Chapter 25

Chloe

Chloe and Nash walked down a dirt path that lead towards a lake. Trees surrounded them and birds chirped above them. Squirrels scurried across the ground and in the bright blue sky, the sun shone, warming them with its rays. Nash carried a picnic basket and blanket, his eyes on the lake in front of them. He had randomly asked Chloe to hang out and Chloe had happily agreed, growing excited at the prospect of spending time with Nash at the park that was pretty bare. No contest was involved. No sympathy was involved. And Chloe glanced at Nash, flushing. She hoped Nash was trying to further things out in their relationship.

They neared the lake and Nash laid out the red and white checkered blanket across the grassy field. The blue lake in front of them glistened and around them, they could hear nothing but nature. Chloe settled down on the blanket as Nash set the picnic basket in between them. He pulled out tuna sandwiches next, handing one to Chloe who smiled and thanked him.

Nash took a chomp down on his sandwich as they sat in silence for a moment and Chloe's eyes lingered on him. He seemed to have a lot on his mind and Chloe hesitated, taking a bite out of her sandwich, and spoke up.

"Wow, this is delicious," Chloe said. "Did you make these by yourself?"

Nash flushed immediately. "I did... It's not much. Pretty easy recipe."

He mumbled off and Chloe smiled at him. Nash glanced at her, freezing, before darting his eyes to the lake in front of them.

The wind blew back Nash's hair gently and the sun made his hazel eyes look like melted caramel. His jawline looked more sharp in the bright environment and Chloe just watched him, unable to help it. Nash had always been good looking, but the more she got to know him, the more and more gorgeous he became.

And she thought back to her conversation with Sophia. She wanted more. She was sure of it and Sophia was right, maybe she should make the first move. Maybe if she did, Nash would be reassured and they could finally be together rather than stuck in this awkward place of being friends, but Chloe desiring more.

Chloe opened her mouth to finally speak up, but Nash cut her off, "I actually brought you here to talk about something... It's been on my mind lately."

Chloe's heart thumped against her chest. Her eyes lingered on Nash, stunned but hopeful that it was what she wished to hear. Maybe Nash had finally realized he should fight for Chloe; not give up on her because of her silly mistake. Her heart slammed against her chest and she stared at him, hoping for the best.

"I talked to Thomas yesterday," Nash began. Chloe tried her best not to look disappointed, but she nodded, listening. "And... I don't know what to do anymore. He told me how his parents basically pressured him to become an Elite and once he didn't make it, they shunned him and are making him pay his own tuition. Just because he didn't become an Elite."

Nash shook his head, looking disgusted, and Chloe frowned. She hadn't expected that to be Thomas's tale, but they often never knew the battles others faced at home.

"That's horrible of his parents," Chloe replied. "Thomas is ranked sixth. He's basically at Elite status."

"Yeah, I hate that I feel bad for Thomas, but I do." Nash shook his head. "But, he's still going about it all wrong. It's the system he should be mad at or his parents horrible standards. We shouldn't be the ones who have to suffer because of the system and expectations of others. We've done nothing but be talented enough to become an Elite. And that's what makes me so mad. Thomas could talk to the dean directly, but instead he's taking it out on us!"

"I know." Chloe sighed. She looked up at the sky, feeling unsure about the future that would occur very soon if they didn't do anything that would appease Thomas. "And I don't know what to do."

Exhausted, Chloe laid down on the picnic blanket, stretching her legs out in front of her and she stared up at the blue sky above them. A few robins flew above them, darting around and chasing each other, leaving Chloe closing her eyes as a breeze swooshed past them. Beside her she heard ruffling and her eyes flew open. Nash had lain down and he stared at the sky above them as well. His brown hair blew back with the wind.

"I think Thomas is taking his anger out on us because he's resentful of what his parents did to him," Chloe said. She rather they forget about Thomas, but with their deadline, they couldn't. And she hated how she was struggling to come up with a solution. "I don't think he's thinking logically. Maybe... maybe if we found a way to talk to him, he'll understand."

"I doubt he'll understand. He's been taking things too far without any remorse."

Chloe frowned. Her heart stuttered whenever she remembered the day Thomas cornered her, looming over her with threats spilling out of his mouth. She'd never been insecure about her height, but in that moment she hated how small she was. Thomas was much taller at close to six feet and Chloe was barley five feet. It had been terrifying to feel so trapped that day.

