Chapter 2: Chloe

"You have to know what the story is about first." Ms Miller explained. "You have to scan through everything, notice details. Know what the characters are-"

As much as I loved literature, her monotone voice bores me. A lot. Heck, I might even sleep.

"So you hate me right?" Someone asked, making me almost want to scream. I turned to the source of voice. Brayden Nicholas is sitting behind me.

Wait, he's in my literature class?

"You're annoying." I said to him.

He leaned in front. "Come on, tell me what made you so angry at me."

I looked in front, but leaned back to the point where the back of my chair was touching the front tip of his table. "One, you're annoying. Two, why do you care so much?"

I can imagine him shrugging. "Well, I don't know if you know, but everyone likes me. Just the thought of someone hating me makes me feel... weird, I guess."

I did a small sarcastic laugh. "So what now? No one's allowed to hate you?"

"Yes."

"Oh, you self absorbent prick."

"How is that being self absorbent?" He asked. "I just want you to like me as a friend. Is that wrong?"

"Yes it is, Nicholas."

"So I can't make friends now?"

"Brayden, you can't force people to like you." I pointed out.

"You're right." He said. "But I can make them like me. There's a difference."

I did a small 'tch'. Honestly, who does this guy think he is? "So what now? You're trying to make me like you?"

"Did I kill your whole family?"

"Um, no?"

"Did I burn your house down?"

"No?"

"Did I get your brother in jail?"

"Wouldn't be surprised if he did end up in one, but no, I guess."

"See!" He said, softly banging his table. "You have no real reason to hate me."

I facepalmed. Why is he so persistent? "Brayden, you don't need a reason to hate someone." I sighed. "I can look at someone one time and hate them. Like, you know, hate at first sight?"

"But they can prove to you that they are good people." He replied. "And that's what I'm going to do."

"Yeah, you're off to a bad start." I replied him back as the teacher announced 'class dismissed'. "So good luck, soldier. Have fun. Don't die."

This time, I stood up and looked straight into his eyes. But because I'm a wuss and not strong enough, I looked away quickly. "Just... wear contact lenses next time."

"Huh?"

That was the last thing I heard before I walked out of class.

###

"I'm home." I announced.

You might be thinking, is Chloe's only class literature?

I wished, but no. There are just nothing interesting that happened in the other classes, so why bother telling?

"Hey," my dad greeted, giving me a warm smile. "How's school?"

"Bad." I sighed. I wished I'd tell them about Delaney. But I didn't want them to worry.

"Did Ashton do anything to you?" He asked.

I groaned upon hearing his name. "Dad, don't say his name please."

"Chloe," dad sighed. "I know how it feels to cheat on a person. Wait, that came out wrong. I mean, I know how it feels like to cheat... no, no, wait... Arielle! Can you come down for a while?"

Nice going, dad. I feel so happy now.

My mom walked down the stairs, sighing. "What is it now, Scott?"

"I'm bad at giving advices." He told Mom.

Mom looked at me, then sighed again. "Chloe, I know how it feels like to be cheated on." She assured. "Your dad cheated on me too."

I frowned and looked at dad. He nodded.

"It's true."

"You're going to be over him, I promise." Mom continued. "Just please focus on your studies at the moment? Talk to your friends about it. It will make you feel better, trust me."

I nodded, doing a small laugh. It was more like I was laughing at myself. Friends, huh?

"Okay." I said, making my way to my room.

"I heard Jae and Noah came back from New York." I heard my mom say. "Let's visit them sometime, yea?"

"I'll contact Noah." My dad reply. "That cunt. He didn't tell me he..."

Their voice faded when I closed my bedroom door. I slumped down on my bed, then lay on it. I unlocked my phone and started reading mine and Ashton's old chats. As much as I hate Ashton, I still miss every single bit of him and I'm getting annoyed at myself. I sighed at all the 'I love you's' and all the hearts and kissy faces we sent each other.

Someone knocked on my door.

"Don't come in."

"I'm coming in," Caleb said, opening the door.

I sat up. "Oh, are you serious? I said don't come in, goddamn it, Caleb!"

Caleb put both his hands up in defense. "Okay, chill, god." He sat next to me. "Mom and dad haven't told you yet, but there's this party and they-"

"I'm not going," I sighed. Ever since he found out that I had no friends, he would try to drag me to parties that he was invited to. I don't care if Mom and dad are going to drag me into their party, I'm not going. "I don't wanna."

"Why?" He whined. "It'll be fun, come on."

"Because in movies and storybooks-"

"Forget about them, Chloe." Caleb sighed, cutting me off this time. "I don't like seeing you be alone. So please... just... come."

I shook my head. "I don't want to get drunk or get raped or molested or-"

"You won't."

"How would you know?"

"Cause I'll be by your side. And so is Mom and dad. Lots of parents are going to be there, come on, Chloe."

I did a small 'tch'. "Uh huh."

"Come on, Chloe." He urged. "Just one party?"

I looked at him. "I'll think about it."

"Great." He replied. He stood up and was about to walk out of my room.

Hint: about to.

"Wait." I said. He stopped whatever he was doing... well, except for breathing or blinking or any movements that he wasn't aware of, and looked behind to face me. "Do you know Brayden Nicholas?"

He blinked a couple of times. "Um, yeah." He replied. "I'm neutral with him, I guess." He shrugged. "Now if you would excuse me, I'd like to go out with my friends."

And with that, he was out of the door.

I groaned and lied on my bed. A party? Will Delaney be there? Will Ashton be there?

Will Brayden be there?

Why did I think of Brayden again? This is stupid.

Then I thought about it. If I stayed as the anti social piece of crap that I am...

Delaney and Ashton are going to win. I sat up and walked to my mom's room.

"Mom, you never told me that there's a party and I was invited."

Mom shrugged. "Didn't think you'd wanna come."

"Well, I do."

She frowned. "Are you sure? Ashton is going to be here." I admit, I cringe a bit when she mentioned his name. "And... you don't usually go to parties."

I shrugged. "I wanted to try something new."

She nodded. "Okay." She said. "But don't read in parties. The last time I did that, I had lots of comments saying that I was being stupid."

I frowned. "What comments?"

She shook her head. "Nevermind. I'll pick out a dress for you. In the meantime, ask your father to cook, yeah? I don't think I have the strength to do it."

I frowned. "Why not?"

Mom has been weird nowadays. She has been tired a lot lately. And by a lot I mean, a lot. Every morning, she would start vomiting. And not to mention, she goes to the toilet frequently.

She gave me a smile and patted her stomach which made me realise. "Are you pregnant? Or just sick? I don't know, I don't take biology."

Mom gave a small laughed. "Yes, I'm pregnant. And I'm actually surprised that it took you so long to figure it out. Caleb suspected it quicker than I thought."

Damn, I thought she was just fat.

"He knew and he never told me?"

Some brother he is.

"So... um... am I getting a Sister or a Brother?"

"Brothers."

"Brothers?"

"Brothers."

"Brother-s?"

"Yes, Chloe." Mom sighed. "Bro-ther-s."

"Brothers as in plural?"

"Yes, sweetheart. I'm having twins. Again."

"So one pair of twin wasn't enough?" I asked her.

She gave a small sigh. "Apparently." She shrugged again. "Now hurry tell your father. Your brothers and I are hungry."