Belle looked at her friend, whom she hadn’t seen since graduation and smiled. “Thank you for coming Chloe. I wasn’t sure if you were going to be able to make it.”
“I am too, I can’t believe I only had a two week break.” Chloe scanned the room, “Now where is that beautiful boyfriend of yours?”
Belle looked at Shawn who was being bombarded with eager relatives, “Over there and it looks like he needs my rescuing.” She flashed Chloe a smile, “I will be back in a few minutes ok?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can find ways to entertain myself.” Belle left as Chloe looked for Brady. After realizing he was not there she walked out to the balcony to take in the cool night air. She stood, peering into the starry sky thinking about how much she had missed Salem.
Her music scholarship to Julliard required she attend a summer chorus orientation and Chloe left for New York a week after graduation. She had not been back home since May. In the past 7 months her life had changed, she had changed. She was responsible for her own life in a big, exciting city. She had grown accustomed to being able to go as she wishes without answering to parents. Her days were filled stuffing quarters in the washer and dryer and raiding 7-11 at midnight to keep her awake while studying. Oversleeping classes after staying up all-night and talking constantly on AOL Instant Messenger.
Chloe was lost in her thoughts and did not hear the door open and shut as a hand was placed on her shoulder gently. She gasped and spun around as her face broke into a smile, “Brady!”
“Hi Chloe.” He stared into her deep blue eyes as they swallowed him up once again. He had not seen her in seven months but the memory of her face was forever etched in his mind. He looked her over slowly taking in the changes. Her face had matured, as she looked more like a young woman rather than the teen he had known earlier this year. Her hair was shoulder length, curling slightly at the ends. She had light highlights streaking throughout which the Christmas lights bounced off of. She wore less makeup yet her eyes were still extenuated. She still was able to take his breath away.
“Brady, it’s so nice to see you.” She wrapped her arms around him as his knees weakened. Seven months of wanting and needing her were threatening to expose themselves. He pulled back gently, “How are you doing?” He asked hoarsely.
She looked at him, amazed at how the past seven months had made him look better in her eyes, if that was possible. Absence must really make the heart grow fonder. Although they spoke on a regular basis, school and work had kept them apart. “I’m fine.” She whispered breathlessly, still overcome with his appearance, “I am so happy I finally could come home.”
“You look great. I can’t believe it has been seven months.” He moved beside her, balancing himself on the ledge.
“I know. ” Chloe leaned her head onto Brady’s shoulders and looked back toward the party, “Brady?”
“Mmmm”
“I am really glad to see you, I missed you, us.”
“Us?” He looked at her inquisitively.
“Yeah, us. We were such great friends Brady and talking on the computer and the phone just isn’t the same.”
His heart sank at the ‘friends’ term but his smile remained, “Well Chloe, the ‘us’ I was referring to was the last I actually saw you we were both fighting our feelings for one another.”
She pulled her head up and shot her eyes toward Brady, “Excuse me? When were we ever hiding our feelings?”
“Oh come on! You never liked me? Don’t answer that so quickly. Look, I thought about asking you out so many times. I had the biggest crush on you. ” Brady placed his arms across his chest waiting for Chloe’s response.
“You liked me?” She stood astonished. “Brady I had no idea. I, well ok I’ll admit it. I thought you were pretty great too. Why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“Why didn’t you say anything to me?” His eyes started glowing as he felt a confrontation arising.
“Well, I suppose it was because I was too scared of rejection.”
“Same here. Pretty dumb huh? We both ruined a potentially good thing.”
She didn’t respond but instead pulled him away from the ledge and into her arms, “You know, I’ve missed being in your arms over the last few months,” She pulled him into a tighter embrace, ”Dance with me?”
A mischievous grin spread across he leaned in gently as his lips brushed hers and lingered for a few seconds. Her body weakened at the touch of his lips and he felt her positive response.
“What was that for?”
“Well we both had feelings for each other…”
“Oh,” Chloe blushed. “Come on Brady, let’s dance,” She tugged on his arm and he reluctantly obliged.
He pulled her inside and wrapped his arms around her, peering deeply into her eyes.
I've got a funny feeling
The moment that your lips touched mine
Something shot right through me
My heart skipped a beat in time
There's a different feel about you tonight
It's got me thinking lots of crazy things
I think I even saw a flash of light
It felt like electricity
He pulled her close, breathing in her intoxicating scent. His lips had barely brushed hers but he felt the spark, it was undeniable.
You shouldn't kiss me like this unless you mean it like that
Cause I'll just close my eyes and I won't know where I'm at
We'll get lost on this dance floor spinning around
And around and around and around
They're all watching us now they think we're falling in love
They'd never believe we're just friends
When you kiss me like this I think you mean it like that
If you do baby kiss me again
The room scattered until there was only a handful of couples on the dance floor. Chloe and Brady were oblivious to the dozen pair of eyes fixated on them. They were dancing, so close and so naturally, that everyone would have assumed they were lovers rather than ‘friends’.
Everybody swears we'd make a perfect pair
But dancing is as far as it goes
Girl you've never moved me quite the way you moved me tonight
I just wanted you to know
The music ended and they slowly pulled apart. Chloe lifted her head from his lap and looked into Brady’s eyes. They were filled with tears as he spoke softly, “I’m sorry Chloe. I have to go. I can’t do this. That song that was us.” He gently pulled away and walked toward the door leaving Chloe on the dance floor alone and confused.