Heist Honey 6 (Patreon)

The following morning Chloe was woken up by Sheffield after a restless night’s sleep. “Miss Chloe, are you quite well?” he asked gently.

“I’m fine.” he lied as he sat up in his soft bed, letting his covers fall away. Knowing that Sheffield knew his secret and was willing to help put his mind at ease, and meant he didn’t have to sleep in those damn breast forms or worry about them falling out during the night. But one drawback was the guy expected Chloe to behave like a proper young lady.

“It would not have anything to do with that young man who caused such a ruckus at the party last weekend, would it?” Chloe glanced away as she pulled the covers to her chest. The breast forms were but a temporary stopgap, a bandaid at best, one which he had plans to fix. Their mere existence must be a constant painful reminder of what she lacked that other girls her age already had.

“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.” She giggled. “Now, leave me to my morning ablutions.”

Chloe was mocking him, as was her want, but he knew better to give her the rise she was hoping for. Instead he selected her clothes for today. “You are a kind and caring young woman, Miss Chloe.” he lay the clothes on the bench beside her bed, noticing the small porcelain doll that lay beside Chloe. “If I may offer you some advice my mother gave me when I was your age,” he started, as he selected the appropriate heels to go with her outfit, “Take care that you do not lend your heart to someone who will not give it the proper care.” He turned again and saw Chloe frowning and staring at the foot of her bed. He wished to protect her from ruffians but she had a father, as undeserving of the title as he was, she lacked her mother.

“What are we doing today?”

“Your grandmother wishes to take you shopping.”

“I thought I was grounded?” Chloe rolled his eyes.

“Yes, but it appears you have a date with young master William tomorrow and she wishes to ensure you look your best.”

“It’s not a date.” Chloe groaned as he stood up out of bed and stretched his arms upward, “How’d she even know about that?”

“Master William’s grandmother, of course.”

“Geeze, why’d he go and do that?” He asked as he slipped on the silk bathrobe that hung by itself outside of his closet.

“Perhaps the young lad is excited to see you again?” Sheffield smirked.

Chloe stopped and pondered this, “Can’t imagine why.” And walked off to the bathroom to prepare for breakfast. Beatrice was pleased to see her granddaughter dressed appropriately and only a few minutes late. Her impulse was to chastise her for her tardiness but she stopped herself.  “Good morning, Chloe…dear.” She allowed a smile to come to her lips. “You are looking quite lovely today.”

Chloe forced a smile and curtsied, “Thank you, Grandmother.” He curtsied out of habit and stood by his chair.

Beatrice gestured to the seat, “Won’t you join us?”

Chloe smiled for real as he sat in his chair, glad he could get to eat breakfast that morning. He had unfortunately picked up the habit over the last couple of years of easy life on a teller’s salary. If he played his cards right he could keep the habit up while he was here and perhaps afterwards if he could focus and find the correct plan and execute it as Jared had taught him.

Beatrice examined Chloe with utmost scrutiny as she politely sat her napkin in her lap and waited patiently as Sheffield served her. The young girl was certainly dressed well enough to venture out today. She wore a beige plaid blazer over a black button down blouse with a small gold cross. Her plaid tartan skirt matched her blazer of course, but ended just at the knee when standing, which told Beatrice that her knee was completely exposed under the table now. Beatrice understood fashion trends changed over the years, not always for the better in her opinion, and as much as she wished to remark on Chloe’s clothing choice for the day she held her tongue and continued her examination. Underneath her black top Chloe wore her corset, only noticeable by Beatrice due to the short shallow breaths she took. One day she would adjust to the tightness. If Sheffield was correct it would not be long before they were cinching that corset even tighter.

Sheffield watched the family eat and discuss their plans for the day as he thought back to last night’s conversation with Beatrice. While she readied herself for bed, Sheffield had reminded her last night that her granddaughter was clearly not raised in the same manner she had raised her son and offered that perhaps she would benefit from positive encouragement. She disagreed of course. Any blood of hers was stronger than the common rabble that infested the world today.

“Would you care to make it interesting?”

“How so?” She asked.

“I believe they call it, put your money where your mouth is.” He smirked. Beatrice flashed a momentary smile before returning to brushing her hair. “I posit if you were to praise the young miss that she will be more amenable to your lessons in the future.”

