As Grayson drove her home Friday, she went over the last days in her mind. They had sucked, black hole sucked.
Grayson and her had minimal conversation. She hadn't brought up anything said outside her house out of fear to hear it be true.
Taking a deep breath, she thanked god it was Friday night.
The truck stopped in the deep snow. Unsure what to say to say, she needed to say something.
Grayson reached out though and grabbed her hand. She gasped, her body taken with sudden adrenaline.
“Chloe.”
Her blue eyes met his. His hand on her wrist, similar to scolding water, “Gray... I... please?”
“Can I just talk to you?” he begged.
Whining, she nodded and he released her wrist. She inspected where he'd grabbed her, nothing left but an inner tingle.
“I know we haven't spoken much. I mean, well, not about what happened Tuesday when I dropped you off.”
She saw it coming and it killed her.
Trying to find his words, he continued, “I mean... you didn't even sit with me at lunch the last two days.”
“It's awkward,” she admitted.
He looked like she had wounded him, “It's awkward?”
“Of course it is...” she breathed. “We can't even be together, yet you, you told me you love me.”
He waited, breaking in front of her.
“It scaring me, Grayson. I'm freaking out. I'm not like you.”
“I know, Little, but if you would...”
She cut him off, “Grayson, just when I was starting to like you... you've killed me. I can't be like you.”
His eyes saddened, “Yeah.”
She swallowed, “You should have thought about this before you ever spoke to me, before you kissed me, said you love me... before anything ever happened between us. I feel like a crumbled up piece of nothing.” About to bare her heart to him, she thought it over one last time.
He flinched, “Chloe.”
Her eyes welled, “I'm sorry, Grayson but...”
He gripped his hair, “I thought I was doing the best I could. I can...”
“Grayson.” She snapped.
He stared at her, “Do you love me?”
She started to cry, just like she'd been bawling herself to the sleep the past days, “No.”
He took a sharp breath and moved towards her.
She threw her hands up, “Grayson, please!”
“I can't help it, Chloe,” he gripped the headrest above her, “This whole week's been torture. I'm sorry it was you, Chloe. I'm sorry if I scare you.”
She swallowed, “It's what I have to be... to be with you that scares me. I'm not from your world.”
His face dropped, “I should have known better, but it was like I couldn't help it, no matter how hard I tried.”
“It can't happen.” She looked to his stubbled chin and thick lips. She wished he would just kiss her to stop her from saying what she was about to, “My dad signed me up for the bus route. It comes starting Monday.” Grabbing her bag from the floor, convinced she was doing the right thing, she went for it.
Grayson's face fell and she became sure it's what a man looked like as he died.
“Chloe, wait...”
“Grayson, you told me, if I rejected this, you'd have to leave me alone.” She tried her best to stop from bawling her eyes out. Hearing headrest in his grip crushing, she tried to continue, “I'm sorry, Gray.”
“Chloe.”
Her hand pulled on the door handle and she slipped from the seat, but her body screaming in protest. She wished she could reverse time or change life and make him human or... it didn't matter.
“Chloe, no, don't do this!” he lunged towards her. “Please, Chloe!”
Her blue orbs rose to his, “Bye, Grayson.”
He took a sharp breath as she slammed the door.
It took all her strength to turn and walk away, that magnet worse than ever. To think she'd never again see him in the mornings, after school, hang out with him. It crushed her.
She stepped up to the front door and fumbled with her keys, dropping them to the mat.
The sound of the tires flying against ice and the reeving engine, made her spin back around. His truck peeled out of the drive, whipping snow in all directions.
Her heart lurched and she felt the need to puke. She thought her body joking, until she ran to the bathroom inside and emptied her stomach.
She must have been going insane, doubting her decisions. She'd done the right thing, but she was sick from it, literally.
The feeling of sick, excruciating digging filled her again and she dry heaved. Letting out a cry, she dropped to her knees in hysterics.
***
Chloe spent the rest of the night watching television in a depression. She didn't want to move or do anything of effort. She knew she wasn't helping herself, because she was obsessing over what she'd done earlier and telling Grayson Holtz never.
No, she had done worse, she had pulled him to pieces; rejected him. Shuddering at the wolf-terms, she wondered how much pain he was in, if any. Maybe they just got mad and never wanted to speak to the so called mate again?
