When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (16 page)

Chloe looked down at her ring and thought about what it meant to her. “I think you’re one of the few people who take this purity promise seriously. Josh said you wore it for show, but somehow, I believe what you just told me. You would be surprised how many just do it for their parents or for show and have done the deed anyway.” She thought about it, and even hers did not stand for the strong belief his held.

“Yeah, I’m not a jerk like Josh. I was raised to believe that it was better to wait. But let me guess who hasn’t stuck by it. Tabitha, I think. She has notches in her ring.”

“Yeah, I heard that too. Tiffany uses sex as a way to control the guys she’s with,” Chloe informed him.

“Tiffany is getting really scary. I’m finding that out more and more as I get to know her. What about Dave and Gabbie?” He had an idea, but he knew Chloe would know for sure.

“Please, they are like rabbits. And they did it the day they put the rings on. She texted me and told me,” Chloe replied. She’d never forgiven Gabbie for that. It was such a stupid thing to do.

“What about you?” he asked shyly. He knew already, but he wanted to know what she thought of it.

“I think you already know the answer. I made that promise, but made it with conditions,” she replied softly.

“Oh, this I got to hear. How do you make the promise with conditions?” He teased her a little now.

“I believe you should wait, but not always for marriage. I really think that is unrealistic. I made a promise to myself that day. That if I didn’t wait, the guy had to be nothing like my father. I want it to be real love, not the guy just saying it to get what he wanted. Knowing that he would do anything for me, that we shared the same dreams, and that I’ll know when I look into his eyes that he feels the same,” she explained. It was a little far-fetched, but this was what she wanted in her life.

“Yeah, but you just got to hope it really isn’t one-sided or you may regret it for the rest of your life,” he suggested.

“If it were real, and for some reason, if it ended, I wouldn’t regret it.” She was being honest with him. “Don’t you think if you really cared about her, you would have?”

“I don’t think she felt the same way about me. I think she was hurt. She tried everything to make me change my mind. I felt bad, but I didn’t feel the way about her like I feel about…” He stopped. It was time to forget Kelly and move on. He’d started to forget about it all last night when he had held Chloe in his arms as they danced, before everything went down with Robyn. They’d almost kissed, so there had to be something.

“Like who?” she asked softly.

He touched her cheek and looked into her eyes. “Like you. Chloe, I told you last night I’m crazy about you. And I’m not going to push you into anything if you’re not ready yet. But I have to know if you feel the same way. If not, I’m fine with just being friends. I just have to know if there is a chance someday that you would want to be with me.” His phone rang and it was his mom, wondering where they were. He looked around and noticed they were back at Chloe’s house. He told her they would be home soon, and then hung up. “Max, we have to go,” he called to his little brother.

Chloe started up her driveway, and then looked back at him.

Nick looked a little defeated that she didn’t answer him. He ‘d been honest with her and told her something that was personal to him in an attempt to make her see that she could trust him. He was trying to get close to her. Maybe he was different.

Nick had gotten to the end of the block by the time she caught up with them.

He looked surprised. “Are you okay?”

She was out of breath and she nodded. “There is a chance. I was on a date with that jerk and all I thought about was you. I need to get through this week, though. I can’t really think about anything until I do. Just show me this week that you really mean what you said. I know it sounds like I’m testing you, but I’m not.”

He grinned and hugged her. “I trust you. You tell me when.”

She pulled away. “Night, Nick, and thanks.”

He waved to her and headed home.

Chapter Five

For the most part, the rumors had been quiet. Every now and then, there was a snicker and someone would point at her. There were a few things left in her locker, but for the most part, Chloe just let them go. It wasn’t until she was called out of her art class that she started to get nervous about what was being said. She had started down the hall and heard a door open.

“Chlo, wait up.” It was Nick, rushing to catch up with her.

“Where are you going?” She was surprised he’d seen her leave her class, but then noticed he had his books with him, too.

“I just got called down to the office. What about you?”

She was puzzled. “I got called down, too. This is strange.”

“Well, look at it this way, we got out of class. You look a little tired today, everything okay?”

“I’m not sleeping well. My mind won’t shut off at night or something. I’ll be okay.” She faked a smile and went into the office as he held the door for her.

They were given a pass and told to go to the parish office to see Father Gabe. It just kept getting stranger because as they crossed the parking lot, Nick swore he saw Millie’s mother getting into a car. When they got to the office, the secretary showed them back to a room where Father Gabe and Nick’s father were talking.

 
Father Gabe was a short, stout man with thinning red hair and a deep, baritone voice. The first impression you would have of him was that he was stern, but in reality, he was one of the nicest people you would want to meet. “Ahh, here they are. Nicholas and Chloe; please have a seat,” he gestured and watched them sit across from him.

“Dad, is everything all right?” His first thought was that something had happened to someone in his family, but that wouldn’t explain why Chloe was called here, too.

