Summer Song – Chapter 11- The Conclusion

Jason and Shawn playing hockey in the parking lot, later hanging out at Phillip's, talking, even laughing; Belle, Chloe and Mimi walking along together, eventually chatting. No big emotional scenes, no pride sucking apologies, no groveling, those things being monumentally overrated in the healing process. The day after Chloe found out about the bet, when Phillip had called the hospital to leave his message of apology, Nancy had come home furious. "Phillip, that weak, sniveling.... didn't have the guts to face her that little bas..." The words, not spoken to anyone in particular, flowing out like sweat from her skin. She walked in the door, put down her briefcase, and went upstairs, not once drawing breath as Chloe sat with her nose in a book that she hadn't read a word of for the past five minutes.

"So." Craig said folding up his newspaper and getting up from his nice comfy easy chair. "You want to tell me what happened in the last twenty pages of Middlemarch?" He took the book from her hands "Which I'm guessing you don't know, or do you want to tell me what's bothering you?"

"Nothing."

Craig sighed impatiently.

"What can I say? Can't really argue Nancy's point." Chloe said.

"Uh huh. That's how you really feel?"

"Yes." Chloe had said and started to get up.

"Chloe," Craig said and she stopped. "Chloe, my best friend growing up was a kid name Charlie Olmstead."

"Okay." she said giving Craig her best 'What's that got to do with the price of tea in China' stare.

"We did everything together, told each other everything, baseball, football, Natalie Kaminsky's... never mind... anyway when I told him I asked Nancy Miller to go steady he looked at me like I was crazy and then..." Craig paused, his demeanor telling Chloe what he said next should not leave this room. "He got this big old grin on his face and said 'I guess you must really love her because it sure ain't how she looks in a bikini.'"

Chloe opened her eyes wide and said "Ouch." She wasn't sure what to say but she had a feeling making too big a deal over it would make Craig feel badly.

"Oh yeah. I wanted to... I didn't think I could ever forgive him."

"But you did..."

"He lived..."

Chloe smiled.

"Yeah, I did. It was something my father said. 'Never assume malevolence when incompetence will do.'"

"What?"

"Chloe, there's very little evil in this world. Lots of stupidity but very little evil. Something to remember. At least I hope people do or I'm in a hell of a lot of trouble. We all are." He looked solid and straight at Chloe.

And Chloe hadn't forgotten that though it was a struggle. Keeping anger just wasn't worth it, mostly. She sifted through the dresses in her closet and pulled out the first one that caught her eye, the purple sheath she'd worn... to the opera.

"That's it!" cried Mimi who ran right through the open door, grabbed the gown and held it up to the light. "That's the most amazing dress I've ever seen. That lace and the..."

"No, I don't think so." Chloe said holding up a blue and white floral print.

"That's perfect... if you're planning on serving the coffee..."

A moment later Belle joined them and Mimi held up the dress rather insistently and said, "Belle, this gorgeous thing or that flowered bathrobe..."

Belle shook her head asking not to be involved but when pressed said "Honestly the purple. No contest."

"I…it's just I've worn it before and..."

"So who at the hospital board dinner would have seen you... Oh." Belle said quietly.

"Would you stop treating me like... I'm sorry Belle. I didn't mean to....."

With a good natured wave Belle continued. "You are definitely going to turn some heads in this. You know I saw Bryan Cole checking you out and he's..."

"I wouldn't use the phrase 'check out' if I were you." Mimi said to Belle with a pointed glance at Chloe.

"Mimi ..." Belle said impatiently...

"Stop it. Stop acting like I'm going to break into a million pieces."

"Please..." Belle implored Mimi.

"No, Chloe is right as usual." Mimi said. "We don't need to walk on eggshells around her. After all she doesn't. Ask Phillip."

Belle just stared at Mimi for a moment, then at Chloe, spinning back and forth between her two friends till her neck hurt. Realizing it was no use, she leaned back against the wall and began absent mindedly swinging her arms.

