Authors: Tawnya Jenkins
Chloe
I haven’t seen Travis all week but we text every day. It’s Friday night and we are supposed to get together and watch a movie at his apartment. The week has been pretty boring, my classes are good, I’m learning a lot. So far I’ve made a few friends here and there, well maybe not friends; more like acquaintances. But hey its progress right? I have this unsettling feeling that this week is the calm before the storm. I tried to call Mac a couple times yesterday but he didn’t answer and so far he hasn’t called me back which is odd for him. He is probably out on a call or something.
I’m in the middle of typing a report for my English Literature class, when a chat box pops up on the bottom of my screen. I stare at the blinking alert for a few moments, wondering who it could be. I look around my room, not sure what I’m hoping to find but I do it anyways. Once I click the little flashing icon a message pops up.
Are you a law student looking for extra money? Are you currently seeking a part time job at a fast paced law firm to help you boost your career? Well have I got the opportunity of a life time for you! Simply bring in your resume and a current list of classes you’re enrolled in to the address at the bottom of this screen, tomorrow at noon. Dress for success and we hope to see you there. Click here to confirm.
Well that was strange. I am looking for a part time job and a Law Firm would be ideal. After pondering for a few minutes I click the confirm button and get to work on my resume. I decide to text Travis and let him know, maybe he will want to drive me since he knows the area better than I do.
-hey there handsome, are you busy? I need a favor
His response is instant.
-just watching the fight with the guys, you’re in luck I love doing favors for beautiful women ;-)
I laugh at his response.
-just how many beautiful women are we talking about here? I may have to rethink this.
His next reply takes a few seconds and I start to get nervous. I am about to type him a just kidding so he knows I’m joking when his reply lights up my screen.
-there is only one beautiful woman in my eyes and she has the brightest blue ones I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting lost in. what can I do for you sweetheart? Whatever it is, I’m in.
I’m speechless, I don’t deserve this man. He knows nothing about me, yet he knows everything.
-I need a ride to a law firm down town tomorrow, it’s called Retribution?
That’s a strange name for a law firm, but hey who am I to judge. I mean it is kind of perfect if you think about it. Most of the time when people need an attorney it’s almost never for good purposes. My phone lights up again.
-Ha! Yes I know it, that’s my firm…well not mine but the one I run security on. Why do you need to go there?
And this firm just because my dream job come true, I am now more determined than ever to nail this interview.
-I got a part time job offer pop up on my screen telling me to bring in my resume and what not
-who’s the interview with? I’ve never heard of them sending pop ups on computers to people, that could lead to breaches in internet security.
-so you think it’s a prank or something?
Disappointment washes over me, of course it would too good to be true.
-Let me make some calls and I’ll get back to you, keep working on that resume…if it’s not legit I still may be able to get you in, if that’s something you want
If that’s something I want? Was he serious, of course it’s something I want? Dream job where I get to see him every day while going to school for a job I am passionate about
-of course it’s something I want! It would be perfect!
I was going on ten minutes now waiting for a reply, he must be making those phone calls he talked about. I decide to try to call Mac again, he answers this time.
“Hey kiddo, how are you?” he asks.
“I’m good Mac, great actually,” I beam. “How are you? How’s my dad?”
“Uh, you’re great? Did I hear that correctly?” he chuckles. “We’re good here, same shit different day, you know. So tell me what’s got you in such a great mood.”
“I have a job interview tomorrow,” not a complete lie, “I also um, well I’m kinda seeing someone.”
“Seeing someone? Since when? I just talked to you last week, didn’t I?” he asks with concern.
“Relax, I said kinda,” I laugh, “We met a few weeks ago, he’s super nice and I think you would like him a lot.”
“Is that so? Well, I won’t say I approve, but then again not really my place. As long as you’re happy kiddo then Hell I’m happy. It’s been far too long since we’ve heard you laugh. It’s a good sound.”
Tears start to pool up in my eyes, “Thanks Mac.”
