Chloe walked into DotCom and slid into a booth at 1:58 P.M. She'd noticed that the laptop on the other side of the table was on CDNOW.COM, searching for "Phantom of the Opera."
Brady walked back to his booth, hot cup in hand, and found his little diva there. She smiled up at him; he smiled back. He set the drink down and slid into the seat.
"So...Belle says that you're going to dump Uncle Phil," Brady said.
"When did she say that?" Chloe asked, curious as to what her bud had spilled.
"Last night, after I got home. She also said that you said I was sweet and helpful," Brady just threw these facts in her face to see if he could get a rise out of her. "And my little sis doesn't lie. She's too afraid that the boogie man will come and get her. So, when are you gonna spill to Phil?"
"I don't know...next time I see him?" Chloe hoped that wouldn't be any time soon.
"Yeah right," Brady replied, smirking.
"Okay, I don't know. Isn't there a way that I can do this without actually having to do it?" She asked, desperate for a way out.
"Don't kill the messager," Brady said.
"What does that mean? Get someone else to tell him?"
"Yes. But not me, Phil will get all crazy and think that I had something to do with it."
"...You did."
"Uh-oh. I did?"
Chloe heard laughter coming from the door of DotCom. She watched as Jason and Jan made a beeline for her.
"Hey, slut," Jason said. Jan was grinning an evil grin, and so was Jason, her partner joined at the hip.
"Jan, why the hell did you do that to me?" Chloe shot.
"For a sweet little rodent I once knew, maybe?" Jan smiled, threw her conniving head back and cackled.
"See you later, you tramp."
"Yeah, later hussy."
"Bitch," Brady blurted out, breaking his little oath of silence. Jan wheeled around and stared at Brady.
"Did you just call me a bitch, cripple?" Jan asked.
"Yeah. Now I would like to raise the level of maturity in this place above that of name calling, now that I've lowered myself."
"Don't call my girlfriend a bitch, asshole. I'm the only one allowed to do that," Jason commented. Jan glared at Jason, and then dragged him outside.
They're probably fighting, or making out, Chloe thought. Either one is fine, just as long as they're not near me. Chloe looked at Brady. Did Brady just stand up for me? Maybe he just started to hate Jan as much as I do. Either's fine there, too. Jan deserves it.
What the hell did I just do? Brady thought. Did I just defend Chloe, or just insult that bitch Jan? She probably didn't take it as an insult; it was probably a compliment in her world.
"Thank you," Chloe said.
"Again?"
"Yes, again!" Chloe laughed. "Jan's a total bitch; she needed to be called for it."
Brady leaned over the table, and Chloe leaned toward him.
"What?" Chloe queried.
"You're welcome," Brady whispered, before leaning in further and kissing her.
Great, just what I need, Chloe thought, an electrical kiss from someone who's not Philip before I even break up with him.
"Chloe! What the hell are you doing with that pathetic bastard?!" Philip's voice shouted from about 15 feet away. Chloe and Brady pulled back, and Philip stormed up to the table. "Brady, get out of my sight before I do something that'll get my hands bloody!"
"Philip!" Chloe exclaimed in slight surprise. Okay, so maybe now his accusation won't be so crazy, Chloe thought. She glanced at Brady. He wasn't moving like Philip told him to; he just gazed at her with pleading eyes. Alright. Do what Brady wants...what I want. After all, I said I'd do it the next time I saw him. Might as well spite Brady; he thought I wouldn't have the guts.
Please, please tell him, Chloe, Brady thought, hoping the message would get through.
"Philip," Chloe said again, "we have to talk."
"About what? About him?!" Philip glared at Brady.
"Actually...we don't have to talk. We have to break up," Chloe admitted. Brady chortled at her bluntness.
"Brady!" Philip lunged for him, and Brady tried to back away, but Philip grabbed his arm and started to punch.
"Philip, stop," Chloe said calmly. He obeyed, and looked at his lovely girlfriend ... ex-girlfriend. "You've gotta believe me. It was totally my decision."
Chloe sounds so sincere, Philip thought.
"Don't hurt Brady. Not that you could, hon, oh, no offense."
Brady covered his face with his hands, trying to hide the smile.
"Please, Philip. I'd like to just...be single for a while. You know, not have you jump down every guy's throat?"
"You want...you want to be single?" Philip repeated.
"Yeah. Without the black clothes. Don't worry, I don't think anyone's going to hit on me or harm me. I'm strong. I can take care of myself."
Philip could not resist making his love happy. He said okay and drifted away to the CD listening station.
Brady leaned towards Chloe again.
"That was easy," he whispered.
"Yeah. Amazing. He took it like, extremely well."
"Like, extremely well?"
"Well, if I said extremely well alone, than it would sound like I was this fantastic person."
"Are you saying that you're not?"
"Well," Chloe was unsure. "Well, I'd like to be a fantastic person, but I won't be one if I say I am before I get there. It'll just hinder me."
"Interesting philosophy," he said, stroking his chin and leaning back in the cushy seat, mocking her. Chloe just rolled her eyes.
"Do you want to go somewhere?" Brady asked.
"Montana?" she suggested.
"I don't have enough fuel in my van for a trip like that. What about the park or something?"
"Ooh, I thought of something! Where's Belle?"
"Probably at home catching up on her soaps."
"Let's go." Chloe pulled Brady out of DotCom.
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