Chapter 6
For the next three weeks, Chloe and Brady met every other night in the cemetery, being careful to avoid being there later then four o'clock on Sundays. Chloe accepted the fact that Brady was a chicken around his friends, and went along with his 'secret friends conspiracy' idea, even though she thought it to be completely ridiculous. Stepping inside the house late one day, she saw an envelope addressed to her lying on the table. She picked it up and opened it, unfolding the letter that lay inside of it. Her eyes brightened.
"Daddy, Shawn wrote back!" She cried happily, grinning widely at him.
"I know pumpkin." He said, holding up his own letter from where he sat in his den.
Chloe took a seat in the living room and turned on the lamp, reading over the letter.
"Dear Chloe,
Hello! I have not spoken to you for so long! It's so nice to hear- or see your writing again. I miss you both. Life here is very different. Upon arriving here, mother lavished me with many gifts, but if you ask me most of them were completely useless. Oh, and her dumbbell husband! Don't even get me started on him. He just lazes around and watches television all day. He does not even have a job. I wonder why mother even married him in the first place. He's a slob, and he smells! Even under all that expensive cologne. I am lucky that we have a maid or else I might die of the mess he leaves. I have been attending a private school here. Thank goodness it was mixed! Mother planned on putting me in an all boys catholic school but I refused. I've met a nice girl here named Jamie-Lynn. She sings too! In fact, she reminds me of you in a lot of ways. Personality-wise I mean. But no, no one will ever equal up to you Chloe. (That's what brothers are supposed to say right?) Anyway, you were right that life in Salem is much more practical. I don't not see why anyone would want to live in the middle of the city. I adore the suburban lifestyle of Salem, though my time is up not nearly soon enough! Still two months to go. You know I'm not sure why after fourteen years of neglect mother chooses to invite me to live with her. She is a rather strange woman, and I wish she favored you! Then you'd be the one up here. But, you know she is mom so I guess I'll have to stick this one out.
Your loving older brother (by two minutes!)
Shawn D."
Chloe smiled and folded the letter back to it's original shape and placed it back neatly in the envelope. Then she stood up and walked over to where her father was working quietly in the den. She slid silently into a chair across from him and read the article he was writing. Something about the life and times of 'Sir Reginald Hemsby, great founder of the town of Salem'. 'Wow' she thought. She sat on top of him practically everyday. The thought was funny in a strange sort of way and she laughed a little.
"What?" Craig asked innocently, looking up from his work and looking lovingly at his daughter.
"I was just thinking, if Sir Reginald Hemsby was so important to our town, why is his tombstone so small?"
She asked curiously.
"Oh…" Craig started, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You know I really have no idea! Perhaps I should research that and add it to my article."
"Perhaps you should." Chloe said with a nod of her head. "Well, I'm off to bed now. Tomorrow is Friday and I have a big show to put on after school." She said smiling. She flipped her low ponytail behind her back and smoothed out the pair of overalls she was wearing. Then she gave Craig a kiss on the cheek and started up the stairs.
"Goodnight Pumpkin!"
"Night daddy."
***
Alright everyone!" The drama teacher said, clapping her hands together. That was a wonderful practice! I expect that the parents and student body will be quite pleased with this play! Now everyone, off to your dressing rooms! Or, whatever you want to call them…" Her voice trailed off.
"Oh, Chloe, you come with me honey." She said softly, and led Chloe in a different direction.
Brady sat in the dressing room with all the other guys in the play. He got dressed quickly and stepped out of the crowded room. Mimi and Belle were already dressed surprisingly enough. Mimi sat on a chair outside the dressing rooms, obviously waiting for him.
"There you are!" She said, when she saw him coming out of the change room. "My, don't you look handsome!" Mimi remarked, looking over his costume. The play was set in the 1930s. Brady wore black pants and a white shirt, topped off with a black vest and bow tie.
