In his typical manner, Jason Masters strutted into Dotcom as though he
owned the place. With so many of his close friends out of town on the
environmental trip, Jason was feeling quite happy. After all, fewer teens
in Salem meant more private time with Mimi.
Stopping almost mid-stride, Jason felt his self-superior smile drop from his face as he began to openly gape at the abhorring sight before him.
Crossing his muscled arms defensively over his chest, Jason glared at the booth where Kevin, Susan, and Mimi were sitting with none other than Jeremy Horton. Well, there was simply no way that Jason was going to merely stand by and allow some other guy to put the moves on the girl that he had finally realized had somehow stolen his heart.
Striding over to the booth, Jason attempted to cover the scowl upon his face with a confident smile. He had the distinct feeling that he was failing miserably.
Upon reaching the booth where the laughing teens sat, Jason dropped the stack of fliers he had been carrying onto the tabletop with a loud thud. He forced himself to smile extra bright as he greeted, "Hello, Mimi." Continuing to keep the forced smile upon his face, Jason purposely ignored Jeremy as he added, "Hi, Kevin, Susan."
Sharing a quizzical look, Kevin and Susan wondered why exactly it was that Jason Masters, school bully extraordinaire, was not only acknowledging them but doing it in a friendly manner. Both decided that it would be best to keep an eye on the sky just to make certain that it did not fall.
Mimi picked up one of the colorful sheets of paper that Jason had dropped to the table and silently read it. Looking up at Jason, she asked, "So, Philip was serious when he left that message on my answering machine telling me that I had to help him decorate the mansion for a costume party on Halloween?"
"Yep, Philip's serious all right. And, before he left on that environmental trip, he called me and put me in charge of getting the guests. Apparently, his dad is going to be out of town on business for most of next week, so Philly-boy will have the mansion all to himself. Well, unless you count Nicole, but Philip said that she wouldn't be a problem."
"So, Jeremy, are you coming to the party?" Mimi asked hesitantly, not sure what answer she was hoping to receive. On one hand, Jeremy was a sweet guy who just happened to be incredibly good-looking. On the other hand, Mimi knew of a certain conceded football player who was equally good-looking but would probably never really see her as anything but a dull friend.
"Um, yeah, that sounds like fun - as long as you're there."
An idea suddenly assaulting her, Mimi smiled and asked, "What if we go and get matching costumes? You know, like Romeo and Juliet or whatever?"
"That would be great," Jeremy answered with a content grin.
Smiling almost too happily, Jason commented, "You know, Meems, that was probably the best idea you've had in a long time."
"Thanks - I think." Taking a quick glance at Susan, Mimi cryptically asked, "Can I talk to you alone for a minute, Jason?"
As he was dragged away from the booth, Jason had no choice but to comply. When Mimi had pulled him what she believed to be a safe distance from the others, Jason curiously asked, "What's up, Mimi? What's so important that you need to talk to me alone?"
"I have one word for you - Susan."
Releasing a sound frightfully similar to a snort, Jason skeptically asked, "What does Gigantor have to do with anything?"
Mimi harshly slapped Jason's chest before saying, "Would you quit calling her that?" Shaking her head, Mimi continued, "Look, I've spoken to Susan, so whenever you want to do it, she'll be waiting."
His eyes narrowing in confusion, Jason questioned, "What exactly are you talking about? Don't tell me that Horton's boring personality has already driven you insane."
Slapping Jason's chest even more harshly than before, Mimi replied, "First, you don't even know Jeremy that well, so you can't make assumptions about his personality. And, second, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't."
"Um, yes, you do."
"If I did, I wouldn't waste my time arguing with you! So, just tell me what's going on."
Placing her hands on her hips, Mimi flashed Jason a smug look and responded, "Does a certain bet ring any bells?"
The frown that immediately appeared on Jason's face was more than enough to tell Mimi that her secret crush was beginning to understand exactly what she was talking about.
His words coming out almost in the sound of a moan, Jason asked, "Why couldn't you just forget about that stupid bet?"
"After the outfit you made me wear to school? Oh, there was no way I would ever forget about that bet." Smiling triumphantly, Mimi continued, "So, only one question remains. When are you going to take Susan on your date?"
