Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Chapter Sixteen

Author's Notes- This chapter and the next one includes no Shawn or Belle, sorry. But, don't worry, they'll show up again soon. Right now, I'm focusing on Jason and Mimi, and their friendships with Phillip and Chloe respectively. This chapter is kind of depressing, but the next one will be a little more light-hearted and a lot more interesting. You'll see. Anyway, for now, enjoy!

Friday, December 1st 2000 Chloe stared at her friend in shock. "You did what?"

"I broke up with Jason." Mimi told her with tears in her eyes.

"When?" Chloe asked quietly.

"After school." Mimi told her. "After he drove me home, I told him that I was sorry, but that it was over."

"Why?" Chloe asked in shock. "You guys were so happy together."

Mimi started to cry. "No, we weren't. Chloe, Jason and I didn't have the relationship that you and Phillip have, we never did. The last few months..."

"It's okay." Chloe whispered, realising how hard this was on Mimi. She reached over and gave her friend a hug.

"Thank you for coming." Mimi whispered.

"How could I not?" Chloe asked, when Mimi had called her earlier that afternoon and said that she had needed to see her, she had rushed right over to the Lockhart's filled with worry for her friend.

"We haven't spent a lot of time together." Mimi said, through her tears.

Chloe stared at her friend, realising that she was right. "Oh, Mimi." She said softly, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."

Mimi pulled away from Chloe and smiled sadly. "It's alright, I understand that you have a lot going on."

"But you're still one of my closest friends!" Chloe protested. "Mimi we've been friends forever and lately I've been ignoring you, I shouldn't have. But, no matter what is going on in my life, I will always be there for you when you have a problem."

Mimi smiled. "Thanks."

Chloe patted Mimi's hand and smiled. "Now, do you want to make up for the last couple months and have a sleep over?"

Mimi grinned. "Sure. It'll be fun."

"It will." Chloe agreed, glad that she and Mimi were going to spend some time together.

Belle was one of her closest friends in the whole world, but she and Mimi shared a different kind of bond and it would nice to hang out with her like they always used to.
* * * * *

"She dumped you?" Phillip asked Jason in shock. "Why? You and Mimi have been together for ages."

"I know." Jason said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "And I don't know why she ended it. All I know is that after I drove her home from school, she told me in a soft voice that she'd always care for me, but that she couldn't see me any longer." Jason began to pace around Phillip's bedroom, obviously tense.

"What did you do?"

"I asked her what had made her come to that decision and then begged her to reconsider." Jason said, sighing with frustration. "Not that it made a difference. She bit her lip and ran out of the car, after whispering that she was sorry." Jason made a strangled sound. "Sorry! Doesn't she realize she's breaking my heart? She's everything, Phillip, I love her!"

"I know." Phillip said sympathetically. "And I realize this is shock-"

"Actually it's not." Jason said quietly. "I'd known for a while that was there something wrong between us, but I always assumed she'd talk to me about it, not just freeze me out."

"What are you going to do?" Phillip asked.

"Give her some time to think it over and then do whatever I have to win her back." Jason said softly. "But first, I'm gonna get drunk out of my mind. Want to join me?"

"Alright." Phillip agreed. "But you're staying here. I'm not letting you drive."

"Okay." Jason agreed, wanting to forget about his pain for just a little while. "What do you have?"

Phillip walked over to his bed and unearthed a bottle of rum. "Will this do?" He asked.

"For starters." Jason agreed. "Pour away."

"Alright, I'll be back in a minute." Phillip told Jason, heading out the door to get two glasses from downstairs.

Poor guy, he thought as he ran down the stairs, he's a mess.

But he couldn't blame him. Phillip didn't want to know what would happen if Chloe ever left him.

Not that that will ever happen. He thought confidently. We're solid. Nothing will ever tear us apart.
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