.. but it was important they be friends. They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon and ran in the same exact circle. Literally. She picked up her bag and shouldered it, smiling at Anthony as she came outside. When he asked her what girls did in there she made a slightly confused face. “ You guys don’t have orgies in the mens bathroom?” she asked like it was complete news to her. Claire took in a deep breath and sighed, adjusting her tank top over her hips as Anthony wrapped his arm around her shoulders before she rested her head tiredly against his shoulder as they walked. “ Of course you’re hungry” she said with a playful roll of her eyes. “ I guess I could eat,” she said wistfully, wrapping her other arm around his hips. It sort of felt just like old times, just hanging out with him. Except now she had a child with Shane, and she had just been signed to Taboo records. And Anthony had… grown? Legitimately matured. Who the hell were they?

Claire lowered her arm away from Anthony’s hips as they came into the deli and looked around. She hadn’t ever been here before, but it seemed like Anthony knew his way around. If he came here often it must be good. She stopped at the table, dropping her bag to the side as she looked up in time to see him lifting his shirt off of his stomach. Claire reached out for her chair, missing it completely as she clumsily fell into it and then coughed, clearing her throat as she smoothed her hand over her hair. A waitress had come over and said something, but Anthony had ordered a water and she was busy still staring at his mouth since he had wiped it with a shirt. “ Water..” she repeated, not even really knowing what the hell she was talking about. Suddenly she realized that the waitress there and she shook her head, snapping out of it slightly as she looked up. “ Uh.. what?” she said, looking at her like she had just grown three heads. ‘ To drink?” she repeated and Claire sat back in her chair. “ Oh um.. right. Drinking. Water. Lime….thanks.” she said, nodding as she brought her arms over her stomach. “ Ethan bought an engagement ring,” she said quickly, just stumbling across any type of topic that can change their conversation. “ You know.. for Natalia.. it’s a ring, of engagement. From Ethan,” she said, sitting up to adjust her shirt again. She hated the way clothes fit against your skin when it was still damp.

Outfit

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony smiled to himself and just shook his head when Claire tried to hide the fact that she just fell into the chair. It seemed he still had the same effect on her. Things were so different, but right now, it felt like normal. No one was trying to prove anything to one another, they were just there, enjoying each others company. This is what Anthony had missed the most when they were fighting. Claire use to call him over to her house all the time when she was alone and he'd go, just because he loved spending time with her. Why did things have to be the way they were right now? Everything was so complicated and fucked up, but someone these two managed to deal with it. How though? Why were they so strong, ish? Anthony licked his lips as he and the waitress stared at Claire. He smirked and laughed lightly when Claire finally ordered her drink. Yup, the same old Claire. Anthony ran his hands through his hand once again, this time feeling the dryness. He wiped his hand against his shorts and then picked up a menu. He had been here a thousand times, it was all the same.

Anthony's eyes shot up to look at Claire as she told him about Ethan. "What?" he said, a little too loudly. He looked around at the people who had looked over at him and just smiled. Oops. The waitress came over with their drinks, "Need a few more moments?" "Yes please." She left and Anthony looked back to Claire. "Are you serious? How come he didn't tell me?" Anthony tried to process this information. Ethan bought an engagement ring for Natalia. The guy who gave Stefan and his own brother shit about settling down so early. "Well damn." he finally managed to say. He never thought this day would come so soon. Ethan was planning on proposing to Natalia, holy shit. This was big. "Do you know when he's going to do it?" He really couldn't believe it.

[Claire Jayne Madden]

Claire scrunched her nose with her eyes squeezed tightly. How could she have been so stupid as to tell Anthony that. “ Please don’t say anything,” she said quickly before she opened one eye and then rested her hands on the table. Claire laid down, resting her head on the table for a few moments before she sat back up straight. “ He’s been carrying it around since they got back together. I guess he figures go big or go home” she said with a slight lift of her shoulder. “ Do you know hard it is to keep that secret from Natalia as her best friend? You’re just her best boy friend. I’m the best friend. Out of everyone. There’s an unwritten contract that comes along with that. And I haven’t been able to tell her shit,” she said grumpily, placing her chin in her hand as the waitress came out and set their waters down, asking if they needed more time. She nodded in agreement with Anthony, not having looked at the menu for herself yet. Claire picked up the menu and began to read it, skimming over it quickly. It seemed like in no time the waitress was back and Claire looked up at her with a smile. “ Hi um..” she said, looking back down at the menu, “ Can I have the California club sandwich. With bacon.. and instead of regular fries sweet potato fries. With a side of ranch,” she said, calling off her order before she gestured to Anthony. “ He’ll have the Italian sub, with everything on it. Everything, the hots too and um.. chili fries on the side of that “ she started off, handing over her and Anthony’s menu to the waitress, “ Oh and can we start off with some baked potato skins with extra sour cream, thanks” she said before looking back over at Anthony.

