The last rays of the March sun gently slipped into the kitchen through the large westward window. Sitting perched on the Masters' kitchen counter, Chloe turned to watch the sky fade into a sun-kissed pink before gradually darkening into night. Her back to Jason as he indifferently threw together a grilled cheese sandwich for her and a turkey one for himself, Chloe offhandedly asked, "What was in it for you?"
"Excuse me?" Jason replied in confusion as he kept his gaze focused on the mayonnaise he was smearing on his bread.
Clarifying her former question, Chloe stated, "The night that Devon wanted you and me to pretend to be a couple, he offered each of us something that we wanted. He gave me an audition at the theater, but what was in it for you that night?"
"Something really awesome," Jason abruptly answered, throwing a few slices of tomato atop his bread and turkey.
Chloe smiled as she rolled her eyes. Pushing herself off the countertop, she replied, "Care to be a little more specific?"
Finishing his own culinary masterpiece, Jason turned to hand Chloe her grilled cheese sandwich. As he turned to face his dark-haired companion, he unwillingly found himself falling into a state of awe. His mind could hardly grasp the speed at which time was flying. The last few days had truly flown by him in a blur, and Jason could scarcely believe that it was already Sunday evening. Within five or six hours, all his classmates would be returning from their trip to Florida and it would be time to go back to school.
Taking her plate from Jason, Chloe prodded, "Well, are you going to answer me – or do I have to tickle it out of you?"
"Ooh, I like it when you play rough," Jason growled. His reward being yet another roll of Chloe's blue eyes, Jason answered more seriously, "Actually, it goes back to Devon's sixteenth birthday. My dad bought him this old pick-up truck to drive until he got his own car. We all had this silent agreement that after Devon got a new car, the pick-up would be passed down to me for my first vehicle."
"But, things didn't work out that way?"
"With Devon involved, how could they? Even after Mom and Dad both helped Devon buy his Grand Am, the punk wouldn't give me the truck. He's been holding onto it all this time. Or at least he was until that night. Now, I'm the one with the keys to the pick-up."
"And, it doesn't matter that you already have a new Honda Civic, because . . . what? It's the principle of the matter?"
Jason flashed Chloe his most charming smile and responded, "You know me too well."
Sitting down together at the round kitchen table, the couple sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Finally Jason asked with almost exaggerated slackness, "So, black or white?"
"Huh?"
Continuing his charade of being absolutely fearless, Jason clarified, "Well, prom is just a few weeks away, so I was wondering if you wanted me to rent a black limo or a white one."
Forever fighting her own emotions, Chloe labored to keep back the mist of tears that were threatening to appear in her eyes. She knew that Jason would probably never really understand just how much that simple question meant to her. And, it was the perfect night to ask. The following day she would have to return to school and face all her classmates. On some deep level, Chloe had secretly feared that Jason would quickly forget whatever he saw in her as soon as his pals arrived. However, by so casually asking her to prom, Jason had easily calmed Chloe's unspoken fears and brought a smile to her face. "Black. After all, it's always been my color."
"All right, then it's a date. I guess we'll have to go shopping for your dress together so I can make sure my vest matches."
"Shopping together? Oh, now I've seen you shopping for girl's clothing before. Sorry, Jase, but it's just not a pretty sight. Besides, I really don't have any boots to match the camouflage dress that you would pick out for me."
As Chloe rose from the table and carried her plate to the sink, Jason followed her. Wrapping his arms around her as she rinsed off the dish, he huskily whispered, "You know you'd have more fun if I came with you . . ."
"Maybe . . .," Chloe softly replied as she twisted herself around in Jason's arms so she could peer into his vibrant green eyes. "But, I have a feeling that we wouldn't need to go to Salem Place to enjoy each other's company . . ."
Jason tossed his girlfriend a lopsided grin before brushing his lips against hers. He was just about to pull her a little closer when the door from the living room swung open and Devon appeared.
"Whoa, I forgot that the two of you were going to be here – alone."
Slipping out of Jason's arms, Chloe replied, "It's not a problem, Devon. I'm just really surprised to see you here since you and friends moved into that apartment on 3rd Street yesterday. Don't tell me you're already moving back home."
Persistently moving behind Chloe and once more wrapping his muscular arms around her petite waist, Jason commented, "If he's moving back in, I'm leaving."
"Calm down, bro'. I'm only here to pick up the last box of clothing from my old room. No need to pack your own suitcase yet."
"Hey, Devon, would you mind dropping me off at my house on your way back to your apartment? I'd really appreciate it."
Making his way out of the kitchen with the apple he snatched off the counter, Devon simply answered, "Sure. No problem."
"Chloe, I could just drive you home," Jason offered as he rested his face against hers.
With a wicked grin that she had somehow learned from Jason, Chloe responded, "Yeah, but we both know that I'd never want to get out of your car. Besides, your brother has to drive by there anyway."
"Fine," conceded Jason. "But, I'll be seeing you first thing in the morning when I pick you up for school."
Once again slinking out of Jason's arms, Chloe smiled and said, "I can hardly wait until morning."
As the moonlight struggled to shine its light through the thickening fog, Jason struggled to fall asleep. The dreadful red numbers of the digital clock beside his bed only served to remind him that he had been tossing and turning for more than an hour and sleep still evaded him with exasperating ease.
Turning under his sheets yet again, Jason grumpily resituated his pillow. Chills crept down his spine when he suddenly heard a soft voice say, "I couldn't sleep either."
Jason immediately sat up in bed and found himself staring at Chloe as she lingered in the doorway. Rubbing his eyes, Jason remarked, "There's no way in hell you're really standing there, so I've got to be dreaming."
