Chapter 13
Chloe pulled away from Brady, breathing hard. "I can't do this." She said, backing away from him. Brady ran a hand over his face. "Chloe-"
"No, " Chloe said. "I can't-I can't love you-I can't feel like this..."
"Yes you can, Chloe! You can! I love you so much..." He reached out and touched her face. "You can feel that, can't you? Can't you feel how much I love you?" He asked softly, his eyes tender.
Chloe turned her face into his hand. "Yes. Yes, oh God, Brady-"
Brady held her face in his hands. "Tell me, Chloe. Tell me what you're feeling." His intense blue eyes were raging with emotion. Chloe looked up at him, at this wonderful man whose eyes were saying that she meant everything to him, and suddenly was terrified. How could she ever be good enough for him? How could she, an orphan that even her parents didn't want, be everything he needed? Everything she had ever loved had been taken away from her. What would she do if she lost him? "Brady, I-I have to go now." She stammered, taking his hands away from her face and backing away from him. She started to run back to her car. "Chloe, wait!" Brady called after her. Chloe stopped and he caught up to her. "Where will you go? When can I see you again?"
"I don't know, Brady-I need some time to think."
Brady nodded. "Okay. I can understand that. But Chloe, do me a favor."
Chloe looked up at him. "What?"
"During this...time-don't go back to Phillip. Okay? I don't think I could handle that right now, after what just happened. Promise me?" His eyes pleaded with her.
"I promise."
Brady breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her. "Thank you. I love you."
Chloe nodded. "I know." She started to get into the car. Brady grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"Chloe?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you love me, too?"
Chloe hesitated. "Yes. I do. I love you."
Brady grinned. "I knew it." He kissed her.
Chloe smiled back and him and started the car. "When I figure all of this out, you'll be the first to know."
She blew him a kiss and drove away.
* * * * *
Belle was sitting on the couch watching television when Brady came into the house. She turned to look at him. She laughed. "What happened to you, Brady, you look like a drowned rat."
Brady couldn't stop grinning. He plopped down on the couch beside her, not caring that he was soaking wet. "What happened to me, you ask? The most amazing thing in the world happened to me!"
Belle looked at him strangely. "Brady, what is wrong with you?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm in love with Chloe Lane and she loves me too. Everything is right."
"CHLOE?! You can't love Chloe, she's-she's-?"
"What? The most beautiful, wonderful girl in the universe? I already knew that." He laughed.
"She's in love with Phillip!"
Brady's grin faded. "No she's not. Don't say that, Belle."
Belle noted the hurt look on his face. "You really care about her, don't you?"
"I told you I was in love with her. And she loves me, too."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am, she told me."
"Did she tell you she wasn't in love with Phillip?"
"No, but-aww, Belle you're ruining my good mood."
"Sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt."
Brady nodded. "I know. But I can't help it. I love her so much."
"I knew there was something going on between you two. No one fights that much unless they really like each other." Belle smiled. "Like me and Shawn."
"Yeah." Brady said, only half-listening. What if Belle was right? His heart sank to his toes. What if Chloe really was in love with Phillip?
* * * * * *
Chloe drove back to her house, her mind racing. She couldn't be with Brady. What was she thinking? She didn't deserve someone like him. But somewhere, deep down, she knew that that wasn't true. She knew that she was afraid. Afraid to love someone like that, afraid to feel that much. Brady had been right all along. She had never loved Phillip. She had been safe with Phillip. She knew that she could never feel that way about him. He had taught her that she was somebody, whether she was different or not. And she would always be grateful to him for that. But Brady had taught her how to feel, how to love. He had taught her more than she could describe. She pulled into her driveway and saw Phillip's car there. "Damnit!" She swore. She had forgotten that she had told Phillip to meet her back here. She walked toward the house. Phillip was sitting on the steps. He jumped up when he saw her. "Where have you been? Are you okay? I was worried about you, you sounded so upset on the phone. You're soaking wet!"