"There. I said the name 'Phillip'. She needs to hear this." Mimi said to Belle who wasn't protesting. "Chloe, if you think Phillip is going to come to the house on bended knee with roses and a box of chocolate covered cherries, you're wrong. Face it. Not that you don't have Bryan and Clyde and Shawn chomping at the bit." Belle started for a second but quickly recovered. "But Phillip? Believe me honey he's not going to come to you."

Belle was ready to usher Mimi out of the room bodily. "I'm just trying to give her a little friendly advice." Mimi said warily.

"You're not my... I don't need any words of wisdom."

"Well I'm going to say 'em anyway."

"Better stay silent and be thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt. That means..."

"I know what it means." Mimi said. "It means you won't do anything about Phillip. You'll just stay here being miserable until everyone else is too." Now Mimi was not Chloe's champion and certainly she spoke bitterly but there was something in her expression. An odd mixture of anger and disappointment - as if she'd asked Chloe to win one for the Gipper and Chloe had failed her. It was the look the inmates gave the returning prisoner that had gone over the wall, outrun the dogs, crossed the shark infested waters and then given up without a fight.

"No, I won't do that." Chloe said quietly as she sat down on the bed.

After the rush of emotion, Mimi was now feeling very awkward, remembering every word, every phrase. She fidgeted and paced the room until she finally left, returning a minute later with a pair of earnings. "I think these will look really nice with the dress." she said in a faltering voice. "If you wear that barrette with your hair just off your face..."

"Thanks." Chloe said as she put them on. "Just the right touch."

"Yeah..." Mimi said. "We better let you get ready. Belle?"

The doorbell rang. "That must be Shawn." Belle said as Chloe's raised eyebrow was acknowledged by Mimi. "Don't look at me like that. We're going to the pub.

Shawn's dad got a promotion and they're having a little celebration. Have a great time tonight Chloe. See you guys." Belle said as she ran downstairs. "Oh

Meems." Belle shouted halfway down. "You wanna come?"

"You're kidding. When Harry Met Sally is on tonight. Can't miss that." Mimi turned to Chloe and said, "It's starting, isn't it?"

"I don't think it comes on till 7:30." Surprised by the sad tone in which Mimi had spoken.

"No, Shawn and Belle. It's starting."

"Oh." Chloe said. "Probably, but honestly... you and Shawn..." Mimi looked up her hands clenched defensively. "Have you ever talked for more than twenty minutes?"

"Of course."

"And really had something you wanted to say? " Mimi shrugged. "Have you ever laughed at his jokes?"

"So what does that mean? You laugh at my jokes."

"I wasn't talking about derisive laughter."

"Ha ha." she said but underneath the sarcasm was a painful concession.

Thirty seconds later there was another shout. "Please Mimi. Jason's tagging along and it would really help if you could keep him out of my hair."

"Might as well." Chloe said.

"Ugh, Jason that creep."

"I have it on good authority there isn't nearly as much deliberate creepiness in the world as people think. A lot of stupidity but... he's not so bad."

"Didn't he..."

"Jason wasn't the one who told me about the bet..."

"But I thought..."

"It's a long story. Anyways, .Jason's had it pretty rough. Having to be cool every minute of every day. That's a fate worse than death." Chloe said only half joking. "Go on. Spare your friends an evening alone with the guy."

"All right. I guess I'm stuck with him. Mimi Lockhart wins Jason Huntingdon by default. Wait up Belle... wait!" Mimi yelled as she ran down.

And Chloe went about finding her missing shoes which she hadn't yet accomplished when Nancy burst in. "Oh sweetheart, you look so beautiful. Turn around.

Come on, turn around. Let me look at you. Uh-huh..." She said beaming. "That Phillip Kiriakis is going to eat his heart out, not that he doesn't deserve it. Oh you're stunning." And she would have continued for another half hour had Craig not demanded she come help him with that damn bow tie. By Nancy's own

decree a Wesley always wore a real tie.

If Chloe was unenthusiastic about hospital related social events Phillip was downright bleak. Victor sat at his desk, shuffling papers, occasionally, signing or reading them in between phone calls when Phillip came in to his office. "Dad, um I was wondering, maybe I can stay home tonight. I mean there's hardly

anybody my age and it's not really my kind of music and ..."

"Phillip." Victor put down the contract in his hand. "You've gone every year since you were six years old. There's no reason you shouldn't go tonight."

