Shawn loosely held the sun-warmed water hose in one hand as he used the
other to meticulously scrub his truck with a soft, soapy rag.
After spending his entire summer working on various fishing boats, Shawn had finally, with a little help from his parents, saved enough money to purchase the used Chevrolet S10. And, he fully intended to keep its deep green paint sparkling clean. Besides, washing the vehicle shirtless helped him keep the summer tan he had worked so hard to get.
Just as Shawn was rinsing away the last of the suds on the top of the truck, he heard a distinctly feminine person clearing her throat behind him. Shawn locked the nozzle as he turned only to find himself looking at Chloe, who offered him a meek grin.
"Hey."
"Hi, Shawn. Look, I know that I probably wasn't the most considerate person at the party. But, school starts in two days, and I really don't want us to feel all weird around each other in class. You've always been a really good friend, and I don't want to lose that."
"Here, take this," instructed Shawn as he handed Chloe a spare rag dripping with soapy water. "How about we make a deal? You help me wash my truck, and I forget everything that happened at the party . . . including the not-so- lovely tantrum you threw after everyone left. Plus, we'll pretend I never started that fight with Philip."
Moving to the truck, Chloe answered, "Sounds like a plan."
The two worked in an effortless silence as they scrubbed the truck from top to bottom. The quietness remained until Shawn decided that it would be a good idea to use the hose to rinse Chloe instead of the truck. Lifting the hose high above the truck bed, Shawn released the nozzle and soaked Chloe before quickly ducking.
"Shawn Douglas Brady!" squealed Chloe as she attempted to escape the wrath of the water hose. Of course, it was too late. She was dripping wet from head to toe. "I am going to get you for that!"
As Chloe stormed around the side of the truck, she was assaulted by a blast of cold water in the back. Somehow, Shawn had managed to sneak completely around the truck and attack her from behind.
"Is this what I get for trying to help you wash this chunk of metal?" Chloe questioned as she used her hands to motion to her wet sundress. "Really, Shawn, this wasn't necessary."
Bracing his hands on his knees, Shawn leaned forward, his body overcome with laughter. Taking another peek at Chloe and her drenched hair and clothing, Shawn began to laugh even harder.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Erin, what are you doing?" Jason gruffly demanded as he entered the kitchen only to find his younger sister staring out the window, a small smile on her lips. "You've spent the past three years living with grandma, and now you're spending your first day home staring out the window at the neighbor's house. Why is that?"
Noticeably blushing, Erin answered, "Well, if you must know, I was just watching our neighbor. He is so cute, Jason. Do you hang out with him? Can you introduce me to him?"
"I didn't even know we had a neighbor close to our age," answered Jason as he grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator before moving to the window so he could peer over his sister's shoulder and into the neighbor's living room. Groaning, Jason pushed himself away from the window and stalked into the living room muttering, "Just my luck."
Walking toward the stairs, Jason said, "I'm really sweaty from working outside in the garden, so I'm going to head upstairs to take a quick shower."
"Jason, wait! Mom wanted me to tell you that she found some bracelet the other day that was engraved with the name of some friend of yours. Miriam, I think. Anyway, she called the girl and she's coming over some time today to get it. Mom just put it in the top drawer of your desk and said that you could give it to her."
"Once again, just my luck," grumbled Jason as he made his way up the stairs. He and the other teens had managed to nearly completely avoid one another for just over a week. Now, when he was finally forced to see Mimi again, it was on the same day he was a sweaty mess and had discovered that he was living next door to none other than Jeremy Horton.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Shawn entered his bedroom, he was welcomed with the sight of Chloe in nothing but one of his long shirts, sitting on his unmade bed. And, the worst part was, not only did he feel close to nothing in that special way toward Chloe, but he was still thinking about Belle. He knew that she couldn't possibly have been washing her hair all twenty times he called.
Plopping down on the bed beside Chloe, Shawn remarked, "Well, I just put your clothes in the dryer, but it's a pretty old machine so I have no idea how long it's going to take for them to get dry. Also, I'm really sorry that it's so hot in here, but we were having problems with the air conditioner, and my dad tried to fix it. Now, we have no air conditioner until the repairman arrives. That's the reason we have all the doors and windows open."
"Don't worry about it, Shawn. I'm just glad you let me borrow one of your shirts and your mom's hair dryer, because I would hate to have to put up with Nancy bothering me with her questions if I had arrived home soaking wet. It was bad enough the day I came home with mud caked all over me."
"I guess things are still pretty tense between the two of you?"
"That's putting it mildly. I swear, Shawn, I can't wait until I get the chance to leave Salem and get away from her. No matter how well I follow her stupid rules, she always finds something to lecture me over. It's like no matter what I do, it's just not good enough. I hate that. I hate her."
Placing a reassuring arm around Chloe, Shawn said, "I'm sure you don't hate her. Maybe you just really dislike her. But, hey, at least things can't get worse, right?"
