Friday 8th March
Chapter One
Chloe's POV
Chloe closed her eyes to relax as she curled up on the couch. The Brennan house was empty, a rare occurrence. Aaron and David had gone out for the evening to spend some time together. Mark...well Mark had disappeared a couple days ago. Mark's best friend, Sonya, had passed away on Tuesday afternoon after an incredibly short fight with cancer and by Wednesday morning before anyone had awoken in the household Mark had packed a bag and taken off to who knows where. He left a one sentence note to the family and his fiancé, Elly, that he needed time and not to worry about him.
Classic Mark, not one with words or any understanding that we'd like to at least know where he is, Chloe thought.
After a tough week Chloe was looking forward to ordering in some dinner for herself. She'd already poured herself a glass of wine and downed it. The second glass was half empty. The front door opened. Chloe exhaled.
Ten whole minutes to myself in this house, I should've felt lucky to get that.
Chloe knew it was Elly without looking up at her, there's just something about the way her brother's fiancé quietly puts her keys back in her handbag, closes the front door behind her, locks it and takes her shoes off, placing them in the pile by the door.
The guys all cause a ruckus with the simplest task of entering the house. Chloe sat back on the couch, Elly's not here for a quick visit to check if Mark's back if she's taken her shoes off. Just breathe and be casual about Mark been the inconsiderate moron that he is to leave her. Don't be desperate and tell Elly Mark's an idiot for the way he treats her.
"Hey Elly," Chloe greeted without looking at the brunette.
Elly moved to sit down on the couch next to her best friend, throwing her handbag at the single sofa seat, sighing when it missed and landed on the floor instead. Not bothering to pick it back up from where it lay, Elly plunked herself on the couch, "How did you know that was me?"
'Cause I notice the small things, Chloe thought to herself before finally looking at Elly and answering, "Aaron and David are out on a quiet date night spending some quality time together after everything that happened this week...and Mark is...not here."
Elly laid her arm along the top of the couch, "Have you heard from him? He won't answer my texts or calls. I just want to know where he is."
Chloe shifted on the couch so she was facing Elly, Damn she's beautiful! How can Mark treat her like this? Focus Chloe Brennan, she's marrying your brother, "You're not alone in that, we don't know where he is. I'm sure he's fine, he's just struggling but he'll be back. He has to be, he's got a wedding to attend next week and a beautiful bride walking down the aisle to marry him."
Did you have to call her beautiful? Maybe she didn't notice.
Elly didn't mention it but Chloe was surprised to see Elly's lips move almost in a smile.
A half smile, okay a quarter smile. As her best friend I should be trying to make her smile when she's so upset, this is perfectly normal...argh what is so normal about been in love with your brother's fiancé and this sharp pain in my heart when I know Elly shouldn't be treated like this by the person she loves?
"I should've seen this coming; he's been distant for weeks. Mark's never been able to open up to me. He doesn't even care about key parts of our wedding. Seems that talking to Kate's gravestone has been the only thing that has got him to express himself. I've always been fifth priority for Mark, maybe sixth," Elly admitted quietly.
Chloe didn't need Elly to elaborate. Mark's first love was always Kate. Then there was Paige who he arrested on their wedding day instead of marrying her. Caitlyn, the baby he was going to raise with Steph who Sonya was surrogate for until she miscarried. Caitlyn and Steph came as a bundle even though his love for Steph wasn't as strong as the other women. Chloe thought it was a toss-up between herself, Aaron, Tyler, David and their mum or Sonya as Mark's next priorities.
The Brennan family as a priority in Mark's life is one thing; Elly should never have to feel like she's living in the shadow of all the rest of these people in Mark's past. Chloe grimaced; I can't believe I just included Sonya in the word 'past'. It's not fair, she shouldn't be gone so young.
Elly broke the silence, "How are you doing? With the whole situation of Mel trying to burn down the garage and going on the run after you went to the police about her?"
