Chloe

CHLOE

As he walked into the office, he noticed a little girl slouched in a chair, head hanging first, maybe second grade, probably? Still pressing ice to his face, he plopped down beside her. Todd came in, holding ice to his busted lip, and took a seat on her other side.

“What’re you looking at?” James muttered.

“Your ugly mug,” Todd fired back without missing a beat.

The little girl reached out, grabbing one of their hands on each side. She looked up at him with big, sad blue eyes. Her bangs were too long, her brown hair messy, and her little dress had stains on it. She squeezed their hands tightly.

“What’re you in for?” James asked her.

“I took a candy bar,” she mumbled, still looking at him. “I was hungry.”

He glanced at the secretary. “Seriously? She’s a kid. Of course she took a candy bar.”

“Let her go,” Todd said.

“Stay out of it,” the secretary snapped. “Her dad’s on his way.”

The door swung open, and a man stormed in, his face twisted with anger. He snatched the little girl’s hand and yanked her toward the exit without a word. The secretary scrambled after him. “Sir, you need to sign her out first!” she called out, but he was already halfway out the door. He came back, scribbled something on the clipboard, and left again. The girl lingered for a moment, sitting in the doorway, and gave them a small wave. James and Todd waved back, though neither of them said anything.

Days passed, and James didn’t see her around. Then, about a week later, she showed up again. This time, she was sitting alone on the playground grass, staring at the ground. James walked over and plopped down beside her. “What’s your name?”

“Chloe” glancing up at him with a faint smile.

“Why aren’t you playing?”

She pointed to her back. “It hurts.”

James swallowed hard but forced a smile. “I’ll see you later, okay? My name’s James”

“Okay, James” she said just as her teacher called her back inside. He watched her go, then kicked at the dirt. Fifth grade was weird enough without all this.

He ditched school early, trailing the little girl. Was it wrong? Maybe, but he couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at him. That guy had to be hurting her. She led him to the cemetery, then vanished.

James followed her every day after school. She went to the same place. He scanned the area, spotting a black cat slipping through an iron gate. Curiosity got the better of him. He pushed the door open, and there she was, sitting alone in the tomb, her backpack and homework sprawled on the floor. She looked up.

“Hi,” “You want to do homework too?”

“Sure, why not?” he replied, plopping down beside her.

The cat perched in her lap, eyeing him like he was intruding.

“Chloe, I’ve got a sandwich. You hungry?” James asked, pulling out his lunchbox.

“Yeah,” brushing dirt off her torn pants. “Starving.”

He reached out to pat her back, and she yelped. He froze.

“Ouchy,” wincing. “Don’t touch it.”

“Can I… see?” he asked hesitantly, bracing himself.

She lifted the back of her shirt, revealing raw welts stretching from her neck down. James’s stomach turned.

“Your dad did this?” his voice tight.

“Daddy was mad because I took the candy,” she said matter-of-factly, her big eyes locking onto his. “Said if I steal, I better not get caught.”

James forced a laugh, though it came out shaky. “Guess we’ll just have to be sneaky then, huh?”

She nodded, already flipping through her homework.

“You need help with yours?” he asked after a beat.

No, I finished mine, it was very easy, Chloe said, petting the cat

She peeked over at his paper. “That looks hard.”

“Yeah,” he admitted with a sigh. “But I’ll figure it out.”

“What’s the cat’s name?” James asked.

“Nwa,” Chloe said, scratching behind the cat’s ears. “He’s, my favorite. Loves me more than anyone.”

“It’s getting dark,” James said, standing up. “We should go.”

Chloe didn’t budge. “The dead people don’t scare me, James. My daddy does. I’m staying here tonight.” She lay down on the cold floor, her backpack as a pillow.

James’s chest tightened. “Okay, fine. Tomorrow I’ll bring a blanket. What else do you need?” He tried to keep his voice steady, but it cracked anyway.

“Just come do homework with me, okay?” smiling up at him like it was the simplest thing in the world.

“Alright, kid. Be careful,” he said, turning to leave. The guilt clung to him the whole way home like a shadow he couldn’t shake.

The next day after school, he bolted home, grabbed blankets, food, candy, and stuffed it all into a backpack along with his homework. He was halfway to the cemetery when he spotted Todd on the parallel street, looked pissed and started heading his way.

“I don’t have time for you, man,” James said, not breaking stride. “Scram.”

Todd was younger but tough as nails. “Where you are going with that bag?” he asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

“Mind your own business,” James shot back, turning away. Todd followed anyway, stubborn as ever.

She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, pencil in hand, her homework spread out in front of her.

“Hey, kid,” James said as he stepped inside.

“James!” She jumped up and threw her arms around him. “You came back.”

“Course I did,” he said, ruffling her hair. “Got some stuff for you.” He started to unzip the backpack when Todd appeared in the doorway.

The two boys locked eyes, tension hanging in the air.

“You want to do homework too?” Chloe asked, looking up at Todd with those big, hopeful eyes.

Todd exhaled sharply. “Yeah, sure, kid.” He shot James a sideways glance.

“I brought her blankets and food,” James said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“She lives here?” Todd asked, scanning the tomb.

“Sometimes,” Chloe said casually. “My dad’s mad, so I don’t go home.” She turned and lifted the back of her shirt.

Todd’s hand flew to his mouth. He looked at James.

“Maybe I should tell someone,” James mumbled. “I can’t just…”

“No,” Todd cut him off. “She’ll end up like me, foster care. Moving from home to home. She’ll be miserable. Worse than this.”

“You’re in foster care?” James asked, surprised.

“Yeah, man. It’s not pretty, okay, rich boy?”

Chloe tilted her head. “What’s ‘rich boy’ mean?”

They both laughed, and she giggled along with them. It was the start of something real, a weird little trio. They took turns looking out for her, James more than Todd. He bought her clothes, nothing new because her dad would notice, but clean stuff from the thrift store. Even got her some decent shoes. It wasn’t much, but it was something.