Chloe looked up at the sky. It had stopped raining and the sun was shining. "It was raining before." Chloe smiled at the memory of the moment she had shared with Brady.
"Well where were you?"
"Belle's."
"Belle's...or Brady's?" He asked suspiciously.
"Both. They do both live there, Phillip. Look, I know I said we needed to talk but it can wait. I need some time to think."
"About what?"
"About us, about everything. I'll call you later."
"Allright." Phillip leaned down to kiss her. Chloe turned her head so that his lips landed on her cheek. She just couldn't bring herself to kiss Phillip after that kiss in the rain with Brady. Phillip got in his car. "I love you, Chloe."
Chloe waved as if she didn't hear him and went inside. Phillip started the car and pulled out of the drive, but he didn't leave. He parked down the street. He knew something was going on, and he wasn't going to leave until he figured out what it was.
* * * * * *
Brady decided that he had to talk to Chloe. He grabbed his keys and drove to her house. Once he rang the doorbell, Chloe came out and stood on the porch with him, shutting the door behind her. "Brady, I told you I needed to think."
"You can't think around me?"
"Not about anything but kissing you."
Brady grinned. Then he turned serious. "I just need to ask you something, Chloe. Its very important and when you answer me, I'll leave."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Are you in love with Phillip?"
Chloe hesitated. She knew that she wasn't, but she didn't know if she wanted to give up that secure relationship yet. Then she looked up into Brady's eyes and remembered the kiss they had shared in the rain. "No, Brady, I'm not. You were right all along."
Brady grinned. "Great. Ok now just a couple more things."
"Brady! You said you'd leave after that!" Chloe smiled.
"Well, I will after this. I promise. Tell me you love me...and kiss me."
"That shouldn't be too hard. I love you, Brady Black."
Brady grinned wider. "I love it when you say that."
Chloe smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. They're lips had barely touched when Chloe heard Phillip's voice. They sprang apart. "Phillip." Brady said dryly. Phillip was standing on the porch behind them. "Shut up, you bastard! You guys were just waiting for me to leave, weren't you?"
Chloe touched Phillip's arm. "Calm down, Phillip. We need to talk."
Phillip jerked away from her. "No, we don't. There's nothing to talk about. You're just a whore, and I'm sorry I ever dated you!"
Brady clenched his fists at his sides. "What did you just call her?" His voice shook with anger. Chloe put a hand on his shoulder. "Brady, it doesn't matter. It's allright."
"No, its not, Chloe. No one has the right to talk to you that way."
"I called her a whore, Brady. Cuz that's what you are, aren't you Chloe? Just a slut!"
Brady felt a red haze of rage sweep over him. He pulled away from Chloe and punched Phillip off of the porch. He went down the steps and stood over Phillip. "Don't you EVER call her that again!" He yelled.
Chloe ran down next to him. "Brady stop it! Leave him alone!"
Brady ignored her. Phillip stood up, his nose pouring blood. "What are you going to do about it, huh, Brady? Take another cheap shot at me while I'm not looking?"
"Shut the hell up before I really hurt you, Phillip!"
Phillip tackled Brady and they both hit the ground.
Chapter 14
"Stop it!" Chloe cried. Neither guy noticed her. Philip swung a punch and connected with brady's nose, bloodying it.
"You little bitch." Brady spit at Philip. Before Philip could swing again, Brady had him pinned beneath him. He stared at Philip, the red, hot burning hatred seemed to radiate from radiate from his entire body.
"NEVER speak to her like that again." He hissed.
Philip struggled beneath him. "Get off me you son of a bitch. You two belong together, youre both fucking losers. You hear that GHOUL GIRL? You-" Before he could finish, Brady punched him square in the jaw. He then jumped up and pulled Philip up. Philip started to jump him but Brady's arm shot out and caught him around the neck.
"Brady let him go!" Chloe acreamed. "Guys please! Stop!"
Philip's hand shot up to Bradys wrist to try to pry his hand from around his neck. "Apoligize you little son of a fucking bitch. And maybe I won't hospitalize you."
