Warning and notes: This chapter sucks! But it's all good, LOL. I don't care. I just HOPE this story is being portrayed to you the way I want it to be. *Crosses fingers*
Oh and, this is BEFORE everyone got their college letters and for my story, Salem is in Illinois.
I disclaim! I own nothing, but I would die to own Brady Black. Perhaps we can come to some kind of negotiation..
Chapter 4
The snow fell in the tiniest of flakes, blowing in the cold, March, night air. It's silent mix with the furnace heat released by the open door sends shivers down my spine. A brisk walk turned adventure, ends with the closing of the door behind me. Dark shadows feed my craving fear as I fumble for a light switch. A flickering, but dim light reveals to me, home. A small shop, but mine nonetheless, serving as a photography studio during the day and a roof over my head as I sleep at night. A lack of customers, interests and reservations, however, causes it to live up to its outer appearance- rundown, drafty and hopeless.
The answering machine behind the small counter blinks zero and I walk up the stairs to the apartment above, cringing at each creak and batting at each tiny spider web delicately woven into each crevice. Pictures, symbolically hung on the wall, remind me of the cruelty of life and what I once had. Dreams, hope, him. His bright eyes shine at me, even through the dusty glass. Closing my eyes, I feel his cheek, the cold touch of the glass replaced by memories of the smoothest of skin, war, tender and alive. A growing wave of animosity explodes as my clenched fist connects with the portrait. Shattering glass spills onto the hardwood floor, each jagged piece to be stepped on later. Damn Life. It screws us over; we live at its mercy. But then again, some of us, don't live at all.
~~~~
Chloe Lane paced anxiously in the elevator, a large envelope in hand. The edges were worn from her assault on it, prying it slightly open, stopping, then starting all over again. Her mind was racing, the contents still unknown. The elevator's large metal doors opened with a ding and she walked quickly to her destination, ignoring an eager secretary and pounding on a firm, wooden door. A deep voice from within permitted her entrance and her heart beat a little faster as she opened the door.
"Brady!" She squealed, "look what came today!" Presenting him with the large envelope, she looked him over. G-d, he was gorgeous. But of course, she shouldn't be thinking that. He WAS her best friend.
Brady fingered the envelope gently and smirked. "It looks pretty thick, Diva."
Chloe's blooming smile expressed her happiness. "Oh I know! Now will you please open it for me?" She begged him gently, her eyes pulling him into her requests.
In seconds the envelope was discarded and Brady stood reading the letter. He saw her dying with anticipation, trying to read his face.
"Well, Diva," he started with a sigh, "can you promise me something?"
"Sure," she said cautiously.
"Don't forget us little people while you're gone," he said with a wink as Chloe ran into his open arms screaming with excitement.
"Oh my G-d! Oh my G-d!"
Another knock at the door interrupted the private celebration and John Black entered. "Are we having a party?"
From within Brady's arms, Chloe giggled. "I'm going to Julliard!"
"Congratulations Chloe, but Brady I really need to speak to you."
Chloe nodded, heading to the door. "Hey Brady, do you want to hang out later?"
Brady smiled at her, ignoring his father's amused eyebrow. "Sure. Just call me."
Chloe left and John had to stifle a laugh. Brady rolled his eyes as he gently inspected the envelope Chloe had brought. "Something doesn't feel right here, Dad."
John, always up for a mystery, looked at him questioningly. "You mean Chloe leaving you?"
"No, no.. It's just..." Brady stopped mid-sentence as his eyes landed on something in particular. The letter wasn't postmarked from New York, but from their own small town, Salem, Illinois.
Oh and, this is BEFORE everyone got their college letters and for my story, Salem is in Illinois.
I disclaim! I own nothing, but I would die to own Brady Black. Perhaps we can come to some kind of negotiation..
Chapter 4
The snow fell in the tiniest of flakes, blowing in the cold, March, night air. It's silent mix with the furnace heat released by the open door sends shivers down my spine. A brisk walk turned adventure, ends with the closing of the door behind me. Dark shadows feed my craving fear as I fumble for a light switch. A flickering, but dim light reveals to me, home. A small shop, but mine nonetheless, serving as a photography studio during the day and a roof over my head as I sleep at night. A lack of customers, interests and reservations, however, causes it to live up to its outer appearance- rundown, drafty and hopeless.
The answering machine behind the small counter blinks zero and I walk up the stairs to the apartment above, cringing at each creak and batting at each tiny spider web delicately woven into each crevice. Pictures, symbolically hung on the wall, remind me of the cruelty of life and what I once had. Dreams, hope, him. His bright eyes shine at me, even through the dusty glass. Closing my eyes, I feel his cheek, the cold touch of the glass replaced by memories of the smoothest of skin, war, tender and alive. A growing wave of animosity explodes as my clenched fist connects with the portrait. Shattering glass spills onto the hardwood floor, each jagged piece to be stepped on later. Damn Life. It screws us over; we live at its mercy. But then again, some of us, don't live at all.
~~~~
Chloe Lane paced anxiously in the elevator, a large envelope in hand. The edges were worn from her assault on it, prying it slightly open, stopping, then starting all over again. Her mind was racing, the contents still unknown. The elevator's large metal doors opened with a ding and she walked quickly to her destination, ignoring an eager secretary and pounding on a firm, wooden door. A deep voice from within permitted her entrance and her heart beat a little faster as she opened the door.
"Brady!" She squealed, "look what came today!" Presenting him with the large envelope, she looked him over. G-d, he was gorgeous. But of course, she shouldn't be thinking that. He WAS her best friend.
Brady fingered the envelope gently and smirked. "It looks pretty thick, Diva."
Chloe's blooming smile expressed her happiness. "Oh I know! Now will you please open it for me?" She begged him gently, her eyes pulling him into her requests.
In seconds the envelope was discarded and Brady stood reading the letter. He saw her dying with anticipation, trying to read his face.
"Well, Diva," he started with a sigh, "can you promise me something?"
"Sure," she said cautiously.
"Don't forget us little people while you're gone," he said with a wink as Chloe ran into his open arms screaming with excitement.
"Oh my G-d! Oh my G-d!"
Another knock at the door interrupted the private celebration and John Black entered. "Are we having a party?"
From within Brady's arms, Chloe giggled. "I'm going to Julliard!"
"Congratulations Chloe, but Brady I really need to speak to you."
Chloe nodded, heading to the door. "Hey Brady, do you want to hang out later?"
Brady smiled at her, ignoring his father's amused eyebrow. "Sure. Just call me."
Chloe left and John had to stifle a laugh. Brady rolled his eyes as he gently inspected the envelope Chloe had brought. "Something doesn't feel right here, Dad."
John, always up for a mystery, looked at him questioningly. "You mean Chloe leaving you?"
"No, no.. It's just..." Brady stopped mid-sentence as his eyes landed on something in particular. The letter wasn't postmarked from New York, but from their own small town, Salem, Illinois.