“ But this is good.. right? People in love should get married. That’s the way it works. Natalia’s been in love with him since the first time she came over and he told us that we looked like idiots just for dancing to music,” she said, giving a soft smile. “ Just don’t say anything to him about it.. let him come to you. I’m sure he will,” she said, picking up her water before she squeezed some of the lime into it. Claire sat back, bringing both of her legs up into her chair and sat Indian style before she lifted her hair off of her neck and started to place it into a messy ponytail. “ Speaking of big changes,” she said before taking a sip of her water. “ Joel wants me to be ‘sexy’ for the label” she said before trying to lift her eyebrow at Anthony seductively in a joking manner. She shook her head and sighed , crossing her arms against her chest as she sat back.

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony just sat there staring at Claire. That was like an atomic bomb that she just threw at him. He could tell by her reaction that she wasn't suppose to tell him. Anthony shook his head and sighed. This was big news. Why hadn't Ethan come to him or Stefan? Maybe he did go to Stefan and Stefan wasn't suppose to tell him. Anthony was over thinking this whole situation. He was making it a big deal in his head and overreacting in his head. Anthony licked his lips once more as Claire sat up, she had a point. She couldn't even tell Natalia. That would ruin everything. It must have been killing her not to be able to tell Natalia. The waitress came over and Anthony let Claire order her food. As he got ready to order, Claire started it for him. His mouth opened a bit it awe. This girl knew exactly what she wanted. Wow. He let go of the menu as Claire took it from him and gave it to the waitress. He took a big sip of his water and placed the cup back down on the table. "Wow. I'm not use to seeing you eat that. Will you be able to eat it all?" he joked. He leaned back in the chair, opened his legs out a bit in front of him and loosely crossed his arms as he looked over at Claire.

"Yeah, its great actually. It broke my heart when they broke up." he smirked. "I think he knows what he's doing. If he really loves this girl and she love shim, there's no reason not to get married. They're young, but so what. I think they can do it." he lazily reached for his glass once more and he brought it to his lips. He took a sip of the ice cold, refreshing water and placed it back down on the table again. Anthony brought both arms over his head to stretch and then he rested both hands on top of his head. Anthony smirked, "You're already sexy. How much more can he want?"

[Claire Jayne Madden]

“ Oh I am eating it all,” she said with confidence as she gave a nod. “ Look at this, grade A fat ass biatch sittin across from you,” she said as she lifted her tank top up off of her skin and patted her hand against her stomach. She yawned tiredly, leaving her hands against her stomach as she traced her fingertips over the bones of her hips. It felt weird to see her own body changing before her very own eyes. She licked her lips and looked back up at him, nodding as he said that he was heartbroken when Natalia and Ethan broke up. “ Yeah, not nearly as heartbroken as Natalia was. I thought she was going to buy out the apple juice industry,” she said, smirking before she finally lowered her tank top back over her stomach. “ Don’t be upset that he hasn’t talked to you about it yet. I don’t think he has even said anything to Dalton. The only people that I’m aware know are me and Natalia’s dad,” she said as she brought her legs back into her chair and wrapped her arms around them. “ I guess I just assumed that if I was going to a wedding after I had a kid, it would at least be mine,.. but.. c’est la vie” she said with a slight shake of her head.

Claire made a face of disgust as Anthony said she was already sexy, reaching her fingers into her water and flicked some at him with a shake of her head. “ No, Natalia… is sexy.” she said, wiping her fingers off on her knee. “ I.. am clumsy. And uncoordinated. Unless I’m on a stage. And I say the wrong things. Make stupid choices. My hair takes forever to tame. I never match things appropriately.” she said before taking in a deep breath and sighing. “ But you know Joel.. he likes to push people. So I’m afraid I am going to have to find a way to be sexy lest I want to deal with the wrath of Joel Foster,” she said, widening her eyes sarcastically in fear. “ How’s Bailey?” she asked bluntly, looking up at him as she lifted her eyebrow slightly. Claire smiled as she looked down at the table. “ Brand new sparkly Anthony Owens out on the prowl and ready to settle down with someone …finally..” she said before she looked back up at him as she bit against the inside of her cheek.