"I don't possibly see how they could . . . and, I'm not just talking about my relationship with my mother. Belle and I were supposed to go shopping on the Saturday following the party, but she called and left a message on my machine saying that something came up."
"She's not talking to me either. I still can't believe how wrong everything went."
"Yeah, Philip wasn't exactly happy about the score I got with Brady. In fact, I've only seen Philip a couple of times since that night. Usually, I see him a couple of times a day."
"You want to know something else that's weird? Even Jason is mad. I called him a few days ago to see if he wanted to play a game of basketball and he practically hung up on me."
Laying herself back on the bed, Chloe looked up at Shawn and curiously asked, "Why on earth would Jason be upset? What could have made him angry?"
"Well, I have an idea that Jason's problem might not be a what, but a who."
"Are you talking about Mimi?"
Falling back on the bed beside Chloe, Shawn asked, "How did you know that?"
"I don't know. It just seemed that they were acting strange around each other at the party. Plus, there was the way he stormed up to the machine to talk to her. Then, because of your little scuffle with my boyfriend, they ended up scoring a ten."
Shawn cracked a wide smile and turned on his side to face Chloe. "That's nothing. When I called Mimi to invite her, she was at Jason's house. Then, I was talking to Jason at the party, and he was fuming because he thought some guy was flirting with Mimi. It turns out that guy was my cousin Jeremy. Of course, you won't believe the rest of it."
"Try me."
"Alright, not only was Jeremy the guy you chose to be in the love machine with Mimi, but he is the very same guy she knocked into the fountain."
"You have to be joking."
"Nope."
"I guess that explains why Mimi was so nervous when he sat down. Wow, what a coincidence."
"I know. Does a coincidence get any stranger than that?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mimi carefully made her way up the stairs of the Masters home after being let in by Jason's younger sister. Erin had informed Mimi that Jason had the bracelet in his room and that he was already up there. After asking which room was his, Mimi had reluctantly headed for the stairs.
Coming to the door Erin had directed her to, Mimi softly knocked on the smooth wood. When she received no answer, Mimi hesitantly pushed the already ajar door open just a little bit more.
Inching her head into the room, Mimi was surprised to see that Jason was no where in the room. However, she was even more surprised after she stepped into the room, shut the door, and then heard the shower running in the adjoining bathroom.
Mimi approached the bathroom door and wondered if she should knock and announce herself. In a whisper, Mimi gave her mock greeting, "Oh, gee. Hi, Jase. Just thought that I would barge into your bedroom while you're in the very next room - naked."
Shaking her head with frustration, Mimi approached the double doors that led to Jason's balcony. Glancing back over her shoulder, Mimi noticed that Jason's bed was lined up with the balcony. She wondered what it would be like to wake up every morning with the sun shining in through the balcony doors while the birds chirped just outside on your very own balcony.
Opening the doors, Mimi stepped through them and let herself out to the balcony. It wasn't large, but it offered just enough space to make a person feel comfortable. Breathing in the fresh late summer air, Mimi nervously wondered how much longer Jason would take in the shower. She hadn't even wanted to face him after the party, but now the waiting was driving her crazy.
Just when Mimi thought that she was about to lose her mind with anticipation, she heard the bathroom door creak open and a person moving in the bedroom. Stepping inside, leaving the balcony doors wide open, Mimi received the shock of her life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
War was breaking out at the Brady house - a tickling war. Having become increasingly bored while waiting for Chloe's drenched clothing to become dry, Shawn had started some light teasing. Of course, teasing Chloe wasn't near as fun as teasing Belle, but Shawn was really just looking for a laugh with a friend. If he wanted more than innocent friendship, he'd let his mind roam to thoughts of Belle. The best part was Shawn knew that he did not need to worry about Chloe thinking that he wanted something more like Mimi had. As far as Shawn was concerned, that was Chloe's greatest attribute as a friend - friendship was all she wanted from him.
Gasping for her breath, Chloe giggled, "Shawn, stop!"
Shawn laughed heartily at Chloe's playful pleas. He had her pinned on the bed as he stood above her, tickling her sides. "I don't know, Chloe. I still haven't said the magic words."
"No way. I am not saying that!" Giving Shawn just a hard enough push to give herself room to stand, Chloe remarked, "Ha! I bet you thought you were winning."
Without warning, Chloe reached behind her and grabbed a pillow off Shawn's bed and used it as a weapon. She erupted in laughter at the shocked expression on his face when it was hit by the pillow.
"Oh, Miss Lane, you are going to pay," warned Shawn before he tackled Chloe, both of them landing on the bed with a soft thud as the bed gently bounced from the sudden weight. Using his hands as devices of torture, Shawn commanded, "Chloe, face it. You are at my mercy. Now, say it."
"Shawn! I've already . . . told you . . . I'm not . . . saying that," responded Chloe through her fits of laughter.
Forcing his expression to become completely serious, Shawn said, "But, Chloe, you know it's the truth. Just say it or suffer the wrath of 'The Tickle Master'."
"Isn't that the silly name Belle used to call you when you guys were little?"
