A night at the opera...if only Groucho had been there.

Jason did not like the Brady Pub. The whole place had this aura ...plaid, plaid flannel. The booths circling the room looked like one, big, shiny, machine washable blue collar.

"What is that?" Jan asked as she picked up the big, bulky chemistry textbook lying on the table and slammed it back down. Jason just glared at her.

"I have to pass this chem class."

"But like, you're not actually studying. That's so pathetic. So are you getting me a burger or not?"

"Fine." he said and came back with the food.

"No fries, no soda? And where's yours?"

"I lost my appetite." he said glancing over at Phillip.

"Can we just get out of this boring place? I am so sick of hanging around doing nothing, or does little geek boy need all his time for his studies? At least let's go to DotCom."

"Heather is there."

"What, are you afraid of Heather?"

"No. I just don't like hanging out with her boring, loser friends. All those organizer, pep, rah rah types. Yearbook committee, school newspaper, debate team. Man they give me the creeps."

"Right all those uncool kids she hangs out with, you know state champion wrestler, head cheer leader, dance committee people, all those nobodys. You are such a coward."

First Heather and her gang and now Jan. So what if all those pep rally robots were giving him the cold shoulder. They had no sense of humor. They took all that stuff so seriously. And all those idiots who thought that Phillip Kiriakis could do no wrong, well they were fools too, not worth his time. "I...Look I hang out where I want to hang out."

"Fine. If you want to spend the summer with your nose in a book, I'm out of here."

"Wait..."

"Give me a ride?"

"My car's in the shop."

"Wait a second. No food, no car, no movies, no CD's...the chem class, your dad cut you off."

"That is not true." He pulled out a big wad of cash. It was the money his father had given him for a tutor, and it was barely enough for that, but it was pass chemistry or military school. No reprieves.

"You coming?" Jan said.

"Yeah, be with you in a minute."

There was Phillip looking so smug, not a care in the world sitting there with Miss Snootnose and Brady with Little Lady Fauntleroy.

Phillip saw Jason approach. "Stay cool." Shawn whispered as Phillip got up meet Jason before he got a chance to talk to anyone at the table.

"Awww, isn't this cozy?" Jason said. "You brought the whole family, the children, the dog..."

"You know I've had just about enough of this."

"Uh, uh, uh. Must be polite, considerate, thoughtful, discreet..."

Phillip's ears perked up and his expression went from annoyed to concerned quicker than a Sunday driver through a stop sign. "Look we have a deal, I don't tell your secrets, you don't tell mine."

"You better make sure you don't."

"I have no reason to say anything but a lot of kids know about it..."

"Like one those kids at the dance who saw you run after me like a bat out of hell? Real smart Philly. Yeah, somebody else could slip up. I guess I'd have nothing to lose then. Now what were we talking about? Friendship and esteem. What I can do for you and you can do for me. Say tutoring, chemistry, at no cost to myself of course and since this summer school garbage is your fault, well your friends anyway, I think it would be fair."

"I don't remember half of that stuff."

"Not you, her." He pointed to Chloe.

"You're not serious. She'd never do it anyway."

"Oh for you Phillip, she'd do anything, an assignment, maybe even take a test for someone..."

"Chloe does what she wants to do and I'm not going to set her up. I won't lie to her."

Jason looked at Phillip with wicked grin.

"You just love doing this. You..." Phillip said.

"Say it Phil. Just say it..." Jason threatened. "Hey man I just want you to pass on the message. No big deal."

"But if you're up to something I'll..."

"You'll what?"

"I'll think about it"

"That's all I'm asking. Nice chatting with you."

Before Jason had walked two feet from Phillip, he broke out laughing. Phillip was such a fool, so worried that he'd spill about that stupid bet with Shawn. Loser takes Chloe to the dance. Phillip and Shawn, discussing every detail of it in the middle of DotCom while thirty five kids hung around them watching the tournament. Yeah, like they all closed their ears so they wouldn't eavesdrop. Right. About as big a secret as a politician's love life and come school year you could bet one of them would enlighten Ms. Chloe but for now, he'd take what he could get from Phil.

"Hey you and Jason looked pretty serious." Shawn said.

"It was nothing, just Jason being ...Jason." Phillip said nervously.

Nobody spoke much. Belle wasn't her bubbly self. Both Phillip and Chloe felt like they were balancing on a see saw - the slightest move, a sneeze, a hiccup and everything would come tumbling down. Next week. By next week, the big date would be over and they could breathe again.

Chloe asked for a new dress and Nancy practically jumped up to the ceiling. She was panting like a puppy until - she heard who it was for. "I suppose you can wear it to the Annual Hospital Board Dinner." Nancy had said.

"Chicago? You think it's okay for a sixteen year old boy to take my sixteen year old daughter to Chicago?" Nancy asked Craig.

"In his father's chauffeured limousine. They have a chaperone for god's sake. I'd be more worried if they were alone together here in Salem."

