Shawn shuffled his feet uncomfortably as he tried to not watch Jason and
Mimi. The two were huddled together several feet away and were acting
stranger than usual. One minute, they were completely avoiding each other's
gaze, and the next, Shawn would find them staring into one another's eyes
as though he wasn't even there. This was what he got for picking Mimi up
and actually arriving on time. Good guys really did finish last - even when
they arrived first.
The temptation to jump with joy arose when Shawn saw Belle, her trusty camera in hand, come around the side of the house to the backyard. However, the joy dissipated when Shawn saw that Belle wasn't alone. She had brought along her brother and two uninvited, possibly unwanted, guests. Glancing nervously at Jason, Shawn was relieved to see that he was still completely absorbed in his exchange with Mimi.
Approaching Belle with a forced smile, Shawn gritted, "Belle, why are they here?"
"Brady offered to give me a ride so I asked him to stay for the barbecue."
In a hushed whisper, Shawn stated, "Yeah, well, I wasn't exactly talking about Brady." Leaning his head toward the two unexpected guests that lingered several feet away, Shawn continued, "Seriously, Belle, you know that I don't mind having them around, but Jason is a totally different story. I'm telling you, he's gonna freak."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Geez, Meems, don't get your pretty little panties all in a knot. All I said was that your taste in music sucks, and that's why your boy band C.D.'s aren't allowed within ten feet of my boom box."
As Mimi was about to give her retort, she noticed Jason's gaze focusing unhappily behind her. Just when she was turning to see what had distracted Jason, he demanded, "What are they doing here? There's no way the 'Nerd Brigade' is crashing my barbecue. It just ain't happenin'."
Laying her hand on Jason's arm, Mimi insisted, "It looks like they came with Belle, so why don't you just leave them alone?"
"Because, there's no way I want Gigantor and Geek-boy hanging out at my house. I mean, if Belle wanted to invite some more people, why not the cheerleading squad?"
Giving Jason a shove, Mimi angrily declared, "That's it! I'm going to go talk to Susan and Kevin. At least they won't act like stuck-up jerks!"
Jason groaned and called out Mimi's name, but she refused to look back at him as she walked away. With the way he melted her resistance, a simple look at that smile or those eyes would put her at his mercy. He just had a way of either making her knees weak or her temper rise. The boy was practically turning her into mercury.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Though he was far from happy, Jason finally agreed to let Kevin and Susan stay. However, he assured them both that it would never happen again and that they would do well to stay away from his house in the future. He simply couldn't risk being seen with such losers.
By the time Zach, Chloe, and Philip arrived in the Mustang, the others had already divided themselves into groups. Jason and Shawn had taken their dutiful positions at the grill and were just waiting for Philip to arrive with the steaks. Relaxing by the pool, Kevin and Susan were avoiding Jason's dark glares while Mimi and Belle were trying to start a conversation with Jason's younger sister. But, Erin was so shy that they were having quite a difficult time. As for the paradoxical Brady Black, he had seemingly disappeared.
Coming around the side of Jason's house with Philip and Chloe following him, Zach took a moment to stop and examine the spacious backyard that greeted him. Having grown up in the center of Chicago, Zach had never spent much time in the suburbs. The large green lawn was most certainly a new experience to him.
To his left was a large swimming pool. On the far side of that pool, where Kevin and the girls were sitting, there were five chaise longues. On the side of the pool nearest Zach, two chairs sat between the corner of the pool and the picnic table. Not far from the picnic table sat the almighty grill - being kept company by the men folk. But, it was the object on his right that most fascinated Zach. There, just waiting for him, was a beautiful hammock.
Giving Zach a push forward, Philip muttered, "You didn't bother to stop for that red light, so why are you stopping now? Just go."
Upon seeing her friends, Belle jumped from her seat and approached them, snapping pictures the entire way. After all, it was the party celebrating the beginning of their final year of high school. It must be documented.
Philip offered Belle a quick hello and gave Chloe a tender kiss on the cheek before joining the other guys at the grill. Not the least bit interested in manning the grill, Zach opted to do what he considered the wise thing and stayed with the ladies. In his mind, there was just no choice when the options were burning chunks of meat or flirting with beautiful girls.
Flashing Belle his most charming smile, Zach said, "There must be something terribly wrong with Jason and Shawn for them to have been over there with that grill when you were looking so good by the pool."
Belle found herself speechless. While Shawn usually found things about her to ridicule, Zach made it his own hobby to compliment her any time he had the chance. And, though she enjoyed his attention, Belle wasn't sure how to respond to it. Had it been Shawn, she surely would have thrown herself in his arms. But, it seemed that Shawn Brady was completely clueless.
In an attempt to divert the attention away from herself, Belle looked over her shoulder and called for Erin. Slowly, the girl walked around the pool to join Belle. Chloe immediately noticed the way the younger girl completely avoided looking at Zach. In a way, Chloe found it quite adorable.
"Zach, Chloe, I would like you guys to meet Jason's younger sister Erin. She's been living with her grandmother, but moved back here for her sophomore year. Erin, I want you to meet Zach Wesley and Chloe Lane."
