Chloe had begun to feel uncomfortable. She was half awake and the morning sun was blaring through the skylight above them, and even though it was winter, it was still hot. One of her arms was squeezed between Brady and the back of the couch, and was beginning to fall asleep. Her eyes fluttered opened sleepily and she used her other hand to wipe the crud out of her eyes. She lifted her head up just enough to look at a peaceful, sleeping Brady. She ignored the sun, and the pain in her arm long enough to take in how peaceful and content he looked at that moment. She slid up slowly and gave him a quick, gentle peck on his lips.
She smiled sleepily and whispered, "It's not a dream after all."
Brady's blue eyes opened halfway and he moaned sleepily, "I was just about to say that."
"Good morning, I thought you were still asleep."
Brady rubbed his eyes and yawned slightly. "I think I am... What time is it anyway?"
"I don't know, you're laying on my watch."
Brady chuckled and sat up far enough to let Chloe's arm go free. She lifted her wrist to her face and checked the dial. "It's 7:30."
"Wow, still early."
Chloe nodded but pointed at the skylight. "Yes, but the sun is very bright in the big glass room."
"Yeah, next time we do this... bring curtains."
Chloe sat up and stretched a little. "Next time? One time was enough to ruin my reputation for good. You know what everybody will think if they hear that you 'spent the night'."
Brady raised both eyebrows sarcastically. "Your reputation? You're JAN, remember? I think your reputation is long gone..."
Chloe cringed in embarrassment. "You make a good point there, but still... I'm trying to IMPROVE Jan's reputation, not give credibility to it."
"Well, my sister will know that I was gone all night... but she'll believe me when I tell her that 'nothing' happened."
"Good, cause I'm not that kinda girl."
Brady grinned wickedly. "You aren't? Damnit..."
"Brady... behave."
Brady threw his hands up in surrender. "I have no other choice, do I?"
Chloe stood and nodded in agreement. She took a look at her dress, which was wrinkled all over from sleeping in it, and ran a hand through her tangled hair.
"Ugh... I must look awful..." Chloe pointed a scolding finger at Brady, "Don't say a word, Brady."
"Nah, you look perfect to me." Brady stood and smoothed his own disheveled clothing. "I just can't believe we stayed up her all night."
Chloe nodded and winced slightly. "Well, my bladder can believe it. I hate to be graphic, but I gotta go."
"No problem, I'm gonna go home anyway, take a shower and all that."
"Yeah, a shower sounds like a great idea. Call me later, okay?"
Brady grinned and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, Chloe... I just wanted to say it again to make sure."
"Say it as much as you want, I'll never get tired of hearing it." Chloe smiled slightly and leaned into his embrace.
Brady winked at her and muttered, "Ohhh, morning breath be damned... I just can't help it."
He leaned in further and placed his lips on hers, giving her a deep passionate kiss. The kiss, even more loving and wonderful than the ones they had shared the night before, lasted until Chloe was reminded of her impending emergency.
She broke away from him gently and stammered, "I love you too, Brady... but, uhm, well, I..."
Brady laughed at her subtle, but effective, version of the bathroom dance. He let go of her and pointd towards the stairs.
"Don't worry, go ahead... I'll show myself out."
Chloe smiled widely and ran towards the door. As she was running downstairs, she yelled up "I LOVE YOU!", and heard Brady call back, "LOVE YOU TOO! CALL YOU LATER!"
***
Chloe stepped out of the shower and directly into her the warm pink bathrobe that used to belong to Jan. She dried her hair with a towel and quickly ran a comb through the curly tangles that surrounded her head. After quickly brushing her teeth, she exited the bathroom through the door that led into her empty bedroom. At least she thought it was empty.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Chloe screamed and jumped back in fear. "KEYES!?! You scared the hell out of me. Why do you always do that? Can't you knock on the front door like a normal person?"
Keyes sat in the chair in the corner and shrugged innocently. "Hey, if you had this kinda power, you'd use it whenever you could."
Chloe sighed and sat down on the bed. "Whatever... So, why are you here? Am I in trouble?"
"Trouble is not the word I would use for it. I was going to stop by last night, and tell you how well we all think things are going down here. Then, you had go and do what you did to screw it all up."
Chloe's face dropped and she cringed slightly. "I'm sorry, Keyes. I know it was part of the deal that I couldn't tell anyone, but... I love him, and he mostly figured out it himself anyway, I just helped it along."
Keyes shook his head in disappointment. "Mostly figured it out himself? Sure, he saw something Chloe-like in you, and he liked you for it... and it should have STAYED that way. You shouldn't have helped him along like that. You broke the rules, kiddo."
"Why didn't you try to stop me? You seem to be all-powerful and all-knowing... You probably saw it coming, didn't you?"