Philip shook his head, then kicked, his foot connecting with Brady's knee causing him to loosen his grip on Philip.
"Damn it!" Chloe screamed again. "Would you two grow up? Stop!"
They ignored her again.
"God I hate you both! You're so immature!" That got their attention. "Stop please," Chloe said, sobbing, "your going to kill each other."
Brady backed off finally from Philip, but he was still murdering him with his eyes.
"This isn't over." Philip muttered.
"Philip, go home. Please." Chloe whispered. "I don't want to talk to you."
Philip glared long and hard at Brady and turned around and walked off.
"Haha, hear that Uncle Phil?" Brady taunted. "Looks like you lost."
"Brady, go." Chloe said.
"What?"
"I said go. I dont want to talk to either of you right now."
"But Chloe..."
"I said GO! Leave me alone."
But Chloe, a few minutes ago, things were great, I thought we had a new beginning." His eyes pleaded with her for forgiveness.
"Yeah, that was before you had to go and fuck it all up and ruin everything wasnt it?"
"Chloe I'm sorry. But he had no right to..."
"I said go Brady. I need to be alone."
"Ok." He leaned down to kiss her, and she turned her head.
Brady sighed. "I love you Chloe."
"I love you too, Brady."
At least she still loves me, Brady thought as he left.
Chloe ran back inside and up to her room.
How could they be so childish? She'd expect this from Philip, but Brady too? She knew he was just taking up for her, but he didnt have to beat somebody up about it.
She'd forgive him, she knew she would. She just needed some time. That, and her feelings for Brady were beginning to scare her. The intensity between them was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. And what really scared her, was that she'd get hurt again. Philip had hurt her. She thought that he really loved her. What if the same thing happened with Brady? But she knew that she and brady had something that she never had with philip. She didnt know yet quite what that was, but she could feel it. She could feel it every time she looked into his raging blue eyes, every time he kissed her, everytime they touched. She was afraid of all that though. She was afraid of losing it, losing Brady. She was afraid of losing it before she really even got a good grip on it.
Her phone rang. She sat on her bed and answered it.
"Hey Chloe."
"Philip...why are you calling?"
"I wanted to apoligize. I was way out of line today."
"No shit."
"I wish there was some way to make it up to you."
"Well there isn't. No wait, I take that back. There is. You can leave me alone." With that, she hung up.
Chapter 15
Almost the second Chloe hung up the phone it rang again. Sighing in exasperation, she picked it up.
"Hello?" She said.
"Chloe, listen to me." It was Phillip again.
"No, Phillip, you listen to ME. I didn't want to do this, but you give me no choice. I don't love you. I never did. I"m in love with Brady. You've been a wonderful friend to me and I'll bnever forget that. But there's no way you and I could ever be together again. I love Brady and nothing will ever change that."
"Chloe-" She could hear the tears in his voice.
"Phillip, nothhing you can say or do will ever change my mind. I'm sorry. Goodbye." She hung up the phone. She sighed. She hadn't wanted to have to do that. For some reason, Phillip actually thought that he was in love with her. Chloe snorted. How could he be in love with her when he didn't even know who she was? The phone rang again and Chloe didn't answer it, knowing it was Phillip. She turned the ringer off the phone and lay down to sleep.
* * * * * *
Chloe was awakened the next morning with Craig shaking her shoulder. "What is it?" She asked sleepily.
"Chloe, sweetheart, something terrible has happened."
Chloe sat straight up in her bed. "What?"
"It's Phillip."
"Phillip? What's the matter with Phillip?"
"He's in the hospital."
"What happened?"
"I don't know yet. I"ve just be called to go down there. I thought you should know first."
Chloe nodded, tears filling her eyes. "I hope he's okay. Can I go with you?"
"Of course. But hurry."
