Concrete Angel
By: Sara Hudspeth (jbehr2002)
E-mail: sarahud@bellsouth.net
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Roswell! I also do not have any rights to the song “Concrete Angel,” by Martina McBride.
Summary: (AU-M/L) I’ll tell you now that this story might be a bit depressing but only because there will be issues of child abuse in it. Max and Liz are married and have an 8-year-old son, Shane. Shane must decide how to help his new best friend Chloe.
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~ Part 1 ~
“Shane” Liz called her son downstairs for breakfast. “Get down here right now if you to eat before we go school shopping.”
“I’m coming Mom, I just have to finish making my bed.” Shane yelled back down to his Mom. He hurried with his bed and went over to the window to open his blinds. As he looked outside, he noticed that there was a moving truck in the driveway next door.
“Shane do I have to send your Dad up there after you?” Liz yelled again.
“Coming!” Shane yelled back. He grabbed his shoes and ran downstairs into the kitchen where his parents were already at the table eating. “Guess what, someone is finally moving in next door” Shane informed his parents. “I wonder if they have a son?”
“Well I’m sure whoever they are you will like they with or without a son.” Max told his son.
“Maybe when I get back from the mall with Shane I will bake them a plate of cookies or something.” Liz said.
“That sounds nice Sweetheart.” Max told his wife as he stood up to take their plates to the sink. “If I’m not to late getting home form the office I’ll go over there with you two.” He bent down to give Liz a quick kiss goodbye. As he started to stand up, she pulled him down into a deeper kiss.
“YUCK! Do you guys always have to do that!” Shane yelled. “Dad I know you love Mom and everything, but to you have to do that to her?” Shane just could not see how anyone could love a girl that much. Isn’t he afraid of getting cooties?
“Son, one day you will find a girl that you want to kiss and you won’t see problem in kissing her.” Max told his son bending down to give him a quick hug goodbye. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“Bye babe” Liz said as she blew her husband one last kiss as he walked through the door. “So Shane, What kind of cloths are cool this year?”
“Mom can’t you just get me some jeans and shirts while I hang out in the toy store?”
“No, you need to be there to try the outfits on. Besides if you go to the toy store I’ll just get you a bunch of collar shirts and bow ties.” She joked with her son. She busted up laughing when she saw the horrified look on his face.
“Mom, there is no way I will step one foot into school if you dress me like that! It’s bad enough that you work at my school.”
“Well then you better come in the stores with me and pick out the clothes you want to wear.” Liz told him.
“Okay well can we go now so I can go swimming this afternoon?” Shane asked.
“I’m ready when you are!” Liz said as she got up and grabbed her purse.
TBC…
Concrete Angel (AU,M/L- TEEN) [COMPLETE]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Erina, Hunter, Forum Moderators
Concrete Angel (AU,M/L- TEEN) [COMPLETE]
Last edited by jbehr2002 on Mon Jul 07, 2003 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Part 2
It was around noon when Liz and Shane arrived back home from the mall. As they pulled into the driveway Shane looked out to see the most beautiful girl in the driveway next door. She was carrying a box out of the moving truck. Liz looked over at her son who had become very still in the seat next to her.
“Earth to Shane, are you still with me?” Liz said waving a hand in front of her son’s face.
“What?” Shane said suddenly taking his eyes off the girl and looking over to his Mom.
“What are you looking at? If I didn’t know better I would say my little boy likes the new girl next door.” Liz said smiling as her son turned as red as an apple.
“I do not like her, I bet she has cooties!” Shane said hoping his Mom would believe him.
Liz just looked at her son and said, “Okay sweetie, well lets get these shopping bags out of this car before I melt in this heat!”
Shane jumped out of the car grabbing all the bags and rushed to the front door. Liz walked slowly behind him shaking her head. He acted so much like his father when he was trying to hide his true feelings about something. She got her keys out to open the door as she walked up onto the porch. She opened the door and Shane push right past her and ran up the stairs into his room.
“Shane, make sure you put away all of those new clothes!” Liz yelled up to her son.
“I will.” He yelled back and closed his door.
He dumped the bags of clothes out on his bed and went over to his closet to get some hangers. As he opened the closet door, he noticed the light on in window of the little girl’s house. He was able to look right into the window being it was directly across from his. That’s when he saw her once again. She was sitting on the floor going through several brown boxes around her. She had her window opened. Shane slowly opened his window trying to think of something to say. Then he got an idea. He walked over to his desk and got a piece of paper. Carefully he wrote on it, “What’s your name?” Then he carefully folded it into a paper airplane. He walked back over to the window and threw it right into her room, hitting her on the head.
“Ouch!” he heard her say grabbing for whatever hit her head. He held his breath while she carefully unfolded the airplane to see what was written inside.
As she read the note she looked up to see where it had come from. There, standing in the window she saw the cutest boy standing in the window of the house next door. She slowly stood up straightening out her dress and pulling her sweater back down her arms. Then she walked over to the window facing the boy’s room.
“Hi.” Shane said to her, still in awe of her.
“Hi.” She replied back to him.
“So, do you have an answer to my note?” Shane asked desperately wanting to know her name.
“My name is Chloe.” She told him.
Chloe. He had never heard a more beautiful name in his life, and her voice was so soft and sweet. He snapped out of his daydream when she started to laugh.
“What?” he asked her.
“Why are you just standing there starring at me like that?” she asked trying not to laugh.
“Was I? Sorry.” he said.
“Well I told you my name. What is yours?”
“Shane. Shane Evans.” He nervously blurted out.
“Well it’s nice to meet you Shane.” Chloe said.
Then Shane saw her jump when someone in her house yelled, “Chloe get down here and get this mess cleaned up NOW!” he had never heard a voice sound that mean.
“Sorry Shane I have to go.” Chloe said as she turned and ran out of her room.
Shane just sat there and starred at her window wishing she would come back so he could hear that sweet voice once again. Then he remembered his Mom wanting to bring something over there later today. That’s when he decided to go down stairs so he could help his Mom so they could get over there as soon as possible.
TBC…
It was around noon when Liz and Shane arrived back home from the mall. As they pulled into the driveway Shane looked out to see the most beautiful girl in the driveway next door. She was carrying a box out of the moving truck. Liz looked over at her son who had become very still in the seat next to her.
“Earth to Shane, are you still with me?” Liz said waving a hand in front of her son’s face.
“What?” Shane said suddenly taking his eyes off the girl and looking over to his Mom.
“What are you looking at? If I didn’t know better I would say my little boy likes the new girl next door.” Liz said smiling as her son turned as red as an apple.
“I do not like her, I bet she has cooties!” Shane said hoping his Mom would believe him.
Liz just looked at her son and said, “Okay sweetie, well lets get these shopping bags out of this car before I melt in this heat!”
Shane jumped out of the car grabbing all the bags and rushed to the front door. Liz walked slowly behind him shaking her head. He acted so much like his father when he was trying to hide his true feelings about something. She got her keys out to open the door as she walked up onto the porch. She opened the door and Shane push right past her and ran up the stairs into his room.
“Shane, make sure you put away all of those new clothes!” Liz yelled up to her son.
“I will.” He yelled back and closed his door.
He dumped the bags of clothes out on his bed and went over to his closet to get some hangers. As he opened the closet door, he noticed the light on in window of the little girl’s house. He was able to look right into the window being it was directly across from his. That’s when he saw her once again. She was sitting on the floor going through several brown boxes around her. She had her window opened. Shane slowly opened his window trying to think of something to say. Then he got an idea. He walked over to his desk and got a piece of paper. Carefully he wrote on it, “What’s your name?” Then he carefully folded it into a paper airplane. He walked back over to the window and threw it right into her room, hitting her on the head.
“Ouch!” he heard her say grabbing for whatever hit her head. He held his breath while she carefully unfolded the airplane to see what was written inside.
As she read the note she looked up to see where it had come from. There, standing in the window she saw the cutest boy standing in the window of the house next door. She slowly stood up straightening out her dress and pulling her sweater back down her arms. Then she walked over to the window facing the boy’s room.
“Hi.” Shane said to her, still in awe of her.
“Hi.” She replied back to him.
“So, do you have an answer to my note?” Shane asked desperately wanting to know her name.
“My name is Chloe.” She told him.
Chloe. He had never heard a more beautiful name in his life, and her voice was so soft and sweet. He snapped out of his daydream when she started to laugh.
“What?” he asked her.
“Why are you just standing there starring at me like that?” she asked trying not to laugh.
“Was I? Sorry.” he said.
“Well I told you my name. What is yours?”
“Shane. Shane Evans.” He nervously blurted out.
“Well it’s nice to meet you Shane.” Chloe said.
Then Shane saw her jump when someone in her house yelled, “Chloe get down here and get this mess cleaned up NOW!” he had never heard a voice sound that mean.
“Sorry Shane I have to go.” Chloe said as she turned and ran out of her room.
Shane just sat there and starred at her window wishing she would come back so he could hear that sweet voice once again. Then he remembered his Mom wanting to bring something over there later today. That’s when he decided to go down stairs so he could help his Mom so they could get over there as soon as possible.
