Chapter Six: After School Activities
That day after school Craig, Ashley, and Chloe all met in Chloe's basement to work on their group MI project, 'The Affect of Media on Mob Mentality'. Chloe and Ashley had been working diligently for over an hour while Craig sat listlessly on the couch. Finally he fell asleep and Ashley looked over with reproach.
"This is a group project. I wonder if he knows that." She spoke, voice a little more bitter than she had intended it to be. Chloe shrugged.
"Let him sleep. He could use it." She replied, stroking his hair softly before turning back to Ashley. "C'mon, let's get something to eat."
Together they stood and headed up the stairs, leaving Craig asleep on the couch. They found their way to the kitchen and began to rummage through the cupboards. Chloe finally found a half eaten box of Wheat Thins and Ashley uncovered a bag of Oreos. They sat down at the table and dug into their respective finds. After several minutes Ashley began to eye Chloe suspiciously. Finally she decided to ask the question plaguing her mind.
"So Chlo, what's the deal with Craig and his dad?" she asked, and Chloe studied her Wheat Thin evasively. After several moments of silence Ashley sighed, exasperated. "Chloe!"
"I'm sorry, Ash. I just don't think it's my story to tell. I'm not sure if he wants everyone to know about it." She replied, and Ashley frowned.
"Chloe, we're best friends. We're supposed to tell each other everything." She said, and Chloe looked torn. Finally she shook her head.
"No Ash. This isn't my something to tell. Craig's my friend, too. I couldn't do that to him." She finished, and Ashley was livid.
"Fine, Chloe Davidson. If I'm not trustworthy enough to keep your boyfriend's secrets then I'm not trustworthy enough to be your best friend!" Ashley cried, standing up and grabbing her nearby bag. She stormed from the room and Chloe laid her head on the table. After a moment Craig appeared from the basement, having been awakened by the sound of shouting. His hair stuck up on one side of his head and he looked around the room sleepily.
"What was that about?" He asked, sitting down at the table and stroking Chloe's hair absently. She shook her head.
"She's mad because I wouldn't tell her about you and your dad." She explained, and a remorseful, sympathetic look crashed across Craig's face.
"I'm sorry, Chlo. I don't want you to lose friends because of me." He told her, and she smiled broadly.
"Forget it. She'll get over it. Ash is more mature than that. Besides, it's not your fault your dad's a bastard." She replied, standing up and leading the way back down to the basement.
That day after school Craig, Ashley, and Chloe all met in Chloe's basement to work on their group MI project, 'The Affect of Media on Mob Mentality'. Chloe and Ashley had been working diligently for over an hour while Craig sat listlessly on the couch. Finally he fell asleep and Ashley looked over with reproach.
"This is a group project. I wonder if he knows that." She spoke, voice a little more bitter than she had intended it to be. Chloe shrugged.
"Let him sleep. He could use it." She replied, stroking his hair softly before turning back to Ashley. "C'mon, let's get something to eat."
Together they stood and headed up the stairs, leaving Craig asleep on the couch. They found their way to the kitchen and began to rummage through the cupboards. Chloe finally found a half eaten box of Wheat Thins and Ashley uncovered a bag of Oreos. They sat down at the table and dug into their respective finds. After several minutes Ashley began to eye Chloe suspiciously. Finally she decided to ask the question plaguing her mind.
"So Chlo, what's the deal with Craig and his dad?" she asked, and Chloe studied her Wheat Thin evasively. After several moments of silence Ashley sighed, exasperated. "Chloe!"
"I'm sorry, Ash. I just don't think it's my story to tell. I'm not sure if he wants everyone to know about it." She replied, and Ashley frowned.
"Chloe, we're best friends. We're supposed to tell each other everything." She said, and Chloe looked torn. Finally she shook her head.
"No Ash. This isn't my something to tell. Craig's my friend, too. I couldn't do that to him." She finished, and Ashley was livid.
"Fine, Chloe Davidson. If I'm not trustworthy enough to keep your boyfriend's secrets then I'm not trustworthy enough to be your best friend!" Ashley cried, standing up and grabbing her nearby bag. She stormed from the room and Chloe laid her head on the table. After a moment Craig appeared from the basement, having been awakened by the sound of shouting. His hair stuck up on one side of his head and he looked around the room sleepily.
"What was that about?" He asked, sitting down at the table and stroking Chloe's hair absently. She shook her head.
"She's mad because I wouldn't tell her about you and your dad." She explained, and a remorseful, sympathetic look crashed across Craig's face.
"I'm sorry, Chlo. I don't want you to lose friends because of me." He told her, and she smiled broadly.
"Forget it. She'll get over it. Ash is more mature than that. Besides, it's not your fault your dad's a bastard." She replied, standing up and leading the way back down to the basement.
