Chloe walked home feeling exceptionally giddy. It was new and she wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it. She and Rachel parted ways soon after their little incident in the woods, and even though their exchange was small. It felt nice and strangely right. For her status as the rich popular girl from school she was nothing like Victoria Chase. If Victoria ever witnessed her having a panic attack she would more or less film it and spread it across Arcadia, labelling her the town mental case. Rachel was different. She stayed. Which confused the hell out of her but she was grateful.
The blue sky began to fade, transforming into a golden-yellow. The evening setting. To her misfortune, her good mood got demolished into tiny pieces when she saw David's car still parked in their driveway. Crap. Why was this asshole still here?
Clearly she hadn't been through enough crap today.
When she entered her invaded home, expecting an unpleasant welcome from Soldier shit-face with his deep scowl and commanding voice she got nothing. The delicious scent of her mom's spaghetti hit her senses and she sighed. She hadn't had spaghetti in ages. The soft pasta, layered with thick favourable sauce, a sprinkle of cheese at the top. It was heaven. She had half a mind to sneak herself a bowl up to her room.
"David?" And ultimately that feeling was crushed by her mother's call. Sauntering around the corner to the kitchen she made herself known.
"Nope. Just your dysfunctional daughter. Sorry to disappoint." Eying her mom suspiciously, Chloe took in her attire. She looked nice. Minus the apron around her waist the burgundy blouse with a rich red wine colour matched up with the black skirt, heels and hoop earings. She hasn't looked this good since her and dad's date nights. To occupied draining the spaghetti she didn't face her. "You're not dysfunctional, Chloe."
The teen rolled her eyes. "Right just, 'in desperate need of discipline and training so I become a respectful citizen of America.'" Mocking David's deep grumble she poised her body stiff and straight, raising her hand level with her forehead she gave a sarcastic salute. Flipping off an imaginary audience. "Isn't that what Military Martin's pitching to you."
"David's just concerned about you."
"Concerned my ass." She snorted.
"Well maybe if the two of you tried to get along then there would be a chance to- Oh my God." Joyce cut herself off the second she turned around. Almost dropping everything in her hands, she gasped.
"What?" Alarmed with her mother's sudden outburst she jumped.
"You're eye." She pointed out. Giving her a puzzled look Chloe sped towards the mirror by the door. What she saw confirmed what had her mom so worried in the first place. A dark purplish bruise was revealing itself on the surface of pale skin, a horrible contrast between the two shades, it settled underneath her left ear. So obvious. Now that she was aware of it she full recognized the throbbing pain that came with its displeasing look. "Did you get into a fight? Are you being bullied?"
"What? No." Quickly shutting down her mother's conclusions, the connection to where this mysterious bruise came from clicked in an instant. From that fucking tree branch she ran into in the forest. Well done super clutz. She scolded herself. Frantically racking her brain for some sort of answer she went with the first thing that popped into her mind. "Door..." She blurted out. From the reflection she saw Joyce's expression turn from concerned to blank. "I wasn't watching where I was going and one of the doors at school hit me in the face. Didn't see it coming."
"A door..." It was more the obvious she was lying, you would have to have a few missing brain cells to belive her. "Chloe if something's going on you can tell me." Was this it. Was this the moment she was gonna tell her mum everything thing, skipping class, the woods, Damon... what she saw. Her pulse was beating so hard against her neck she thought it might burst, on the verge of breaking down and spilling everything the words were on the tip of her tongue.
"Nope." She lied. Giving her a sheepish smile she made a show of her limbs. "Honestly Mom i'm fine. See no broken bones."
After one long calculated look Joyce sighed in defeat. "Alright Chloe."
"So," rubbing the back of her neck Chloe attempted to steer the conversation. "What's gotten you all dressed up. Finally leave David in the dust for another guy."
"Chloe, David's not going anywhere." Yet. She was still coming up with 50 different ways to kidnap him and leave him for dead without looking like a main suspect. "Besides dressing up is key for keeping a relationship fresh and interesting. You'll understand when you fall in love." Mentally Chloe gagged at the idea of her mother and David confessing their undying love.