"And they will be. He'll sweep her off her feet and my sweet, impressionable baby will fall for every..."

"Nancy, Shhh."

It was Phillip and he was wearing a tuxedo. Craig almost bit his lip trying not to smile. Of course Nancy and Craig were each so busy promoting their own point of view, neither one saw Chloe come down the stairs, minutes earlier and neither one saw her standing by the landing, waiting.

"Hey Philip." Chloe said.

"You look nice." Phillip said.

"So do you."

"Uh we better get going. We have reservations."

Craig smiled at Nancy and gave her a little nudge behind her back but she didn't smile back.

The limo ride seemed to take forever. Actually forever was pretty accurate. Phillip was anxiously looking out the window, stopping only to look at his watch. Chloe watched the road ahead of them, occasionally checking on Phillip.

"We're almost there, right?" Phillip asked Sebastian for the tenth time.

"Yes, we're quite close but there seems to be a great deal of traffic. Sir" he said reluctantly as he saw Phillip's face fall "I doubt you'll make it."

Phillip looked rather peeved and didn't respond..

"Might I suggest a way to perhaps reach your destination on time. Go two blocks west and take the Purple line downtown. Get off at Washington Street."

"I don't know." Phillip said warily looking back at Chloe.

"I'll catch up to you. Washington Street, and ....oh the Loop, all right? the Loop. Just ask anyone," he shouted to Phillip who was already out of the car and pulling Chloe along with him. She almost fell over.

Mr. Kiriakis wouldn't like this, Sebastian thought, his son and the young lady alone on public transit but the young man had looked so ...it would be fine.

It was raining but not too hard and miraculously they found the station easily. Phillip fumbled around his pockets. He had his credit card but he wasn't quite sure how this train thing worked. Impatient Chloe finally pulled out three dollar bills, walked over to a vending machine and bought a fare card. She passed through the turnstile and handed the card back to Phillip who followed her. He had a bit of trouble getting the card to scan but after several tries made it through.

"I've never been on the subway here," he said apologetically and then glanced at Chloe's purse.

"It's not a subway. It's the El. El means up, as in elevated. Sub means down as in subway, underground. Up" she raised her hand. "Down." she lowered it.

"I rode the subway in New York once."

"Okay now we know. In New York, it's a subway. In Paris, it's the Metro. In London, the Underground, in San Francisco, BART. Now can we please get on the train? My dress is starting to shrink."

"Fine." Phillip said coldly.

After walking around for a few minutes, they finally found the restaurant, elegant in a way that put Tuscany to shame. They were a little late but they managed to beat the limo, which hadn't arrived yet. Phillip approached the maitre'd and gave the name 'Kiriakis'. Now in Salem, the Kiriakis name meant fifty waiters falling all over themselves to please you. In Chicago it was 'We've given away your table', followed by a cold stare and we'll see what we can do. Phillip muttered to himself and avoided meeting Chloe's eye. They waited as the maitre'd continued to give them cold looks. After what seemed like an interminable length of time a man sitting nearby came over and whispered something to Phillip who promptly handed the maitre'd a twenty dollar bill.

"Smooth." Chloe said. "Real smooth."

"Let's just eat. Okay? That is what we came here to do."

"Fine with me."

At least they were seated and the food was wonderful though Phillip's mood was getting worse by the minute. It was pretty late when they left the restaurant but they could make a seven thirty curtain if they hurried. Sebastian and the limo were still nowhere in sight so it was feet to the rescue. Naturally, at that moment what had been a little bit of rain, turned into a storm, flash floods, lightning, cats, dogs, Noah, you name it. It was only a couple of blocks but even with umbrellas, a pretty desperate case. Only one more street to cross and it was blocked by a gigantic truck, loaded with, of all things, those romantic mood makers, port-a-potties. Chloe laughed. Phillip didn't. He and Chloe tried to run around the thing but ended up right in a huge puddle.

"Come on. Let's move' Phillip said impatiently.

"I can't help it. I'm sliding out of my shoes. "

"Okay. Just do your best." Phillip said as he ran ahead and realized Chloe wasn't with him. He waited for her though he was not happy. They did get to the door at 7:24, almost six whole minutes to spare.

The Civic Opera House, in pictures beautiful, in person, even in the rain, magnificent. Majestic. It even looked like a throne. A stunning Art Deco building with beautiful bronze doors, fluted columns and pillars. When they tried to enter what appeared to be the main entrance, a guard shooed them away. Phillip pulled Chloe's arm and said, "Come on. This way." though he had absolutely no idea where they was going. He and Chloe walked around the quiet, empty sidewalks beside the building and Phillip was beginning to worry they might be lost but eventually they came to a small side entrance. There were a few people milling around though they didn't appear to be in a hurry to get anywhere. He wasn't even sure if they were still in the same building. When he and Chloe got inside they began to see crowds and Philip let out a sigh of relief. As they got close to the theater entrance he and Chloe both began sniffing. Something was wrong, something was burning. Maybe that's why the main door was closed.

