And here is my shot at Lilianna.S's TNLOCK challenge! :3
Chloe started her afternoon like any other, taking her job at Varese. She actually managed to make it on time today. Brian had been there, waiting for her when she stepped in.
"Oh, hi!" She stepped towards him, grabbing the second coffee from his hands. He smiled and replied with his own greeting. "Were you waiting for me?" He nodded shyly.
"Hope that's not weird or anything, I just-" He paused and gave her a smile. "I wanted to see you." Chloe bit her lip and blushed. She glanced down at her phone.
"And as great as seeing you was, I have to get to work now! Thank you so much for the coffee, Brian." She leaned forward and gave him a small hug, which he reciprocated. He left shortly after and Chloe made her way to her check-in. Today was going to be a long day. With that thought, she started on her work.
She sighed and let her eyes drift over to the coffee shop while still writing prices onto tags. He eyes caught onto something. No, someone.
"Valentina?" She almost dropped the blouse she had in her hands. Valentina smiled and walked towards the blonde.
"Hello, Chloe."
"What are you doing here? Is everyone alright?" Chloe peeked behind Valentina and saw neither Alek or Jasmine.
"Everyone is fine, Uniter. I just have to talk to you. Is there anyway you can step away from your job for a moment?" Valentina asked her, looking around. "It seems that no one will miss you too much." The older woman smiled again. Chloe looked around. It was true, there was not a single person inside the store.
"Umm, I guess I could." She could only hope Lana wouldn't hate her too much. She finished her tag and hung the blouse up. She snatched her shoulder bag and keys to the store, making her way to Valentina. "Where to?" She escorted the woman from the store, making sure to lock up both doors before leaving.
"Back to the apartment." She stated simply. They made their way to the building with a silence and that was very awkward. At least for Chloe. She decided to question Valentina when she saw the woman giving no further information.
"So, everyone is alright? No one's hurt?" Chloe glanced up to see the woman's face when she answered.
"Everyone is fine, Chloe. I told you that before. It's just some simple Mai business I need to discuss with you." The petite blonde nodded and continued walking. She could only hope everyone was surely fine, as she had been told. This was so odd. The only time Valentina ever made contact with Chloe on her own was when they found Scarface. She stumbled.
"Valentina, is there another assassin?" Valentina stopped and sighed.
"Chloe, there is no danger. Not for you, not for anyone. This is just a business discussion that we will do when we make it back to our building." The look in Valentina's eyes told her not to ask anything more. Chloe just continued walking, falling back into the silence that was there before. There was no talk until the two made there way through the door of the apartment.
"Jasmine, Alek, please come out here. We need to talk about something." Chloe was still sort of scared. What was this all about? She saw Alek first and felt the familiar tug at her stomach. She sighed. Then she saw Jasmine, looking just as business-like as her mother. She smiled at the two and saw Jasmine barely give anything back. Alek, on the other hand, gave her a smirk. She felt his eyes eyeing her up and down. What she would give to just go up and smack him.
"What is it, mom?" Jasmine took a seat on the couch and Alek sat beside her. Chloe realized neither of them knew what was going on either. Chloe sat down on the chair nearest her. Valentina stayed standing.
"We have to talk." She stated seriously. "We have an issue within our pride and others."
"I thought you said no one was hurt?" Chloe sat up, now very alert.
"And I assure you Chloe, no one is." She took a seat in the chair that would only seat one. There was silence until she spoke again. "Why is everyone acting so scared? Nothing is going on, to cause anyone danger." Everyone pretty much let out a breath. Again, everyone waited until she would explain further. "Chloe, as you know, I am the leader of the San Francisco Pride. As for other prides, they find it unfair that this pride gets to be the place you call home." Chloe looked confused. Jasmine nodded in understanding, apparently knowing where this was going. Alek stared at Valentina, eyes narrowing.
"So, they think it's unfair that she was born here?" Alek sat up now. He looked over at Chloe, who was staring at him. She blushed and looked down.
"Well, not exactly. They just think it's unfair that she is staying with our pride, instead of exploring the other prides. They think we're the one's keeping her here." She looked at me. "They want her to leave for a while, living in other prides." Chloe practically jumped out of her seat.
"Valentina, I don't want to leave!" Chloe paused and took a deep breath. "There is no way I can leave. This is my home." Chloe couldn't help but feel her eyes dampen. She didn't want to leave this place. She'd been here since she could remember, living in the same house. She couldn't just pick up and go. "What would we tell my mom?" She kept her voice from breaking and wiped her eyes before any tears could fall. She groaned.
"I was going to figure that out later. Look, Chloe, I'm not going to let them just take you out of our pride like that." Chloe sat back down and hid her face in her arm. Alek fought the urge to go and comfort her. Jasmine did the same.
"What are you talking about now?" Her muffled voice came through. She didn't mean to sound angry, but she was.
"I have a plan." She stated like she wasn't talking about Chloe getting taken away.
"What is it?" Chloe brought her head up, thankful no tears had fallen. She pushed them away.
"I know, for a fact, people cannot be taken away from prides if they are in love with another Mai." Chloe nodded, but she was confused. She wasn't in love with another Mai. She wasn't in love with anyone.
"But I'm not in love with anyone." Chloe informed her.
"I didn't think so, but that's why this a plan. I have a way to keep you here, but only if you agree. You have to be willing to do stuff you may not want to do." Valentina sat up and looked right at Chloe, who was now very scared.
"What are you talking about?" She spoke quietly, not sure if she wanted to know the answer. The woman sighed.