If he hadn't been a wolf-boy, if this all hadn't happened, she'd be going on a date with him tomorrow to stupid Winter Fest. Until Tuesday evening, that had been the upcoming highlight of her week by far.
She closed her eyes and tried not to think about the freezing hell she lived, drifting off.
“Chloe.”
She could feel his hands on her, around her waist as his mouth dipped to her neck and bit into her. Right on her collar bone, the overwhelming warmth of his mouth. Her body under his, caged. She trembled, intoxicated by him, but it was wonderful. Blissful.
Her fingers dug to his soft brown hair and swept over his thick shoulders and neck. With her dry lips, she lifted them to his mouth. Moaning and breaking for him.
His tongue dipped and met hers. His weight shifting between her legs, she could feel him... pressing and pushing into her.
She liked it, “I love you.”
“Chloe!”
Her eyes shot open and she stared up at her father in the morning light. He loomed over her and her nested place on the couch. Sitting up quick, her heart rate irritate with her embarrassment.
Henry walked across the room, “Who do you love?”
Chloe winced, “N-no one. I don't know what are you talking about.”
He stripped his jacket, “Okay. Hungry?”
Starving more like it; she hadn't ate since lunch the day before, “Sure.”
“Bacon, eggs, and fat. Sound good?” he smirked.
“Sounds good, Dad.”
Henry walked into the kitchen, “So, what time are you leaving tonight?”
On her feet, she followed him, leaning up against the countertop as he looked through the fridge, “What?”
“For the dance,” he brought out all necessary ingredients and threw them on the counter.
“Oh,” she made a face, “I'm not going to go.”
“Why not?” He seemed curious.
She shrugged, “I don't know...”
“Well, I talked to Roger. Grayson isn't going either. Did something happen between you two?”
“No!” Chloe snapped, “Nothing happened. Why would something happen?” she panicked as her father stared her in suspicion, “He's just a friend.”
Henry grunted, “Alright, fine but you're not going?”
She sighed, thought it through and then realized, if she didn't go – she'd just be sitting all alone in the dark, moping about Grayson Holtz.
“Yeah, okay. I'll go.”
Henry nodded, “So, around six then?”
“Sure. I'm going to take a quick shower.”
“Breakfast in fifteen minutes!”
“Kay.” she walked out of the kitchen.
It was going to be embarrassing going to a dance all alone. No friends. No one to talk to or dance with. She knew she should back out, but, then her dad might start to question her on Grayson again and she didn't want to deal with that.
She'd go, suck it up and pretend everything was fine.
***
She didn't have a dress. No, Grayson had distracted her from coming close to finding an outfit, but she did have a cream strapless dress that floated out to mid thigh.
Was it Alaska appropriate? Not really.
If she couldn't have Grayson Holtz, she'd have to come out swinging or running the opposite direction at least.
She took a long deep breath. Her usually bone straight auburn hair something she'd spent two hours on curling into big face framing waves and her makeup almost prefect.
She'd been a bit quick to get ready and needed to waste another twenty minutes. So, she sat at the computer to answer her inbox that she had been ignoring with a passion.
Dodge Wheeler
Chloe, I was hoping you could call me back... cause, I wanted to talk to you about which days I could fly over and if you had asked your dad at all? Not that it should matter, you are seventeen.
Okay, talk to you later, french-fry.
She sighed and clicked away from the message, she did not want to answer him. She had no desire to, it just made her sick to think about being near Dodge, knowing who she really wanted to be near.
The next message was from her used to be best friend forever...
Stella Wright
Hey!
So, Dodge said he talked to you and you were all weird and then... you said some guys name! Ha. Ha. Ha. I told you, you never liked Dodge so who's this other guy? By the way, sorry I haven't messaged you...
Chloe smiled, she missed Stella. Life had been easier when she'd still had Stella as an acting best friend.
Chloe Pryce
Well, that's a long epic story. I just kinda wish I could go back in time, because I sorta screwed up my life in the last twenty-four hours and it has everything to do with the namey-boy while Dodge was on the phone. I miss you. I know it's only been a week and a bit, but it seems like forever and the girls here are insane!
She bounced off her messages to look through news and updates from her friends. She had an overwhelming urge to call Stella and start balling her eyes out but she refrained.