"But.."

"You're concerned the Wesleys are going to be there? Mrs. Wesley will not say anything to you. Not while I'm in the room, I guarantee you."

Mrs. Wesley talking to him - he was definitely not worried about that. "It's not.. I'm not feeling so well, I'm not in the mood for it..."

"Are you not going to be in the mood to go to school next semester? Because Chloe will be there too..."

"No...."

"Phillip, Chloe Lane is a lovely young woman but..."

"I know, I'm sixteen years old and this is just the beginning..."

"It is just the beginning for you."

"And someday I'll find the right girl and it'll be so much better than..."

"I didn't say that. You care deeply about this young woman, don't you?"

Phillip jumped. "She doesn't care about me."

Victor could see how desperately his son wanted to be contradicted. "I doubt that or you wouldn't feel this strongly. Phillip, sometimes two people can both care a

great deal for each other and circumstances just don't allow... in romantic affairs, as in business, timing is everything." Victor scanned the photographs of his children that surrounded his office. Isabella, Bo, Phillip... Isabella's mother long gone, Bo's mother Caroline married to Shawn Brady Sr. for the past fifty years and Phillip's mother Kate, the woman he was with now. "I can't tell you how things will work out in the future or how things might have been but I'm a practical man. I've had to work hard for every good thing in my life yet I've always found a way to be happy. Life is a precious thing and regret is a terrible waste of time."

"Dad, I..."

Victor's phone rang. "Just a moment." he said as he picked up the phone and began talking. "How could they have found out about the merger? All right, we'll just have to announce now. We'll take a hit but we'll still be in good shape.... call Morris from the Financial News and..."

"I'll go get ready." Phillip said to no one in particular as he left the room.

The Penthouse Grill was remarkably festive that evening, a greater air of elegance than usual. Woman in sparkling gowns, men in tuxedos and dinner jackets, a full orchestra playing tender, sweet music that could only be danced to by man and woman. "Ah don't you all look wonderful." Mrs. Winston, one of the senior board members greeted the Wesleys as they entered.

Chloe inspected the room carefully. No sign of the Kiriakis family, not a one. "Thank you. So do you." Nancy said with an extra wide smile. Mrs. Winston had been a big supporter of Dr. Mike Horton, Craig's competitor for the chief of staff position. Chloe's thanks were more toned down and more believable. She liked Mrs. Winston a great deal though she couldn't help laughing at her name. Mrs. Winston of Salem University Hospital. Chloe kept picturing her standing at the door of the ICU, eagerly hissing "There's room for one more," along with the ventilators and oxygen masks as she handed cigarettes to waiting teenagers.

"Mrs. Wesley, I must tell you how much I enjoyed your daughter's singing at the Habitat Ground Breaking." Mrs. Winston turned to Chloe. "Just lovely dear.

You know Tosca is one of my favorites. My husband and I are big opera fans."

"Thank you." Chloe said.

At last Chloe saw Phillip enter along with his parents. She braced herself for that awful moment when Philip passed by and gave her one of those pitiful, pining looks but all he did was nod slightly and head off to his table. Mr. Lewis, another senior board member, and his wife were talking to Phillip and a young girl who must have been sixteen, seventeen years old. A little later the Lewis' came by the Wesleys' table and introduced their granddaughter Joanne, who was visiting from Chicago.

Phillip wondered if he should go over to Chloe, maybe say hello. It would be funny if he didn't yet he had no idea what to say. Every idea he had was wrong, no that would make it worse, that would sound strange, that would embarrass her, that would embarrass him, that didn't make sense, each attempt taking more concentration. Every minute worrying about what he said and how he said it. His head actually hurt from the effort and pretty soon it didn't matter how badly he felt or what anybody thought, even Chloe. It was too exhausting. All he wanted to do was get away... a person would do anything not to feel like... He decided not to say anything and felt easier, not better, but easier.

