Chapter 4

It was 'okay' for two nights.

Well, almost.

Chloe doesn't see Tom in the morning on a school day as he has to be up early for his first swordsmanship training for this semester. He'll be competing in the nationals then internationally so it's all understandable. Tom is serious when it comes to winning and Chloe is already familiar with that fiercely intense focus and his hundred and one percent dedication he gives in to it. Although, she does wish that he'd leave a note or even a simple text but she'd see him later anyway so that's okay.

For now, she heads to her first class without any hitches. That is until the events two nights ago unconsciously claim her thoughts and focusing on anything is proving to be quite hard. It doesn't even help that she hasn't even sat down with Tom to seriously talked to him about the events that had happened. The Vanderbilt heir had been so busy doing conference calls with his father's advisors and they've been coming in frequently these days for some reason he doesn't want to share. Tom had explained last time that all of it was necessary, all this training, as his ascent to the Vanderbilt high seat was getting closer.

Chloe is honestly worried for him. She worries about him now more than ever before. He has been working himself too hard and on top of all his school work and extra-curricular. Not to mention, he also happens to be a running candidate for the president of the student body. It's the good for his resume.

Reality is catching up fast and Chloe knows very well that all these are just a glimpse of what the future would be like. With Tom becoming head of the Vanderbilt high seat, it's becoming as clear as day that it's Chloe who would soon be taking the seat next to him and as early as now she could already feel half of the responsibility weighing on her own shoulders. But she loves him and despite the heavy weight she'd have to carry someday looming up ahead, she'd work hard to help him, to prove to everyone that she has what it takes to sit next to him. So, she has to be as close to perfect as she could be.

Chloe would do anything to protect him.

To protect his reputation.

The reputation he worked so hard for ever since they were young.

The reputation the Du Ponts have easily tainted in just one night.

It doesn't happen until Chloe walks out of her last class and into one of the comfort room's stall. A bunch of giggling girls enter not long after, chatting about a specific event two nights ago and the video that stars none other than her boyfriend.

"But he's running for president, isn't he?"

"Yeah, good luck with that. His ratings are surely going to take a tumble down the hill because of that fight he had with the twins and now a video on top of that? What kind of leader would that make him?"

"I don't blame the twins though. From what I see, he seems to be so full of himself just because he is a Vanderbilt,"

"Aren't they all?" laughter erupts between the girls as Chloe clenches her fist.

"But Chloe Beale doesn't seem like that. She seems nice, I mean, all those projects and all,"

"Well, you never know what's underneath all that. She could be fake like him. There's this rumour that she has unresolved issues with another Du Pont,"

"Oh that Du Pont. Such a babe that one, and very, very much single,"

"Shut up, I recognize that look. Girl, fall in line!"

"I'd definitely pick a Du Pont over a Vanderbilt any day. Those conceited fools are too proud to hang out with non-elites, like yeah we get it, you guys aren't that special!"

More laughter erupts and Chloe was just about ready to open the door with a bang and confront those babbling chickens when a voice beats her to it, slicing in their chitchat like hot knife on butter.

"At least we don't hide in bathrooms like rats, talking about things we are too scared to say it in front of our enemies," Claire Vanderbilt says in a tone that could freeze up the desserts of Africa.

"That's your cue to scamper away, little rats," Aubrey's sickeningly sweet voice follows and all Chloe hears next is some stuff falling down the ground and hurried shuffling towards the door in seconds.

Once everything quietens down, Chloe opens the door, her cousins' eyes falling on her the moment she does. She meets their gazes and sighs.

"I was about to kick them back to the tunnels where they belonged when you guys stepped in," she says tiredly. All the hate and negativity heavily bringing her mood and energy down.

"Chlo," Aubrey softens and thankfully reaches out to her. She badly needs a hug right now.

"Rumours are just that, rumours. You know very well that there's just no truth to all they said," she comforts and Chloe wants to put all that in mind but right now, it's just too hard not to feel drained by it.

"Those immature Du Ponts. It's their fault this is happening," Claire seethes and at one point, Chloe fears that her iron-grip on the edges of the sink's marble counter would either leave a dent or worse, crumble down the floor.

"They're just primitive barbarians who got nothing to do but create disasters when threatened. We aren't like them. We'll pull through," Aubrey supplies positively in front of the mirror as she straightens her blouse while Chloe starts to sink deeply in thought. Thinking of any plan to turn this around. She has to do something.

But what?

Dawn starts to break when Chloe arrives home. She expects Tom to be doing his usual thing, sitting on his desk, wrapped up in all his paperwork or in the middle of a deep conversation with his father's advisors. Not this kind of Tom, the one drinking alcohol straight from the bottle, sluggish and looking all worn out.

