by Becca Little
Creating Little Chloe
My Little World, Volume 8
Becca Little
Published by Domestic Discipline Publishing, 2017.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
CREATING LITTLE CHLOE
First edition. September 30, 2017.
Copyright © 2017 Becca Little.
Written by Becca Little.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter 1: Megan
Chapter 2: Megan
Chapter 3: Megan
Chapter 4: Megan
Chapter 5: Megan
Chapter 6: Megan
Chapter 7: Megan
Chapter 8: Megan
Chapter 9: Little Chloe
Chapter 10: Little Chloe
Chapter 11: Little Chloe
Chapter 12: Little Chloe
Epilogue: Chloe Clementine
BONUS CONTENT
Chapter 1: Megan
“Your parents are going to kill you!” My best friend, Lana, shook her head as she watched my pack my duffel bag.
“I should have run away when I turned eighteen. I’ve wasted two years in Charlotte and where has that got me? I’m failing out of school and I can’t even get a spot as an extra in a movie, much less the starring role.” I tossed several pairs of panties on top of the socks and t-shirts already in my bag.
“You can’t get frustrated because you got turned down for one role.” She sat down on the bed and folded her legs. “This is crazy.”
“I’m twenty years old—I deserve more than North Carolina—I deserve California.” I went back to my dresser and grabbed a few more necessities.
“Do you realize how many pretty girls are in California chasing that dream? You won’t end up on a magazine cover or a movie poster just because you show up. At least finish college. You could do better if you applied yourself.” She tried to be the voice of reason, even if I wasn’t really interested in hearing it.
“I’m done with that shit.” I walked into my bathroom and started packing my bathroom bag. “If I get to California, I’ll get discovered.”
“At least take the bus. Why in the world would you hitchhike? That’s about as stupid as the plan itself.” He leaned over and watched as I continued packing.
“I need to save my money. Besides, I know how to hitchhike safely. I’ll only ride with truckers—they’re safe.” There was an uneasy feeling in my stomach thinking about it, but I had put a lot of thought into it.
“And what are you going to do if they expect a little bit extra for the ride? You’re a virgin, you’ve never even been with a man before.” She rolled off my bed and leaned against the bathroom door. “I love you, Megan. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’m not planning on having sex with someone for a ride. I’ll only ride with guys from reputable companies like Wal-Mart, Target—recognizable names. Besides, one day they’ll consider themselves lucky to have helped a celebrity realize her dream.” I finished packing my bathroom bag and started working on my make-up bag.
“You’re delusional.” She sighed and glared at me. “I’m not coming to your funeral if you end up dead.”
“Yes, you will.” I smiled and walked past her. “And you’ll cry.”
“Please call me from time to time and let me know you’re still alive.” He looked at her watch. “I have to get to work.”
“Then this is goodbye.” I walked over and hugged her. “I promise I’ll be careful.”
“You better.” She pulled away and I saw a tear in her eye that she quickly wiped away.
“See, you’d cry.” I felt a tear in my eye as well.
“Shut up.” She walked towards my door and shook her head as she left.
It really did feel like was facing off against the world trying to realize my dreams. My parents didn’t agree with my decision to become an actress. They wanted me to go to college, get a degree, and find a good job—that was boring. I wanted more than the oppression they imposed on me. I spent my high school years planning to run away the second I turned eighteen. I avoided all distractions, especially potential boyfriends, because I didn’t want to end up another permanent resident of Charlotte, North Carolina. When I was face to face with the calendar and legally an adult, I chickened out. I was tired of being afraid of failure. It was time to make something happen.
Goodbye...
I picked up my duffel bag and my backpack, taking one more look at my childhood home before I closed the door for what I hoped would be the final time as an unrecognizable face—the next time I came home, I would be famous. I left a letter for them, explaining what I was doing and why. I knew they wouldn’t understand, but I felt like I didn’t have a choice. Nothing was going to happen if I didn’t make it happen. California was a long way from North Carolina, but it was the only way to get discovered. I wanted to be on television, in movies, and even Broadway. The only way to get to that point was to leave home and chase my dreams all the way to the West Coast.
Don’t turn back. Don’t chicken out. One foot in front of the other. Keep walking.
It wasn’t the first time I had packed my bags and tried to escape. I got as far as Montana when I was sixteen before the police caught up with me. My parents could stop me then because I was underage and driving the car they had given me—the car that was still registered in their name. Crushing my dreams seemed to be the role my parents played in my life. They knew I wanted to be a celebrity and tolerated the way I stalked them through magazines and eventually started following my favorites on social media. They even let me enter a few local beauty pageants, but once I started to win a few of them, they pulled the plug.