While Chloe presented Erin with a warm smile, Zach simply nodded while taking in every aspect of the girl. From her unruly and wavy blonde hair to her unstylish shoes, she seemed to be everything that Jason wasn't. While her brother chose to dress in the most recent fashions, Erin looked lost somewhere in the eighties. And, her large glasses gave her the appearance of an owl. However, Zach couldn't help but notice her smile. It was absolutely beautiful.
Interrupting Zach's critique of Erin, Chloe lifted the objects she was carrying and said, "Belle, I was just wondering if you knew where the chips and dip needed to go."
"Actually, I think Jason wanted them put in the kitchen until we started to eat."
Though reluctant to leave Zach and Belle alone together with only Erin to supervise, Chloe told the trio that she would just take the food inside. Walking to the house, Chloe looked back over her shoulder just as Zach was receiving a pleasant greeting from Jason while Belle tried to carry on a lively conversation with him.
Chloe had spent nearly two years earning her friendship with Shawn, Belle, and the others. It had taken her nearly that entire time to truly feel like a member of the group. Zach, however, had known them less than a day and was already being accepted as one of the gang. Had Chloe not been so independent and secure, she would probably have been jealous of Zach and his outgoing personality.
Throwing open the back door of the house, Chloe was grateful to see that it was also the entrance to the kitchen. Having never been to Jason's house, she would have hated to be forced to search for a spot to place the food. Chloe gently dropped the bags of chips to the table and crossed the room to place the canned dip in the refrigerator.
A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around Chloe's waist as she was shutting the door to the fridge. Turning in the man's arms, Chloe saw that her attacker was the same person that had been attacking her recent dreams. And, though she would rather die than admit it, Chloe actually enjoyed the feel of his body being so close to hers. In a way, the supposedly precarious guy in front of her made her feel amazingly secure.
"What are you doing, Brady?"
"Just practicing."
Chloe had no idea what Brady meant when he said that he was just practicing, and part of her feared finding out. In an annoyed manner Chloe asked, "What do you want? Or, are you just trying to get on my nerves?"
Smiling, Brady shook his head with amusement. Lowering his face so that it was much closer to Chloe's, Brady stated, "I want a lot of things, Chloe. And, so do you. In fact, you want more than my dear Uncle Phil could ever give you."
Chloe stiffened as Brady spoke. She simply wasn't comfortable with the way he seemed to know her. Sometimes, she almost felt as if he was her other half and that anything she thought, he understood.
"We need to talk, Chloe." Glancing out the window, Brady noticed Kevin and Susan walking in the direction of the house. "But, not now. Later, we'll find some place private so we can really discuss what I've been thinking about."
As quickly as he had appeared behind her, Brady disappeared in front of her. Just when he walked into the hall leading to the living room, Kevin and Susan entered the kitchen. Chloe had the feeling that the barbecue was definitely going to cause a few sparks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Noticing that Mimi had been left alone beside the pool, Jason strutted over to speak to her. He was not going to wait until after the barbecue to discuss her problems. Throwing his body in the chaise longue beside Mimi, Jason simply said, "It's time for us to finish that conversation we started the day you left your bracelet here."
"Look, Jase, just drop it, okay? It was stupid of me to come to you and ask why guys don't like me. Obviously, I'm not the beautiful cheerleader like Belle or the fascinating singer like Chloe. I'm not even trampy so I can't be like Jan."
"Yeah, but would you really want to be like Jan? It's like you said, she's a tramp. Jan Spears isn't even worth the hair spray that she uses on those psychotic curls of hers."
Mimi didn't really mean to direct the conversation away from herself, but it was clear that something was bothering Jason. And, she hoped that talking about it would help him feel better. "Hey, Jase, you know you can tell me if something happened with Jan."
"We broke up. At lunch today, I told all of you about how she and I split up at the Java Cafe."
Jason was definitely holding something back, and Mimi knew it. There was far too much resentment in his voice for it to have been that simple. And, no one had noticed him bad-mouthing Jan at the party at the pub, but at school, he had made it a ritual to be completed at least once an hour.
"Is that all? Or, did something else happen?"
His face showing almost no emotion, Jason answered, "I'll make you a deal, Mimi. If I tell you exactly what went down with me and Jan, you have to finish our other conversation."
"Deal."
Jason took a deep breath before quickly telling Mimi what had happened to truly turn him against Jan. "Friday night, Jan called me and said that she wanted to get back together and that we should talk before Monday, because she just couldn't bear to be without me. Acting like a fool, I went over to her house Sunday morning while her parents were at church. Funny, when I walked in on Jan and Dutton High's star quarterback, she didn't exactly look like she was missing me."
"I am so sorry, Jason. I can't believe that she would treat you like that."
"Well, she did. Now, it's your turn to spill. What exactly is it that you hate so much about yourself?"
"Hello? Don't you know? You are the one that has spent the past few years telling me what an unattractive loser I am."
