Marked

A Nine Lives of Chloe King Fan-fiction

by: Avvithespaz

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Rated: T/M

Pairing(s): Slight Chloe/Brian at the beginning (barf) but a happy ending! ***Chloe/Alek***

Summary: Meredith goes on a business trip for a week, and refuses to let Chloe stay home by herself after she was "mugged." So Chloe ends up staying the week with the Mai, fun fun!

Setting: The general hangouts of one Miss Chloe King! February of 2011

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN CHLOE KING! If I did Brian wouldn't exist and Alek wouldn't own a shirt.

Warning(s): There will be M in later chapters but it will be posted as a different story so those who don't wish to read it don't have to.

Chapter 8

Hanging and folding new inventory was probably the single most mundane thing about my job. I was in a daze as my arms repeated the same motions over and over again on auto-pilot while I hummed along to "Strip Me" by Natasha Bedingfield. My eyes scanned the empty vintage clothing shop before moving to the connecting coffee shop/used bookstore; they landed on Jasmine as she did her homework at one of the tables. I snapped my eyes to the door as a the bell over it dinged, out of the corner of my eye I could see that Jasmine had looked up as well. We relaxed as Amy walked happily up to the counter.

"Hihi Bestie!" Amy stated happily as she rested her hands on the counter in front of me.

"Where were you today?" I asked curiously. Amy hadn't been at school today, in fact I hadn't seen her since last night.

"Well, I was so tired when I got back home that I lied to my dads and told them I was cramping real bad. They told me I could stay home." Amy smiled, proud of herself. "So what did I miss today?"

"Nothing really, but we had a pop quiz on The Great Gatsby." I shrugged.

"Okay, but what else happened today? I want every detail of your day." Amy stated, nodding her head and smiling. I rolled my eyes, knowing what she wanted to hear.

"I woke up before Alek this morning." I started smiling girlishly and biting the side of my bottom lip. "He looks so cute when he's sleeping Amy!" I squealed, hearing Jasmine gag from the coffee shop next door, which made me laugh. "Anyway, I got up and got ready; I decided to wear this." I continued stepping from behind the counter to show her that I was wearing black jeggings under a long sleeved army green button up shirt dress that was clinched at my waist with a thick black belt. My hair was left down and I had a leopard print silk scarf fashionably tied around my neck and leopard print flats graced my feet; the two finger ring that Amy had given me was on my left hand.

"Very nice." Amy complimented.

"Thank you." I mock bowed before returning to my task and the rest of my day. "We went to school and everyone was still spreading rumors; did you know that I'm blackmailing Alek to be with me?" I stated making Amy look at me in disbelief. "Oh yeah, if he doesn't sleep with me then he'll be deported back to London." I continued the ridiculous rumor.

"There is no way anyone actually believes that, right?" Amy asked while laughing.

"I don't think so, but some people are stupid." I shrugged before grabbing the new inventory and proceeding to stock them throughout the store. "Actually, the only people who don't seem to be thinking anything dramatic is Alek's jocko buddies." I informed my best friend. "They just think we're friends with benefits."

"People just can't handle things out of the norm." Amy sighed, while looking through the clothes.

"Very true." I agreed. We stayed in a relative silence as Amy continued looking through the store as I continued to restock the shelves and racks.

"So what do you plan on giving Paul for his birthday?" Amy stated as she started looking through the men's clothing.

"I think I'm going to give him a day of Mai training; that or make this big ceremony looking thing and bribe Jasmine or Valentina to answer his every question for an hour." I chuckled, imagining Paul's face.

"Oh please do the Mai training! Like, you should warn him in advance so he will start working out now." Amy exclaimed making me laugh. "What? Is it so bad that I want my boyfriend to have a six-pack?" Amy yelled throwing her hands up in the air making me almost die in laughter. Amy hurried and got out her phone quickly dialing Paul's number and putting it to my ear. It rang twice before my comic book loving friend picked up the phone.

"Hello Pretty Lady." Paul answered in a deep voice.