TBC…
Part 3
Shane ran into the kitchen so fast that he ran straight into his Mother.
“Shane honey slow down.”
“Sorry Mom, we just need to start making those cookies for our new neighbors.”
“Why are we in such a rush to make these cookies Shane? This morning you didn’t seem to care that much.”
“Mom, This morning I didn’t know she lived…I mean they just look as if they need some cookies.” Shane hoped his Mom didn’t catch his slip up.
“Well I thought you wanted to meet Maria and Josh at the pool, but if we must make these cookies now I’ll call Maria and let her know we will be late.” Liz said to her son. “Why don’t you go and clean up before you touch the food.”
Shane ran out of the kitchen and back upstairs while Liz picked up the phone to call Maria.
“Hello.” Maria said.
“Hey, it’s Liz. Shane and I are going to be late meeting you guys at the pool.”
“Is Shane going to like missing play time with Josh?” Maria asked puzzled knowing their kids had been planning this all week.
“Actually Shane is the reason were going to be late.”
“Is he okay?” Maria asked.
“Yeah, he’s fine. However, I think he might have a crush on the new little girl next door.” Liz said.
“What! Mister all girls have cooties has a crush on a girl!” Maria laughed.
“He wants to make them cookies before we leave.” Liz said.
“Well I’ll blame it on you when I tell Josh you’re going to be late. That way he won’t tease Shane when you get here. Just make sure you give me all the details!” Maria said.
“Maria, they are eight years old. How many details can there possibly be?”
“You never know Liz, he is Max Evans son!”
Liz laughed, “Well I guess you could be right. This little girl is one lucky girl if he does take after Max. Anyway, I guess I will see you in about an hour. Bye.”
“Bye Liz.”
Liz hung up the phone and started to get the ingredients out as Shane came running down the stairs.
“Okay Shane, what kind of cookies are we making?”
“Um…how about double chocolate chip.”
“Okay. I’m pretty sure we have all the things we need.” Liz said while getting the ingredients out.
An hour later after they cleaned up their mess they wrapped the cookies up and put them in a tin.
“Shane, now that we have these cookies done why don’t you run upstairs and get your swimsuit on.”
“Mom, aren’t we going to bring the cookies over there now?”
“What happened to going to the pool? If we don’t leave now it will be too late to go at all.” Liz told him.
“But Mom! Can’t we take the cookies over there really quick, then we can go to the pool.”
“Well I guess if we are really quick.” Liz said.
Before Liz even got the words out of her mouth, Shane was running towards the door. Liz busted up laughing as her son tripped over his shoes and landing on his butt in the doorway.
“Honey, would you please slow down before you don’t make it next door alive!” Liz said as Shane stood back up in the doorway.
“Sorry Mom.”
Liz couldn’t help but purposely walk slowly over to the neighbor’s porch. Shane turned around and glared at her and she finally quickened her pace before her son had a heart attack waiting on her. As they got to the door, Liz reached out for the doorbell, but Shane grabbed her hand stopping her.
“What?” Liz asked confused by her son’s actions.
“Mom, do you think that Chloe can come with us to the pool?” Shane asked.
“Who is Chloe?”
“She lives here. I met her in my room earlier.” Shane informed her.
“Honey, what was she doing in you room?”
“She wasn’t in my room Mom. Her bedroom window is across from mine.”
“Oh. Well if it is okay with her Mom I suppose she can come with us.” Liz told him gesturing towards the doorbell. Shane reached out and pushed the button. They stood there for a minute when the door finally opened. Standing in the doorway was someone that Liz had hoped never to see again in her life.
TBC…
Shane ran into the kitchen so fast that he ran straight into his Mother.
“Shane honey slow down.”
“Sorry Mom, we just need to start making those cookies for our new neighbors.”
“Why are we in such a rush to make these cookies Shane? This morning you didn’t seem to care that much.”
“Mom, This morning I didn’t know she lived…I mean they just look as if they need some cookies.” Shane hoped his Mom didn’t catch his slip up.
“Well I thought you wanted to meet Maria and Josh at the pool, but if we must make these cookies now I’ll call Maria and let her know we will be late.” Liz said to her son. “Why don’t you go and clean up before you touch the food.”
Shane ran out of the kitchen and back upstairs while Liz picked up the phone to call Maria.
“Hello.” Maria said.
“Hey, it’s Liz. Shane and I are going to be late meeting you guys at the pool.”
“Is Shane going to like missing play time with Josh?” Maria asked puzzled knowing their kids had been planning this all week.
“Actually Shane is the reason were going to be late.”
“Is he okay?” Maria asked.
“Yeah, he’s fine. However, I think he might have a crush on the new little girl next door.” Liz said.
“What! Mister all girls have cooties has a crush on a girl!” Maria laughed.
“He wants to make them cookies before we leave.” Liz said.
“Well I’ll blame it on you when I tell Josh you’re going to be late. That way he won’t tease Shane when you get here. Just make sure you give me all the details!” Maria said.
“Maria, they are eight years old. How many details can there possibly be?”
“You never know Liz, he is Max Evans son!”
Liz laughed, “Well I guess you could be right. This little girl is one lucky girl if he does take after Max. Anyway, I guess I will see you in about an hour. Bye.”
“Bye Liz.”
Liz hung up the phone and started to get the ingredients out as Shane came running down the stairs.
“Okay Shane, what kind of cookies are we making?”
“Um…how about double chocolate chip.”
“Okay. I’m pretty sure we have all the things we need.” Liz said while getting the ingredients out.
An hour later after they cleaned up their mess they wrapped the cookies up and put them in a tin.
“Shane, now that we have these cookies done why don’t you run upstairs and get your swimsuit on.”
“Mom, aren’t we going to bring the cookies over there now?”
“What happened to going to the pool? If we don’t leave now it will be too late to go at all.” Liz told him.
“But Mom! Can’t we take the cookies over there really quick, then we can go to the pool.”
“Well I guess if we are really quick.” Liz said.
Before Liz even got the words out of her mouth, Shane was running towards the door. Liz busted up laughing as her son tripped over his shoes and landing on his butt in the doorway.
“Honey, would you please slow down before you don’t make it next door alive!” Liz said as Shane stood back up in the doorway.
“Sorry Mom.”
Liz couldn’t help but purposely walk slowly over to the neighbor’s porch. Shane turned around and glared at her and she finally quickened her pace before her son had a heart attack waiting on her. As they got to the door, Liz reached out for the doorbell, but Shane grabbed her hand stopping her.
“What?” Liz asked confused by her son’s actions.
“Mom, do you think that Chloe can come with us to the pool?” Shane asked.
“Who is Chloe?”
“She lives here. I met her in my room earlier.” Shane informed her.
“Honey, what was she doing in you room?”
“She wasn’t in my room Mom. Her bedroom window is across from mine.”
“Oh. Well if it is okay with her Mom I suppose she can come with us.” Liz told him gesturing towards the doorbell. Shane reached out and pushed the button. They stood there for a minute when the door finally opened. Standing in the doorway was someone that Liz had hoped never to see again in her life.
TBC…
Part 4
Tess. Tess Harding lived next door to her!
“Liz? Is that you?” Tess asked.
“Uh. Yeah. Hi Tess.” Liz mumbled, as her stomach grew sick at the thought of having Tess live next door to her.
“Mom?” Shane said grabbing the cookies. Then he looked toward Tess and handed them to her. “My Mom and I made these for you and Chloe!” he said enthusiastically. “Where is Chloe?”
“She is upstairs in her room unpacking.” Tess replied.
Shane turned towards his Mom and tugged on her arm. “Mom, ask her about the pool!” he whispered breaking Liz from her daze.
“Oh yeah. Shane wants to know if Chloe can come with us to the pool?”
“Well I suppose that would be all right, that is if she wants to.” Tess said as she turned to the stairs. “Chloe! Come down here!” Tess yelled.
“Coming!” They all heard form an upstairs room.
Shane held his breath as he watched her descend down the stairs. Man she is beautiful! What was I thinking all these years when I said girls had cooties! He snapped out of it when her heard Tess speak up.
“Chloe, our new neighbors want to know if you would like to go with them to the pool?”
Chloe’s face lit up at the thought of getting out of that house to get to know her new friend better. “Sure I would absolutely love to go!”
Shane couldn’t get the grin off his face when she said she would come.
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The arrived at the pool about ten minutes later. Shane climbed out of the jeep and reached up to help Chloe down. That was something he always saw his Dad do for his Mom. As they grabbed their things, he heard Maria and his best friend Josh in the pool.
“Come on Chloe.” He said reaching down for her hand.
Chloe couldn’t help but blush as she felt Shane’s hand wrap around hers. It was the first time in a long time that she felt safe. “Okay Shane.” She said quietly.
Liz smiled as she walked behind the two children. As they walked through the gate, Liz waved at Maria. Maria threw her hand over her mouth when she saw Shane and his little girlfriend. Liz just smiled.
“Maria” Shane said to his Mother’s best friend. “This is my new friend Chloe.”
“Hi Chloe, I’m Maria.”
