*Disclaimer: I don't own NBC or any characters or anything. (CDNow.com is mentioned, and I have nothing to do with that, either.) Nobody sue! It's not like I have anything anyway. *
Chloe ran out of the gymnasium in shock and embarrassment. There it was! All over the internet was she, unclothed, and forever etched in her mind in the hall of horrible moments was the minute that she was first displayed before the entire student body. Now her relationship with Philip was sure to be over. She winced, remembering was had just taken place minutes before.
**FLASHBACK**
Chloe and Philip stood up on the stage, and Jan clicked on a remote control for a show on a large projector screen. Everyone stared at the screen expectantly, but not at all expecting what was to come next. Suddenly, there was an image of Chloe, completely undressed, with a message at the bottom of the screen that read, "A preview of operagirl.net." Chloe's eyes shot to Jan, who tried to look surprised, but Chloe could see a satisfied smile peeking out on Jan's face. Along with this newly acquired humiliation, she received a tidal wave of information just by the expression on Jan's face. She ran past her king and lunged toward Jan. Jan turned and a frightened look covered the faux shock and slight successful revenge. She attempted to shield herself with her hands, but Chloe jumped on her, bringing the hateful girl to the floor. Smacking her enemy with all the violence and power that was in her, Chloe still felt no better than she had before she began beating her adversary senseless. Jan tried to speak as Chloe hammered her into the floor. Chloe restrained her fists and allowed three words to slip out of Jan's mouth.
"Mimi...did it," evil Jan whispered breathlessly, before going unconscious. Chloe realized that her number one opponent was done, slapped her once more lightly, and stood up.
Before she could leave the dance, or move onto Mimi, she heard Philip's voice.
"Chloe! What has gotten into you?!" Philip shouted; his voice was pure with shock. "First, you get a so-called summer 'job' that you're afraid to tell me about, and now that everyone's found out, you surprise me some more by abusing Jan in front of everyone?" Chloe had gotten a tad confused about the summer job part.
"Um, Philip?" Chloe began. "What do you mean by, 'now that everyone's found out?'"
Philip cocked his head to one side and looked at her as though she had just asked if she was an airplane.
"I mean, we all know, Chloe. We know how you're going to make money for Julliard. And it is most definitely not a job."
Chloe eyed her handsome (yeah right) boyfriend for a moment longer and realized what he meant. She gasped, and her blue eyes widened about an inch.
"You mean...you think...you think that I actually..." Chloe spoke breathily. She felt an odd, cold sensation in her chest and gut. Philip actually thought that this was her way of making money. She backed away from him, and then she turned around and ran out of the gymnasium.
**END OF FLASHBACK**
Now that Chloe was outside in the warm evening air, she felt slightly relieved, like she'd just left a life full of shame behind and was starting a fresh, new one, without any embarrassing moments or painful experiences. So long as no one came out to look for her, she would feel fine. Unfortunately, she heard heavy, slow footsteps coming closer from behind her. She did not turn around. If she turned around and saw Philip there, then she would just feel sick to the stomach and recoil.
The person who approached her came up on her side, and did not force her to speak or look at them. A hand landed on her arm, just below her shoulder, and moved vertically up and down the top of her arm, trying to soothe the victim. This arm-rubbing individual leaned in toward her ear and whispered,
"It's okay."
Chloe thought she recognized the voice and turned to face her follower.
"Brady?" Chloe whispered, startled that Belle's brother would be the one, at least the first one, to follow her out of the "crime scene." Brady's head nodded slightly to confirm that it was him.
"I, uh, was at Dot Com yesterday, and I heard Jan and Mimi talk as they walked past me. I didn't know that this was what they had planned, but I did know that there was something brewing in the little witches' cauldron," Brady confessed, chortling a little at his metaphor. Chloe let out a little chuckle. Jan and Mimi were definitely far from angels. Chloe felt a bit safer, and her heart felt a bit lighter. Chloe still had that spoiled little dumb rich kid on the mind, though.
"I wonder what Philip's going to say," she thought aloud. Brady's head jerked toward the right at the mention of his uncle.
"He's going to eventually fathom what happened earlier and dump you."
Chloe's head jerked toward Brady.
"No he wouldn't. He loves me."
Brady laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please. Philip loves gourmet pizza that his cook makes. But if it were out there for everyone to eat publicly, when he couldn't even have it privately, he's drop it like a flaming bag of crap."
"Brady, there is no need to be hostile. Or use such unfavorable language."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry, my dear little diva. I shall only use words that both you and Webster agree on," Brady replied caustically.
