Chapter Eighteen
(Back to the Dance)
After over an hour of dancing, Belle needed to take a few minutes to catch her breath. She dragged Phillip towards the refreshment table and grabbed a bottle of water to sip on.
"Phillip... I am having such a great time. The best time I've had in a very long time."
Phillip smiled at her proudly. "The feeling is mutual, by the way. But, I think I wore you out."
Belle shrugged and giggled girlishly. "Well, shaking your groove thing in a pair of heels can be pretty tiring. But, the fun is well worth all of the pain."
"If you get too tired, just let me know and we'll get out of here."
"I don't want to stay too long. In fact, I'd like to leave before..." Belle's words trailed off when she saw two of her classmates walking towards her. It was Jason and Cynthia, apparently two of the biggest thorns in the sides of Belle and Philip had decided to show up together.
Belle could feel the muscles in her jaw clench when Jason gave her his usual smarmy smile. He began to speak, and every word made Belle's stomach turn with disgust. "So, is this a club for people who have been dumped by their true loves or can anyone join?"
Belle crossed her arms over her chest and stood her ground. "Well, you should know. I certainly didn't see Jan come running back to you, did I?"
"That may be true. But, guess what I saw earlier?"
"I would rather not. See, I couldn't care less about anything you have to say."
"Oh, you'll care when I tell you. I saw Shawn Brady running through the hallways crying like a little girl. I wonder what he could have been crying about."
Belle nearly toppled in surprise, but she did not show her shock to Jason and Cynthia. She wouldn't let them get the best of her. "Jason... You should really shut your mouth."
Cynthia raised one eyebrow haughtily. "I don't know why you would even begin to defend him, Belle. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's all your fault that he was bawling like a baby."
Belle looked at Phillip in confusion, and Phillip turned angrily to Cynthia. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well, he came here to see his mom or something. And, I'm guessing that he saw the two of you, laughing, dancing and having the best time of your life on that dance floor. Probably drove him out of his mind."
Jason nodded and continued the tirade. "That is sad. The love of his life and his best friend. It's too bad Chloe couldn't have been here to see you two attached at the hip like you are. That would have been really priceless."
Phillip pointed angrily at Jason and his voice rose. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Jace. Chloe happens to know that we're here together, and she doesn't care. And, I don't care. So, if you think you're going to provoke something by bringing up the past, then you're dead wrong."
Belle nodded and snarled at Jason and Cynthia. "You two disgust me. You're taking pleasure in other people's pain? You're just as bad as Jan. Maybe you should be concerned about yourself for once, instead of OUR problems."
Jason shook his head. "No thanks, it's way more fun to see the look on your face right now. I wouldn't give that up for anything."
Phillip clenched his fist at his side. He had an infamous temper, and it took all of his strength to keep from pounding his fist into Jason's face. "Look at you, Jason. The Queen Bitch of Salem High dumps your sorry ass, so now you've taken up with her lady-in-waiting... the second-runner up."
Cynthia sneered at both of them. "Please... You two think you are so much better than everyone else."
Belle shook her head and let her anger show in her voice. "No, I don't think I'm better than everyone else, and neither does Phillip. But, I KNOW that I'm better than people like you and Jan. I always have been, and I always will be. I don't need to lie and scheme and cause misery to other people just to be happy. Sometimes, I don't know whether to hate you, or pity you because you're so pathetic."
Phillip looked at Belle proudly and then motioned towards the door. "Are you ready to go now?"
Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I am. I'm going to go say goodbye to Mimi and Kevin."
"Go ahead without me. I'll be right over."
Belle grinned and then made her way towards Mimi and Kevin on the other side of the gym. Phillip watched her until she was out of earshot and then moved closer to Jason.
"Jason... If you ever speak to Belle again, or even look sideways at any of the people I care about, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your life. You may not be afraid of me, but you should be. I am still a Kiriakis, and don't you ever forget that."
Jason did not reply, although he must have been tempted to. Phillip figured he just didn't want to get kicked out of the dance for fighting.
Phillip turned to Cynthia and gave her a few words of warning as well. "Cynthia... You are very lucky that Belle is not a violent person. The only time she would ever hit someone is in self defense. However, I can't promise the same from Mimi or Chloe... So, If I were you I would back off from this whole thing and get over it."
