Chapter 33: Part IV: Discovery
Mimi clung to Philip, holding onto him tightly, feeling that there was no hope left for them. They were going to die out here in the freezing cold. Her only consolation was that she wasn't alone.
At least he was with her.
Philip stood there, holding Mimi tightly, pressing his face against the top of her head, and desperately trying to keep her warm. She was getting so weak, but he couldn't panic.
There had to be something.
Something they could do. He wasn't going to let them die.
"Phil-ip?"
He heard her voice, so quiet now, sounding so full of fatigue.
His own voice was gentle, yet shaky. It felt like ice was being thrust down his throat.
"Yeah, Meems it's going to be okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to us, I promise."
"No, n-o I s-ee, I see a-ch - im- n ey, over-there."
He looked over to where she was pointing, witnessing, oh thank you, thank you, thank you.
It was a chimney, a little ways off that they probably hadn't seen before because they had been moving so much and it was hidden by the trees and the blinding snow and wind.
"Meems, it's a chimney! Mimi you found it!! You did it! We're going to be okay!"
Philip was so excited and relieved that they were going to be all right. He could get her out of this storm. He hugged her tight again, noticing her attempt at a smile, and helped her walk.
After a little while, they saw the small cabin, sitting there in the snow, surrounded by trees. Philip wondered how he even saw it from the road. Maybe because it was up high it was easier to see then or maybe it was just fate. He didn't care, he was just glad they were going to be okay. He walked over with Mimi to the front door, seeing no lights on inside, no fire coming out from the chimney, nothing. He tried knocking, feeling it was ridiculous, but hey, it was worth a try. Of course no one answered and when he tried to actually open the door he had no success. He looked for an open window, checking all around the cabin and found none.
Continuing his search for a way in, Philip noticed a fallen branch behind the cabin, realizing it could be their one way to warmth and safety.
He walked with Mimi further into the forest. Noticing her confused expression, he explained to her what he was going to do. "Mimi, I'm going to have to break that window, so I need you to sit here for a minute, okay, and put your head down just in case any of the glass goes flying really far. I don't think it will happen; you should be safe here, but just in case, okay?" She nodded her head a tiny bit and put her head down which was answer enough for him.
He walked back over to the cabin, taking the branch again, feeling the fierce winds pulling at him. He made his way closer to the window, yelling back to Mimi: "Remember Meems, keep your head down!" and then he threw the branch through the window, turning his face and body away as the force and weight of the branch shattered the glass.
After he heard the loud crash, he went over to the window with another branch, using it to clear away any broken shards of glass that might get in the way. Then he took off his coat, feeling the stinging coldness right away. He placed the coat on the windowsill and then went back to Mimi.
"Come on Meems, everything's going to be okay now."
He helped her get up and walked back with her to the broken window, relieved that it wasn't too high so it shouldn't be too hard for them to climb through it.
"Okay Meems, I think I better climb through first because I don't want you to fall onto the glass on the other side, but here, you come with me up to the opening and then I can make sure you're alright, okay?"
She simply nodded her head. Philip hoped that she was okay as he climbed through the low window, over the part where he had put his coat, making sure she stayed standing. After he was on the others side, he reached for her, helping her climb through the window.
After she was safely inside, Philip looked for the lights, finding out quickly that they weren't working. Great, just what he needed. He walked through what looked to be the bedroom.
Oops! He broke the bedroom window! Oh well, they could send him the repair bill!
Then he stumbled, because of the darkness, with Mimi in his grasp, towards another room, noticing a closet. He opened it and thank you once again, there was a flashlight on one of the shelves, that he could barely see, but found by kind of feeling around, making quite a mess.
They could send him the cleaning bill too!
Now that he could see, he noticed that he was in the hallway and the next room was either the living room, family room, some kind of front room that had the kitchen right there attached to it and that front door.
He sat Mimi down on a sofa that was in the middle of the room, and then hurried back to the bedroom, grabbing blankets and pillows. He went back to the closet and found matches inside of it. He hurried back out to the front room and was thankful that there was wood next to the fireplace. He threw some logs in, starting up a fire, and lit a couple of candles he found nearby.
Then he laid the blankets down on the floor next to the fireplace and walked with Mimi in his arms over to them, sitting down with her on the floor. He looked into her eyes, relieved that they appeared to be clear and that she seemed aware of what was happening. Then he took her coat off and removed the scarf from around her head, noticing that her body was still shaking a lot. His was too, some, but it was starting to subside. He took off his scarf, his sweater, gloves and his shoes. Now dressed in a long sleeved shirt and his jeans he turned to Mimi.
"Meems, you have a shirt under your sweater?"
She nodded her head and he took off her sweater, her shoes and her gloves. Her face and her hands were a little red, but it looked like she didn't have frostbite, thank goodness. He took one of the blankets, wrapped it around her, and then started to rub up and down, working to keep her warm.
Sitting close to the fireplace, Mimi felt the hot flames from it start to heat up her body.
But as wonderful as that was.
It was his presence.
His efforts to warm her up that pushed away the icy chill she had been feeling. His hands moving briskly, yet still gentle, she could feel him taking away the aching coldness in her limbs as he held her tightly, using his own body to warm her.
Out there she had started to feel not only pain, but also numbness in places; his rubbing up and down now was starting to take that numbness away, leaving tiny bits of pain that slowly were replaced with what she needed to feel. Closing her eyes, secure in his embrace and basking in the warmth, Mimi rested her head against Philip's chest.
Philip looked down at her, raising her chin to see her face, her eyes opening to his, her small smile heartening him. She was going to be okay, but they were both still in their wet jeans and that wasn't good. He got her to look at him again.
"Mimi, we've got to get out of our jeans because they're all wet from when we were on the ground. Can you get your own off?"
She looked up at him a little shyly, but nodded her head yes. She was already starting to feel better, but he was right, her legs were still freezing. She would just have to forget her own modesty for now.
Philip smiled at her reassuringly, seeing her hesitation.
"I'll turn around and you can cover yourself with the blanket, okay. Actually, let me go see if there's any clothes in the bedroom while you do that. Then you can have your privacy."
Noticing now that he was shaking some too.he had done so much to help her, but of course, he must be cold also. Mimi reached up for his face, touching it with her reddened fingers. Just a short while ago, they had been hurting but now thanks to him.
Seeing such clarity in those eyes.and thankfulness.Philip gently grasped the reddened fingers that touched his face, that brought sudden and welcome warmth to it. Slowly he brought them down to her lap, squeezing her hand quickly before letting go. Then softly he smiled down at her. With just that one small gesture, she had alleviated some of the chill he still felt.
Seeing relief in his face, Mimi smiled back, finally answering him in a quiet voice.
"Alright."
****
Philip went into the bedroom, shivering from his legs being cold, and looked in the closets and dresser drawers, finally finding some sweats and sweaters, after making another mess.
He was going to end up using his whole first paycheck from Titan paying for the damage. Oh well!
He called out to Mimi.
"Is it safe?"
Mimi laughed softly (music to Philip's ears after being so worried about her.she was his little trooper) then called out 'yes, that it was.'
Philip came out after she had finished covering her legs. "Okay, I've got sweatpants and sweaters, sized to fit all, well at least in our desperate case they are. So what's your pick, the gray sweatpants, the blue sweatpants, sweater # 1 which looks like something our parents, correction, grandparents would wear or sweater # 2 which looks like.well we're thinking about staying warm right, we don't care about being fashionable."
Mimi laughed again, looking up at that face that didn't look very impressed by their choices of attire.
"You snob." Her voice was still a little weak from the cold that had seeped into her throat while they were outside, but she just had to get that one out.
Philip laughed. "Well, you're insulting me again so that's a good sign. I'm going to go change in the bathroom. Hope you don't mind.I'll just take the clothes that look slightly bigger, unless you wanted them."
She shook her head "no" and he started to head to the bathroom that was in the hallway, but he stopped suddenly.
Turning back, he got down on the floor next to her, taking her face into his hands and kissing her forehead. Then he looked into her eyes. "I am so glad you're alright." He whispered with emotion, then left to go change, but not before saying.
"You're only getting away with that remark you said earlier because I know you're still kind of weak."
She smiled, watching him leave for a second (her hero once again) then started to change her clothes.
****
They changed, separately of course, and then got a good laugh at how each other looked.
Mimi's blue sweat pants went past her feet so she had to roll them up, but at least there was a tie to keep them up around her waist. As for the sweater, it was somewhat big and the sleeves were too long, but at least she was much warmer now and also feeling a lot better.
Philip's sweat pants looked like floods, though the sweater fit him a little, but he was also just glad to be warm.
