by Jo Cattell
“Do I even want to know?” Nick glanced suspiciously at them as he threw his suit jacket on the chair.
“No, just the usual tricks and treats, you know. So, are you two good?” Kevin asked while attempting to cover the writing he’d put above Nick’s bed.
“We’re getting there. Hey, for what it is worth, I know we argue and fight sometimes, but I’m glad you two are here for me. I know that whatever happens, we have each other’s backs and can take care of each other.” Nick still could not get the thoughts out if his mind about what Chloe had gone through. How she’d done it alone and had no support like he did in his life.
Both Mark and Kevin stared unblinkingly at him.
“What the hell happened last night to bring that on?” Mark questioned him. It wasn’t like Nick to say something like that, let alone any of them to say that.
“I just learned a lot about her last night and I feel bad for her. She has no one to look out for her. I, at least, have you two, no matter how good or bad that may be.” It was true. They fought, but when it came down to it, they would stick together through anything.
Kevin jumped up from the bed and hugged Nick so his arms were stuck at his sides. “Aww, Nicky, are we having a moment?” he teased.
Before he could say anything, Mark joined in the brotherly bonding and he bear hugged Nick too.
“On second thought, I think I would do better alone.” He gasped for air. “I can’t breathe, you jackasses! Get off me!” Nick fought them off.
As they landed on the floor, wrestling around, there was a light knock on the door.
“Hi, Chloe. You want to come in?” Kevin laughed and winked at Nick.
“Cut it out, Kev. Let her in.” Nick put on his shirt. He didn’t want them to start on her or say anything to her about what he‘d just said.
“Your mom told me to tell you to get lost. Sorry, it’s not me, it was her.” She looked uncomfortable at kicking them out of their own room.
Before they could say anything, Nick explained, “Mom said she could sleep in here.”
“Then, Chloe, by all means, sleep in my bed. It is so much nicer than Kevin’s or Nick’s. Plus, when I go to bed tonight, I can brag to Nick that I had you in my bed,” Mark teased and put his arm around her.
Nick threw a pillow at him.
“Come on, Mark, let’s let Chloe get some rest. My bed is softer,” Kevin suggested in a whisper as he pushed Mark out of the room.
Once they had left, Nick smiled at her. “They’re mental or something. My mom is still having them tested. It may be safer to sleep in my bed,” he suggested as he cleared off his clothes from it.
Chloe slid into his bed. “Now you can tell Mark you had me in your bed.” She smiled and reached for his hand.
Nick sat next to her and smiled down at her.
“Thank you for being there for me this week. Most of all, thanks for last night.” She smiled up at him.
“It’s been hell week, but we made it through,” he admitted, gently touching her face. “I’m glad we’re friends. But I already told you that.”
“Yeah, you did, didn’t you? Will you be back up soon?” she asked him.
“Yeah, I’m just going to get something quick. I’m beat. I really wish I could lay here with you, but I know that would be pushing it. If you’re not asleep when I come back up, I’ll sit here with you until you do fall asleep,” he suggested. He thought it would be strange for her to be in a different house and maybe she would need someone with her.
“I think I will be. I’m fighting to stay awake now,” she said softly.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. He’d wanted to kiss her lips, but again thought it would be pushing it. They were just starting to build on their friendship and he didn’t want to ruin that.
Then, she took him by surprise and softly kissed his hand.
He smiled at her. Then, he quietly got up and went down to join his family. When Nick entered the kitchen, he went straight to his mom.
“Did Chloe get settled in okay?” she asked and looked surprised as he hugged her. “Nicholas, what is this about, Sweetie?” She hugged him back and held him.
“He’s been acting strange since he got home. He told Mark and me he was glad we would be around if anything ever happened,” Kevin said, grabbing a plate.
“What happened at Chloe’s?” She looked concerned now.
