Afterlight (Fanfiction) ✓

chapter forty-four

Jay

     CHLOE and Brad had been circling the same tension for hours, their heated arguments rising and falling like the tide. Each wave of anger seemed to crash harder, yet each moment of calm stretched a little thinner. I didn't know the details, and neither of them seemed eager to clue me in. Whatever had passed between them, it sat heavy in the room, a storm cloud too stubborn to dissipate.

Brad finally stood, his broad shoulders tight with restless energy. He grabbed his jacket and headed toward the door, sparing only a brief glance back at Chloe.

"I'll be back soon," he called over his shoulder, his voice rough but controlled, like he was holding himself together by sheer force of will.

Chloe crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her lips pressed into a firm line. "Don't do anything stupid, Brad," she snapped. "I swear—"

Brad let out a sharp huff of a laugh, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "The roles have reversed now, haven't they? Look at you, handing out rules like you're the big sibling here."

Chloe rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she shot back, "God knows you'd run straight into a brick wall if I wasn't here to stop you."

Brad smirked, but there was no malice in it. Just a quiet kind of pride, as if her defiance reminded him of something he'd long forgotten. Without another word, he stepped out the door, letting it slam shut behind him. The sound echoed through the gym like a punctuation mark, leaving Chloe and me alone in the tense silence he'd left behind.

I watched her for a moment, noting the way her arms stayed crossed, her knuckles pale from how tightly she gripped them. Her jaw was clenched, her expression unreadable, but her eyes betrayed her. There was a storm in them, one she was trying desperately to contain.

"You good?" I asked softly, stepping closer but keeping my tone casual, hoping to cut through the tension that lingered in the air.

Chloe sat on the edge of the couch, her shoulders hunched as she stared at the floor. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. Brad just... he drives me insane sometimes."

"Sounds like siblings to me," I said lightly, leaning against the doorframe. I crossed my arms, studying her carefully. "You want to hit something?"

Her head shot up, and she gave me a confused look, her brow furrowing. "What?"

"You need to let some of that frustration out," I explained, straightening up. "Come on. Let's go to the gym. I'll teach you some self-defense while we're at it. You've been through enough lately—you should at least know how to throw a decent punch."

Chloe blinked at me, still processing my words. Her arms dropped to her sides as she let out a long breath, the weight of whatever she was carrying clearly pressing down on her. But then I caught it—the faintest flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

She tilted her head, skeptical. "You think punching something is going to fix all this?"

"Maybe not fix it," I admitted, shrugging. "But it'll help. Trust me. Besides, you'll feel better knowing you can fight back if you ever need to."

She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. After a moment, she stood up, smoothing her hands down her jeans. "Fine. But if I end up breaking something, you're paying my medical bills."

"Deal," I said with a grin. "But I promise you won't break anything, at least not on yourself."

I grabbed my keys and gestured for her to follow. As we stepped into the hallway, I glanced over my shoulder at her. She looked slightly unsure, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, but there was a determination in her expression that hadn't been there before. It gave me hope.