Chapter Twenty-Eight
[Quick story note: Mimi and Kevin dated for a while, but decided to just remain friends since their relationship was mostly built on lust anyway. Heh heh.)
(Next Day. Java Cafe. Post-Shopping Coffee Break.)
Chloe, Mimi and Belle sat around one of the high tables in the Java Cafe with their purchases under their dangling feet. They sipped their drinks, and took a break from walking around on their tired feet. Chloe was frantically sifting through one of her smaller bags and sighing as she did so.
Mimi looked at her curiously. "Chloe... what are you doing?"
"Oh, I bought a pair of earrings to match my new dress and I was just checking to make sure the girl put them in the bag. All is well and safe."
Belle smiled enthusiastically. "Oh Chloe... I love that dress. It's so perfect on you.
Chloe looked somewhat unsure. "Are you sure? I mean, it's not too... y'know... too meow." Chloe made a scratching motion like a cat with one hand.
Belle shook her head. "No way... it's the perfect amount of meow."
"I'm glad you think so. I didn't want to give off of a, 'You can have me for the bargain price of 50 bucks an hour' kind of vibe tonight."
Mimi laughed heartily. "No, I agree with Belle. It's perfect."
"I don't even know why I'm so worried about it. It's just another party... no big deal."
Belle shifted nervously in her seat and changed the subject. "Chloe... I know you don't really talk about it because you're trying to keep a clear head for your decision making process. But, I just have to know... What's the status with you and Phillip? Are you going to get back together or what?"
Chloe cringed, but Mimi goaded her on, "Yeah, Chloe... it's been like three months since you went on your break."
Chloe sighed and gave in, "Honestly, I don't know. He hasn't come to me with his own decision yet, and I haven't talked to him about it yet."
Belle raised an eyebrow. "But have you made a decision yet?"
"I... I think so. I really think that it's over... Wow, I can't believe I actually said it out loud. I guess that's progress. I just hope that it doesn't hurt Phillip and maybe he's on the same page as I am."
Mimi looked surprised. "Wow... who would have ever thought THAT would happen?"
Belle shyly raised her hand. "To be honest? I know I've been one of the greatest supporters of this relationship. But... even I could see that it just wasn't working out after all the 'on and off' stuff you've been through lately."
Now it was Chloe's turns to look surprised. "Really? Then how come it took ME so long to see it?"
"Because, you were in the love haze. You were trying so hard to make it work that you didn't notice it wasn't going to. I just started thinking one day that maybe there was someone else you were better suited for. Not that Phillip isn't good enough for you, because Phillip is a great person... I just wasn't sure if he meshed with you as well as... someone else might."
"Wow, Belle... you really have thought this through. So, did you have a suggestion as to who MIGHT mesh with me better?"
Belle nodded and smiled. "Actually yes... my brother."
Chloe nearly choked in shock and began coughing. Realization began to dawn on Mimi's face as she nodded slowly and spoke, "Oh wow... she's totally right. I mean, when we were looking for Belle, Shawn and Phillip on the island, I thought that maybe Brady had a thing for you, but I thought it was just based on your good looks or whatever. But now that Belle mentions it... you and Brady would TOTALLY work."
Belle grinned and looked at Chloe's still stunned expression. "Yeah, definitely. You guys have such a strange, but really cool, connection with each other. I know you used to fight a lot, but you became like best friends over the summer and... I don't know, I just think you'd be really good for each other. Call me crazy..."
Chloe shook her head. "You're not crazy. You're totally right... I only look shocked because I didn't think it was that noticeable."
Belle raised both eyebrows this time. "Are you kidding me? You two are attached at the hip most of the time. You're like always with each other and when you're not together, you're talking about each other. You even think alike now... It's like you share one brain or something. Scary..."
Mimi nodded and grinned. "She's got a point there. You two are so inseparable, I was thinking of just starting to call you Chlady."
Chloe laughed out loud and shook her head. "No, don't... that sounds like a disease or something. Eww."
Mimi wrinkled up her nose and frowned thoughtfully. "Yuck, you're right. Maybe Broe then? Either way... it's true. So, why aren't you shocked that we're all saying this?"
"Because... Brady told me that he loves me."
Both girls gasped in surprise and shouted in unison, "WHAT?!?"
Chloe waved her hands to quiet them. "Calm down, calm down. It happened a few months ago. He told me that he's loved me since the day we first met, only he says he didn't realize it then. It took him a few months to figure it out.
Mimi sighed wistfully. "Wow..."
Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, BIG wow. So, what did you tell him?"
"Well, that's when I decided to take a break from my relationship with Phillip. Give it time, see what I could figure out. And now... I know. It's Brady... it always has been, but I was just too dumb to realize it."
