Chapter Sixteen
Cleaning Out My… Car?
Amber and I spent most of our winter break out and about, shopping, going to the movies, and even to a few parties that our former classmates had invited us to when they saw that we were back in town. I even let her drag me to a salon to have my hair done, her early Christmas present to me.
I hadn’t so much as had my hair trimmed since months before we moved to Morgantown and it was so long it reached my waist. Amber and the lady she took me to convinced me to cut it, but I refused to go any shorter than my ribs. I ended up with low lights and a few purple streaks spread throughout my hair by the time they finished with me. I had to admit I loved it and Amber said it only accented what she called my Rocker Chick look. I had always laughed at her description, but even I had to agree with her assessment with my hair like this.
Christmas came quickly and brought me yet another Amazon gift card from Amber and a ten-thousand dollar savings account from Dave and Emma. I nearly collapsed when Dave handed me the piece of paper and I saw the balance.
“I can’t accept this!”
David rolled his eyes, “Of course you can, you don’t have to spend it, just let it grow and add money to it when you can.”
I had thrown my arms around both of them, sobbing uncontrollably at their kindness.
Logan called me every few days, and we rang in the New Year together over the phone. My stomach was in knots every time I spoke with him, but I refused to let it get to me. I would have to tell him the truth soon, I knew that, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my time away from everything.
The days following New Year’s flew by and soon Amber and I were packing our things and saying our goodbyes. Emma hugged me tight as we stood in the driveway, “You need anything, anything at all, you call me ok?”
I nodded as I got in the car and we were off. We had gone no further than the end of the driveway when Amber turned to me.
“Want to tell me what that was about?”
I tried playing dumb, “What was what?”
She rolled her eyes as she turned her attention back to the road, “Don’t play me Chloe, I heard what mom said and I know you were crying that night she was in your room so spill.”
I bit my lip as I debated what to tell her. I decided to go with the lesser of the two evils. “My mom is trying to find me. She came to your house searching for me. It wasn’t exactly a happy occasion.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? What did she want?”
“I have no idea, she wouldn’t tell them, just wanted to know where I was, and we didn’t tell you because I know how you worry when it comes to her.”
She sighed, “You’re right, I do worry about that crazy bitch after everything she put you through. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to know what’s happening with you. You know I care about you right?”
“Yeah I know, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t want to bother you with it.”
“Chloe you’re such a dummy. You can bother me with anything. Except your sex life with Logan… I draw the line there.”
I laughed as she merged onto the interstate. “Or my nonexistent sex life with Logan you mean.”
Her head spun around in my direction, “WHAT? You mean you two haven’t done the deed yet?”
“No we have, but it was when we got together. We haven’t done anything since, it just doesn’t feel right.”
“How can sex with Logan not feel right? He’s my friend but I’m not afraid to say he’s smoking hot. I bet he’s great in bed! Is he? Tell me! Oh wait, don’t tell me. Ahhh, I have to know.”
I laughed as Amber fought with herself, “You done yet?”
She giggled, “I can’t help it! I want to know, but then he’s my friend too so I don’t want to know. Oh I give up! Just spill it already!”
“It was… it was nice.”
She raised an eyebrow, “Just nice? Oh God, he’s bad in bed isn’t he?”
I shook my head. Being with Logan had been nice, but he wasn’t Drake. Truthfully, I didn’t think anyone could top him, not that I had much experience in the matter, but still even I knew Drake was amazing. “No he’s not bad, honest.”
She was silent for a minute. Just as I leaned back in the seat to relax, she spoke again. “Chloe, is everything ok with you guys? You barely mentioned him over break and you seem less than enthused with this conversation.”
I mentally smacked myself for letting the conversation get this far. Amber had always been a pro at gauging my emotions and now was no different. “We’re fine. But that’s the problem, everything about him is just fine. I love him, but I don’t know if I share his feelings or if I’m mistaking friendship for something more because that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
“Don’t you think you should have figured that out before you decided to get into a relationship with him? Actually, I distinctly remember telling you to get your shit together.”
“Yeah I know, I’m a dumbass. Point made.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile, “Sorry, but you’ve got to figure this out. It’s not fair to string him along like this if you aren’t sure.”
I groaned and sunk further back into my seat. “Trust me, I know. You have no idea how much I know.”
We made it back to Morgantown in record time, mostly due to Amber’s crazy driving. She had been fine on the drive to her parents, but on the way home I had asked her what the hell the rush was as she weaved in and out of traffic. People blew their horns at us and I had more than one middle finger pointed at me when I was brave enough to glance at them. When we pulled up outside our dorm I nearly fell to my knees and kissed the ground.
“What. The. Hell?” I yelled as she stepped out of the car and opened the trunk to start pulling our bags out.
