The Melaswen Paradox (Read 329,505 times)

[Kpatch]

Sounds like an exciting week. Sad that Philip and Chloe are parting ways, but it was good to have that moment.

Thanks for the previews!

[fluffysmom]

It looks like some good moments and some sad moments. Thanks for the previews André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 162

SALEM HIGH
Click here to listen to the song that's playing:
Shawn-D and Belle were dancing.
BELLE: Was this your other surprise?
SHAWN-D: What do you think?
BELLE: I think there's no way, out of all the popular music that played between 1999 and 2002, that they just happened to play both of our songs.
SHAWN-D: Well, I may have had a little influence. I am friends with the guy who set up the playlist.
BELLE: Yeah, Kevin picked some good ones. And thank you for picking both of our songs. I love you.
SHAWN-D: I love you, too.
Shawn-D and Belle kissed. Mimi felt a tap on the shoulder. She turned around.
KEVIN: May I have this dance, miss?
MIMI: Kevin!
Kevin and Mimi hugged, and then began to dance.
MIMI: How are you?
KEVIN: Doing quite well. It's good to see you.
MIMI: It's good to see you, too! How is it working for Apple?
KEVIN: Quite nice. How are you doing?
MIMI: I'm good. I'm really good.
KEVIN: Good. I've missed you.
MIMI: I've missed you, too! I'm so glad I got to see you tonight!
KEVIN: So am I. After all, I had to get a dance with one of my best friends.
Kevin and Mimi hugged again. Philip and Chloe had stopped dancing.
CHLOE: Now, that's not entirely fair, is it?
PHILIP: It's the truth.
CHLOE: Philip, you know that I wanted to commit to you. But my life isn't just staying in Salem. My career's really taking off, and I need to travel for it.
PHILIP: I know. And I never asked you not to. But I couldn't travel with you all the time. I needed to be back here to help my father. I still do.
CHLOE: And I understand that.
PHILIP: Didn't seem like it.
CHLOE: Philip, you know how much I wanted to say yes to your proposal. But I couldn't.
PHILIP: I know. Look, I'm glad you came back for this. Now, we both know for sure.
CHLOE: Philip, I'm sorry that things didn't work out.
PHILIP: So am I.
Chloe looked at the clock on the wall.
CHLOE: I have something I need to do. I'm sorry. I guess this is goodbye?
Philip nodded. He and Chloe kissed one last time.
CHLOE: Goodbye, Philip.
PHILIP: Goodbye, Chloe.
Chloe walked away. After a while, the music turned off. Mr. Woods walked back up onstage.
WOODS: All right, ladies and gentlemen. I will be as brief as I can. Before we wrap up for the night, we need to hear a few words from our valedictorian. So, here she is, Miss Chloe Lane!
Most of the students clapped and cheered as Chloe took the stage.
JAN (thinking): Oh, great. As if tonight wasn't boring enough, now I have to listen to Ghoul Girl.
CHLOE: Thank you, Mr. Woods. Hi, everyone. I'm so glad to see all of you here. For some of you, it's been a lot longer than others. I'm sure, like myself, you've often thought back to our time here at Salem High. This is where we grew up. This is where we learned some of life's greatest lessons. This is where we made some of our best friends. I'll admit, I wish I knew everyone in this room better. But, what I do know, is that I'd never ask for a better class to have been a part of those fifteen years ago. It's been so much fun catching up with all of you. And I hope that we continue to keep in touch with one another through the years. Now, before we go, I thought we should play one more song. The song we played at graduation. And yes, I'm aware that the song is more suitable for graduation, but I consider that to be our song. So, let's hear it. One last time.

[heroicmuse]

This is so sad between Philip and Chloe.

The reunion has been perfect. You've captured exactly what it's like to go back and meet all these people from high school as adults, and to realize that some people haven't changed... and some have.

Jan, get over yourself already.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

I'm all teary eyed now. Great speech from Chloe and some very poignant reunions and goodbyes. It was good to see Kevin.

Thanks for posting the video too. I had forgotten that Martha Madison's Belle shared so much passion with OriginalShawn!

[mae00]

Great chapter André DiMera! Loved the reunion. I couldn't watch the video tho. All it keeps saying is "The connection was reset"

[André DiMera]

That's strange, mae00. In case you were wondering, the video is a Shawn and Belle video set to their song, "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain.

Glad you're all enjoying the story!

[mae00]

Thanks André DiMera! Whatever was wrong is fixed now.

[fluffysmom]

Chloe and Philip's goodbye was sad.

It was good to see Kevin again.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 163