"I hate the assumptions they make about us too," Chloe admitted, growing annoyed at the memories and accusations thrown at her. "Even if we don't work as hard as Thomas supposedly, we do deserve the spots we earned. We earned the best scores. We took the same tests and our results are due to a variety of things and that's just life. Some people will naturally always earn more and ugh, I don't know, I guess I'm just frustrated that everyone thinks I had it easy. No one has easy lives and we all have hardships. It's not fair of Thomas to assume that we all had it easy and don't deserve our perks at all."

Nash's eyes softened. He didn't say anything for a moment, his head tilting to meet Chloe's gaze. Chloe froze. In Nash's gaze, she grew still, stunned by how gentle his eyes were on her as if he wanted nothing more than to protect her. To keep her safe from the world and she gulped, feeling her heart stir. How lucky was she to have someone care about her so deeply?

"I agree... And it's something I also been wanting to talk to you about," Nash began. "I'm sorry Chloe. For the way I treated you in the past, I'm really, truly sorry. I used to assume you were privileged and that you didn't deserve your spot because everything came easy to you. You'd come to class late, not try as hard and I resented you for having the first spot I desperately wanted to have. I stupidly put you through all those horrible tests and challenges and I'm sorry for how I treated you for like a year. I was wrong about you, too. You deserve your spot and aren't some spoiled girl. And you are too kind, Chloe, because I would have cussed me off if I were you."

Chloe smiled. She hadn't expected Nash's apology. She hadn't thought about their contests in so long and she genuinely did mean it when she said she never minded them, but Nash's apology meant a lot to her. Although she hadn't minded them, Nash had been harsh and obsessive, and if she were anyone else she probably would have snapped at him months ago.

"Thank you for the apology," Chloe said. "I honestly never minded the contests to be honest. It was a good distraction from... everything and I had fun. To be honest, I... always had a soft spot for you so I enjoyed being able to spend time with you."

Chloe blushed at her honesty. But, Nash grinned at her words. His eyes were still gentle, shimmering under the brilliant sun and Chloe's heart summersaulted. And feeling bold for the first time ever, she reached over and touched his chocolate locks. Nash froze, eyes widening as Chloe brushed back his hair. He went still and Chloe moved her hand slowly, gently down his face until her hand reached his sharp jaw and she traced it until her fingers reached his chin. His breath caught at the movement and Chloe raised her eyes to meet his. Nash's eyes were blown wide, filling with a mixture of confusion, want, and affection, and Chloe hesitated. It was now or never and she'd take the leap while she remained bold.

"There's something I want to talk about, too," Chloe said. She paused, feeling her face heat up. "The... kiss."

Nash went still. This time without any desire, surprise, or care. This time he seemed horrified and Chloe's hand fell away as her courage dropped. She hadn't expected the horror that blossomed on his face.

"Oh, I've been wanting to talk about the kiss, too, but I... I just didn't know how to bring it up," Nash laughed awkwardly. "I'm really, really sorry I never asked you if you were ok with me kissing you. I shouldn't have done that and I'm really sorry. I won't ever do that again."

This time, Chloe froze. Her eyes widened, not expecting Nash's words, and she grew speechless. Of all the things Nash could have said, she hadn't expected that.

"It was wrong of me to do," Nash continued, seeming anxious now. "I really hope you can forgive me. It was a mistake."

"It's fine," Chloe blurted out. Humiliated, words began to spill out of her. "Don't worry about it at all. I don't think about it much."

Nash smiled. "Ok, I'm glad. I've been wanting to apologize for a while now, but I was honestly so terrified. I'm glad I got it off my chest now. I can officially move on."

Chloe's heart dropped, plummeting deep, deep into her body. She really ruined things. Nash had truly moved on and she was now stuck, wishing to be more with him, but knowing that Nash probably would never look at her in that way again. And she couldn't blame him. Why would Nash love the girl who ran away from him when he had professed his feelings?

Chloe's eyes moved back to the sky and they said nothing for a moment. They just took in the nature around them; the beauty of the world and Chloe bit her lip, trying not to get too emotional. Because she was embarrassed. She had reached over, touched Nash's face in the ways she yearend to for months now, and Nash had shot her down and told her he made a mistake. He told her he was moving on and Chloe closed her eyes, wondering what she could do. It was all her fault and she shouldn't complain, but yet, she wished to turn back the clock. To tell Nash months ago that it had always been him. That he's the only guy she could ever see herself being with. That there wasn't much she wanted in this life, but she wanted him.