“Perhaps, but she will take part in my lessons either way. Such is her duty.”

“Of course, Mum. But, if I am correct it will be easier for you.”

Beatrice paused and thought about his words, “If I were to agree to ‘put my money where my mouth is’ as it were, what would we wager? I pay you generously enough but I never took you foolish enough to risk it gambling.”

Sheffield chuckled. “It would not be a gamble, Bea. But no, I wager something more valuable than money.”

Beatrice sat her brush down before looking to Sheffield, “You do not mean to say?”

“Yes ma’am I do.”

Beatrice thought for a moment, “I could just tell you to make it.”

“I realize that, and if you did I would of course do as you ask. But I know you to be a woman of great honor.”

She smiled and shook her head, “You have established what I will win, but what about yourself? What do you gain from this little venture?” She turned to face the mirror while he retrieved a box of curlers from the closet.

“Nothing less than seeing the two of you happier together.”

“Fine. What are the terms of your little wager?” She asked as he went about setting curlers into her hair with a smile on his face.

Chloe didn’t know why he expected a short trip to the mall. It was for one fake date, yet his fake grandmother was already picking out his bridal gown. His request for pants was immediately shot down, “Young ladies do not wear pants unless they are riding horses.”

“I’ve met plenty of girls who wear pants.”

Beatrice fought back the urge to tell her granddaughter her true opinion about those young harlots and instead calmly sat down in one of the provided chairs for husbands and boyfriends. “Chloe, you will learn there is a great deal of difference between you and those ‘girls’ as you put it.” Chloe started to say ‘if you only knew’ but when Beatrice gently took his hand in hers it threw him off his train of thought, “For starters you are a young lady. It means you do things the proper way.”

“What if I prefer pants?” He asked calmly.

Again Beatrice held her tongue, “You have worn pants for how many years now?”

“...as long as I can remember.” He chuckled awkwardly.

“Try things my way for a little while, and if you do not like it we can revisit this discussion. How does that sound?”

“...It sounds…sure.” Beatrice’s smile threw Chloe once again. Normally her face was prim and proper with a hard edge to it, but when she smiled she did so not with just her eyes but her whole face. It was warm and inviting. For a moment she looked how Sam had always imagined real grandmother should look.

“Thank you, dear.” She stood and her smile slowly faded as she held out her hand for Chloe, “Now then, shall we continue?”

“Sure.” Why was she being so nice today? He thought he had her figured out and all of a sudden she decides to flip the script? Sure she still expected him to try on dresses but she did so less forcefully. Though he knew that edge was still there, hidden under whatever game she was currently playing.

But still Chloe faked a smile and gave his ‘enthusiastic’ opinion on each dress, remembering his conversation that morning with Sheffield.

“Miss Chloe,” Sheffield started with a knock on Chloe’s door. “May we speak?”

“I’m getting dressed, Sheff.” He said.

“It won’t take but a moment, and I can do so through the door if you prefer.”

“Fine.” He groaned, trying to remember how to put on the stupid corset by himself.

“Very well. It is just, I have a gamble for you.”

“I don’t got any money.” ‘Not until I can get to the stupid safety deposit box.’

“Have. You do not have any money.”

“That’s what I said.”

“...Regardless, my wager is not in money. Do you still wish to have a cellphone?”

“Yeah?”

“If you win our wager I will ensure you receive one.”

“Cool, what’s the terms?”

“I want you to be more enthusiastic with your grandmother.”

The door suddenly opened just enough for Chloe to push his head out, but still he covered his chest with a top, “What do you mean?”

“Such as today; when you go shopping, I understand you and your grandmother do not have the same tastes but if you give her your honest opinion she will listen.”

“So…if I tell her I think dresses are stupid I get a phone? Can do!”

Sheffield shook his head, “No, miss. Speak to her as you would a friend. What do you like about the dress as well as dislike.”

“And if I don’t like anything?”

“Find something about it you do like.”

“...no deal.”

“Pardon?”

“All that just for a phone? No thanks. Besides, couldn’t I just order you to get me one anyway?”

‘Like grandmother, like granddaughter,’ he thought with a repressed smile, “No. I work for your grandmother who is currently against the idea.”