Cynthia rolled her eyes and huffed loudly, but Phillip just turned and walked away. The entire night had been going so well up until now, and Phillip was saddened that Jason and Cynthia had the ability to ruin it all. But, more than that, he was proud of Belle for not letting their words get to her. Most of their classmates thought Belle was weak because she was so sweet and kind. But, Phillip knew better than that. Belle was stronger than all of them, and could stand up to anyone.
Phillip joined Belle as she was hugging Mimi goodbye. "So, are you two going to stick around for awhile?"
Mimi nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. I wish you guys would stay."
Belle shrugged nonchalantly. "Even before the whole thing with Jason and Cynthia, I was about to tell Phillip that I wanted to leave before the slideshow and crowning of King and Queen. Too much trauma there for the past two years."
Mimi nodded in understanding. "I know, I know. I'm just glad you came at all... Really glad."
Phillip nodded and smiled at Mimi. "Me too."
They said their final good-byes to Mimi and Kevin and walked towards the doors, hand in hand. Phillip looked at Belle curiously.
"Are you sure you want to leave?"
Belle nodded confidently. "Absolutely... Despite the little confrontation, I think we still have time to salvage what has otherwise been a really great evening."
"Agreed... Do you have anything in mind?"
"Me? You're the one that's supposed to have all the plans. I'm YOUR date, remember? You asked ME."
Phillip opened the door to the gym for her and chuckled as they passed through. "Oh right, I forgot. I'm a little rusty at this whole 'planning an evening' thing."
Belle nodded and grinned at him. "Me too. But, I don't care what we do... As long as there are no other Salem High students there. I've had enough of them for one night."
"Me too." Phillip paused to think of where they should go next. He shrugged in confusion and led Belle towards his car in the parking lot. "Well, I'm sure we'll think of something fun and spontaneous."
Belle giggled and shrugged. "I hope so..."
Phillip hadn't planned ahead. He had not thought of anything besides spending time with Belle tonight. It didn't matter to him where they were at, as long as they were with each other.
***
(I just had the busiest weekend of my entire life, but I'm back to writing again... Is it like deja vu if I am constantly apologizing for the delay? Well, that's what I'm doing.)
(Back to the Dance)
After over an hour of dancing, Belle needed to take a few minutes to catch her breath. She dragged Phillip towards the refreshment table and grabbed a bottle of water to sip on.
"Phillip... I am having such a great time. The best time I've had in a very long time."
Phillip smiled at her proudly. "The feeling is mutual, by the way. But, I think I wore you out."
Belle shrugged and giggled girlishly. "Well, shaking your groove thing in a pair of heels can be pretty tiring. But, the fun is well worth all of the pain."
"If you get too tired, just let me know and we'll get out of here."
"I don't want to stay too long. In fact, I'd like to leave before..." Belle's words trailed off when she saw two of her classmates walking towards her. It was Jason and Cynthia, apparently two of the biggest thorns in the sides of Belle and Philip had decided to show up together.
Belle could feel the muscles in her jaw clench when Jason gave her his usual smarmy smile. He began to speak, and every word made Belle's stomach turn with disgust. "So, is this a club for people who have been dumped by their true loves or can anyone join?"
Belle crossed her arms over her chest and stood her ground. "Well, you should know. I certainly didn't see Jan come running back to you, did I?"
"That may be true. But, guess what I saw earlier?"
"I would rather not. See, I couldn't care less about anything you have to say."
"Oh, you'll care when I tell you. I saw Shawn Brady running through the hallways crying like a little girl. I wonder what he could have been crying about."
Belle nearly toppled in surprise, but she did not show her shock to Jason and Cynthia. She wouldn't let them get the best of her. "Jason... You should really shut your mouth."
Cynthia raised one eyebrow haughtily. "I don't know why you would even begin to defend him, Belle. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's all your fault that he was bawling like a baby."
Belle looked at Phillip in confusion, and Phillip turned angrily to Cynthia. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well, he came here to see his mom or something. And, I'm guessing that he saw the two of you, laughing, dancing and having the best time of your life on that dance floor. Probably drove him out of his mind."
Jason nodded and continued the tirade. "That is sad. The love of his life and his best friend. It's too bad Chloe couldn't have been here to see you two attached at the hip like you are. That would have been really priceless."