Chloe hurried to get dressed and they went to the hospital. Once she got there she saw Victor and Nicole standing in the waiting room. "Get her out of here!" Victor yelled once he saw her. "It's her fault my son tried to kill himself!" Chloe gasped and ran out of the hospital. Oh my God, she thought. Phillip could die because of me.
* * * * * * *
When Brady woke up the next morning and came downstairs, Belle was crying on the couch with John comforting her. "What happened? What's the matter, Belle?" Brady asked, sitting down beside her. BElle just cried harder. John spoke up. "Son, Phillip's in the hospital."
"Oh my God. What happened?"
"he tried to kill himself, Brady! God, why would Phillip do something like that?" Belle wailed, burying her face in his shoulder. Brady put his arms around her. "It's going to be okay, Belle." His mind was racing. What had happened that would cause Phillip to try and kill himself?
Chapter 16
Chloe sat in the ICU waiting room with Nancy and Craig, wondering how so much could have gone wrong in such little time. They had Phillip in emergency surgery, and the odds were against him. Late last night Phillip had taken Victor's gun and shot himself in the head. He hadn't left a note, but Chloe knew that if Phillip died, it would be her fault. She hadn't told anyone what had went on last night between herself, Phillip, and Brady; nor what she had told Phillip later that night. Craig had told her that Brady was on his way, but if he thought that would make her feel any better he was wrong. Seeing Brady would just make everything worse. Seeing him would mean that she had to deal with what to do next. No matter what happened to Phillip, Chloe knew she had to end things with Brady. If Phillip died, every day with Brady would be a reminder of why he was gone. If he lived, Chloe would always like with the fear that Phillip might do it again, and succeed this time. Chloe put her head in her hands. She would rather die than hurt Brady. As if on cue, Brady walked through the double doors of the waiting room, followed by Belle and John. He saw her, but didn't go near her. He sat down next to Belle and glanced at Chloe. She got up and walked out of the hospital. She stood there, crying and looking out of the parking lot. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and Brady was standing there. She burst into a fresh bout of tears. "Chloe-" He said softly, reaching out to her. She backed away from him, shaking her head. Once she gained control, she looked at him and said, "Brady, I can't see you anymore."
"Chloe, this was NOT your fault. You can't believe that this is your fault."
"I don't." Chloe lied. "But all this has made me realize that I do love Phillip. I love him so much. And no matter what happens I can't be with you." Chloe looked into Brady's hurt blue eyes, and her heart broke for him. She looked down at her hands. "I don't love you, Brady." She choked out finally.
Brady swallowed and his eyes flashed with anguish. "Chloe, you've said this before. I didn't believe you then and I don't believe you now." His face contradicted his words. Chloe could tell how much this was hurting him. "I'm sorry that you can't accept it, but I love Phillip, and nothing will ever change that. I thought I loved you, I really did. But when this happened I realized who I truly love. Phillip is the only guy for me." Chloe said, then looked up at him.
Brady instinctively looked at the ground as the tears burned in his eyes, then stopped himself. He took a deep breath and looked right into Chloe's eyes. "If that's true," He whispered hoarsely, "then I'll turn around and leave right now, and never bother you again. But I don't believe it. And I won't until you look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me. If you can do that, I will never speak to you again if you don't want me to. I promise. I believe that you DO love me, and that we were meant to be together. But if you don't love me, I want you to know-" His voice broke and tears streamed down his face. "I want you to know that I will never love any other woman the way that I love you, Chloe. And I swear, on my life and yours, that until the day that I leave this earth, I will love you with all of my heart and soul." He held her face in his hand and kissed her. " Now, if you can, look at me and tell me you don't love me." Brady held his head up high and looked into her eyes. Chloe looked up into his hurt, panicked blue eyes and said, "I don't love you." Once the words came out of her mouth, Chloe felt an emptiness in her soul that she knew would never be filled. When she saw Brady's face, she found she had no tears left, just a ache in her heart. Brady looked at her, into her eyes, into her soul, and turned as a hoarse sob ripped from his throat. Chloe watched him go, then went back into the hospital, knowing that she'd never be the same again.
