guys, the dream sequence here was REALLY hard to write I think I confused myself at some points but I hope it makes sense.
I'm polishing off some of the other chapters so they should be around tomorrow, let me know how I'm getting on first fic and all that jazz I'd really appreciate some reviews, thanks for reading!
Aftermath
A low growl rose from the pile of quilts thrown across the sofa. The sun was shining in through the apartment's French doors, drifting lazily over a typical collegiate mess.
Another growl. The quilts moved slowly uncovering an arm. The arm pulled at the quilt revealing a mess of blonde hair.
"Where?" Aubrey squinted, adjusting to bright light She watched as the sun lit up the dust particles dancing across the room. The blonde rose slowly, bringing her hand to her. There was a scrap of paper covered in lipstick and slobber stuck to her cheek. Charming. It was scribbled mess, probably from blonde got to her feet shoving the scrap paper into her pocket, she was sure it was important but right now she needed sleep. Aubrey took the quilt with one hand & dragged it into her bedroom, she glanced at the alarm clock on her bedside table.
"2.34pm?" Aubrey groaned in disbelief pulling the quilt over her head. I have to get up.
Rolling her eyes the blonde got back up trawling through the new apartment to the kitchen. After scouring for some pain killers with no success Aubrey slumps against the counter, her hands in her pockets. She pulls out a scrap of paper, she unfolds it lazily and attempts to read it. She could tell it was from Chloe, but the only word she could make out was bitch. A number of contexts came to Bree in which it could have been used in, but none striking a memory. o she decided to go into Chloe's room and ask if she had painkillers.
The tall blonde walked around the couch and tapped on the door gently
"Chlo?" Her voice was croaky and almost unrecognizable from the alcohol last night. Bree pushed the door and stuck her head inside.
"Chloe? Oh." That's the bathroom. How much did I drink?
The blonde turned around heading towards, what she had thought was h bathroom door, calling out her friends name. She found Chloe's bed untouched. Her suitcase not even open. Aubrey stared for a moment frowning, Chloe wasn't in the apartment. That was not like her, especially at half two the next day, when they didn't even go out. Maybe something's wrong. She would have told me where she was by now... Aubrey checked her phone, which was blank. Se also tried the note again. They hadn't fought, she would definitely remember that. The blonde finally moved again, trekking into her bedroom to get changed she sent her best friend a text.
Hey hun, are you home yet? Hope you're alright couldn't read note? love you
B x
Aubrey checked herself in the mirror before leaving the apartment. She had chosen a pink sweater with a cute navy skirt to balance out the brightness. Her hair was aloft in a high pony but she had left her fringe down to try hide her tired hungover eyes, not with much success Aubrey had to stop a few times on her way to the chemist, maybe walking in her state wasn't that good of an idea but god her head was pounding and the painkillers would be well worth it. I haven't been this bad since high school. The blonde smiled thinking back to her first party.
She maybe got a little too excited and definitely a little too drunk. A lot too drunk, ever since then she made sure the outside world would never get that close to the real Aubrey Posen. Back then she had done it with sarcastic comments and an earphones in hood up head down type of attitude. That had worked well, everyone was scared of a mysterious bad girl, if they had known her earphones were banging out Disney songs and show tunes maybe it wouldn't have, but nobody ever got close enough. Now she got to sing some of her favorite cheesy songs and people still left her alone, she wasn't quite herself, not yet but she could feel herself getting close. Very close.
Maybe that's why she still put up with Prue and the other bitchy seniors, but she knew once
Chloe and her took the reigns things would be completely different. She could shine then. Chloe was a massive part of her self discovering voyage. Chloe.
Bree interrupted her train of thought, checking her phone. It was now four o'clock and she was almost back at the apartment. There was still no contact from the spunky redhead. Aubrey's brow furrowed as she climbed the dorms stairwell. Why would she not have told Bree where she was? She drew her phone again and sent another text.
We didn't fight did we? x
Bree was almost certain they didn't. Chloe's not a fighter she would've sat her down and talked, not run off and disappeared The more Aubrey thought about how out of character this was for Chloe the more she worried.
She checked the apartment but there was still no sign of the missing redhead.
She finally collapsed onto her bed, she was way too tired and not to mention hungover to be dealing with anything remotely exhausting. She left some painkillers beside a glass of water for her missing roomie just in case they had fought. She just about managed to take her shoes off and climbed under the covers.
She passed out almost immediately. Her dreams taking her to a dark and lonely place.
Her vision was blurred but she figured she was in a cave, huddled into a corner. She was freezing and and so so thirsty. Bree's vision started to clear, she heard a stream and saw the entrance to the cave. It was bright out there but for some reason she felt it was unsafe. As if there was something scary outside the dark damp cave. Ironic.
