"See, now you�re starting to get the hang of it," Chloe said after Philip correctly answered his third algebra problem in a row.

"Yeah, I�m actually on a roll here! Who would have thought it possible? Certainly not me, that�s for sure," Philip replied ruefully, stretching his arms high above his head to rid the sudden stiffness that was making itself felt due to the last hour of sitting cramped up at his desk, poring over his homework assignments.

"Well, we have about five minutes left. We could probably squeeze in one more problem," Chloe glanced at her watch and then turned to Philip expectantly.

"God, who would have guessed Chloe Lane would turn out to be such a slave driver? Oh yeah...I did and I must say, �suspicion confirmed,�" Philip teased playfully, his dimples coming into full effect as he grinned broadly at Chloe.

"You know, I hate to burst your bubble, Philip, but the truth of the matter is that wit isn�t exactly your strong suit. In fact, I think you�d be better off sticking to your routine bad puns. I mean, they�re actually mildly humorous on occasion which is a definite step up at least from where I sit right now," Chloe retorted.

A small smile played on Chloe�s lips following her personal critique of his inane antics. However, she could hardly internalize the new sensation that swept over her just then as she noted the unmistakable glint in Philip�s eyes, indicative of his pure unadulterated amusement with their banter. Foreign though it was, Chloe could only describe it as though some previously unacknowledged weight had been lifted, allowing an entirely pleasurable lightness to embrace her. It was then that Chloe fully realized the marked shift that had taken place between them since Philip�s outburst only an hour before. There was a newfound dynamic in their repartee. One of ease and familiarity.

Deciding against further analyzing the particulars involved in this sudden atmospheric transformation for fear of ruining it altogether, Chloe continued on, "Very tricky, Philip. Changing the subject like that so we won�t have time for another problem. But sadly you�re out of luck. We�re finishing one last problem whether you like it or not." Chloe determinedly turned the page in her algebra book only to suddenly cry out in pain, "Ouch!"

"Karma�s a bitch, isn�t it?" Philip smirked triumphantly, noting her paper cut with satisfaction. "I bet you wish you hadn�t been so set on �finishing one last problem,� huh?" he said in falsetto, mimicking her choice words from only moments before.

"Philip, this isn�t funny," Chloe muttered as she stood up, scouring his bedroom in search of a much needed tissue.

Her serious demeanor combined with her frantic movements across his room fairly alarmed Philip. Maybe he had underestimated the pain factor inherent in something as ridiculous as a paper cut. He immediately rose to his feet and took control of the situation, guiding Chloe over to his bed.

"Here, sit down," Philip motioned to Chloe after her initial hesitance. He opened the top drawer of his dresser and returned with a kleenex tissue in hand, plopping down beside her.

Without a word, Philip reached over and gently took Chloe�s hand in his, wrapping the tissue around the tip of her index finger to absorb the blood. Absentmindedly, he allowed his free hand to lightly brush across the back of her hand now secure within his grasp, in a whisper of a caress, before coming to rest upon her knuckles, his palm possessing her skin, reveling in its soft smoothness.

The startling jolt of electricity that surged through Chloe when his hand met hers practically made her jump in response to his shocking touch. Philip�s strong, slightly callused skin felt so rough against her own, so utterly masculine. Swallowing nervously, she managed a weak, "Thank you," her gaze trained straight ahead, unable to trust herself to make eye contact with Philip under such unexpected, not to mention, foreign circumstances. What was the protocol for such a situation? What should I say? Chloe wondered, completely at a loss. More importantly, what should I do? Thankfully, Philip�s voice broke the awkward silence, mercifully putting a halt to her endless stream of second guessing herself.

"You�re welcome. You know, come to think of it, I seem to make a habit out of curing your ailments lately. First, with your stomach ache and now with your paper cut. What�s next? Maybe some sort of burn...however, if that�s the case, you should know that I have fairly limited knowledge of that particular injury so all I�d really be good for is driving you to the Burn Center at the Salem University Hospital. But I�m sure they could handle it from there on out..." Philip smiled proudly. He had met with success -- Chloe had finally dropped her intent fascination with the blank wall before them and turned her attention back to him thanks, in no small part, to his quick thinking. Yep, humor always does the trick, Philip thought with satisfaction.

