(11) Flag Football

Belle and Brady came up with the perfect ideal “bonding session” for their loved ones: a game of flag football. Brady and Belle drove his Mustang around Salem to pick up Shawn, Philip, and Chloe. Chloe sat wedged between Shawn and Philip in the back seat. “Who else is coming?” she asked curiously. Belle turned around, “Mimi, Jan, Jason, and a couple of people Brady work with.” Chloe nodded and looked out the front windshield. I wonder what kind of team formation we’ll come up with, she thought.

The pulled into the municipal park and piled out of the car quickly. They were the first to arrive so far.

Brady popped the trunk and tossed Philip the football. Philip gestured to Shawn, “Let’s warm up.” Philip walked off, then stopped to look back at the lingering Chloe. “You coming?”

Chloe waved to him, “Go on ahead, I’ll be there in a second.”

“What are you doing?” Philip asked irritably.

“I got to talk to Brady for a second.”

Philip leered at Brady for a moment before turning away.

Chloe was in shock from his attitude, “What is his problem?”

She went back to the truck of car to help Brady.

“Uh oh, trouble on the horizon. Boyfriend’s got an attitude already, and the other guy hasn’t even arrived yet,” Brady said with a small laugh.

“Don’t start with that.”

“You’re right, I shouldn’t. I’ll just sit back and watch instead,” Brady said as he poured crushed ice into the cooler.

Chloe pulled the Cokes out of the case and stacked them into the cooler. She decided to change the subject, “So who are these friends from work Brady? Could one of them be a ‘girlfriend’?” she teased.

Brady arranged the beer bottles into the cooler, “Yes, one of them is a girl, Chloe. But you don’t have to get all giddy about it.”

“Woo woo!” Chloe sung. “Who is she?”

“Just some girl I’m fucking,” Brady explained honestly.

“Brady…”
”Oh, did I say that out loud?”

“I can’t believe you talk about your girlfriend like that?”

“She’s not my girlfriend Chloe. We’re just…. I don’t know. We are what we are. Can’t explain it really. It’s a mutual understanding pretty much. No serious obligations.”

“Just fucking… Right, I get it. So does this girl have a name?”

“No Chloe, she was born without one.”

“Shut up! You know what I mean. Tell me about her.”

Brady slammed the trunk shut, “Her name is Pamela. She’s a waitress at the restaurant. She’s a grad student at Salem University. Her major is communications, but she really doesn’t know what the hell she wants.”

“Grad student eh? So she’s older and wiser then…”

“Older, yes. Wiser, I don’t think so. She can’t make a decision to save her life. Except when she wants a piece of ass, then there’s no hesitation,” he said blushing.

“You stallion! She is so lucky to have you Brady.” Chloe kidded.

“I know. What can I say, I aim to please. We’re sexual soul mates.”

Chloe screamed at his last remark, “You are so MODEST.”

Brady licked his lips and smiled, “That’s what she says too. Come on, let’s practice.”

Chloe laughed, “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep a straight face around your ‘soul mate’.”

Brady gestured for Philip to toss him a pass, “Try Chloe, try.” He turned when he heard the old Chevy Blazer pull up behind them, “They’re here. Do your best to make her feel welcome Chloe.”

Chloe watched as Mimi and three other people got out of Blazer. Mimi came from the passenger side. The driver, a sandy haired guy several inches taller than Mimi, joined her. That must be Brett, Chloe thought. A heavier set quirky blond and a petite brunette emerged from the back seat. Ginny and Pamela, respectively, Chloe’s instincts told her. Her instincts were proven right when she seen the small smile come across Brady’s face when he laid eyes on the brunette. Awwww.

Jan and Jason arrived shortly after in her BMW. Jason gave Jan a piggyback ride to the field. Chloe noticed she wore his football jersey. Chloe smiled graciously when Mimi introduced Ginny and Pam. Brady and Philip were appointed captains, picking their members. Brady chose Jason, Chloe, Pam, and Mimi. Philip ended up with Brett, Shawn, Jan, and Ginny. Belle agreed to be cheerleader, refreshment girl, and, when needed, substitute.

The game initiated well. It didn’t take long for Chloe to realize the true, competitive nature of men. It was obvious, based on the strategic bias of Brady’s passes to Jason, and Philip’s passes to Bret and Shawn. Ginny’s whining and butterball hands did nothing to justify the female’s potential. Chloe decided to keep her mouth shut although it was infuriating. Just prove yourself Chloe.

Eventually, Chloe and Jan’s abilities were taken notice of. Jan was a proven receiver, and Chloe quick on her feet. Philip and Brady warmed up to their skills and included them in their plays. This inspired Belle and Mimi, and soon they were given a chance as well. Except for Ginny, the self-proclaimed klutz. But everyone remained in good spirits for the most part- except for Philip, who grew even more frustrated by “Virginia’s” antics. Ginny pushed his buttons even more by sticking her tongue out at him and going opposite directions from his commands.

During one play, Philip passed the ball to the wide open Jan. Chloe sprinted after her as she neared the end zone. Instead of reaching out to grab her flag, she tackled her with a little more force than necessary, shoving her to the ground as she made her touched down. They lay on the ground heaving, Jan clutching the ball. Everyone stopped in their tracks as the witnessed Chloe’s overly aggressive tackle.

