Webs We Weave

When The Going Gets Tough

Sloane's P.O.V

It's been five days since I've said goodbye to Jay at the airport. Five very long days. I like being on my own, but since I've met Jay I really didn't need a reason to be. Now I don't have a choice, but I have time to go through all the motions at least and catch up on some reading. I don't mean reading texts from Kai, which hasn't stopped coming from all sides. The last one said, "I need to speak with you, Chloé is back in town!", I know Chloé is back in town, I'm very aware of that. Still not reason enough for me to strike up a conversation with him. I meant what I said the day I saw him last.

I love how the late afternoon sun shines through the curtains, warming the living room. I find myself frequently taking naps on the couch here this time of day. It's really nice having Jay's place to myself, the feels of obtaining some bit of freedom, but it also makes me feel nostalgic when I think about the things I lost in the fire. I daydream about the things I used to have, the things I can't just go and buy at any shop.

My cellphone started ringing, I got so excited thinking it might be Jay, that I bumped my glass of red over the table while I was trying to get to my phone.

The number wasn't one of the one's Jay said he'd call from which made me pull a sad face.

"Hello?" I never answer with my name. Sometimes people don't even know who they're looking for until you tell them. Also, unknown numbers calling really triggers my fight or flight response.

"Hi, uhm... Is this Sloane?"

"That depends, who's calling?"

"Hi, I'm Sarah. Jayjay said you were staying at his place, I wanted to know if I could come by and get some of my things?" Hold up. Jayjay? Things? Her things? I know this man isn't cheating on me so who the fu** is this girl.

"I'm sorry, he didn't say anything. Did he give you my number?"

"Goodness, no!" she laughed as if she just heard the biggest joke of her life.

"Well, I'll tell him you called, goodbye."

"No wait! I'm sorry. I'm Jayjay's old friend, well, one of them anyways. He said I could come by whenever I'm ready, to come get some things I left there." .. Red lights were going off in my head, but she's no threat. I know Jay loves me. Not that there was any doubt about it, but she might as well come get her stuff and get out for good. I didn't even know his friend's things were here somewhere in the penthouse.

"Do you know where it is? Then I can leave it for you in the lobby by the front desk?"

"Nooooo. I'm not sure what he did with it I'd have to come look for it. I didn't realize he was out of town, I would've waited for him to get back but I'm leaving tomorrow and I need those things." How does she know he left town?

"Look, I'd like to help..."

"No you don't. And it's okay I just need to get my stuff and I'll be out of your lives forever." She just cut me off. Out of his life? She's right though, I don't want to help her. Friend or not.

"I'm sorry, Jay didn't mention anything about his ex or about stuff being picked up. I don't feel comfortable letting someone into his place without his consent, sorry." I'm not even going to bother being all nice about it. She had all this time to come get it, now that he's out of town, which by the way I didn't tell her, now she needs her things... Something was super off about this woman.

"I know what you must be thinking. Why now after all this time? I had a chat with him at his dad's birthday party for the first time since.. Anyways, he said he still had some of my things and I should come by to get it." That must be what Jay was staring at that made him tense up like that. Not what, but who! Jay would have told me but with everything that happened that night I'm sure he just forgot to mention it. Besides, there are too many pieces that just don't fit in the puzzle.

"You said you needed those things."

"Yes, urgently!"

"What things?"

"My things." Which is code for what?

"I see. But what things of yours are still here and if you had to come and look for it, where would you look?" If she's telling the truth she'll give a clean cut answer or else she's lying.

"Okay, I can see this is obviously going to be a problem. Nevermind, I'll contact Jayjay when he gets back. Toots!" And then she hung up. I don't like her nickname for Jay, it irks me to my core. Jay's on a ship now, they're only allowed one email per day and it gets screened to check for tips or threats in case someone wants to take over, I don't really know how it works. I'll just remember to mention "Sarah" in the email.

I got the cleaning stuff from the closet in the hall, I hope Jay's couch isn't ruined, thank goodness it's a leather couch so there might not be any stains. I hope. Am I naive to trust him so much? He hasn't given me any reason to doubt him I thought while squeezing the wine out of the cloth into the bucket. How is it that when liquid is in a glass it's not much, but when it spills it suddenly becomes so much more? I rinsed out the bucket and the cloth and left it in the basin to dry.

