Disclaimer: The following fiction is loosely based on characters currently owned and operated by the producers and writers of NBC-TV's Days Of Our Lives. No implied affiliation. Gratuitous entertainment purposes only.
Stubborn and Clueless
Chapter Three
by Fidomom
"Hey, Chloe, thanks for meeting me!"
Chloe looked up at John Black cautiously,
"Hi, Mr. Black. I was a little surprised by your lunch invitation. What is this about? I hope everything is okay."
John smiled at the girl before him. No wonder his son was so smitten. Even as sick as she was the girl was a knockout and apparently just as temperamental as Brady. Perfect for eachother. Now to nudge them towards recognising it.
"Please, Chloe call me John. What do you say we order first and then I'll fill you in?"
Chloe nodded mutely. She was obviously nervous and very curious. When they'd placed their orders, John cleared his throat and got to the point.
"I thought you might like to know how Brady is really doing from someone who knows him almost as well as you do."
Chloe's heart constricted and she swallowed a lump of threatening emotion.
"I'm sorry Mr. Bl- John but I don't know Brady very well at all. I'm not sure what ever gave you the idea that I did."
John was impressed. Brady sure knew how to pick them. She was going to be a tougher nut to crack than he'd thought. Knowing his son the way he did he should have anticipated it. While this might be a little harder than he initially thought it could be done. Afterall he was Soldier Black. He knew how to reverse brainwashing processes. This should be comparatively easy.
John merely raised his eyebrow at her.
"He misses you too. Oh, he tries to hide it, kinda like you're trying to do right now."
Chloe looked down at her hands wishing she could believe him. She looked up and gave John her coolest most direct gaze,
"I have a lot to keep me busy in my life Mr. Black. I haven't had time to miss Brady. I really don't think it would even occur to Brady to miss me, he's very busy as well."
John was amused by her ability to stonewall. Anyone else would have taken her at face value by now. He wasn't fooled for a second.
"Never quite busy enough though are you, Chloe? Neither is he. It would be comical if it wasn't so sad the way he looks up everytime his office door opens and it isn't you standing there. Or the way he answers his phone full of hope and sounds so disappointed when that isn't you either."
Chloe refused to let in the glimmer of hope John was offering her.
"Mr. Black I'm not sure who Brady is hoping to see when his office door opens nor who he hopes it is when he answers his telephone but I can assure you it isn't me. Brady is likely incredibly relieved that he doesn't have to deal with me and my trivial teenage problems anymore. Maybe he's dating someone and simply hasn't told you yet."
John smiled slightly~Oh she's good at this!~
"Don't worry Chloe he isn't dating anyone. He isn't the type to date when his heart and mind are with someone else, namely you. I invited you here today to give you the heads up. My son is in love with you, however he's too stubborn and proud to admit it yet. I believe that you are also in love with him but you think there's just no hope. I'm telling you there is. That's a fact. Don't give up on him Chloe. He'll come to his senses. You know how stubborn he is. When he finally lets it permeate that thick skull of his it's gonna hit him like a Mac truck. I would hate to see that happen and you've already given up on him. I'm just asking you not to. If you love him and I know you do give him patience. Shouldn't be too long now. Oh and one more thing ... we never had this little chat! My son would be mortified, I'd be disowned for sure! You take care of yourself, now."
John stood up to go and was halted by her tremulous voice,
"Wait, Mr Bl- John! Thank-you ... for lunch."
John grinned,
"You're welcome. You might want to thank Belle, too. See you later!"
Chloe sat there mulling over the conversation trying valiantly not to hope.~Could it be true? Could he really be in love with me? No, it can't be. If he loves me why hasn't he called or come to see me? Why did he let me walk out of his life? Is he really just being stubborn, or are his Dad and Belle seriously mistaken? How do I keep hoping when he hasn't given me any reason to?~
To be continued ...
Stubborn and Clueless
Chapter Three
by Fidomom
"Hey, Chloe, thanks for meeting me!"
Chloe looked up at John Black cautiously,
"Hi, Mr. Black. I was a little surprised by your lunch invitation. What is this about? I hope everything is okay."
John smiled at the girl before him. No wonder his son was so smitten. Even as sick as she was the girl was a knockout and apparently just as temperamental as Brady. Perfect for eachother. Now to nudge them towards recognising it.
"Please, Chloe call me John. What do you say we order first and then I'll fill you in?"
Chloe nodded mutely. She was obviously nervous and very curious. When they'd placed their orders, John cleared his throat and got to the point.
"I thought you might like to know how Brady is really doing from someone who knows him almost as well as you do."
Chloe's heart constricted and she swallowed a lump of threatening emotion.
"I'm sorry Mr. Bl- John but I don't know Brady very well at all. I'm not sure what ever gave you the idea that I did."
John was impressed. Brady sure knew how to pick them. She was going to be a tougher nut to crack than he'd thought. Knowing his son the way he did he should have anticipated it. While this might be a little harder than he initially thought it could be done. Afterall he was Soldier Black. He knew how to reverse brainwashing processes. This should be comparatively easy.
John merely raised his eyebrow at her.
"He misses you too. Oh, he tries to hide it, kinda like you're trying to do right now."
Chloe looked down at her hands wishing she could believe him. She looked up and gave John her coolest most direct gaze,
"I have a lot to keep me busy in my life Mr. Black. I haven't had time to miss Brady. I really don't think it would even occur to Brady to miss me, he's very busy as well."
John was amused by her ability to stonewall. Anyone else would have taken her at face value by now. He wasn't fooled for a second.
"Never quite busy enough though are you, Chloe? Neither is he. It would be comical if it wasn't so sad the way he looks up everytime his office door opens and it isn't you standing there. Or the way he answers his phone full of hope and sounds so disappointed when that isn't you either."
Chloe refused to let in the glimmer of hope John was offering her.
"Mr. Black I'm not sure who Brady is hoping to see when his office door opens nor who he hopes it is when he answers his telephone but I can assure you it isn't me. Brady is likely incredibly relieved that he doesn't have to deal with me and my trivial teenage problems anymore. Maybe he's dating someone and simply hasn't told you yet."
John smiled slightly~Oh she's good at this!~
"Don't worry Chloe he isn't dating anyone. He isn't the type to date when his heart and mind are with someone else, namely you. I invited you here today to give you the heads up. My son is in love with you, however he's too stubborn and proud to admit it yet. I believe that you are also in love with him but you think there's just no hope. I'm telling you there is. That's a fact. Don't give up on him Chloe. He'll come to his senses. You know how stubborn he is. When he finally lets it permeate that thick skull of his it's gonna hit him like a Mac truck. I would hate to see that happen and you've already given up on him. I'm just asking you not to. If you love him and I know you do give him patience. Shouldn't be too long now. Oh and one more thing ... we never had this little chat! My son would be mortified, I'd be disowned for sure! You take care of yourself, now."
John stood up to go and was halted by her tremulous voice,
"Wait, Mr Bl- John! Thank-you ... for lunch."
John grinned,
"You're welcome. You might want to thank Belle, too. See you later!"
Chloe sat there mulling over the conversation trying valiantly not to hope.~Could it be true? Could he really be in love with me? No, it can't be. If he loves me why hasn't he called or come to see me? Why did he let me walk out of his life? Is he really just being stubborn, or are his Dad and Belle seriously mistaken? How do I keep hoping when he hasn't given me any reason to?~
To be continued ...