Introduction
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers
On the surface, Roseville is a perfect tourist spot. A rather beautiful city, with an abundance of independent businesses and some rather niche businesses, it seems... happy. But beneath the surface, there's a war that nobody dares mention. Two warring families, a feud that has existed for so long that people can hardly remember how it started. But it remains as brutal as ever. Businesses sabotaged, rumours spread to the media... it's a side that is lurking just beneath the shiny surface.
And then, as always, something changes. A son and a daughter of the two families meet, without knowing who the other is. Both carrying their own problems, both desperately trying to bury them. And in the space of a night, they fall in love. But then they discover who the other is, and are heartbroken. But can they overcome their families' differences to get their happy ending? Or will they be like the immortal star-cross'd lovers, destined to only be together in death?
- 55 posts here • Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 2 authors
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xlocation: coffee shop xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
"There's some old, empty classrooms in one of the older buildings. They don't use them that much any more because the walls are thin as hell and they're kinda small. I can't guarantee we won't be interrupted there, but we won't be overheard. Cover story is that we're practicing a presentation or something like that. Nobody will ask too many questions, nobody really cares." He said. Him and his friends had actually used them to practice presentations, as well as just chill when things got a little loud and overwhelming.
He downed the rest of his coffee in one, and went to move out of the seat, before stopping and looking at Chloe. "Do you want to go separately, or should we chance going there together? It's not that far away, but if you don't want to risk it, I can give you directions and meet you there." He knew the campus well enough to get there by the least busiest way possible, to be seen by the fewest amount of people possible. But even if he wasn't being followed, somebody totally uninvolved in it could see something and say something to the wrong person. It was unlikely, but he would understand if it was a risk she didn't want to take.
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xLocation: Campus Coffee Shop|xOutfit: Here
xxxThis night is heating up
xxxraise hell and turn it up.
xxxSaying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe."
xxxOh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time.
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Chloe watched James down his coffee in one swig, almost giving her shivers. She never liked the taste of coffee, too bitter, but it did smell good if it wasnβt straight black. Chloe grabbed her smoothie, barely half way done with it, and stood up. βI donβt think it would be too suspicious if we went together. Just a couple walking together right?β Chloe said with a light smile and taking a sip out of her smoothie. βPlus you know this place better than I do. You can keep me safe remember?β Chloe said giving James the damsel in distress eyes, referencing their conversation back at when they first met.
As the two walked out, Chloe slowly interlocked her hand with Jamesβ and leaned closer to him. It would help give off the couple look, make them look less suspicious, it would also make it harder for others to identify who the she was. Plus it made her smile being close to James, almost like they were a real, normal couple. Just on a date, strolling around.
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xlocation: coffee shop xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
He lead them down to the classroom and opened the door to the first empty one he found, gesturing for Chloe to go in first. "My lady," he said with a grin, before closing the door behind them. He made his way over to the nearest table and sat down, running his hands through his hair. "The fact that we just have to talk about this is insane. We shouldn't even be considering this," he said. "Are we crazy for this?" He asked, looking up at Chloe. She was so beautiful, and even if she was shooting at the people that he called his family, he'd just been blown away by her. And her personality and everything... and she seemed so different to everyone else he'd ever encountered.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Classroom|xOutfit: Here
xxxThis night is heating up
xxxraise hell and turn it up.
xxxSaying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe."
xxxOh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Chloe was brought back from analyzing the room hearing James talk, seeing him sat in a chair at a table. She sighed and nodded her head as she walked over to James. βI mean, Iβm already crazy, donβt think this changes much about that.β Chloe said smiling as she sat on the table in front of James. You donβt be part of the Salant family and keep your whole sanity, things you do change you. βBut in all seriousness, what we are doing isnβt the smartest thing. Like if your family saw us, they wouldnβt be happy. Especially Ryan.β Chloe said, the last comment about Ryan accidentally slipping out, hopefully James would just ignore that part, she didnβt really feel like telling the boy sheβs crushing on about the time where she stabbed his brother in the back, literally and figuratively.