Gentle laughter erupting from her lips, Chloe daringly stepped into the bedroom and pushed the door shut once more. Though her heart was racing and her mind was not even sure what was going on, Chloe somehow kept the pretense of being cool, calm, and completely in control. "So, what? You think I'm just a figment of your imagination?"
Becoming more alert with each passing second, Jason challenged, "All right, gorgeous, if you're really here just how did you get into the house?"
Chloe crossed her arms over her chest and answered, "When Devon dropped me off at my house, he mentioned that your mom was still staying with your aunt and he then decided to offer me his key to the house."
"And, you accepted it?"
"Not at first," Chloe explained as she took a few more steps toward Jason and allowed her nervousness to fade away just slightly. "But, I decided that the offer was just too tempting to refuse. Besides, I didn't really think that I would use the key."
"But, now you have."
"Apparently."
Still wrapped in his sheet, Jason scooted down to the bottom right corner of the bed. He carefully watched Chloe as best he could in the darkened room. Of course, he needed no light to show him her beauty or unspoken fears.
Chloe quickly weighed her options and wondered why she had decided to sneak out of her own home and practically break into Jason's. Seeing only one logical choice, Chloe slid off her slippers and carefully placed herself on the foot of Jason's king size bed. With less than three feet separating Chloe's body from Jason's bare chest, the couple chose to sit in silence.
Nervously wringing his hands together, Jason kept his uncommonly serious gaze focused on his slate blue carpet. In hardly more than a whisper, he confessed, "I'm falling in love with you."
Not in a million years could Jason have predicted Chloe's response. "Yeah, well, I hope you don't hurt yourself. Of course, since you're not the only one falling, I guess we'll be there to catch each other."
Shocked by Chloe's mild humor, Jason sheepishly turned to face her. He was surprised to find her staring at him instead of smiling at her own wit. However, he was even more surprised when a tear slipped down her cheek and she whispered, "I think I'm falling in love with you, too."
Those affectionate words hung on the air like the sweetest fragrance Jason had ever known. Knowing that Chloe had never mentioned love to Philip, Jason had not truly expected her to be able to say such words to him. Yet, she had.
Jason lifted his hand to Chloe's cheek and brushed away the glistening trail left by the single tear she could not control. An irrepressible smile on his face, Jason attempted to take in every aspect of the moment. He never wanted to forget a second of that night. Then, as he happened to finally take notice of Chloe's attire, he remarked, "Chloe, you're in your pajamas."
Suddenly feeling just a little self-conscious in her soft pink pajama bottoms and matching spaghetti-strap top, Chloe blushed and explained, "It was sort of a spur of the moment decision to sneak out and come over. I didn't really think about it." Attempting to lighten the rather serious mood, Chloe stated, "So, you better not tell me how silly I look."
Jason failed to show Chloe that gorgeous smile she had expected to see. Instead he said, "I don't think you look silly at all. In fact, you look incredibly sexy. And, I know I shouldn't say this, but I don't think I could want you any more than I do right now."
Chloe's breath caught in her throat as Jason's words of honesty reached her ears. Astonishing both herself and Jason, Chloe slowly extended her hand and ran her index finger down Jason's chest. She found herself enthralled by how firm yet incredibly smooth he was as she touched him so gently.
As Chloe's hand reached his stomach, Jason quickly lifted his hand and placed it over hers. Bringing that hand to his lips, he gently kissed her finger tips. Then, he carefully dropped Chloe's hand and slowly moved closer to her. Leaning in for a sweet kiss, Jason placed one hand on Chloe's back while using the other to cradle the back of her head.
The moment and his emotions overtaking him, Jason kept his lips connected to Chloe as he smoothly moved his hand to the base of her thin tank and began to gradually pull it upward. Hardly considering her own actions, Chloe moved just far enough away from Jason's body to allow him to remove her shirt and heedlessly toss it to the floor.
A light breeze filtered through Jason's partially open window as the two young adults locked eyes in the dimly lit bedroom. Neither the fog outside nor the darkness of the room seemed to concern them. The rest of the world was of little or no consequence when two people were so enchanted by one another.
Jason forced himself to take a moment for logical thinking. Though he wanted nothing more than to have Chloe's body pressed against his own, he gently asked, "Chloe, are you sure you want this?"
Words were of no need as Chloe smiled and leaned forward and placed her hungry lips on Jason's mouth. For the first time in her entire life, Chloe was truly being ruled by her heart.
Running her hands over Jason's back, Chloe let Jason tenderly unclasp her strapless bra. Rather than immediately removing the undergarment, Jason took time to appreciate how gentle and soft Chloe was as he caressed her bare skin. Finally separating the silky cloth from Chloe's partially naked body, Jason dropped it to the floor and moved his lips to Chloe's neck.
Her heart racing with pleasure rather than anxiety, Chloe lowered her hands to Jason's waist and began to tug his boxers down inch by inch. Helping Chloe with her task, Jason stood and softly whispered with tingling sincerity, "I'll never be able to stop loving you."
No longer restrained by a single stitch of clothing, Jason carefully pulled Chloe to her feet and slid the bottom half of her clothing off her body. He then pulled her into his arms and carried her to the head of his bed. Lowering her body, he placed himself above her. His kisses beginning just under Chloe's ear, Jason's mouth slowly moved downward. Upon reaching her soft belly, he lifted his lips from her creamy skin and directed his accepting gaze to Chloe's radiant face. Three little words gave him all the permission he needed to continue. Running her hands through Jason's blonde hair, Chloe moaned, "I love you."