Chapter Six

Chloe

"And you forgave him?" Rene asks not caring that there's food in her mouth, even with her mouth full I can tell she has that tone of disbelief. She cannot believe I forgave a guy who had sex with me and ran off the next morning.  "Gurl, what if he wants to have sex with you again and then disappear?"

"No, it's different this time he doesn't want to have sex he just wants to know me better which is what tomorrow's for." I take a slice of pizza and I eat it, my annoying ass cousin is looking at me like I'm crazy, honestly I rather her think I'm crazy than my mom. My mom's going to make a big deal about it like I'm not an adult.

"Okay, fine. But once you find out that he only wanted to use you for sex don't come crying to me and don't go blasting sad Taylor Swift songs." She says and I roll my eyes at her. She's so bitchy, one of the things I love about her though.

I remember when she made a fool of Ryan Coleman in front of the whole school by accusing him of being his father's mistress, she humiliated him because he was bullying me and it worked because the whole school burst into laughter. We were fourteen back then, my bitchy cousin has been bitchy since she was a baby. I'm not being dramatic.

After I finish a slice I ask her. "When are you going back to LA?"

"Oh, Chloe getting rid of me so soon?" She whines, not only is she bitchy but she's also dramatic.

"No, I just want to know."

"Well, I don't know I wanted to spend time with my cousin if that's such a bad thing—"

"No, it's not." I wave her off. "I just want to know if everything's okay, I mean you went to LA to be an Actress, why am I not walking the red carpet with you yet?"

Rene is the kind of girl that hides her feelings, she doesn't want anyone to know she's feeling down, and she hates people seeing her sad. Even when she's angry she's smiling. I've told her so many times that she could tell me anything. She doesn't have to keep things to herself. Although I'm one to talk, I wasn't open to her like that anyway.

Right now I see her sad face, she looks disappointed like all hope is lost. This is a side of her that I hardly see.

"I've auditioned for lots of movies and TV shows but I keep getting rejected."

Oof, I know the feeling.

"Back when I was a kid I thought being an actress was going to be easy." She continues and honestly, I thought so too especially when it came to Rene. She's such a talented actress, I've been to all the school plays where she was the lead role and she killed all those roles. I guess maybe the reason why she doesn't get the role in a movie is that this is Hollywood not Westview Highs school play.

"People keep telling me that I shouldn't give up, I know but it's just so hard being rejected when all your life you've always been the one to steal all the roles at your school plays." I understand this completely, I feel the same way each time publishing companies tell me my work isn't good enough, but I don't tell her that, I don't make it about me, so I move closer to her and I place my hand on her hands and she takes them and squeezes. She looks at me and she manages to put on a smile. "Don't worry I'm not giving up acting, I just wanted a break, to spend time with you."

"Well, you can stay as long as you want." We're smiling at each other and she stops smiling, she has that weird look on her face when she senses something's happening. "what's wrong?"

"Oh my God!" She gets up and turns up the volume of the radio and she goes. "Ooooh, this is our jam!" I laugh at her and shake my head. She begins to dance and lip-sync. "Chloe honey don't you remember how we used to sing to this song."

Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus.

That's what's playing, and yes I loved this song growing up, we loved this song growing up.

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda homesick

"Come on Chloe"

Too much pressure and I'm nervous

That's when the taxi man turned on the radio

"Alright fine." I roll my eyes and join her.

And a Jay-Z song was on

And a Jay-Z song was on

And a Jay-Z song was on

So I put my hands up

They're playin' my song, the butterflies fly away

We turn around like two little kids and we look ridiculous as hell.

I'm noddin' my head like, yeah

Movin' my hips like, yeah

I got my hands up, they're playin' my song

They know I'm gonna be okay

We're laughing like lunatics too.

Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.

Yeah, it's a party in the U.S.A.

Rene might be a future celebrity but I'm surprised she still sleeps the way she does. She's not a morning person at all, she wakes up late and it will take all the power in the world to get her to wake up. Sometimes we fear she might be dead. Like right now. This is 11:30am, although I was moving around in the kitchen making breakfast she didn't open her eyes once. She was busy snoring and turning like the world won't go up in flames at any moment.

Her breakfast is getting cold.

Right now I'm putting on makeup so I can look good for my date with Mr. Hunky guy soon, my makeup isn't that heavy though, it's just pink lip gloss, a little eyeshadow, and blush. I'm wearing a white dress with white flats, Rene has teased me loads of times that I've always dressed like a wannabe Disney Princess. I may be more confident and badass now that I've grown but my dressing style never left. Besides I love the dress I'm wearing, it does make me feel like a Disney Princess.

I put a necklace around my neck, and I would have gotten Rene to help me but it also would have been no use. I  put a bracelet around my wrist. I look at myself in the mirror, I just hope he'll like it.

Woah! Since when am I hoping that guys would like what I wear? He should be worried that I don't like his appearance.

I also stop to think. I need to get a job. Relying on my mother's money all the time is embarrassing. I know she doesn't mind sending money every month, but still, I wanted to live like an adult because I am an adult. After my date with Nathan I'm going to look for a job, maybe work at Monet's, I think they're hiring. Someone might take my spot while I'm having fun with Nathan but still, being with him is way better than having a job, for now.

There's a knock on the door and I can't believe he's here already, why didn't he call first? Oh my, I wasn't nervous before so why am I nervous now? I run over to the living room and I tap Rene viciously, she moans.

"What?"  when I'm about to tell her Nathan's here I hear the person from the other side of the door yell. "Chloe are you home?" It's not Nathan, it's Ms. Minnie, ugh! I wonder what she wants now.

