A Reunion
Eventually, Chloe cautiously opened Brady's door and peeked out. She didn't see anyone, so she carefully exited his room, smoothing down her tousled hair and adjusting her sweatshirt. She looked at his door and shook her head but when she looked at Belle's door, she grew pale.
Ch: (to herself) You are really something, Chloe Lane. On your way to tell your best friend you had cancer, you ravaged her hot-assed brother. (sighing) What kind of creature are you?
She heard a door opening. She slowly turned around and saw a blue eye staring at her through the crack. The eye gave her a quick wink, which made her angry, flustered, and delighted, at the same time. She tried to shoo him away, but he stood still. She grew redder and more nervous because of his stubbornness. She walked over to him and glared at his eye. Her irritation made his lips curl, as he waited for her to say something. She tried her hardest to be calm and articulate what she wanted to say.
Ch: (whispering angrily) Would you please close your door?
The eye stared at her, puzzled, as she tried to regain her cool.
Ch: (whispering) What are you trying to do to me?
The eye gave her a mischievous wink, which infuriated her.
Ch: (whispering exasperatedly) Well… aren't you going to say something?
Brady nodded.
Ch: (exasperated) Well…
Br: (smirking) I'm just waiting…
Ch: (whispering) For what?
Br: The truth.
Ch: The truth about what?
Br: Your true feelings about what just happened.
Ch: (flustered) Brady, I don't have the time…
Br: Yes, you do…
Ch: (agitated) I have to talk to your sister.
Br: If that was so pressing, then why are you talking to me?
Ch: Because I don't want a stalker staring at me.
Br: (feigning innocence) Me, a stalker?
Ch: (sighing) Brady, you don't know how creepy it is, seeing your one eye.
Br: (slyly) Come in my room and see them both.
Ch: (firmly) No.
Br: Okay. But I want the truth. It doesn't require any words… (grinning) How do you feel about what just happened?
She scowled as his eye waited for her answer. She tried to sigh dismissively, but his eye remained fixed on her. Before she could manufacture a look of defiance, she felt her lips curling into a more ridiculous grin than Brady's. She bit her lip, trying to prevent her grin. His eyebrow raised, in query, waiting for the truth. She found out, too late, that a look of nonchalance was too relaxed an expression for someone not used to lying. A smile crept across her face as a giggle bubbled within her. His eye began to sparkle and she tried to glare at him, but her cat-that-ate-the-canary grin ruined the effect.
Ch: (under her breath) Jerk.
Br: (smugly) Well, my work is done.
He stuck out his tongue as he closed his door. She mockingly kicked his door, trying to get her giggle under control. As she turned around to face Belle's door, she fanned her face. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on her door. She heard Belle running to the door, as she chatted with Mimi.
Be: (opening the door) Oh. (looking her up and down) Look who's here.
Mimi looked around the door. When she saw Chloe, she rolled her eyes.
Be: (sarcastically) So… what did I do to deserve this?
Chloe became uncomfortable.
Be: All these months… no visits. A couple phone calls, here and there, some emails… (coolly) taking the 'Diva' thing too seriously, aren't we? (trying not to smile) I can't do it… (excited) Come on in!
Belle pulled Chloe into a hug. Chloe relaxed into it.
Be: (chirpy) Chloe, I'm so glad to see you.
Ch: (relieved) Me too.
Be: (letting her go) Can this day get any better? Brady's home and now, you're here.
Mi: (sarcastically) Yeah, she's here.
Ch: (biting her tongue) Nice to see you, Mimi.
Mi: (trying to be civil) Nice to see you too, Chloe.
Mimi and Chloe glared at each other as Belle bounced around the room.
Be: There is so much we need to catch up on. I want to know all about your independent study, the classes, the people… the guys…
Mimi began to collect her things as Belle rambled.
Be: (looking at Mimi) Meems, what are you doing?
Mi: (detached) That was my cue to exit, right?
Be: (apologetic) No, Meems.
Mi: (dejected) Now that Chloe's back…
Be: Mimi, I missed Chloe, but that doesn't mean that I just killed time with you just because she was gone. We've had a blast. Why should it end now? Please, Meems, stay.
