Chloe

I'm 26, a nursing grad student but first and formost, I'm a big sister. 

[colehendrix-blog1]

“Hey, uh. Could you maybe grab me that soda in there? It hurts when I crouch down that much and my brothers are in with Peter, so…”

[misschloeandrews-blog]

“Of course. How’s everything?” 

[rightoffthecuff-omalley]

You say something?

[misschloeandrews-blog]

I was just asking how you are? 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe tried to keep her expression neutral but.. with her words her brows kept rising. His living conditions sounded horrible! And as the caring, heart on her sleeve person she was, she was wrecking her brain to find ways to somehow help him out. Despite everything he seemed pretty optimistic, or determined to be so. “Well if you ever need any help with like.. sprucing the place up or looking for work I’d be happy to help you out. I lived in Roxbury most of my life so I know a lot of people around here that might be hiring. And I’m pretty killer with a paint brush.” She said smiling back at him. It wasn’t pity, not at all, just a desire to help. God knew that she’d want help should she ever find herself in a difficult situation. “I’m sure. Family is everything.” She agreed thinking briefly of her own, thought keeping her focus as she, as gently as she could, pierced his skin with the needle injecting the anesthesia. “There. Takes a minute or so for it to spread.” 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe flipped some of her newly dyed blond hair across her shoulder, a bright smile on her face. “Then done, we have a new house rule.” She declared. Despite their messed up parents she would always be so grateful for the little family she, Connor and Colin made up. Without her brother’s she would be lost. There would be no reason to strive, to push onward. Going trough everything she was right now she hung on to that with firm determination. “He should be. Last I heard he was finishing some paperwork at school.” Chlo replied, pouring the flour then the milk into the bowl, then waling over to the fridge to find some eggs. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe grinned from ear to ear. “We need to make some new rules around here. Brownies for dinner at least twice a week.” Of course she was kidding but, just playing around was oddly refreshing. Also he seemed to be both in high spirits and feeling good so that gave them the opportunity to do so. To just be silly siblings, to put worry and sorrow and fear away for a while. “Yes, I’ll get right on that. You take this.” She handed him the blender, before making sure the end was securely put in the electric socket, fully charged and ready to go. Chlo didn’t let go until Connor had the blender, then she found the measuring cup, and measured the flour and milk so they’d have something to start with. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe would probably never know what that was like, living in a crappy apartment. Her parents would never stand and watch by while she rented something cheap when they could afford something much nicer. Not that she truly enjoyed having their money following her around. “I think you are very right. Then again I guess the death trap isn’t too pricy huh?” She asked, mildly curious. “Wow that must have been quite a shock? Thats so brave of you thought. To move your life to get to know him.” That was very admirable. Chloe smiled with a small nod and found a bottle of anesthetic and a small syringe. Briefly calculating his height and weight to find a good dose before filling the syringe. “Okay this will sting a little.” 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe’s eyes flitted between his arm and his face, both wanting to know if she hurt him and keeping track of their conversation. “Ahh I see. We’ll you should take some time when your arm’s better to remove all those suckers from the walls.” She said, trying to not shake her head at the matter anymore, but still smiling a little. Boys. They took stupid risks. She couldn’t help but wonder however, if this was one he’d just had to take. “So you just moved here?” Chloe asked, putting down the pads now that she’d cleaned the wound and it seemed to have stopped bleeding. “I’m going to have to stitch you up. I’m guessing you’ll want some anesthetic?” 