After all that, they called their frantic parents, using Philip's cell phone that for some reason stopped working in the snowstorm, but miraculously was working again indoors.
Now, after finding some packets of hot chocolate in one of the cupboards, they were sitting down on the blankets with their hot drinks.
Mimi looked over at Philip, noticing the cut on his head that they hadn't done anything about, except what she had done for him in the SUV. She walked over into the hallway and opened the closet Philip told her about.
(Boy, he made a mess!)
.and found a first aid kit. She came back out to the living room with it.
Philip looked up at her unhappily.
"What are you doing with that?" He asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to clean your cut." She got down on the floor, holding some gauze. She moved over towards him, resulting in Philip quickly backing up.
Oh my goodness, was the big bad football player actually scared? Chicken, she thought. "Oh now don't be such a baby. This isn't going to hurt." She poured some antibacterial solution onto the gauze, prepared to clean his cut.
"At least I don't think."
That last remark elicited some raised eyebrows from Philip and another suspicious look. He hated hospitals, medicine, any kind of things used to clean wounds, just plain all of it.
"Just kidding." Mimi smiled at him and started gently cleaning the cut on the side of his forehead. Moving in closer to get a better view, she placed one hand near the top of his head, feeling a small bump.
"Philip, you said you didn't have a bump, but you do! Did you deliberately lie to me?"
Oh-oh. she looked angry. Why did he feel like he did when his mother was scolding him? He looked at her sheepishly.
Man she was good! "Uh, well you see, I guess, I -uh hit it on the steering wheel or something.I don't know. I just didn't think it was that bad and we had way more important things to worry about."
His cut stung a little, but her hands were so gentle and soothing. As for the bump, it had hurt him a little also, but it was true, he barely felt it.probably all that adrenaline kicking in.
When she was done, satisfied that the cut wasn't very deep, she bandaged it and sat back down looking into his eyes with concern. "You should have told me. I was so worried about you.anything could've happened. We should put ice on it and we have to ma-"
He smiled gently. She was babbling again, a sure sign of her anxiety. He reached for her, stopping her from going on by holding onto her shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"Honestly, I'm fine. Yes I hit it, but it doesn't feel that bad and I don't even want to think about anything frozen. The cut feels better too. Thank you for being my nurse. Now stop worrying about me and sit down so you stay warm." He easily got her to sit down by keeping his hands on her shoulders and pushing her downward a little.
Mimi gave him a disapproving look (trying to be sneaky, humph!). "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes. Now I suggest you get comfortable because it looks like this is where we're going to be staying for the night."
Mimi looked at him a little apprehensively. Why was he so calm about this, she thought, noticing his relaxed demeanor.
"The WHOLE night?"
"No Mimi, we'll stay for a couple of minutes then head back out into the snow." he paused for effect "yes, of course the whole night!"
Mimi wasn't sure how she felt about that.spending the night.together?
Philip looked annoyed. "What Mimi, you think I planned this?"
"No, of course not, it's just, I guess I didn't think about it before. I was just happy to be somewhere warm. Gosh, what are my mom and dad going to say?"
"Well they must have realized that you'd be alone with me when you told them we were going to stay here. And I highly doubt they want you on the road in a blizzard like this."
"No, you're right.I just didn't think about it."
Philip's look turned serious. "You know you can trust me, right?"
Mimi returned his serious look, ending it with a smile. "Sure, I know that. It's not like anything's going to happen."
"Right."
They both sat there quietly as the wind howled outside and the fire burned inside.
Both lost in their own private thoughts.
Finally, Mimi spoke up. "Thank you Philip for saving my life tonight. I never could have gotten through everything without you." Sincerity filled her eyes.
"Well hey, who was it that put my coat on me in the car huh? You know, when I was out I could hear your voice in my dreams."
"Your dreams? You were dreaming?" She asked, wondering what the dreams had been about.
"Yeah. Well actually, there was only one dream, about the island. But when I started to wake up I could hear your voice and feel your tears falling on my face."
"I was so worried and I was talking to you, hoping you would wake up." She wondered if he realized that she noticed.she noticed how quickly he changed the subject from the island to something else.
It still bothered him.
"It helped." His voice interrupted her thoughts.
Mimi studied Philip for a minute, speaking her next words without really thinking about if she should just hold back.
"Philip, you said you dreamed about the island."
"Yeah."
He sounded a little apprehensive.
"Do you still have dreams about it when you go to sleep?"
She wasn't going to give up on this. Oh well.
"Yeah, not as much, but yeah, sometimes. Tonight was different."
"Why?"
"Because I remembered more than I ever have. I guess I blocked out so much, more than I realized. I guess a part of me hasn't wanted to remember."
It wasn't easy, talking about it, but a part of him also wanted to get it out and who better with than a friend, someone he felt at ease with. "You want me to tell you about it don't you?"
She was sitting across from him, near the blazing fire, where they were sitting on a blanket, using the other blankets to cover themselves up. With the flames of the fire lighting up their faces, Philip waited for her to answer.
Mimi didn't say anything at first. She had always been the school gossip, the one to go to for the latest dirt, but after all the trouble with the internet prank she realized that she was too consumed in gossip and other things that had little to do with her. She needed to live her own life, not live her life through others. Having to stay after school so much helped, and devoting even more time to her love of photography, also helped. However, what helped her probably the most was having a friend to laugh with, to take challenges with and to learn with. In such a short time, she felt they had grown so much closer and now she wanted to be there for him, but she didn't want to push.
"You think I want you to talk about it because then I can go spread it around don't you, because I just have to know everyone else's business. But I-"
He cut her off.
"No Meems, I don't think that."
"I'm not saying I'm perfect. I still am curious about things. I mean I can't help it, I like knowing about other people sometimes. But I'm not this big gossip anymore either and I wouldn't hurt you by telling anyone else what you tell me. If you tell me a secret I won't go blab about it to everyone and I wo-"
Philip interrupted her with an amused smile. "Okay, okay you can stop now! I trust you."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I do. And it's not you, it's me. For the longest time I only remembered bits and pieces but tonight when I was out.I saw so much of it in my head and when I woke up.I didn't forget. I've had so many dreams about it and I'd wake up from them not knowing where I was at first, confused and not able to piece things together."
"But tonight you could?"
"Yeah."
"What do you remember?"
"That I was scared-scared that I would die."
Mimi heard the shakiness, yet sort of finality in his voice. She could tell this wasn't easy for him, but maybe it would help if he started talking about it.
She moved in closer, placing her hand on his, which was in his lap.
"Philip, I don't want to push you, but if you want to talk about it, I'm here. That night, that night I was attacked I had never been so scared in my life. Even tonight wasn't as bad because, well because you were with me the whole time, but that night."
Philip moved his hand to clasp hers in it, letting his fingers move gently over her skin.
"Meems, it's okay now, you're safe. I know that night was really horrible for you and I was scared too, scared for you. I wish you hadn't had to go through any of that." He looked into her eyes kindly.
The touch of his fingers was so gentle, like rippling stream water, and her hand felt warm in his.
"But I got through it because of you Philip. You helped me so much and tonight with you by my side, as scary as it was, I felt your strength giving me courage. And I know, I know I panicked tonight and you probably wished you were with anybody but me, somebody so calm like Chloe."
She put her head down shyly.
Philip reached with his other hand to gently tip her chin up, getting her to look at him.
"Hey, you said it yourself. No one's perfect and you're right, a part of me wishes you weren't with me tonight."
She moved her head, looking away, his words hurting her.
He touched her face, getting her to look at him again.
"I didn't mean that in a bad way. Now that you're safe, I'm glad to have you here with me, but when we were out there.I was just so worried about you. And I wish you would stop putting yourself down. Of course, you were scared. I was scared too, but when I woke up, I didn't wake up to somebody who was all hysterical and panicking. I woke up to someone who was worried more about me than herself. Let's not forget too the fact that you're the one that saw the chimney with those sharp eyes of yours! And you and Chloe are just two very different people, that's all." He took his hand away from her face.
Mimi wondered about his last comment. Yes they were very different people, but did he prefer one over the other? It bothered her a little, but she said nothing about it. "I guess I did okay, but it must have been so scary for you on the island, all alone."
Philip sighed, now that the topic was back to him and the island.
"Yeah."
"Philip, how did it start, how did you get separated from Shawn and Belle?"
He could feel her hand in his, so soft and warm, his fingers still gently massaging it. He sat there silently for a minute as she just sat there quietly too, the wind whistling outside, crackling sounds coming out of the fireplace. Then after looking down, he raised his head again and looking into her eyes, he started quietly recounting the harrowing experience.