Both were silent then. Chloe thought about what Brady had said before about pizza. Maybe Brady was right. Maybe Philip only wanted what the rest of the world couldn't have. But then she thought, what's wrong with that? She pushed those thoughts out of her head and thought about what was certain, or soon to be certain, about Philip. Philip claimed he loved her, Philip had not attacked her immediately when she was displayed without clothing, and Philip acted kind and caring towards her. Of course, Philip also assumed she was having liaisons with every boy she spoke to, and he had lied about his father's status as living or dead, and it made sense that Philip would dump her because he believed she was "earning" money is such a tawdry fashion.
"Chloe?" Her name brought her back to reality. "Chloe, what are you thinking of?"
Chloe knew her eyes were getting wider. Belle's "tough, rebel" brother was asking what she was thinking of? That's not exactly common. She stopped mocking him in her mind and answered.
"I was thinking about Philip."
Brady was quick to respond. "Honey, I really think you two aren't going to be together for very long after now, so why don't you just forget about him. You two don't mesh well."
Chloe was originally going to finish what she was planning on saying, but changed her train of thought.
"What do you mean, we don't mesh well?"
"I mean, you mesh terribly. You don't mix well. He was born with a silver spoon practically jammed in his mouth and was given everything and a bag of chips. You were put up for adoption and...what? Deprived of long-term love?"
"Yeah."
"I know sometimes it seems that the opposites attract for the best, but this will, or, did, crash and burn."
She must have gone crazy. She was actually considering the things that flew out of Brady Black's mouth as possible truths. It wouldn't be that bad to break it off with Phillip. No more crazy accusations of betrayal, no more "quality time" that felt like suffocating, and she wouldn't see him much if at all this summer anyway because of her real summer job and his trip to the islands.
"Hey, Chloe?"
"Hmm?" She looked up at Brady again.
"Do you feel better?" Chloe nodded sincerely. "Do you want to go back in there?" She shook her head feverishly. Brady smiled at her. Very good, little diva. Make your refusal strong.
"I... I want to go home," Chloe said.
"Do you want me to drive you?" Brady asked. Chloe's head bobbed up and down. She put aside all preconcieved ideas and looked at Brady as a protective figure who would not harm her, and did not make her sick when she was traumatized, when anyone else probably would have sickened her. Brady took out his cell phone and called his grandfather. Chloe listened to Brady's side of the conversation. Basically, he was asking for permission to leave the dance without Nicole and bring Chloe home. (He assured Victor that Chloe and Philip were seperated by many an impatient "yes," and he told Victor that Chloe was the victim of a horrible injustice.)
Chloe listened as Brady said good-bye to Victor and hung up.
"Okay," Brady began, "I have to go tell Nicole that I'm leaving, and I'll be right back." Chloe watched him as he went back into the building.
Chloe ran out of the gymnasium in shock and embarrassment. There it was! All over the internet was she, unclothed, and forever etched in her mind in the hall of horrible moments was the minute that she was first displayed before the entire student body. Now her relationship with Philip was sure to be over. She winced, remembering was had just taken place minutes before.
**FLASHBACK**
Chloe and Philip stood up on the stage, and Jan clicked on a remote control for a show on a large projector screen. Everyone stared at the screen expectantly, but not at all expecting what was to come next. Suddenly, there was an image of Chloe, completely undressed, with a message at the bottom of the screen that read, "A preview of operagirl.net." Chloe's eyes shot to Jan, who tried to look surprised, but Chloe could see a satisfied smile peeking out on Jan's face. Along with this newly acquired humiliation, she received a tidal wave of information just by the expression on Jan's face. She ran past her king and lunged toward Jan. Jan turned and a frightened look covered the faux shock and slight successful revenge. She attempted to shield herself with her hands, but Chloe jumped on her, bringing the hateful girl to the floor. Smacking her enemy with all the violence and power that was in her, Chloe still felt no better than she had before she began beating her adversary senseless. Jan tried to speak as Chloe hammered her into the floor. Chloe restrained her fists and allowed three words to slip out of Jan's mouth.
"Mimi...did it," evil Jan whispered breathlessly, before going unconscious. Chloe realized that her number one opponent was done, slapped her once more lightly, and stood up.
Before she could leave the dance, or move onto Mimi, she heard Philip's voice.
"Chloe! What has gotten into you?!" Philip shouted; his voice was pure with shock. "First, you get a so-called summer 'job' that you're afraid to tell me about, and now that everyone's found out, you surprise me some more by abusing Jan in front of everyone?" Chloe had gotten a tad confused about the summer job part.
"Um, Philip?" Chloe began. "What do you mean by, 'now that everyone's found out?'"
Philip cocked his head to one side and looked at her as though she had just asked if she was an airplane.
"I mean, we all know, Chloe. We know how you're going to make money for Julliard. And it is most definitely not a job."
Chloe eyed her handsome (yeah right) boyfriend for a moment longer and realized what he meant. She gasped, and her blue eyes widened about an inch.
"You mean...you think...you think that I actually..." Chloe spoke breathily. She felt an odd, cold sensation in her chest and gut. Philip actually thought that this was her way of making money. She backed away from him, and then she turned around and ran out of the gymnasium.
