The Goodwill Project – Chapter 6

 Salem Place…inside a supply closet…

"Belle…calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down! Don’t tell me to calm down!" Belle squealed. "I want to get out of here and I want out now!"

"I figured that out already since you’ve been saying that for the last ten minutes but there is nothing I can do." Shawn said, trying his best to keep his voice soft and steady. "I’m sure the maintenance crew will need something out of here soon and we’ll be freed. So for now…why don’t we just try to relax? Take a few deep breaths-"

"You know Brady, you can take your deep breaths and shove them up your-"

Shawn cut off her words by pressing his fingers over her lips as he lowered his head closer to hers creating a shadow as he blocked out the dim light the single, bare bulb in the closet offered. "Now Miss Black, please don’t say anything you are going to regret."

Belle returned his stare, her eyes wide and unblinking and for a second Shawn feared she was going into shock but then he saw the tears begin to gather and he could read the terror that only a person who suffered from being claustrophobic could understand. He thought back to when they were ten years old and had gotten themselves stuck in the hold of the "Fancy Face" for three hours until his folks found them. She had cried the whole time and it killed him that his best friend was so scared and he couldn’t do anything to help her. He didn’t want to feel that way again.

"Please…please don’t cry," he whispered just as a single tear fell over the edge to hang for a moment on her delicate eye lashes before dropping to her cheek to make it’s way down to his fingertips. "Oh Belle…"

"I’m sorry," she cried softly from behind his touch. "I-I can’t help it…"

"I know, I know. I wish I could do something for you…" Shawn voice faded away as he moved his hand from her mouth to her cheek, brushing away the remains of that tear, his eyes dropping down to Belle’s open mouth. The sudden desire to press his lips against hers slammed into him with such force he had to lock his knees to remain standing. Where in the hell did that come from? I’ve never though about…well, okay maybe I’ve had a thought or two…or three…but come on, this is Belle…my best friend…my best friend who I want to kiss more than anything in the world right at this moment Am I nuts? Am I crazy? Am I the only one who feels this way?

Obeying an overwhelming need to swallow the lump in his throat, Shawn pressed his mouth closed but not before his tongue swept across his dry lips and he found himself swallowing back a groan as well as he watched Belle mirror his movements as the tip of her pink tongue stole across her own lips. "Ummmm…I’m gonna see if I can find something in here to try and jimmying that lock with," he stammered as he dropped his hand and quickly backed away.

"Ah, yeah…that’s a good idea," Belle said, dropping her gaze from his as she tried to ignore the way her heart was hammering against her chest. Its just fear, she said leaning against wooden workbench, you’re in a confined space and you want out…that’s all there is to it! "I-I’ll see if I can find something too."

"Hey…I’ve found a screwdriver," Shawn said, turning back from a row of metal shelves. "I should be able to mess with the lock enough to get us out of here. Superman to the rescue!"

"Right…" Belle said her eyes darting around the room, looking for something to stare at other than the broad shoulders right in front of her. "…get…get us out of here."

"What’s the matter now?" Shawn asked, taking a step towards her.

"Nothing!" Belle shot back shrinking back against the bench, her hands behind her back in a death grip on the smooth wood surface.

"Isn’t that what you want?"

Forced to look up at him as he towered over her, Belle struggled to keep her voice calm. "Isn’t "what" what I want?"

"To get out of here."

"Y-yes…that’s what…I…want," Belle said as she felt Shawn’s fingers graze along her neck until they went into her hair to cup the back of her head and her eyes closed the moment she felt his lips press a small kiss on her forehead.

"I want…the same thing you want," Shawn whispered before releasing her and turning towards the door.

Oh, if that were only true, Belle thought as she reached up to brush away a tear that had nothing to do with her paranoia and everything to do with the leather clad superhero in front of her.

"I don’t know about this Jase." Mimi said, glancing over her shoulder as she walked a few steps of ahead of six foot blond through the crowded shopping area just in time to see his gaze snap back up to hers.

"What? Don’t know about what?"

"Jason, what are you staring at?" Mimi twisted around. "Do I have something on my sweater?"

Nope, just realizing how nice the view is from back here, Jason thought as his eyes drifted back down to admire the denim material of her jeans and the curves underneath.

"Jason!"

"What?"

"Did you hear what said? I’m not so sure we should do this."

"Why? You agreed this was a good idea fifteen minutes ago."