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

"Oh yeah," Anthony said with a scoff, "You're so fat." he flicked some water back at her with a laugh. "I wouldn't doubt it. That girl turns to apple juice like alcoholics go to alcohol and drug addicts go to the needles and shit. We should probably send her to some meetings." he joked. "He'll come around when he's actually ready. I was just over thinking it in my head, like always." he shifted in his seat. "I don't feel as bad now knowing that Dalton doesn't know yet. And I'm sure your wedding will be coming up. Shane has got to be planning on asking you to marry him." Anthony said uncomfortably."Me though, I don't see myself getting married anytime soon." he said before he finished off his water.

Anthony shook his head, "Claire you are sexy in your own way, just like Natalia has her sexiness. You just don't feel comfortable with it because you think you're dorky, which you are," he said with a smirk, "but that's what makes you sexy. You're yourself and your comfortable being yourself. That dress and shoes you wore on the cruise definitely helped, " he said with a wink. "You also look sexy in normal clothes. Like right now. Your hair is a mess, your face is flushed and yet you still look sexy." A slow smile crossed his lips as he stared at her. He sat up, put his arms on the table and just rested there leaned forward. "She's good. She actually left a little while ago. We skype when she's not busy and I've been down to set a few times to see her." The waitress came out with another water for him and the potato skins. He picked one up, dipped it into the sour cream and placed the entire thing in his mouth. "Shit, this is hot." he said with it all in his mouth. Once he swallowed it, he took a drink of water and just laughed. "How's Brayden doing?"

[Claire Jayne Madden]

The lift of her eyebrow was quick as he suggested that Shane was probably heading towards asking him to marry her, followed quickly by the statement that it wouldn’t be happening for a long time for himself. She nodded slowly, “ I think we all expect that..” she said quietly before she looked back up at him. Claire smiled at how Anthony described her sexy and looked down, giving her head a slight shake. “You’re pretty sexy in your own way too, but.. probably shouldn’t get into that” she said, looking up at him as the waitress came back and set down their appetizer with another water for him. She laughed at how quickly he shoved the potato skin into his mouth. “ Careful!” she said, sitting up as she handed napkins over to him quickly. Claire shook her head at him, “ You are reckless and dive into things too quickly,” she said, lifting her thumb up to his face where she brushed some of the sour cream away. Claire sat back, reaching out for one of the potato skins as she licked the sour cream off of her thumb and spread some onto her own potato skin.

Claire chewed some of the potato skin in her mouth and smiled with her lips closed as he brought up Brayden. “ He is probably the greatest thing to ever happen to me in my entire life..” she said happily before she broke into a bright smile. “ I can’t believe how much he looks like me..” she said as she shook her head before she made a slight face. “ Except for the fact that his hair is constantly in a faux hawk. And he’s got.. I put a clip in his hair that gives him some pink hair so he matches his daddy for right now,” she said with another slight laugh. “ We’re like.. bouncing back and forth. Shane is on Warped Tour right now and we’ve gone to a lot of those shows cause he doesn’t want to be away from Brayden.. so he’s going to be use to the tour life before he can even walk or talk,” she said with a slight shake of her head. “ Shane like.. shows him off like the little lion in lion king, on the cliff” she said as she smiled and looked back up at Anthony, dropping it slowly before she coughed uncomfortably and looked away again.

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony jokingly flexed his muscles when she said he was sexy, "Yeah, I know." he said in a faux macho man voice and then let out a laugh. "Uh...thanks." Anthony said awkwardly as Claire wiped the sour cream off of his face with her thumb. He brought the napkin to his mouth and wiped, just in case he had anymore. Anthony smiled when she started talking about Brayed. He saw how she lit up. He loved watching her talk about him. He could just sense the love she had for her son just by listening to her talk about him. He laughed when she said she had a pink clip of hair for him to be like daddy. Anthony felt a pang inside when she referred to Shane as daddy. Yeah Brayden was his son, but it still hurt to know that the girl he loved had a kid with another guy. "I would too. That little guy is amazing. I would definitely show him off all the time. " Anthony loved spending time with him. He loved kids. He always had. He had a soft spot for them. "He really does look a lot like you tough." he said, agreeing with what she said earlier. "That's a good thing. You Foxes are a good looking bunch of kids. Your genes are strong." he finished of the second glass and looked around for the waitress. He lifted the glass and she came over, took it and went to fill it up.

Anthony ate another potato skin. The waitress came back with his drink and their food. "Thank you." he said as she placed his down in front of him. "Is there anything else I can get you guys?" Anthony shook his head lightly, "No thank you." He picked up a half of his sub and took a bite. Delicious. This place had the best Italian subs. He looked over at Claire, "Do you guys want a second?" he asked, referring to her and Shane wanting another baby. Basically this was his way of asking if she saw them staying together, without actually coming out to say it.

