A Single Yellow Rose

by Christyne

Starts in November of the Teens junior year of high school...follow Philip & Chloe and Shawn and Belle as they deal with the ups & downs of being in love...and watch for Jason & Mimi to realize they have feelings for each other too!

1. A Single Yellow Rose - Chapter 1

"A Single Yellow Rose" - Chapter One

            Shawn knew he was staring but he couldn't help it. The wide expansion of tan skin kept winking at him every time she raised her arms or moved her shoulders. He'd been sitting up here in the bleachers watching her for the past hour and all he could think about was the fact his lips had been trailing across that same flat stomach just last night.

            He heard the music begin from the large boom box sitting in the grass and a low groan filled his chest. The dozen girls on the field immediately started dancing the practiced steps of their routine, their gold and blue pom poms held at their hips only accenting the bump and grind movements that caused the short skirts to swing and the cropped tops to rise.

            "Well, if those new uniforms don't increase the crowds at football games, nothing will." Shawn muttered to himself, unable to tear his eyes away from Belle. He usually didn't wait around after school while she had cheerleading practice, but last night he had agreed only because Belle offered him a private showing of the new uniforms that had finally arrived in time for this weekend's homecoming game. It was a week before Thanksgiving but indian summer was keeping the city of Salem cradled in her warm embrace and today was another mild day.

            Shawn caught Belle watching him and he returned the quick wink she sent in his direction. Sometimes he still found it hard to believe that he and Belle were now a couple. He had known for a long time about his growing feelings for the girl he had known all his life but he was scared what it would do to their friendship if he had dared to show them to her. But thanks to Philip's party a few months ago they had been going strong ever since.

            He noticed the football players practicing on the field behind where the cheerleaders were dancing were finding it hard to listen to the coaches and keep their minds on the game as they often stopped what they were doing to watch the girls. Except for one player.

Shawn watched as Philip threw a tight spiral in the direction of the guy running down the field but he was way off mark and the ball dropped to the ground yards away from its intended target. He saw Philip rip off his helmet in disgust and as the coach tried to give his starting quarterback some advice, Shawn could see that Philip was busy scanning the sidelines and the bleachers. And Shawn knew who he was looking for…Chloe.

            But she wasn't here. Nancy Wesley had gotten her involved with voice lessons with the Chicago Opera for the last month after school and on the weekends and she had little time to join the other girls who faithfully watched the team practices. And no matter how many of the prettiest and popular girls were sitting there, ohhing and ahhing over the players, Philip was always hoping that Chloe would be there again like she used to be at the beginning of the season.

            Shawn found himself thinking back to the first day of school, only a week after the party and the amazing experience he, Philip, Belle and Chloe had shared out at the Horton cabin during that storm…

(flashback)

            …Shawn headed up the sidewalk outside of school. He wasn't too worried about being late for the first day but he had told Belle he would see her before classes started. He was running late as he had offered to help his mom with feeding his baby brother and thanks to his burping skills he had to spend fifteen minutes cleaning off his leather jacket. He was anxious to see Belle since her and her mother had spent the long weekend before school started in Chicago shopping. They had only talked on the phone for a few moments last night discussing today and their class schedules and Shawn got the feeling that Belle was nervous about how things were going to be now that they were dating.

            Heading towards the hall where the junior's lockers were, Shawn rounded the corner and stopped short when he saw Belle surrounded by kids including Mimi and a few of Philip's football teammates. The guys seemed to be enjoying the view of her tanned shoulders and legs that the baby blue halter and mini skirt provided and he saw she wore her hair just the way he liked it, loose and framing her face. Moments later, the first warning bell went off and a few of the kids headed down the hall but the rest continued to hang around the lockers. He saw Philip at his locker farther down the hall and as soon as his teammates saw him they headed in his direction but Belle continued to be surrounded by her girlfriends.

He watched as her eyes flickered around the hall and the forced smile she offered the others caused his stomach to tighten. He could tell she was nervous…was it because of him? Because of them? He had missed her while she was gone these past few days and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Right here, right now. 'Well, what are you waiting for?' he thought as he quickly made his way through the crowd, offering hellos but never taking his eyes off of Belle and her friends.

"Hello ladies," he said as he cut through the circle to stand next to Belle.

Belle jerked her gaze away from Mimi and locked her eyes onto Shawn's sexy smile. She was so nervous about being back in school after everything that had happened between the two of them over the last week. Except for Chloe, Philip and of course, Mimi, no one really knew that they were a couple now and she had no idea how Shawn would act when they were back with everyone again. Or how she would act. She knew she wanted everyone to know about her and Shawn, hell, she felt like yelling it from the penthouse rooftop but she had no idea what he would do this morning.