Instead of answering his friend, Shawn released another round of tickling on her until she quietly muttered something under her breath. Keeping her body locked under his, Shawn asked, "What was that?"
"I said I bow to the almighty Shawn Brady, by far the most handsome, generous, sexy, and all in all greatest guy in the world. Happy now?"
"I don't know, Chloe, you didn't really sound like you meant it," countered Shawn though he moved to lay beside Chloe, leaving half his body on top of hers just in case the war had to be restarted.
Turning to face Shawn with a huge grin that contradicted the seriousness in her voice, Chloe huskily remarked, "Shawn, I just have to tell you something. This day and everything that has happened here - in this bed - well, let's just say that it's something that I'll never forget."
Shawn smiled at the hidden sarcasm in Chloe's words. He continued the game by responding, "Don't worry, honey, I'll never forget this magical day either. You know, you're the first girl that I've used the hose on."
Chloe playfully hit Shawn on his bare chest before burying her head there, hoping that Shawn would somehow miss the embarrassment that was written all over her face. Suddenly, Chloe felt Shawn's body stiffen as his laughter came to an abrupt end.
Seeing that he was looking over her, Chloe turned herself on the bed until she was facing the door. Chloe then knew exactly why Shawn's entire demeanor had so suddenly changed. There, standing in the doorway of Shawn's room, was Belle, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears.
Suddenly feeling rather self-conscious, Chloe reached for some of the covers and pulled them over her as Shawn jumped off the bed and took a few careful steps toward the girl whose heart he would never think of breaking, but somehow had.
As Shawn stepped closer to her, Belle took a few short steps back. Forcing her lower lip to stop quivering, Belle quietly said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt . . . I mean, obviously I missed the main show, but . . ." Belle paused a moment as a few unchecked tears made a path down her cheek. "The front door was open, so I just let myself in. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."
Belle turned and ran down the front stairs, ignoring the calls from Shawn and Chloe. She was trying to force everything that she had heard out of her mind. Belle was only thankful that she hadn't been there when they had even less clothing on and were in an even more compromising position.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mimi stood in a complete state of shock, her mouth hanging open in an exaggerated manner. Try as she may, Mimi could not tear her eyes off Jason's bare chest and the water droplets that glistened on his tan skin or the simple white towel that hung dangerously loose from his waist.. Opening her mouth to utter an apology, Mimi found no words.
Once he recovered from his own shock, Jason asked, "Mimi, what are you doing here?"
"Uh," Mimi gulped. "I . . . well, I came over to get my bracelet. Yeah. . . my bracelet. Um, your mom called and said that I must have dropped it over here . . . and, I well, um . . ." Mimi averted her gaze before asking, "What was I saying?"
One side of his mouth turning up just slightly into a grin, Jason answered, "You said you came over for your bracelet."
"Oh, yeah, the bracelet. Your sister told me that you had it up here and to just come on up because you were already up here. I swear, I didn't think that you were going to just strut out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel."
"Strut?" Jason questioned as he continued to observe Mimi's nervous nature. He actually found it rather cute the way she seemed so mortified just because she caught him in his towel.
On the other hand, Jason was still a little angry that she had continually refused to talk to him the night of the party. With that thought in mind, Jason decided that it was time to play a few games of his own.
Making his way over to his desk, Jason used the chance to brush his body against Mimi's. He nearly laughed when he felt her stiffen and practically stop breathing. Though he hated to admit it, Jason was beginning to think that Mimi Lockhart got more and more adorable every time she graced him with her presence.
Pulling the simple, gold bracelet out of his desk drawer, Jason dangled it in front of him and asked, "Is this what you're looking for?" Jason began to walk toward Mimi, but stopped when he reached the foot of his bed. He then remarked, "I don't know if I should give it to you, Meems. After all, you didn't even want to talk to me the night of that party."
Taking only a couple of steps in Jason's direction, Mimi responded, "Yeah, well, I guess I just didn't want to hear what you had to say. I should never have come over here and opened my mouth in the first place. I don't know what was wrong with me."
In the past when Mimi had started one of her rants, Jason had usually tuned out the words and just waited for the sound to be over. This time, however, he truly listened to what she said. He picked up on the fact that the only person she actually put down was herself.
"What exactly is that suppose to mean? What did you think I was going to say?"
Rolling her eyes, Mimi's crossed her arms over her chest and temporarily forgot about Jason's bare one. "Look, Jason, let's just be honest. I know exactly what guys like you think about me."
Trying to keep his infamous temper in check, Jason asked, "What do you mean guys like me?"
"Jason, you're popular, athletic, good-looking. You've always been one of the in-crowd. Guys in that group don't even notice me. And, when they do, it's only because they need my help. Not a single one of those guys has ever really paid attention to me. For goodness sake, even Kevin Lambert thinks that I'm pathetic and not good enough."
"Mimi, why do you even care what geek-boy thinks?"
