When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (29 page)

“Don’t you mean it would take time away from you? I’m a good student. My grades won’t fall. What’s the problem? I thought you would understand this better.”

“I just don’t see the point. If you need money, tell me. And, yeah, I’m a little pissed you’re taking more time away from us.” He was being honest; that was the problem.

“I’m not going to ask you for money and I’m really sorry you think I’m taking time away from us, but how can you have a good relationship if we’re around each other all the time? You know my situation; I’m just trying to set things up, so I can survive.”

“I just think that you’re not really thinking about this. School should be your priority, not work,” he explained.

“I am so sorry I don’t have anyone to hand me cash whenever I need it like you do. I have to take care of myself. And you may not be around when I graduate, so I won’t ask you for money ever. I can’t believe how childish your being about this—”

“Childish? I’m being childish? I’m not the one who is spreading herself too thin and not leaving any time for us. And, yeah, my parents do give me money when I need it, but it’s because they want me to put my efforts into school and not work my ass off just to put it away for something that may not even happen. And you know what? You’re right. Maybe I won’t be around next year.” He all but yelled at her as he crossed his arms. This was crazy. All he wanted was to spend time with her and she was looking for reasons to take more time away.

 
“You spoiled jackass! I hate the fact that I won’t be able to spend more time with you. But I don’t want to graduate and have nothing when and
if
I can go to college. You would be able to call home if you needed help.” Chloe threw the poetry book at him and the money Mark had given her. “I would be on the street because the only one who would have helped me is gone. Grow up, Nicholas. Life isn’t as easy as you think it is. I’ve known this since I was ten!” she yelled and stormed out of the store.

Nick all but threw the book at Mark and looked around for Chloe. He couldn’t believe she’d walked out of the store like that—walked out on him like that?

“Okay, what’s your problem?” Mark hit him in the head to get his attention.

“Why the hell would you encourage Chloe to get a job? She just jumped down my throat, because I told her it was a stupid idea. She doesn’t seem to understand that this is going to take a lot of time away from us.” Nick threw his arms in the air and went on a rant about how she wanted to start saving for school and that she said he was acting childish. And that he was spoiled because their parents gave them whatever they asked for.

With his arms crossed, Mark looked at Nick. “Are you listening to yourself? Nick, you
are
spoiled. We all are. Mom and Dad pretty much hand us money whenever we ask for it, or haven’t you noticed that? And how many seventeen-year-olds have credit cards like you do? And from what I have seen of Chloe’s family, she pretty much had to grow up pretty quick, if she wanted to survive. College isn’t cheap and a part-time job right now isn’t a bad idea. You know as well as I do that she won’t be able to call home if she needs anything.”

“But that’s not the point,” Nick stated as he continued to look for her. That was what she just said, and now that he thought about it, she might have been right.

“No, the point is you’re jealous that you’re not going to have that much time together. Can I give you some older brother advice?” Mark put both of his hand Nick’s shoulders and shook him a little. “Too much time together isn’t a good thing. I know you like her, Nick. Everyone does, but if you want to keep that, you need some time apart. She’s a good kid, and if you don’t screw that up, you may have something really good to look forward to. So go find her, get on your knees, and tell her you’re sorry and let her do what she wants to do. Stop acting like a spoiled brat who can’t get his way!”

“I’m not acting spoiled,” Nick said under his breath as he looked down at the ground. He hated when Mark did this.

“Yes you are. You and Kevin both act this way when you don’t get what you want. I’m taking Max to the food court, then to shop for you guys. If you don’t find her or she breaks up with you, call me,” Mark said as Max rushed off.

He found her sitting with Gabbie and Dave at the food court. She wouldn’t even look at him.

Dave laughed when he sat down and put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Welcome to the club man. I’m in the hot seat, too. She hates the movie we’re going to.”

Gabbie shot him the finger.

“Chloe—” Nick started.

“Don’t start with me,” she warned him.

“Can we just talk?” Nick thought about what Mark said and hated that he was right. He tried to reach for her hand but she crossed her arms. “You’re seriously going to do this? All I want to do is talk about this.”

“I’m not doing anything. I just don’t feel like talking to you right now. And I don’t need your approval for anything in my life. I’ve done fine without it so far.” She squinted her eyes as she said it, and it made her look kinda cute.

 
When he laughed, she got up and walked away again.

“If I were you, I would let her cool off. She doesn’t like being told what to do,” Gabbie said as she sat with her arms crossed, staring him down.

“Gabbie, he’s just trying to make up with her. You know, like we should. I promise if you let us go see this bloody, space guy flick, I will get you something nice,” Dave said, trying to coax Gabbie into giving in. He leaned over and was rubbing her legs, giving her the eyes that usually led to them to being all over each other.

“What time is the movie starting?” Nick rolled his eyes and got up to find her yet again, not really wanting to see them go at it.

“In about an hour. Wait, we’ll go with you.” Gabbie laughed at Dave’s expression and got up to follow Nick.

*
   
*
   
*
   
*

Chloe stood in front of the window at the jewelry store and looked at the silver charm bracelet. It reminded her so much of the one her mother used to wear. It was the one thing she wished she could have had, but her father saw fit to bury it with her mother.