"How about never?"
"How about Sunday night?" Mimi countered. "When I explained the situation to Susan earlier, she told me that Sunday would be best because she was going to have family visiting and they wouldn't leave until late Sunday afternoon."
"Fine," huffed Jason unhappily.
Nodding in the direction of the booth, Mimi said, "So, I do believe it's time for you to ask your date for Sunday night what time you should pick her up."
"And, I believe it's time you got a life. You went from acting corny because you spent too much time with Belle to acting corny because you're spending too much time with that prep Jeremy Horton."
"Why don't you just leave me alone and go ask Susan what time you should pick her up?"
"Anything to get away from your annoying mouth," snidely rebuffed Jason before stalking away to the booth.
Reaching the booth, Jason finally realized how Philip must have felt when he had been forced to ask Chloe to the Last Blast. However, Jason had the feeling that he and Susan weren't going to fall in love then be torn apart by his nephew. Then again, unlike Philip, Jason knew deep inside that he had already found his true love - he just had to let her know it.
Using all his inner strength to work past the lump in his throat, Jason mumbled, "Hi, Susan."
Seeing Mimi flash her a quick thumbs up, Susan smiled shyly and replied, "Hello, Jason."
"So . . . " Jason anxiously began as he wished he could just run out of Dotcom and straight to the safety of his own home. "I was just . . . well, I mean . . ."
Stealing a quick peak at Kevin, Susan was elated to see that he was paying extremely close attention to Jason. She only prayed that Mimi was right and that a date with Jason would cause Kevin to consider a serious relationship - and more than one date.
Frustrated by his own lack of suavity, Jason blurted, "Look, I was wondering what time I should pick you up on Sunday night for our date?"
"Date?" Jeremy and Kevin questioned simultaneously. Kevin had been certain that Susan was only interested in him, and Jeremy had been certain that Jason was secretly in love with Mimi.
Splitting a dirty look between Kevin and Jeremy, Jason growled, "That's what I said."
Giving a bright smile, Susan answered, "Seven o'clock would be great."
Jason pretended to glance at his watch before announcing, "Look at the time. I really need to get home and finish up my homework before school tomorrow."
A skeptical look apparent on his face, Kevin asked, "Since when have you done your homework?"
Placing his hands on the corner of the table, Jason leaned over toward Kevin and responded, "Watch it nerd-boy. After all, a geek is never too old to be stuffed into a locker or thrown in a trash can." Having effectively silenced Kevin, Jason muttered, "I'm out of here. Bye, Mimi."
As she watched Jason walk out the door of Dotcom, Mimi whispered to herself, "Bye, Jase."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
With deliberately slow movements, Brady opened the door to the penthouse and entered his home. It had definitely been one roller coaster of an evening - and the ride wasn't over yet. After all, he still had the duty of announcing his engagement to his father and Marlena.
Brady shut the door a little harder than usual to ensure that his father would note his entrance. Tossing the folder he had been reviewing onto the coffee table, John glanced up and greeted, "Hello, son. Is everything all right?"
A genuine grin emerging on his face, Brady answered, "Actually, Dad, things are better than all right."
"Is that a fact?"
"Yeah, for the first time in recent history, I actually feel like things just might work out for the best."
Nodding his head just slightly, John curiously questioned, "Any special reason for this new outlook on life?"
"Yes, there is. Dad, there's something you need to know. And, it's important."
A serious expression darkened the older man's handsome face as he watched his son take a seat across the coffee table from him. "Am I going to want to hear this?"
Releasing the breath he had not even realized he had been holding, Brady answered, "I don't know, but it really doesn't matter. I've already made up my mind, and there's nothing that anyone can do to change that."
By this point, John was feeling quite nervous. He could only pray that he approved of whatever decision Brady had made, because the strong determination in Brady's voice assured him that there would be nothing he could do to alter his son's decision. His powerful voice sounding almost timid, John responded, "Out with it, Brady. What have you done to put that smile on your face? Nothing illegal, I hope."
"No, Dad, it's nothing illegal. But, I suppose you could say it's law related since I'll be entering into what's considered a legal contract."
