CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“What?” she asked, realizing I was staring at her.

“Oh nothing sorry, you’re just really pretty,” I say awkwardly, looking away.

“Awe, thank you you’re really pretty too,” She says sweetly.

“If you say so,” I say shortly, twisting the ring on my finger.

“I know,” She playfully bumped my arm with hers.

“Let's pull over somewhere and go get something to eat,” Hayley says looking for a place.

“I don’t have any money though,” I say shyly it was an uncomfortable feeling being with Hayley.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll pay for it,” She says still looking for a place.

“Are you sure?” I asked feeling guilty.

“Yes, Chloe stop worrying,” Hayley rolled her eyes, smiling.

“Okay, fine,” I say, sighing looking out the window.

“So where do you want to eat?” She asked thinking.

“I don’t know, other than the few dinners I’ve been to the past few days,” I explained honestly.

“Okay let’s head to the food court at the mall then,” her face lit up with excitement and sat up taller in her seat as we were turning a corner.

“The mall?” I was reluctant.

“Let me guess, you have never been to the mall either,” She stated with pursed lips.

“Nope,” I confirmed, popping my lips at the end.

Ahead of us, there was a large building that had random words like ‘Sephora’, and ‘Hollister’, we drove into the parking lot and parked underground.

“Alright, let’s go,” Excited, she undid her seatbelt by opening her door, and got out.

I did the same leaving Colby’s bag in the car so it’s safe and I don’t have to carry it anymore.

I looked down at my dress realizing I had blood on it so I stopped abruptly. “You good?” Hayley asked, pressing the lock button on her car keys.

“No, I have blood all over my dress,” I say emotionless, numb almost.

“Oh shit your right,” She realized looking down at the baby pink dress splattered with red.

“Do you have anything else to wear?” Hayley questioned biting her lip nervously, I shook my head.

“That’s alright I’ll buy you a new outfit,” She says clapping and jumping up and down.

“You don’t have to, I don’t want to be a bother,” I say walking beside her, placing a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Are you kidding, I love shopping, no one ever goes shopping with me anymore,” She said as we walked up the stairs to the entrance.

When we got inside I was overwhelmed by the crowd of people and the number of stores that are in here. “There’s a lot of people,” I whispered nervously, trying to make myself as small as possible.

“It’s always this crowded here,” She says as we walk side by side.

“Why?” I breathed a bit ragged.

“It’s a mall, there’s like hundreds of shops in here and it’s a hot spot for teenagers,” She says as she stopped at the entrance of a store looking at a pair of blue jean shorts.

“What’s so fun about being at an overcrowded mall?” I asked, feeling even more uncomfortable.

“Let me show you, come on. Follow me,” She said and ran off ahead of me and I had to run after her to keep up.

“Where are you going?” I called after her trying not to run into anyone, but I lost her as she disappeared in the large crowd of people.

I was lost and it was loud, babies were crying, teenagers were screaming, bodies and faces were everywhere.

I was beginning to panic after fifteen minutes of not being able to find Hayley, I stopped watching where I was going and it felt like I hit a brick wall and fell backward onto the floor.

I looked up at a man who towered over me and I was scared that I would make him angry. He was wearing a black uniform with the word security on his arm; he was very intimidating. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to run into you,” I say above the crowd.

“Don’t worry about it,” He held out his hand to help me up and I took it, pulling me back to my feet.

 I smiled politely and walked past him trying to look for Hayley again, I finally found her at a rack of clothes.

“Hey, where were you? I thought you were behind me,” She says looking through the rack.

“I was, but you ran and I got lost,” I explained, eyeing a black dress, I took it off the rack and held it up to show Hayley.

“Ooh that would look so hot on you,” She says holding it from the bottom,

I snickered at her comment and shook my head.

Hayley took it from me, walking further into the store, I sighed it feels wrong to enjoy myself knowing Colby is in a coma in the hospital.

“Come on Chloe let’s go,” She giggled.

 I followed her into the back of the store to a room that says ‘dressing room’.

“What are we doing?” I asked as she gave me back the dress.

“You are going to try this on, and I am gonna find you some shoes to match that dress,” She winked at me before walking away.

I turned around to see many other doors that led to very small rooms.

 I walked into the first room and closed the door and started to undress. 

I took off my shoes and then the dress. 

The blood was dry but felt sticky on my skin, I wish I had a washcloth.

I quickly stepped into the dress and pulled it up over my waist and breasts, trying to figure out where the armholes were, yet around my breasts they hugged tight but not tight enough where it’s uncomfortable.

A sudden knock on the door had me startled, I jumped with a gasp and I covered myself and opened the door a crack; it was Hayley.

“What's taking you so long?” Hayley asked, passing me the shoes.

“I can’t find the armholes,” I said uncomfortably, and she started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked seriously, getting really tired of everyone laughing at me.

“The dress is strapless so there aren’t any armholes, is it zipped up?” She asked, trying to come into the room.

“N-not yet,” I say, letting her into the room.

“Turn around,” she says after I put down the shoes.

I turned my back to her as she zipped up the dress.

“Alright now put these on,” She says moving around me to get the black heels, I sat on the small bench and put on the shoes as she told me.

“Great, now let’s go pay for everything,” She giggled excitedly.

“Should I change first?” I asked to pick up my clothes and shoes before I changed.

“No, they have these laser gun things that tell the price,” She explained walking out of the dressing room with me following behind.

“Oh you poor thing,” I heard from behind me, so I turned around and saw a girl dressed in all pink, from her dress to her shoes and purse.

“What makes me poor,” I asked, folding my arms.

“It looks like Hayley sexually assaulted you just like the other girls, oh and of course and guys,” She laughed as Hayley closed on herself a little.

“She was helping me with my dress,” I say with no emotion on my face.

“Oh, I bet she was, enjoyed that didn’t you, little whore?” She called over to Hayley.

“Do you have a problem?” I questioned my face closer to hers.

“Of course not, she’s the one who can’t make up her mind, which is it, huh, girls are boys you can’t do both,” She spat over at Hayley, and the next thing I knew the over pink girl was on her ass and my hand hurt.

“What the fuck, are you psycho?” She screamed, I crouched down in heels to take a better look at her face, blood coming from her nose, and I smiled.

“Maybe a little,” I got up and winked back at Hayley.

“Let’s go,” I say, placing a hand over her shoulders.

“Freaks!” She yelled after us.

“See you in hell bitch,” I hollered back as we walked up to the checkout line.
















Colby’s P.O.V







The sun was coming through the window, and Chloe was in my arms, her brunette hair sparkled bronze from the sunlight.

I rolled over pulling her closer, her hair smells like vanilla, and her skin is porcelain, and her bruises were gone.

This isn’t my room, and I’m not sure how I got here, but I don’t think I should question it.

I kissed Chloe’s forehead as she whimpered into my chest, I tucked her hair behind her ear before it fell into her place, for once in my life I am happy and contemptuous.

We finally did it, we both got away safely.

I have this beautiful woman beside me, with the perfect ring on her finger, and we have all the money we need to start our life.

Maybe I can go to college, or university and finally get a degree or diploma in something. 

Get married, create a perfect life, and she’s already going to be my perfect wife. What more would I need?

 I looked down at Chloe as her blue eyes fluttered open and she began to rub them, slowly looking up at me, I smiled.

“Good morning beautiful,” my voice sounded rough.

“Good morning,” She giggled.

“I would have made us breakfast but I didn’t wake up early enough,” I say nuzzling into her.

“Awe, it's okay,” She leaned up and kissed me softly.