Jayden's gone somewhere, his ex called me out of the blue, Tokai is still trying to get hold of me and Chloé is back in town and no one knows where she is. She's back though, that's enough concern in itself.

I still suspect her of burning my house down. Obviously with no evidence or means of threats from her, the authorities wrote it off as an accident. I didn't use my straightener that day, and I can clearly confirm that I did not smoke a cigarette before leaving the house. I wanted to, I considered it, but I didn't. Now that I'm thinking about it, I might as well have one. I went out on the terrace and breathed in the nicotine. The thought of my burnt down house being ruled out as "accidental" bothers me so much and I don't know who to talk to about it. I can almost say with certainty that it wasn't. I remember smelling something burning as I left my house, but I didn't think anything of it. It sure is a mystery but I do wish Chloé would show herself so I could confront her about it. Stupid b**ch.

If all goes well tomorrow at the staff meeting I'm definitely going out for drinks with my colleagues afterwards. My phone beeped in my hand. Kai, again. Suddenly it rang. A message and a call at once.. Curious.

"What is it, Kai?" I answered slightly annoyed.

"You know, leaving your pretty boy behind and moving on to a better life looks good on you." That voice. I didn't even need to guess.

"Really? No "hi, how are you"? "

" Chloé, why do you have Kai's phone? Where is he?" This can't be good.

"Oh he doesn't need it where he is now. He's taking a nap. A nice loooong nap! Isn't that right pretty boy?" I couldn't see or know what's happening behind the screen but Kai's lack of response and Chloé's sinister tone of voice had me over thinking at an unmatched pace.

"Come see for yourself, Slowy. I have him right where you've always wanted him. Alone, begging, desperate and alive."

"Where are you?" I'm mad now and not because of Kai, but because this poisonous woman can't leave the people from her past in peace.

"Ooh yay! I was hoping you'd come! We're at his mom's house. At the back by the little wendy house. Can't wait to hang out!" Of all the people with loose screws in their heads, why did she have to be in our lives?

"I hope it will be the last time." she laughed at that last sentence, mumbling in between laughs.

"Oh and Slowy.. I can't wait to see you again." The shiver down my spine from what she just said had me sick to my stomach. After she hung up I stared out the window for another ten minutes while I was thinking.

I can't do this, I told Jay I won't have contact with Kai anymore. I hurried and put on a decent pair of pants. I know what Chloé is capable of, but who knows how far she will go this time. She won't hesitate to make the same mistake twice. I stepped out of the elevator when I realized I forgot my phone upstairs being so deep in thought and all. I turned around but the lift was already on the second floor. I would have to wait, it'll take me much longer to take the stairs then waiting for the elevator. What? It's going up?? How can a damn fancy place like this only have one elevator anyways? Dammit. Now it's stopping at the floor just beneath the penthouse. Come on, come on, come on!!!!

At first I considered leaving my phone, but what if I need to call the police, or the ambulance? I shouldn't be doing this in the first place, I shouldn't see Kai and I don't want to. But I won't be able to live with myself if anything happens to him if there was a chance before that I could've stopped it. Finally, it's coming back down. I'll just tell Jay everything because he can trust me and I want him to, he'll understand once I tell him everything. The elevator doors went open, but there was no one inside. What the hell? Are people visiting one another or is it a ghost? Seriously, this elevator is losing it. When the doors went open I darted straight to the table where my phone was when I thought I heard a door slamming. Must be the ghost from the floor right under ours. I got back into the elevator and just before the doors closed I heard a loud thud coming from the kitchen. That was.. weird. Must be a bird that flew against the window or something. Then again the last time I left my house I also thought nothing of it until I came back and it had burned down. I got out when I got to the bottom and my nose caught a very familiar scent hanging in the lobby, spicy apple. There's only one person that I know who smells that way, and I'm on my way to her right now.

