On The Verge

Chapter 10- Window Lights and Kisses

———————Chloe———————

⠀⠀"Chlo, where were you? You promised we would eat lunch together!" Josh complained disappointedly after the final bell had rang, signaling the end of school.

⠀⠀"I totally forgot. I'm sorry," I groaned. "maybe we can have a do-over?"

⠀⠀He nodded at my suggestion, his eyes softening.

⠀⠀"I'll take you out for dinner tonight. How does 6 o'clock sound?" He proposed kindly. Nodding, a feeling of excitement swirled through me, craving a change of scenery. Maybe, just for one night, I could pretend everything was normal.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀***
⠀⠀The clock on my nightstand struck 5:50 as I selected a simple black dress from my closet. The lace skirt of the dress ended in a pleated design just above my knee. I observed my soft figure in the mirror, my hair and makeup having been styled to perfection, I proclaimed myself to be ready to go at the same moment that the doorbell sounded throughout my quiet home.

⠀⠀As I turned the corner to leave my room, I flicked the light switch off, plunging my room into absolute darkness.

⠀⠀"Hey handsome." I flirtatiously smiled after I had raced down the hall and casually opened the door.

⠀⠀"Hey gorgeous." He answered, embracing me in a warm hug.

⠀⠀We were soon seated in a posh restaurant downtown, plates of steaming pasta settled on the mahogany table in front of us. We made casual small talk which to my delight excluded the topic of Paige.

⠀⠀I didn't want to talk about her right now, or ever for that matter.

⠀⠀It was as if we were in a movie and someone had hit fast-forward, for soon we were once again seated side by side on the leather seats in Josh's truck, driving back to my house. Josh kept one hand on the wheel, steadying the vehicle while the other remained wrapped around my nimble fingers. All too soon, the moment was done and we pulled up into the driveway of my maroon coloured home.

⠀⠀Wanting my time with him to be prolonged, I slid across the seat until my and Josh's legs were held together as if by an electric current. Turning my upper body towards him, I wrapped my arms around his neck as our lips crashed together. His arms traveled down my sides and rested carefully around my waist.

⠀⠀We broke apart for a moment, allowing me to smile. Josh kissed my nose playfully, causing my smile to deepen. Our lips then passionately came together again, my arms flew from his neck to his hair. I twisted my fingers deeply within his dirty blond hair as he pulled me closer. We were a swirling solution of passion and intimacy, craving nothing but each other.

⠀⠀Crack.

⠀⠀The sound of an unknown object snapping originated from outside the car. I opened my eyes, but did not detach my lips from the depths of Josh's soft mouth. My eyes travelled over the dark area surrounding the truck, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Switching my gaze in the direction of my house, I scanned the place I had come to know as home. My parents weren't home, therefore all the lights in the house were extinguished.

⠀⠀Or so they should be, that was how I had left them.

⠀⠀My eyes widened in shock as a single window was dosed in light; my bedroom. A sickening feeling wound it's way through my stomach, but I dismissed the feeling as paranoia. This was Josh time, not paranoid Chloe time.

⠀⠀I pushed my lips deeper into Josh's, desperate to forget about the light in my room, telling myself that I must have simply left it on.

⠀⠀After a few more moments of Josh Time, my curiosity got the best of me. I pried my eyes open again, still not leaving the sweet taste that only Josh's lips offered.

⠀⠀The window that was my room was as dark as the rest of the house. Confusion washed over me as I wondered if perhaps I had imagined the whole thing. I was about to conclude that this must be the case when my eyes fell upon the living room window; bathed in light except for the silhouette of a person which remained a black figure against the yellow light.

⠀⠀The silhouette was hooded and facing the window; watching us.