Faking offense, Chloe placed both hands over her chest like she'd been shot. "Oh mother, haven't I told you I've already found love." With a dreamy sigh she gazed into the with dopey eyes. "Pale and delicate. One with the earth. A heavenly scent of herbs making me feel so peacefully. Vibrant shade of green on the inside. And when our lips meet my throat burns in glory. Weed certainly is the love of my life."
"I wish you wouldn't joke about stuff like that."
"I wish Blackhell would burn. But i'm not ready for jail yet." To that Joyce sighed.
"Go stir the sauce in the pot for me please, I'll be right back. Try not to burn anything." Without further explanation Joyce hurried upstairs, leaving no room for Chloe to protest her shoulders slumped heavily. Hunched over the silver pot she stirred it lazily, she could hear her mother rummaging around on the second floor. Steam hitting her face the sauce began to bubble, getting a full whiff hitting her senses she sighed. Dad loved spaghetti. He loved food in general. She remembered their baking sessions in the kitchen with Max. Cakes, cookies and pizzas. Mom would always scowl at them for making a mess while dad would try and calm her with his silly humour.
She's just jealous we cook way better than her. He would mutter. Then she would giggle in agreement. Hell yeah
She smiled at the memory, warmth spreading within her thinking of those bright blue eyes and goofy grin. "Joyce, honey." A hard voice spoke out and her bubble of calmness popped. Why does every good moment she had get ruined.
His boots thudded down the short hall. Turning into the kitchen he stopped. A rose in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other he sent her a deep frown. She made sure to send her most challenging glare back. "Where's your mother." He asked thickly. The atmosphere turned even tenser than before she took her time answering. Stiring the pot in a slow motion she could sense he was quickly becoming impatient. "Upstairs." Clicking the stove off she set the spoon down. "Probably thinking off the best way to dump your ass and kick you to the curb."
"Sorry to stamp on you parade, Girlie, but I'm here to stay." With heavy feet he marched over to the fridge, brushing past her she squirmed. The warm tasty scent of the sauce was replaced with the pungent smell of his overused cologne. A strong harsh musk similar to gasoline. Putting as much distance as she could in the small kitchen, Chloe leaned against the door frame "Stop calling me that." She sneered.
"I'll call you damn well what I please."
"I guess two can play at that game sergeant dick-ward."
Whipping his head around the fridge door slammed to a close. "I'm over this defiant attitude of yours, Chloe." Both his hands clenched into fists and she raised a brow. If he was trying to intimidate her, he would have to try a lot harder than that.
"My attitude makes me special. Can't handle it? The door's over there."
He took a threatening step forward. "I will not have you insult me."
"I'm just telling you the truth, You're a piece of shit. Mom could do so much better."
"And you're a disgrace." She blinked at the harshness of his words but kept her face neutral. "You will respect me. You've enjoyed enough of a vacation from having a father figure around. And now that i'm here this behaviour needs to change! You will listen to me! you will follow the rules! And you-"
"I'll do whatever the fuck I like, asshole!" She bit back. "You could have worked side by side with the president and I still wouldn't give a shit. You're a loser. A pathetic hardass with no job, no use and no purpose. You don't even classify as a real man." With one quick motion her wrist was caught in his rough grasp. Tugging at her arm she ignored the Sharp pain. "Let me go!" With dark eyes he muttered deeply.
"I'll show you what a real man can do." In that moment looking into those devious eyes she didn't wanna push his buttons any further. The more his grip tightened the more anxious she became. "If you think that me being fatherless is some sort of 'vacation' you're more fucked up than I thought."
It was Joyce's hurried pace down the steps and high voice that broke them. "What's with all the yelling?" His grip loosened and she didn't hesitate to rip her arm away. Cuffing the area his hand was Chloe looked away. Rage and despair coiled up inside her that she wanted to scream. Throw furniture around and burn the offensive rose that sat on the counter.
