Night's End*

Sophie had been right to have me invite Chloe. Tonight would have been another mess of garbled Noise and painful headaches without her. The entire night, my attention had never wavered from her. In a blink, the night was over and we were sitting in front of her apartment building. I could tell that the way we sat in silence that neither one of us wanted the night to end.

She broke the silence first. “I had a lot of fun,” she said softly. “Tonight was… Well… It was unbelievable. Never thought I would actually get to meet famous people.” Her expression grew serious as she met my gaze. “And it’s all thanks to you.”

I **** a smile, trying to put all I could muster behind it. “Believe me, you saved me from a lot of suffering. These things are usually insufferable. Tonight though? Passed way too quickly.”

Opening the door, I felt her Noise turn to sadness and acceptance as I moved around to her side. It was the official end of our night. Helping her out of the car, we had another silent moment. I felt the awkwardness radiating through her Noise.

Oh right. Of course.

Digging into my pocket, I felt her confusion before I pulled out the money. “Two thousand. As agreed.”

She stared at the money and I could feel a flurry of emotions flow through her. The ones that settled were negative as she slowly reached out and took it. I knew something was wrong because the joyous comfort of her Noise had soured. When she looked up at me, her smile was betrayed by the sadness in her Noise. She started to say something but stopped. The sadness deepened as more negative emotions further sullied her Noise.

The smile she gave me no longer reached her eyes and was cold. “You know, there is a hotel around the block,” she said with a fake cheer in her voice. “I feel a bit guilty taking so much when it seemed like I was having all the fun. I’ll pay for the room if you want to get your money’s worth out of me.”

“Chloe…”

Fear spiked as she stepped back, casting her gaze away. “Or not. That’s fine too.”

“Chloe,” I said in a firm voice, reaching out and resting my hands on her arms before she could flee. I felt it in her Noise. She was ashamed and her sadness was growing. I said nothing until she had the courage to meet my gaze. “I’m… not good at these things. If I’ve done something to offend or upset you, I’m sorry. Please tell me.”

“Why are you so nice to me?”

“What?”

Tears were starting to form. “I don’t understand you at all! You say and do all these nice things, but why? Why me?”

“Because we are friends.” I scratched at my cheek. “Unless… we aren’t?”

Her eyes were wide as she stared up at me. “Friends?” I nodded and she looked at the money in her hands. “Then why pay me if you weren’t going to sleep with me?”

“I thought—” Her Noise was all over the place as she held onto my every word. “I thought you wouldn’t go with me if I didn’t pay you. I’m sorry if I misunderstood something or caused a misunderstanding. I was never paying for your body. I was paying for you. Your time. Company.”

Her jaw went slack. “Are you an idiot?”

I pressed my lips together. “Not the first time I’ve heard that recently.”

She pressed the money against my chest. “I can’t accept this.” Even as she said that I could feel the torn nature of her thoughts. She cared a lot about money, and there was almost a physical aversion to giving it back. She was pushing through it, trying to suppress the greed and desire inside her.

“Keep it,” I said as I gently pushed her hand away.

“No. You really need to take it back. I can’t keep this. Please.”

Taking her hand, I closed her hand tighter around the money before gently pushing it back towards her. I said nothing else, just holding it there until I saw her surrender. When I removed my hand, she didn’t try to give me the money back.

“Friends,” she said softly, a sad smile on her face. Her Noise held a bittersweet sadness there mixed with acceptance and a little happiness. “I suppose I can live with that.” Lifting out of her heels, she pressed her hands against my chest before kissing me on the cheek. With one last somber look, she turned and walked towards the door. “Thanks for the great night, Jake. It was a night I will never forget.”

I watched her walk away, my heart racing from the invisible emotions that failed to touch my mind. My hand pressed against the cheek where she had kissed me. I could still smell the new and exciting scent she had chosen for tonight. The memories of the wonderful new experiences and quirks that had happened over the long night. This wonderful and fun Chloe I’d never met before.

There was no fear holding me back. No doubt or uncertainty that would cause another man to hesitate. I was sure of my path as I took a step after her.

“Chloe.” Hearing her name, she stopped and turned around to face me. “We don’t have to be friends. Not if you don’t want to.”

Confusion danced around her Noise.

“I’m happy with a friendship—”

“I’m talking about something more.” Her eyes widened as she realized what I was asking. “I can’t—I can’t be normal. My Gift it… It makes it hard for me to connect to people. To feel things. But with you…” I struggled with the words. It was hard to think with the powerful rush of emotions pouring from her. “It’s different. It makes me want to try. So if it’s okay with you—”

I didn’t get much farther than that before she closed the distance to leap against me. In my arms, she crushed herself against me. Lips pressed against mine, I felt her. Felt her.

And I’d never felt better.