The good girl is changing me

Chapter nine - I want to know more

Chloe's POV:

I managed to talk with Aaron once again. This time it was different. I feel like he doesn't want me to be around him. Also, he knows who is spreading the rumors about him in school. I didn't ask, because the first time when we talk, he didn't say who the person was. I don't think that he will tell me now. I won't lie that I enjoy the talk, no matter that it was strange at some point. Aaron looks like he doesn't care about others, which makes me wonder is there someone to take care of him. He told me that I don't know how bad is his life. Maybe there is something for which he doesn’t like to talk. Well, I won't ask him personal things, but I want to know more. I still believe that he is not that bad. All I have to do is to prove it.

It's the weekend so I don't have to go to school for two days. This also means that I won't talk with Aaron. Maybe we can meet occasionally somewhere, but I don't want to look desperate. I mean it's not an urgent task. Yes, he might be a bad boy, but the way he was talking showed me another. He looked calm, normal, and didn't try on me. We were just two people, talking about things. I don't know why he is acting like that, but I think that his friend can tell me. The question is where to find him. I only know his first name, which won't help me much. Since it's the weekend, probably they will go to a party tonight. Like there is only one party in the town. 

I was laying in my bed and thinking. I won't go to search for them, because someone might see me and I don't want that. I can wait until Monday, but it will be better if I stop. I'm using my lunch break to talk with him, but it's about time for someone to see me and tell the whole school. I don't want to risk it. I sighed and got up. Well, I can't lay in bed all day, no matter that this is what I want. I looked at my phone and saw a message from the girls. They want us to go to the mall today. I agreed only because this might help me stop thinking about him. 

I walked into the bathroom and when I was done, I get dressed. I went downstairs for breakfast and saw that my parents already have left. They told me last night at dinner that they have some work to do and they have to leave early. I didn't say anything and just nodded my head. It was visible that my thoughts were busy with other things or to say one specific thing. 

I was about to sit and eat when the doorbell rang. This must be the girls. I went to open the door and let them in. Katy's outfit for the day speaks clearly, that we'll search for boys today. I thought that she likes Jasper. Maybe she has decided to give up and search for someone else. 

- Good morning Chloe. How are you? - Kayla asked me

- I'm fine. I was about to eat my breakfast. 

- You haven't eaten yet? - Katy asked me surprised

- No, I woke up like fifteen minutes ago. 

- Well, eat fast, because we have to go. 

- We are searching for boys, right?

- What? No, but there is a huge discount on clothes, which we can't miss. 

- Then why are dressed like that?

- Like what?

- You clothes scream look at me. - I said and Kayla laughed

- Very funny. At least I'm trying to look good. 

- I don't need to look good to make people talk with me. 

- Ok, enough for today, I don't want to listen to this argument again. - Kayla said

I finished with my food and all of us walked out. The mall is around 45 minutes from home, which is not so far and that's why we are walking. That way Katy can show her outfit to the people. Not like there are many. All the people, which we met, were older than us and some of them were married. I have to admit that it was very hot, which is weird for this time of the year. For the first time, I was happy that we are in the mall. There is colder. 

We walked into a couple of stores when Katy saw one light blue dress. I don't think that now is the time for dresses, but I won't complain. If this is how she wants to spend her money, I am not the one who will stop her. I walked around the store while waiting for the girls to finish with their try-on haul. I don't know will they buy all of this, but since I have nothing else to do, I will wait for them. I was looking at some hoodies when I heard a voice behind me. 

- The blue one will look good on you. It will emphasize the color of your eyes. 

I turned around and saw Aaron. I know that I kind of wanted to talk with him, but I didn't expect that he will be here. I didn't tell him, because I understood this morning. Let's say that it's a coincidence. I won't lie that I blushed a little bit from his compliment or whatever that was. 

- Um, thanks. I'm just waiting for the girls to come out. 

- I still think that you should buy it. 

- Are you sure?

- It's your decision, but you need to trust people more. 

- Ok, then. I will try it. Do you want to see how I look in it?

- I would love to. 

Both of us walked to the changing rooms when I found my size. It's the last one. The others are too big for me. I walked in and told him to hide because the girls are still there. When I put it on, I walked out and the first thing that I did was to check for the girls. Luckily, they were still changing. I knocked on his door. He opened it and pulled me inside. This is not what I expected. I thought that he will only check me and that's it. I guess that he does the checking differently. Maybe he needs a close look, no matter that it's too close.

- Can you tell me what are you doing?

- Spin around. - he said and I did it

- Do you need that close look?

- Look yourself in the mirror. I think that you look perfect. - he said and put his hands on my shoulders

- I don't look that bad. I have to go now. The girls are probably waiting for me. 

- If that's what you want to do.

- What do you mean?

- Do you want to go?

- Yes. It'll be better if they don't see me talking with you. 

