5

“A single moment of misunderstanding is so poisonous, that

it

makes us forget the hundred loveable moments spent together

within a minute.”

~♡~

Brett

I don’t know what I was thinking when I brought her into my house. Yes, she was hurt but that gave me no reason to ask, or rather, force her to stay with us. Especially since I led her to believe that I don't care about her at all.

I somehow felt like she didn’t deserve that pain. When I saw her wrist bleeding, and she was barely able to walk, I was wracked with guilt. This could have been avoided if I were there.

Honestly, after what happened with Sapphire, I hated Chloe. She was the one person I loathed. She disgusted me.

When we were kids, we used to be the best of friends. I remember every childhood memory I made with her. But since I moved away from Boston, I was angry. Angry at everything. The new place I’ve been dragged to, the new friends I met and everything else. Boston was a great place. Moreover, I had a best friend. I had Chloe.

But going away from her angered me more. I didn’t talk to her. I missed her terribly when I was away but I knew that I had to get past it. If I keep the old strings attached to myself, I’ll never be able to move on in life. That’s when I decided to take her out of my life. I was a kid and I was immature - I thought getting Chloe out of my mind would solve the issue.

After a few years, I tried to learn more about how she's doing through social media. She was in her early teens when I noticed the change in her. She grew more beautiful than I had imagined.

But most of the pictures of hers consisted of her parties and her spoilt group of friends. She wore extra short clothes and almost uploaded everything on social media. I was devasted to see this side of hers. The Chloe I knew was even shy to talk to boys but the Chloe that she had become was completely different.

So, when we moved back to Boston because my dad passed away, I couldn’t help but want to see her. But deep inside I knew I had to control that urge because she was not the true Chloe I liked once. The Chloe I knew. So I ignored her.

I knew she was hurt when I told her that I didn’t remember her. But honestly, she was all I remembered. She was the reason I didn’t want to leave Boston. She was the reason I wanted to come back to Boston.

And after what she did to Sapphire, I lost it. I knew she was impossible to change. She was already spoilt. And I hated her. My hatred towards her just kept growing and there didn’t seem to be a limit to it.

I hadn’t spoken to her nicely since then until today when she appeared in front of my house all bruised up. She was vulnerable. She was so angry and grief driven. And more than anything, she was hurt. I could see the pain in her eyes. And I was sure it was not just because of the injuries.

That’s when I let my shield down. I took care of her because no matter how much I hated her, she was still the girl who once was my best friend. And I'm the reason she's even hurt. I have to fix what I broke.

I let her in and spoke to her. I treated her wounds and even dealt with her tantrums. Somewhere deep down I was glad that I was getting the old Chloe back. That she started getting mad at me and I enjoyed it.

But now as I try to find sleep, I realise how wrong I was. I shouldn’t enjoy being with her. I hate her. I can never forget what she did to Sapphire. And I can never forgive her for that.

I groaned out loud as I struggled to catch some sleep. I should stop thinking about her. She doesn’t deserve my attention. She is a complete spoilt girl. She is a changed person and I don’t want her. I don’t want her in my life anymore.

She just doesn’t deserve it. But somehow, I find it hard to convince myself.

~♡~

I woke up to the shrill sound of my alarm. I peeled my eyes open and tried to adjust my vision to the blazing sunlight, creeping into my room.

I shut the alarm ringing with a tap on my phone and got up. I rubbed my eyes with the edge of my palms and went to the bathroom. I enjoyed my time while bathing and brushing my teeth. After the events of last night, a hot shower set things right for me.

I came out with nothing but a towel wrapped around me and headed to my closet. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a black shirt, I wore them quickly.

I’m already feeling hungry because I didn’t have enough food yesterday night. I ordered some veggies for Chloe and ended up having the same. So, it wasn’t sufficient.

After grabbing my bag, I hurried downstairs and settled down on the couch when I didn’t find Chloe anywhere. I kept my phone beside Chloe’s and went to read a magazine and waited for Chloe to come.