"Hey to you too Paul." I chuckled out, pushing the gag away.

"Chloe! Why are you calling on Amy's phone?" I could hear how embarrassed he was.

"She wanted me to give you a hint about your birthday present." I shrugged even though he couldn't see me.

"My birthday isn't for another month." Paul stated, making me roll my eyes.

"I know that, I'm giving you the hint now. 'Its something Mai related, so you better bulk up! Otherwise you'll get seriously beat up." I stated in an eery voice before hanging up the phone and tossing it to Amy who giggled and clapped in excitement. "Happy?" I asked before returning to my work.

"Very." She stated as a costumer walked in, I quickly did my job and helped the lady with what she needed. As she left Amy turned back towards me. "So I want no details, but what happened last night?" She smiled mischievously at me.

"Nothing actually, Alek was asleep when I went in there, he only woke up long enough to make sure it was me and open his arms for me to lay in." I sighed dreamily making Amy squeal.

"I am so jealous!" She squealed while bouncing around the store. The bell over the door dinged again as the last person I wanted to see walked through it.

"Hey Chloe." Brain smiled at me as he came through the doorway and into Varese Vintage.

"Oh look its Jasmine!" Amy exclaimed pointing to my other best girl friend, who looked shocked at her name being yelled loudly. "I'm gonna go talk to her now!" Amy took off into the coffee shop and plopped herself in front of Jasmine. I stared at her in disbelief, she did not just leave me here! I sent her a glare before turning slowly back to Brain and plastered on a fake smile.

"Hey Brian." I said politely.

"Listen, I wanted to say how sorry I was for the comment I made the other day; and I'm sorry I haven't called. I was kind of embarrassed about what I said and wanted to have the guts to apologize in person." Brain explained sheepishly, with a half smile on his face. He was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet with his hands shoved deep into his pants pockets.

"Its alright Brian. A lot has been going on the past few days." I shrugged, returning to my post behind the counter.

"I kind of wanted to make it up to you, so I got us reservations tonight at this Italian place that has the most amazing veal-" Brian began but I was forced to cut him off.

"I can't do that Brian." I winced, this was going to be harder than I thought. I started rubbing the back of my neck. Brian looked really brokenhearted and it killed me to see him like this, I shouldn't have strung him along for so long. He reached forward tenderly and grabbed my wrist, bringing my hand towards him. The ring I was wearing caught my scarf, pulling it down a little on the left side. I felt too bad for the man in front of me to take my hand back like I wanted to; but I didn't need to feel uncomfortable for long as he dropped my hand.

"What's on your neck?" Brain asked with a bit of an edge to his voice, my eyes widened as I realized what my scarf revealed

"Brian-" I started off but he didn't let me explain.

"I thought that the reason we weren't actually together was because you were scared! Not because you were getting it somewhere else." Brian exclaimed in surprise.

"Brian, you're in college; it would have been weird to be with you. Plus, I wasn't with anyone until a few days ago." I explained quietly, his pain was my fault.

"Its that cocky British guy isn't it?" Brain asked, his voice suddenly turning cold, I flinched momentarily reminded of my dream. Brain put his hands on the sides of his head, spinning once on his heel in frustration before leaning over the counter; pleading at me with his eyes. "He's no good for you, Chloe. I know guys like him! That is all he wants." Brian whispered pointing to my hickey.

"Brian, you may know guys like Alek, but you don't know Alek. He would never do that to me." I whispered back at him, furious that he would dare insult my mate. Brian groaned and put his head in his hands, his back hunched with his elbows resting on the glass jewelry display that served as a counter.

"You are obviously already under his charm. Listen, I don't like you with him, but you're not gonna listen to me, no girl ever does; but I'll be here for you Chloe. You have my number, call me when sense unfortunately smacks you in the face." Brian sighed. "I'll see you around." He said as he sulked out the door, looking extremely frustrated. I felt really bad about how he found out, but I didn't like what he said about my mate; I grumbled about foolish humans as I fixed the scarf in the mirror, making sure it covered the mark before finishing up my shift.

