Heather's brief interlude with Chloe

Heather unloaded the scalding water onto her arms. She didn't feel it, and she figured that the hot water heater would empty soon. She had been lucky enough so far, but curious questions about lukewarm showers might be too much. Her Lady Macbeth-esque fixation on cleanliness had to wait, and she needed to build herself up yet gain to deal with the worried Chloe standing outside the door.

If anyone had to notice, at least it was Chloe. Innocent, sweet, Chloe, Heather comforted herself. Not exactly the divine intervention I asked for, but, well, beggars and choosers.

Heather met Chloe's concerned face as she opened the door.

"You okay?" Chloe couldn't ignore Heather's new, bright pink arms. "I would've peeled off my skin!"

"I'm getting there," Heather laughed ruefully. "Kurt's a creep, but I didn't even know he had that in him."

"That was just... gross. I just can't see what the girls see in him! It's like everyone I know has been with him, except like me, Ash, and Victoria." She paused. "And you, well, obviously."

Oh, if only, Heather glowered. "Oh, he can go on the charm offensive really well." Heather moved over to the couch, and Chloe followed the conversation. "He's a chameleon. Be anybody you want at that time. Anything for another notch in his bedpost."

"Was he always like that?"

"No," she sighed. Heather's memory searched her past before Chloe's eyes. "We were best friends as kids. Then puberty hit, I got these, and Kurt moved into obnoxious pig town. It can be a bitch for some girls."

"I... know what you mean." Chloe tried not to draw attention to what lay beneath her baggy shirt.

"Early riser too, eh?" Heather said with a wry grin.

"A training bra when I was nine," Chloe replied glumly. "I hit 32D at 14, and we never looked back."

Heather wore pure contentment on her face. Chloe felt like a kindred spirit in a sense, right down to the teasing, only she grew into a reserved soul while Heather enjoying scampering in the garden of earthly delights. Funny how our experiences can shape two from alike molds so drastically.

She managed to divulge more details on Chloe's experience at the party that Megan bailed her from, only to reveal the aborted climax of the police raid. Chloe seemed way too disappointed by it all, and Heather couldn't stop herself from smiling so broadly that her ears complained. By now, Chloe's face matched her hair color.

"Lemme guess," Heather said, pulling her into a sideways hug. "You're interested, but, unless the situation is right, nothing will happen."

Chloe muttered something under her breath in confirmation.

"Look, maybe I can help. You know Rohit from the astronomy club?"

"Yeah... he was part of Gavin's tutoring gang."

"Good authority tells me he's been trying to find a way to ask you out, and, if you want, I can put in a good word." Heather grinned. "Trust me, you won't be disappointed. He's a romantic."

"Whose good authority is that?" Chloe returned her grin despite herself.

"Heh, you're catching on."

"Speaking of that, Heather, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What the heck happened with you, Hannah, and Taylor this morning?"

Heather blinked. Chloe looked honestly unreadable. Aw c'mon now!