Dreamcatcher

Chapter Ten: Keys

From: MOM
We need to talk.

From: MOM
Parking lot after school.

A deep, exhausted exhale came out upon reading the message. It wasn't just the fact that Joyce wanted to have a word with her insubordinate but it would later come as a surprise regarding her own son.

Chloe had no time for what her mother's boyfriend wanted, but she had the willpower to endure another lecture from her mother until she reached the point where she couldn't take it anymore; which to say was a very thin line at that point.

There was no focus nor consideration to Chloe's teacher who stood at the front of the classroom, monologing about that lesson's topic for chemistry. She had her mind else place which didn't please her teacher any more than they were now. 

Unfortunately, her daydreaming didn't bring any closer to the end of the lesson, especially when she was interrupted by one of her classmates. 

"Hey, Kari Price." A short-haired blonde girl greeted the angsty teen with excitement but in a soft voice so to avoid disturbing her teacher.

"It's Chloe," she replied with a dead, flat tone in her voice that carried no joy for being in the company of somebody who couldn't even get her own name right.

"Oh... right. I'm just teasing. Hey, umm... do you... can you help me with this last one?"

Her social awkwardness around Chloe was intolerable as even Victoria couldn't believe she was talking to someone she thought was below her. Chloe furrowed her brows, forming a confused expression as they sat beside each other.

"What?"

"Please? I really need some help. Plus, I hear you know your... stuff" Victoria begged.

"Fine. Let's see... Oh. That's easy. It's... fluorine, uranium, carbon, potassium and, uh... uranium again."

Blindly, Victoria scribbled down the answers before thanking the brunette.

"Perfect. Thanks Kari."

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever asshole..."

Chloe smiled so smugly that Victoria didn't bother to give her one last glance since she was so glued to her work.

When she had her attention to the front of the classroom, Chloe only just noticed somebody walk past the door. It took her a minute for her brain to register the fact that it was her brother who left class early.

She then wondered why he was doing so until the thought of him getting in trouble crossed her mind. The thought left her mind as Chloe sought other things to distract herself from her class.

Hearing the sound of the bell ringing brought momentary relief as everybody hastily packed their belongings and left the room. Chloe was one of the first few out of the room, all set to mind her own business as she made her way to her locker first with the intent to hide in the girl's bathroom.

On her way to her locker, Chloe put in her combination and began scavenging around the inside of her junk-filled locker attempting to find her last cigarette, only to discover that it had disappeared.

"What the fuck?!" Chloe growled to herself.

In place of her cigarette was a long piece of paper containing a note. Unravelling the paper, Chloe read the message to herself out loud.

'CHLOE

Heyo, had to borrow your stash

Desperate times, you know?