Finding Grayson's profile, she stalked him, looking through his photos.
“He's so... hot.” Pausing, she thought over her words as she slammed her laptop and dropped her head to the desk, pouting.
***
Downstairs, she dressed herself in a pair of large snow boots and a parka, heels in hand for the dance.
Henry waited on the couch, “Ready to go, Loe?”
“Yep,” she took a steady breath and smiled, though forced.
Her dad grabbed his keys and they headed for the front door. Hurrying out, her bare legs hit the freezing air. She yelped, dodging ice and snow piles as the doors of the pick-up unlocked and she scrambled in.
The drive beside her father was long, ending with the after-dance-drill. Call. Outside. Wait. Yatta, yatta...
“Okay, Dad, see you later!” she slammed the door and walked towards the doors of the recreation centre, rolling her eyes. The music blared from the gymnasium, the darting dance lights coming through the main doors as she approached the girl taking ticket orders.
Chloe searched her small cream purse and pulled out ten dollars. Upon passing the money over, she received a stamp on her hand, and headed inside.
Taking her surrounding, it hit her, a lonely loser with no friends and she was at the dance?
She shrugged off her jacket, coat checked it, and headed for the concession at the back of the gym. Busying herself with aimless tasks was the best option.
She stood and sipped her drink. She could see Dayna and Annie way across the dark room, but it didn't look like they had seen her. Not surprising her as they swooned over every single boy in the damn place.
She looked away to the wonderfully winter festive decor of white boughs and birch. The main stage in silver sparkles with the DJ and his music choices booming.
It was a hormone fest, but at the same time it was sort of nice and social. There were a lot of young people, a few older people, but mostly it was Polar High's entire population.
She finished her pop and turned to find the garbage.
“Chloe!” came the sweet voice of Lilly.
Chloe swung around as the strawberry blonde bounced to her side in a burgundy dress, “Oh... hey.”
“Hey!” Lilly smiled. “Who are you here with?”
Chloe dumped the empty can in the trash, “I came alone...” she admitted, cringing at her predicament.
“You want to come hang out with us?”
“Who's us?” Chloe paused, maybe Grayson?
“Umm... Well, my boyfriend, Jason. Then you know, Kyle. Mike,” she looped her arm around her and across the gym they went. “I love your dress!”
“Thanks,” Chloe breathed, she shouldn't have been going to hang out with Grayson Holtz's friends. It seemed sort of wrong.
Lilly was too friendly though to let her wallow.
Kyle, the tall, gangly boy with short red hair and freckles greeted her, “Where ya been, Chloe?”
Chloe blinked as she registered the question, “Oh, around.” Suddenly joined at her side, she looked to Mike.
“Ah! It's Chloe! Ghost girl...” he joked with his natural ego attached.
“Isn't she more of a tanned girl?” Jason pointed out, Lilly giggling at his side, “California Chloe!” He came to the conclusion.
A popular dance song came on and Lilly giggled in excitement, “Come on, Jason!”
He made a pained face before letting her drag him away.
“Sucker,” Mike laughed at him.
Chloe smiled and looked up to see Kyle and Mike staring at her. She swallowed, “So...”
“So, you don't want to be a werewolf, California?” Mike quick with his words, dropped his voice low.
Chloe swallowed, “What?”
Kyle sighed, “Come on, lay off, Mike.”
“Stay out of it then, Kyle,” Mike shot at him. “He’s my friend. She's a tease.”
“What!” Chloe snapped. “You might all be wolfy, but nothing that happened was my fault.”
“And it wasn't his either,” Mike snarled. “You think Grayson can just choose who his mate is? That's not how it works, California.”
“Well!” she pointed at him, “How does it work then? Because I'm human, so explain that one!”
Mike smiled, “Every once in a while an Alpha line needs some fresh blood. Guess you were a good match for the Tribune pack.”
Chloe's lips parted and she stared at him, “He said it's against your pack rules or whatever, even if I wanted it.”
Kyle shrugged, “Well, you know, worse things have happened and it's not against anything. It's just a Tribune thing with wanting to stay pure. It's up to the Alpha. They can call the decision. Who knows, maybe Roger would go for it.”
Chloe had heard enough, “This is ridiculous. I'm not discussing this with you guys. It's none of your business, anyway.”
