Chapter 5

Brady banged on the door with the toe of his boot.

Finally after what seemed an eternity, Chloe bounced out of her room and got the door. "Brady! What the hell are you doing here?"

"No. See the real question is what the hell are you doing here? Where's Jared?"

"He's not home yet."

"Fine I'll wait," he sneered. Brady sauntered over to the couch, carrying his six-pack of Corona's under his arm and an extra large pizza in his hands. He put down the food and beer and threw himself on the couch.

Chloe closed the door behind him and rolled her eyes. "Make yourself at home," she bellowed sarcastically.

"Oh, you mean like you?" Brady uttered.

"And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Chloe said, letting her anger get the best of her.

"Nothing," Brady said, rolling his eyes while twisting the cap off his beer.

"No, I want to know. What did you mean by that?"

"Look, Jared's a nice guy. And..."

"He is a nice guy, much nicer than someone else I know. What's your point?"

"Well maybe if you would stop interrupting me, I could get to it," Brady quipped, much to Chloe's dismay.

"Fine. Go on."

"Like I was saying, Jared's a nice guy; and he's letting you live here. RENT FREE, I might add. And maybe I don't like to see one of my best friends taken advantage of."

"Who's taking advantage of him?"

Brady scoffed at her obvious ignorance.

"What me? And just how am I taking advantage of him?"

"You've got that guy wrapped around your baby finger. He gives you everything. I've seen the way he looks at you. He wants you. And you know it, and don't pretend you don't..."

"What does..." Chloe interrupted again, only to be met by Brady's angry stare. "Go on."

"Anyway, I want you to stop using him."

"Using him?"

"That's what I said." Brady polished off the last of his beer and reached for a second one. "You got any limes in this place?"

"Okay, so we went from me using Jared to you wanting limes?"

"I've said what I had to say, and now I want a lime for my beer. What's your problem?"

"You! You're my problem! What gives you the right to stick your nose in other people's business? What Jared and I do is our business. Our living arrangements have nothing to do with you. So butt out!"

"See, that's where you're wrong. I don't know how you treat your friends, IF you even have any, but where I come from, we look out for one another. Me, Jared and...Tyler grew up together." Brady shuddered involuntarily when he said his childhood friend's name. He tried not to think about him. After all, Brady had been there for him all his life, and he went and betrayed him in the worst possible way, sleeping with the one girl he had ever truly loved. "Just stop giving him false hope. If you're into him, act on it. If not, move out. Because, Chloe, when you mess with him, you're messing with me."

Brady got up and walked into the kitchen, searching for a lime. He was out of luck. The fridge was just as barren as his own. "Fuck."

"Well, you know what? Jared's a big boy, and he can take care of himself. Besides, despite what you think, he does not look at me in any kind of way," Chloe admonished, staring at Brady's back.

"Oh, is that so, huh?" he said, turning to face her.

"Yeah," she said confidently.

Brady bridged the gap between them, coming a hairbreadth away from her. He leaned down, pulling the hair away from her ear, and whispered hoarsely, "So if he kissed you, you wouldn't back away?" His words came out slow. Hot breath washed over her neck, making her knees feel less than stable. "If he looked you in the eye and told you point blank he was in love with you, you would be all for it? Is that what you're saying, Chloe?" Brady's words mimicked his actions. He met her in the eye and delivered a serious but somewhat sinister look, as if he knew what he was doing to her.

"I didn't say that. I don't feel that way about him..." Chloe countered, trying to control her breathing. There was no use denying her attraction to the arrogant man in front of her.

"Now if that isn't using someone, I don't know what is. You set yourself up in his apartment, paying no rent, and what does he get in exchange? Squat! That's what."

"Like you're in any position to judge me," Chloe belted out, trying hard to concentrate, choosing her words carefully and wondering why the hell he wasn't backing away. Was torture his specialty? "Aren't you the same guy that fucks as many brainless twits as he can get his hands on?"

Brady had a devious smile spread across his face. "We're not talking about me, Chloe. We're talking about you and Jared."

"There is no me and Jared, and there never will be!"