It was then that Philip became acutely aware of their close proximity as it allowed him the privilege of another glimpse at the wondrous seas of blue that had haunted his thoughts and dreams ever since that magical night when Chloe�s amazing eyes were first exposed to him.

Chloe suddenly felt very self-conscious, witnessing Philip�s piercing gaze focused on her, of course, as though he was studying her, examining her even. Unable to stand the suspense, she cleared her throat and whispered, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"I�d just...I�d forgotten how beautiful your eyes are," Philip breathed in awe at the staggering beauty before him, forever hidden behind black plastic. Involuntarily, his hand released its hold on Chloe�s and reached up to remove the offending glasses which were obscuring his full view. But before he could accomplish his mission, the door swung open interrupting Philip mid-motion.

"Shawn!" Chloe exclaimed in surprise as she leapt to her feet instantly, sending her previously forgotten tissue flying. Philip similarly rose to his feet, blushing profusely.

Shawn took a few steps forward, fully assessing the �sordid� scene before him. "Sorry, I didn�t mean to interrupt. Grandpa Vic invited me in and said I could just come up. Next time I�ll knock," he smirked, gauging Philip and Chloe�s embarrassment levels to have officially skyrocketed off the charts as they both were now beet red, shifting uncomfortably in his presence.

"Yes, do that," Philip said rather gruffly. He cleared his throat before continuing, "Anyway, you didn�t interrupt anything. Chloe�s helping me with my studies, that�s all. So, what are YOU doing here, Shawn?"

"I just came to return your Chemistry book," Shawn placed the book on the dresser beside him, his smile widened as both Philip and Chloe continued to squirm under his scrutiny.

�Helping me with my studies�, my ass, Shawn thought sarcastically. However, his sick, twisted mind couldn�t help but wonder exactly what Chloe had been �helping� Philip with when he had opened the door to find them practically on top of each other and on his bed, no less. If there was a class that required that form of studying, Shawn would be the first to sign up, especially if his partner in question just happened to be one particularly cute blond cheerleader. Well, it appeared his suspicions had been irrefutably confirmed in 20 seconds flat, considering the rather explicit scenario that had just unfolded before his very eyes. Yep, the identical pitiful expressions currently etched across Chloe and Philip�s faces said it all -- At that moment, they resembled two undeniably guilty parties awaiting their sentence.

Deciding that he had apparently overstayed his welcome, judging by Philip�s menacing glare, and that he had, in fact, already gained the juicy nugget of knowledge he had desired in the first place, Shawn prepared to make his most timely exit.

"Well, I�ll leave you guys to it. Phil, Chloe later," Shawn nodded to them both and then took off, thanking his lucky stars that he had eventually decided to take his mother�s advice and return his Chem book that evening instead of at school the next morning. Man, Philip and Chloe, who would have guessed? Shawn mused once again, whistling to himself as he descended the stairs.

Philip remained standing, his eyes glued to the door his friend had just exited through. He absolutely hated Shawn�s ever-present smug, all knowing manner. For God�s sake, he had burst into the room and then proceeded to act as though he had caught them in some sort of compromising situation. When, in actuality, it was...hell, Philip didn�t quite know what it was except that, as far as he was concerned, it could never happen again, EVER.

As though reading his thoughts, Chloe�s feet moved of their own volition as she hastily collected all her books and mumbled something about needing to get home in time for dinner. She practically bolted out the door in less than two bounds, escaping before Philip had the chance to utter a single word in response.

Philip collapsed onto his bed and sighed in frustration. Well, at least I lasted longer than the predicted 10 minutes...that in and of itself said something for his restraint. Mulling over the events leading up to his friend�s entrance -- Chloe�s paper cut, her warm, inviting touch, her beguiling blue eyes, HER -- Philip couldn�t shake the nagging suspicion that Shawn�s interruption hadn�t, in fact, been a relief, as he wanted to pretend, but instead singularly one of the biggest disappointments of his life. Everything had been so perfect...then in one fell swoop, Shawn had come in and ruined it all. Rationally, his head reasoned that that had been, by all accounts, a God send, putting a stop to something that never should have started in the first place, but his heart was pounding a different story. Damnit, why did everything have to be so complicated?