Why does she do that? Putting aside all the pain she's in over Mark to worry about me and what Mel has put me through. It would be easier if Elly just said "Told you so" then want me to open up to her about how betrayed I feel. Elly knew the whole time that Mel was bad news and was going to hurt me but I didn't listen to her. I was so focused on Mel's attention as I thought that would allow me to move on from my feelings for Elly that I didn't see what was right in front of me. Mel is still a ruthless bitch.
Before Chloe could answer, Elly's phone alerted her to a text message. Elly shifted from the couch, sat down in front of the couch on the floor and leaned over to her handbag to pull out her phone. Chloe exhaled as she looked away from the way Elly's dress clung to her. With Elly on the floor, Chloe lounged out on the couch, lifting and stretching her leg where Elly was just sitting. Chloe was brought out of her relaxation by Elly's voice.
"I can't marry you. The wedding can't go ahead next week. Mark," Elly stated in shock then shrieked, "A text message to break off our wedding! An effing text message? Not even an effing apology. Who the hell tells someone they can't marry them by text message?"
Chloe sat up, staring at the brunette seated below her.
Calm. You need to calm her and stop Elly from panicking. Then go and whack Mark a good one the second he comes home. What the hell, bro? Distant and unemotional ass. You should've called her...no you should've come home and told her face to face that you are breaking off the wedding...they're not getting married...I don't have to stand off to the side of the altar and watch the woman I love marry my brother...Damn it focus Chloe! Now is not the time to see any positives in Elly's heartache.
Chloe placed a hand on Elly's shoulder, "I'm sure Mark doesn't mean it. Give him a few minutes and then call him. I'm positive Mark is not thinking right at this moment, he wants to marry you, he loves you. The second he hears your voice he is going to realise what a mistake that message was and that the only thing in the world he wants is you."
Elly threw her phone at the sofa seat, "I don't want to talk to him after that. Have the balls to tell me face to face he doesn't want to be with me. Break up with me in person and be here to cancel the wedding instead of leaving me to do it."
Chloe squeezed Elly's shoulder, "Mark never said that he doesn't want to be with you."
"Mark doesn't have to. For once he is not closing himself to me; he's making himself perfectly clear. He doesn't want to be with me," Elly responded desperately, "I should be glad Mark's finally being honest with me."
"Mark wants to be with you, he wants to marry you!" Chloe declared with enough positive exclamation to prove that she was not going to degrade her brother's treatment of the woman she loved, "How could he not?"
Elly turned around to face Chloe, as Chloe's hand still lingered on her shoulder, Elly looked up at her best friend, "Mark has never let me in, he's always shut me out, this wasn't a message that he wants to postpone the wedding. The wedding is off and we're over. I'm done letting him treat me this way."
Chloe dragged her thumb around in circles along Elly's shoulder, trying to comfort her without getting too close and making Elly think she could ever make a move on her in this situation. In any situation! Elly doesn't have feelings for you. "You don't mean that. You love Mark. He loves you. Give him a moment to deal with what he's just done. You'll be stronger from this by tomorrow I promise you."
Wait, what is Elly doing? Chloe stared as Elly reached her arms towards Chloe's shoulders, one hand resting on each shoulder. Oh, she's going to reach up and hug me...as a friend...seeking comfort from me as her friend...except she hasn't hugged me. She can't, she doesn't want to confuse me, I know nothing will ever happen. Chloe could see Elly was holding back her tears. Anger turns into sadness.
"Why can't someone put me first?" Elly asked in the smallest voice that could barely be heard even in the empty house.
Chloe swallowed, 'Someone.' Not Mark. Not using the pronoun for a guy, just simply 'someone.' God, stop thinking for even a second she could ever be attracted to you. Think about her. Make her see that one day Mark will be able to do this for her. And if he doesn't...screw him, he doesn't deserve to be with an absolute princess like you. Elly you have no idea how much I would put you first if I...I would do anything in the world to make you smile. Make you happy. Make you feel safe and complete. Make you feel like the only person in the world-
"You would, wouldn't you?" Elly whispered interrupting Chloe's racing thoughts.
