I hope you enjoy reading this short story. Warning, I'm still writing and editing this story therefore the ending is still up in the air. There may not be a happy ending to this story like there is to my other stories. I wanted to try something different.

This is the fantasy world I created because I'm patiently waiting for HH season 2. I don't own any rights to Hollywood Heights storyline or characters.

Keeping Secrets Chapter 1

The Parole Hearing

I can't believe it's been five years since Chloe was sentenced to prison. I didn't expect this day to come so soon. I hope Chloe will continue to keep our secret if she's granted parole today. I've been happily married for five years and this secret can change that.

Once a month for the past five years, I've visited Chloe in prison and no one knows. I'm surprised my family never caught on to my visits to the women's correctional facility. I'm even more surprised that the paparazzi never caught on.

Prison life was really hard for her. The other inmates bullied her and kicked her ass more than a few times. She was almost rapped once. That is when I started visiting her. She called me one evening I was at home alone working on a new song and almost didn't answer the call but I'm glad I did.

"Please don't hang up," Chloe pleads when I answer.

"Why are you calling me?" I ask.

"I needed someone to talk to and you're the first person I thought of," Chloe says crying.

"Why me? What makes you think I have anything to say to you?" I ask.

Chloe starts sobbing on the phone, "they tried to rape me," she says through her tears. "Two women held me down while another one tried to rape me; a guard walked by at the right time. I've been moved to a different cell block," she continues to cry; "if they had succeeded I would have killed myself afterwards."

I'm shocked; I take a deep breath before I say anything, "I'm sorry that happened to you, no one deserves that. When did this happen?" I ask.

"Today," Chloe whispers. "I've been in here for six months and I've been bullied, beat up, and now almost rapped. I'm not going to survive five years and that's if I'm paroled in five years."

I feel sorry for her. I don't think she's ever had to physically fight for her life but if she's going to survive five years in prison she's going to have to toughen up. "Look Chloe," I begin, "you can't let them see you cry. They will think you're weak and an easy target. Save the tears for your pillow."

"That's easy for you to say. You don't know what it's like for me in here. It's not like I'm this nobody who committed a crime and was sentence to prison. Everyone knows who I am and what I've done. The lies, the cheating, the false accusations, the accident; they go out of their way to remind me every day that I'm a horrible person," she cries.

"Why am I the first person you thought of?" I ask.

"For once in my life, I want someone to get to know the real me. Cynthia Kowalski not Chloe Carter. I want that someone to be you," she says. "Will you come visit me?" Chloe asks.

"I can't visit you," I say.

"Yeah, I know. The paparazzi will post pictures of you entering and leaving. Jake will have a stroke behind it. Your marriage would be in jeopardy, your family will be mad and your fans will not understand," she says crying again.

I think about how true her statement is. I stand to lose the love of my life, my family and friends, my fans. "I'll find a way to visit you," I hear myself say. I need to make sure Chloe is okay; that she will survive prison life I say to convince myself.

That statement sealed my fate, I made a conscious decision to visit Chloe Carter; I'm happy I did. Chloe has become a friend and I've been able to hide our friendship from everyone for five years.

Chloe walks into the hearing room of the women's correctional facility where she's lived for the past five years. She looks at her mom and gives her a small smile but does not look at anyone else in the room. She sits at the table facing the parole committee waiting to hear their decision.

"Miss. Carter, you are here today because you've submitted your application for parole. The committee has reviewed your application and read your file. We have also read statements from the victim's family and friends including a statement written by your accomplice, Mr. Tyler Rorke. One letter in particular helped us make our decision," a reviewer states.

Chloe takes a deep breath and close her eyes, "this is it," she thinks to herself, "if they deny my parole I will take my life tonight. I can't survive another five years in this hell hole. Even though the monthly visits helped me tremendously, I can't do another five years in here."

Chloe sneaks a quick look in my direction, I offer a quick supportive smile before anyone sees me.

"Miss. Cater," another reviewer begins, "we, the parole committee, has come to a unanimous decision to grant you parole."

Chloe puts her face in her hands and begins to cry.

"I wish I can go over and comfort her. I really worried that she would harm herself if the decision went the other way."

"Ms. Carter, you will have to meet with your parole officer once a month for the next five years. You will be released within twenty-four hours," the last reviewer says.

Chloe stands and turns to face us, we briefly make eye contact again before she hugs her mom. My family and Tyler quietly exit the building and get into the back of the Escalade.

"I wonder which letter helped them make their decision," Nora says.

"I know it wasn't mine," Max says, "I still think Chloe needs to serve her full ten year sentence."

"I just hope she has changed," Tyler says. "We've all moved on with our lives. I just hope Chloe can too. Maybe Jackie will convince her to go back to Fresno and start over. She has nothing left in Hollywood."

I never considered that possibility. Could we remain friends if she moved to Fresno? If she stays in LA then I can figure out a way for us to still be friends. Hell I've done it for five years, I know I can do it for five more.

"Eddie, Loren, you two are quiet. How do you feel about Chloe getting out?" Max asks.

"I wish her the best and hope she can move on with her life," Loren says.

"I agree," Eddie says.

I know at some point I have to tell them that Chloe and I have been friends for the past five years. Now isn't the right time. I hope they understand why I started visiting her and hope they find it in their hearts to forgive me. I turn and look at the one person in this world I can't live without. My heart fills with love. I don't regret my actions, I just wish I had been open and honest about my once a month visits. As soon as the car drops us off at the house, I go upstairs and pull out my other cellphone; the one I purchased after I visited Chloe a few times. I didn't want to take any chances with someone finding out about our friendship. I make a phone call with my other cellphone, "I need to arrange for a car to pick up Chloe Carter from the women's correctional facility tomorrow afternoon and drop her off at her old condo," I whisper. "Also arrange for security guards to be posted outside of her condo. Make sure there is food in the refrigerator and cabinets; and she has anything else she needs."

Who befriended Chloe five years ago? Tell me what you think. ~jm~