Chloe pulled away from Brady, breathing hard. "I can't do this." She said, backing away from him. Brady ran a hand over his face. "Chloe-"
"No, " Chloe said. "I can't-I can't love you-I can't feel like this..."
"Yes you can, Chloe! You can! I love you so much..." He reached out and touched her face. "You can feel that, can't you? Can't you feel how much I love you?" He asked softly, his eyes tender.
Chloe turned her face into his hand. "Yes. Yes, oh God, Brady-"
Brady held her face in his hands. "Tell me, Chloe. Tell me what you're feeling." His intense blue eyes were raging with emotion. Chloe looked up at him, at this wonderful man whose eyes were saying that she meant everything to him, and suddenly was terrified. How could she ever be good enough for him? How could she, an orphan that even her parents didn't want, be everything he needed? Everything she had ever loved had been taken away from her. What would she do if she lost him? "Brady, I-I have to go now." She stammered, taking his hands away from her face and backing away from him. She started to run back to her car. "Chloe, wait!" Brady called after her. Chloe stopped and he caught up to her. "Where will you go? When can I see you again?"
"I don't know, Brady-I need some time to think."
Brady nodded. "Okay. I can understand that. But Chloe, do me a favor."
Chloe looked up at him. "What?"
"During this...time-don't go back to Phillip. Okay? I don't think I could handle that right now, after what just happened. Promise me?" His eyes pleaded with her.
"I promise."
Brady breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her. "Thank you. I love you."
Chloe nodded. "I know." She started to get into the car. Brady grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"Chloe?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you love me, too?"
Chloe hesitated. "Yes. I do. I love you."
Brady grinned. "I knew it." He kissed her.
Chloe smiled back and him and started the car. "When I figure all of this out, you'll be the first to know."
She blew him a kiss and drove away.
* * * * *
Belle was sitting on the couch watching television when Brady came into the house. She turned to look at him. She laughed. "What happened to you, Brady, you look like a drowned rat."
Brady couldn't stop grinning. He plopped down on the couch beside her, not caring that he was soaking wet. "What happened to me, you ask? The most amazing thing in the world happened to me!"
Belle looked at him strangely. "Brady, what is wrong with you?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm in love with Chloe Lane and she loves me too. Everything is right."
"CHLOE?! You can't love Chloe, she's-she's-?"
"What? The most beautiful, wonderful girl in the universe? I already knew that." He laughed.
"She's in love with Phillip!"
Brady's grin faded. "No she's not. Don't say that, Belle."
Belle noted the hurt look on his face. "You really care about her, don't you?"
"I told you I was in love with her. And she loves me, too."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am, she told me."
"Did she tell you she wasn't in love with Phillip?"
"No, but-aww, Belle you're ruining my good mood."
"Sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt."
Brady nodded. "I know. But I can't help it. I love her so much."
"I knew there was something going on between you two. No one fights that much unless they really like each other." Belle smiled. "Like me and Shawn."
"Yeah." Brady said, only half-listening. What if Belle was right? His heart sank to his toes. What if Chloe really was in love with Phillip?
* * * * * *
Chloe drove back to her house, her mind racing. She couldn't be with Brady. What was she thinking? She didn't deserve someone like him. But somewhere, deep down, she knew that that wasn't true. She knew that she was afraid. Afraid to love someone like that, afraid to feel that much. Brady had been right all along. She had never loved Phillip. She had been safe with Phillip. She knew that she could never feel that way about him. He had taught her that she was somebody, whether she was different or not. And she would always be grateful to him for that. But Brady had taught her how to feel, how to love. He had taught her more than she could describe. She pulled into her driveway and saw Phillip's car there. "Damnit!" She swore. She had forgotten that she had told Phillip to meet her back here. She walked toward the house. Phillip was sitting on the steps. He jumped up when he saw her. "Where have you been? Are you okay? I was worried about you, you sounded so upset on the phone. You're soaking wet!"