“Fine. Still, no dice.” He shut the door. Only to open it a second later, “Unless…you have more to offer?”

“Such as?”

“...I want access to the library.”

“You are already allowed in the library.”

“Not the regular books. The old ones, grandmother keeps locked up.”

“Is that all?” Sheffield was taken aback, he would not classify Chloe as ignorant by any means, but he did not take her for someone so passionate about her family history.

“Besides the phone, but otherwise, yeah.”

“I can arrange that.”

“Deal.”

“Wonderful. Breakfast is in fifteen minutes, do your best to finish dressing.”

“Actually,” Chloe took a deep breath, ‘God this is stupid.’ “Can you help me? I…don’t know anything about fashion.”

“I am at your service, Miss.” Chloe allowed Sheffield into his room to help him find something to wear. Of course as he had already laid out Chloe’s outfit for the day he assumed she was curious about fashion in general and explained as much as he could over the next half hour.

Chloe walked out of the dressing room wearing a sharp blue dress that’s length reminded him too much of the gown he had worn the previous weekend. “It looks lovely on you.” The older woman smiled.

“Thanks.” He lied.

“What do you think about it, dear?” She asked, remembering Sheffield’s advice.

“Um…it’s…I like the color and it…feels…nice. I guess.” By nice he meant less itchy than the last dress, “But…isn’t it a bit…long?” I feel like I’m gonna trip even in my heels.And it looks like something out of turner classic movies.”

“Perhaps.” Chloe blinked at the old woman, “Why don’t you select five dresses you like. I will withhold my opinion until the end.”

“O-okay.”

Chloe walked around the store with Beatrice in tow for the next hour. He originally thought she would let him find a dress on his own but she took great interest in his thought process with each dress he grabbed and discarded. “It’s too…scratchy.” he explained about one dress he placed back.

“That would be the lace.” Beatrice explained. True to her word she didn’t offer her opinion on any of the dresses, simply informed Chloe of the material or designer when necessary.

Chloe figured he would be alone while he just grabbed a couple of dresses, but she stayed with him the entire time and expected him to engage in a conversation about clothes. She was clearly studying his face even while they discussed the pros and cons of each dress. When he made a face at a dress or its material she was sure to watch his animated expressions. ‘I will have to cure her of that.’ While it was perfectly alright for her to express herself outwardly now, soon she would learn women in their position did not have that luxury. But not today.

Chloe forced a smile holding up one of the lesser objectionable dresses. A gray long sleeve midi wrap dress, his grandmother called it, all he cared about is it was only knee length and he could at least convince himself it was just a large t-shirt. When he held it up to show Beatrice he caught a glimpse of her smiling yet again. “What?” Bea’s smile quickly faded as she raised an eyebrow, “Oh yeah. Pardon?” he asked, forcing himself to not roll his eyes.

“You have a lovely smile.”

Chloe blushed, covering the genuine smile that tried to force itself to the surface with his free hand. “You…have a nice smile too.”

“Of course,” She said with no sense of modesty, “One can not become a beauty queen without a perfect smile.”

“Not to brag, right?” He laughed.

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. I didn’t know you were a beauty queen?” Not that he was surprised, when she did smile he could see the beauty she must have had in her youth.

“Well, you must remind me to tell you that story another day. Right now, let us see your choices.”

Two of the dresses were immediately disqualified for being too short, which was okay in Chloe’s opinion. It had been easy to find dresses he liked, but much more difficult to find dresses he could stomach wearing. In the end they found two dresses which both of them could agree on.

Later that night, something bounced off of Chloe’s window. He ignored it at first, assuming it to be a large bug or a heavy vine from the climbing ivy on the lattice beside his window moved by the wind. When it happened again, followed quickly by two more he stood and looked out of the window.

Spencer smiled up at the beautiful girl hanging her torso out of her bedroom window, quickly adjusting the sleeves of his leather jacket, “What are you doing here?”

“It’s Thursday, Rock. We had a date.”

“I thought you were in jail.”

“Like I said, we had a date.” he gave her a cocky smile.

Chloe rolled his eyes, “I’m grounded. So go…date yourself.” he smirked, closing the window.