She slowly started to crawl towards the stream, her body seemed heavy. It must have only been a few meters away but it was seemed to take forever. Her body was so tired, but it seemed like more, like her soul was heavy. Aubrey bent down to the stream taking a large gulp she let her hair fall down around her. She struggled to get enough into her mouth. Rising from the stream she sat cross-legged on the bank trying to catch her breath. Suddenly the light from the mouth of the cave started wavering, silhouettes casting shadows across the floor. It was like a crowd of people. The light started growing, voices started echoing. They all wanted a piece of her, they all wanted her help. She wanted to help above everything else but she was so tired & thirsty. The light touched the edge of the water, Aubrey leaned over to take some more but stopped abruptly.
"Chloe?" There was a pair of electric blue eyes staring at her. Aubrey looked over her shoulder, but she was the only person in the cave. She turned back to the water. It was definitely Chloe, her bright blue eyes were saddened and she had dark bags under them but they were still hers. Her red hair was still curled around her face, it was just less vibrant and her face was long and paler than usual, but it was definitely Chloe. Aubrey frowned as she saw a crack, right from the top of Chloe's head to her chin. She gasped as Chloe's eyebrows knitted together and then shot up into a shock looked. Chloe was Aubrey. Or Aubrey was Chloe. Aubrey's jaw dropped in realization she was Chloe and Chloe was broken. She watched as the light spread into the reflection, the crack grew stronger, brighter. Chloe's reflection darkened.
The voices became clearer, Aubrey heard Chloe's brothers, her mother, her grandmother, her lectures, she even heard herself, Aubrey, complaining about something so minuscule it angered Aubrey that she had troubled Chloe with it while she was gong through everything else.
She watched as the crack grew with the light and the voices, tears were streaming down Chloe's face, her face.
Then Chloe heard a voice above all the rest, a deep voice resonating in every corner of the cave. It was her dad. He told her she wasn't good enough, he told her he didn't love her mother anymore & he didn't love her enough to stick around. He was leaving & she wasn't important enough to get a reason, or even a goodbye.
Aubrey felt her self break down, she could felt the crack break her heart, she watched as the light grew stronger than her. The bright blue drained from her eyes, the red from her hair. Her image distorted in the water, becoming swallowed into a white noise of light.
Aubrey jerked awake. Tears still rolling down her face.
"Oh Chlo." She whispered to herself solemnly.
She looked at her phone on her bedside table. Still nothing from her best friend. It was now 4am. She got up determined to find her this time. She didn't want to think of Chloe out there on her own, feeling so.. shit. Aubrey knew it was just a dream, but something in her told her it was truer than she would've liked it to be. She needed help and Aubrey was upset with herself for not searching for her earlier. She got out of bed and stepped into a pair of uggs. A terrible crime with the rest of her outfit but who would be out at 4 in the morning?
Just as she reached her door she heard a soft sob. She pushed it so it was just slightly ajar. She saw a mop of red hair bobbing in time to the sobs. Typical Chloe, crying her eyes out but still perfectly in time.
"Oh Chloe!"
Aubrey's hand flew to her mouth and the red head turned to see Aubrey rush out to her, wrapping her arms around her. She needed that. She needed to know that someone cared. Chloe's sobs grew louder as she snuggled into Aubrey's chest, wrapping er own arms around Aubrey.
"Where have you been? I was so worried and I sent you texts and you didn't reply! Did you only get home now? God Chloe I.."
Aubrey stopped herself, thinking back to the voices in the cave. She was becoming the moaning Aubrey & she didn't want that. Her best friend needed her right now.
"I'm sorry." Aubrey finished. Closing her eyes and stroking her thumb over Chloe's hair.
"Let's get you to bed, I know you must be tired." Chloe hadn't said anything but the blonde knew she was right. Chloe started to shake her head fiercely. Aubrey broke away slightly to look at Chloe.
"Don't... leave... me..." Chloe managed between sobs. She tucked her head back into Aubrey's shoulder.
"Please." Her voice was so small, so fragile. This wasn't Chloe. Not Aubrey's Chloe. Aubrey felt a tear of her own trace her cheek again.
"I won't. Come on." She promised, taking Chloe's hands she brought her into her bedroom. She helped her out of her jeans and gave her a clean shirt. Kicking off her boots and skirt she climbed into bed next to Chloe, who snuggled back into the blonde. Her sobs started to die down, Aubrey's heart beat calming the red head. Aubrey watched her, keeping her arms around her. She didn't want her disappearing again. Chloe just stared straight ahead, her face occasionally changing to a frown, then back to her stare. She turned to face Aubrey, who was trying not to show how tired she was. She smiled softly.
"Thank you." Chloe whispered. Moving closer to the blonde. Their noses touching.
Aubrey smiled, her eyes fluttering. She felt uncomfortable but Chloe had always invaded her personal space. Her smile widened at the prospect of having that Chloe back.
"Go to sleep I promise I won't run away." Chloe whispered again tucking her nose under Aubreys, causing the blonde's head to lift. Aubrey nodded and closed her eyes. She felt Chloe's kiss. Soft and wet a little too intimate for best friends, even at Chloe's standard. But Aubrey kissed her back. Replying to her lips as gently as possible. It could have been a dream. Even Chloe wasn't that affectionate.
