Looking Into Your (My) Eyes* -BE MORE CHILL

Chapter Four: Kidnapping, Interrogation, and Texts

CHAPTER FOUR

    Ideally, the two had wanted to end up in Michael's basement, or Jeremy's house, or literally anywhere other than Chloe Valentine's living room.

    To say the ride over there was "tragically awkward" would be a massive understatement. She had all but thrown the boys into her car (one that was almost too nice for an average high school junior). Jeremy had gotten into the rhythm of bouncing his leg and using Michael's hoodie to his advantage. By the time they pulled onto the main road he was already buried into the big, soft, admittedly sweaty fabric. Trying, and failing, to forget the fact that he was technically being kidnapped.

    Her house was only a small ways from the school, but it felt like an eternity due to eerie silence, save for the occasional screeching of tires from Chloe's abrupt turns and most likely speeding.

    Wordlessly, they stumbled into her house. Michael had paused before entering, debating if he could make a run for it. Jeremy can run pretty fast... but is immediately foiled by a hand on his shoulder, pushing him through the doorway.

    Chloe, sure the be the last to enter, closes and locks her front door.

    "Well?" Her voice cuts into the air. She takes her time swinging off her jacket and elegantly falls onto the couch before continuing. She crosses her legs and holds her head up high.

    "SPILL,"

    Jeremy and Michael didn't know any better than to just stand in the center of the room rocking on their heels. By the time they scan the room and count a reasonable number of places they could've just casually sat down, Chloe is getting impatient.

    "I said, 'SPILL'!"

    "Spill... what?" Michael asks, overselling a miserable façade of obliviousness.

    "Did I fucking stutter, Heere?"

    A moment passes, where the only sign of life in the massive house was a faint tick, tock coming from a grandfather clock a few rooms over.

    "Are you guys fighting?"

    "No!"

    "Are you both mad at someone else?"

    "N-no,"

    "Is one of you sick?"

    "Nah,"

    Chloe stands up.

    "...Are you dating?"

    "NO!" The boys practically shout in unison, both sets of eyes darting to the ground in hopes of making sure the other doesn't see the blush flooding their faces.

    Idiots, Chloe thinks. She moves a few steps forward.

    Michael pouts and twists his head over to Jeremy, motioning in Chloe's direction.

    "M-maybe you're just being overly observant, Chloe-" Jeremy tries to add on, slouching a bit more with every word.

    "UGGGH!" Her anger is replaced by defeat in record time. "...Don't make me say it."

    "Say what, Clo?"

    She huffs a second time and puts a hand to her forehead.

    "Look, ever since October, we've all gotten real close," she pauses, giving a small, sincere smile. "I may seem like a total bitch sometimes, but I'm not heartless. If you're hiding something that's hurting you guys- whatever, you get my point." Her eyebrows are back to being scrunched down, waiting for a response.