"He's been like that since he got home," Scott reports wearily at the questioning looks from his cousins. Arthur shakes his head and sighs, announcing that he'd be skipping dinner to work on a paper.

When Claire moves to enter it's Chloe who holds her back, knowing very well that whatever insults against the Du Ponts and all that berating Claire is about to rant in front of her brother are certainly not going to be of any help in this case. So, Chloe enters instead because she knows that you can't put out fire with fire.

"Hey," she starts, softly and tenderly as she takes a seat across him. She reaches out for his hand and only then does she get a reaction from him, a shake of his head and a wry smile on his lips.

"It's over," he begins to say, a slur evident on his voice. "It's over, Chlo. I stepped down as candidate for student president today," a chuckle rumbles from his chest as Chloe shakes her head in disbelief.

"You're a good leader and a good person, Tom. This, this doesn't define you. It won't bring us down. Everything's going to be okay—" she doesn't get to completely finish when another round of half-hearted chuckles ensues.

To her disappointment, he withdraws his hand away from hers as he takes another gulp of his alcohol. He tries to go for another and this time Chloe is quick to stop him but just like a few moments ago he wrenches free from her grasp to take a drink.

"Nobody understands. Nobody!" he shouts and it takes Chloe by surprise, her chest jumping at the sudden angry tone. Tom had never yelled at her before. "Do you even know how important reputation and image is to be head of a bloodline and even more so as chairperson of the blood council?" he continues, voice breaking at this point and he instantly looks away as his eyes start to water. He blinks them back, shaking his head before exhaling heavily.

Taking everything in, Chloe reminds herself to understand, to put herself in his shoes. That if it were the other way around, she'd be acting the same way. The only thing she can offer at this point is comfort, her presence.

"B-But we'll find a way to turn this around. I believe in you, Tom. I do," she says earnestly as he looks around, unable to focus on just one thing.

"Father wanted me to be the one to sit on the blood council's throne next," he says, obviously not listening to any of her words anymore. "It was his dream that finally, a Vanderbilt claiming the high throne once more. I've been preparing for this my whole life and now," he chokes back a sob.

"It's ruined, all of it," he say in a low voice, head hanging low while he runs his fingers through his hair and scrunching it up. His usual iron-pressed shirt now looking all crumpled like his resolve. It's the worst she has seen him in and it's breaking her heart.

"There's no fixing this. It's all gone. I'm just… a disappointment," he croaks as a tear falls down his cheek. "I have nothing left. Nothing," he breathes out.

Chloe gets up on her feet, reaching out to wrap him in the comfort of her embrace, desperately needing and wanting to tell him that it's not over yet, that he still has something, that he has her. But she doesn't get to do or tell him any of it as he stands up to avoid her touch. Swaying and staggering, he takes the bottle and lifts a hand up to signify that he needs space.

"I want to be alone," he mumbles, pushing the double door leading to the office connected to his room and slamming it back harshly, leaving Chloe to herself.

There was so many mixed emotions within her but what stood out the most was pain and frustration, frustrated at her inability to do anything. Even as a child, Chloe had always made people feel better. She'd always light up a room, that's what her mother would always say. And now being unable to lighten Tom's burden is making her feel useless and that's the feeling she hates the most.

It was overwhelming, all too much for her that she rushes out of the room amid Aubrey's worried questions. She ignores everything and runs out of the door in seconds. Her legs just kept walking without a destination in mind and when she finally comes to a stop she then only realizes where she ended up, unconsciously.

Maybe she was going mad.

But then again, maybe this madness might just be the solution to this mess. Maybe she can still save him. All it takes is a deep breath, a huge swallow of pride, and a knock on the door. It opens to hearty laughter, from some interesting conversation a second ago that quickly dissipates at the sight of her.

Emily, that's the name she connects with the youthful and innocent face. A freshman, one of the new occupants in the Du Pont manor. As expected, there's the sudden look of alarm in the young brunette's face but then it quickly changes to that of caution as Chloe notices the tight grip on the knob, possibly preparing to slam it on her face if ever she makes even one nasty remark. After all, a Vanderbilt standing in front of Du Pont property without a formal invitation is like seeing what the end of the world looks like.

Just one deep breath of air is all Chloe needs as she realizes something, "Great, she isn't in there," she blurts out with a sigh, more to herself than to anyone as she gets straight to the point. Introductions between their families are not needed anyway. Besides, it wasn't a question. She was sure Beca wasn't in the house.

