Falling Into You. A Hollywood Heights Story.
Chapter 21. Haunted by the Past- Pt. 1
A/N: I know I said a certain character would be gone, but I changed my mind.. People can do that right? So as you could tell from the title, there may be more than one part of this title.. c; Anyway, in my opinion, I really like this chapter and worked harder on it than I have more in the past.. haha get it? Hope you enjoy it and thanks for reading!
Where am I at, I thought, sitting across from this woman who is staring at me, and why am I wearing hospital clothes, she thought. The only things she remembered before she was here was attacking the doctor in the hospital, and the doctors doing some tests on her and they figured out that Chloe had a tumor on her brain that made her act the way that she did around other people. The doctors also discovered that the tumor clouds your judgement and makes you act violently towards people.
That would explain why she hurt Loren, Eddie's girlfriend now. She would never do that if she was in her right mind. After the doctors discovered that she did have that kind of tumor, they immediately removed it.
"So, tell me Chloe, how do you feel? Now that your tumor is gone?", the girl asked, and she realized that she was a therapist.
"I feel, free, Dr.-", she forgot her name.
"Dr. Lawrence", the woman said. "And why do you think you feel free, Ms. Carter?".
"Well, I guess simply because it's just gone. Before, I felt like clouds of darkness were just hanging over me, Dr. Lawrence. But now, that the doctors took it out, I don't feel like that anymore, and I know you're probably thinking that I'm just saying this to get out of this place, but I'm honestly not. I know it's hard to believe, but I think that taking it out was the best thing anyone could've done and now, I feel so different".
"That's good, Chloe. It means you're making progress. Is there anything else you want to say before this session is over?".
"Yes. If and when it's my time to leave here, I think I should go and apologize to Loren. I know she'll probably not want to talk to me, but I feel like I owe her. I blamed her and Eddie for all of my own problems and she should know what really happened. I'm going to sit down with them and tell them the truth about his mother and her death. I know they'll hate me, but they should know what happened".
"That's nice to know, Chloe. I think, with all this progress that you're making, it's about time for you to be discharged. You've made a full recovery from the surgery, and by the sounds of it, you're realizing all of the mistakes you made while the tumor was 'in charge' of your life. I'll tell the doctors and see if they think you are ready as well. Congratulations Chloe".
"Thank you Dr. Lawrence". By what the therapist just told her, she would be discharged soon. As soon as I am, I'm getting on a plane to Los Angeles and I really need to explain myself to them.
Chloe went back to her room, and awaited for the doctors to hopefully, give her the paperwork, soon.
Why can't think of any lyrics for this song, Loren was thinking to herself, trying to get the lyrics for her duet she was working on right.
*Loren sings the chorus while playing the chords
Why don't you love me?
Touch me, tell me I'm your everything
The air you breathe
And why don't you love me baby?
Open up your heart tonight
'cause I could be all that you need
Ohhhhhhh
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
She stopped when she heard her door creak open and Mel wandered into the room. "What ya working on?".
"Oh, it's nothing. Just a duet,"said Loren.
"Let me guess- a duet with Eddie?".
"How did you know?," she said sarcastically. "But yes, it is a duet for me and Eddie. I have the chorus, but I just can't get anything else".
"Ah, I finally get to see the songwriting part of you in action!", Mel squealed.
"It's not that exciting".
"It is when you are an aspiring director and need some footage! Do you mind if I take some videos of you in action?".
"Yeah, whatever, it's fine".
"Are you okay?".
"This song is just stressing me out a little, that's all. But really, I'm fine".
"Okay, so, tell the fans how your writing process works".
"Well, sometimes lyrics just pop into my head. So after that, I have to figure out how the rhythms go and things like that. It's not that interesting, but anyway, I sit at my piano, and come up with the rhythms as I said, and after that, I just put it all together".
"You make it seem so easy Lo", Mel told her still rolling.
"Trust me, it's not as easy as it looks. Sometimes it takes me days, or weeks or sometimes even a month or so, just working on one song. But, other times, when the lyrics, chords, and rhythms just pop out at me, I can finish a song in a day or two. But, this song that I'm working on right now, it's just not coming to me".
"Well, there you have it guys, the ways of the wonderful, Loren Tate", Melissa said when Loren yelled, while she was scribbling what she assumed to be her lyrics.
"Wait Mel! I think I have it!".
"Well let's hear it".
*Loren sings again, this time having lyrics that felt right
See I can't wake up I'm living a nightmare
That keeps playing over again
Locked in a room so hung up on you
And you're cool with just being friends
Left on the sidelines
Stuck at a red light
Waiting for my time
And I can't see
Why don't you love me?
