"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Eight
Saturday Evening…Salem
High School Homecoming...
"Can you believe this crowd?" Belle
said as she held tight to Shawn's hand. "It seems like the whole town is here
with all the alumni that come back for this thing."
"I don't know how we are going to find Mimi or Brady in this crowd." Shawn looked down at Belle dressed in her cheerleading outfit, enjoying the view of her legs. "What time do you have to meet up with the team?"
"About fifteen minutes before the game starts so I have plenty of time. Your parents coming tonight?"
"Oh yeah, they're here somewhere…hey, did you mom tell you about Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah, she mentioned it early this morning before she headed over to the hospital. Your folks invited us over for dinner. Does that surprise you?"
"Well, we usually go over to my grandparents for the day but Mom is still working on getting my dad and your dad back to…I don't know…maybe back to where they were before this whole Princess Gina thing."
Belle gave Shawn's hand a quick squeeze. "It's still tough for him isn't it?"
Shawn only nodded. "But he's trying. Geez, it hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week."
"And the hospital Christmas Ball is three weeks after that. It's a good thing Mrs. Wesley's been working on it since summer. I bet she hasn't even thought about it over the last few days."
"Hey look, isn't that Brady over there?" Shawn said pointing towards
the bonfire that was raging red, gold and orange against the coming night sky
Belle tried to look through the crowd and thought she saw her brother with his arms wrapped around a pretty redhead but she couldn't be sure. "I think so. He said he was hoping to catch up with some of his old crowd here tonight."
Shawn shared her smile before his gaze became serious again. "I wonder if Philip is here yet."
"He should be with the rest of the team in the locker room. The game starts in less than an hour. Hey, there are his parents. Look at Mr. Kiriakis, I don't think I've ever seen him dressed so casually before. He always seems to be in a business suit whenever I see him."
Shawn nodded in agreement, taking in the casual khaki slacks and sports jacket Victor was wearing. "It's not exactly jeans and tee-shirts but I guess it's casual enough."
"I guess they still haven't come up with anything on Chloe."
"Not that I know of. My dad says they are doing everything they can. I talked to Phil this afternoon but he didn't seem to want to go into it."
"Did he says anything after we all left last night?"
"Nah, I think he just wanted some company, you know, someone to hang with. Speaking of last night…did you catch those looks between Jason and Mimi?"
"How could I not? He was watching her the whole time we were there."
"What is up with those two? Did you see Jan's face yesterday when Mimi said she had his jacket? I thought the cat claws were coming out for sure."
Belle laughed at the memory. "She certainly didn't like the fact that Jase's jacket somehow found its way onto Mimi's bed."
"Yeah," Shawn grabbed Belle around the waist, pulling her into the shadows of the announcer's booth placing a quick kiss on her upturned lips. A kiss that turned deeper when he felt the flicker of her tongue against his own lips, lasting several moments before he pulled away. "How DID that jacket get on her bed?"
"Clean your mind Brady," Belle said, "you know Mr. Lockhart would skin Mimi alive if she had a guy in her room."
"If he knew about it," Shawn countered.
"I finally cornered her this afternoon and insisted she tell me what's going on. You know she's been staying after school for the rehearsals for the school play. Well, I guess she ran into Jason, offered him a ride home and he left the jacket in her car."
"I know that his dad took away his driving privileges after he found out about that stunt he pulled at the Last Blast and when Jason asked when he would get them back the answer was when hell froze over. But there has got to be more to it that just a ride home. I mean, the guy couldn't take his eyes off of her last night."
"I think it's been a few rides home but that's all Mimi would say. I can't believe I didn't notice anything, I guess I've been wrapped up in my own little world."
"You mean wrapped up in me," Shawn teased, holding her close, "you know Jason hasn't really been out with anyone since he ended things with Jan, he's just been concentrating on football and hanging out with..."
"...all of us." Belle joined in as Shawn finished his sentence. "And Mimi is a part of us."
"And here she comes."
Belle turned around and saw Mimi coming through the gates, her arms wrapped around a letterman's jacket. Stepping away from the booth they met up with Mimi near the row of concession stands selling everything from hot dogs to Salem High sweatshirts. "Hey Meems."
"Hi guys, have either of you seen Jason?"
