Being (Read 26,256 times)

[gapeach]

Can't wait to see how Phillip gets out of this mess.

[fluffysmom]

Is today when we get a preview of Saturday's chapter? I hope so! Thanks FF!

[felineflash]

Coming Up: Philip tries to mend things with Chloe.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the preview FF. Yay a Phloe chapter! I can't wait!

[Kpatch]

What Fluffy said!
Thanks Fifi!

[fluffysmom]

Is it Saturday yet?

[felineflash]

Chapter 20 - Failure to Communicate

Philip watched the second hand go around on his watch. There. She’s had a half hour to cool off. Maybe we can talk now…or maybe she’ll just kick my butt. Or maybe she’ll leave. But that’s the worst case scenario. He steeled himself and walked out into the yard, over to the gazebo where Chloe sat in the darkness. “Hey.” She didn’t reply, just stared at him. She’d been crying. Oh, man. “I guess you’re probably still mad at me…” Again, the stare. “Disgusted? Disgraced? Ashamed? I’m running out of words here…” He sat beside her, and could feel her stiffen.

“I don’t know what I am, Philip. Yes, I do…disappointed. God, Philip…why do you do this? You act on impetus, doing the completely wrong thing, even if it is for the right reason, and one day, I’m afraid it’s all going to blow up in your face.” He started to laugh, and she scowled at him. “Was what I said funny? I don’t see how it can be.”

“Chloe,” he laughed, “it already has…blown up in my face. Literally!” He giggled.

“And that’s funny? You think the strangest things are funny, Philip,” she sighed. “What did Victor do to make Paul keep his mouth shut?” How he can laugh at a time like this…it’s just like after the plane crash, when he thought it was so hysterical that his leg was crushed.

“I have no idea,” he said more seriously. “I don’t want to know.”

“But I suppose whatever it is, you think it’s enough,” she looked at him.

“I would think so, yeah. Look, Chloe…”

“Philip, I know you love your family. I know you love Titan. You’re a good businessman, an incredible businessman. Why do you have to get involved with stuff like this?”

“I didn’t start this. John did. And I had to do something.”

“But drugs?” She shook her head in disgust.

“I told you…”

“Yeah, I know. They were never going to leave the dock. But Philip, honestly, if things had gone wrong…just imagine what could have happened!”

“I know, I know.”

You always know. But then you do something completely stupid anyway. “Does Morgan know about the drugs?”

“I doubt it.”

“Are you ready to tell me what happened between you two?” Because I would really like to know if I’m wasting my time falling in love with you again, you jerk.

He took a deep breath. “No. But I will anyway. You dumped me, she was there, she liked me, I thought she was pretty, and I decided to give it a shot. It’s pretty simple. And then I realized that I’d rather be alone than with her.”

“When did I dump you? You were always pawing all over her every time I turned around, I honestly think that it’s the other way around, Philip.” Your pawing all over her is what compelled me to have sex in an elevator with your brother, jerk.

“When did you dump me? Uh, how about when you handed me to Morgan on a silver platter? ‘Oh, gee, Morgan, if you want Philip, he’s yours’? How about that?”

“Well, you didn’t protest much--”

“Chloe, I was unconscious! Jeez! I heard everything you said to her. And then I come to, and she’s the one sitting there, and you’re downstairs fawning all over Lucas! What exactly was I supposed to think?” I’m the guilty party here? Unbelievable.

“I didn’t know you heard me.” Then you heard everything I said…

“Pass me on like a hand-me-down? Yeah, I did. It felt great, really,” he gave her a lopsided grin.

“Well, how was I to know that’s not what you wanted?” Because that’s sure as hell what it looked like, with you playing Morgan’s knight in shining armor all the time.

“How was I to know you didn’t want Lucas? You did get busy with him in the elevator, after all.” And I’m still pissed about that.

“I guess we got our signals crossed,” she smiled wanly.

“I guess so.”

They sat in pleasant silence for a few moments, and Philip took her hand, surprised that she didn’t resist. Finally, she said, “Can you just…do me a favor and let me know when you’re doing something stupid? I’d just like to have a little forewarning if the man I’m…involved with is in danger of going to prison.” I almost did it again. I almost said ‘The man I’m in love with’.

