Chapter 21

Chloe

Chloe sat next to Nash in his car, staring at the road ahead of them as Nash drove her home. She occasionally glanced at him, savouring the way his eyes glowed under the sunny day and the way his eyebrows furrowed at the wild drivers in the neighbourhood. Neither of them spoke much, but Chloe enjoyed his company. Ever since she finally let him in, they had spent more and more time together, with Nash giving her rides home, and Chloe let herself enjoy the good things in life. For once, she wouldn't push people away.

"Just a few more months until summer," Nash said, shooting Chloe a grin. "I'm ready to go lay down on the beaches in Cuba."

"Do you go on vacation every summer?"

"Yeah, my parents tell me to. They say I need to see what's out there... I guess that's the only good life lesson they've ever taught me."

Chloe smiled sadly. Nash didn't talk about his parents much anymore, but she knew it still bothered him that they were never present. And even when they were present, they brought him more stress than joy. She wished there was something she could do for him, but she couldn't change the parents he got. Even though she wished she could, the one thing you could never change was family.

"How's your dad?" Nash asked.

"Good." Chloe smiled, thinking about her dad who often slept these days. He seemed more drained lately and Chloe worried about him, but she tried to remain positive. "Tired, but he's still the best dad ever."

Nash's eyes softened. "He seems like a great dad. You can tell he cares about you a lot."

Chloe smiled at the thought. Her dad was always so proud of her, always so loving. She hated what the world had done to him, but she would never ask for a different dad.

"How are you doing?" Nash then asked, glancing at Chloe.

She tautened. Nash glanced at her again, tensing, and Chloe let out a sigh. No more pushing away Nash. No more running away from her feelings. So with a deep breath, she let herself be honest.

"I'm exhausted," Chloe said. "I feel like I barely have time for myself because I'm so busy taking care of a home and my dad and my studies as well. I just want the world to pause sometimes to let me catch my breath, but that's the thing about life. It keeps going and going and you can never just stop and breathe."

Nash's eyes softened. Not with pity, but with a deep understanding as if he understood Chloe to her very core. It made her feel vulnerable - to be looked at like that, but Chloe just kept her eyes on him, telling herself that it was ok to be vulnerable. Nash wouldn't get scared. Time and time again he showed he was here to stay and she had to stop expecting the worst.

"It must be so hard. You are way too young to be a caregiver. It's unfair, but you handle it well. I've told you this before and I'll tell you this again, you are resilient, Chloe. Just incredible."

Chloe flushed, her heart growing warm when Nash shot her a smile. But at the thought of her dad, her heart sank.

"I feel bad whenever I complain. I know my dad has no control over his health, so it's unfair of me to be upset. I just wish... things were different, I guess. Why couldn't this happen when I was older? When I had my education completed and a full time job. It would have made things so much easier."

"Chloe, it's okay to be sad about the way your life turned. It's not you holding your dad's illness against him, it's you being upset about these circumstances that are out of your hand. Any normal person would be stressed, so don't worry, Chloe. Vent whenever you need to."

Chloe bobbed her head, agreeing. She bore no resentment towards her dad. She never would, but she hated what the world had done to them. She hated how unfair life could be. But despite that, she would make the best out of this life. She would keep working, keep trying to give her and her dad the best life she could.

Nash shot her a wide smile, turning into her apartment parking lot and soon driving up to her front doors. He put the car in park and turned to face her, his eyes gentle in a way that made her heart stir, and Chloe lowered her eyes.

She tried not to think about it, but every time her eyes met his, she wanted to look at his lips. To remember the way he kissed her. To remember the way he confessed how he felt. But ever since they rekindled, Nash didn't dare touch her. He kept his distance, being nothing more than friendly, and Chloe grew surprised by how much it bothered her.

