"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Thirty-One
Thursday afternoon at Salem Place…"Do you need any help in there?" Chloe called, stepping out of her dressing room into the main hall of the changing area.
"Yeah…in a minute," Belle said softly.
"It's a beautiful dress Belle," Chloe said, moving closer to the door, the long skirt of her emerald green formal swooshing at her ankles as its trumpet shape fit her snugly from her hips to her knees before it flared out with the assistance of matching emerald green netting.
"But it's not my first choice," Belle said opening the door and joining Chloe. "I need help with the zipper. I could try and reach it but I don't want to catch the skin on my back-"
"Turn around and I'll get it for you."
Belle slowly turned knowing that now Chloe was the third person to see what evidence remained from the attack. Most of cuts had healed but not enough for her to wear the royal blue formal she'd first picked out almost a month ago when she, Chloe and their mothers went shopping for dresses to wear to the Christmas Ball. When her mom reminded her a few days ago about the revealing style of the dress Belle had panicked at the idea of picking out and paying for a new one. With its sheer cap sleeves that were more for decoration than practical use, they would lay just off her shoulders leaving her neck, arms and back bare and Belle knew she couldn't wear it. It was only after her parents assured her that getting a new dress wouldn't be a problem and she could still keep the blue one to wear to the Junior Prom in the spring that Belle calmed down.
Chloe slowly pulled up the zipper mindful of Belle's skin and closed the eyehook on the band collar around her neck. "You couldn't have found a better dress if you had weeks to shop."
"You really think so?" Belle sounded doubtful as she looked down the front of her.
"Come on," Chloe said, "let's go out to the three way mirror and you can see for yourself."
The girls made their way out to the main part of the store unaware of the admiring glances being sent their way from the sales clerks and other customers.
"Did Mimi ever say if she was coming to the ball?" Chloe asked.
"The last thing I heard from her was no but all the candy stripers are invited."
"Maybe she's not going because she knows Jason will be there with his Dad being the head of the Cardiology Department and being honored."
"I wish the two of them would get their act together…they are crazy about each other but all they do is fight with one another."
"Yeah," Chloe agreed as she stepped up on the small platform and turned to face the triple set of mirrors. "Boy…doesn't that sound like another couple we know?"
"Shawn and I don't fight," Belle said with a smile, "at least no more than you and…oh Chloe, you look so beautiful." Belle said, taking in her friend dressed in a strapless formal of a deep emerald green satin that hugged her body from her breasts to her knees and on her feet were matching heels. "How are you going to wear your hair?"
"My mom suggested I wear it all pulled back in one of those mesh…snood I think she called it…sort of forties style since the dress is from that era."
"I thought you said Philip likes it when you wear your hair long."
Chloe let out a long sigh. "I was wondering how long you were going to last before you brought up his name."
"Well considering the two of you spent most of today ignoring each other did you really think I would let this prime opportunity for girl talk to slip by? So come on girl…spill."
"Spill what? Philip is angry with me because I ate a hamburger with Brady."
"Somehow I don't think it's that simple."
"No…I guess it's not."
"You want to tell me about it?"
"There's nothing to tell. I ran into Brady the other day at the hospital after one of my sessions and when I said I heading over to Dotcom to wait for my mom he offered to walk with me. Then Nancy called and said she was caught up in yet another one of her meetings about the ball and I should just grab something to eat so Brady stayed to keep me company. We talked about opera and the theater…"
"And roses."
"And roses. How was I suppose to know he was going to send Mimi flowers on opening night?"
"But you never told Philip about meeting up with Brady and considering he was the one who took you home from his place on Saturday…I don't know why but Brady had been at the top of Philip's hit list for a while now."
Memories from the night of Nick's homecoming party and Brady's forced kiss flashed through her mind but Chloe pushed them away. "Philip and I haven't really been on a even keel since Saturday and I knew that him finding out about Brady would just set him off. Besides it was no big deal…if I had eaten with Shawn or Jason would Philip still be mad?"
"He does have quite a jealous streak," Belle said. "And maybe he's taking it that you've got something to hide since you didn't tell him."
Chloe turned to the side to see another view of the dress. "It goes deeper than that Belle."
"Are you ready to talk about it that now? I know something happened Saturday…you came looking for me remember?"
