Outside the Wesley home, early Sunday evening.

"You either knock on the door, or you walk away," Phillip muttered to himself, holding the small teddy bear between his hands. Belle had discovered it when they were about to leave, saying she would return it to Chloe that afternoon.

But for some weird, unknown reason, he'd told her he'd do it, claiming his and Chloe's home proximity as an excuse.

Now standing at her door, he was unsure about his reason's for being there. Sure, he was here to return the dumb bear, but something else nagged at him. He probably should have just let Belle bring it back.

"Is he still out there," Craig Wesley asked from within house. He was playing with Nigel, trying to teach his son to count, and in order no less, though fifteen months was too early for that. Nevertheless, Nancy insisted the earlier they start teaching him, the earlier he learned.

"Yes, Craig. And seriously, its making me a little nervous," Nancy said from her position behind the curtain. She had been on her way to sit with her family when she'd spotted Phillip on the doorstep, just standing there. She'd been rooted to the spot ever since.

"Well then, why don't you just go out there and ask him what he wants," Craig said to his wife. "It's one, two, three, Nigel."

Nigel looked at Craig as if he was speaking another language, returning his attention back to his toy trucks.

"Two honey, two," Nancy said from her spying position.

"Why don't you just leave him alone. I'm sure when the time comes, he'll be able to count properly," Chloe said from her seat in the armchair, the latest Teen People sitting beside her as well as her Sony Discman containing her favorite classical CD.

"And you," she said, turning towards where Nancy still lurked, watching Phillip, "should just come and sit down. Let him stand out there, confused as always. I'm sure he's used to it by now."

"I have a better idea, Chloe dear. I'll just go out there and ask him what he wants."

Chloe almost shouted no, but was able to calmly say it. "Look, I'll go and then we can all just continue what we were doing."

"I haven't stopped, dear," Craig said, close to giving up with his son and moving on to a game of truck racing.

Chloe got up, motioning for Nancy to take a seat. Walking to the door, she took a deep breath before throwing it open. "What do you want," she bit out in a low voice.

"Jesus," Phillip jumped, not knowing where she'd come from. "You scared the sh--"

"My parents are right inside," Chloe interrupted, cutting off his foul language. How could she ever have thought Phillip to be a nice guy. It just proved how much she knew about guys in general.

Looking behind her for signs of the elder Wesley's, Phillip was at a loss for what to say.

Spotting Mr. Teddy in his hands, she told him "Just give me the bear," and snatched the small stuffed animal from his hands. "Thank you very much," she told him in anything but a thankful tone. Standing back, she began to close the door before Phillip took a step in, blocking her action.

"Just wait a minute, okay," Phillip asked in an urgent tone.

"What," Chloe asked again.

Still on the lookout for her parents, Phillip decided he would have a better chance without their interference. "Can I just talk to you for a minute?"

"Talk then," Chloe said, not letting go of her hostility towards him.

"Not here," Phillip told her in a hushed voice. "Somewhere we won't be interrupted."

"Look, I was in the middle of something," Chloe lied, something she wasn't expert in but could always make an exception for the great Phillip Kiriakis.

"What, painting your room black," Phillip joked before he could even think of what he was saying.

"That's it," Chloe said, ready to shut the door on his whole body if it came down to it.

"I'm sorry, okay. It slipped. Really Chloe, I need help."

"Then go ask some of your friends, there are probably a hundred girls who would be willing to help you out."

"But none of them were recommended by Farris. You were. Look, I'm sorry all right. I know what I said the other day was mean, and Belle told me that you cried, and that wasn't my intention at all."

A horrified expression came over Chloe's face. Belle had told him she'd been upset? God! "I wasn't crying over you Phillip Kiriakis. I just had a bad day in general and was letting off some steam."

"Whatever Chloe--"

"And, Phillip, I don't think you have any honest intentions. I think this is just another prank you're trying to pull over me. And seriously, I think one and a half years of jokes, name calling, and other stupid pranks has been more than enough to soothe yours and your so called friends lagging egos. I'm sick of it and I'm sick of you, so why don't we just call this one a win for the popular kids and you leave me alone for the rest of the year?" Without waiting for an answer, Chloe shoved hard on the door, effectively pushing Phillip out of the way and closing it. Turning, she ran up the stairs, needing to calm down.

Outside, Phillip just stared at the door that had been shut in his face, amazed.

From within the house, Craig continues to play with Nigel, having heard most of Chloe's conversation with Phillip, but deciding to stay out of it. For now, anyway.

"I think I should go and--"

"--get Nigel some juice," Craig expertly diverts her attention. "Chloe will be fine."

As Nancy heads off to the kitchen, she prays to God that Craig was right.