by Jo Cattell
“You would get it first, since I’m leaving in a few minutes,” she reminded him and wiped her lips gloss from his mouth.
“Gee, thanks, babe. Maybe when you get back, you could be the nun and I could be the bad-ass schoolboy who needs to be punished,” he teased.
“As long as you do what you did last night, I am so there,” she purred and then kissed him with a long, lingering kiss.
“Oh, my God, get a room!” Gabbie said as she and Dave stopped by Chloe’s locker.
Nick winked at her and smiled.
“So, even though she’s going to be a million miles away, you’re still coming to Tiff’s party, right?” Dave asked.
“I said I would. I’m even bringing Kevin, so you know I’m going out of my way to keep myself busy while she’s gone,” Nick said and laughed.
“I can’t believe you’re going to visit a college this weekend. I’m really going to miss you. I hate Tiff’s parties without you,” Gabbie whined and hugged Chloe.
“I’ll be at the next one. Come on, be happy for me. I could be this great, inspiring artist someday.” Chloe laughed, wishing she could stay and have fun with them.
“Don’t forget the little people when you’re off making millions. I want to come to some of those hot Hollywood parties,” Dave put in, as he wrapped his arms around Gabbie and winked at Chloe.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re on the list.” Nick laughed and they high-fived.
“We have to get to lunch. Chloe, have fun! I’ll miss you!” Gabbie hugged her.
“Yeah, and I want to hear about the college parties you went to when you get back,” Dave added and hugged her, too.
“Guys, I’m not going away forever. It is just the weekend.” Chloe started to tear up.
Nick hugged Chloe and held her. “Okay, now she’s crying. Thanks, this is what I get to deal with in the car. I’ll see you in a little bit.” They stood together and watched Dave and Gabbie walk off.
Nick took her suitcase out of his trunk and, after shutting it, looked at her. “I’m not going to lie. I’m going to miss you this weekend. Call or text me when you can. Like tomorrow night, while I’m sitting at that party, bored out of my mind,” he said, taking her into his arms.
“I’m going to miss you, too. But remember, Sunday we have plans.” She laughed a little.
“Besides, taking you out to dinner for your birthday and the surprise I have cooked up?” he teased.
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m really looking forward to it. It will be nice to really celebrate my birthday again.” She smiled to herself, thinking about it.
“Damn, Mark just pulled in.” He sighed with obvious disappointed.
“Call me tonight, when you get home,” she said, a little depressed that it was time for her to go.
“I will. Don’t go falling for any of those college boys while you’re up there.”
“I won’t. You don’t have to worry about that,” she said softly.
Nick gathered her suitcase and another bag.
Mark got out of his car and opened his trunk. “You two have exactly two more minutes, then I’m stealing her away from you,” he informed them.
“Ha ha,” Nick shot back as he put her suitcase into the trunk. He then looked at Chloe. “I want you to have fun and really check this place out. It could be really good for you. Don’t think about not seeing me if you go there. Think about how it could really help you to improve your art skills and the opportunities you’ll have. I love you, Chloe Gardner,” he said and kissed her.
“I love you, Nicholas Allen.” She gasped breathlessly when he moved his lips away.
“And I love you, too, Nicky. I’m going to miss you so much!” Mark faked a crying expression and grabbed his brother, wrapping his arms around his neck.
“Dude, get off me, you Lunatic.” Nick pushed him away.
“I promise to take care of her. Have fun this weekend.” Mark laughed and got in.
Chloe gazed at him through the window.
Nick kissed his hand and put it on the glass.
Chloe mouthed, ‘love you’ one last time, and they were off.
* * * *
Nick sat at Tiffany’s party and nursed his beer. He’d talked to Chloe earlier that morning, before she went off to the lectures at the college. It sounded like she was having a good time, but he could tell she missed being home. The party was boring without her. He was still unsure as to why he’d even decided to come to Tiffany’s party, except for the fact that it got him out of the house. Looking around Tiffany’s house, it reminded him of why he hated families like hers.
