Wait and Hope

Note: This is the fifth chapter of a larger story. I strongly recommend checking out the other before reading this one.

Note 2: This is a slow burn, slice-of-life romance story first and foremost. There will be erotica, but not for a long, long time.

As always, huge thanks to the people who help me edit my story to make sure there are as few errors left in it. This time, it's Pamelacdnz who generously offered some of her time. Huge thanks to her.

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Wait and Hope Ch. 05-Brand new day

Chloe's POV

The light creeping from the closed curtains gently woke me up, like a warm hug against the cold February morning.

I sat up in bed and looked around me. It took a few seconds for my eyes to get used to the light, and a few more to remember where I was: Jesse's bedroom.

Right, yesterday was one hell of a day. And it had ended with Jesse and his parents welcoming me into their home, and, in Jesse's case, his room. Okay, I admit it -- his bed was pretty comfy... He insisted that I sleep here for the duration of my stay, arguing I needed the rest. I slept like a baby in here, so maybe he was onto something... But fuck, I really hope he had a decent night down there. If not, I'd have to convince him to let me take the couch from now on. He had to get up in the morning, and I did not.

According to my phone, it was 7:20 AM. That was pretty early. I wasn't an early bird, quite the opposite, actually. Sleeping in a bed that wasn't mine certainly had something to do with it, and yet I felt totally rested. We did call it a night pretty early yesterday evening, but I didn't remember waking up this rested in a long time. Maybe I felt safe here, more than I did back 'home'?

I turned around, looking at Jesse's bedroom. I liked the way Jesse had arranged his room. With the couch on the right, his desk and bed on opposite sides, and all of the little details everywhere. I'd have to steal a few ideas whenever I get a room of my own...

Suddenly, I heard some noise in the hallway. Wait, I wasn't alone? I thought--I thought they all left early. Should I go say hi, or should I wait for them to leave? Maybe they don't want to be bothered by someone they barely know this early...

Once again, someone's footsteps resonated in the hallway. Okay, I should probably get up. Although not in that attire. My clothes hadn't dried from yesterday's rain, so I'd have to use Mrs. Alden's clothes again. From what I saw yesterday, she had excellent taste clothes-wise. Her entire wardrobe was filled with clothes that fit well together, to the extent that I struggled to pick something that didn't look brand new...

After I got up and changed out of my PJs, I went up to the door. But for some reason, I couldn't open it... It was just a door--nothing special about it. Still, I froze in front of it for a moment. It was wooden, painted in a slightly yellowed white. The handle was metallic, almost bronze-like. It too was slightly worn. Light crept from underneath, illuminating part of the room.

Finally, after having thought about it for way too long, my hand turned the handle and opened the door. The hallway was bathed in that same early morning glow as Jesse's room. More importantly, it was empty.

Well, that was underwhelming. Maybe they were down­stairs?

So that's where I headed, slowly and carefully, so as not to make too much noise in case someone was still sleeping. Once I was halfway downstairs, the artificial light from the kitchen reached me, contrasting heavily with the slow light filling the hallway upstairs. Whereas the natural light was soft and almost like a feather landing on you, this was much brighter, so much so that it blinded me for a second or two.

"Oh! Didn't expect to see you up this early," Jesse said from somewhere in the kitchen. "Tell me we didn't make too much noise?"

My eyes were still adjusting to this bright light, but I was able to make out Jesse seated at the kitchen bar as I approached. He was having breakfast, or at least finishing it. From what I could see, he was already dressed and everything, almost ready to go. A smile appeared on my lips as I walked up to him. he waved me toward the seat in front of him.

"No, don't worry..." I said, while taking a seat. "Didn't hear a thing."

"Great! That's a shame, you missed my parents! They just left, actually."

I tried to relax a bit in the chair. At least, I didn't bother them this morning, and we were alone. "Oh, okay..."

He then asked, "Why are you up so early? I thought you liked to sleep in. "

I shrugged, not even sure myself. "I don't know. Maybe it's because I was sleeping somewhere I wasn't used to?"

Jesse chuckled a bit. "What, is my bed not comfortable enough?" he said, falsely offended.

Once again, I couldn't help but smile at his stupid joke. I had no idea how he did it; he always managed to make me smile. Even yesterday, under the rain, or even just by text, for all those years.