A symbol of 'love' can quickly turn into an ashy pile of hate.
"Chloe?" Her mother's question went over her head. She was too pissed to respond.
Without sparing a glance at either of them, Chloe stormed out of the kitchen. Snatching up her jacket she barged passed the door, ricocheting off the wall. From behind she could hear Joyce's cries to come back but she wasn't having it. Not while he was still there. Making haste out of their neighbourhood those desperate calls faded into the distance. The cool air hitting her lungs she was on the verge of crying. As much as she willed herself not to cry her eyes started to water. What did mom see in that jackass. Her fingers gently rubbed around the spot David gripped, the only evidence was a red hand mark that would hopefully fade in time. She had never gotten him so mad to the point that he would grab her. If her mom didn't show up then who knows what could have happened next. She really didn't want to find out.
Her phone buzzed in her back pocket and she reluctantly pulled it out, expecting to see her mom's name flash up on the screen. Squinted slightly, she was surprised to see it read Justin's name instead. Wiping the tears that escaped she answered with a false cool demeanour. "Hey Justin, what's up?"
"Chloe!" He exclaimed in a hazy voice, follow by a bunch of giggles in the background. "Trevor brought some top-notch weed from his dealer, and let me tell you it's some good shit. You in?"
"Definitely. You're a life saver Justin, honestly." After the day she's been having she needed to relieve some stress.
"Awesome! We're at the skate park, under the ramps." Without hesitation she headed straight to the park. She hadn't been there in months, hasn't hung out with Justin for a while either. She kinda missed it. But this was just what she needed. A good smoke, a good laugh to forget every shitty detail of today. That warm golden glow in the sky vanished turning to pure darkness.
If you were a typical civilian walking through the streets you most likely would have missed the park completely. It blended so well in the night. Chloe has been there enough times to know it's hiding spot. She could hear the wheels gliding across the concrete, see the mist of thick smoke circling the ramps looking straight out a horror film. The scent of weed hit her with full force encouraging a dazed smirk from her.
"Chloe!" Justin greeted her gleefully. Emerging out of the smoke on his board. With a dopey smile he wheeled his way towards her.
"Hey Slacker. Is this where the party's at."
"Welcome," he bowed, "to skater central."
"I'm humbled." Bending down, Chloe sat on the a cold slab of concrete under the ramp, three bodies greeted her from the inside. "Trevor." He nodded in greeting. Trevor was never one to talk much but he was chill. As for the other two she wasn't familiar with them.
"Who's the chick." One of them rudely snarked at her.
"She's a friend." Justin stated coming up beside her, he took a long drag.
"Yeah, and this 'chick' has a name, Chloe."
"Whatever." He waved off. Wonder who pissed in this guys cereal.
"Stop being a big grump, Luke." He responded with a low grumble. The girl beside him narrowed her eyes, wrapping an arm around him she leaned into him possesively. Chloe rolled her own. "Here." Sticking his hand up, Justin offered a joint. "You look like you need it."
"You're not wrong." She took it from him gratefully. Slotting it between her lips she inhaled. Blowing it out slowly she felt her stress begin to filter away. Her own dopey smile formed. "Jesus. That is some good stuff." Justin giggled beside her.
"Hey, have you heard firewalks new album. It's insane!" Firewalk was probably her favourite band of all time. She would do just about anything to be in the same room as them. It was one of the many things her and Justin connected with.
"Fuck no."
"They released it the other day. Here listen." Unhooking his earphones Justin tapped away on his mp3 player till he found the right song, setting the device down in the centre an intense base blew through the speaker. Her head shook in beat with the drums, each instrument pumping her veins. Lyrics flowing past her ears sticking to her mind. It was what the rest of the night consisted of. Weed, music, cheap booze and skating. She danced and giggled her despair away for one night of freedom. One night of forgetting. But that emptiness was still there, tucked away deep within her.