He shrugged at the comment from Mimi and walked off into another corner backstage. Mimi huffed and turned to Belle, sitting down beside her.
"Hmph! I should be the mysterious singer and get to kiss Brady!"
"Meems, it's not even a real kiss, and you can't sing for peanuts anyway."
"Sure I can! Besides, Chloe isn't all that good. She just sounds good cause the church is so echoey…"
"Mimi, have you lost your mind?" Belle said, raising her eyebrow.
"Lost it? Or finally found it!"
Belle gave her a look.
"You know what I mean." Mimi said, rolling her eyes and slouching in her chair.
"Oh well. At least I can say I'm prettier than Chloe."
"There, now your brain's in working mode."
"Shutup."
"What? I was agreeing with you."
"Well, next time do it in English please."
"Fine, fine." Belle said, turning her attention back to the nail file in her hand.
Chloe emerged from her dressing room wearing a baggy black cloak with a baggy hood that covered most of her head and face. Really the only visible part of her were her hands and the bottom half of her face.
"Now that's what we call smart shopping." Belle whispered to Mimi, setting both of them off in a rage of giggles. Chloe and the drama teacher took no notice of this and continued on with the conversation they were having.
Brady came walking back to where Mimi and Belle sat and peered slowly through the curtains. The auditorium was really starting to fill up. Then he turned back to the two girls staring at him and said, "Good Luck." Then turned and left them again.
"How bout a good luck kiss?" Mimi called after him.
He turned around and gave her a funny look. "Don't push your luck." Then he disappeared behind a clothes rack.
Mimi sighed and slunk back into her chair for the second time.
"How am I ever gonna win that guy over!" She asked in exasperation.
"You have to play it cool, Meems. Let him come to you." Belle said, working away on her nails. Mimi nodded her head in silent agreement.
***
Acts one and two of the play went surprisingly well. Brady and Chloe didn't really have many scenes together even though the story was mainly focused on them. As the curtain went down on the third and final act, Mimi and Belle jumped up excitedly.
"Ok, Belle, this is our premier! We could get discovered tonight!"
They took their places on the stage as the sets were moved around. Chloe moved swiftly around the stage, helping to check the lighting and making sure the lighting was just right. She still had not removed her cloak.
"I wonder if she's wearing overalls under that." Belle whispered to Mimi.
"That would be pretty typical huh? And I doubt she even put any makeup on to look the part. She's probably just plain old Chloe Wesley underneath all of that."
"I wouldn't be surprised."
"Do you even know what's going to happen in this act?"
"No. Do you?"
"I just know that we're onlookers. I didn't know we were supposed to read the rest of the script." Mimi said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Phillip walked onto the stage and greeted the girls.
"Phillip! What are you doing here?" Belle asked.
"Just here to tell you that you gals are looking good! Man do I even feel sorry for Brady right now."
"Ditto." Both girls said in unison.
"Well, I should probably go now before that teacher comes back around, see ya later." With that he left and went back to his seat in the front row of the auditorium.
Chloe walked off the set and waited in her position on the side of the stage, just out of the audience's view. Brady took his place seated on a bench by the lakeside scene. Belle and Mimi stood by a popcorn stand in their knee-length dresses and straw hats.
Then the clear voice of the football commentator rang clear over the intercom system. Chloe had thought it a blessing from god that he had been around that night to announce the scenes.
"Final Act." Was heard through the whole auditorium, people taking their seats just as the curtains raised.
"You horrible man! I was wrong to fall in love with you!" Gwen screeched, pretending to slap Brady across the face. Then she walked off the stage, telling Mimi and Belle to 'beware of that one there.'
Chloe walked silently onto the stage and sat down beside Brady on the bench.
Brady turned to Chloe, running his fingers through his hair.
"You're here! I didn't think that you would come." He said, looking at her with his head tilted to the side.
"I always keep my word Carter." Chloe said, in a voice unlike her own. It was confident and loud, not soft and unsure. It was her character.