She threw my bags at me and grinned, “What’s your problem?”
“My.. wha.. YOU TRIED TO KILL US!”
“You’re such a baby! I was just trying to make it back in time for Drake’s show with the guys. And since you’re off, you can go too! You haven’t been to one in forever!”
My stomach plummeted to the ground I was currently worshiping as I tried to come up with a valid excuse not to go. “Um, I can’t. I have to go pick up my work schedule and get all this stuff put away.”
She rolled her eyes as we walked inside our dorm, “You can do that tomorrow. Tonight, we party! Let’s meet down here in two hours, and I will hunt you down if you try to get out of it!”
With that, she turned and walked down the hallway to her room. I groaned as I carried my things up the stairs to my room. There was no way I was getting out of seeing Drake tonight and I knew it. When Amber set her mind on something, you might as well just go along with it and save yourself the time and aggravation.
I threw my bags on the ground and fell onto the bed. Rachel wasn’t back yet, so I was left with nothing more than my thoughts and silence. I was back here with both Logan and Drake, and I had to deal with my demons. They were staring me straight in the face now and I couldn’t ignore them or push them away any longer. I vowed to tell Logan everything that had happened when the time felt right. Who was I kidding? That time would never come, so I settled for next week after we were adjusted to our new classes.
I rose from the bed and sent Logan a quick text letting him know we made it home mostly intact and that I would be at the bar for the rest of the evening before I started getting ready for what was sure to be a miserable evening. I knew Amber would go for a sexy, knock the boys to their knees look since Adam was going to be there and decided to do the same. As I thought about the looks Amber gave him, I would’ve bet my whole music collection that he was the reason for the newly acquired mad driving skills.
I pulled a short black dress that barely covered my legs or my breasts out of the back of my closet and pulled it on. I left my hair down and decided to actually wear make-up for once. I used dark colored eye shadow and a bit more mascara than was necessary to pull off the look I was going for, but I wanted to look amazing. I checked myself out in the mirror before slipping out of my room and down the stairs to meet Amber.
She was already there waiting for me and glanced up as I stepped out of the stairwell. “It’s about damn ti… whoa! Holy shit Chloe, you look amazing!”
I glanced at down at her super short miniskirt and ripped stockings, “You don’t look too bad yourself. You ready?”
We chatted all the way to the bar, both of us full of nervous energy. “What’s got you so wound up tonight Amber? Let me guess… Does it start with an A and end with an M?”
She giggled like she was fifteen, “Shut up! It does not, well maybe a little bit. Do you think he’ll notice me in this outfit?”
I gave her a bewildered look, “Are you kidding me? Every male in the whole damn place will be begging at your feet. He’d have to be blind not to notice those legs.”
She smiled like the cat that got the canary, “I hope so, he’s barely even glanced my way.”
I hesitated before I spoke. From what I knew of Adam, he wasn’t a one woman kind of guy and I was afraid Amber would get hurt. “Amber, I’m only saying this because I love you. I have no doubt he will notice you, but he’s not the type to stick with one girl. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up for something that is pretty much impossible.”
She snorted as she pulled the car into the parking lot and maneuvered into a space far too small. “You think I don’t know that? I don’t want to marry the guy. Have some fun? Sure why not. I’m done with relationships for a while, I just want to have a good time!”
I nodded as I tried to get out of the car without hitting the massive truck that was parked way too close next to us. “Alright then, that changes things. Go get him!”
We linked arms and giggled as we made our way into the bar. Heads turned as soon as we walked in and I felt a smug grin curve my lips. Breaking the Hunger was already playing as we made our way to our usual table. Despite our absence the last couple of weeks during break, it was still empty, waiting on us. The heat of a hundred male stares engulfed my body as I took a seat and looked up at the band playing on stage.
I felt my heart constrict at the sight of Drake standing there in all of his Rock God glory. He wore a black pair of jeans and a black shirt that clung to his body, showing every ridge of muscle that I knew was underneath. His hair was stuck to his sweaty forehead as he belted out a heavy rock number and I just wanted to run my hands through it.
Drake hadn’t noticed us yet since his eyes were closed as he threw himself mentally and physically into the song and I took full advantage of this time to just watch him. After watching him play so many times, he still amazed me with his presence on the stage. He sang one note and the world stopped for anyone who was lucky enough to hear it.
He finished out the final line of the song with a scream before opening his eyes and smiling at the crowd. “Alright guys, one more song and you get to pick. Tell me what you want!”
The crowd went wild as people began shouting song titles up at him. Before I could stop myself, I stood up and walked to the front of the stage. Drake’s eyes snapped to me instantly and almost bulged out of his head as he took in my dress. Eat your heart out buddy.