Suddenly Shawn grabbed her hand and pulled her close against him, wrapping her arm around his back. He reached up and threaded his fingers under her hair cupping the back of her head. He felt her reaching up to him as he lowered his head, his lips capturing hers in a searing kiss. His tongue requested entry and he felt Belle's lips curve into a smile before she complied.

Slowly, he ended the kiss but still kept her body pressed against him. "Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," she breathlessly answered.

"I've missed you."

"Me too."

Shawn quickly looked over his shoulder before turning back and giving Belle another quick kiss. "I'm going over to see Phil for a second. I'll see you in class."

Belle watched as he walked away, the smile on her face easily answering the excited questions that her friends were firing in her direction.

"Well, that was impressive." Philip said, slamming his locker closed.

"Felt pretty good too." Shawn answered as his joined his friend. "But, the big question is where is your lady?"

Philip felt his smile disappear. "You're guess is as good as mine. The Wesley's have got their house locked up tighter than Fort Knox. I've haven't seen or talked to Chloe since that morning the "Dad Brigade" barged into the cabin."

"Well, considering your dad and Dr. Wesley found you half naked, wrapped up in a blanket with Chloe in front of a fire you're lucky they didn't skin you alive."

"Me? What about you? I'll never forget the sight of your and Belle's dads standing over the couch looking down and seeing Belle spread out over the top of you."

Both boys smiled as the memory but Philip quickly dropped his grin. "Then the yelling started."

"Yeah, Dr. Wesley at you, your dad at him…"

"And both John Black and your dad at you."

"Well, I guess we had them worried didn't we?"

"Chloe is the one who's got me worried. The last time I saw her was when Craig took her into the emergency room. I guess I am lucky he stepped back out in the waiting room and warned me that her mother was heading over and it would be best if I disappeared."

"Yeah, that is until he got a look at your ribs."

Philip grimaced as he gingerly touched the ace bandages hidden underneath his shirt. "Yeah, three cracked ribs and I'm riding the bench for the first four games."

"And you never said a word the whole night we were out at the cabin."

"I was worried about Chloe. I was so scared she wouldn't wake up…" Philip let his voice trail off.

Shawn could see his friend's embarrassment at revealing his feelings so he changed the subject. "Is you dad still upset?"

"Naw, in fact he is being pretty cool. I told you that we'd talked about the whole thing and he's okay with it all. But if I didn't have Belle acting as master spy I wouldn't even know that Chloe is okay."

"Well, she's got to be here today. Belle told me that Nancy tossed around the idea of enrolling Chloe is the private school over in Rochester but I guess Chloe refused."

"Yeah, I guess she didn't want to be away from all the friends she has made since the dance and working on Mimi's house this summer."

"She didn't want to be away from you."

Philip's head snapped up at his friend's words. "Did she tell you that?"

"No, but I've got eyes and ears. I heard that speech you made to her back in the cabin. And I saw the way she kissed you."

"Yeah, and I haven't talked to her since. And from what little Belle has told me she hasn't said much about me either."

"Well, it's not like Belle been over at Chloe's everyday. Mrs. Wesley even restricted her access."

            "I just want to know that everything is okay between us. Or better than okay if I can make her see that." Philip slammed his fist against the locker in frustration. "I just want to talk to her."

            Shawn suddenly caught sight of a couple of beautiful girls walking in his and Philip's direction over Philip's shoulder. His gaze latched on the petite blond but he also recognized the tall brunette next to her. "Well, I better get to class. Where are you headed first?"

            "English lit. Rumor has it Mrs. Gardner will be having us spend the first semester reading the works of Jane Austen, sounds exciting huh?"

            "I don't know, her stuff can be pretty interesting. I'll see you in calculus. Belle and I are in there with you."

            "Yeah, another class I'm so looking forward too."

            Shawn nudged Philip on the shoulder as he headed down the hall. Offering a smile to the two girls, he grabbed Belle's hand and dragged her away, silencing her protests with another quick kiss wanting to give his friends a small piece of privacy but they still stopped at the corner to watch.

            "So, I heard you are looking for help with calculus?"

            Philip froze, closing his eyes as the sound of her voice washed over him.

Slowly he turned around, he eyes locking onto the most beautiful eyes in the world. He breathed deeply and the scent of her perfume filled him. She was standing so close he could feel her breaths on his cheek. He dropped his gaze and noticed the short, white dress she wore that showed off the tan she got this summer to perfection. Sections of the dress were cut out and covered with patches of lace that let him see the skin underneath. On her feet were white sandals and the sight of the deep red polish on her toes caused a groan to rumbled deep in his chest.