Once safely beyond the Kiriakis porch, hidden entirely from view behind one of the many pillars that adorned the mansion�s grounds, Chloe�s heart rate returned to normal as she let out a deep breath she hadn�t known she�d been holding. Needless to say, Shawn�s sudden presence had been quite a shock, but she still couldn�t discern why he had flustered her so. It wasn�t as if there was anything to be embarrassed about. She and Philip had been on his bed, side by side, simply because of her paper cut, nothing more. It had all been purely innocent, right? Somehow, Chloe wasn�t so sure anymore. Her confusion swirled around her, fueling her increasing uncertainty regarding the actual progression of the evening�s events and what it all amounted to.

She thought back to Philip�s reaction. He, too, had appeared flushed and uncomfortable so perhaps that alone signaled that something had indeed been going on between them prior to Shawn�s interruption, something beyond that of simply catering to her ailment, something intensely intimate as she had privately suspected. Right before the door had been carelessly flung open, shattering the moment, Chloe had caught the lightning-edged expression in Philip�s eyes when he had reached for her glasses -- Surely, it couldn�t have been merely her imagination, could it? The connection she had felt was so strong, so powerful, that she found it hard to believe that Philip hadn�t felt it, too. To Chloe�s satisfaction, her recollection of his sweet words and thoughtful gestures that night combined with his highly distressed demeanor following the presence of one imposing Shawn Brady, actually seemed to confirm the validity of her belief.

However, right on the heels of this exciting new possibility was a rather appalling thought. As though a haze had been lifted, it all suddenly became crystal clear to Chloe. Of course, Philip had reacted that way -- He was embarrassed that Shawn had discovered that Ghoul Girl was tutoring him and was therefore scared to death of the damage his reputation would inevitably suffer once word got around to his letterman�s jacket clad posse. Hence, the source of his distress.

How stupid can you be? Chloe inwardly cursed, disgusted with herself. As if there would be any other reason for Philip�s behavior. As if he actually...Chloe couldn�t bring herself to finish the thought as she spied Craig�s SUV pulling around the circular driveway. She reluctantly trudged over to his car, an all too familiar heaviness plaguing her once again while the heavens� torrential rain crashed down all around her.

As if on cue, Philip entered his homeroom just as the bell sounded, indicating the start of school. He approached his vacant assigned table, perplexed and a bit relieved, if the truth be told. Chloe was ALWAYS one of the first to arrive in class and usually the last to leave as teachers often engaged in long chats with their �pet pupil� following the period�s end. Therefore, her tardiness was curious, to say the least.

A now familiar wave of concern suddenly washed over Philip, overshadowing all pre-existent relief, as his thoughts inevitably returned to Chloe�s soaked state out on his front porch the previous evening. What if she had, in fact, gotten pneumonia or something worse? Despite Chloe�s repeated assurances of her full recuperation, Philip knew that her illness the week before had unquestionably beaten down her immune system and left her highly susceptible to any and all infections. And, to top it off, her trek out into the pouring rain could only have worsened matters.

The irony of the situation was not lost on Philip. He had awoken that morning with a pit in his stomach, dreading the impending awkward moment when he would finally see Chloe in class after their last tumultuous encounter. However, now that he was seated at their table with no Chloe in sight, all he could think about was how much he wished that she was right there beside him, even giving him the cold shoulder, just so long as she was okay.

Much to Philip�s great fortune, his wishes were granted as Chloe burst into the room a split-second later, visibly flustered. After waking up fifteen minutes prior to school�s start only to find that her alarm clock had NEVER gone off, Chloe had hurriedly rushed around and somehow managed to pull herself together before taking off in a full-fledged sprint for Salem High, ultimately arriving only five minutes late. Not bad, not bad at all, Chloe thought glancing at her watch while she made a beeline for her chair, oblivious to several students� rude greetings as Philip�s half-smile of acknowledgement captured her full attention.