“Wait!” Spencer whispered loudly. The window shut he quickly climbed the lattice, ignoring the pain as thorns cut his hands. “Hey!” He tapped on the window rapidly. “Hey!” He whispered louder, seeing that Chloe was actively ignoring him. “Come on! This thing can’t hold me forever.” Chloe shrugged and stuck his tongue out at the boy. “Seriously I think I’m gonna-” And Spencer dropped from view. Chloe threw the window open and stared at the empty ground below. “See, you do care!” He smirked.

Chloe jumped, bumping his head against the window frame, “Ow!” He hissed painfully. Beside the window Spencer held on to the lattice with one hand and held himself up by placing one foot on the frame of a window below and to the right. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t stain the patio with blood.”

“Come on, you know you’d rather come hang out with me than stay cooped up in your room all night.”

“It is a nice room inside a mansion.” Chloe replied with a smirk. He actually didn’t want to stay inside reading some girly book but he also didn’t want to go on a date with spencer. It was bad enough he was still expected to go dancing with William in spite of being grounded.

“Come on, I can show you parts of the city I bet a princess would never get to see.”

“Really?” his ears perked up as he realized Spencer was right. He was a local, at least more local than Chloe was, and from what little he had gathered about the boy he had an ear to the ground. "Been to the mall, been to the movies. Been bored by both.” he said with a scoff and an eye roll, hoping to convince him to rise to the challenge.

Spencer pulled himself closer to Chloe, “Come with me and I can take you somewhere much more exciting.” Chloe looked back into his room, as if he were considering turning the boy down. The best way to get someone to do something you wanted, he found, was to have them be the ones to convince you. Usually this involved a lot more talking and doublespeak but when it came to teenage boys, being a pretty girl did a lot of the heavy lifting.

“Unless, you’re…afraid.” The boy said.

“I’m not scared!” Chloe pouted while Spencer smirked. “Fine. Let me change. Meet me at the end of the drive.”

Thirty minutes later, Spencer led Chloe into a crowded pool hall. “See, I bet you’ve never been to a place like this, p-Rock.”

He spent his teen years in one version of this pool hall or the other. One half of the building was occupied by nince pool tables, most of which were occupied, the other half of the building held three small circular tables and two large booths in the corner, all of which were occupied, and in the center of the back wall was the bar. “No, never.”

“What do you say? Think you can have some fun here?”

Chloe examined the small crowd until someone caught his eye. A man drinking in the corner booth with a sexy blonde on his arm and a half dozen necklaces around his neck and a fine set of pearls that did not match the blonde’s red spaghetti strap crop top, no doubt a gift given this same night, “As long as I get home before ten.”

“Ten?”

“It’s my…nothing.” Chloe realized what he had said without thinking.

“Oh my god, Rock. Do you have a bedtime?”

“No! Shut up!”

“You do!” He laughed.

“One more word ,Bullwinkle and I scream!” Spencer held up his hands in surrender biting his lip to keep from making further snarky remarks. “Good, now move.” He pushed past Spencer and walked to the bar.

He knew Spencer was staring at his ass as he walked away. He would’ve too if it had been any other girl and not him. When he met Spencer at the end of the driveway he was practically drooling like an idiot. “Wow!” he exclaimed when he saw the young girl approach wearing a spaghetti strap gingham dress over a cropped long sleeve white sweater adorned with a golden heart locket he swiped from the old woman’s room earlier in the week. “You look amazing.”

“Shut up, it was the only thing I had that didn’t have a poofy skirt.” Chloe blushed a deep crimson.

Now at the bar, Chloe leaned forward to the bartender, “Scotch rocks.” He asked.

“How old are you?” The bartender asked.

“Twenty-four.”

“Really.” The man gave the schoolgirl a once over, if she was a day over sixteen he would eat his hat.

“She’s with me.” Spencer said, passing over his ID. “I’ll have the scotch and she’ll have a long island iced tea.”

The bartender checked the ID before handing it back, “Sixteen fifty.”

“Put it on my tab.”

“Sure thing Spence.”

“You have a fake ID?” Chloe asked with mock astonishment.

“No, that would be illegal.” Spencer winked. The scotch was sat on the bar followed by the tea. The sweet flavor of which made Chloe long for the scotch. “Hey, be careful with those.”