[Claire Jayne Madden]

Claire couldn’t help but smile as Anthony complimented Brayden. But thankfully it seemed like everyone in Brayden’s life was just as enamored with him as she was. How couldn’t you be, he was beautiful and perfect. He had a little batman outfit and considering the rumors about Dalton it was only a matter of time until he had a Thor one. She took in a deep breath, smiling as she sighed tiredly. The work out really had worn her out and she could already feel her body starting to ache. “ I think our genes are just stubborn,” she said, giving him a small smile before she sat back so that the waitress could set their food down in front of them. “ I’m sorry may I have a Shirley temple with about.. a dozen cherries” she said, smiling impishly at her before she walked away. Claire took a few of the sweet potato fries, biting into them instantly as she looked up in time to see Anthony devouring his sub. She smiled, picking up her sandwich as well as she leaned forward and took a bite, forcing way too much food into her mouth before she pointed to herself, trying to talk through the food. “ This the sexy you talking about? I don’t think any dress or heels would help this,” she said, trying to chew the food as she left sauce against her lips and cheek.

Finally she swallowed all of it, wiping off what she figured was most of the sauce as she heard him ask about whether or not her and Shane ‘wanted a second?’. Second kid? She ran her tongue across her teeth, still trying to make sure she wasn’t covered in sauce all over herself. “ Well..” she said , giving a slight shrug of her shoulder. “ I want more kids in the future,” she said before she smiled up at the waitress, thanking her for the drink before she left again. “ What about you? Do you want kids?” she asked, picking up a few more fries. “ With Bailey?” she asked hesitantly as she looked over at him, holding the fries loosely in her fingers. “ I mean what’s the future there? Long run?” she asked before taking another bite of her fries.

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony laughed as he watched Claire eat her sandwich, "Yup, that's the one. Very sexy." He listened to her answer his question, she completely dodged it. She said she wanted kids, but she didn't say if Shane did or who she wanted them with. Anthony just smirked to himself. Claire knew how to answer a question without actually answering it. He had learned that about her. He on the other hand couldn't do that. Whenever someone asked him a question, he had to give the straight answer. There was no way for him to dodge the bullet, so to say. It just wasn't in his nature to do that. Before Claire could take a drink or her Shirley temple, Anthony grabbed a few on the cherries that were at the top. He shoved them in his mouth and just smiled to her. "Well, truthfully, I can't see Bailey being the mother of my children. It's just too early to see it. If it happened, then we'd make it work, but neither of us are ready for kids right now, so it's really hard to say." Anthony took another big bite of his sub so he wouldn't have to say anything more about it.

"Why don't you like her? Bailey I mean. She really is a great girl." Anthony dropped the sub back onto the plate and looked over at Claire. "I want to hang out with you, Shane and Brayden but I'm always with Bailey and you told me you didn't want her coming around. She is a part of my life right now Claire, just like Shane is yours. All I'm asking is you give her a chance and if you genuinely don't like her, then she never has to come around again." he smiled at her and placed one of his hands on her's. "Pleeeeease." he smiled again.

[Claire Jayne Madden]

Claire smacked Anthony’s hand lightly as he took a few of the cherries from her drink and then glared at him, sarcastically shaking her head in disapproval. “ You’re lucky I asked for extra because I knew your fat ass would do that,” she said before sitting back with her drink. She nodded at his response about Bailey and how neither of them were ready for kids, but if it happened then they would make it work. Yeah, talking to a girl who got knocked up at seventeen, she definitely understood what he meant by that. She froze as he asked her why she didn’t like Bailey and turned away from him for a moment, trying not to look at him. She felt his hand on top of hers and looked up at him, trying to figure out the best way to express what she felt about Bailey. “ Anthony.. it has nothing to do with Bailey. It’s any girl you date,” she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “ It.. pisses me off that you didn’t fight for me to stay but that you’re willing to fight for someone else to have them be around me” she said in a hushed tone so that they wouldn’t draw attention from any of the tables around them.