Chloe laid down across the table on her back, moving her hair out of her face as her head reached the table. She turned her head and stared at James, canβt believe he returned the feelings back that she had for him. The only flaw he had that she couldnβt stare past was his name, everything thing else about him was perfect. But his one flaw couldnβt be any worse, what was Chloe doing. Chloe turned her head looking up at the ceiling. βI donβt know about you, but I could get anything I want in this town. By either moving my hair out of my face, or saying my name, the only exception is youβ¦β
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xlocation: classroom xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
"I don't want most of the things I get in this town. As soon as people recognise me, or hear my name, their reaction completely changes. They're afraid. Not of me. Of my family, of who I am. I don't want the influence I have," he said, running a hand through his hair. "There's times when I dream of just disappearing, of travelling across the country and changing my name, of disappearing into a sea of faces. Of leaving the country. I've always wanted to see London," he said wistfully.
"Part of me wants to do this just to spite them, you know," he added. "Just to give them the middle finger." He sighed. "But I'm guessing you're pretty close with your family, right? Everyone knows that I don't exactly... fit in mine." They'd done their best to make him one of them, dressing him up in a suit like his brother and his father, giving him a gun, bringing him to their meetings. It was too late to try and change that.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Classroom|xOutfit: Here
xxxThis night is heating up
xxxraise hell and turn it up.
xxxSaying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe."
xxxOh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time.
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Chloe sat up and rubbed her foot against Jamesβ leg. βI mean, we are family. Kill for each other, things you do to keep them safe. Much like how you shoved Ryan out of the way of the beam.β Chloe said looking into his deep eyes. βYou think I fit into my family the first day they told me to do a job? I still remember it, haunts my dreams sometimes, the look in the guyβs eyes. But I just say better them than me right?β Chloe said as she looked away from James, ashamed almost for who she was. But Salants were known to be brutal.
James did have a point, could they just leave? Run away to go to London or Paris or anywhere that wasnβt Roseville. Chloe would be able to get money easily, empty out her account and take some cash out of her familyβs reserve. Not too much, but enough to get her by. But at what cost would it be, sheβd be instantly shunned, maybe even hunted down. Chloe was taken out her train of thought with the sound of the door handle being turned, immediately panicking. So she quickly slid off the table and onto Jamesβ lap, basically straddling him. She first kissed him on the cheek, but then dug her face into his neck to make it seem like they were being intimate. Hopefully who ever walked in wouldnβt recognize her from behind and being so close to James, they would probably recognize James.
βJust say Iβm just some girl of yoursβ¦β Chloe whispered against James, giving a light kiss on his neck, hoping James would be able to handle this.
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xlocation: classroom xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
And then the door started to open. Chloe was on top of him in an instant, and he immediately understood the excuse she was going for. It was better, this way she might be able to hide her face, and nobody would say anything. He sighed with relief as he saw it was a bunch of his own friends. "Oh, sorry. Didn't realise there was- James, you naughty boy," They teased. James laughed a little. "Keep it to yourselves?" He asked, and they raised their hands as they backed out of the room. "We swear by the sword," they called, then shut the door behind them. He laughed to himself at the Shakespeare quote. They knew him too well.
"We're good. They won't say anything to anyone, they know I'm hiding stuff already." He said, breathing into Chloe's neck. Being this close to her, sitting like they were, he was suddenly hyperaware of everything that he wanted. That he wished they could be like this without having to be hiding like this. He pulled her face to his and kissed her once, softly, gently. "Fuck, we really must be crazy," he said, laughing to himself a little. He was scared as hell, but in that moment, for the first time, he wasn't worrying about that.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Classroom|xOutfit: Here
xxxThis night is heating up
xxxraise hell and turn it up.
xxxSaying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe."
xxxOh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time.
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Instead of saying anything back to James, Chloe just leaned back in and started to kiss James again, both of her hands on his cheeks, pulling herself tighter into James body. Being this close, kissing James, even when he just breathed on her neck, it was drove her crazy, and at the moment she was just letting it all out. Chloe leaned back to get a breath in, fixing her hair so it wasnβt in her face and in the way, her arms around the behind Jamesβ neck. βWell what are we going to do then? Meet occasionally throughout the week, and try not to shoot each other the rest of the week?β Chloe said with a giggle and a smile.
Chloe honestly had no idea what they would do, but one thing was for sure, she was scared and afraid. She wasnβt one to be afraid, that was one emotion she rarely had, being raised to make people fear you, but with James she was afraid. Afraid of what her family would do if they found out, afraid about what his family would do, afraid to lose James.
