Chapter Text
“That is NOT how a lady should behave.” The voice dragged her across the corridor. She tried to tug her hand away but the voice’s grip was too strong, leaving her frantically helpless and shouting for help.
Not that anyone would be brave enough to help her.
“You are to stay in this room until I say you can leave!” The voice demanded, locking her up in that same dark room. Cold and alone.
She cried. At least, she tried to. This happened a lot for her to be hurt each time. She could even say that the darkness was her friend now. Slowly pulling her away… Reaching out to her… Calling her name…
“Chloe, come play with us instead.”
“Chloe.”
“Chloe.” She jumped, waking up from her nap. Her best friend was in front of her all worried. She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She knew her hair was a mess so she quickly looked around for her phone. But before she found it, it was thrown at her direction instead.
“Someone’s on the phone.” Marinette said before packing up her stuff and getting ready to leave. “I have to go now, anyways. My dad’s expecting me to help around the bakery today. Bye!”
Chloe waved at her lazily, bringing the phone to her ears.
“Took you long enough.”
“What do you want, Adrien?”
A sigh. “Why do you always assume I want something when I call you?”
“Because you never call me for anything else, bitch.”
“Hm, no comment. Anyways, I’m joining you for school starting tomorrow so I hope you’ll be happy to show me around.”
She could already see him with his sheepish smile behind the phone.
“That’s tomorrow? Find another school I beg you.”
“Love the enthusiasm, Chloe. See you soon!”
He hung up.
Chloe let out a frustrated breath, dropping her head to the table. She and Marinette was supposed to study for their upcoming tests together but if anyone could describe her relationship with books, it would be a toxic relationship lacking healthy communication skills. And so she started packing her things to leave.
As she was about to leave the school premise, she heard an almost cry-like sound from the storage room. She contemplated whether to check it out or not, knowing she might not be able to confront a ghost.
She decided to leave.
Another sob.
Damn it.
“Is anyone here?” Chloe called out, slowly pushing the creaked door. Please don’t be a ghost. Please don’t be a ghost.
She let out a breath of relief.
“Juleka, are you alright?”
The girl lifted her head, unaware of Chloe’s presence. Her eyes widened before looking away in attempt of hiding her face. Chloe walked towards her with a worried expression, crouching down to be on her level. She was never good at comforting people.
“Do you want me to kill someone?” She tried to make it sound like a joke but Juleka didn’t move. Her eyes were still fixated on the ground, as if holding back her tears.
“You can cry if you want. I may not know my way around words but I can sit with you until you’re fine.”
Chloe could tell that Juleka wanted to argue with her, opening her mouth before closing them again. “I’m okay, Chloe. You can go home.”
Instead, she sat down beside her, leaning against the wall and taking out her phone. Juleka looked at her with annoyance at first, but slowly rested her head on her knees and letting out her unfinished sobs. It started with low sniffles as if still uncomfortable by Chloe’s company.
But then she was crying again.
Chloe didn’t move at all, leaving her to let it all out. She only offered back pats to remind Juleka that she wasn’t alone. Then, after at least ten minutes— Of course chloe would know since she has been awkwardly scrolling on her phone the whole time— Juleka finally stopped.
She wiped the remaining tears off her cheek and gazed up on the empty ceiling.
“Thank you.”
Chloe didn’t turn to her. She didn’t do anything.
To her, this wasn’t something deserved being thanked for. It was normal for people to cry and it was supposed to be normal for people to be by your side.
Chloe only let out a hum in response. She immediately stood up again and extended her hand towards Juleka. “Let’s go get ice cream.”
Juleka let out a breath, the tips of her lips forming a smile.
“Fine.”
“—She always does that, and there was also this one time where me and Marinette were at the bakery helping Sabine out, she suddenly started punching the dough like some sort of monster might jump out to kill her.”
Juleka laughed in response, hands pressed to her now-hurting stomach. Both Chloe and her were by the Seine enjoying their ice cream. It was a nice debrief after the storage room and Juleka was glad that Chloe didn’t even ask about what happened.
“You’re surprisingly easy to talk to.”
Chloe snorted. “No offense but you totally stole my line.”
Juleka licked the side of her cone before it dripped, giving Chloe a sideways glance. “Well, maybe we’re not that different.”
“Hm, I should dye my hair then.”
She grinned, returning her gaze back to the river in front of them. “Thanks again, Chloe. It’s just been a long day.”
Chloe shifted subtly before answering “I get it. Stuff happens.” She took her last bite, talking through her full mouth. “But I do have a question, though.”
Juleka raised her eyebrow.
“You were always with Rose, where was she today?”
Her smiled faltered just a little for Chloe to realise that it probably was a wrong question to ask.
“Doctor’s appointment and she didn’t want me to tag along. Says it’s routine.” From her response, Chloe could tell it wasn’t the sole reason she was in the storage room. Rose’s situation was hard and it could partially make her break but she wasn’t depressed about it.
“Can she get better?”
“Only luck can determine that, but she’s alright.”
Chloe nodded, leaning against the railing. Silence lingered between them just long enough when a phone started ringing. She knew it wasn’t hers since it wasn’t the Adrien ad, leaving Juleka to reach out into her pocket for her phone.
Chloe couldn’t hear who it was from where she was standing but It was probably a family member asking where she is. Juleka responded with a lot of hums and okays, resorting back to the girl Chloe thought she was. Once the phone call was over, she turned to Chloe and told her she needed to head back.
“Was that your mom?”
“Brother.” Juleka corrected. “I muted him earlier so I didn’t realise he texted but he’s coming to pick me up.”
Chloe never even knew Juleka had a brother but it didn’t surprise her knowing she was always with Marinette. And she definitely could not relate to sibling-talk, causing her to stifle in a chuckle. “Why did you mute him?”
“Annoying at times… but he’s still cool.”
Chloe mouthed an ‘oh’ as if totally understanding the feeling, slowly nodding her head instinctively. “I can walk you there.”
“Please, don’t. He’s picking me up with a bike.”
Chloe pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh, again. “Got it. I’ll just go the opposite direction. See you at school, Juleka!” She turned her heel and walked away, only then remembering to text her driver.
Her steps were slow, taking in the evening breeze. She walked along the river while scrolling through her unread texts.
don’t forget to bring my history book – M
can’t wait to see u tmrrw <<<333 – A
She was just about to send Adrien a picture of her with the middle finger when she bumped into someone. Her phone flew out of her grasps but it was caught just before it reached the ground. By that someone.
“Oh god, I am so sorry” Chloe blurted, hands clasping each other to appear more apologetic. “It’s definitely my fault—”
“Hey hey, it’s fine. Nobody got hurt.”
His voice was low and smooth, as if his voice itself could shield her from any problems. He was taller than her with his hair dyed and unlike Adrien, this person looked more laid-back with his choice of clothing and the piercings that lined his ears.
He handed her phone, coming back to her senses. “Oh, thanks.”
They stood there a second too long, the air quiet save for the crash of water hitting the walls nearby. Chloe cleared her throat. “Uh, I’m gonna go and you can continue with your walk, sorry again.” She smiled awkwardly.
“No worries.” He replied, his eyes still focusing on her, deep and warm?
What are you thinking, Chloe. Shut up.
Chloe quickened her steps when she saw her driver up ahead. She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder to see the stranger once again, but he had already turned a corner.