Lover not a fighter - Spider

7

When Chloe was around 8 or 9 she remembered as a family they would spend long weekends at the beach. It was like mini holidays. She would get used to the sand between her toes and finding it in her shoes for weeks after. Her mum would dress them both in pretty sun dresses and they would spend late nights playing card games, or listening to music or sitting around an open fire. Her dad would make sure to snap lots of pictures promising his daughter that she would want them to look back on and remember when she was older.

She was a little older now. Not by much but she had grown somewhat and a lot had changed. She still knew a few card games and would still go to the beach with her friends every now and then. 

Her mum although she loved her daughter was not as warm as she once was. She didn't have time to. Her office job supported the now family of two and saw them get by quite reasonably. Chloe was grateful and the older she got the more she could appreciate her mother's circumstances. 

She would always resent her father for cheating on her mother. All Chloe could see was her mother get hurt from loving somebody. And whilst her mum threw herself into work and caring for their daughter whilst going through divorce and heartbreak, her Dad found 'love' again supposedly and became engaged to another woman. 

Chloe had her suspicions that was the reason why her dad had been trying to call her the last few days. She watched her screen as it rang lighting up a picture of his face. She didn't decline it she just watched as it rang through until it stopped.

"So it's not just me you're ignoring then?" She heard from the other side of the fence that held the outdoor basketball court. It was Spider. His hair was disheveled from sweating and he wore his basketball uniform that Chloe let her eyes wander over a second too long.

"Ignoring? I'm not ignoring anyone." She scoffed trying to play off the comment but as soon as she looked into his eyes she knew she couldn't lie and make it even slightly believable.

"Listen I know we said no pressure or anything but I thought that meant we could still speak to each other about stuff bothering us." He tried to tell her he was there to listen. She had been acting odd the last few days and he hated being in the dark, especially if it meant she was distant with him.

He watched her look to her feet and shuffle awkwardly. She was unsure even where to start. She liked Spider but didn't want to get hurt. She had been distracted lately trying to throw herself into school work more to appease her mum and teachers who were keeping a close eye on her. He could see the cogs in her brain turning as the two blankly looked to one another.

"I just know how much you want to do well at try outs..." That was the wrong thing to start with and she could hear how it sounded as she spoke. She really was digging herself a hole.

"What?!" His shock was evident. "Are you blaming me?"

"That came out wrong." Her hand came out to hold onto the fence between them.

"Nah Chlo, I just want to know what's going on with you and you cant even look at me." He was right. "Listen if you don't like me just tell me so I stop wasting my time."

"Wasting your time?" She was not liking how this conversation was going. Her ringtone sounded out and the two looked to her phone. 

Spider huffed at the irony and rolled his eyes. 

"Spence wait." She tried to stop him from walking away.

"You're right Chlo, I should be focusing on district try outs." He gave her one last look before going back to practicing. Chloe watched him for a second longer and bit back the tears she could feel bubbling up.