Chloe forced her stiff limbs up the metal pipe that lead straight to her bedroom window, the morning Sun beating her into submission. Waking up on top of a ramp at the skate park at 6:30 am was not an ideal way to start the day. Her head hurt, her back hurt and her eyes felt sore. The last thing she remembered was Trevor diving head first into a dumpster and laughing herself silly before passing out. When she woke up she was left alone with Justin's oversized jacket and twenty missed calls from mom.
Completely forgetting her desk was occupied by a bunch of meaningless junk she stumbled onto it, the globe tilting forward and landing with and obnoxious thud. She sighed. So much for ultimate stealth mode. With lazy effort she bent down and picked it up, setting it back to its comfy spot she frowned. As much as you want to ditch Arcadia in the dust, you have no idea where you want to go.
She was pretty sure the whole household knew of her presence by now, most certainly her mom was waiting for her to come downstairs to chew her out followed by a long forceful day at school. So to say she wasn't exactly in a big rush. She took her time picking the right outfit for the day. Going over almost every shirt in her draw she settled with the dark crow that spread its wings at the centre, and some dark jeans. She was never one to wow anyone with fashion. Not that she was impressing anyone at Blackwell. However, she was feeling especially rough this day, looked even rougher thanks to the black eye that evolved into a dark purple under her eye. Booze or no booze she was amazed she was able to pass out at all after what happened yesterday.
There was no clicks of the oven, no food frying, no gruff voice demanding to be heard, not even a sneeze. The house hadn't been this quiet since dad died. Hopping off the last step she almost jumped when she saw her mother sitting at the table in her waitress uniform, her nails tapping against her mug full of tea, obviously waiting for her daughter's arrival. She moved to the fridge without saying a word. "Fifteen missed calls." She started, and Chloe couldn't help but roll her eyes. Let the ranting commence. "Do you have any idea how worried I was. Don't think I didn't hear you come in just now." Still paying no mind she poured herself a glass of orange juice, taking in big gulps. "I don't know what happened while I was upstairs but things excelled far too quickly, David was pretty agitated when you left so I think it's best if we all sit down and apologize-"
"I will not apologize to that asshole." Chloe fumed. Her glass clattered against the counter. She desperately wanted to cry out to her mum. Tell her she fucked up big getting involved with a deranged guy like David, tell her to pick her over him, tell her everything that happened yesterday. But even when these things were eating her out inside she knew she would be wasting her breath and she wouldn't believe her. Sometimes she couldn't believe this was what their relationship has come to. "I gotta go to school." She muttered gloomy. Without sparing her a glance she was out the door, just in time to see David pull up into their driveway. She definitely didn't want any part of him today. They both locked eyes and she gave him her best, don't even think about talking to me before I go over there and slash your tires look, which was enough make him look away.
With the little change she found in her pockets she took the bus to school. This was the first time she's actually willingly sent herself to the hellish depths of Blackwell, but anything was better than being at home. Even if she tried nailing her door with wooden planks David would get all the permission in the world to bust down her door with her mother standing idly by. She huffed out in frustration earning an odd look from the elderly couple a couple of rows ahead.
She wished just this once something good would happen to her.
"Blackwell!" The driver called out over his shoulder. Informing her that she reached her undesired destination he pulled up in front of the tall build.
Walking up the thick concrete steps the bell rang signalling the start of lessons. Many bodies from the outside flooded into the building. Group's attempting to finish their conversations before they got separated. Per usual she kept her self to herself, plugging her earphones in and boring a cold gaze at anyone who tried to make eye contact with her. She walked through the hallways with a sort of delinquent swagger that she mastered, it was a type of walk the kept almost everyone away. The loud bass of rock music was also good effect. Her entire existence could keep Wells scowling for the rest of his miserable life.
She almost tripped when she felt small fingers tap her shoulder. "Greetings rock star." Steph smiled up at her amused, plucking out one of her earphones her music could still be heard loud and clear through the tiny speaker. "Ready for another eventful day in glorious Blackwell." With a crude snort they walked in step with each other to their lesson.