You mean the man you love. “What, something like, ‘Honey, I’m home, and I’m going to be doing something that might be perceived as illegal tomorrow’? Would that work?” He laughed.

“That would do it,” she couldn’t help but smile, but it quickly faded. “Philip, what if everything does go wrong? What if you go to prison?”

“What if you go to prison?” He countered, but the frightened look in her eyes made him regret it. “Look, I’ll make you a deal.”

Oh, God, a Kiriakis deal. I’m not going to like this.

“If I go to prison, you bake me a cake with a file in it. If you go to prison, I’ll bake you a cake with a file in it.” He watched her face, but she didn’t crack a smile.

After a minute, she looked him in the eye and deadpanned, “I doubt you even know how to bake a cake.”

“Are you doubting my pastry skills? There are lots of things you don’t know about me, Chloe,” he teased.

“Philip, you can’t just throw a cake on the grill. And what if we both go to prison? Who bakes the cakes then?”

He laughed. “My father.”

Now, finally, she laughed too. “How can you joke about this? Is this more battlefield humor?”

“Hell, yeah. Sometimes, you just have to laugh. It beats crying.” And, oh, please, let’s not talk about that. Time to change the subject. “Can we eat now? I’m starving. Come on, let’s go in.”

[MrsM]

Great chapter!! I love that Philip is being honest with Chloe!!!

[fluffysmom]

I loved the honest conversation between the two of them. They didn't say everything they want to say but it was a great start. Thanks FF!

[Kpatch]

I love this! I love Phloe chapters where they are talking about their relationship or having relations. I like how she keeps calling him a jerk and thinking to herself she's in love with him. And even if she doesn't say it out loud, he already knows.

Fabulous story. I can't wait for more.

[felineflash]

Chapter 21 - In the Night

Dinner was uneventful and subdued, they talked about “safe” things, such as Chloe’s day and the happenings at the opera house. After dinner, they watched television for a few hours. Finally, Philip broke the pleasant silence. The question had been on his mind for hours, but he’d been unwilling to bring it up, since the unpleasantness seemed to have passed. But not knowing was driving him crazy, so he blurted, “Chloe, how long have you known about the drugs?”

She sighed. I wish this would all just go away, but it never will. “I’ve suspected since the beginning.”

“And you never said anything. Why?” I can’t believe she never said anything. Especially after what happened with Brady, I would have expected her to be furious.

“I was trying to stay out of it. And I guess I didn’t really want to know the truth.” And now I do, and I have figure out exactly how I feel about that. She stretched and rose. “Well, I’ve got a really long day tomorrow, so I think I’m going to go ahead to bed,” she leaned over and kissed him.

“Hold on, I’ll come too,” he rose.

“No, Philip. I’m going to bed…in my room. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You’re still mad,” he said sadly.

“I’m still disappointed, Philip. I don’t think that’s ever going to change. And I just want to go to bed, get some sleep, and think things through, OK?”

Oh, God, she is going to leave. “Think things through? What does that mean?”

“Exactly that. I just need to think about all of this,” she answered.

“About us?”

“About everything, Philip. I just need some time to myself. Please, just understand that?” Just let me wrap my head around all of this. I need to figure out if I can take this chance again.

He nodded gravely. I knew this would happen. I knew it couldn’t last. It never does. I don’t deserve her, or anyone. “Of course,” he said stiffly. “Have a good night,” he kissed her, hoping against hope that it wasn’t the last time he would. She smiled sadly, and then she was gone, up the stairs, into her bedroom. And he was alone.

He poured himself a drink and wandered into his office, checked a few emails and made a few calls to overseas associates. She’ll leave tomorrow, go back to Lucas. I’ve screwed everything up again. He heard the front door open, and a few moments later, Victor appeared in his office with a brandy. They talked business for over an hour, then Victor announced he was going to bed. “You look exhausted, Philip. You need to get some rest,” he said as he left.

