Today's hot topic of school was how Chloe slapped Jeff in front of everyone. A nerd had guts to hit a jock.

"Never knew she would hit him, man," Jason said. Jason was never a person to talk. That's what Alec and Ryan told me. Apparently, he only talks among us.

From what I know, she wasn't always the way she is now; quiet and shy. When I met her back in New York, she was so outspoken and talkative.

The first time I saw her was when she came to New York for vacation with her family. She was so cute, a bit loud, yet loving. I thought that would be the last time we meet, but I never expected to see her again. And now she is here with me, going to the same school as me and living next to me as my neighbour. I never expected that. But from what I can see, she has definitely changed and not for good. Something is definitely off about her.

A big clue is, whenever I talk about Emma, she just refuses to acknowledge it. Leah and Laura don't even know about her. Aren't they all best friends or something?

"Earth to Chase," Ryan called, shaking his hand in front of my face. "Are you coming?" He asked.

"Where to?" I asked, looking at them. They gave me a weird look.

"We decided to hang at your place during lunch. You remember, don't you?" Alec asked, raising his eyebrow. Oh! Yeah, we decided. I guess I just spaced out.

"Yeah...yeah right, sorry. I just spaced out." I said as we walked towards my car. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Chloe standing there with some guy.

"It's fine. Shit happens," Ryan said. But I wasn't paying attention to his words. He followed my line of vision and coughed. I looked at him as he smirked at me. I raised an eyebrow at that.

"What?" I narrowed my eyes at him. Why do I have a feeling that he is thinking something? And that it can't be something good.

His smirk grew as he shook his head. "Nothing." With that he went to his car, Jason right behind him.

I went to my car with Alec, who was eyeing me with skeptical look. Am I missing something? I shrugged and started driving while listening to Alec rambling about Megan, how hot she is. I sighed. I know she is hot. I've already talked to her once. She is hot, but when she starts talking, she won't stop.

As soon as we reached my place, I parked my car in the driveway. I opened my door and got out as Alec got out of the passenger seat. I locked the car behind me as we all went in.

Just as we entered, we were hit by a strong smell of coffee. I followed the scent to the kitchen and saw my Mom making coffee. I silently went behind her and whispered near her ears, "I'm back."

She jumped and quickly turned around, hitting me with the big spoon that was beside her.

"Ow, ow, ow! Stop Mom, it's me," I grumbled, but she didn't seem to be listening. I took hold of the spoon and snatched it from her hands. The boys were laughing so hard that tears rolled down their eyes.

"Th-that w-wa-s hilarious," Ryan said between his laughs. I glared at him which made him laugh even more.

Mom looked at me, ready to kill. "You scared me. Don't scare me next time or no dinner for you." She stated and looked away, slightly pouting.

I threw my hands up in surrender. "Sorry, won't happen again." I kissed her cheeks and looked at my friends still laughing.

"Quit it, guys. I'm going to take a shower and change. You all go down the basement; the video games are all connected. I'll be back soon." I said, after introducing them to my mother.

They nodded and rushed downstairs while I went to my room for a quick shower. When I entered my room, I heard a melody of laughter coming from the window opposite mine. I came closer to the window as the laughter became loud. When I was right in front of my window, I saw Chloe laughing with some guy who was smiling as well. She was pretty angry at school the whole day. Jason told me that Chloe was doing some project with her partner. How did he come to know was beyond me. I mean, the guy doesn't talk most of the time.

"Well, I thought you were doing your project that's why you couldn't come to my place when Ryan invited you girls," I said. After hearing my voice, Chloe jumped in surprise and turned around to face me so did the other guy.

"You scared me," she said placing her hand over her heart. Relief washing on her face. "And yeah, we are doing our project."

"Doesn't seems like it." I muttered to myself.

"What?" She asked, confusion written all over her pretty face. Pretty?

"Nothing," I dismissed. Glad she didn't hear me. The guy next to her came closer as I leaned against the window.

"Hi, I'm Aoron. Chloe's math project partner." He extended his hand for me to shake which I did. Imagine the space between the houses.

"I'm Chase, her neighbour," I turned and wink at Chloe. She just rolled her eyes.

"Well, it's nice to meet you," he said and gave his charming smile.

"Likewise," I said. "Well, I have to go. My friends are waiting for me and I have to take a shower." Just as I said that, I took off my t-shirt and heard a small gasp. I smirked to myself as I turned to the window. Chloe immediately turned her back to me.

I narrowed my eyebrow in confusion. I looked at Aoron whose mouth was wide open and was checking me..out?

His cheeks turned pink and it looks like he was blushing. I turned to look at Chloe who was now facing me, trying to control her laughter.

"You've got a hell of a body," Aoron said. My eyes widened. I hurried to my bathroom as soon as possible. But while I was going I heard Chloe burst into uncontrollable laughter.

