CHAPTER TWO

Chloe POV 

Curly blond hair, a sharply defined jawline, and those unmistakable grey eyes met mine from across the yard. For a moment, everything else fell away. I knew those eyes. I would recognize them anywhere.

Yet something about them had changed.

They were colder now—distant in a way I couldn’t quite place, as though whatever once lived behind them had been carefully shut away. 

And still, standing there under the open sky, the space between us felt unnervingly small, as if the years that separated us had folded in on themselves.

He wore a plain sleeveless shirt and black shorts, his posture rigid, his jaw set tight. There was no flicker of recognition on his face, no hint that he saw anything more than a stranger standing across from him.

But I remembered.

The sound of laughter echoed faintly in my mind, carrying on the memory of sunlight and water. Long afternoons spent swimming, careless and endless, before everything twisted into something unrecognizable. 

Those moments had been rare—fragile pockets of something good in a past that offered very little of it.

And then, just as suddenly as they had come, they were gone. He was gone…Why?

Voices pulled at my attention. My mother and Marcus had stepped forward, greeting them warmly. Asher and Kai closed the distance easily, wrapping her in a brief embrace, their words too low for me to catch. One of them gestured in my direction.

My body reacted before my mind could catch up.

I ducked behind the wall, pressing myself into its cool surface, crouching low as if that alone could make me invisible. My knees drew closer to my chest, my pulse quickening in uneven beats.

What the hell am I doing?

The thought came sharp and immediate, but my body didn’t follow it. My fingers curled tightly into my palm as I forced myself to breathe, slow and controlled, drawing air through my mouth.

Get up, this is ridiculous.

I steadied myself and rose, brushing my hands against my clothes as I turned back toward the yard, but they were already gone.

The space they had occupied moments ago now stood empty, the only trace of them the faint echo of footsteps disappearing into the house.

They were inside.

And from the sound of it, they were coming up.

My heartbeat quickened again, heavier this time, settling somewhere deep in my chest.

Too late to hide now.

My eyes drifted to the bed, I fell straight into it, tightly wrapping myself with the blankets.

Why the fuck am I doing this? Doesn't matter… I don't want them to see me, not yet.

Their approaching footsteps echo in my head, I pull my body closer together, my grip on the blanket tightens. Waiting for a knock, but it never came.

Time passed and the only sound I heard was my heartbeat and the rhythm of my breath, not what I expected. I finally pull away the blanket, a sigh escaped me

Silly girl, of course they were coming up. Their room is upstairs too. I remove my sneakers, my feet touching against the cold marble floor.

Then a sound vibrated from the door. I jerked at the sudden knock, the sound hitting the door harder than I expected, like whoever stood outside had no patience for waiting.

Before I could speak, the door swung open and they walked in. 

My mouth partially opened, Kai walked in first and then leaned against the wall, black vest and a black jeans. Asher follows behind, he came closer than Kai, red shirt and a black jean.

Then Jace, he doesn't fully step in, he stops right at the doorstep. Crosses his arms and leans on the door frame.

I close my mouth exchanging glances with each of them. Exactly what I didn't want.

Jace’s face was twisted in what looked like annoyance, almost as if he was dragged. Kai wore an unreadable expression and Asher, he sat at a table in front of me with a smile curled across his face, big, bright and a little awkward but in a good way.

The silence grew louder, nobody spoke or did anything break it. I tried to speak, I really did but what can I say when three boys are staring at me like I was a meal.

“You've gotten taller Chlo.” Asher finally speaks, his voice sweet and tender. ‘Chlo’, exactly what he used to call me.

“Well I can't stay the same from ten years ago.” I clap back.

“Relax, it was only an inch taller.” I shot a glare at him, he chuckled.

“Didn't think you'd remember us.” He added.

“She does.” Kai spoke before I could reply, our eyes met. His long curly black hair rested on his shoulders, strands curled down his forehead, dark brown eyes.

“You're right, we're pretty hard to forget.” Asher added, his hair slightly covered his piercing blue eyes. 

I roll my eyes at him.

“You think too much of yourself.” I teased.

They both chuckle, I join them. Until my eyes drifted to him, my smile vanished. A cold chill bit into my skin.

He adjusts his stance and clears his throat.

“Chloe.” His voice is deep and stripped of emotions.

I nod. “Jace.” 

Nothing more, our eyes are still locked on each other until he looks away.

“So…” Asher continues, his fingers sliding over the apple basket on the table. He tosses one up into the air, catches it and bites into it.

“When are you gonna start calling Jace ‘big brother’.” He teased, taking a large bite at the apple.

“Maybe when you choke.” Kai chuckled softly.

“Not fair.” Asher replied with a full mouth, seeming like he was really bent on choking.

“It's time to go guys, it's been a long journey, she's tired and she's got school tomorrow.” Jace muttered, their movements still. 

What's his problem, I didn't ask for his help?

“Wait, Chloe's going to Blackridge Academy?" Asher asked, his tone sharper– serious.

Kai too, his expression darkened as his face turned to Jace.

“What? Isn't Blackridge a college?” They don't reply for a moment, not until they were through exchanging glances at themselves.

“It is a college, we just didn't expect it.”

“Oh.” I reply, not satisfied with their response.

“Marcus suggested that I apply, that they're one of the best colleges in the world and when I applied, I almost immediately got accepted really quickly.” 

Kai and Asher nod, not surprised. Jace doesn't even bother reacting.

I stood, walking closer to the table next to the window to pick up my phone, and of all the time I chose to embarrass myself I chose to do it in front of them.

I trip over my own feet.

My face drew nearer to the floor, I closed my eyes bracing for impact but felt nothing.

Someone held me back, Jace. How did he move so quickly? He was right at the doorstep.

His eyes found mine again, filled with questions that he doesn't entertain.

He looked away, as if making eye contact was a mistake. 

“Time to go.” he grunts to them before they could get any closer to check on me.

“Be careful next time, Chlo.” Asher adds before leaving.

Jace pauses at my doorstep.

“About Blackridge…” He clenches his fists, without turning back he whispers “...it isn't as perfect as you think.” 

Then he leaves, and I'm left alone with my thoughts.

What does he mean by that and how did he get to me so fast?

I collapsed back into the bed, my eyes slowly closed off into darkness.