"No! No, not at all. Quite the opposite, actually. It was the first time in years I had slept somewhere other than..." I wanted to say 'my home,' but deep down I knew it wasn't. Not anymore. A shadow passed over my face as this thought hit me like a freight train. That place I called my home for all my life... Was not anymore. I didn't have a home anymore. Would I ever have another?

Jesse ended my sentence for me. "Your parents' house?"

I nodded. "Yeah... Feels weird, I guess..."

"Talking about sleeping, I hope the couch wasn't too bad?" I asked, somewhat eager to change subjects.

He looked up at me, slightly amused. "Nah, it was okay. Well, I mean, it's not the greatest bed ever, but I'll be totally fine for a week or so!"

"Are you sure?"

"No, really. I don't mind sleeping on it for a bit", he said while stretching. Having finished his breakfast, Jesse got up and started putting away his dishes. "You're not eating anything?"

Oh, right, I was supposed to eat during breakfast. "Uhh, I mean, yeah, but..."

He frowned, slightly confused.

"I have no idea where anything is, to be honest."

Technically, it wasn't a lie -- but it wasn't the whole truth either. Ever since I got here yesterday, I couldn't shake the thought that... that I was stealing their food or something... I knew it wasn't true, that I wasn't stealing anything. But brains are weird, and mine didn't seem to want to cooperate this morning.

"Ah, right. Uhh--" He pointed at a cabinet on the left. "Pretty much everything's in here. I hope you'll find something you like. If not, I'll make sure to grab it for tomorrow morning."

So after I had convinced myself I was actually allowed to eat, and that they didn't mind, I got up and opened the cabinet. Luckily, there was a box of cereal from a brand I knew. Not exactly the healthiest breakfast, but I could worry about that another day.

While I reached for a bowl and some milk, I caught Jesse looking at me from the living room. When our eyes met, he immediately stopped and got back to whatever he was doing, almost embarrassed.

After a few minutes, he said, "Welp, if I don't get going soon, I'll be late, so have a good day! And if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask!" He then thought for a second before adding, "And if I don't answer 'cause I'm in class, my parents' numbers are on the fridge somewhere, along with their work phones."

"Oh, okay... uhh, you sure they won't mind?" I asked. Just the thought of bothering Mr. and Mrs. Alden made my stomach flip.

"Nah, if anything, they'll be glad to help!" He studied me for a moment before saying, "And take it easy today, okay? You deserve it. You really do"

I nodded as he disappeared out the front door. I heard the lock click, and then... And then nothing.

Just like that, I was alone. Alone in a home that wasn't mine. It felt really weird. Much more than I ever would have expected...

While finishing my bowl, I looked at the empty room. The rising sun shone brighter and brighter with the same soft light as earlier, filtered by the clouds left over from yesterday's downpour. It was beautiful, and a little poetic too. The remnants of the rain gave us a magnificent morning.

The couch where Jesse had slept sat in the middle of the room. It really didn't look that comfortable. I mean, for a couch, it was great, but not as a bed. It was too small to roll over without falling, and not even that long. He'd folded the covers after waking up, his plushies sitting on top of them. It left enough room for someone to sit without messing it up.

Wait, plushies? Yup, he'd taken a couple with him. I had to admit, that was kinda cute. And I could see where he was coming from. I'd also managed to cram a few in my limited space yesterday. Even though we were adults now, some things hadn't changed, I guess...

Once I was done eating, I put everything back where I found it, including the bowl -- after washing it, of course. I even did Jesse's and his parents' plates while I was at it. Might as well make myself useful while I was here. And I'd always found that doing chores was a good way to take my mind off things.

Now what? Like it wasn't even 8 AM yet... I had no idea what the hell I was going to do today... Jesse said I deserved some rest... Maybe I should just take it easy.

While I thought about my plans for the day, I walked up to the window. From there, I could see the quiet street. It really was peaceful here, much more than my old street. It was rush hour, and yet I couldn't hear any traffic. There was the odd car passing through, of course, but that was about it.

By instinct, I checked my phone. Nothing. Not even a single text from anyone. That--That didn't feel great. Like, did no one care enough about me to ask me how I was doing after I got kicked out of my home? I'd texted most of my 'friends' yesterday, telling them what happened. Nobody had answered.