Mimi looked over at Chloe, who seemed genuinely uncomfortable about their conversation.
Ch: (sincerely) Please stay, Mimi. Nothing has to change.
Mi: (suspicious) Okay. (dropping her things) I'm curious about your independent study too, especially the guy part.
Be: (chirpy) This is great! The Three Musketeers, back together again.
Mi and Ch: (in unison) Not quite!
Belle laughed as Chloe and Mimi tried to hold in their smile.
Be: Seems to me you two have some things in common. Like me.
The phone rang and Belle ran over to the caller ID. The color drained from her face.
Be: (upset) Oh, no. It's Shawn.
RANG!
Mi: Go ahead. Answer it.
Ch: Yeah, you know you want to.
RANG!
Be: Can I leave you two alone?
Mi and Ch: Yeah!
Belle picked up the phone.
Be: (nervous) Hello… hey, Shawn. Um, could hold on? (pressing the mute button) I'll take this down the hall. You two… please play nice.
Belle walked out of the room. Mimi and Chloe stood there, staring at each other.
Mi: Long time, no see.
Ch: (sitting on Belle's bed) Uh huh.
Mi: Well, you've lost weight.
Ch: (looking at her) So have you.
Mi: (touching her hips) Thanks. I've put a lot of work into it. I promised myself that I would look as hot as the Professor.
Ch: The Professor?
Mi: (smiling) My nickname for Kevin.
Ch: So, you're still together?
Mi: (smiling) Uh huh.
Ch: Good.
Mi: (surprised) What, no wisecracks? No Billie Dawn/ Paul Verell jokes?
Ch: No. You seem disappointed.
Mi: No. It's just that I didn't expect this.
Ch: Oh.
Mi: (curious) So… is this thinness a new look you're trying out?
Ch: No.
Mi: Good. No offense, but the shapely brunette goddess thing worked better.
Ch: (sarcastically) Gee, thanks.
Mi: (annoyed) It was a compliment, Chloe.
Ch: I know. I just had to search for it.
Mimi and Chloe glared at each other.
Mi: (trying to be courteous) So, how's your independent study going?
Ch: Fine. In fact, it was a success.
Mi: Naturally.
Ch: (biting her tongue) I was thinking of returning to school.
Mi: (rolling her eyes) You would…
Ch: (annoyed) And what is that supposed to mean?
Mi: (icily) Oh, you know what I mean. The world's your stage, Chloe, well, Salem High is and you want to resume your reign as Queen. I bet that your intentional isolation from your 'friends' were designed to create buzz. And your return to your… 'retro look', the black baggy clothes, no makeup, the paleness, will build more anticipation for your metamorphosis, scheduled to happen at Last Blast.
Ch: (derisively) Wow, Mimi. You read me like a book.
Mi: Unfortunately, your plan won't work. The kids at Salem High are spent. They don't care about you. Sadly, your greatest promoter, Phillip Kiriakis, was responsible for your 'overexposure'. Chloe this and Chloe that… the kids want you back just so Phillip can finally put a sock in it.
Ch: Look, the last time I spoke to him, I told him that I wanted to be friends.
Mi: (sarcastically) Hello, Chloe. Guys always use 'friendship' as a mode of getting in. Instead of disappearing for months at a time and leaving the rest of us to listen to Phillip's prattle, why didn't you just dump him?
Ch: How can I dump someone who isn't my boyfriend?
Mi: Does he know he isn't?
Ch: He does, since he's the one who dumped me!
Mi: It's obvious that he's rescinded the dumping…
Ch: (defiant) Well, I want to let it ride.
Mi: (shocked) Well… you came back on the scene, with good news, for a change. (smiling) Poor Phillip.
Mimi turned her attention to Belle's CD collection, while Chloe laid on Belle's bed and stared at the ceiling. Aside from Chloe's sighs and Mimi's CD shuffling, the room was silent.
Ch: (sighing to herself) Could this be more awkward?
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Mimi and Chloe looked toward the doorway.
Br: (in the doorway) Hey girls.
Chloe quickly sat up.
Br: (looking at Chloe) Can I come in?