Slowly Fading

Now You Know

Cloe's POV

By the end I am in tears. All of the memories came back as I retold the story and Caleb just listened and I see tears on his face as well. He stands up and gives me a really big hug.

"I'm sorry, Cloe. I never knew, I'm so stupid. I'm sorry, this is all my fault." Matthew says and I touch his cheek. He looks at me and I smile meekly.

"It's not your fault, you didn't know. Stop blaming yourself Matthew." I tell him in a strangled voice.

I told him what happened. Now I'm thinking you guys are wondering as well. Well, I was 10 and a half at the time. We were driving back from Disney World and everything was going great. My mom and dad were in the front singing. I was in the back with my sister, yes I had a sister. Her name was Lacy, she was eleven and my best friend.

We were singing with my parents when, out of nowhere, this truck comes in front of us and hits the side of the car. The car rolled off the hill as my father tried to steer it. My mother and I were on the side the car hit, my mom passed out immediately and I was so scared. I was holding on to Lacy for dear life. We were whispering to each other, telling the other we were ok. When my father lost control, we were rolling on the side and when Lacy's side got hit, glass shattered and she cut herself with it on accident.

My dad was passed out by then too. We finally landed but with a crash. That crash broke my back and killed Lacy completely. I didn't know at that time, I was so scared. I found a way to get out of the car and I tried to wake my mom and dad up, but they didn't. I checked their pulse and there was none there, I burst into tears. I grab my dad's phone to check if it wasn't completely broken. Even though I knew it was cracked.

It didn't work, so I sat there. I sat there for about an hour crying. Then I heard police and remembered what my dad said.

"If something ever happens, there is a blow horn in the trunk." I opened the trunk and saw it. I started blowing it like crazy, I didn't care if it hurt my ears. I heard commotion happening and heard some people coming down the hill.

I blew the blow horn one last time. They all looked at me and I said "Make sure they are ok." Then passed out.

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I shake my head trying to forget what happened. Trying to forget the day I lost
everyone.   I spent all this time trying to ignore it but you can't ignore something for long before it comes back to haunt you.

"So the people on your locker, were your family and you lied about it. Is that why you were crying?" He asks and I nod, not able to speak.

"Dang it, I was being such a d*** that day! I'm so sorry, Cloe." He apologizes again. "I won't tell anyone any of this!" He promises and I look at him.

"I know." I trust him. I don't know why but I don't hate him. Frick.

Matthew's POV

She lost her family, at the moment most unexpected. She lost her best friend and had to fend for herself. She had to become independent at a young age, she's so strong. She didn't have a mom to help her, or a dad to support her, or a sister to play with and make her laugh.

During all this I was being a butt to her, hurting her, bringing back memories. I feel terrible, I feel like I'm going to throw up. This shows me how short life can be. I'm not going to tell anyone. She has gone this far, I'm not messing that up.

I just have to lie to my mom because I have to stay with Cloe and help her. My mom will understand.

"You are so strong, Cloe." I tell her and she glares at me.

"I just act like it. I don't want your pity Matthew, that's one of the reasons I never told anyone." She tells me and I nod.

"Why don't you call me Matt?" I ask her. She knows everyone else does, why doesn't she.

"I do that to everyone. If they have a nickname everyone calls them I don't use it until I know them well. Don't want to get too attached at the very start." She shrugs and I nod.

"That's a good start. I hope you know that you can't get rid of me now." I tell her and she smiles.

"I know, Matt. I had that feeling." She tells me and I smile at her.

(A/N Short but very eventful chapter, don't you think? Now you know what she has been talking about and who they are. I almost started crying writing this.)
Peace Out ✌️✌✌