I warn you though, it's a really long chapter 
~*~
Chapter 2
Two weeks later, Chloe lay back in her too short bed, her head banging on the headboard, her feet sliding off the edge. She was counting the cracks in the ceiling, the easiest way for her to fall asleep when she wasn’t tired. For some reason, though, she had hit four hundred and seventy cracks and still felt energy buzzing through her. She couldn’t get her mind off the fact that tomorrow she would begin her third year of high school. She would be an upperclassman, one of the cool almost-adults the freshman and sophomores looked up to in awe. She’d go to junior/senior dances and be able to run for student council president and have her own parking space and be allowed to leave for lunch. A little piece of her was also looking forward to seeing super hot Aaron again, who’d be new and a senior and have absolutely no one to sit next to at lunch. Well, at least until her friends got a hold of him; they would never let a guy like that sit with anyone but them. Of course, he might not have her lunch period but with a quick trip to programming, those insignificant details could easily be smoothed out.
Chloe mentally kicked herself, frustrated that once again, her thoughts led back to Aaron, the boy with seven siblings and a zany mom and was apparently wealthy enough to pay for twelve new net books, three printers and an undisclosed amount of money to compensate for the Sharpies used, White-Outs spilled and the rest of the stuff the children used as toys on their night of fun. Anthony almost had a heart attack when he saw the net books, covered in sticky orange liquid, completely dead. The vein on his forehead bulged and his beer belly protruded as he began to yell about responsibility, maturity, and her lack of it. Then he saw the sales from the night before and suddenly, Chloe was named ‘Employee of the Month’, even though it was the middle of August. When he received the money for the damaged goods and “compensation for time and effort”, Chloe was given a bonus the size of three months pay. She constantly wondered where Aaron came from, why he moved and everything else she could wonder about this mystery boy who might have flirted with her.
Chloe lost her place on the ceiling and didn’t feel like restarting so she turned on her side and tried to sleep the traditional way. After 10 or so minutes though, she realized with late futility that traditional never seemed to work for her. She slipped out of the thick comforter and stood off her bed, before going to the door. She turned the knob and went out into the small, cramped hallway and walked down towards the kitchen, her bare feet slapping against the cold tile floor. Chloe was visibly shivering, mentally regretting not buying those Betty Boop pajamas she saw the day before at the mall. Her black and pink short-shorts and thin tank top, designed to repel heat, designed for summer weren’t exactly helping. She rubbed her legs together in an attempt to conserve whatever heat she had before walking into the kitchen.
“I need to go grocery shopping,” Chloe said softly, as she looked through the old but immaculately clean white fridge, empty but a bundle of lettuce, an empty beer can and some spoiled milk.
“Hey. I thought you were asleep,” a male voice said. Chloe jumped a little, startled at the sound and turned to face the door. A man in his late twenties stood there, a newspaper in one hand, his face, tired and prematurely aged.
“I was but I got hungry,” Chloe replied before staring at Ben with a playful glare on his face, as he took in the fridge.
“Right, about that…I uhh, kind of, forgot”, Ben answered a sheepish smile on his face. His brown hair was slightly messy in an endearing sort of way, his green eyes sparkling and his cheekbones high and sculpted. It was clear why Ellie, Chloe’s older sister, calmed herself and settled down with him, after four years of crazy college partying. Of course, the events occurring during that time could have been a huge part of it.
“Do you even eat anymore?” Chloe said with a shake of her head. Ever since he lost his job, Ben had been looking thinner and older than ever.
“Of course, I do!”
“Really? When was the last time you’ve eaten?”
“Uhh, this morning, I think. Actually, I’m pretty hungry. Ellie won’t be back for a while; you want to go out for some dinner?”
“If we go grocery shopping too. Let me just change,” Chloe said. Ben nodded then sat in the rusted metal chair by the stove and began reading his newspaper again.
Chloe rushed back to her room and grabbed a black Invader Zim sweatshirt, her favorite worn jeans from the floor and a random Abercrombie top from the top of her dresser. She quickly changed and surveyed herself in the mirror, before putting on a bit of eyeliner and cherry Chapstick. At the last second, she reached over and grabbed her wallet out of her Aeropostale shoulder bag; she wanted to pass by CVS and get a book to read. Her bed looked small and empty without her laying there counting cracks but Chloe was already out the door.
~*~
“So where are we going?” Chloe asked after lacing up her drawn on Converse and walking out into the corridor with Ben. He took out his silver key ring and looked for the keys to all three locks on the door.
“Um, I dunno. You want to go to Taco Bell?” He answered as he finished turning the final bronze key to the largest padlock on the door.
“Sure,”
They walked in silence through the hallway, old spider webs on the door hinges tearing apart as Ben pushed the door open. They were about to get onto the sidewalk when Ben stopped and patted his pockets.