Chloe took a deep breath and moved to the edge of the platform. "Philip and I went for a walk when we first got to his house."
"And?"
"And he made heart in the snow for me, taught me how to do snow angels and introduced me to Dynatos Mia."
"Okay, the heart in the snow and the angels I get by who is Die Not Toes Mia?"
"Dynatos Mia," Chloe corrected her friend with a quick giggle. "It's Greek…it means 'strong one' and he's Philip's horse."
"Of course it does," Belle answered. "Okay so you met his horse which means…you were in the stables…"
Chloe nodded. "Yeah…alone."
"Details girl…I want details!"
"Oh Belle…I started talking about my trip into New York City and the next thing we kissing and then we fell off the bale of hay and then Philip found a blanket-"
"Whoa! Slow down…so basically you and Philip were making out."
Chloe felt her cheeks flush as the memories of that afternoon filled her mind. "I've never done anything like that before."
"You and Philip have been together since his party at the lake…you guys never made out before?"
"Belle…Philip was the first guy I ever kissed, you know that. You know about my past…he does too now but even before that, we were taking things really slow. I mean…sure we kissed…in the movies, his car, my front porch…but in the stables…it was different. It was sort of dark and we were all alone on a blanket laid out in the hay…no one was around…"
"Philip didn't push you for something you're not ready for did he?"
Chloe shook her head. "No…Philip was tender and gentle and it felt so right to be in his arms. I was more surprised at my own reaction to what was happening between us."
"What did happened?"
"It's more like what didn't happen Belle…there was no fear…no flashback of painful memories …I just went with my feelings and my body seemed to have a mind of it's own." Chloe voiced dropped to a low whisper. "But then he popped the button on my jeans and when he went for the zipper…I…I panicked."
Belle's eyes widened to large circles. "How did Philip react?"
"He was very sweet and understanding but it was all happening too fast for me. I said some mean things but all he cared about was what I was feeling…he…he said that maybe I was hiding behind what happen when I was a child and using it to keep myself from getting close…not just to him but to anyone."
"Wow…what did you say to that?"
"Nothing I just wanted to get away and think about what had happened and what he said…" Chloe turned back to look at herself again in the mirror. "I don't know…something is missing with this dress."
"How about jewelry?" Belle offered accepting Chloe's tactful way of changing the subject.
"Oh, Craig is letting me borrow his mother's pearl choker…wait until you see it! It's beautiful and it had these matching pearl drop earrings he said I could-"
"Excuse me miss."
Chloe and Belle both turned to look at the sales girl who was dressed in a simple black dress. "These weren't available when you first picked out your dress but I think they might be just what you are looking for."
Chloe took the elbow length satin gloves from the sales girl. Looking over at Belle who nodded enthusiastically, she started to try on the gloves that matched her dress as the clerk walked away. Slowly she pulled one over her hand and up the length of her arm, the satin material cool against her skin.
"They are perfect Chloe…the finishing touch." Belle said.
Pushing her fingers into the other glove, Chloe started to work it over her hand. "You wanna know something else…I haven't sung since that day my instructor…well, since the day he-he touched me."
"You mean…not once?"
Chloe shook her head as she settled the edge of the glove around her elbow and turned again to look in the mirror but it wasn't her reflection she was seeing. "I've tried a few times but nothing comes out…it's like I've forgotten how."
"Have you talked to Dr. Meadows about that…and about what Philip said?"
"Yes I have…and I've taken steps to work on the singing issue so I know I'm heading in the right direction there…Philip…well, I'm still trying to figure that out."
"What steps? What are you taking about?"
Chloe shook off her disheartening thoughts as she stepped off the platform. "That's a secret and a surprise. Okay…I'm gonna add the gloves to my outfit. Now it's your turn."
Belle lifted the long glossy silk skirt of her dress and took Chloe's place in front of the mirror turning from one side to the other to get a full view.
"That dress is stunner Belle…you are going to knock Mr. Brady for quite a loop."
Belle trailed her fingers up the sheer mesh sleeves that started at her wrists and continued up over her shoulders and across her chest and back until it met the solid black silk band collar that rested high on her neck. The solid black silk dress would have been strapless without the mesh but the combination of the two created an exquisite formal that hugged her curves in all the right places. "I guess I just didn't plan on seeing so much of myself covered up."