Chloe looked up at the sky. It had stopped raining and the sun was shining. "It was raining before." Chloe smiled at the memory of the moment she had shared with Brady.
"Well where were you?"
"Belle's."
"Belle's...or Brady's?" He asked suspiciously.
"Both. They do both live there, Phillip. Look, I know I said we needed to talk but it can wait. I need some time to think."
"About what?"
"About us, about everything. I'll call you later."
"Allright." Phillip leaned down to kiss her. Chloe turned her head so that his lips landed on her cheek. She just couldn't bring herself to kiss Phillip after that kiss in the rain with Brady. Phillip got in his car. "I love you, Chloe."
Chloe waved as if she didn't hear him and went inside. Phillip started the car and pulled out of the drive, but he didn't leave. He parked down the street. He knew something was going on, and he wasn't going to leave until he figured out what it was.
* * * * * *
Brady decided that he had to talk to Chloe. He grabbed his keys and drove to her house. Once he rang the doorbell, Chloe came out and stood on the porch with him, shutting the door behind her. "Brady, I told you I needed to think."
"You can't think around me?"
"Not about anything but kissing you."
Brady grinned. Then he turned serious. "I just need to ask you something, Chloe. Its very important and when you answer me, I'll leave."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Are you in love with Phillip?"
Chloe hesitated. She knew that she wasn't, but she didn't know if she wanted to give up that secure relationship yet. Then she looked up into Brady's eyes and remembered the kiss they had shared in the rain. "No, Brady, I'm not. You were right all along."
Brady grinned. "Great. Ok now just a couple more things."
"Brady! You said you'd leave after that!" Chloe smiled.
"Well, I will after this. I promise. Tell me you love me...and kiss me."
"That shouldn't be too hard. I love you, Brady Black."
Brady grinned wider. "I love it when you say that."
Chloe smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. They're lips had barely touched when Chloe heard Phillip's voice. They sprang apart. "Phillip." Brady said dryly. Phillip was standing on the porch behind them. "Shut up, you bastard! You guys were just waiting for me to leave, weren't you?"
Chloe touched Phillip's arm. "Calm down, Phillip. We need to talk."
Phillip jerked away from her. "No, we don't. There's nothing to talk about. You're just a whore, and I'm sorry I ever dated you!"
Brady clenched his fists at his sides. "What did you just call her?" His voice shook with anger. Chloe put a hand on his shoulder. "Brady, it doesn't matter. It's allright."
"No, its not, Chloe. No one has the right to talk to you that way."
"I called her a whore, Brady. Cuz that's what you are, aren't you Chloe? Just a slut!"
Brady felt a red haze of rage sweep over him. He pulled away from Chloe and punched Phillip off of the porch. He went down the steps and stood over Phillip. "Don't you EVER call her that again!" He yelled.
Chloe ran down next to him. "Brady stop it! Leave him alone!"
Brady ignored her. Phillip stood up, his nose pouring blood. "What are you going to do about it, huh, Brady? Take another cheap shot at me while I'm not looking?"
"Shut the hell up before I really hurt you, Phillip!"
Phillip tackled Brady and they both hit the ground.
Chapter 14
"Stop it!" Chloe cried. Neither guy noticed her. Philip swung a punch and connected with brady's nose, bloodying it.
"You little bitch." Brady spit at Philip. Before Philip could swing again, Brady had him pinned beneath him. He stared at Philip, the red, hot burning hatred seemed to radiate from radiate from his entire body.
"NEVER speak to her like that again." He hissed.
Philip struggled beneath him. "Get off me you son of a bitch. You two belong together, youre both fucking losers. You hear that GHOUL GIRL? You-" Before he could finish, Brady punched him square in the jaw. He then jumped up and pulled Philip up. Philip started to jump him but Brady's arm shot out and caught him around the neck.
"Brady let him go!" Chloe acreamed. "Guys please! Stop!"
Philip's hand shot up to Bradys wrist to try to pry his hand from around his neck. "Apoligize you little son of a fucking bitch. And maybe I won't hospitalize you."
