All Chapters of Becoming Chloe: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Chloe’s POVJaxon looked directly at me, a warm, incredibly bright smile on his face that made my heart race. The entire crowded room fell completely silent, every eye shifting from him to me. "Everyone here knows that this semester has had its ups and downs," Jaxon continued, raising his cup higher as he stepped into the center of the room. "But tonight is about celebrating the people who truly belong here. I want to make a toast to someone who really made an effort to step into my world. A girl who proved she has what it takes to be a part of my life, and I really do appreciate it." The whole room was filled with “Awnnnnnnn.”He gestured toward me with a grand wave of his hand. "Come on up here, Maya."I lifted my chin, glancing around the packed room at all the familiar faces from school, and they were all watching me. I stepped forward, walking right up to the front, right next to Jaxon."Thank you, Jax," I murmured, a brilliant, shining smile spreading across my face as I stood

Maya’s POV"Oh... She's awake."My eyes were heavy. It felt like trying to lift weights just to blink."Oh Chloe, you're finally awake."That was Chloe's mom. So yeah, that meant one thing, I was still stuck as Chloe.She was leaning over the bed, holding a tissue in her manicured hand. I shifted slightly, feeling the stiff hospital sheets beneath me.When I looked around, the space surrounding my bed was absolutely packed. There were vibrant flower arrangements, get-well gifts, plush teddy bears, and boxes of expensive chocolates from different people at school. It looked more like a boutique than a hospital room.But when I turned my head past the medical curtain, the colorful gifts didn't matter anymore.My real parents were sitting right across from my bed. My mom was crying, her shoulders shaking as she held a crumpled napkin to her face, and my dad looked completely exhausted, his arm wrapped around her waist. They were staring down at the other bed in the room.Lying there, surr

Maya’s POVThe white noise of the hospital corridor was becoming too familiar. It had been over a week since the party.Mark set a paper cup of coffee down on the plastic chair next to me. He didn't say anything as he sat down, his shoulder brushing against mine. Then he gestured to the coffee."Thanks," I mumbled, staring at the closed door of the intensive care room where my Chloe was.Before Mark could reply, the door to the waiting room swung open. My parents walked out, looking utterly drained. My mom’s eyes were bloodshot, and my dad looked completely exhausted, a thick folder of medical documents clutched tightly under his arm.I stood up immediately, stepping into the hallway to meet them. "Any change?"My mom shook her head, a weak, tired smile crossing her face as she looked at me. "The doctors say she’s stable, Chloe. They're just waiting for the brain swelling to go down completely. It’s just... a matter of time."My dad sighed, his jaw tight as he glanced at the folder in

Maya’s POVI dragged Mark to the school parking lot, and we left. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I kept them clamped between my knees, staring out at the blurred streetlights while my breath fogged up the passenger window. Mark didn't say anything. He just shifted gears, and kept driving."Mark," I said. "Can you drive me to the Nakamura house?"He didn't ask why. He didn't point out that we had just bolted out of the school gates like fugitives, or that it was barely ten in the morning. He just drove.The device had to be in my room. If Jess didn't want to show up at school, then I would have to find the answers in the life I had abandoned.As soon as we reached, Mark came down from the passenger seat, and rushed to open my door. We both walked down to the front door. Just as Mark was about to knock, I turned to him."I need a distraction," I said.Mark finally turned his head, his brow drawing together. "A distraction? First of, what are we even doing here?""Just trust me," I said,

Maya’s POVThe guidance office felt half the size of the Vice Principal’s room, crowded with low bookshelves, motivational posters, and the overwhelming scent of vanilla room spray. Mrs. Gable, a small woman with oversized glasses and a surprisingly cheerful disposition despite the circumstances, sat on the edge of her desk. She looked at the three of us sitting in a semi circle on low, padded chairs."I know none of you want to be here," Mrs. Gable began, her voice soft but firm. "And I know there is a lot of pain and anger in this room. But if we are going to make these weeks productive, we need to start breaking down the walls. We’re going to start with an exercise."She handed each of us a clipboard, a blank sheet of lined paper, and a pen."I want you to write a letter," she said. "A letter to the person across from you. I want you to write down something you genuinely appreciate, or something you once loved about them before things went wrong. And when you're done, we are going