Chloe glared angrily at the boy and sucked down the entire glass in one go, he was certain he could drink Spencer under the table any day of the week if he ordered him a real drink. “Ah.” He sighed happily, sticking his tongue out to Spencer in the process. “Another!” he cheered at the bartender.

“You heard the lady.” Spencer laughed.

Another long island iced tea later, and Chloe was beginning to enjoy himself. He kept an eye on the chained man, making sure he didn’t leave while he talked with Spencer. “So, do you come here often?”

“Isn’t that my line?”

“Shut up.” He laughed, shoving Spencer and nearly pushing himself off of the stool for his trouble.

Spencer caught the drunken girl with a smile, “Careful, or I might think you’re falling for me.”

“Oh god you can’t be that corny.” He laughed, finishing his second glass and already asking for another.

“I can be, if it makes you smile.”

“My grandmother says I have a beauty queen smile. What do you think?” Chloe smiled, trying not to burst into laughter again.

“I think-”

“Hey! We should play pool!”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah! But first, I’ll be right back. I gotta go to the little girl’s room.” Chloe didn’t wait for a response, he simply grabbed his purse and followed the blonde into the ladies’ room.

Inside, Chloe realized this was the first time he had been into a women’s restroom. It was underwhelming. It was a bathroom, plain and simple, with more stalls and no urinals. He stepped to the sink beside the woman and washed his hands, taking a moment to focus on what he wanted to say and wishing he had gotten some liquid courage before attempting this. Chloe turned with a cheery smile, “Oh. My. God! I just love your necklace! Where did you get it?” he cheered loudly, making sure to affect his valley girl accent.

The woman turned and quickly examined the chipper girl beside her. Chloe kept smiling despite the machine gun beat of his heart. “Thank you so much! My boyfriend gave it to me.” She twisted one pearl in her hand.

“Luckyyyy!”

“I’m not the only one.” She giggled, “Did someone special give you this?” The strange woman reached out and held the heart shaped locket in between her fingers.

“Aaactually it’s my grandmother’s.”

“So yes.” The woman smiled broadly before continuing, “Lydia.” She said, offering her hand. Instinctively Chloe took Lydia’s hand and gave a small curtsey. “I didn’t realize I was in front of royalty.” She giggled.

Chloe swayed back and forth on his heels as he took by his hand, “My grandmother isss…old school.” he practiced that stupid curtsey for days on end a week ago, surely the habit should be broken now, right?

“Girl, mine too. She tried to enter me in one of those miss teen pageants. Mmhm–” She shook her head aggressively– “I’m not about that life.”

“I misssssed that, thank gawd.” He pulled at his sweater as his body warmed from the alcohol.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine. Really regretting wearing this top though.”

“So take it off.” Lydia shrugged, turning to the mirror and reapplying her lipstick.

“What? Here?”

“Yeah.” She smacked her lips, pouting to herself in the mirror before turning back to Chloe, “Besides, if you want people to believe you’re not a teenager then you really shouldn’t dress like one.” Chloe frowned. This was by far the most mature thing he owned that didn’t make him look like a prom queen. “Oh no,” Lydia pouted for real, “I didn’t mean it like that, you look very pretty.”

He frowned, tucking hair behind his ear and glancing at himself in the mirror. “It’s fine. And you’re right.” Without thinking Chloe pulled the straps off of his shoulders. His sweater was quickly thrown into the corner. In his drunken state he didn’t consider that the color of his breast forms didn’t match his skin perfectly or that Lydia might recognize him for what he was. His straps returned, his small breast forms covered once again. “What?”

Lydia smiled, “Feel better?”

“Yeah, s’not as cold as I thought.”

After a few minutes of chatting with Chloe making up his backstory on the fly, the two girls left the bathroom and sat in the booth with Lydia’s boyfriend, “Bishop, this is Chloe.”

“Qué pass, Gringa’.” His smile made Chloe think of a bloody steak dangling in front of a hungry wolf.

“Suup.” Chloe forced a confident smile to his face as he gripped the table for balance. ‘“Fuck, I can’t be tired already!’

“Chloe was saying how much she loved the necklace you gave me.” Lydia smiled.

“I was, it musta cost you a ton!”

Bishop waved off the compliment, “Gracias. But for me? Was a pequeno”

“Are you, like, rich or something?”