"And have you considered my offer? Will you be a singer at my bar?"
"I have not yet decided. You may want my voice but do you want me?" She asked quietly, her hooded head turned towards Brady.
"How can I tell if I cannot see what you look like?" He said, shrugging.
Chloe stood up and undid the cloak where it tied around her neck, then threw back the hood and let the mass of black fabric slide down her body.
The gasps from the audience and even our two favorite onlookers were ominous. Phillip and Jason gaped from their front row seats.
Chloe's hair was down in soft curls that framed her face. For the first time, she was wearing a light dusting of eye shadow on her eyelids. Her dress was a blue satin that matched her eyes. It was low cut in the front, with short sleeves and an open back. It flowed gracefully to her ankles and a few inches of the fabric trailed out behind her. Like they practiced, she took her seat back down beside Brady.
Brady's mouth hung half open. He, like everyone else in the theater was in a complete state of shock. This was not Chloe, Chloe who sang in church and sat in the cemetery that no one liked Chloe? The change was miraculous. It made Brady think of the word skitso. He saw his drama teacher giving him the go ahead from the side of the stage. He gulped and looked at the beautiful young woman standing before him.
"You're stunning…" He said. The fact that he actually meant it made it all that much more convincing.
Chloe smiled and up at him.
"I…I dreamt about you last night. You were an angel. Will you sing for me?"
Chloe nodded her head and stood up, backing away from Brady as a soft melody was played on the piano by the music teacher.
"There's a song that's inside of my soul,
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again…
I'm awake in the infinite cold,
But you sing to me over and over and over again…"
Chloe's soft voice rang throughout the auditorium and everyone was immediately silenced, engulfed in it's soothing aura.
"So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours ,
I pray to be only yours, I know now,
you're my only hope."
Brady was entranced. He thought back to the time when the drama teacher had called Chloe's character a temptress. Boy was she ever right. Then his ears perked up as she started to sing again.
"Sing to me the song of the stars,
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again…
When it feels like my dreams are so far,
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again,
So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours, I pray to be only yours,
I know now,
you're my only hope…"
Chloe walked around the set, glancing back at Brady every few steps as they had rehearsed.
"I give you my destiny,
I'm giving you all of me,
I want your symphony,
Singing in all that I am,
At the top of my lungs,
I'm giving it back…
So I lay my head back down,
1 And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours I pray to be only yours,
I pray to be only yours,
I know now…
you're my only hope."
She finished the song with her hands in such a position as if she were in prayer. Then she turned, back to Brady. Brady stood up slowly and made his way to her as the audience stared on in awe. He took her hands in his and she met his gaze.
"You're my angel…" He said quietly, as Chloe made tears roll down his cheeks.
"She's really good at that." Mimi whispered to Belle.
Then, as the curtain started to close, Brady kissed Chloe, a sigh omitting from the crowd. They pulled apart in time to see the audience give them a standing ovation. After the curtains closed, Chloe turned her head back to face Brady.
"Um…" She said quietly, looking down at her hands still held tightly in his.
"Oh, sorry." Brady loosed his grip enough for Chloe to get her hands out.
"That was no damn peck!" Mimi cried angrily, rushing up to them. "I know a peck when I see one and that was not one!" She whirled on Chloe. "It appears that Chloe has a few tricks up her sleeves." She spat, glaring angrily at her. Chloe narrowed her eyes at Mimi.
"You hide all of that and then poof you can't wait to show it off."
"Apparently neither can you." Chloe said, pointing to the outfit that Mimi was wearing.
"Why now huh Chloe? Are you here to make my life miserable and steal my boyfriend?"
Chloe's eyes traveled from Mimi to Brady, then back to Mimi again.
"No." She said simply before walking off, unaware of Mimi's glare following her, nor of Brady's infinite gaze as it followed her until she rounded a corner.