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xlocation: classroom xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
So when she asked what they should do, he sighed. "It's not going to be easy. We'd have to meet in secret, in places where we won't be found or seen. Chloe... are you sure you want this? You could probably get any guy in the city, anyone better than me and who your family wouldn't try and kill on sight. Do you really want to put yourself through this just for me?" He asked. He didn't want her to walk away, but he couldn't blame her if she did. Loving him came with so much. Not just the fact that his family was... who they were. But all of the doubt, all of the anxiety, all of the messed up shit that circulated in his head and made him hate himself. It felt like the scar on his arm was tingling, but he ignored it, keeping his hands on Chloe's waist.
"You can walk away. I'll understand."
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Classroom|xOutfit: Here
xxxThis night is heating up
xxxraise hell and turn it up.
xxxSaying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe."
xxxOh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time.
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Chloe pushed Jamesβ hands off of her after him stating she could walk away and he would understand, but she didnβt want to walk away, she wanted to stay. She stood up and turned around, taking a moment to think to herself. βJamesβ¦β Chloe said out loud, running her hand through her hair, just facing the wall. A million thoughts raced through her head, all about whether to run out the door and back to Salant territory or stay and try to hide all of this. Then she started to think about if James found out about the time Ryan and Chloe worked together and ended up betraying, stabbing, him. If James found out about that, he would definitely hate her guts. Chloe turned back for a second and just looked at James.
βUgh James. I could have anyone in this city, who wasnβt royal to your family. Flip my hair, bat my eyes, say my name. Boom. Boyfriend, jewelry, anything I could ask him for. But James,β Chloe said stepping back to James, leaning down and placing her hands on his forearms, face to face, smiling. βWhere would the fun be in that? Plus you make me feel something I have not felt in, like, ever. I donβt know if it is the danger, or just how attractive you are and interesting, or something else. I wonβt be walking away.β Chloe said kissing him on the forehead.
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xlocation: classroom xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
"You do realise this officially makes us insane, right?" He asked with a grin. "Like we are actually doing this. We have to be crazy." He said with a laugh, resting his head on her shoulder. Somewhere, at the back of his mind, he was already anxious over this, already wanting to back out and run back to safety. But he'd spent enough of his life in safety. He already wasn't really seen as part of his family. Maybe this might just show them that they could put him in as many fancy suits as they wanted or drag him to as many meetings as possible, but he never would be a part of them. This was probably an extremely risky way of doing that, but if it meant he got to spend time around Chloe, he'd take it.
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Chloe giggled with James saying that this makes them officially insane, that they must be crazy to be doing this. βJames, Iβm already insane, and Iβm also crazy for you.β Chloe said gently pulling his head off her shoulder and kissing him. Them being together wouldnβt be easy, every step of the way she would have to make sure she wasnβt being followed, that her parents wouldnβt question where she was going. Plus any more meetings she went to, she would have to keep up her tough persona, even though her mind would be thinking only about James and when the next time she could see him again.
During the kiss Chloeβs fun went off, she sighed as she stepped back and checked it. βUgh. I have to go, some stuff my father wants me to take care of down the road.β Chloe said as she pulled out a small pocket mirror and fixed her hair. βNow donβt be shy. If I get bored I might have to do some reckless on your side of town.β She winked and smiled at James, before pulling him out of his seat and kissing him one more time, her arms around his neck and feeling him wrap them up. βSee you around.β Chloe said as she walked out of the room and headed outside, calling a taxi to pick her up.