“Hi Maria, it’s nice to meet you.” Chloe responded.
“Come on Chloe.” Shane said grabbing her hand again. “Lets go get in the pool with Josh.”
“Man Liz, he is defiantly taking after Max!” Maria said as she watched the kids walk toward the other end of the pool where her son was playing.
“I know isn’t it cute!” Liz replied. “There is only one problem.”
“What?”
“Her mother is Tess!”
“No Way! So you are telling me that Max’s ex-girlfriend and your worst enemy lives right next-door to you, AND your son is in love with her daughter!” Maria said in shock.
“Well I’m not going to tell Shane he can’t be friends with Chloe, he would be heart broken! I guess that I will need to talk to Max as soon as possible so he knows what to watch out for.” Liz Said.
“Well all I can tell you is to watch your husband! We already know what the evil bitch of death is capable of!” Maria said remembering their high school days.
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When Shane and Chloe reached the end of the pool where Josh was playing, Shane picked up the water gun on the pavement and squirted his friend’s head to get his attention. “Hey Josh, What are you doing?”
Josh turned around and the water from the gun it his face. “Shane what you have to go and do that for?” he said wiping the water out of his eyes, only to look up and see his friend holding hands with a girl! “Who is she and why are you holding her hand?”
“For you information Josh, her name is Chloe and she just moved in to the house next door.” Shane informed him.
“Oh… So your Mom made you invite her right?”
Suddenly embarrassed by his friend’s remarks he dropped Chloe’s hand and said, “Yeah she said I couldn’t come unless I invited her along.”
Chloe just looked at Shane in disbelief. She had thought that he really liked her! “Um Shane? Would you mind if I went over and sat with your Mom and sun bathed?”
Josh spoke before Shane could. “Go ahead and go, we don’t need no stinking girl, you’ll probably give us cooties!”
Chloe started running. She ran straight past Shane’s Mom and Maria, all the way into the bathroom. Once inside she locked herself into a stall and cried her eyes out. This past year was the worst year in her whole life! For once, she thought she could start over, with new friends who didn’t know her past. She had thought Shane was going to be her best friend. She felt so stupid for thinking that he liked her. Then she heard the bathroom door open, so she wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Chloe? Honey are you in here?” Liz asked.
There was no answer.
“Chloe, it’s Liz, Shane’s Mom, I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m fine. I just had to go to the bathroom really bad!” Chloe replied hoping she would believe her.
“Okay, then I’ll go back outside.” Liz said not wanting to push the subject.
When Chloe heard the door close, she unlocked the stall and came out. Then she walked over to the sink to wash away her tears. Once she was satisfied that she didn’t look as if she had been crying, she went back outside to sit with Mrs. Evans and Maria.
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“Josh why did you have to be such a jerk!” Shane asked as he watched Chloe run away from them.
“What? She’s only a girl!”
“Josh, she is not only a girl! She…She’s…She’s special.” Shane said.
“Shane you are sick! How can you like a girl!”
“Just shut up Josh.” Shane yelled. With that he swam under the water to the deep end of the pool, knowing that Josh couldn’t get over there without the help of his Mom. Once he was down there he noticed Chloe coming out of the bathroom and walking towards his Mom. What was he going to do to make this up to her? He’d have to remember to ask his Dad later tonight about what girls like.
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An hour later they all packed their things back into the jeep to go home. Liz noticed that Chloe wouldn’t even lay an eye on Shane. What was going on between those two? She thought. She’d have to remember to talk to him later tonight. When they pulled into the driveway, Chloe jumped out of the seat, thanked Liz for taking her, and ran as fast as she could into her house. Liz looked over to her son, who looked as if he were about to cry.
TBC…
Tess. Tess Harding lived next door to her!
“Liz? Is that you?” Tess asked.
“Uh. Yeah. Hi Tess.” Liz mumbled, as her stomach grew sick at the thought of having Tess live next door to her.
“Mom?” Shane said grabbing the cookies. Then he looked toward Tess and handed them to her. “My Mom and I made these for you and Chloe!” he said enthusiastically. “Where is Chloe?”
“She is upstairs in her room unpacking.” Tess replied.
Shane turned towards his Mom and tugged on her arm. “Mom, ask her about the pool!” he whispered breaking Liz from her daze.
“Oh yeah. Shane wants to know if Chloe can come with us to the pool?”
“Well I suppose that would be all right, that is if she wants to.” Tess said as she turned to the stairs. “Chloe! Come down here!” Tess yelled.
“Coming!” They all heard form an upstairs room.
Shane held his breath as he watched her descend down the stairs. Man she is beautiful! What was I thinking all these years when I said girls had cooties! He snapped out of it when her heard Tess speak up.
“Chloe, our new neighbors want to know if you would like to go with them to the pool?”
Chloe’s face lit up at the thought of getting out of that house to get to know her new friend better. “Sure I would absolutely love to go!”
Shane couldn’t get the grin off his face when she said she would come.
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The arrived at the pool about ten minutes later. Shane climbed out of the jeep and reached up to help Chloe down. That was something he always saw his Dad do for his Mom. As they grabbed their things, he heard Maria and his best friend Josh in the pool.
“Come on Chloe.” He said reaching down for her hand.
Chloe couldn’t help but blush as she felt Shane’s hand wrap around hers. It was the first time in a long time that she felt safe. “Okay Shane.” She said quietly.
Liz smiled as she walked behind the two children. As they walked through the gate, Liz waved at Maria. Maria threw her hand over her mouth when she saw Shane and his little girlfriend. Liz just smiled.
“Maria” Shane said to his Mother’s best friend. “This is my new friend Chloe.”
“Hi Chloe, I’m Maria.”
“Hi Maria, it’s nice to meet you.” Chloe responded.
“Come on Chloe.” Shane said grabbing her hand again. “Lets go get in the pool with Josh.”
“Man Liz, he is defiantly taking after Max!” Maria said as she watched the kids walk toward the other end of the pool where her son was playing.
“I know isn’t it cute!” Liz replied. “There is only one problem.”
“What?”
“Her mother is Tess!”
“No Way! So you are telling me that Max’s ex-girlfriend and your worst enemy lives right next-door to you, AND your son is in love with her daughter!” Maria said in shock.
“Well I’m not going to tell Shane he can’t be friends with Chloe, he would be heart broken! I guess that I will need to talk to Max as soon as possible so he knows what to watch out for.” Liz Said.
“Well all I can tell you is to watch your husband! We already know what the evil bitch of death is capable of!” Maria said remembering their high school days.
<center> *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* </center>
When Shane and Chloe reached the end of the pool where Josh was playing, Shane picked up the water gun on the pavement and squirted his friend’s head to get his attention. “Hey Josh, What are you doing?”
Josh turned around and the water from the gun it his face. “Shane what you have to go and do that for?” he said wiping the water out of his eyes, only to look up and see his friend holding hands with a girl! “Who is she and why are you holding her hand?”
“For you information Josh, her name is Chloe and she just moved in to the house next door.” Shane informed him.
“Oh… So your Mom made you invite her right?”
Suddenly embarrassed by his friend’s remarks he dropped Chloe’s hand and said, “Yeah she said I couldn’t come unless I invited her along.”
Chloe just looked at Shane in disbelief. She had thought that he really liked her! “Um Shane? Would you mind if I went over and sat with your Mom and sun bathed?”
Josh spoke before Shane could. “Go ahead and go, we don’t need no stinking girl, you’ll probably give us cooties!”
Chloe started running. She ran straight past Shane’s Mom and Maria, all the way into the bathroom. Once inside she locked herself into a stall and cried her eyes out. This past year was the worst year in her whole life! For once, she thought she could start over, with new friends who didn’t know her past. She had thought Shane was going to be her best friend. She felt so stupid for thinking that he liked her. Then she heard the bathroom door open, so she wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Chloe? Honey are you in here?” Liz asked.
There was no answer.
“Chloe, it’s Liz, Shane’s Mom, I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m fine. I just had to go to the bathroom really bad!” Chloe replied hoping she would believe her.
“Okay, then I’ll go back outside.” Liz said not wanting to push the subject.
When Chloe heard the door close, she unlocked the stall and came out. Then she walked over to the sink to wash away her tears. Once she was satisfied that she didn’t look as if she had been crying, she went back outside to sit with Mrs. Evans and Maria.
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“Josh why did you have to be such a jerk!” Shane asked as he watched Chloe run away from them.
“What? She’s only a girl!”
“Josh, she is not only a girl! She…She’s…She’s special.” Shane said.
“Shane you are sick! How can you like a girl!”
“Just shut up Josh.” Shane yelled. With that he swam under the water to the deep end of the pool, knowing that Josh couldn’t get over there without the help of his Mom. Once he was down there he noticed Chloe coming out of the bathroom and walking towards his Mom. What was he going to do to make this up to her? He’d have to remember to ask his Dad later tonight about what girls like.
<center> *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* </center>
An hour later they all packed their things back into the jeep to go home. Liz noticed that Chloe wouldn’t even lay an eye on Shane. What was going on between those two? She thought. She’d have to remember to talk to him later tonight. When they pulled into the driveway, Chloe jumped out of the seat, thanked Liz for taking her, and ran as fast as she could into her house. Liz looked over to her son, who looked as if he were about to cry.