Giving his almost legendary eyebrow raise, John asked, "What type of legal contract could possibly make you this happy? Wait, I think I know. You've taken out a lease on your own apartment."
"Not yet - but we will soon."
"We?" John questioned before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Me and Chloe. After all, I would hate to have to bring her back here to the penthouse after the honeymoon."
Instantly, half of the dark liquid in John's mouth showered the shiny coffee table. Nearly choking on the coffee that somehow remained in the confines of his mouth, John responded, "Honeymoon? Did you just say honeymoon?"
Smiling almost victoriously, Brady affirmed, "Yeah, I said honeymoon. Chloe and I are getting married."
The smile vanished from Brady's face when, after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, his father began to laugh heartily. Almost defensively, Brady asked, "What's so funny?"
"There for a second, I actually thought you were serious."
"I was."
His expression returning to one of surprise and distress, John slowly replied, "You were serious? You and Chloe are getting married?"
"That's what I said. Actually, we just broke the news to her mom and Dr. Wesley a little while ago. Needless to say, that was an experience I'll never forget."
Releasing a low whistle, John leaned back into the couch and said, "I bet it was. So, I guess this would explain the bill from the florist I found on the counter."
"Um, Dad, there's probably one other thing you need to know about my engagement to Chloe," Brady added almost guiltily.
His voice easily conveying his dread, John reluctantly asked, "Yes?"
"Well, as you could probably guess, Mrs. Wesley wasn't exactly keen on the idea of me and Chloe getting married. So, we sorta told her this one little lie that made her a little more receptive of our engagement."
Laughing nervously, John asked, "And that little lie would be?"
Giving a laugh of his own, Brady smiled widely and answered, "You're going to think this is really funny. You see, we told Nancy and Craig that I had gotten Chloe pregnant."
Brady grimaced as coffee shot from his father's mouth once more. Wiping his mouth with his shirt sleeve, John demanded, "You what?"
Rising from the couch, Brady reached across the coffee table and took the mug from his father hand and sat it down on the stand beside the couch. He then replied, "We told the Wesleys that Chloe was going to have my baby. It was the only thing we could think to do."
"The only thing you could think to do? Um, gee, son, what about not telling Nancy Wesley that you had gotten her daughter pregnant?"
"We tried that - she refused to let Chloe marry me." Sighing heavily, Brady sat back down across from his father and continued, "Look, there's nothing on earth I want to do more than make Chloe Lane my wife. And, I refuse to let her overbearing mother interfere. Nancy never treated Chloe the way a mother should treat her child. She has no right to try and suddenly control Chloe when she didn't even want to raise her."
Holding up his hand in an effort to silence his son, John said, "All right, it's obvious that you care a great deal about Chloe and want to make her happy. But, I'm just a little confused about when this romance started. Why don't you just try and tell me a little bit about your relationship with Chloe before I begin listing all the reasons why you should wait before jumping into a marriage?"
"Dad, no list of reasons is going to stop me from marrying Chloe. That is a fact."
Pursing his lips together, John nodded thoughtfully before responding, "Maybe if you would just tell me about how you fell in love with Chloe, I might be a little more understanding - and willing to defend this whole thing to Chloe's mother when she tries to kill you."
Chuckling, Brady said, "All right, I'll tell you about me and Chloe. I can still remember the first time I saw her that summer when everyone was working to build Mimi's house. And, I'll never forget the first time I spoke to her or sung with her. But, I suppose we really grew close over this past summer. She honestly stole my heart."
"I suspected as much," commented John with a weak smile.
"Yeah, well, things really changed once Chloe and Philip had broken up. Or, maybe just before she and Philip broke up. But, anyway, in the end, I'm the man Chloe belongs with. And, no one is going to come between us - not even her mother."
As he spoke, Brady began to realize that he was having an increasingly hard time separating fact from fiction. The line was blurring between his true relationship with Chloe and the relationship they were pretending to have.
John stood and walked around the coffee table so that he was hovering over his son. Smiling reluctantly, John said, "In that case, will you give your old man a hug? After all, it's not every day that a father finds out he's about to gain a daughter-in-law."
