Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Chapter Eighteen

Author's Notes- Hello, I know it's been ages since I last wrote a new chapter, but I've had writer's block, thankfully it's gone now and I hope to get a couple more chapters out before Christmas. This chapter has been building for a while, the tables kind of turn relationship-wise, at least for the moment. Shawn and Chloe take a big step to repairing their relationship, while Phillip and Chloe go through a rough patch, but don't worry I am not heading towards the Shloe angle. I just think that it's time Chloe and Phillip's relationship gets shaken up for a little bit because it's been solid so far and I also wanted to get Chloe and Shawn's friendship back on track because it's a vital part of the story. No Belle in this chapter either, but she will absolutely be in the next chapter which will be a little lighter than this one. Also for also the Phloe fanatics, don't worry, things between them will get better really quick, but what happens in this chapter is just going to rock the ship a little. After all no relationship is perfect, is it? That's it for now, enjoy.

Monday, December 4th 2000

"Where were you on Saturday?" Phillip asked Chloe as she walked out of the school. "I called your house a few times and there was no one home."

"My parents were in Chicago for the weekend, some conference thing." Chloe told him, stopping for a second to give her boyfriend a small kiss. "And I was at Mimi's."

"Ah." Phillip said with a nod. "Jase was over at my place."

"Oh?" Chloe asked as she and Phillip reached his car and she climbed in the passenger side. "What did you guys talk about?"

"Mimi and the break-up." Phillip told her as he climbed into the driver's seat. "But we didn't talk that much, mostly we got drunk. Actually he got drunk and I made sure he didn't do anything stupid."

Chloe didn't say anything for a moment and then took a deep breath. "Mimi's going to talk to him, explain why she broke up with and see..."

"I know." Phillip said softly. "See if there's some chance. Things between them were pretty screwed up, I told Jason that he should try to figure out why he acts the way he does or he'll lose her forever."

"That's good." Chloe said quietly. "Maybe, they can work things out."

"I hope so." Phillip told her, as he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

"But I hope it's not for a while." Chloe added. "They need some time apart."

Phillip glanced over at her in surprise. "What makes you thing that?"

Chloe was silent for a moment. "They're history." She said finally. "Phil, their relationship was fucked up. I think they need some time apart to really evaluate everything before starting over and even then they need to go slow."

"Things weren't that bad." Phillip muttered.

Chloe stared at him disbelief. "Not that bad? Phil, I remember going to the movies with Mimi and Shawn once and how Jason freaked out on her the next day. Phillip, he didn't like her being with any other guy, not even Shawn who she's known forever!"

"You're right, he shouldn't have been jealous." Phillip replied, stopping the car in front of Dot.Com. "After all we both know that it isn't Mimi that Shawn's in love with!"

"Phillip!" Chloe exclaimed. "I thought we weren't going to mention that."

"Why not?" Phillip asked in a mocking tone. "Can't bare to hear the truth about how your best friend was in love with you for ages and everyone but you knew it! Or maybe you're starting to have feelings for him as well and are afraid that it's too late, after all you've already rejected him!"

"Phillip!" Chloe exclaimed again, staring at her boyfriend in shock. "I can't believe you said that."

"Why not?" Phillip asked. "Did you think I hadn't noticed how you constantly mention him and how you like having him around again. You liked the attention, didn't you?"

"You know it's not like that." Chloe exclaimed, blinking back tears. "Shawn's just my friend!" She undid her seat belt and got off the car. "I have no romantic interest in him and you know that, but I should have listened to him about one thing. You and I are totally wrong for each other!"

With that she stormed out of the car and ran down the block.

Phillip watched her go, his anger disappearing.

What did I just do? He asked himself, running his hands through his hair. I'm turning into Jason. I didn't think I was still jealous of Shawn, but... I hope that she'll forgive me.