By the time Chloe got home, it was already evening. Her father needed her to go shake up a small business owner down the street who was rumored to start sharing their profit with the Devereaux family. As Chloe walked into her apartment, her mother was in the kitchen, it surprised Chloe. Her mother asked how her day was as she made a Caesar salad for the both of them, and Chloe just replied it was great, and how the business owner now knows for sure who is in charge and who not to do business with. βSo when is my little flower going to bring some boy home? I know you do work a lot of work for us, but as your mother, I want you to have somewhere like I have your father and vice versa.β Chloeβs mother asked. Chloe laughed as she grabbed a can of Monster out of the fridge. βOh mother, donβt worry. I have someone in mind. My own Romeo.β Chloe said with smile and giggle as her mother laughed and finished the salad and they sat down and continued to talk. Almost like a real mother and daughter, just the topics a little bit more gruesome and violent
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxxThere's a place for us,
xxxSomewhere a place for us
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us, somewhere
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A COUPLE WEEKS LATER
Chloe rushed out of the apartment complex, phone already on her ear, but it was just ringing and ringing. The caller ID she was trying to call said Romeo, but it was actually James. She had called James twice now, no answer. βCome on asshole, pick up.β Chloe said as she got into her car, deciding to just send him a text. [i]Hey, need 2 talk. Important. Iβll come to u. Trainyard. Chloe sent quickly using shorthand as she drove, referencing the trainyard that was in his territory. She didnβt want to risk being seen in the open at neutral ground, and she knew she would feel more comfortable in Devereaux territory than James would in hers.
James and Chloe had seen each other multiple times over the last couple weeks, meeting in secret and just talking and having fun. Topics ranged from some of the jobs they, mostly Chloe, had to do, to mutual love of Shakespeare and other plays/musicals, and of course the ranting about parents. It wouldnβt be your usual dates, they couldnβt just go bowling and play mini-golf or go have a movie dinner date, they couldnβt be seen together. They would have to make up their own fun. One time they just sat and watched plays in an old warehouse, another time they messed around in a construction yard at night just being stupid kids. Chloe loved every second of it, made her feel normal for once in her life.
While driving to the trainyard, Chloe took many back alleys and roads to make sure she wasnβt being followed, this took longer but she didnβt want to chance it, she was also having some anxiety and that made her even more paranoid. As Chloe arrived at the trainyard, she parked her car under an overhang, and threw a dirty tarp over it. She threw the hood up on her jacket as she started walking around some of the old train cars, making sure there was no train about to run her over. She paced back and forth in her heeled boots around train cars as she waited for James, anxious, paranoid of every sound around her. Regardless she couldnβt sit still.
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xlocation: train yard xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
And when he walked away from the first argument with his father in a long time, he felt a hell of a lot closer. "Why the hell do we even let you stay in this family?" His father had said. James had walked out at that point, his hands shaking with anger and panic and fear. Fear that his bags would be packed for him when he got back. He'd left his phone in his bedroom, and saw he had two missed calls from Chloe and a text, asking him to meet her as soon as possible. He threw his laptop into his backpack to add to the pretense he was going to get some college work done and texted her back. On my way. Be there in fifteen.
He slammed the door a little harder than he meant to when he left, and shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he walked. His hands were still shaking. Usually, the thought of an hour or two with Chloe made him feel a little better. Because she was the only thing that could distract him from his reality, that could make him feel normal for one goddamn second. But even now, he was just hyperaware of how risky this was. But despite himself, he still smiled when he saw her. "Hey. You look nice."
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xLocation: Trainyard|xOutfit: Here
xxxThere's a place for us,
xxxSomewhere a place for us
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us, somewhere
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Chloe felt like she was going to burn a hole in her boots with how she was pacing back and forth. James had said fifteen minutes, but it felt like she was waiting an eternity for him to show up. She thought back to what has happened the last couple days. Her family were getting restless, more reckless with the Devereaux family. Somehow tensions were getting worse between them. The Salants even bought a strip mall in Devereaux territory and then just let it rot and become part of the ghetto, it was an expensive message, but a message none the less.
While Chloe was caught up in her thoughts a voice crept up on her, she immediately pulled a small blade out of her belt buckle, getting ready to defend herself. Her belt had hidden compartment that would hide a four-inch blade in the leather of the belt, with the heart being the handle. After seeing it was James, Chloe slid the blade back in place and run over and threw her arms around James, burying her face into his shoulder. βIβm sorry, you scared me.β Chloe looked up from Jamesβ shoulder and into his eyes. βSo much is going on right now. My family is going crazy, doing stuff I wouldnβt think of them to do. Iβm trying to help with the collateral damage, but there is so much I can do.β Chloe was on the verge of tears, but she didnβt want to seem weak in front of James, even though she was already rambling and ranting and probably looking like she was going to cry. It would also mess up her make up.