Because maybe, she did want more. Maybe, she was an idiot for running away that day when all she should have done was kiss him back and confess she cared for him, but was scared he'd run from her scars. And now that she knew he was here to stay, she didn't know what to do. Nash only treated her as a friend, but she craved for more. She wished to tell him that, but she was scared to ruin their current friendship.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Nash said, grinning. "Have a great day, Chloe."

Chloe smiled, her heart fluttering as she stepped out of the car. She made her way towards her front doors, hesitating only to look back, and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Nash waiting for her to enter the building safely. He truly was too good to be true sometimes.

*****

Chloe walked with Sophia towards the cafeteria. Sophia waved her hands wildly to tell her the story of how Ms. Kitchener, their French teacher, had accidentally given Sophia an A instead of an A plus and Sophia had to bring the dean into it, and Chloe laughed at how dramatic Sophia had been and how she owned it. When it came to school the Elites didn't play games, and she respected them for that. It was why they were the top five there and it still bothered her how anyone could think they didn't deserve it.

"How's Nash?" Sophia asked suddenly, giving Chloe whiplash.

"Um, I thought we were talking about Ms. Kitchener?"

"We were until you started daydreaming. About Nash, am I right?"

Chloe sighed, shaking her head as Sophia beamed. Ever since Chloe told her about the kiss, Sophia was their number one supporter, wishing they'd get together already and Chloe had to remind her that they had just fixed their friendship. Adding love into the mix wasn't a priority.

"We're just friends." Chloe narrowed her eyes. "And I'm happy with the way things are. He's a good guy. I don't know why I was so scared to let him in."

"Love is scary," Sophia said. "When you love someone, you give them the power to hurt you. And that's scary. Being vulnerable is terrifying."

Chloe flushed, her eyes lowering and she thought about it. Sophia was right. It was scary to love someone. Being vulnerable was terrifying. After all the losses Chloe had faced, she often thought she was better off alone with her father, but then she had met Nash and she couldn't imagine a life where they hadn't met. Life was strange. The heart and brain often warred with each other, which often made choices so difficult.

"You know, he never brought up the kiss again," Chloe whispered, blushing. "Do you think he regrets it?"

"Hmm," Sophia said. She smirked at Chloe and Chloe sighed because she had proved Sophia right - they weren't just friends. At least, Chloe wished for more. "I don't think he regrets it, but he might be embarrassed. You did run from him. He probably thinks you don't feel the same way."

Chloe blushed madly. "I feel horrible about that. But I don't know if I would have been ready back then... I just needed time to figure things out. Even now, I just feel confused, so I don't know. I don't want to overthink it, but I don't want Nash to think I don't like him and move on. I don't know how to do approach the subject."

"Trust me. For you, Nash will definitely wait. The boy has loved you for one and a half years now."

Chloe glanced down. The entrance to the cafeteria neared and she bit her lip. She still couldn't believe Nash liked her. She wasn't sure if he still did given what happened, but she couldn't believe he felt that way about her. To this day, it felt surreal, but Chloe told herself not to psyche herself out. For once, she'd let things be.

They entered the cafeteria and the room was more full than usual, surprising Chloe. She glanced at their usual table in the centre where Nash and Caiden already sat with Elijah, who ate his food quietly. Caiden was telling Nash a story animately and Chloe's heart lightened at the way Nash smiled. His chocolate brown hair waved around his face delicately and Chloe flushed. She'd always been drawn to him, but with every day that passed she found herself more and more mesmerized by him.

"Everyone!"

Chloe froze at the sound of Thomas's voice. He stood up on his table, his eyes glaring at the crowd around him. The room fell silent. Chloe and Sophia stopped walking to gape at him as Carly and Erica also stood up in front of the table, crossing their arms over their chests. Two other guys stood at Thomas's sides, but on the ground.

"I'm here to say that the era of the Elites needs to end," Thomas said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We all deserve the perks they get. There is no reason why only five students get the best food, a private gym, special classes and so many other perks when there are so many of us who have worked so hard to be where we are."

