"like sands through the hourglass so are the...Days of our Lives"

Christyne's

"The Teens" Fan Fiction Site

Chapter 2 - I dreamed a dream

They watched the sun settle over the horizon.  All the while, Philip held her and stroked her hair.  Questions raced through his head, but he remembered that jolt of fright, when she suddenly pulled away and shook in his arms.  So, he’d said nothing and simply held her, hoping she’d share whatever it was that had frightened her. 

Chloe always strove to be honest and direct.  "Sometimes I like to talk.  Sometimes I don’t.  Take it or leave it," challenged those intense eyes behind dark spectacles.  "I don’t want anyone to kiss me but you," she’d said one night, swept away by the power of a kiss.  His kiss.  With Chloe, she let you know where she stood.  That took guts.  To a Kiriakis, that earned respect.  To Philip, that sent him headlong in love.  That and her sexpot body.

As the sky darkened, they slowly walked back toward Chloe’s house, each thinking about tonight’s events.

He cursed himself for letting his hormones get the best of him.  How often had Chloe blushed, when he’d tell her how beautiful she was or how she amazed him?  During his late night visits, she, oblivious, would sit and chat with him.  Meanwhile, he fought to keep his hands to himself, as his eyes devoured every inch of her.  Who could have imagined once-"Ghoul Girl Chloe" slept in an angel white nightee?  An angel.  That was what she was to him.  An innocent.  If only she knew, what paths his sinful mind had traveled.

But there was something else, he thought.  Tonight, she’d cried, but gave no clue to the cause.  Whatever it was, he’d fix it.  Although for now he couldn’t explain why, he needed to fix it for her.

As they approached her house, Chloe almost sighed in relief.  One instinct made her want to run for the door.  Another made her turn to face him.

With his hand gently cupping her cheek, his eyes searched hers. "Tell me?"

She evaded his gaze.  What could she tell him, when she hardly understood herself?

"Chloe… what happened before… was it something I did?"

"No. Yes." She turned away in frustration.  "I don’t know."

Still confused, Philip ran a hand through his hair.  "Was I moving too fast?  Did I scare you?"

"You—no—I don’t know."  She slumped down on the porch steps, miserable.  "Maybe, you’re wasting your time with me, Philip."

"What?" He reached for her, but let his arms drop.  "What are you talking about?"

When she didn’t answer, he let out a sound of helpless frustration.

"Chloe, you know how I feel about you.  I really want to be with you."  He took a nervous gulp.  "Are you saying you don’t want to be with me?"

Dejected, she hung her head, leaning against the post.  Philip closed his eyes and inwardly begged for patience.  And hope.

He kneeled down before her and took her by the shoulders.

"Chloe, look at me."  When she did, he searched those sad eyes for some hint behind her torture.  "Do you know how I feel about you?"  She nodded.  "Do you feel the same way?"  Her eyes began to fill, but she nodded.  The grip around his heart loosened.  "Then, it’s something else.  Did something happen?"  Her tears were quiet and she rested her forehead on his shoulder.

Philip felt his shoulders droop, realizing they hadn’t progressed much from where they’d started tonight.  He looked up at the brightening stars.

How did this happen?  Before, his life revolved around his Kiriakis name, competition, and popularity.  In other words, himself.  That seemed eons ago.  Before Chloe.  He drew his arms around her and ran his hands up and down her back to comfort.  Now, look at him.  For all his reputation with girls, he was clueless on how to help the first one that really mattered.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me.  I’m here for you.  You know that, right?"  She sniffed and nodded against his shoulder.  "That’s how it goes… at least, that’s how I want it to go, with us.  I tell you my secrets and you tell me yours.  You come to my football games.  I—I go to your operas.  Sounds like a good deal, right?"  He felt her begin to relax against him, so he could finally rest his head against her hair.  "Whatever it is, it’s gonna be alright.  You’ll see."  She sighed and gently stroked his back, praying he was right.

After a tender kiss and her promise to call him, if she needed him, Chloe quietly retreated inside to her room.  She dropped her bag on her dresser and fell face-first onto the bed.  Frustrated with herself, she flipped over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

Her feelings for Philip should have been clear, but they weren’t.  What happened tonight?  What girl could look into his deep blue eyes and not gleefully hand him her soul?  He was caring, funny, and attractive as sin.  Any normal girl would hold onto Philip Kiriakis as tight as she could and never doubt a thing.  Obviously, she was not a normal girl.

Sighing, she turned to a shelf and flipped through her CDs.  Her music was the one constant in her life.  Music came through, when all else in the world failed her.  Tonight, she needed to expunge the restlessness creeping under her skin.

