#askmetask

When Sam's dad had lost his job and the Evans' world was turned upside down, Sam had learned a few things. One, when push comes to shove, your boss isn't your friend and is only looking out for himself. Two, there wasn't a household chore that couldn't be done by a teenager - laundry, dishes, child care, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And three, perhaps most importantly, there was nothing scarier than not having a home. 

As an adult, those lessons had helped him. He knew to treat the school principal and superintendent with respect, to stay in their good graces, but to let his job performance be the thing they worried about the most. He kept a clean house and could easily cook for himself and any guests he had. And he hadn't moved out of his parent's house until he had a few months extra rent saved in the bank. 

He felt as though he’d barely been asleep when a beeping woke him up. Sam reached for his phone to shut off his alarm. 1:06am. Not an alarm. He squeezed his eyes shut tight, focusing on the noise to identify before his eyes popped open again. It was a smoke detector. Just what he needed, a good night’s sleep ruined by malfunctioning hardware. Pushing away his blankets, Sam moved towards the bedroom door. 

His senses waking up as he moved, he suddenly noticed the crackling, the smell of burning, of smoke. It was all coming together. Making his way down the hallway, he could see it. Mostly. The smoke was heavy but the bright orange of flames was undeniable. It was mesmerizing. Despite knowing he should be running for the front door, there was part of him that was stuck just wanting to watch. 

Sirens got louder. Red and white lights reflected on the walls. He snapped from his trance at the noise, coughing from the smoke as he made his way to the door. It busted open, Connor taking charge and helping him out of the building and out to the street while others presumably checked for anyone else in the house. Matt met them near the truck, there were words spoken but they didn’t stick. Sam wasn’t even sure if he answered. Finally an ambulance arrived, and he was passed off to an EMT for inspection. 

Sitting in the back of the rig, he let himself be manipulated so his vitals could be checked. He held the oxygen mask to his face, breathing slowly as instructed. He “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am”ed his way through a list of questions. But Sam’s focus was singular.

To be in New York City again felt like the escape Chloe didn’t know she needed. Things weren’t bad at home but they had been tense and meh, leading up to Friday evening with that weirdness with her neighbor, that she knew she’s in need of a retreat. Plus, she got to spend it with the two super gorgeous Fabray sisters so why not live it up?

They adventured around the city and took in all the sights and foods and window shopping that it offered. It was fun to follow Quinn around, the city busting with activity and her friend very much in her element. They talked to random people at different places and one recommended the Good Room to them. It was loud and the music much better than the one that played at the bar on the outskirts of Doveport. So much so that Chloe separated from the sisters and went to dance on her own in the middle of everyone. 

It felt amazing to get out of her head and to only feel the bass beats pulsate throughout her body. She danced on her own or with anyone who came up to her and it felt far too easy to get caught up with the heat from the bodies around her. But, even with how things were now, she found it hard to go along with the invite to slip into a corner with a rather attractive man and declined. 

She needed a drink. Water. Vodka. Didn’t matter. It was far too hot and a breather from everything sounded really good right now.

At the bar Chloe waited for an opening, which took awhile. If this was Bank she’d have a spot on a stool and already be waiting on a drink. So, she had to wait for a chance to dive in. As she ran both hands though her hair, fanning herself soon after, her eyes went around to all the people there. It felt different to be in a roomful of strangers, realizing she’d grown use to the smaller city. That it did make it hard to sleep around but she liked a least knowing a couple of people. 

Speaking of which, she turned to look to see where Quinn and Frannie were but her eyes stopped, along with her heart. At the edge of the bar was her old best friend. The guy she’d stupidly fallen for and tried to get over. That no matter how many times she tried to convince herself she moved past him; she knew it wasn’t true. He continued to sit on her mind and it made it tough to want to do anything serious with anyone because of their past. 

That she felt stupid, incredibly stupid for allowing him to have such a hold on her. Even when they never dated. 

It’d been seven years since they last spoke. Seven years since he replied to one of her texts or messages on Insta, Snapchat and Twitter. Seven fucking years since she’s seen his face.

Here he was.

Drinking and laughing and with some woman next to him.

Cheerfulness might be something Chloe exudes, but my God it took a lot of work and patience to be that way. That over the years it became such a well-worn mask that sometimes she wasn’t aware she was doing it. But the anger, oh that anger she felt was very much her and in that moment everything in the room blurred and she felt such tremendous heat inside her.

All those promises he made about them getting together and finally having a future together repeated inside her head. All those sweet words he said to her while they laid in hotel beds about how he always loved her and that he’s glad they could actually show their true feelings. How when they get back to Houston and he’s home in Jersey that they could tell their parents they’re together.

Both of her hands balled tight and the pain from the way the nails dug into her skin was intense but she didn’t flinch. 

There was SO much she wanted to say to him. Scream at him. She wanted him to know that she ruined her perspective on love. That he ruined her ability to let someone in. That he fucking ruined her allowing anyone to come into her heart because of that fear they’ll do what he did to her.

Oh, and she knew placing all of this on him wasn’t entirely fair because she’s the idiot who fell for it but he knew, he knew how she was. He knew that there were days she felt abandoned and unloved. He knew so much about her and when he did just that. When he abandoned her after promising so much.

It hurt her.

Deeply.

Chloe marched towards him, memories from their ten years of friendship: of them playing house and board games when they were eight, to when they went to junior prom together, even with all their sleep overs and late night talks and plans for what they’ll do when they’re grown up and living in this very city. All these flooded her mind and as she reached him Chloe tapped his shoulder. She didn’t give a fuck that he was there with someone else. This was a matter between both of them. Something she desperately needed closure on.

As Brad turned, laughing still, he looked up but then realized that it was someone shorter than him. The smile he wore dipped as soon as realization struck.

“Chlo-” he started to say with a hint of confusion but Chloe didn’t allow him to say another word as her fist went and connected with the side of his face and a move she practiced a few times, courtesy of Hunter’s teachings and the instructor she found via the school. Then she placed both hands onto his shoulders and kneed his balls before took hold of him and quickly flung him over her shoulder and onto the floor; not wasting the opportunity of him being off balanced

People around them gave them space and she went around to look at them. Chloe, breathing hard took a drink from someone’s hand and threw it into his face as he laid on the floor, surprised and winded. “That’s for being a dickless asshole, motherfucker.” She snapped at him. “I hope the next woman you play fucking ruins your life.”

She set the empty glass on the bar and went to give the person she took their drink from some money to cover the cost. 

She wanted to cry. Fuck did she want to sob but there were too many people around and her hand started to hurt. A lot. 

Chloe turned and walked away from them and went to find Quinn and Frannie, unsure if they’d seen what’s taken place. 

People started to get back to what they were doing, Brad still on the floor while the woman he was with bent down next to him; trying to help. But Chloe didn’t see any of this. She was already on the opposite side of the room, shoulder against the wall while she looked at her aching hand. Angry tears spilled and she felt...she felt....she actually felt okay. That the weight she kept around her heart alleviated slightly. Her hand hurt so much and she had this hard pit in her stomach but she did something she thought about doing for years.