“Oh my God,” Belle breathed under her breath.

“I smell a fight,” Brett joked cockily.

“You all right?” Philip yelled to Jan.

Jan ignored him, still glaring at Chloe.

Jason rushed in their direction but was stopped by Shawn, “Leave them alone Jason. Let them have it out.”

“No way Shawn, Jan will kill her.”

“Chloe can stick up for herself.”

Jason sighed, and held back watching as Chloe pulled Jan to her feet.

Jan whipped her hand away. Chloe muttered a brief apology and began to walk away. Jan tossed the football to Shawn and grabbed Chloe’s shoulder, “I want to talk to you you fucking bitch.”

Chloe stopped in her tracks and turned around, speechless.

Jan stood firm and lowered her voice, “ Don’t even think about putting on a show in front of everyone. I am SO onto you Chloe.”

“Screw you,” Chloe replied, unfazed.

“You need to watch what you say. I’ve got the cards in my hands Chloe, not you. And I won’t hesitate for a minute to use them if I need to.”

“Really?” Chloe asked in a sarcastic tone.

“Really. I haven’t told Philip about finding you and Jason in his hot tub. And I won’t either, because I happen to like Philip. But I’m only going to say this once Chloe, ONCE. Stay away from Jason! I mean it. He and I have been through more than you could ever imagine. Your little flirtation thing doesn’t mean shit. And DON’T think I haven’t noticed what you’re trying to do. It all started when you kissed him at his party.”

“I thought we were all over that.”

“We ARE over that Chloe. Apparently you’re not.”

“Whatever…”

“Yeah whatever Chloe. You think I’m freaking blind. Don’t even think about fucking around behind my back with my man, you selfish slut ‘tutor’. At this point, you’ve got nowhere to go but down. You better hold on to what little you do have with Philip.”

“I don’t know who you think you are to threaten me like that.”

“You know…I’ve come to terms with the fact that you’re going to be around no matter what I think. Fine, I can deal with that. I’ll just ignore your sorry ass. I’m not going to lose my friendships with Shawn, Belle, or Philip over you. We were all friends long before YOU came along.”

“Oh and they have nothing but wonderful things to say about you…”

Jan raised her eyebrow, “I have nothing more to say to you.” She walked off, leaving Chloe stunned in the end zone.

Philip went up to Chloe once he saw Jan’s departure. “What happened? What did she say to you?” he asked genuinely concerned.

Chloe massaged her neck, taut with tension, “Not much Philip. We were just coming to an understanding, that’s all.”

Philip picked her up and hugged her, swinging her around, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Chloe answered flatly.

Philip set her down and met her eyes, “Don’t listen to her.”

Chloe eyed Jan, “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Jason pulled Jan off to the side, “Could you please just be cool.”

Jan avoided eye contact with him as she watched Philip and Chloe, “Come on, let’s just play.”

************************

Later that night, Chloe laced up her running shoes and stretched. Freaking Brady, Chloe whispered to herself, now I’m addicted. Chloe hit the streets deep in thought about the day’s events. She had a really good time with everyone. But it was Jan’s words that played continuously through her ears, drowning even the sound of her CD player.

Chloe took a detour to the gas station to buy a bottled water. She stood outside gulping, watching as the sky poured down a light rain. She threw the bottle away and waved through the parked car. Her heart jumped when she seen the familiar Jeep pull into the parking lot. It was Matt and Jason. Chloe ducked slightly, hoping she wasn’t noticed. She walked briskly around the corner.

Jason spotted her as soon as they pulled in. He got out of the Jeep and yelled out to Jason, “I’ll meet you inside in a second. I got to talk to some one.” He followed the figure attempting a quick get-away. She was half way down the street, running.

“Hey,” he called out, getting drenched by the now pouring rain.

Chloe stopped and turned around, blinking. “Hey,” she shouted back.

Jason walked up to her, “What are you doing out here alone, huh?” Before she could answer, he tilted his head and leaned in to kiss her, tracing her jaw with his thumb.

Chloe reeled from the kiss, stunned. She looked around wildly and crunched her shoulders, “Why are you with her?”

Jason pushed her wet hair away, “Why do you think I am?”

“She doesn’t deserve the love you give her.”

“That’s pretty harsh, coming from someone like you.”

“It’s the truth though. I seriously don’t get it. Is it just sex? Are you whipped or what?”

“No, that’s not just it. Shit, you don’t even know her Chloe.”

“I don’t want to know her.”

Jason smiled and stepped backwards, “Suit yourself.”

“You’re the one I want to know…” Chloe cut herself off suddenly, realizing too late what she just said. She turned around, filled with embarrassment. She rubbed her arms and glanced over her shoulder. Jason walked up to her and grabbed her again, kissing her.

Chloe returned her new-found passion, running her fingers through his hair. Feeling herself losing control, she pulled back, “We can’t do this. We just can’t…do this. Ever.” She turned and ran across the street. Running, running, running.

Away from the moment, the rain, her feelings, the way he looked at her.

If he loved Janice so much, then why was he kissing her?