His family did have money, but they never flaunted it and lived a pretty humble life in his eyes. Tiffany’s family flaunted everything. They had really expensive tastes, and when you were around Tiffany, you knew it. Even the beer he was drinking was imported. The room the party was in was decorated with a mix of black, white, and red. The music was loud and half of the kids were bombed off their asses.
Nick sat in a plush black lounge chair. He put his bottle on the smoked-glass table in front of him.
Seconds later, Kevin fell on him, laughing. “Dude, have you not seen there is a party going on around you?”
“Yeah, and if I were you, I’d stop drinking. I’m not carrying you in tonight.” Nick pushed him off.
Gabbie and Dave walked up and sat on the couch next to them. “This place is so dull without Chlo. Have you talked to her since she left?” Gabbie asked him.
“Yeah, I talk to her this morning. Guys, this could be really great for her. We have to let her see we support her on this. Yeah, it could mean she moves away after we graduate, but you know her. She’ll be back,” Nick tried to explain. He hoped for his sake he could get accepted at a college near her, so they could stay together.
“I just really need to talk to her. What time is she getting back?” Gabbie asked.
“Gabbie, I said I was sorry. Let it go and don’t bother her with that.” Dave tried to get her to look at him.
Nick stared at them, confused. “Problem?”
Gabbie smacked Dave, and then looked at Nick. “Not if you’re Tabitha.” She stood up.
“It only happened one time. Please, baby, you know I love you,” Dave whined.
Gabbie blew him off and kept walking.
Nick looked back over at him. “You don’t really think she‘s actually going to buy that you slept with her one time, do you? Christ, Dave, if you weren’t with Gab you were with her.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t need to know that. How would you fix this with Chloe?” Dave asked him.
“I wouldn’t have to because I wouldn’t do that to her. Besides, if I’m that hard up, I would never go to Tabitha. She’s one of their friends.” Nick shook his head.
“Chloe will tell her to break up with me. Dude, you have to keep her busy tomorrow when she gets home, so Gabbie doesn’t talk to her,” Dave almost begged, grabbing Nick’s arm.
Nick pushed him off. “Tomorrow is Chloe’s birthday. Both of you need to leave her alone. I have a surprise planned for her and I don’t need her in the middle of your break up because you can’t keep it in your pants.” His phone rang and saved him.
“Hey, Beautiful,” he greeted Chloe on his cell. “Give me a minute and I’ll call you back.”He went outside, away from the noise, and called her. “Hey, I miss you,” he said, looking out at all the cars parked along the street.
“I miss you, too. How’s the party?”
“Pretty lame without you here. I don’t even know why I came. How did everything go today?” He wondered what she thought and if they were going to move to the city.
“It was incredible. Nick, you wouldn’t believe how great an opportunity this would be for me. I mean, the art program is amazing. I would be going to London and Paris, and maybe even Rome for studies. I was just so overwhelmed by it all.” She laughed.
He was glad she was so excited. “That’s great. I’m guessing you�
��re going to accept the scholarship then.”
“Yeah, I think I am. The downside…” she halted.
“Chloe, don’t say it. If I can’t get accepted into a college there, we can still find a way to be together. There are weekends, holidays and playing hooky. Don’t stress on it. If that’s where you want to go, then that’s where I want you to go.” He could hear the doubt in her voice and wanted to reassure her. He sat down on the cold steps and waited for her to argue with him.
“Are you so sure we’re still going to be together when we graduate?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“Why do you always question us not to be together? Chlo, I love you. And honestly, someday, I’m going to marry you. You just don’t know that yet. Hey, are you guys still going shopping before you come home tomorrow?” He changed the subject.
“Yeah, Mark told Claire he wanted to. Something about Valentine’s Day.”
“So, I guess you haven’t had time to sketch yet, have you?” He knew she hadn’t found the gift yet.
“No, I was a little busy today. I wanted to but just didn’t get the chance, and now I’m way too tired. As soon as I get off the phone with you, I’m going to sleep.”
