Chloe walked aimlessly under the mask of night. The streets were quiet and empty. Her steps were slow and confused. She turned to go one way but changed her mind. Something was drawing her to the pier. She had always felt free there. Chloe needed to be alone. Although there were many memories she held onto that included Brady at that very spot. Perhaps that is why she needed to go there. In an odd way she would be close to Brady there, even if he were not physically there.



The pale moon hung low in the sky. Its reflection bounced off the water. Chloe sat at the edge of the pier. Her tears landing in the water below causing ripples. Chloe looked at the endless circles being formed. It was just like her life. Something always started out right but then would come back again and turn into misery. It was an endless cycle. A cycle that it appeared would never end. The water bounced up as a rock plunged into the icy depths. The ripples broke apart, scattering over the lake. Chloe turned around startled.

There stood a figure framed in the moonlight.

*****************************

Brady had worked on his project with Cheryl all night. Constantly being distracted by thoughts of Chloe. What if something had happened to her? He had to see her so he could have a chance to explain. He needed her to know that he still loved her that he had always loved her and nothing would ever change that.

Cheryl sensed that they would not get the project complete unless Brady was putting his full attention into it. Halfway through she told him to go find her. Brady got up and ran through the doors leaving Cheryl behind. He told her he would be back and they could finish it then. Cheryl smiled and thought how lucky Brady and Chloe were to have found each other. Cheryl left knowing that once they found each other they would have a lot to talk about.

He had rushed out knowing exactly where he would find her. Brady got into his car and drove as fast as he could to the pier.

****************************

Chloe got up, turned around and faced the man behind her. Philip stood there peering at Chloe.

"What do you want?" Chloe said angrily.

"I don't know. What's wrong with you?"

"Philip, why don't you just mind your own business!" Chloe said annoyed.

"Did you have a fight with lover-boy?" Philip said sarcastically.

"That's none of your business. Now why don't you just leave me alone"

"No seriously Chloe. If you need to talk about it, I'm right here" Philip said sincerely.

"I can't talk to you about this"

"Why not, we're friends right?"

"I guess" Chloe stated apprehensively.

"Well then come on, out with it" Philip said while leading her over to a nearby bench.

"See, this morning when I was at the penthouse the doorbell rang and there was this girl, Cheryl..."

"Is that the one from dinner that time?" Philip said interested.

"Yeah, I guess...."

Philip interrupted. "Man. She was hot!"

"Look I don't even know why I try. If you're not going to listen to me, then I might as well..."

"I'm sorry. I never was good at the listening part was I?" Philip said self-consciously.

"No Philip, you weren't!"

"Do you suppose if I paid more attention to you and listened to you, then you and I would have turned out better?"

"No Philip, I just didn't feel the same way, I mean you're a great guy and any girl is lucky to have you but I'm just not that girl"

"Oh, thanks" Philip looked down a little saddened. "Okay so let's get back to you. Now this girl is at the door and..."

"And she wanted to see Brady"

"And?..." Philip said awaiting further explanation.

"And what? She was at the door for Brady"

"So, that doesn't mean anything Chloe"

"It does, it means that he doesn't care about me anymore, and all along he was seeing her" Chloe began to break down as she thought about any other girl being close to Brady besides her.

"Well, did he say that?"

"No"

"Well then what did he say?"

"I don't know I stormed out of there before he could say anything"

"See then, you really have no idea why she was there. You can't always assume the worst out of people you know." Philip suggested, soothingly.

"I know it just...it just hurt me...I mean he doesn't want to start a relationship with me so what was I supposed to think?"

"Chloe, you're going to have to learn to start trusting people. I know you can trust Brady. He cares about you."

"How did you get so insightful?" Chloe laughed over her tears.

"I don't know? Strange isn't it " They both started laughing. Philip put his arms around Chloe and gave her a hug.

Brady walked down the steps and stopped. He could not believe the sight before him. There was Chloe wrapped up in Philip's arms. Brady felt his heart being crushed. He should have known that Chloe would never be over Philip. Brady turned around and started walking back to his car.

Chloe let go of Philip and took a deep breath. She turned her head and almost forgot to let it out. There was Brady walking towards his car. His head was down and he was walking slow.

"Oh God" Chloe said as she put her hand to her mouth. The colour drained from her face. Had Brady seen her with Philip? What was he thinking?

"What? What's wrong?" Philip said concerned.

Chloe could not speak. Philip followed her eye line and noticed Brady.

Chloe stood up and began to run towards Brady.

"Brady, Wait!"

Brady turned around. The tears staining his face.

Philip took his cue to leave.

To be continued........