Approaching Jason, Mimi angrily spat, "Oh, and I suppose the fact that you think I'm a loser means more than Kevin thinking it, because you're some popular jock, huh? Why don't you just give me my bracelet so I can go home?"
"And what? Hide from the world?"
Reaching for her bracelet, Mimi ordered, "Give me my bracelet. It was a gift from my dad, so just hand it over."
"No, not yet," responded Jason, moving the hand holding the bracelet high above his head and out of Mimi's grasp. Jason gave a soft laugh as Mimi angrily jumped up trying to get the bracelet.
Before Jason could make an egotistical remark, Mimi surprised him by jumping once again for the bracelet. Thrown off balance by the unexpected attack, Jason grabbed hold of Mimi in hopes that it would somehow keeping him from toppling over. However, in the blink of an eye, Jason found himself on the bed, Mimi's on top of him.
Instantly, Jason's eyes drifted to where the top several buttons of Mimi's blouse had been pulled loose and her shirt slid slightly off her shoulder, revealing her gold satin bra. So lost in his own eye wanderings, Jason failed to notice that Mimi was doing a little investigating of her own.
Mimi couldn't help but feel a rush from the warm skin of Jason's chest under her hands. She also took a moment to enjoy the feel of Jason's arms around her back as he held her close. It suddenly hit her that the only thing covering his body was that towel - which was looser than ever.
Neither of the teens noticed that they were gaining an audience in the house next door.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Walking unannounced into Jeremy's room, Jack happily greeted, "Why, hello, Jeremy."
Jeremy didn't bother to look up from his book as he returned, "Hello, Uncle Jack."
"Ah, Jeremy, why do you insist upon locking yourself up here in this dreary room?" Approaching Jeremy's bedroom window, Jack continued, "I knew when I saw you head upstairs earlier that you would be hiding yourself from the world. Let's just open this window and . . ."
Jeremy instantly noticed the silence that filled the room when Jack opened the window. For a moment before he turned around, Jeremy wondered if it was possible that Jack had actually tumbled out. That would be a logical explanation for Jack's silence.
Just as Jeremy rose from his desk, Jack remarked from his place at the window, "Tsk, tsk, didn't anyone ever tell those young lovebirds to shut the door before serving up a little afternoon delight?"
"What are you talking . . .whoa."
Smiling, Jack responded, "That's what I was thinking. Look at those two. You'd think that they would have thought to shut the balcony doors before heading to bed."
Pushing Jack away from the open window, Jeremy stuck his head halfway out the window and realized that the couple looked more than just a little familiar.
Glancing over his shoulder only to find Jack looking around him and into the house next door, Jeremy quickly pulled the curtains shut. Pushing Jack away from the window, he quietly said, "I know those two." Throwing Jack an almost sad smile, Jeremy added, "I was actually thinking that I might like to ask that girl out some time. I guess I'm a little late."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Moving his gaze from Mimi's exposed skin to her lovely eyes, Jason slowly forced his right hand to remove itself from her waist, the bracelet still clenched in his fist. Clearing his throat, Jason nodded his head toward his hand and said, "Here's your bracelet."
Slowly, Mimi reached her hand out to grasp the bracelet, trying to ignore the electrical feeling that practically produced sparks when her hand met Jason's. As she continued to lie atop him, Mimi shyly smiled and questioned, "Um, Jase, is your towel . . . well, secure?"
Jason smiled and answered, "Don't worry, Meems, it's perfectly safe for you to stand up." Reaching his hand up to Mimi's shirt, Jason added, "Of course, we might want to fix this first."
Mimi felt certain that Jason could hear the thunderous sound of her heart beating as he buttoned her shirt. At that moment, she wasn't sure if she should be embarrassed or just give in to the feeling of contentment.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two hours after humiliating not only herself, but Belle as well, Chloe arrived back at her own house. She was thankful to see that her mother's car was missing. Chloe was far from being in the mood to have Nancy badger her about her afternoon.
Chloe slowly walked up the stairs, wondering if she would ever be able to make Belle understand that it had all been a big misunderstanding. Reaching her bedroom door, Chloe took a moment to squeeze her eyes shut and ponder just how it was that she always ended up in these crazy situations. Turning the knob, Chloe took solace in the fact that her day couldn't get any worse.
When Chloe turned around from shutting the door behind her, she found herself without the ability to move. A scream already building in her throat, Chloe could only stare at the person stretched out on her bed.
Besides his faded blue jeans and tight red shirt, the handsome, dark-haired young man wore a sly grin. Keeping one arm behind his head, he used the other to run through his spiky hair.
In a voice hardly above a whisper, Chloe demanded, "Who are you?"
His smile remaining firmly placed on his face, the young man remarked, "And, I thought Nancy gave me a warm welcome. I was here ten minutes before she made up some excuse to get out of the house."
"Once again, who are you?"
"Jeesh, don't bother being too polite," said the young man without rising from Chloe's bed. "I'm Craig's brother Zach. And, lucky for you, I live here."
In an almost shrill scream, Chloe yelled, "Craig!"