"So, I've noticed one recurring thing in our training the last few nights." Jasmine commented as she and Amy walked with me after I closed up.

"And what would that be?" I asked curiously.

"Your flexibility. You haven't been stretching after training so your muscles are beginning to build up; that's why we're canceling training and doing some intense yoga tonight." Jasmine informed me as we hopped into Amy's car and she began to drive us to the condo.

"Yoga?" Amy asked excitedly. "Can I join?"

"Sure." I said before Jasmine could answer. "I've never done yoga before."

"You're naturally flexible." Jasmine assured me. "Think of it as training; you have all the instincts and genetics to be amazing at it, but you need to practice and perfect it."

"Alright then." I nodded as we pulled up at the condo. We quickly got out and giggling took the elevator to the 18th floor. No one was home as we walked into 1803; Jasmine went to her room to get ready and Amy and I went to mine. I let her borrow some of my new workout gear as we headed back to the livingroom where Jasmine was waiting.

"Okay we need to warm up before we do any major stretching." Jasmine instructed as she began to direct Amy and I, making us warm up but rolling our shoulders and doing squats, kicks, and punches. "Now that your hearts are racing we're going to start with sun salutations." Jasmine again took lead and corrected our postures and positions as we began our hour of yoga. "Breathe deeply through your nose and out your mouth. All the way in, and all the way out." Jasmine instructed softly while Amy and I were twisting our bodies into the position that Jasmine took with ease.

Towards the end of our workout, we were in Bridge Pose, which was when you're arms were flat on the floor with your palms down, and you're knees were bent , your feet directly under them. My legs were in perfect position, hips width apart and my pelvis and chest lifted off of the ground; my shoulders and neck relaxed on the floor. We were doing kegels as well, which is where you squeeze your vaginal muscles, when the jockos walked in.

"Well isn't this a nice thing to see after a long practice." Terry smirked looking at Jasmine with desire burning in his eyes.

"Alek, why didn't you tell me you were bringing your friends over?" Jasmine asked calmly before instructing us to ease out of the position one vertebra at a time; which Amy and I did. I was blushing in embarrassment now, wishing that I had choose to wear more than a pair of shorts and a sporty-ish bra from Frederick's.

"Didn't know I'd be coming home to this." Alek stated cockily, I could hear the lust in his voice as he looked me over.

"Damn King, I didn't know you were this flexible." Mike whistled as he kneeled down next to my head.

"Mike, back off." Alek stated harshly.

"Oh, I think I hit a nerve." Mike chuckled before poking my exposed hickey and walking over to the kitchen.

"Ignore the idiots and go into King Pigeon Pose." Jasmine stated softly. I tired my best to do as she said. For King Pigeon Pose you start out standing with your back straight on your knees, then you did a back bend until your head was resting on the floor between your feet and your hands held your heels firmly. I felt like such a cheater, this came too easy too me. Amy only had a slight difficulty seeing as she took gymnastics until she was twelve and has stayed relatively active since.

"Damn." Davin whispered.

"Can you all stop ogling my girl and my cousin?" Alek asked his friends, though his eyes didn't leave me.

"I'm not ogling either of them." Davin chuckled as Jasmine instructed us to lift ourselves out of our current positions. "I think we're done for the day." Jasmine laughed as we strutted back into my room, I told Amy she could take a shower in my bathroom as I grabbed my clothes from earlier and headed back into the hall.

"Alek?" I called out as I walked back into the main room, trying not to blush as they all turned their attention to me. "Um, I'm gonna use your shower, 'cause Amy is using the one in my room. Is that okay?"

"As long as I can join you." Alek smirked looking over at me, making his stupid Jock friends laugh.

"You have your friends over Alek." I couldn't stop the blush this time; I didn't like how he was treating me in front of his friends.

"We can leave." Terry chuckled.

"You can use my shower, Chloe." Alek answered me, he probably realized why I was staring to clam up, I smiled and excused myself to his bathroom; training my ears to the conversation happening in the main room.

