"Where to?" My mother asked, looking up from her phone as soon as I got to the living room.
"Some party." I sat on the couch across from her. I was ready way ahead of time because, frankly, I didn't have anything to do and I knew if I decided to stay in bed any longer I wouldn't go at all.
"Want me to drop you off?"
"No, I got a ride." I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes.
"Chloe?" I shook my head without saying anything. "Then who?"
I sat up straight and sighed. "A friend." I would've never called Garo my friend but I needed the conversation to end.
"Well I'd like to meet this friend before you leave." She smiled and I rolled my eyes.
"Mom, I'm not doing anything illegal and this friend is a girl from school." Being straightforward with my mother was the only way out. "You can look through the window but don't come outside and try to talk to her. Please."
"Fine, I'm going to go practice looking through the window like a creep then." She stood up and sat next to the window. I said nothing because whenever I did I just made things worse.
After about fifteen minutes I got a text from Garo informing me that she was right outside my house. "My, my! She's a looker." Said, my mother before I even got to the door. I scurried out towards Garo who had a white dress on and was leaning against a car that looked more expensive than my house. "Have fun, kids!" Mom exclaimed through the window and it startled her.
"Ignore her." I cleared my throat.
"You too!" She waved back at my mother and I caught myself smiling.
"Nice car." I commented as she waited for me to hop in after her.
"I know right. It's my step-dad's. I don't even know what it's called." I chuckled before getting in only to be hit by a strong scent of lavender as soon as I closed the door. It was intoxicating and weirdly calmed me down. I thought about mentioning it to her just to make some small talk when I realised it wasn't the car that smelled so good, it was Garo. I lifted my gaze to look at her. Her eyes were on the road and she was singing along to some old song I couldn't put my finger on. For a moment it felt like we were just a couple of friends hanging out. This Garo was so different from the one I knew from school.
"You can just say I look hot. I wouldn't mind, I promise." She looked at me briefly. Embarrassed, I turned to my other side, facing the window. I had been mindlessly staring her down the whole time. "What? I don't look hot?"
I gulped, licking my dry lips. "If I don't see Chloe you're going to have to drive me back to my place. Just a reminder." I declared, still not facing her.
"Why don't you just tell her you like her?" She asked. I could feel her eyes burning into the back of my head for a moment. "I mean, you wouldn't have to do all this and I'd get my diary back too."
"I don't know." I mumbled sheepishly. I was acting like I didn't play that scenario in my head a thousand times everyday—telling Chloe I was in love with her. I was never sure what that might lead up to. Heck, I didn't even know what Chloe had on her mind 90 per cent of the time. 10 per cent was just her complaining about Garo. That's all she talked to me about. I was beginning to think I knew more about Garo at this point than Chloe.
"Did you tell Chloe that you have my diary?" This time I looked at her.
"No." I scrunched my forehead. "Why?"
"Just making sure you two aren't plotting something against me. That diary is very important to me." I was taken aback. Garo of all people thought I was out to get her. This was a lot to take in.
"I would never." I didn't know what else to say. I was coming across a side of her I didn't know existed. She was insecure. Garo Lewis was insecure.
"Even if Chloe asks you to?"
"Even if Chloe asks me to." I stood my ground. "I don't think you've noticed but I don't like interacting with a lot of people so drama is definitely not something I want to be dipping my toes in." I felt like a massive hypocrite after those words left my mouth, considering the fact that I was low-key blackmailing her. "What's between you and her is between you and her."
Why did it feel like I was the mastermind behind ruining some guy's chances with Chloe when it was Garo's plan? For all I knew, she could've been manipulating me into something more than what was in front of me. But I wanted to believe her. She was vulnerable with me even if it was for a moment and that did make me trust her.
Besides, if Garo was, in fact, planning something against Chloe and using me as a pawn, she was making a huge mistake. For starters, I had her diary. And I wouldn't engage in anything that could potentially hurt Chloe in any way.
Before my brain could spiral further, dangerously loud music interrupted all my thoughts. "We're here." Garo announced.