Chapter Three

(Back to Chloe's House)

Chloe and Phillip silently watched Belle walk out and close the front door behind her. Chloe stepped off her stairs and walked into the living room, motioning for Phillip to follow. Phillip sat on one side of the couch, and Chloe sat in the chair opposite him.

Phillip looked around the house shiftily. "Your mom isn't home, is she?"

Chloe shook her head. "Oh no, if she were, you wouldn't be sitting here right now. My mother would never let you past that front door. But, you're in luck, her and Craig are going to be gone for a few hours."

"Oh, that's good."

Chloe leaned forward in her chair and glared at him. "What do you want, Phillip?"

"I just... I wanted to see how you've been doing."

Chloe crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "And you couldn't just ask Belle?"

Phillip shook his head. "No, I couldn't. I wanted to see for myself. I wanted to make sure that you're okay."

"Gee, thanks... I'm fine." She answered with a touch of bitterness in her voice.

Phillip sighed and continued. "Chloe, I know that I've hurt you over and over again. But, I'm not going to hurt you ever again. That's a promise."

Chloe rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh wow, what a relief. I almost believed you the first hundred times you said you'd never hurt me. And look what happened..."

"Chloe, I'm serious. This isn't me promising not to hurt you and begging for forgiveness and asking you to take me back. I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness, and I know that you're never going to take me back."

"You're right... It is beyond over for you and me, Phillip. You've broken my heart so many times, I almost forgot that I still have one."

Phillip groaned and ran a hand through his blonde hair. "God, Chloe... I've been such an idiot."

Chloe nodded firmly. "You're not wrong about that."

"I love you, Chloe. I have for a long time, and I always will. That's never going to change. But... I also hurt you. And, the worst part... I did it more than once, and I kept doing it."

"Geez, Phillip... Are we going to have to rehash all of this in detail? It was painful enough the first time I went through it."

Phillip shook his head and continued. "No, we don't. I just wanted to apologize for everything. I know that I've apologized for my actions over and over again, but when I said it before... I only said it so you would take me back. This time, I know that's not possible. I'm saying sorry, because I honestly and truthfully am. Chloe, you are an amazing person and you deserve far better than what I gave you. That's why I'm finally going to let you go, for good. I have to move on, and find an identity other than just being your boyfriend."

"I know what you mean, and that's what I'm trying to do. I'm finally moving on with my life, a life that doesn't have room for you anymore."

Phillip nodded in agreement. "I know, and you're right. I've spent so much time struggling to keep you or get you back, that I completely lost sight of myself."

Chloe raised her eyebrows thoughtfully. "You never wanted to go to Columbia, did you?"

"No, I only applied so I could be close to you."

"Phillip... That's so wrong. You should never have let what I'm doing dictate your decisions in life. You really do need to find yourself. You are so much more than what you think you are. You could be anything, you just have to give yourself a chance."

"I know, and that's what I'm trying to do. I spent so much time thinking about you, thinking about US, that I forgot who I was. I didn't have any goals or plans other than being with you. Now, I'm starting over... And, I know I have to do it alone."

Chloe nodded and sighed. "So, that's what you came here to say..."

Phillip nodded and smiled at her. "Yes, that's it... I wanted you to know that you don't ever have to worry about me bothering you again. I know I've been possessive and controlling in the past, but that's all over. I'm moving on, and I know you are too. I just wanted to make sure that you're doing good, and that you're happy..."

Chloe smiled back at him. "I am happy. I'm fine. Everything is going to be just fine."

"Good... good. That's all I want for you, Chloe. You may be surprised to hear me say that, because I have been so selfish. I wanted so badly to have you back and to be happy, that I never considered what might make you happy. And, I'm sorry... I can't apologize enough, and I can't make it go away. I just thought you should know."

Chloe gently patted his hand with hers. "Thank you, that really means a lot to me. A lot more than all the times that you apologized before, because now I can tell that you really do mean it. And you know... No matter what, I want you to be happy too. I know that you're a good person, Phillip, and you're going to have an extraordinary life. You just have to promise me one thing..."

Phillip's eyes widened in curiosity. "Anything... What do you want?"

"That you will try, every day, to be the kind of man that I know you can be. Be the Phillip that I love, not the one that hurt me."

Phillip smiled and nodded in understand. "I will... Thank. So, do you think there will ever come a day when we can be friends?"

Chloe shrugged slightly. "I don't know... Maybe someday. But, not right now, and not soon. Sometimes I look at you and I see the Phillip that I care about, but other times, I only see that video, or the Phillip who said all those hurtful things to me in the past. It's going to take a while."

"I understand completely. Besides, you and Belle are going to be in New York, so you'll have plenty of time to not see my face."

Chloe smiled slightly and nodded. "That's true. What about you? I guess you're not going to Columbia now."

"No, not now. My dad wants me to go to Yale, but I'm not sure what I want to do with the rest of my life. Maybe I'll just kick around Salem for a while, or maybe I'll travel... As much of a cliché as it is, I guess I need to go out and 'find myself.'"

"I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for. I really do. And what you did tonight... it's a huge step in the right direction. This is the first time in the almost 3 years that I've known you, that I've ever seen you be this honest and sincere about something."

Phillip shrugged nonchalantly. "It's about time, isn't it? After 18 years of acting like a spoiled, immature, selfish rich kid and losing the one person that I cared about the most... I made a conscious decision to give up the attitude, and attempt to behave like an adult."

Chloe grinned slyly at him. "You mean, Belle made you make that decision."

Phillip chuckled and nodded. "Something like that. I didn't think she'd ever speak to me again after she saw the video, but she's the one that made me wake up and take a good hard look in the mirror."

"Well, she's pretty special that way. I knew she wouldn't be able to stay mad at you for too long. She's the most forgiving person I've ever known."

"Except for in Shawn's case."

"Well, that's entirely different. He broke her heart, he lied to her, and he destroyed her... That's not easy to forgive. I can't say that I blame her."

Phillip stood from the couch and Chloe stood with him. "Me either... I always thought Shawn was the least likely to hurt someone he loved."

Chloe shrugged slightly. "I guess you never can tell. People can surprise you."

"Speaking of... I'm surprised you even let me in here. Why did you?"

"Honestly... I have no idea. But, I'm glad I did."

Phillip smiled at her and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Me too... But, I better go... Best not to let a civilized conversation go on too long."

Chloe laughed and ushered him towards the door. "Good point... Wouldn't want it to lead into an argument or tears or something..."

Chloe opened the door and Phillip walked out on to her porch. He paused and then turned around to look at her. "Chloe... There's one more thing..."

"What is it?"

"Thank you."

Chloe raised her eyebrows in confusion. "For what?"

Phillip gave her a half smile and continued. "For all the good things that we had. The things that I'd rather remember over the bad things."

Chloe nodded in understanding. "Thank you too... Good night, Phillip."

"Good night, Chloe."

Chloe smiled as she watched him walk away. She closed the door and locked it, then put her head against the door and sighed softly. "Thank you, Phillip... Thank you for letting me go."

***

(This conversation is much more civil than the next one... I think that's because Phillip has been a brat for a long time, so it's time for him to clean up his act. Shawn has just recently turned into a jerk, so his redemption is much farther in the future. Hmph. Men.)