• C H A P T E R  O N E •

Numbers

"To these past years in which we have been single!" Chloe's friend, Jessica shouted out with pleasure and the three girlfriends clinked their glasses together.

"So..." The other friend, Caroline, sipped at her glass, while staying enthusiastic about the current celebration. "How long girlies? We'll go round... Jessica?"

Caroline pointed at her friend, who giggled.

"About ten years!"

"Ooh, amazing! Myself, about five..." Caroline turned to Chloe who kept her head bowed, not wanting to reveal how long she'd been single and alone. "How 'bout you, Chloe?"

Chloe looked up, slowly. "Chloe?"

"Hm?"

"Years. Single?" Chloe bit at her bottom lip and thought.

"Well, I thought about... ten too..." She whispered.

"There you go!" Caroline cried out. "Those years where we have been free of men and their annoying problems!"

"Here, here!" Jessica cheered.

"And damn, don't it feel good?" Blonde haired friend, Caroline remarked, smiling.

The two girls giggled as Chloe subtly rubbed the back of her neck- very slowly drinking her drink.

"Chloe!" Jessica wrapped her arm around her and leaned her head onto Chloe's shoulder. "You're turning the big ass twenty seven tomorrow..." Jessica pretended to hold a microphone. "How does it feel?"

"Well, for one, it feels amazing to... be older, I guess... and... for you, single for longer! No annoying... boyfriend dramas!"

"Yes!" Caroline smiled.

And, to put it this way, it had been around ten years since Chloe had seen Tom.

"Oh. M-my. God." Jessica stuttered.

"What?" Chloe asked, swallowing.

"There's a guy looking at me!" Caroline choked on her drink.

"Seriously!"

"Yeah!" They squealed, jumped on the spot. "What do I do?"

"Give him the look!" Caroline cried out.

"Okay, I'll do it." Jessica tilted her body away from her girl group while Chloe rolled her eyes.

Yeah, singles night, for sure, she thought.

"Did he-"

"He winked at me!" She screamed. "Okay girls." Gulping down the rest of her glass, she straightened her dress. "I'm going in..." Jessica walked away and Caroline faced Chloe.

"That girl..." She chuckled and nudged Chloe. "You alright?"

In return, Chloe nodded.

"Yeah..."

"You know, I know a certain someone you could ring if you're feeling a bit... down..." Immediately, Chloe frowned.

"What, that guy I had a really bad pie fight with at your birthday party and he kissed me? Nope!"

"No, not him." Caroline lowered her voice. "Tom."

"Tom!" Chloe squeaked and cleared her throat. "What, why?"

"Chloe..."

"Look, it's been ten years, okay... if he wanted me he would've called." Chloe sighed and rather faint way, admitted how much he missed him.

"Oh look!" Caroline pointed. "There's Jessica... Shall we stop her from making a fool of herself?"

All of a sudden, Chloe's mood softened and she refused to accept Caroline's request.

"No... I... I need to go to the loo." Chloe smiled lightly and stepped away, making her way to the toilets.

On entering the rather large, singular toilet, Chloe bolted the door shut and bowed her head over the sink and clutched an object.

The precious necklace.

One in which brought back many fond memories.

And, the words- Just remember... you're never alone.