How'd you think I feel when you call my name

You got me confused by the way I've changed

"Chloe." The word came out like the quiet exhaling of a breath that had been held in for too long. Their eyes met for the first time since that fateful night. No, that wasn't true, it had been longer than that. The evening that she'd left, Aubrey had, not once, been able to look Chloe in the eye. Chloe tried to think back to when the last time she'd looked into those eyes had been but found herself too distracted to work it out. Distracted by those very same eyes, brazenly staring back at her.

Chloe didn't reply. Tightening her grip on the shopping cart that she had been pushing, she settled for simply studying the woman in front of her. Aubrey stood there, every bit as beautiful as she was in all of Chloe's memories. There were subtle differences, of course, but this was still the same Aubrey that had stood before her all those years ago.

Chloe supposed that the years had changed her too. Her long mane of red hair had been chopped back to a more mature looking shoulder length and, despite her attempts to try to stop them, gentle creases had begun appearing around her eyes. It wasn't just her appearance that had been affected by the time though; so much had changed in her life since the last time she had seen Aubrey. She was older now, a more mature but perhaps also more guarded, less carefree version of the person she had been. She had responsibilities now, a proper job and a son. The thought of Nicholas brought her momentarily out of the daze she was in.

She moved to look for him but couldn't pull her gaze away, couldn't bring herself to stop soaking in the sight before her. She opened her mouth to call for him but didn't manage to get any words out before Aubrey had spoken again.

"Chloe." She spoke louder, more clearly, this time. The word shot like an arrow through the redhead, bringing with it memories of all the times she'd heard that voice say her name before. Chloe's breathing became shallow and her chest tightened as her thoughts moved to all the times she'd hoped, over the years, to hear her saying it again. She had always loved Aubrey's voice, whether she was singing, laughing, moaning or simply just talking. Chloe had spent many hours wishing for and imagining a time when she would be able to hear that beautiful voice again. Now that she had, she wanted nothing more than to hear it over and over again.

She wanted to hear nothing but Aubrey repeating her name, letting the sound surround her completely, taking over her senses. However, as wonderful as it was, each moment she spent in the blonde's presence, more unwanted memories and feelings, that she had spent so long trying to suppress, began to resurface.

Chloe remained silent. She didn't dare move or make any noise that might cause this spell, that the pair seemed to be under, to go away, or maybe it was just for fear that it would all become real. Aubrey called her name again and Chloe's heart was racing faster than she was sure it ever had before. She could hear the blood pumping, surging in her ears. Her breath stuck in her throat. She clung to the stationary shopping cart for support as she felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. Everything was becoming increasingly overwhelming and Chloe was drowning in the feeling.

When Chloe still didn't reply, Aubrey took a step forward. The movement seemed to break the spell that had kept Chloe rooted to the spot. A shiver travelled down her spine and she snapped out of her trance, released the cart and quickly stepped backwards, away from Aubrey's slowly approaching form.

"Let's go Nick."

Nicholas, who had observed the entire exchange with interest, watched as his mom turned her back on the shopping cart (and the woman just beyond it) and swiftly moved back along the aisle.

"But what about the shopping?" He called after her.

"Just leave it." She was practically sprinting as she turned the corner and headed towards the exit.

After a glance towards the blonde, whose features had returned to the shocked expression they had been in at first sight of his mother, he turned obediently and rushed after his mom. He followed her out into the parking lot, leaving the woman alone, along with their discarded shopping.

Chloe ran. She could hear Nicholas some way behind her but couldn't slow to wait for him. After leaving the building she headed quickly back towards her car. By the time she reached the car she could hear both Nicholas and Aubrey shouting after her. It was all too much.

She leaped in and slammed the car door shut. The doors locked with a click that was followed by complete silence, other than the sound of Chloe's own heavy breathing. There was no more Aubrey, urgently calling her name, no more Nicholas, confused and yelling for her to slow down. It was just Chloe. Alone with her thoughts.

She closed her eyes, desperately trying to shut out the world. Although she couldn't hear her, the sound of Aubrey calling out her name still reverberated around in her mind. Although she couldn't see her, the tighter she screwed up her eyes, the more vivid the vision of Aubrey was.

It wasn't until she'd managed to get her breathing mostly under control that she allowed herself to finally release the word that had been on the tip of her tongue.

"Aubrey." It was barely even a whisper.

He'd got a head-start on her but it was only seconds before the blonde woman was chasing behind Nicholas, after his mom. Once they were both outside and his mom was in sight, the woman began calling for her again. He noticed that she was faster and soon would have passed him so quickly whirled around to face her. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Look," He spoke firmly (or as firmly as he could, considering the look of sheer determination on the woman's face), "I don't know who you are but it's pretty clear that she doesn't want to talk to you right now." They were both panting slightly. The blonde was staring longingly over Nicholas's shoulder.

"I just-" Her voice cracked and she took in a shaky breath. A moment later, her whole body seemed to crumple. Her face dropped and shoulders sagged, defeated. She sighed, taking a moment to compose herself before speaking again.

"Will you just give her this?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of card. "Please."

The drive back was silent. The silence continued as the pair arrived home and traipsed inside. Nicholas had no idea what to say and Chloe was not sure if she was even capable of speech.

With no need to unpack any shopping Chloe headed straight to the living room and slumped down into the sofa. Nicholas followed cautiously, trying to find the right words to say to his mom.

"That was her wasn't it?" Chloe looked up, a look of surprise on her face, as if she had entirely forgotten that he was there.

"What do you mean 'her'?" She attempted to feign ignorance, Nicholas just gave her a knowing look.

"The woman at the store." He spoke slowly. "She's the one you have those photos of in that box," he gestured to the cupboard in the corner of the room, "isn't she?" There was no point trying to lie to him, he would see straight through it, so she just nodded. "Who was she?"

"An old friend. I told you that before."

"Bullshit."

"Nicholas! Language!"

"Sorry mom." He did have the decency to look guilty, at least for a moment. "You are lying though. It's pretty obvious she's not just a friend." His words were met with more silence. "Well, whoever this Aubrey Pritchard is, she's not worth it."

"Wait, what? Pritchard?"

"Yeah." He reached into his pocket. "She asked me to give you this." Chloe took the proffered business card and ran her fingers over the words printed on it.

Aubrey Pritchard

Pritchard & Posen Ltd.

The realisation came as a solid blow to the chest.

"She's married." Nicholas wasn't sure if it was a question or merely a statement so chose to remain silent. She was completely still, staring at the business card. After a moment lost in thought, her head snapped up in realisation. "Wait, you spoke to her? What did she say? What did you say? Does she know that you're my son? Did she tell you-"

"No, I didn't tell her anything. I just asked her to back off and she gave me the card. That was it." She visibly relaxed at his words and immediately returned to inspecting the card. Nicholas, unnoticed by his mom, quietly got up and left the room.

Alone, Chloe silently debated her next move. Staring back at her from within her grip was a number. She held in her hands a way to contact Aubrey, now all she had to do was decide whether she wanted to.