They wanted me to focus on school, get into a good college, all the things parents want for their children. I tried to be compliant after they threatened to send me away to private school following my escape attempt. When I didn’t run away at eighteen, I got enrolled in the University of North Carolina and got a job. College was just like high school. I was under their thumb and they judged everything I did. When I started auditioning for commercials and tried to get work as an extra in a movie, they constantly complained about my falling grades. College just wasn’t my dream and when my report card came for the previous semester, they would find out that I was failing. I wasn’t ready for that wrath, even if I was an adult. I knew I was blinded by my desire for success. I spent more time focusing on drama club and attending local acting classes than actually working on my schoolwork—that was the reason I was failing, of course.
Don’t look back. This is happening. You’ll be free soon.
My own two feet were my only real choice for transportation until I found a trucker with a kind heart who would carry me far away from Charlotte. I didn’t want to waste money on a bus. I sure wasn’t going to taking the car that was registered in their name again, even if it was technically mine. My destination was the truck stop at the interstate exit. I considered driving my car there, but I didn’t even want to give them a hint of my escape plan, and it would eventually be discovered. I knew Lana wouldn’t reveal anything, even if they tried to get something out of her. She held her tongue when she was sixteen, even though she knew exactly what I was doing, so I trusted her to keep the secret.
I should have packed lighter—or worked out more.
My bags got heavier as I walked. I was still about an hour away from the truck stop and my tennis shoes were feeling the heat from the pavement. Sheer determination was pushing me forward, even if I was sure I was going to get a blister. I was te
mpted to throw out my thumb and try to catch a ride before I got to the truck stop, but I had done a lot of research on safe hitchhiking. The message boards I visited had a lot of horror stories and they all recommended truckers. I was taking it a step further and choosing a trucker from a reputable company. The danger was still there, but nobody ever said chasing dreams was easy. When I saw the truck stop on the horizon, I felt a bit more energy and tried to pick up the pace.
This really didn’t seem like such a long walk in my head.
I planned to pick up a few snacks along with some bottled water, and get a meal at the cafe while I waited. I wasn’t going to jump in the first rig I saw. It had to be perfect. My feet hurt and my bags felt like they were filled with lead by the time I got to the truck stop. I walked across the parking lot and looked at a few of the trucks. None of them were exactly what I was looking for, so I bought some stuff from the store and sat down in the restaurant. Being off my feet after walking so far felt really good. I picked up the menu and started looking it over, going down the list of food until I found the cheapest thing they sold.
“Good afternoon, sweetheart. My name is Regina, I’ll take care of anything you need.” A waitress with dark red hair walked up to the table. “Are you ready to order?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’ll have a cheeseburger and a diet Coke.”
“Coming right up.” She scribbled in her pad for a moment and then looked at my bags. “Are you on a trip?”
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” I smiled and nodded. “I’m hoping to find a ride from someone.”
“Be careful.” She opened her eyes wide. “A lot of crazy passes through here.”
I finished my food fairly quickly and sipped my soda while I watched the trucks come and go. Very few of them had a name I recognized and when I finally did see one that was recognizable, the driver looked a little frightening. The sun started to set and I felt a bit of anxiety coming on. Regina stopped by to refill my drink from time to time, but she left me alone for the most part. I started to feel a little defeated as I sat there and nursed my latest soda. I wasn’t sure how many I had drank, but I definitely could feel it running through me, so I grabbed my stuff and headed to the bathroom. The only choice I really had at that point was to go home. I certainly couldn’t stay at the restaurant all night.
Going home is going to be humiliating, but I can’t stay here.
Chapter 2: Megan
I finished my business in the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. The trip to the truck stop had made my make-up run. I did my best to reassemble my face. I wasn’t looking for a date, but I didn’t want to look like a disheveled homeless person. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and turned it on. I knew what I would see when the screen flashed to life. My parents had found the note—there were dozens of missed calls and text messages. Lana had sent me a few as well, telling me that my parents were really angry. I considered calling them. The dream seemed to be finished. Once they had me safely at home, they would never let me out of their sight again, regardless of how old I was. I pushed my phone back into my pocket and stepped out of the bathroom, looking around the restaurant. A truck parked outside by the diesel pump caught my eye.
Is that...is that a Davenport Textile rig?
The truck hadn’t been there when I walked into the bathroom. Davenport Textile was a very well-known brand. I looked around for the driver, hoping that it was someone who didn’t look like a serial killer. I didn’t see them in the restaurant, so I walked outside. The truck seemed to be abandoned, but when I turned towards the gas station, I saw a man walk out of the bathroom. He didn’t look like a serial killer—he was hot as hell. He was a bit older with jet black hair hanging in loose curls. His eyes met mine and he nodded before walking into the gas station. The name on his shirt said Davenport Textile, so it definitely appeared to be the man who was driving the rig.
This could be it!