TBC…
Part 5
Liz was putting the finishing touches on dinner when Max came home from work. He walked up behind her putting his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. She turned around in his arms and met his lips with hers. When they pulled away from each other, Max noticed she looked a bit stressed out.
“Baby what’s wrong? Did you have a bad day?” Max asked, tightening his grip around her waist.
“Honey, I really want to tell you about it, but can we do it after Shane goes to bed?”
“Okay Liz, but the second he’s asleep I want to know what’s going on.”
Just then the timer went off on the oven, and Liz pulled the chicken out.
“Max? Can you call Shane down for dinner?”
“Sure” Max said. “Shane, dinners ready!” he called up the stairs.
“I’ll be down in a minute!” he yelled back.
Once Shane came down, Liz served the dinner. Max turned to his son also noting a lot of stress on his face.
“Shane, is everything all right? You look a bit down.” Max said concerned.
“I just had a bad afternoon Dad.” He answered.
The table was quiet for a minute, while everyone ate. Then Shane spoke up.
“Um…Dad…do you have to work tomorrow?”
“No son, it’s Saturday” Max replied. “Why do you ask?”
“Well I was thinking, that if you aren’t doing anything that we could do something.”
“Sure, I would love to do something with you. What did you have in mind?” Max asked.
“What about going fishing out on the lake?” Shane asked knowing he could talk to his Dad alone out there.
“That sounds great!” Max said excited that his son wanted to spend some time with him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once Shane was asleep, Max and Liz cuddled up together on the sofa. Liz just loved this time she had with him. They had done it ever since the got married.
“Okay Liz, spit it out”
“What?”
“You told me you’d tell me what was bothering you once Shane was asleep.” Max said.
“Well…You know the people who moved in next door?”
“Yeah. Did you go over and meet them?”
“Yeah.” Liz replied.
“So what’s the problem? Are they mean?”
“I guess you could say that.” She said.
“Liz, there is something you’re not telling me.”
Liz climbed into his lap and hid her head in his neck. Max knew exactly what she was up to. Every time she tried to change the subject, she would start a big make out session with him. So, he pulled her back until she was face to face with him.
“Liz, I’m not going to kiss you until you tell me what is going on.” He said knowing her weakness.
Liz looked up at him with her big doe eyes and batted them at him saying, “Please.”
“No Liz, you will not receive one kiss from me until you tell me what’s wrong.” Max said knowing she was weakening.
“Okay well I guess there is no easy way to tell you this.”
“Come on what is it?”
“Well…Um…Tess moved in next door!” She blurted out as fast as she could.
TBC…
Liz was putting the finishing touches on dinner when Max came home from work. He walked up behind her putting his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. She turned around in his arms and met his lips with hers. When they pulled away from each other, Max noticed she looked a bit stressed out.
“Baby what’s wrong? Did you have a bad day?” Max asked, tightening his grip around her waist.
“Honey, I really want to tell you about it, but can we do it after Shane goes to bed?”
“Okay Liz, but the second he’s asleep I want to know what’s going on.”
Just then the timer went off on the oven, and Liz pulled the chicken out.
“Max? Can you call Shane down for dinner?”
“Sure” Max said. “Shane, dinners ready!” he called up the stairs.
“I’ll be down in a minute!” he yelled back.
Once Shane came down, Liz served the dinner. Max turned to his son also noting a lot of stress on his face.
“Shane, is everything all right? You look a bit down.” Max said concerned.
“I just had a bad afternoon Dad.” He answered.
The table was quiet for a minute, while everyone ate. Then Shane spoke up.
“Um…Dad…do you have to work tomorrow?”
“No son, it’s Saturday” Max replied. “Why do you ask?”
“Well I was thinking, that if you aren’t doing anything that we could do something.”
“Sure, I would love to do something with you. What did you have in mind?” Max asked.
“What about going fishing out on the lake?” Shane asked knowing he could talk to his Dad alone out there.
“That sounds great!” Max said excited that his son wanted to spend some time with him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Once Shane was asleep, Max and Liz cuddled up together on the sofa. Liz just loved this time she had with him. They had done it ever since the got married.
“Okay Liz, spit it out”
“What?”
“You told me you’d tell me what was bothering you once Shane was asleep.” Max said.
“Well…You know the people who moved in next door?”
“Yeah. Did you go over and meet them?”
“Yeah.” Liz replied.
“So what’s the problem? Are they mean?”
“I guess you could say that.” She said.
“Liz, there is something you’re not telling me.”
Liz climbed into his lap and hid her head in his neck. Max knew exactly what she was up to. Every time she tried to change the subject, she would start a big make out session with him. So, he pulled her back until she was face to face with him.
“Liz, I’m not going to kiss you until you tell me what is going on.” He said knowing her weakness.
Liz looked up at him with her big doe eyes and batted them at him saying, “Please.”
“No Liz, you will not receive one kiss from me until you tell me what’s wrong.” Max said knowing she was weakening.
“Okay well I guess there is no easy way to tell you this.”
“Come on what is it?”
“Well…Um…Tess moved in next door!” She blurted out as fast as she could.
TBC…
~ Part 6 ~
“WHAT!” Max said.
“Well how to you think I felt when I made a big plate of cookies, expecting some nice new neighbor, and Tess opens the door.” Liz said.
“That Bitch better stay as far from us as she can if she knows what’s best for her.” Max said still in disbelief.
“Well there might be one small problem.” Liz said.
“What now, I really don’t think there can be anything worse.”
“It’s not really a big problem.” Liz said. “She has a daughter.”
“Who in their right mind would sleep with her?” Max asked. “Wait a minute…how is that a problem?”
“Shane is the problem.” Liz replied.
“I’m not understanding you Liz.”
“Shane has the biggest crush on her.” Liz said. “She is really sweet, her name is Chloe.”
“So you’re telling me that our son has a crush on someone related to Tess. I’m really going to have to have a talk with that boy, he can’t see her!” Max said.
“Honey, they are eight years old, what harm could they do?” Liz said.
“Well I guess you’re right, But, I still don’t like the idea of that bitch living next door to us.” Max replied. “Does Shane wanting me to take him out tomorrow have anything to do with this?” he asked.
“I think it might, they both got into a fight or something at the pool.” Liz said. “I couldn’t get Shane to tell me what happened. One minute they were holding hands, the next I saw Chloe running for the bathroom, and Shane was fighting with Josh.”
“Well I guess I’ll have to keep him out on that lake until he tells his old man what’s going on.” Max said.
“Are you really such an old man?” Liz asked.
“Oh, I’m REALLY old” he replied.
“Well then I guess you’re too tired to show your wife a good time in the bed room tonight.” Liz said as she straddled his lap.
“Are you kidding me! I’ll show you a really good time. You won’t even know what has gotten in to this old guy.” Max said.
Liz jumped off his lap and started to head towards their bedroom. She turned back to where Max was still sitting on the couch. “Hey old guy, are you coming or what?”
With that Max jumped, up ran all the way to Liz, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her off to bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning Shane woke up at 7am. He got dressed and went down into the garage to get his and his Dad’s fishing stuff together. He wanted to leave as soon as possible so he could get back home and fix things with Chloe. Once he finished getting the equipment together, he went inside to the kitchen and made sandwiches for their lunch. Then he packed the cooler with sodas and water. Once everything was packed he went to his parent’s room and knocked on the door. “Dad it’s time to get up!” he called through the door.
Inside the room, Liz woke up to the voice of her son calling her husband from outside the door. “Max…Honey it’s time to get up.” She gently said rubbing his back. She jumped when he reached over and pulled her on top of him.
“Good Morning darling” he said, before kissing her lips.
“Good Morning” she said back. “I think your son wants you to get up where you can go.”
“He’s got the right idea, we really should leave so we can be back before the sun gets too hot.” He said. “What are you planning to do today?”
“I think I’m going to go over to Maria’s to help her hang wallpaper in her bathroom.”
“Well that sounds like fun,” Max said while getting out of the bed and pulling on a pair of shorts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It only took a half-hour to reach the lake from their house. Once they got all of their things onto the rented boat, they started to the middle of the lake. When they arrived there, Max threw the anchor into the water, while Shane started to bate the hooks.
Shane looked over at his father, trying to figure out what to ask him. Finally, he decided he would just ask. “Um…Dad… Can I ask you something?”
“Sure”
“Well, have you and Mom ever gotten into a fight?” he asked.
“Yes we have, but they are never bad fights. Why do you ask?” Max said.
“Well you see, there is this girl. Her name is Chloe.” He said. “Well I don’t know what really happened but the first time I laid my eyes on her, I loved her.”
“Are you telling me that my son has a crush on a girl?” Max said.
“No! Well…yes!” Shane said putting his head in his hands.
Max laughed, realizing how much his son sounded like him when he first laid eyes on Liz. “Shane it is perfectly natural to feel that way about girls.” Max said.
“I know, but when she went to the pool with us yesterday, Josh started to make fun of me and I…”
“You what?”
