by Jo Cattell
Chloe gave him a mischievous grin. “No, sadly, that day I have youth group meeting. I was really crushed about having to tell him that.” Her tone sounded sarcastic, as he walked next to her.
“I bet he was disappointed. So, why are all your friends pushing you to go out with this guy?” He had to know what she thought about all of it. Anyone with eyes could see she didn’t like the guy.
“You don’t even know me, why would you ask me a question like that?” She acted a little shocked by his statement.
“Because, in the two days I’ve known you, I can tell that you’re not interested and they keep pushing.” She has to know what I am talking about, Nick thought.
“They all think we would make a good couple. It’s a question of stature. If I want to be in the popular crowd, I have to date a popular guy. And Josh has had it bad for me for some time now.” They were now going into the classroom.
“Chloe, you should never settle for what your friends want. You should only settle for what you want. You’re a smart girl, so I bet you already know that.” At least, he hoped she did. Something told him otherwise though. She acted like she had a lot of confidence, but by the look in her eyes, he could tell she didn’t.
“And you’re saying that why?” She watched him take his seat next to her.
“Because, you seem like a nice girl and I hate to see you just cave to what your friends want. I know I don’t know you that well, but it just seems to me that you’re better than that.” He was glad Sister George started class, so she couldn’t ask him anything else. He noticed Josh staring at her and wished for once, the guy would get the hint.
After school, he’d gone with Chloe and her friends to her house. Nick sat back and watched how these so-called friends just took over.
Tabitha had brought some guy with her, and after they’d gotten half naked on the couch, they ventured up the steps.
Dave was drunk after hitting the liquor cabinet and Gabbie was filling the half-empty bottles with water.
Tiffany, on the other hand, sat annoyed with everyone and texted on her phone.
The only good thing was that Josh had practice and couldn’t make it. Why that even was a concern for Nick he didn’t know, but he was glad that Chloe was not going to be bothered by Josh for an afternoon. As Nick looked around her house, he noticed there were no pictures of her. It was a crisp, clean place, resembling something from a magazine. He’d never been in a house like this before.
Most of his friends’ homes had been warm and inviting. Chloe’s was cold. It just added to her mystery. How could a girl like that come from this place? Where was she? The minute they got there, her friends took over and she suddenly disappeared.
He soon found her in the kitchen, sketching and seemingly oblivious to what had been going on in the other room.
She’d pulled up her hair and was twisting a single strand that had gotten free.
He stood in the doorway, just watching her, the way she got lost in what she was doing.
There was a noise in the other room that startled her and she looked up.
Their eyes met for a split second, and she closed the book quickly.
After everyone had gone, Nick decided to stay and help her clean up the mess they’d left.
Chloe quickly fluffed pillows and fixed blankets while he took cups out to the kitchen. “Thanks for helping me clean up,” Chloe said. “I really hate dealing with my stepmother, Shelly when this place is a mess. She freaks when she knows I’ve had people here.” She dropped into one of the chairs and looked around the room as if to insure that everything was cleaned up.
“Not a problem,” Nick replied. “Can you do me a favor? Can you let Gabbie know I’m really not interested in dating?” He wasn’t sure if he mentioned that more for Gabbie to leave him alone or to remind himself of the rule he had made, a rule that he‘d thought about breaking for Chloe.
“Sure, she just thinks everyone should have someone.” Chloe giggled.” So, she just wants to set you up.”
“I’m glad you think it’s funny. I can see that, with how she is pushing you. I guess Josh couldn’t make it because of practice. Big games coming up,” he mentioned.
“Yeah, it’s the big deal around here. Are you going to the game?” She had folded her legs under her and she looked so relaxed.
“Yeah. I’m not really into football that much. I’m more into hockey and baseball. But my dad is making us go to show our support. Mark and Kevin are more into it than me. What about you, are you trying for homecoming court?” He knew she had to be. All her friends were.
“Ah, nope, it really isn’t my thing. I don’t have the looks for it.” She was acting really shy suddenly.
The mystery about her was back.
“But you’re going, right? The whole school is going to be there, cheering on your boyfriend,” he teased her.
“Don’t say that. He isn’t my boyfriend. Ugh, I just wish they would see that.”
He clearly needed to change the subject. “You should really just tell them that. I’m going to head out. And since we are kind of like friends now, can I have your number?” Why was he doing this? He didn’t want her number; it would make things harder.
Chloe threw one of the pillows at him. “We’re starting to become friends, and no, not yet.”
He liked it her teasing. “Wow, shot down twice now. There’s going to come a day when I’m not going to ask and you’re going to want me to have it.” He played along with her now.
“Really? I’ll take my chances.” She laughed and showed him to the door.
Chapter Two
The next week at the game, Nick noticed her sitting by herself at the top of the stands. Again, she had the sketchpad and seemed not to really be paying attention to what was going on.
“Wow, do you ever stop drawling?” he asked her as he sat down next to her.
“Drawling?” She tilted her head while smiling at the word he used. “It passes the time.” She closed her book.
This time, he grabbed it and opened it to what she’d been working on. It was a picture of the benches with a pompom sitting by it.