Suddenly, I could feel that familiar pressure rising once again in my throat.

"N--Nope, not today," I said out loud, trying to calm myself down. I had cried enough yesterday for a week, and I wasn't doing that again. Or at least not right away.

Was it selfish to be angry at... everyone for not texting me back? I mean, most of my friends saw me disappear out of nowhere a few months ago, and I never got the balls to tell them why... Not that any of them asked.

I sat back on the couch next to Jesse's plushies, still mindlessly looking out the window. Even though they were just plushies, it felt like they were somehow judging me. Or, I should say that they were constant reminders that Jesse had to sleep on the couch because of me, and he'd have to do so for at least a few more days.

And yet, it felt like I only had Jesse and his family now... Even though I was stealing his bed and eating their food, there was nowhere else I could have been. God, what else was there for me to do without them? Would I still be on the streets if he hadn't picked up the phone?

I shook my head to chase those thoughts away. That was enough dwelling on the past for a single morning. Maybe some of my (former?) friends would get in touch once they heard what had happened. And I wasn't on the streets for the moment, and that was what mattered.

Speaking of, I had wasted enough time as is. The Aldens were very generous and very kind. And yet, I didn't want to give them the impression I was taking advantage of their generosity, so I should have gotten to work finding something more permanent. I'll rest once I've figured everything out.

Luckily, I had taken my laptop with me. Yesterday, Jesse had made sure to clear some space on his desk for me. But I didn't feel comfortable staying in his room like that. Well, I had slept in it, but staying there during the day... Didn't feel the same.

And so, I went ahead and set up on the kitchen table, looking out the window in front of me.

"Where do I even start with this?" I mumbled to myself.

I figured googling 'I've been kicked out by my parents' was as good a start as any. As it turned out, most of what I could find was intended for minors. Well, that wasn't exactly helpful.

Okay, what about shelters then? I doubted they'd care too much about why I was on the streets, just that I was. Okay, now we were getting somewhere. There were a few in the area, and even more in the city. I would have rather found one around here instead... The city was too big for my liking, and more than an hour away.

As I looked at the pictures online, they didn't look great. Not that I was expecting five-star hotels or anything, but most looked like old basketball courts with a bunch of beds thrown in. There was one not too far from here. At least, I would be able to keep in touch with Jesse...

It looked like I was going to have to call them and see what I needed to do to get a spot there. If any were available, those things were usually pretty packed.

After I dialed the number on the website, someone picked up almost immediately.

"Hello, how can I help you?" a nice-sounding lady asked.

"Hi," I said, unsure of myself. "I got kicked out of my parents' house yesterday, and after a bit of googling, I stumbled upon your shelter."

"I see... Sorry to hear that." I heard keyboard clicks. "How old are you, Miss?" she said out of habit, and yet it seemed honest.

"I turned 18 in January, so not even a month ago."

"Okay... You said you got kicked out yesterday, right? Did you manage to find a place to sleep for the night, or did you sleep outside?"

"No, I got lucky. A friend of mine let me crash at his place..." I answered, the relief obvious in my voice. "Well, his parents', but still."

"Alright." The lady paused for a second. Then she said, "Look, I'm gonna be upfront with you: since you're no longer a minor, you're less likely to get a spot in a shelter."

"Yeah, that's what I saw online. I figured I might as well call you just in case."

"But, since you're on the phone with me, it tells me you still want one, right? Do you feel safe at that friend's house? Does someone scare you? If so, we'll find something for you."

"God, no!" I shouted, shocked by what she'd just said.

Why wouldn't I have felt safe here? No--better question: What would have made her think I didn't feel safe here? The Aldens were some of, if not the, most wonderful people I had ever met. They hadn't even met me before yesterday, yet I had slept in their son's bedroom last night, and I was now spending the day alone in their house.

I drew a breath before saying, "Sorry, it's not that I don't feel safe here. Quite the opposite, actually. It's--It's that they are so generous with me that I don't want to overstay my welcome."

"Did they tell you how long you can stay?" she asked, curious. I could still hear her keyboard click as she spoke.

"Not really. However much time I need to figure myself out, I guess?"