“Well you see I made it sound as if Mom made me take her to the pool with us, and I told Josh that I didn’t really want her there.”
“Why did you do that?” Max asked.
“I was embarrassed. Dad that’s not the worst part!”
“Well go on.”
“I said all of those thing in front of Chloe, and once I finished she ran away crying.”
“Shane did you apologize to her?” Max asked.
“No, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m afraid that just saying I’m sorry won’t make her like me again.”
“Is that why you asked me if I have ever fought with Mom?” Max asked his son.
“Yeah, I wanted to know what you did for her to make her not mad any more.”
“How about you get her a teddy bear and maybe a flower.” Max suggested to his son.
“Do you think she would like that?”
“I think she will, but you do need to make sure you tell her how sorry you are for hurting her feelings.”
“I will.” Shane said. “Dad, do you think we could stop by the store on the way home so I can pick her out a teddy bear and a flower?”
“Sure son, whatever you want.” Max said.
TBC…
“WHAT!” Max said.
“Well how to you think I felt when I made a big plate of cookies, expecting some nice new neighbor, and Tess opens the door.” Liz said.
“That Bitch better stay as far from us as she can if she knows what’s best for her.” Max said still in disbelief.
“Well there might be one small problem.” Liz said.
“What now, I really don’t think there can be anything worse.”
“It’s not really a big problem.” Liz said. “She has a daughter.”
“Who in their right mind would sleep with her?” Max asked. “Wait a minute…how is that a problem?”
“Shane is the problem.” Liz replied.
“I’m not understanding you Liz.”
“Shane has the biggest crush on her.” Liz said. “She is really sweet, her name is Chloe.”
“So you’re telling me that our son has a crush on someone related to Tess. I’m really going to have to have a talk with that boy, he can’t see her!” Max said.
“Honey, they are eight years old, what harm could they do?” Liz said.
“Well I guess you’re right, But, I still don’t like the idea of that bitch living next door to us.” Max replied. “Does Shane wanting me to take him out tomorrow have anything to do with this?” he asked.
“I think it might, they both got into a fight or something at the pool.” Liz said. “I couldn’t get Shane to tell me what happened. One minute they were holding hands, the next I saw Chloe running for the bathroom, and Shane was fighting with Josh.”
“Well I guess I’ll have to keep him out on that lake until he tells his old man what’s going on.” Max said.
“Are you really such an old man?” Liz asked.
“Oh, I’m REALLY old” he replied.
“Well then I guess you’re too tired to show your wife a good time in the bed room tonight.” Liz said as she straddled his lap.
“Are you kidding me! I’ll show you a really good time. You won’t even know what has gotten in to this old guy.” Max said.
Liz jumped off his lap and started to head towards their bedroom. She turned back to where Max was still sitting on the couch. “Hey old guy, are you coming or what?”
With that Max jumped, up ran all the way to Liz, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her off to bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning Shane woke up at 7am. He got dressed and went down into the garage to get his and his Dad’s fishing stuff together. He wanted to leave as soon as possible so he could get back home and fix things with Chloe. Once he finished getting the equipment together, he went inside to the kitchen and made sandwiches for their lunch. Then he packed the cooler with sodas and water. Once everything was packed he went to his parent’s room and knocked on the door. “Dad it’s time to get up!” he called through the door.
Inside the room, Liz woke up to the voice of her son calling her husband from outside the door. “Max…Honey it’s time to get up.” She gently said rubbing his back. She jumped when he reached over and pulled her on top of him.
“Good Morning darling” he said, before kissing her lips.
“Good Morning” she said back. “I think your son wants you to get up where you can go.”
“He’s got the right idea, we really should leave so we can be back before the sun gets too hot.” He said. “What are you planning to do today?”
“I think I’m going to go over to Maria’s to help her hang wallpaper in her bathroom.”
“Well that sounds like fun,” Max said while getting out of the bed and pulling on a pair of shorts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It only took a half-hour to reach the lake from their house. Once they got all of their things onto the rented boat, they started to the middle of the lake. When they arrived there, Max threw the anchor into the water, while Shane started to bate the hooks.
Shane looked over at his father, trying to figure out what to ask him. Finally, he decided he would just ask. “Um…Dad… Can I ask you something?”
“Sure”
“Well, have you and Mom ever gotten into a fight?” he asked.
“Yes we have, but they are never bad fights. Why do you ask?” Max said.
“Well you see, there is this girl. Her name is Chloe.” He said. “Well I don’t know what really happened but the first time I laid my eyes on her, I loved her.”
“Are you telling me that my son has a crush on a girl?” Max said.
“No! Well…yes!” Shane said putting his head in his hands.
Max laughed, realizing how much his son sounded like him when he first laid eyes on Liz. “Shane it is perfectly natural to feel that way about girls.” Max said.
“I know, but when she went to the pool with us yesterday, Josh started to make fun of me and I…”
“You what?”
“Well you see I made it sound as if Mom made me take her to the pool with us, and I told Josh that I didn’t really want her there.”
“Why did you do that?” Max asked.
“I was embarrassed. Dad that’s not the worst part!”
“Well go on.”
“I said all of those thing in front of Chloe, and once I finished she ran away crying.”
“Shane did you apologize to her?” Max asked.
“No, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m afraid that just saying I’m sorry won’t make her like me again.”
“Is that why you asked me if I have ever fought with Mom?” Max asked his son.
“Yeah, I wanted to know what you did for her to make her not mad any more.”
“How about you get her a teddy bear and maybe a flower.” Max suggested to his son.
“Do you think she would like that?”
“I think she will, but you do need to make sure you tell her how sorry you are for hurting her feelings.”
“I will.” Shane said. “Dad, do you think we could stop by the store on the way home so I can pick her out a teddy bear and a flower?”
“Sure son, whatever you want.” Max said.
TBC…
Part 7
Shane got butterflies in his stomach we his Dad pulled into the driveway. They had stopped by the local Wal-mart on the way home from the lake. Shane decided on getting Chloe a little pink teddy bear and a yellow rose. His Dad told him that yellow roses meant sorry. Now that they were home, he had to figure out how to get her to talk to him. As he got out of the car, he saw her on the swing in her back yard. He ran inside his house and up into his room. He changed out of his fishing cloths and put on his best T-shirt and a pair of shorts. Then he ran downstairs and into his Parent’s room, where he found his Dad’s cologne and put some on. He ran straight for the door where he had left the bear and rose grabbed them and ran outside.
When her walked around the corner of the house, he saw that she was sitting on the swing starring at her feet. She almost looked as if she had been crying. As he approached her, he held the gifts behind his back.
“Chloe?”
She continued to stare at her feet. “Go away Shane.” She said after a minute.
“Chloe, I came to tell you I’m sorry. It was really mean of me to not tell Josh the truth yesterday.” He said.
“Shane you don’t need to bother liking me, I would be better off dead.” She said, finally looking up at him.
Shane gasped at what he saw. Her right eye was black and swollen shut. “What…What happened to you?” he asked.
“Nothing, I just fell and hit my head on the doorknob.” She told him.
“Oh, are you all right?”
“Yes Shane, I’m fine.” She lied to him.
Shane remembered what he was holding behind his back. He pulled them out and gave them to her. “I got these for you.” He said. “Will you please forgive me?”
Chloe smiled at Shane when she saw what he had given her. “Thank You” she said.
“Um…Chloe? Do you think…Um…I mean will you be my girlfriend?” He asked he hoping she would say yes.
Chloe blushed at his question. After what happened yesterday, she had thought he didn’t like her. “Yes Shane, I would really like to be your girlfriend.” She replied.
Shane got the biggest grin on his face. Then he thought of something. He walked over closer to her and took her hand. She stood up as he pulled on her hand. Then Shane leaned down and kissed her on her cheek. “Thank you” he said after he leaned up. He knew right then that she was going to be his best friend. “Do you want to come up to my tree house?” he asked.
“Sure, I would love to.” She said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz watched her son from the kitchen window. He was outside talking to Chloe. She watched as he helped her up from the swing and then he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Liz put her had over her mouth and gasped just as Max walked into the kitchen.
“Darling, is something the matter?” he asked
“Shane just kissed Chloe.” She replied her eyes wide with shock. Then she burst into tears. “My baby is growing up, and he’s going to leave me!” she cried.
Max pulled her into his arms. “Liz, he is only eight years old, I really don’t think he’s planning on leaving you for another ten or more years.” Max said rubbing her back.
“You’re right.” She sighed. “Do you think we need to give him the sex talk?”
Max laughed at his wife’s reaction. “Babe, I really don’t think a relationship at their age will lead to sex.” He said still laughing.
“I think I need a nap, will you keep an eye on those two, I saw them heading up into the tree house.” Liz said.
“Anything for you sweetie” he replied.
“Maybe you should bring them a snack and some juice boxes to make sure they aren’t doing anything wrong.” Liz said.
Max just laughed again. “Liz go take a nap and I’ll get them to come inside and watch a movie or something.”
“Okay” She kissed Max on the lips and went off to bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So how do you and your Mom like it here?” Shane asked Chloe once they were up in the tree house.