“ But you’re right,” she said, giving a small nod. “ You don’t have to ask me to let you be happy anymore. Be happy,Anthony. I get it. You’ve been pushing me away ever since we broke up. I get that we’re friends. Shane and Brayden would love for you to be a part of their lives because clearly you’re important to me. And as a friend I can see how you would want to be around my family,” she said referring to Shane and Brayden as she clenched her jaw and looked at him. “ Bring her around. I’ll get to know her. Clearly she’s important to you. “ she said before pulling her hand away from his and picking her sandwich back up. “ That’s what friends are for, right?” she said, looking away from him as she took another bite of her sandwich. She honestly had no idea why she still got so defensive about Bailey. Or why she cared if she came around. Anthony had made it clear since they broke up that they were friends and that they just needed to move on and get over it. Which she had. Clearly.

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony sat back against the chair and ran his fingers through his hair as he listened to Claire. Here we go he thought. He should have been use to this by now. These two could never just sit and have a normal conversation. It always had to get heated between them. He knew Claire didn't like any of the girls he got with, but he didn't really realize why until now. Anthony licked his lips and drank so of his water as Claire went on. Why was she getting so upset over this, it was just a simple question..well to him it was anyway. He didn't understand the mindset of girls and he didn't think he ever would. He didn't want to fight with Claire. That's the last thing he wanted. They had just made up and he was glad they did.He took a breath before he said anything. He needed to think about his words carefully. He didn't want to really piss Claire off.

"I haven't been pushing you away Claire. If anything, I want to pull you closer to me. I feel like I've lost you...like I've lost my best friend. I miss all the nights you would ask me to come over to your house and you would make Ethan and Natalia go out with each other so we could have time together. I miss that girl who gets food from Olive Garden and acts like she cooked it for me."he looked away from her for a moment and looked back. "I want to be in your family's life because they are important to you and I see just how much they mean to you. I want you to see that I am going to be here no matter what happens. Other girls come and go, but you have been there by my side through it all and I don't ever want to lose it." He finished off his water and leaned on the table. "The reason why I didn't fight for you was because I was scared. I was scared you didn't feel the same way I did about you. You wanted to date and it made me so happy because I thought I knew how you felt. Then you came to me and said you thought it would be best we didn't date anymore. I didn't know what to do....I know now. I know I should have fought for you to stay with me. Its too late now to know it, but I do know it."

[Claire Jayne Madden]

Claire gasped and made a face of disgust as he spoke, “ You KNEW that was Olive Garden?” she asked, clearly latching onto something that was of minor importance compared to the rest of what he was saying .Claire frowned, she thought she had been so clever with that. But she looked back up at him listening as he continued. It would be easy for her to get upset, yell at him like she usually did. But she had just gotten him back in her life. And what was the sense in fighting with him? It was what it was. She licked her lips before sliding her water over to him. He was going through water glasses like his life depended on it and she didn’t want to be interrupted by the waitress again. She opened her mouth to say something but then stopped, knowing that wasn’t the direction she needed to take this conversation. Instead she sat quietly for a few moments before she looked back up at him and smiled. “ You didn’t lose your best friend,” she said, giving him a small nod.

“ And it all worked out for the best, right? I have a kid. You’re not ready for them. And you’re in love with someone. Though I’m sure she has no idea,” she said, thinking to herself about how flighty Zoe had said Bailey was. “ So we’re both in love. And Ethan and Natalia are back together.. and I’m pretty sure Anabelle could say jump and Dalton could say how high. And Hillary and Stefan make one of the most attractive couples ever so… it’s good. We can all be friends. Can’t wait to get to know Bailey. It’s going to be super fun,” she said before perking into another smile, maybe too quickly. Did that make it look fake? Cause she was trying here. It wasn’t worth losing Anthony to over a stupid argument about things she couldn’t change.

[Anthony Marcus Owen]

Anthony couldn't help but smile when Claire asked him that he knew. "Of course I knew. It was so cute how you tried though." He took the water glass from her and just spun it slowly on the table in his hands. Where was thins going? He heard Claire say that the person he was in love with had no clue. He just shook his head lightly. If the girl he was in love with had no clue, then there was something seriously wrong. How many more ways did he have to put it without actually saying it? He knew she was referring to Bailey, but little did she know, she was wrong. Anthony just lifted an eyebrow to her when she said it was going to be fun. He took a breath in and let it out slowly. Where was he going to go with his next words. "I'm not in love with Bailey." he said, looking down at the glass of water he held in his hands. "She's a great girl and I like her a lot, but love isn't the word right now."

He took a small sip of the water and placed it back down on the table. "I'm glad everyone is with the person they love. I'm glad you learned to love again, I really am . There is only one girl I'm in love with and if she doesn't know by now, then I don't know if she ever will." he said as he picked up the rest of his sub. "I'm glad we can all be friends." he placed the last bit of his sub in his mouth and began to chew.