"Craig!" Zach mimicked. With a laugh, he quietly added, "Let the good times roll."
After spending his entire summer working on various fishing boats, Shawn had finally, with a little help from his parents, saved enough money to purchase the used Chevrolet S10. And, he fully intended to keep its deep green paint sparkling clean. Besides, washing the vehicle shirtless helped him keep the summer tan he had worked so hard to get.
Just as Shawn was rinsing away the last of the suds on the top of the truck, he heard a distinctly feminine person clearing her throat behind him. Shawn locked the nozzle as he turned only to find himself looking at Chloe, who offered him a meek grin.
"Hey."
"Hi, Shawn. Look, I know that I probably wasn't the most considerate person at the party. But, school starts in two days, and I really don't want us to feel all weird around each other in class. You've always been a really good friend, and I don't want to lose that."
"Here, take this," instructed Shawn as he handed Chloe a spare rag dripping with soapy water. "How about we make a deal? You help me wash my truck, and I forget everything that happened at the party . . . including the not-so- lovely tantrum you threw after everyone left. Plus, we'll pretend I never started that fight with Philip."
Moving to the truck, Chloe answered, "Sounds like a plan."
The two worked in an effortless silence as they scrubbed the truck from top to bottom. The quietness remained until Shawn decided that it would be a good idea to use the hose to rinse Chloe instead of the truck. Lifting the hose high above the truck bed, Shawn released the nozzle and soaked Chloe before quickly ducking.
"Shawn Douglas Brady!" squealed Chloe as she attempted to escape the wrath of the water hose. Of course, it was too late. She was dripping wet from head to toe. "I am going to get you for that!"
As Chloe stormed around the side of the truck, she was assaulted by a blast of cold water in the back. Somehow, Shawn had managed to sneak completely around the truck and attack her from behind.
"Is this what I get for trying to help you wash this chunk of metal?" Chloe questioned as she used her hands to motion to her wet sundress. "Really, Shawn, this wasn't necessary."
Bracing his hands on his knees, Shawn leaned forward, his body overcome with laughter. Taking another peek at Chloe and her drenched hair and clothing, Shawn began to laugh even harder.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Erin, what are you doing?" Jason gruffly demanded as he entered the kitchen only to find his younger sister staring out the window, a small smile on her lips. "You've spent the past three years living with grandma, and now you're spending your first day home staring out the window at the neighbor's house. Why is that?"
Noticeably blushing, Erin answered, "Well, if you must know, I was just watching our neighbor. He is so cute, Jason. Do you hang out with him? Can you introduce me to him?"
"I didn't even know we had a neighbor close to our age," answered Jason as he grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator before moving to the window so he could peer over his sister's shoulder and into the neighbor's living room. Groaning, Jason pushed himself away from the window and stalked into the living room muttering, "Just my luck."
Walking toward the stairs, Jason said, "I'm really sweaty from working outside in the garden, so I'm going to head upstairs to take a quick shower."
"Jason, wait! Mom wanted me to tell you that she found some bracelet the other day that was engraved with the name of some friend of yours. Miriam, I think. Anyway, she called the girl and she's coming over some time today to get it. Mom just put it in the top drawer of your desk and said that you could give it to her."
"Once again, just my luck," grumbled Jason as he made his way up the stairs. He and the other teens had managed to nearly completely avoid one another for just over a week. Now, when he was finally forced to see Mimi again, it was on the same day he was a sweaty mess and had discovered that he was living next door to none other than Jeremy Horton.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Shawn entered his bedroom, he was welcomed with the sight of Chloe in nothing but one of his long shirts, sitting on his unmade bed. And, the worst part was, not only did he feel close to nothing in that special way toward Chloe, but he was still thinking about Belle. He knew that she couldn't possibly have been washing her hair all twenty times he called.
Plopping down on the bed beside Chloe, Shawn remarked, "Well, I just put your clothes in the dryer, but it's a pretty old machine so I have no idea how long it's going to take for them to get dry. Also, I'm really sorry that it's so hot in here, but we were having problems with the air conditioner, and my dad tried to fix it. Now, we have no air conditioner until the repairman arrives. That's the reason we have all the doors and windows open."
"Don't worry about it, Shawn. I'm just glad you let me borrow one of your shirts and your mom's hair dryer, because I would hate to have to put up with Nancy bothering me with her questions if I had arrived home soaking wet. It was bad enough the day I came home with mud caked all over me."
"I guess things are still pretty tense between the two of you?"
"That's putting it mildly. I swear, Shawn, I can't wait until I get the chance to leave Salem and get away from her. No matter how well I follow her stupid rules, she always finds something to lecture me over. It's like no matter what I do, it's just not good enough. I hate that. I hate her."
Placing a reassuring arm around Chloe, Shawn said, "I'm sure you don't hate her. Maybe you just really dislike her. But, hey, at least things can't get worse, right?"
"I don't possibly see how they could . . . and, I'm not just talking about my relationship with my mother. Belle and I were supposed to go shopping on the Saturday following the party, but she called and left a message on my machine saying that something came up."
