Noah isn’t going to tell me because I don’t tell him anything. Nothing has been the same since Emery ran downstairs screaming that Milo was naked in my bedroom.
I don’t get why he won’t talk to me, though. I was there too. I was humiliated and embarrassed and slandered just like he was. All eyes were on us, not just him. I’m part of this too, Milo! You can’t be “naked in Chloe’s room” without the whole Chloe part.
Thunder rattles the window pane in my bedroom. That looming storm will be here soon, and I promised Mom I’d run to the store for her to get more batteries for her flashlights. I suggested that Godfrey go, but Mom says she gave him the day off after all the recent drama in the household. I guess that’s her way of referring to the mistaken nudity and my sister’s almost boxing match with Jules.
I cross my bedroom, pull back my door, and Tate’s freaking face is still plastered to the surface. I bet the guys have wondered for the last two days why in the hell I have Tate Kingsley’s face on my door. I wish I had an answer. I peel him off and return him to Aralie’s door. I don’t know what she gets out of this, but I’ll humor her.
The guys are playing Xbox in Dad’s game room when I go downstairs. Benji and Jules debate with Noah about how to beat this level. Tito remains quiet. I wonder if they’re even in there. Mom looks up from the dining room table when I walk through. She’s alone. I was hoping maybe the i/o of Tito was in here as well.
“I’m sorry you have to go alone,” she says. “But Emery isn’t safe for the public and after Aralie’s grocery store episode, I don’t think she is either.”
“It’s fine,” I say. I grab her credit card off the table. “Just flashlight batteries?”
She nods. “I’ll text you the exact sizes.”
I nod and rush back upstairs to grab my keys, phone, and purse. Footsteps follow me, but I’m too far ahead to see who it is. I push my door nearly shut behind me, just so I can bask in the moment when Milo pushes it open. There’s a soft knock. I smile to myself and tell him it’s open.
I spin around, excited to see his caramel eyes again in a moment other than asking me to pass the salt, but there’s no caramel or chocolate or any kind of candy for that matter. There’s an eyebrow piercing.
“Hey,” Jules says, almost uneasy. “Um, can I ask you something?”
He hesitates but pushes the door shut behind him. Great. Now I’m behind closed doors with Jules. After Milo was “naked” in my room. Emery is going to make me out to be a Saturnite slut before this lockdown is over.
“I, uh, sorta need, like, the biggest favor ever,” he stammers. “You’re eighteen, right?”
Is he about to ask me to buy porn for him? Oh God, please don’t let this be about something X-rated.
“That depends on what kind of favor you need,” I say.
He laughs, and his face softens. He doesn’t laugh enough. Or smile enough. I wish this lockdown didn’t suck so much for him.
“I’m down to my last two cigarettes,” he says. “I’ve been using them sparingly, but I won’t last the rest of the time here without them. I can’t ask Godfrey to get some for me. I’d feel like a loser.”
Yet he isn’t concerned with what I’d think about him. Or if I’d judge him. For some very odd reason, this makes me feel awkwardly comfortable. Is there such a thing as awkwardly comfortable?
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’ve never bought cigarettes, and I really don’t want to be seen buying them. People talk.”
“ Pleeeeease, Chloe,” he begs. “Isn’t there some small family-owned place you could go? Or a random gas station you usually don’t go to?”
He almost reminds me of Emery with those sad eyes.
There’s a small service station about three blocks from here, out toward the park. I could go there. No one frequents that place, and not many people will be out in stormy weather. The few times I’ve been there, the
I don’t get why he won’t talk to me, though. I was there too. I was humiliated and embarrassed and slandered just like he was. All eyes were on us, not just him. I’m part of this too, Milo! You can’t be “naked in Chloe’s room” without the whole Chloe part.
Thunder rattles the window pane in my bedroom. That looming storm will be here soon, and I promised Mom I’d run to the store for her to get more batteries for her flashlights. I suggested that Godfrey go, but Mom says she gave him the day off after all the recent drama in the household. I guess that’s her way of referring to the mistaken nudity and my sister’s almost boxing match with Jules.
I cross my bedroom, pull back my door, and Tate’s freaking face is still plastered to the surface. I bet the guys have wondered for the last two days why in the hell I have Tate Kingsley’s face on my door. I wish I had an answer. I peel him off and return him to Aralie’s door. I don’t know what she gets out of this, but I’ll humor her.
The guys are playing Xbox in Dad’s game room when I go downstairs. Benji and Jules debate with Noah about how to beat this level. Tito remains quiet. I wonder if they’re even in there. Mom looks up from the dining room table when I walk through. She’s alone. I was hoping maybe the i/o of Tito was in here as well.
“I’m sorry you have to go alone,” she says. “But Emery isn’t safe for the public and after Aralie’s grocery store episode, I don’t think she is either.”
“It’s fine,” I say. I grab her credit card off the table. “Just flashlight batteries?”
She nods. “I’ll text you the exact sizes.”
I nod and rush back upstairs to grab my keys, phone, and purse. Footsteps follow me, but I’m too far ahead to see who it is. I push my door nearly shut behind me, just so I can bask in the moment when Milo pushes it open. There’s a soft knock. I smile to myself and tell him it’s open.
I spin around, excited to see his caramel eyes again in a moment other than asking me to pass the salt, but there’s no caramel or chocolate or any kind of candy for that matter. There’s an eyebrow piercing.
“Hey,” Jules says, almost uneasy. “Um, can I ask you something?”
He hesitates but pushes the door shut behind him. Great. Now I’m behind closed doors with Jules. After Milo was “naked” in my room. Emery is going to make me out to be a Saturnite slut before this lockdown is over.
“I, uh, sorta need, like, the biggest favor ever,” he stammers. “You’re eighteen, right?”
Is he about to ask me to buy porn for him? Oh God, please don’t let this be about something X-rated.
“That depends on what kind of favor you need,” I say.
He laughs, and his face softens. He doesn’t laugh enough. Or smile enough. I wish this lockdown didn’t suck so much for him.
“I’m down to my last two cigarettes,” he says. “I’ve been using them sparingly, but I won’t last the rest of the time here without them. I can’t ask Godfrey to get some for me. I’d feel like a loser.”
Yet he isn’t concerned with what I’d think about him. Or if I’d judge him. For some very odd reason, this makes me feel awkwardly comfortable. Is there such a thing as awkwardly comfortable?
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’ve never bought cigarettes, and I really don’t want to be seen buying them. People talk.”
“ Pleeeeease, Chloe,” he begs. “Isn’t there some small family-owned place you could go? Or a random gas station you usually don’t go to?”
He almost reminds me of Emery with those sad eyes.
There’s a small service station about three blocks from here, out toward the park. I could go there. No one frequents that place, and not many people will be out in stormy weather. The few times I’ve been there, the
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