She looked good in the midnight blue dress, leggings and cardigan. Her auburn hair in loose waves, framed her bright blue orbs in sultry black makeup. It reminded of her getting ready for parties back home, but without her random party-goers and a mickey of vodka.
In fifteen minutes, Bruce Collins would be at her door, chaperoning her to his party. It was like special treatment, she didn't mind it.
Skipping down the stairs, she thought of what the night may bring. She hoped for alcohol, fun and maybe Grayson Holtz.
After writing out a quick note of complete bull for Henry on her whereabouts, there was a knock at the door. She answered the door, slipping on her coat and grabbing her purse.
“Hey, Chloe.” He smiled, his hair done and his nose bright red from the night air.
“Hey!” she chirped, “Thanks for the ride.”
“Oh, yeah, anything for a pretty girl.”
She smiled from his flattery, “Ah, stop...”
“Ready to go?” he asked.
Chloe nodded and stepped out into the snow. The sun had set and just the bright moon lit the way to his old pickup. Though she felt safe, she also felt like she was being watched. It was an odd sensation she couldn't place.
They were about at the truck, when she noticed movement across the drive. She squinted through the darkness, her eyes focusing on the big grey wolf from the night before.
She shrieked, “Oh!”
The wolf's burning eyes locked on her as she grabbed ahold of Bruce. The wolf growled, baring his teeth at them.
“Oh, damn.” Bruce ripped away from her and ran to his truck. Opening the door, he pulled out a large shotgun.
“Bruce, what the...”
He loaded the gun, “I'm going to shoot it.”
“No!” Chloe ran and threw her weight into him. As they fell to the snow, the gun skidded away.
“Chloe!” Bruce gripped her atop him.
The wolf growled and lunged towards them.
Chloe's eyes went wide, “Oh my god!”
Bruce pushed her up and fumbled for the gun in the deep snow.
The wolf ran to her, snapping, snarling, and baring his teeth for all to see. He was angry and though he frightened her, she saw mercy in his eyes.
“It’s okay.” She put her hand out in a random act of courage.
“Chloe, no!” Bruce shouted.
The wolf moved towards her, caressing his face against her outstretched fingers.
“Chloe! What are you doing... get back!”
The wolf snapped his head up and growled; he lunged forward, knocking Bruce to the ground and throwing the gun in the air. The loud thunder of paws hitting logs and trees echoed into the night sky as he disappeared from view.
Bruce shot his feet, “Chloe! Never do that again!”
Chloe spun to him, “You were going to kill an innocent animal!”
“That's not an innocent animal!” Bruce argued. “That's a predator. One that kills our animals, our children, and disrupts life. The Tribune pack is running rampant around here. I needed to kill that wolf, he looked like an alpha!”
Chloe blinked, “An alpha?” She remembered that term from her late night readings, “Really?” Suddenly fascinated.
Bruce walked across the snow and picked up his gun, “Let's go.” He grunted.
“I'm not going with you,” she shot at him. “You have a gun in your truck!”
Bruce threw it in the bed of his vehicle, “It's not loaded and it's not in the truck.”
Chloe shook her head.
“This is life in Alaska, Chloe. Get used to it. Now, are you coming or not?” Bruce was put off, even a bit angry.
She couldn't blame him, nodding, she walked to the truck and got in.
Out on the highway, Bruce broke their silence, “I'm sorry about yelling. I've been taught to kill them when we see them.”
Chloe shrugged, “it's fine. I understand you need to protect yourselves.”
“It's just the way it is,” he said simply, “Look, if I scared you, I'm sorry, but around here; that's life.”
She didn't care to hear about it anymore, shuffling through her purse, she grabbed a piece of gum.
“So, what's going on with you and Holtz?” He sounded bitter.
Chloe sighed, “Nothing...”
“Really? Cause the guy is on you like a fat kid on cake.”
“That's great, Bruce.” She disliked his nosey attitude, “I don't care about Grayson. I don't care about anything in this town, I just need to get through this next school year and get back to LA.”
Bruce took in a sharp breath, “Jeez.”
“I'm a city girl, late nights with wolves aren’t my style. Nothing here is my style.”
“You've seen that wolf before then?” Bruce prodded.
Chloe shrugged, not wanting to answer.
“Chloe, wolves are smart. They stay away from humans generally. A wolf sticking around a house, is asking for trouble. You should tell your dad about it.”
Chloe looked to him, “He'll want to kill it.”
Bruce sighed, “Just tell him. It's in your best interest.”
She wasn't going to tell Henry, there was no way in hell she was going to do that.
***
The party was creeping with kids, every age from fourteen and up.
She found Annie and Dayna in the packed living room, where they were squished beside Scott and another boy she didn't know.
Annie jumped at her as soon as she saw her, “Chloe!” She giggled, a possibility of her being drunk present. The girl attached herself to her, “Drink?”
Chloe nodded and let her pull her to the dining room, where a bowl of spiked rum and coke was.
Serving up booze, Annie questioned her, “So, is Grayson here?”
Chloe rolled her eyes and took the outstretched cup, “I don't know, Annie. I haven't talked to him since yesterday.”
The internet didn't count, or at least it didn't in Chloe's mind. Plus, she had to lie to Annie, the girl was too desperate.
Annie paled and sipped her drink, “Why?”
“He's being a tool...” she snapped as took a few huge sips of the alcoholic drink.
Annie looked broken, “Umm...”
Sighing, she decided to just do it, “Annie, Grayson isn't interested in you. I tried.”