Philip shook his head, then kicked, his foot connecting with Brady's knee causing him to loosen his grip on Philip.
"Damn it!" Chloe screamed again. "Would you two grow up? Stop!"
They ignored her again.
"God I hate you both! You're so immature!" That got their attention. "Stop please," Chloe said, sobbing, "your going to kill each other."
Brady backed off finally from Philip, but he was still murdering him with his eyes.
"This isn't over." Philip muttered.
"Philip, go home. Please." Chloe whispered. "I don't want to talk to you."
Philip glared long and hard at Brady and turned around and walked off.
"Haha, hear that Uncle Phil?" Brady taunted. "Looks like you lost."
"Brady, go." Chloe said.
"What?"
"I said go. I dont want to talk to either of you right now."
"But Chloe..."
"I said GO! Leave me alone."
But Chloe, a few minutes ago, things were great, I thought we had a new beginning." His eyes pleaded with her for forgiveness.
"Yeah, that was before you had to go and fuck it all up and ruin everything wasnt it?"
"Chloe I'm sorry. But he had no right to..."
"I said go Brady. I need to be alone."
"Ok." He leaned down to kiss her, and she turned her head.
Brady sighed. "I love you Chloe."
"I love you too, Brady."
At least she still loves me, Brady thought as he left.
Chloe ran back inside and up to her room.
How could they be so childish? She'd expect this from Philip, but Brady too? She knew he was just taking up for her, but he didnt have to beat somebody up about it.
She'd forgive him, she knew she would. She just needed some time. That, and her feelings for Brady were beginning to scare her. The intensity between them was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. And what really scared her, was that she'd get hurt again. Philip had hurt her. She thought that he really loved her. What if the same thing happened with Brady? But she knew that she and brady had something that she never had with philip. She didnt know yet quite what that was, but she could feel it. She could feel it every time she looked into his raging blue eyes, every time he kissed her, everytime they touched. She was afraid of all that though. She was afraid of losing it, losing Brady. She was afraid of losing it before she really even got a good grip on it.
Her phone rang. She sat on her bed and answered it.
"Hey Chloe."
"Philip...why are you calling?"
"I wanted to apoligize. I was way out of line today."
"No shit."
"I wish there was some way to make it up to you."
"Well there isn't. No wait, I take that back. There is. You can leave me alone." With that, she hung up.
Chapter 15
Almost the second Chloe hung up the phone it rang again. Sighing in exasperation, she picked it up.
"Hello?" She said.
"Chloe, listen to me." It was Phillip again.
"No, Phillip, you listen to ME. I didn't want to do this, but you give me no choice. I don't love you. I never did. I"m in love with Brady. You've been a wonderful friend to me and I'll bnever forget that. But there's no way you and I could ever be together again. I love Brady and nothing will ever change that."
"Chloe-" She could hear the tears in his voice.
"Phillip, nothhing you can say or do will ever change my mind. I'm sorry. Goodbye." She hung up the phone. She sighed. She hadn't wanted to have to do that. For some reason, Phillip actually thought that he was in love with her. Chloe snorted. How could he be in love with her when he didn't even know who she was? The phone rang again and Chloe didn't answer it, knowing it was Phillip. She turned the ringer off the phone and lay down to sleep.
* * * * * *
Chloe was awakened the next morning with Craig shaking her shoulder. "What is it?" She asked sleepily.
"Chloe, sweetheart, something terrible has happened."
Chloe sat straight up in her bed. "What?"
"It's Phillip."
"Phillip? What's the matter with Phillip?"
"He's in the hospital."
"What happened?"
"I don't know yet. I"ve just be called to go down there. I thought you should know first."
Chloe nodded, tears filling her eyes. "I hope he's okay. Can I go with you?"
"Of course. But hurry."