I heard her say something like 'you scared him' between her laughter. Well that was not funny at all. I thought Chloe would be the one who would blush and drool like all the other girls. Guess she isn't like others.

I tried to ignore the encounter that just happened and quickly took a shower. When I came out of the bathroom, I hurriedly shut my curtain. That's when I heard a groan.

"I wanted to see him change." I heard Aoron said. Is he crazy? Or wait, is he gay?

"Don't worry, I'll help you with that." Chloe said. Like hell that will happen.

I quickly changed and went downstairs to the basement where I left the others to play. "What took you so long? Did anything happen?" Alec asked.

Well if you count talking to your neighbour– whose partner is probably gay– trying to eye rape you, then nothing. Absolutely nothing happened.

"Nothing," I just replied because if I tell them what happened, I'm sure I won't hear the end of it.

"So, want to play COD? I know I will kick your ass," Ryan said, still not looking away from the screen.

"You wish." I took the controller from Jason as I played.

"We are heading up to eat something. Is that cool with you?" Alec asked me.

"Yup," I answered, still trying to beat Ryan's ass. "Get us something, would you?"

"Will do," he said.

"Damn. I want a rematch," Ryan grumbles. Alec rolled his eyes as he and Jason left upstairs to get food.

Just as we heard the door click close, Ryan immediately paused the game and turned to look at me. I raised an eyebrow, questioning. He sighed. "Well, why were you late? Something happened, didn't it? Did you talked to Chloe or something, or did she hit you too?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

"No, it's nothing," I said and pushed the play button. But he paused it again. I let out an irritating sigh. "Dude, nothing happened, okay."

He wasn't buying. He stared at me blankly. I huffed and recited to him about my encounter just a few minutes ago.

First, he didn't say anything. He was just staring at me blankly. And then, exactly a few seconds later, he started laughing uncontrollably like Chloe. I pushed him off the couch. He was still laughing like a maniac. I glared at him.

"Will you stop laughing?" I scowled at him. If he doesn't stop laughing, I might kill him.

"Dude, that was plain hilarious," he said and doubled over his laughter.

"I swear to God, if you open your mouth about this to anybody, I will personally cut off your balls." I threatened him. He sobered quickly but still had a smirk on his face.

"Fine. I won't tell anyone," he promised. I sighed in relief. We continued to play our game. The door to the basement opened.

"Finally you guys came," I said without looking away from my game. "Did my Mom say anything? If she said, ignore her."

"Well, I think your Mom is sweet and she wouldn't like to hear her son talk about her like that," an amusing voice said. It wasn't Alec for sure because it was a girl's voice.

My head snapped up to see Chloe standing there with Jason and Alec. Alec had a smirk on his face. Chloe tilted her head to her side, raising one of her eyebrow with a smirk plastered on her face.

"Yes, I won. You lost. And you say no one can beat you. I kicked your ass," Ryan shouted, pointing at me. He threw his hands up and started dancing around while shouting 'I won'.

"This is not my fault. Chloe distracted me!" I exclaimed, crossing my arm across my chest.

"How so?" Chloe asked, still smirking. I glared at her. I let out a huff. I ignored her question and turned to Alec.

"What is she doing here?" I glared at Alec. He just stared at me. I looked at Chloe to see hurt flash through her eyes, but just as it came, it went away within a second with a blank look.

"Nothing," she said, blankly instead of Alec. "I just came to give your mom something," she said. "I think I should go."

Without another word, she spun on her heels and ran out of the room. I closed my eyes in irritation. It was uncalled for. Within a second, I winced in pain as I felt a blow on my arm. I immediately opened my eyes to see that Jason punched me.

I glared at him. "What the hell? Why did you hit me?"

"Are you shitting me, dude!" Alec exclaimed. "She didn't want to come down to intrude our time, but I forced her and all you did was speak rudely to her, just because you lost a game?" He shook his head.

"I guess it wasn't just the game," Ryan muttered to himself. "But it wasn't her fault." He said, aloud. Jason clicked his tongue.

I sighed. I shouldn't have been rude to her. She didn't even do anything. What the hell is wrong with me?

"I think I should go apologize to her," I said. They all nodded. I went up to see if she was in her room. I entered my room and looked across, but the lights were off so I guess she isn't in her room. Well, damn. Now, she won't talk to me. I'm such an idiot.

I went down to the basement again. They looked at me. I shook my head. "She isn't in her room."

"Is she home atleast?" Alec asked. I shrugged.

"I don't know. I went up to my room as her window is exactly opposite mine, but she isn't there."

They sigh. "Talk to her tomorrow." Ryan said.

"Hopefully."

I don't know if she would be willing to talk to me. There is something that she is hiding. Her becoming quiet more than she was before is the proof of that. But I promise myself one thing; whatever she is hiding I will find it. She is not the Chloe I know.

**

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