SALEM HIGH
Click here to listen to the song that's playing:
As the song played, and Chloe sang along, the rest of the Salem High Class of 2002 alumni danced to their song.
BELLE: Well, this has certainly been an interesting night.
SHAWN-D: Yes, it has. A good one, too.
Shawn-D and Belle kissed.
MIMI: You know, I'm gonna be in town for a few more days.
KEVIN: So am I.
MIMI: Cool. We should get together sometime.
KEVIN: Yeah, I'd like that.
Eventually, the song ended. There were several claps and cheers from the alumni.
CHLOE: Thank you all once again for coming tonight. It was great to see you all and catch up with you! Let's have a big round of applause for all of the people who put this great night together.
More claps came from the crowd.
CHLOE: And, of course, I have to say thank you to Mr. Woods for agreeing to MC tonight.
Mr. Woods walked onstage to thunderous applause.
CHLOE: Thank you once again, Mr. Woods. You're the best.
WOODS: Well, I appreciate you saying that, but I can't take all the credit. It was a privilege for me to teach all of you wonderful ladies and gentlemen, as well as being the MC for your reunion. You should all be proud of yourselves for all of your accomplishments in the fifteen years since you left this school, and for all that you will achieve in the future. I know I am proud of you.
Chloe and Mr. Woods hugged.
CHLOE: And with that, thank you, Class of 2002! Have a great night!
WOODS: Thank you all so much for coming. Enjoy the rest of your night, and drive safely.
As the dance ended and it was getting into the wee hours of the night, people slowly began leaving the gym of Salem High and going back to their cars. Philip, Shawn-D, Belle and Mimi were walking out together.
PHILIP: So, we're all meeting up for lunch tomorrow, right?
SHAWN-D: Definitely.
BELLE: And I do mean all of us. Us four, Susan, Penny, and Chloe, too.
Philip nodded.
PHILIP: Good to know. I'll be there. Mimi, can we talk for a minute?
MIMI: Sure. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning.
BELLE: See you!
Belle and Mimi hugged, then Mimi hugged Shawn-D. Belle and Shawn-D walked over to their car.
MIMI: So, what's up?
PHILIP: We need to talk about Tyler.
Mimi looked around to make sure nobody was listening.
MIMI: I thought we agreed we wouldn't discuss that again.
PHILIP: Things have come up. He's back in town. And so is Lauren.
MIMI: That's impossible. Lauren's dead.
PHILIP: That's what I thought, too.
MIMI: And you know for sure that she's here in Salem?
PHILIP: Well, I haven't seen or talked to her yet. But I plan to.
MIMI: This is so weird. And a bit convenient.
PHILIP: That the son we gave up for adoption happens to show up only months before our high school reunion? Yeah, convenient is a good word for it.
MIMI: Well, looks like we'll have to figure out what's going on.
PHILIP: I'll look into it.
MIMI: So will I.
PHILIP: Good. See you tomorrow.

[heroicmuse]

I'm interested to see what Philip and Mimi will find out.

What a beautiful tribute to the Last Blast class! I loved every word of it!

Great chapter André DiMera.

[mae00]

I'm so glad that Philip told Mimi what was going on with Tyler.

Can't wait to see what they find out and how the lunch goes tomorrow.

Great chapter André DiMera!

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Philip told Mimi about Tyler.

I'm looking forward to the group lunch.

[Kpatch]

Excellent clips!

I wonder what Philip and Mimi think Lauren is up to? Trying to bilk Philip for money? She could have done that years ago.

I too am looking forward to the group lunch. It's good Shawn and Belle were clear about the attendee list this time.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 164

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
It is now the next day. Jade was sitting up in her hospital bed. Joey sat in a nearby chair.
JOEY: Midterms are this week. Woods' is gonna be the hardest.
JADE: Usually is.
JOEY: How's the baby?
JADE: Amazing. I hope one of the nurses comes by later with her so you can see her. She's beautiful.
JOEY: That's good.
JADE: Thanks again for helping me the other night.
JOEY: Yeah, no problem.
JADE: I'm actually supposed to be able to come home tonight, hopefully. They just wanted to keep us a few days to make sure there weren't any complications.
JOEY: Cool.
JADE: Yeah. It'll be so nice to be back home. Or, at least, out of the hospital. Me, Emmy, you, your parents...
JOEY: Jade...Look, I'm glad I was able to help you with the baby, especially because that whole situaion was crazy. And I'll help with the baby when I can, like I said I would. So will my parents. But I'm not your boyfriend.
JADE: I know. I understand that.
JOEY: Good. I just wanted to be clear that I'm doing this for the baby. Besides, nobody should have a father like Dirk.
JADE: Well, that's why he doesn't know, and isn't going to know.
JOEY: He knows he got your pregnant.
JADE: He knows I got pregnant while we were together. He doesn't know for sure that he's the father.
JOEY: Yeah, okay. Keep telling yourself that.

SALEM COUNTY JAIL
Nyx sat in a jail cell, looking up at the ceiling. Hope walked up to the cell.
HOPE: You're really not even going to try to defend yourself?
NYX: Don't see any point in having a defense counsel. You caught us red handed. My brother and I have failed.
HOPE: In what sense?
NYX: We were supposed to avenge our father. Well, both of our parents, actually. But we didn't.
HOPE: I see. So, this was all about avenging Orpheus.
NYX: And our mother. But yes, mostly our father.
HOPE: Well, that's not going to happen. You're going away for a long time, once the judge has a discussion with the two of you. Since neither you or your brother seem to want a decent defense.
NYX: And you think we should?
HOPE: The law says that everyone has a right to a fair trial.
NYX: And what do you think, Commissioner? Your friends killed our parents, we abducted your grandchild, brought her back to you, then abducted your nephew and his girl. What do you think should be done to us?
Hope shook her head.
HOPE: It's not for me to say. I protect and enforce the law. I don't make it. And I certainly don't think that anyone is above it.
NYX: Why are you even here?
HOPE: Your court date's been set. It's April 3rd.
NYX: Didn't realize the justice system moved that quickly.
HOPE: It got sped along a bit. A gentle nudge was given. Anyway, that's all I've got. Enjoy your stay.