Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Chapter Twenty-One

Author's Notes- Sorry this one took so long, I was stuck for a while. But the next one should be out within the next few days. Anyway, this part is mostly Mason and Phloe, no Shelle in it at all, but I promise that I'll focus more on them soon. For now, enjoy.

Sunday, December 24th 2000, Christmas Eve

Phillip saw Brady lean down to kiss Mimi and instantly grabbed Jason's arm to stop him from going over there and starting a fight with Brady.

"Jason." He said quietly. "Getting all macho isn't going to win Mimi back."

Jason sighed. "I know, I just want to kill him."

Phillip chuckled. "I understand, if it was Chloe... We're both macho jerks, it's something we have to work on."

Jason nodded, his eyes still glued to Mimi who had pulled away from Brady and was heading out doors. "I'm going to talk to her, right now. She's been avoiding me long enough."

Phillip groaned as he watched Jason follow Mimi, hoping that his friend wasn't about to make things even worse.
* * * * *

Mimi buried her face in her hands, thinking about what had just happened. It just made things even more complicated. She knew that it didn't mean anything, it was just a holiday kiss, but it was certain to set Jason's temper off and she didn't want to have to deal with that.

Just then, she heard footsteps and turned to see Jason standing behind her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked softly, trying not to show how upset she was.

"We need to talk." Jason told her quietly, obviously trying to stay calm.

"Alright." Mimi agreed, knowing that she couldn't put it off any longer. "Where?"

"My car." Jason answered after a moment.

The two were silent as they made their way to his car and got in.

"So," Mimi began after a moment.

"So." Jason said, obviously as uncomfortable as her. "Miriam...I was a jerk, I know that. Possessive, jealous, I treated you like a possession. I'm sorry."

Mimi was blown away. She had never imagined that Jason would understand and that he would actually apologise.

"It's alright." She said quietly. "At least you realize what went wrong. But where do we go from here?"

"I don't know." Jason told her. "I love you, but things were pretty messed up between us, weren't they?"

"Yeah." She agreed quietly. "They really were and I don't know if I can do that again."

"I want to tell you that it's over and that all I've never behave like that again, but I can't. I can tell you that I'm trying to change, but I don't know if that's enough."

"Neither do I." Mimi said after a long moment. "Jason, I just don't know. I just need some time to think, maybe then we'll know where to go from here."

"Maybe." Jason agreed quietly.

Mimi felt tears well up in her eyes as she got out of the car. She wondered why things had to be complicated and wished that she knew what to do because she was so confused.
* * * * *

Chloe watched as Jason followed Mimi out the door and wondered what was about to happen between the two of them. She knew that whatever it was, it wasn't likely that it would be pleasant. There was too much emotion involved on both sides.

She prayed that having went alright and then decided to go and talk to Phillip.

"What do you think is happening out there?" Phillip asked her as soon as she approached him.

"I don't know." She told him quietly. "But I know that whatever happens out there, it has to happen before they can take the next step and see where their relationship goes from here."

"Do you think they can fix it?"

"I hope so." Chloe told him, before smiling. "But can we talk about this later? I want to focus on better things."

"Such as?" Phillip asked with a grin.

"This." Chloe told him, kissing him tenderly. "I love you, Phillip."

"I love you too." Phillip told her softly. "Chloe, would it be alright if I came over early tomorrow?"

"What?" Chloe asked in surprise. "Why?"

"I want to see you before everyone else does and I want to exchange presents in private. I know that we're all getting together to exchange them together, but I'd rather do it with just you. Do you mind?"

"No." Chloe told him without a moment's hesitation. "But my parents might."

"They don't have to know." Phillip told her. "I could throw rocks at your window and you could let me in."

Chloe thought about what he said and shivered for a moment. The thought of Phillip in her bedroom early in the morning without her parents knowing was both terrifying and exciting.

But she trusted Phillip and knew that he wouldn't do anything she didn't want him to, so she nodded.

"Alright." She said shyly.

Phillip just grinned and kissed her.

Chloe lost herself in him, wondering for a moment if it would always feel like this when she was in his arms, warm, safe, exciting. When she was with Phillip she felt as if she could do anything as long as she had him by her side.

It's the most wonderful feeling in the world. She thought as the kiss deepened and after a moment the thoughts faded as she became aware of nothing other than Phillip and that moment.
* * * * *