There didn't seem to be a single hors d'oeuvre that wasn't filled with some, deadly, greasy, poison a French chef called food, so Chloe passed the time folding her napkin into a little boat. You never knew what skills would come in handy. Chloe was roused from her exacting occupation by the band leader announcing "Folks, seems we have some opera lovers in our midst. There's been a request for the overture waltz from Die Fliedermaus." Dear God, Chloe thought as she could feel the eyes turning in her direction. It was bad enough Mrs. Oberman from next door still hummed 'Can't Smile Without You' every time she passed by the house. For a super cool jock type, Phillip was such a cornball, Chloe mused, hiding her face, until she heard the band leader say "Come on up here, Anniversary couple. Forty five years, ladies and gentleman." Mr. And Mrs. Winston who sat a few feet to her left got up and began to dance. Other couples soon joined in, including Phillip and Joanne Lewis.

"Sweetheart, would you like to dance?" Craig said.

"No thanks. Waltzes aren't my style."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely. I'm waiting for the highlight of the evening. The fundraising speeches. Wouldn't want to tire myself out before those."

"A girl after my own heart." Craig said giving Nancy a concerned look which she answered by shrugging her shoulders.

"You want me to ask for another salad?" Craig asked as Chloe picked through her soup trying to remove whatever looked like it once belonged to a now ex-chicken. Nancy mimed the words 'No' to Craig not wanting any fuss made over the dinner in Mrs. Winston's presence but it was just as well. Chloe pulled a lone lima bean from among the noodles. "I'll manage. See? Protein."

Craig was shocked to see Vivian Alamain come up and say hello. "Dr. and Mrs. Wesley, how lovely to see you again."

"You too." Craig said under his teeth.

"It's been such a wonderful day. Just a lovely day. Oh there's Victor. Just a moment... Victor... yoo hoo..." She cried out as she caught up with him and Kate.

"So nice to see you." Victor said. "I didn't know you were back in town."

"Oh just a short visit. Catching up on a few things... I..." and she rattled on about her trip to Europe and newly found wealth and all her plans, uninterrupted for the next quarter of an hour.

"If you don't mind Kate and I have some business to take care of..." Victor said, managing to get a word in edgewise and he quickly ushered Kate out of the room.

"Uh, I couldn't stand another minute..." Kate said as they walked down the hall.

When they didn't come back right away Phillip began to wonder where they were. He stood up and watched the entrance without any luck.

Wisps of loose hair fell on Chloe's face. She searched the back of her head for the barrette that had been holding them in place and realized it was gone. She looked on the table, on the floor, in her soup but it was nowhere to be found.

"What is it sweetheart?" Nancy asked.

"Phillip." Chloe answered. "I didn't think even he would stoop this low." She was like a hunter scoping her target, as she spotted Phillip walking out the main door. She had him in the cross hairs, following him not to the restrooms or telephones as one might think, but a couple of flights downstairs. Naturally the Kiriakis family had a private suite in which to get ready and freshen up, which made sense considering they owned the building. Phillip went inside leaving the door ajar with Chloe following right behind him. She tapped Phillip on the shoulder.

"How dare you? You actually swiped my... my..." she stopped as she felt something scratch the back of her neck, her lost barrette hanging by a thread, or rather a hair, about midway down.

"Quiet. Shhh."

"What's with you?"

"Shut the hell up." Phillip said in an angry whisper.

"Oh that does it. You will not shush me."

"Please just keep your voice down...." Phillip said turning around, and Chloe was startled by the urgency in his tone. She could hear Phillip's parents talking. He put his arm around Chloe and tried to lead her out but she pulled away. Victor said "Kate, I have my sources. I know how much time you spent with Nicholas. Don't deny it." Victor's voice was angry but subdued., as in control as ever.

"Victor, Nicholas and I are friends, that's all. Nothing went on between us. You know I could never..."

At this point Phillip was practically begging Chloe to follow him out but she stood her ground. "Phillip I know, okay? That day in your house.. it's all right..." she said with more emotion and less dignity than she'd shown him in a long time. "There's nothing to be ashamed about." If there was one thing Chloe knew about, it was families that were less than perfect. "Come on." she said taking Phillip's arm.

"It would be a bigger shame if you didn't get the hell out of here. Just go... go... now.."

