Three weeks later
Chloe sighed to herself as she sat on Amy's bed, carefully tucking her legs onto the bed, watching Amy closely as she neatly folded her clothes and placed them into her suitcase. She couldn't help but smile to herself when she noticed the twinkle in Amy's eyes at the thought of spending the next couple of days with Simon. Chloe sighed to herself, her eyes flickering to her bare hand as her thoughts wandered back to Lee, and how much she missed their relationship. She would do anything to return to the times where things were good between them, before the hurt and the cheating that she couldn't get past. Her heart plummeted as she thought about how much she had enjoyed being in his presence, until things had started to go wrong for them. He'd been the person that had made her whole, his presence calming and soothing her. Chloe's eyes filled with tears as she thought about him and how much he'd hurt her and she still couldn't bring herself to forgive his actions. For as long as she lived, she would never be able to come to terms with what he'd done to her and how much she now hated him as a result.
"Hey, Chloe, can I borrow one of your dresses?" Amy asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"If you want too." she replied quietly, glancing at the wardrobe as Amy opened it and began to rummage in Chloe's clothes.
"Your dresses are all so much hotter than mine." Amy grinned, smiling in satisfaction as she pulled out Chloe's white lace bodycon dress.
"How about this one?" she checked, raising her eyebrow excitedly.
"If you want." Chloe replied, swallowing the lump that was rising in her throat as she stared at the dress, instantly remembering when Kirstie gave her the dress when they were away at Centre Parcs. A small smile played on the corner of her lips when she thought about the way that Lee had gazed at her when she was wearing the dress, the deep longing that meant that he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She sighed deeply to herself as she threw herself back onto the bed, resting her head against the pillow as she stared at the ceiling. Her eyes misted with tears as she thought about how she'd been pregnant with her first baby back when she'd worn the dress, sighing to herself when she remembered how protective Lee had been with her. Back when he still cared about her.....before Steph had come along and taken the most important person in her life away from her. Chloe carefully turned onto her side and picked up a cushion, hugging it tightly against herself, trying in vain to provide some comfort.
"Have you called Duncan back yet?" Amy asked, quickly trying to distract Chloe when she noticed that she was becoming distressed. Chloe shook her head slowly, glancing at Amy when she sighed deeply.
"I want a clean break from all of it." Chloe said quietly.
"Speaking of which, you can keep the dress." she added, sighing quietly as her eyes flickered to it once again.
"Really?!" Amy asked excitedly, a small shriek of happiness escaping her lips when Chloe nodded slowly.
"I need to change my number at some point too." she continued thoughtfully.
"Why, is he still calling all the time?" Amy sighed, her stomach swirling with anger as she thought about Lee and how much Chloe was still hurting as a result of his actions.
"A bit less, but still occasionally." Chloe replied quietly.
Her head snapped to the doorway as Gwen peered around it, glancing at her for a moment before turning her attention to Amy.
"Are you almost packed?" Gwen asked her. Amy nodded, quickly placing the last of her things into her suitcase and zipping it closed.
"Do you need me to give you a lift to the train station?" she offered.