“I have a request!” I shouted over the crowd, who had quieted slightly when they noticed the looks he was giving me.
He walked over and leaned down until we were eye level, “And what would that be?”
I gave him a seductive smile, knowing I was playing with fire. “Gentleman by Theory of a Dead Man. You know that one right?”
His eyebrows disappeared into his hair as the women in the crowd started whistling. “Sure do, I’m a pro at it.” He walked back to the center of the stage and motioned for the band to start.
I sat back down with Amber as he started into the chorus and smiled to myself. Let him take what he wanted from this! Let him know how much of an a*shole I thought he was. He constantly glanced at our table with a strange expression as he sang and I couldn’t help but feel like I had won this battle.
The band finished their set and made their way to our table, fighting women as they went. Drake leaned down and whispered in my ear as he passed, “You think you’re hilarious don’t you?”
I grinned and gave him a look of complete innocence, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled as he sat down across from me, “I’m sure you don’t.”
The rest of the band sat down around us and Adam ended up in the chair next to Amber. I could almost hear her squeal of excitement as he turned to stare at her. “Amber right?”
“Yeah and you’re Eric?”
Eric, who had just sat down next to Jade and Drake choked on his beer. “Dude you just got burned. You’ve been sitting at the same table as her, drooling in her lap for months and she doesn’t even know your name!”
I laughed at Amber’s mind games as Adam flipped Eric off. He turned back to Amber and smiled, “Nah that douche over there is Eric. I’m Adam.”
Amber gave him the fakest embarrassed smile I had ever seen, “Whoops, sorry Adam.”
“It’s alright. Let me buy you a beer?”
She nodded as he motioned for the waitress to bring a round over to our table. Since we were with the band, they appeared in front of us almost instantly. I glanced at Drake to notice him glaring at something behind me. I turned slightly and noticed a group of guys a couple tables away from us watching me. I gave them a small smile before turning away and taking a sip of my beer.
Drake gave a small growl as one of the men sat down in the empty chair beside me. He gave me his most charming smile.
“Hey, I’m Chris.”
I gave him a small smile, “Hi Chris, I’m Chloe.”
The guy was attractive, no doubt about it. His hair was a light brown and he had amazing green eyes. He was built bigger than Drake or Logan, with muscles bulging out of his tight white shirt.
“Can I buy you drink?”
I shook my head and held up the half empty bottle in my hand, “No thanks, I’m good.”
He seemed disappointed, but I didn’t feel the least bit guilty. I had enough guy problems as it was, no need to give this guy the wrong idea and myself a headache.
“Come on, that one’s almost empty. Just one.”
Before I could speak, Drake broke into the conversation. “She said no buddy, why don’t you take the hint and go back to your table?”
Chris glared up at Drake, “I don’t remember asking your opinion buddy.”
“Well you got it. Move along.”
Chris glanced back at me, “You with this a*shole?”
Shock crossed my face as I shook my head, “No definitely not.”
Chris turned to give Drake a smug smile, “Looks like you don’t have any say then.”
Drake clenched his fisted on the table before pointing to the door, “You need to leave, now. Or I’m going to help you leave.”
Chris laughed as he threw his arm around my shoulders. “I’d like to see you try.”
Everyone at the table was deathly quiet as Drake stood so fast he knocked his chair over. I quickly removed myself out from underneath Chris’s arm. “Guys chill out. Drake sit back down, Chris thank you for the offer, but no thanks. I have a boyfriend who isn’t him,” I pointed at Drake who was still standing and shooting murderous glares across the table at us.
Chris frowned, but stood to leave, “That’s too bad. I’ll be over there if you change your mind.” He gave Drake one last glare as he walked back to his table.
“A*shole,” Drake muttered as he picked his chair up and sat back down.
Everyone was staring at him as Eric started laughing hysterically. “I have seen it all. Drake Allen just took up for a girl.”
I rolled my eyes as everyone started laughing with him. “Shush. And you,” I turned my gaze to Drake, “I don’t need you to take up for me. I can fight my own battles.”
His eyes turned hard as they met mine, “Sure you can. Sorry, it won’t happen again.”
The rest of the night was tense as everyone sensed the anger rolling off of both of us. Everyone but Amber and Adam that is, they were in their own little world talking quietly together. A few girls came to the table and attempted to flirt with Drake, but he brushed them away. Finally, I decided it was time to leave. I poked Amber in the ribs and motioned to the door, “You ready?”
She glanced back and forth between Adam and me, “Actually, I was going to hang out here with Adam a little longer,” she pulled her keys out of her purse and handed them to me. “Take my car, I’ll catch a ride back with someone.”
