The good girl is changing me

Chapter twenty-seven - Happiness and hard choices

Chloe's POV:

Two days ago was my first date with Aaron and it was amazing. I have never imagined that he will choose something so simple and fun. I mean for a bad boy he is not doing a very good job. Well, I have to admit that he has changed a lot since I came. Not like I wanted him to stop being himself. My only wish was for him to stop hurting himself. All the fights in which he was weren't good for him. This was the only thing for which I cared so much. I was like my mom. I don't know why it got me so much, but I felt that when he was hurt, I was hurt too. Aaron was just a stranger, but somehow he managed to change me. I cut off my friends and started lying only because of him. Mostly, because I was scared of what people will think if they see us together. He is not a bad person, but people don't want to see it. 

It's Monday, which means that I have to go to school. To be honest, I prefer another date instead of that. Well, we can have one, but I don't know how we'll hide each other. I mean soon or not people will start suspecting or to say, Katy. She has an eye for these things and when she understands, she won't be happy. I don't want to lose my best friend. I won't lie that since the summer she has changed a little bit. I don't want to criticize her, but since when she started defending Lindsay and Ricky. She hated them just like Kayla and me. Then out of nowhere, she began saying that they are not that bad. Let's not forget that they spread a horrible rumor about her last year. Maybe it's because she likes one of the football players. 

I woke up and went to get ready. In that moment, on my phone appeared a message. It was from Aaron. I smiled when I read it. Lately, he is weird. I mean that he is very nice, which is not typical for him. At least he is happy or that's what it looks like. 

Good morning princess. I want to wish you to have a good day and that I want to see you today. Tell me when you are free. 

I won't lie that probably I was already blushing. Let's hope that no one will see me. I decide to reply. 

Thanks for the wish and I am free today. I can't wait to see you. 

I was looking at my phone when I felt a hand on my chin. I looked up and saw my mom. She was looking at me with a smile. I returned it. 

- Someone is smiling again. Can I know what happened on Friday? You didn't tell me anything. 

- I can, but you can't tell anyone. 

- Ok, I won't tell. Now I want to know every single detail. - she chuckled

- Well, on Friday I went out to a planetarium. 

- Wait, weren't you with that boy?

- Yes. He wanted us to go there. It was very pretty. Actually, he planned to invite me on a date. I don't know how he got the idea, but it was amazing. There was no way that I could say no. First, I would break his heart, and second, I didn't want to say no. 

- Because you wanted that, right?

- Maybe, yes. On Saturday, we went to the carnival. It was very funny. I made him win me this keychain. It's very sweet. - I said and showed the keys to my mom

- It's pretty. There is only one thing that I still don't understand. If he is so nice to you, why do you have to hide him?

- Because people don't see it. They still think that he is the bad boy, who he was and even if I try to show them the opposite, they won't believe me. People will think that he somehow has brainwashed me or something like that. 

- I will tell you one thing. If you love this boy, you shouldn't be ashamed of who he is. 

- I am not ashamed. I just don't want to lose my friends. 

- You know better. Get ready now or you'll be late. I will wait for you downstairs. - mom kissed the top of my head and left

When I was done, I walked downstairs for breakfast. Dad was already at the table. I smiled at him and started with my food. It was delicious. To be honest I am not very hungry. I don't know why, but I feel like my happiness won't be for so long. I don't want something to happen between us.

Later I walked to school. I saw the girls in front of my locker. I smiled at them, but they didn't look at me. Did I do something? Katy was looking angry. I have no idea what is going on. I opened the locker and took my books for the class. We have twenty minutes so I have enough time to understand why they are looking like soon I will be dead. I was about to ask when Katy grabbed my hand and pulled me to somewhere. Soon we were at the football field. I am very confused. 

- Katy, what is going on? Are you mad at me?

- I am furious. How could you do this? After all the things that I said to you. After all the warnings. 

- I don't understand. Can you explain me?

- Katy and I saw you with Aaron at the carnival on Saturday. 

With that, I felt how everything was falling down. Soon I might do it too. How did they see us and what they were doing there? Well, the carnival is for everyone. I expected that something bad might happen, but didn't think of that. This is not good. 

- Why did you do that? I trusted you. - Katy said still angry

- Chloe, what is going between you two and why didn't you tell us?

I didn't know what to tell them. I made a big mess and if I keep lying this only would make it worse. 

- Won't you answer us? Are you and Aaron dating? 

- Look, I...

- What? Answer me. Are you two dating?

- Katy, listen to me. I just...

- ARE YOU TWO DATING?

- YES! - I said with tears in my eyes

- I can't believe it. Why would you do that? He is the devil. Didn't you hear any of the things, which I have told you?

- He is not what you think. Yes, he was a bad boy, I won't deny that, but when we started going out as friends, I saw that he was changing. Maybe it was slowly, but it was visible. Unlike you, I don't judge people before I know their stories. You have no idea what life he is living. How hard it is for him to be the person he is today. He was doing all of these things for a reason. 

- And you believed everything he is saying, right? Chloe, he is manipulating you. 

- Why I am not surprised that is saying it? This is the reason why I didn't tell you. Katy, you are always criticizing people including me. I don't know what has happened with you this summer, but you are different. I didn't want to lose my best friend. 

- This boy won't be my friend. I don't want to have any relations with him. 

- No one said that you have to. As you can see, I was doing a pretty good job keeping my friends away from him. 

- I'm sorry, but I don't want to be around people who are in contact with him.

- Katy, what are you saying? - Kayla asked her

- I am saying that Chloe has to choose. He or me. 

- What? I don't want to do that. 

- If you want to be my best friend you have to break up with him. 

- Are you kidding me? I won't do that. I don't want to lose my happiness just because you don't like him. 

