by Simone Elise
"Right. Chloe here?" All I wanted was to see her. To fix this fucked up mess I created.
An expression came over Max's face and he remained silent.
"Chloe. Is she here or not?" I pressed. I wasn't in the mood to be fucked around. I knew she would have come here and, if he was keeping me from her, I'd just push my way in.
Actually, that sounded like a great idea.
Fuck this.
I pushed Max backwards and walked in, stepping over him.
"CHLOE?"
"She isn't here," he yelled at me while getting up from the ground.
"Like fuck she isn't. CHLOE!" I yelled up the stairs.
"She left, alright! She left!"
He had my attention now. "What do you mean left? Why would she leave?"
"I arranged for her stepfather to come over for them to sort things out. Chloe freaked out and left. I don't know where she went. I've been looking all afternoon."
"Why would you arrange a meeting with her stepfather? That's the man she's running from!"
"They had a little argument. Chloe shouldn't run off because of it."
"He hits her!"
Max’s expression dropped. "What do you mean hits her?"
"You didn't know." I ran my hands down my face. And I had made her come here, thinking she would be safe. Yet Max didn't know all the details. I shouldn't have been surprised as she was private about it. She didn't even want to tell me.
"I thought you hit her." Max looked at me, stunned. "I didn't know."
"Well now you do. Where would she go?"
He knew her. Surely he would have some idea.
"I don't know. I checked the bus stations and the airport, but I didn’t see her. She turned her phone off and left her stuff. Like I said, she freaked and ran."
"You're fucking useless." I pushed past him to leave. She mightn't have left yet. She could still be in town somewhere.
"Chase, if you find her, tell her I'm sorry." He stopped me, grabbing me by the arm.
"If you know what's good for you, you will remove your hand from my arm." I glared at him. As soon as he did, I was gone. I had to find her. Just thinking of her running on her own…I was so stupid; I should have never let her leave. I should have stopped her and now I had to find her and, in a town this big, it wasn't looking pretty.
Chloe's Point of View
I had no money, no food, no accommodation and I was stuck in this town. All I had was my phone. I wasn't even dressed for the weather. It was cold and raining and I was sporting a white summer dress.
Seriously, I was in trouble.
I couldn't go back to Max. How could he let Joe near me? Sure, he didn't know the details, but he should have known I had run for a reason. I was shaking from the cold even though I was in some bar in the city. You would think they would have the heater on.
I couldn't order anything as I didn't have money. I couldn't change my clothes because stupid me ran before packing and, to top all that off, I was alone. Not one person knew I was in trouble and not one person would care.
Joe had won. He had successfully made me homeless and stuck in a city I didn't want to be in.
I stared at my phone which was on the table. I had turned it off when I ran so Max couldn't track me down because if he knew where I was, so would Joe.
I decided out of boredom to turn it on. Once the battery died though, I wouldn't be able to charge it. Yet another thing I wouldn't have.
I watched the Apple sign as it turned on. I should have packed. I should have at least grabbed my wallet. I hated Max right now. Really, really hated him. So much so, I wished he would catch on fire and burn to death. I shouldn't have gone to him in the first place. I should have just got on a bus out of here then I would have had my stuff and my money.
The phone buzzed on the table and I looked down. Missed calls from Max. Expected. Missed calls from Sammie. Not expected. Chase most likely told her I left and she was just checking up on me. It still hurt. I didn't know why, but being away from Chase had left a hole in my chest. I guess I felt safe with him and now, well, now I was alone. I guess that's how it should have been in the first place.
My phone was buzzing again, and this time it was an incoming call from Sammie. I should answer it. I shouldn't be rude. My fingers hovered over the accept/decline button. Finally, I hit accept.
"Hey, Sammie." I put on a fake happy voice.
"Thank God, Chloe! Your phone’s been off. Where are you?"
"At Max's," I lied. I was a big fat liar, but I wasn't telling them I was in trouble.
"Chase has been to Max's, he knows you aren't there." Sammie's voice wavered with concern.
"Why would Chase go there?" I was stunned. I was positive that Chase and I were over. Not that we were anything to begin with, but still, whatever it was - it was over.
"Cause he is looking for you! He is still looking for you. So where are you?"
He was looking for me… which meant he knew I was in trouble. Do I just hang up? Do I tell her the truth? That I'm cold, wet and alone.
"Tell him don't bother," I finally decided.
"Chloe, Chase is worried. He fucked up. Now he really wants to find you. So just tell me where you are so he can come and get you."
I fiddled with the end of my dress. "I don't want to bother him."
"He’s being riding around for hours looking for you, and it’s dark now. Come on Chloe, you're no bother."
I looked up at the sign. "I'm at the Four Clovers."
"I'll call Chase and tell him. I have a feeling I'll be seeing you soon, Chloe. Now make sure you stay there." I could hear the smile in Sammie's voice.
That was the end of the phone call. So now I wait for Chase. I drummed my fingers on the table. Did I really want to be the girl he rescued again?