Belle smiled widely. "Oh Chloe... that makes me so happy. I think that you and Brady will be so good for each other. I love you both so much, and I'm so happy for you."
Mimi grinned and nodded in agreement. "And Brady is a choice hottie, so you are a lucky girl."
Chloe chuckled at Mimi's assessment. "I guess so..."
"So, does this mean that Phillip will be officially back on the market again?"
Chloe and Belle looked at Mimi in surprise, and both spoke at the same time, "MIMI!"
Mimi shrugged and tried to look innocent. "Well... I was just asking. You know, for the benefit of the rest of the Salem female population. Believe me, there are plenty of girls at school who have just been DYING for the chance to get with Phillip."
Chloe looked at her suspiciously. "So, you're not asking for your own benefit... you're doing this as a public service to the single girls of Salem High School?"
Mimi nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, absolutely. You see, women have to look out for each other... and that's what I'm doing. Would it bother you to see Phillip date another girl?"
Chloe shrugged slightly. "I don't know. Probably not. Phillip will always be my friend and I want him to be happy. The only thing that would really bother me is if he was dating someone who DIDN'T make him happy. But, I would say the same for all of you. If Shawn was treating Belle badly, it would bother me. Same goes for you too, Mimi."
"Thanks Chloe... thanks for watching my back."
Belle leaned forward in her chair and stared Mimi down. "Okay Meems... I have known you since you still had training wheels on your bike, and I know when something is up with you. I KNOW that you didn't bring this up on the behalf of 'other girls'."
Mimi frowned slightly and shifted nervously in her seat. "Okay, okay... Maybe... JUST maybe I wouldn't mind being really good friends with Phillip."
"You ARE good friends with Phillip."
Mimi groaned in frustration. "FINE! Maybe I want to be MORE than good friends. But, I can't help it... He's cute, and fun and he's really nice to me... He's just so… I don't know… so Phillip, that I can't help it."
Chloe patted Mimi on the shoulder sympathetically. "Don't worry... I understand the effect he can have on someone."
Mimi sighed softly. "Well, it doesn't mean anything anyway. He doesn't look at me like that, so I'm not going to get my hopes up or anything."
Belle frowned slightly. "Don't say that, Mimi. You can't possibly know that. I mean, Phillip has been spending a lot of time with you lately, and you guys are getting along really well. Maybe there IS something there."
Chloe nodded in agreement, "She's right. Don't give all hope just yet."
Mimi looked at Chloe and nodded uneasily. "So you wouldn't be totally freaked if I went out with Phillip?"
Chloe's eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently. "Absolutely not... You and I have come a long way, and I really count you as a true friend now. I think you and Phillip might be really good for each other actually. You have a lot more in common than you might think."
Belle interjected her opinions, "Oh yeah. Totally. For one thing, you are both the most annoyingly persistent people I have EVER known in my life. I think you should go for it."
Mimi shrugged in confusion. "I don't know... Maybe." She turned in her chair and pointed at Chloe. "But, it all depends on what he tells YOU. Because, if he is still madly in love with you... I'm not even gonna go there. That would be a really bad idea."
Chloe looked downward and nodded. "Yeah, I think the problem is that both of us are waiting for the 'right time' to have a nice little talk with each other. But, who knows when the 'right time' is."
Belle looked at her hopefully. "How about tonight?"
Chloe shook her head and winced. "I... I don't know about that. It's a party to celebrate Jason's recovery, not a memorial service for the couplehood of Phillip and Chloe."
"But, you have to do it some time. I think you're predicting that it will be painful and terrible, but I have a feeling it won't be. Phillip has matured a lot since we came back to school, he can handle it. And, besides... my dad always says, there is no time like the present."
Mimi nodded enthusiastically, her smile widening. "Yeah... just do it, Chloe."
Chloe smirked at her. "You sound like a shoe commercial."
"Not the point... Belle's right. I think that everything will be fine, you just need to get this over with."
Chloe paused thoughtfully to consider it. "Well... maybe. If I can find a quiet moment to talk alone with him. But... I don't want to ruin the rest of the part for him if this turns out badly."
Belle waved her finger to scold Chloe. "It won't. I just know that it won't. And stop thinking negative thoughts."
Chloe nodded begrudgingly. "Yes ma'am... only happy thoughts from now on."
Mimi interjected, "This has been extremely informative, but speaking of 'happy thoughts', I believe there's a shoe sale calling our names."
Belle gasped slightly. "Then WHAT are we still doing here? Let's go..."
The girls gathered their packages up and paid the bill, before heading off to the shoe store. Chloe thought to herself that it was of the utmost importance to have the right shoes on when you tell someone that you're not in love with them anymore. Or perhaps not.
***
(next chapter: The Party... But I'm going to an all day concert today, so I don't know when it will be done. I'll get it done as soon as possible... Stay tuned.)