I parked my car in front of Kai's house and walked to the small side gate next to it. I climbed over the gate instead of opening it. The gate was only as high as my knees, I never understood the purpose of it really. He really let the garden go, I've only seen it like this after his dad died, but he and his mom restored it quite nicely until now. Coming around to the back of the house I approach the wendy slowly. Everything seems the same, the door is wide open as usual, loud music coming from the Playstation games he and his friends normally play and the smell of smoke pouring out the windows of the wendy. So far so good..

"Chloé..?" I said while entering. Kai was lying on the couch with his back to me, facing the wall. I immediately saw how skinny he's gotten, he looked frail almost. He wasn't wearing anything except jeans with his boxers sticking out. Chloé wasn't here and I felt the panic rise in me, as I walked closer to the couch where he was laying I prayed that this boy was okay. When I came closer I could see that he was breathing at least, no visible marks or scars, no blood, he seems fine.

"Kai..Hey." I started shaking his arm trying to wake him up. He got a fright when he opened his eyes, his reflexes made him grab my hand that was shaking him immediately and gripped it tightly.

"It's okay, it's me." I said. He pulled me onto him and wrapped his arms around me and turned around to fall back asleep again.

"I had this.. horrible... dream of you. So glad you're back.." He mumbled with his eyes closed.

"Kai, wake up!" I tried to breakfree from his embrace so I could stand up, but I couldn't move at all. The more I pushed the more he pulled in.

"Kai! Stop it! Where's Chloé?" his eyes shot open immediately and he looked at me.

"What do you mean where's Chloé?"

"I mean, Chloé called me from your phone and told me to.. Just get off me so I can speak to you without fighting for air." Kai let me go and with much effort I got up putting distance between us almost instantly.

"What's going on Slo? You look super stressed out, what happened?"

"Chloé told me to come here so I did because I thought she was going to do something bad to you."

"Chloé said that?" What's with the distrust?

"Where's your phone?" I tried coming at it from a different point.

"I lost it when we were out drinking the other night." My mind is running races right now, what the hell is going on? And then it hit me..

"Kai. Is this a setup? Did the two of you plan this?"

"Would you believe me if I said no?"

The puzzle pieces weren't quite fitting in, but if I could trust my sense of smell... Oh no. She wanted me here while she was there.. Chloé is at the penthouse, that bit** set me up! I've got to get back there.

After storming out of the wendy house, over the side gate, I got into my car and next thing I know Kai was in the car sitting in the passenger seat.

"What are you doing?!"

"If Chloé is messing with you, it would be best if I come along." I don't have time for this.

"Fine. You can wait in the car."

I parked right in front of the penthouse leaving my door open with the keys still in the ignition. At least nothing is burning.. Yet.

When the elevator stopped at the top floor, I got out, stepping into the lounge area.. There she was. Sitting with her back to me, a glass of wine in her hand, staring out the window.

"How nice of you to finally join us." I moved around the couch hesitantly.

"Us?" Before I could make assumptions, Jay came out of the spare room with nothing but jeans on.

"Surprise! I came home early, cut the trip short. Don't know what I was thinking staying away from you for so long."

I was stunned. I honestly did not know how to respond,but the tears of joy identified some emotion. He's back. And Chloé was sitting here. Did I miss something? He pulled me in and held me tight. I don't know what to do or say, I'm like a frozen being stuck in a twilight zone.

"I see you've already met my sister." I pulled away from Jay and looked at them. I stepped backwards slowly when the elevator dinged again. Kai stepped out and had the same look on his face that I did. Surprise, confusion and disgust. Jay walked towards him, he seemed stunned and angry.

" What are you doing here Tokai? How did you get in?"

"I'll tell you, but first tell me what the fu** is Chloé doing here, sitting in your couch?!"

The anger marathon just begun and Chloé was relishing in the scene before her. I ran to the nearest bathroom which was in the spare bedroom, the overwhelming emotions that burned my insides were on there way out. I locked the door behind me and let go. I was puking and crying at the same time. When I was done I washed my face with cold water and rinsed my mouth with some mouthwash.

Here I was, sitting on the cold bathroom floor, don't know what to feel, don't know what to do. I closed my eyes to calm the burning of my eyes..