“I am a businessman.” Bishop smiled, eyeing up the girl.

She was young, maybe…nineteen? He hoped. But she was clearly new to this scene. Definitely not a cop. They always try to fit in with the scene to be less obvious. This girl stood out like a sore thumb. Her clothes screamed prep school upbringing. She was chipper, not nervous or scared, definitely more than a little drunk. Most of the preppy’s who decided to take a walk on the wild side were afraid to say the wrong thing, thinking he would snap his fingers and they would wind up in a river somewhere. Not to say he didn’t think about it once or twice, but he didn’t have that level of power and it was much easier to just shew them away. The gold necklace dangling between her chest said she was spending daddy’s money during her little rebellious phase. She wouldn’t need his services. She just wanted a couple of stories to tell at dinner parties later on.

“What do you do?”

“I own several pawn shops.”

“What’s that?”

He smirked, the girl was truly naive, maybe her daddy had more money than he initially thought, “People who need money bring me things like your necklace, for instance, and I give them money for it.”

“How do you make money buying things?” Chloe blinked, trying to focus his eyes. ‘It’s not even ten. No way I’m tired.’

“Why don’t we order some drinks?” Bishop snapped his fingers and got the attention of the bartender, the little bit of power he did have was enough for him. More power made you a bigger fish. When bigger fish get caught they get eaten. Little fish like him get thrown back.

The bartender left three drinks and three shots on the table. Chloe was happy to see the shot but frowned at the tea in front of her. “Not much of a drinker?” Bishop asked.

“Huh? Oh, like, yeah.” He grabbed the shot and threw it back. The familiar burn worked its way down his throat. ‘Fuck that’s good.’ He thought, not noticing Lydia whispering in Bishop’s ear.

“So.” Chloe coughed, sipping the tea, “how much would you give me for my necklace?”

“Why? You need some money?”

“Just curious.” He shrugged, sipping on her drink. Chloe glanced at Lydia, noticing that she was frowning over something.

Bishop leaned forward and gestured for Chloe to do the same. Chloe moved her drink and sat on her legs so she could lean forward and give the man a better view of his necklace, and chest, as artificially enhanced as it was. “Hard to tell in this light, but maybe seventy-five.”

“That little?” Chloe pouted.

“Just a rough guess, you’d have to come to the store and maybe the price goes up.”

Before Chloe could say anything more he suddenly noticed Spencer by his side. “Chloe? You okay?”

Chloe smiled through a clenched jaw, “Spence, have you met Bishop and his girlfriend Lydia? We were talking in the bathroom and they invited me for a drink.”

“Once or twice. How’s it goin’?” Spencer asked, shaking Bishop and Lydia’s hand.

“Goin good. Just telling your girlfriend here about my business.”

Spencer arched an eyebrow at Chloe, “I’m sorry if she’s bothering you.”

“I’m not!” Chloe glared at the boy, his fake smile completely gone.

“It was no bother.”

“See!” He shouted back as Bishop’s phone buzzed on the table.

“I apologize then.” Spencer ran his hand through his hair, “I thought you wanted to play pool before we had to go.”

“I was having fun with these guys.”

“I had some business to deal with anyway.”

“Wait, so you’re running out on me?” She glared angrily.

“Like I said, I got business to handle. I’ll be back later though.”

“Fine. Leave me alone in this dive. I’ll walk home. Hope nothing happens to me. Not that you’ll care.”

“Don’t be like that. And I’m not leaving you alone.” Bishop turned to Spencer, “You don’t mind entertaining my girl, right?” he asked, in no way sounding like a question.

“Uh…sure. But I only have the bike.”

“Call her a cab then.” Bishop passed two hundred dollars into Spencer’s hand.

“A cab?!” Lydia yelled again.

“Fine! An uber!” She crossed her arms under her chest. Bishop sighed, shaking his head, “Make sure nothing happens to her.”

“Alright.” he nodded.

Bishop put an arm around Spencer’s shoulder, turning him away from the table, “You know who I am?”

“Yes sir.”

“So you know what’ll happen if something happens to her?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good.” He gave Spencer a pat on his back and walked away.

“Fucker.” Lydia hissed..