Interrupting Mimi, Jason stated, "I never said that you were unattractive."
"Yes, you did. But, that's not the point. The point is that you were right. I am an ugly loser. And, that is why I can't get a single guy to be interested in me."
Jason's mind was bombarded by the memory of the way Jeremy had smiled at Mimi at the infamous "love machine party." For reasons that he could not yet understand, Jason felt jealous of Jeremy. He wondered how Mimi could not know how pretty she was or how lucky a guy would be to have her.
Not sure what to say, Jason offered his advice. "Mimi, you and I both know that you're not ugly. It's silly of you to think that you are anything but pretty. You're only problem is that you are always in Belle's shadow. And, even worse, you're too afraid to step out from under it."
"That's not true!"
"Yes, it is, so don't even try to argue with me. Maybe you should just try to be cool on your own without trying to be Belle's long lost twin. Face it, Meems, you're not the super-petite cheerleader. You should just get over it and be who you are. Trust me, people would like the real Mimi Lockhart better than the one that tries to be just like Belle Black so she can get just a little attention. Do something wild - be yourself."
Jason stood and walked away from Mimi before she had the opportunity to give his speech a reply. She wasn't sure if his words hurt her, angered her, or just made her want to open her eyes. No matter her own feelings, Mimi knew that what he had said had been the truth. For as long as she could remember, she had wanted to be just like Belle. She wanted a guy like Shawn Brady to fall head over heels for her. She wanted to be the most popular girl in the school.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Fifteen minutes later, while Zach relaxed in the comfortable hammock, Jason, Shawn, and Philip began to prepare the grill so they could start cooking. As Jason insisted that he was "Lord of the Grill," his two companions disagreed. Apparently, Shawn felt that it was in his genes to be great with a grill - just like he thought that it was in his genes to be great with women. Of course, Jason and Philip disagreed with both of Shawn's beliefs.
Just as Jason was about to place some steaks on the grill, he heard someone yell, "Why, neighbor, are we having a barbecue?"
Reluctantly looking to the fence that divided his lawn from the one next- door, Jason saw Jack Deveraux's head peering over the wooden divider. Before Jason could give Jack any time to reply, Jeremy appeared and began to try to get his uncle to leave the neighbors alone. Jack would have none of that. He insisted that he was just about to join the neighbors.
Before Jason could bluntly tell Jack that he wasn't invited, Belle came out the kitchen door with Mimi and Chloe. Seeing not only Jack but her good pal Jeremy, Belle immediately walked along the fence until she came to the gate. Swinging it open, she invited both Jack and Jeremy over so they could be a part of the barbecue.
Elbowing Shawn, Jason muttered, "Dude, you really need to get your girlfriend to stop with the invitations. I really don't need those two hanging around."
While Jack thanked Belle for her sweet invitation, Mimi drifted over to be near the guys at the grill. Though Jeremy had been terribly sweet to her whenever they met, Mimi still felt embarrassed about knocking him into the fountain at Salem Place.
As Mimi was asking Jason if there was anything she could do to help, Jack first took notice of her. Signaling for Jeremy to follow him, Jack approached Jason and Mimi. As he did so, Belle joined Philip and Shawn. Soon, Chloe came to stand not far from Shawn. Meanwhile, Erin, Kevin, and Susan were standing several feet away also watching to see just what the man from next-door was planning to do.
His face sporting a large grin, Jack threw his arms around Jason and Mimi, placing himself between the two. Laughing, he stated, "Ah, look at the two of you! Every time I watch you lovebirds, it makes me think of my own first love."
Her eyes wide with surprise, Chloe looked at Shawn and mouthed, "Lovebirds?" When Shawn gave only a shrug as his response, Chloe returned her attention to the scene unfolding before her. She had not spent very much time with Jack Deveraux, but it looked like he was quite the entertainer.
When Jason tried to move away, Jack only tightened his grip on the younger man and stated, "Honestly, when I see you two kids, I just feel like breaking into song."
"Jack," slowly began Jeremy as he wondered how much his aunt's ex-husband could possibly embarrass him. "Why don't we just leave these nice people to their barbecue? We could just go grab dinner at the pub - my treat."
"No, I think I'll stay, but thank you for the invitation." As Jason rolled his eyes, Jack looked over at Mimi and asked, "Now, I know that you're young, but have you ever heard of that marvelous group the Starland Vocal Band?"
"No, sir, I can't say that I have."
"Oh, that's just a shame. Well, they had a song that reminds me of you two sweethearts. Shall I sing it to you?"
Glancing past Jack, Jason saw Mimi shaking her head. It was reassuring to know that he wasn't the only one trying to find a way to get away from Jack. Clearing his throat, Jason suggested, "How about you don't sing, and we don't even pretend that you did."
Jack gave a deep laugh before answering, "Nonsense. Now, if you listen to these lyrics carefully, I'm sure you'll understand why they remind me of you." Swaying his body, Jack began to sing with an almost southern twang as he forced Jason and Mimi to also rock back and forth.
"Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
Gonna grab some afternoon delight."
Mimi glanced nervously around the group of her friends that surrounded her. She could feel her face flush a deep pink as Philip softly chuckled and nudged Shawn, who was barely suppressing his own laugh. Mimi knew that they were all wondering why Jack was singing that song, and they weren't the only ones. Though she tried, Mimi couldn't find any reason for Jack to be singing that song to her and Jason. The guy didn't even really know her.
"My motto's always been 'when it's right, it's right'
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?"
As Chloe watched Jack sing, she felt a strong hand run up and down her back. Stealing a look over her shoulder, Chloe was only partially shocked to see Brady staring at her intently. As always, the moment their eyes met, the rest of the world faded away into a terribly dull backdrop. Leaning close to Chloe, Brady whispered, "The guy might be crazy, but he has a point - why wait?"
Chloe watched Brady walk away before checking to see if Philip had noticed the brief discussion. Since he was still laughing at Jason and Mimi's obvious embarrassment, she guessed that he hadn't. Her heart still fluttering from merely having Brady near her, Chloe knew that she wouldn't have to wait much longer before she knew exactly what he was wanting.
"When everything's a little clearer in the light of day
And we know the night is always gonna be there anyway"
Taking a few quick photos of the odd situation, Belle softly bit her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing. While Jason rubbed his forehead and covered his eyes, Mimi's gaze was anxiously drifting from person to person, looking for anyone to save her from the impromptu concert.
Mimi's embarrassment only worsened when Jack paused his song long enough to loudly tell her, "Now, I bet this next part is what your boyfriend here says to you." Mimi wasn't sure what the next lines of the song were, but she had a feeling that they would be able to easily brighten her already pink cheeks. After all, she could already see the puzzled expressions on her friends' faces when Jack referred to Jason as her boyfriend.
"Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
Looking forward to a little afternoon delight
Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite
And the thought of lovin' you is getting so exciting
Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Started out this morning feeling so polite
I always thought a fish could not be caught who wouldn't bite
But you've got some bait a waitin' and I think that I might try nibbling
A little afternoon delight
Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight"
To no one in particular, Jeremy muttered, "I cannot believe that he just did that."
Breaking away from his bothersome neighbor, Jason stated, "I am not her boyfriend! We've never even gone on a date." Jason instantly regretted his declaration when he saw a hopeful smile appear on Jeremy's face. Great, he'd practically offered his Meems up to another guy on a silver platter. Well, Jason decided that he would just have to make sure Horton stayed away from Mimi. After all, they were friends, and he couldn't let a friend be subjected to a fate as boring as Jeremy.
Jason was brought back to his current situation when Jack harshly slapped his chest. His hands instinctively going to where Jack had hit him, Jason demanded, "What was that for?"
Throwing Jason his most disapproving glare, Jack stated, "You little scoundrel! Did your mother teach you no manners?" Jack turned to face Mimi and said, "Now, don't you worry, dear. Someday, you are going to meet a wonderful young man - nothing like this oaf."
"Look, I have no idea what you're talking about," remarked Jason as Mimi simply stared at Jack dumbfounded.
Delivering another rough blow to Jason's chest, Jack replied, "You're not even dating this lovely girl? What kind of young man does that make you? Especially after you took her to not only your room, but your bed? I would think that if she was suitable enough for you to dance with between the sheets on Saturday, then she's perfectly suitable for dating."
"Oh, my God," uttered Mimi as she used her hands to cover her face. Never had she been so embarrassed. She knew that everyone was looking at her, but she just couldn't meet their gazes.
Barely above a whisper, Erin assumed, "So, that's why it took Mimi so long to pick up her bracelet, and why her shirt was buttoned crooked when she came back down."
From his place at the hammock, Zach threw one hand in the air and yelled, "Score one for the home team! Go, Jason!" Zach's commentary was ended when Chloe appeared from seemingly nowhere and flipped the hammock over. "What?" Zach questioned from his new seat on the ground. "I would sleep with her, too, if I was him. Not only does she seem sweet, but she's got a really fine set of . . ."
Giving Zach a good kick to shut him up, Chloe stormed back to join Belle, Shawn, and Philip. As she arrived back at the circle, Jason was attempting to explain, but Jack continued to silence him.
"No, young man, there are no excuses. Honestly, if the two of you insisted on going at it in the middle of the afternoon, the least you could have done was shut the balcony doors. Now, I understand that you were lost in the heat of the moment, but you really should be more careful."
Jeremy grabbed his uncle and pulled him away from Jason and Mimi. He should have known that Jack would find some way to embarrass him. The one time he really wanted to impress a girl, Jack insisted on making a fool of not only himself, but the girl as well.
In a whisper, Jeremy questioned, "Jack, why did you just do that? You completely embarrassed Mimi in front of her friends. It wasn't any of our business what happened between those two."
While Jack and Jeremy had a quiet disagreement, Jason forced himself to face his friends. Feigning indignation, he looked at Shawn and Philip and remarked, "I can't believe that guy had the nerve to call me an oaf. What is an oaf anyway?"