I walk over to the door and I open it just to see her in her signature look and her cat around her arms. I don't know why this woman bothers looking for her cat, the cat leaves and always finds her way back home. Maybe I shouldn't be too harsh on her, she's probably lonely and she needs the company, and trust me making animals your friend instead of humans is therapeutic. It gets you away from weird people and Ms. Minnie is nice so I should be patient with her.

"Oh, you found her." I try to make my voice seem loud and enthusiastic enough, enthusiastic enough so she knows I care, loud enough so my cousin can wake up. But she's not doing that.

Why even bother?

"Yes, she came back from wherever she went to." Ms. Minnie pets the cat, she treats this cat-like her child. Her other kids are grown snd they come once a year to see her. I shouldn't judge them because I also don't want to see my mom sometimes— okay, maybe I need a break from her nosy ass for at least a year or two.

I watch as Ms. Minnie pets her cat, she looks so happy that her furry friend is back.

Ms. Winnie is a widow, her husband died from lung cancer. The funny part is when she was telling me he died she didn't sound sad she sounded thrilled she even tells people to call her Miss and not Mrs. She probably wasn't in a happy marriage, she wasn't with the one she loved, either that or he loved her and then fell out of love with her as the years went by. I don't know but all I know is, men are dicks.

"Anyway, I just wanted to tell you Pearl's safe." (The cat's name) "Wow, you look stunning are you going out?" I nod.

"Yep, with a friend."

"Aww, that's great. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you Pearl's safe." She looks at her cat and then grins at me, I flinch because the grin comes out of nowhere. "It's not too late to get one of these." She whispers creepily like if I do get a cat I'd be safe, I get that but no thanks.

"Thanks but I'm kind of a dog person." She grimaces immediately and turns away, she looks back.

"You're lucky you're my favorite neighbor." She winks and then walks away. I quickly close the door and I let out a large sigh.

Oof, that wasn't creepy at all.

I walk over to Rene and I shake her.

"Rene! Wake up!"

"Mmhm, if you're not Ryan Gosling leave me alone." She moans in her sleep and I grimace, I throw my hands in the air and walk away. My phone is ringing.

Please God let it be him and not my nosy mom.

I look at the screen and I squeal, it's him, he's the one. I calm myself down and I answer.

"Hello." I'm chill, so far at least.

"Hey, Chloe I'm in front of your apartment, should I come up or—"

"Don't worry, I don't want to stress you, I can go down."

"Okay, can't wait to see you."

I didn't know what else to say so I panicked and hung up. I wanted to smack my face with my palm but I decided not to. I just have to look my best. I look at myself in the mirror and when I'm satisfied with what I see I walk toward the living room. I run toward Rene.

"Rene, wake up he's here!"

"Tom Holland?"

"No! Nathan, the cute boy I was telling you about."

"What?" She stands on alert. "He's here, in the house?"

"No, he's downstairs I told him not to come up cause I know if Ms. Minnie sees him we won't be able to leave this building."

"Okay, let me get ready I have to see this guy. She adjusts the robe she's on we're about to go but then she stops.

"What?"

"Shouldn't I brush my teeth first?"

I roll my eyes and I pull her toward the door. "you lost your right to do that when you weren't waking up from your long slumber."

"Not my fault, I was dreaming about—"

"All the hot male Hollywood celebrities naked? Even the gay ones?"

"It's not too late to change Jonathan Groff's sexuality."

"Yes it is, he'll forever be gay, you should be marked as a gay conversion humanoid."

"Pfft." She spits and we're running downstairs like Jonathan Groff is waiting for us. When we're almost halfway there I adjust myself and I walk down the stairs casually, Rene follows suit. Nice to see that some things never change. I see Nathan get out of his car and I nudge Rene's hand to tell her that he's the one.  She looks at him and she goes. "Damn, that guy is fine."

"I know," I say

"Hey ladies."

"Hey." Rene and I both say. God, he's so fine. Like Why is he not a Hollywood star right now? His face was made to walk the red carpet not walk the streets of Texas.

"Nathan this is my cousin Rene, Rene this is my— friend Nathan." Gee, how awkward but they don't care anyway instead they shake hands.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Nathan says, he's not only handsome but also a gentleman, I scored a goal on this one.

"Likewise. May I just say you are a handsome man." He puts on a smirk on his face, aww he's blushing. "My cousin has good taste."

Oh no!

"Okay, we're leaving now, goodbye cuz." I take Nathan's hand and I pull him toward the car.

"It was nice meeting you." He says and Rene does the worse.

"Have fun, but not too much fun." She sings, honestly, if I were Thanos I would snap my fingers and she'd disappear, but then who would be there for me when I'm at my worse? Nathan maybe? Hmm. No, Rene's my cousin. Girls before balls.

Nathan being the gentleman he is opens the door for me, I thank him and I get into the car. Rene has her hand on her chest and she's pouting her lips, so dramatic. Nathan waves at her and she waves back. Then he enters the car.

He silently looks at me and I smile at him.

"What?"

"Uh. Nothing, you look. . . Beautiful." I brush my hair behind my ear and I thank him in the most pick-me way possible. I cringe. I have to say something nice about him too.

"You don't look bad yourself." He's wearing a dark green shirt, blue pants, and black and white sneakers. He has a gold wristwatch and a chain around his neck. He smells like heaven and he looks like an angel, that smile of his makes me want to start fangirling.

"Thank you." He says and I'm still blushing like an idiot. "You ready for our little adventure?"

I was born ready.

I nod and he starts the car, we drive off.

Spending a day with this handsome man is going to be one of the best things that have happened to me this month.