Puccini?  Verdi?  Sad and intense.  Maybe.  She felt the pressure close in from all sides with no room to breathe.  Ricky Martin?  N’Sync?  No, she didn’t want to dance.  The plastic cases clicked and clacked, as she plowed through her music collection.  Miles Davis?  Kenny G?  No, she didn’t want to lay back and drift.  She wanted to claw, scream, and purge.

Her eyes fell upon "Phantom of the Opera."  On the cover was that ghastly yet seductive mask, stark and white.  She traced its image with her fingertip, mesmerized, as she often was, by it and the torment beneath.  How she’d also felt the world’s rejection and cruelty.  How she’d also withdrawn into herself for comfort.  She fingered the mask again.  She knew exactly what loneliness lay behind it.

After she popped in the first CD, Chloe walked to a window, riddled with teeny cracks the size of flying pebbles.  The Phantom lamented life’s injustices to a wide-eyed young girl.  As the Phantom’s anguish filled the room, Chloe climbed in bed, hugged a pillow to her, and let the tears come.

The next afternoon, the young hunks of Salem displayed their impressive physiques in an all-out playground basketball showdown.  Despite falling temperatures, their tanks were translucent with sweat.

"Stick with football, Kiriakis," taunted Shawn, "B-ball’s for those of us with coordination, agility, and…" as he evaded Philip’s check and shot a three-pointer, "…natural grace."  Shawn flashed a sly grin.

"Nice shot, my man," high-fived a flushed Brady.

"Pure luck," retorted Philip, dribbling, faking right to get by Shawn, "Prepare for serious payback.  Come on, Jase.  Show ‘em how it’s done."

Jason took the pass and drove through Brady’s check.  Sailing into the air, he slam-dunked the ball home.  He landed with a wolfish howl.  Height definitely had its advantages.

Completely at ease with each other, the boys grabbed their water bottles and guzzled.  A giggling group of girls coyly strolled by, while the boys dried off on their sweatshirts.

"Hillman, legs, 3 o’clock," grinned Brady, "I think, she’s winking at you."

"Man, God bless mini-skirts.  Always was a sucker for legs," drooled Jason.

"And ass and tits and hair and lips," chuckled Shawn, "Did I miss anything?"

"Eyes."

The three turned to look at Philip.  At that moment, he made it his business to dust off his sneakers.  His companions exchanged knowing looks and smirked.  The K-Man had it bad.  He had their fraternal pity, as they shook their heads and turned back to the girls.  After a brief discussion, Jason and Brady sauntered over.  With chests puffed and shirts flung over their debonair shoulders, the peacock duo charmed their way into a flirtatious conversation.

Meanwhile, Shawn walked over to his unusually quiet friend.

"Jase and Brady collecting their harem, huh?"  After pulling his shirt over his head, Philip smoothed his sweat-darkened hair.

"Yeah.  And as I recall, you’d be up there right along with them, not too long ago."

"Well, that was then."

"Uh-huh.  Meaning, now there’s Chloe.  Man, I never thought I’d see the day ‘lady’s man Kiriakis’ hooked by one girl."

Feeling slightly defensive, Philip gave an incredulous look, "You’re one to talk.  I’ve got two words for you: Belle Black."

"What?" His voice grew suspiciously nervous.  "Belle’s… Belle’s Belle, ok?  Besides, we were talking about you and Chloe, not me and—me."

"Denial, dude.  You are so in it," chuckled Philip.  "Anyway, I guess, me and Chloe are getting pretty close."  Like most guys in such intimate male-to-male conversations, Phil shifted uncomfortably on his feet.  "She’s special, that’s all."

Giving him an amicable slap on the back, Shawn grinned.  "Well, I’m happy for you guys."

"Thanks, man."

"Whatever.  Thank God, she forgave us for that stupid bet.  What’d you do to get her to go out with you again anyways?

Philip’s face flushed, remembering a musical night before Chloe’s window.  "Just turned on the Kiriakis charm."

Shawn only grunted, suspecting old Phil was holding back on him.

"Whatever, man.  Here come Jason and Brady.  By the looks on their faces, can we say jackpot?"

"Dudes, you two missed out!  Those legs are even better up close."  Jason wiggled his eyebrows.

"Those legs and her friends are having a monster party this Friday and we’re all invited.  That includes you two wallflowers."  Brady gave Philip a friendly punch in the shoulder.

*****

"Euuu, gross!"

"Cool!"

"That’s it!  Push, Sugar!"

"Oh, here they come!"

Sugar, exhausted, gave her new puppies a loving tongue-bath.

"Wow!  Five puppies!  Good job, Sugar," cooed a lovestruck Belle.  "Maybe…"

"Don’t even start, Belle.  Your last pet is why your building forbids animals," reminded Mimi, though one particular pink furball had already stolen her heart.