"I know I did." Turning back around, Mimi bit down on her bottom lip as her gaze lingered on the window display of mannequins dressed in beautiful formal gowns. The Last Blast was still a month away and the stores were already trying to lure in the high school girls…but could this really work? Would boys suddenly want to date her just because Jason Wells pretended to be her boyfriend? Only it wouldn’t be pretend to anyone else…not to the kids in school, not to their friends and not to Jan. "Who is going to believe that you and I just decided…decided to start dating? I mean, we’ve been at each other throats since grade school."

"Oh I don’t know…call it foreplay." Jason said moving up behind her to lean down and whisper in her ear.

"Excuse me?"

Moving around to stand in front of her, Jason looked down at Mimi enjoying the tinge of pink that glowed on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. Eyes the color of freshly mowed grass, he thought. Not the most romantic comparison but he found himself thinking about the night games Salem High had started ever since Philip’s father paid to have stadium lighting installed at the baseball field. He would often go to the school long before game time and stare out over the dark green of the grass, mentally preparing himself for the game and enjoying the solitude and security of the uninhabited ball field. Funny, he never even thought to compare Jan’s eyes to anything… maybe because he never saw anything when he looked into them.

"Yeah, you know…foreplay." he repeated, unable to stop himself from taking another step closer to her. You do know what the means…don’t you?"

"Yes I know what it means! But considering everything you have said to me in the last year has been so mean and hateful I doubt anyone would buy what you are trying to sell…especially me."

Jason pulled away from Mimi’s direct gaze as he shoved his hands in his pockets. She was right of course…he knew it and she did too. He couldn’t even remember when he started spouting off the same crap as Jan but soon he found himself acting as her parrot, teasing and humiliating those kids she labeled as the freaks and geeks of Salem High. He guessed he thought it made him look cool to the in crowd but Philip and Shawn didn’t act that way and they were the two most popular guys in school… especially with the ladies. And wasn’t that this was all about? Getting him in good with the best looking and most popular girls at school? Now, what did Philip say again? Be nice…and be charming.

"You’re right Mimi," Jason took a deep breath and hoped he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself. "I-I was mean. I wasn’t thinking and just following along with whatever Jan said and that was wrong…I’m sorry."

He watched as Mimi’s eyes opened wide and suddenly she turned and stared up at the sky. "What…what are you doing?"

"Looking for pigs."

"What?"

"Jason Wells just apologized to me and he actually sounded sincere…so this must be the day that pigs really do fly."

Confused, Jason’s glanced at the cloudless sky for a quick moment before returning his gaze back to Mimi’s in time to see her struggling to control a grin. He didn’t know why her mood suddenly shifted from sad to happy but he’d done it…he made her smile. Suddenly a display of bright colors caught his eye and before he gave himself time to think about it, he stepped off in their direction.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

Taking a step back, Jason grinned down at her. "Be right back!"

"But wait…"

Grabbing her by the shoulders, he quickly turned Mimi back around. "No! Stay here…and close your eyes."

"Close my-"

"Miriam Lockhart, do as you are told," Jason said, copying the stern voice his father always used when he wanted his commands obeyed and a thrill went through him when he saw her eyelids snap shut. "Good…now, wait here."

Mimi squinted up one side of her face in an effort to peek out from one slightly opened eyelid. "But what-"

"Mimi!"

"Okay, okay…they’re shut!" she said, snapping both eyes closed again.

Jason looked down at her for a long moment just to make sure she wasn’t going to open her eyes again before he hurried across the mall and quickly handing over a few dollar bills before turning back to Mimi with his surprise held safely behind his back. Moving back in front of her, he looked down at her upturned face and saw that while she still had her eyes closed, they were trembling as if she was nervous…or afraid. Gently, he pulled his hand out from behind his back and took a step closer to her.

Mimi knew Jason was back and standing right in front of her as she could smell his cologne and feel the warmth of his breath on her face as she fought to keep her eyes closed. She had no idea what was going on or why it only took one simple apology and here she was…trusting someone who had spent the last year teasing her and constantly pointing out the fact that no guy at Salem High would ever be interested in her. Poor Mimi…always the butt of his and Jan’s jokes. Always the third wheel especially since everyone knew Shawn and Belle were about to fall in couplehood any day now. Even Chloe, who at one time had a wardrobe and hair style worst than hers, had managed to turn into Cinderella and find her own Price Charming while she continued to always be on the outside of the in crowd…everyone would always look at her and see the homeless girl…

"Mimi…you can open your eyes now."

