Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Author's Notes- Phloe fans should be happy to hear that after several chapters on the back-burner, Phloe is once again the main focus of the story. While the other teens still play a huge role, the story's going to focus on Phloe for a while. I have something huge planned for them and I hope you like it. That's all for now, enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-One

Monday, January 8th 2001

Lunch was interesting to say the least. Everyone met at their usual table, but the only people who talked to everyone were Chloe and Phillip. Everyone else, coldly ignored each other.

By the time lunch was over, Chloe was ready to scream. All this fighting between her closest friends was making her sick. Literally, she realized, as she got up and ran out of the cafeteria, barely making it to the washroom before she got violently ill.

Damn, she thought as she washed her face afterwards, that's like the tenth time that's happened, this week.

Just then, Belle and Mimi rushed into the bathroom.

"Chloe!" Belle cried, as soon as she saw her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Chloe said softly. "It was just something I ate."

The two girls didn't look convinced, but neither of them pressed it.

"Well, are you feeling better now?" Belle asked her.

Chloe nodded. "Yes. Whatever, it was it's gone quickly."

She didn't add that it always went as quickly as it came because she had no intention of letting them know that it had happened before. She knew her friends and she knew that they would worry. Besides, she also knew that they would feel guilty because it was their feuding which was stressing her out so much and she didn't want that.

"Are you sure?" Mimi asked, not looking at Belle.

Chloe nodded. "I'm sure. I'm fine."

"Okay, then." Belle told her. "You should probably get back to the caf, Phillip was freaking out."

Chloe smiled. "I can imagine." She said dryly, thinking about how over-protective her boyfriend was. "I should probably get back there before he worries himself into a frenzy."

Her friends smiled in agreement and followed her out of the bathroom, though they were careful not to interact with each other as they did so.
* * * * *

Phillip looked anxiously at the cafeteria doors. "What's taking them so long?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "Phil, she's fine, just lighten up. The girls will be back in a minute, until then keep your cool."

Phillip blushed. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about Chloe."

"We know." Shawn assured him with a smile. "But, Phillip, she'll be fine."

Phillip gazed at him for a long moment and then nodded. "You're probably right." He agreed. "But aren't I allowed to worry about her?"

"Of course you are?" A female voice behind him said. "And I'm allowed to worry about you, it's the way it goes when you're in love."

Phillip turned to see is girlfriend standing there. "Are you okay?" He asked her as she sat down beside him, protectively wrapping his arm around her.

She leaned into him. "Phillip, I'm fine. It was just something I ate."

Phillip looked doubtful, but finally nodded. "Okay, if your sure."

"I am." Chloe told him with a smile. "But thank you for being concerned?"

"Always." Phillip told her, giving her a quick kiss.
* * * * *

"Are you really okay?" Phillip asked Chloe that day after school as he prepared to drive her home.

"I'm fine." Chloe assured him again, climbing in beside him. "Actually, I think that the situation with everyone else is just getting to me. I've been so stressed."

"I can believe it." Phillip told her. "But, baby, don't let it get to you, okay? It's their lives, they have to live with their choices, not us. Don't let their problems make you sick."

"I'll try." Chloe said with a sigh. "But it's so hard, they're my friends and I want them to be happy."

"I know." Phillip said, giving her a quick kiss before starting the car and driving out of the parking lot. "But this time, there's nothing you can do, but just be there for them. They have to clean up this mess on their own."
* * * * *