Pretending to grumble though he was actually quite relieved, Brady stood and tightly hugged his father. Barely above a whisper, Brady said, "I love you, Dad."
Stopping almost mid-stride, Jason felt his self-superior smile drop from his face as he began to openly gape at the abhorring sight before him.
Crossing his muscled arms defensively over his chest, Jason glared at the booth where Kevin, Susan, and Mimi were sitting with none other than Jeremy Horton. Well, there was simply no way that Jason was going to merely stand by and allow some other guy to put the moves on the girl that he had finally realized had somehow stolen his heart.
Striding over to the booth, Jason attempted to cover the scowl upon his face with a confident smile. He had the distinct feeling that he was failing miserably.
Upon reaching the booth where the laughing teens sat, Jason dropped the stack of fliers he had been carrying onto the tabletop with a loud thud. He forced himself to smile extra bright as he greeted, "Hello, Mimi." Continuing to keep the forced smile upon his face, Jason purposely ignored Jeremy as he added, "Hi, Kevin, Susan."
Sharing a quizzical look, Kevin and Susan wondered why exactly it was that Jason Masters, school bully extraordinaire, was not only acknowledging them but doing it in a friendly manner. Both decided that it would be best to keep an eye on the sky just to make certain that it did not fall.
Mimi picked up one of the colorful sheets of paper that Jason had dropped to the table and silently read it. Looking up at Jason, she asked, "So, Philip was serious when he left that message on my answering machine telling me that I had to help him decorate the mansion for a costume party on Halloween?"
"Yep, Philip's serious all right. And, before he left on that environmental trip, he called me and put me in charge of getting the guests. Apparently, his dad is going to be out of town on business for most of next week, so Philly-boy will have the mansion all to himself. Well, unless you count Nicole, but Philip said that she wouldn't be a problem."
"So, Jeremy, are you coming to the party?" Mimi asked hesitantly, not sure what answer she was hoping to receive. On one hand, Jeremy was a sweet guy who just happened to be incredibly good-looking. On the other hand, Mimi knew of a certain conceded football player who was equally good-looking but would probably never really see her as anything but a dull friend.
"Um, yeah, that sounds like fun - as long as you're there."
An idea suddenly assaulting her, Mimi smiled and asked, "What if we go and get matching costumes? You know, like Romeo and Juliet or whatever?"
"That would be great," Jeremy answered with a content grin.
Smiling almost too happily, Jason commented, "You know, Meems, that was probably the best idea you've had in a long time."
"Thanks - I think." Taking a quick glance at Susan, Mimi cryptically asked, "Can I talk to you alone for a minute, Jason?"
As he was dragged away from the booth, Jason had no choice but to comply. When Mimi had pulled him what she believed to be a safe distance from the others, Jason curiously asked, "What's up, Mimi? What's so important that you need to talk to me alone?"
"I have one word for you - Susan."
Releasing a sound frightfully similar to a snort, Jason skeptically asked, "What does Gigantor have to do with anything?"
Mimi harshly slapped Jason's chest before saying, "Would you quit calling her that?" Shaking her head, Mimi continued, "Look, I've spoken to Susan, so whenever you want to do it, she'll be waiting."
His eyes narrowing in confusion, Jason questioned, "What exactly are you talking about? Don't tell me that Horton's boring personality has already driven you insane."
Slapping Jason's chest even more harshly than before, Mimi replied, "First, you don't even know Jeremy that well, so you can't make assumptions about his personality. And, second, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't."
"Um, yes, you do."
"If I did, I wouldn't waste my time arguing with you! So, just tell me what's going on."
Placing her hands on her hips, Mimi flashed Jason a smug look and responded, "Does a certain bet ring any bells?"
The frown that immediately appeared on Jason's face was more than enough to tell Mimi that her secret crush was beginning to understand exactly what she was talking about.
His words coming out almost in the sound of a moan, Jason asked, "Why couldn't you just forget about that stupid bet?"
"After the outfit you made me wear to school? Oh, there was no way I would ever forget about that bet." Smiling triumphantly, Mimi continued, "So, only one question remains. When are you going to take Susan on your date?"
"How about never?"
