Ch. 4: Chasing Away The Nightmares

CHLOE PRICE'S POV:

I paced back and forth for hours with Aaron's gun in my hand. The metal felt cold against my skin. Never has a gun felt so threatening and imposing as now. I used to play with David's gun like a toy, what an idiot I was. All to fit my badass devil-may-care persona. I know now that they are meant to… to take lives or threaten people for whatever reason the owner sees fit. They are not playthings for angsty rebellious teenagers. "I guess that explains why he was in the forest," I said. The seriousness of the matter finally sank in.

My blood ran cold at the thought of what he had almost done, "If Max hadn't been there…" I wondered if she had to watch the first time. "Max why didn't you say anything? You've seen enough shit to last several lifetimes without adding that to the list… did you think of Kate?" I've talked to her about it in the past. She likes to make out she is fine, to deflect the pain with humor, a method I knew well, but there is only so much you can hide. I see it in her eyes when she thinks I'm not looking and it breaks my heart every time. I ran my fingers through my hair, exhaling sharply.

"Fuck, I wouldn't think that he was suicidal," I said to myself.

I heard David's truck pull up in the driveway. "How do I even go about telling David this?" I thought as I turned my back to the front door as he walked in.

"Chloe," he said in his booming voice, "I'm home."

"Just play it cool Chloe," I thought. "I need to tell you something," I blurted out.

"What?" He asked looking puzzled.

I sighed, composing my thoughts. "Remember when I said 'you don't just randomly find people in the woods unless something bad has happened'?"

He paused, remembering what I said. And then he spoke up, "Yeah."

I gripped the gun tightly in my hand, "I figured out what he was going to do in the woods." I turned around solemnly and showed him the gun, "He was going to kill himself."

He walked forward and took the gun. He immediately checked to make sure if it was loaded… it had a full clip. He examined it thoroughly turning it carefully in his hands and said, "What happened that would make him want to kill himself?"

"You'll have to hear it from him," I said "he's in the guest bedroom. I think that it'll be better for you if you hear it from him. His name is Aaron Watson, remember that."

AARON WATSON'S POV:

The bed that Chloe placed me in was very comfortable, I began to drift off to sleep.

I opened my eyes, and I was in my sister's cabin in the woods. She had the club in her hand and began to beat me with it. "Take it like a man you worthless piece of shit," she said.

"MAMA!" I cried out.

"You want to be with mom, asshole?" She reached for the back of her pants and pulled out her gun, "Go kill yourself."

She set the gun on the floor next to me, "I'm going to bed, don't get blood on the carpet asshole."

The dream shifted and I was against a tree. I said with tears in my eyes, "Mom," I pulled out the gun "I'm coming to see you again." I put the gun in my mouth and pulled the trigger.

*BANG*

My eyes shot open and I sat straight up. I was covered in sweat and I was breathing heavily. I rub my face with my hands, trying to get my breathing under control. I glanced to my left and saw a man with dark hair and a mustache wearing a security guard uniform.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He walked in and closed the door behind him, "I am David Madsen, Chloe's step-father."

He pulled up a nearby chair and sat next to me, he sighed and leaned back in the chair,"Son, I don't know what you went through. You don't have to tell me all the details, but I would like to make sure that it is safe for Chloe for you being in the house. I don't want her in danger."

He seemed trustworthy enough, "I can respect that."

I recounted my tragic tale to David, at least as much as I was comfortable with sharing. Throughout the whole thing, he was silent and stoic, just taking everything in, letting me tell him everything. He closed his eyes, deep in thought.

After a few moments, he opened his eyes and he shifted closer to me in his chair, "Some things change you in way you never realize they could. One day… you lose it and just breakdown." He closed his eyes momentarily, seemingly reliving an old memory, "To survive that moment is a huge achievement. It might not be the last time you remember it, but it is an important one to overcome. I have never been one for teamwork, but I now realize that somethings you just can't do on your own."

"I understand," I said.

I started to tear up, "Without Chloe or Max, I would probably just be another teenage tragedy that people forget as soon as something more newsworthy turns up."

David looked at me pinching his chin with his index finger and his thumb "Okay, you can stay until you get back on your feet, both from your injury and once you've sorted yourself out."

I was speechless, so I just nodded.

Just then, the door opened and Chloe lurched forward and fell on the ground.

"I assume you heard all that?" David asked with a smile on his face.

She stood up, and gave an innocent smile, "Maybe…"

David turned back to me, "First off, go get yourself cleaned up. Chloe can show you where the bathroom is."

"I brought no extra clothes with me," I said.

"Some of my old clothes might fit," David responded.

It was a little awkward walking up the stairs with barely any feeling in my legs, and I was thankful when I discovered that there was a seat in the shower.

"Here you go," she said motioning toward the door. "The lock kind of gets stuck so I wouldn't recommend using it. I spent an hour trying to get out once. I promise I won't peak." And then she winked at me.

"I think I might lock the door all the same," I said "no offence, but you seem like the kind of person who would barge in unannounced while other people are changing."

Chloe pouted, "Aw, you're no fun."

