"You look so beautiful Ang..." Aj said with a smile.
She kissed his lips softly and bit her lip, "You look nice too."
Angie grabbed her jacket and they headed out the door. They drove for a few minutes, down to Giovanni's, where they got seated immediately.
After ordering, Aj reached across the table and took Angie's hand in his.
"Baby, I am so sorry..." he said.
She looked up and he was staring deep into her eyes. She could tell that he felt guilty about something, but she wasn't sure what.
"For what?" she asked as calmly as she could.
"I don't deserve you, I really don't. And I have been neglecting you too much lately. I am so sorry. I know how lucky I am to have you, and I don't want anything to change that."
Angie lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it gently.
"Aj, I love you and nothing will change that." she said.
"Yeah, but-"
"Shh ... I forgive you and that's all that matters." she said softly.
"I love you too." Aj said.
Just then, the waitress came over and brought their dinners to them. Neither ate much, they both just enjoyed spending time together.
Over at Brian's house, Nick, Kevin, Lucas and Brian were having a fierce competition between teams on the basketball court.
"Hey, there's Claire!" Kevin called out.
Nick turned around, and Kevin stole the ball from him, giving a content laugh at him.
Nick shot a dirty glance at Kevin for tricking him and stealing the ball. The game went on and Nick and Brian won against Lucas and Kevin, 15 to 11. After the game, the four sweaty guys sat down on the side of the court and grabbed their gatorades and waters. They had a light conversation going as they gulped down the drinks.
"So whats up with you and Claire?" Kevin asked taking a big sip of gatorade.
"Yeah are you dating?" Brian asked before Nick could get in an answer.
"Yeah we are." Nick said simply.
He was never one to talk about his relationships a lot, he liked his privacy. He'd have the occasional talk with the guys on his girlfriend, but other than that he was pretty quiet about it. Brian always figured Nick was tired of saying how great his girlfriend was, then two weeks later, have her dump him. Brian just sighed and patted Nick on the back.
"That's great, I hope everything works out." he said.
Nick turned around and gave a small smile, "Thanks."
Brian gave him an understanding smile and he looked at his watch.
"I need to get going. I will see you all around." Nick said getting up.
"You going to see Claire?" Kevin asked.
Nick said yes and Kevin shook his head, "Whipped."
He laughed as he walked towards his car and heard Kevin making snapping sounds like a whip. Nick drove to the local chinese food place and grabbed a poo poo platter for two. Then he drove over to Claire's. He knocked on her door a few times but she didn't answer.
He walked inside and saw her in her room cleaning with her head phones on. She was singing and dancing around the room like she was in the music video. She turned around and saw Nick walking up to her. She kissed him on the cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck as she sang to him and swayed.
"I don't like anyone, the way I like you. I don't go anywhere, if your not there too. It's not as if I'm hard to please, your the only one good enough for me. Those others just won't do. I don't like anyone but you." she sang to him swaying back and forth with him.
She pulled back and took her head phones off laughing. He just applauded her like she won an award. She took a bow and came up laughing.
"Your in a good mood." he observed.
"Yes I am. Let's eat out on the balcony." she said grabbing his hand and leading him out to the balcony.
They walked out and put their chairs next to each other and looked out at the city skyline as they ate and talked.
"So how was your day?" she asked.
"It was okay, how was yours?" he asked eyeing her lo mein.
"Fine, kind of boring." she said.
Nick reached across and took some of Claire's lo mein. She gaped her mouth open as if he had robbed a bank.
"You took my lo mein!" she squealed.
Nick took the forkful of lo mein and stuffed it in his mouth, "Yep I did."
He smiled victoriously and Claire grabbed his last chicken finger and jumped up.
"Hey! Now your crossing the line." he said eyeing her and getting up.
He lunged at her and she ran into the bedroom trying to escape Nick. He caught up with her and grabbed her around the waist, making them both fall back onto the bed. They started laughing and Nick leaned over her and kissed her lips softly. Claire pulled him down and deepened the kiss as they lay there. Nick pulled back and put his arms around her waist and they just laid there and cuddled on her bed.
That night, Nick woke up around midnight and he kissed Claire's forehead. He was about to get up and leave, when she held onto his arm and woke up.
"Aww, you were being my pillow! Don't leave. Please?" she said smiling.
Nick laughed and laid back down next to her. She cuddled close to him and peacefully drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Claire woke up abruptly by the doorbell ringing and Nick's cell phone ringing. She looked down at Nick sound asleep and she grabbed the phone and answered it as she opened the door.
"Hello?" she answered the phone.
"Mom. Hi. What are you doing here?" Claire asked a little shocked.
"I've come to visit you." she smiled.
"Uh, no he's asleep." Claire said into the phone and hung it up.
"Whose asleep?" her mother asked.
"Nick is." she said.
She heard a bump and saw Nick walk sleepily out of her room and Aj and Angie showed up at her door.
"You didn't tell me you were in a relationship.." her mother said.
"What's this a little party?" Nick laughed.
"Did Nick spend the night here?" Angie asked.
"Aww, Kaos, you devil you." Aj said.
Just then, Madeline, her cat, ran out into the hall and one of her neighbors banged on the wall yelling about her cat running free in the hallway. Claire sighed and collapsed on the couch. So much for a nice, quiet day at home.