“Mom, you would not believe the things she told me. She’s had it really bad since her mom died. I never really realized the things I take for granted. Mom, I love you. I may not say it enough anymore, but I’m glad I have you.” He was honest with her. He truly learned that as he listened to the things Chloe missed.
“Nicky, are the things Robyn said about her true?” Kevin questioned now. By Nick’s strange behavior, something really bad happened last night.
“Hold that thought. Max, you and Eric come with me and you can have lunch in the den,” their mother suggested and took their lunches out there.
When she returned, she had Nick tell them what had happened and why he was acting this way. Breaking his promise to her, he told them about everything that happened last night. Both Mark and Kevin sat looking amazed at what she had been through.
Their father took a deep breath when Nick finished his story. “Believe it or not, Father Gabe said that he suspected that. He told me that he was happy that you and Chloe had become friends because of her past.”
His mother just stared in shock. “Three days with her mother’s body? And then to sneak out of her house and sleep on the grave just so she could be close to someone? That poor kid.” She was close to tears.
“I think the worst part was when she asked me what you did when I told you about Millie. When I told her, she said that was what she missed. It’s like they pretend she isn’t there. I did stay in her room last night, on the floor. She’d been in such a deep sleep I was worried about her.” He lied, but if they knew he‘d slept in the same bed with her, they would not allow him anywhere near her again.
“Mark, if they’re leaving her all alone again, we have to do something. She’s been through so much already.” their mother sniffled with her tears.
“She is old enough to take care of herself. That is what child protective services said last year when they found out about Christmas. You two, what your brother just told us does not leave this room,” their father instructed both Mark and Kevin.
“It won’t, Dad,” Mark replied.
Chloe’s personality was seen by everyone in a totally different light now.
“So, she really did slit her wrists?” Kevin asked.
“To get his attention,” Nick explained. “And instead of helping her, he yelled at her for pulling him out of a meeting. Her stepmother leaves her money for food or whatever she needs. I think that’s the only interaction they have with her.”
Their father sat quietly and looking contemplative for a long time.
“Boys, your father and I need to talk. You two, keep Max and his friend busy. Nick, go get some rest,” their mother said as she touched his cheek.
Nick nodded.
“Nicholas, you did the right thing to tell us what she told you. We won’t tell anyone. We just need to talk about what to do for her from here,” his father added.
Nick understood and, in a way, felt so much better for telling them. This way, he could keep a better eye on Chloe.
Chloe had been fast asleep when Nick got back upstairs. Gently, he covered her with his blanket, and then sat and watched her sleep for a while. He wanted so bad to just crawl in there with her and hold her like the night before. Instead, he stroked her hair and thought about what it would be like to kiss her.
There’d been other girls he liked, but none like Chloe. Although, he thought he would like Kelly in the beginning, she turned out to be more of a teacher to him. She was so much like Tabitha, and she really tried with him. He tried to tell her it just didn’t feel right, but Kelly never accepted that.
Chloe stirred in her sleep, and he calmed her. She really was different. He saw things in her that others hadn’t. If they had, they blew it off like her father did, or treated her as a challenge waiting to be conquered, like Josh did.
Nick saw her as someone who was lost, someone he could really enjoy being with and not treat him like a sexual science project. He had a chance now, and this time, he wasn’t going to let her get away. Slowly, Nick got up and reluctantly got into Mark’s bed. He lay on his side and watched her sleep, and then finally fell asleep himself.
“Nick, dinner!” he heard someone call. As he sat up, Chloe came over to him. She said nothing, just straddled his lap and touched his lips with her fingers. “God, I love you,” he whispered and she smiled. She leaned down and kissed him. He could feel the warmth of her mouth and the heat from her hands on his chest.
“I need you, Nick, so bad. Take me,” she purred as he kissed her neck.
Suddenly, his hands were ripping at her clothes. There was an urgency and hunger in their passion. As their kisses grew intense and she begged for him to take her, he parted her long, silky legs. And just as he was about to take her…
“Hey, Nick, dinner is ready!” Kevin said as he shook him from his sound sleep.
