I’d made a promise to Chloe, and today I planned to keep it.
Breaking away, I gulped in air. Chloe’s chest rose and fell with each breath. Her lip gloss was smeared, her hair mussed. Damn, she looked good.
“Well, good morning to you too.” She winked.
“It’s definitely a good morning now.” I smiled.
She wiped at her face with the back of her hand as she made her way back to the driver’s side of her car. I opened the passenger side and slid in. Once Chloe was in, she turned on the engine and pulled away from the curb. Rock music played faintly in the background. It didn’t sound familiar, so it was probably some indie band she liked. Her eclectic taste in music was one of the many things that intrigued me about her.
“You ready for today?” She asked, staring forward as she drove. We passed a few other cars, middle-aged men and women most likely on their way to work. Sometimes it hit me how weird life was. How most people in the world were going about their days oblivious to the horror and tragedy our school had endured just a little over a week ago. There were moments when it felt like life had stopped. Frozen in time. Like the universe had stopped spinning. As if every single person in the world was feeling like I was. But then I’d pass someone on the street and reality would slam into me like a football to the stomach. Their life hadn’t changed. The universe was still spinning. Everyone else was going about their daily routines unaware.
“Yeah, I think so.” Today our school was holding an assembly to discuss the tragedy. But mostly to honor the victims – Ryan and John. I hadn’t even known John, the kid who’d selflessly stepped in and tried to stop Preston. He was a sophomore who played on the basketball team. Both his and Ryan’s jerseys were going to be hung in the gym. They’d asked some friends of Ryan’s and John’s to say a few words. Obviously I was one of the students that they’d chosen to speak on Ryan’s behalf. The principal thought it would help us gain closure. I wasn’t sure there was any such thing.
“You’ll do great.” Her hand left the wheel and rested on my thigh.
I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t touch me like that during the assembly or I’ll forget my whole speech.”
Giggling, she withdrew her hand. Mentally I scolded myself for saying anything. We rode for a few minutes in silence until we pulled into the school. It was weird entering the school parking lot knowing I wouldn’t see Ryan. I still couldn’t walk through the cafeteria without images of Ryan’s lifeless body filling my mind. In fact, I hadn’t eaten in there once since the shooting. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It seemed nowhere was safe from the memories.
The bell was about to ring when we got to school, so we quickly kissed and then dispersed. I hated when the kisses were quick. It was like one tiny sip of water. It only whet my appetite, it didn’t quench my thirst. But I reluctantly left Chloe and headed to first period. On the way, I bumped into Bethany.
“Hey,” I called out.
She whipped her head in my direction, a smile lingering on her lips as if she thought I was about to confess my undying love. That chick had the biggest ego on the planet. It didn’t make any sense how Bethany could be so popular and Chloe was the one that got teased. Beth couldn’t hold a candle to Chloe. Not in looks, not in personality. Not at all. I guess it just proved how backwards things are in high school.
“Leave Chloe alone,” I spoke firmly, hoping she’d understand how serious I was.
Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about? All I’ve done is try to befriend her.”
“That’s a lie. You’ve been messing with her, and it needs to stop.”
Clutching her chest, she appeared offended. But I knew better. It was all an act. “I’ve only been truthful with her. If she can’t take it, that isn’t my problem.”
I fought against the rage surging through my veins. “You’d think after everything that’s happened you would’ve learned to have a little compassion, but I guess that’s asking too much from someone as cold-hearted as you.”
She sighed in exasperation. “If this is about me cheating, I’ve said I was sorry like a million times.”
“This has nothing to do with that,” I snapped. “I don’t care that you cheated on me. All I care about is Chloe, and if you say anything to hurt her again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
This time the look of shock on her face wasn’t rehearsed at all. It was the most genuine expression I’d ever seen. She recoiled like she’d been slapped. Then without uttering a word, she narrowed her eyes and stalked off.