Following Jack's example and hitting Jason in the chest, Mimi muttered, "Who cares? By the time your neighbor gets done, the entire town is going to think that we're fooling around!"
The temptation to jump with joy arose when Shawn saw Belle, her trusty camera in hand, come around the side of the house to the backyard. However, the joy dissipated when Shawn saw that Belle wasn't alone. She had brought along her brother and two uninvited, possibly unwanted, guests. Glancing nervously at Jason, Shawn was relieved to see that he was still completely absorbed in his exchange with Mimi.
Approaching Belle with a forced smile, Shawn gritted, "Belle, why are they here?"
"Brady offered to give me a ride so I asked him to stay for the barbecue."
In a hushed whisper, Shawn stated, "Yeah, well, I wasn't exactly talking about Brady." Leaning his head toward the two unexpected guests that lingered several feet away, Shawn continued, "Seriously, Belle, you know that I don't mind having them around, but Jason is a totally different story. I'm telling you, he's gonna freak."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Geez, Meems, don't get your pretty little panties all in a knot. All I said was that your taste in music sucks, and that's why your boy band C.D.'s aren't allowed within ten feet of my boom box."
As Mimi was about to give her retort, she noticed Jason's gaze focusing unhappily behind her. Just when she was turning to see what had distracted Jason, he demanded, "What are they doing here? There's no way the 'Nerd Brigade' is crashing my barbecue. It just ain't happenin'."
Laying her hand on Jason's arm, Mimi insisted, "It looks like they came with Belle, so why don't you just leave them alone?"
"Because, there's no way I want Gigantor and Geek-boy hanging out at my house. I mean, if Belle wanted to invite some more people, why not the cheerleading squad?"
Giving Jason a shove, Mimi angrily declared, "That's it! I'm going to go talk to Susan and Kevin. At least they won't act like stuck-up jerks!"
Jason groaned and called out Mimi's name, but she refused to look back at him as she walked away. With the way he melted her resistance, a simple look at that smile or those eyes would put her at his mercy. He just had a way of either making her knees weak or her temper rise. The boy was practically turning her into mercury.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Though he was far from happy, Jason finally agreed to let Kevin and Susan stay. However, he assured them both that it would never happen again and that they would do well to stay away from his house in the future. He simply couldn't risk being seen with such losers.
By the time Zach, Chloe, and Philip arrived in the Mustang, the others had already divided themselves into groups. Jason and Shawn had taken their dutiful positions at the grill and were just waiting for Philip to arrive with the steaks. Relaxing by the pool, Kevin and Susan were avoiding Jason's dark glares while Mimi and Belle were trying to start a conversation with Jason's younger sister. But, Erin was so shy that they were having quite a difficult time. As for the paradoxical Brady Black, he had seemingly disappeared.
Coming around the side of Jason's house with Philip and Chloe following him, Zach took a moment to stop and examine the spacious backyard that greeted him. Having grown up in the center of Chicago, Zach had never spent much time in the suburbs. The large green lawn was most certainly a new experience to him.
To his left was a large swimming pool. On the far side of that pool, where Kevin and the girls were sitting, there were five chaise longues. On the side of the pool nearest Zach, two chairs sat between the corner of the pool and the picnic table. Not far from the picnic table sat the almighty grill - being kept company by the men folk. But, it was the object on his right that most fascinated Zach. There, just waiting for him, was a beautiful hammock.
Giving Zach a push forward, Philip muttered, "You didn't bother to stop for that red light, so why are you stopping now? Just go."
Upon seeing her friends, Belle jumped from her seat and approached them, snapping pictures the entire way. After all, it was the party celebrating the beginning of their final year of high school. It must be documented.
Philip offered Belle a quick hello and gave Chloe a tender kiss on the cheek before joining the other guys at the grill. Not the least bit interested in manning the grill, Zach opted to do what he considered the wise thing and stayed with the ladies. In his mind, there was just no choice when the options were burning chunks of meat or flirting with beautiful girls.
Flashing Belle his most charming smile, Zach said, "There must be something terribly wrong with Jason and Shawn for them to have been over there with that grill when you were looking so good by the pool."
Belle found herself speechless. While Shawn usually found things about her to ridicule, Zach made it his own hobby to compliment her any time he had the chance. And, though she enjoyed his attention, Belle wasn't sure how to respond to it. Had it been Shawn, she surely would have thrown herself in his arms. But, it seemed that Shawn Brady was completely clueless.
In an attempt to divert the attention away from herself, Belle looked over her shoulder and called for Erin. Slowly, the girl walked around the pool to join Belle. Chloe immediately noticed the way the younger girl completely avoided looking at Zach. In a way, Chloe found it quite adorable.
"Zach, Chloe, I would like you guys to meet Jason's younger sister Erin. She's been living with her grandmother, but moved back here for her sophomore year. Erin, I want you to meet Zach Wesley and Chloe Lane."
