Chapter 5

(The next day...)

Chloe was laying on her bed thumbing through the pictures she had taken on the school trip. She had promised she'd give the double prints to Belle, so she was taking them out and laying them aside for her. The pictures had turned out better than she had expected. Chloe was no photographer, but when you were in such a beautiful place it was easy to have great pictures. She had just placed the last photo aside, when the phone began to ring.

"Hello?"

"Chlooooooe... how's it goin'?"

Chloe smiled at the sound of Brady's voice over the phone. "Welll... it's going. Going nowhere of interest though."

"That doesn't sound good. Come on, Chloe... you're single now. You should be out grabbing the tiger by it's tail. Y'know, painting the town red and all that."

"Nice choice of metaphors... But, nahhh... I prefer not to. Today is a day like any other day, Brady. I get up in the morning, I bathe, I brush my teeth, have breakfast and get bugged by you. See, just like any other day."

Brady chuckled over the phone, "Heyyyy... I'm not bugging you. I'm just calling to make sure my friend Chloe is doing alright."

"Well, *your* *friend* Chloe is better than ever. Thanks for asking."

"Mmm... I sense a tone."

"Nope. No tone... just getting tired of everyone 'checking up' on me. I'm FINE, Brady. And tell Belle and Shawn and everyone else that I am FINE. Sheesh..."

"Well, you don't sound FINE to me. Do you have something you want to talk about?"

Chloe paused and remembered her conversation with Belle last night. "Actually... I do. But not now. What are you doing tonight?"

"Uhm... Well... I actually have plans tonight. I'm supposed to go out... on a date... with Michelle."

Chloe smacked her forehead with her free hand. "Oh right. Stupid of me to ask. I forgot it's Saturday... it's 'date night' and all. So... nevermind. Forget I said anything."

"No, Chloe. I won't forget it. If something is *really* wrong, I want to know. If you want me to cancel my date so we can talk... I will."

Chloe's mind thought Oh yes. Please! , but her lips uttered the words, "No, no no. Don't do that, Brady. It's not important. Have fun tonight and forget about me."

Brady sighed on the other end of the phone. "I'm not going to forget about it. We *are* going to talk about what's going on with you."

"Fine, fine, fine. But, it can wait. Believe me..."

"Alright then, Chloe... if you say so, then I believe you."

"Good. That's what I like to hear. Now go forth - eat, drink, be merry. Don't do anything I wouldn't do... or something. Behave yourself, basically."

"Oh you know me... I would never do anything that isn't Chloe-approved."

Chloe couldn't contain herself and laughed with a near-snorting sound. "Oh, I highly doubt that... nobody can contain you."

"I could say the same for you..."

Chloe sighed quietly, "Yup. That's us... peas in a pod."

"Riiiiight. Exactly. I gotta go now... just promise me you'll call me if you need *anything*. PROMISE me."

"Okay, okay, okay... back off. I *promise* you. Now get off the phone and go make yourself look presentable. I know how much time that must take, so you better get started now if you're going out in 4 hours."

"Ouch... Chloe... ouch. That wounds me. I'm gonna hang up the phone before I get insulted any further."

"Just kidding, Brady... Have fun."

"Thanks... take care, Chloe."

Chloe heard the click come from the other line, and sighed as she held on to the phone. Wouldn't it figure? I'm ready to express my affection to him and he's going out on the town with another girl. I guess he *is* over me.
***

(Later that same evening... Outside the movie theatre in Salem Place.)

Shawn Brady groaned in mock disgust and sat down on the nearest bench. "What a chick flick. A complete and total chick flick."

Belle threw him a skeptical glance, "Oh come on, Shawn. You have to admit that you got a little misty-eyed when he showed up at the airport."

Chloe crossed arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow at him, "Yeah, Shawn... y'know, I almost detected an audible sniffle."

Shawn's draw dropped in shock. "You did not. No such thing happened. I'll admit that it was... nice? But, that's it. That's as far as I go."

Belle sat down beside him and patted his knee. "You know, denial is not just a river in Egypt."

Shawn shook his head and rolled his eyes at her, "Oh, ha ha... very funny."

Belle looked back up at Chloe and noticed that she looked distracted, as if she was looking for someone or something. "Chloe! Hey! Whatcha lookin' at?"

Chloe shook it off and turned back to her friends, "Mmm. Nothing. I just thought... thought that I saw... someone."

Shawn grinned slightly. "Thought that you saw Brady...?"

Chloe shrugged her shoulders. "Mmm. Whatever... so, Belle, what do you think of this Michelle girl that he's out with? I haven't met her..."

"She's nice, I guess. Seems to be cool. But... she's not you."

Chloe looked perplexed at Belle's statement. "What do you mean 'she's not me'?"

Belle sighed. "I just meant... that, she's different. Brady doesn't act the same with her as he does with you. They've been on a few dates, sure, but - I don't know... I just don't get the 'vibe' between those two. You and Brady... well, you're weird. Good weird, of course. Like, supernaturally connected or something."

Chloe shrugged again. "Not that connected..."

Now it was Shawn's turn to look confused. "Oh come on Chloe... you can't deny that there's some strange connection that links the two of you. It's obvious to the rest of us, why don't you guys see it?"

Chloe sighed softly. "Well... I feel it. But, I don't think it's the same on Brady's end. Whatever he felt for me was just a 'crush', and he moved on from it. But, it's okay... I didn't expect him to sit around and pine for me like a lost little puppy. I was with Phillip, and he moved on. No big deal."

Belle sighed and looked up at Chloe. "Chloe... I'm telling you... don't give up. Just because Brady has gone out on like 3 or 4 dates with someone, doesn't mean there's no chance for you. Be patient. The beast that we call 'love' likes to take it's time. Trust me... I know..."

At that, Belle gently nudged Shawn in the ribs. Shawn's only reply was, "Oww."

Chloe smiled weakly, "You're right... you are. I don't know what's gotten in to me. I shouldn't have expected to just be able to snap my fingers and get my way automatically. Duhhhh. Big huge duh. I'm just being silly."

Shawn grinned at her, "Don't worry, Chloe. You are strong with the force. I'm sure that with a little practice you'll be able to make us all do your bidding with a sweep of your hand."

Chloe laughed at him, "Yes... and then I'll finally be able to carry out my evil plans..."

The trio laughed as Belle and Shawn stood back up and flanked Chloe on each side. Belle spoke first, "Now Chloe... enough of all this serious talk. I need sugar. Anybody else up for a quick trip to dot.com?"

Shawn nodded in quick agreement. "Heck, I already know what I'm going to order."

Chloe thought it over for a moment and replied. "Alllllright... let's go. And, hey, did I thank you guys for making me leave the house tonight? I'm glad you did..."

Belle grinned at her. "Well... I know one way you can thank us. You know those muffins with the little chocolate chips..."

Shawn continued her thought. "Oh yeah... or you could buy us a couple of those cookie things that you're supposed to dip into your coffee."

Chloe grinned at them. "You mean biscotti?"

Shawn shrugged, "Yeah... sure... those. As long as you're buying, you can call them whatever you want."

All three laughed, and left on their quest for sugary sustenance. As they walked towards dot.com, Chloe made a promise to herself. I won't give up on Brady. . No matter how long I have to wait, I won't give up.