It was the next day after her class, and Nick was waiting outside for her.
"We planned to go to the art gallery, remember?" he asked.
"Yeah but your ankle-"
"I'll be fine. Come on." he said taking her books and leading her to his car.
They got into his car and drove over to the gallery. They spent the whole afternoon there, talking, looking at art and just enjoying each other's company. After seeing all the pictures there, neither wanted to go home, so they decided to go out to eat. Nick and Claire got seated and ordered their dinner.
"So where are you from?" he asked.
"I was born in Chicago and I grew up there. Then I moved here for college." she said, "You?"
"Born in New York, then I've lived in Florida most of my life, when I am not traveling." he said.
"So with traveling so much, I bet you don't have much time for family or girlfriends, right?" she asked.
"Yeah that's true. But I had a girlfriend for a few months but she left. She said she wanted more out of life." Nick said a little quietly.
"Oh, I'm really sorry. It's her loss though. Your a great guy." Claire consoled.
Nick grinned and looked as though he was embarrassed by her comment.
"So what about you? Have a boyfriend or anything?"
Claire scoffed, "No, I'm really not interested in falling in love ever again either."
"Why?" he asked.
Claire felt flushed and didn't know what to say. Her and Nick were becoming great friends but she still hadn't told anyone but Angie all the details of her relationship. She knew she wanted to be close friends with Nick, but she still kept up the barrier between her and everyone. Things may have been different if her trust hadn't been broken so many times. Having to open herself up completely to someone scared her, she knew it shouldn't but it did. Because all the times in her past when she did, she ended up getting hurt.
As Claire sat there, afraid of what to say to Nick, she remembered her last relationship she had.
"Jeff, what are you doing?" Claire asked as she got home to find her boyfriend packing.
"Claire, this relationship just isn't what I want. I don't want to be tied down and I don't want to feel like an old married couple." he said roughly.
"You told me you loved me last night." she said faintly.
"I didn't mean it." he said as he brushed by her and walked out of her life.
"Claire?" Nick asked pulling her from her memory.
"Yeah?"
"Why aren't you looking to fall in love?" he asked.
"I, uh, oh look our food's here." she said.
They ate their meals and luckily, Nick forgot about what they were talking about before. He drove Claire to her house and parked out front.
"Thanks for taking me out today, I had a lot of fun." she said.
"Me too. I'll call you okay?" he asked.
Claire nodded and kissed Nick goodbye on the cheek.
As Claire closed her door behind her she sighed happily at the relationship she had with Nick.
