News Travel Fast
Chloe sat on the couch, fixated on the tone of Belle's voice.
Ch: (to herself) Geez, Belle sounded terrible. Even worse than when she found out about Shawn. I hope that everything's fine in…
Her cell phone rang.
Ch: Hello?
Phillip: (shaken) Hey, it's me.
Ch: Phillip. What's wrong?
Meanwhile, in the kitchen…
Br: (panicked) Is it Dad or Marlena?
Be: No, thank G*d. It's Sami.
Br: (rolling his eyes) Sami? What about her?
Be: (crying) Austin dumped her.
Br: Excuse me?
Be: Austin dumped Sami.
Br: (smiling) What happened?
Be: He wouldn't go into details, but he said he never wanted to see her or hear from her, ever. He said this to her in front of us, including Kate, Lucas, and Nicole. He walked out on her, just left her in the chapel, in a crying heap on the floor. It was horrible…
Br: (eyes gleaming) Oh, I'm sure it was. (propping his feet on the table) Now Tink, I want you to start from the beginning and don't leave anything out.
On the balcony…
Ch: Austin dumped Sami? That's terrible.
Ph: I guess.
Ch: What do you mean 'You guess'?
Ph: Look, Chloe. You don't know about all of the things she put him through. This thing has been going on for over half my life and it's about time that it ended.
Ch: But still, I feel bad for her, getting jilted in front of everyone.
Ph: Don't be. It couldn't have happened to a better person.
Ch: Hmm…
Ph: What, Chloe?
Ch: I was thinking that the whole student body thought the same thing about me.
Ph: Chloe, you're not the same person as Sami.
Ch: No, but just as many people hate me as Sami…
Back in the kitchen…
Be: How can he do this to her, Brady?
Br: (to himself) Because his brain finally kicked into gear. (to Belle) I don't know, Tink.
Be: What Austin did was unforgivable…
Br: Tink, I realize you are still hurting over Shawn, but this is different. Austin has tolerated a lot and I suspect that Sami pushed him to the brink.
Be: That's a pretty cynical take, Brady.
Br: Not to someone whose been paying attention to this saga. This is just like Phillip and Chloe, only they have less angst under their belts, no thanks to you.
On the balcony…
Ph: Austin dumping Sami isn't the same thing as me dumping you. Sami put Austin through a lot. Hell, she was making a fool of him.
Ch: People said that I was making a fool of you.
Ph: Chloe, let's not fight about this.
Ch: Fine.
In the kitchen…
Be: Brady, I know you don't like Sami, but…
Br: But nothing is worth getting into an argument with you. Tink, I have to go. I'm sorry that this trip went south for you. It was the last thing you needed. And please, don't worry about Sami.
Be: I'll try, Brady. And please, Brady, don't tell anyone what happened. The fewer people who know about this, the better.
Br: I won't. I love you, Belle.
Be: Love you too, Brady. Bye.