[emmettcabello-blog]

[misschloeandrews-blog]

“Sure, I’m due for a break anyway.” 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe kept putting pressure on his wound with one hand, finding some disinfectant with the other, mainly scared that if he had cut himself on something sharp other than a knife his wound could get infected. Raising her gaze to meet his she shook her head a little. “You have nails protruding out of your walls? That sounds very unsafe.” She wasn’t really sure if she was lecturing him or just.. commenting. Removing the pads and finding new ones, she soaked them in disinfectant. “This is going to sting.” Chloe warned, only briefly, before wiping the pads against his wound. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe craved some light to pierce all the darkness that surrounded them. She wanted to see Connor smile, not because he was trying to assure her or cheer her up, but because he genuine could not keep from smiling. She wanted to hear him laugh, she wanted to laugh with him. Of course all their problems would not disappear within a day or even a night but, they could be put on hold, momentarily forgotten. Her eyes observantly studying the contents of the cabinets, Chloe started pulling out the basics. Flour, baking soda, eggs from the fridge, and milk. She saw Connor had already found a bowl, so she fished a blender out of a kitchen drawer. “I don’t know.. I mean we shouldn’t make too much.. but I also want brownies for dinner so.” She shrugged with a playful grin. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe turned her head a little to the side, a sure sign she was listening intently. “It must be rough.. having known him and played with him and now he’s gone.” She said, knowing her morbid curiosity might be wrongly placed. “No I can’t imagine anyone did. I mean, from what I’ve heard he had a tough time fitting in, being bullied but.. he didn’t sound like a person capable of what he did.” 

[luka-rushman-deactivated2016082]

“Do you want the long version or the short version?”

[misschloeandrews-blog]

“Whichever you feel the most comfortable charing. I’m all ears.” 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

“I’d run to the store but.. don’t think its open. I know you’re not. Makes it real easy to bake when you eat almost everything. Yeah, we’ll just see what we have to work with.” She nodded, allowing herself to feel excited, even about such a small thing as baking. Chloe had always been real good at baking. Probably because baking was another form of math. “Okay. Thats not a problem, I’m sure Colin has a few bowls so you can mix or we can work at one of the lower tables.” She assured him, wanting him to know they would be doing it all together. There were plenty of ways to adjust what they were doing to his height in the chair. Chlo closed the door behind them, walking to the guest bedroom across from Connors where she laid her purse and hung up her lab coat. She quickly changed into a t shirt and baggy pants, before walking back into the kitchen, peeking curiously into the cupboards to look for ingredients. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe bit her lower lip. This night was so important for so many, and still she found it challenging to be here. But she had to help those she could. “Its okay. I’ll do it for both of us.” She said, holding out her hand for his candle, while setting her own down on the table. “Why would they let you out if you have an infection? Thats very dangerous for someone in your condition.” 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

“Don’t know if telling a patient about my hair is really that normal at work but.. thanks. For not being mad and all.” She said, visibly relaxing as he smiled, smiling a little weakly back. Seeing his arm she grimaced, on his behalf. “Ouch. Okay, I need to clean it to see if you need stitches. How did it happen?” She asked, finding lots of cotton balls to wipe away what she could of the blood before finding a bigger one to hold against his cut, applying a little pressure to it to stop the bleeding. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe kept chewing her lip. There was no delicate way to say this, no way to sugar coat it or downplay what had happened. All she could do was tell it like it was. “You know how, when you’re in a relationship, you never want to change the one you’re with? Cause you are supposed to love them, just the way they are..” She begun, her voice hoarse. “Warren was like that for about.. three months.. then he changed. Suddenly he wanted me to be thinner, less outspoken, dress differently. And when I didn’t he’d.. it started out just being pinches and light punches and then the violent behavior just escalated.” Was there anything he could do? Besides what she already knew he would? Let her stay at his place for a while.. that was the only thing she could ask right now. The thing she needed most was somewhere to stay, somewhere that wasn’t the city where her ex would be. 

[misschloeandrews-blog]

Chloe nodded at her brother. always ready to help when he needed her to. She closed her car door, walking around the car itself and locking it before moving towards the front door. “I’m not sure. I hope Colin has peanuts or some milk chocolate. Depends on whats in the cupboards really. Anyone particular flavor you’d like?” She asked, thinking briefly that even if they did want something that had to be bought, she wasn’t sure if the store was open yet. At the door Chloe found the key her brother had lent her and unlocked it, holding it open for Connor to walk trough.