Like Father, Like Son
Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm finally back after a busy few days at work. Thank you guys for being patient with me as I really wanted to get a chapter out asap but couldn't especially yesterday when someone offered their shift to me and I took it because nobody was going to take it so why not right? So this is going to be a very important chapter so I need everyone to be paying attention to what is going on. I hope you guys enjoy it and I'll see you at the next Author's Note at the bottom of the page.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Girl Meets World. I'm not getting paid by the writers to write stuff like this (but I wish I was) Sadly they wouldn't let stuff like this air because it's Disney!
Riley and Chloe have already been questioned by the Police for an hour. The officer talking to Riley had stepped outside so they can take a break. Riley took a few deep breaths to calm her senses from remembering every detail, the sight of blood on her dad's dress shirt, seeing Charlie unremorsefully shooting him and the brave Chloe standing up to her father for not wanting her in his life. She was still worried about Chloe and the state of her mind at that moment. She saw so much and is likely traumatized by the events of the last few hours. After 15 minutes the officer came back with a cup of coffee in his hands.
"Mrs. Friar, would you like some coffee?" The officer offered to Riley.
"No thank you Officer, thank you though." Riley politely refused the offer.
"Ok, so I know that this is a terrible time right now and I understand that your dad is in the hospital, but could you please go over with me one more time, what happened in that alley?" The officer asked wanting Riley to go over her story again.
"Well Chloe wanted to see her biological father and after she walked out on her mother, she came to my house where my dad and I brought her to Real Fan's Bar and Grill. The bouncer allowed us in since he's known us for years and because we just wanted to talk." Riley said before taking a deep breath while the officer wrote in his notebook some points in Riley's story.
"How did you guys end up in the alley?" The officer asked very calmly looking sympathetic and empathetic with an understanding tone in his voice.
"Well, we chased Chloe's biological father to keep talking to him after he told us to…" Riley looked at Chloe before continuing her sentence. She covered Chloe's ears for a second. "F ourselves." Then Riley uncovered her ears and put her hands by her side.
"And what is the name of Chloe's biological father?" The officer asked.
Riley waited for a moment if Chloe wanted to answer since it concerned her fther, but she seemed too fidgety to answer anything about him. So Riley answered it instead. "Charlie Gardner." She felt like she was spitting out hellfire just mentioning his name while the officer wrote his name down in his notebook.
"Ok, so after that you said "Charlie wanted nothing to do with his daughter leading to break Chloe's heart" is that correct, Mrs. Friar" The officer said reading from his notebook flipping a page back making reference to that point. Riley nodded her head confirming that statement.
"And you said Charlie eventually shot your father after he pointed the gun at you?" The officer asked Riley again while he checked his watch for the time. It read 1:37am.
"Yes. "Riley answered.
"Ok then, thank you Mrs. Friar. We'll find Charlie soon ok? Would you and Chloe like a ride home?" The officer offered putting on his jacket as they stood up as Riley remembered she didn't drive because her mother had the keys to Cory's car.
"Yes that would be very much appreciated. Thank you, officer." Riley said gratefully as she was escorted out into the office where Chloe was waiting for her. Poor Chloe looked like her innocence of the world was taken away from her after witnessing the sight of Cory almost dying in front of her and seeing the true evil within her father's heart.
"Hey Chloe, you ready to go?" Riley asked the teenager looking her shoes and the floor.
"Chloe, are you ok?" She asked sounding concerned as she took a knee to get to Chloe's eye level. Chloe shook her head.
"What's the matter, Chloe?" Riley asked wanting to know what was wrong.
"I can't tell you here, can I tell you tomorrow?" Chloe asked.
Riley was worried. A part of her believes that the trauma was too much her. Another part believes Chloe's heart is damaged as her father confirmed that Chloe was conceived out of jealousy and hatred. Riley knew that Chloe was mentally exhausted and wanted to respect her wish despite wanting to know what was bothering the young teenager.
