Thanks for the reviews Kelly & EC Brenway!

Kelly - Glad you love that Chelly will spend time together doing tai chi!

EC - More Chelly time indeed! And Chloe able to defend herself against pierce! Should she need to with the control freak! I probably glossed over it quickly - so in this lore, Elly turns into a 4 legged dog-style wolf on the 3 nights of the full moon cycle. However, at any point, day, night, non-full moon cycle, if Elly gets really angry then she can turn into a much bigger wolf, stands on 2 legs, 2 meters tall type wolf. As a normal wolf she has the ability now after years of practice of having her memory and can control her actions whilst shifted. As the scarier wolf, she has no memory or control. Hope that makes sense!

The Chemistry In Darkness

Chapter Thirty

Friday 29thNovember 2024

Elly followed Chloe as they left Chloe's house to go to the fitness center for Chloe's martial arts class, "Do you want me to drive? I promise this new car is safe and the brake lines have not been broken. Bea keeps checking them every morning just in case. She promised me she'll stop doing that in a week or so."

As Chloe walked down the stairs, she looked back up at Elly behind her, "I actually already ordered an Uber, it'll be here in a moment. I'm used to taking an Uber there, kinda a habit and it makes it easier…"

Elly thought back to the previous week, trailing Chloe unnecessarily and that Chloe had ended up going to the hairdressers for two hours, "You said you have a reasonable excuse as to where Pierce thinks you're going when you go to the fitness center, does taking an Uber there have anything to do with it?"

I really should tell Chloe I trailed her last week…that was a stupid obsessed with my mate thing to do…yet in a way it's led me here…an excuse to spend extra time with Chloe knowing she's keeping this secret from Pierce and that I can be part of that secret…and Chloe in tight skimpy gym clothes… It won't be long before I give into my need for her…

Chloe nodded softly, "Yes, it does."

Ten minutes later, the Uber parked about a block further back than it had the previous week but Elly didn't let on she knew where they were. As they got out of the Uber, she allowed Chloe to take the lead to walk them down the block to the hairdressers.

"So I have this straight, you attend this fitness center twice a week to provide a class to women on martial arts? Pierce has no knowledge of this whatsoever and to excuse the fact you go do these classes, you go to your friends' hairdressers to get your hair done, twice a week?" Elly posed.

"Yes, I get a treatment, shampoo, conditioner and blow dry on Tuesdays and a trim on Fridays. Sometimes ironed straight too after the trim when my hair gets a lil too sweaty from the workout I do before at the center. Pierce is kinda obsessed with me looking my best with my hair care so it works in my favour. I get to keep him happy by getting my hair done and I get to inspire a bunch of women in martial arts because I love it," Chloe explained.

"And your friend from Adelaide whom you went to school with, Raul, is the owner of this hairdressers and he's well aware of your martial arts abilities?" Elly continued to confirm Chloe's story.

"Yes, sorry, I did lie when I told you no one knows I'm a 3rd degree black belt except the people at the fitness center. Raul knows about all of it. He's…actually the one who introduced me to my instructor and guide to set me on this path. I was always at his hairdressers and the fitness center is directly behind his salon, there's a hallway leading one to the other. Raul's such a supportive friend to help me. Pierce actually loves him. I introduced them a few years ago when Raul moved from Adelaide. He's the only person Pierce trusts to spend time with…doing my hair," Chloe answered.

Was Chloe about to say Pierce only trusts her to spend time with Raul…? What, because he's gay? Can't ask that, I can't tell Chloe I was attacked by a case of stalking Chloe last week…

"He sounds like a really supportive friend," Elly determined, "I can't believe you do all this to come out here for your classes. Would Pierce even notice if you didn't get your hair done so often?"

"Since I don't have my drivers' license, I have to use Uber and Pierce sees the charges on our bank statements. Pierce doesn't have access to my Uber account to see the times I get the Ubers to realize how long I'm out here for. Yeah Pierce would probably notice after a few days. He's just big on giving me everything I need," Chloe shrugged.

As they reached the front of the salon, Elly turned to Chloe instead of walking inside, "Are you sure you don't do all this…because Pierce is controlling and you need to know how to smack him where it hurts if you needed to?"

"I do it because it's something I'm good at and the women at this fitness center do need to know how to smack their partners where it hurts if they needed to," Chloe reassured.