I am exhausted, but I can’t rest. He worked some more, then finally switched off the light and headed up to his room. He had to pass Chloe’s, and he stopped for a moment, listening at the door. Silence. He debated knocking, but decided against it. He’d already made enough of a mess of things, there was no need to wake her and upset her more. He glumly continued to his own room, changed into sweat pants, and wandered into the bathroom to get ready for bed. I’ve lost her again. He got in bed, turned off the light and stared at the ceiling.

Chloe heard him pass her door. Oh, Philip, why do you have to be so complicated? Because everyone’s complicated, Chloe. You’re complicated yourself. So what do you want to do? Do you want to be with him? Of course I do. So I have to learn to accept that he’s not always going to be a morally upright citizen. We all have a dark side, I have mine, he just has a darker side. But these things he does…they’re dangerous. And I have to learn to be strong, and try to understand his point of view, and try not to be scared to death that disaster is right around the corner. She rolled over and closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but it wouldn’t come. She laid there for an hour or more, willing herself to sleep. She heard Philip pass her room, then a few minutes later heard him pass again.

And, here I am, wandering the halls, just like Nicole said I do. Like in some creepy Victorian novel or something. He went downstairs, checked his email again, got a glass of milk and drank it in the kitchen, hoping that Henderson would come in, but he never did. He went back to his room and sat on the bed, wondering what to do with himself.

Chloe gave up. I’m never going to get to sleep like this. She switched on the light and sighed. 1:48 a.m. I am going to have such a lovely day, since I’ll be so bright eyed and bushy tailed with a couple of hours of sleep. Fine. She got up, deciding she’d go down to the library and find a book to read. Maybe a chapter or two would lull her into sleep.

I’ll go outside and get some air…at least it’s something to do. Philip was passing the library when he heard a sound. He opened the door, popped his head in expecting to see his father, but instead saw Chloe perusing the books. “Hey. Can’t sleep?”

She started, then smiled. “Nope. I guess you can’t either?”

“Uhn Uhn.” He came in and plopped onto the couch. Might as well just come out and ask. “Chloe, are you thinking about leaving?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Are you serious? Come on! You know I don’t!”

“Well, actually,” she sat down beside him, “I didn’t know that. But now I do,” she smiled. “I really hadn’t considered leaving, I mean, I love it here, when your father’s not being a beast.”

“Because I thought--”

“That because I didn’t want to sleep in your bed, I didn’t want to be with you? Philip.” She rolled her eyes.

“Well, what was I supposed to think?” He asked petulantly.

“Philip, really. I just wanted to think things over. You gave me a lot to think about tonight.”

“And, did you think?” He asked.

“I did.”

“And what did you come up with?” He asked, she thought a little nervously.

“Philip, I’m not always going to agree with the things you do. But I’ll try to support you. As long as you’re honest and open with me.”

“I can agree to that deal,” he grinned.

“I mean it, Philip,” she warned.

“I know you do,” he said seriously. “Chloe, come to bed?”

“I wanted to get a book to read, to try and get myself tired--”

“I can think of a better way to get tired,” he rose an eyebrow.

“Can you? Hmmm…” She cocked her head and smiled slyly.

“Let me show you,” he took her hand, and they climbed the stairs to his room.

[MrsM]

AHHH!!!! You had to end it there didn't you??? LOVED the chapter!!!

[Kpatch]

What a great job you did of conveying sleeplessness, restlessness and nervousness. I was right there in the moment, in that library.

So Fifi, don't be surprised if you find your computer is missing. It means I took it so I can post your next chapter. You are the master of making your readers want more. And I definitely want more.

[felineflash]

Oct 10, 2011 20:50:30 GMT -5 Kpatch said:

What a great job you did of conveying sleeplessness, restlessness and nervousness. I was right there in the moment, in that library.

So Fifi, don't be surprised if you find your computer is missing. It means I took it so I can post your next chapter. You are the master of making your readers want more. And I definitely want more.

Sadly, the bubble bath isn't even the next chapter, I clearly forgot half of what I wrote... But hey, good things come to those who wait, right???

[Kpatch]

You are such a tease girl! Patience is a virtue which I do not possess.