“Everyone at home is fine, sport. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels were just here. I have some sad news to tell you both,” his father started.

Father Gabe took over. “Chloe, Mrs. Daniels came to thank you for everything you have done for her daughter. She said that Millie loved you very much and always looked forward to your visits. She said that the days you would come to visit Millie were the best she had. And when you started going, too, Nicholas, it helped with everything the child was going through.”

“She’s gone?” Chloe’s voice sounded hoarse as she said the words.

“She passed away the other night in her sleep. Mrs. Daniels had wanted to tell you personally, but it was just too much for her. She wanted you to know when everything was arranged, so that you could join them in the celebration of her life.” Father Gabe confirmed her fear.

“She needs my fairy crown. She used to love to wear it when I would visit her.”

“Then, it seems only fitting that she have it. I have excused you both from your classes for the rest of the day. Your stepmother has agreed to let you sign yourself out. Nicholas, you can leave with your father. I gave him the information for the viewing and funeral. I know that nothing makes sense when a child as sweet and Millie is lost, but she is home with our Heavenly Father now and at peace from the pain she was in.” Father Gabe tried to offer some kind of support, but nothing about what he’d said made sense.

When he left, Nick’s father went to him and placed his hand on Nick’s shoulder. All Nick could do was look at him with questioning eyes. “She was the one you bought all those colored pens for. I remember you talking about her. I called Mom and told her. When you’re ready, we can head home,” he said softly.

“Can we have a few minutes?” Nick asked, still trying to take it all in.

Chloe sat motionless as she stared at the ground. She felt like if she even tried to stand, she would collapse like a house of cards. Nothing made sense to her anymore. Little girls were not supposed to die so young. They were supposed to run in the grass and skin their knees and fall into their mother’s arms for feel-better kisses. She wasn’t supposed to die; she still had so much ahead of her. Why now? Was it some kind of cruel joke God was playing on her. Her own mother had died six years ago, almost to the date that sweet little girl had, too.
It wasn’t fair.

Nick touched her hand. He ‘d been talking to her. He was wiping tears from her face.

“I need to go home now,” she said softly, not even hearing what he‘d been saying.

Nick nodded and reached for her hand.

She looked at it like it was some kind of foreign object.

 
“I’ll take you home,” he offered.

She tried to stand but couldn’t.

He helped her up and then held her.

 
She stiffened at this and pulled away. “Why are you holding me?”

Nick put his hand to her face. She had to be in shock. “Chloe, Millie died, did you not hear what Father Gabe said?” He seemed confused by her actions.

“I know—I heard him. I don’t want to go alone. Will you go with me?” she asked him.

“Yeah, I was planning on taking you. Do you want to come home with me, just so you’re not alone now?”

“My stepmother is home. I’ll be fine,” she answered and went to the door. “I know she‘s in good hands now. My mother will take care of her.”

*
   
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Nick stared at his phone and wondered if he should try to call her again. The thought of her being alone to deal with this bothered him. He knew that it hadn’t sunk in with her yet, and when it did, she would need someone to lean on. He tried twice and she didn’t answer. She hardly talked on the way home and just said she would call him when she got out of the car. He knew that she had to be hurting but she wasn’t acting right.

Kevin came in and put something behind Mark’s headboard. “Hey, how you holding up, Bro?” he asked, as he sat on Nick’s bed.

Nick put his hands behind his head and stared at the bottom of Kevin’s bed. “It just doesn’t seem right. She was a year younger than Max for Christ’s sake.”

“Yeah, that’s young. How’s Chloe?” Kevin asked.

He let out a deep breath and shook his head. “She’s numb. I don’t think it has hit her yet. I‘ve been trying to call her, but she must not want to talk. Hey, can I ask you something?”

Mark came in the room and threw his pillow at Kevin. “Okay, Ass, where the hell are my keys?!”

“Behind your headboard, stop being such a baby.” Kevin threw the pillow back at him.

“Nicky, Dad just told me about that little girl. Sorry, dude. I know you liked her. You need anything?” Mark asked as he lay back on his own bed.

“Can I borrow one of your cars tomorrow night? It’s the viewing and I want to take Chloe. I’m going to need it the next morning, too, for the funeral,” he asked, hoping one of his brothers would see how important it was to him.

Kevin shook his leg. “Just drop me off after school tomorrow and it’s yours. I’ll fill it before we go in. How are things with you two since the party? You haven’t said much.”

“Wait, what happened at the party? You told Mom she wasn’t there,” Mark reminded them.

Nick sat up and looked at Kevin. “That’s because she was there and I took her home and spent the night with her. That girl Robyn told this story about Chloe. We don’t know if it is true or not, but it really hit her hard. Her so-called friends got her trashed and were just going to dump her off. Don’t tell Mom. Nothing happened,” Nick explained.

“You spent the night at her house? Where were her parents?” Mark was a little concerned about his admission.