Upon the look of confusion from the Du Pont as to how she knew of Beca's absence Chloe begins again, much more clearly this time. "I need to see Beca, do you know where she is?" she asks impatiently, looking around anxiously.

Emily seems to let all of it sink in before finally opening her lips to say something. "I—she, B-Beca is…" she stammers and before she could say anything else the door suddenly opens wider as Stacie Conrad's face comes to view.

The older Du Pont pulls Emily protectively to stand behind her as if Chloe was some serial killer trying to lure the child out of the house. Stacie's eyes then bore down hard on her and Chloe can only let out another sigh on how absurd the situation is getting. She really doesn't have time for a cat fight.

So before Stacie could say anything, Chloe beats her to it. "I'm here to see Beca. Can you maybe call her from… wherever she is right now and tell her that I'm not leaving until I talk to her," Chloe says, trying to tone down the irritation in her tone. She's not here to get into trouble after all. Which is why she adds a 'please' after a few seconds.

The air is dead for a few moments before Stacie un-crosses her arms from her chest and inhales deeply as if she is forced into giving in. She definitely is.

"She was here a while ago but she stepped out for some fresh air," she finally blurts out, cocking her head to the side before adding, "Like she always does,"

With the lost look on Chloe's face, it's as if Stacie could already tell what she is thinking. "She hangs out somewhere come the break of day, for some reason," she mumbles the last few words with a matching eye roll. The new information gets Chloe to slowly nod as she processes it.

"You can wait right here for god knows how long since she can be gone for hours doing god knows what in god knows where or look for her yourself and just—good luck with that," Stacie says in a matter-of-fact tone as she gestures everywhere.

Her silent response makes Stacie shift to the side, about to close the door but then Chloe suddenly puts a stop to it as she quickly slams her palm against the door, eyes wide and almost pleading in desperation. The tall brunette then lifts up an eyebrow quizzically before sighing and looking back at her expectantly.

"Willow!" Chloe exclaims randomly, getting a frown in return and a look that reads, 'are you high on something?' but in spite of that Chloe presses on, "Do you know if there's a willow tree around? Or at least, heard of one nearby?" she asks.

With the confusion etching Stacie's face she's just about to accept that today's just not the day and plan on the next course of action which is, ambushing the female in question at school—which is the worst idea because a Vanderbilt and Du Pont being seen together in public is going to start another wave of nasty rumours—when a voice comes up softly.

"There's a large weeping willow tree probably five minutes away from the time you step into the forest," Emily squeaks and Chloe almost forgets that the younger Du Pont was still standing behind Stacie, fidgeting with her fingers as she looks from a confused Stacie to her expectant look.

It's only after a minute that Chloe lets Emily's words sink in. Because if Beca is where Emily is telling her, it sounds really insane.

Everyone knows that the Winter Forest surrounding the whole of Victor Barden isn't a place one would want to hang out at. Other than the fact, that the school forbids it, all the students don't really need much reminding about that rule. Winter Forest is, as one would say, mysterious. Any loud noise from the outside fades as one enters, like it was soundproof. Most students even deemed it haunted since it's always cold even on the summer peak. Adding to its mystery, it's been said that it suddenly snows deep within the forest when outside, the sun is high and bright. Thus, the name Winter Forest. Even the werewolves who were the only ones allowed to climb up the wall every full moon, don't wander far past the marked red line where the trees are thicker and the atmosphere even darker. Stories of people who do try to pass the mark were never seen again, claimed forever within the mysterious depths and that's why nobody even dares to do so.

It's just not the place to be.

At least, for people who aren't Beca I have a death wish Mitchell.

When Stacie gives her cousin a questioning look, Emily quickly blurts out an answer, "Beca… mentioned it once last Christmas in France when I asked her where she would rather be. She says there's a secret door behind the vines lining up the wall, there are small pebbles leading the way to it—and now that I think about it, Beca told me to keep it a secret and I'm so screwed," she visibly panics, face going pale before Stacie pats her gently in the head. "No you aren't, you're her favourite Du Pont baby—don't tell Stella that," the taller brunette says with a cough at the end while Chloe is still reeling in shock over the fact that Beca actually has the capability of caring. Hazel coloured eyes then look back towards Chloe swiftly. "I don't really know exactly where the tree is. I've never wandered there. I don't like dark, cold places so I can't even draw you a map to the tree—"

"It's okay. Thank you, Emily," Chloe cuts in, earning looks of disbelief from the two when she proceeds to walk towards the corner, turning around it and passing the side of the manor with purpose on each of her step. She does hear the front door closing and Stacie's questions about weeping willows, on how exactly does Chloe find a god damn tree in the sea of trees and some exasperated comments about Beca's weird quirks.