Phillip pointed angrily at Jason and his voice rose. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Jace. Chloe happens to know that we're here together, and she doesn't care. And, I don't care. So, if you think you're going to provoke something by bringing up the past, then you're dead wrong."
Belle nodded and snarled at Jason and Cynthia. "You two disgust me. You're taking pleasure in other people's pain? You're just as bad as Jan. Maybe you should be concerned about yourself for once, instead of OUR problems."
Jason shook his head. "No thanks, it's way more fun to see the look on your face right now. I wouldn't give that up for anything."
Phillip clenched his fist at his side. He had an infamous temper, and it took all of his strength to keep from pounding his fist into Jason's face. "Look at you, Jason. The Queen Bitch of Salem High dumps your sorry ass, so now you've taken up with her lady-in-waiting... the second-runner up."
Cynthia sneered at both of them. "Please... You two think you are so much better than everyone else."
Belle shook her head and let her anger show in her voice. "No, I don't think I'm better than everyone else, and neither does Phillip. But, I KNOW that I'm better than people like you and Jan. I always have been, and I always will be. I don't need to lie and scheme and cause misery to other people just to be happy. Sometimes, I don't know whether to hate you, or pity you because you're so pathetic."
Phillip looked at Belle proudly and then motioned towards the door. "Are you ready to go now?"
Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I am. I'm going to go say goodbye to Mimi and Kevin."
"Go ahead without me. I'll be right over."
Belle grinned and then made her way towards Mimi and Kevin on the other side of the gym. Phillip watched her until she was out of earshot and then moved closer to Jason.
"Jason... If you ever speak to Belle again, or even look sideways at any of the people I care about, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your life. You may not be afraid of me, but you should be. I am still a Kiriakis, and don't you ever forget that."
Jason did not reply, although he must have been tempted to. Phillip figured he just didn't want to get kicked out of the dance for fighting.
Phillip turned to Cynthia and gave her a few words of warning as well. "Cynthia... You are very lucky that Belle is not a violent person. The only time she would ever hit someone is in self defense. However, I can't promise the same from Mimi or Chloe... So, If I were you I would back off from this whole thing and get over it."
Cynthia rolled her eyes and huffed loudly, but Phillip just turned and walked away. The entire night had been going so well up until now, and Phillip was saddened that Jason and Cynthia had the ability to ruin it all. But, more than that, he was proud of Belle for not letting their words get to her. Most of their classmates thought Belle was weak because she was so sweet and kind. But, Phillip knew better than that. Belle was stronger than all of them, and could stand up to anyone.
Phillip joined Belle as she was hugging Mimi goodbye. "So, are you two going to stick around for awhile?"
Mimi nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. I wish you guys would stay."
Belle shrugged nonchalantly. "Even before the whole thing with Jason and Cynthia, I was about to tell Phillip that I wanted to leave before the slideshow and crowning of King and Queen. Too much trauma there for the past two years."
Mimi nodded in understanding. "I know, I know. I'm just glad you came at all... Really glad."
Phillip nodded and smiled at Mimi. "Me too."
They said their final good-byes to Mimi and Kevin and walked towards the doors, hand in hand. Phillip looked at Belle curiously.
"Are you sure you want to leave?"
Belle nodded confidently. "Absolutely... Despite the little confrontation, I think we still have time to salvage what has otherwise been a really great evening."
"Agreed... Do you have anything in mind?"
"Me? You're the one that's supposed to have all the plans. I'm YOUR date, remember? You asked ME."
Phillip opened the door to the gym for her and chuckled as they passed through. "Oh right, I forgot. I'm a little rusty at this whole 'planning an evening' thing."
Belle nodded and grinned at him. "Me too. But, I don't care what we do... As long as there are no other Salem High students there. I've had enough of them for one night."
"Me too." Phillip paused to think of where they should go next. He shrugged in confusion and led Belle towards his car in the parking lot. "Well, I'm sure we'll think of something fun and spontaneous."
Belle giggled and shrugged. "I hope so..."
Phillip hadn't planned ahead. He had not thought of anything besides spending time with Belle tonight. It didn't matter to him where they were at, as long as they were with each other.
***
(I just had the busiest weekend of my entire life, but I'm back to writing again... Is it like deja vu if I am constantly apologizing for the delay? Well, that's what I'm doing.)