Chloe was about to respond none too politely but stopped cold as she got the first good look at Philip. He was desperate and more than that, scared out of his wits. He was gesturing frantically, turning his head to the other room, pushing at the air with his hands, pointing to the door. He jumped at every noise. She started for the door but turned back to see Phillip still standing in the same spot. She stayed in the room and Phillip made no effort to get her to leave, relieved she'd stopped talking. He listened anxiously at the bedroom door. Kate was speaking.

"My god Victor. If you want proof you can ask Henderson or Maya..."

"Kate, I don't care how you entertain yourself while I'm away. There are two things I care about in this world, my children and my business and your friendship with Nicholas almost cost me my business today."

"What are you talking about?"

"Vivian Alamain came this close to getting a controlling interest in this company. She knew about the Aspen merger. How did she know Kate?"

"I don't know."

"You and I were the only ones who knew. If my sources hadn't warned me in time... Thank goodness there are people I can rely on. How much did you tell Nicholas about my business dealings?"

"Nothing. Darling, did you ever think one of those reliable men of yours..."

"Answer me Kate. What does he know?"

"Nothing. Okay, he may have overheard one phone call. That's it. I promise you. Besides he's got the brain of a needle eye. He won't cause any problems for us."

"I'll see to that. The man is a loose cannon and you know what loose cannons do? They explode. I'll have my people investigate this matter and take any steps that are necessary. If you're telling me the truth there won't be a need for any drastic measures."

Phillip's face turned a chalky grey. He looked over at Chloe. She was horror struck, her eyes monstrously wide, her hands over her mouth but they were shaking too much to cover it effectively. As soon as Chloe caught Phillip's eye he bent his head down and shook it trying to get hair to fall over his eyes. In his hurry to leave the suite he swung the door wildly. Had Chloe not been right behind him, it would have slammed shut with an ear splitting crash. He ran down the hallway, getting as far and as fast as he could, only stopping after he turned the corner. Slumping forward, his palms up against the wall, he took deep breath after deep breath. Chloe could hear him gasping and she watched his chest move too quickly and too fully. Afraid to startle him she said nothing. After several seconds Phillip turned to see if she was still there. His eyes were red and wet and his hands were trembling but he seemed in control of himself.

"It's probably not what it sounded like," Chloe said tentatively.

"Like hell it wasn't." he said.

"It was very vague... things out of context can sound...."

"That context is exactly what you think it is. You're shocked, aren't you?"

"No..." she said , her eyes almost shut, her blood drained skin, covered with gooseflesh.

"You can't even look at me..."

"It was a mistake..."

"Chloe, do you understand what could have happened if we'd been caught there? Do you?"

"Phillip, your father wouldn't... he wouldn't hurt you..."

"No, he wouldn't hurt me but...." Phillip said staring at Chloe.

"He wouldn't hurt me either..."

"Probably not."

"Definitely not."

"Chloe, when you first moved here I was in the hospital. You know how I got there? A bookie beat me up because I owed him money." He heard Chloe gasp. "I know it was stupid. I haven't gambled since I..." he caught himself... "I'll never do it again.. I know I lied about that. Lie, cheat... it's a family tradition you see. We use people and when we don't need 'em anymore... You know what happened to that bookie? He had a fatal accident."

"Philip, you didn't know..."

"I saw things. Little bits and pieces but I didn't want to admit it so I didn't do a thing.. I.."

"Do what? What could you..."

"I love them. So what does that make me?"

"Very lucky."

Phillip gave a wry little laugh. "I guess you could look it at that way."

"Phillip, you could never..."

"Kill anyone? Maybe not. Phillip Kiriakis doesn't kill, only maims."

"No. When it comes to inflicting pain you're more of a bad headache, mild skin irritation sort of guy."

Phillip let out a slight smile.

"Could you actually picture yourself hurting someone that way?"

Phillip's head jerked up, his eyes with the saddest doubt.

"Could you intentionally hurt someone like that?"

"No." he said softly.

"Okay then."

"Okay then."

Phillip stood tight as a drum as if he would blow away into nothing if he let go a single muscle. Chloe put her hand on Phillip's shoulder and let it skim lightly over his back. Phillip pulled away at her touch. "You're only doing this because you feel sorry for me."