"She's not talking to me either. I still can't believe how wrong everything went."
"Yeah, Philip wasn't exactly happy about the score I got with Brady. In fact, I've only seen Philip a couple of times since that night. Usually, I see him a couple of times a day."
"You want to know something else that's weird? Even Jason is mad. I called him a few days ago to see if he wanted to play a game of basketball and he practically hung up on me."
Laying herself back on the bed, Chloe looked up at Shawn and curiously asked, "Why on earth would Jason be upset? What could have made him angry?"
"Well, I have an idea that Jason's problem might not be a what, but a who."
"Are you talking about Mimi?"
Falling back on the bed beside Chloe, Shawn asked, "How did you know that?"
"I don't know. It just seemed that they were acting strange around each other at the party. Plus, there was the way he stormed up to the machine to talk to her. Then, because of your little scuffle with my boyfriend, they ended up scoring a ten."
Shawn cracked a wide smile and turned on his side to face Chloe. "That's nothing. When I called Mimi to invite her, she was at Jason's house. Then, I was talking to Jason at the party, and he was fuming because he thought some guy was flirting with Mimi. It turns out that guy was my cousin Jeremy. Of course, you won't believe the rest of it."
"Try me."
"Alright, not only was Jeremy the guy you chose to be in the love machine with Mimi, but he is the very same guy she knocked into the fountain."
"You have to be joking."
"Nope."
"I guess that explains why Mimi was so nervous when he sat down. Wow, what a coincidence."
"I know. Does a coincidence get any stranger than that?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mimi carefully made her way up the stairs of the Masters home after being let in by Jason's younger sister. Erin had informed Mimi that Jason had the bracelet in his room and that he was already up there. After asking which room was his, Mimi had reluctantly headed for the stairs.
Coming to the door Erin had directed her to, Mimi softly knocked on the smooth wood. When she received no answer, Mimi hesitantly pushed the already ajar door open just a little bit more.
Inching her head into the room, Mimi was surprised to see that Jason was no where in the room. However, she was even more surprised after she stepped into the room, shut the door, and then heard the shower running in the adjoining bathroom.
Mimi approached the bathroom door and wondered if she should knock and announce herself. In a whisper, Mimi gave her mock greeting, "Oh, gee. Hi, Jase. Just thought that I would barge into your bedroom while you're in the very next room - naked."
Shaking her head with frustration, Mimi approached the double doors that led to Jason's balcony. Glancing back over her shoulder, Mimi noticed that Jason's bed was lined up with the balcony. She wondered what it would be like to wake up every morning with the sun shining in through the balcony doors while the birds chirped just outside on your very own balcony.
Opening the doors, Mimi stepped through them and let herself out to the balcony. It wasn't large, but it offered just enough space to make a person feel comfortable. Breathing in the fresh late summer air, Mimi nervously wondered how much longer Jason would take in the shower. She hadn't even wanted to face him after the party, but now the waiting was driving her crazy.
Just when Mimi thought that she was about to lose her mind with anticipation, she heard the bathroom door creak open and a person moving in the bedroom. Stepping inside, leaving the balcony doors wide open, Mimi received the shock of her life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
War was breaking out at the Brady house - a tickling war. Having become increasingly bored while waiting for Chloe's drenched clothing to become dry, Shawn had started some light teasing. Of course, teasing Chloe wasn't near as fun as teasing Belle, but Shawn was really just looking for a laugh with a friend. If he wanted more than innocent friendship, he'd let his mind roam to thoughts of Belle. The best part was Shawn knew that he did not need to worry about Chloe thinking that he wanted something more like Mimi had. As far as Shawn was concerned, that was Chloe's greatest attribute as a friend - friendship was all she wanted from him.
Gasping for her breath, Chloe giggled, "Shawn, stop!"
Shawn laughed heartily at Chloe's playful pleas. He had her pinned on the bed as he stood above her, tickling her sides. "I don't know, Chloe. I still haven't said the magic words."
"No way. I am not saying that!" Giving Shawn just a hard enough push to give herself room to stand, Chloe remarked, "Ha! I bet you thought you were winning."
Without warning, Chloe reached behind her and grabbed a pillow off Shawn's bed and used it as a weapon. She erupted in laughter at the shocked expression on his face when it was hit by the pillow.
"Oh, Miss Lane, you are going to pay," warned Shawn before he tackled Chloe, both of them landing on the bed with a soft thud as the bed gently bounced from the sudden weight. Using his hands as devices of torture, Shawn commanded, "Chloe, face it. You are at my mercy. Now, say it."
"Shawn! I've already . . . told you . . . I'm not . . . saying that," responded Chloe through her fits of laughter.
Forcing his expression to become completely serious, Shawn said, "But, Chloe, you know it's the truth. Just say it or suffer the wrath of 'The Tickle Master'."
"Isn't that the silly name Belle used to call you when you guys were little?"