"How about Sunday night?" Mimi countered. "When I explained the situation to Susan earlier, she told me that Sunday would be best because she was going to have family visiting and they wouldn't leave until late Sunday afternoon."
"Fine," huffed Jason unhappily.
Nodding in the direction of the booth, Mimi said, "So, I do believe it's time for you to ask your date for Sunday night what time you should pick her up."
"And, I believe it's time you got a life. You went from acting corny because you spent too much time with Belle to acting corny because you're spending too much time with that prep Jeremy Horton."
"Why don't you just leave me alone and go ask Susan what time you should pick her up?"
"Anything to get away from your annoying mouth," snidely rebuffed Jason before stalking away to the booth.
Reaching the booth, Jason finally realized how Philip must have felt when he had been forced to ask Chloe to the Last Blast. However, Jason had the feeling that he and Susan weren't going to fall in love then be torn apart by his nephew. Then again, unlike Philip, Jason knew deep inside that he had already found his true love - he just had to let her know it.
Using all his inner strength to work past the lump in his throat, Jason mumbled, "Hi, Susan."
Seeing Mimi flash her a quick thumbs up, Susan smiled shyly and replied, "Hello, Jason."
"So . . . " Jason anxiously began as he wished he could just run out of Dotcom and straight to the safety of his own home. "I was just . . . well, I mean . . ."
Stealing a quick peak at Kevin, Susan was elated to see that he was paying extremely close attention to Jason. She only prayed that Mimi was right and that a date with Jason would cause Kevin to consider a serious relationship - and more than one date.
Frustrated by his own lack of suavity, Jason blurted, "Look, I was wondering what time I should pick you up on Sunday night for our date?"
"Date?" Jeremy and Kevin questioned simultaneously. Kevin had been certain that Susan was only interested in him, and Jeremy had been certain that Jason was secretly in love with Mimi.
Splitting a dirty look between Kevin and Jeremy, Jason growled, "That's what I said."
Giving a bright smile, Susan answered, "Seven o'clock would be great."
Jason pretended to glance at his watch before announcing, "Look at the time. I really need to get home and finish up my homework before school tomorrow."
A skeptical look apparent on his face, Kevin asked, "Since when have you done your homework?"
Placing his hands on the corner of the table, Jason leaned over toward Kevin and responded, "Watch it nerd-boy. After all, a geek is never too old to be stuffed into a locker or thrown in a trash can." Having effectively silenced Kevin, Jason muttered, "I'm out of here. Bye, Mimi."
As she watched Jason walk out the door of Dotcom, Mimi whispered to herself, "Bye, Jase."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
With deliberately slow movements, Brady opened the door to the penthouse and entered his home. It had definitely been one roller coaster of an evening - and the ride wasn't over yet. After all, he still had the duty of announcing his engagement to his father and Marlena.
Brady shut the door a little harder than usual to ensure that his father would note his entrance. Tossing the folder he had been reviewing onto the coffee table, John glanced up and greeted, "Hello, son. Is everything all right?"
A genuine grin emerging on his face, Brady answered, "Actually, Dad, things are better than all right."
"Is that a fact?"
"Yeah, for the first time in recent history, I actually feel like things just might work out for the best."
Nodding his head just slightly, John curiously questioned, "Any special reason for this new outlook on life?"
"Yes, there is. Dad, there's something you need to know. And, it's important."
A serious expression darkened the older man's handsome face as he watched his son take a seat across the coffee table from him. "Am I going to want to hear this?"
Releasing the breath he had not even realized he had been holding, Brady answered, "I don't know, but it really doesn't matter. I've already made up my mind, and there's nothing that anyone can do to change that."
By this point, John was feeling quite nervous. He could only pray that he approved of whatever decision Brady had made, because the strong determination in Brady's voice assured him that there would be nothing he could do to alter his son's decision. His powerful voice sounding almost timid, John responded, "Out with it, Brady. What have you done to put that smile on your face? Nothing illegal, I hope."
"No, Dad, it's nothing illegal. But, I suppose you could say it's law related since I'll be entering into what's considered a legal contract."
Giving his almost legendary eyebrow raise, John asked, "What type of legal contract could possibly make you this happy? Wait, I think I know. You've taken out a lease on your own apartment."