Chloe stood without saying a word for what seemed an eternity to Phillip. Her eyes were so intent as to unnerve him. "So what else is new?" she said with a crafty smile. For the first time during the entire evening Phillip laughed and then she heard the little release of breath, the way the tightness left Phillip's stance.

"You'll be all right?" Chloe said.

"Yeah. I'll be fine." he said with a slight shake in his voice.

She nodded. Then she simply turned around and started walking away. "Wait... you're just going to leave?"

She looked at him in wonder, as if to ask what else would she do?

"Chloe, are you all right?" Phillip asked. She was almost as pale as he was and her steps were wobbly.

"I'm not sure." she said.

"Maybe you should sit down. We could go..." He almost said 'to my folks suite'... "to the lobby."

"No. I should go back..."

Nancy would have agreed whole-heartedly. Unless her daughter was having a heart to heart with the tidy bowl man she should have been back by now.

"Craig I'm worried. What if she met up with Phillip? He left right before she did."

"Nancy, Victor and Kate haven't come back and they're probably not going to. Phillip probably left and Chloe... Honey, she's probably having a good, long cry. She'll come back when she's..." but the end of Craig's sentence didn't stand a chance.

"Let's go." She said pulling Craig by the hand as he shuffled behind her like a five year old being led to the dentist chair.

Chloe was in no shape to go back to the dinner and neither was Phillip. He opened his mouth to speak but it took several tries before any words formed. "Chloe, I just... You never let me explain about the bet... I..." He took her not leaving as willingness to listen. "The whole thing was just... We came up with this tournament and we were looking for a bet and Jason was trying to show us up and he comes up with... well you know... I mean he and Jan are egging us on like we're scared to lose and I'm like... I don't know... I never meant to hurt you. Never. I... and all that stuff... on the pier and the dance... I meant every word..."

"I know that." she said her eyes focused on the carpet.

"You know... then what... what is it? Could you just look at me? For once just look at me..." he pleaded, immediately sorry he'd said it.

She shook her head. "I am looking at you." her gaze now directed at the potted fern to her left. "I have excellent peripheral vision. Very useful in sports." She added hesitantly.

"I got that."

"I've always looked at you when you talked. And I did see you blink."

"What?" Phillip asked confused.

"Right after I found out about the bet. I said you listened to me, I make a fool out of myself and you didn't even blink. I saw you blink. I knew something was wrong and I knew you felt badly, that you... I knew it the whole time..."

"I don't understand..."

"What difference does it make? Sooner or later I'd....."

"You'd what?"

"Disappoint you."

"Believe me Chloe, being disappointed in people I love is old hat to me." Phillip wasn't sure what he'd done but Chloe's eyes were now riveted to him, and without the help of peripheral vision. She had a curious look on her face.

"What is it?" he said gently

"Right now you think I'm... you really believe that... but it'll change... I... I start talking about peripheral vision, and sports and seeing you blink - see, right there. The way you're looking at me right now like I'm out of my... I'm not good at this. I never know what to say. When I try I just make things worse. When I don't say anything it's wrong, when I do say something it's wrong...... and one day you'll look at me and you won't... you won't even know why you ever wanted to... I'm sorry. I'm so tired and my head hurts . I just want to go home."

The words struck a chord and slowly it dawned on Phillip where he'd last heard them.

"Chloe," he said with a great deal more confidence than five minutes ago. "What am I going to find out about you that is so bad?"

Chloe tapped her fingers nervously against the wall, curled her toes, rocked her feet back and forth. She had that gnawing feeling like a person who left the house with the vague sense they'd forgotten something, not knowing what it was , going back again and again, searching for something that wasn't there. She looked down the hallway, at those elevator doors at the end of it... Phillip's feet were planted as firmly in the ground as you could get outside of corn country.

Chloe looked Phillip full in the face and said "I have no idea." She didn't move an inch and Phillip began to wonder if she ever would when she put her arms around his shoulders and laid her head against the back of his neck and held him tight. Phillip had never wanted to touch someone so much in his life. It was like crossing some imaginary line, Chloe admitting something she could never take back no matter what.