"Ok, we'll talk during lunch in my classroom, is that fair?" Riley asked as she proposed a time frame and location. Chloe nodded her head as an NYPD officer escorted them to his Police Cruiser and drove the two to their respective homes. When Chloe was dropped off at her place, her mother was relieved that she was alright and that she was safe as she hugged Chloe tightly being thankful for her safety. What she didn't see, was the damage in her heart from that encounter as Chloe has done a good job in trying her best to forget the incident and any association with her father. She had bottled up her emotions and needed to talk about this in private with Riley when they see each other in school. Sarah didn't even ground her daughter for making the arrangement to see Charlie because she knew that Chloe went through enough that day.
The next morning, Riley eventually had her private time with Chloe after teaching the class about one of her father's Secrets of Life: "People change people". Cory was still I the hospital and everyone knew it since it was on the news. The hunt for Charlie Gardner was ongoing and Cory was recovering in the hospital. The staff took time out of their day to send their well wishes to Riley and offered their support.
The bell rang signaling that Riley's class had ended. Most of the students already left the classroom. Chloe remembers what they needed to talk about to Riley so she still remained behind. Aaron, Stephen, and Ruben were confused as to why she stayed.
"Are you coming with us?" Aaron asked.
"She'll catch up, guys." His mother told them. "We just need to have a talk. Go have lunch." The three boys understood.
"Okay. We'll try to save you a slice of pizza before the senior guys devour it all." Stephen told her as they left.
"Once they left, Riley began their conversation. She sat on the student's seat next to her.
"How are you feeling Chloe?" Chloe gave her an annoyed look. Riley tried to push the thought away that her expression eerily resembles Charlie. "How do you think I'm feeling?" She demanded in a hurt and broken voice. "I just heard my father not wanting anything to do with me, he called me a slut and he almost killed your father! I had a nightmare last night of what happened yesterday that he killed you, Mr. Matthews…"She swallowed a lump in her throat when she added. "And me…"
Chloe was trying to stay strong and forced herself not to cry. She cried out all her tears last night over her father's rejection and the horror of what happened to Cory. None of that was known by her mother. After hearing her story when she dated Charlie, Chloe didn't want to bother her with the internal torment that her daughter was suffering. It was her fault anyway that Cory was hurt and that she got to truly know who Charlie Gardner was.
"I'm sorry, Chloe…" Riley frowned, pouring out sympathy for her knowing it must not be east to be a daughter of Charlie's.
Chloe gave her an odd look. "What are you sorry for? I should be the one that's sorry. If it weren't for me, Mr. Matthews would never have been in the hospital right now. If he would have died…" She lowered her head down and quieted her voice being in guilt and shame. "I don't know what I'd do…"
"My dad is still alive, Chloe," Riley assured her. "Like Aaron said, he is tough even though he doesn't look like it."
"Well, I don't know if I can think of Charlie the same way again," Chloe said. "I used to have hope that we can have a good relationship. Even though you and mom couldn't have changed him, I thought I could since I'm his daughter… but I was wrong," Then, she looked like she was concentrating hard on something. "For some reason…I find myself still caring about him despite what he did yesterday," Chloe looked up to Riley. "Is that wrong?" Chloe asked.
"No, Chloe. I don't think that's wrong. Deep down, Charlie is still your father, and eventually, he'll have to come to terms with that too." Riley answered as she was rubbing Chloe's shoulder to comfort her.
"I'm sure he will, but it's not like we can ever have another chance to form a relationship. He ran off." She scoffed.
Riley bit her bottom lip before asking. She knew this was a sensitive topic for Chloe. "I've been meaning to ask you…but I think I know my answer. Since you still care for Charlie, is that why you didn't report about him to the police officer?"
"Yes. I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I couldn't rat him out after knowing how much he hated being in prison for so many years. He'll have to go back because of what he did. But then you exposed his name to the officer…" Chloe answered putting her head down slowly.
"I had no choice, Chloe." Riley slowly shook her head.
