I picked up the pace of our morning jog as Chloe and I passed the half way mark, quickly reaching down for my phone as I switched off my music to take a breather. Chloe noticed I'd stopped and slowed down to a halt, taking out her ear bud to give me a puzzled look.
"You ok?" She asked, jogging to my side.
I nodded with a pained smile, wiping my forehead as I began to take a look around this beautiful place we lived in. Chicago had it's perks and it's downfalls, but mostly it was the perfect place for us to live and grow. This place never got old and there was always something to do, especially for girls our age who barely slept and wanted to break out into a career.
The trees were beginning to turn a rosy red as what was left of the Summer grass began to turn brown. The sight alone was stunning, I'd never seen Chicago in the Fall or Winter season, but I'd heard numerous raves about it.
"Uh, Kens...you ok?" Chloe stepped back into my view, her brow arching at the sight of me inspecting a leaf. I dropped the leaf once I'd realized it had somehow landed in my hand and finally looked back up to face her.
"Yeah," I replied, wiping the back of my neck.
Who knew I could ever sweat this much in the Fall?
"It's just beautiful here," I finished, hanging my ear buds around my neck.
I clasped my hands to my cheeks as Chloe and I walked the rest of the way to the coffee shop down the street, I was getting colder and colder as we neared and finally my cheeks warmed the minute we walked into the building.
"This feels so much better," Chloe sniffed, shaking out from her jacket as we began reading the menu. We'd both decided on two cappuccinos and quickly headed to the corner of the shop with our mugs in hand.
"So, hows the job going?" Chloe took a sip, her bright blue eyes looking out from over her cup as we sat down.
I smiled, taking a sip of my own, "It's a job. Pays well and the manager told me I'm already getting a raise. Who does that?"
Chloe tilted her head mockingly, "I bet he's kidding, why would he give you a raise so quickly?"
She was right, but I'd already pointed out the obvious myself. He had to be kidding, all I'd done was shadow Adrienne all night...what could he possibly be praising me for?
"Maybe he likes you," She hinted, finally shaking my thoughts.
"No," I interjected before she could continue, "I can tell he thinks I'm not capable of getting the job done. Whenever he's around me, it's like he's watching to see if I'll mess up."
She took another sip of her coffee as she continued to observe my face, "Johnny says he's not easy to impress, says he's really intimidating or something. I should apply for the job too, I'd be the perfect employee to show him who's boss."
I smiled, immediately thinking of Adrienne, "I think he already has one of those. There's a girl who works their that I'm sure is with him, they look really close."
Chloe set down her mug, "Is it that girl with the blonde hair?"
"Oh no, that's Taylor. She's kind of--"
"Mackensie?" I heard my name from across the cafe and all the sudden my world fell.
I jumped the minute my name left his lips and before even turning to face him, I began glaring at Chloe.
"Chloe, please tell me that isn't him," I growled under my breath, keeping my gaze away from his.
She swallowed and I could see the fear in her eyes that she was not going to give me good news, "Want me to flick him off? I'm sure he'll leave then."