"Well, you seem to be in a big hurry to get rid of that jacket Mimi." Shawn said.
"It's not mine Shawn, remember?"
"A lot of girls are wearing those jackets and they don't belong to them either."
"I guess that's one of the perk dating a football player, which I'm NOT doing." Mimi said. "Jason forgot this in my car and I'm returning it, plain and simple."
Belle and Shawn just shared a smile and a knowing look that Mimi chose to ignore. "So, have you seen him?"
"He's probably in the locker room with the rest of the team getting dressed." Belle said, "I guess you'll have to hold onto his jacket until after the game."
"Are you kidding! Do you know what everyone will say if they see me with Jason's jacket! But then again, no one would actually believe that Jason Hillman would want me to wear his jacket."
"Mimi, don't talk like that." Shawn said, placing his arm around her shoulders, "in fact, I noticed that last-"
"Look, I'm going to put this in my folks car," Mimi cut him off, "I'll get it to him later."
"Oh my God!"
"Belle, what is it?"
"Chloe!" Belle whipped her head around, her ponytail flying in the air, "I just saw Chloe!"
"What? Here?"
"I swear it Shawn, it was her."
"I think you are seeing things…"
"No I'm not," Belle said, taking off in the crowd heading in the direction of the bonfire, "come on."
"Belle, wait up! It's can't be Chloe," Mimi said as she and Shawn started after Belle, "she wouldn't just show up here after being gone for two days. Would she?"
"Whoever thought she would run away in the first place? Besides, if she is back and wanted to see Philip, or any of us, she knew we would all be here. Come on, before we lose Belle and whoever she's chasing."
Shawn started weaving his way through the crowd and Mimi tried her best to stay up with him. Suddenly she felt a sharp tug on her arm stopping her in her tracks. "What the-"
"We need to have a little talk."
Turning around, Mimi found the hand that had a tight grip on her arm belonged to Jan. "I don't think so." she replied, twisting her arm free.
"How in the hell did you get your grubby little hands on Jason's jacket?"
Mimi looked down, she had totally forgotten she even had it in her hands. She curled the collar of the jacket in her fingers, and instinctually pulled it close to her, its warmth an instant shield from Jan's icy stare.
"Answer me."
Mimi looked up to see Jan had taken a step closer to her, her face only inches away. "Why do you care? You and Jason aren't-"
"What? Going out?" Jan interrupted, "you mean as boyfriend and girlfriend like your precious Belle and Shawn? Please, just because we aren't together doesn't mean we aren't... together."
"What does that mean?"
"Oh Mimi, you are such a baby!" Jan's laughter was heinous. "We dated for almost a year and just because he has fallen under Ghoul Girl's spell and decided to walk the straight and narrow doesn't mean he has stopped being a guy with a strong...appetite. All that football works up a lot of...well... let's call it tension. You don't seriously think he would "come" to you for help with all that...tension, now do you?"
"Jason and I are just friends."
"Yeah, that's why you're holding onto that jacket of his for dear life."
"Look Jan, I gave him a ride home after practice the other night and he left it in my car. He asked me to return it to him tonight and that is what I am going to do."
"Well, you make sure you do that...you see, Jase is more brawn than brains and he might not realize what everyone will think if they see you holding that. Or God forbid, you actually have the nerve to put it on. But you and I both know...not that anyone could possibly think..."
"What? That Jason might be interested in me?"
"Oh Mimi, what dream world are you living in? You haven't even had a boyfriend because you've been pining away for Shawn Brady since junior high. I bet you've never even french kissed a guy yet."
Mimi turned away, a bright pink flush staining her cheeks at Jan's words. She was right of course, it had been easier to dream about Shawn these past few years instead of actually getting out there and meeting guys and dating. But ever since the summer she had come to accept the fact that Shawn and Belle were meant to be together. She had promised herself that her junior year was going to be a new beginning for her and getting the lead in the school play had been a big part of that. She finally felt like she was coming out of her self imposed shell and the fact she had swallowed her shyness and actually offered a rain soaked Jason a ride home after school one day a few weeks ago was a big boost to her self esteem.