“Wow, not what I expected. I thought you were making horns on Tiffany or Josh being pummeled by the other team.” He was impressed at the detail of her work.
Chloe quickly grabbed it from him and put it next to her. “Those are in my demon book. Oh, it’s starting,” she groaned and watched as Mr. Dobbs and Father Gabe approached the mike.
When they started introducing the contestants for homecoming, Nick decided to have a little fun with it. The first couple was Dave and Gabbie. “Wow, who knew Dave could pull off a tux like that? Do you think it was his dad’s?” Dave was dressed in some kind of bad white tux from the 80’s.
“Ah, yeah, that’s where he got it. Gabbie wanted to kill him, but what could she do? She looks pretty, though. I like that color peach on her,” Chloe said.
Next, was Tabitha and some guy who Nick later found out was Tommy Alverez. “Do you think she’s slept with most of the guys on the team?” he joked.
“No.’ Oh, look at me, I’m Tabitha Michaels, and I have slept with almost all the guys here, except you and you, and you. Oh wait, and you’.” Chloe pointed to Nick.
He laughed at that. “God, help me. I heard she wants to get her hooks into me. And there’s Josh. ‘Hi, yes, I know I have the body of a Greek god. Women worship me, and guys want to be me. If only they knew how arrogant I really am. That, and that my dick is the size of a small pickle.’ ” Sorry, that was out of line.” He felt bad for saying dick in front of her.
She couldn’t seem to stop laughing. “You’re so bad!”
Tiffany made her grand appearance and Nick nudged Chloe.
She was already rolling her eyes. “‘Yes, adore me, for I am Tiffany Rogers, the gift to all of you peons. Bask in my beauty and know that I’m only going to win this tonight because my daddy paid for it’,” Chloe mocked dramatically.
“That’s her—d
ead on. It would be so cool if there was a sudden upset and they named Gabbie homecoming queen. She would kill Gab. But come on, it would be worth it to see the look on her face.” He laughed.
“No, it would never happen. And if it did, Tiffany would not mess up her perfect French manicure or the white silk dress to kill Gabbie. She would have her daddy find someone to do it.” She giggled.
To no one’s surprise, Tiffany did win.
They both stood and cheered sarcastically. It was then that Mr. Dobb started thanking the alumni while mentioning a very generous gift that the athletic department was given by one of the schools most prominent alumni, Thomas Gardner.
Nick looked at Chloe and asked, “Any relation?”
“Yeah—my father.” She got quiet.
From the sound of things, it was as if her father had been one the saviors of the school. Like as if, with his help, the athletic department had been able to do so much and continued to thrive. But by the look on Chloe’s face, it just seemed like another blow to her self-esteem in some way. She looked nervous as they talked so highly of him.
“So, your dad is a big deal around here. I guess when your parents split it was hard on you. I can see that by the look on your face.” He wanted to see if she would talk to him about it.
“Yeah, something like that. Since this is over and all that’s left is the game, I’m gonna head home. See you Monday.” Her voice had gotten softer and she stepped over the bench to start down the steps.
“Do you need a ride?” He felt bad for bringing up her parents.
She just shook her head. “I like to walk. I can think better and get ideas for my sketches. Have fun.”
He watched her go down the bleachers and saw that Josh stopped her. After making small talk with him, she started walked through the crowd again.
Nick fought with himself about whether he should follow her or not. The way he was raised got the better of him and he decided to walk her home.
When he finally caught up to her, she laughed.
“Oh my God, Allen, why are you attaching yourself to me?” she asked.
“Because, I was raised that you walk your friends home if they’re girls. And I thought that’s what we are, friends.” He said this in a way that showed he wasn’t really sure if she thought of him that way.
Chloe laughed. “Yeah, we're friends. You’re not like them, though. You’re easier to talk to.”
“Look, I am really sorry I brought up your parents. By the way you blew me off, I know it must be a hard subject.” He didn’t like the way she was acting now. She was quiet, and from what he’d seen of her, it wasn’t like her.
She stopped and looked at him. “What have you heard about me? I know people talk. I know you’ve heard something about me by now.”
“Nothing really, just that you’re quiet, and because of who you hang out with, you’re a little stuck up. Why? Is there something I should know?”
“What you think you know about me and what you see is just an illusion. If we’re going to be friends, you will need to know that. Who I am with them is not who I really am. That’s why I said others have tried and left when they found out a little bit. Don’t worry. I won’t hold it against you. It’s normal in my life,” she said and turned away.
“You don’t know me that well either, yet! I don’t give up so easy!” he called to her.
“You will. Go back to the game, Nick. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, but give me your number, so I can make sure you made it home okay.”
“Nice try. I’ll see you Monday.” She didn’t give him a second glance and just walked off into the night.
“That’s three. I’m not going to ask you anymore!” he called, but knew he would. She was going to be a really good friend; he could tell that just by the way they joked together and how he liked her honesty.