- Well, then you have to search for a new best friend. Kayla, you can choose on which side you will be. 

- Don't make me do that. I don't want to choose. You two are friends. 

- It doesn't look like that according to her. - I said sadly

- Well, who do you choose? He or me. 

- Fine. I'm sorry. 

- I'm glad that we are on the same page. 

- I'm choosing him. 

- What!? - both Katy and Kayla said in sync

- What you heard. I am not giving up on him because you don't like him. 

- I can't believe that you are so dumb. 

- With that, you prove that he was right. Aaron said that if you were my real friend, you would be happy for me, no matter who I am. I guess that this whole time I was having a fake friend. - I said and left

I walked to class with tears in my eyes. This is the worst day since I met the girls couple of years ago. They didn't talk with me, neither did I with them. We were like that until the end of the school day. After my last class, I was about to go home when I noticed that hey boys weren't in front of the school. Then I saw them coming from the coffee shop. I wanted to tell Aaron everything, but now is not the time for that. I walked by them and he grabbed my hand. I looked at him and his smile faded. 

- Chloe, are you ok? What happened?

- Nothing. I just want to go home. 

- Not before you tell me. 

- They know everything. - I said and walked away

I know that he will understand me. When I walked home, I saw dad. What he is doing here? I mean that he didn't tell me that he will have a free day. He came to me and I managed to smile at him. Dad looked at me worried, but I gave him my everything will be ok look. I just don't want to talk about this. 

- Chloe, are you ok? You know that you can tell me if there is a problem. 

- I'm fine, just tired. I'll be in my room if you need anything. 

Probably after some time I have fallen asleep because mom came to wake me up for dinner. I walked with her downstairs. Eating is the last thing that I want to do now. Both of them were looking at me. I know that I have to tell them, but my dad doesn't know anything and I don't need more problems. I already have enough. Let's hope that it won't get worse. I bet that by tomorrow the whole school will know about this. I will be the number one enemy. 

Soon we finished with the dinner and when mom was cleaning the table, there was a knock on the door. 

- I will open it. - she said and walked away

After a minute in the kitchen entered the last person who I wanted to see. It was Aaron. What is he doing here? Does he want to get in trouble? I said that it can't get worse and this is what happened. You have to be kidding me. I looked at him with a shocked expression and he gave me a sad smile. Did something else happen for which I don't know? 

- What are you doing here?

- Hello, to you too. 

- Sorry. Now, will you answer me?

- I came to see how are you.

- Thank god. I thought that something else has happened.

- It might be only three words, but they were enough for me to understand what is the problem. Look, I'm sorry that they know everything. - he said and sat to me on one of the chairs

Dad was looking without knowing what is going on. I know that I have to tell him the truth, but I don't want to do it now. I have enough things in my head. 

- Excuse me, but who are you?

- Dad, don't start now. 

- I just asked a normal question. 

- I am a friend who came to see her. 

- No, he is lying. He was my friend. Now he is my boyfriend and because of that, I got in trouble. - I said and felt the tears in my eyes

- And why I don't know about this?

- Because no one was supposed to know. The girls understood about this and now I left without friends. If you are going to yell or be mad at me, leave it for tomorrow. I am not in the mood for more problems. - I said and put my hands on my face

Aaron pulled me close and hugged me, coming with a kiss on the top of my head. This feels good. It's like he knows what and when I need it. This is one of the reasons why I am with him. Unlike my friends, he doesn't judge me and actually likes me the way I am. Something that I won't receive from many people. 

- Hey, everything will get better. 

- How? I lost everything. Noting left me. 

- But you didn't lose me. - he said, which made me look at him

- What do you mean? Apart from the obvious. 

- That no matter how worse things can get, I won't leave you. Moreover, I own it to you. After all the things, which you did for me, I can do at least that.

I didn't say anything and gave him a tight hug. People will never understand why I chose to be with him. For them, he always will be the bad boy, but not for me. I pulled apart. He carefully wiped my tears and kissed me. It was one nice soft kiss. This is exactly what I need now. To know that someone is with me. To know that I have someone by my side. I don't care what others think about him. For me, he is a nice person and I won't let him go. Neither will break up with him. 

- Katy made me choose between you and her. 

- And who was your choice?

- Isn't it obvious? Otherwise, I was going to stay so calm with you. 

- Maybe you had to choose her. 

- But why? You told me that if she is my real friend, she has to be happy for me. 

- I know, but you two know each other for a long time. I don't want to be the reason for which you will lose your best friends. I don't want to be guilty. 

- You are not guilty. It's not your fault that they are acting like kids.

- I just don't want to ruin your life. 

- You are not ruing it. Stop thinking so bad. We both knew that this day was going to come. I don't care how many people will hate me. I am not breaking up with you. They have no idea who are you, neither know what you had to go through to be the person you are today. They have no right to judge you. - I said and felt how more tears were falling

- I know. I just don't want to hurt you. 

- You are not going to do it, because I won't let you. - I chuckled

- I'm sure about that. 

- If you don't mind, will you stay here for the night? You never go to school on time so there won't be a problem for you if you are a little bit late. 

- If your parents don't mind, I can stay here. 

Luckily, my parents didn't say anything. I promised dad that tomorrow I will tell him everything. I told him that it would be only sleeping. Moreover, I am not in the mood for anything. At least Aaron was here with me. I don't know what I was going to do without him. I have never thought that a boy can change my life so much, but I am happy that it happened. Yes, I had to pay a high price for that, but I am not sorry. I won't give up my happiness just because people hate my boyfriend. I spent so much time making others happy, that I didn't realize that I wasn't. Now is time for change and this time I will set the rules. Nothing and no one can make me break up with him. He is mine and I will make sure to show it to everyone.