As if that wasn�t enough, Chloe was shocked beyond words when Philip�s smile deepened and he offered a quick, �Hey,� once she had been seated. Admittedly, it had been spoken under his breath in a mere whisper, but his dimples and initiated eye contact spoke volumes in their own right. Although Philip�s apparent sincerity seemingly debunked all the hurtful conclusions Chloe had taken to heart the evening before, she vowed to remain extra cautious where Philip Kiriakis was concerned from there on out for the sake of her peace of mind, if nothing else. Nevertheless, she returned his sentiment with a similarly hushed, �Hello,� of her own before reaching into her book bag for her binder and textbook.

Satisfied with Chloe�s response, Philip leant back casually in his chair as their English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, signaled her students� attention. Immediately the room fell silent, noting the presence of the habitual threatening tone in one of Salem High�s harshest disciplinarians. Not even Jason or Jan dared to rebel against this one particularly strict teacher.

�We�re going to start off today�s class where we left off yesterday. I believe we had just finished reading a wide selection of poetry�William Shakespeare, WB Yeats, Sylvia Plath, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Although poetry yields a variety of subject matters, every poet has one single goal in common regarding writing their creations. Would anyone like to hazard a guess at this commonality shared by poets alike?�

The lack of response to this fairly obvious question disappointed Mrs. Johnson as she wondered yet again why she had chosen this thankless profession in the first place. A stray hand then caught her eye and she instantly breathed a sigh of relief, that is, until she associated the hand with the student.

�Yes, Philip?� Her eyes narrowed, anticipating the forthcoming wisecrack such a student like Philip Kiriakis was notorious for.

Fully aware that all eyes were on him, Philip screwed his courage together, took a deep breath, and hesitantly began, �Well, I think that the main purpose behind poetry, in general, is to express different feelings�I don�t know, I guess it seems that all poets are trying to put into words things that, to the majority of us, are indescribable. Like love, pain, grief, and joy. We experience those things on a daily basis and yet would be hard pressed to explain exactly what it felt like in detail. Whereas, poets have the ability to voice our emotions, to define what we can�t.�

Several students stared at Philip in disbelief, including Mrs. Johnson herself, before her lips curved into one of her rare smiles, �Good insight, Philip. Yes, poems are, in a way, a language for feeling. For example, Elizabeth Barrett Browning�s poem, �How Do I Love Thee?�, directly centers around the concept of love and the general sense of what it�s like without giving everyday details. She chose to focus on one aspect of love while Jarold Ramsey focuses on another. Please turn to page 87 in your textbooks, class. Belle, will you please read his poem, �The Tally Stick�, aloud for us all?�

After Belle was well into the third stanza, Philip finally gave in to his desire and snuck a sidelong glance in Chloe�s direction.

As if sensing his gaze, Chloe looked up from her book and smiled. A small smile, but a smile, nevertheless. Philip�s chest swelled with pride as Chloe gave a hint of a nod, signaling her approval. He turned his attention back to Mrs. Johnson who was now comparing Browning and Ramsey�s work and couldn�t help but grin, surrendering himself to his newfound elation, armed with the knowledge that his first academic gamble had paid off just as Chloe had predicted.

In all truth, Chloe alone had motivated Philip to take such a considerable step in the first place. Her faith in him had initially stirred him to raise his hand and her presence beside him, lending unacknowledged support, had enabled him to relay the half-suspicion that had formed in the back of his mind in response to their teacher�s question. Involuntarily, his grin widened as he assessed this momentous event�One small step for Philip Kiriakis, one giant leap for �brainless jocks� everywhere.

****

�Chloe!�

She turned from her locker at the sound of her name only to see Shawn Brady rapidly approaching.

�Hey, Shawn. What�s up?� Chloe slammed her locker shut and spun back around to face him expectantly.

�I just wanted to congratulate you. Whatever you�ve done to Philip, it�s a definite improvement. I could hardly believe it was him in class today, spouting off all that poetry mumbo jumbo,� Shawn said with a chuckle, the familiar gleam of amusement in his eye.