“So uh…Thanksgiving holiday is coming up you know? Any chance you’ll be here to have a meal with a couple of old guys like us?”
Thanksgiving, I hadn’t thought about that. Going back to that town was the last thing I wanted to do. I miss my dad and Mac, don’t get me wrong but I hate that town. It would be my first Thanksgiving without my dad, I wasn’t sure how to I felt about that.
“I-uh…I don’t know yet Mac, guess it depends on how well this interview goes tomorrow. I may have to work over break.” I say, making excuses.
“Yeah, okay kiddo that makes sense. Look, um if you need to talk tomorrow you call me anytime okay.”
Tomorrow? Why would I need to talk….no…no…no, tomorrow was not that day, not yet. I quickly find my calendar on the wall and there it is staring back at me, taunting me. October 23
rd
. The day that will haunt me forever.
“Chloe? You still there kiddo?” Mac asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, yeah Mac…uh sounds good, I’ll call ya later okay,” I hung up quickly and sank onto my bed.
How had this day snuck up on me? Have I really been so distracted lately that it slipped my mind? My phone lights up again, it’s Travis.
-okay, so what do I get out of this whole favor deal? Cuz I’m thinking you are going to owe me big time.
I laugh at his response.
-gee whatever will I do? I guess it depends on how good the news you have for me is ;-)
My phone starts ringing, “Spill,” I say as I answer.
“Well hello to you too blue eyes. It’s lovely to hear from you. How is your day going?” he teases.
“Stop stalling,” I reply and wait with anticipation. After a few moments of silence I cave in. “Ugh...fine I’ll play…hello to you handsome, my day is going fine so far but I am hopeful it’s about to get a lot better. How is your day going?
That’s exactly what he wanted to hear because he spills.
“Well that wasn’t so hard now was it?” he laughs.
“Grr…come on Travis you’re killing me here,” I groan.
“Hmmm…you growl at me like that again and I might have to come deliver this news in person,” he says with all humor gone from his voice. My cheeks redden as my body feels with heat.
“Sorry,” I reply shyly.
He laughs, “It’s all good darlin, so your news. Turns out it was a legit message, the head honchos sent it out to all the law students this semester. Apparently they have already done a little homework on your grades and pin pointed a few that they had special interest in. When I mentioned your name, my boss seemed happy that I knew you. He said that if I would vouch for you, you could start on Monday after your classes. I will bring you in to fill out paperwork and do a small face to face meet and greet.”
“Oh my gosh! Thank you thank you thank you,” I squeal. “You’re amazing!”
“Well I don’t want to toot my own horn but….honk! honk!” he replies.
“You do not have an actual horn over there do you? Because that sounded oddly perfect,” I joke.
“I do actually, I happen to keep one on hand for just such occasions,” he replies smugly.
“Wow, I don’t know if I should feel pity for you or impressed,” I laugh.
“Let’s go with impressed, it’s definitely better for my ego.” We both laugh. “Seriously though, we should celebrate. How about dinner tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow night? I’m not going to see you until then?” I pout.
“Ah, come on blue eyes don’t make me feel guiltier than I already do. I promised the guys that I would go play golf with them in the morning. We have a 7am tee time.”
“You golf?” I ask, trying to picture him in a polo shirt and those hideous golfing shorts.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me yet,” he chuckles. “We will have to fix that. You going to be okay til I get back?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” trying to hide the panic in my voice. He couldn’t know what tomorrow was, we haven’t had that discussion yet.
“Just checking. Listen, I gotta go it’s getting late and I have to be up early tomorrow. But I’ll have my phone so feel free to text me or call me anytime okay?”
“Oh, yeah of course. Have fun. Goodnight Travis.” I say with a smile on my face.
“Goodnight blue eyes, sweet dreams,” he says before ending the call.
I toss my phone onto the night stand and crawl under my covers. It’s been quiet today without Katie around. She has some cheer convention all weekend, they left this morning. I don’t miss those, a bunch of perky girls crammed into a bus for hours. No thank you.