[Quick story note: Mimi and Kevin dated for a while, but decided to just remain friends since their relationship was mostly built on lust anyway. Heh heh.)
(Next Day. Java Cafe. Post-Shopping Coffee Break.)
Chloe, Mimi and Belle sat around one of the high tables in the Java Cafe with their purchases under their dangling feet. They sipped their drinks, and took a break from walking around on their tired feet. Chloe was frantically sifting through one of her smaller bags and sighing as she did so.
Mimi looked at her curiously. "Chloe... what are you doing?"
"Oh, I bought a pair of earrings to match my new dress and I was just checking to make sure the girl put them in the bag. All is well and safe."
Belle smiled enthusiastically. "Oh Chloe... I love that dress. It's so perfect on you.
Chloe looked somewhat unsure. "Are you sure? I mean, it's not too... y'know... too meow." Chloe made a scratching motion like a cat with one hand.
Belle shook her head. "No way... it's the perfect amount of meow."
"I'm glad you think so. I didn't want to give off of a, 'You can have me for the bargain price of 50 bucks an hour' kind of vibe tonight."
Mimi laughed heartily. "No, I agree with Belle. It's perfect."
"I don't even know why I'm so worried about it. It's just another party... no big deal."
Belle shifted nervously in her seat and changed the subject. "Chloe... I know you don't really talk about it because you're trying to keep a clear head for your decision making process. But, I just have to know... What's the status with you and Phillip? Are you going to get back together or what?"
Chloe cringed, but Mimi goaded her on, "Yeah, Chloe... it's been like three months since you went on your break."
Chloe sighed and gave in, "Honestly, I don't know. He hasn't come to me with his own decision yet, and I haven't talked to him about it yet."
Belle raised an eyebrow. "But have you made a decision yet?"
"I... I think so. I really think that it's over... Wow, I can't believe I actually said it out loud. I guess that's progress. I just hope that it doesn't hurt Phillip and maybe he's on the same page as I am."
Mimi looked surprised. "Wow... who would have ever thought THAT would happen?"
Belle shyly raised her hand. "To be honest? I know I've been one of the greatest supporters of this relationship. But... even I could see that it just wasn't working out after all the 'on and off' stuff you've been through lately."
Now it was Chloe's turns to look surprised. "Really? Then how come it took ME so long to see it?"
"Because, you were in the love haze. You were trying so hard to make it work that you didn't notice it wasn't going to. I just started thinking one day that maybe there was someone else you were better suited for. Not that Phillip isn't good enough for you, because Phillip is a great person... I just wasn't sure if he meshed with you as well as... someone else might."
"Wow, Belle... you really have thought this through. So, did you have a suggestion as to who MIGHT mesh with me better?"
Belle nodded and smiled. "Actually yes... my brother."
Chloe nearly choked in shock and began coughing. Realization began to dawn on Mimi's face as she nodded slowly and spoke, "Oh wow... she's totally right. I mean, when we were looking for Belle, Shawn and Phillip on the island, I thought that maybe Brady had a thing for you, but I thought it was just based on your good looks or whatever. But now that Belle mentions it... you and Brady would TOTALLY work."
Belle grinned and looked at Chloe's still stunned expression. "Yeah, definitely. You guys have such a strange, but really cool, connection with each other. I know you used to fight a lot, but you became like best friends over the summer and... I don't know, I just think you'd be really good for each other. Call me crazy..."
Chloe shook her head. "You're not crazy. You're totally right... I only look shocked because I didn't think it was that noticeable."
Belle raised both eyebrows this time. "Are you kidding me? You two are attached at the hip most of the time. You're like always with each other and when you're not together, you're talking about each other. You even think alike now... It's like you share one brain or something. Scary..."
Mimi nodded and grinned. "She's got a point there. You two are so inseparable, I was thinking of just starting to call you Chlady."
Chloe laughed out loud and shook her head. "No, don't... that sounds like a disease or something. Eww."
Mimi wrinkled up her nose and frowned thoughtfully. "Yuck, you're right. Maybe Broe then? Either way... it's true. So, why aren't you shocked that we're all saying this?"
"Because... Brady told me that he loves me."
Both girls gasped in surprise and shouted in unison, "WHAT?!?"
Chloe waved her hands to quiet them. "Calm down, calm down. It happened a few months ago. He told me that he's loved me since the day we first met, only he says he didn't realize it then. It took him a few months to figure it out.
Mimi sighed wistfully. "Wow..."
Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, BIG wow. So, what did you tell him?"
"Well, that's when I decided to take a break from my relationship with Phillip. Give it time, see what I could figure out. And now... I know. It's Brady... it always has been, but I was just too dumb to realize it."
Belle smiled widely. "Oh Chloe... that makes me so happy. I think that you and Brady will be so good for each other. I love you both so much, and I'm so happy for you."
