Chapter Text
Since they had a week off for Thanksgiving, and the school was closed, the GSA club members had agreed to meet at the Starbucks near the mall. They had agreed to move the meeting to an earlier time since Brooke had to leave to visit family later in the day, so Chloe arrived at the Starbucks at 12:45 in the afternoon.
Chloe ordered herself an iced coffee and found a table outside. She sat down and sipped on her coffee and waited.
Brooke arrived shortly after, getting a green tea for herself and sitting in the seat across from Chloe. They were silent for a few moments. Chloe shifted uncomfortably. She sighed and set her iced coffee down, placing her hands flat on the table. Brooke looked up.
“I’m… sorry,” Chloe forced out. Apologizing was always a struggle for her, but she needed to do this. She didn’t particularly like her own behavior towards the new couple the past few weeks. Sure, she was… upset, but that wasn’t much of a reason to take it out on them. She’d been working on her own attitude ever since she’d joined the club.
“What?” Brooke asked, setting down her tea, though her tone indicated that she knew what Chloe was talking about.
“For my… actions and behavior,” Chloe continued. “You know, in the past couple of weeks? In the group chat?” She leaned back and picked up her iced coffee for another drink. “I didn’t have a reason – well, I had a reason but it’s not good enough because it doesn’t matter what I think about you and Jake.” She was rambling now, and she wanted to stop, but couldn’t. “What I think or feel about your relationship doesn’t matter because it’s not – it’s not my relationship to decide. It’s yours and Jake’s. I get no say. And not that I need a say, I just –”
“Chloe,” Brooke interrupted. Chloe was surprisingly grateful that she had cut her off. Normally that would irritate her, but this time around, she didn’t know if she’d be able to stop speaking if she hadn’t. “I appreciate your apology and it’s okay.” She really was too nice. Chloe’s actions had hurt. “It’s just something we have to work on, right?” Brooke gave her a small smile, and Chloe looked down, deciding to stare at her drink instead of looking at Brooke.
“I – fuck.” Chloe sighed and smoothed her clothing out, a nervous tick she usually tried to control. She still refused to look at the other girl. “I was jealous.”
“Jealous?” Brooke tilted her head a little, hands gripping her cup of tea. Of who? Brooke? Hadn’t Chloe said she was – oh.
“Of Jake. And it’s like, so fucking cliché,” Chloe continued, setting her elbows on the table to properly bury her face into her hands, “that one would have a crush on their best friend. And then there’s that stupid little stereotype of ‘if they’re mean to you maybe they like you’ and I just – shouldn’t have done all that.”
Chloe’s confession was met with silence. Her heart was pounding, but she still didn’t look up.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” she said.
“Chloe, it’s okay,” Brooke said softly. Chloe allowed herself to look up now. Brooke didn’t look upset or disgusted. She looked more surprised than anything. It was a soft sort of surprised. “That was unexpected, but… it’s not really a bad thing.”
“What, you’re not mad or…?”
“No. I appreciate you being honest with me.”
“Yeah…” Chloe sighed softly. At least she’d gotten that off her chest. She wasn’t sure where to go from here.
She didn’t have to worry for long, though, because Christine arrived with Jenna. The two of them sat down, and Christine glanced between Chloe and Brooke, clearly sensing that something had happened, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Jake arrived next. Jake took his usual spot next to Brooke. He studied the blonde, also sensing something had happened. He couldn’t figure it out either, but he wrapped an arm around her. Chloe looked back down at her iced coffee.
Jeremy and Michael arrived last, apologizing for being late. They had been playing video games together and lost track of time. Christine only smiled softly. She liked knowing people had friends they could spend time with.
“I thought we could do something nice this week,” Christine started. “This last week seemed a little difficult for… all of us.” She was referring to the group chat. “So I wanted to say something nice. And have everyone say something nice. About everyone.”
“About everyone?” Chloe said.
“Yep,” Christine confirmed, nodding. “And I was thinking since Rich still isn’t here we can send the nice things about him to the group chat.” She smiled. Some of the others looked unsure. “I can go first,” she offered, and others nodded. That might be easier.
She sat up in her seat and scanned the group for a few moments, sensing the uneasiness but deciding that it would go away with time.
“I like… that I like theater.” Christine smiled a little. “I like Michael’s friendliness. I like… Jeremy’s cardigan.”
“It’s really soft,” Jeremy said, clearly pleased with it. “Wanna feel?” They offered a corner of the fabric to her.
She touched it and gasped. “That is so soft!” She smiled, and so did they. Christine continued. “I like… Jenna’s really great for hugs.” She grinned at Jenna, who looked almost bashful. “I like Brooke’s kindness. I like Jake’s stamina. Lots of extracurriculars… Chloe, I like how you’re protective of your friends.” Chloe looked like she wanted to say ‘you guys aren’t my friends’, but Christine smiled at her, so Chloe felt she couldn’t.
