Nice Rachel We're Having

Acid to my Alkaline

Rachel's POV:

Did I just throw a beer bottle at a skeevy asshole and rescue the Blackwell rebel? Why, yes. Yes, I did. This is going great... except what the fuck do I do now? It's 12:09 am and I now have Price with me... shit. I didn't plan this far. And idiot me forgot to grab my house keys, and Dad locked the doors according to our security system. Ughhh.

As we walk down the dark streets, I can't help but feel grateful for the adrenaline still pumping through my veins. It was a rush standing up to that guy and helping Chloe out. But now I'm left with the aftermath, and the last thing I want to do is go home and face my dad's disappointment. Maybe with a little bit of convincing, even though she doesn't know me at all really, Chloe might let me stay at her house. It'd be too loud to unlock the door with keys anyways, or maybe I'm just making excuses to stay with her longer. And we're close to the mill, probably best to go before that dude sees us.

I was deep in thought when an excited voice interrupts, "Holy shit, did you see that asshole back there?! You totally made him your bitch!" Chloe says.

I feel my cheeks flush as I turn to look at her. Am I staring? No, she can't get the hint I like her.

Top mode activated.

I look her straight in her deep ocean blue eyes and flirtatiously say, "Did you see yourself? You argued your way through a monstrous fucking bouncer and were ready for that asshat before I came, I was just your backup." I give her a little wink, and I'm pretty sure I see a little pink in her cheeks. Well, she definitely could like girls if I'm making her blush. Awesome! "Anyways~ My dad locked all of our doors, and I forgot my keys. Mind if I stay with you tonight?" I say with my Rachel Amber charisma. Okay, not really. More like my "Hi, I'm really fucking gay for you, and I know we just met, but can we get married" charisma. "Oh- uh sure. I don't see why not. Just beware of the fucking dictator I live with. My Mom is chill though. I mean, I don't know how much you'll like my house. It's not rea-" I cut her off. "I don't care if you sleep in a cardboard box, honestly. I've never snuck out for this long, and my parents can't catch me. They think I'm sleeping over at a friend's house. They only know that but if I try to go in through my window and I get caught, I'm dead meat."

"Oh, okay then." We start walking all the way back to her house, but stopped in our tracks since Chloe also snuck out, and we both reek of alcohol and weed. 

So we decided to head to the local convenience store. As we walk towards the convenience store, Chloe's rebellious spirit seems to have lifted my own. With every step, I feel a little more alive, a little more free. When we arrive at the store, Chloe heads straight to the candy aisle, grabbing a handful of candy bars and shoving them into her pockets. I can't help but laugh at her childlike enthusiasm.

But as I wander the aisles, I realize that I'm hungry. Starving, actually. And lucky for me, my dad is so loaded he doesn't even notice when I take money. I've got two hundred bucks with me, and I don't feel guilty at all about spending it. I ask Chloe if she wants anything, catching her off guard.

"It doesn't really matter," she says, shrugging. "I'm sure you don't have that much on you anyways. You don't need to waste it on me."

I shake my head, determined to spoil her a little. "No way. I want to treat you. People know me around here, and I don't want to show off my money, but I'll be damned if I don't use it to make someone else's day better."

We grab some food, mints, and perfume, then head towards her house. I'm nervous about staying with her, but I can tell that she's excited to have someone to hang out with.

As we walk, I can feel the tension between us start to dissipate. We talk about everything and nothing, laughing and joking like old friends. When we finally reach her house, I'm surprised to find that it's not as run-down as I expected. Sure, it's not a mansion, but it's cozy and welcoming, with a warm glow emanating from the windows.

We finally make it to Chloe's house, and she leads me to her room. It's small but cozy, with posters of punk bands and vintage movies covering the walls. She flops down onto her bed and pats the spot next to her, gesturing for me to sit down.

"So, what's the deal with your dad acting weird lately?" Chloe asks, curiously.I let out a heavy sigh, knowing that I can trust Chloe. "He's been distant lately, always on his phone, and never really paying attention to me. He's also been really secretive about his work, and he's been coming home late every night. It's not like him, you know?"

Chloe nods understandingly, and I appreciate her sympathy. "That's rough, Amber. You know you can always talk to me about anything, right?"I smile at her, feeling grateful for her friendship. "I know, Chloe. Thanks. I'm just worried about him. He's been my rock since my mom left, and I don't know what I'd do if something happened to him."

Chloe puts her arm around me, and I rest my head on her shoulder. It feels like we've known each other for years, not just a few hours. I feel safe and comfortable around her, like I can be myself without any judgments.

We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company. Then Chloe suddenly sits up, looking at me with mischievous eyes.

"You know what we should do?" she says, grinning.I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "What?""We should play Truth or Dare!"I can't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. "Seriously? You want to play Truth or Dare at 1:00 am?"Chloe shrugs. "Why not? It'll be fun! I'll go first. Truth or Dare?"I can't resist her infectious energy, so I play along. "Truth."Chloe's eyes gleam with excitement. "Ooh, okay. What's the craziest thing you've ever done?"I think for a moment, trying to come up with something that's both crazy and appropriate to share. "Um, I once snuck into a museum after hours and danced around the exhibits with my friends."

Chloe's eyes widen in awe. "That's badass, Amber! You have to take me there sometime."We continue playing for a while, each of us sharing secrets and completing dares. I can feel myself getting more and more comfortable around Chloe, letting my guard down and opening up to her in a way that I never have with anyone else.As the game winds down, we both start to yawn and feel the effects of the long night catching up with us. Chloe turns off the lights, and we crawl under the covers together."Thanks for staying with me tonight, Amber," Chloe says, her voice soft and sincere.I turn to face her, and she brushes a strand of hair out of my face. My heart starts to race as I realize how close we are, and I can feel the tension building between us."Anytime, Price," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

We stay like that for a few minutes, just looking into each other's eyes. It's electric, like a shock of electricity running through my body. And I want it. So bad. 

But good things take time.