Mimi grinned and nodded in agreement. "And Brady is a choice hottie, so you are a lucky girl."
Chloe chuckled at Mimi's assessment. "I guess so..."
"So, does this mean that Phillip will be officially back on the market again?"
Chloe and Belle looked at Mimi in surprise, and both spoke at the same time, "MIMI!"
Mimi shrugged and tried to look innocent. "Well... I was just asking. You know, for the benefit of the rest of the Salem female population. Believe me, there are plenty of girls at school who have just been DYING for the chance to get with Phillip."
Chloe looked at her suspiciously. "So, you're not asking for your own benefit... you're doing this as a public service to the single girls of Salem High School?"
Mimi nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, absolutely. You see, women have to look out for each other... and that's what I'm doing. Would it bother you to see Phillip date another girl?"
Chloe shrugged slightly. "I don't know. Probably not. Phillip will always be my friend and I want him to be happy. The only thing that would really bother me is if he was dating someone who DIDN'T make him happy. But, I would say the same for all of you. If Shawn was treating Belle badly, it would bother me. Same goes for you too, Mimi."
"Thanks Chloe... thanks for watching my back."
Belle leaned forward in her chair and stared Mimi down. "Okay Meems... I have known you since you still had training wheels on your bike, and I know when something is up with you. I KNOW that you didn't bring this up on the behalf of 'other girls'."
Mimi frowned slightly and shifted nervously in her seat. "Okay, okay... Maybe... JUST maybe I wouldn't mind being really good friends with Phillip."
"You ARE good friends with Phillip."
Mimi groaned in frustration. "FINE! Maybe I want to be MORE than good friends. But, I can't help it... He's cute, and fun and he's really nice to me... He's just so… I don't know… so Phillip, that I can't help it."
Chloe patted Mimi on the shoulder sympathetically. "Don't worry... I understand the effect he can have on someone."
Mimi sighed softly. "Well, it doesn't mean anything anyway. He doesn't look at me like that, so I'm not going to get my hopes up or anything."
Belle frowned slightly. "Don't say that, Mimi. You can't possibly know that. I mean, Phillip has been spending a lot of time with you lately, and you guys are getting along really well. Maybe there IS something there."
Chloe nodded in agreement, "She's right. Don't give all hope just yet."
Mimi looked at Chloe and nodded uneasily. "So you wouldn't be totally freaked if I went out with Phillip?"
Chloe's eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently. "Absolutely not... You and I have come a long way, and I really count you as a true friend now. I think you and Phillip might be really good for each other actually. You have a lot more in common than you might think."
Belle interjected her opinions, "Oh yeah. Totally. For one thing, you are both the most annoyingly persistent people I have EVER known in my life. I think you should go for it."
Mimi shrugged in confusion. "I don't know... Maybe." She turned in her chair and pointed at Chloe. "But, it all depends on what he tells YOU. Because, if he is still madly in love with you... I'm not even gonna go there. That would be a really bad idea."
Chloe looked downward and nodded. "Yeah, I think the problem is that both of us are waiting for the 'right time' to have a nice little talk with each other. But, who knows when the 'right time' is."
Belle looked at her hopefully. "How about tonight?"
Chloe shook her head and winced. "I... I don't know about that. It's a party to celebrate Jason's recovery, not a memorial service for the couplehood of Phillip and Chloe."
"But, you have to do it some time. I think you're predicting that it will be painful and terrible, but I have a feeling it won't be. Phillip has matured a lot since we came back to school, he can handle it. And, besides... my dad always says, there is no time like the present."
Mimi nodded enthusiastically, her smile widening. "Yeah... just do it, Chloe."
Chloe smirked at her. "You sound like a shoe commercial."
"Not the point... Belle's right. I think that everything will be fine, you just need to get this over with."
Chloe paused thoughtfully to consider it. "Well... maybe. If I can find a quiet moment to talk alone with him. But... I don't want to ruin the rest of the part for him if this turns out badly."
Belle waved her finger to scold Chloe. "It won't. I just know that it won't. And stop thinking negative thoughts."
Chloe nodded begrudgingly. "Yes ma'am... only happy thoughts from now on."
Mimi interjected, "This has been extremely informative, but speaking of 'happy thoughts', I believe there's a shoe sale calling our names."
Belle gasped slightly. "Then WHAT are we still doing here? Let's go..."
The girls gathered their packages up and paid the bill, before heading off to the shoe store. Chloe thought to herself that it was of the utmost importance to have the right shoes on when you tell someone that you're not in love with them anymore. Or perhaps not.
***
(next chapter: The Party... But I'm going to an all day concert today, so I don't know when it will be done. I'll get it done as soon as possible... Stay tuned.)