“Oh, thank God, it was just a dream,” Nick gasped, trying to catch his breath. He fell back on the pillow and tried to calm himself.
“What was a dream?” Kevin asked with a smirk on his face.
“Nothing. Now get off me.” Nick pushed him away. He had to get those thoughts out of his mind about her. He wanted her, but not like that, at least that was what he kept telling himself.
“Oh, did I disturb a good dream? What were you doing to her?” Kevin continued to tease him.
“Kevin, shut the hell up. It wasn’t about her. It was about nothing. Stop it,” Nick stated and quickly glanced at Chloe.
She was rubbing her eyes and trying to wake up.
Kevin leaned down and whispered in Nick’s ear, “It’s called a wet dream, and please don’t tell me this was your first.”
“I hate you more than you could possibly know.” Nick punched him in the arm.
“Wow, and earlier you were happy I had your back. Wow, look how things change so quickly with you. Come on, dinner is waiting.” Kevin laughed and went back downstairs.
“What was that about?” Chloe was still half asleep and sitting up on his bed.
“Kevin’s usual—being a jerk. Did you sleep okay?” He wanted to take the attention off his brother and back on her.
She smiled at him. “Yeah, I did. What time is it?” She stretched and yawned while looking around.
“It’s after six, I think. I just remembered Gabbie’s party is tomorrow night. Do you want to go?” He couldn’t keep his eyes off the buttons on her shirt. If he’d gotten close to her and kissed her, letting his dream play out, how fast could he get them unbuttoned? God, he needed a cold shower.
“I was going to blow it off, but she’s my best friend and it’s her birthday, so I guess I have to go. I don’t think I packed anything for it. I could wear that black dress, but I’m a little tired of it. If it is okay, can we go back to my house tomorrow?”
“Okay, sounds like a plan. Let’s head down before they start calling us again.”
Sitting down to dinner in itself was an adventure.
The boys had already started picking on each other as their mother put the food on the table.
“Nicky, look, Mom set up the kiddy table for you tonight,” Kevin teased.
“Yeah, but Chloe is sitting up here with us. Get up, Kev, she’s next to me.” Mark pushed Kevin off the chair.
“No, Mom said she is sitting next to me,” Kevin shot back and kicked Mark’s chair away from the table.
Their mother seemed to hear enough of it now and hit them both in the head. “Max and his little friend are at the kiddy table. Chloe is sitting next to Nick. I expect you three older ones to be on your best behaviors because we have a guest,” she warned them.
* * * *
Chloe sat down and watched the three boys trying to keep straight faces. When their father joined them, it was time for grace and they all joined hands. This was something she wasn’t used to, but it was nice to see that they still prayed as a family before meals. It was after grace that the fun really started.
“Oh, Nicholas, would you be so kind as to pass me a roll?” Kevin started it.
As she found out later, Kevin always started it.
“It would be my pleasure, Kevin, dear Brother,” Nick said and threw it across the table at him.
“Oh, heavens, please help me,” their mother groaned and covered her eyes.
“Oh, Markus, would you be ever so kind and pass the potatoes?” Nick snickered.
“Boys, this isn’t funny. There are young, impressionable minds sitting at the next table,” their father reminded them as Max and his friend watched the older ones.
“Why, Father, our dear sweet mother asked us to be on our best behavior,” Mark stated as he handed a serving plate of food over to Nick.
“And we so do not want to let her down,” Kevin added as he took a drink of his milk and held his pinky up.
Both Mark and Nick couldn’t keep hiding their laughter.
Their mother didn’t seem amused. “So, the three of you will be doing dishes tonight and tomorrow?” she asked them.
“Mom, we can’t. You said we had to supervise the slumber party Max was having. I already got the cute little movie you told me to get. Along with something for us when they go to bed,” Mark answered smugly.