Aaron looked at me a little bit disappointed. I want to talk with him more, but now it's not the time. One day I will sit and ask him all the things that I want to know. He will answer me, I'm sure about that. I carefully walked out of his cabin and went to change. When I was done, I walked out and went to pay for it. I hope that I won't buy more things. I don't even need this hoodie, but I bought it only because of him. 

Soon the girls walked out and paid for their clothes. They looked at me surprised but didn't say anything. Just because I don't like shopping that much, this doesn't mean that I can't buy anything. I lifted my head and saw that Aaron was looking at me. I gave him a smile and walked away. Thank god that they don't know that he is here. Well, they don't own the mall, but I know what they think about him. Especially Katy. It's better if they don't know. 

Of course, since they bought clothes, now they want shoes. I can easily tell them that I will wait for them in the food court, but they won't leave me. I sat at one small chair, while they were looking around. I saw through the window, Aaron. He was talking with one girl or basically showing his charm. At least some of the rumors are true. I think that he saw that I was looking at him. He looked at me and gave me a wink, which made me nod my head. I don't want him to think that I am checking him out or something. 

- Chloe, won't you try something? There are shoes even for you. 

- Thanks Kayla, but I don't want to buy anything else. 

- I am surprised that you bought this. 

- I thought that it's cute. - I said and she laughed

After one hour in the store, Katy said that it's hungry. Finally, we can sit for a while. Not like I wasn't sitting the whole time, but I won't deny some food. The girls went to order the food. In that moment, someone sat at the chair next to me. I turned around to see that it was Aaron. What he is doing here? The girls are literally right there. I don't want to explain or mostly to lie to them about him. 

- They won't see me, don't worry. There are people behind them. 

- What are you doing here? Don't tell me that you are chasing me. 

- No, I'm not. I just want to use my chance to talk with you. 

- It's not only me then. 

- What?

- I have many questions to ask you, but now it's not the time for that.

- You can ask me whatever you want. - he said and moved closer

- If you continue like that, I will get up and leave. 

He didn't say anything and moved a little bit. Usually, I don't say this to people, but now I didn't have another choice. I don't want to risk. 

- I didn't want to upset you. It's just that...

- You are afraid that your friends might see you with me. Don't worry, they won't do it. - he said and left

I hurt him, didn't I? I thought that the bad boys don't care about girls, but maybe I was wrong. He didn't look very pleased when I told him to move. The girls came with the food and I started eating. I looked in front of me and saw Aaron. I thought that he left. Maybe he wanted only to leave me. We made eye contact and I gave him a sad smile. He didn't return it and pulled out his phone. 

- Chloe, are you ok? - Kayla said

- Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking about something. 

- I guess that it's important. - Katy said

- No, it's not. You don't have to worry. 

- If you say so. 

My chances to talk with him slim to none. He won't talk with me. I didn't want to make him go away, but this is what I had to do. I don't want the whole school to hate me only because I wanted to talk with him. Moreover, he is just a boy. There will be many more. Who I am lying to? He is already in my head and when something or someone goes in, it's very hard to go out. I don't know how I will look him in the eyes anymore. Maybe this was for good. After all, I don't want to be heartbroken. 

After two hours, we finally walked home. My parents came and looked at us. The girls had like ten bags each and I was with only one. Both of them started laughing. 

- Did you girls rob the mall? - dad asked

-  I wish we could, but we can't carry all the clothes. - Katy said

- Chloe, I see that you bought something as well. That's new. - mom said

- Yes, I did. I'll go to leave it in my room. - I said and went upstairs

I took out the hoodie from the bag and all the memories came. I feel bad now. Aaron wanted to be nice and I push him away. There is no chance that he will want to talk with me. I sat on the bed and hugged the hoodie. It was so soft and nice. I felt tears in my eyes. Tell me that I am not crying. He is just a stranger who for some reason is every day in front of my school, but I won't lie that I feel bad for him. He didn't do anything to me. 

I heard a knock on the door and quickly wiped my tears. The girls came in and sat next to me. Both of them looked at me. I gave them a smile. 

- Chloe, what is going on? Lately, your head is somewhere else and you skip lunch in school. Is there a problem? - Kayla asked

- No, everything is fine. I just think about some things. That's it. 

- Are you still angry about the rumors? - Katy asked me as well

- Can you stop asking so many questions and accept that sometimes people have bad days?

- Ok, we won't ask you anymore. 

- Thank you. Do you want us to watch a movie or do you want to go home?

- If it's not another love story. I prefer teen drama. - Kayla said

- I don't mind. - Katy said

All of us walked into the living room for the movie. I guess that the teen drama, which they picked, was more like a comedy. Otherwise, they wouldn't be laughing so much. I looked at the boy on the screen and in my mind appeared Aaron. I really hurt him today and this is not what I wanted. Maybe I can fix the things, but I don't know will he want to talk with me. I hope that he does because I still want to know more. I won't make him tell me his secrets, but I want to know him better. I am ready to talk about myself. The question is will he do it. We'll see on Monday. If he doesn't want to talk with me, I will leave him and won't try again.