Brady pulled away from Chloe. "Hey, Jared. Where ya been, man?" he said to Jared as he walked through the door. Brady walked over to him and slapped him on the back, playfully.

Chloe knew he had heard. She knew that Brady probably had it planned all along. He knew how it would play out, and she fell right into his trap. She didn't think she could feel any worse until she turned around to look at Jared. All she had to do was take one look into his eyes to know she had hurt him. "Jared...Jared I'm sorry...I... "

Jared cut her off mid-sentence. "There's no need, Chloe. You don't owe me an explanation. No harm. No foul." He tried to smile, but Chloe and even Brady could see that he was anything but fine.

For a minute, a wave of regret washed over Brady. But the way he looked at it, he was doing him a favour. Women were trouble, especially women like Chloe. But maybe there was more to it. Maybe he was trying to teach them a lesson. One that even he didn't realize yet. Or maybe it was purely for selfish reasons. The sooner Jared got over Chloe Lane, the better off they would all be.

"So how 'bout that game, eh Brady?"

"Sure, let's get to it." The guys sat on the couch. Brady handed Jared a beer as he worked on his third.

Chloe walked down the hall to her room. Damn that Brady Black. He's such an asshole! Chloe thought. An asshole, that was right. She hated the fact that he was right. She didn't mean to use Jared. And she had no idea why Jared would be interested in her. She didn't think she had given him any indication that she was interested. Who was she trying to kid? Her whole life had been about lies and deceit, and making people see what they wanted to see. She listened to them curse and cheer at the T.V. for a while until she fell asleep.

It was in her sleep that her memories came alive to haunt her. When she least expected it, she was back to thinking and feeling all those emotions she had felt as a child, the unparalleled loneliness of growing up without a home to call her own, without parents to call her own. She was back to being scared and lost. She had a past. Everyone had a past but none quite like hers. She'd be surprised. She tossed and turned in her sleep, her body sweating under just the thin sheet that seemed to weigh so heavy against her thoughts.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brady walked up to the garage entrance, fiddling with the locks to find the right key. His eyes were swollen from lack of sleep. He was fighting back a yawn. Faintly he heard what sounded like whimpering. He surveyed his surroundings and came across a cardboard box slightly moving. He inched closer, thinking it was just a sewer rat.

Knocking the box over and stepping back, he noticed two small puppies yelping. Brady scooped them up effortlessly in his hands. He looked around for more or even the mother. Walking down further, he saw the reason they were alone. Lying in the middle of the street was what was barely distinguishable as their mother, her body badly mutilated and left. It must have been hit by a car late in the night or early that morning.

Brady looked down at the soft pups in his hands, barely old enough to open their eyes. He felt a soft spot for them in his heart and couldn't just leave them alone. He knew the pain of losing a mother. For a moment, he was back to being that lonely child that no one wanted. The child, he thought, no one loved. The kid that cried himself to sleep at night when all he wanted was a mother to hold him and soothe his cries. Instead what he got was Marlena, a less that suitable substitute. He would never be worthy of her love, of her praise. He was just a burden that she put up with until he was old enough to go to boarding school.

Who needed love anyway? he thought cynically. It didn't really exist. It was just something that had been manufactured so big companies could make money on holidays. Still, there was something that drew him to the helpless creatures. Perhaps it was their vulnerability that reminded him so much of himself. Whatever it was, he decided that he had to help them. They needed food and fast if their cries were any indication. Brady couldn't help but smile at the tiny creatures.

"What are you looking at?" Chloe said, walking up beside him.

Brady stuffed the pair inside his jacket as she approached. "Nothing. I was just looking for the right key," he said, as she came closer.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah," he said, turning away nervously. He didn't want Chloe to know that he cared about anything. He wanted her to think he was heartless, so she wouldn't want to get to know him. That way there was less chance he would get hurt. Brady tried to shove the pups back into his jacket as they tried to climb out the top. As their cries grew louder, he began to hum to get the attention away from them.

"What is wrong with you today?" Chloe said, puzzled.

Brady faced her, finally satisfied that the dogs were out of sight. "Nothing. I'm fine."