Touch me, tell me I'm your everything
The air you breathe
And why don't you love me baby?
Open up your heart tonight
'cause I could be all that you need
Ohhhhhhh
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
See I'm just too scared to tell you the truth
Cause my heart ache can't take anymore
Broken and bruised longing for you
And I don't know what I'm waiting for
Left on the sidelines
Stuck at a red light
Waiting for my time
So just tell me
Why don't you love me?
Touch me, tell me I'm your everything
The air you breathe
And why don't you love me baby?
Open up your heart tonight
'cause I could be all that you need
Ohhhhhhh
Why don't you give me a reason? (give me a reason)
Please tell me the truth (Please tell me the truth)
You know that I'll keep believing (I'll keep believing)
Till I'm with you
Why don't you love me?
Kiss me, I can feel your heart tonight
It's killing me so
Why don't you love me?
Touch me, tell me I'm your everything
The air you breathe
And why don't you love me baby?
Open up your heart tonight
'cause I could be all that you need
Ohhhhhhh
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
Why don't you love me?
"Wow Lo! That was great! There you guys have it, the first take of this song by Loren Tate! Thanks for watching guys," she said closing her camera. "It's no fair that you have the looks, the voice and talent, and you have the rock star boyfriend. Your life is so awesome, Loren!".
"I guess, but look at you. You also have the looks, the talent and not to mention, the super famous, international photographer boyfriend. Your life is awesome too Mel!".
"Okay, I'll admit it, we both have pretty amazing lives right now!", she squealed in excitement.
This is amazing, Loren thought. My best friend and I, we are moving on from high school and we're growing up- together. Maybe one day, if my career becomes pretty successful, Eddie and I could go on tour, I mean let's just say it right now- who wouldn't want to go on tour with Eddie Duran?! But, besides the point, what if Ian and Mel could join us? Loren was saying the words in her head when she heard yelling coming from the other side of her wall.
"What are you doing here?" she could hear her mom spitting out in pure anger.
"I just came here to talk to Loren". Loren froze when she came out of her room and saw the person standing there.
"I'm going to ask you one more time, before I force you out of my house. Why are you here?".
"I already told you, I would really like to talk to Loren".
"What makes you think I'd want to talk to you, Chloe? Last time I saw you, you tried to basically kill me with your bare hands".
"Yeah, that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. Is Eddie here?", she asked, not sounding too crazy like she had in the past.
"Why would we let you see Eddie? And why do you want to see him, huh?".
"Could you just call him, please. I'd really like to talk to the both of you and sort some things out between the three of us. Just call him," Chloe managed to say.
"Fine, whatever. I'm just warning you now, if he gets upset about this, it'll be on you, not me," she said not knowing whether calling Eddie was the right thing to do at this moment. What if he goes into blind, pure rage and blames me for all of this, Loren was thinking. It is the right thing to do, I guess. She dialed Eddie's number, and while it was still ringing, she said to Chloe," I don't know why I'm even doing this for you right now Chloe".
Chloe didn't do anything but nod at Loren with an appreciative gleam in her eyes. Why wasn't she making snarly remarks about Loren? That's what she always seemed to do, not that they really knew each other, but that's what it always felt like.
Eddie had finally picked up the phone and the first thing he'd said was,"Hey, sorry I didn't answer for a while. I was making something in the kitchen when I heard my phone ring and I couldn't find it. Turns out it was in the bathroom, just sitting there on the counter. How weird is that? So, what's up?".
"Um, I kind of have a little situation here, at home," Loren answered, concerned that if she told him that Chloe Carter was her little situation, he would rush over to her house, as fast as he could in anger, ignoring the rules of the road and something even worse could happen to him. So she wouldn't-no couldn't tell him before he was at the front door.
"Something's wrong Loren. What kind of 'little situation' is it?" he said using the exact words she had just spoke.
"I think it's just best if you come over".
"Why won't you tell me?". Arguing wasn't the best thing to do over the phone with someone you love as much as Eddie.
"I'm not gonna fight you about this, and I'm not gonna tell you on the phone. Like I said, just please come over".
"Okay, I'll be there soon Loren. Love you".
"Love you too, bye". She shut off her phone and turned around to see Chloe waiting with anticipation.
"Is he coming?".
"Yes, but I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Why do you want to talk to us Chloe? I don't know why we even let you into our house. By the way, how did you even know where I lived?", she said with confusion.
"I asked some people at this coffee shop".
"Whatever".
"So you and Eddie are pretty serious, huh?".