“Oh crap. I forgot my money. You wait here; I’ll go back and get it.” Ben started back to the house, but Chloe reached out and grabbed his arm gently.
“It’s okay; I’ve got my wallet on me. I’ll pay,”
Whatever protest Ben was going to say, stopped on his lips and he just smiled weakly, said a quick thanks and lead her to the car. The drive was uneventful, Z100 playing Chloe’s favorite song twice which made her smile. For some strange reason, although it was already eleven o clock, Chloe was jittery and hyper. Something was going to happen, although she didn’t know what or whether it was good or bad.
The purple sign of Taco Bell showed up and Ben eased the groaning Corolla into the almost empty parking lot. The only other car was a dark blue Ford, a few dents and creases in its side.
They went into the fast food joint, not really shocked at its emptiness. The bored looking 20-something clerk’s eyes glittered with excitement when they walked in; clearly they were the first people she’s seen in a while.
I know how you feel, don’t worry, a crazy family might come in and start chucking guacamole and lettuce at each other for no obvious reason but your entertainment...or misery, depending on your perspective.
The clerk rung up two burritos and a side of nachos with cheese for Ellie then went back to looking bored, as she realized that the newcomers weren’t that interesting after all. They took their food and sat all the way in the back, a comfortable silence between them as they ravished the burritos like it was the first food they had eaten in years.
A half hour later, after many trips back to the front for more food, they were full and satisfied, with three bags of leftovers for the next night. Ben cleaned up the mess while Chloe refilled their sodas and with a wave to the half-asleep clerk, they left.
It was a little after half past eleven and Chloe still felt like something was going to happen. Maybe she’d grow wings, or save someone’s life or meet her true love, whatever it was; it was going to happen tonight.
“Pass by Rite Aid or CVS or something. I need to pick up some stuff.” Chloe said after taking a long sip of her Dr. Pepper mixed with Fanta mixed with a shot of Hi-Ci Pink Lemonade. Ben, while fiddling with the radio stations, nodded his yes and started the car.
“Can you call Ellie and tell her where we’re going. I forgot, she gets off work early today,”
Chloe rolled her eyes before answering in a sharp tone.
“Oh yeah, because 11:30 is so early.”
Ben sighed, as if they’d gone over this thousands of times, which if he remembered correctly, they had.
“You know I don’t want you or Ellie working as much as you do. Work is hard to find and I’m looking, everyday. I’ll get my job back soon and we can move back to Richmond, I promise,” He said, his face earnest and sincerity. He was trying so hard and felt a little more pathetic each day, when his resumes and applications came back with a regretful letter, stating that whatever company wasn’t hiring at the moment but thanks for the offer.
“Yeah, I know.” Chloe replied, replaying the day he got “laid off” over in her head, the very same day rent was due for their swanky Richmond apartment. It was a suckish memory, Ben’s face ashamed and resigned, Ellie worriedly counting up how long they had left with the bank money and Chloe, quiet and unbelieving. Now six months later and they still weren’t back in the 6th floor penthouse, Ben still didn’t have a job and Ellie was working 60 hours a week.
The air became quiet and tense, both wanting to say more, but refraining. The shocking red” 24 hours” sign burst into view then came the giant CVS illuminated metal sign. Ben brought the car up to the very front of the store and put the gear on park.
“Do you need me to come in with you?” Ben said. He looked so exhausted, like just the thought of job hunting made him tired, that Chloe took pity on him.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be out in a minute,” she said before pushing open the car door and hopping out. She bent her head down, wishing she wore something heavier as the heavy winds whipped her hair up in the air, inducing a short shivering fit. The warmth that met her when she pulled open the CVS door induced another shivering fit before she relaxed and went off to the book section. There were a few people in the aisles, an old man observing the newspapers, a teenage girl grabbing a box of Tampax and a middle aged woman deciding between two ice creams. Chloe stuffed her frozen hand into her pockets and walked over to the books section.
Chloe had a choice of Agatha Christie, Lisa Gardener or James Patterson, all books she had never read by authors she loved. She was reading the back of The Neighbor by Gardener when suddenly, she felt someone’s hands wrap around her waist. She flinched back and banged her head on the book shelf top before furiously turning to see what creeper had touched her.
“What the hell? Sam?” Chloe said in confusion and ill disguised shock. Her long time crush was standing in front of her with a goofy grin on his face and a slightly dazed look in his blue eyes. His shiny black hair was messy and damp looking and while Chloe was deciding whether he was drunk or high, he leaned down and kissed her.