As the yelps got louder, Brady hummed louder. Chloe continued to look at him strangely. Then, she saw it. At first, a tiny golden brown tail. Then, a paw. Until finally, the small little face of one of the pups was in plain view. "Oh my God..." Chloe squealed.

"What?" Brady said, trying to talk over the pups.

Chloe unzipped his jacket and took the tiny animals in her hand. "Where did you get them?"

"I found them this morning. The mother must have been run over," he told her reluctantly.

"Oh, that's horrible! They're so cute," Chloe said, holding them against her face and kissing their tiny heads. "Yes, yes you are. You are soo cute," she said in that animated cartoon voice everyone seems to use on animals and small children. Just when she thought she had seen all sides of Brady Black, he went and surprised her.

Brady couldn't help but smile. He turned to open the door. "Come on. Bring them to my office. They need to get warm."

Chloe followed with the puppies. When they reached Brady's office, he turned on the lamp on his desk and put some spare shirts under it.

"Put them here!" He motioned to the spot he had just created.

Chloe did and continued to pet them. She looked up at Brady and smiled, while his attention was completely fixed on the dogs. "Oh, Brady, I think they're hungry."

"I know, but I don't know what to feed a puppy. Do you?"

"No, but I could go to the pet store and ask."

"Okay. You do that and don't let anyone know that we found them. I have a reputation to uphold."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "It's called human decency. I'm sure no one would think less of you." He could say what he wanted, act as tough as he wanted, but finally they had made a breakthrough. In a strange way, Brady had opened up to her. He was showing a side to her that was caring and sensitive, and she couldn't help but feel good about it.

"Chloe, don't make me regret trusting you."

"Fine. I won't tell anyone. I'll be back as soon as I can." She smiled as she walked out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chloe went to the local pet store and came back as fast as she could. Before she opened the door, she looked through the window. The blinds were slightly open, but it was enough for Chloe to see inside. There was Brady in plain sight playing with the pups. Their rough tongues licked Brady's face and hands while he smiled and petted them.

Chloe sighed. This was the side of Brady she had longed to see. The fact that she was spying didn't matter to her. She knew now without a doubt that somewhere buried deep inside, the old Brady was still in there. Maybe even a small part of him was fighting to get out, but the pain kept him distant from people. It had been a defining moment. Brady Black was hiding himself under his hardened heart. Everything he said and did was all an act. Chloe just needed to figure out a way to get him to show her who he really was, but not yet. He wasn't ready to reveal himself yet. There was still too much pain for him to sort out before he could get back to a normal existence.

Loudly, Chloe opened the door, giving Brady the chance to return the pups to their make-shift bed. Today wasn't the day for him to reveal himself. "Here. They said to give them this. We have to put it into a bottle and hold them."

"Well, you do it. I have some work to do."

"Oh, come on. They're both hungry. How am I supposed to feed them myself?"

"Fine," Brady said reluctantly, taking one of the pups from Chloe's hands, lightly grazing her palm in the process.

Chloe deeply inhaled. His touch was so warm instead of his usual rigidity. Brady looked into Chloe's eyes. He felt the spark too, and immediately dropped his gaze and turned his attention to the puppy. Feeling the building tension, he picked up his cigarettes, forgetting that he had quit again. But as soon as the smoke hit his lungs, he began to relax. The sudden buzz made him feel a bit dizzy from lack of nicotine in his system but it quickly passed. This was not what he needed or what he wanted, he told himself. The last thing he needed was to get close to anyone again.

"What are you going to name them?" Chloe asked, smiling at the little creatures and pulling Brady out of his trance.

"Name them? What makes you think I'm going to name them?"

"Well, that's usually what you do when you get a dog."

"Oh, see that would imply that I was keeping them."

"What? What are you going to do with them then?"

"I thought I would give them to the humane society or something like that," he said nonchalantly.

"Brady, you can't do that. They'll kill them."

"Well, what do you want me to do? I can't very well keep them. If you care so much, why don't you take them?"

"I would, but I can't. You know I'm living with Jared……FOR NOW...and I don't think it would be fair."

"So I see you took my advice and will be moving out soon."