And maybe it really is a bad idea.

But if there was anyone who could find Beca easily, it has to be her. Nobody knows this of course and it's going to remain that way. Explaining the 'how' is easy, it's the 'why' that's what Chloe isn't looking forward to admitting. Too many secrets are involved in it and neither of them are keen on digging up all of that gloomy history again. Besides, Chloe always sucked in history.

Passing the garden, Chloe stops just right in front of the area of the wall where the vines are heavy, where the trail of gray and white pebbles stop. She also realizes that it's the only angle that cannot be seen by the moving cameras watching all over the whole of the school—believe it or not, there's actually a loophole in the security and Chloe still doesn't know what she exactly feels about that. She lifts up her hand to feel for the thick vines along the wall. When her palms reach the part where the vines seemed to have been moved, she suddenly feel something odd against the surface, she pushes slowly and to her surprise, the cement creaks open exactly like those secret doors that lead to secret passages. Whoever made it must've spent years planning how to build passages leading to the mysterious world beyond the walls.

Could there be more secret passages like this in Victor Barden though?

Shaking off the thoughts in her head, Chloe looks up, sunlight is already seeping through the sky and soon the sun's rays will bathe the entire campus. If that happens, or when that happens rather, in a couple of minutes when she steps out of the forest—after she is done looking for the queen of all that is wrong in this world—she'll be getting weak as if she's carrying something really heavy on her back, add in a light fever, prickly skin allergies and an eye irritation which would make her blind, temporarily, and maybe it's not really worth getting through all that trouble when she can just pursue that ambush plan of hers instead after the sun sets. But then again… Tom.

The faster she gets it done, the better.

Pushing back all those second thoughts crashing through her mind, Chloe finally takes one step forward into the Winter Forest. A certain chill blanketing her immediately as she instinctively hugs herself and even though vampires can survive the cold longer than humans she is thankful for the bit of warmth from her denim jacket as she cautiously treads around trees and roots sticking out from underneath the slightly damp soil. And maybe this is the worst idea ever. She wished that she should've worn trekking shoes instead of soft designer boots from channel and some jeans instead of her white floral mini-dress that ran down her thighs. But regrets do come later and she isn't turning back now.

Walking further, she turns her head towards every small noise she hears and it's practically useless with the sunshine being unable to seep through those thick trees, she couldn't exactly pin point what thing made what sound due to the place being a little dim but she hears them all. Also, vampires can see quite well in the dark so it helps her not trip on to things.

She could smell that scent, her scent but it was faint and with nature surrounding her, Chloe is currently experiencing sensory overload. From the smell of earthy soil to that minty, sweet or bitter scent of different kinds of trees. At some point it felt like she was going further so she had to turn back and go the opposite direction. This happened twice and thankfully she hasn't had the need to cross the boundary of the scary red mark as the scent she is specifically looking for doesn't seem to go past it.

Minutes pass and she is about to give up when she gives it one last shot, pausing to close her eyes, concentrating hard as she inhales deeply and that's when it hits her. It may have been years since the last time she did it so she lacks practice but all it really took was focus and some unearthing of memories to almost ten years ago. Her face lights up in recognition of the familiar scent, going stronger with each step she takes until she is jogging towards it.

Beca.

She picks up her pace, almost running to a certain direction, the darkness slowly disappearing with every step. She almost stumbles forward as she finally reaches a small clearing where a huge old weeping willow, one of the biggest she has ever seen, stood basking in the center of morning sun, probably the only part of the forest where the sun breaks through.

It's beautiful, she admits. A magical sight to see.

Wasting no time, she hurries underneath its shade, letting the willow's long hanging leaves swallow her inside, to avoid the sun's rays surrounding it. Giving a sigh of relief, she takes a step around it before spotting a green army jacket peeking from a corner. Walking closer with the faintest possible sound she can make, she finally finds the Du Pont she has been looking for sitting on a flannel scarf tied to her waist on the ground by the base of the tree.

The brunette's usual fashion of black shorts, black shoes and black everything wasn't surprising at all, what was is her slumped form, back against the tree, head rolled to one side, resting at the crooked tree trunk. Her body remained still, her breathing even and slow, and lips parting ever so lightly.

Beca is sleeping.

Due to the sunglasses hiding her eyes, Chloe is unsure whether the brunette was aware, or already aware, of her presence. Whatever word attack she had planned a while ago fades away instantly as she quietly observes the sleeping Du Pont in front of her. She could hear the sound of music playing in Beca's earphones which she has long observed is almost an extension of her body, the only constant accessory Beca wears. The beat she hears is catchy and something Chloe would admittedly download into her phone but she wasn't here for an exchange of songs.