"Chloe, I'm planning on making it seem like you are in love with another Mai." Chloe looked confused, once again. Jasmine felt Alek become tense beside her. "Obviously, I'm going to have to find a male Mai, willing to pretend to be with you." Jasmine glanced at Alek and saw his jaw clench. His eyes were closed, and Jasmine saw that he was trying to stay calm.
"Wait," Chloe breathed in. "Are you saying I am going to have to pretend to be in love with someone I don't even know?" Chloe kept her voice calm, thought she felt like screaming.
"Not necessarily. I have someone in mind." Valentina's eyes drifted over to Alek, who had managed to go back to his regular self. Chloe followed her gaze and nearly gasped.
"Alek? You want me to pretend to love Alek?" Chloe stood and missed a flash of hurt go across Alek's face. "You people are impossible! There is no way that would ever work!" Chloe started to make her way to the door, but Alek stood and ran to her side.
"Chloe, look." He gently grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to face him. Her face was full of anger. "Don't think of it as that. Think of it as you needing to stay in the pride. You do want to stay, don't you?" He masked the way he really felt, and grabbed onto reality. He needed her to see the real reason behind this wasn't to torture her.
"Of course I want to stay! But acting like I'm in love with you, trying to stay in this pride...It's all just-" She couldn't find words to describe it. He let his hand drift down her arm, and slipped his hand into hers.
"I know. Unbelievable that you get to act like your in love with me. I mean, who wouldn't already be in love with me?" He smirked and she rolled her eyes. She hoped he didn't notice the warmth that crept onto her neck and cheeks. She pulled her hand from his and looked down.
"What about everyone else? Being at school, having to see my mom? They're all going to know something is up." Chloe walked past Alek and sat down on her previous spot.
"I've already thought about this. For the most part, I think I have it figured out. I will be taking all three of you out of school for 4 months." Chloe's jaw went slack.
"Wh-what? 4 months? How long do we need?!" Chloe yelled a bit, but made no move to run. The other three were thankful for that.
"As long as it takes to make the others see that you really are in love." Chloe couldn't help but want to correct her. She wasn't in love. "The other prides are giving you 4 months to prove that you really want to stay, and that you really are in love. You have to want this Chloe. You have to show them that this is where you want to live your life." Chloe nodded. "At the end of every month, we will be having a small gathering. People from all different prides will be invited to see that this is your home. No to mention there will be other males around your age coming in to make sure there is no hoax going on." Valentina gave her the run down. Chloe took a deep breath.
"And I guess I'll be staying here, these next 4 months too?" Valentina nodded. "You'll be sharing a room with Alek."
"What?" Both Chloe and Alek shouted. They looked at each other and back at Valentina.
"Not only with you too be in love, but you are also engaged." The color drained out of Alek's face as Chloe gasped.
"I'm 16! I can't get married!" Chloe shouted. Valentina ignored her comment.
"At the end of these 4 months, we will have a wedding. You and Alek's wedding. I'm planning on inviting people that you get along with best at these small gatherings." This time, Alek spoke up.
"Look, Valentina, I want Chloe to stay in this pride just as much next person, but don't you think you're going a bit too far? Why can't we just tell them we're in love. If we were in love, we wouldn't have to prove anything to them. And what happens at the end of these 4 months, when they agree to letting her stay? The we're stuck being married to each other." He ran his hand through his hair, breathing deeply.
"I promise you, everything will work out. I just need to you to act like an engaged couple. Go on a few dates maybe. When we have guests, which we will be having, you will have to act like you're in love." Alek sat back into the couch and closed his eyes. Jasmine place a hand on his shoulder. Chloe stayed quiet, not wanting to say anything more. But she had one question.
"What about-" She paused not sure how to word it. She saw everyone's eyes on her and blushed. "What about doing things that couples do?" She tried. The three of them looked confused.
"I told you, you will go on dates. A few things here and there. Chloe, trust me, I've thought this through." Chloe sighed.
"That's not what I meant. Aren't they gonna notice when two engaged people don't do anything - anything physical? Like, kissing or hugging or anything?" She didn't dare to look at Alek's expression.
"That is just something you two will have to come to on your own. When the time is right, you will act that way." If Chloe would have looked at Alek, she would have seen a huge smirk on his face. Chloe sighed.
"And my mother? What will I be telling her?" She sat back.
"Tonight, when you go home, I'll conveniently call you and ask if it's alright for me to come over with Jasmine. From there, I'll explain how I need to bring you on a trip with Jasmine and I. Assuming that she won't appreciate Alek being with you, we won't mention him." Alek chuckled. "I will tell her how Jasmine and you both need to go with me to New York, for educational purposes. I will tell the school the same thing, only mentioning Alek this time." Chloe nodded and looked at Alek and Jasmine. The both nodded also. "Well, I think I covered everything. You can go home now Chloe, I will call you soon." With that, Valentina got up and walked to what Chloe guessed was her room. walked over to Chloe.
"Don't worry about everything too much, okay? I'll be right beside you the whole way. Think of it as a girls getaway, not including Alek." Jasmine sent Alek a smirk, and Alek sent her a glare. Chloe laughed and nodded. Before Jasmine walked away, Chloe hugged her. Jasmine left the room, leaving only Chloe and Alek.
"You sure you're okay with this?" Chloe asked him.
"I'm fine. Trust me. I don't think I mind getting to spend 4 months at home, with you." He smirked and she rolled her eyes.
"Then I'll see you soon." Chloe made her way to the door, waving at Alek as she left.
This is definitely going to be a long day.
Well, I tried! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Please review and tell me what you think of it so far! (: I will try to update frequently on this and my other story! :D
~Maria xoxo