Song: Only Hope by Mandy Moore, from A Walk to Remember
For the next three weeks, Chloe and Brady met every other night in the cemetery, being careful to avoid being there later then four o'clock on Sundays. Chloe accepted the fact that Brady was a chicken around his friends, and went along with his 'secret friends conspiracy' idea, even though she thought it to be completely ridiculous. Stepping inside the house late one day, she saw an envelope addressed to her lying on the table. She picked it up and opened it, unfolding the letter that lay inside of it. Her eyes brightened.
"Daddy, Shawn wrote back!" She cried happily, grinning widely at him.
"I know pumpkin." He said, holding up his own letter from where he sat in his den.
Chloe took a seat in the living room and turned on the lamp, reading over the letter.
"Dear Chloe,
Hello! I have not spoken to you for so long! It's so nice to hear- or see your writing again. I miss you both. Life here is very different. Upon arriving here, mother lavished me with many gifts, but if you ask me most of them were completely useless. Oh, and her dumbbell husband! Don't even get me started on him. He just lazes around and watches television all day. He does not even have a job. I wonder why mother even married him in the first place. He's a slob, and he smells! Even under all that expensive cologne. I am lucky that we have a maid or else I might die of the mess he leaves. I have been attending a private school here. Thank goodness it was mixed! Mother planned on putting me in an all boys catholic school but I refused. I've met a nice girl here named Jamie-Lynn. She sings too! In fact, she reminds me of you in a lot of ways. Personality-wise I mean. But no, no one will ever equal up to you Chloe. (That's what brothers are supposed to say right?) Anyway, you were right that life in Salem is much more practical. I don't not see why anyone would want to live in the middle of the city. I adore the suburban lifestyle of Salem, though my time is up not nearly soon enough! Still two months to go. You know I'm not sure why after fourteen years of neglect mother chooses to invite me to live with her. She is a rather strange woman, and I wish she favored you! Then you'd be the one up here. But, you know she is mom so I guess I'll have to stick this one out.
Your loving older brother (by two minutes!)
Shawn D."
Chloe smiled and folded the letter back to it's original shape and placed it back neatly in the envelope. Then she stood up and walked over to where her father was working quietly in the den. She slid silently into a chair across from him and read the article he was writing. Something about the life and times of 'Sir Reginald Hemsby, great founder of the town of Salem'. 'Wow' she thought. She sat on top of him practically everyday. The thought was funny in a strange sort of way and she laughed a little.
"What?" Craig asked innocently, looking up from his work and looking lovingly at his daughter.
"I was just thinking, if Sir Reginald Hemsby was so important to our town, why is his tombstone so small?"
She asked curiously.
"Oh…" Craig started, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You know I really have no idea! Perhaps I should research that and add it to my article."
"Perhaps you should." Chloe said with a nod of her head. "Well, I'm off to bed now. Tomorrow is Friday and I have a big show to put on after school." She said smiling. She flipped her low ponytail behind her back and smoothed out the pair of overalls she was wearing. Then she gave Craig a kiss on the cheek and started up the stairs.
"Goodnight Pumpkin!"
"Night daddy."
***
Alright everyone!" The drama teacher said, clapping her hands together. That was a wonderful practice! I expect that the parents and student body will be quite pleased with this play! Now everyone, off to your dressing rooms! Or, whatever you want to call them…" Her voice trailed off.
"Oh, Chloe, you come with me honey." She said softly, and led Chloe in a different direction.
Brady sat in the dressing room with all the other guys in the play. He got dressed quickly and stepped out of the crowded room. Mimi and Belle were already dressed surprisingly enough. Mimi sat on a chair outside the dressing rooms, obviously waiting for him.
"There you are!" She said, when she saw him coming out of the change room. "My, don't you look handsome!" Mimi remarked, looking over his costume. The play was set in the 1930s. Brady wore black pants and a white shirt, topped off with a black vest and bow tie.
He shrugged at the comment from Mimi and walked off into another corner backstage. Mimi huffed and turned to Belle, sitting down beside her.
