Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Author's Notes- Okay, I'm on a roll tonight. Here's the next chapter of

Friends and Lovers, complete with a few twists and turns. Things definitely get shaken up in this chapter. That's all, I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sunday, December 31st 2000, New Years Eve

Chloe looked around the room, trying to spot her closest friends. It was almost midnight and she hadn't seen any of them since the party started.

Her eyes widened when she finally caught sight of them. Shawn was sitting in a corner, drowning his sorrows in some of the spiked punch.

Chloe debated going over to him, but decided it would only make things worse. Still, she wondered what could make him so unhappy, she doubted it was just her.

Her confusion mounted when she spotted Mimi talking to some guys, but looking past them with an unhappy look in her eyes.

Then Chloe spotted what she believed was making the other two so unhappy. An obviously drunk Belle was practically sitting on Jason's lap, and he was just as drunk.

"Oh, boy." She murmured, wondering what was going on.

"What's wrong?" Phillip asked as he came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Look." She said softly, nodding to Jason and Belle.

Phillip's eyes widened. "What in the Hell are they doing?" He asked in disbelief.

"That's what I'd like to know." Chloe told him. "All I know is that they're drunk and that Mimi and Shawn aren't too pleased."

"Damn." Phillip swore, looking at all their friends in turn. "This is a mess."

"Oh, yeah." Chloe agreed, then she sighed. "Phillip do you have three empty guest rooms we could make up, after all your parents out of town, right?"

"Right." Phillip agreed. "And yeah, we do. But why three? One for Jason, one for Belle, and one for...?"

"Shawn." Chloe answered. "He'll be in no condition to drive either. I'm staying too."

"But you won't need a room." Phillip said softly, running his hands through her hair.

"Won't I?" Chloe asked with a smile. "I suppose you already have a place arranged for me?"

"Yes I do." Phillip whispered in her ear. "Right next to me."

Chloe blushed slightly, then turned around and smiled up at her boyfriend. "Right where I want to be for the rest of my life."

"That can be arranged." Phillip told her, leaning down to give her a tender kiss.

Chloe wrapped her arms around her neck in response, wondering if it would always be this could between them. She hoped so, it was like magic.
* * * * *

Jason looked over at Belle and wondered if he had lost his mind.

He knew that flirting with Belle was not the way to win Mimi back, but right now it felt so good. It felt great to forget about Mimi for a while and to concentrate on someone who obviously enjoyed his company.

He understood that, like him, part of her behaviour was directed by frustration and another part by the alcohol, but it didn't matter. Right now, he really didn't care. He didn't even care him Mimi was watching or not.

"You know, we probably shouldn't be doing this." Belle told him, as she tossed her hair back out of her face.

"Probably not." Jason agreed, reaching over and running one hand through the silky blond locks. "But we are."

"And it feels good." She said bluntly. "For the first time in months, I don't give a damn about whether or not Shawn is ever going to notice me."

"I know how you feel." Jason echoed me. "I don't even care about what's going on with Mimi."

"And it feels nice, doesn't it?" "

It does." He agreed. "So does this."

He couldn't stop himself from leaning it and kissing her, to his surprise Belle didn't pull away and instead she deepened the kiss. Jason pulled her on to his lap and forgot about everything else, as he concentrated on Belle and this moment.

Maybe it was wrong, maybe it would screw up everything, but right now it felt so right.
* * * * *

Mimi watched in a combination on horror and pain as Jason leaned down and kissed Belle.

It had been hard enough to watch them flirt for the last couple hours, but now... She felt like her heart was being ripped out.

She wondered why Jason was doing this. He had seemed sincere about trying to work things out, but now he was making with Belle in front of everyone.

Still, she reminded herself that it was none of her business, after all she had dumped him. But, that didn't stop her from wanting to walk right over there and give Belle a good slap for messing with her man.

But he's not mine. She thought sadly. Not anymore. I let him go.

The thought just made her more depressed and she decided to take Shawn's example and drown her sorrows. At least then she wouldn't have to face the reality of what was happening.
* * * * *

Shawn watched Belle and Jason, wondering why the image was affecting this way.

Because you like her, you idiot. A voice in his head.

Shawn blinked in shock, wondering if it was true. Then he realized that it was, he had grown to care about Belle in the last few months, and as more than a friend.

He didn't feel about her the same he felt about Chloe, but she was still important to him. And he had just realized it now.

At that moment, he also realized that she had feelings for him. Now that he thought about it, it was really obvious. But he had been oblivious, just like Chloe had been.

Shawn buried his head in his hands, unable to believe what an idiot he had been. He had been so busy mooning over Chloe that he hadn't even noticed the great girl he had right in front of him until now. And now it was too late.

He looked over at Belle and Jason again and felt his heart break at the image.

Then he looked over at where Chloe and Phillip were and noticed that they were kissing too. While he felt a dull ache at the picture, he realized that it was nothing compared to what he felt watching Belle and Jason.

Without even realising it, his feelings for Chloe had started to go away, while his feelings for Belle had grown.

I'm an idiot. He thought with a groan, as he reached for another drink.

He had a feeling this was going to be a long night and he wanted to get as drunk as he could.
* * * * *