Chapter 13
Chloe's Point of View
I ran my hands under the warm water in the bathroom, and then dried them under the dryer. I wondered what Chase really thought of me. This would be the second time he rescued me from my own problems. He didn't really want me around - he proved that the other morning.
I shouldn't have waited. I should have run as soon as Sammie said he was coming. I pushed open the bathroom door when I froze.
"She's not here. Yes Sammie, I have looked."
Chase's back was to me and it was only now that I realized how big and muscular he was. My eyes ran over his leather vest, which had the clear writing of the Horsemen on it. The black long-sleeve sweater he was wearing under it looked warm. He dominated the small bar and was having the few females in the bar staring at him.
Yeah, he really was that good-looking.
"I just told you, Sammie. I have looked!"
I guess this was my cue. I cleared my throat, but that didn't work. Guess I was going to have to open my mouth. My stomach rumbled with nerves. I felt so stupid doing this. He had told me to leave. So I left. Now I was asking for his help again. God, I should just hide in the bathroom until he was gone.
Just as I was about to turn and hide, he turned around.
His eyes stared right through me. "I found her," he said into the phone and then hung up.
I should run.
But his eyes were keeping me still.
"Chloe, you look freezing." Chase shook his head. "What were you thinking, running off like that?"
My nerves turned to fire. What was I thinking? Well, I was thinking nobody gave a darn about me anyway, so what did I have to lose? I kept quiet; although my blood was slowly warming up and him just standing there looking at me like I was some sort of mystery wasn't helping.
"I was thinking nobody gave a darn where I was, so what did it matter?" I gave him a cold look then walked past him back to my table. Why should I lie? He was the one who went all cold on me. He was the reason I left.
I felt him follow me, so I wasn't surprised when he sat down across from me.
"Chloe, I want to
say I'm…"
"Don't bother." I cut him off. I didn't get why he was running around town looking for me when really I was just in his way. Someone he accidentally helped and ended up with.
I wouldn't look him in the eye. Instead, I was staring out the window.
"I am sorry," he finally added.
I scoffed. "Sure you are." I bet now he was sorry. Sorry he ever met me. I dragged my eyes off the window and looked him in the eye. "You found me. You know I'm safe so you can leave now." He didn't owe me anything. He didn't have to be here and he didn't have to be looking for me. If it was out of guilt – well, he knew I was safe now.
He gave me a hardened look. "I'm not leaving without you."
"And why would I leave with you?"
He stared at me, his green eyes staring through me again. He ran a hand through his black hair and sighed.
"Because you want to; well, that's what I was hoping." He gave me a half smile. "I'm sorry for being a jerk."
"You were honest."
"No, I wasn't. I was trying to protect you."
"Funny. Usually when I'm being protected, I don't feel like someone is ripping out my heart and stomping on it."
"Like I said, I was a jerk." An honest expression captured his face. "Please come with me, Chloe. I really don't want you living on the streets."
I rolled my eyes. Living on the streets. I guess that was my other option.
"I'll come with you on one condition," I finally decided.
"Anything."
"No lies."
He arched his eyebrows but nodded his head. "Fair enough." I could tell by the expression on his face that it was going to be hard to keep, especially when his life involved lying daily.
But if he really wanted me gone again, I needed to know he would tell me.
"Alright, let's get out of here." Chase got up and I guess I should follow. I hovered for a moment until I got up and followed him out.
The cold air whipped around me, taking the air from my lungs. God, it was cold. Chase stopped at what looked like a huge Harley. I knew motorbikes were big, but this was huge. He took off his leather vest and put it on the handlebars before ripping off his sweater. I had to really think why in hell’s name would he be stripping in weather like this, but my question was answered when he handed me his sweater.
"You will freeze without it." He was still holding on to it.
"I'll be fine."
"Chloe." He used a tone, as if my name was warning before an argument.
"Thanks." I took it from him and slipped it on. He put his leather vest back on and then straddled the bike.
"You ever been on a motorbike before?" He asked me before he kicked it into life and I couldn't hear a thing for a minute. It was that loud.
I shook my head.
"Just hold on tight," he yelled over the engine.
Hold on tight. Right, I could do that, although the fact that I'd be clinging to Chase had my palms sweaty which was close to impossible in this weather.
I threw my leg over and straddled the bike behind him. I wasn't going to cling to him, but then he took off and my arms automatically tightened around him. Okay, maybe I was going to cling to him.
Chapter 14
Chloe's Point of View
There was a dead quiet between us as Chase closed the front door. I reached for the hem of the sweater and took it off. I wouldn't lie and say I didn't enjoy wearing it. It smelled like him. It was warm like him and suffocated me with a feeling of safety.
I handed it to him. "Thank you."
He looked at it and then stared back at me. "You're welcome."
I stood there for a few more moments, not sure what to do. He had spent his day looking for me, and I had spent the day wondering what the hell I was going to do.
"We are leaving tomorrow," he brought up. "Was meant to be today but I kind of delayed it."
"Okay."
"Your bags are in your room. Oliver picked them up from Max's."
"Okay."
We went silent again.