�What do you mean, �whatever you�ve done to Philip?�� Chloe asked, fully aware of the innuendo present in his seemingly innocent manner. She looked him square in the face and then stated emphatically, �I�m his tutor, Shawn, period.�

�Oh, come on, Chloe�Give me a break! You two seemed pretty cozy to me last night. Are you really going to stand there and claim that nothing�s going on between you guys?�

�Okay, first of all, lower your voice, Shawn,� Chloe ordered through ground teeth, glancing left and right to insure that their privacy hadn�t indeed been invaded while he was busy shouting out wild accusations. Satisfied that no one was within earshot, Chloe continued, �Secondly, I�m telling you the truth. I never lie, you should know that by now. Besides, Philip and I have absolutely NOTHING in common. You can�t honestly believe that we would hook up. It�s preposterous!�

�Well, what�s that saying? Oh yeah, opposites attract!� Shawn burst out into uproarious laughter at the comedic deer in the headlights expression that swept across Chloe�s face instantaneously, the same expression that Philip himself had worn only days before when Shawn had first confronted him out on the Salem High lawn.

However, his laughter quickly subsided after realizing his mistake. It was one thing to hassle Philip, all in the name of fun, of course, and quite another to do so to Chloe. Experience had proven that she often took things far too seriously as her current reaction confirmed, and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin their friendship over something so trivial. Determined to smooth things over, Shawn slung his arm around Chloe�s shoulders and abruptly changed the topic of conversation to music, their mutual passion, as he guided her down the hallway toward the cafeteria.

****

Philip stopped dead in his tracks, frozen in shock, at the startling sight before him. His fists clenched up instinctively as an uncontrollable rage boiled up from within, setting his whole body on fire. Off a ways down the hall corridor stood his best friend, Shawn Brady, smiling and laughing with none other than Chloe Lane�his Chloe.

It took all of Philip�s willpower at that moment to refrain from marching over there to tear Chloe out of his grasp and deservedly punch Shawn right in the face for encroaching on his territory. However, a part of Philip acknowledged that Chloe wasn�t �his� by any means and that therefore there was absolutely NO excuse for his sudden possessiveness. Nevertheless, seeing Shawn with Chloe in such an intimate manner, touching her like that, practically made him sick to his stomach.

Unsure and a little bit frightened of this new overwhelming sensation that now racked his body with adrenaline, Philip averted his gaze and opened his locker in the vain attempt to distract himself from the obvious -- He, Philip Kiriakis, Mr. Popularity who thrived on �playing the field,� constantly boasting of his numerous conquests, was jealous, plain and simple. What was the world coming to?

****

�Oh God, I almost forgot�I was supposed to meet Belle in the library to work on our science project, like, ten minutes ago,� Shawn caught a glimpse of the clock above the cafeteria�s entrance and shook his head ruefully. Belle was sure going to be pissed. In fact, she would probably throw one of her trademark hissy fits�Shawn cringed at the thought. �I�m sorry, Chloe, but I should get going. I�ll see you tomorrow, okay?� He readjusted his backpack and then dashed off back down the hall at a brisk jog, leaving Chloe virtually alone as usual.

At the unmistakable nasal titter of one Jan Spears, Chloe reluctantly spun around to come face to face with her sworn enemy who, in this case, undoubtedly had the advantage as she was flanked by two of her equally bitchy cronies. From her past experience within various schools, Chloe had eventually come to learn that there most definitely was strength in numbers, much to her continuous detriment.

Jan took a few steps forward menacingly, her malicious grin warning Chloe of what was to come, �Well, well, well. If it isn�t our very own Vampira. You know, I�ve been thinking��

�You, thinking? Somehow, I find that hard to believe,� Chloe interrupted, her voice laced with animosity.

�Apparently you still have no idea who you�re dealing with. I thought that headless chicken on your doorstep would clue you in, but maybe you need some further examples,� Jan�s eyes flashed with anger and, quite possibly, murderous intent.

�Drop the threatening bit, Jan. Do you actually think I�m scared of you? As far as I�m concerned you�re nothing more than a spineless, ignorant, sorry excuse for a human being,� Chloe�s voice remained calm despite the fact that, in actuality, her nerves were wreaking havoc on her psyche. At that particular moment, the idea of fleeing the premises and, by extension, this hateful girl, sounded very inviting but she knew that wouldn�t solve anything and might actually make matters worse. The only way to keep bullies like Jan at bay was to stand up and confront them, otherwise they would end up walking all over you.

