Dirty Little Secret

Reckless

*Chloe's POV*

I've decided to graduate earlier than planned; considering I'm moving to New York in less than nine days. I received my high school diploma today but I'm not the least bit happy even though I should be.

Maybe if I was dumb or didn't try so hard I wouldn't have to move away. I know I should be happy and positive about leaving Miami and getting a good education and scholarship with NYU but ever since my mom has been in the hospital I haven't been myself.

I'm satisfied that Ethan has kept his distance, though. He occasionally comes to check on me and he always brings me breakfast and dinner. It's been two days since I last went to the hospital and I'm beginning to feel guilty that I haven't been back to visit my mother.

I feel so dead; so numb. I've been laying in the same spot ever since we came home (other than getting up to use the bathroom. I haven't even showered yet. Gross, I know.)

"Chloe? Dinners ready." Ethan sits on the edge of my bed holding a bowl of some yellow liquid. I scrunch up my nose in disgust.

"I'm not hungry," I close my eyes and rub my hands over my temples.

"Yes you are. Please eat," his voice is low and concerned-sounding. I sit up and stare at the bowl.

"What is it?"

"Chicken noodle soup." He raises the spoon to my mouth and I slurp the noodles and soup into my mouth.

"This is disgusting," I scrunch up my nose.

"Sorry. Dad doesn't know how to cook and he's just not himself." He drops the spoon into the bowl and places it beside my bed on the small table. I stay silent as he curls under the blankets with me.

"Cuddle with me," he wraps his arm around my waist and snuggles his head in my neck. If this is his way of comfort, I don't like it. I wish he was Brandon but I've been ignoring him since he tried to call me the other night. Too much is going on for me right now and I can't be worrying about some dumb guy.

"I don't want to cuddle." My voice comes out harsher than I intended and Ethan looks at me with hurt eyes. He removes his arm and sits up to face me.

"We could go visit mom," he runs his hand through his hair. The idea sounds good, I just don't want to get up and get ready and all that jazz.

"C'mon, Chlo. You need to spend time with her just in case, you know-" I'm thankful for when he doesn't finish the sentence even though I know what he was gonna say.

"Okay," I huff out a breath of air and put on some pants. I put my hair in a messy bun and I don't even bother looking at myself in the mirror because I know if I did the mirror would've shattered.

"Are you going to come with us, dad?" Ethan grabs the car keys from the hook behind the door and he nods as we all walk out to the car.

___________________

"How is she?" David speaks to the doctor while Ethan and I sit in the chairs by the bed my lifeless mother is laying in.

"She's still on life support but I don't know how long we're going to be able to keep her on it." He takes off his glasses and before I realize it the chair I was in is on the floor and I'm rushing toward the old man.

"What do you mean you won't be able to keep her on it!?" I shout at the man and Ethan rushes up behind me and wraps his arms around me to try to calm my nerves.

"Let go of me!" I grit my teeth together and try to swing my arms but Ethan keeps a firm hold on me. Damn those gym classes he's been taking.

"Chloe, calm down!" He screams at me and I'm snapped back into reality from the tone of his harsh voice.