As they walked into the salon, Elly couldn't help but smile as the guy she'd seen the previous week, shuffled from the desk of the salon straight over to Chloe and wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

"Chloe, girl, how are you after your accident? Hetty told me all about it when you couldn't make your class and appointment on Tuesday," Raul exclaimed.

"I'm fine, one day in hospital, bit of bed rest, back to my normal self. Hetty said she'd help me teach this class in case I need a bit of a break," Chloe reassured, then pulling out of the hug, pointed to Elly, "Oh, this is my friend, Elly. Elly this is Raul."

Friend…? I hate that word.

"Hi, nice to meet you," Elly smiled.

Raul opened his mouth gently, "A friend…Chlo, I barely knew you had any of them. Any friend of Chloe's is more than welcome here at my salon. I'm Raul. Now, what can I do for you here at the salon. Please tell you you're willing to let me put some highlights in your hair."

Barely knew Chloe had friends…? Chloe has friends...or does she? She has Bea, does he not know about Bea?

"We're not going to have time for that today, Raul. Elly's going to try out my class. I'm sure we can get Elly a quick trim before we gotta skedaddle back home," Chloe told him.

"A friend and she knows you run a martial arts class? I thought you keep that one secret from everyone. Not to mention this place. Last time anyone came here for you was Pierce and my God girl, I still remember how he left my salon and I'm happy to say we both know he's not planning on returning here again," Raul went off on a tangent.

Okay…what's that about?

"Yes, well Elly came over my house and busted me working out in the living room so I had to tell her that I'm trained in martial arts and run a class at the gym center. And whilst I would love to have you and Elly spend hours getting to know one another…we gotta get ready for the class. We'll be back in just over an hour for that trim appointment. You got time to squeeze Elly in for a trim if she wants?" Chloe asked.

"I'm in for getting a trim if you're not too busy," Elly agreed.

"I will take care of both of you in an hour when you're done with your class. I'll see you both very soon," Raul winked at the pair of them.

Chloe tilted her head towards the back of the salon, with Elly soon following the blonde as they opened the door and entered a hallway.

"So, what was all that that Raul was going on about the last time Pierce came to the salon?" Elly asked curiously.

Chloe grimaced as she stared at Elly, "Well, that's actually what lead me to martial arts. I was just at the salon, getting my hair done as normal. My martial arts instructor and the woman who owns this fitness center was getting her own hair done next to me. Of course, I didn't know it at the time that she was either of those things. She was just this sweet unassuming lady I was sitting next to whilst getting our hair done. Pierce…he was in a bad mood. Something was going wrong with his winery and he was under a lot of stress. We had an event at the winery he wanted us to go to. I…got the time wrong that I was supposed to be ready for Pierce to pick me up. My phone was in my handbag at my chair, I was getting my hair washed with a treatment so I didn't know Pierce was ringing me."

"What'd he do?" Elly pressed, knowing they were nearly at the end of the hallway.

"Pierce stormed into the salon, thinking I'd stood him up on purpose. My hair was still wet but he…started to drag me from the chair, telling me I'd just have to make my hair work with a wet style and get dressed in the car as we were late for the event," Chloe continued.

"And did Pierce drag you out of the salon?" Elly asked with hesitation.

"No, he didn't. Cause that sweet unassuming lady I'd been chatting to for an hour whilst getting my hair coloured walked right up to him as Pierce had his hand on my arm, standing in his way out from the salon. Pierce yelled at her to get out of our way, he was pointing at her and she…reached out her hand and snapped his finger in three places in two seconds flat," Chloe admitted.

"Ouch," Elly exclaimed.

"Yeah, I've never heard the sound that came out of Pierce's mouth. He was in some serious agony I never want to experience. Safe to say, we didn't make it to the winery. Spent all night at the hospital, Pierce had surgery on his finger but it hasn't ever fully recovered. Pierce loves Raul and we have him over at our place all the time but that was the last time Pierce will ever set foot in the salon…cause of that crazy lady that disfigured him and had him screaming in pain in front of…a whole lot of people. A few weeks later, I came back to the salon. The lady happened to be there too. We got to chatting, she thought she'd never see me again let alone that I'd accept her apologies. Before I knew it, Hetty had convinced me to take one of her classes…and here I am two years later running two of my own every week," Chloe couldn't help but smile at the end.