Instead of answering his friend, Shawn released another round of tickling on her until she quietly muttered something under her breath. Keeping her body locked under his, Shawn asked, "What was that?"
"I said I bow to the almighty Shawn Brady, by far the most handsome, generous, sexy, and all in all greatest guy in the world. Happy now?"
"I don't know, Chloe, you didn't really sound like you meant it," countered Shawn though he moved to lay beside Chloe, leaving half his body on top of hers just in case the war had to be restarted.
Turning to face Shawn with a huge grin that contradicted the seriousness in her voice, Chloe huskily remarked, "Shawn, I just have to tell you something. This day and everything that has happened here - in this bed - well, let's just say that it's something that I'll never forget."
Shawn smiled at the hidden sarcasm in Chloe's words. He continued the game by responding, "Don't worry, honey, I'll never forget this magical day either. You know, you're the first girl that I've used the hose on."
Chloe playfully hit Shawn on his bare chest before burying her head there, hoping that Shawn would somehow miss the embarrassment that was written all over her face. Suddenly, Chloe felt Shawn's body stiffen as his laughter came to an abrupt end.
Seeing that he was looking over her, Chloe turned herself on the bed until she was facing the door. Chloe then knew exactly why Shawn's entire demeanor had so suddenly changed. There, standing in the doorway of Shawn's room, was Belle, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears.
Suddenly feeling rather self-conscious, Chloe reached for some of the covers and pulled them over her as Shawn jumped off the bed and took a few careful steps toward the girl whose heart he would never think of breaking, but somehow had.
As Shawn stepped closer to her, Belle took a few short steps back. Forcing her lower lip to stop quivering, Belle quietly said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt . . . I mean, obviously I missed the main show, but . . ." Belle paused a moment as a few unchecked tears made a path down her cheek. "The front door was open, so I just let myself in. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."
Belle turned and ran down the front stairs, ignoring the calls from Shawn and Chloe. She was trying to force everything that she had heard out of her mind. Belle was only thankful that she hadn't been there when they had even less clothing on and were in an even more compromising position.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mimi stood in a complete state of shock, her mouth hanging open in an exaggerated manner. Try as she may, Mimi could not tear her eyes off Jason's bare chest and the water droplets that glistened on his tan skin or the simple white towel that hung dangerously loose from his waist.. Opening her mouth to utter an apology, Mimi found no words.
Once he recovered from his own shock, Jason asked, "Mimi, what are you doing here?"
"Uh," Mimi gulped. "I . . . well, I came over to get my bracelet. Yeah. . . my bracelet. Um, your mom called and said that I must have dropped it over here . . . and, I well, um . . ." Mimi averted her gaze before asking, "What was I saying?"
One side of his mouth turning up just slightly into a grin, Jason answered, "You said you came over for your bracelet."
"Oh, yeah, the bracelet. Your sister told me that you had it up here and to just come on up because you were already up here. I swear, I didn't think that you were going to just strut out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel."
"Strut?" Jason questioned as he continued to observe Mimi's nervous nature. He actually found it rather cute the way she seemed so mortified just because she caught him in his towel.
On the other hand, Jason was still a little angry that she had continually refused to talk to him the night of the party. With that thought in mind, Jason decided that it was time to play a few games of his own.
Making his way over to his desk, Jason used the chance to brush his body against Mimi's. He nearly laughed when he felt her stiffen and practically stop breathing. Though he hated to admit it, Jason was beginning to think that Mimi Lockhart got more and more adorable every time she graced him with her presence.
Pulling the simple, gold bracelet out of his desk drawer, Jason dangled it in front of him and asked, "Is this what you're looking for?" Jason began to walk toward Mimi, but stopped when he reached the foot of his bed. He then remarked, "I don't know if I should give it to you, Meems. After all, you didn't even want to talk to me the night of that party."
Taking only a couple of steps in Jason's direction, Mimi responded, "Yeah, well, I guess I just didn't want to hear what you had to say. I should never have come over here and opened my mouth in the first place. I don't know what was wrong with me."
In the past when Mimi had started one of her rants, Jason had usually tuned out the words and just waited for the sound to be over. This time, however, he truly listened to what she said. He picked up on the fact that the only person she actually put down was herself.
"What exactly is that suppose to mean? What did you think I was going to say?"
Rolling her eyes, Mimi's crossed her arms over her chest and temporarily forgot about Jason's bare one. "Look, Jason, let's just be honest. I know exactly what guys like you think about me."
Trying to keep his infamous temper in check, Jason asked, "What do you mean guys like me?"
"Jason, you're popular, athletic, good-looking. You've always been one of the in-crowd. Guys in that group don't even notice me. And, when they do, it's only because they need my help. Not a single one of those guys has ever really paid attention to me. For goodness sake, even Kevin Lambert thinks that I'm pathetic and not good enough."
"Mimi, why do you even care what geek-boy thinks?"
Approaching Jason, Mimi angrily spat, "Oh, and I suppose the fact that you think I'm a loser means more than Kevin thinking it, because you're some popular jock, huh? Why don't you just give me my bracelet so I can go home?"
