"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Twenty Nine
Shawn walked around the back of the car and opened the door to help Belle get out. Giving her hand a quick squeeze and her lips a quick kiss he shut the door behind her with his hip. They headed through the crowed parking lot towards the brightly lit school.
"It looks so different at night doesn't it?" Belle said.
Shawn nodded in agreement. "I wonder if Mimi and Jason are ready for this."
"I hope so," Belle said. "Mimi said the rehearsals have been terrible since Jason won't say two words to her unless it's in the script."
"Well after what happened over the weekend I'm not surprised."
"Yeah Saturday was an interesting day huh?" Belle said wondering if Shawn knew about the surprise visit Jason sprang Mimi when he showed up in her family room.
Shawn ducked into the shadows just at they were about to reach the front doors, pulling Belle hard up against him. "It ranks in my list of the ten best days of my life," Shawn whispered, placing a quick kiss on her lips that Belle immediately responded to.
"And just what position on your list does that day hold?" Belle asked with a smile, knowing that he was talking about the time they spent in the Kiriakis' solarium.
"Well…" Shawn drew out the word as if he didn't have an answer for her and Belle rewarded him with a quick punch to the stomach. "Ouch! Okay…let's see…how about number one?"
"That's better," Belle said with a wide smile.
Shawn returned her smile until he saw Philip's mustang circle through the parking lot. "Hey, there's Philip."
"I wonder if Chloe is with him?" Belle turned around in Shawn's arms but then leaned back to look up at him. "That sounds weird doesn't it? She should be with him but something must have happened that day between them because she's been giving him the cold shoulder treatment every since."
"Well the look on his face when he found out Brady had given her a ride home said it all and Chloe's been that way with everyone as far as I can tell," Shawn answered. "Did you ever get a chance to talk to her?"
"I've tried…a few times but you know Chloe. When she decides to clam up about something that is way she stays until she decides she wants to talk about it. What about Philip?"
"Are you kidding? He's either staring at Chloe or taking off to be by himself…he's just as stubborn as she is," Shawn said.
"I wonder if they are still going to the Christmas Ball together?"
"I don't know. Chloe has to be there because of Craig being Chief of Staff and the fact this whole thing was her mom's idea and I know Grandpa Vic expects the whole Kiriakis clan to be there because of the board seat he holds and the fact its being held at the Penthouse Grill."
"Well, we're suppose to go over to Kimbra's Formals for the final fitting on our dresses after school tomorrow…maybe I can get her to open up then."
"Look, they are together," Shawn said motioning out towards the parking lot. He and Belle watched as Chloe jumped out of the car as soon as Philip came to a stop and then the two of them walked side by side up to the school.
"They may be here together but they couldn't be further apart if they were standing on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon," Belle said stepping out of the shadows just as Philip and Chloe neared where they stood. "Hi Guys!"
Both Chloe and Philip seemed startled to see Shawn and Belle standing there as they each have been lost in their own thoughts.
"Hi Belle," Chloe said with a small smile. "Shawn."
A strained silence extended between the four friends as more people passed by them heading through the doors.
"So Phil…you think Jason up for this tonight?" Shawn asked.
"Last time I talked to him he said he was ready," Philip answered. "Considering who got him involved with this whole mess in the first place."
"Excuse me but I thought Jason managed to get into this 'mess' all by himself," Chloe said.
"Well, someone is making the process a lot more difficult that in really needs to be," Philip replied returning Chloe's stare.
"Like she's the only one at fault here?"
"Let's just say honesty is the best policy and leave it at that."
"She tried to apologize to him now that she knows the truth." Chloe shot back.
"After she got caught playing games with his feelings." Philip said.
"Like he wasn't sending her mixed signals."
"Maybe she should have been honest with her own feelings," Philip said, taking a step closer.
"Maybe he should have given her a little breathing room," Chloe said, taking a step away.
"Maybe we should go inside," Belle said as three pairs of eyes turned towards her. "The show starts in fifteen minutes."
"I'll meet you inside," Chloe said, turning away. "I have to go to the ladies room."
"I'll go with you," Belle said quickly following her as Shawn and Philip stood watching the two of them walk away.
"Someone explain to me what aversion girls have in going to the bathroom alone," Philip said.
"Because they aren't going to the bathroom to go to the bathroom," Shawn said. "They are going there to talk about us…or more specifically…about you."
Philip only stared at Shawn before turning to head inside.
"I guess you don't want to talk about what whatever it is they are talking about?" Shawn asked.
"Gee, can we do that out here in the open or should we be running off to the little boys room?" Philip after handing over his and Chloe's tickets.
Shawn released a low chuckle as he did the same with his and Belle's tickets and then moved farther into the front lobby following the crowd down the main hallway. "What happened between the two of you to set her off?"
"I already told you…nothing happened," Philip said falling into step beside Shawn. "We were…talking and I said something that made Chloe realize she's got some stuff to think about."