"Not yet - but we will soon."
"We?" John questioned before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Me and Chloe. After all, I would hate to have to bring her back here to the penthouse after the honeymoon."
Instantly, half of the dark liquid in John's mouth showered the shiny coffee table. Nearly choking on the coffee that somehow remained in the confines of his mouth, John responded, "Honeymoon? Did you just say honeymoon?"
Smiling almost victoriously, Brady affirmed, "Yeah, I said honeymoon. Chloe and I are getting married."
The smile vanished from Brady's face when, after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, his father began to laugh heartily. Almost defensively, Brady asked, "What's so funny?"
"There for a second, I actually thought you were serious."
"I was."
His expression returning to one of surprise and distress, John slowly replied, "You were serious? You and Chloe are getting married?"
"That's what I said. Actually, we just broke the news to her mom and Dr. Wesley a little while ago. Needless to say, that was an experience I'll never forget."
Releasing a low whistle, John leaned back into the couch and said, "I bet it was. So, I guess this would explain the bill from the florist I found on the counter."
"Um, Dad, there's probably one other thing you need to know about my engagement to Chloe," Brady added almost guiltily.
His voice easily conveying his dread, John reluctantly asked, "Yes?"
"Well, as you could probably guess, Mrs. Wesley wasn't exactly keen on the idea of me and Chloe getting married. So, we sorta told her this one little lie that made her a little more receptive of our engagement."
Laughing nervously, John asked, "And that little lie would be?"
Giving a laugh of his own, Brady smiled widely and answered, "You're going to think this is really funny. You see, we told Nancy and Craig that I had gotten Chloe pregnant."
Brady grimaced as coffee shot from his father's mouth once more. Wiping his mouth with his shirt sleeve, John demanded, "You what?"
Rising from the couch, Brady reached across the coffee table and took the mug from his father hand and sat it down on the stand beside the couch. He then replied, "We told the Wesleys that Chloe was going to have my baby. It was the only thing we could think to do."
"The only thing you could think to do? Um, gee, son, what about not telling Nancy Wesley that you had gotten her daughter pregnant?"
"We tried that - she refused to let Chloe marry me." Sighing heavily, Brady sat back down across from his father and continued, "Look, there's nothing on earth I want to do more than make Chloe Lane my wife. And, I refuse to let her overbearing mother interfere. Nancy never treated Chloe the way a mother should treat her child. She has no right to try and suddenly control Chloe when she didn't even want to raise her."
Holding up his hand in an effort to silence his son, John said, "All right, it's obvious that you care a great deal about Chloe and want to make her happy. But, I'm just a little confused about when this romance started. Why don't you just try and tell me a little bit about your relationship with Chloe before I begin listing all the reasons why you should wait before jumping into a marriage?"
"Dad, no list of reasons is going to stop me from marrying Chloe. That is a fact."
Pursing his lips together, John nodded thoughtfully before responding, "Maybe if you would just tell me about how you fell in love with Chloe, I might be a little more understanding - and willing to defend this whole thing to Chloe's mother when she tries to kill you."
Chuckling, Brady said, "All right, I'll tell you about me and Chloe. I can still remember the first time I saw her that summer when everyone was working to build Mimi's house. And, I'll never forget the first time I spoke to her or sung with her. But, I suppose we really grew close over this past summer. She honestly stole my heart."
"I suspected as much," commented John with a weak smile.
"Yeah, well, things really changed once Chloe and Philip had broken up. Or, maybe just before she and Philip broke up. But, anyway, in the end, I'm the man Chloe belongs with. And, no one is going to come between us - not even her mother."
As he spoke, Brady began to realize that he was having an increasingly hard time separating fact from fiction. The line was blurring between his true relationship with Chloe and the relationship they were pretending to have.
John stood and walked around the coffee table so that he was hovering over his son. Smiling reluctantly, John said, "In that case, will you give your old man a hug? After all, it's not every day that a father finds out he's about to gain a daughter-in-law."
Pretending to grumble though he was actually quite relieved, Brady stood and tightly hugged his father. Barely above a whisper, Brady said, "I love you, Dad."