She remember the look on his face when he realized who was behind the wheel of the car that stopped and offered him a way out of the downpour but she guess he figured riding with her was better than walking and had accepted. It was awkward those first few minutes of silence, neither one of them used to being the one expected to start a conversation but when she asked how practice was going he seemed pleased and they talked easily until she dropped him off.
After that day it was even harder to make the offer a second time because she had no idea why she was doing it or what Jason would think by her asking. He'd remained silent for so long after she asked if he needed another lift home she was sure he was going to say no. Proud of the casual wave she had mustered she'd walked away and was shocked when he hollered for her to wait up and then jogged to catch up with her. That time he had asked why she was at school so late and she found herself telling him all about the school play.
In the last few weeks Mimi had found herself staying as late as possible after the rehearsals and Jason didn't seem to mind that they were always leaving the school grounds at the same time. She had kept her fantasies about the tall, athletic blond to herself, not even sharing them with Belle, for fear they would get back to him and ruin the precarious friendship they were forming.
"Hello? Did you hear me?" Jan demanded.
"Were you saying something important?" Mimi replied.
"Just offering a little friendly advise. Start slow and stick with one your little theater boys. Jason is just too much for you to handle and I'm not quite through with him yet. In fact, we have a date to be doing a little private celebrating later at the lake."
Mimi watched as Jan strolled away, her vision blurred by the sudden rush of stinging tears.
*****
"Oh no...don't tell me you gave that witch your jacket."
Jason's hands stilled on the waistband of his uniform pants as he slowly turned around. "What did you say Harris?"
Nick Harris, the large center for the Salem High Panthers, leaned up against the wall in the noisy locker room. As a senior and captain of the team, he often took the coaches too seriously when they said he needed to keep his eye on his younger teammates, earning him the nickname of "Mother Hen" for his efforts. "I see you walked in here without your coveted letterman's jacket, in fact, you didn't have it on yesterday in school either."
"So what's that make you? The fashion police?"
"Nope. Just makes me wonder if you've taken too many hits to the head and actually decided to get back with Jan and hand over your jacket to her."
"No, Jan doesn't have his jacket." Philip said, coming around the corner dressed only in his gold, spandex football pants, his spikes clicking loudly on the floor. "As a matter of fact, he-"
"Forgot it in a friend's car and I'm getting it back tonight." Jason interrupted, his gaze burning into Philip's.
"No offense man," Nick said, straightening up, "but that Jan is one cold chick. I mean, she's hot to look at but inside… nothing but ice."
Jason nodded in agreement as he tightened the strings on the front of his pants. "Don't worry about it, Mother Hen, I'm dumb but I'm not stupid."
"Hey Phil, still no word on Chloe huh?" Nick asked.
Shaking his head, Philip walked over with his bag, dropping it on the floor in front of his locker.
"If I can do anything…"
Nick wisely decided to let the conversation end and walked away.
Jason sat down on the bench and started putting on his spikes, waiting like Philip, until the last possible moment to put on his shoulder pads and jersey. "Hey man, glad to see you made it. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show."
"Coach wanted to give me a little pep talk as soon as I got my pants on. Didn't even give me a chance to put my stuff away."
"So I guess that means you don't need to hear my little speech then huh?"
"It can't be any worse than the one I just got." Popping open the locker, Philip reached down to move his bag out of the way before swinging open the metal door. "He's got me playing for every little old lady within the town limits of-"
Philip froze, his words hung forgotten in mid sentence as he stared hard into the interior of his locker.
Jase looked up, puzzled at the motionless trance that seemed to overtake Philip. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Chloe."
"What?" Finished with the laces, Jason dropped his foot to the floor and rose from the bench. "What are you talking about?"
Philip started to reach for something inside his locker but stopped. Jason crowded next to him to see what had transfixed Philip's gaze and saw, laying there on the traditional navy blue towel, brand new and left folded neatly on the middle shelf by the team trainers for after the game, was a single yellow rose.
"How the hell did that get in there?"
"Chloe," Philip repeated as he finally reached out and took the rose in his grasp, "she put it there."
"Hey Phil, I know her running off is tearing you up inside in a way that I can't even begin to image but you can't really think-"
"I don't think…I know."
"I don't think you know either."