Thomas looked to Nash who had stood up to glare at Thomas. But, Thomas simply smirked at the sight of Nash fuming. Caiden stood up and Elijah kept his eyes on the table, and Thomas grinned. His eyes sparked with competition.

"The Elites are narcissistic, lazy and do not deserve anything that was given to them," Thomas said. "They have looked down upon us for almost two years and I say enough! It's time for us to take a stand and show them they can't just flaunt their scores they didn't earn. It's time for us to fight for justice!"

To Chloe's surprise, some people shouted out in agreement. They stood up and hollered, their hands flying to the air. Half the people seemed to support Thomas, but the other half kept their eyes on the table, not wanting to get involved. Chloe gulped. She couldn't believe it. Thomas was getting the whole school involved.

"I will give the Elites a month," Thomas said. "To figure out a way to give their spots to us. Or to find a way to change the system. Else, we riot. We fight and show them we deserve what they have. Because the way things are aren't right and we need change."

Once again people cheered, more people joining this time and Thomas hopped off the table. He walked off with his posse out the doors, passing Chloe and Sophia who he snickered at, and Chloe gulped. She remembered the day he had corned her in the cafeteria, frightening her. She had stayed out of his way since, but some days like this, she remembered his power. He wasn't afraid of anything, which was terrifying in itself.

The cafeteria quietened down and eyes followed Chloe and Sophia. They walked towards the Elites table and sat down, and Chloe looked to Nash. He had sat down, but he trembled with anger. He chomped down on his sandwich, his eyes glaring at his tray of food. Beside him, Caiden talked to Elijah in a hushed voiced and Elijah nodded along, seeming in a daze.

"What's wrong with them," Sophia huffed. "Why can't they just leave us alone? Why are they bothering us when it's the dean who sets up these rules? We shouldn't be suffering because of the way this school is structured."

"They're idiots, that's why," Nash spat. "I swear to god, I need to give Thomas a piece of my mind. I-"

"Maybe they're kind of right," Chloe said.

Nash's eyes shot to her, stunned. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he held back, keeping his eyes on her.

"What do you mean, Chloe?" Caiden asked. "They've done so many wrong things. The way they're going about it is so wrong, too."

"I definitely agree with that," Chloe said. "They shouldn't be threatening and bullying us, but I think they resent the perks we get and they're right. Thomas did mention he was in sixth place, but he gets zero perks. They get treated like lower class citizens while we get treated like kings and queens. And the only difference we have between Thomas is slightly hirer scores. I get the frustration."

"But still, they shouldn't be acting like this," Nash huffed. "They're just being childish. The world is built on survival of the fittest. They need to accept that."

"Just because that's the way things are, doesn't mean change can't be made."

Nash's eyes latched onto Chloe's and she couldn't pull her eyes away. He seemed to be listening. Months ago, he would have argued, but he seemed to respect Chloe's opinion, which meant the world to her.

"Let's figure out what to do," Caiden said. "I don't want to bring the dean into this because they'll just think of us as snitches, but we can't let them win with their antics. But, you're right, Chloe. They're resentful and maybe change needs to be made. I guess we'll see. But I don't know. They gave us that deadline of a month, so let's see what they do in the meantime."

"Yeah," Sophia said. "I don't want to let them win either, but maybe you're right. Now that they got the other students involved, it might be better if we figure out other ways to make them understand or at least adjust the system to satisfy them."

Chloe nodded. Despite her words, she hated that Thomas was forcing them to give up the way things had been last year. She liked being an Elite. She liked the people she was surrounded by in the Elite program, but Thomas had to stir trouble and she resented that he had. But, she did understand. At least, she tried to. And even if she didn't have a solution, she hoped they'd figure things out.

"As long as they don't try anything else, I'll be peaceful," Nash mumbled. "For now."

Chloe smiled sadly. She hoped Thomas would keep his word and give them a month to think about things. She hoped they had time before things got worst because right now, Chloe didn't know how to make things better.