Chole’s POV

“Amber, if you don’t tell your brother to shut up, I’m going to stab him in the eye with one of my freaking cigarettes,” I screamed, grabbing the collar of Ambers pet brother and dragging him out of her room. 

“OMG! You smoke? But you’re still a kid? Aren’t you a kid? Are you a adult? Oh My GOODNESS!! You’re an adult!” 

“LISTEN!,” I yelled pulling the kid up so we were eye to eye. “If you don’t shut up I’m gonna shove my fist so far up your ass your gonna feel it in your mouth, understand?” His eyes widened but he nodded. “Now, I’m gonna put you down and you’re gonna run along and have a nice little play session in your room, kay?” Again he nodded. 

I smiled and dropped him. “MOM!,” he yelled running down the hall. Letting out a sigh I placed my hands on my forehead and turned back towards Amber’s room. I hate kids more then I hate adults. I slumped back into Amber’s room and landed on her bed.  “You can’t tell a 10 year old you’re gonna shove your fist up his ass Chloe,” Amber said behind me. I shrugged, snuggling into her pillow. “I’m going to bed.” My words slurred over and I was instantly hit with a wave of sleep. 

“You are the worst person I have ever met in my life!” I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Amber just never shuts up, does she. Opening my eyes fully, I realized I wasn’t at Amber’s anymore. I was at mines. “Do you think I care? I’m the only person who puts up with your bullshit!” In front of me where my parents. They were arguing. “What’s happening. Why am I here?” I asked staring at them. They turned to me. “Oh look, your daughter is awake. Shut her up,” My mom yelled, sneering at me. “Oh for goodness sake, you do it. I don’t care about her,” my dad said looking at me with total disgust. A tear fell from my eyes. Why, why was I here. Why were they saying these things about me. I was at Ambers house. “No. no. I’ve got a better idea.” Suddenly smoke lifted around the couch where I was seated. What the fu- 

I was suddenly in my dining room. My parents were in front of me. I was tied down to a chair and my parents were laughing at my discomfort. My hands were hurting and my head felt like it was about to explode. “Guys, what are you doing?” I asked staring at them. It was my dad who spoke. “Listen, it was nice having you around but we have no use for you anymore. Honestly we never had use for you, but you were our child so we put up with you but now its done. We never cared about you.” He placed a gun on the table. They were going to kill me. Oh God, they’re going to kill me. The front door slammed open. Reese Parker. Amber. “HELP! HELP ME GUYS!” “Reese, my boy, here to finish our job?” My dad asked, patting him on the back. What? WHAT? “Yes sir. Just getting rid of  unneeded space. Amber hold her head straight.” They weren’t here to save me. They were here to kill me. I began shaking my head widely. “No! No! Mom, Dad you’re supposed to love me! I’m your daughter! Don’t do this! Amber, we’re best friends! Please, please stop them!” They all laughed at me. Reese picking up the gun and aiming it at me. Ambers strong hold on my head. They were laughing. “Reese, please,” I begged one last time. I stared into his grey eyes. They weren’t the same. They were filled with evil. Tears streamed down my face. He pulled the trigger.

“Hey, hey calm down. I’m right here. Nobody’s going to kill you.” I heard screaming and crying. It was me. I was back in Amber’s room, on the floor. She was holding on to me while her parents and little brother stood in the doorway with worried looks on their face. “Please, please don’t let go,” I cried clinging to her with all I had. Tear after tear came down my face. I tried to breath, tried to control it but it was no use. I was a messed up case. So freaking messed up. “I’m not bunny. I won’t let you go.”

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“You sure you’re ok, now? We don’t have to go to school today, we can stay here,” Amber said. I stared at myself in the mirror. My skinny jeans fit my body perfectly. My hoodie fitting snuggly against my torso, the hood on my head. My eyes were dead. “Yea, I’m ok. You have any glasses though?” She tossed me a black pair that hid my eyes. Grabbing my bags, we left her room. “Sweetie, you’re welcomed back here anytime ok,” her mom said once we hit the bottom stair. “Thanks Sheryl. I’ll come back.” I opened the house door and went outside, towards my car. “Hey wait, Chloe, wait!” I turned back around to see Amber’s pet brother running towards me. “Here, it will keep the bad dreams away.” He placed a small, golden pebble inside my hand. “Thanks squirt. I won’t lose it,” I said placing it inside my back pocket along with my cigarettes and lighter. He smiled at me and went back into his house. Climbing in the front seat, I threw my bags in the back and waited for Amber. I hadn’t eaten anything since I woke up. I’m messed up. I can’t even breath properly. Calm down Chloe. You have to believe it was just a dream, because that’s all it was. A dream. Just a dream. 

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“I’ll see you at lunch,” Amber said stopping by my locker. “Nah, I’m not going to lunch. I’ll just meet you by my car at the end of the day,” I said closing my locker and turning towards her. She nodded and pulled me into a hug. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll overcome this. You are such a strong person.” She left me in the hall. 