Chloe looked over at Phillip. "Well if the place is on fire at least we're prepared," she said shaking out her dress.

A workman was shouting, "It's only a broken elevator. Electrical. Nothing to worry about."

Good, Phillip thought. The flames of hell waited yet another day.

If the outside of the theater made your heart speed up the inside made it sprint. Crystal chandeliers, deep red carpets, intricately worked, ornamental ceilings painted with every color on the planet and yes, the best seats in the house.

"You know this isn't subscription." Phillip said. "It's not a subscription night. You see I wanted to..."

"All right Phillip. I understand. I get it. They're not daddy's tickets. You paid for them yourself, with your own personal credit card."

"That wasn't what I...never mind."

Phillip's expression was getting more sour each minute and Chloe's was getting sharper by the minute. By the grace of god the curtain rose and neither one could speak.

The music began and Phillip got up the nerve to look at Chloe's face and what he saw amazed him. She was like a kid in a candy store, absolutely enthralled. Wet, miserable, tired and angry but she was at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and he'd brought her there.

."So you enjoying the music?" he whispered to Chloe who just stared back at him along with several other people seated nearby. This was not the Salem Cineplex. A slight cough had people turning around muttering 'The nerve'. At the intermission, Phillip asked if it was okay to talk now.

"Of course, that's why it's called intermission." she said impatiently.

"It's really good huh? I wish we could have gone to the Met but the limo is one thing, the private jet...hey my dad wasn't too keen on that. New York. It would have been something."

"You know this opera is one of the finest in the country, the world. It's right there with New York and San Francisco." She said sharply.

He hadn't meant to offend her. "They do sound great but I think you're even better."

"Oh please. Just let me know when you want me to swoon with delight. And while you're at it I wouldn't mind a sentence that didn't have the word limousine or private jet in it."

Phillip turned away and began looking around the theater, all the people, the gorgeous curtain hanging over the stage, the lights.

"You know maybe if you stopped brooding for five seconds you might actually enjoy yourself." Chloe said.

"Me? Me?...Fine." and neither one said anything the rest of the performance. They walked out of the theater in silence and said not a word as they waited by the box office where Sebastian was supposed to meet them.

Phillip made sure to stand at her left side, far away from the point of her umbrella though her right side wasn't much better. That purse which did have those, sharp, pointy beads. Chloe was glowering. "All right. What did I do now?" said Phillip.

"Unbelievable. You're sulking like some two year old. Things go wrong sometimes. But no, not for Phillip Kiriakis. Everyone....everything has to be perfect. God forbid something doesn't go according to plan." Her voice was colder than the tundra but the fog on the glasses she took off and held in her hands was not from the rain.

"I wasn't trying to be perfect...I just...I wanted this to be nice that's all. I mean your first time at the opera..."

"Wait, how did you know this was my first time at the opera?"

"You told Belle, at dotCom..."

"You were..."

"I wanted it to be nice for you...I mean a weeknight...You're right...I should have known, rush hour, maybe we should have left earlier...I wanted it to be Saturday night but they had this Ring Cycle thing and Shawn's mom said it was this weird stuff about Greek gods..."

"I'd think you'd have liked that."

He went on without seeming to hear her.

"You know the lady with yellow braids wearing the helmet with horns on her head...and I wanted your first opera to be something you really liked and Madam Butterfly, the way you sang it I figured you must really love that music ...I know. We should have left earlier and ...I just wanted it to be nice."

"It was nice," she said softly.

"What?"

"It was very nice. Madam Butterfly, the dinner, everything."

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah." she said and smiled for the first time during the evening..

"The rain and the subway..."

"El and the truck and the burning insulation, it’ll add a little color to my future dinner conversation. I...I know…I didn't...I had a good time." she looked up at Phillip "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He watched Chloe for several seconds, the way she was looking at him, like she really wanted to be there. He brushed away a raindrop from her chin and his fingers stayed there. Her umbrella fell to the floor and she bent to pick it up but Phillip tilted her chin up and she stopped. Then she turned her head down and a little to the side but she didn't pull away and Phillip pushed the hair away from her face

She slowly put her arm around the back of his shoulder and he could feel the glasses she still clutched tightly. She suddenly stepped back and started to put the glasses in her purse but Phillip caught her and took them out of her hand.

At that moment, they heard a voice call out "Sorry I'm so late, Sir. The roads are flooded all over the city."

Their stunned faces told the story and though Sebastian felt badly at interrupting, there was little he could do about it. He pretended he hadn't seen anything, which Chloe greatly appreciated. Exhausted, as much from the last five minutes as from the entire evening, Chloe fell asleep. Her head fell forward onto Phillip's shoulder, he put his arm around her, his hand lightly grazing hers, and they rode like this the entire way back. If Chloe opened her eyes for a moment and saw Phillip holding her, she made no move to get away. She was, after all, very tired.

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