Blinking back the tears that she refused to allow him to see, it took a moment before Mimi’s eyes focused on the single yellow rosebud in front of her. Abruptly she turned away and started across the mall.

"Mimi! Wait!" Running after her Jason grabbed for her just as she reached the Java Café and turned her back around to look at him. "What’s wrong with you?"

"This! This is wrong Jason!" Mimi cried, yanking her arm free. "No one is ever going to believe that you like me much less that you want to date me. Come on…star jock falling for the homeless girl…I don’t think so!"

"Hey, if the most popular guy in school can fall for Ghou- ummm…Chloe…anything can happen!"

"Well, I think one fairy tale is about all Salem High can handle…we are not boyfriend/girlfriend material."

"You and I are acting a lot like me and Jan right at the moment," Jason pointed out.

"Then go give the rose to Jan!" Mimi said, pushing past him.

"I didn’t buy the rose for Jan!"

Jason grabbed Mimi’s hand and pulled her back towards him with such force their bodies collided. Wrapping his arm around her back, he forced Mimi to bend her arm behind her, their fingers were still locked together as she grabbed for his shoulder to keep the both of them from falling to the ground. He felt her trying to catch her breath as he pulled her closer to his chest. "I didn’t buy the rose for Jan," he whispered, "I bought it for you."

"So it’s started huh? You are now officially using me-"

"And you are using me," Jason said, cutting off her words as he placed the rose in her free hand that was caught between his chest and hers, trying to ignore the fullness of her breasts as his fingers brushed across the deep vee opening of her sweater. "And we both get what we want…right?"

"You have no idea what I want."

"You’re right about that," Jason’s eyes latched onto the pink lips only inches away from his. "But I know what I want right now…let the games begin..."

"You can close you cranium aperture any time now," Kevin said, pushing back a few wayward strands of dark hair that fell across his eyes.

Mimi suddenly blinked. "What? I can do what?"

"Close your mouth…you can close your mouth. I know I look little different and believe me it took two hours of self lectures to get up the nerve to walk outside my house this morning."

"Why? You look great!"

Kevin’s smile was shy as he bent down to rest his elbows on Mimi’s desk bringing their eyes to the same level. "Thanks…I appreciate that. Look, this was all Chloe’s doing…because someone wished it."

"Someone wished…you mean someone in this class?"

Kevin nodded. "I must admit it took a while to convince me that while clothes might make the man they don’t change who I am inside but what I want to know is…who wished to see a change in me…got any ideas who that girl might be…Mimi?"

"Don’t get any ideas Lambert," Jason growled as he slid into the chair next to Mimi and quickly dragged it over so he could wrap his arm protectively around her shoulder. "This girl is taken."

Kevin blinked as he watched Jason place a gentle kiss at Mimi’s temple that caused a faint blush and a smile to appear on her face. Straightening, he dropped down into the seat in front of them, pausing to glance back over his shoulder. "Well, Mimi…I guess I don’t have to ask how your weekend was."

"Ummm…excuse me." Jason and Mimi both turned to see Susan standing in the aisle that Jason was effectively blocking with his chair. "I…ummm…I need to get…to get to my seat…"

"Of course you do," he said, scooting his chair back. "I think I tear myself away from one pretty lady to allow another one to walk by."

Shocked, Susan could only stare. First at Jason, then Mimi and finally to Kevin. Kevin! Wow…what happened to Kevin! Gone were the glasses, gelled hair and plaid shirt! He looks good, she thought as she scurried between Jason and Mimi to her seat across from his. Really good…okay, he’s no Brady Black but still…

"That was very nice…what you said to Susan," Mimi whispered as Jason immediately scooted his chair back close to hers.

"Well…nice is my new middle name."

Shawn looked over at where Mimi and Jason sat, heads bent in close conversation and shook his head. When he and Belle met Mimi to catch a movie yesterday afternoon, both were shocked when Jason joined them.

"Can you believe those two?" Belle said, taking the vacant seat next to Shawn.

"You don’t sound too happy about that."

"I am…I want to be." Belle said. "It’s just so surprising…I mean one day Jan and Jason are together…well, as together as Jan and Jason can be and then suddenly he and Mimi are holding hands, he’s driving her to school, waiting for her at her locker…I just don’t know…"

"Well, we can cross that wish off our list…Mimi’s got herself a boyfriend."

