Elements of Madness

Resolution

The door to the private dining room opened. The two occupants looked up in surprise at the unexpected arrival. Chloe walked in, once more dressed in houte fashion and with her hair properly combed out into her classic ponytail. She held a box in her hands and kept her eyes fixed squarely on one of the two diners.

Andre spoke first, his voice hesitant but hopeful,"Are you coming to dinner with us Chloe?" There were two empty place settings at the table,"I'll have Jean bring you whatever you like."

"No Daddy." Chloe stopped at the table,"I'll be having my dinner in my room. This little ritual is YOUR family, not mine. I've only come to tell you I'm done being grounded now."

Andre frowned,"Chloe, now see here. After what you did, your mother still wants to send you to the Boarding School in New york."

Chloe flicked her fingers, with freshly applied fake nails to cover for her truncated ones,"Mother will have forgotten I exist again within a few days, if she hasn't already. You get to keep playing house all you like with my Half-a-sister here." Chloe looked from her father to Zoe, the table's other occupant. "And I get to be left alone until I want something or need to be trotted out for an appearance. THAT is MY family."

Zoe spoke up in place of her father's silence,"Chloe, it doesn't have to be." She scooted her chair back and made to rise but Chloe slammed the box down on the table at one of the empty place settings.

"YOU." She moderated her tone and shifted from anger to cool reserve,"I seem to have misplaced something of yours." Chloe studied her nails intently,"This will have to do in the meantime." She put a hand on the box and leaned in close to Zoe, whispering,"But if you tell ANYONE I gave you these, I will sneak into your room and shave your head."

Zoe blinked her deer in headlights routine in response.

Chloe flipped her ponytail as she turned, nearly hitting her half sister,"And now I'm done. Goodnight Daddy, Goodnight Half-a-sister."

Both her family members seemed caught halfway to reaching out to her, but in the end no one did. Chloe strode back out, leaving the diner slightly more chill than before her arrival.

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Back in her own room Zoe considered the box she'd been given. Instincts from her time in boarding school told her to be careful opening it. There were so many horrible things you could hide in a box. In the end she let family beat out fear and carefully lifted the lid. No instant disasters ensued.

She lifted the contents out, a pair of Black Leather boots, the enclosed tags proudly claiming them to be 'Coach Lorimar Booties' They had thick rugged soles, but clean lines, designer combat boots. Zoe kicked off her sneakers to try them on and spotted something on the back of one. Up right at the top where it would be hidden by the cuff of her jeans, written in golden paint pen were the words.

'You are exceptional.'