I winked at her and told everyone else goodnight. Drake completely ignored me as he nursed his beer. I walked out, making sure to avoid Chris’s table as I went. Once I made it to my car I took a deep breath. How dare he defend me like that? He was more of an a*shole than that guy could ever be and I didn’t want or need his help with anything. Seeing a nicer side of him only confused me more, and right now, I didn’t think I could handle anymore.
I woke up the next morning with a text from Amber had sent in the middle of the night, telling me she was staying the night with Adam. I laughed as I rolled out of bed and found some comfortable clothes to wear for the day. I was happy for her, I just hoped she meant what she said in the car the night before.
Since Logan had to work all day yet again, I spent most of the afternoon running errands, picking up my schedule for work the next week and unpacking my stuff from over break. Once I finished unpacking, I grabbed one of those industrial sized garbage bags that you could hide a dead body in and made my way out to the parking lot to clean out my car. January in West Virginia was usually pretty cold, but today was actually warm enough to go outside without a jacket.
Since I hadn’t cleaned out my car in months and it was starting to look like an advertisement for every fast food chain known to man, I took full advantage of the pretty weather to clean it out. I groaned as I opened the back door and stared inside. Maybe I should have brought two bags out. I spent the next hour throwing away all the garbage and throwing anything important into the front seat while In This Moment was blaring from the speakers of my car. I chuckled as I received several glares for my loud music from people walking by. Some people had no taste in music.
I finally finished the inside of the car and opened the trunk. I hadn’t been back here in forever and God only knew what I’d find. I sucked in a breath as I noticed Drake’s jacket sitting inside from that night all those months ago. I set it carefully aside as I started rummaging through the rest of the contents, debating on what to do with it. I could just give it away, it’s not like he’d missed it all this time.
I sighed as I finished cleaning and hauled the garbage bag to the nearby dumpster and carried his jacket back to my room. I sat it on my bed and went to shower, still debating on what to do with it. It was still sitting there when I returned. I had hoped someone would break in and steal it while I was in the shower and take care of the problem for me, but no such luck. I grumbled to myself as I pulled on a pretty blue jean skirt and a long sleeved shirt. I decided I would just stop by the bar and give it to Jade or one of the guys. Since it was Saturday, they wouldn’t have a show and hopefully Drake would be anyplace else in the world besides that bar.
I took a deep breath before stepping into the bar, holding Drake’s jacket to my chest like a shield. I could do this, just walk up to Jade, drop it off and leave. Glancing around the room I spotted the band sitting at our normal table, but Drake wasn’t with them. Hoping luck was with me for once and he hadn’t just stepped away for a minute, I headed for the table. Jade glanced up and smiled at me. Figuring she was the safest one, I sat down in the chair next to her. “Hey lady, is Drake here?”
She shook her head, “No he decided to stay home tonight.”
“Oh, well can you give him his jacket for me when you see him then? I’m sure you’ll see him before I do.”
She frowned and shook her head again, “Actually I’m headed home to my parents’ house first thing in the morning since we don’t have any more shows this weekend so I won’t see him until next week sometime. You know, his house is just around the block and I’m sure he’s home, just drop it off.”
Warning bells went off in my head. This was so not a good idea. I had been avoiding him like the plague ever since that night, and I was not about to go knock on his door. “Um, that’s ok. I’m sure I’ll see him next week sometime.”
Jade raised her eyebrows at me, “What’s up with you two? You were practically attached at the hip before you started dating Logan, and now you’ll barely even look at each other. And what was that last night with that Chris guy? I’ve never seen Drake get so pissed off over something like that.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her mouth popped open as the situation clicked in her head. “Oh. My. God. You didn’t! Oh God I can see it in your eyes, you did. Chloe! How the hell did this happen?”
I glanced around at the guys at the table, but most of them had their attention on the girl or girls in their laps, even Adam. I would have to mention that to Amber later. “Will you be quiet Jade? Yes ok? Yes. But it was a mistake, and not one I intend to do again. Please don’t say anything, I can’t let Logan find out, not like this!”
She nodded, her eyes still wide, “This is insane woman! Pure insanity! I mean, I noticed you two together a lot, but oh I don’t know. Just a shock I guess, but your secret is safe with me.”
I hugged her tightly, “Thanks Jade, but you see why I can’t take his jacket back to him. It would be all awkward and embarrassing, and possibly angry. I miss him, but he hates me.”
She pulled back from my hug with a frown on her beautiful face, “Sweetie, that boy could never hate you. Why don’t you take the jacket back to him as an excuse, and then talk about everything with him while you’re there. I know for a fact he misses you, he’s been so down since you quit hanging around.”
I thought her words over. “I guess I could try. It’s not like things can get any worse.”