Just then, my mobile pinged and with my eyes still on the magazine, I went to my phone.

Last night was pretty wild, baby. I can’t wait to see you in school today.

Love,

Parker.

I frowned when I looked at the message. But this is not my phone. And the wallpaper picture, it is of Mrs.Morgan’s and Chloe’s. It's her phone then.

It almost slipped out of my hands when that message began to make sense to me. So.. Chloe was with him last night? And had she come all bruised up just so she could make me feel guilty?

I closed my eyes to control my anger. So she’s been lying. She’s been lying again. I was a fool to even think of her as a changed girl. I thought maybe she regretted what she did with Sapphire but she is still going out with him.

And I’ve been the dumbest person to let her in. She is indeed a clever woman. She hurt herself just so that she could come to me? That is why she never told who did this to her even if I insisted. Because she knows she doesn’t have an answer.

I almost threw that fricking phone away from my hand. But I resisted. After everything, she didn't disagree that she is in love. How silly of me, I should have guessed she loves Parker.

After all, she is still the same Chloe Morgan that cares about nobody. And I’ve been a fool who told her that I still care about her. I made her win. I shouldn’t have been so stupid with her. She doesn’t deserve anything of what I did to her yesterday. She’s a liar.

I heard footsteps coming towards me and I looked up. Chloe came up to me with a smile and I slipped her phone back to the table.

“Hey.” She said. She walked fine all the way and started stumbling when she came closer. Oh, so her leg isn’t even hurting but she’s just pretending to be hurt so that I’d help her.

“Can we have breakfast? I’m staving.” She said and smiled again. And I turned my head away from looked elsewhere. I do not want to make any eye contact with her. She doesn’t deserve any of my attention or care.

“You can leave,” I said. “You can leave now. It’s morning and your leg is healed. You can manage yourself.”

Her smile fell when I said that and her expression was coated with hurt. Fake. So damn fake.

She opened her mouth to say something but closed it back again. She looked down at her feet and nodded, looking up at me.

“Okay.” She said and turned around to leave. Just when she was about to exit I called her.

“Chloe, wait,” I said.

She turned around with a hopeful smile on her face. “Yes?”

“You forgot this,” I said and handed her the phone which she forgot to take. Her face fell as she glanced at the mobile on her phone and looked up at me.

She looked back at the phone, she took it from my hands and turned around.

“Thank you.” She said and went out.

While heading out, she slipped down and fell right on the ground. She yelped in pain, rubbing her ankle.

I controlled my urge to go and bend over to help her. I tried not to get affected by it because I knew she was just pretending. I don’t want to be a fool again.

She turned back at me with a hope that maybe I’d help her. But I looked away. I promised myself that I won’t be affected by this and I want to maintain that. I don’t want it to happen again.

She looked back and helplessly held onto the railing and slowly got up. She stumbled while she got up and held onto it firmly for support. Wearing the bag over her shoulder, she slowly stepped down the stairs.

And then, ever so slowly, she left my house and headed to her’s. I closed the door when she was out of sight.

I don’t know why this was happening to me. And why Chloe had to be such a girl? Things would’ve been so much easier if she wasn’t like what she is.

I would've still been her friend and help her but now she doesn’t deserve it.

I shook my head to clear the things from my mind and went to the table. My mom went to her friends' house last night so she’ll be returning anytime now. I made breakfast for her and Anne. By the time I was done, my mom arrived.

“Hi.” She said. “What did you make for us, Brett?”

“I made breakfast,” I mumbled and set the table up.

“As if I am not seeing it.” She said. “What is it with you and your foul mood in the morning?”

“I’m tired,” I said. “Can we talk later?”

“Alright.” She said and walked into her room. “Have a nice day.”

“You too, mom,” I mumbled.

I went out and got into my car. Today will be a better day. And I’m looking forward to not meeting Chloe or her sick boyfriend.

I just hope today goes well. Because I hardly have any interest in dealing with them today.

Yesterday night was way too much. And I’m scared I’ll not be able to sustain my anger.