Liberosis

Nodus Tollens

Chloe made sure Rachel got to her block safely, as if she was worried she'd do something else. Rachel entered her house to find her mom and dad come up to her instantly, worry showing in their faces.

Her mom put her hands on her shoulders and then hugged her. "Where were you, sweetheart? The school called and said you weren't in class, though your father had taken you to school."

Rachel pulled away, proceeding to head upstairs. "I'm tired."

But her father grabbed her arm. "We imagined the worst, Rachel. Then the principal said you left with another student, you didn't answer your phone and we thought you got hurt in the fire."

"I did leave with another student," she said, shaking him off. "I'm okay. Now let me go. I am tired."

"Fine, don't tell me. But tomorrow we have a meeting with Ray in the morning to clear things up."

"Fine." Rachel went up the stairs.

When she finally reached her room, she laid on bed. Rachel felt drained after letting it all out, no tears left to drop. She just wanted to forget about today—then she glanced at the mints on her bedside table—except for Chloe and how she made her feel.

The way Chloe had trembled in the junkyard, as if it'd be the last time they see each other. The way Chloe gave in to her touch when she wiped her tears. Chloe almost looked like she wished her tears were glue so Rachel would never let go of her...

Chloe Price wasn't some heartless bitch. She cared deeply for the people left in her life--she just didn't care about herself, which upset Rachel.

Rachel swallowed a couple of mints, maybe her mouth still smelled like wine, and then checked her blog. Damn, she had a lot of messages. Each one of them contained the word: Fire. She shut her laptop down, not even noticing her mom had entered the room with a tray on her hands.

"I thought you might be hungry," Rose said calmly, placing it next to her.

Rachel wanted to cry at the gesture. Her mom had no idea her husband was a cheating scumbag. "Thanks, mom."

Rose just smiled at her daughter and kissed her forehead, making her way out of the room.

"I'm sorry," Rachel blurted out and the woman turned.

Her mom frowned. "For what?"

"I... uh, for worrying you."

"I'm just glad that you're safe." Rose smiled at her one last time and left her alone to eat.

Rachel wrinkled her nose and buried her face on the pillow. Her mother was a saint, not deserving of her husband's sins. She just wanted to hit him for being so stupid... That reminded her, her dad didn't punish her. He didn't push. He didn't lash out at her and make her cry. Why?

Did he see her? Did he want her to keep his disgusting secret? No way... they were far too high for that whore and that woman to see them. Even Rachel had to use a viewfinder to spot them better.

Maybe since it was school-related, her dad would just let Wells deal with it, let Wells decide if Rachel's gonna be punished or not. The thought scared her.

Suddenly, her cellphone buzzed and she saw she had a text from Chloe. You okay? she'd written.

Made it into my house without seeing either of my parents! Rachel lied, not even sure why. Maybe lying was just a habit when it came to them. A bad one.

Chloe: sweet! u were born to be a spy, jumping out of trains and shit

Rachel blushed. Oh man. We'd make such a great team. No enemy viewfinder would ever be safe from you again.