While Chloe presented Erin with a warm smile, Zach simply nodded while taking in every aspect of the girl. From her unruly and wavy blonde hair to her unstylish shoes, she seemed to be everything that Jason wasn't. While her brother chose to dress in the most recent fashions, Erin looked lost somewhere in the eighties. And, her large glasses gave her the appearance of an owl. However, Zach couldn't help but notice her smile. It was absolutely beautiful.
Interrupting Zach's critique of Erin, Chloe lifted the objects she was carrying and said, "Belle, I was just wondering if you knew where the chips and dip needed to go."
"Actually, I think Jason wanted them put in the kitchen until we started to eat."
Though reluctant to leave Zach and Belle alone together with only Erin to supervise, Chloe told the trio that she would just take the food inside. Walking to the house, Chloe looked back over her shoulder just as Zach was receiving a pleasant greeting from Jason while Belle tried to carry on a lively conversation with him.
Chloe had spent nearly two years earning her friendship with Shawn, Belle, and the others. It had taken her nearly that entire time to truly feel like a member of the group. Zach, however, had known them less than a day and was already being accepted as one of the gang. Had Chloe not been so independent and secure, she would probably have been jealous of Zach and his outgoing personality.
Throwing open the back door of the house, Chloe was grateful to see that it was also the entrance to the kitchen. Having never been to Jason's house, she would have hated to be forced to search for a spot to place the food. Chloe gently dropped the bags of chips to the table and crossed the room to place the canned dip in the refrigerator.
A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around Chloe's waist as she was shutting the door to the fridge. Turning in the man's arms, Chloe saw that her attacker was the same person that had been attacking her recent dreams. And, though she would rather die than admit it, Chloe actually enjoyed the feel of his body being so close to hers. In a way, the supposedly precarious guy in front of her made her feel amazingly secure.
"What are you doing, Brady?"
"Just practicing."
Chloe had no idea what Brady meant when he said that he was just practicing, and part of her feared finding out. In an annoyed manner Chloe asked, "What do you want? Or, are you just trying to get on my nerves?"
Smiling, Brady shook his head with amusement. Lowering his face so that it was much closer to Chloe's, Brady stated, "I want a lot of things, Chloe. And, so do you. In fact, you want more than my dear Uncle Phil could ever give you."
Chloe stiffened as Brady spoke. She simply wasn't comfortable with the way he seemed to know her. Sometimes, she almost felt as if he was her other half and that anything she thought, he understood.
"We need to talk, Chloe." Glancing out the window, Brady noticed Kevin and Susan walking in the direction of the house. "But, not now. Later, we'll find some place private so we can really discuss what I've been thinking about."
As quickly as he had appeared behind her, Brady disappeared in front of her. Just when he walked into the hall leading to the living room, Kevin and Susan entered the kitchen. Chloe had the feeling that the barbecue was definitely going to cause a few sparks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Noticing that Mimi had been left alone beside the pool, Jason strutted over to speak to her. He was not going to wait until after the barbecue to discuss her problems. Throwing his body in the chaise longue beside Mimi, Jason simply said, "It's time for us to finish that conversation we started the day you left your bracelet here."
"Look, Jase, just drop it, okay? It was stupid of me to come to you and ask why guys don't like me. Obviously, I'm not the beautiful cheerleader like Belle or the fascinating singer like Chloe. I'm not even trampy so I can't be like Jan."
"Yeah, but would you really want to be like Jan? It's like you said, she's a tramp. Jan Spears isn't even worth the hair spray that she uses on those psychotic curls of hers."
Mimi didn't really mean to direct the conversation away from herself, but it was clear that something was bothering Jason. And, she hoped that talking about it would help him feel better. "Hey, Jase, you know you can tell me if something happened with Jan."
"We broke up. At lunch today, I told all of you about how she and I split up at the Java Cafe."
Jason was definitely holding something back, and Mimi knew it. There was far too much resentment in his voice for it to have been that simple. And, no one had noticed him bad-mouthing Jan at the party at the pub, but at school, he had made it a ritual to be completed at least once an hour.
"Is that all? Or, did something else happen?"
His face showing almost no emotion, Jason answered, "I'll make you a deal, Mimi. If I tell you exactly what went down with me and Jan, you have to finish our other conversation."
"Deal."
Jason took a deep breath before quickly telling Mimi what had happened to truly turn him against Jan. "Friday night, Jan called me and said that she wanted to get back together and that we should talk before Monday, because she just couldn't bear to be without me. Acting like a fool, I went over to her house Sunday morning while her parents were at church. Funny, when I walked in on Jan and Dutton High's star quarterback, she didn't exactly look like she was missing me."
"I am so sorry, Jason. I can't believe that she would treat you like that."
"Well, she did. Now, it's your turn to spill. What exactly is it that you hate so much about yourself?"
"Hello? Don't you know? You are the one that has spent the past few years telling me what an unattractive loser I am."
Interrupting Mimi, Jason stated, "I never said that you were unattractive."
"Yes, you did. But, that's not the point. The point is that you were right. I am an ugly loser. And, that is why I can't get a single guy to be interested in me."