"There's only one person up there who is all-knowing, and he doesn't interfere. That's not how it works, we're not allowed to interfere no matter what."
Chloe looked at him in shock and rolled her eyes. "You're not allowed to interfere? What is all this? Do you kill the wrong person and then send them back as someone else on a weekly basis? Do you visit ALL of your mistakes in their homes? Isn't this interfering?"
Keyes shook his head and sighed. "No, this isn't considered interfering, it's my job. You're a special case, Chloe. The paperwork got screwed up and we did our best to fix it... we just didn't count on having any more special circumstances."
Chloe gave him a confused glance. "Special circumstances? Like what?"
"Like you... and your new boyfriend. I said before that it was rare enough for someone to see past your exterior and find the true you inside. But, it's damn near impossible for someone to KNOW that it's you, even with a little help. Heck, most people wouldn't believe it if you tried to tell them. We didn't expect that you'd fall in love, have a soulmate, and that he would 'discover' your secret. Needless to say, all of us at the office are a bit surprised."
Chloe groaned in frustration. "I'm sorry. What was I supposed to do? I love him, and I thought that this was the only way. It's not fair that you kill me, send me back and now I'm not even allowed to have love..."
Keyes looked down regretfully. "Chloe... I know that it's unfair, but you broke the one rule that we gave you... I can't do anything about that."
"So, what does it mean? Do I have to spend eternity in purgatory? Am I getting punished for this? I don't know how all this works, because I didn't get the rulebook."
Keyes expression changed from regretful to deeply sad. "It's not punishment... It's just that, things have changed. Circumstances have changed, and whatever the consequences are of these changes, you'll have to deal with."
Chloe furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Changes? Consequences? What are you talking about?"
"It's hard to explain. I mean, I've been studying the fabric of life for thousands of years but I still don't completely get it. But, as simple as I can explain it? Your life was on one path in the fabric before the accident, but we screwed that path up. When one of those 'special circumstances' pops up, there are ripples in the fabric and things can change all the way down the line, touching every person you know. It can even affect people you've never met. So, we kinda tore the fabric with you, and then we sewed it back together by putting you back on Earth in Jan's body. Sure, there were still changes from the original path, but we put you on another modified path that we didn't expect to change. Something happened... your will was too strong, your love with what's-his-name was stronger than we expected... And now the path has changed again, there's a minor tear in the fabric."
Chloe felt her stomach drop and her heart filled with fear. "What is it? What's going to happen? I mean, I'm supposed to live at least another 60 years, right? I'm not going to die, am I?"
Keyes shook his head and sighed. "Calm down, Chloe. Unless something else makes the fabric rip again, you're safe. But, there is something coming... something that you won't expect."
"Then tell me what it is, I'll stop it. I'll fix it."
"I can't. I shouldn't even be telling you this. I'm already in trouble enough for what I did to you, I can't take any more risks. I want to help, but this is all I can do."
Chloe sighed and looked at him with despair. "Then why even warn me? Why not leave me blissfully unaware?"
Keyes gazed at her pleadingly, hoping for her understanding. "I'm just trying to soften the blow. I can't tell you what to expect, but at least when it happens, you'll be a tiny bit prepared for it."
Chloe nodded with almost an air of acceptance to it. "Okay, fine... I'll deal with it, whatever it is... I always deal. The only thing I don't understand is why. Why is this all happening to me?"
Keyes stood and sat on the bed next to her. "I don't know... I don't have all the answers, kiddo. I'm sorry this had to happen to you."
Chloe sighed deeply and wiped a few stray tears from her eyes. Keyes wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tried to comfort her. She took a deep breath in, ready to accept whatever was in store for her. She looked up at Keyes and smiled weakly. "Well, that's it, I guess. Nothing I can do about it, just have to accept it."
Keyes nodded and stood from the bed. "Unfortunately, yes. And, uhm... this is it for me. I can't make any more of these visits, it wouldn't be right... I've already done enough damage."
"So, I'll never you again?"
Keyes grinned at her. "Never say never, I'll see you in about 60 years or maybe more. Just promise me one thing, please..."
"Anything... what is it?"
"Enjoy every minute of it. We gave you your life back for a reason, so enjoy it. Don't take anything for granted, not your life or the lives of the people you love."
Chloe stood and hugged him tightly. "I won't... I promise."
Keyes stood back and winked at her. "Good. And don't break that promise, because I'll know it if you do."
Chloe chuckled softly. "I know... See ya, Keyes."
Keyes waved at her and smiled as he began to vanish before her eyes. "Take care, Chloe."