"But the black mesh is so sexy because you can see the skin through it," Chloe said, "but not too much. Sometimes less is more."
"You think Shawn is going to like it?"
"Are you kidding? You could stand next to him in a paper sack and he would think you're beautiful."
"Or a pink silk camisole," Belle whispered as she smiled at her reflection, liking the new dress more and more.
"What was that?"
"What?"
"That remark about a camisole…I think it's your turn to spill some details."
Belle moved closer to Chloe so that only the two of them could hear their conversation. "Well… remember when you came to the solarium that Saturday looking for me and Mimi?"
"Yeah…Henderson said you were there but you must have left by the time I got there because it was all locked up."
"I was still there…Shawn and I were there."
"Alone I assume."
"Yes alone…Mimi had left a few minutes before Shawn showed up. At first, he scared the crap out of me when he grabbed me from behind…"
"A natural reaction considering the attack and the fact you thought you were alone."
"Well I freaked out and starting yelling and crying but then we talked…and talked some more…you know, I don't think Shawn is handling what happened to me as easily as everyone thinks he is."
"What makes you say that?"
"For one thing I can't seem to get him to talk about it…he says he doesn't want to upset me but the attack is having a big effect on him and I think he's refusing to deal with it."
"Did you tell him that?"
"Yeah and we starting talking about his feelings but of course he managed to turn it back around to what I was feeling and after awhile we stopped talking."
"And then…"
"It was really warm in there so Shawn suggested I take off my sweater but I was really nervous because he'd never seen me…my body since the attack. I was scared how he would react."
"How did he react?"
"He was wonderful of course…you know, Chloe I have loved Shawn all my life but it's nothing like I feel now…I wanted to be so close to him that even skin to skin didn't seem to be enough."
"Belle! You didn't…I mean did you…forget I asked…it's none of my business."
"It's okay Chloe…no we didn't…we wanted to…I wanted to…but we're waiting until its right…for the both of us."
"But you know it's going to be with Shawn…your first time?"
Belle nodded. "His too."
"Really?"
"Does that surprise you?"
"No…I guess not…I-I don't think Philip is…anymore…you know, a virgin."
"Have you asked him?"
"No…but from what I've heard he's had a pretty active social life. Well you should know… you've known him all your life."
"I know he's dated a lot of girls…and none of them for very long but as for his sex life I have no idea."
"Maybe I'm not the right girl for Philip…I don't know if I can give him the kind of relationship he expects or is use to."
"Chloe you are already giving him a relationship he isn't used to. Before you I'd say his longer girlfriend lasted six weeks…at the most. A lot of girls want Philip because of his money, his looks, the fancy house…and for a while he went along with all of that…until you. He loves you Chloe…and I think that's a first for him and as for anything more…I think that is something the two of you need to decide-" Belle suddenly froze as her gaze passed over the mirror.
"Belle…Belle…what is it?"
"Oh my God! It's him!"
"Him? Who…what are you talking about?" Chloe asked, reaching out for her friend who body was suddenly trembling with fear.
Belle clutched at Chloe, pulling her up on the platform and pointed at the mirror. "It's him…the guy who…the guy that…"
Chloe stared at the mirror trying to comprehend what Belle was saying when she realized the reflection in the mirror showed the large picture window at the front of the store. Chloe whirled around but there was only a woman and her teenage daughter peeking in at the front displays. "There's no one there."
"He was there!" Belle cried, "he was inside the shop…just standing there…staring at me!"
"Shhh…it's okay," Chloe soothed as she gently rubbed Belle's back. "No one is there now. There isn't even a man in the store right now. Maybe you just saw someone that looked like-"
"It wasn't someone like him…it was him!"
Belle raced towards the dressing room and Chloe quickly followed her. Hurrying to catch up with Belle's frantic pace, Chloe quickly changed back into her regular clothes but when she emerged from her dressing room Belle was already changed and heading towards the entrance doors.
"Belle! Wait!"
Chloe stopped the closest clerk and asked her to hold the dresses and the rest of the items until they could be picked up later and then she ran to catch up with her friend.
to be continued…