"Twitchy," sniffed Belle, as she remembered her beloved friend, "did not mean to give grumpy Mrs. Bosley a coronary, ok?  It was her own fault for always smelling like dairy."

"Who’s Twitchy?" asked Chloe, stroking Sugar’s ears.

"Belle’s little white mouse.  I wasn’t too crazy about that thing either." Mimi ignored Belle’s indignant sniff.  "Anyway, Twitchy went on a personal field trip to a neighbor’s room.  The lady started screaming and clutching her chest.  An ambulance carted her off to the hospital, but not before chewing out management for a rodent infestation.  After that, no animals were allowed in the building."

"And I had to give Twitchy away," pouted Belle.

Chloe and Mimi exchanged grins, establishing a momentary truce.

"Well, I’m sure Nancy would let each of us name a puppy.  We’ll leave the other two to her and Craig."

"I dunno, Chloe.  They all look kinda look identical with the wet fur and all.  We could wait until they at least open their eyes," said Belle, after inspecting each squirming bundle.

"Well, I’ll name mine, right now," announced Mimi, pointing to a pink runt with sparse white fur and noticeable ears.  "He’s Floppy."

"His homeboys will definitely appreciate that name," said Chloe dryly.

The girls looked at each other and laughed.

"Ok, ok.  I pick that one."  Belle named a chocolate-colored female with a pink nose "Nestle."

"As in Nestle Tollhouse?" Chloe shook her head.

"Hey, next to diamonds, chocolate is a girl’s best friend," joked Belle.

Chloe looked over the remaining three pups.  Finally, she found one that was black all over, but for the white on his nose and three paws.  "Merlin."

"Like the wizard?" asked Belle.

"Like the great sorcerer and protector of Camelot."

"We’ll see who’s the protector and who’s the wuss, when these guys open their eyes," grinned Mimi.  "Who’s the lucky dad, anyway?"

"We don’t know.  Craig’s been cursing every male dog in the neighborhood for weeks.  After the puppies are weaned, we’ll have to give them away."

"Oh, no.  You’re not giving away my Floppy.  Once our house is done, he’s coming with us," promised Mimi.

"He’ll definitely christen it for you," grinned Chloe.

Mimi playfully stuck a tongue out at her.

Sugar let out a big yawn and settled in with her new family.

"Man, she’s really tired," whispered Belle.

"Come, ladies.  Our work is done for tonight."  Chloe stood from under the desk and stretched.  Her muscles were stiff from sitting an hour on the floor of Craig's home office.  Her friends followed suit.  "Hopefully, in a couple weeks, Craig can have his desk back.  Let’s just say, he’s already made an appointment with the vet."

The girls laughed.

"You know, we should’ve made the boys come over.  They’d develop a totally new respect for women," said Belle, as they followed Chloe into the living room.

"Yeah, Jason, for instance, needs special ed in that department," Chloe said, as she settled into a recliner.

"Hey, he’s not that bad."  When Chloe and Belle both gave her inquiring looks, Mimi felt her cheeks flush.  "I mean, I’ve met worse."

Chloe and Belle exchanged grins in mutual understanding.

"Say, wasn’t Jason playing basketball on Saturday?" asked Belle.

"As a matter of fact," answered Chloe, tapping a finger to her lips, "Yes, indeed he was.  Of course, Mimi would be a better one to ask, since she specifically ran off that day to watch."

By now, Mimi’s face was completely red.  "I w-wouldn’t know anything about that."  Faced with sly feminine grins, Mimi gave up and squealed, "Oh, my God, that boy’s got a body."

The three broke into laughter and gossip.

Chloe smiled, as she climbed into bed.  Belle was almost tearful, when she said goodbye to her puppy and promised to come visit the next day.  Lord, were her parents in for a Nestle campaign.  So wonderful was it finally to smile about friends.  Her friends.  To share joys and tears with.

Still smiling, she answered the phone on the first ring.

"Hi, beautiful."

Her smile softened at the sound of his voice.  She hugged a pillow to her and blissfully recounted the day’s happy events to Philip.

Sobbing, Chloe reared out of bed.  She laid a hand on her aching cheek and closed her eyes.  It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream, her mind chanted it like a mantra.  Get a grip, Chloe.

The bedside clock read 3:45AM.  Her hand shook, as she reached for the phone and dialed.  She drew the covers around her, as the line rang and rang.

"H-Hello?" yawned a semi-conscious Philip.

At the sound of his voice, Chloe gave a small whimper, as the tears ran down her cheeks.

Chloe could hear his hand rub his stubbly chin.

"Hello?  Chloe, is that you?"