The lady paused for a moment before saying, "Okay, so here's what I can offer: we are currently unable to offer you a spot here. But I can put you on the waiting list. Although, since you aren't on the streets nor in any danger at the moment, you're probably not gonna get one before a long, long time, if ever."

Before I could say anything, she added, her tone much warmer than just a moment before, "Honestly, you'd likely be better off staying with your friend for now."

"You... You think so?"

"I do! While we try to maintain adequate living conditions here, living with people you actually trust would be much better."

I sighed, disappointed. I could see why she was saying it, but I didn't want to impose myself on the Aldens. I had to find something, anything.

"Can you... Can you still put me on the list? At least, if I can't stay for some reason, I'll have a head start. And if I end up not needing the spot, someone else will be more than happy to take it."

"Of course." She typed on her keyboard some more. "I'm gonna need your name. And should I use this number as your contact?"

"Halloway. Chloe Halloway. And yes, it's my phone."

"Very well. We'll get in touch with you if we have an open spot. Also, if your situation were to change--for the better or for the worse--don't hesitate to call us so that we can make the necessary modifications," she said, while trying to hide the slightest bit of disappointment in her voice.

"Alright, thank you very much, ma'am."

Well, that had been pretty underwhelming. From her point of view, staying here was the logical thing to do... Could she be right?

I lifted my head from my laptop, bringing the couch into view once again.

And yet, I couldn't bring myself to accept it. And, knowing the Aldens, they would probably say yes if I asked them to stay longer... Okay, they would most definitely do.

No, no, I couldn't ask them something like that. I needed to find a way out before the end of the week. If not a shelter, then maybe I could find work?

If I could find a decent job, it would allow me to make enough to afford a small flat. It probably wouldn't be fun or easy, but at least it would let me fend for myself without anyone's help.

Before I started googling jobs, my stomach reminded me it existed. Had I just spent the whole morning looking up shelters? Sure felt like it, anyway.

Welp, it was time to eat then. I closed my laptop and turned around to face the kitchen. What even was I going to eat? I didn't really feel like cooking too much, honestly. Maybe just some pasta? Yeah, that would do it. Now to remember where the pots were stored...

Once the water was heating on the stove, I looked back at the bar in front of me. Yesterday, I was seated across from it, watching Jesse cook.

I chuckled lightly as I recalled my chat yesterday with Jesse. He was so embarrassed when I asked him about his love life. To be fair, I probably didn't fare much better when he asked me...

What had he said already? That no one caught his interest? I could relate. Just like him, I had spent four years surrounded by boys, and I didn't give a shit about any of them. I think a few were into me. Okay, I could think of at least 2 that were definitely into me. Even my so-called "friends" noticed.

And to be honest, they weren't that bad. Well, at least not bad-looking. And yet, I never even considered going out with them. It just didn't feel right. I'm still not sure why, even now.

They seemed like nice guys, but maybe I was just not ready for that kind of thing--would I ever be? And when you got to know Jesse, you realised how nice someone could be. And those guys were even half as nice as him.

After the water started boiling, I dumped the pasta in; it sank slowly in the bubbly water.

Even if I were alone in this house, it was almost as if I could still feel the family's energy lingering here. The time we had spent cooking yesterday... That was the first time I saw what a real family looked like in my entire life...

Mine... Well, we didn't spend time together like that. I don't think we ever cooked together, even before the 'troubles' began. Sure, the Aldens did mention they didn't do it often either, but I had the feeling they always found some way to spend time together, something my family never bothered to do.

The pasta was just about ready, so I drained it and put it in a plate. With my food in hand, I went back to the seat where I sat yesterday with Jesse.

Jesse... I remembered how he looked in the rain. His dark and short hair was wet, his coat hiding his thin frame. And yet, he couldn't hold back a smile I had almost forgotten.

I probably looked so bad there. Like I had just spent an hour under that downpour -- because I had.

Suddenly, I remembered something else. It was so embarr­assing, I almost dropped my fork right there and then.

When we got here yesterday, I went straight up to take a shower to warm up. Once I was done, I realised all my clothes were soaked. Well, okay, maybe I should have checked if I had any clothes that weren't soaked before getting naked in there, but hindsight is twenty-twenty.