"Dammit Jason, I'm serious. I know Chloe left that rose there, which means she's back and she's here." A huge smile lit up Philip's face and the long missing dimples were back again in full force. Reaching for a tee shirt, he quickly pulled it over his head. "I gotta go find her."
"Wait a minute," Jason took a quick look at the clock, "the game starts less than twenty minutes, there is no way coach is going to let you go on some wild chase for Chloe."
"Jason, she's here…tonight!" Philip waved the rose in his friend's face. "And I don't know how long she is going to stay. I'm not going to be a damn bit of good on that field until I find her!"
"Okay man, I believe you but I'll telling you, Coach is not going to let you out of here."
"So, I'll sneak out. You cause a distraction and I'll get out of here."
Reaching for his own tee shirt, Jason too quickly donned it. "Forget it man, I'm going with you. Four eyes are better than two if you think you are going to find her out in that crowd."
Philip smiled his thanks. "Well, how do we get out of here?"
Both guys looked around at the rest of team in the final stages of getting dressed for the game, their brains working overtime trying to find a way to get past the coaching staff guarding the door.
"Mother Hen!" Jason said.
"What?"
"Nick! He just asked if there was anything he could do."
Philip nodded in agreement and the two of them raced over to where the senior was sitting quietly in prayer as was his pre-game ritual. At first he was hard to convince but when Philip showed him the rose he agreed to do what he could and without warning, he dropped to the ground, clutching his knee and wailing loudly at the top of his lungs.
Moments later Philip and Jason found themselves slipping and sliding on the concrete outside the school, their metal spikes made for gripping turf not pavement. They soon made their way over to the grass, amazed at the amount of people in the bleachers and still standing around the field.
"Now what?" Jason asked, mindful of the stares he and Philip were getting.
"I don't know, just look for her. And anyone else you might see."
"Hey, there's Shawn and Belle."
The two of them rushed over to their friends. "Have you seen Chloe?"
"Philip! Jason! What are you two doing out here!"
"It's Chloe, have you seen her?" Philip asked.
"We've been looking for the last fifteen minutes because Belle swears she saw her out here somewhere."
"She is here," Philip said, showing them the rose he still gripped in his hand. "This was in gym locker."
"I knew it!" Belle squealed, "I knew that was Chloe I saw."
The four of them looked around, feeling overwhelmed at the amount of people surrounding them. "So, how do we find her?" Philip asked.
"Have you seen Dr. and Mrs. Wesley?" Jason asked, "If she's here they must be too. I can't image her being home and them not knowing about it."
"Hey, isn't the game about to start soon?" Belle said.
"I don't care about the freaking game," Philip said, "and not to be an ass but they can't start without the starting quarterback."
"Look, why don't we split up and agree to meet back by the announcer's booth in ten minutes." Shawn said. "If you find Chloe bring her with you. If not, we'll ask the guys to make an announcement."
"Do you think that might scare her off?" Belle asked.
"She left the rose didn't she? I'd say she wants Philip to know she's here."
Everyone nodded in agreement and took off in separate directions. Philip scanned the crowd, answering hellos and wishes of good luck from unseen faces, his only thought centered on finding Chloe and making sure she was okay. He tried looking up into the bleachers but the faces all seems to blur into one another. He wondered if anyone else had found her somewhere and she was waiting back at the booth for him.
Lord, there was so many things he wanted and needed to say to her and he knew that there wasn't going to be enough time before the game but he needed to know that she would be here when it was over. Heading around the far side of the bonfire, he caught a glimpse of Mimi standing in the flickering glow of the flames. He saw she was hugging Jason's jacket to her chest as she talked with a tall girl with long flowing curls…
Philip felt his heart leap into his throat as his footsteps faltered. My god, she's really here.
"Chloe?"
He knew she was too far away to hear his whispered word. But just then she slowly turned his way, her gaze centering on his face.
"Philip."
He watched as her lips form his name and then she started towards him. He opened his arms and a moment later she was there, her arms clinging to his neck as he encircled her in his embrace. Feeling as if he was truly able to close his eyes for the first time in two days, his eyelids drifted shut, capturing his grateful tears as he felt Chloe's own tears where she buried her face against his throat.
"Welcome home honey," he whispered, "welcome home."
To be continued…