"This place can suck ass. It'll be eventful if this place miraculously got shut down. Maybe I should tip someone in about Wells' drinking problem." Unable to stop herself Steph couldn't help the snicker that slipped out.
"Come one, Chloe, someone might hear."
"Don't act like it's not true." Playfully, she nudged her geeky companion. Enough force to have her small frame stumble to the side slightly. "Besides everybody knows it."
"Maybe so, but, if you found yourself putting a little effort in your school work then maybe you'd come to find all that negative stuff is almost hard to miss. Like a distraction." Steph was sweet, she really was. Always had something wise foretelling to say. But being convinced to focus on school work stopped working two years ago. Catching the beginning of Chloe's eye roll it was her turn to nudge her side. "Seriously Chloe come on, you would excel so well in science. I can hear you muttering the answers behind me. You're good. Better than good even."
"What are you hitting on me now." She joked weakly. She didn't like these conversations with people telling what she was and wasn't capable of doing. Her mom does it, David and now Steph. Frankly she wasn't sure what she was capable of anymore. I'm just a pathetic screw up.
"Ha ha. You're not my type. But you know who I wouldn't mind..." She trailed off, her speed slowing down to a hazy walk compared to Chloe's long strides she looked in the direction that captured Steph's attention. On the side to where they were walking in the mist of the rushing bodies of students was a small excluded huddle in their own little bubble. The usual gang of Blackwell's top snob took up one side of the hall having students step round them in annoyance, not one daring to say anything unless they wanted some of that Prescott wrath. With Victoria's arm draped over Nathan's shoulder and a couple of other random rich kids they all shared a condescending laugh. However, their superior arrogance was not what held her stare. It was just one person right in the centre of the small group. With her back against the lockers and her books held tightly against her chest. Long locks of golden blonde hair hung low past her shoulders. A single blue feather earring dangled beneath a few stray strands; Chloe watched completely fixated at how delicate fingers tucked them back. A sweet smile gracing her features. "She's the most stunning thing to every walk the earth. The bloody sun must envy her."
Chloe didn't need a hint to who she was referring to. Because like Mickey, she knew that Steph had only the hots for Rachel Amber. Pretty much the whole school did. Guys wanted to date her, girls wanted to be her, teachers adored her. She was everything Victoria not so subtly envied. A star student, the DA's daughter and an amazing actress. "Wonder what it's like talking to her."
"Very transfixing." She muttered without thinking.
"What?"
Snapping out of her little day-dream she tried laughing it off. "Uhh I'm guessing." Those striking hazel eyes suddenly switched away from her friends, onto her. Watching, as she moved past, she couldn't break away from her. She felt her stomach start to dip. Just like yesterday her expression was hard to read. And that alone made her want to rip a locker door off its hinges. She wanted to be mad, wanted to be pissed at herself for breaking and allowing herself to be vulnerable, especially in front of her. Sure she was nice about it. Reassuring. But it could have easily been a trick.
Her blank expression turned soft and the corners of her mouth quirked up into a smile which was enough to have her trip over her own feet. Zero control over her lanky limbs Chloe stumbled forward colliding with something firm and hard. "Watch it!" Someone barked before shoving past her. She didn't even have to turn around to know it was some hardass jock. "Are you alright?" Steph was quick to worry.
"Oh yeah." Brushing it off Chloe took a moment to collect herself. She couldn't find it in herself to look up, to embarrassed with how she reacted. "Just clumsy Chloe ya'know." Steering away from the crowds. She rushed into science. Forcing her beating heart to calm down she ignored Stephs confused gaze when she all but tossed herself into her seat at the back.
This was stupid. She was stupid. Rachel most likely wasn't even looking at her, it was probably some member from her fan club who happened to be right behind her at that precise moment. Chloe mused to herself. She probably already forgot my name.Most of the class started flooding into the room once the bell went off, Steph went back to engaging some sort of conversation with her about some video game Mickey gave her but Chloe was too out of it to pay attention. Mindlessly twirling her pen between her fingers she gave Steph half-hearted nods and hums of acknowledgment.
