"Let's just get this over with"

"Come on Brady get into the spirit. You'll have a good time I know it" Belle said hopeful.

They rang the bell of the grand home but found that the noise was so great inside that no one could hear it. So they decided to just walk in. The place was packed and that was not an easy task considering the enormity of the house. Beer cans lined the staircase. People were dancing all around. The music blared through the large speakers in the living room. Everyone appeared to be having a great time. Belle spotted Shawn and Chloe by the snacks. Before Brady had time to react, he was being lead over to them. They exchanged simple pleasantries before Shawn lead Belle away to the kitchen to find her something to drink. Brady and Chloe were left alone in all the confusion.

Brady's heart was beating fast. His eyes scanned Chloe's tanned body. She wore a blue sun dress. He watched the material sway from the breeze of the open window behind her. It was just above her knee. He remembered all too well an event that had happened earlier that summer.

FLASHBACK

Brady and Chloe sat on the sand watching the sun fall behind the lake. Chloe shivered a bit, still wet from their swim. Her hair was wet and hung loosely around her shoulders. She clutched the towel to get at its warmth but it was not big enough to cover her entire body. Her knee was exposed almost inviting Brady to touch it. He placed his hand over it. Her body was soft and cool under his warm hands. He let his fingers slowly trail her skin. Gently stroking her knee. Chloe closed her eyes welcoming his touch. Over and over he caressed the hollow of her knee. Slowly tracing shapes causing sensation to flow through Chloe's body. He leaned over and gently pecked her delicate skin. She opened her eyes to meet the blue of his. She laid her head on his broad chest as he held her.

END OF FLASHBACK

Chloe's eyes adverted to where he was staring. She remembered the sensual tease he had performed on her as the sun went down and the moon began to show. She breathed sharply. She looked up meeting his intense eyes. Knowing he was thinking about the same thing. Then she saw something else. The hurt. The hurt that always seemed to be there now. The betrayal she had inflicted always resurfaced. Her overwhelming guilt and regret. She wanted to take him into her arms. She wanted him to know she had made a mistake and that she was sorry but she could not. She could only look away ashamed.

He took her chin in his hand and made her look at him.

"Don't ever do that. Don't ever feel bad. You can't choose who you love. Your happiness is all that matters okay?"

She wanted to tell him that she was not happy. That she would never be happy until he was back in her life. That she was a coward and was afraid to love Brady. However, she did not tell him. She did not want to hurt Philip. Instead she simply nodded, trying to control her emotions. She could not let him see her cry. He had moved on and would never take her back now.

He walked away closing his eyes. By the time he got into the kitchen, he was swarmed by flirtatious highschool girls. He paid no attention to them. He barely listened to any of their babble. He was too busy thinking about the look in her eyes. Chloe almost looked sad to him. He shook it off, he knew it was only because she felt sorry for him.

Chloe ran into Belle who was feeling a bit buzzed. They watched together as Brady walked into the living room followed by three girls. He was not giving any of them the time of day. They were trying their hardest to elicit a response from the gorgeous blonde. He would not have any of it. He did not care about some cheap girls. There was only one person that he cared about and he would never be able to have her.

Chloe spoke up "Your brother certainly has quite a few admirers. Look at them. They are practically throwing themselves at him" she said. She was secretly hurt. Had she meant nothing to him?

"Ya and look how he ignores them. I swear they never get the hint. All these girls keep calling and do you know what he makes me tell them every single time?"

"What?" Chloe said, keeping her eyes on him as she watched one of the girls whisper something into his ears. She had no doubt the message was obscene.

"He tells me to tell them he is in the shower. Do you believe that? Some of them call five times a day and every time I'm supposed to say he's in the shower. Like can't they get the clue."

"Hmm what do you mean?" Chloe said with sudden interest.

"He's not interested. He said he has given up on relationships. That there is no such thing as Love and I am foolish to think there is. Whatever happened this summer sure did screw up his perception on love. You were here all summer, did you ever run into him?" Belle said knowing full well she had and was probably the one that had hurt her brother so much.

"Belle....I am so terrible....I am the worst person in the world.....I...I'm....the..." Chloe felt the hot tears sting her eyes.

"I know" Belle said sympathetically.

"How?"

"Just the way he looks at you. Are you happy with Philip? I mean really happy? Because if you wanted to go back with Brady, he would take you. It might take some time but I know how he feels about you."

"Belle, I can't, I just can't I'm with Philip and..." her voice trailed off.

"But do you love him?"

"I...Belle please don't do this....I hurt him so much, he deserves better."

"Chloe, you mean so much to him"

"Yes she does! Hey baby!" Philip said, wrapping his arms possessively around Chloe.

Chloe looked at Belle her eyes pleading not to tell Philip it was Brady they were talking about. Belle nodded in silent agreement. Chloe wiped her eyes before facing Philip. He met her lips with a kiss.

Bray looked up from his throng of female admirers to see Chloe in Philip's arms. His heart ached.

"Let's go upstairs." Philip suggested, with a sly look in his eyes. Wanting to cash in on Chloe's promise.

She took his extended hand and began to follow him up the stairs.

She looked back feeling the kind eyes on her. The hurt was more evident than ever before. She knew she would never be able to forget the way he looked at her. Almost begging her not to go. He turned away feeling sick in the pit of his stomach. She watched him until he was gone from her sight and all she could see in front of her was Philip's bedroom door.

To be continued...........