"Yeah, we are. Why do you care? Jealous?".
"Loren, I don't think it's a good idea to provoke her," Nora said, concerned about her daughter.
"It's okay," Chloe said back to Nora. "And yeah, I'm kind of jealous, but it's in the past. Eddie and I, we're history. There's nothing to worry about. Once I talk to you guys, I'm leaving California and heading to New York, to work on my career out there".
"I would say good for you, but since you kind of tried to kill me four months ago, that makes me not really like you- but, being the person I am, good luck out there. I can't just go around being heartless and cruel to whoever I don't like- that's not a good way to live life Chloe. I know technically you're older and supossed to me 'wiser' than me, but you're not Chloe. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings in any way, but it's true".
"You have every right to say these things to me. I actually encourage you to Loren, because I deserve it. Is he here yet?".
"No, not yet, but he'll be here soon. How did you get here Chloe?" a curious Loren asked.
"I got a rental car at the airport for the time being. I'll need one to get around. I guess being gone four months means losing your car cause you can't pay for it from Pennsylvania".
"Why were you in Pennsylvania Chloe? And Mel, do you think you could close the blinds, just so he can't see her in here when he walks up?".
Mel got up and closed the blinds. "I don't see why you're talking to her Lo? Didn't she break your knee, ribs and oh, I don't know, almost kill you?". Melissa stared at them in pure wonder.
"I know it sounds crazy, but I don't want her stalking me or Eddie just so she can talk to us. She said she's leaving and heading off to New York as soon as she talks to us so I can spare a little of my time. The question is, can Eddie," Loren said, standing up because she heard a car pull up into the driveway. "Okay, I'm going to go out and tell him, but be prepared. I'm sure he'll just be thrilled when he finds out you're my 'little' situation Chloe".
"Good luck," Mel added sarcastically before Loren opened up the door. Eddie was standing there looking almost, impatient.
"Hey, so what did you need my help with?", he asked confused.
Here goes nothing, Loren contemplated. "My situation is not a what, but rather a who".
"Okay, so who's bothering you?" he nagged. "I need to know who is in there Loren. I need to know who is bothering you or who might hurt you. Can you tell me that?" he enunciated his last sentence.
"Yes, I can," Loren stammered.
"So, who's in there?" Eddie demanded. She had never seen him act this way towards her.
"You're not gonna like it, Eddie. But if you really want to know," she said.
"Yes, I'd like to know Loren".
"Okay", she paused taking a huge deep breath before telling him it was Chloe who she was talking about.
"What! Why is Chloe in your house?" he exclaimed.
"Calm down Eddie! Just hear me out. She just wants to talk to us," she clarified.
"So that makes a difference, Loren? She practically tried to kill you- all because of me! Me, Loren! I put you in danger, and Chloe was- is that danger," he corrected himself.
"Let's just go in there and talk to her. She wants to talk for a while, and she said she'd be out of our hair after she talked! I only said I'd even let her talk so she would leave us alone! Eddie, do you know what this means? We could live a life without Chloe, a life without all of her drama, and you could finally be free from her!"
"Loren, you're not getting it!" he yelled. "After she hurt you, I already thought we could live a life without Chloe and her drama! But guess what? Chloe never goes away. She'll never leave us alone! Why can't you see that?" he asked in shock. He was shocked that Loren couldn't see how toxic she was to them - and their relationship.
"I do see it Eddie! Do you honestly think that I want her here, in my house? No, I don't and I know you don't like it either. But, if there's even a slight chance that this may be the last time we ever have to see her, I'm going to take that chance. I guess I'm just trying to be optimistic about this. I'd love to see her leave L.A and California and move on. So, if you're up to it, I'd like you to put on your brave face and let's go in there and talk to her. I'm sure she has a lot to say, but I guess I'm willing to listen to her. I know you think I don't sound very reasonable right now, but let's just go in and do it. If you're mad at me, I'm sorry. The very last thing I expected today was to see Chloe standing in my house. So, you up to it or not, because I'd really like her to leave if you're not," she spoke, almost out of breath. Wow, I can't believe I just stood up to Eddie, she thought. Hopefully he wouldn't hate her forever for this decision.
"Okay, fine". He had finally given up. "I really do hope though that this really is the last time we'll be needing to see her".
"Don't we all. Now come on. Put on your brave face and let's do this- together".
"Together", he repeated.
A/N: Oooooh, I left it off at a cliffhanger folks! Haha! Anyway, thanks for reading and reviews are welcome! Bye guys, and see you soon with Chapter 22! (: