Part 5 (1/2)

”Wow, that was the most...” Chloe started.

Jake was grinning, ”The most?”

Chloe laughed, ”The worst movie ever!”

”It was great, wasn't it?” Jake laughed.

”Totally! I loved it when the killer clowns all got out of the clown car. Ridiculous!” Chloe said.

”Like killer clowns from outer s.p.a.ce isn't completely ridiculous all by itself!” Jake said, getting up and moving toward the exit.

Chloe followed, ”Thanks for taking me. Although, I'm not sure which was worse in all actuality a Killer Clowns From Outer s.p.a.ce or The Wishmaster.”

Jake threw out the popcorn they had shared and took one last sip of his soda, ”You know a movie is bad when it's supposed to be scary and you're laughing as the genie slices them in two because it's so low budget and cheesy.”

”It was so bad, but I loved every minute!” Chloe smiled.

Jake stopped for a moment and looked at Chloe in silence. Chloe looked back at him.

Chloe felt suddenly self conscious and ran a hand through her hair, ”What?”

Jake shook his head as if to clear it, ”Nothing. I was just thinking that you look really pretty when you smile.”

Chloe felt an unexpected thrill run through her and smiled uncontrollably, ”Thank you.”

They walked out of the movie theater in silence, enjoying each other's company and the moment.

”Want to go get some desert or something at the diner across the street?” Jake said as they exited the theater into the warm September night.

”That sounds fun!” Chloe said again, glad to not have to end their evening just yet.

She managed to glance at her watch, as they jaywalked across the street. There was n.o.body really around for it to matter. It was just after midnight. Time had flown. This was the best time she had since she had come to California. She finally felt comfortable and like she had found a good friend. Well, next to Emma, of course, but they were only just getting to know each other. It felt like she and Jake had started up where they had left off. She would be glad to rekindle their friends.h.i.+p.

”A table for two,” Jake said to the hostess as they entered the diner.

Chloe found herself watching him as he waited for the hostess to gather some menus and seat them. He was so different from the boy she had once known and yet, like with the horror movie tonight, she knew that the little boy she once knew was still inside of him. Chloe mentally shook her mind from the place she was afraid it was going to go. He had a girlfriend that he liked, if not loved, Chloe reminded herself. The best she could hope for was his friends.h.i.+p.

The diner was crowded with many people Chloe recognized from school. It was obviously a popular high school late night hang out. Chloe didn't know most of their names, but their faces were already familiar. Some said h.e.l.lo to Jake as the hostess seated them into a private booth. Chloe briefly wondered if they would start gossiping about the fact that Jake was here with her instead of Kate. She pushed the thought aside.

They looked through the desert menu and each ordered a slice of pie. Chloe chose cherry pie, her favorite and Jake chose apple. Both of them ordered their pies alamode. Ice cream made everything better.

When the waitress had taken their orders and left, Jake looked at Chloe seriously, ”I'm really sorry things have been so insane since you got here. I can't imagine how horrible it was to find Lora's body and then start a new school where everyone knew you the next day as the new girl who found a dead body.”

”It has been hard,” Chloe admitted, ”But I'm doing okay.”

”I think you're doing great. I just feel like I've been a real jerk. I know I've been wrapped up in school and football and Kate. I just wanted to get away from everything for a few days. It was like I couldn't not think about what was happening around me and I wanted anything and everything to distract me from it,” Jake said, softly.

”I can understand that,” Chloe nodded.

”Still, you came all the way out here from Chicago and I have pretty much ignored you. I feel bad,” Jake said, his hand nervously playing with the straw in his water.

”It's okay,” Chloe said a little more adamantly. ”You have a life and a girlfriend here and I don't want to interrupt it.”

”You're not and I wanted to make sure you know that. In fact, like I said, Kate and I are going to the beach tomorrow. Are you interested in coming with us?” Jake asked.

Chloe's immediate thought was yes, but she hesitated. She knew that Kate would not appreciate her intrusion into their beach date, ”I don't know...”

”Oh come on. It'll be fun,” Jake cajoled.

”Well, I'm not sure Kate...” Chloe started.

”Kate will be fine with it. I know how she comes off. It's all an act. She has a tough time trusting people. Her family life has been really rotten and she had a really bad relations.h.i.+p experience before me. Inside she's really sweet and caring. I know you guys can be friends and I know she hasn't been exactly the sweetest to you. I think she's afraid I'll ditch her, disappear on her. I won't. That's one thing I'd never do. It was done to me and I wouldn't do that,” Jake was suddenly lost in his own thoughts.

”She's lucky to have a guy like you,” Chloe said, meaning it.

”Thanks,” Jake smiled.

Chloe smiled in return. It quickly faded when over Jake's shoulder she saw a disheveled Kate walk into the diner. She was wearing sweatpants and a sweats.h.i.+rt, hair unruly, with no make-up. She looked completely unlike the well coiffed girl Chloe had grown used to seeing. Kate looked around distractedly, searching, and then locked eyes with Chloe.

Chloe glanced at Jake, who was still smiling at her, ”Uh, Jake I think we have a...”

Chloe wasn't able to get the words out by the time an angry Kate approached them, ”Jake! What are you two doing here?”

Jake looked shocked, ”Kate? What are you doing here? I thought you had things to do?”

Kate had her hands on her hips, standing formidably over the table, eyes blazing with anger. ”I did have things to do, but they're done now. So, what are you doing here with her?”

The ”her” had an accusatory note attached to it that felt almost like a physical slap to Chloe. She felt a distinct uncomfortableness settle over the table.

Chloe tried to intervene, ”Kate, it's not what it looks like.”

Kate glared at her and through gritted teeth slowly said, ”I'm not talking to you.”

Chloe felt silenced and looked helplessly at Jake, who still appeared to be completely sh.e.l.l shocked at Kate's appearance in the diner.

”It's not her fault,” Jake said, snapping out of it, ”We just went to a movie together. We talked about this, Kate. Chloe and I live in the same house together. We were best friends as kids. I want to be friends with her again. It has nothing to do with you.”

Kate looked torn, wondering if she should believe him. Chloe wished she were anyplace else. Jake was staring at Kate.

”I would never hurt you or cheat on you. I promise,” Jake said softly, taking Kate's arm in his and trying to pull her down into the booth next to him.

The fight seemed to have gone out of Kate suddenly and she slid into the booth with Jake. Chloe wished again that she could leave, but there was still nowhere for her to go.