Especially you

Allander.

Chapter 16. "Allander"

Reds pov

It was a few days after Christmas, me and mom were still at Chloe's house and both families sat down at their outside table, late at night.

Chloe's dad made all of us drinks, and Ella and mom were kind of drunk already, giggling about something.

I was sitting in a chair next to Chloe, with Dragonfly in my lap. Chloe held one hand on my tight, and the other was gently rubbing Dragonfly.

Chloe removed her hand from Dragonfly to take a sip of her drink, when mom spoke up, giggling beside Ella in front of us.
- So you know girls, me and Ella have a secret too. Mom giggled, Ella too.
- No, Bridget you can't tell them! I haven't told anyone this! Ella laughs, all tipsy.

Chloe and I look questioning at each other, and then at Chloe's dad that speaks up holding a glass of whiskey.
- Now ladies, even I wanna know this gossip. Chloe's dad said.

- Me and Bridget actually had a little bit of a romance with each other when we were in college, Ella said.

Chloe choked on her drink, putting in down,
- IM SORRY WHAT, she said looking at her mom.

- Yeah, we both kind of had a crush on each other, but it was too late when we found out. Ella was out with charming here, and I was with Reds dad, mom said.

- Yeah girls, so it's not that wired that you guys like each other, mom said.

- This is literally gross, I say, looking disgusted.
- Red, no it's not, it was a long time ago and we never really acted out in it, just purely crushing, mom answered.
- Wow, I said rolling my eyes.

Chloe's dad sat confused, I didn't think he cared, it didn't seem like it. He was just as surprised as Chloe and I.

- Now when where all up here reveling secrets, tell them about the boy you're seeing, I said to mom.

She sighed,
- Well, he lives near your college, he's rich...

Charming and Ella started laughing.
- Why do you care that he's rich? Ella laughed, sipping on her drink.
- Cause I'm not, she answers.
- Fair enough, what's his name? Chloe's dad asks.
- John Allander.

Chloe and I both look at each other. We were thinking the same thing.

My mom was dating Anastasia's dad.

Now I would never get rid of that bitch.

I never really told mom about Anastasia, I guess I felt embarrassed that I was sort of in a fight with Chloe's ex. But now I had to, no way in hell she could date that dude. Especially if it was Anastasia's dad.

I dragged mom away, and I started to cry, explaining the whole situation. She held me. She held me as I poured my heart out, about everything that had happened since I started at Auradon prep. From Rob, to Anastasia, to principal Uma. All of it. She stroke my hair in understanding.

"Baby, I'm leaving him" She said.

If it only was that easy.

-

It was a few days later, Chloe, me and Dragonfly were on our way back to school. As usual, Chloe was driving. She probably sensed that my thoughts were elsewhere.

I kind of felt another episode coming up, I felt like I wanted to isolate. But I didn't want to push Chloe away again, she'd probably get tired of me doing that all the time.

She looked over at me, as I sat, watching out the car window.

- Are you upset about your mom dating Anastasia's dad? She said, glancing at me and then the road.

- Don't wanna talk about it, I said as I snuggled into Dragonfly's fur.

- Okay, Chloe said simply as she drew her attention back to the road.

- I'm sorry Chloe. I said, feeling the tears burn behind my eyelids.

- It's okay baby, she said, laying her hand on my thighs.

I felt a few tears rolling down, I didn't want Chloe to notice so I looked out again, getting lost in the darkness.

I really didn't want to fall back down, it wasn't long ago since the last time I had an episode.

Suddenly Chloe pull over at a gas station, jumping out of the car.
- Chloe? What are you doing? I said, surprised.
- I'm going in to the store here beside to buy chocolate and Pepsi max, and some food for Dragonfly. Anything else? She asks, holding the car door still open.

Fuck. I didn't deserve her, every time I'm thinking that she's going to leave because of my anxiety she proves me wrong. Every damn time. She's too good for me. Way too good.

- No, not anything else.
- Okey, be right back. She said, closing the door and disappearing into the store.

I was petting dragonfly, thinking that nothing I did could ever drive Chloe away.

Or could it?