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She heard the plane engine come to a snarling start, sputtering and coughing up globs of smoke. In a weird way, it summed up what Lila was feeling as she sat at an empty bench a ways away from the landing pad.
Her jaw was clenched tight, her hands in fists on her lap. This is how it would end. For good this time.
Chloe’s blonde hair glimmered in the sunset’s warm light as she made her way over to the other girl, sitting down beside her hastily.
“So, the plan? Make it quick, I have fifteen minutes before my mother expects me back on the plane for takeoff.”
Chloe looked up to face Lila directly. She knew it was over then. That face would be engraved in her memory forever, nestling itself in the root of her heart.
Lila stared at Chloe, her eyes telling her what words couldn’t. “There is no plan Chloe. Not this time.”
Chloe’s shoulders tensed up, her heart pounding. Deep down she expected this, after all there wasn’t much Lila could even do. She couldn’t accept this though, not now, not ever.
“But you said I could get what I want if I-“
“I know what I said Chloe.”
“Why would you get my hopes up?”
“Trust me, if I had known what was going to happen I wouldn’t have-“
“Liar! I trusted you, don’t let me down now!”
Lila’s fists clenched further, her eyes narrowing. She would never admit that her words stung.
“Chloe there is nothing I can do for you now. If it is in your mother’s best interest to leave with you, then I guess it’s in mine too.”
Chloe gawked at her, appalled. “You can’t be serious? After everything?”
Lila sighed, standing up slowly, fists stuffed into her pockets. Her heart felt like it had stopped, from sadness or something entirely different she couldn’t pinpoint.
“I just wanted to say goodbye. Before you left for London.”
All Chloe could do was glare at the girl facing her. She knew Lila was clever, manipulative, cruel at times even. Maybe it was naive to assume that she would be treated any differently than the rest.
“I would have fought for you to stay you know? I would’ve gathered all that money my mother silences me with that you just love to make fun of me for to help you. I can’t understand how you are standing here like some class act.”
Chloe takes a breath as she finishes speaking. She hadn’t realized it but she was standing now too, her arms crossed in the authoritative stance she loved to use.
Lila stands up straighter, her shoulders squared. She hasn’t expected Chloe to lash out like that, but she definitely didn’t mind it.
“Chlo, just hear me out. I don’t have the power your family does nor the money. I want to help you I do, but what am I supposed to do? You know I want you to stay in Paris, can’t you tell?”
Chloe looked harder at Lila, examining her more deeply this time. She could tell that the brunette was speaking to her more softly than usual, her eyes seemingly full of sorrow.
“I know Lila. This whole situation is just ridiculously dumb huh?” Chloe felt a lump in her throat, but she promised herself she wouldn’t cry, not until she got on that plane.
Lila touches her shoulder softly, a gesture Chloe had never expected to receive from her.
“I bet London has a lot more to offer than good for nothing Paris.”
Chloe smiled slightly, moving her hair from her face. “Yeah, you’re usually not wrong.”
Lila’s lips curl upward, nodding her head at Chloe’s words. She thought this would have been easier, saying goodbye.
In an odd way, home truly would never be home without Chloe. Nobody could accept her like Chloe nor understand her. It had to be better this way though, saying goodbye so as not to hang on to what they could never have.
“Chlo. You have five minutes left. I’ve kept track.”
Chloe swallows hard. “Promise to keep in contact?”
“Of course.”
They both know it was a lie. Right now though, that comfort was much needed.
Startlingly, Chloe hugs Lila, wrapping her arms around her so tightly one hundred men couldn’t rip them apart.
“If this is the last time we talk…in a while, I want you to know that-“
“I know Chloe. I know.”
Even more surprisingly, Lila hugs her back, patting her with such care Chloe wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to pull away.
“I love you too.”