Chloe sighed as he disappeared completely. The idea that something bad could be in her future shook Chloe to the core. But, she had made a promise to Keyes. She would not take anything for granted, and she promised to enjoy every minute of her life and the people in it. Chloe silently promised herself that she would not let thoughts of her future cloud her brain every second of the day. Instead, she would put it out of her mind and let fate take over, using her time to enjoy every second she had with Brady and the rest of her friends.
***
She smiled sleepily and whispered, "It's not a dream after all."
Brady's blue eyes opened halfway and he moaned sleepily, "I was just about to say that."
"Good morning, I thought you were still asleep."
Brady rubbed his eyes and yawned slightly. "I think I am... What time is it anyway?"
"I don't know, you're laying on my watch."
Brady chuckled and sat up far enough to let Chloe's arm go free. She lifted her wrist to her face and checked the dial. "It's 7:30."
"Wow, still early."
Chloe nodded but pointed at the skylight. "Yes, but the sun is very bright in the big glass room."
"Yeah, next time we do this... bring curtains."
Chloe sat up and stretched a little. "Next time? One time was enough to ruin my reputation for good. You know what everybody will think if they hear that you 'spent the night'."
Brady raised both eyebrows sarcastically. "Your reputation? You're JAN, remember? I think your reputation is long gone..."
Chloe cringed in embarrassment. "You make a good point there, but still... I'm trying to IMPROVE Jan's reputation, not give credibility to it."
"Well, my sister will know that I was gone all night... but she'll believe me when I tell her that 'nothing' happened."
"Good, cause I'm not that kinda girl."
Brady grinned wickedly. "You aren't? Damnit..."
"Brady... behave."
Brady threw his hands up in surrender. "I have no other choice, do I?"
Chloe stood and nodded in agreement. She took a look at her dress, which was wrinkled all over from sleeping in it, and ran a hand through her tangled hair.
"Ugh... I must look awful..." Chloe pointed a scolding finger at Brady, "Don't say a word, Brady."
"Nah, you look perfect to me." Brady stood and smoothed his own disheveled clothing. "I just can't believe we stayed up her all night."
Chloe nodded and winced slightly. "Well, my bladder can believe it. I hate to be graphic, but I gotta go."
"No problem, I'm gonna go home anyway, take a shower and all that."
"Yeah, a shower sounds like a great idea. Call me later, okay?"
Brady grinned and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, Chloe... I just wanted to say it again to make sure."
"Say it as much as you want, I'll never get tired of hearing it." Chloe smiled slightly and leaned into his embrace.
Brady winked at her and muttered, "Ohhh, morning breath be damned... I just can't help it."
He leaned in further and placed his lips on hers, giving her a deep passionate kiss. The kiss, even more loving and wonderful than the ones they had shared the night before, lasted until Chloe was reminded of her impending emergency.
She broke away from him gently and stammered, "I love you too, Brady... but, uhm, well, I..."
Brady laughed at her subtle, but effective, version of the bathroom dance. He let go of her and pointd towards the stairs.
"Don't worry, go ahead... I'll show myself out."
Chloe smiled widely and ran towards the door. As she was running downstairs, she yelled up "I LOVE YOU!", and heard Brady call back, "LOVE YOU TOO! CALL YOU LATER!"
***
Chloe stepped out of the shower and directly into her the warm pink bathrobe that used to belong to Jan. She dried her hair with a towel and quickly ran a comb through the curly tangles that surrounded her head. After quickly brushing her teeth, she exited the bathroom through the door that led into her empty bedroom. At least she thought it was empty.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Chloe screamed and jumped back in fear. "KEYES!?! You scared the hell out of me. Why do you always do that? Can't you knock on the front door like a normal person?"
Keyes sat in the chair in the corner and shrugged innocently. "Hey, if you had this kinda power, you'd use it whenever you could."
Chloe sighed and sat down on the bed. "Whatever... So, why are you here? Am I in trouble?"
"Trouble is not the word I would use for it. I was going to stop by last night, and tell you how well we all think things are going down here. Then, you had go and do what you did to screw it all up."
Chloe's face dropped and she cringed slightly. "I'm sorry, Keyes. I know it was part of the deal that I couldn't tell anyone, but... I love him, and he mostly figured out it himself anyway, I just helped it along."
Keyes shook his head in disappointment. "Mostly figured it out himself? Sure, he saw something Chloe-like in you, and he liked you for it... and it should have STAYED that way. You shouldn't have helped him along like that. You broke the rules, kiddo."
"Why didn't you try to stop me? You seem to be all-powerful and all-knowing... You probably saw it coming, didn't you?"
"There's only one person up there who is all-knowing, and he doesn't interfere. That's not how it works, we're not allowed to interfere no matter what."
Chloe looked at him in shock and rolled her eyes. "You're not allowed to interfere? What is all this? Do you kill the wrong person and then send them back as someone else on a weekly basis? Do you visit ALL of your mistakes in their homes? Isn't this interfering?"