"And she's not doing that in a time frame fast enough to suit you?" Shawn asked taking the three steps that led down to an open area with two sets of double doors leading into the theater.
A few people were finding their seats but most were milling around in a crowd mixed with students, parents, grandparents and a quite a few college kids since the theater department at Salem University usually worked closely with the high school in putting on its productions. Two large billboards displaying photographs of the cast and crew attracted quite a number of people, as did a refreshment area.
"You're not going to answer me are you?" Shawn said.
"I think I need a drink," Philip said digging into his pocket. "You want one?"
"I take it that's code for mind my own business," Shawn said stepping to the side so Philip could pass by, "carry on Rockefeller."
Philip just shot him a dirty look as he headed towards the table. After buying a couple of sodas he handed one to Shawn and started to take a drink from his own when his hand froze mid way to his mouth. "Well, if it isn't Chloe's savior."
"What?"
"Brady's here," Philip said, pointing over near the stairs, "with a bunch of his buddies. What is he doing here?"
"How about because he's friends with Mimi and Jason?" Shawn replied.
*****
"Chloe I'm not going to let you ignore me forever," Belle called, leaning up against the cool green tile of the wall in the ladies room.
"I'm not ignoring you Belle," Chloe called over the flush of the toilet as she turned the lock and exited the stall. Heading towards the sink, she quickly washed her hands and then reached into her purse for her brush. After the third brush stoke through her long hair, she noticed that Belle had moved behind and was staring intently at her with her arms crossed over her chest.
"What?"
"You want to tell me what is going on?" Belle asked, and when she saw Chloe begin to protest she just kept on talking. "And don't saying it's nothing because when I finally got you alone outside Dr. Meadows office yesterday and told you about Philip looking for you on Saturday, and his reaction to finding out Brady took you home, you went so pale I was afraid you were going to pass out."
"I wasn't going to pass out," Chloe said, stuffing her brush back into her purse.
"Of course not," Belle replied, "you collapsed in the chair before you had a chance too. What's going on Chloe? What happened with Philip?"
Chloe walked past Belle and headed out the door but Belle was right behind her. "I can't talk about it."
"Chloe I want to help…if I can. I'm your friend remember? I'm here for you."
"I need some more time to think okay? But when I'm ready I'll come find you."
"Okay," Belle said, still not quite believing her friend. "Are we still on for tomorrow afternoon?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Kimbra's Formals? The dresses for the ball…you and Philip are still going together aren't you?"
Chloe nodded. "The dresses…right…yeah, Philip and I are still going. Why wouldn't we?"
"I don't know…you tell me."
"Hey look…there's Mr. Dugan. I have
to talk to him about something he's working on for me and maybe I can catch him
before he gets with the orchestra. I'll meet up with you guys in a minute."
Chloe said walking away. 'I do want to
talk to you Belle,' she thought as she turned to watch her disappear through
the crowd. 'But I just not ready yet.'
Belle turned back to see Chloe disappear into the
crowd. I wish I knew what was wrong with
her, she thought. I would love
to talk to her about Shawn and everything that happened Saturday but she seems
so caught up in her own world right now.
Making her way through the throngs of people heading towards the theater, Belle found herself taking a few deep breaths to control the rising terror she felt in her chest. She had just talked to her therapist about the panic attacks that had started happening just a few days ago. The first one coming when she and Mimi had spent Sunday at the mall trying to get a jump of their Christmas shopping. They had become separated and when Belle realized she didn't recognize anyone around her she began to shake as tears filled her eyes. Mimi had found her seconds later, curled up into a ball in the corner of the glass railing next to the escalator. Her doctor said these could be expected since the attack had come moments after she had bumped into the guy who-
'Everything is okay,' Belle repeated to herself cutting off her thoughts and where they were heading, 'you know where you are and where you are going…just get there.'
Suddenly she saw the flash of black leather and a set of dimples that could belong to one guy and knew that Shawn and Philip were only a few steps away.
"Excuse me."
"Oh I'm sorry," Belle said stepping back from the person she had just walked into. "I was busy looking at my friends and not where I was-"
The words died in her throat as she looked up in a pale, thin face with short, cropped blond hair.
The words screamed in her head as Belle found herself frozen as the tall boy brushed by her placing a hand on her shoulder as he walked by.
"No…no…no," she repeated, forcing herself to turn around. She searched the crowd and then suddenly she saw him again. Those all too familiar icy blue eyes were staring directly at her before someone bumped into him and he again disappeared into the crowd.
Belle pivoted again and tore pass people until seconds later she was grabbing Shawn's arm, pressing herself against his strength.
"Hey there, we were about to send out a search party for you guys," Shawn said, wrapping is arm around Belle. "Where's Chloe?"
"She's um…she's…"
"Belle are you all right?" Philip asked, noticing that she was shaking.
"I'm fine," Belle tucked her head into Shawn's shoulder, blinking back the tears. "I'm just cold."