Chloe didn’t like that her possible new fence had left or that he was stuck with Spencer, but at least Lydia was fun company. She took every chance she could to touch Chloe while Spencer explained to the pair how to play eight ball. Lydia ordered herself more cocktails and Chloe more tea, “Put it on Bishop’s tab.” She told the bartender.

Lydia would lean over the table, exposing her cleavage to both boys, causing Chloe to scratch on the first break. “Here, let me show you.” Spencer stood beside Chloe, showing him how to properly hold the cue. Chloe already knew of course, but he couldn’t exactly say he got distracted by boobs. And still somehow he had to fight off sleep.

This break he was successful in hitting the balls but had very little power behind it. “That’s… better.”

“Shut up.” He growled, passing the stick to Lydia who downed her glass before taking it in her hand.

“Ooh, my turn?” She giggled. Lydia’s first shot was far worse than Chloe’s. At least his stayed on the table. Lydia’s shot arched over all the balls and cracked against the stone floor. “Oh, poop.” She pouted.

Chloe tried not to laugh and Spencer shook his head. Before he could retrieve the ball a large man walked up to the table holding the white ball in his hand. “You guys lose something?” He smiled. The man was just as bald and nearly just as white as the lost cueball he now held in his hand.

“That’d be me.” Lydia giggled, twisting the stick in her hand and biting her lip. ‘Holy fuck. She did that on purpose!’ Chloe hid his face behind Spencer, holding a hand against his painted lips so he wouldn’t start laughing. “I’m sorry.” She pouted as she took the ball, “It’s my first time.” She cooed. “I don’t think I’m very good.”

“You just need some instruction.”

“Is he flexing?” Chloe whispered in Spencer’s ear who silently nodded. The large man

“Can you teach me?”

“Ah,” Spencer started, “actually I’m teaching her.”

“What about her?”

“I’m teaching her too.” Spencer spoke before Chloe could answer. He knew how to play pool! He was just…tired tonight. And distracted! Mostly distracted.

“I’ll take…” He gestured a hand to Lydia.

“Lydia.”

“Dig.” He responded to her before turning back to Spencer. “I’ll take Lydia off your hands. Trust me, I’ve been doing this for years. It’ll be easier on you if you focus on your girl.”

“I’m not hi-”

“Oh goodie!” Lydia giggled again. This time she let Dig bend her over the table so he could show her how to line up the shot.

“Doesn’t seem necessary.” Chloe said with a pout. ‘Lucky bald bastard.’ He thought, sipping on his tea.

Seeing this; when it came time for Chloe’s turn and she bent over the table to line up his own shot, Spencer gripped her hands gently. “You wanna imagine a line going from the ball straight out.”

“Pardon?” Chloe growled. “What are you doing?”

“Teaching you how to play.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Trust me, Rock.” Before he could protest further, Spencer pulled Chloe’s hands and took the shot by proxy.

“Hey you got one!” Lydia cheered as the yellow nine ball fell into the corner pocket.

“See.” Spencer said standing up.

“Do-” before he could warn Spencer off Lydia rushed over, throwing her arms around Chloe.

“You did so good!”

“It was luck.” It really was, the ball had taken such an odd route to the pocket Chloe surmised the table was possibly warped.

“Yeah, and he’s your good luck charm.” She giggled.

Lydia allowed Dig to continue bending her over for each shot and more with every new drink she ordered. Thankfully Spencer only tried one more time to bend over Chloe, an accidental shot to his crotch from the fat end of the pool cue stopped that at least. It didn’t stop him from giving him advice. Every so often he would place his hands on Chloe’s hips, and say something about alignment. But by that point he no longer had the energy to fight, ‘At least he’s not bending me over.’ The thought caused Chloe to shiver.

“You cold?”

“...A little.” He said now regretting throwing his top away. Where was it anyway? Suddenly Spencer’s leather jacket wrapped around his shoulders.

“Here.”

He looked up at the taller boy, allowing him to adjust the jacket around his smaller frame. “I…yeah.”

Lydia awed at the exchange. “Aren’t they such a cute couple?”

Chloe blushed and turned away to focus on his next shot. “It’s our first date actually.”

“Really? Have you two kissed yet?” Chloe’s shot leaped off of the table and the cue ball cracked against the stone floor again. Chloe’s face burned bright red as he hurried to get the ball.