Tom. Right, she's here for Tom.

She hovers around the brunette a bit, debating whether to wait for her to wake up, shake her, kick her or return back home instead. To safety and comfort with her family. Besides, she's getting quite sleepy from looking at Beca's comfortable position. Maybe she just needs to sleep it all off and start again tonight.

Instead, she bends down a bit, her hand unconsciously reaching out to the side of the brunette's head where a small dry leaf has fallen down those shiny dark brown caramel locks. Her knees bend and almost kiss the ground as she moves closely, fingers slowly nearing the leaf that nestled in between those soft strands of hair, her other hand against the tree to support her weight as she leans forward. Beca smells like lychee and orange blossom flowers. Her olfactory nerves decide it to be a very pleasant scent. Another inch closer and finally, with all the gentleness that she could muster, plucks the intruding leaf off of the sleeping Du Pont.

"This tree is mine. Go find your own," a sleepy voice drawls out, making Chloe squeak in surprise, her heart almost jumping out of her chest as she pulls away in a flash, almost tripping as she straightens back up on her feet looking deeply flustered. It takes a few seconds for her to recover as she glares down at the female.

Meanwhile, Beca slowly stretches her arms before straightening up and pressing the 'next' button on her iPod, a new song playing. It's another awesome track, good for a weekend drive out of town, windows rolled down while eating ice-cream, but Chloe shouldn't really be taking note of all those unnecessary stuff.

Focus!

Looking at the whole situation, Chloe eyes Beca in disbelief. Those big, bold, words, most probably a couple of death threats, she intended to rant towards the brunette in a cool and intimidating manner gone with the wind.

Instead, she starts with, "Why are you sleeping here?"

And before anyone could judge, it's a very reasonable question. Beca has a massive family manor and thus, definitely owns her own huge bedroom with all the comforts of home yet here she was in the forest, the creepiest of all forests at that, underneath a tree, sitting on the ground where you can accumulate dirt and attract bugs. She swats one away with her hand and finally the Du Pont looks up at her.

"Because it's quiet here," she deadpans. "A place without annoying, noisy, redheads who keep on stalking me and breaking the peace of my dark world," she continues in all her perfect sarcasm and Chloe isn't even surprised. Beca's a Du Pont.

Sighing and crossing her arms in front of her chest, Chloe counters, "There wouldn't be any if you stop pissing them off or ruining their lives and those whom they care deeply about,"

"Ah, I forgot to add," Beca replies almost immediately, cocking her head to the side as she continues. "Annoying, noisy, sarcastic and detestable stalker redheads who break the peace of the whole world," Beca corrects herself before pulling down her headphones to rest them on her neck.

"So, what? Is this a murder attempt? 'Cause I'm telling you, you should've plunged the knife straight at my heart while I was sleeping and now you missed your chance. If you want to do something, do it. Just jump," Beca says as if she was discussing the most boring thing in the world and Chloe frowns at the thought of her words. It's totally absurd and morbid. The Du Pont then takes off her sunglasses and soon Chloe gets acquainted with those dark ocean blues once more.

Biting the retort and insults hanging at the tip of her tongue, Chloe once again reminds herself why she was doing this madness in the first place.

For Tom.

"I'm here because… life is about bargaining and survival," she says, pausing to take one last gulp before she makes the decision she assumes she'd regret forever.

"And you were wrong about one thing. I actually have something. Something you'd like. Something… that could satisfy you,"

The Du Pont looks at her without a word, and Chloe revels in the fact that she actually caught Beca off-guard for once. Those deep blue eyes, no matter how much they hide their emotion are currently unable to hide the surprise in them. So, Chloe decides to seal it in before she bumps her head and realizes what she'd just done. What she's about to do.

This is suicide, Chloe.

"I'm here to make a deal with you,"

Maybe Beca's words weren't so absurd after all. Chloe just went and took one hell of a jump in the end.


A/N:

What are you doing Chloe? Okay maybe it's time I tell you guys, she's very particular with leaves falling into someone's hair. It's like an OCD thing. Also, she loves flowers, orange blossoms and all. Her actions don't mean anything. I swear.

Emily is an adorable bean. Also, Stacie is secretly the mother hen of the family. Beca of course is the father figure. The real summary of the Du Pont family everyone.

Parziwolf : Such loyalty. You deserve panda hugs and a place in the panda high council, my friend. Yes, wolves are invited too.

Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited, reviewed/commented (reviews/comments are the best*wink*wink*) and to those quiet readers (you guys could type in a letter and I'll still be happily deciphering your special message with hearts in my eyes). I appreciate it all so much.