The girl pouted, “but there must be something I can do.”
“No, Annie!” Chloe grabbed her wrist and shoved her face in close to hers, “you need to give this up. You need to move on. What's wrong with any of these other boys?”
Annie whined and dropped her forehead to Chloe's shoulder. Wrinkling her brow at how pathetic the girl was.
“I don't get the Grayson obsession, Annie.” she needed to refill her drink, yes, she'd already polished off her first intoxication of the night.
“I just love him!”
Chloe pushed the girl off her, “Annie, stop with the Grayson thing. Just stop...”
Annie fought back her drunk tears, “everyone thinks you guys are together. Is that why you're putting me off him?”
“Seriously!” Chloe couldn't believe the kids from Polar, Alaska. They sure had a lot of time to gossip, that was for sure!
Annie shrugged, “so, it's true?”
“I'm not with Grayson Holtz!” Chloe burst loud enough for the entire room to hear over the techno music. Looking away, she pretended she hadn't just shouted those words aloud.
Annie moved into her, “Why is he so into you then?”
“No,” Chloe said in a quick voice, “He's not. No way. Our dad's are just friends...” she sighed, such a cop out.
Annie sneered at her, “I don't know. Grayson is very private. He never has girlfriends and his only real friend is Mike.”
Chloe shrugged, Mike was one character she'd yet to meet.
“So, there's nothing going on?”
“No...” Chloe bit her lip; there was no real point to be straight forward with her. She rolled her eyes, “nothing...”
“Okay good, because I wouldn’t know what to do if you were to just walk in here, all California and have him choose you over me.”
Chloe stared at her with a gaping mouth, insulted, she pushed past it.
“Annie, think logically! You've liked him since grade three and he's never shown an interest. Maybe he's gay!” She roared.
Annie's eyes bulged and she took a big sip of her drink.
“Okay...” Chloe continued to ramble, “He's probably not gay, but you need to move on! Grayson Holtz is not...”
“Chloe.”
His voice hit her like a silver bullet and she shot around, face to face with his thick midsection.
“Crapper...” she droned, her uplifting speech about him ruined.
“Grayson!” Annie beamed at him.
Grayson kept this focus on Chloe, “I need to talk to you.”
Chloe shrugged, “Kay, say it.” Turning, she filled her drink, starting to down another glass of the spiked coke.
“Chloe, don't drink that!” he ripped the glass from her lips and tossed it on the ground.
Annie stamped her foot, “I knew you two were together!”
Chloe spun around, “What the hell is your issue, Annie!”
The girl stood stunned as Grayson lifted an eyebrow, “Let's go.” He grabbed Chloe's wrist and tugged at her.
Chloe ripped herself back from him. “You have a lot of nerve, Grayson!” she shouted at him, everyone around stopping to watch.
Grayson snorted. “Come on, Chloe. Not now.” he tugged her from Annie and not being able to win against his strength, she followed.
Bruce appeared to play super-hero, “Holtz, let her go.”
Grayson brushed him off, “Screw off, Collins.”
“Hey!” Bruce snapped at him.
Chloe couldn't wait for the testosterone party to work out, karate chopping Grayson's wrist, she broke free, “That hurt...” she pouted.
Grayson glanced at her and back to Bruce, “Mind your own business.”
She rolled her eyes at them and rubbed her sore wrist.
“Chloe is at my party. She doesn’t want to go with you and you should have enough sense to back off.” He stepped towards Grayson, squaring his shoulders.
Grayson tensed, “What would you know?” A low growl erupted from his chest.
“Okay!” Chloe chirped, the friendly now long gone from the conversation. She pushed Grayson's shoulders and shoved him towards the door, “Be right back, Bruce!”
She whipped her parka from the ground and shoved Grayson outside, “Are you completely insane!”
Grayson creased his brow and stayed quiet.
“Seriously, Grayson. You're being super weird. I mean, I should tell my dad, cause you could be a crazy, loonie-toon stalker!”
He sighed, “Chloe, come with me somewhere.”
“No way!” astounded, she stared at him. “Are you missing the point, Grayson? Do I need to spell it out for you?”
“What's the point, Chloe!” he shouted back. “Because ever since I saw you that first day; I haven't been able to think straight to save my life!”
She blinked, “You're crazy...”
He ground his teeth and came towards her, “I wish that's what I was, it would make my life a lot simpler right now!”
She creased her brow, “What do you mean?”
Exasperated, he rubbed his forehead, “Can you just... come with me?”
“No!” She shot, “I'm not going anywhere.”
“I need you to.” He argued.
“No.” She put her hands on her hips, shaking her head.
He lowered his jaw as they stared each other down, “Chloe, I need to show you something.” With big steps, he came at her and in a panic, she turned and ran.
Catching her, he scooped her off the ground and over his shoulder.
“Grayson, put me down!” Her palm whacked him three times.
“I really need to show you something.” Grunting his way through her violence.
“If you think I want anything to do with you now, you are seriously mistaken!” she screamed.
Her legs flailed in the air as he beeped his truck open and hauled her inside. With a gentle grip, he sat her on the bench.
She made a break for the door, reaching for the handle in desperation.
“Chloe...” Grayson grabbed her, “It's alright,” he caged around her, “calm down.”
“Don't hurt me,” she cringed.
“Jeez.” He sat up from her, his expression softening, “Well, this is it. Thank you for saving me.”
She looked to him, “What are you talking about?”
“I'm talking about outside your dad's house with Bruce Collins and the gun.”