"I think it's time, and it really has nothing to do with you."

"Whatever you say." Brady smiled glibly.

"Maybe we could keep them at your place."

"No way!"

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know anything about dogs, and I don't intend on wasting a Friday to look after them."

"Fine. Then I'll look after them."

"You're serious? You're going to come over to my place and take care of these mutts?"

"Yes. I swear you won't even know we're there."

"I dunno, Chloe. I'm still not convinced."

"Please, Brady. I promise I will take care of them for you."

"Is this just an excuse?" Brady said, with a sly smile spread across his lips.

"What? What on earth are you talking about?"

"Well, maybe the real reason you want me to keep these mutts is so you can see me all the time. You know after all, I'm irresistible."

"Yeah, that's it, you ass. I want nothing...hear that? NOTHING to do with you. I just care about animals, and I don't want to see anything bad happen to them."

"Whatever," Brady said in that sure-I-believe-you tone, making Chloe even angrier. "We'll keep them until I can find them a proper home."

"Great! Now what should we name them?" Chloe said, proud of herself.

"I don't care," Brady admitted, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Fine. Then I'll name them." Chloe smiled.

A short blonde knocked on the door. She let herself in and was surprised to find Chloe there. "Oh, did I come at a bad time?" the woman asked.

"No, let's get going. Chloe, I'll see you later," Brady said, tossing her the key to his apartment. "Let yourself in, and make yourself at home." He winked at her and turned back to his date. Brady put his arm around the girl and escorted her to his motorcycle.

Chloe watched as Brady helped the lady onto his bike and sped away.

"He'll only hurt you," Jared whispered into her ear as he passed by to face her.

"Who?" Chloe said with a distant look in her eyes, startled by Jared.

"Don't give me that shit. You know who." Jared cast his eyes down, trying not to look hurt.

"Oh, Jared, I'm sorry, but really I'm not interested in Brady."

"That's what they all say, but there's just something about him. Women think they can save him. That all they need to do is love him, and he'll be fixed. But in the end, they all get hurt. He tells them things can never be at the beginning, that it is a one time thing. But they hold on to some minor hope that they'll be the one to change him. You can't blame him though. They all fall harder than they think they will; and when he doesn't fall back, when he doesn't love them, when he holds up his end of the bargain, they can't help but be disappointed."

"I don't want to change him," Chloe simply stated.

"No, you just want him back to the way he was. Before he was a fuck 'em and forget 'em type of guy. Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, but he'll never be that guy again. He won't love you; and in the end, you'll turn to someone else and maybe someone else won't be there."

"You're talking about yourself, aren't you?"

"All I'm saying is there are better guys out there, guys that still know how to use their hearts. Guys that still have hearts."

"He's got a heart. It just hasn't been used for a woman lately." Chloe closed her eyes and saw his smiling face holding the puppies. "He definitely has a heart!" she repeated quietly to herself.

"Here we go again. Don't say I didn't warn you." With that, Jared stormed away.

Chloe watched him, a little saddened that she wasn't what he thought she was. She had her own secrets. She knew she had hurt him, but what else could she do? She was falling for someone else. Wait! Was that possible? She let Jared's words sink in. He'll only hurt you. Chloe had been hurt too many times. It was best for now to leave her feelings alone. Bottled up in the back of her mind, where they couldn't hurt anyone but herself. The more she deluded herself into thinking she could remain distant from Brady, the more she knew she was fooling herself.

There were so many things that Jared didn't know about her. Things that nobody knew. So much in her past. Pain, loss, and trauma. So much for such a short life. She wanted to keep it hidden, buried deep inside, where it still haunted her in her dreams. That was the thing about the past, it never really went away. It just got displaced, and the minute she thought she was over it, it came back to kick her in the ass.

Although in a way, she liked the way Jared thought about her. In his eyes, she was normal. Not some freak that had been tormented as a child, taunted and teased on the playgrounds. He didn't see the awkward girl who liked to listen to opera CD's instead of playing tag or hopscotch like the rest of the kids. He didn't see that she was different, that she was damaged. She liked the way he saw her, because it wasn't who she was.