Jason's mind was bombarded by the memory of the way Jeremy had smiled at Mimi at the infamous "love machine party." For reasons that he could not yet understand, Jason felt jealous of Jeremy. He wondered how Mimi could not know how pretty she was or how lucky a guy would be to have her.
Not sure what to say, Jason offered his advice. "Mimi, you and I both know that you're not ugly. It's silly of you to think that you are anything but pretty. You're only problem is that you are always in Belle's shadow. And, even worse, you're too afraid to step out from under it."
"That's not true!"
"Yes, it is, so don't even try to argue with me. Maybe you should just try to be cool on your own without trying to be Belle's long lost twin. Face it, Meems, you're not the super-petite cheerleader. You should just get over it and be who you are. Trust me, people would like the real Mimi Lockhart better than the one that tries to be just like Belle Black so she can get just a little attention. Do something wild - be yourself."
Jason stood and walked away from Mimi before she had the opportunity to give his speech a reply. She wasn't sure if his words hurt her, angered her, or just made her want to open her eyes. No matter her own feelings, Mimi knew that what he had said had been the truth. For as long as she could remember, she had wanted to be just like Belle. She wanted a guy like Shawn Brady to fall head over heels for her. She wanted to be the most popular girl in the school.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Fifteen minutes later, while Zach relaxed in the comfortable hammock, Jason, Shawn, and Philip began to prepare the grill so they could start cooking. As Jason insisted that he was "Lord of the Grill," his two companions disagreed. Apparently, Shawn felt that it was in his genes to be great with a grill - just like he thought that it was in his genes to be great with women. Of course, Jason and Philip disagreed with both of Shawn's beliefs.
Just as Jason was about to place some steaks on the grill, he heard someone yell, "Why, neighbor, are we having a barbecue?"
Reluctantly looking to the fence that divided his lawn from the one next- door, Jason saw Jack Deveraux's head peering over the wooden divider. Before Jason could give Jack any time to reply, Jeremy appeared and began to try to get his uncle to leave the neighbors alone. Jack would have none of that. He insisted that he was just about to join the neighbors.
Before Jason could bluntly tell Jack that he wasn't invited, Belle came out the kitchen door with Mimi and Chloe. Seeing not only Jack but her good pal Jeremy, Belle immediately walked along the fence until she came to the gate. Swinging it open, she invited both Jack and Jeremy over so they could be a part of the barbecue.
Elbowing Shawn, Jason muttered, "Dude, you really need to get your girlfriend to stop with the invitations. I really don't need those two hanging around."
While Jack thanked Belle for her sweet invitation, Mimi drifted over to be near the guys at the grill. Though Jeremy had been terribly sweet to her whenever they met, Mimi still felt embarrassed about knocking him into the fountain at Salem Place.
As Mimi was asking Jason if there was anything she could do to help, Jack first took notice of her. Signaling for Jeremy to follow him, Jack approached Jason and Mimi. As he did so, Belle joined Philip and Shawn. Soon, Chloe came to stand not far from Shawn. Meanwhile, Erin, Kevin, and Susan were standing several feet away also watching to see just what the man from next-door was planning to do.
His face sporting a large grin, Jack threw his arms around Jason and Mimi, placing himself between the two. Laughing, he stated, "Ah, look at the two of you! Every time I watch you lovebirds, it makes me think of my own first love."
Her eyes wide with surprise, Chloe looked at Shawn and mouthed, "Lovebirds?" When Shawn gave only a shrug as his response, Chloe returned her attention to the scene unfolding before her. She had not spent very much time with Jack Deveraux, but it looked like he was quite the entertainer.
When Jason tried to move away, Jack only tightened his grip on the younger man and stated, "Honestly, when I see you two kids, I just feel like breaking into song."
"Jack," slowly began Jeremy as he wondered how much his aunt's ex-husband could possibly embarrass him. "Why don't we just leave these nice people to their barbecue? We could just go grab dinner at the pub - my treat."
"No, I think I'll stay, but thank you for the invitation." As Jason rolled his eyes, Jack looked over at Mimi and asked, "Now, I know that you're young, but have you ever heard of that marvelous group the Starland Vocal Band?"
"No, sir, I can't say that I have."
"Oh, that's just a shame. Well, they had a song that reminds me of you two sweethearts. Shall I sing it to you?"
Glancing past Jack, Jason saw Mimi shaking her head. It was reassuring to know that he wasn't the only one trying to find a way to get away from Jack. Clearing his throat, Jason suggested, "How about you don't sing, and we don't even pretend that you did."
Jack gave a deep laugh before answering, "Nonsense. Now, if you listen to these lyrics carefully, I'm sure you'll understand why they remind me of you." Swaying his body, Jack began to sing with an almost southern twang as he forced Jason and Mimi to also rock back and forth.
"Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
Gonna grab some afternoon delight."