“I think you should check your sketch pad,” he suggested with a smile.
A minute went by as he heard rustling over the phone.
“Nick, why is there money in my sketch pad?”
“Get yourself something pretty tomorrow to wear to dinner. I want your birthday to be special,” he said, thinking about his plan for her.
“You know you don’t have to do that. I’m fine with just being with you. I’m kinda excited now though. Where are we going?”
“Nice try. You’re not getting it out of me, Chloe.” He chuckled and leaned back against the wall. It was getting cold and he wanted to go in and get warm, but didn’t want to hang up on her.
“I really miss you,” she said softly.
“I miss you, too, so much already. You’ll be home soon,” he replied, wanting so bad to hold her at that moment.
Kevin came out and sat next to him. He was motioning about going and Nick nodded.
“I can’t believe I have to get up early again tomorrow. I’m so sleeping on the way home,” she said and yawned.
“Is that Chloe?” Kevin asked him and grabbed the phone. “Hey, hot stuff. How’s college life?”
Nick hit him in the arm.
“It’s good. Can’t wait to come home,” she replied and laughed.
Nick grabbed his phone back and held up his finger to tell Kevin they would leave in one minute. “Baby, you need some sleep and I have to take the drunk home.”
“Okay. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Sweet dreams,” he said and hung up.
Nick took Kevin’s keys and got in the car. He knew Kevin would get drunk, so he was prepared to stay sober and drive home. And judging by the way he was acting, he could tell Kev was just really buzzed.
“So, Tiffany threw Dave and Gabbie out because they were fighting. I thought for sure there was going to be a fight between Gab and Tabitha,” Kevin snickered as they headed down the road.
Nick shook his head. “Dave is such an idiot. I knew he was going to get caught. They better not try to bring Chloe into this tomorrow. That’s all I need, trying to have nice time and her phone ringing every five minutes with either Gabbie crying or Dave ranting about why Gab won’t let it go.”
“Yeah, she deserves to have a quiet night for once. Hey, I’m starving. I want tacos. Let’s hit El Taco before we head home,” Kevin suggested.
Nick laughed. Kevin was always hungry when he drank. “Kev, you get anything with beans and I swear I will kill you. You stink up our room and I am kicking your ass out—”
There was a huge blinding flash of light and a screeching of tires. Everything whirled around as a loud crunching of metal echoed repeatedly in Nick’s brain. There was something wet on his face and a pain in his side. He heard people yelling around them. The sickly sweet smell of gasoline filled the air. “Kevin?” He could hardly get the words out. What happened?
“Nicky?”
He felt a hand on his shoulder as his head started to spin. Someone was telling them help was on the way. But he didn’t understand for what. He could hear a girl screaming in the distance. Again, he said Kevin’s name.
“Shit! Nicky, I’m right here, Bro. Christ, you’re bleeding. Somebody help us!” Kevin yelled as he tried to undo the seat belt. “Nicky, Man hold on. I hear sirens. Help— help us!”
Nick tried to open his eyes; he couldn’t focus on anything. “Kev, what happened? I can’t move my leg,” he rasped.
“We got into an accident, I think. Nicky, I’m trying to get help. Just try to relax. Dude, you’re bleeding from your head. Christ, why isn’t anyone trying to help us!” Kevin shouted.
Nick closed his eyes. Images of Chloe filled his mind. Her smile, her kiss, her touch. If he was dying, this was what he wanted to see. Everything was spinning faster, and as he lost consciousness, he said her name.
* * * *
The girls were laughing as they came through the front door. Mark just looked at them and threw his keys down.
“That’s it, I’m not going on another road trip with you two again! Next time, I’m bringing Nick and Kevin and then see who gets ganged up on,” Mark said in a huff.
“Oh, Mark, we were only kidding. Come on, please.” Claire laughed as she put her hand on his shoulder.
“It isn’t like we would really do that. You were snoring really loud.” Chloe laughed and put her stuff down.