"Hmph! I should be the mysterious singer and get to kiss Brady!"
"Meems, it's not even a real kiss, and you can't sing for peanuts anyway."
"Sure I can! Besides, Chloe isn't all that good. She just sounds good cause the church is so echoey…"
"Mimi, have you lost your mind?" Belle said, raising her eyebrow.
"Lost it? Or finally found it!"
Belle gave her a look.
"You know what I mean." Mimi said, rolling her eyes and slouching in her chair.
"Oh well. At least I can say I'm prettier than Chloe."
"There, now your brain's in working mode."
"Shutup."
"What? I was agreeing with you."
"Well, next time do it in English please."
"Fine, fine." Belle said, turning her attention back to the nail file in her hand.
Chloe emerged from her dressing room wearing a baggy black cloak with a baggy hood that covered most of her head and face. Really the only visible part of her were her hands and the bottom half of her face.
"Now that's what we call smart shopping." Belle whispered to Mimi, setting both of them off in a rage of giggles. Chloe and the drama teacher took no notice of this and continued on with the conversation they were having.
Brady came walking back to where Mimi and Belle sat and peered slowly through the curtains. The auditorium was really starting to fill up. Then he turned back to the two girls staring at him and said, "Good Luck." Then turned and left them again.
"How bout a good luck kiss?" Mimi called after him.
He turned around and gave her a funny look. "Don't push your luck." Then he disappeared behind a clothes rack.
Mimi sighed and slunk back into her chair for the second time.
"How am I ever gonna win that guy over!" She asked in exasperation.
"You have to play it cool, Meems. Let him come to you." Belle said, working away on her nails. Mimi nodded her head in silent agreement.
***
Acts one and two of the play went surprisingly well. Brady and Chloe didn't really have many scenes together even though the story was mainly focused on them. As the curtain went down on the third and final act, Mimi and Belle jumped up excitedly.
"Ok, Belle, this is our premier! We could get discovered tonight!"
They took their places on the stage as the sets were moved around. Chloe moved swiftly around the stage, helping to check the lighting and making sure the lighting was just right. She still had not removed her cloak.
"I wonder if she's wearing overalls under that." Belle whispered to Mimi.
"That would be pretty typical huh? And I doubt she even put any makeup on to look the part. She's probably just plain old Chloe Wesley underneath all of that."
"I wouldn't be surprised."
"Do you even know what's going to happen in this act?"
"No. Do you?"
"I just know that we're onlookers. I didn't know we were supposed to read the rest of the script." Mimi said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Phillip walked onto the stage and greeted the girls.
"Phillip! What are you doing here?" Belle asked.
"Just here to tell you that you gals are looking good! Man do I even feel sorry for Brady right now."
"Ditto." Both girls said in unison.
"Well, I should probably go now before that teacher comes back around, see ya later." With that he left and went back to his seat in the front row of the auditorium.
Chloe walked off the set and waited in her position on the side of the stage, just out of the audience's view. Brady took his place seated on a bench by the lakeside scene. Belle and Mimi stood by a popcorn stand in their knee-length dresses and straw hats.
Then the clear voice of the football commentator rang clear over the intercom system. Chloe had thought it a blessing from god that he had been around that night to announce the scenes.
"Final Act." Was heard through the whole auditorium, people taking their seats just as the curtains raised.
"You horrible man! I was wrong to fall in love with you!" Gwen screeched, pretending to slap Brady across the face. Then she walked off the stage, telling Mimi and Belle to 'beware of that one there.'
Chloe walked silently onto the stage and sat down beside Brady on the bench.
Brady turned to Chloe, running his fingers through his hair.
"You're here! I didn't think that you would come." He said, looking at her with his head tilted to the side.
"I always keep my word Carter." Chloe said, in a voice unlike her own. It was confident and loud, not soft and unsure. It was her character.