"Well I can fix that," Shawn said, turning he opened his jacket and Belle immediately fell into his arms. "There is that better?"
Belle could only nod against his chest, afraid of what you come out if she dared to open her mouth to respond.
"Hey you really are shaking," Shawn said, pulling her tighter into his embrace. "Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," Belle whispered, "lets go inside and get our seats okay?"
"We better wait for Chloe or she'll never find us in this crowd."
"Please," Belle cringed at the desperate tone of her voice. "I really want to get inside okay?"
Shawn looked over her head at Philip who returned his confused look with a shrug. "Okay, we'll go and save four seats and Phil why don't you go and see if you can find Chloe?"
"She's talking with Mr. Dugan," Belle said, not moving from the security of Shawn's arms.
"Mr. Dugan…right. I'll be back," Philip said. "Try and find something in the middle of the theater so at least we'll know where to look."
Shawn nodded in agreement, as Philip walked away. He rubbed his hands up and down Belle's back until she started to relax against him. "Okay perfect girl…what's really wrong?"
"Don't call me that!" Belle cried and then softened her tone when she realized how that sounded. "I'm not perfect Shawn…I never was and I never will be again."
"You're perfect for me," Shawn said. Forcing Belle to look up at him, he grew puzzled at the expression in her eyes and the fact that she was trying to hard to hide it. "I wouldn't want you any other way than the way you are."
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Come on, let's go find our seats."
*****
"Well hello there, Miss Lane."
Chloe turned around to find Mr. Dugan, the music teacher, standing there. "Oh hi, Mr. Dugan, I was just coming over to see you."
"Let's walk as we talk, the curtain goes up in ten minutes."
"I was just wondering if you were able to speak with that professor friend of yours yet?"
"Yes I have and you can thank that friend of yours for putting two college buddies back together and for getting you something you wanted in the process."
"Oh thank you!" Chloe eyes glowed with excitement. "This means so much to me!"
"Yes I can see that and I'm sure you will be handle things just fine on the campus," Mr. Dugan patted her arm but his eyes were directed on something over Chloe's shoulder. "I need to get into the theater now. Now, he still needs to work out the specifics but he thinks he can swing it."
"Thank you again."
"Come by and see me in a few days and I should have some more information for you." She didn't turn to watch him walk away but when she heard his faint 'Evening Mr. Kiriakis' Chloe froze realizing that Philip standing directly behind her.
Taking a deep breath to steady her shaky nerves, Chloe turned around. "Looking for me?"
"Yeah Shawn and Belle want to get good seats and the place is starting to fill up fast." Philip said, looking at her intently.
"Okay then," Chloe said, starting to walk past him, "let's go."
"What was that all about?" Philip asking, falling into step beside her.
"What?"
"Mr. Dugan…what did he mean by specifics?"
"You heard that?"
"That and the more information part…more information about what?"
"Well, it was an idea of mine that actually came from my sessions with Dr. Meadows and then someone found a connection for me so it looks like its going to work."
"What's going to work? Chloe, you're confusing me!"
"I don't mean to Philip…it just that you might…well, I'm just…" Chloe let her voice fade away having no idea how to tell him her good news.
"Look, Chloe we need to talk."
"Not now," she said quickening her pace, "the play is about to start and we don't want to miss it."
"Chloe watch out for those-"
Not paying attention to where she was going, Chloe never saw the steps that suddenly appeared under her feet and she tumbled towards the floor until she felt herself landing into a pair of strong, warm arms that curled around her protectively so that her feet never touched the ground.
Chloe looked up and found herself staring into Brady Black's intense blue eyes. "What happened?"
"You weren't watching where you go and were heading straight for the floor. I saw you miss those steps and my football instincts just kicked in."
"Well, I'm a little bigger that your average football."
"Softer and better shaped too," Brady answered as he smiled down on her. "That's why I'm not complaining."
Chloe started to pull away when she realized all she felt under her feet was air. "You can put me down now Brady."
"Anything you say Madam."
Chloe felt her feet touch the ground and she stepped away from Brady and backed right into Philip. Looking over her shoulder she could see the iron grip hold Philip was trying to maintain on his temper. "Come on, let's go find Shawn and Belle."
Philip only nodded as he walked around her and headed towards the double doors.
"Thanks Brady." Chloe said.
"My pleasure. Rescuing you seems to be a new habit of mine," he said before lowering his voice so that only her ears could hear, "better behavior on my part don't you think?"
"I'm glad to see you are learning from your mistakes," Chloe said with a smile before she turned and followed Philip.
"Well I guess someone got their Christmas present early."
Brady tore his eyes away from Chloe's departing figure to look at his fraternity brother. "What do you mean by that?"
"Weren't you just saying you were swearing off girls until the right one fell into your lap?"
"Right girl," Brady agreed. "But someone else got there first."
"Isn't that always the way," his buddy answered. "So I guess that puts you in that dreaded 'friend' category."
"Yep, we're friends…just friends."
to be continued…