Keyes shook his head and sighed. "No, this isn't considered interfering, it's my job. You're a special case, Chloe. The paperwork got screwed up and we did our best to fix it... we just didn't count on having any more special circumstances."
Chloe gave him a confused glance. "Special circumstances? Like what?"
"Like you... and your new boyfriend. I said before that it was rare enough for someone to see past your exterior and find the true you inside. But, it's damn near impossible for someone to KNOW that it's you, even with a little help. Heck, most people wouldn't believe it if you tried to tell them. We didn't expect that you'd fall in love, have a soulmate, and that he would 'discover' your secret. Needless to say, all of us at the office are a bit surprised."
Chloe groaned in frustration. "I'm sorry. What was I supposed to do? I love him, and I thought that this was the only way. It's not fair that you kill me, send me back and now I'm not even allowed to have love..."
Keyes looked down regretfully. "Chloe... I know that it's unfair, but you broke the one rule that we gave you... I can't do anything about that."
"So, what does it mean? Do I have to spend eternity in purgatory? Am I getting punished for this? I don't know how all this works, because I didn't get the rulebook."
Keyes expression changed from regretful to deeply sad. "It's not punishment... It's just that, things have changed. Circumstances have changed, and whatever the consequences are of these changes, you'll have to deal with."
Chloe furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Changes? Consequences? What are you talking about?"
"It's hard to explain. I mean, I've been studying the fabric of life for thousands of years but I still don't completely get it. But, as simple as I can explain it? Your life was on one path in the fabric before the accident, but we screwed that path up. When one of those 'special circumstances' pops up, there are ripples in the fabric and things can change all the way down the line, touching every person you know. It can even affect people you've never met. So, we kinda tore the fabric with you, and then we sewed it back together by putting you back on Earth in Jan's body. Sure, there were still changes from the original path, but we put you on another modified path that we didn't expect to change. Something happened... your will was too strong, your love with what's-his-name was stronger than we expected... And now the path has changed again, there's a minor tear in the fabric."
Chloe felt her stomach drop and her heart filled with fear. "What is it? What's going to happen? I mean, I'm supposed to live at least another 60 years, right? I'm not going to die, am I?"
Keyes shook his head and sighed. "Calm down, Chloe. Unless something else makes the fabric rip again, you're safe. But, there is something coming... something that you won't expect."
"Then tell me what it is, I'll stop it. I'll fix it."
"I can't. I shouldn't even be telling you this. I'm already in trouble enough for what I did to you, I can't take any more risks. I want to help, but this is all I can do."
Chloe sighed and looked at him with despair. "Then why even warn me? Why not leave me blissfully unaware?"
Keyes gazed at her pleadingly, hoping for her understanding. "I'm just trying to soften the blow. I can't tell you what to expect, but at least when it happens, you'll be a tiny bit prepared for it."
Chloe nodded with almost an air of acceptance to it. "Okay, fine... I'll deal with it, whatever it is... I always deal. The only thing I don't understand is why. Why is this all happening to me?"
Keyes stood and sat on the bed next to her. "I don't know... I don't have all the answers, kiddo. I'm sorry this had to happen to you."
Chloe sighed deeply and wiped a few stray tears from her eyes. Keyes wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tried to comfort her. She took a deep breath in, ready to accept whatever was in store for her. She looked up at Keyes and smiled weakly. "Well, that's it, I guess. Nothing I can do about it, just have to accept it."
Keyes nodded and stood from the bed. "Unfortunately, yes. And, uhm... this is it for me. I can't make any more of these visits, it wouldn't be right... I've already done enough damage."
"So, I'll never you again?"
Keyes grinned at her. "Never say never, I'll see you in about 60 years or maybe more. Just promise me one thing, please..."
"Anything... what is it?"
"Enjoy every minute of it. We gave you your life back for a reason, so enjoy it. Don't take anything for granted, not your life or the lives of the people you love."
Chloe stood and hugged him tightly. "I won't... I promise."
Keyes stood back and winked at her. "Good. And don't break that promise, because I'll know it if you do."
Chloe chuckled softly. "I know... See ya, Keyes."
Keyes waved at her and smiled as he began to vanish before her eyes. "Take care, Chloe."
Chloe sighed as he disappeared completely. The idea that something bad could be in her future shook Chloe to the core. But, she had made a promise to Keyes. She would not take anything for granted, and she promised to enjoy every minute of her life and the people in it. Chloe silently promised herself that she would not let thoughts of her future cloud her brain every second of the day. Instead, she would put it out of her mind and let fate take over, using her time to enjoy every second she had with Brady and the rest of her friends.
***