"We found a tunnel out of the cave and we crawled through it. It was long and I remember my knees and back hurting, and we encountered some interesting creatures, but we got through it and on the other side was the ocean and off in the distance a bit there was an island. We started to swim with the game plan to keep Belle between Shawn and me so we could protect her, but because of the storm, the water was choppy and the current was strong. Before I knew it, somehow, I lost Shawn and Belle and I couldn't see any island anymore. It was so hard to swim because the water, it was like it was battling me, like I had to fight against it. The waves were pushing me down and then there were the rocks, rocks everywhere that were jagged and big.I.I remember hitting my side on one of them and it hurt so much, but it was either sink or swim. I didn't have a choice. I had to endure the pain and go on."
Mimi could feel his hand shaking as it held hers. She moved closer in front of him, reaching out for his other hand, holding it tightly in hers, massaging it with her fingers just like he was still doing for her.
"It's okay. You're not there anymore. You're safe now."
Did she have any idea what her support meant to him, how soothing the touch of her delicate fingers felt against his hand? It gave him the strength to go on.
"Then I hit my head on one and I honestly don't know and I swear everything went black, but I don't know, I was awake again.I guess or.or maybe I just can't remember it all or may-"
Now HE was babbling, nervously, shakily. It was hard to watch him do this, how much it affected him still, but maybe if he finally opened up about it, maybe it would help him. She saw the fear in his eyes now, something that was so new to her; he was always so brave or cocky. She continued to massage his hand, holding it in her lap.
"Philip, maybe some of it you won't ever remember. Maybe because you were in pain your mind blocked it out to protect you. I've heard of that before. That night of the coronation, when I was shot, I remember so little. I barely even had time to be scared because Shawn just pushed me down with him right away."
Philip looked at her with shock. He forgot. He forgot that she had been shot that night. He hadn't even learned about it until much later. He was too concerned about his father at that time and helping him with his plan. It had weighed on him so heavily that the only friend he really talked to then was her, Chloe.
"Oh my--Mimi I forgot. You were shot that night. There was so much going on with my mom and dad that.I never even realized how much danger you were in."
"Well we all were, but I didn't mean to change the subject. I just wanted to show you that I understand how you can't remember everything. You were hurt so badly. There's the scar on your head..." She was referring to the fact that the rock that he hit his head on had left a tiny scar, on his forehead, that wasn't that visible because he usually combed his hair over his forehead, but when the wind pushed it back, it was visible. "And there's one on your side too?"
"Yeah. It's a little bigger."
"Well it just shows how seriously hurt you were. Of course there's things you don't remember, but Philip what happened next? Do you know how you got to the island?"
Both of them were still massaging each other's hands as he continued.
"It hurt, but I wanted to live so I.I kept looking for the shore which reappeared, but now everything looked so far away. I didn't realize it was a different island. I just swam and somehow I got to it, my lungs burning, feeling so.I passed out.I guess.I woke up and pain.I just felt pain.and the sun.so hot and I, I couldn't get up so I crawled on my knees and it went black again, then I woke up and I tried to eat some fruit on the ground, but it made me sick and I, I couldn't eat, I couldn't move, it just hurt and the only thing I felt underneath my body was the sand and rocks and water when the tide came in and I was so scared, I couldn't ever remember before, but I remembered tonight, how I was wishing that I hadn't gotten so possessive, so crazy, feeling like I wouldn't see anyone again.feeling..that.I.I was going to die.alone..."
His body was shaking so much. She let go of his hand, taking hers away from his shaky grasp, pulling him into her arms, holding him against her, feeling his face against her shoulder. He wasn't crying and he wasn't hysterical. His voice was just so shaky. It was pure fear.the fear he must have felt being on that island all alone, not able to do anything for himself, in so much pain, and being so sick.
She remembered the day they found him, his body sunburned, how badly hurt his head and side were, scrapes all over from trying to survive, his clothes torn in so many places and how weak he was, how still. She held him in her arms now as she remembered the night they waited, waited to see if he even had a chance of living, that night, when they all feared, when the doctor warned that they should prepare themselves just in case. But as weak as he was he fought, fought for his life.and day by day he got better.
Thank goodness, he got better.
Philip held onto Mimi, once again feeling her support him. He rested his head against her shoulder, breathing heavily, feeling her hands stroking his back, helping him to feel calm again, taking away the fear that the memory brought back with it. Sighing, he closed his eyes, clinging to her, feeling the reassuring warmth of her body so close to his.
Then after a bit of this, he slowly pulled back.
She felt him starting to move away, the heat of his body leaving her. With some surprise she realized she missed it, but soon he was holding her hands in his, smiling gently.
He felt so filled with emotion as he held her hands in his, just silently watching her face, listening to her slightly shaky voice as she spoke.
"Maybe now you can sleep better Philly. Maybe you won't have as many dreams anymore."
How vulnerable she sounded right then, but maybe she was right. He knew one thing: he felt like a tremendous load that he had been carrying since the island had been removed. Finally, he didn't have to carry it; finally, he was free. He smiled, gradually taking his hands away after one still moment.
Oh, why did he let go of her hands?
Philip moved in closer to Mimi and spoke seriously. "Meems, tell me what happened with you and Kevin on the island."
Suspicion entered her eyes. "I already told you. Nothing happened."
"So why don't I believe that?"
Shakily she backed up. "Why do you want to know? It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
"Why would it matter to you, I mea-"
She gasped, feeling his hand start to stroke her cheek over and over again. He had touched her face before, but not like this. This was a caress that made her heart feel like it was turning over, that made her insides weak.
"Please, just tell me. I'm not trying to be callous or pushy. I just want to know more about you."
He could tell his touch was affecting her and it excited him. He hadn't even planned any of this. But after the way she was there for him when he was talking about the island, he wanted to know more.he wanted to understand her even better and touching her, it was becoming like a drug, something he had to do deep inside.
Sensing her uncertainty though, he reluctantly let go of her cheek and waited for her to respond.
"It's just so embarrassing."
"Mimi, whatever happened, you can tell me. I'm not doing this to hurt you, I swear, or to make you feel uncomfortable and please if it's really something you feel you can't talk about tell me, I'll let it go, I promise. I mean."
He did try to let it go, but before he knew it, his curiosity and need to know got the better of him and he ended up asking her even more personal things.
"What about Shawn, didn't you still have a crush on him?"
She stared at him silently.
Oh no. She seemed so nervous talking about it. This wasn't what he wanted at all. He didn't want to hurt her.
"I'm sorry. Just forget it."
He started to get up, but.
She reached out for his arm, pushing on it to get him to sit back down across from her.
He sat back down slowly, saying nothing. He'd give her the time she needed to respond.
She sat there, her hands in her lap, looking down.
"First of all, Shawn, that was just dumb. I mean, how could I think he would ever like me?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Belle, Philip. She's gorgeous and I'm, I'm just alright. She's loved by everyone and-"
The touch of his hand on her arm stopped her suddenly.
"Mimi, look at me."
She raised her face slowly to hear what he had to say.
"Remember when we talked on the island? Remember.I told you that you were pretty? Well I meant that. Don't you believe it.don't you believe you're pretty?" He titled his head a little, searching her eyes for the answer.
"I guess I'm okay looking, but it's just hard sometimes, being in Belle's shadow. I love her. She's like my sister and I would never want to hurt her, but."
He was being so kind, but she also felt a little uncertain talking about him with this. What did he think about her?
"I understand. It's hard for you sometimes; I know how much you care for her and I know that you have always been close to her. I saw you on the island watching them and yes you were happy for them, but it was kind of hard for you too, wasn't it, to see them together?" He remembered her looking at them quietly, her eyes kind of sad.
"Yes, but I got over it and I'm very happy for them now."
A rushed answer, but he didn't dig any further.
"So you and Kevin started talking?"
"Yeah. He's into computers like me and we started talking and then we.we did more.I don't know why I feel so anxious, I mean this is probably no big deal to you. You're the king of Salem High. You've been on lots of dates and you've been with lots of girls." Mimi looked away.
Philip wondered, was she saying.?
"Who told you all of this?"
"No one. It's just so obvious that you've been with lots of girls. I mean they all love you and want to be with you."
Philip laughed cryptically. "Yeah, they love the fact that I'm a rich jock and how I look. None of those girls that I took out before Chloe cared about me: Philip. They were always more interested in what the mansion looked like and getting to go out with the star quarterback. So what did you mean by more? Mimi, did you and he."
She looked away again, embarrassed.
"Oh man, forget I even asked that! This is just way too personal and you're not comfortable with it either, but I'll tell you one thing. I guess you thought that because I went out with a lot of girls before Chloe that it meant that I.well that I went all the way.well.let's just say nothing happened."
Mimi laughed sarcastically. "Right Philip."
"I'm dead serious."
She could tell from his sober expression that he meant it. "But, but I don't get it.didn't you want to? I mean you're a guy and I'm sure some of those girls you went out with would have been more than happy."
She didn't know what to say next.
"Us guys, we think only with our hormones, right?" Philip laughed a little, but got serious again. "I didn't care about any of them. There was only one girl and she-"
"Chloe?"
"Yeah. Well we came close, but we didn't."
"Oh, well."
"I probably shouldn't have started this. I just, what can I say, I was curious, but."
"No, Philip. Being able to talk to you means a lot to me. I thought this year was going to be a nightmare, but I've had fun because of you."
"I feel the exact same way Meems-"
"Wait. I need to say something. You asked me about Kevin and I avoided answering you, but I want you to know.we did almost, well you know, but it didn't happen. And I'm glad it didn't because.it was, it was just about one thing. I mean Kevin's a nice guy, but we barely knew each other and then we came back to Salem and well you know, Susan's smart and everything and me, I guess I don't have what it takes.I don't know."
Mimi got up quickly, facing the door.
Philip got up too. Standing behind her, he spoke softly.
"Meems, why? Why were you willing to settle for so little?"
She didn't turn around.
"Oh that's easy for you to say. You could have any girl you want and you had someone you were in love with, but I"
The threat of tears came to her eyes.
Philip wrapped his arms around her from behind, savoring the feeling of holding her so close and wanting to comfort her. Then he let go and turned her around to face him. His eyes searched hers as he held her face in his hands. His fingertips moving over her skin slowly, he took one step forward.
"When Shawn and Belle set us up with those blind dates I hated the fact that you were going out with someone else. Then we got there and I couldn't take my eyes off you, the way you looked, so pretty. You ARE so pretty, but you are also fun, honest, loyal, vulnerable and so caring."
He removed his hands from her face and held onto her upper arms, moving his hands back and forth over the wool material of the sweater she was wearing. "And that guy, I couldn't stand it when he touched you. I wanted to hold you in my arms."
Mimi couldn't believe any of this was happening, the way his touch felt, the look in his eyes, it was filling her with such incredible sensations.
"Then we were dancing together and it felt so good.so right. But I've.it's scary because you're my friend, my dear friend and I, I made so many mistakes before. I got so serious so fast and I don't want to make that mistake again. Please don't think I don't care about you because that's not true. Why do you think I asked about Kevin? Because I wanted to know more about you. When we were in the car and we almost kissed.Meems, I wanted to.don't you see Meems? It's just you deserve so much more than what you were going to get that night on the island.So much more."
One hand came back to her face, fingers stroking the softness of her skin. Watching her silently, so close he could see the details of her nose, her cheeks, her eyes.those green eyes that now in close-up resembled jade, luminescent jade. He could see how her hair was longer than it had been months before, even weeks ago, now cascading waves of auburn.
And how could he not notice how her small frame looked in those way too big sweats and sweater.absolutely huggable.absolutely.
His touch was so soft. It was sending delicious shivers throughout her and she delighted when he took his other hand and started doing the same thing with it. She looked up into his eyes, the color of the sea and yet, how much they looked like waves of blue mixed in with the foam that tipped each tide, swirling together to create the unique shade that gave him his vision. Such tenderness filled those nonpareil eyes as he slowly started to lean forward, his hands still caressing her face. Enraptured, her eyes closed.
Her auburn lashes, so visible now with her eyes shut.
He waited.waited for them to open again, to give him his answer. Pleading silently that her answer would be the one he craved.needed.
Lost in his touch, wanting to keep losing herself in it, but also needing to know what he was feeling, she opened her eyes again.
Jade.flawless jade once more.telling him.
Oh.those ocean tide eyes.they spoke the truth.
His answer, finally he had it. They wanted the same thing. She wanted what he wanted.
It wasn't just her. Oh, thank goodness. It was him too.
He knew and she knew.
They had waited long enough.
Her body moving closer to his with involuntary movements as her mind turned off.
His eyes starting to close as he felt the warmth of her body nearing.
Her own eyes closing, emotion filling her mind at his face moving down towards hers.
Outside the wind continued to howl and inside the fire burned bright, but they forgot.
They forgot everything as.
Their lips met.
His fingers caressing her cheeks.
After so many interrupted moments, the timing not quite right.
The beginning of.finally.a kiss.
His lips parting and slowly moving over hers, feeling her, learning about her.
It was a kiss of wonder.
Of discovery.
His hands slowly moved from her face to her hair.running his fingers through that soft auburn hair that just months ago he had dried.one strand at a time. In the back of his mind he recalled how strange he had started to feel that night, how being near her had unnerved him a bit yet he hadn't really understood the reason. Gently moving his mouth with hers, he realized now why.
Oh, the way he was kissing her.
Taking his time, letting her feel, no rushing, no selfishness or awkwardness.
It wasn't just physical, it was so much more, and it was such a soft gentle kiss. Her hands moved up to around his neck, her fingers climbing even higher to travel through his golden locks. She shivered with delight, her lips responding to his.
After this bit of ecstasy.
Philip ended the kiss, letting her go tenderly and slowly, letting his lips linger over hers for a little bit, savoring the feeling, the sweet taste of her.
Their heads fell forward, using each other as a wall of support as they waited for their near breathless state to return to normal.
For their heartbeat to slow down.
Both already missing the intimacy of such an act as they had just engaged in.
Mimi felt her head against his, felt his arms now wrapped around her as she held onto him.she slowly looked up.up into his eyes.seeing his look down into hers.that gentle smile of his.warming her up inside.but wanting the feel of his lips again.
She reached up, touching his face. With delight, she watched his eyes close, knowing he was responding to her touch. She reached up even more, impatient to have her senses filled with his warmth once more.
Feeling him more than willing to meet her halfway.
Their lips meeting again.
This time her hands on his, face holding it down close to her as he held her in his arms, letting his hands move over her back, her fingers moving through that golden hair of his, both of them feeling incredible emotional and physical warmth run through them as they explored something so new.
Once again, they ended it slowly, wanting more, but also not wanting to ruin it, something so novel. It was just so wonderful being with each other like this.
Just starting out.
His hands were still on her arms as he looked down at her.
"Promise me. Promise me, you'll never settle for second best, because you deserve more. Promise me Mimi."
His voice was husky and still a little breathless as he spoke.
Mimi held onto him, feeling him support her as her emotions were still so strong.
"I promise. I won't."
Her voice shaky, full of feeling.
He kissed her again slowly on the mouth and then raised his head, looking down into her eyes.
"I wanted to kiss you before, but I, well, I was kind of scared to."
She looked up at him with surprise. "You were scared to kiss me?" Her hands moved up and down his back of their own accord.
He had no complaints.
"Yeah, I told you our friendship means a lot to me and I made mistakes before-"
"You weren't the only one who made mistakes." She admonished him.
He smiled. "Right, I know, but I just.I want to take this slow, okay? I don't want us to lose our friendship."
Mimi looked up at him with disappointment. "You don't want to be with me?"
He shook his head vigorously at her deflated response.
"No, no, I do. It's just I want to take it slow. You know, go out together, keep having great long talks, go riding together, and definitely continue kissing, but I don't want to rush it. We already are great friends, best friends; now this is our chance to be something more, but let's take our time with it, okay?"
She worried a little bit about his answer.
It was almost too good to be true. He wanted to go out with her. They were now more than just friends. They were something.so special.
"Okay." She didn't tell him about her worries, not confessing that the shadow of his previous relationship could be bothering her.
Phillip looked at his watch and laughed. "Hey Meems, it's already the New Year."
Mimi laughed too, letting go of her doubts, wanting to just enjoy being with him.alone. "Oh my gosh. I forgot all about it!"
"Me too." He wrapped his arms securely around her. "Dance with me."
She looked up at him with shock even though she kept her own arms wrapped about him. "But there's no music!"
"What are you talking about? We have the sound of the wind howling, the fire crackling, and even the beat of our hearts."
Mimi laughed. "You nut!"
Philip held her even closer to him with a grin and then a grimace. "Boy, what a romantic you are. Now you're ruining the moment." He put the side of his face against hers, whispering.
"Come on, dance with me."
Shivering with pleasure at that voice, she gave in easily. "Okay."
They started to dance together, holding each other close, both of them filled with such joy.
For the moment, any doubts or fears they had faded away.
Alone together, they finally allowed themselves to feel what they had tried to deny for so long.
"Happy New Year Meems."
"Happy New Year Philly."
They shared one more delicious kiss.
"Mmmm, you taste chocolaty!" Philip murmured in her ear, making her giggle.
The two of them dancing to a music all their own.
So, hope that it was worth the wait... ...There's more.
