Conversation with Chloe*

It seemed whatever awkward flub I had done the other day had worked itself out. Chloe was still visiting me on the roof during lunch, though we no longer met after school. The single period was better than nothing. This was easily my favorite moment of the day. Chloe would share whatever she brought for lunch and we would sit and talk about whatever the conversation brought.

She giggled, covering her mouth as she tried to finish chewing. “No way! I love that movie.”

“I have a feeling you would get along great with Natalie.”

Chloe continued to smile, but I felt the life fade from it as her Noise shifted to show the same feeling wasn’t behind it. “Natalie?”

“My neighbor. She loves bad movies like that.”

“You watch them often?”

“Not as often as we used to, but we try to squeeze in a movie night a few times a month when she isn’t over at her boyfriend’s place or when he is over.”

“Ah. She has a boyfriend. He nice?”

I shrugged. “Next time we have a movie night, want to come?”

“Really? I’d love that!” she said with a beaming smile. “I haven’t had a movie night in…” There was a darkness in her Noise. It was cold, like a great void. “Well… a while,” she finished flatly.

I didn’t know what that was, but when she looked back at me the feeling faded.

“Ah! Before I forget,” she said, quickly changing the topic. “What’s the plan for Saturday?” By the way she was bouncing with energy, she was excited. A big improvement since when I asked her.

“It starts at six, so how about I pick you up around five?”

“You have a car?” I nodded. “And you take the bus? Why?” she asked with a wrinkled nose.

“I don’t like driving.”

“Still, the bus sucks. I hate it.” She blew at a piece of hair before giving up and brushing it aside. “The amount of times some guy has ‘accidentally’ brushed my ass when it’s crowded…”

An idea popped into my mind. “Maybe I can start driving you home?”

I liked the way my body felt as I saw the happiness and excitement dance through her Noise. It didn’t last long as the joy faded from her face and the sparkle vanished from her eyes. “As much as I would like that…”

“What?” I asked when she didn’t finish.

She gave me a smile as embarrassment rushed through her Noise and showed on her face. “It won’t work.”

“I don’t understand.”

Chloe didn’t meet my gaze as she looked down at her lap. “I have things to do after school.”

“I can wait.”

“You can’t be serious.”

I shrugged. “It’s not any different from waiting for you in the library.”

“Yeah but…” She didn’t finish as she looked at me. “You’re okay with that?”

“I don’t do much after school anyways. Hanging out with you is fun and it will give me a reason to use the car.”

She gave me a smile that caused my body to react strangely. Her Noise was intense enough to cause a physical reaction, but I couldn’t focus on the implications because she was already talking. “If you want… I’d like that.”

I smiled. “It’s settled then. I guess we’ll find out if I remember how to drive tomorrow.”

The sound of her laughter was worth it.