He knew that he'd have to give her some time to cool down before he went after her and he prayed that he hadn't blown things permanently.
* * * * *

Chloe kept running until she got to Shawn's house. What made Phillip say those things? She wondered anguishedly, trying to block the memory of his angry face out of her mind as she knocked on the door.

A minute later Hope answered the door. "Chloe!" She exclaimed in surprise. "What's wrong?"

"Phillip and I-" Chloe cried, tears streaming down her face.

Hope pulled her inside the house and gave her a comforting hug. "It's okay, you can tell me what's wrong."

"I think Phillip and I just broke up." Chloe confessed shakily.

"Oh, Honey I'm sorry." Hope told her, leading Chloe over to the couch. "What happened?"

"We had a fight. At first it was about Jason and Mimi, they broke up, but then he started talking about Shawn and accusing me of secretly having feelings for him."

"Oh, Chloe." Hope exclaimed, taking in the girls tear-stained face. "Sweetie, he's probably just jealous. After all you and Shawn have been friends a long time and Shawn does have feelings for you."

"I know." Chloe whispered and then she sighed. "I don't even know why I came here. It was just instinct I guess, but it was selfish. I was planning on running to Shawn and crying on his shoulder, but I can't. Our friendship is in tatters now, besides even if it wasn't, I can't burden him with my problems with Phillip."

"Chloe, he's still your friend." Hope soothed. "You're just going over a rough period it'll be okay, besides if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

"Thank you." Chloe said softly. "Maybe that's why I came, you've always been the one I've been able to talk to. Unlike Mom, she's so busy... It's like she's never had time for me."

"That's not true." Hope comforted, but at the same time she was silently agreeing with Chloe. Nancy Wesley was a much better wife than she was mother and she devoted most of her time to furthering her husband's career rather than raising her daughter.

"But, I'll be here for you. No matter what is going on between you and Shawn."

"Thank you." Chloe said quietly, wiping up her tears.

Hope patted her hand. "You're welcome, now why don't you tell me the whole story about what happened with Phillip?"
* * * * *

When Shawn got home from the pub, where he had gone to spend some time with his grandparents after school, he was surprised to see Chloe and his mother sitting on the couch drinking hot chocolate and talking.

"Hi." He said quietly, wondering what Chloe was doing there.

She gave him a half smile and stared down into her cup of hot chocolate.

Hope stood up and smiled at him. "Chloe just came over to talk to me." She said quietly.

Shawn looked past his mother at Chloe and saw that she looked miserable. Something had obviously happened.

"What's wrong?" He questioned quietly.

"You were right." Chloe told him in a soft, toneless voice. "Phillip and I were wrong for each other."

"Oh, Chloe." Shawn whispered, going over to her side, forgetting all about his vow to get over her. "Did he dump you?"

"I dumped him." She whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. "We had a really dumb fight, it started out being about Jason and Mimi and then turned in to being about you."

Shawn felt like he had been punched in the gut. He had ruined Chloe and Phillip's relationship.

"Oh, Chloe." He whispered guiltily, only slightly aware of his mother quietly exiting the room.

"It's alright." She sniffled. "I didn't mean to tell you, after all you probably don't want to hear about Phillip and mine's problems."

"Chloe, you're my friend, you have been for years, I want to hear about all your problems." Shawn confided. "I know the last little while has been rough, but we've friends a long time and we always will be."

Chloe gave him a half-smile through her tears. "I guess all we needed to repair our rift was for me to break up with Phillip, huh?" She asked miserably.

Shawn's heart broke and he put his hand to her face to wipe a tear away. "Chloe, even if you and Phillip get back together, we'll still be friends. As painful as it is to see you with him, it's much more painful not having you in my life."

"Thank you." Chloe whispered, looking into Shawn's eyes.

Shawn smiled. "Any time, friends?"

"Friends." Chloe agreed with a small smile. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You won't have to find out." Shawn promised, slipping a friendly arm around Chloe's shoulders.

So what if he wanted more? He'd never get it, he might as well settle for being her best friend.
* * * * *