Mimi clung to Philip, holding onto him tightly, feeling that there was no hope left for them. They were going to die out here in the freezing cold. Her only consolation was that she wasn't alone.
At least he was with her.
Philip stood there, holding Mimi tightly, pressing his face against the top of her head, and desperately trying to keep her warm. She was getting so weak, but he couldn't panic.
There had to be something.
Something they could do. He wasn't going to let them die.
"Phil-ip?"
He heard her voice, so quiet now, sounding so full of fatigue.
His own voice was gentle, yet shaky. It felt like ice was being thrust down his throat.
"Yeah, Meems it's going to be okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to us, I promise."
"No, n-o I s-ee, I see a-ch - im- n ey, over-there."
He looked over to where she was pointing, witnessing, oh thank you, thank you, thank you.
It was a chimney, a little ways off that they probably hadn't seen before because they had been moving so much and it was hidden by the trees and the blinding snow and wind.
"Meems, it's a chimney! Mimi you found it!! You did it! We're going to be okay!"
Philip was so excited and relieved that they were going to be all right. He could get her out of this storm. He hugged her tight again, noticing her attempt at a smile, and helped her walk.
After a little while, they saw the small cabin, sitting there in the snow, surrounded by trees. Philip wondered how he even saw it from the road. Maybe because it was up high it was easier to see then or maybe it was just fate. He didn't care, he was just glad they were going to be okay. He walked over with Mimi to the front door, seeing no lights on inside, no fire coming out from the chimney, nothing. He tried knocking, feeling it was ridiculous, but hey, it was worth a try. Of course no one answered and when he tried to actually open the door he had no success. He looked for an open window, checking all around the cabin and found none.
Continuing his search for a way in, Philip noticed a fallen branch behind the cabin, realizing it could be their one way to warmth and safety.
He walked with Mimi further into the forest. Noticing her confused expression, he explained to her what he was going to do. "Mimi, I'm going to have to break that window, so I need you to sit here for a minute, okay, and put your head down just in case any of the glass goes flying really far. I don't think it will happen; you should be safe here, but just in case, okay?" She nodded her head a tiny bit and put her head down which was answer enough for him.
He walked back over to the cabin, taking the branch again, feeling the fierce winds pulling at him. He made his way closer to the window, yelling back to Mimi: "Remember Meems, keep your head down!" and then he threw the branch through the window, turning his face and body away as the force and weight of the branch shattered the glass.
After he heard the loud crash, he went over to the window with another branch, using it to clear away any broken shards of glass that might get in the way. Then he took off his coat, feeling the stinging coldness right away. He placed the coat on the windowsill and then went back to Mimi.
"Come on Meems, everything's going to be okay now."
He helped her get up and walked back with her to the broken window, relieved that it wasn't too high so it shouldn't be too hard for them to climb through it.
"Okay Meems, I think I better climb through first because I don't want you to fall onto the glass on the other side, but here, you come with me up to the opening and then I can make sure you're alright, okay?"
She simply nodded her head. Philip hoped that she was okay as he climbed through the low window, over the part where he had put his coat, making sure she stayed standing. After he was on the others side, he reached for her, helping her climb through the window.
After she was safely inside, Philip looked for the lights, finding out quickly that they weren't working. Great, just what he needed. He walked through what looked to be the bedroom.
Oops! He broke the bedroom window! Oh well, they could send him the repair bill!
Then he stumbled, because of the darkness, with Mimi in his grasp, towards another room, noticing a closet. He opened it and thank you once again, there was a flashlight on one of the shelves, that he could barely see, but found by kind of feeling around, making quite a mess.
They could send him the cleaning bill too!
Now that he could see, he noticed that he was in the hallway and the next room was either the living room, family room, some kind of front room that had the kitchen right there attached to it and that front door.
He sat Mimi down on a sofa that was in the middle of the room, and then hurried back to the bedroom, grabbing blankets and pillows. He went back to the closet and found matches inside of it. He hurried back out to the front room and was thankful that there was wood next to the fireplace. He threw some logs in, starting up a fire, and lit a couple of candles he found nearby.
Then he laid the blankets down on the floor next to the fireplace and walked with Mimi in his arms over to them, sitting down with her on the floor. He looked into her eyes, relieved that they appeared to be clear and that she seemed aware of what was happening. Then he took her coat off and removed the scarf from around her head, noticing that her body was still shaking a lot. His was too, some, but it was starting to subside. He took off his scarf, his sweater, gloves and his shoes. Now dressed in a long sleeved shirt and his jeans he turned to Mimi.
"Meems, you have a shirt under your sweater?"
She nodded her head and he took off her sweater, her shoes and her gloves. Her face and her hands were a little red, but it looked like she didn't have frostbite, thank goodness. He took one of the blankets, wrapped it around her, and then started to rub up and down, working to keep her warm.
Sitting close to the fireplace, Mimi felt the hot flames from it start to heat up her body.
But as wonderful as that was.
It was his presence.
His efforts to warm her up that pushed away the icy chill she had been feeling. His hands moving briskly, yet still gentle, she could feel him taking away the aching coldness in her limbs as he held her tightly, using his own body to warm her.
Out there she had started to feel not only pain, but also numbness in places; his rubbing up and down now was starting to take that numbness away, leaving tiny bits of pain that slowly were replaced with what she needed to feel. Closing her eyes, secure in his embrace and basking in the warmth, Mimi rested her head against Philip's chest.
Philip looked down at her, raising her chin to see her face, her eyes opening to his, her small smile heartening him. She was going to be okay, but they were both still in their wet jeans and that wasn't good. He got her to look at him again.
"Mimi, we've got to get out of our jeans because they're all wet from when we were on the ground. Can you get your own off?"
She looked up at him a little shyly, but nodded her head yes. She was already starting to feel better, but he was right, her legs were still freezing. She would just have to forget her own modesty for now.
Philip smiled at her reassuringly, seeing her hesitation.
"I'll turn around and you can cover yourself with the blanket, okay. Actually, let me go see if there's any clothes in the bedroom while you do that. Then you can have your privacy."
Noticing now that he was shaking some too.he had done so much to help her, but of course, he must be cold also. Mimi reached up for his face, touching it with her reddened fingers. Just a short while ago, they had been hurting but now thanks to him.
Seeing such clarity in those eyes.and thankfulness.Philip gently grasped the reddened fingers that touched his face, that brought sudden and welcome warmth to it. Slowly he brought them down to her lap, squeezing her hand quickly before letting go. Then softly he smiled down at her. With just that one small gesture, she had alleviated some of the chill he still felt.
Seeing relief in his face, Mimi smiled back, finally answering him in a quiet voice.
"Alright."
****
Philip went into the bedroom, shivering from his legs being cold, and looked in the closets and dresser drawers, finally finding some sweats and sweaters, after making another mess.
He was going to end up using his whole first paycheck from Titan paying for the damage. Oh well!
He called out to Mimi.
"Is it safe?"
Mimi laughed softly (music to Philip's ears after being so worried about her.she was his little trooper) then called out 'yes, that it was.'
Philip came out after she had finished covering her legs. "Okay, I've got sweatpants and sweaters, sized to fit all, well at least in our desperate case they are. So what's your pick, the gray sweatpants, the blue sweatpants, sweater # 1 which looks like something our parents, correction, grandparents would wear or sweater # 2 which looks like.well we're thinking about staying warm right, we don't care about being fashionable."
Mimi laughed again, looking up at that face that didn't look very impressed by their choices of attire.
"You snob." Her voice was still a little weak from the cold that had seeped into her throat while they were outside, but she just had to get that one out.
Philip laughed. "Well, you're insulting me again so that's a good sign. I'm going to go change in the bathroom. Hope you don't mind.I'll just take the clothes that look slightly bigger, unless you wanted them."
She shook her head "no" and he started to head to the bathroom that was in the hallway, but he stopped suddenly.
Turning back, he got down on the floor next to her, taking her face into his hands and kissing her forehead. Then he looked into her eyes. "I am so glad you're alright." He whispered with emotion, then left to go change, but not before saying.
"You're only getting away with that remark you said earlier because I know you're still kind of weak."
She smiled, watching him leave for a second (her hero once again) then started to change her clothes.
****
They changed, separately of course, and then got a good laugh at how each other looked.
Mimi's blue sweat pants went past her feet so she had to roll them up, but at least there was a tie to keep them up around her waist. As for the sweater, it was somewhat big and the sleeves were too long, but at least she was much warmer now and also feeling a lot better.
Philip's sweat pants looked like floods, though the sweater fit him a little, but he was also just glad to be warm.
After all that, they called their frantic parents, using Philip's cell phone that for some reason stopped working in the snowstorm, but miraculously was working again indoors.