Nancy the steam engine, smoke pouring out of her ears, came roaring around the hallway corner, no rails needed as she caught sight of Phillip and Chloe. Craig caught up just as Nancy was ready to go full steam ahead. He put one hand on each of her shoulders and whispered, "Look Nancy. Use those beautiful eyes and take an honest look." And Nancy did, carefully watching both her daughter and Phillip. She turned to Craig, uncertain but when Craig put an arm on the small of her back and lead her away she didn't say a word though she couldn't help glancing back a time or two. Phillip and Chloe never even knew she was there.

As Phillip pushed her hair back from her face her glasses slipped off and fell to the floor. Her hand automatically reached down for a second but she didn't pick them up. Phillip felt the outline of Chloe's eyes, her nose, her mouth her chin. He turned his head to the side until his lips touched Chloe's neck. Her skin was warm and sweet like freshly baked cinnamon rolls. His lips skimmed the back of her neck around to the edge of her ear, her cheek. She lifted her head and stepped away and started to speak....

Phillip waited anxiously for what he knew would happen, but Chloe didn't turn away. She looked at him with eyes as big as the sea and said "You're the nicest

person I've ever met."

Phillip just stared. Not man, not guy, person she'd said. "I'm not...don't say that..."

"No, I want to ."

"Chloe you don't have to..." Chloe laughed. "I guess I know what it feels like now."

"What?"

"To want to tell someone how you feel and have them not let you... it's awful, isn't?"

"Yes it is." Phillip said thoughtfully. He waited for her to speak not wanting to cut her off again.

After a long pause she said, "I just wanted you to know that... that's all.. I'm sorry, I'm not..." She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, nervously trying to fill the space... Phillip gently reached for her arm and brought her close. He pushed the hair back from her shoulders and let his hands glide over her neck, her shoulders, her back, giving her light little kisses over the top of her head and face. Chloe's hair wasn't silky soft but lush, like a feathery blanket over his skin.

He brushed Chloe's lips with his fingers and let them slowly slide down. She felt the softest whisper of a touch as Phillip's lips touched hers. He didn't move, letting her get used to the feeling. As he opened his mouth slightly, covering the edges of hers, little pulses and tingles bubbled through her like soup boiling over, out to the edges of her skin, pouring over her, burning hot but so good, she didn't care. All she wanted to do was taste that mouth, Phillip's mouth. She grabbed the back of his head tightly as though she was hanging over a cliff by her fingertips, holding on for dear life. One kiss after another, more and more furiously as if the world would end when their kisses did. When Phillip finally pulled away he let his forehead rest against Chloe's enjoying the feeling of being so close and still. Chloe was first to step back and funny how she still looked shy. Her face was flushed and she seemed almost apologetic as she said quietly "I guess I got a little carried away."

"Me too." he said with a sweet smile.

"Oh please. You," she said still holding on to his hand and circling it with her fingers.

"Scouts honor."

"Right, like you were a boy scout."

"I was. I got kicked out for running a shell game. Used Jan's brain for the pea. Well I had to supplement."

"You were never a scout."

"Was too."

"Brilliant logical argument. Aristotle would be proud."

"I'm sure he would."

"Oh, for the record Kiriakis," she said finally letting go of his hand, "These are prescription lenses. They correct for a mild astigmatism in my right eye." She picked up the glasses and put them back in her purse and immediately reached for his hand again. Her face was a gentle, rosy pink.

They made their way back to the dinner, no different from before except now their fingers brushed as they walked along, never once losing touch. They could hear the music coming from the restaurant from the stairway.

"At least it's not Barry Manilow." Phillip said.

"Thank God."

"That stupid serenade. Just made things worse..."

"Actually it helped. I was pretty sure you were sincere after that. My God, you'd have to be to put yourself through that."

"Don't remind me. That was so bad."

"No, not so bad. Not the song I mean, lord no, but the singing was... nice.." Phillip now had a nice, bright glow on his face as well. Another Strauss Waltz was playing as they made their way back to the party. Phillip and Chloe went straight to the dance floor. Spinning free and fast, Phillip lifted Chloe by the waist and twirled her high in the air over the waves of the Blue Danube.

The End