Chloe took a deep breath and showed a light smile to James. βYou look great too, as always.β Chloe stepped back and walked over to sit on the edge of an open train car, legs dangling a little and kicking them, looking back at James for a second and then looking back to the ground. βI never want to do anything to hurt you. But Iβm afraid. Iβm afraid I might do something stupid. Iβm afraid that I might do something out of paranoia, instinct. Iβm afraid that my parents might make me do something to hurt youβ¦β Chloe finished saying. She thought back to when she betrayed Ryan, she didnβt plan on doing it, but she was worried he would betray her.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xlocation: train yard xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
"We'll be okay. We'll manage. We just need to be a little more careful. We... we might need to not meet for a while. I'm terrified my family will find out and will react. So we can't risk anybody finding out."
"A bit late for that, brother dearest," A voice called, one that made James' stomach tighten and a shiver run down his spine. Ryan emerged from around an empty carriage. In that moment, in his pristine suit, neat hair, a posture, Ryan looked almost exactly like their father.
"What are you doing here?" James demanded, walking away from Chloe towards James. "Did... did he send you?" The thought of his father finding out suddenly seemed more real than ever. Ryan shook his head. "No. He has no idea I'm here. I overheard the argument, and thought I would come check on the welfare of my dear younger brother." With that, Ryan shot a glare at Chloe, one that James didn't miss either.
"After all, we don't want another incident like last year, do we?" Ryan said, lowering his voice. James felt colour rise to his cheeks, part embarrassment, but mostly anger. "Well, I'm fine. I don't need you to babysit me. I can make my own decisions." James snapped, turning to walk away.
"True. But I at least want to make sure that you can make an... informed decision. Me and Miss Salant here have a bit of history. Don't we, Chloe?" Ryan smiled. Not a pleasant, friendly, business smile. A smile that looked like it was almost fanged, a dangerous smile. James turned to look at Chloe, his heart pounding.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Trainyard|xOutfit: Here
xxxThere's a place for us,
xxxSomewhere a place for us
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us, somewhere
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Chloe really appreciated just talking and ranting to James. Him just listening to her started to make her feel better. She didnβt really have anyone in her family that she could vent to, and even if she did, she couldnβt complain about her family to them, or talk about James and such. Chloe listened James say it was okay, and about them needing to be more careful. She frowned when he mentioned not meeting for a while. Meeting up with James drove her, it always gave her something to look forward to through the weeks. But he was right, if either of their families found out, it wouldnβt end good for anyone, hell it might be the extra spark to start the all-out war.
Before Chloe could respond to James, she heard a chilling familiar voice. A voice she did not want to hear right now, Ryan Devereaux. Chloe slowly but sneakily pulled out her knife again, ready to attack Ryan in case he tried something. She wouldnβt blame him if he did try to do something, she would definitely do something as revenge if he had something to her. Chloe just sat there as Ryan and James talked at first, mostly about family affairs. When Ryan shot her a glare at the end of a comment, Chloe returned it.
βGet the fuck out of here Ryan. Literally no one wants you here.β Chloe said standing up and keeping her knife hidden behind her wrist, after James said he can make his own decisions. But Ryanβs next comment made Chloe freeze up. He was bringing up what Chloe had done to him, how Chloe betrayed him and stabbed him. She gulped looking at James for a second with sorry eyes, but then glaring back at Ryan, a fire in her eyes. Now just pissed off that he was here, ruining everything, she wanted to just finish the job now, but James was here so she couldnβt just do it.
Chloe walked past James, brushing his shoulder, and stopping about a foot from Ryan. She kept her knife tucked behind her wrist in her left hand βFuck. You.β Chloe said pushing Ryan back with right hand, but keeping herself steady. She didnβt want to talk about what happened, she didnβt want James finding out like this. She didnβt know how she wouldβve told him, but she knew she didnβt want to do it like this.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xlocation: train yard xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
By the time Ryan glanced up to look at his brother, James was gone. "James?" He said, his voice echoing back. "You bitch. Where's he gone?" He demanded, drawing his gun. He knew his brother too well, and knew that if he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't. His only fear was where he had gone and why.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Trainyard|xOutfit: Here
xxxThere's a place for us,
xxxSomewhere a place for us
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us, somewhere
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Chloe was too focused and zoomed in on Ryan to really pay any attention to James, she didnβt want to ignore James, but she knew better to take her attention off of Ryan. Even though Chloe was in his familyβs territory, he probably came armed, so Chloe didnβt want him getting the jump on him. Chloeβs eyes sharpened when he gave her a two choices, both werenβt that great. βSeriously? Fine you fucking prick, Iβll tell him. I wasnβt going to keep it a secret forever.β Chloe said with a scoff, tightening her grip on her knife, really wanting to just shove it into Ryanβs gut.