**END OF FLASHBACK**
Now that Chloe was outside in the warm evening air, she felt slightly relieved, like she'd just left a life full of shame behind and was starting a fresh, new one, without any embarrassing moments or painful experiences. So long as no one came out to look for her, she would feel fine. Unfortunately, she heard heavy, slow footsteps coming closer from behind her. She did not turn around. If she turned around and saw Philip there, then she would just feel sick to the stomach and recoil.
The person who approached her came up on her side, and did not force her to speak or look at them. A hand landed on her arm, just below her shoulder, and moved vertically up and down the top of her arm, trying to soothe the victim. This arm-rubbing individual leaned in toward her ear and whispered,
"It's okay."
Chloe thought she recognized the voice and turned to face her follower.
"Brady?" Chloe whispered, startled that Belle's brother would be the one, at least the first one, to follow her out of the "crime scene." Brady's head nodded slightly to confirm that it was him.
"I, uh, was at Dot Com yesterday, and I heard Jan and Mimi talk as they walked past me. I didn't know that this was what they had planned, but I did know that there was something brewing in the little witches' cauldron," Brady confessed, chortling a little at his metaphor. Chloe let out a little chuckle. Jan and Mimi were definitely far from angels. Chloe felt a bit safer, and her heart felt a bit lighter. Chloe still had that spoiled little dumb rich kid on the mind, though.
"I wonder what Philip's going to say," she thought aloud. Brady's head jerked toward the right at the mention of his uncle.
"He's going to eventually fathom what happened earlier and dump you."
Chloe's head jerked toward Brady.
"No he wouldn't. He loves me."
Brady laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Oh, please. Philip loves gourmet pizza that his cook makes. But if it were out there for everyone to eat publicly, when he couldn't even have it privately, he's drop it like a flaming bag of crap."
"Brady, there is no need to be hostile. Or use such unfavorable language."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry, my dear little diva. I shall only use words that both you and Webster agree on," Brady replied caustically.
Both were silent then. Chloe thought about what Brady had said before about pizza. Maybe Brady was right. Maybe Philip only wanted what the rest of the world couldn't have. But then she thought, what's wrong with that? She pushed those thoughts out of her head and thought about what was certain, or soon to be certain, about Philip. Philip claimed he loved her, Philip had not attacked her immediately when she was displayed without clothing, and Philip acted kind and caring towards her. Of course, Philip also assumed she was having liaisons with every boy she spoke to, and he had lied about his father's status as living or dead, and it made sense that Philip would dump her because he believed she was "earning" money is such a tawdry fashion.
"Chloe?" Her name brought her back to reality. "Chloe, what are you thinking of?"
Chloe knew her eyes were getting wider. Belle's "tough, rebel" brother was asking what she was thinking of? That's not exactly common. She stopped mocking him in her mind and answered.
"I was thinking about Philip."
Brady was quick to respond. "Honey, I really think you two aren't going to be together for very long after now, so why don't you just forget about him. You two don't mesh well."
Chloe was originally going to finish what she was planning on saying, but changed her train of thought.
"What do you mean, we don't mesh well?"
"I mean, you mesh terribly. You don't mix well. He was born with a silver spoon practically jammed in his mouth and was given everything and a bag of chips. You were put up for adoption and...what? Deprived of long-term love?"
"Yeah."
"I know sometimes it seems that the opposites attract for the best, but this will, or, did, crash and burn."
She must have gone crazy. She was actually considering the things that flew out of Brady Black's mouth as possible truths. It wouldn't be that bad to break it off with Phillip. No more crazy accusations of betrayal, no more "quality time" that felt like suffocating, and she wouldn't see him much if at all this summer anyway because of her real summer job and his trip to the islands.
"Hey, Chloe?"
"Hmm?" She looked up at Brady again.
"Do you feel better?" Chloe nodded sincerely. "Do you want to go back in there?" She shook her head feverishly. Brady smiled at her. Very good, little diva. Make your refusal strong.
"I... I want to go home," Chloe said.
"Do you want me to drive you?" Brady asked. Chloe's head bobbed up and down. She put aside all preconcieved ideas and looked at Brady as a protective figure who would not harm her, and did not make her sick when she was traumatized, when anyone else probably would have sickened her. Brady took out his cell phone and called his grandfather. Chloe listened to Brady's side of the conversation. Basically, he was asking for permission to leave the dance without Nicole and bring Chloe home. (He assured Victor that Chloe and Philip were seperated by many an impatient "yes," and he told Victor that Chloe was the victim of a horrible injustice.)
Chloe listened as Brady said good-bye to Victor and hung up.
"Okay," Brady began, "I have to go tell Nicole that I'm leaving, and I'll be right back." Chloe watched him as he went back into the building.