ChloeTime flew by quickly and It was now lunchtime, and my mind felt overwhelmed with a multitude of thoughts. Choosing just one thing to focus on proved to be difficult.As I entered the cafeteria, I inwardly groaned upon seeing Isaac approaching me. "Hey, Chloe," he said, flashing a smile. I wondered if I needed to remind him of what he had done."Hi," I replied, and he nervously put his hands in his pockets. "I'm sorry about what happened the other night. I was drunk and mistook you for my girlfriend," he lied. Despite that, I nodded and forced a smile."It happens," I said playfully, and he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck before smiling back at me."My friends and I are heading down to Lake Tali later. Come with me?" he asked. Coincidentally, I locked eyes with Hayden, who smirked and made a quick gesture with his fingers, indicating a gun.When he glanced at Isaac, I knew he meant it in two ways: a gun and...I cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks heat up as I looked bac
ChloeI stepped outside, and as I approached, he swung the passenger door open for me to get in. I entered the car without saying a word, placing my bag by my feet as he started driving."Did you put my stuff in your room?" I finally broke the silence, avoiding eye contact, and I felt his brief gaze upon me."Why?" he asked, his voice filled with suspicion. I looked up at him."Did you?" I inquired, my voice tinged with concern."What's going on?" he questioned suspiciously, and I let out a breath, bracing myself for the truth."I found my phone and wallet in your room. All of my money is gone, Hayden," I confessed, my words hanging heavily in the air. He remained silent.His silence spoke volumes, and I sank into my seat, overwhelmed by a mix of disappointment and betrayal."You took it, didn't you?" I confronted him, desperation creeping into my voice. Still, he didn't respond. "I trusted you. I really did. And now look what happened," I lamented, shaking my head in disbelief. I gra
Chloe Today is the day of our graduation. I stood in front of the mirror, admiring my long gown flowing down to my ankles, perfectly complemented by the matching color of my heels. A sense of excitement and relief washed over me as I realized I would finally be done with high school. I was grateful that I wouldn't have to return to that dreadful place anymore."Chloe, Daniel is here!" My mother called from downstairs, and a smile spread across my face.I descended the stairs, giving my mother a quick kiss on the head and assuring her that I would see her at the ceremony. Then I stepped outside to find Daniel looking a bit uncomfortable."Do I look fat in this?" he asked, and I laughed, giving him a hug. He chuckled and kissed the top of my head before playfully shaking me by the shoulders."Today is the fucking day!" he exclaimed, and I giggled as I noticed the neighboring kids staring at us, clearly taken aback."We made it," I said, taking a deep breath as reality sunk in.He open
SlimI glanced at her sleeping form in the passenger seat beside me, noticing her completely altered appearance. There was something about it that unsettled me, but for now, I was just grateful to be free again.Originally, I was meant to drive her home, but instead, I took her to my house. Maya had no idea I was out, so this would be a surprise to her. Not that I particularly cared either way. Stealing from me was one thing, but stealing from Chloe ignited a rage within me that night. And she knew exactly what would save her-she called the police. So, I did what any rational person would do: I kicked her out.Stepping out of the car, I walked around to her side and opened the door. I picked her up and with my foot, I shut the door. Carrying her, I made my way to the front door, locking my car before entering the house and closing the door behind me.I heard movement coming from the kitchen, confirming that she was still here, despite knowing I would return. Ignoring her shocked exp
Chloe I stood in front of the mirror, scrutinizing my body as I undressed. Sighing, I realized that I still wasn't as skinny as I hoped. However, I noticed a slight improvement, my body becoming more defined. It seemed that pretending to be confident actually had its benefits.Stepping into the hot shower, steam quickly enveloped me, fogging up the glass. I absentmindedly washed my hair, lost in my thoughts, when suddenly, arms wrapped around my waist, startling me. I pressed against the person's naked body, feeling their solid erection against my lower back. My eyes widened, and I bit my lip, a mix of surprise and intrigue. His lips landed on my shoulder as he spun me around, pulling me closer. I couldn't help but let my gaze trail downward, trying to hide my surprise. Sensing my reaction, he gently lifted my chin with his finger and brought his lips to mine. The kiss started slowly, gradually intensifying. His hand slid to the back of my head, entwining his fingers in my hair, ge
Chloe "Hale," I heard his deep voice call, and I groaned, slowly opening my eyes to find that it was still raining lightly outside."What time is it?" I asked, sitting up as the covers slipped onto my lap. He checked his phone."It's five in the morning. We have to leave in an hour," he informed me.It was evident that he had already showered and brushed his teeth."Did you go home?" I inquired, sliding out of bed. He nodded and took a seat in my computer chair.I stepped into my closet, retrieving a duffel bag from the top shelf, and peeked out of the doorway."How long will we be staying?" I asked, and he glanced up."A few days," he shrugged casually. I rolled my eyes, stuffing my clothes and essentials into the bag before dragging it back into the room.He gave me an expressionless look, and I laughed, grabbing my towel and deciding on an outfit for the day. I proceeded to the bathroom and went through my daily routine before changing.I wore a black, cropped off-shoulder top pai
Chloe He resumed driving, and soon we arrived at a small house. Though it was modest, the exterior was neatly decorated, giving me an instant feeling of coziness. Joshua got out and opened the door for me, helping me out just like Hayden would. I smiled, realizing where Hayden must have learned such gestures."Slim!" I heard two small voices yell in unison, and two little kids ran toward Hayden, hugging his legs.He crouched down to their level before placing his hands on their shoulders. That's when I noticed they were twins."I wonder which one is Lioness," he asked, clearly knowing who was who."It's me, Slim!" she giggled, throwing herself onto him and hugging him tightly. Her sister followed suit, and Hayden chuckled, standing up and lifting one on each hip."Slim is a softie for kids," someone commented from behind me. I turned around to find Leah. She smiled, instantly embracing me, and I hugged her back, missing her dearly."I thought you abandoned me," she said, pulling away
SlimShe stared at me, her eyes widening, and I waited for her response. She looked as though she'd been startled, and I suppressed the urge to laugh."I...," she trailer off, and I pursed my lips, raising an eyebrow at her. Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment."It's fine, Hale," I shrugged.I hadn't really expected an answer. What I said, though true, was random. Those words had never left my mouth in my entire life. Who was there to love? I appreciated people, but God knows I didn't love any of them. She seemed to be having an internal debate, and I didn't pressure her. Instead, I made sure she was steady before I walked out of the water.This country wasn't necessarily safe at night, especially on the coasts. There was a lot of silent trafficking going on. The police knew, but where else would they get their drugs? So most of them turned a blind eye to it. Last year, they saved a girl just as she was about to be shipped off to Venezuela. The boat that was coming for her was