“I really like it here” Chloe said. “But, I think Tess just wanted to come her to be around her old friends from high school.”
“Why do you call your Mom by her name?” Shane asked.
“She’s not really my Mom.” Chloe said. “My mom died when I was born so I never really knew her. When I was three my Dad married Tess, so I would have a Mom. Last year, my Dad was killed by a drunk driver on his way home from work. So now I’m stuck living with Tess.”
“I’m sorry.” Shane said not knowing what else to say.
“It’s okay, you didn’t know.”
Just then, Max stuck his head up into the tree house. “What are you guys doing up here?” Max said.
“Nothing Dad” Shane said.
Max turned towards Chloe. “Hi I’m Shane’s Dad.” He said.
“Hello Mr. Evans, I’m Chloe, Shane’s girlfriend.” She said with a big grin on her face.
Max just smiled. “It’s nice to meet you Chloe, you can call me Max if you want.”
“Okay Max” she said.
“Well I came up here because Liz wants you guys to come inside and watch a movie or something.” Max said.
“Okay.” They said in unison.
“What happened to your eye Chloe?” Max asked, as they were walking in the house.
“I slipped in the kitchen and hit it on the counter.” She said, then threw her hand over her mouth when Shane looked at her with a questioning look.
TBC…
Shane got butterflies in his stomach we his Dad pulled into the driveway. They had stopped by the local Wal-mart on the way home from the lake. Shane decided on getting Chloe a little pink teddy bear and a yellow rose. His Dad told him that yellow roses meant sorry. Now that they were home, he had to figure out how to get her to talk to him. As he got out of the car, he saw her on the swing in her back yard. He ran inside his house and up into his room. He changed out of his fishing cloths and put on his best T-shirt and a pair of shorts. Then he ran downstairs and into his Parent’s room, where he found his Dad’s cologne and put some on. He ran straight for the door where he had left the bear and rose grabbed them and ran outside.
When her walked around the corner of the house, he saw that she was sitting on the swing starring at her feet. She almost looked as if she had been crying. As he approached her, he held the gifts behind his back.
“Chloe?”
She continued to stare at her feet. “Go away Shane.” She said after a minute.
“Chloe, I came to tell you I’m sorry. It was really mean of me to not tell Josh the truth yesterday.” He said.
“Shane you don’t need to bother liking me, I would be better off dead.” She said, finally looking up at him.
Shane gasped at what he saw. Her right eye was black and swollen shut. “What…What happened to you?” he asked.
“Nothing, I just fell and hit my head on the doorknob.” She told him.
“Oh, are you all right?”
“Yes Shane, I’m fine.” She lied to him.
Shane remembered what he was holding behind his back. He pulled them out and gave them to her. “I got these for you.” He said. “Will you please forgive me?”
Chloe smiled at Shane when she saw what he had given her. “Thank You” she said.
“Um…Chloe? Do you think…Um…I mean will you be my girlfriend?” He asked he hoping she would say yes.
Chloe blushed at his question. After what happened yesterday, she had thought he didn’t like her. “Yes Shane, I would really like to be your girlfriend.” She replied.
Shane got the biggest grin on his face. Then he thought of something. He walked over closer to her and took her hand. She stood up as he pulled on her hand. Then Shane leaned down and kissed her on her cheek. “Thank you” he said after he leaned up. He knew right then that she was going to be his best friend. “Do you want to come up to my tree house?” he asked.
“Sure, I would love to.” She said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz watched her son from the kitchen window. He was outside talking to Chloe. She watched as he helped her up from the swing and then he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Liz put her had over her mouth and gasped just as Max walked into the kitchen.
“Darling, is something the matter?” he asked
“Shane just kissed Chloe.” She replied her eyes wide with shock. Then she burst into tears. “My baby is growing up, and he’s going to leave me!” she cried.
Max pulled her into his arms. “Liz, he is only eight years old, I really don’t think he’s planning on leaving you for another ten or more years.” Max said rubbing her back.
“You’re right.” She sighed. “Do you think we need to give him the sex talk?”
Max laughed at his wife’s reaction. “Babe, I really don’t think a relationship at their age will lead to sex.” He said still laughing.
“I think I need a nap, will you keep an eye on those two, I saw them heading up into the tree house.” Liz said.
“Anything for you sweetie” he replied.
“Maybe you should bring them a snack and some juice boxes to make sure they aren’t doing anything wrong.” Liz said.
Max just laughed again. “Liz go take a nap and I’ll get them to come inside and watch a movie or something.”
“Okay” She kissed Max on the lips and went off to bed.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So how do you and your Mom like it here?” Shane asked Chloe once they were up in the tree house.
“I really like it here” Chloe said. “But, I think Tess just wanted to come her to be around her old friends from high school.”
“Why do you call your Mom by her name?” Shane asked.
“She’s not really my Mom.” Chloe said. “My mom died when I was born so I never really knew her. When I was three my Dad married Tess, so I would have a Mom. Last year, my Dad was killed by a drunk driver on his way home from work. So now I’m stuck living with Tess.”
“I’m sorry.” Shane said not knowing what else to say.
“It’s okay, you didn’t know.”
Just then, Max stuck his head up into the tree house. “What are you guys doing up here?” Max said.
“Nothing Dad” Shane said.
Max turned towards Chloe. “Hi I’m Shane’s Dad.” He said.
“Hello Mr. Evans, I’m Chloe, Shane’s girlfriend.” She said with a big grin on her face.
Max just smiled. “It’s nice to meet you Chloe, you can call me Max if you want.”
“Okay Max” she said.
“Well I came up here because Liz wants you guys to come inside and watch a movie or something.” Max said.
“Okay.” They said in unison.
“What happened to your eye Chloe?” Max asked, as they were walking in the house.
“I slipped in the kitchen and hit it on the counter.” She said, then threw her hand over her mouth when Shane looked at her with a questioning look.
TBC…
~ Part 8 ~
After Max brought the two kids a snack, and put a movie in for them, he went into his office to catch up on some work leaving them alone.
The second Max left the room Shane turned to Chloe and just starred at her.
“Shane what are you looking at me like that for?” she asked.
“Chloe? Why did you tell my Dad that something different happened to your eye?”
“Well…I thought he would think I was stupid if I told him I hit it on the door knob.” She said hoping that he would believe her.
“My Dad wouldn’t have thought you where stupid, Chloe.”
“I know you’re probably right.”
“Chloe? What were you doing when you hit your eye?”
“I was cleaning my room, because I haven’t cleaned it in weeks. I had toys all over the place!”
“Um…Chloe? You have only lived there one day.”
Chloe remained silent. She couldn’t believe she slipped again. She use to be really good at making up excuses when someone would notice, but around Shane it was hard. She didn’t want to lie to him; he was the only person she felt she could trust. She looked back up at him, into those deep chocolate eyes, she couldn’t help it anymore and the tears started to fall.
Shane didn’t know what to do. He felt like kicking himself, he had made her cry again. That was two days in a row. Then he remembered that every time his Mom was sad, his Dad would give her a hug. So, he slowly moved over on the couch until he was right next to her. Then he slowly put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her. After a minute or so, Shane decided to try to talk to her again.
“Chloe, Will you please tell me what’s wrong?”
Chloe wiped her hands across her eyes, finally looking up at Shane. “Is there somewhere else that we could go and talk so that no one will hear?”
“I can ask my Dad if we can go play in my room.” Shane suggested.
“Okay, I’ll wait here while you ask.”
Shane got up and ran into his Dad’s office.
“Dad?”
“Yes Shane.” Max replied.
“Can me and Chloe go play in my room?”
“What you don’t like the movie?”
“Well we both have seen it already, and we want to play on my computer.”
“Okay, I guess that will be all right. Just leave your door opened and be quiet so you don’t wake your Mom.”
“Thanks Dad.” Shane said as he ran out of the office back into the family room.
“Chloe, he said we can play up there.”
Shane took her hand in his and pulled he up the stairs as fast as he could. Once they were inside his room, Shane turned on his computer just in case his Dad came up. Then he led her over to his bed to sit down.
“Now that no one is around, will you please tell me what really happened?” he asked her.
Chloe took a deep breath and turned to look into Shane’s eyes.
“It’s Tess.” She flatly stated. “She has a drinking problem and sometimes I just get in her way.”
“Why haven’t you told anyone before now?” he asked her.
“Well it’s my fault. I should know better than to go near her when she is like that.”
“Chloe. She shouldn’t hit you!” Shane replied. “You have to tell someone! Anyone.”
“Shane no! I can’t tell anyone and you can’t either.”
“But Chloe, my Dad is a lawyer, maybe he could help you.”
“Shane if we tell anyone, they will take me away from here and I’ll be an orphan.”
“Well maybe you could live here. Please tell someone Chloe! If you don’t she might do it again.”
“Shane I said no! You better not tell anyone either or I’ll hate you forever!”
“But Chloe…”
“Swear Shane!”
“I swear.” He replied.
“Cross your heart?”
“Cross my heart.” He repeated.
“Hope to die?”
“Hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” He finished for her.