“You used to be such a sweet girl! Three days with Claire and you’re as bad as she is. Wait till I tell Nick what you did. I don’t care if you two erased the pictures, I’m still telling him,” Mark teased. It was then they saw Kevin come down the steps.
“What the hell did you two do to each other this time? Honestly, Kevin, when are you and Nick going to grow up?” Mark laughed.
“Please tell me he isn’t as bad as you. He is supposed to take me out tonight.” Chloe smiled.
Kevin walked over to her and couldn’t look her in the face. He hugged her and held her tightly. “Chloe, you’re not going out tonight.”
“Why, Christ, Kevin, what did you do to him? Nick, you’re not getting out of this!” Chloe pulled away from Kevin and called to him.
“Chloe, he isn’t here.” Kevin swallowed hard and held her hand. “We got into an accident on the way home last night….”
“Kevin, if this is a joke, I’m so going to kick your ass. It isn’t funny. Where’s Nick?” Mark said as he pushed him away from Chloe.
“Nicholas Allen, come down here right now!” Chloe was on the verge of tears. She was shaking at the news of an accident and didn’t want to hear what Kevin was trying to tell her.
“Mark, it isn’t a joke. I wish it was, but it isn’t. He got banged up pretty bad. There was blood everywhere. We were pinned in the car for like an hour,” Kevin rambled.
“Stop it, Kevin, right now! Where the fuck is Nick? No more games.” Mark pushed him up against the wall. He held him there with his fist wrapped around his shirt. “Where the fuck is he?!” Mark asked again through clenched teeth.
“Mark, let go of him.” Claire put her arms around him.
“Mark, Son, it’s okay. Nick is okay. He’s just banged up. Let Kevin go. There are other things we have to take care of,” Mr. Allen said, trying to hold him back.
Mark looked at his father and then at Chloe, who was in his mother’s arms. He turned and hugged Kevin tightly, not seeming to understand what had happened.
Kevin walked away from him and went to Chloe again. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Why would you do that to me? Christ, I thought he was dead.” She pushed him away from her.
“Chloe, there’s more. It was Gabbie’s car that hit us. She is stable now. It was touch and go last night. Dave was driving.” Kevin stopped there and look
ed at his mom.
“Sweetheart, Dave passed away last night. They pronounced him at the scene. Listen to me, honey. I don’t know what they told Gabbie, but the most important thing is to be there for her and help her through this. Do you want to go to the hospital?” Gina asked her as she held her tightly.
Chloe just nodded. She didn’t know what to say. In a matter of minutes from returning home, she had lost one of her oldest friends, and her best friend and boyfriend were in the hospital, and she had no clue how they really were.
After a tense silent trip in the car, Chloe stood outside of Gabbie’s room. She wanted to go and see Nick first, but deep down, she knew it would be better if she went to Gabbie. They‘d been together for so long, and now he was gone, just like that. If she’d lost Nick, she would never be able to go on. Horrible thoughts went through her mind as she stood at the door, shaking and teetering about when she should go in.
Suddenly, the door opened and Gabbie’s mother came out. She looked tired and withdrawn. There was anger in her eyes as she looked at Chloe. “Why weren’t you there? She would’ve never gotten in the car with him if you had been. You are her voice of reason,” Mrs. D’Angelo stated.
“I’m so sorry. I was at college this weekend. I would‘ve stopped her. I would’ve never let her go with him.” Chloe started crying. She put her hands up to cover her face and broke down.
Then, Mrs. D’Angelo did something that shocked Chloe. As Chloe stood crying like a child, she hugged her. “We almost lost her, Chloe. Her heart stopped and they had to shock her. She came to this morning and asked for you.”
Chloe pulled away. “How much does she know? I mean, does she know about…?”
“She knows about Dave. I just don’t think it has sunk in yet,” Mrs. D’Angelo explained and wiped the tears from Chloe’s face.
“Okay.” Chloe shook her head. Slowly, she went to the door and opened it. The room was private and dark, except for the light over the bed. It smelled of flowers and the pungent cleaning products the hospital used. Gabbie was in the bed, facing the window and sobbing softly.