When Chloe heard Ryan say Jamesβ name in a questioning tone, she turned her head and noticed he was gone. βFuckβ¦β She mumbled under her breathe before facing back towards Ryan, him having his in her face, demanding her to tell him where James went. βWhoa! I donβt fucking know. Heβs your brother, and he was behind me.β Chloe said taking a step back for a second. When she saw Ryan look around she tackled him to the ground, a shot ringing off into the air. Chloe quickly got on top of Ryan, putting her knife against his neck.
βIf we kill each other James wonβt be happy with either of us, and a war will start out.β Chloe said, before realizing Ryan had his pistol against her abdomen. She glared at him for a second, before backing off, slowly getting off of him but ready to swing at him if he tried anything. βLet me talk to him. Iβll tell him everything, and Iβll have him text you after. But you shoot me right now, he will hate you. I would say trust me, but I wouldnβt even do that.β Ryan kept the gun pointed at Chloe while she pulled out her phone and dialed James, but keeping her eyes locked on Ryan in case he tried anything. βJames. Look, Iβm sorry. Iβm fine, and your brother is fine. Please, we need to talk.β Chloe said out loud to Jamesβ voicemail. βNow, can we both go our separate ways now, before that shot brings a crowd?β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xlocation: train yard xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
"Am safe. Heading to a friend's for the night. Talk soon."
He wasn't going to say he'd talk to them in the morning, because he didn't want to worry them if he didn't call them. He knew that this wasn't going to be the type of thing where he woke up in the morning and worried what all the fuss was about. This was going to take a few days to get over, if he ever did. He wasn't going to escape this any time soon. So maybe the night away from the house would clear his head. Assuming his belongings weren't left on the doorstep when he got back.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Apartment|xOutfit: Here
xxxThere's a palce for us,
xxxSomehwere a place for us.
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us somewhere
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
After a few more heated words, Chloe and Ryan went their separate ways, both really wanting to injure, maybe even kill, the other. But both of them knew was not the time for that. As Chloe walked and got into her car she debated texting James again, explaining her history with Ryan, but she knew it wouldnβt be helpful, would be like texting a break-up. As she drove off she decided to try and call James again using the vehicleβs Bluetooth, but once again got his voice mail. βJames. Listen. You deserve to know. Awhile ago Ryan approached me and offered a temporary truce and to go on a mission together that would help slow down both our families from going into a total war. Long story short, we did it. But I couldnβt trust Ryan. He was a liability. So, I acted on impulse and stabbed him and took off, knowing he wouldnβt openly admit working with a Salant. Iβm sorry. I get it if you donβt talk to me for awhile.β Chloe sighed and hung up before driving home. She felt like it was all over, every second, minute, hour, until she would hear back would be the longest of her life.
FIVE DAYS LATER
The first day was the worse, Chloe would check her phone every couple of seconds hoping to see a miss notification from James, even though she had her volume all the way up so she couldnβt miss anything from him. The second day she debated texting or calling him, but every time she wrote a message she would delete it and continue on her day. On the third day she finally sent a text asking if he was okay and alive. James replied with a yes, but when Chloe followed up trying to start a conversation, she never got any other replies. The forth day she left her phone at home, so it wouldnβt distract her during a couple jobs, and when she got back, still nothing from James. Now it had been over 96 hours and there was nothing besides a one-word reply, and Chloe felt like she had lost her world. She had covered up her sadness and feelings with being more brutal and reckless around town, her family didnβt think much of it and actually liking it, knowing it would put more fear into their enemies.