“Thank you Shane, I knew I could trust you.”
“Your welcome.” He said. “Do you wanna go back downstairs and finish the movie?” he asked her.
“Um…What time is it?” she asked.
“It’s 5:30, why?”
“Oh no! Sorry Shane, I gotta go and get dinner started before Tess gets back!” She said grabbing her bear and rose. Then she leaned over, kissed his cheek, and ran out the door.
TBC…
After Max brought the two kids a snack, and put a movie in for them, he went into his office to catch up on some work leaving them alone.
The second Max left the room Shane turned to Chloe and just starred at her.
“Shane what are you looking at me like that for?” she asked.
“Chloe? Why did you tell my Dad that something different happened to your eye?”
“Well…I thought he would think I was stupid if I told him I hit it on the door knob.” She said hoping that he would believe her.
“My Dad wouldn’t have thought you where stupid, Chloe.”
“I know you’re probably right.”
“Chloe? What were you doing when you hit your eye?”
“I was cleaning my room, because I haven’t cleaned it in weeks. I had toys all over the place!”
“Um…Chloe? You have only lived there one day.”
Chloe remained silent. She couldn’t believe she slipped again. She use to be really good at making up excuses when someone would notice, but around Shane it was hard. She didn’t want to lie to him; he was the only person she felt she could trust. She looked back up at him, into those deep chocolate eyes, she couldn’t help it anymore and the tears started to fall.
Shane didn’t know what to do. He felt like kicking himself, he had made her cry again. That was two days in a row. Then he remembered that every time his Mom was sad, his Dad would give her a hug. So, he slowly moved over on the couch until he was right next to her. Then he slowly put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her. After a minute or so, Shane decided to try to talk to her again.
“Chloe, Will you please tell me what’s wrong?”
Chloe wiped her hands across her eyes, finally looking up at Shane. “Is there somewhere else that we could go and talk so that no one will hear?”
“I can ask my Dad if we can go play in my room.” Shane suggested.
“Okay, I’ll wait here while you ask.”
Shane got up and ran into his Dad’s office.
“Dad?”
“Yes Shane.” Max replied.
“Can me and Chloe go play in my room?”
“What you don’t like the movie?”
“Well we both have seen it already, and we want to play on my computer.”
“Okay, I guess that will be all right. Just leave your door opened and be quiet so you don’t wake your Mom.”
“Thanks Dad.” Shane said as he ran out of the office back into the family room.
“Chloe, he said we can play up there.”
Shane took her hand in his and pulled he up the stairs as fast as he could. Once they were inside his room, Shane turned on his computer just in case his Dad came up. Then he led her over to his bed to sit down.
“Now that no one is around, will you please tell me what really happened?” he asked her.
Chloe took a deep breath and turned to look into Shane’s eyes.
“It’s Tess.” She flatly stated. “She has a drinking problem and sometimes I just get in her way.”
“Why haven’t you told anyone before now?” he asked her.
“Well it’s my fault. I should know better than to go near her when she is like that.”
“Chloe. She shouldn’t hit you!” Shane replied. “You have to tell someone! Anyone.”
“Shane no! I can’t tell anyone and you can’t either.”
“But Chloe, my Dad is a lawyer, maybe he could help you.”
“Shane if we tell anyone, they will take me away from here and I’ll be an orphan.”
“Well maybe you could live here. Please tell someone Chloe! If you don’t she might do it again.”
“Shane I said no! You better not tell anyone either or I’ll hate you forever!”
“But Chloe…”
“Swear Shane!”
“I swear.” He replied.
“Cross your heart?”
“Cross my heart.” He repeated.
“Hope to die?”
“Hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” He finished for her.
“Thank you Shane, I knew I could trust you.”
“Your welcome.” He said. “Do you wanna go back downstairs and finish the movie?” he asked her.
“Um…What time is it?” she asked.
“It’s 5:30, why?”
“Oh no! Sorry Shane, I gotta go and get dinner started before Tess gets back!” She said grabbing her bear and rose. Then she leaned over, kissed his cheek, and ran out the door.
TBC…
~ Part 9 ~
That night Shane sat in bed thinking about Chloe. He didn’t know what to do. He could save Chloe by telling his Dad what was happening to her, or he could keep the secret that he had promised to keep. Shane got off his bed, and walked over to the window and looked out to Chloe’s room. Just then her light came on and she stepped into view. He watched as she walked over to her dresser and picked up a mirror to look at her eye. He saw her wince as she lightly ran her fingers over the bruise. She set the mirror down no longer interested in the image she saw. Then she walked over to her bed and sat down holding the teddy bear Shane gave her to her chest. Shane couldn’t take it anymore! He had to talk to her and get her to change her mind. However, it was too late to do anything tonight, so he got back into bed, turned off his lamp and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, Chloe sat in her bed thinking about her conversation with Shane earlier that day. She looked over at Shane’s window just as his light went out. Her whole body hurt because of the extra chores Tess had made her do that night. Just because dinner was five minutes late, she had to scrub the kitchen floor with only a scrub brush. That was Tess’ favorite way to punish her. She couldn’t wait for school to start that next week. She absolutely loved school, because it meant six whole hours everyday without Tess around. Feeling the weight of the day on her body, she turned out the light and went to sleep.
The next morning she awoke to light taps on her window. She got out of bed and walked over to her window, where she found Shane smiling at her. She opened the window so they could talk.
“Good Morning” Shane said as her window slid open.
“Morning”
“So, I was wondering what you are doing today?” he asked.
“Well, once I finish my chores, I’, going to walk up to school for registration.”
“Why are you walking? Can’t Tess drive you?”
“Because if it were up to her I wouldn’t go to school at all. So I always make sure that I get registered, because I love it there.” She replied.
“Why don’t you come with my Mom and me? I know she will let you come.”
“Okay, that sounds like fun” Chloe said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They arrived at the school around 1 PM. Shane couldn’t wait to find out who his teacher would be this year. He didn’t even realize he was walking so fast until his Mom called out to him.
“Shane are you going to leave us out here in the parking lot?” Liz asked.
Shane looked back seeing that his Mom and Chloe were still by the car. He turned around and ran back to them. Once he reached them, he grabbed Chloe’s hand and started for the building once again. Liz laughed as she watched her son racing toward the building, pulling Chloe behind him.
Once inside, they went up to the wall where the student’s names were posted. Shane looked under the E’s and found his name. He had Mrs. Flynn.
“Cool Mom! I got Mrs. Flynn!” he said. “She is the nicest second grade teacher.”
“That’s great son.”
“Chloe, what teacher did you get?” Shane asked her.
“Um…I didn’t look yet.”
“Well lets look now.” He replied. “What’s your last name?”
“Stevens” she told him.
Shane walked over to where the S’s were posted and found her name.
“Hey you got Mrs. Flynn too!” he said jumping up and down and then hugging her.
TBC…
That night Shane sat in bed thinking about Chloe. He didn’t know what to do. He could save Chloe by telling his Dad what was happening to her, or he could keep the secret that he had promised to keep. Shane got off his bed, and walked over to the window and looked out to Chloe’s room. Just then her light came on and she stepped into view. He watched as she walked over to her dresser and picked up a mirror to look at her eye. He saw her wince as she lightly ran her fingers over the bruise. She set the mirror down no longer interested in the image she saw. Then she walked over to her bed and sat down holding the teddy bear Shane gave her to her chest. Shane couldn’t take it anymore! He had to talk to her and get her to change her mind. However, it was too late to do anything tonight, so he got back into bed, turned off his lamp and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, Chloe sat in her bed thinking about her conversation with Shane earlier that day. She looked over at Shane’s window just as his light went out. Her whole body hurt because of the extra chores Tess had made her do that night. Just because dinner was five minutes late, she had to scrub the kitchen floor with only a scrub brush. That was Tess’ favorite way to punish her. She couldn’t wait for school to start that next week. She absolutely loved school, because it meant six whole hours everyday without Tess around. Feeling the weight of the day on her body, she turned out the light and went to sleep.
The next morning she awoke to light taps on her window. She got out of bed and walked over to her window, where she found Shane smiling at her. She opened the window so they could talk.
“Good Morning” Shane said as her window slid open.
“Morning”
“So, I was wondering what you are doing today?” he asked.
“Well, once I finish my chores, I’, going to walk up to school for registration.”
“Why are you walking? Can’t Tess drive you?”
“Because if it were up to her I wouldn’t go to school at all. So I always make sure that I get registered, because I love it there.” She replied.
“Why don’t you come with my Mom and me? I know she will let you come.”
“Okay, that sounds like fun” Chloe said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They arrived at the school around 1 PM. Shane couldn’t wait to find out who his teacher would be this year. He didn’t even realize he was walking so fast until his Mom called out to him.
“Shane are you going to leave us out here in the parking lot?” Liz asked.
Shane looked back seeing that his Mom and Chloe were still by the car. He turned around and ran back to them. Once he reached them, he grabbed Chloe’s hand and started for the building once again. Liz laughed as she watched her son racing toward the building, pulling Chloe behind him.
Once inside, they went up to the wall where the student’s names were posted. Shane looked under the E’s and found his name. He had Mrs. Flynn.
“Cool Mom! I got Mrs. Flynn!” he said. “She is the nicest second grade teacher.”
“That’s great son.”
“Chloe, what teacher did you get?” Shane asked her.
“Um…I didn’t look yet.”
“Well lets look now.” He replied. “What’s your last name?”
“Stevens” she told him.
Shane walked over to where the S’s were posted and found her name.
“Hey you got Mrs. Flynn too!” he said jumping up and down and then hugging her.
TBC…
~ Part 10 ~
Sunday night Shane was in bed thinking of what the next day would be like. He had always liked school, because it came easy to him. He was also one of the more popular kids in his class. Tomorrow would be awesome, because Chloe would be in his class with him too.
Shane woke up on Monday morning with his Mom standing over him shaking his shoulder.
“Come on Shane, wake up you’re going to miss the bus if you don’t get up.” Liz said.
“I’m up, I’m up.” Shane said pulling the covers back over his head.
“No you’re not.” Liz said as she pulled all the covers off her son. “Do you want Chloe to have to ride the bus all by herself on the first day?”
With that Shane jumped out of bed and was ready for school in just five minutes. Before Liz knew it he was stuffing his breakfast in his mouth as fast as he could.
“Gee, I wish I had Chloe around here last year. She would have saved me a lot of time trying to wake him up in the mornings.” Liz said to Max.
Liz looked at the clock to see how much time until the bus came. “Shane you better run upstairs and brush your teeth. The bus will be here in about five minutes.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shane walked out to the driveway where he found Chloe already waiting.
“Hi Chloe” he said as he walked towards her.
“Good Morning Shane”
Shane noticed the Chloe looked a little tired. “Did you stay up really late thinking about what the first day will be like?” he asked her.
“No” was all she said.
“Oh” Shane looked around and noticed some daisies in his Mom’s garden. He bent down and pulled one out of the ground. “Here you go Chloe,” he said handing the little flower to her. “It looks like the ones on you dress.”
Chloe looked at the flower and then to Shane. “Thank you” she said finally giving him the smile he had been working for.
Just then, they saw the bus turn down the street. They watched as it stopped a block up the street to let other kids on. Then it headed towards them, stopping when it got to Shane’s driveway.
When they arrived at school, Shane and Chloe walked hand and hand to their classroom. Shane ignored the gags and other gestures that the other kids made at them. They walked into Mrs. Flynn’s room to find that they had to find the desk with their name written on it. Shane and Chloe walked around the room looking for their desks. Shane was really disappointed to find that his and Chloe’s desks weren’t right next to each other. She sat two rows over from his.
The first day was easy as usual. They first went around the room and introduced themselves to their classmates. Then Mrs. Flynn went over all of the rules and expectations, as well as telling them what they were going to do that year. Then she gave them their very first assignment. They were to draw a picture of something or some one they loved. Mrs. Flynn started to hand out the paper and crayons when the second/third grade lunch bell rang.
Shane and Chloe found a table off in the back corner of the cafeteria to eat their lunch. As they opened their lunch boxes, Josh and some of Shane’s other friends came to sit down with them. Josh sat down on the other side of Shane and turned to him as if he had something to say.
“Shane, my Dad told me that I need to get use to you having girls around, because he said that he had to deal with it when he and your Dad were friends in school.” Josh said, still not wanting liking the idea of having girls around. “So I guess that I’m sorry for being mean at the pool.”
“That’s okay, my that told me that your Dad was weird around girls to until Mom introduced him to Maria.” Shane replied remembering what his Dad had told him about Michael the day in the boat. “How about you ask your Mom if you can come over to play with me and Chloe after school on day this week.”
“I guess that will be all right, as long as I don’t have to play with any stupid dolls!” Josh replied. Then he turned his interest back to the other boys at the table.
Shane turned his head over to the other side of him where Chloe was sitting. She was sitting there just starring off into space.
“Chloe?” he got no answer. “Earth to Chloe.” He said waving a hand in front of her face.
“What?”
“What were you thinking about?”
“Oh…Nothing.” She replied just as the bell rang.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the end of the day, they all gathered up their things to wait for the buses to be called. When they finally called Shane and Chloe’s bus they grabbed their book bags and headed out to the front of the school. Once on the bus, Shane noticed that Chloe was out of it again.
“Hey Chloe, do you want to come over and play when we get home?”
“Um…I can’t I have to get some chores done and dinner done before Tess gets home.”
“Oh” Shane said disappointed. “Well if you get done early come over.”
“Okay” she said just to get him to change the subject. She knew very well that she wouldn’t get finished early. She would be lucky to even finish before Tess got home. She knew she had to if she wanted a good nights sleep, because if Tess got mad and locked her in the coat closet for another night she wouldn’t sleep again. The last two nights were bad enough; she just couldn’t go through that again.
TBC…
Sunday night Shane was in bed thinking of what the next day would be like. He had always liked school, because it came easy to him. He was also one of the more popular kids in his class. Tomorrow would be awesome, because Chloe would be in his class with him too.
Shane woke up on Monday morning with his Mom standing over him shaking his shoulder.
“Come on Shane, wake up you’re going to miss the bus if you don’t get up.” Liz said.
“I’m up, I’m up.” Shane said pulling the covers back over his head.
“No you’re not.” Liz said as she pulled all the covers off her son. “Do you want Chloe to have to ride the bus all by herself on the first day?”
With that Shane jumped out of bed and was ready for school in just five minutes. Before Liz knew it he was stuffing his breakfast in his mouth as fast as he could.
“Gee, I wish I had Chloe around here last year. She would have saved me a lot of time trying to wake him up in the mornings.” Liz said to Max.
Liz looked at the clock to see how much time until the bus came. “Shane you better run upstairs and brush your teeth. The bus will be here in about five minutes.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Shane walked out to the driveway where he found Chloe already waiting.
“Hi Chloe” he said as he walked towards her.
“Good Morning Shane”
Shane noticed the Chloe looked a little tired. “Did you stay up really late thinking about what the first day will be like?” he asked her.
“No” was all she said.
“Oh” Shane looked around and noticed some daisies in his Mom’s garden. He bent down and pulled one out of the ground. “Here you go Chloe,” he said handing the little flower to her. “It looks like the ones on you dress.”
Chloe looked at the flower and then to Shane. “Thank you” she said finally giving him the smile he had been working for.
Just then, they saw the bus turn down the street. They watched as it stopped a block up the street to let other kids on. Then it headed towards them, stopping when it got to Shane’s driveway.
When they arrived at school, Shane and Chloe walked hand and hand to their classroom. Shane ignored the gags and other gestures that the other kids made at them. They walked into Mrs. Flynn’s room to find that they had to find the desk with their name written on it. Shane and Chloe walked around the room looking for their desks. Shane was really disappointed to find that his and Chloe’s desks weren’t right next to each other. She sat two rows over from his.
The first day was easy as usual. They first went around the room and introduced themselves to their classmates. Then Mrs. Flynn went over all of the rules and expectations, as well as telling them what they were going to do that year. Then she gave them their very first assignment. They were to draw a picture of something or some one they loved. Mrs. Flynn started to hand out the paper and crayons when the second/third grade lunch bell rang.
Shane and Chloe found a table off in the back corner of the cafeteria to eat their lunch. As they opened their lunch boxes, Josh and some of Shane’s other friends came to sit down with them. Josh sat down on the other side of Shane and turned to him as if he had something to say.
“Shane, my Dad told me that I need to get use to you having girls around, because he said that he had to deal with it when he and your Dad were friends in school.” Josh said, still not wanting liking the idea of having girls around. “So I guess that I’m sorry for being mean at the pool.”
“That’s okay, my that told me that your Dad was weird around girls to until Mom introduced him to Maria.” Shane replied remembering what his Dad had told him about Michael the day in the boat. “How about you ask your Mom if you can come over to play with me and Chloe after school on day this week.”
“I guess that will be all right, as long as I don’t have to play with any stupid dolls!” Josh replied. Then he turned his interest back to the other boys at the table.
Shane turned his head over to the other side of him where Chloe was sitting. She was sitting there just starring off into space.
“Chloe?” he got no answer. “Earth to Chloe.” He said waving a hand in front of her face.
“What?”
“What were you thinking about?”
“Oh…Nothing.” She replied just as the bell rang.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the end of the day, they all gathered up their things to wait for the buses to be called. When they finally called Shane and Chloe’s bus they grabbed their book bags and headed out to the front of the school. Once on the bus, Shane noticed that Chloe was out of it again.
“Hey Chloe, do you want to come over and play when we get home?”
“Um…I can’t I have to get some chores done and dinner done before Tess gets home.”
“Oh” Shane said disappointed. “Well if you get done early come over.”
“Okay” she said just to get him to change the subject. She knew very well that she wouldn’t get finished early. She would be lucky to even finish before Tess got home. She knew she had to if she wanted a good nights sleep, because if Tess got mad and locked her in the coat closet for another night she wouldn’t sleep again. The last two nights were bad enough; she just couldn’t go through that again.
TBC…