"And what? Hide from the world?"
Reaching for her bracelet, Mimi ordered, "Give me my bracelet. It was a gift from my dad, so just hand it over."
"No, not yet," responded Jason, moving the hand holding the bracelet high above his head and out of Mimi's grasp. Jason gave a soft laugh as Mimi angrily jumped up trying to get the bracelet.
Before Jason could make an egotistical remark, Mimi surprised him by jumping once again for the bracelet. Thrown off balance by the unexpected attack, Jason grabbed hold of Mimi in hopes that it would somehow keeping him from toppling over. However, in the blink of an eye, Jason found himself on the bed, Mimi's on top of him.
Instantly, Jason's eyes drifted to where the top several buttons of Mimi's blouse had been pulled loose and her shirt slid slightly off her shoulder, revealing her gold satin bra. So lost in his own eye wanderings, Jason failed to notice that Mimi was doing a little investigating of her own.
Mimi couldn't help but feel a rush from the warm skin of Jason's chest under her hands. She also took a moment to enjoy the feel of Jason's arms around her back as he held her close. It suddenly hit her that the only thing covering his body was that towel - which was looser than ever.
Neither of the teens noticed that they were gaining an audience in the house next door.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Walking unannounced into Jeremy's room, Jack happily greeted, "Why, hello, Jeremy."
Jeremy didn't bother to look up from his book as he returned, "Hello, Uncle Jack."
"Ah, Jeremy, why do you insist upon locking yourself up here in this dreary room?" Approaching Jeremy's bedroom window, Jack continued, "I knew when I saw you head upstairs earlier that you would be hiding yourself from the world. Let's just open this window and . . ."
Jeremy instantly noticed the silence that filled the room when Jack opened the window. For a moment before he turned around, Jeremy wondered if it was possible that Jack had actually tumbled out. That would be a logical explanation for Jack's silence.
Just as Jeremy rose from his desk, Jack remarked from his place at the window, "Tsk, tsk, didn't anyone ever tell those young lovebirds to shut the door before serving up a little afternoon delight?"
"What are you talking . . .whoa."
Smiling, Jack responded, "That's what I was thinking. Look at those two. You'd think that they would have thought to shut the balcony doors before heading to bed."
Pushing Jack away from the open window, Jeremy stuck his head halfway out the window and realized that the couple looked more than just a little familiar.
Glancing over his shoulder only to find Jack looking around him and into the house next door, Jeremy quickly pulled the curtains shut. Pushing Jack away from the window, he quietly said, "I know those two." Throwing Jack an almost sad smile, Jeremy added, "I was actually thinking that I might like to ask that girl out some time. I guess I'm a little late."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Moving his gaze from Mimi's exposed skin to her lovely eyes, Jason slowly forced his right hand to remove itself from her waist, the bracelet still clenched in his fist. Clearing his throat, Jason nodded his head toward his hand and said, "Here's your bracelet."
Slowly, Mimi reached her hand out to grasp the bracelet, trying to ignore the electrical feeling that practically produced sparks when her hand met Jason's. As she continued to lie atop him, Mimi shyly smiled and questioned, "Um, Jase, is your towel . . . well, secure?"
Jason smiled and answered, "Don't worry, Meems, it's perfectly safe for you to stand up." Reaching his hand up to Mimi's shirt, Jason added, "Of course, we might want to fix this first."
Mimi felt certain that Jason could hear the thunderous sound of her heart beating as he buttoned her shirt. At that moment, she wasn't sure if she should be embarrassed or just give in to the feeling of contentment.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two hours after humiliating not only herself, but Belle as well, Chloe arrived back at her own house. She was thankful to see that her mother's car was missing. Chloe was far from being in the mood to have Nancy badger her about her afternoon.
Chloe slowly walked up the stairs, wondering if she would ever be able to make Belle understand that it had all been a big misunderstanding. Reaching her bedroom door, Chloe took a moment to squeeze her eyes shut and ponder just how it was that she always ended up in these crazy situations. Turning the knob, Chloe took solace in the fact that her day couldn't get any worse.
When Chloe turned around from shutting the door behind her, she found herself without the ability to move. A scream already building in her throat, Chloe could only stare at the person stretched out on her bed.
Besides his faded blue jeans and tight red shirt, the handsome, dark-haired young man wore a sly grin. Keeping one arm behind his head, he used the other to run through his spiky hair.
In a voice hardly above a whisper, Chloe demanded, "Who are you?"
His smile remaining firmly placed on his face, the young man remarked, "And, I thought Nancy gave me a warm welcome. I was here ten minutes before she made up some excuse to get out of the house."
"Once again, who are you?"
"Jeesh, don't bother being too polite," said the young man without rising from Chloe's bed. "I'm Craig's brother Zach. And, lucky for you, I live here."
In an almost shrill scream, Chloe yelled, "Craig!"
"Craig!" Zach mimicked. With a laugh, he quietly added, "Let the good times roll."