Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Author's Notes- I know that it's really soon, but in this chapter I begin to fix Shawn and Chloe's friendship. I'm not saying that it'll miraculously be fixed, quite the opposite. It's going to take several chapters before the two of them come anywhere near fixing it. I just make the first step in this chapter. I'm warning you right now that this story is going to be really long. Right now it's the middle of November in their Junior Year, right now I'm planning on having the story go until they graduate from High School. So, there's a lot left. Oh, and while Chloe was completely oblivious to Shawn's feelings for her, she's aware of Belle's feelings for Shawn. This time it's Shawn who's clueless. Interesting, huh? Anyway, enjoy.

Chapter Ten

Friday, November 17th 2000

Chloe walked through the park towards the spot where she and Shawn always used to go to talk. She found him already sitting there, waiting for her.

"Hi." She said softly.

"Hey." Shawn said, cracking a slight smile.

"I'm glad you called." Chloe whispered as she sat down beside him. "We really need to talk."

"We do." Shawn agreed. "Chloe, things can never be the same again."

"I know." Chloe said sadly. "Too much has happened. We grew up."

Shawn nodded. "Yeah."

"Can we least try to salvage some of our friendship?" Chloe asked.

Shawn looked at her, a deep ache in his heart as he did, then he nodded. "We can try."

Chloe smiled and her whole face lit up. "Thank you." She whispered. "You don't know how much that means to me."

Shawn smiled slightly. "Actually, I think I do. I'm sorry I put you through this, Chloe."

"It's not your fault." She told him softly, then she laughed slightly. "Although, I am curious as to when exactly our lives became like an episode of Dawson's Creek?"

"No idea." Shawn said with a laugh. "But you do have a point. We really are starting to seem like a soap opera. Creepy."

"I'll say." Chloe said, before smiling at Shawn. "Thank you again."

Shawn just smiled and stood up. "How about we go get some Lattes at Dot.Com and we can talk some more once we get there?"

"I'd love to." Chloe told him sincerely, standing up as well.

Things weren't back to the way they had been before Shawn's late night visit to her bedroom, and they never would be, but this was a start.
* * * * *

Phillip walked in to Dot.Com, he was meeting Jason there. It was Mimi's birthday and Jason was calling up on a favour that Phillip owed him to make him go shopping with him.

Oh, well, Phillip thought, this way I can pick something up for Chloe to cheer her up.

Just then he spotted the object of his thoughts sitting at a table with Shawn. They were deep in conversation.

Phillip watched them and smiled slightly. They were obviously trying to repair their friendship.

He considered going over there, but then decided against it. His presence would only upset things. Instead he took a seat at a table by the door and waited for Jason.

A minute later he walked in the door.

"What's up bro?" Jason asked and then he smiled when he saw Chloe. "Why aren't you over there? This is the first time in months I've seen you and Chloe in the same room without being joined at the hip."

"I'm letting her and Shawn patch things up." Phillip told his friend seriously. "It's only been a week, but already the rift between them is killing her."

"And your not jealous?" Jason asked in disbelief. "If it was Miriam-"

"She loves me, Jase." Phillip said softly, standing up. "Not Shawn. He's just a friend."

"I see. You really trust her?" "I do." Phillip said softly. "With my life. What we have is real." Jason looked at his friend for a moment before nodding. "I know. Now, let's go."

Phillip sighed and followed him to the door, glancing one last time at Chloe. He was glad for her sake that she and Shawn were working things out.

I'll still get her something. He thought as he and Jason left Dot.Com. Just to show her how much she means to me.
* * * * *

Belle walked into Dot.Com, she had been sitting at home doing her homework for the last hour, but she couldn't take it any longer. So, she had decided to get out of the house and see if anybody was at Dot.Com.

She was surprised to see Shawn and Chloe sitting together.

Maybe, they're working things out. She thought, wondering if she should go over there. She decided she might as well, what harm could it do?

"Hi guys." She said with a smile when she arrived at their table.

Shawn and Chloe both turned to see her and they smiled.

"Hey Belle." Chloe answered. "What's up?"

"Nothing." Belle answered cheerfully."Actually, I'm avoiding my homework."

"Ah." Chloe said with a grin. "But why are you doing your homework on a Friday? You have three wonderful days to do it."

"My brother Brady's coming down for the weekend tonight and I want to actually spend time with him." Belle explained. "He just started college, so he stayed in California."

"Oh." Chloe said, then she stood up. "Well, you just reminded me of the fact that I should do my homework tonight as well."

"Oh?" Shawn asked curiously. "What are your big weekend plans?"

"Hospital charity thing, right?" Belle answered for her. "I have to go to. Mom's making me and since you dad's the Chief of Staff, I assume your going to, right?"

Chloe nodded. "Yeah. But not with Mom and Dad, though they were planning on making me go. I'm going with Phillip. The Kiriakis' make a lot of large donations to the hospital, which means they're going as well. Since we both have to go, we decided to go together." She explained.

Belle smiled. "Sounds like fun. I wish I'd thought of something like that."

Then she turned to Shawn and grinned. "Why don't you come as my date? I'm sure Mom and Dad won't mind, and I know for a fact that I have one ticket too many. Sami was supposed to come with us, since Austin's out of town, but she's not feeling well. Morning sickness and all." Belle said, referring to her sister and Shawn's cousin, who was two months pregnant with her second child.

Shawn looked taken aback for a moment, then after a moment nodded. "Sure. Black tie, right?"

"Yep." Belle answered, feeling a tinge of excitement go through her.

She had a date with Shawn! So what if it wasn't really a date? It was close. "Be at our place at 6:00."

Shawn smiled. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow night then." He stood up and smiled at Chloe. "You too."

After he left Belle turned to Chloe. "What were you two talking about?"

"We were trying to repair our relationship." Chloe told her. "I think we made a good start. I mean, we still have a long way to go before we're even close again, but..."

"It's better than it was a couple hours of ago." Belle finished.

Chloe nodded. "Yeah."

Belle gave her a quick hug. "I'm happy for you. Now, was I a total moron? I mean, he still..."

Chloe smiled at her friend. "Belle, you were so not a moron. Maybe Shawn still has feelings for me, but maybe what he needs to get over that his spending more time with you."

Belle wasn't so sure. "Are you sure? What if it totally backfires?"

"Then Shawn's a moron." Chloe said flatly. "You're the nicest girl in Salem, he couldn't do better than you."

"What about you?" Belle asked curiously.

Chloe smiled. "Me? I can be a real bitch. Besides, you have one major advantage over me. You're in love with him."
* * * * *