"But Jason?" Belle said, glancing over at her best friend.

"Is that the green eyed monster I see lurking behind those baby blues of yours Miss Black." Shawn whispered as he leaned forward, tipping the front edge of his desk in order to get his face close to hers.

Belle slowly turned her head and lifted one well-defined eyebrow into a high arch, a trait she inherited from her father and was able to perform to perfection. "What-in-the-hell-is-that-suppose-to-mean?"

"Okay Philip…explain yourself."

"What? What’d I do now?" Philip said walking up behind Chloe and unable to resist the sight of her long bare neck thanks to her hair being piled up on her head, he leaned over and placed a warm kiss there.

"Who is that guy over there with Mimi and what have you done with the real Jason Wells?"

Philip smiled as he took a seat and reaching up, he grabbed Chloe’s hand, pulled her down onto his lap as he took her backpack and put it on the ground at their feet. "Hey, that’s a graduate of the ‘Kiriakis School of Charm’. I only did what you told me to do."

"I said to teach him how to be nice to girls and realize that there is life beyond Jan. Now he’s all over Mimi…who doesn’t seem to be minding it a bit and he was even civil to me in the hall… what is going on?"

Philip looked over at his friend and had to admit that Jason and Mimi did seem very friendly. He had been surprised when Jason clued him into what had managed to talk Mimi into and of course his first question was how was Jan going to take all this. After Jason told him that they had broken up for real the night before and he was ready to move onto bigger and better things Philip wished him luck and crossed off one wish on Jason’s list.

"Can you keep a secret?" Philip whispered, turning back to Chloe who only stared down at him. "Okay, okay…bad choice of words. Look, I told Jason the best way to get ahead with the ladies was to date someone who would spread it around what a nice guy he is. You know, how sweet and charming and all that stuff and then all the girls would be interested in him."

"And he picked Mimi?"

"Well…no…actually I suggested Mimi."

"What?"

"Shhh! Come on Chloe…you know what a mouth she has. I figured she could spread the gossip faster than anyone. Besides…she’s in on it."

"Okay…explain that statement."

Reaching up, Philip quickly whispered in her ear what Jason told him as Chloe continued to watch the couple across the room. Suddenly the door to the classroom opened and Jan slipped inside. "Oh no…here comes trouble."

Twisting around in his seat Philip watched as Jan quickly scanned the room her eyes hard and cold as they landed on him and Chloe. He saw her move on and he recognized the softening of her expression as the same one that came over her face a few nights ago in .COM. He knew she was looking at Kevin but she quickly masked it as she finally settled on her ex-boyfriend and partner in crime in a close huddle. "She doesn’t look happy."

"She is so pissed at me for what I said to Kevin…and in a few minutes he is going to know who wanted him to change."

"Well there is nothing we can do about it now," Philip said giving Chloe a quick hug. "Don’t worry babe…it’ll be okay."

Jan froze for a second the moment she saw Jason whisper something into Mimi’s ear that caused her to giggle and blush at the same time. Oh god…make me ill, she thought as she made her way towards them. Well, he certainly is moving on quickly and of all girls…loser Mimi. I could get him back in a heartbeat, all it would take is a flick of my tongue and a few whispered words, and he would come crawling back to me. Been there…done that and time to move on.

Her gaze again moved over Kevin who was chatting away with another loser with a capital L…Susan. God, she hated being here, knowing that in a few minutes he would find out she was the one who wanted him change his appearance. She didn’t have control of this situation and if there was one thing she learned from her father it was that whoever was in control was in charge.

Sliding into the chair behind Mimi she waited until Jason was distracted, reaching for the nerf football one of the other guys tossed in his direction. "Don’t think just because you’ve suddenly got a guy slobbering all over you that you and I are finished," she whispered fiercely as she leaned forward, giving a hard yank on one of Mimi’s curls.

"Jan!" Mimi spun around in her seat. "That hurt!"

"You try and back out of our little project for Ghoul Girl over there and you’ll learn the real meaning of hurt…you got me?"

Suddenly, the bell went off and everyone moved for their seats when the door opened and Principal Cohen entered and moved to the front of the room. "Ladies and gentlemen…I need your attention please…everyone settle down. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you…and it concerns Mr. Woods."

To be continued…

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