Perfect (Rewrite)

Chapter Seventy One

Chloe started making breakfast in the kitchen, bright and early. Margaret came down with Collin and they sat at the table as she finished cooking the scrambled eggs. David was the last of them to wake up. The four of them sat in silence and ate the food, looking between the two empty chairs at the table. It had been two more days since Jacob's disappearance and there was no sign of him anywhere. The floorboard wouldn't open up with Chloe's key anymore. They were all beginning to think they were never going to see Melanie or Jacob again.

David chowed down and then stared at the wall until Margaret went up the stairs. Chloe slid the notebook with Jacob's name printed on the cover into David's hands. "I thought you might want to read it." She let it go, hating herself for not reading all of it, for know reading the whole truth that was Jacob.

"Did you already?"

"Some of it."

"I'd rather not," He started and then explained. "It will give me something to look forward to after we're reunited, and after I kick his ass."

"You're going to kick his ass?" Chloe asked, laughing at the thought of them fighting. David probably would've won; Jacob seemed to be in better shape, but he had nothing on David's toned muscles.

"Of course I am," David said. "He kind of deserves it. Do you disagree?"

"No."

"Good."

"You should at least hold onto it," Chloe said, and then he took the notebook from her. "For keepsake."

He gave her a smile and then walked away, leaving her alone in the kitchen for the umpteenth time. It seemed like a pattern, all together, then Chloe and David, and then all separate. An endless cycle working around an open ended schedule with an indefinite finish.

"Tick tock," He whispered into her ear, and then she glanced down to the floorboard.

"Tick tock," Chloe echoed. "Tick tock."