"I understand." She said reasonably and a frown appeared on her face. "It's just now I know I can never have my father back."
"Life will get better eventually for you, Chloe." Riley comforted and hugged her.
"How do you know?" Chloe asked wondering how Riley could be this optimistic.
"Because Mrs. Minkus's biological father ran out on her when she was 7 and years later, my dad's best friend: Shawn stepped in and became like a father figure for her and eventually married her mother and is now Mrs. Minkus' stepfather.
"I don't know if I can allow another man to date mom, I always had a picture thinking it would be the three of us and only us." Chloe told Riley wanting to have a father in her life.
"But Chloe, with my experience with the world, someone will come around and either you mom finds that man or if that man finds her, he'll step up and be a father for you and love you the way you deserve to be loved." Riley told Chloe as she looked at the clock and still needed Chloe to eat. "Ok Chloe, we're gonna end things like this for now, I have to mark some papers, you go and eat with Aaron and the others ok?" Riley said letting go of Chloe and made her way back to her desk.
"And you'll always be there for me?" Chloe asked looking at Riley like another mom.
"Right here." Riley answered as she pointed at her desk.
"Thanks Mrs. Friar." Chloe said thankfully as she walked up to Riley and hugged her.
"Your welcome Chloe, now go and enjoy lunch and keep an eye on Aaron for me." Riley said entrusting Chloe to keep a look out on her son.
"Will do Mrs. Friar, see you at the bakery." Chloe told her starting to smile again as she picked up her bag and left the classroom.
Chloe joined up with Aaron, Stephen, and Ruben who were waiting for her in the cafeteria.
"Well look who's here!" Stephen called out to his friends as they both looked to their right as Chloe entered the cafeteria and walked to them. Chloe rushed Aaron and began to hug him as soon as possible. Aaron didn't know what the hug was for as he found this to be pretty weird.
"What's this for?" Aaron asked as he hugged her back.
"Nothing…I'm just very thankful for having someone like you in my life." Chloe answered releasing her hold on Aaron.
"And what about us?" Stephen called out as he and Ruben felt left out.
"Yeah I'm thankful for my idiots too!" Chloe hugged her other guy friends.
"HEY!" Ruben and Stephen exclaimed together.
"Just kidding, I'm thankful for you guys too." Chloe said chuckling at them as Aaron smiled to see that Chloe was showing signs that she was getting better.
Author's Note: And that concludes another chapter! So Chloe couldn't rat out Charlie and now has formed a strong relationship with Riley and what was that with Aaron? ;) Next Time on Like Father, Like Son: Shawn, Topanga, and Katy visit Cory in the hospital to check up on him but Shawn and Topanga hear alarms in Cory's tone in his voice. Is Cory back in"Coryland"? And what is he going to say to them? Also Chloe goes out with Chris and will she tell him about Charlie? Find out next time on Like Father, Like Son! Please review, fav, and follow the story and again I apologize for not updating as fast as I could because of life being busy due to work. I'll see you guys soon and now it's time to y'all!
Let's Talk!
Guest from April 9: I hope you like the chapter and hope to hear from you soon and tell me what you thought of the chapter :)
Mynameisjeff1400: Oh but someone will die! When that'll be, I can't tell you good to hear from you again and I hope you liked this chapter :)
Guest from April 5: Awww, I would've come to give you a hug but sadly I sometimes enjoy being this evil muahahaha! I hope you liked the chapter and hope to hear from you next chapter :)
Charlie Hater: We'll see if Charlie does die or is even caught by the Police. Hope you enjoyed the chapter though.
Michaela: It could be Charlie that dies who knows maybe Lucas will see Charlie again and shit is gonna hit the fan so hard!
James Stryker: Ouuu sadly our girl couldn't muster the strength to rat out her dad why? I don't know but we'll see how her date with Chris goes. As for who dies, I'm pretty sure some people lowkey want Chris to die but time will reveal that answer! Thank for the support and can't wait for the next chapter of Her Protector and Juliet's World :)