"Hey Chloe." A bubbly voice perked up from beside her. Steph suddenly stopped talking. Her eyes widened a fraction as she gazed dreamily over Chloe's shoulder. She knew that look. That look was meant specifically for one person. She hesitantly looked back seeing the cause of 40% of her inner turmoil and frustrations. Her pearly white teeth were dazzling back at her with a grin. eyes bright, she held her books close to her chest. As the seconds ticked by Chloe half expected her to mockingly snort in her direction and walk away to her friends. But she didn't.
Was she actually addressing her in public?
A couple of heads close by turned to them in confusion but she couldn't find it with in herself to give them her signature hate filled stare down. Too fixated on Blackwell's number one golden girl who had no intention of looking away. The wheels in her mind stared up again and she forced herself to speak. "Hi... Rachel." Her uncertainty almost came out as a question which didn't seem to bother the teen, if it were possible her smile only grew wider. Setting her books on the table she pulled the stool from under the table. "Do you mind?" Trying to seem unbothered Chloe shrugged carelessly. Briefly glancing away from the girl she noticed the questionable look Steph shot her way. She chose to ignore it. Everyone in the room was casting odd looks her way, even Victoria and her squad of bimbos were registering her existence. And that was never good.
"Alright class settle down, I've gotta squeeze as much knowledge into you kids in an hour. Everyone face the front." Chloe has never been so relieved to see a teacher in her life because everyone had no choice but to divert their attention too Mrs Grant. If it weren't for her questions would be asked, questions she couldn't answer nor could she deflect. Risking a glance at the girl next to her, her attention was fully focused on the chalk board. Her teeth grazing her bottom lip in concentration. She was more than ready for the lesson, books, papers, multiple pens and pencils. The ends of her pencils had her initials engraved in dark ink, one side of her mouth quirked up in amusement.
Who even does that.
Per usual her over enthusiastic voice died away and she was sucked into her regular daydreams. Thankfully her dad didn't decide to pop up out of nowhere to chat. (The last thing she needed was for Rachel Amber to think she was some crazed schizophrenic.) Which begs the question as to why she gave a damn about what she thought of her anyway? Why was she even sitting with her? And why didn't Chloe have any intentions of cursing her suspicions out? In the corner of her eye she could see the unmistakable blue feather dangle innocently from her ear. Every so often Rachel would tuck back any hair that fell forward behind her ear, and each time Chloe had the urge to just do it for her. She didn't. But it looked so soft to run your fingers through. Her heart was beating so fast, was that even normal? So many unanswered questions bombarded her brain that she felt dizzy. This was crazy. She was crazy.
A low exasperated huff pulled her back the present. She turned her head to the girl who occupied her thoughts, her brows furrowed together as she scribbled over her sheet of paper, occasionally glancing back up at the board Chloe's eyes followed her. A number of chemistry questions were listed in red bold marker. Sparing a glance at her sheet Rachel was doing pretty well. More than halfway done but she was stuck. It was the way she bit her lip anxiously, how she tapped her pencil against the desk in an annoyingly rhythm. Her blue eyes scanned over the question.
The octane number of zero is assigned to?
It didn't take her long to figure it out. The young science geek within her who she tried desperately to bury answered it with ease like a voice in her head. She found herself leaning forward. "N-Heptane." She muttered. Her unexpecting voice making Rachel pause, slowly tuning to her she blinked.
I should have just kept my mouth shut.
"What?"
Clearing the dryness in her throat she raised her head. Attempting to put some confidence in her voice Chloe gestured to the sheet. "Question nine. The answers n-heptane." Rachel gave her a look, mulling the answer over in her head she seemed satisfied. "Thanks." She gave her another soft smile before writing the answer out. And Chloe almost gave one back in return. Almost. Resisting the urge she went back to absently gazing out the window.
I thought about just leaving this story since I was having doubts, but I've just been in the mood to write so I decided to continue it awhile more.