Travis
I had a smile from ear to ear when I hung up with my blue eyed goddess. I was stoked that I could get her a job at Retribution. Caleb didn’t even hesitate when I asked him. I wish I could’ve been there to deliver the news to her in person but it was getting late and I do have an early tee time.
There’s something calming about a nice day of golf at Hemingway. The course itself is one of the most sought after courses in the state. I wouldn’t have been able to play there a few years ago, it takes a certain amount of income to land yourself a tee time. Luckily for my friends I’ve done well for myself.
Once I finish up a few loose ends, I finally have a chance to relax. I am instantly regret not hanging out with Chloe tonight. Laying here alone in my bed again, my thoughts are only of her. The way her smile lights up the room. How infectious her laughter is.
I can picture her blue eyes so vividly in my mind, it should be a crime to be born with eyes that stunning. They draw you in and once they do there is no escaping them. They remind me of the ocean, deep and soothing. I think about calling her but decide against it. I don’t want to wake her. There was a time when I never thought I’d feel that way about a girl again. It’s been a really long time since I’ve let a girl occupy my thoughts. Sometimes I think about pinching myself to remind me that she’s real. Looking out my window I notice that the moon is surprisingly bright tonight. Funny I’ve never noticed how stunning it is before. I’m drawn to it suddenly and I have the urge to go outside. So I do. After throwing on my shoes I start to venture toward the door. Brian and Jax are sitting on the couch playing a video game. I can hear them arguing as I approach.
“Hey man, where are you going?” Brian asks.
“Just thought I’d take a walk or something, get some air,” I say with a shrug.
“Uh, dude it’s like midnight,” Jax chuckles.
“No shit Sherlock, so what.” I respond.
“So…why are you going outside this late to take a walk? Why don’t you just grab a controller and play a round with us.” Brian suggests.
“Nah, I’m cool man…I’m just going out for a few.” I say as I shut the door behind me.
The air is cold and it’s eerily quiet out. A few cars pass by me on the street but for the most part the streets are disserted. I walk along the sidewalk and head for the park at the end of the block. Once I get there I take a seat on the bench and just look up at the sky. It’s a clear night, not a cloud in sight and the stars are so bright. Really makes you realize how small you are in the world.
My dad and I used to star gaze when we went camping. Camping was something we did all the time, nothing like hiking up in the woods and living out of a tent for days. Only eating what you catch in the lake. My dad was an awesome man, I learned so much from him on how to be a man. When I found out he had Cancer it crushed me.
I tried not to worry a whole lot at first because I knew he was a strong man, but when he started the Chemo and started to lose his hair it made me nervous. He always put up a good front for me though, always telling me he was fine but I could tell it was taking a toll on him. I wasn’t shocked when he passed but it still hit me pretty hard. Shaking the memory from my mind I headed back to get a few hours of sleep.
Chloe
It’s 5am when I wake up, I’m covered in sweat. I had that nightmare again, this time he caught me. My hands blindly roam over the scar that marks the left side of my abdomen. It’s ugly and it’s rough, it makes me feel like a freak. I want to just stay in bed all day until Travis gets here, but I decide to go for a short run instead.
I take a different route this time, leaving campus I head toward the park at the end of the block. The weather is perfect, it’s crisp and cool. The sun is just now coming up over the horizon. I stop a moment to watch it, it’s magnificent. The way the pale blue fades into a bright orange as the sun raises into the sky. Reminds me of how little and insignificant I am in the whole scheme of things…of life. It’s peaceful out this time of the morning, a few birds chirping and a couple of bicyclists.
I am so focused on the rising sun in the distance that someone slams into me, nearly knocking me to the ground. An arm latches out to steady me and I’m suddenly face to face with a dark haired male stranger.
“Whoa, sorry about that. I was in the zone, you know.” He offers me a smile.