"And have you considered my offer? Will you be a singer at my bar?"
"I have not yet decided. You may want my voice but do you want me?" She asked quietly, her hooded head turned towards Brady.
"How can I tell if I cannot see what you look like?" He said, shrugging.
Chloe stood up and undid the cloak where it tied around her neck, then threw back the hood and let the mass of black fabric slide down her body.
The gasps from the audience and even our two favorite onlookers were ominous. Phillip and Jason gaped from their front row seats.
Chloe's hair was down in soft curls that framed her face. For the first time, she was wearing a light dusting of eye shadow on her eyelids. Her dress was a blue satin that matched her eyes. It was low cut in the front, with short sleeves and an open back. It flowed gracefully to her ankles and a few inches of the fabric trailed out behind her. Like they practiced, she took her seat back down beside Brady.
Brady's mouth hung half open. He, like everyone else in the theater was in a complete state of shock. This was not Chloe, Chloe who sang in church and sat in the cemetery that no one liked Chloe? The change was miraculous. It made Brady think of the word skitso. He saw his drama teacher giving him the go ahead from the side of the stage. He gulped and looked at the beautiful young woman standing before him.
"You're stunning…" He said. The fact that he actually meant it made it all that much more convincing.
Chloe smiled and up at him.
"I…I dreamt about you last night. You were an angel. Will you sing for me?"
Chloe nodded her head and stood up, backing away from Brady as a soft melody was played on the piano by the music teacher.
"There's a song that's inside of my soul,
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again…
I'm awake in the infinite cold,
But you sing to me over and over and over again…"
Chloe's soft voice rang throughout the auditorium and everyone was immediately silenced, engulfed in it's soothing aura.
"So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours ,
I pray to be only yours, I know now,
you're my only hope."
Brady was entranced. He thought back to the time when the drama teacher had called Chloe's character a temptress. Boy was she ever right. Then his ears perked up as she started to sing again.
"Sing to me the song of the stars,
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again…
When it feels like my dreams are so far,
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again,
So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours, I pray to be only yours,
I know now,
you're my only hope…"
Chloe walked around the set, glancing back at Brady every few steps as they had rehearsed.
"I give you my destiny,
I'm giving you all of me,
I want your symphony,
Singing in all that I am,
At the top of my lungs,
I'm giving it back…
So I lay my head back down,
1 And I lift my hands and pray,
To be only yours I pray to be only yours,
I pray to be only yours,
I know now…
you're my only hope."
She finished the song with her hands in such a position as if she were in prayer. Then she turned, back to Brady. Brady stood up slowly and made his way to her as the audience stared on in awe. He took her hands in his and she met his gaze.
"You're my angel…" He said quietly, as Chloe made tears roll down his cheeks.
"She's really good at that." Mimi whispered to Belle.
Then, as the curtain started to close, Brady kissed Chloe, a sigh omitting from the crowd. They pulled apart in time to see the audience give them a standing ovation. After the curtains closed, Chloe turned her head back to face Brady.
"Um…" She said quietly, looking down at her hands still held tightly in his.
"Oh, sorry." Brady loosed his grip enough for Chloe to get her hands out.
"That was no damn peck!" Mimi cried angrily, rushing up to them. "I know a peck when I see one and that was not one!" She whirled on Chloe. "It appears that Chloe has a few tricks up her sleeves." She spat, glaring angrily at her. Chloe narrowed her eyes at Mimi.
"You hide all of that and then poof you can't wait to show it off."
"Apparently neither can you." Chloe said, pointing to the outfit that Mimi was wearing.
"Why now huh Chloe? Are you here to make my life miserable and steal my boyfriend?"
Chloe's eyes traveled from Mimi to Brady, then back to Mimi again.
"No." She said simply before walking off, unaware of Mimi's glare following her, nor of Brady's infinite gaze as it followed her until she rounded a corner.
Song: Only Hope by Mandy Moore, from A Walk to Remember