“Oh, my God, Dave, that’s the ring I want when we get engaged,” Gabbie said as she snuck up on her and put her arm around Chloe.

“Gab, keep looking, you’ll be lucky if you get diamond dust. I told you, Sweetie, I’m not made of money like you guys. We’re going to live in an apartment on the wrong side of town. It’s time you realize that.” Dave laughed at her.

“Even if I have to pay for it myself, that’s what you’re getting me. Come on, let’s go and look.” Gabbie grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.

Chloe took a deep breath and put her hand to the glass. Maybe if she saved up a little extra money, she could get it for herself one day.

“What are you looking at?” Nick asked. He didn’t want to fight with her.

“It’s not important. Just something silly that reminds me of someone. Like I said, not important,” Chloe replied and started to walk away.

“Chloe, I’m sorry. You were right.” Nick grabbed her arm before she could walk away again.

“About what?” She turned around, curious as to what he thought she was right about.

“I am spoiled and I was acting childish. I shouldn’t have acted like that and you don’t need my approval. Somehow, you will find time for us and I will just deal with it when you can’t. So, please forgive me for acting like a stupid jerk and tell me you still want to be with me.” He took her hands in his and smiled in a playful way. He gave her the cute, little puppy dog eyes he gave his mom when he was in trouble. He even went so far as to try the pouty lip.

“You are such a loser sometimes.” She laughed, shaking her head at him.

“But you want to be with me still, right?”

She closed her eyes and smiled as she shook her head. “God, help me, I don’t know why, but I do. I’m sorry, but I have to do this. If it takes up too much time, I’ll quit and try to find some other way to come up with some extra money. For now, this is the best way,” she explained. She didn’t want to be away from him, but with the way things had been all her life, she didn’t want to take a chance and lose whatever future she had left.

“Babe, whatever you want to do, I will try to be a good boyfriend and support you. If I start acting like this again, smack me,” he suggested and hugged her.

They went and found Gabbie and Dave, then left for the movie theater.

At the movies, they ran into the other part of the group, Tiffany and Tabitha. Both were there with someone new.

Tabitha was working hard to break her new guy in.

Tiffany, on the other hand, was belting out orders she expected to be followed.

She’d been going off on something when Nick put his arms around Chloe and whispered into her ear, “You need some new friends.”

Chloe giggled and kissed his cheek.

“Chloe, bathroom, now!” Tiffany ordered, waiting for her to follow.

Rolling her eyes, Chloe winked at Nick, and then followed her into the bathroom.

Tiffany continued her rant as Gabbie reapplied lipstick to her full pouty lips. Tabitha was adjusting her bra to make her breasts stand out more.

 
Chloe just sat on the counter, listening to them and wishing she was in the theater with Nick already, instead of having to deal with this ‘girl drama.’

“So, Chloe, how goes it with the altar boy? Is he good in the sack?” Tabitha purred with a questioning smile on her face.

“Yeah, are you no longer the ‘Virgin St. Chloe’?”God, I hope so. You need to loosen up,” Tiffany added while she filed her nails.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there’s nothing to report. We aren’t like that. In fact, we were messing around the other day and I got a little freaked and started to panic, and he was really sweet about it.”

“What freaked you out? Did you feel his hard dick pressing against you or something? It’s supposed to be like that, St. Chloe.”

Tiffany always had a way of making Chloe feel stupid. “Ah, no, it was just that, I mean…” She was getting tongue-tied and hated that she couldn’t come back at her.

Tabitha put her hands on Chloe’s shoulders. “You do realize that if you don’t do something for him, he won’t want to deal with your virginal crap for long and dump you, right?”

“Nick isn’t like that.” Chloe defended him. At least, she hoped he wasn’t like that.

“Oh, my God. They’re all like that! Sure, he was okay with it this time, but he’s gonna to get tired of waiting for you to put out already. Best way around it is to just give him a blow job and hope that will hold him over for a while,” Tiffany instructed.

Chloe looked over at Gabbie, who agreed, “Yeah, I hate to admit it, but they’re right. You have to do something for him if you want to keep him.”

“So, what do I do? I mean, what would he like?” Chloe was confused as to how to handle this situation, and the more she thought about it, the more she realized they could be right.

Tabitha smiled. “I got this one.” She laughed and explained in vivid detail about how to please Nick.

After the movie, Dave dropped them off and Nick called Kevin for a ride home. When he hung up, he smiled at her and the way she stood there, biting her nail. “What’s going on in that head of yours? You got that faraway look again.” He pulled her into his arms.

Chloe stared at him and thought about everything Tabitha had explained. She knew Shelly wasn’t home yet, and given how long it took Kevin to get there, it would be a little while. She bit at her lip, thinking about what would be the best way to do this. Slowly, she leaned in and kissed him. Her hands were on his chest, and as they kissed, she could feel him getting into it more. She slowly kissed his cheek, down to his neck, and then soft, sensual kisses by his ear. “I’m sorry about the other day, when you wanted to go further and I stopped you,” she whispered.