The Dance - Chapter 4



He found her at the pier. He stood watching her body shake from her uncontrollable sobs. His usual harsh demeanor faded. He suddenly felt hurt. He felt her pain and at that moment he would give anything to quiet it. He wanted to take her into his arms. He wanted to wash away her tears and tell her 'everything would be all right'. What was the matter with him, this was Chloe he was thinking about. So he retreated back inside himself. He forced anything he may have been feeling toward Chloe to leave him.

Brady sauntered toward Chloe, who looked up wiping her eyes at his approach.

"Hey"

Chloe said nothing but made a conscious effort to try to control her tears. Brady's guard was again brought down. Why did she have to have this sort of effect o him? He wanted to shield her, protect her from all the potential hurt the world had to offer. After what seemed like an eternity Brady tried to elicit any kind of response he could from Chloe.

"Come on Chloe. Talk to me. Are you okay?" Brady ventured, emotion coating his voice.

"Am I okay? Let's just recall tonight's events...my naked body was shown to the entire school, Belle and Shawn think I'm a slut and oh ya Philip broke my heart. Now does that answer your question Brady?" Chloe said reeling.

"Look I was just trying to help"

"You can't help Brady. No one can. Nothing matters. I've lost everything" with that she let out more sobs.

"Lost everything? What did you have? A possessive boyfriend, who treated you more like a prize that he had won more that a human being. As for Shawn and Belle, they'll come to their senses soon enough, Chloe only an idiot would believe you would expose yourself like that. See that's why Philip believes it because he's an IDIOT! You're way too good for him, you should be grateful this happened"

Chloe looked stunned.

"Are you finished?"

"For now" Brady professed.

"Look what was he supposed to think? There I was in my birthday suit on a website..."

Brady cut her off "...well if he trusted you then he would have realized it was a set up."

Puzzled Chloe said "So how come you have so much faith in me?"

"You...just have too much respect for yourself, your smart and even though you're beautiful..."Brady's voiced trailed off realizing what he had just admitted to. "...all I'm saying is that you wouldn't resort to selling your body on the internet" he finished a bit flustered.

He thinks I'm beautiful Chloe revelled. Trying not to sound conceited she asked

"You think I'm beautiful?"

"This is probably the only time I am actually going to admit this but...(takes a deep breath) I think you are stunning" he muttered looking at the ground. She watched him surprised at his honesty.

Brady grew defensive "look I may have thought you were behind the whole naked thing too if I didn't know Mimi and Jan were planning something".

Chloe's eyes widened, he had seen her naked. She couldn't look at him ever again. Damn Jan and Mimi. Chloe crossed her arms across her chest, feeling exposed. Sensing Chloe was becoming more and more self-conscious Brady thought he better confide in her.

"I didn't look. I swear" Brady said comforting, and it was the truth.

He had seen her lathered up but turned away as the water began to wash away. It was an invasion of privacy. He knew it was wrong, he had just wished Jan and Mimi had more sense.

"Really?" Chloe looked up, peering into Brady's eyes.

"Really" he said soothingly. "Now let's get you home before it starts to pour down rain"

Just then the thunder cracked and they were caught in a sudden down pour.

"Here, take my jacket" Brady said placing his blue sport coat on her shoulders.

"Thanks"

The jacket began to slip as they ran for her porch. Both Chloe and Brady went to recover it. Grasping each other's hands in the process. Lighting cut through the sky and a charge surged through their bodies. The rain was warm on their skin. They were already drenched but neither seemed to mind.

"Bye" he called as he let go of her hand. Letting his fingers trail slowly past her palm and finger tips before finally pulling away. He made his way past her front yard. His pace was slow as he walked back to the penthouse. The adrenaline that had allowed him to run a bit had left his body. He felt tired but still strong. He knew he would be back to his old self and soon he hoped.



To be continued.....