Fuck. Did I say all that out loud? Fuck I don't think I did. I'm sure I didn't...good God I didn't have to say it. Elly read my mind, every damn thought is written all over your face you idiot. She knows you better than you know yourself. Why are you so hopelessly in love with her? You don't stand a chance of ever getting to put her firs-
Chloe's entire world spun on its axis and all thoughts left her mind as without warning Elly's lips were on hers.
Chloe's mind soon resumed racing - What the hell! Is this really happening? It can't be...damn her lips are soft...I'm not imagining this am I?
The kiss lasted two seconds but to Chloe it felt like an eternity. Elly pulled away. Chloe didn't want to open her eyes, didn't want to see the look on Elly's face that told her she's seeking comfort from the wrong person and this will never happen again. Then Chloe realized Elly's breath was so close to her lips, she had pulled away but not completely, only millimetres.
Elly kissed Chloe a second time, this time a few seconds longer. It was gentle, soft, and chaste. Chloe braved opening her eyes this time when they parted. Chloe could see the confusion all over Elly's face. She's going to freak any second now...be calm...allow her to freak and then work out how you're ever going to face Mark again because kissing his fiancé once is a problem, three times is a mess.
"I thought you wanted this," Elly whispered in confusion.
Wait, what? How could she possibly think I don't want this...? I mean I don't because I do not want to hurt Mark and destroy my family but this is the one thing I've wanted for months now...wait why isn't she freaking out? She's still hovering so close to me, I can feel her breath on mine.
"I...I do...want this," Chloe stammered, then looking away. Elly slid her arms from Chloe's shoulders to hold her face gently, "But you don't. You're in pain and you're hurting and you're-"
Fucking kissing me again! Why aren't you freaking out at me, Elly, like every damn time I remind you of my feelings for you? Why can't you see what this is doing to me? Why are you kissing me...again!?
The two broke apart again, this time, Elly pressed her forehead against Chloe's, "I want this too, okay? I don't want to be with someone who won't put me first, who won't make me smile, make me feel safe and happy." Jeepers maybe she can read my mind. Not the point, Chloe. "You do all those things and I've been completely blind to it. You've been right in front of me the whole time."
Chloe held Elly's face in her hands, willing herself to resist believing her wildest dreams were coming true or that she could be the type of person who would implode her entire family by allowing herself to kiss Elly again. She didn't have to.
Elly kissed her again, this time deeper and with a little more desire.
Four times! She's kissed me four effing times. I'm still ruining everything in my life by allowing this. Except her. Except my feelings for Elly. That's the one thing I'm not ruining by allowing her to kiss me.
Chloe sighed gently into the kiss as she felt Elly's tongue dance along her lips, seeking to deepen the kiss further. Chloe allowed her to. Soon they were fighting each other, not wanting to allow their kiss to weaken. Still fighting for control in their kiss, without a word, Elly shifted from her spot on the floor looking up at Chloe, and nestled herself back on the couch with her legs over Chloe's right leg, Chloe's left leg still hung to the side of the couch. Elly held onto Chloe tightly finally allowing the blonde control over their passionate kiss.
Chloe smiled as they broke apart as she realised I can't feel terrible anymore over this. The girl I love may actually have feelings for me.
They held each other close, delicately kissing for what felt like hours.
Chloe was disappointed when Elly broke away from her again at the sound of another text to Elly's mobile.
I should've known this wouldn't last. It'll be Mark apologizing and the wedding will be back on and Elly will forget the last hour ever happened. Elly ignored the phone. Instead she stood up and reached for Chloe's hand.
And here's where she'll break my heart. Any second now... Chloe took Elly's hand and to her complete surprise Elly didn't stand in front of her and break her heart into a million pieces.
Elly led Chloe away from the lounge room to Chloe's bedroom.