"Dude, we so could be going, I mean you gotta eat bro." Mike chuckled making me shudder in disgust, I hated the way some guys talked.

"She was uncomfortable Mike, leave him be; he didn't press it. I think Al here wants to keep this one around." Davin laughed.

"They grow up so fast." I heard Terry fake sob before laughing.

"I do actually. Chloe King is..." I heard Alek chuckling softly "Something else entirely." I smiled, he was still putting up a front in front of his friends, but he was letting his caring side show a bit.

"Man, that chick has got you whipped." Terry chuckled.

"Damn, you're acting like Davin, Al! You're whipped and you like it!" Mike groaned out as if some great tragedy had happened.

"What do you mean like me?" Davin asked sounding offended.

"Dav, Claire has had you whipped for about two years now!" Mike explained as if he was disgusted with Davin.

"Didn't stop him from looking at Crazy Amy did it?" Terry chuckled.

"Hey, I can look all I want; Claire and I have an agreement. She knows that it is only gonna make us argue if she tries to make me stop checking out other girls. She says as long as I don't touch and that when I'm with her I'm thinking about her; then she's cool" I rolled my eyes and began tuning them out as Davin changed the subject to how much Mike sucked at picking girls up. I giggled at how stupid boys were as I took my time bathing.

By the time I got out Mike and Terry had left, joking that they couldn't even look at their two friends anymore. When he saw me Davin waved then stood up claiming that Claire wanted him to come over. I went and sat down on the couch with Alek.

"I'm sorry I said that in front of them; I honestly didn't think." Alek stated, not looking at me.

"Yeah, that didn't make me feel all that great." I sighed, scooting closer to him.

"I could tell." He said looking at me in the eyes, half smiling in an apologetic fashion.

"Its just that everyone at school is calling me a slut, and I just felt like I was when you said it like that." I whispered quietly. Alek pulled me close to him and we just sat there hugging for a minute. Alek place his index finger under my chin and lifted my face to look at him, he leaned down slowly about to capture my lips.

"Mom is caught up in Sacramento and she won't be home until early tomorrow morning." Jasmine informed us as she walked into the main room, making Alek growl "So, I was thinking we'd go get some sushi for supper." She continued, I smiled in a teasing manner at Alek before dancing out of his arms and over to Jasmine.

"That sounds fantastic!" I smiled as Amy came out of my room. "Amy we're getting sushi."

"Well its a good thing I'm not staying for dinner." Amy chuckled as she walked towards us.

"You don't like sushi?" Alek asked with his eyebrow raised. "Who doesn't like sushi?"

"Me." Amy stated pointing towards herself. "Why doesn't it surprise me that all you cat people like raw fish?"

"I'll walk you down after I order from Okoze." Jasmine stated as she pulled out the take-out menu and her cell-phone.

"I'm glad you hung out with us today." I said hugging her as she grabbed her purse and got ready to leave.

"I am too." She smiled. Jasmine came up beside us and lead Amy out of the condo. "Bye Chloe! Bye Alek!"

"Bye Amy!" I smiled and Alek gave a short wave. I looked towards him as he stood up from the couch and walked towards me smiling.

"I really can not stand that she is always interrupting us." Alek complained making me chuckle as he stood in front of me. I hopped onto the counter, allowing him to stand between my legs as our lips met, quickly making up for lost time.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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ALSO: QUESTION! Is it sad that when I just re-watched the Pilot episode, that I can see myself reacting like Amy did when Chloe said that Alek tried to kiss her?

Also I don't know if any of you even care what Terry, Michael (Mike), and Davin look like BUT if you do just go re-watch the Pilot episode they are the three guys with Alek in his first appearance. I hope I've given you a good enough description so that I don't have to tell you who's who; but I will anyway. So Terry is the guy on the left, Mike is in the middle with the red hair, and Davin is the one with the black hair on the right. If you want to know where you can watch the Pilot episode you can watch it for free on Hulu! or on ABCFamily