Mike growled, “Wouldn't make a good alpha female anyway, you're too lippy.”
For some reason, that comment bothered her, she stepped up a bit closer to him, so she could make herself clear, “What do you know about me? How do you know what I'd be good at or not!”
Mike shrugged, “Not like you'll prove me wrong anyway. You're just a snob, California, pure suntanned snob.”
She snorted, “My name's Chloe and maybe I am, but I don't need to be told off by some dog.”
Kyle smirked, “Yesh.”
Mike growled at her, “Just stay away from Grayson, he's better off.”
She kept her mouth from gaping, “Whatever, why don't you just mind your own business?”
Mike snorted, “You said no to our Alpha. It's all our business.”
“Ah!” Chloe flipped. “He's not your Alpha and he's not mine!”
“Well, yeah... he may never be our Alpha, if he never mates!”
She wanted to choke him, but thought better of it, “So, you're just mad because I rejected him, so, now he can't be your Alpha!”
Kyle stepped forward, “No, Chloe, Darcy could show up any day with a mate and take it from Rodger and that that would seriously suck.”
Chloe made a face, “What does having a mate have to do with being Alpha?”
“Only a mated Alpha can take over a pack. And we would rather it be Grayson, but Darcy is older and he could show up with his mate like... yesterday.” Kyle explained, “That'd suck.”
“Yep, and now I'll never be a Beta.” Mike shot. “Heck, we might as well be as crooked as Balant. We might as well just join 'em if Darcy comes back.”
Chloe sneered, “This has nothing to do with me. I don't know why you're still talking.”
“Because you're Grayson's mate.” Kyle explained, “We don't want to be under Darcy's control. He's a dictator and he doesn’t care about anyone, but himself.”
She shrugged, “Well, Grayson never said anything, so you two must be overreacting.”
Mike rolled his eyes, “Whatever, California. Go play Barbie somewhere else.”
She refrained from bitch slapping him, “You're a...”
“Hey, Chloe. Want to dance?”
She turned to see Bruce Collins standing beside her with Kyle and Mike only looking bothered by the other boy's entrance.
Bruce offered his hand and smiled, “Come on, I won't bite.”
Kyle tensed, “Hey, she's...”
Mike hit him in the shoulder, “Shut up, Kyle.”
Chloe thought about her options, one dance wouldn't kill her and it would get her away from arrogant Mike, all so known as, Grayson's personal fan club.
“Sure.” She took Bruce's outstretched hand. He led her onto the dance floor and into his arms. Maybe they all didn't hate her, like she thought they did.
His hands wrapped around her small waist and tugged her into his pelvis, “You shouldn't hang out with those guys.”
She raised an eyebrow, “It's not like I want to.”
Bruce growled, “They're bad news. There's just something about them.”
She smiled, “That's for sure.”
He took her hand and twirled her, bringing her back against his chest, but closer this time.
Uncomfortable tension grew in her core, the longer she stayed pressed around him. Her body screamed at her to move away, get away, the bile in her stomach rising with each passing second.
His hands dug into her hips then dropped to her rump.
Her body almost in fits, she'd had enough.
She stopped and stepped back, “Don't touch me like that.”
Bruce dropped his chin and made a deep, dark eye contact with her, “Come on, Chloe.”
“I think I'm good on dancing now.” A rising heart rate made her turn and run, but he grabbed her.
His mouth pressed to her ear, “Oh, don't run. We were having a good time.”
“Get off me!” She lifted her high heel and smashed it into the top his foot, “I thought you were a decent guy.”
Bruce tripped back, “Ow!” His hands were in fists at his sides, “You little...”
“Oh, yeah, say it.” She taunted, fearless all of a sudden.
He grabbed her wrist and swung her around. She tried to pull herself free, but he tugged and moved her towards him.
Her other wrist seized, she was yanked from Bruce and caught in his arms. She buried her face in her pressed shirt, his thick scent taking over her senses as he wrapped her small frame in his protective arms.
“Maybe you need another lesson in no, Collins,” Grayson's voice boomed louder than the music, causing her body to tremble.
She wrapped her arms around his firm midsection, “Grayson.” Never in her life had she imagined holding him after twenty-four hours would be that sweet.