"What took you so long?" Janet asked, causing me to almost roll my eyes at her.

I walked into the kitchen, dropping the grocery bags down on the counter. "Organic coconut milk," I told her, saying each word slowly and started packing out our groceries in the cupboard and fridge.

I didn't want to do the packing out, but since I was in a good mood, I did it.

"Oh," she said and I stopped what I was doing to turn around and look at her.

"Oh?" I said, my eyebrows scrunching together. "I was in that grocery store for half an hour, trying to find that milk that you needed, and all you have to say is oh?"

"No need to raise your voice at me, Chloe," Janet said, arching a brow and I swear that for a second, I saw as her former-self was starting to slip back in but disappeared quickly. "Besides, you could've asked one of the workers there. I'm pretty sure they would've been able to help you."

"Yeah, you're right, but you know how I am when I'm around boys!" I exclaimed, and I felt my cheeks getting hot from embarrassment, even though it was my aunt I was talking to.

It all started when I was five-years-old. One of my aunt's friends invited her over to their house and I had to tag along.

"Hello, Jane and Mr. Scott. Thanks for inviting me here," Janet said, smiling at the married couple. "This is my niece, Chloe. I hope you don't mind that she's here with me."

"It's nice that you're here, Janet," Jane spoke. "Don't worry about Chloe, she can go play with my son, Brian."

I looked at the brown-haired boy and smiled nervously, squeezing Janet's hand tightly.

Janet looked down at me and then back up at her friend. "Of course," she said, and I instantly felt betrayed. Though she didn't know what was going on with me, I thought that holding onto her hand tightly was enough signal, but I guess it wasn't.

"Hello," Brian said to me and I felt my palms growing sweaty, so I decided to let go of Janet's hand.

"Hi," I said, folding my hands behind my back.

"Wanna get out of here?" he said, giving me a cheeky smile.

"S-sure," I lied. I didn't want to go, but I did anyway.

Minutes later, Brian decided on where he wanted us to hang out and so here we were, outside on the back patio.

"So, how old are you?" he asked.

"Five," I told him, looking down at my lap.

"Oh! I just turned six," he smiled cheekily. "I'm older than you!"

I smiled, not knowing what to do. My only thoughts were about getting away from him.

"Do you have a lot of friends?" he asked and I didn't say anything. "You know, you don't talk a lot."

I got up and he said, "Hey, where are you going?"

I didn't answer as I ran back inside to go find Janet.

"I do, but I thought that had been gone by now," Janet said, pulling me out of my memory. "You really need to get rid of that-- whatever is up with you."

"How?" I asked though I knew she didn't. "I've had this 'social-anxiety-around-guys' thing for so long. Is it some kind of rare disorder or am I just crazy?"

"Both...?" she looked at me and laughed, causing me to sigh dramatically.

"This isn't funny. I can't even talk to a boy my age without getting nervous," I said with a frown.

"You'll get over it one day," she reassures me and moved one hand to rest on her hip as she continued, "Now, tell me who helped you if you weren't able to talk to one of the workers."

"Ac-" I started, but she had cut me off.

"Ooh, what if you actually talked to one of them and now there's love at first sight? You seem to be in a good mood since you're packing the groceries out..." she said and gasped, "Maybe you're not telling me something! Chloe... Tell. Me."

I stared at Janet with wide eyes and lost for words. 

Did she just get excited? 

Yes, she did, Chloe, my inner-self said to me. Now get over yourself and deal with it.

"Actually..." I started again, giving her a wary look, "I was going to finally ask one of the workers where the organic coconut milk was, but instead, I ended up helping someone out."

Janet hummed and said, "Who was this someone? Maybe that's where your love at first sight began."

"You mean, 'friends at first sight'," I told her with a smile. "Her name is Ruby and she's pretty nice."

"Wow," she muttered, feeling down that her expectations didn't come true. Great.

"So, how are things going with you and you know who?" I changed the subject, smiling at her and started packing out the groceries again.

"Alphonso? Good, actually," she said and I looked at her to see a big smile on her face, her dark eyes now sparkling with happiness.

"That's great! I don't think I told you this, but I'm happy for you, Janet. To be honest, before you met Alphonso, you were my grumpy aunt. But now—" I quickly added when I saw the sparkle in her eyes starting to dim, "—you're happy and I love that!"

She pulled me into a tight hug, almost as tight as Ruby's, and let go of me only to grab my cheeks and pinched them. "Aww, you're so cute, my little Chlo-Bear," she said teasingly and I frowned, moving her hands away and stepping back.

"You know I don't like it when you do that," I said and she smiled knowingly. "I'm not little and don't call me Chlo-Bear anymore."

"Well, then, Chloe," she said, putting emphasis on my name. "You finish packing those out and I'll be in my room. Goodnight!"

I groaned and then sighed as I said, "Goodnight, Janet."

A few minutes later, I finished what I was doing with the groceries and took a shower. I was now laying down in my bed watching TV when I heard my phone vibrate.

Who in the world would text me this late? No one, of course.

I looked at my phone to see who it was.

Ruby: Hey, girl! In case you have probably fake-saved my number in your contacts, it's Ruby.

I smiled when I saw that it was Ruby and decided to text her back.

Me: Hey, Ruby. What's up? Why text me so late? I could've been sleeping, you know?

Ruby: The ceiling.

Ruby: And girl, it doesn't matter. You still would've seen it when you wake up 

I mentally cringed when I read her first text.

Me: Seriously? That's super old now

Me: You do have a point 

Ruby: Not for me and yeah, I do

Ruby: Do you wanna hang out some time? Maybe tomorrow? 

Me: Sure, tomorrow would be nice

Me: No, nvm (nevermind). I can't make it tomorrow. I have to babysit

Ruby: Aww, man... I was hyped before you ruined it. Well, whenever you have time, hmu (hit me up)

Me: Kk. I'm hella sleepy right now. I'll text you later. Goodnight! 

Ruby: Sweet dreams and don't let the bed bugs bite!

Me: XD

Well, that went well, I thought to myself as I let out a yawn.

I turned off the TV and set my phone to the side as I plopped my head down on a pillow and pulled the blanket over me.

Too bad I wasn't able to hang out with Ruby tomorrow, but my babysitting job mattered big time. I couldn't afford to lose another job now, did I?

After the thoughts in my mind settled, I fell asleep into a dream.

I was laughing as I ran through a calm place, surrounded by blue flowers. I wasn't the only one there, though. Someone else looked happy as me as we ran and fell down on the freshly cut grass, handing me a single red rose out of nowhere.

I smiled and raised the red rose to my nose, closing my eyes as I smelled the scent of it. I turned my head to look at this person only to find that I couldn't see their face—couldn't see their eyes or if they were smiling back at me.

All I saw was the person's blurred, faceless figure.

_

A/N:

Hey, hey!! Lol, I'm feeling pretty happy, especially because I'm on Thanksgiving break. WooHoo~ And it starts today, on Wednesday... I wonder why they didn't give the whole week off *sigh*.

Anyway, how was this chapter? It's now one of my favorite chapters that I've written! :)

As always, thank you very much for reading, especially if you've gotten this far. I've noticed that I'm moving pretty slow with the plot of this story. Just so you know, I'm not really the planner, but when I'm done writing this book, I'll be editing it! :D

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