I walked to class, making it before the bell rung and not being ran into. As I entered the Science class, I noticed someone at my table. Reese Parker. My body began to shake as I pictured him holding a gun to my head. 

“Chloe, please take your seat.”

I hesitated for awhile before walking to my seat beside Reese. “What’re you doing? I’ve never seen you I this class before,” I said placing my bags on the floor beside me. “Well, probably because I don’t ever come to class,” he said, smiling at me. I tried to smile back but it came as more of a grimace. “Hey what’s the matter?” he asked pushing his chair closer to mine. 

Just A Dream. Just A Dream. Just A Dream. Just A Dream. Just A Dream. 

“Nothing, I’m cool,” I said looking away from him. I was itching to pull a cigarette out of my back pocket. Jesus, please let the time fly. “Hey, hey calm down, firecracker. I’m not going to hurt you,” He said. I shot my head in his direction. He was looking at me, clearly worried. I stared into his eyes.  

The front door slammed open. Reese Parker……….. 

“Amber hold her head straight.” 

Reese picking up the gun and aiming it at me

I stared into his grey eyes. They weren’t the same. They were filled with evil.

“Reese, please”

He pulled the trigger. 

“Reese, please” …………“Reese, please.”………………

“Please what? Chloe, talk to me. Please what?”

I stared at him, my breathing shallow. Oh God, I couldn’t do this. “Chloe, relax okay. Breath,” he said. He made the mistake of touching my hand. 

I shot out of my seat. “Chloe is there a problem?” I stared at my teacher. Tears gathered in my eyes. Everyone was staring at me. They were watching tears flow from my eyes. No. No. 

“I- I have to get out of here,” I yelled. I grabbed my bags and rushed out of the room almost tripping over the desks. 

“Chloe wait!” 

I ran and ran until I didn’t even know where I was going. I just let my feet guide me where ever they wanted. 

Roof Top Garden. I walked over and sat on the bench at the same time the door opened. It was Reese. 

Why Am I Hated? I’m a good child! I’m not bad. I don’t do anything to anyone. Can I get a break?

“You run fast, you know that?” Was the first thing he said to me. He slumped down next to me and placed his hands on his knees. I couldn’t help but notice how his shirt fit him so perfectly. How every time he moved, his muscles flexed and made my mouth water. How in the sun, his eyes were so grey they were pretty much white. How his tousled hair and chiseled body made me want to do things to him that I would never do. How his lips seemed so kissable.  

How I am so freaking crushing on him. 

Come on Chloe, get your voice back. Show him you’re tough. 

“Why did you follow me?” My voice quivered and shook.

Chloe, you fucking suck. 

“Because you had a panic attack in our science class, calling out my name,” he said turning his body to face mines completely. “Tell me what’s the matter.”

“You don’t even know me Reese,” I said running my hands through my hair. I stared at him. I didn’t see the rude boy who bumped me in the hall only yesterday. No, I saw a man. A man who was mysterious and clearly worried. We haven’t even talked before yesterday, so why do I feel like this? Why are we so calm around each other like we are long lost friends? 

He didn’t say anything, just stared at me with those eyes. 

“I mean, not to be mean or anything, but I only just honestly met you yesterday. We know nothing of each other,” I said. 

“Well, I know that you,” he pointed at me, “ Are supposedly a bad girl in this school. Almost as bad as me, they say. You’re mean they say.” He laughed. 

I sat there and looked at him. I didn’t have time to fool around. 

He looked at me and instantly stopped laughing. “Ok, you’re right. But get to know me then. Look, lets ditch. Let’s go eat somewhere and get to know each other.”

I didn’t know what it was that made me say yes. I don’t know if it was the fact that he was looking at me so intently or the fact that his hand had connected to mine or if I was just a stupid girl who skipped school with strangers, but it was something. 

“Ok.” 

He smiled and got up. “ I know a perfect place. Meet me by the exit in like ten minutes. That should give you enough time to get your things.” I nodded and got up too. 

“I’ll be there.” He left. 

Once the door closed I exhaled and quickly pulled out my phone dialing Amber. 

“Chloe, I’m in class, what do you want?”

“Listen, I’m leaving with someone. I’m going to put my keys in your locker so you can get home later and I’ll just have Ree- that person to drop me off at your house later! Ok, Bye!”

“Wait!” I hung up my phone and took in another deep breath. 

Go Chloe.

I grabbed my bags and ran down the stairs. I peeked around the corners to make sure it was clear before running down the halls. 

After dumping my keys in Amber’s locker I made my way to the exit. 

“Ready?” Reese asked  holding out his hand.

“Ready.”

I connected our hands. 

I was ditching school with the bad boy. 

Well wouldn’t we just make the perfect bad couple.