            He dragged his gaze back to Chloe's face. "You're here," he whispered.

            "Where else would I be on the first day of school?" Chloe answered, pleased with the direction Philip's eyes had taken and the approval she saw in them.

            "God, I've missed you."

            Chloe dropped her gaze and Philip mentally kicked himself. 'Real smooth, you jerk,' he thought to himself. 'Scare her away the moment you see her.'

            "Are you okay?" he finally asked.

            "I'm fine." Chloe answered, brushing her long curls away from her forehead. "See…not even a scar."

            Philip reached out and gentle caressed her skin at her hairline before trailing his fingers down her cheek to her chin. "I was really worried about you. I tried to call, to come by-"

            "I know. I saw you from my bedroom window but my mom was really freaked out about the whole thing. It has taken me and Craig this long just to calm her down and try to get her to lift the law she laid down the moment we got home from the hospital."

            "It seems like that night is a million miles away you know..." Philip started.

            "…and sometimes it seems like it just happened yesterday." Chloe finished. "Belle, told me about your ribs. Are you okay?"

            "Well, they're still a little sore but I'll be okay."

            "Belle said you never told anyone about getting pushed into that rock until you dad insisted you be checked out after Craig noticed the bruising at the hospital."

            "It wasn't that big of a deal."

            "That's not true Philip. Craig told Nancy and me how you turned to protect me and took that hit against the rock. He said that if you hadn't reached me in time and did that I really could have been seriously hurt."

            "I saw you hit those rocks the first time Chloe…there was no way I was going to let that happen again."

"Craig also said you're not going to be able to play football for about a month."

            "Yeah, I can do light practices with the team but I'll be riding the bench for a while."

            "Because of me." Chloe answered.

            "Hey, you're more important to me than a football game okay?" Philip reached out for her hand. It was then he noticed the yellow rose. "I guess you've been to your locker huh?"

He watched as Chloe lifted to rose to her face and took a quick whiff of its scent before rubbing the soft petals against her lips.

"Thank you," she whispered, "it's beautiful."

            Suddenly the second bell rang causing the both of them to jump. "I guess we better get going to class," Philip said, "where are you headed?"

            "English lit with Mrs. Gardner."

            "Me too," Philip smiled. "Come on, we better get going."

He felt Chloe slowly slide her hand down his arm, lacing her fingers with his own. "So, what's your favorite Jane Austen novel?" she asked as they started down the hall. Philip found he could only smile at her in response.

Shawn watched his friends walked away. "Looks like our junior year is going to be a good one."

"It's only an hour old," Belle answered, "how can you be so sure?"

"Just a gut feeling."

"Another one of those Brady instincts?" she teased.

"Could be," Shawn answered as he pulled her down the hall towards their classroom, "could be."

(back at football field)

            Was his instinct wrong that day, Shawn wondered as he continued to watch Philip struggle during practice.

Philip had finally been given the green light to play again the end of September and he had been amazing in every game since. And then the first string, senior quarterback got injured three games later and Philip stepped in and carried the team to it best season in years. That is until a few weeks ago.

            That was when Chloe told them about her singing lessons and everyone could see she was really excited about working with one of the best voice coaches in the country. She usually went into Chicago a few days a week after school with Nancy and she had spent the last three Saturdays there as well.

            Shawn heard the coach's final whistle that signaled the end of practice and he rose from his seat and made his way down the bleachers. He saw Belle was still busy with the other cheerleaders so he headed towards the field. The rest of the guys hurried past him, offering hellos as they headed for the lockers.

            "Hey," he called out across the field.

            Philip's head shot up and he offered a wiry grin in return. "Hey yourself."

            "You keep playing like that and Coach Clifford is going to be asking me to try out for the team again."

            Philip offered a snort of laughter as he pulled off his practice jersey and the shoulder pads he wore underneath in one motion. "Might not be a bad idea. You can't be any worst than I've been."

            "Oh yeah I could." Shawn answered. "What's going on with you?"

            "It's Chloe." Philip answered.

            "No sh*t…really?"

            "I'm losing her man."

            Come on," Shawn answered as he bent over and picked up the football, tossing it in the air as the two of them made their way back to the edge of the field. "What's makes you say that?"

            "I can feel her slipping away."

            "Is this about her being in Chicago all the time? Hey, you know how important her music is to her."

            "I know that Shawn, and I've been behind her one hundred percent but it's something else. I'm losing her and I can't do a damn thing about it."