Several minutes and several turns later Chloe stared at Lydia’s latest drink, “That looks good.” Chloe said after watching Lydia order a sex on the beach. It didn’t, but he knew for sure it had alcohol.

“You want a taste?”

“Sure!” ‘Finally!’

Lydia took a large swallow from her glass and pulled Chloe close and kissed the feminized man on the lips. Chloe watched wide-eyed as he felt the intoxicated woman’s tongue battled with his own. By the time his own intoxicated brain understood what was happening their short makeout session had ended. “Aw, he’s jealous.” Lydia smirked wickedly. “Do you think he should get a taste too?”

Chloe giggled nervously, “Sure.” Spencer did bring him here, even if he didn’t get a definite answer, he at least had an in he could use later on.

“How sweet.” For some reason Lydia pushed the drink in Chloe’s hand who quickly swallowed down the fruity cocktail.

When he opened his eyes again Spencer was standing uncomfortably close to him. “Wh-” Spencer put his arms around Chloe’s waist and angled his head for their kiss. Spencer was much bigger than he was! He should knee him in the crotch, but being so tired and that sudden shot of alcohol was going to his head he wasn’t sure he could stay standing if he did so he did the only thing he could do.

Chloe slapped Spencer’s face. Spencer immediately stepped back and looked at Lydia. Behind Lydia and the crowd Spencer saw a familiar face, “Shit.” He grabbed Chloe’s wrist but she pulled back.

“You want another?”

“Your dad’s here!” He pointed through the crowd.

“Mar-That’s not my dad.” Chloe said in confusion before realization dawned on him, it wasn’t Mark but Sheffield, ‘The hell is he doing here?!’, “Shit, we gotta go!” This time Chloe let Spencer take his hand and allowed himself to be pulled through the outside of the crowd while Sheffield approached the bar.

Once outside the pair jumped on Spencer’s motorcycle, each urging the other to hurry. The engine howled to life. Tires squealed. And with a quick 180o spin they raced out of the parking lot and down the dark two lane road.

Spencer slowed the bike to a stop outside of the manor. Sure they had gotten away scott-free the pair couldn’t help but laugh in victorious freedom. Spencer leaned against his bike, putting him at the same height as Chloe. “I’m sorry about tonight.” He said once his laughter had calmed down.

“It’s fine. I actually had fun.”

“I’m glad. But…I was apologizing for trying to kiss you.”

“Oh. Yeah. Why did you try to do that?”

“Lydia said…forget it.”

“No. What?”

“I like you.”

“Kinda obvious, duh.” he giggled

“She said if I…she said you were waiting for me to do it and I should just take the opportunity instead of waiting.”

“...Yeah, noooo. I’m not that kinda girl.” Chloe giggled again at the joke only he understood.

“No, you’re…very different.” He said gently.

“I am.” She smirked, not noticing Spencer stepping into his space.

“I’d like to know how different.”

“No, truss me you don’t wanna know from me.” Chloe stepped away, the alcohol finally proving too much as she fell to the ground.

“Oh shit.” Spencer grabbed Chloe’s hand to help him stand, only to be pulled down beside a giggling Chloe. They both broke into another fit of laughter. “You’re wrong.” He said once his laughter had died down again.

“About what?”

“I would like to know everything about you.”

“Does that line ever work?” he giggled, noticing how close their faces now were.

“You tell me.” Their lips met before Chloe could do or say anything. Unlike his kiss with Lydia, where he was more of an outside observer, he was present for every moment as Spencer’s warm lips met Chloe’s soft upper lip. Spencer shifted his head, slipping his tongue inside of Chloe’s mouth, their tongues quickly intertwining. Chloe moaned shouts of protest against the invasion as his pulse quickened and he tried limply to push his attacker away. If he wasn’t strong before he was a weakling now on his back. Was there really nothing he could do to stop this?! A memory of Jared flashed behind his eyes, Sam was a street kid, which came with certain tragic possibilities. Jared had prepared the smaller boy for it as much as possible.

Spencer shouted in pain when Chloe sharply twisted his ear. “Fuck!” Spencer glared at the girl. Before she could say anything she turned around and upchucked all the alcohol she had that night, and whatever she had for lunch since the third grade.