Fire And Ice - Chapter 2
"Well hello gorgeous" Chloe heard the whistle from halfway down the hall.
"Hey Chloe, how do you expect me to concentrate when you look THIS good" Philip questioned almost serious.
"Sorry Philip, I guess you'll just be forced to put all you attention on me" Chloe chimed sarcastically before stealing a kiss.
"Sooo... do you want to come over tonight? My dad is away on business, so we will have the place to ourselves" Philip beamed.
"Oh... I don't know, I promised Belle that we would work on our chemistry project after school?
'Well then, you can come over after that. Besides it's Friday why are you doing homework tonight?" questioned Philip.
"Because we are a little behind and plus I haven't spent quality time with Belle in a while but I'll try to swing by" Chloe said with a sincere smile.
"Okay I'm satisfied with that, I've got to go to class. I love you." he said as he placed a kiss on her nose before running down the hall to meet up with some of his jock friends.
Chloe waited by Belle's locker after school.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Shawn thought it would be fun if he took my hairclip and played keep-away with Jason" Belle said annoyed.
"Oh Belle, you know you love the way he teases you" Chloe laughed.
"I know, it is one thing to tease me but quite another to mess up my hair" Belle scowled sarcastically as they both burst out into laughter.
"So I was thinking we could go to my house to work on this. What do you think?"
"Honestly?"
"Of course"
"If Brady is going to be there, then no thank you" quipped Chloe
"Come on Chloe, he's been a lot better lately. I promise he'll be good" Belle offered.
Somehow this did not reassure Chloe, but she decided to make an effort for Belle's sake. They walked into the penthouse. Belle called out
"I'm home, Brady? Braaaadddyyy?"
Still, nothing. When Belle's calls elicited no response, she said
"You're safe Chloe, looks like no one is here"
"Good" Chloe announced although part of her felt strangely disappointed.
'Get a grip' Chloe said to herself as the girls pulled out their chem notes and got to work. A very productive hour had gone by when Belle threw up her pen saying "okay lets take a break, do you want something to drink?"
"Sure whatever you've got is fine"
Chloe managed before she drifted back to the dream she had the night before. She had already convinced herself that the dream was really about Philip. So why couldn't she get it out of her head. The door slammed shut arousing Chloe from her thoughts.
"Well, well if it isn't the diva herself" Brady said, smirking at his own observation.
"And if it isn't the brainless pig" Chloe retorted.
"Tsk, tsk play nice Chloe, you're getting a little too into that diva role" Brady laughed.
Chloe was a bit caught off guard. He wasn't being as mean as usual. Not knowing what else to do Chloe said "oh but I see your role as pain in the butt is being
filled quite nicely"
"I try" Brady simply said.
"Okay now you are really starting to freak me out. What gives?"
"What do you mean?" Brady said nonchalantly.
"Why aren't you ragging on me? Or telling me how I feel about Philip? Did you hit your head or something? Chloe managed.
"No, I'm just following orders" Brady offered shrugging his shoulders.
"Orders? Whose orders?" Chloe questioned.
"Belle's orders, she said that if I didn't start being nice to you she would never talk to me again, even though Belle doesn't have that kind of willpower, I thought I better not take any chances. But believe me it is not easy. I'm just dying to tell you how lousy your singing is and how Philip is such an obedient puppy, but I will restrain myself. Even though Belle is not even here and would kill me but no....I will not tell you how your singing lacks heart and your relationship lacks passion. No, no I will not get myself into trouble by saying those nasty things" Brady said with a wry smile across his face, his eyebrows raised in anticipation of her response.
She didn't even realize she was starring, she heard every word but the meaning of the words had yet to register. She was too busy studying his eyes. They were actually sort of kind and child - like. She was snapped back into reality. Forgetting his eyes and concentrating on his words.
"What nothing to say?" he taunted in his usual sardonic tone.
"You...you..." tried Chloe.
"Mm-hmm, what? Go on" he pestered.
"You are such a spiteful sad excuse for a human being. You really make me sick you know. You are miserable but that doesn't give you the right to drag everyone down with you" barked Chloe.
Belle whipped through the kitchen door disappointment painting her face.
"Brady you promised!" Belle whined
"why do I get all the blame? I tried being nice, it didn't work? Brady protested.
"Try harder" Belle murmured. "Look I know that you guys will never be best friends but can't you at least be civil? Let's call a truce okay? Now shake hands and you two can start all over" Belle said hopeful.
"I will never touch him" Chloe said in disgust.
"Dido, besides we tried that one before" replied Brady.
"For me.." Belle said putting on her best puppy-dog face.
"Fine."
"Fine."
Brady walked slowly and unsteady, still not fully recovered from the shooting, towards Chloe. He placed his hand out and waited. She put her hand on his and they shook. Immediately Chloe felt the same surge as in the dream when he touched her. She quickly let go. Wrinkling up her nose as if horrified. Brady turned to go to his room. Chloe caught a glimpse of his eyes and could swear she sensed she had hurt him. She second guessed herself. Is that what she hoped she would see?
Later at Philip's mansion, Chloe and Philip were engrossed in a make-out session. Philip wanting to go further and Chloe staying cautious. Her mind was on other things. Namely Brady.
"Chloe, what's up? You've been distant since you got here. Was Brady bothering you again?" Philip questioned. He was getting frustrated. Chloe wasn't into fooling around, she seemed to be somewhere else. He wanted her full attention and her full permission to explore her body.
"No he was fine. I actually just have a headache and I'm really tired. I didn't get much sleep" Chloe lied.
"Alright, Do you want me to take you home?" Philip said sincerely.
"I think that would be best" Chloe said relieved.
Chloe lay in her bed. Closing her eyes, she tried desperately not to think about Brady. However, it was a losing battle.
To be continued.......