"Is that all you are going to say?" He finally looked at me with a frustrated expression. "Okay?"
I sighed. "What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. Just be yourself, not this cold, distant version." He walked towards me and instantly I took two steps back until I backed into the couch.
Chase picked up on the fact I didn't want to be near him. Clinging to him on the back of the bike was bad enough. I wasn't in the right headspace to be near him. I had to get out of here. You couldn't trust men, I knew that. I trusted Chase, but look at what happened.
"Night, Chase," I finally said and turned and walked away as quickly as I could. I reached the bedroom door and, when I looked back, Chase was standing at the end of the hall watching me. I knew he wanted things to go back to the way they were, but that wasn't going to happen because fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I closed the door behind me, blocking him out.
***
It was the middle of the night and I was starving. I hadn't eaten anything since the other day. I couldn't sleep because my stomach kept rumbling. Finally giving in, I threw the blankets back and got up.
There would have to be something in the kitchen. I didn't care what it was as long as it was food.
I cracked open the door and glanced up the hall. Looks like the all-clear. I tiptoed past Chase's room, and then walked down the rest of the hall. I was nearly walking into the open living area when I heard him.
"I'm telling you. I'll be there tomorrow."
Chase was up.
Great.
What did I do now? Go back to bed and not sleep? I groaned. No, I had to eat. With as much confidence as I had, I straightened up and walked out.
"Charlie, I'm not going to keep repeating myself. I told you I'll be there tomorrow, and I will be."
I glanced at Chase and, just as I did, I caught his eye. He was topless, cigarette in hand and beer on the table. The heater was blaring and the warmth made my skin prickle. I walked to the kitchen. Please have something to eat; anything to eat.
I opened the fridge and my eyes widened. I had never seen so much food. I was sure now that when Chase was in town his mom makes sure he wants for nothing.
"Hungry?"
I spun around. Chase. Right. Brain work. "Um yeah, starving actually."
"I should have asked you if you wanted something to eat before you went to bed." He moved around the kitchen island until he was standing next to me. "What do you feel like?"
"Honestly, I'd be happy with a sandwich." I wasn't picky.
"Sit down, I'll make it."
"I can make it."
"Chloe, sit down."
I sighed and let go of the fridge and walked around the kitchen island and sat down on a bar stool.
I watched Chase pull out the bread and make the sandwich. I guess I should make conversation.
"So, you're up late." I said the only thing that came to mind.
He glanced at me then back to making the sandwich. "Had a few phone calls."
"At two in the morning?"
"Business doesn't stop."
"So where are we heading tomorrow?" I ran my hand over the gloss black bench. "You seem to be wanted wherever it is we are going."
"Melbourne. They’re having problems." He placed a sandwich in front of me and made sure not to give me any details.
I couldn't help but check him out. The tattoos that decorated his skin would most likely intimidate most people. The dedication he had to his club was shown in his ink. Then there were the muscles, the defined chest and biceps and don't start me on his six-pack. I swallowed hard and then took my eyes off him and stared down at the sandwich.
Picking it up, I took a large bite out of it. God, it was good.
"So, did you get any sleep?" he asked, causing me to look back up at him. It was torture. It should be illegal to be th
at good-looking.
"No, I didn't." I chewed the bread. "But I did get to the next level of Candy Crush."
He cracked a smirk. "So you have been awake this whole time?"
"Yeah. So?"
"I've been trying to stay quiet not to wake you." He crossed his arms. "I remember you're a light sleeper."
"Not when I'm sleeping with you." I blurted out, and then went bright red. "I mean I...um…yeah." I shut my mouth. I had dug myself a big enough hole.
A smile spread across his face, causing me to go an even brighter shade of red. I stared down at the empty plate and kept eating my sandwich.
"So, where were you planning on going tonight?" Chase asked.
I scoffed. "My plan involved sitting at that table until the bar closed."
"Then?"
"Then I'd be walking the streets." I finished my sandwich and pushed the plate away. "But, once again, you saved me." I looked him in his forest green eyes. "Thank you, Chase."
I hated admitting it, but he was the only person I could count on at the moment, and I didn't even know why he bothered and why he cared what happened to a nineteen-year-old idiot, who not only didn't have any money, but also had nowhere to live.
I was homeless and poor.
"You're welcome."
He drew my eyes off the empty plate to look at him. He really cared for some reason but, then again, I couldn't hold him to it. I couldn't let myself rely on him, even if he was the only person I could count on.
"So, what time are we leaving tomorrow?" I changed the subject.
"When you get up." He scratched the back of his neck. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that."
"Go on?" My interest spiked.
"You're going to be out of your league when you see club life. You might not last the first visit."
"I'm made of tough stuff."
"I also won't be able to spend much time with you. In fact, we won't be seeing much of each other at all once we are on the road. I'll be on the bike and you will be in the van. Then, when we get to the club, I'm going to be busy doing what I am there for."
"Is this your way of nicely telling me not to get clingy?"
He cracked a smirk. "No, this is my way of telling you I'm sorry if I seem to be ignoring you."