�Yeah, well�at least my mother didn�t give me away at birth!� Jan snidely retorted, grasping at straws for a suitable comeback.

�I know, and I bet she�s been kicking herself for that decision ever since she was wheeled out of the delivery room,� Chloe smirked triumphantly as she turned and deliberately strode, at a languid pace, down the hallway to the nearest exit, trying to appear the cool, unaffected person she so desperately wanted to be.

�You�d better watch your back, Ghoul Girl!� Jan screamed out after Chloe�s departing figure, unable to contain her utter frustration at once again having been bested by that freak.

****

Jan�s shrieks echoed throughout the school�s halls, breaking Philip out of his jealousy induced stupor. Fortunately, he looked up just in time to see a flash of black flitting out the side door. Like a shot, Philip took off toward the exit after Chloe, allowing his heart to guide him where his common sense dared not.

Once outside, a bewildered Philip scanned the lawn to no avail. Chloe was no where to be seen. Unable to accept defeat just yet, he followed his instincts and rounded the corner of the building where his persistence finally met with success.

Philip observed Chloe from afar, noting the way the sunlight bounced off her hair, richening the color of her chestnut tresses as she sat hunched over on one of the benches, appearing rather forlorn. He slowly advanced toward her, with several hesitant steps, only to stop a few feet behind her.

Unsure of the appropriate way to phrase his concern, Philip ultimately settled on the direct approach, �Are you okay?�

Chloe instantly recognized the soft melodic timbre of the intruder�s voice. Her current state of mind, fragile as it was, momentarily sought solace in Philip�s presence, allowing her pain to ease up ever so slightly. Unwilling to meet his gaze just yet, she continued to stare out across the south side parking lot, before finally replying, in an unusually flat tone, �Let�s just say, I�ve had better days.�

With those few simple words, Philip felt like his whole world came screeching to a halt. It wasn�t so much WHAT she�d said, but HOW she had said it, that played on his conscience -- The undeniable emotion that threatened to erupt from behind her calm fa�ade forced Philip, for the first time ever, to face the reality of the situation, as horrific as it was.

In the past, he�d taken Chloe�s vocal indifference to the constant taunting and name-calling her peers subjected her to on a daily basis at face value, never taking the time or effort to look beyond her defensive exterior and acknowledge the hurt and pain, underlying the anger, that he and the majority of Salem High had apparently inflicted in doing so.

Sure, an evening only two weeks ago, the evening when Chloe had sworn herself to secrecy, had by all accounts provided Philip with his first glimpse into the real Chloe Lane, that is, his first glimpse since their fleeting pier rendezvous, as her innate vulnerability had once again been revealed in vivid detail within her clear blue eyes, shattering the angry bravado she was forever projecting. However, this newfound insight regarding Chloe�s true character had been cast aside until right then, at that very moment, resurfacing to confirm Philip�s suspicion as to the marked extent to which she had indefinitely been affected by Salem High�s routine harassment, and, by extension, his role within it, too.

What started out as a pang of guilt soon surged into an unstoppable force that invaded his body wholly as Philip recalled and, in turn, internalized the appalling way he had treated Chloe time and again following her arrival in Salem.

Determined to raise her spirits and his own as well by taking the all important first step in making amends, Philip quickly closed the gap in two bounds and knelt down in front of her on one knee to meet her gaze, �I have a great idea�Let�s blow off the rest of the day!�

Chloe looked up at him in disbelief, �Are you crazy? We�ll get in trouble.�

�Oh, where�s your sense of adventure, Chloe? Besides, I�ve become quite the expert when it comes to sneaking off campus unnoticed�trust me, we won�t get caught.� Noting that Chloe�s apprehension still remained, he was forced to resort to out and out begging, �Come on, Chloe. You owe me. You get to tutor me every week so now that we�ve actually found something that I can teach YOU, you have to give me the benefit of the doubt�you just have to.�

�Fine,� Chloe sighed, resigned to the fact that Philip wasn�t going to take no for an answer. �But, where are we going?�

�It�s a surprise!� Philip grinned mischievously, his dimples flashing, as he pulled Chloe to her feet and led her off to his car for what was sure to be one hell of an afternoon.