There’s something off about him, but I can’t quit place it. His face doesn’t look familiar but his eyes are uncommon…his eyes are a dull shade of blue, nearly grey in color. The stranger holds his hand out for me shake.
“I’m Caleb,” he says.
“Chloe,” I reply. My eyes don’t leave his, and his don’t leave mine. We stand there in silence for what feels like forever before I force my feet to start moving again. “It was nice to meet you, and I’m sorry I shouldn’t have just been standing on the path like that. I better get going.” I state as I excuse myself and jog past him. I can feel his eyes on me as I head off in the opposite direction of him. After about a mile I decide I’m done for the day and head back into my dorm. I slide out of my running clothes and lay them on the bed before I jump in the shower. The water is warm and soothing. It calms my aching muscles, I stand there and let the water beat down on me. Once I’m nice and wrinkly I wrap a towel around myself and emerge from the bathroom.
Something yellow catches my eye, I approach my bed and find a small patch of yellow fabric poking out of my jacket pocket. The jacket I was just wearing. Carefully I remove it and then quickly drop it to the floor as my heart rate increases and I suddenly find it hard to breathe. It can’t be, it’s impossible. There lying of the floor of my room is a piece of fabric that matches the top I was wearing that night. The same piece that was ripped from me. No..no..no, where did that come from? Was it already in there when I put it on? Has someone been in my room?
I don’t wait for my mind to answer those questions instead I grab my phone and text Travis.
-what golf course are you at?
I’m already dressed and out the door, keys in hand when he responds.
-Hemingway up town…why?
I don’t respond, I just set my GPS on my phone and drive. I’m not sure I am ready to have this talk with Travis yet, but I don’t think I have a choice now. He’s going to know something is wrong and let’s be honest I’m terrified. The twenty minute drive seems like an hour, I have no idea what is going on but I need to figure it out. Travis is going to hate me, oh no…what if he doesn’t want to see me again? What if he leaves? My heart starts to panic. It is too late to back out now, I have arrived at my destination according the not so friendly voice of my GPS.
I can’t think of anything else, I have to find him. I throw open my door and start sprinting toward the entrance. I don’t answer the woman behind the counter as she yells at me, I don’t stop when the guard behind me starts chasing after me. I’m used to being chased, I’m used to running. My eyes are frantically searching, he has to be close, I can feel him. As I round the corner of the 2
nd
hole, I spot him. I’ve broken into a full on run now, straight across the green. The grass under my feet is slick and I have to fight to keep my traction.
His back is turned toward me but as if he senses my approach he turns slightly. Once he spots me barreling toward him a look of confusion and worry crosses his face. Everyone is staring at me but I don’t care, I just leap into his arms.
“Chloe? What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” he questions, without dropping his arms from around me.
“He found me…I-I don’t know how and-I just didn’t know where to go and, and you said…” I stutter.
“Whoa, hey calm down…its okay, I got you,” he sooths. “I’ll always have you.”
“It’s just you said-you said I could run to you, so I did.” I say, regretting the words as I say them. The smile on his face is all the reassurance I need.
Wrapping his arms tighter around me, I hear him tell his friends that something has come up and he needs to leave. He doesn’t put me down as he apologizes to the staff I was so rude to before and explains to them that there is an emergency and that’s why I’m so hysterical. He doesn’t speak to me until we reach his truck. He sits me in the passenger seat and steps between my legs, so I’m forced to look into those intense emerald eyes of his.
“Talk to me, what’s got you so freaked out?” he urges.
I take a deep breath and attempt to suppress the sobs long enough to say something.
“Can we-can we go to your place?” I ask, not wanting to have this conversation in the parking lot.
“Of course we can, let’s go.” He secures my seatbelt and plants a kiss to my forehead.
It only takes 10 minutes to arrive at his apartment, luckily his roommates are still at the golf course so we have the place to ourselves. Once we get inside he grabs me a bottle water from the fridge and hands me some tissues. This man is amazing, he warms my heart. I hope this doesn’t end badly.