She shrugged, letting him sit on the bed next to her. "I went outside for some air, and Cynda followed me out there. Next thing I know, she kissed me, and I pulled away. I didn't want her touching me, and certainly not kissing me. I don't like Cynda like that. I never could. When she kissed me, I felt disgusted. With you, I felt my whole inner being explode. There's a huge difference, Chloe." She nodded. "I believe you. Just because I know what's she's capable of� JC, the night the article was sent� I was visiting Hayden's parents, but Melanie told me, Cynda all of a sudden was too exhausted to go anywhere, so she stayed in. Then I get locked in the lounge of that arena, to get left behind. And now Cynda goes and kisses you� Why am I sensing a pattern, here?"
He frowned. "You think� Cynda maybe touched your laptop?" Chloe nodded. "It's a definite possibility." He nodded. "I see." She sighed. "About all those other guys� I don't want anyone to think of me as being easy or anything like that. I'm not. I haven't exactly been very lucky in love. You see, all those guys� I liked them� or I thought I did. But, then I grew out of it� and I felt awful� Ben and Joshua� but then there was Paul. I loved Paul, I really did. He was the first person I'd actually really come to care about� that feeling I had with the other guys� it all went away with Paul. I felt. For the first time. I felt something other than nothingness� but."
JC noticed her stop suddenly and saw her freeze. "Chlo�" She held up a hand. "NO ONE knew about Paul. No one. Except my brother and Hayden, of course. Paul and I decided to tell no one� yet Cynda knew�"
JC frowned, wondering where she was getting at. "It all makes sense! Cynda wrote it! She had to! I keep a journal on my computer� no one else ever touches that, besides me� she had to have read it, that's the only plausible way she could have known! JC� SHE wrote the article!"
JC sighed. "Chloe� that's going out on a limb." She nodded. "I know� but. I've gotta try." He nodded. "I'll help. In any way I can." She smiled, and kissed his cheek. "Thanks."
Cynda sighed, drumming her fingers on the table. "I need to talk to her. And it has to be now." The receptionist behind the desk sighed. "I'm sorry, miss, but she isn't seeing anyone without an appointment." Cynda groaned. "If she knew who I was and who I had affiliations with, she'd be more than willing to give up some of her time for me." The girl sighed. "Who should I tell her is here?" Cynda smiled. "Cynda. Cynda Salinger."
The small, dark-haired girl walked out of the office, with a confused look on her face. "Ms. Salinger? You wanted to see me." Cynda nodded and held out her hand. "Please, call me Cynda, Ms. Sandros." The other girl smiled, warmly. "And please, call me Kira."
"So. Have you come any closer to figuring things out?" Chloe sighed, chewing on her finger. "Not really." He sighed. "Chlo'. Just come and sleep. I want to snuggle." Chloe sighed at the pitiful man in the small, enclosed bunk. "Fine." She pushed him over, gently and climbed in next to him, drawing the curtain shut. She laid down beside him and rested her head on his chest. "I like this." He smiled. "Me too. Me too, Chloe." She smiled. "For the first time, JC� I feel set. Safe. And I don't want to lose this feeling." He smiled, and kissed the top of her head. "I was afraid. After Kira� I didn't think I was able to feel again. So, thanks. For proving me wrong." She smiled. "No, thank you. For the sparks, the fireworks, the happiness. Thank you." She sighed, softly and closed her eyes, reveling in the feeling of simply being held again.
3 months later
Orlando, FL Aug. 14, 2001
JC knocked softly on Chloe's office door and grinned. "Hey." She smiled, beckoning him in. "Yes, Mr. Green. I understand. No, no. I'll fax that to you, right away. Alright, bye now." She hung up her phone and sighed. "Hey stranger." He smiled and came around behind her chair, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Working hard?" She nodded. "Extremely." He grinned. "Don't work too hard. My birthday party's tonight." She grinned. "I knoooowww."
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Ok, see you later on, then?" She nodded, typing away. "Sure thing."
Chloe sighed, and dialed her brother's number. "Hey you." Tobey grinned at the familiar voice. "Hey sis. How's it going? How's life? JC?" She sighed. "Whoa. Slow down. Everything is going wonderfully. How's the movie coming?" He grinned. "We wrap it up tomorrow." She smiled. "That's great. Are you coming home?" He nodded, twisting the phone cord. "I'm gonna stop by mom and dad's first, then be home." She grinned. "Sounds like a plan, kid. Just wanted to call and say hi, that's all." He grinned. "Thanks, hon. Talk to you later. Love you." She smiled. "Love you, too."
Chloe hung up the phone and glanced at her watch. She should get going. She needed to shower and get ready still before JC's party started at 7.
The brunette looked at Cynda, uneasily. "Cynda� I don't think he'll want me here� after all I put him through� he hates me." Cynda shook her head. "He doesn't hate you. Far from it� in fact, he loves you so much. He tells me so all the time." Kira nodded, straightening her dress. "What time does it start?" Cynda smiled. "8."
Chloe grinned, as Justin danced around like a complete idiot. JC smiled, as he handed her a drink. "Coke cool?" She nodded, taking it. "Thanks." JC smiled, watching Justin. "Crazy kid, isn't he?" She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "The craziest." Hayden came up, arm slung around Melanie, grinning devilishly. "Hey kids. What's shaking?" Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Not much� what about you two?" Hayden grinned. "We're buds." Chloe nodded and smiled. "Ok guys." She laughed as she heard the doorbell ring. "I'll go get it." JC nodded and kissed the tip of her nose. "Thanks."
Chloe sighed, and opened the door, the content smile on her face, fading. "Cynda. Hi." Cynda grinned, cheerfully. "Hey Chloe." Chloe looked from Cynda to the dark-haired girl beside her, who appeared very sure of herself. "Uh, come on in."
JC grinned, laughing at something Lance had cracked, when he turned to see Chloe making her way towards him, and behind her, Cynda and a face he'd not wanted to see for some time. "Kira."
She smiled. "Hello, JC." He swallowed, nervously. "What are you doing here?" She looked down. "We need to talk." He shook his head. "There's nothing more to talk about."
She shook her head. "But there is. JC, I love you. I'm so sorry for Melinda and the way things turned out, but I love you, and you love me. I know you still do." Chloe looked at him, and she sighed, brokenly. "I'm gonna go." JC shook his head. "No, Chloe." She shook her head. "No, JC. You have to settle your past, before you can have a future with me. Once you've gotten your priorities straight, and you're sure of what you want, then you give me a call." She passed Cynda's beaming face and shook her head. "Whenever something bad happens to me� it seems like you're never far behind. I will find out what you're hiding. You have my word." Chloe walked outside, Hayden and Melanie not too far behind, and JC sighed, knowing that he couldn't be completely happy with Chloe, until he'd settled the score and his feelings for Kira.
Seventeen