“Who is supervising Nick’s slumber party?” Kevin questioned.
Nick looked over at him, annoyed.“I’m not having a slumber party, Dummy,” he shot at Kevin.
Kevin gave him a grin and Nick threw another roll at him.
“Chloe is our guest this weekend. I expect you three to treat her as such. Kevin, for God’s sake, don’t hit on her,” his mother warned him.
“You’re worried about—me? Seriously?” Kevin spluttered.
Nick kicked him hard under the table.
“You know what I mean. Chloe, I have the room ready for you now. Sorry, it took me so long. If there’s anything you need, just ask,” Mrs. Allen said and smiled at her.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thank you for letting me stay,” Chloe answered and went back to her dinner, enjoying the inclusion of being part of their family while she could.
After the little ones went to bed, and the dishes were washed and put away, the boys got set up in the den for their movies. She felt funny sitting there with them, as they talked about the movies that Mark had gotten, and as she was getting ready to head up to bed herself, Nick stopped her.
“Hang and watch a movie with us. I promise Kevin will behave,” he prompted.
“I’m really not into horror films, especially when they deal with werewolves,” she said, a little put off by the way Kevin had been playing around, teasing the younger ones about blood and stuff. Horror films in general freaked her out. She could spend the night in the cemetery but she couldn’t watch scary films.
“If it will make you feel better, you can sit with me. I’ll protect you from the big bad wolf.” He glared at Kevin as though he were the wolf. “Wait! Then who is going to protect me?” Nick teased her.
She smiled at him and sat back down. Crossing her legs, she grabbed one of the throw pillows and put it in her lap. She pulled all her hair together and tied it up with a rubber band, so that there were just a few strands hanging down.
Mark came back in with the popcorn and Kevin turned out the lights.
The room was pitch black, except for the glow that came off the huge flat screen TV.
Kevin sat on the floor and Mark was in the lounge chair by the window.
* * * *
Nick and Chloe sat on the couch, inches from each other.
Nick was nervous suddenly. His hands were sweating and his heart was pounding. Why did
he feel this way when she was this close to him? He sat up and took some of the popcorn that was in her lap. She wasn’t the same girl to him now that he knew her story. In telling him her secrets, she was more at ease with him, but she was shy all of the sudden.
She looked at him with a small smile, and then shyly looked away.
Things were changing for them, but was that good or bad?
The movie started. There was a man walking through the woods at midnight. The glow of the full moon lighted his way down the dark path. There was rustling in the bushes. He could feel that he was being tracked. Suddenly, something jumped at him.
Chloe screamed and hid her face.
“Chlo, they aren’t showing anything. Well, except now, as his body is being dragged off into the woods,” Kevin explained.
Nick grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. “I got you. Just keep the pillow if you need it.” He laughed and held her next to him.
“Why is it so freaking cold in here?” Mark asked, grabbing a blanket.
“To keep the werewolves and zombies out,” Kevin said and kept watching the movie.
“Are you cold?” Nick asked her.
Chloe nodded.
He grabbed a blanket and covered her with it. He wondered if she could feel his heart pounding. He’d been this close to her yesterday, and then again last night, when they’d gone to bed. He hadn’t thought about it then, but now he was well aware of how her sweet body was tight against his.
The movie played out and Chloe buried her face into his chest.
He wove his fingers in hers, they watched the animal on the screen eat one person, and then another.
As the beast finally made itself-known, Chloe hid her face in his neck. “Is it over?” She whined.
He tightened his hold. “Almost.” He laughed.
“Wow, do you think they can really do that? Take off a human head in just one swoop?” Kevin had been talking through the whole movie.
“Why don’t you go find one and ask?” Mark threw a pillow at him to shut him up.
Chloe hid her eyes and sat up a little. “Now?” she asked him, her face hidden through slotted fingers, trying to be brave to see, but not quite there.