Now, after finding some packets of hot chocolate in one of the cupboards, they were sitting down on the blankets with their hot drinks.
Mimi looked over at Philip, noticing the cut on his head that they hadn't done anything about, except what she had done for him in the SUV. She walked over into the hallway and opened the closet Philip told her about.
(Boy, he made a mess!)
.and found a first aid kit. She came back out to the living room with it.
Philip looked up at her unhappily.
"What are you doing with that?" He asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to clean your cut." She got down on the floor, holding some gauze. She moved over towards him, resulting in Philip quickly backing up.
Oh my goodness, was the big bad football player actually scared? Chicken, she thought. "Oh now don't be such a baby. This isn't going to hurt." She poured some antibacterial solution onto the gauze, prepared to clean his cut.
"At least I don't think."
That last remark elicited some raised eyebrows from Philip and another suspicious look. He hated hospitals, medicine, any kind of things used to clean wounds, just plain all of it.
"Just kidding." Mimi smiled at him and started gently cleaning the cut on the side of his forehead. Moving in closer to get a better view, she placed one hand near the top of his head, feeling a small bump.
"Philip, you said you didn't have a bump, but you do! Did you deliberately lie to me?"
Oh-oh. she looked angry. Why did he feel like he did when his mother was scolding him? He looked at her sheepishly.
Man she was good! "Uh, well you see, I guess, I -uh hit it on the steering wheel or something.I don't know. I just didn't think it was that bad and we had way more important things to worry about."
His cut stung a little, but her hands were so gentle and soothing. As for the bump, it had hurt him a little also, but it was true, he barely felt it.probably all that adrenaline kicking in.
When she was done, satisfied that the cut wasn't very deep, she bandaged it and sat back down looking into his eyes with concern. "You should have told me. I was so worried about you.anything could've happened. We should put ice on it and we have to ma-"
He smiled gently. She was babbling again, a sure sign of her anxiety. He reached for her, stopping her from going on by holding onto her shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"Honestly, I'm fine. Yes I hit it, but it doesn't feel that bad and I don't even want to think about anything frozen. The cut feels better too. Thank you for being my nurse. Now stop worrying about me and sit down so you stay warm." He easily got her to sit down by keeping his hands on her shoulders and pushing her downward a little.
Mimi gave him a disapproving look (trying to be sneaky, humph!). "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes. Now I suggest you get comfortable because it looks like this is where we're going to be staying for the night."
Mimi looked at him a little apprehensively. Why was he so calm about this, she thought, noticing his relaxed demeanor.
"The WHOLE night?"
"No Mimi, we'll stay for a couple of minutes then head back out into the snow." he paused for effect "yes, of course the whole night!"
Mimi wasn't sure how she felt about that.spending the night.together?
Philip looked annoyed. "What Mimi, you think I planned this?"
"No, of course not, it's just, I guess I didn't think about it before. I was just happy to be somewhere warm. Gosh, what are my mom and dad going to say?"
"Well they must have realized that you'd be alone with me when you told them we were going to stay here. And I highly doubt they want you on the road in a blizzard like this."
"No, you're right.I just didn't think about it."
Philip's look turned serious. "You know you can trust me, right?"
Mimi returned his serious look, ending it with a smile. "Sure, I know that. It's not like anything's going to happen."
"Right."
They both sat there quietly as the wind howled outside and the fire burned inside.
Both lost in their own private thoughts.
Finally, Mimi spoke up. "Thank you Philip for saving my life tonight. I never could have gotten through everything without you." Sincerity filled her eyes.
"Well hey, who was it that put my coat on me in the car huh? You know, when I was out I could hear your voice in my dreams."
"Your dreams? You were dreaming?" She asked, wondering what the dreams had been about.
"Yeah. Well actually, there was only one dream, about the island. But when I started to wake up I could hear your voice and feel your tears falling on my face."
"I was so worried and I was talking to you, hoping you would wake up." She wondered if he realized that she noticed.she noticed how quickly he changed the subject from the island to something else.
It still bothered him.
"It helped." His voice interrupted her thoughts.
Mimi studied Philip for a minute, speaking her next words without really thinking about if she should just hold back.
"Philip, you said you dreamed about the island."
"Yeah."
He sounded a little apprehensive.
"Do you still have dreams about it when you go to sleep?"
She wasn't going to give up on this. Oh well.
"Yeah, not as much, but yeah, sometimes. Tonight was different."
"Why?"
"Because I remembered more than I ever have. I guess I blocked out so much, more than I realized. I guess a part of me hasn't wanted to remember."
It wasn't easy, talking about it, but a part of him also wanted to get it out and who better with than a friend, someone he felt at ease with. "You want me to tell you about it don't you?"
She was sitting across from him, near the blazing fire, where they were sitting on a blanket, using the other blankets to cover themselves up. With the flames of the fire lighting up their faces, Philip waited for her to answer.
Mimi didn't say anything at first. She had always been the school gossip, the one to go to for the latest dirt, but after all the trouble with the internet prank she realized that she was too consumed in gossip and other things that had little to do with her. She needed to live her own life, not live her life through others. Having to stay after school so much helped, and devoting even more time to her love of photography, also helped. However, what helped her probably the most was having a friend to laugh with, to take challenges with and to learn with. In such a short time, she felt they had grown so much closer and now she wanted to be there for him, but she didn't want to push.
"You think I want you to talk about it because then I can go spread it around don't you, because I just have to know everyone else's business. But I-"
He cut her off.
"No Meems, I don't think that."
"I'm not saying I'm perfect. I still am curious about things. I mean I can't help it, I like knowing about other people sometimes. But I'm not this big gossip anymore either and I wouldn't hurt you by telling anyone else what you tell me. If you tell me a secret I won't go blab about it to everyone and I wo-"
Philip interrupted her with an amused smile. "Okay, okay you can stop now! I trust you."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I do. And it's not you, it's me. For the longest time I only remembered bits and pieces but tonight when I was out.I saw so much of it in my head and when I woke up.I didn't forget. I've had so many dreams about it and I'd wake up from them not knowing where I was at first, confused and not able to piece things together."
"But tonight you could?"
"Yeah."
"What do you remember?"
"That I was scared-scared that I would die."
Mimi heard the shakiness, yet sort of finality in his voice. She could tell this wasn't easy for him, but maybe it would help if he started talking about it.
She moved in closer, placing her hand on his, which was in his lap.
"Philip, I don't want to push you, but if you want to talk about it, I'm here. That night, that night I was attacked I had never been so scared in my life. Even tonight wasn't as bad because, well because you were with me the whole time, but that night."
Philip moved his hand to clasp hers in it, letting his fingers move gently over her skin.
"Meems, it's okay now, you're safe. I know that night was really horrible for you and I was scared too, scared for you. I wish you hadn't had to go through any of that." He looked into her eyes kindly.
The touch of his fingers was so gentle, like rippling stream water, and her hand felt warm in his.
"But I got through it because of you Philip. You helped me so much and tonight with you by my side, as scary as it was, I felt your strength giving me courage. And I know, I know I panicked tonight and you probably wished you were with anybody but me, somebody so calm like Chloe."
She put her head down shyly.
Philip reached with his other hand to gently tip her chin up, getting her to look at him.
"Hey, you said it yourself. No one's perfect and you're right, a part of me wishes you weren't with me tonight."
She moved her head, looking away, his words hurting her.
He touched her face, getting her to look at him again.
"I didn't mean that in a bad way. Now that you're safe, I'm glad to have you here with me, but when we were out there.I was just so worried about you. And I wish you would stop putting yourself down. Of course, you were scared. I was scared too, but when I woke up, I didn't wake up to somebody who was all hysterical and panicking. I woke up to someone who was worried more about me than herself. Let's not forget too the fact that you're the one that saw the chimney with those sharp eyes of yours! And you and Chloe are just two very different people, that's all." He took his hand away from her face.
Mimi wondered about his last comment. Yes they were very different people, but did he prefer one over the other? It bothered her a little, but she said nothing about it. "I guess I did okay, but it must have been so scary for you on the island, all alone."
Philip sighed, now that the topic was back to him and the island.
"Yeah."
"Philip, how did it start, how did you get separated from Shawn and Belle?"
He could feel her hand in his, so soft and warm, his fingers still gently massaging it. He sat there silently for a minute as she just sat there quietly too, the wind whistling outside, crackling sounds coming out of the fireplace. Then after looking down, he raised his head again and looking into her eyes, he started quietly recounting the harrowing experience.