Mimi glanced nervously around the group of her friends that surrounded her. She could feel her face flush a deep pink as Philip softly chuckled and nudged Shawn, who was barely suppressing his own laugh. Mimi knew that they were all wondering why Jack was singing that song, and they weren't the only ones. Though she tried, Mimi couldn't find any reason for Jack to be singing that song to her and Jason. The guy didn't even really know her.
"My motto's always been 'when it's right, it's right'
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?"
As Chloe watched Jack sing, she felt a strong hand run up and down her back. Stealing a look over her shoulder, Chloe was only partially shocked to see Brady staring at her intently. As always, the moment their eyes met, the rest of the world faded away into a terribly dull backdrop. Leaning close to Chloe, Brady whispered, "The guy might be crazy, but he has a point - why wait?"
Chloe watched Brady walk away before checking to see if Philip had noticed the brief discussion. Since he was still laughing at Jason and Mimi's obvious embarrassment, she guessed that he hadn't. Her heart still fluttering from merely having Brady near her, Chloe knew that she wouldn't have to wait much longer before she knew exactly what he was wanting.
"When everything's a little clearer in the light of day
And we know the night is always gonna be there anyway"
Taking a few quick photos of the odd situation, Belle softly bit her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing. While Jason rubbed his forehead and covered his eyes, Mimi's gaze was anxiously drifting from person to person, looking for anyone to save her from the impromptu concert.
Mimi's embarrassment only worsened when Jack paused his song long enough to loudly tell her, "Now, I bet this next part is what your boyfriend here says to you." Mimi wasn't sure what the next lines of the song were, but she had a feeling that they would be able to easily brighten her already pink cheeks. After all, she could already see the puzzled expressions on her friends' faces when Jack referred to Jason as her boyfriend.
"Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
Looking forward to a little afternoon delight
Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite
And the thought of lovin' you is getting so exciting
Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Started out this morning feeling so polite
I always thought a fish could not be caught who wouldn't bite
But you've got some bait a waitin' and I think that I might try nibbling
A little afternoon delight
Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight"
To no one in particular, Jeremy muttered, "I cannot believe that he just did that."
Breaking away from his bothersome neighbor, Jason stated, "I am not her boyfriend! We've never even gone on a date." Jason instantly regretted his declaration when he saw a hopeful smile appear on Jeremy's face. Great, he'd practically offered his Meems up to another guy on a silver platter. Well, Jason decided that he would just have to make sure Horton stayed away from Mimi. After all, they were friends, and he couldn't let a friend be subjected to a fate as boring as Jeremy.
Jason was brought back to his current situation when Jack harshly slapped his chest. His hands instinctively going to where Jack had hit him, Jason demanded, "What was that for?"
Throwing Jason his most disapproving glare, Jack stated, "You little scoundrel! Did your mother teach you no manners?" Jack turned to face Mimi and said, "Now, don't you worry, dear. Someday, you are going to meet a wonderful young man - nothing like this oaf."
"Look, I have no idea what you're talking about," remarked Jason as Mimi simply stared at Jack dumbfounded.
Delivering another rough blow to Jason's chest, Jack replied, "You're not even dating this lovely girl? What kind of young man does that make you? Especially after you took her to not only your room, but your bed? I would think that if she was suitable enough for you to dance with between the sheets on Saturday, then she's perfectly suitable for dating."
"Oh, my God," uttered Mimi as she used her hands to cover her face. Never had she been so embarrassed. She knew that everyone was looking at her, but she just couldn't meet their gazes.
Barely above a whisper, Erin assumed, "So, that's why it took Mimi so long to pick up her bracelet, and why her shirt was buttoned crooked when she came back down."
From his place at the hammock, Zach threw one hand in the air and yelled, "Score one for the home team! Go, Jason!" Zach's commentary was ended when Chloe appeared from seemingly nowhere and flipped the hammock over. "What?" Zach questioned from his new seat on the ground. "I would sleep with her, too, if I was him. Not only does she seem sweet, but she's got a really fine set of . . ."
Giving Zach a good kick to shut him up, Chloe stormed back to join Belle, Shawn, and Philip. As she arrived back at the circle, Jason was attempting to explain, but Jack continued to silence him.
"No, young man, there are no excuses. Honestly, if the two of you insisted on going at it in the middle of the afternoon, the least you could have done was shut the balcony doors. Now, I understand that you were lost in the heat of the moment, but you really should be more careful."
Jeremy grabbed his uncle and pulled him away from Jason and Mimi. He should have known that Jack would find some way to embarrass him. The one time he really wanted to impress a girl, Jack insisted on making a fool of not only himself, but the girl as well.
In a whisper, Jeremy questioned, "Jack, why did you just do that? You completely embarrassed Mimi in front of her friends. It wasn't any of our business what happened between those two."
While Jack and Jeremy had a quiet disagreement, Jason forced himself to face his friends. Feigning indignation, he looked at Shawn and Philip and remarked, "I can't believe that guy had the nerve to call me an oaf. What is an oaf anyway?"
Following Jack's example and hitting Jason in the chest, Mimi muttered, "Who cares? By the time your neighbor gets done, the entire town is going to think that we're fooling around!"