Prologue

We begin our story about one month before Chloe finds out about her illness. Belle and Shawn are still broken up over the whole Jan thing. Chloe and Mimi are making Phillip "date" Cynthia so they can get the information they need to reunite their good friends.

Chapter 1

Author: Kristy Browning

Belle was at home trying to study for her upcoming English exam. I don't know what's wrong with me today, I just cannot concentrate. How could Shawn ever think that I would intentionally hurt an innocent little baby she thought to herself.

Well, I can see that Im not going to get much studying done today, I just can't stop thinking about the look on Shawn's face when he accused me of killing Jan's baby. I know, I'll try to call Chloe, she will be able to calm me down she thought to herself.

"Hello, Wesley residence" chimed Nancy as she answered her ringing phone. "Hello, Mrs. Wesley, is Chloe home"

"I'm sorry, Belle, but Chloe has gone out for a while tonight. Do you want me to tell her you called?" said Nancy.

"No, that's ok, maybe I'll drop by dot com and see if she's there" replied Belle.

"Good idea, Belle, have a good night, bye"

"Bye, Mrs. Wesley" Belle said as she hung up the phone.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going to dot com for a while, I won't be home too late"

Belle called out to her parents. "Ok, honey have fun" said John.

Belle decided to walk to dot com since it was such a nice night. When she arrived at dot com she looked around and saw her three good friends all huddled up in a corner booth near the back of dot com.

I wonder what they are talking about. Looks serious, I'm gonna go find out. Belle thought to herself. She approached her friends. "Hey guys. what's up?"

Chloe was the first to answer "Hey, Belle, I thought you had to study tonight. Don't you have that English exam coming up soon?"

"Yeah, I do, Chloe,but I couldn't get any studying done tonight, there's just too much on my mind. What were you all talking about, looking so serious?" asked Belle.

"Oh, it's nothing serious, Belle, we were just talking about graduation and how exciting it all is" chimed Mimi.

Something is up with my friends Belle thought to herself and then replied "I know, can you believe we made it through four years of high school!" she exclaimed.

"Seems longer to me" said Phillip.

"Well, you guys, it's time for me to bail, I have something I need to take care of" Phillip said, eyeing Mimi and Chloe, hoping that they caught the hidden meaning in that statement.

"Ok, Phillip, see you at school on Monday" said Belle. "Bye" Chloe and Mimi both said at once.

How did I ever get myself talked into this one? thought Phillip Oh yeah, I remember now, this is the only way for me to be close to Chloe.

On her way home, Belle couldn't help but feel that her friends were keeping something from her. She didn't like this. She didn't like one bit. "I will find out Monday. I will make Meems tell me" she said.

Chloe and Mimi were walking together.

"Do you think she suspected we were talking about her?" asked Mimi. "I don't know, Meems,but we can't let her find out about our plan. We just can't." replied Chloe. "Well, this is my street" said Mimi "see you Monday." "See you, Mimi" said Chloe.

Chloe looked down at her watch "Eight o'clock. It's still early, and I'm not ready to go home and deal with Nancy, not right now. I think I'll go to the pier and clear my head." With that Chloe turned around and headed in the opposite direction toward the pier. When she reached the pier she saw him. She felt his presence even before she saw him.

"Brady" she called out.

Brady was standing at the pier, hoping for some solitude. He hadn't heard anyone call his name.

"Brady Black, do not ignore me." ordered Chloe.

"Chloe?" answered Brady.

"Who else would I be, Brady?" she said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, Choe. I must have been lost in thought" he muttered.