Chloe hurried to get dressed and they went to the hospital. Once she got there she saw Victor and Nicole standing in the waiting room. "Get her out of here!" Victor yelled once he saw her. "It's her fault my son tried to kill himself!" Chloe gasped and ran out of the hospital. Oh my God, she thought. Phillip could die because of me.
* * * * * * *
When Brady woke up the next morning and came downstairs, Belle was crying on the couch with John comforting her. "What happened? What's the matter, Belle?" Brady asked, sitting down beside her. BElle just cried harder. John spoke up. "Son, Phillip's in the hospital."
"Oh my God. What happened?"
"he tried to kill himself, Brady! God, why would Phillip do something like that?" Belle wailed, burying her face in his shoulder. Brady put his arms around her. "It's going to be okay, Belle." His mind was racing. What had happened that would cause Phillip to try and kill himself?
Chapter 16
Chloe sat in the ICU waiting room with Nancy and Craig, wondering how so much could have gone wrong in such little time. They had Phillip in emergency surgery, and the odds were against him. Late last night Phillip had taken Victor's gun and shot himself in the head. He hadn't left a note, but Chloe knew that if Phillip died, it would be her fault. She hadn't told anyone what had went on last night between herself, Phillip, and Brady; nor what she had told Phillip later that night. Craig had told her that Brady was on his way, but if he thought that would make her feel any better he was wrong. Seeing Brady would just make everything worse. Seeing him would mean that she had to deal with what to do next. No matter what happened to Phillip, Chloe knew she had to end things with Brady. If Phillip died, every day with Brady would be a reminder of why he was gone. If he lived, Chloe would always like with the fear that Phillip might do it again, and succeed this time. Chloe put her head in her hands. She would rather die than hurt Brady. As if on cue, Brady walked through the double doors of the waiting room, followed by Belle and John. He saw her, but didn't go near her. He sat down next to Belle and glanced at Chloe. She got up and walked out of the hospital. She stood there, crying and looking out of the parking lot. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and Brady was standing there. She burst into a fresh bout of tears. "Chloe-" He said softly, reaching out to her. She backed away from him, shaking her head. Once she gained control, she looked at him and said, "Brady, I can't see you anymore."
"Chloe, this was NOT your fault. You can't believe that this is your fault."
"I don't." Chloe lied. "But all this has made me realize that I do love Phillip. I love him so much. And no matter what happens I can't be with you." Chloe looked into Brady's hurt blue eyes, and her heart broke for him. She looked down at her hands. "I don't love you, Brady." She choked out finally.
Brady swallowed and his eyes flashed with anguish. "Chloe, you've said this before. I didn't believe you then and I don't believe you now." His face contradicted his words. Chloe could tell how much this was hurting him. "I'm sorry that you can't accept it, but I love Phillip, and nothing will ever change that. I thought I loved you, I really did. But when this happened I realized who I truly love. Phillip is the only guy for me." Chloe said, then looked up at him.
Brady instinctively looked at the ground as the tears burned in his eyes, then stopped himself. He took a deep breath and looked right into Chloe's eyes. "If that's true," He whispered hoarsely, "then I'll turn around and leave right now, and never bother you again. But I don't believe it. And I won't until you look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me. If you can do that, I will never speak to you again if you don't want me to. I promise. I believe that you DO love me, and that we were meant to be together. But if you don't love me, I want you to know-" His voice broke and tears streamed down his face. "I want you to know that I will never love any other woman the way that I love you, Chloe. And I swear, on my life and yours, that until the day that I leave this earth, I will love you with all of my heart and soul." He held her face in his hand and kissed her. " Now, if you can, look at me and tell me you don't love me." Brady held his head up high and looked into her eyes. Chloe looked up into his hurt, panicked blue eyes and said, "I don't love you." Once the words came out of her mouth, Chloe felt an emptiness in her soul that she knew would never be filled. When she saw Brady's face, she found she had no tears left, just a ache in her heart. Brady looked at her, into her eyes, into her soul, and turned as a hoarse sob ripped from his throat. Chloe watched him go, then went back into the hospital, knowing that she'd never be the same again.