Now Chloe had imagined kissing Sam, many, many times, the fantasies ranging from library make-out session while she was tutoring him to him dumping his ridiculous high-maintenance college girlfriend, Tiffany for Chloe herself, always ending in a final kissing scene. His lips were always soft, his breath was always minty and her heart always fluttered lovingly. What she got was his slobbery tongue trying to force its way into her mouth as he pushed up against her, the book falling from her hands. She tasted liquor on his breath and she stood frozen for a moment. His hands started to ride up her shirt and when she realized what was happening, she pushed him off her, disgusted.
“You’re drunk,” She said, staring at his stained shirt and bloodshot eyes.
“But Claire, I like you a lot, don’t you wanna have some fun?” He slurred, rocking back and forth on his heels, before stumbling and leaning on the book rack, looking nauseas.
“My name is Chloe, thanks. I think you need to get some sleep. Come on, we’ll drive you home.” She picked The Neighbor up off the carpeted floor and left it on the shelf, before leaving the store with Sam, receiving more than one weird look.
~*~
It was an understatement to say Ben was mad. More like furious. He was strongly against under-age drinking and the wreck Chloe brought to the car seemed to disgust him. It didn’t help that Sam kept putting his hand on Chloe’s arm.
“Where do I take him,” Ben said gruffly, glancing into the rear view mirror constantly to make sure Sam wasn’t going to try anything further than rubbing Chloe’s arm awkwardly, though the still drunk teen seemed to believe he was being smooth.
“I don’t even know.” Chloe said, unsure what to do. Suddenly, Sam’s hands left her arm and he randomly hit himself on the head, groaning in anger or pain. A startled look played over Chloe’s face.
“Wh-What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go home like this. My mom will send me to rehab or boot camp or something,” he said, slightly more sober, his head bent into his hands. Bens nose flared and he almost stopped the car.
“Well, whose fault is it? Hmm? It’s not exactly ours, right? Did we pour the beer down your pathetic little throat? Do you expect us to care that your mother might send you to rehab; it’s where I would send my kids!”
Sam moaned in despair and rubbed his face repeatedly.
After a reproachful glare from Chloe, Ben spoke again in a lower calmer tone.
“Look, kid. I don’t know you and I don’t even think Chloe knows you very well. I’m going to let you stay the night at our place but you’re out by morning and you better straighten your ass out,”
Finally Sam looked up with surprise clearly defining his features; Chloe’s face identical. What the hell? Chloe didn’t want Sam seeing the tenement like apartments they lived in. His house was in Corona, the old money, rich snobs part of town, coincidentally where the only high school for 5 miles was located.
“Really? Thanks, man,” Sam said, his voice low and hoarse, his slur almost completely gone.
Ben pulled up to the apartment buildings and parked out back, before slinging an arm around wobbly Sam. He half dragged him to the pitiful front lawn, where dead trees and wilting flowers lay waiting for winter to come.
They walked up the very same hallway, only with one extra member and got to the door at exactly 12:47am.
“You hungry?” Ben asked Sam, while holding up the Taco Bell bags and simultaneously twisting the keys into the door lock. Sam shook his head, his soft looking brown curls flopping gently. Ben didn’t answer, just walked through the door and went straight to the kitchen to put the Taco Bell leftovers in the fridge.
“Ugh, I’ve got school tomorrow too. Wait. Sam, what about your book-bag and stuff, you can’t honestly be starting off your senior year like this,” Chloe scolded.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll have Grant take it tomorrow. Thanks for asking and thanks so much for letting me stay,” He replied, giving Chloe one of his rare grins. Chloe stared at his lips for a moment, remembering the feel of them on hers. Even if it was a sloppy kiss, it was their first and that was all that mattered. Chloe felt herself blush at her thoughts and began to play with her hair nervously.
“Yeah, um, no problem. We just have to wake up early and stuff.” She stuttered, her blush deepening further as she noticed how close Sam was standing to her. What was up with him? He had a girlfriend. He laced his hands through hers and began to bend down, leaning in towards Chloe, his lips inches from hers, his breath soft and quiet.
Depending on your perspective, it was either a blessing or a curse that Ben came back when he did. His emerald eyes narrowed slightly when he saw how close the two were standing, and it was obvious he was beginning to regret inviting Sam over to stay.
“You’ll be sleeping on the couch. It folds out.” He said curtly. Sam at least had the decency to look embarrassed and flinch far back from Chloe.
“Of course, thanks again for letting me stay. Can you uh, show me where the living room is?” He mumbled, running a hand through his hair. Ben nodded once and waved him over.
“Good night, Chloe,” Ben said tiredly.
“Good night, Chloe,”
“Night Ben. Night Sam”
Ben left, Sam trailing closely behind, and Chloe was left alone in the hallway, her hand still tingling from where Sam touched it.