* * * *
The next week brought the first youth group meeting and Chloe was really interested in who the new lead was. She’d heard that Sister George was going to take over and prayed every night that that rumor was wrong. Looking around the room, she realized she was the only upperclassmen in the group now. There were so many new faces. The odds that this was going to be a good year were slim.
There was a commotion at the door and she shook her head as Nick’s familiar form entered the room, followed by his older brother Kevin. “If you’re following me just to get my number, it won’t work,” she warned him as Nick took the seat next to her.
Nick looked annoyed that he had to be there at all, especially with Kevin in tow. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was forced.”
“What my little brother means is that we were blackmailed. Hi, we haven’t met yet. I’m Kevin Allen, and by the way, his attitude just changed. So, I’m going to guess that you must be Chloe Gardner.” Kevin sat backwards on the seat opposite Nick and gave her the once-over.
Chloe looked over at Nick and smiled. “He’s told you a lot about me?”
“Every night. He must say your name a million times before he goes to sleep,” Kevin said, continuing to torment his brother.
“Yeah, whatever you say. Just so you know, Chloe, Kevin still wets the bed.”
Instead of being rebuffed, Kevin punched him as the new leader came in.
“Don’t make me ground you two. Settle down, Gang, so we can get started,” the woman said, addressing them all.
Chloe leaned over Nick and dared to ask, “Why would she ground you?”
“She’s my mom. She was bored and my dad told her all about the opening for a youth leader, and she decided to take it.”
Kevin rolled his eyes and added, “As she put it, ‘To form the young minds of our youth.’ We got drafted as soon as we got home.”
Chloe laughed at them. She watched their mother talk about the first trip and how it would be to Lords Hospital. Chloe knew the place well because she’d spent most of her summer there with her young, ill friend Millie. She studied their mother and could see the strong family resemblance. Of the three Allen brothers she’d met, they all looked a lot alike. Nick was the only one who had the curls, and Chloe guessed they came from his mother.
Mrs. Allen was a short woman with medium-length hair that was pinned up today, but she had a few tight curls hanging in the back. She wore a tweed gray skirt and light-blue cashmere sweater.
By the way she was dressed, Chloe could tell Allen family had money.
Kevin Allen had straighter hair like Max, but his was longer. She could tell he was the bad boy of the three she’d met. Like Nick, he had the big brown eyes, but you could see the mischief in them, where Nick’s were softer and serene, like his mother’s. She could only guess that the oldest of the boys was a copy of the ones she‘d already met.
* * * *
Friday came and the group boarded the bus to do some community service. Chloe got on the bus with a garment bag and a makeup box. She’d and found a set of seats that happened to be across from Nick. For trips, they were allowed to wear street clothes, so it was strange to see him in jeans and a tee shirt.
“The kids are getting makeovers,” Nick joked as he watched her put her stuff in the set and seemed to look at her outfit.
Chloe wore a demon mini-skirt and a low-cut tee shirt. Her hair was pulled back just so that half was up and the other down. “Why are you so strange sometimes?” She wasn’t in the mood for this. His mother had asked to pair him with her and all she really wanted to do was play with the kids and see Millie. Now she had to babysit Nick again.
“Why are you so mysterious?” He gave her a skeptical raise of his brow.
Chloe smiled at that. “To throw you off and keep you on your toes.” He was trying and she had to cut him a break. He didn’t understand what the floor did to her or how little Mille was her favorite. She had to loosen up before she got there.
“You’re doing a really good job of that. So what’s in the bag?” Nick wondered aloud.
“Don’t worry about it. Listen, you’re goi
ng to be on the kids’ ward with me and you will need to be kid friendly.” She wanted him to understand that this was no joke. They were sick and he needed to be prepared for that.
“I’m kid friendly. Just ask Max. I play with him for hours with Legos and cars.”
“This is different from playing Legos. These kids are sick and this is the only change they get every once in a while to get a break from their treatments and have a little fun. What kid songs do you know?” She tried to get him to understand this was serious.
“Kids songs? I’m not really sure. Does ‘Stairway to Heaven’ count?”
Chloe could see that he was trying to make her smile, but instead he was pissing her off. “Can you stop playing around?”
“I worked with kids at camp in the summer. I know a lot. Don’t worry. Maybe I should ask you what you’re going to do.”
“Don’t worry about me. How are you with dressing up?” she asked. He had to be open to anything if he was going to work with her there.
“Dressing up—how? Now you’re starting to freak me out.”
She laughed at that. “Don’t be. It is just easier for these kids to relate to us, if we dress up for them.” She opened her makeup box and started looking through it. “Look, I take this project seriously. If you’re going to joke around, then don’t bother helping me on the floor. It isn’t a joke.” She needed to get ready and started to apply glitter around her face. There was a huge pit growing in her stomach, as they got closer to the hospital.
“Hey, I promise I will stop kidding around. What do you want me to do? I’ll do it.”
“Give me a minute and I’ll work on you,” she answered as she tried to finish her makeup.
* * * *
Nick allowed her to do his face. They disembarked from the bus and now he stood outside the bathroom, waiting for Chloe to come out. He felt silly, with the clown face she’d painted on him, but she said it would help.