I watched through the window as he filled his coffee cup. He was about six feet eight inches and practically a giant. His short sleeve shirt clung to a muscular frame and both of his arms were nearly bulging against the sleeves. I could see a few tattoos on each arm, but I couldn’t make out what they were from where I was standing. I kept my eyes on him as he walked around the store sipping his coffee. I pulled my mirror out of my purse and quickly checked my makeup, confirming nothing was out of place since I had left the bathroom. I needed to make a good impression because he could be the answer to my problem. Even if he couldn’t get me all the way to California, he could get me out of North Carolina. He finally grabbed a few snacks to go along with his coffee and checked out. When he pushed the door open to walk outside, I was waiting with a smile on my face.
“Hi, my name is Megan.” I practically ambushed him as I walked towards him with my hand extended.
“Uh, oh... Hi?” He shifted his coffee and snacks from his right hand to his left hand and shook it. “I’m Braden.”
“Is that your rig?” I threw a thumb over my shoulder and pointed towards the beautiful machinery behind me.
“Yeah, it is. I’m headed to Phoenix to drop off a load of textile. I’m actually running a little late.” He pulled his hand away and started towards the truck.
“Wait, do you mind if I ride with you? I’m headed to California.” I finally matched his steps after a few quick ones.
“Sorry, doll. The company doesn’t let me pick up hitchhikers.” He waved as he started up the steps to his truck. “Have a good night.”
“Hold on! I really need a ride, please don’t leave me here. I’ve been here all day looking for someone trustworthy.” I looked up at him with the saddest puppy dog eyes I could muster.
“You don’t even know me.” He narrowed his eyes and looked down at me. “There are a lot of dangerous people on the road—what if I’m one of them?”
“You probably wouldn’t warn me if you were?” I tried to rationalize it in my head as I continued looking sad.
“I guess that’s true.” He sighed. “But like I said, the company won’t let me pick up hitchhikers and I don’t want to lose my job.”
“The next person I ask might be dangerous...” I blinked a couple of times. “Do you really want that hanging on your conscious if I end up on the news?”
“Seriously?” He glared at me and stepped down from the truck. “You’re going to put that on me? Fine, get in.”
“Thank you!” I smiled and felt enveloped in a bright ray of hope.
“Come on, before I change my mind.” He pulled the driver’s door open and motioned me inside. I scurried across the seats and slid into a sitting position on the passenger side.
“Thank you so much!” I continued to smile as he climbed into the cab and grunted.
“Buckle up.” His eyes had a bit of a dark cloud as he slammed the door shut. I could tell he wasn’t happy with the arrangement, but I didn’t care at that point.
The truck roared to life and as he started to pull out of the parking lot, I felt like I was floating on a mechanical cloud. Once we were on the road, the engine slowed to a steady hum. Charlotte, North Carolina was going to be a distant memory—finally. I had never felt happier than I did in that moment, knowing it was all going to be behind me. Phoenix was a long way from where I was sitting, but it was a lot closer to California than I had ever been before. It wouldn’t take much more than another kind trucker to get me the rest of the way. I leaned against the window as the city disappeared and the last shred of the civilization I knew opened up to farms and fields.
Goodbye Charlotte—hello world!
Braden reached over and hit a button on the radio. Country music started to play. I was more of a hip-hop girl, but with southern roots, I did enjoy a few country songs. The song that came one was an older one with a lot of twang mixed with sadness. I contemplated asking for something a little more upbeat, but I decided against it. He was already doing me a huge favor and I could stand a little bit of old school country if it got
me where I needed to go. I felt lucky just to be sitting there in the passenger seat of his truck, so I kept my tongue on the correct side of polite.
“So why are you headed to California?” He had been silent since the journey started and I wasn’t sure if he was even going to talk to me, so I was happy for some conversation.
“I’m going to be an actress.” A huge smile spread across my face. I was my favorite topic, so I let loose. “I always knew I would be famous one day, from the moment I first saw those beautiful women on television. I wanted to be just like them, living imaginary lives and making lots of money doing it. I figure I’ll get started with some small independent films, maybe a television commercial or two, and then get my big break within a year.” I winked at him. “One day you’ll be able to say you gave a ride to the very famous Chloe Clementine.”
“Chloe? I thought you said your name was Megan.” He sipped his coffee looking quite unimpressed.
“Well yeah, I mean... I was born Megan, but California is going to transform me into a big movie star and none of them use their real names.” I shook my head as if the idea was ridiculous. I had done my research and knew what to do when I became a big star.
“Here’s to the very famous Chloe Clementine.” His words were almost sarcastic as he lifted his coffee cup and toasted me.
“You sound like my parents.” I muttered and looked back towards the window.
“Then they sound like smart people.” He smirked and sat his coffee cup in the middle console. “You really think you’re just going to get to California and instantly become famous?”
“That’s the plan...” I kept my eyes on the horizon, feeling a bit disappointed that he was so quick to dismiss my dreams.
Chapter 3: Megan
“So how long have you been driving?” I ran out of things to talk about regarding my own future, so I shifted the conversation to him. I really knew nothing about him outside of what I saw in front of me.