"We found a tunnel out of the cave and we crawled through it. It was long and I remember my knees and back hurting, and we encountered some interesting creatures, but we got through it and on the other side was the ocean and off in the distance a bit there was an island. We started to swim with the game plan to keep Belle between Shawn and me so we could protect her, but because of the storm, the water was choppy and the current was strong. Before I knew it, somehow, I lost Shawn and Belle and I couldn't see any island anymore. It was so hard to swim because the water, it was like it was battling me, like I had to fight against it. The waves were pushing me down and then there were the rocks, rocks everywhere that were jagged and big.I.I remember hitting my side on one of them and it hurt so much, but it was either sink or swim. I didn't have a choice. I had to endure the pain and go on."
Mimi could feel his hand shaking as it held hers. She moved closer in front of him, reaching out for his other hand, holding it tightly in hers, massaging it with her fingers just like he was still doing for her.
"It's okay. You're not there anymore. You're safe now."
Did she have any idea what her support meant to him, how soothing the touch of her delicate fingers felt against his hand? It gave him the strength to go on.
"Then I hit my head on one and I honestly don't know and I swear everything went black, but I don't know, I was awake again.I guess or.or maybe I just can't remember it all or may-"
Now HE was babbling, nervously, shakily. It was hard to watch him do this, how much it affected him still, but maybe if he finally opened up about it, maybe it would help him. She saw the fear in his eyes now, something that was so new to her; he was always so brave or cocky. She continued to massage his hand, holding it in her lap.
"Philip, maybe some of it you won't ever remember. Maybe because you were in pain your mind blocked it out to protect you. I've heard of that before. That night of the coronation, when I was shot, I remember so little. I barely even had time to be scared because Shawn just pushed me down with him right away."
Philip looked at her with shock. He forgot. He forgot that she had been shot that night. He hadn't even learned about it until much later. He was too concerned about his father at that time and helping him with his plan. It had weighed on him so heavily that the only friend he really talked to then was her, Chloe.
"Oh my--Mimi I forgot. You were shot that night. There was so much going on with my mom and dad that.I never even realized how much danger you were in."
"Well we all were, but I didn't mean to change the subject. I just wanted to show you that I understand how you can't remember everything. You were hurt so badly. There's the scar on your head..." She was referring to the fact that the rock that he hit his head on had left a tiny scar, on his forehead, that wasn't that visible because he usually combed his hair over his forehead, but when the wind pushed it back, it was visible. "And there's one on your side too?"
"Yeah. It's a little bigger."
"Well it just shows how seriously hurt you were. Of course there's things you don't remember, but Philip what happened next? Do you know how you got to the island?"
Both of them were still massaging each other's hands as he continued.
"It hurt, but I wanted to live so I.I kept looking for the shore which reappeared, but now everything looked so far away. I didn't realize it was a different island. I just swam and somehow I got to it, my lungs burning, feeling so.I passed out.I guess.I woke up and pain.I just felt pain.and the sun.so hot and I, I couldn't get up so I crawled on my knees and it went black again, then I woke up and I tried to eat some fruit on the ground, but it made me sick and I, I couldn't eat, I couldn't move, it just hurt and the only thing I felt underneath my body was the sand and rocks and water when the tide came in and I was so scared, I couldn't ever remember before, but I remembered tonight, how I was wishing that I hadn't gotten so possessive, so crazy, feeling like I wouldn't see anyone again.feeling..that.I.I was going to die.alone..."
His body was shaking so much. She let go of his hand, taking hers away from his shaky grasp, pulling him into her arms, holding him against her, feeling his face against her shoulder. He wasn't crying and he wasn't hysterical. His voice was just so shaky. It was pure fear.the fear he must have felt being on that island all alone, not able to do anything for himself, in so much pain, and being so sick.
She remembered the day they found him, his body sunburned, how badly hurt his head and side were, scrapes all over from trying to survive, his clothes torn in so many places and how weak he was, how still. She held him in her arms now as she remembered the night they waited, waited to see if he even had a chance of living, that night, when they all feared, when the doctor warned that they should prepare themselves just in case. But as weak as he was he fought, fought for his life.and day by day he got better.
Thank goodness, he got better.
Philip held onto Mimi, once again feeling her support him. He rested his head against her shoulder, breathing heavily, feeling her hands stroking his back, helping him to feel calm again, taking away the fear that the memory brought back with it. Sighing, he closed his eyes, clinging to her, feeling the reassuring warmth of her body so close to his.
Then after a bit of this, he slowly pulled back.
She felt him starting to move away, the heat of his body leaving her. With some surprise she realized she missed it, but soon he was holding her hands in his, smiling gently.
He felt so filled with emotion as he held her hands in his, just silently watching her face, listening to her slightly shaky voice as she spoke.
"Maybe now you can sleep better Philly. Maybe you won't have as many dreams anymore."
How vulnerable she sounded right then, but maybe she was right. He knew one thing: he felt like a tremendous load that he had been carrying since the island had been removed. Finally, he didn't have to carry it; finally, he was free. He smiled, gradually taking his hands away after one still moment.
Oh, why did he let go of her hands?
Philip moved in closer to Mimi and spoke seriously. "Meems, tell me what happened with you and Kevin on the island."
Suspicion entered her eyes. "I already told you. Nothing happened."
"So why don't I believe that?"
Shakily she backed up. "Why do you want to know? It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
"Why would it matter to you, I mea-"
She gasped, feeling his hand start to stroke her cheek over and over again. He had touched her face before, but not like this. This was a caress that made her heart feel like it was turning over, that made her insides weak.
"Please, just tell me. I'm not trying to be callous or pushy. I just want to know more about you."
He could tell his touch was affecting her and it excited him. He hadn't even planned any of this. But after the way she was there for him when he was talking about the island, he wanted to know more.he wanted to understand her even better and touching her, it was becoming like a drug, something he had to do deep inside.
Sensing her uncertainty though, he reluctantly let go of her cheek and waited for her to respond.
"It's just so embarrassing."
"Mimi, whatever happened, you can tell me. I'm not doing this to hurt you, I swear, or to make you feel uncomfortable and please if it's really something you feel you can't talk about tell me, I'll let it go, I promise. I mean."
He did try to let it go, but before he knew it, his curiosity and need to know got the better of him and he ended up asking her even more personal things.
"What about Shawn, didn't you still have a crush on him?"
She stared at him silently.
Oh no. She seemed so nervous talking about it. This wasn't what he wanted at all. He didn't want to hurt her.
"I'm sorry. Just forget it."
He started to get up, but.
She reached out for his arm, pushing on it to get him to sit back down across from her.
He sat back down slowly, saying nothing. He'd give her the time she needed to respond.
She sat there, her hands in her lap, looking down.
"First of all, Shawn, that was just dumb. I mean, how could I think he would ever like me?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Belle, Philip. She's gorgeous and I'm, I'm just alright. She's loved by everyone and-"
The touch of his hand on her arm stopped her suddenly.
"Mimi, look at me."
She raised her face slowly to hear what he had to say.
"Remember when we talked on the island? Remember.I told you that you were pretty? Well I meant that. Don't you believe it.don't you believe you're pretty?" He titled his head a little, searching her eyes for the answer.
"I guess I'm okay looking, but it's just hard sometimes, being in Belle's shadow. I love her. She's like my sister and I would never want to hurt her, but."
He was being so kind, but she also felt a little uncertain talking about him with this. What did he think about her?
"I understand. It's hard for you sometimes; I know how much you care for her and I know that you have always been close to her. I saw you on the island watching them and yes you were happy for them, but it was kind of hard for you too, wasn't it, to see them together?" He remembered her looking at them quietly, her eyes kind of sad.
"Yes, but I got over it and I'm very happy for them now."
A rushed answer, but he didn't dig any further.
"So you and Kevin started talking?"
"Yeah. He's into computers like me and we started talking and then we.we did more.I don't know why I feel so anxious, I mean this is probably no big deal to you. You're the king of Salem High. You've been on lots of dates and you've been with lots of girls." Mimi looked away.
Philip wondered, was she saying.?
"Who told you all of this?"
"No one. It's just so obvious that you've been with lots of girls. I mean they all love you and want to be with you."
Philip laughed cryptically. "Yeah, they love the fact that I'm a rich jock and how I look. None of those girls that I took out before Chloe cared about me: Philip. They were always more interested in what the mansion looked like and getting to go out with the star quarterback. So what did you mean by more? Mimi, did you and he."
She looked away again, embarrassed.
"Oh man, forget I even asked that! This is just way too personal and you're not comfortable with it either, but I'll tell you one thing. I guess you thought that because I went out with a lot of girls before Chloe that it meant that I.well that I went all the way.well.let's just say nothing happened."
Mimi laughed sarcastically. "Right Philip."
"I'm dead serious."
