From Eden

six

"Hi," I straightened up in my car seat to meet Chloe's eyes. I imagined my face mirrored the same expression of fear that was on hers, and I felt my left hand wrap around my car door handle for support. Her mouth opened, but she didn't speak; she only kept staring at me with hopes I'd say something first. So I said the only thing that was on my mind: "I'm sorry."

Chloe dipped her head, and closed her mouth. My brain was screaming. After a minute of prickling, quiet tension, she said, "It's okay. I just didn't want it to be awkward, since we'll both be working here."

I bit my bottom lip and had the urge to take a long drawl from my joint, but I didn't. Instead, I placed it in my little ashtray on the center console and said, "I agree. I really am sorry. I...missed you."

"Right," She murmured coolly, nodding slightly. Her eyes were glued to the ground now. I looked past her too, at the grass growing next to the studio so I wasn't just plain staring at her. "I'm not sure we should talk it all out right now...though we don't have to be awkward, I don't want to sweep it all under the rug."

"Okay," I gulped, uncomfortable at the fact she wasn't admitting she missed me too. Maybe she didn't miss me at all; I'd rather have her fall back in love with me than dislike me! "I mean, we can talk it out now if you want." I just wanted my old best friend back.

"You just don't get it," Chloe's voice became defensive, which drew my eyes from the grass behind her. I tilted my head a bit, meeting her angry eyes, and she continued, "I waited for so long for a call from you. You treated me like a freak. It's like you don't even remember what happened between us," Her voice was shaking, so she paused, and took a deep breath. "You can't just say  'I missed you' after not even fucking texting me for years."

I looked like an idiot, speechless and looking into her dark, teary eyes. When she finished speaking, her face twitched like she was going to cry, and she cracked her knuckles and turned away from me. My heart numbed over, and all I could feel were the dull pulses of the high I was on in my skin. Maybe I hadn't remembered it right. Maybe I had no right to be anxious about seeing her...she was the one who should be anxious around me.

When I said nothing, she flashed me a look of pain and turned around on her heels, then walked back toward the studio. I grabbed for my weed as soon as she did so, taking a long drag, and trying to ignore every feeling that was starting to overtake my body. It was being covered with ripples of panic now. What if she walked away, and we were ruined again? What if I just fucked it all up? On my exhale, I yelled, "Chloe!"

She whipped around, looking like she was crying. My heart softened then, and I felt a wave of anguish. I missed her so much, even if I didn't call or text her for years.

"I'm sorry" was all I could choke out, and she kept walking. I watched as she disappeared into the studio, and my gaze was cemented there until I tore it away. I placed my head between my two shaking hands, and fought the urge to cry. I had to go back in there soon, and I couldn't look like I was crying...I had to save the tears for my pillow.

Fucking stupid ass Abby...and I officially hate my dad for accepting this job for me.

- -

The rest of the day went smoother than the way it started. We each took turns sitting in on classes, and doing hiring paperwork at the desk. Thankfully, I did my paperwork and sat in the class with Kalani, GiaNina, and Brynn, so I didn't have to face Chloe again. I grew to like GiaNina; she seemed the most chill out of the rest of my group. Brynn was nice too, but I thought she tended to dickride Abby a little too much.

The following day, I reported to the studio at eight in the morning to teach my first class alongside GiaNina. She seemed excited to work with me the same way I was excited to work with her; I was glad she also liked me, since it seemed like nobody else did.