I lightly patted her cheek and winked at her, "Maybe next time." She blushed and left the room. At this point I could stand on my own two feet, but when I walked I looked like a deer fresh out of the womb. I sat on the shower bench and began to undress myself.

CHLOE PRICE'S POV:

"Can't blame him for locking the door," I thought grinning evilly "he was right, I would've barged in on him; which is something Max had to learn the hard way. I remember her face that first time… it was a picture. She refused to speak to me for a bit, but she couldn't stay mad at me for too long though. She never has been able to. God knows she's tried."

There was a stack of clothes on the couch that David left out for me to give to Aaron. I grabbed them and went upstairs and was about to knock on the door when I heard him sing.

"My eyes adored you, though I never laid a hand on you my eyes adored you. Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see how I adored you. So close, so close and yet so far away."

He was singing very well, it reminded me of when I used to sing before dad died, back before everything went to shit. At least my life's a bit more on track now.

"Carried your books from school, playing make-believe you're married to me. You were fifth grade; I was sixth when we came to be. Walking home every day, over Barnegat Bridge and Bay. 'Till we grew into the me and you who went our separate ways."

I leaned against the door and sang with him quietly.

"My eyes adored you, though I never laid a hand on you my eyes adored you. Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see how I adored you. So close, so close and yet so far away."

After he was done, I knocked on the door and told him that his clothes were outside the door and that his old clothes were being washed. I had to have a serious talk with Max-a-million… and give her back her camera. I bet she was freaking out without it. I told David where I was going, and then left the room. I left knowing that there was hope for a relationship with me, Max, and Aaron. We all had several things in common: we all loved music, and we all had fucked up things that happened to us in the past. This was going to be a great relationship.

AARON WATSON'S POV:

After I got dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror. Innocent blue eyes stared into eyes that have been through so much pain. My shoulder length brown hair was matted. I grabbed a brush and tried to brush my hair… unsuccessfully. I walked down the stairs and saw David with a can of beer watching a football game.

"Um," I said with the brush stuck in my hair "David?"

"Yeah," He turned around and tried not to laugh.

"Do you know anyone who can cut my hair?" I asked.

Then the door opened and a woman walked in with her dirty blond hair in a ponytail and wearing a waitress' uniform. "Davy," she said "I'm home."

"Yeah," David said "her."

Joyce looked up the stairs and noticed me, "Who's this?"

"Aaron Watson," he said "he's going to stay here for a little while until he can get back on his feet. Don't worry, I checked him out, and he's clear. However, he desperately needs a haircut."

"Unless 'brush-stuck-in-hair' looks good on me," I stated pointing at the now dangling brush in my hair.

She chuckled, "I've seen worse. You should have seen a few Chloe tried to have. I'd be happy to cut your hair Aaron. I'm Joyce, Chloe's mother… I'm assuming you know her."

"Thank you Mrs. Price," I said.

Later outside, she set me down on a stool and cut my hair short with shearing scissors. It felt as if I was getting rid of the old me, and with it the painful memories of my past, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. She took a garden hose and held it over my head to get rid of any extra strands of hair. The cold water ran down my scalp, causing me to shiver slightly.

Joyce stepped back and examined her work. "Now, I know it's not the best haircut you've probably ever had, I don't claim to be the best hairdresser in Arcadia Bay, but it'll do."

She passed me a small mirror so I could see. I moved my head, inspecting my hair, she did pretty well. "Thanks," I said.

She offered me a warm smile, "You are more than welcome."

When we went back inside, Chloe and Max were walking in the front door.

"Aaron," Max said looking surprised "you cut your hair."

"Actually," Joyce walked in behind me "that was me. I was very surprised to find a person under all that hair."

"You and me both, Mrs. Price," I said.

"Oh please," she stated "call me Joyce."

Chloe stroked her chin, cocking her head slightly to one side. "You know; you actually clean up nicely."

"Don't sound so surprised," I said. Chloe grinned mischievously at me.

We had pizza for supper, and I went to bed that night. Chloe walked into my room.

"Hey there Aaron," she said.

"What it be chickadee?" I asked.

"Did you really just say that?" Chloe shook her head smiling, "You and Max really are going to get on well with all that dorkiness."

I raised my eyebrow.

"Well," she said "need anything before I go to sleep?"

"Well…" I hesitated "nah. You'd probably think that it's stupid."

She playfully nudged my shoulder "What?"

"Well…" I twiddled my thumbs "whenever I had a bad day at school, my mom would sing Hey Jude to help me sleep."

She sat down on the bed, put her hand in mine, and then she sang, "Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better."

I was surprised when this woman who looked like she wanted nothing to do with old songs knew how to sing Hey Jude, and that she was able to sing well, and with such gentleness. Looks can be deceiving I guess.

"Hey Jude, don't be afraid, you were made to go out and get her. The minute you let her under your skin, then you begin to make it better."

Her soft singing began to lull me to sleep.

"And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders. For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah."

I can't remember when I fell asleep, but I remember that after she finished singing, she kissed me on the forehead. I didn't have a nightmare that night, I dreamt of what my new life would be like in Arcadia Bay.

Thank you all for the support, and I couldn't do this without my co-authors. I can't praise them enough.