My gosh, I haven't updated in awhile. I am so sorry 'bout that y'all. I hope that this chapter makes up for my lack of updates.
Chapter Seven-An Emotional Wreck
A week passed, a week of Derrick dancing around Chloe, afraid to upset her lest she decide to go back on her word and leave him after all. That was his greatest fear after all, that the woman he loved with all his heart would not want to be with him anymore and trade him in for an old flame that had come back into her life. He was Paris's father for heaven's sake!
Chloe had told Derrick when he had first wanted to get…closer, that she didn't want to take them having sex lightly. He would be the second man she'd ever slept with, and she only wanted them to do it if they really truly loved each other. It wasn't until a month after Derrick had proposed that Chloe allowed them to take that next step in their relationship. If she waited that long to sleep with him, but only a handful of weeks to sleep with Paris's father, how much had she loved him more than she loved Derrick?
It frightened him, it truly did. So, after their fight that night that Julian Sark entered their lives, Derrick had moved carefully around Chloe, not wanting to spark another argument. Every night he brought her flowers or other little presents, anything that would bring a smile to her lovely, but lately sullen, face. Chloe insisted that she didn't need such presents, but Derrick knew that she loved the attention he was bestowing upon her and, every once in awhile, she would smile.
That was one thing that Derrick wished desperately she would do more often. Since their fight, Chloe had become withdrawn. No longer did the couple share secret kisses, she didn't let Derrick hold her as they fell asleep, but worst of all, Chloe seemed unable to meet his eye.
Her melancholy had traveled to Paris as well. The once cheerful and laughing girl now spent hours locked in her room doing homework and working on her computer. She only came out for dinner, which she was forced to share with the family, and then retreated once more to the seclusion of her room.
Derrick was scared of what was becoming of his once happy family. He felt powerless against the force that was Julian Sark. How did one compete against an old flame that one's wife appeared to still feel something for? Derrick refused to let go of his wife and marriage so easily though. If Julian Sark wanted Chloe back, then he was going to be in for one hell of a fight.
Chloe sat at the kitchen counter, clipping coupons from that day's ads. The sound of scissors cutting paper rang through the house. With Paris at school and Derrick at work, the silence was too much for Chloe. But, lately, their home had been full of nothing but silence, uncomfortable and tense silence. It was the kind of silence that makes you want to tear your hair out. Chloe sighed and reached towards the radio that sat where the end of the counter met the white wall of the kitchen.
"And that was JoJo with Leave, Get Out." The early afternoon DJ said, "This is DJ Casey C. on Oldie 93.3. Next up we have the lovely lady who came in third on American Idol back when it was actually good and the singers were talented. I'm talkin' about Miss Kimberly Locke. Here she is with the runner-up that second season, Clay Aiken."
Chloe didn't pay much attention to what the DJ was saying, instead focusing on the coupons in front of her. She sorted them into piles: food, cleaning supplies, and miscellaneous. The clear soothing voice of Clay Aiken came over the airwaves. Chloe smiled slightly. Back in the day, she had had quite a crush on Mr. Aiken. She listened to the song, paying attention to it only because it was Clay that was singing.
Never even thought to cry
When I heard you say good-bye
Never said where you were going
There's no laughter in the air
Only silence everywhere
And so much left unspoken
Since you've been gone
I haven't been the same
I wish that I could see
Who's to blame
Without you, where do I belong?
Without you, how can I go on?
No love but yours will ever do
Tell me how am I supposed to live
My life without you?
Was I lost in you and me
To the point I couldn't see
That what we had was dying
Now it's all that I can do
To see photographs of you
And stop myself from cryin'
I should learn to live without your love
Got so many memories, but it's not enough
Without you, where do I belong?
Without you, how can I go on?
No love but yours will ever do
Tell me how am I supposed to live
My life without you?
I feel helpless and oh so all alone
Like I've never felt before
You made me feel alive
But I don't remember what it's like anymore
Without you, where do I belong?
Without you, how can I go on?
No love but yours will ever do
Tell me how am I supposed live
My life without you?
A tear slid down Chloe's cheek as she listened to the song. If any song had been written for her and Sark, this one was it. The whole thing spoke so truly of her relationship with the English man that it was heart breaking.
The front door opened, and Chloe quickly wiped the tears from he face.
"Chloe?" Derrick's voice came through the living room, closely followed by Derrick himself. "Are you alright?" He asked, taking in her red-rimmed eyes and watery smile.
"Yeah," Chloe took in a deep breath and wiped at her eyes once more, "I'm fine. What are you doing home so early?"
"I figured…could handle the restaurant alone for one afternoon. Besides, I wanted to spend some time alone with you." Chloe forced herself to smile as Derrick placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek lovingly. He was making an effort to make things right between them, but she just kept pulling back. What was wrong with her? Chloe mentally shook away her thoughts and turned her head to look at him.
"I love you." She whispered, before covering his lips with her own.
"Bye Paris." Jade, Paris's best friend, called as a red convertible pulled up in front of St. Agitha's School for Girls. Paris waved as her friend climbed into the car and sped off. The ten-year-old girl sat on the stone steps that climbed up into the school. Most of the students had already been picked up by their parents, but Paris's parents weren't going to pick her up, she had made sure of that.
Never one to lie to her parents, especially her mom, Paris had told them that she would be going home with Jade that afternoon and then spending the night. The cell phone that her parents had given her- for emergencies only of course- would come in handy for just this instance. She just had to make sure that she called them periodically through the night so that they wouldn't call Jade's to check up on her.
She checked her watch. Twenty minutes until the bus would be there. Paris sighed and stood up, her butt was quickly becoming numb from sitting on those steps. She looked both ways as she approached the street and swiftly crossed when she was satisfied that no cars were coming. The community park sat across from the school. The girls at St. Agitha's weren't allowed there during school hours, but after school, it was usually littered with girls in blue plaid skirts and white blouses. Today, however, the park was nearly deserted. A lone figure sat on the swings at the far end of the park. Much too big to be a kid, the figure's presence sparked Paris's curiosity. She moved closer, trying to appear as if she were simply a schoolgirl walking home. The figure became clearer and clearer as she approached until, finally, she was able to make out who it was.
Ooh, interesting little cliffhanger there. Lol. I just love leaving you all wondering what's going to happen next. Please review and tell me what you thought of this chapter.
PS. A little tidbit for all you David Anders, aka Sark, lovers. Mr. Julian Sark just might be making an appearance on Alias's season finale. I hope this is true, as my Sark fix for the season has been quite depleted since he was only on two episodes so far.
PPS. The song in this chapter is Without You by Kimberly Locke with Clay Aiken. I do not own the song nor do I own the people who sing it. Also, Oldie 93.3 is not, to my knowledge, a real radio station.
the different person: Actually, sometimes ideas and themes from some of my stories bleed into other stories that I am writing. But yes, Derrick's almost hitting Chloe does seem a lot like something Marie's stepfather would do. I'm glad that you enjoy my writing enough to read more than one story.
le Citron: Your amazing compliments never cease to amaze me. I am really grateful to you because you always seem to make me feel better about my writing abilities. Thank you.
Masta D: In regards to Derrick and Chloe getting a divorce, I don't think that's likely to happen. But I do think that you'll be interested in the way that I am thinking of ending thier marriage. (Laughs evily)
Marie, Sarks-Girl-89, SvgeChick, and Eyghon: Thank you all so much for reviewing this story. It really means a lot to me that people would take the time to read and review my work.