“I’ll go next,” Brooke volunteered. She looked around the table. “I like how I dress. I like how Michael’s easygoing… kind of carefree.” Michael smiled. “I like Jake’s confidence. Jeremy’s nice. They’re kind. I like Christine’s glasses.” Christine beamed, clearly proud of her choice in glasses. “Jenna’s pretty smart.”
“I’m not—” Jenna started, clearly protesting.
“In your own way,” Brooke told her. “Regardless of how you do in school.”
Jenna settled and looked down in thought.
Brooke continued. “I like…” She glanced at Chloe. “Chloe’s honesty.” Chloe bit her lip.
“Who wants to go next?” Christine asked. She seemed to like all the niceness that was going on. Even if she had to initiate it herself.
“I like…,” Chloe began, just to get her turn over with, “Christine’s enthusiasm. Brooke… Brooke is very pretty,” Chloe continued softly. “I like that Jeremy is reliable. They always do their homework.” She smiled a little. “I like Michael’s resilience. Jenna’s easy to get along with.” Chloe got quiet.
“What about yourself and Jake?” Christine pressed.
Chloe looked lost for a moment. “I like…” She was having trouble. She couldn’t find anything to like herself, but she still tried. “I like… that I joined this club. For Jake…” She looked over at said boy, studying him. Their eyes locked and she thought, for a moment, that he for sure knew the truth. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she looked away. “Jake’s cool,” she said weakly.
Jenna took over, sensing Chloe’s discomfort. “I like Michael’s sense of humor,” she said, looking over at Michael. He gave her finger guns, and she rolled her eyes with a slight smile. “I like how sweet Christine is. I like… my name, I guess? It’s not a bad name.”
“I like your name,” Jeremy offered.
Jenna smiled at them and continued. “I like that Jeremy’s trustworthy. I feel like I could tell them a secret and they’d keep it. I like that Brooke is soft-spoken, and Chloe is complex, and Jake is someone I can talk about sports with, if I feel like it.”
Jake went next. “I like that I’m an active person. I like how Jenna usually knows what’s going on. Jeremy’s organized. Chloe’s outspoken and determined. I like that Christine takes charge with these meetings.” He grinned. “I really like Brooke’s eyes.” He looked at said girl, who blushed a little.
Chloe stood. “I’m gonna get another cup of coffee,” she explained when people looked at her, quickly walking away to the line of customers.
Jake continued. “I like that Michael’s laid-back.”
“I like Jeremy’s taste in games,” Michael said. “It’s fun to play video games with them. I like that Christine’s always positive. I like that Jake usually has pins on his jacket. I like that I’m proud of who I am.” He nodded to himself. “I like… Jenna’s sarcastic way of doing things. I like that Brooke is pretty good company.” He paused and glanced around. “Should I wait for Chloe to come back before I say the thing for her?”
“I think so,” Christine said, “since getting new coffee won’t take too long.”
Within another minute or so, Chloe was back.
Christine nodded at Michael to continue. “I like… that Chloe’s assertive and not afraid to say what’s on her mind.”
Chloe looked surprised that that was a characteristic that anyone liked. She’d been told by her parents that she was too abrasive and bold.
“And that just leaves Jeremy,” Christine said, putting her hands together and pointing at them with her hands.
Jeremy hummed. “I like that Jake’s ambitious. I like Michael’s hoodie.” They poked the pride patches on Michael’s hoodie. Michael laughed a little and stuck out his tongue. “I like Jenna’s sense of humor. I like that Chloe cares.” Chloe shifted, frowning slightly. The others didn’t seem to notice. “Um… I like… that I know how to cook. I like that Brooke has a good heart. And Christine’s pretty cute.” They smiled.
Christine let out a small giggle, leaning into Jenna’s side. “Is anyone doing anything for Thanksgiving?” she asked curiously. “Other than Brooke going to a relative’s.”
“My aunt is probably coming over,” Michael said. “That’ll be cool. I haven’t seen her in ages. Probably some relatives from my moms’ sides.”
“My parents are probably going to go somewhere… they said I could stay home, though,” Chloe commented, resting her head on her arms on the table. “I kind of want to do my own little thing…”
“Are you going to?” Christine asked.
“Maybe.” Chloe looked a little sheepish. “I mean, I definitely would if I knew how to cook.”
“I can help!” Christine looked excited at her own idea.
Chloe smiled softly. “Maybe.”
The group chatted quietly for a few moments before Brooke stood, saying she had to go. She gave Jake a kiss on the cheek and was about to leave when Chloe said, “Brooke.” Brooke looked at her. “Have a nice trip.”
Brooke smiled. “Thank you.” She left.
Jake looked at Chloe and studied her for a few minutes, like he was trying to figure something out. Chloe didn’t look away this time.
Christine quickly broke the awkward silence with more chattering until the group started to disperse.