She could tell from his sober expression that he meant it. "But, but I don't get it.didn't you want to? I mean you're a guy and I'm sure some of those girls you went out with would have been more than happy."
She didn't know what to say next.
"Us guys, we think only with our hormones, right?" Philip laughed a little, but got serious again. "I didn't care about any of them. There was only one girl and she-"
"Chloe?"
"Yeah. Well we came close, but we didn't."
"Oh, well."
"I probably shouldn't have started this. I just, what can I say, I was curious, but."
"No, Philip. Being able to talk to you means a lot to me. I thought this year was going to be a nightmare, but I've had fun because of you."
"I feel the exact same way Meems-"
"Wait. I need to say something. You asked me about Kevin and I avoided answering you, but I want you to know.we did almost, well you know, but it didn't happen. And I'm glad it didn't because.it was, it was just about one thing. I mean Kevin's a nice guy, but we barely knew each other and then we came back to Salem and well you know, Susan's smart and everything and me, I guess I don't have what it takes.I don't know."
Mimi got up quickly, facing the door.
Philip got up too. Standing behind her, he spoke softly.
"Meems, why? Why were you willing to settle for so little?"
She didn't turn around.
"Oh that's easy for you to say. You could have any girl you want and you had someone you were in love with, but I"
The threat of tears came to her eyes.
Philip wrapped his arms around her from behind, savoring the feeling of holding her so close and wanting to comfort her. Then he let go and turned her around to face him. His eyes searched hers as he held her face in his hands. His fingertips moving over her skin slowly, he took one step forward.
"When Shawn and Belle set us up with those blind dates I hated the fact that you were going out with someone else. Then we got there and I couldn't take my eyes off you, the way you looked, so pretty. You ARE so pretty, but you are also fun, honest, loyal, vulnerable and so caring."
He removed his hands from her face and held onto her upper arms, moving his hands back and forth over the wool material of the sweater she was wearing. "And that guy, I couldn't stand it when he touched you. I wanted to hold you in my arms."
Mimi couldn't believe any of this was happening, the way his touch felt, the look in his eyes, it was filling her with such incredible sensations.
"Then we were dancing together and it felt so good.so right. But I've.it's scary because you're my friend, my dear friend and I, I made so many mistakes before. I got so serious so fast and I don't want to make that mistake again. Please don't think I don't care about you because that's not true. Why do you think I asked about Kevin? Because I wanted to know more about you. When we were in the car and we almost kissed.Meems, I wanted to.don't you see Meems? It's just you deserve so much more than what you were going to get that night on the island.So much more."
One hand came back to her face, fingers stroking the softness of her skin. Watching her silently, so close he could see the details of her nose, her cheeks, her eyes.those green eyes that now in close-up resembled jade, luminescent jade. He could see how her hair was longer than it had been months before, even weeks ago, now cascading waves of auburn.
And how could he not notice how her small frame looked in those way too big sweats and sweater.absolutely huggable.absolutely.
His touch was so soft. It was sending delicious shivers throughout her and she delighted when he took his other hand and started doing the same thing with it. She looked up into his eyes, the color of the sea and yet, how much they looked like waves of blue mixed in with the foam that tipped each tide, swirling together to create the unique shade that gave him his vision. Such tenderness filled those nonpareil eyes as he slowly started to lean forward, his hands still caressing her face. Enraptured, her eyes closed.
Her auburn lashes, so visible now with her eyes shut.
He waited.waited for them to open again, to give him his answer. Pleading silently that her answer would be the one he craved.needed.
Lost in his touch, wanting to keep losing herself in it, but also needing to know what he was feeling, she opened her eyes again.
Jade.flawless jade once more.telling him.
Oh.those ocean tide eyes.they spoke the truth.
His answer, finally he had it. They wanted the same thing. She wanted what he wanted.
It wasn't just her. Oh, thank goodness. It was him too.
He knew and she knew.
They had waited long enough.
Her body moving closer to his with involuntary movements as her mind turned off.
His eyes starting to close as he felt the warmth of her body nearing.
Her own eyes closing, emotion filling her mind at his face moving down towards hers.
Outside the wind continued to howl and inside the fire burned bright, but they forgot.
They forgot everything as.
Their lips met.
His fingers caressing her cheeks.
After so many interrupted moments, the timing not quite right.
The beginning of.finally.a kiss.
His lips parting and slowly moving over hers, feeling her, learning about her.
It was a kiss of wonder.
Of discovery.
His hands slowly moved from her face to her hair.running his fingers through that soft auburn hair that just months ago he had dried.one strand at a time. In the back of his mind he recalled how strange he had started to feel that night, how being near her had unnerved him a bit yet he hadn't really understood the reason. Gently moving his mouth with hers, he realized now why.
Oh, the way he was kissing her.
Taking his time, letting her feel, no rushing, no selfishness or awkwardness.
It wasn't just physical, it was so much more, and it was such a soft gentle kiss. Her hands moved up to around his neck, her fingers climbing even higher to travel through his golden locks. She shivered with delight, her lips responding to his.
After this bit of ecstasy.
Philip ended the kiss, letting her go tenderly and slowly, letting his lips linger over hers for a little bit, savoring the feeling, the sweet taste of her.
Their heads fell forward, using each other as a wall of support as they waited for their near breathless state to return to normal.
For their heartbeat to slow down.
Both already missing the intimacy of such an act as they had just engaged in.
Mimi felt her head against his, felt his arms now wrapped around her as she held onto him.she slowly looked up.up into his eyes.seeing his look down into hers.that gentle smile of his.warming her up inside.but wanting the feel of his lips again.
She reached up, touching his face. With delight, she watched his eyes close, knowing he was responding to her touch. She reached up even more, impatient to have her senses filled with his warmth once more.
Feeling him more than willing to meet her halfway.
Their lips meeting again.
This time her hands on his, face holding it down close to her as he held her in his arms, letting his hands move over her back, her fingers moving through that golden hair of his, both of them feeling incredible emotional and physical warmth run through them as they explored something so new.
Once again, they ended it slowly, wanting more, but also not wanting to ruin it, something so novel. It was just so wonderful being with each other like this.
Just starting out.
His hands were still on her arms as he looked down at her.
"Promise me. Promise me, you'll never settle for second best, because you deserve more. Promise me Mimi."
His voice was husky and still a little breathless as he spoke.
Mimi held onto him, feeling him support her as her emotions were still so strong.
"I promise. I won't."
Her voice shaky, full of feeling.
He kissed her again slowly on the mouth and then raised his head, looking down into her eyes.
"I wanted to kiss you before, but I, well, I was kind of scared to."
She looked up at him with surprise. "You were scared to kiss me?" Her hands moved up and down his back of their own accord.
He had no complaints.
"Yeah, I told you our friendship means a lot to me and I made mistakes before-"
"You weren't the only one who made mistakes." She admonished him.
He smiled. "Right, I know, but I just.I want to take this slow, okay? I don't want us to lose our friendship."
Mimi looked up at him with disappointment. "You don't want to be with me?"
He shook his head vigorously at her deflated response.
"No, no, I do. It's just I want to take it slow. You know, go out together, keep having great long talks, go riding together, and definitely continue kissing, but I don't want to rush it. We already are great friends, best friends; now this is our chance to be something more, but let's take our time with it, okay?"
She worried a little bit about his answer.
It was almost too good to be true. He wanted to go out with her. They were now more than just friends. They were something.so special.
"Okay." She didn't tell him about her worries, not confessing that the shadow of his previous relationship could be bothering her.
Phillip looked at his watch and laughed. "Hey Meems, it's already the New Year."
Mimi laughed too, letting go of her doubts, wanting to just enjoy being with him.alone. "Oh my gosh. I forgot all about it!"
"Me too." He wrapped his arms securely around her. "Dance with me."
She looked up at him with shock even though she kept her own arms wrapped about him. "But there's no music!"
"What are you talking about? We have the sound of the wind howling, the fire crackling, and even the beat of our hearts."
Mimi laughed. "You nut!"
Philip held her even closer to him with a grin and then a grimace. "Boy, what a romantic you are. Now you're ruining the moment." He put the side of his face against hers, whispering.
"Come on, dance with me."
Shivering with pleasure at that voice, she gave in easily. "Okay."
They started to dance together, holding each other close, both of them filled with such joy.
For the moment, any doubts or fears they had faded away.
Alone together, they finally allowed themselves to feel what they had tried to deny for so long.
"Happy New Year Meems."
"Happy New Year Philly."
They shared one more delicious kiss.
"Mmmm, you taste chocolaty!" Philip murmured in her ear, making her giggle.
The two of them dancing to a music all their own.
So, hope that it was worth the wait... ...There's more.