"Hetty sounds like a hero," Elly decided, "But all this begs the question…why do you say Pierce isn't controlling?"

"Pierce was stressed out, I messed up the time I was meant to be ready…he's never done that type of thing before or since. Having his finger snapped in three places by Hetty taught him a lesson. Besides I only look at the positives that it's brought me here to help other women. So, you ready to take this class with me or what?" Chloe brushed aside Elly's concerns.

Okay…Chloe's not ready to talk about Pierce and how controlling he is…just be patient with Chloe on this…she needs to come to terms with it herself…give her time.

"Okay, let's do this class. We can talk about the rest later," Elly decided, letting Chloe know she wasn't going to sweep it under the rug.

Chloe opened the door that led to the fitness center, smiling as she watched Elly look around at the place. The center was small but was fitted out with an area Elly assumed was for classes and another where other women were training with others on their martial arts.

Chloe reached out her hand to gently place it behind Elly's back, "Hey, I should introduce you to Hetty, my instructor and…the woman who taught Pierce a lesson."

Elly relished the feeling of Chloe's hand against her back, wishing her clothes weren't separating the touch of Chloe against her, but she was soon distracted as her eyes landed on the woman Chloe was tilting her head at, "That's not Hetty, there is no way that woman snapped a single bone in anyone's body."

"I did tell you she was a sweet unassuming lady, didn't I?" Chloe pointed out.

Lucky they weren't in earshot of Hetty, Elly raised her eyebrow at Chloe, "She's like 4 feet tall and 80 years old!"

"Hetty's 5 feet tall, Elly. And yes, she's 80 years old. Pretty unassuming for a martial arts specialist aye?" Chloe grinned, "C'mon, I'll introduce you to her."

Elly smiled as Chloe's hand remained against her lower back for a few seconds as they walked over to the woman.

Chloe greeted the woman warmly with a hug, "Hetty, I have a beginner who wants to try my class today. Is that okay? This is my friend, Elly, by the way."

Hetty stared Elly up and down, "Nice to meet you, Elly," before looking back at Chloe, "Is she good?"

"Elly's never done martial arts before but she's very fit and competitive, she'll do fine," Chloe encouraged.

"I'm sure I'll learn plenty from the class and be able to kick someone's ass by the end of the lesson," Elly grinned at Chloe.

Hetty smiled at the way Elly was looking at Chloe, then stuck out her foot to Elly's ankle swiftly, "Won't be kicking my ass anytime soon, darling."

Elly fell backwards, landing on her back, lucky the fitness center was fitted out with a mattress flooring, that made her fall a little less painful. Not that she felt it much at all, with her werewolf strength, but she realized instantly she needed to act like she did, "Ow, what was that for? Are you laughing at me, Chlo?"

Chloe reached out her hand to help Elly back to her feet, "I'm sorry, Elly, but the look on your face as you fell backwards…you didn't see it coming at all."

Weird…my reflexes as a wolf are normally pretty spry.

Elly pouted, "Well, then, it looks like I need to sign up for a whole lot of lessons to learn the craft of martial arts. And, Hetty, it was nice to meet you…I will kick your ass one day."

"No, you won't," Hetty smirked as she walked away from the pair to some other clients, noticing that Elly was far too focused on Chloe to hear her mumble to herself, "4 feet tall! Please!"

Cocky…you don't know you're dealing with a werewolf…whom needs to be better prepared to be tripped up next time…

"Well, now I know where you learnt how to trip me up onto my ass like you did back at yours," Elly teased, "Are you gonna do that to me again as I'd prefer a warning if you are?"

"Let's get changed into our gear for the class," Chloe replied, "And to answer your question…yes, I probably will trip you up on your ass more often than you think just to remind you I'm the one in charge of the class."

Elly couldn't help but continue to smile at the blonde.

If Chloe's gonna show me up in this class, I'd prefer to drag her down with me like last time…Chloe landing on top of me is worth every bruise I get for falling over…bruises that heal within minutes but bruises all the same…I just want Chloe tangled up with me all day, every day…

Next time - As Chelly debrief on Elly's first martial arts lesson, who should interrupt them? Will Elly call out Pierce's controlling ways?