Chloe was at the apartment by herself throwing knives into a wooden post with her phone playing her music on high volume while it was in her jacket pocket hanging up. She wasnβt doing it for a specific reason, but out of boredom and a need to be doing something. The past couple days have made her very anxious and jittery. As she grabbed the last knife in her pile, her armed stopped mid throw motion when a noise caught her attention.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xlocation: train yard xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
For the most part, though, he'd just been hiding out in the hotel room. It gave him some feeling of peace, of being relatively normal. Ryan had texted him a few times, as had Chloe. He'd replied to a few of Ryan's texts. Mostly confirming that he was alive and that, no, he didn't want to see him. He'd only replied to Chloe's text checking that he was alive. Every time he even thought about seeing her again, panic overwhelmed him, a fear that he was going to fall right back into that old life.
But he'd started making steps that might mean he could escape it for good. He'd checked with the college and he could switch to an online-only course, which would get him the same degree in the same amount of time. His mother had given him access to a large account, meant only for emergencies. She was the only family member he'd really been in contact with. She wanted him to come home, but unlike her husband and son, wasn't going to force him. She wanted him to be happy more than anything.
He was walking home from college and had stopped only to pick up some supplies, when he spotted one of his father's men. He knew their tells, knew they were up to something. But they didn't even look his way. They weren't after him at all. So, instinctively, James followed him. Straight into Salant territory.
He didn't recognise the apartment from the angle they approached it. It was only when the hitman started climbing the fire escape that James realised where they were. And against his best judgement, he let out a yell. "Hey!" The man turned sharply, locked eyes on James and drew a gun. James could see the moment that he realised who he was and hesitated, not wanting to kill the boss' son.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Apartment|xOutfit: Here
xxxThere's a palce for us,
xxxSomehwere a place for us.
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us somewhere
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Even though she had her music on high volume, Chloe still heard what sounded like a yell come the window in the kitchen, which actually led to the fire escape. The voice was drowned out by her music, but she knew it wasnβt any of her family members since they werenβt expected to be back for a couple hours, so she was a little on edge about who it was. As she crept towards the window and direction of the commotion she grabbed a pistol off the table, but kept the knife in her left hand, not knowing what to expect and wanted to be ready for whatever the situation would throw at her.
When Chloe got next to the window she verified the gun was loaded and switched it off of safe, not wanting to be pull a rookie mistake. She peaked from the side of the curtains and spotted a man on her fire escape with a gun. He didnβt have the style of any of her familyβs men, he had a more professional look. βFucking Devereauxβ¦β Chloe whispered to herself, thinking the rival family was finally ready for a war. Very slowly and quietly and out of sight, she undid the latch on the inside of the window that was on the wall.
Chloe took deep breathe and pushed the window open violently, attempting to tackle the man she saw. As she burst through the window, she caught the man off guard, him dropping his pistol to the ground. He landed a good hit in her face before both of them tumbled to the ground, knocking Chloeβs gun away from the two. Luckily Chloe landed on top of him, softening some of the landing, and knocking the air out of him. Chloe spit out some blood, βWho sent you?! Was it the Devereaux?β It was after demanding this information she finally looked around but keeping the knife against the perpetrators neck. And it was at this moment she saw James.
It had been five miserable days since Chloe had seen him. At first, she was delighted to see him, wanting to run over and hug him and kiss him, but then her mind started to turn and crank thinking about what was going on. He hadnβt messaged her at all in these five days, and now he shows up? In her territory, next to her apartment, with a man trying to break in? βJamesβ¦? This is one of your men! What, are you two here to kill me or someone in my family!β Chloe shouted, banging the man's head she was on top of into the ground.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xlocation: street xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
He took a few steps back, raising his hands to show he was unarmed. "He's not with me. He didn't even know I was here until about thirty seconds before you arrived. I-" he couldn't say that he hadn't even been home, that he wasn't involved. "I have nothing to do with this. I just followed him, knowing he was up to no good, and didn't realise I was in your territory until it's too late."
But looking at the anger in her eyes, in her entire expression, he knew. Knew what he had to do. "So I'll get out of your territory." He said, turning and walking away, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked away. He needed to get out, needed to get away from this. It seemed that the world, the universe didn't want him to be happy in that life. There was no way they could ever really be happy. He had to get out while he still could, before it swallowed him for once and for all.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xLocation: Street/Alleyway|xOutfit: Here
xxxThere's a palce for us,
xxxSomehwere a place for us.
xxxPeace and quiet
xxxWait for us somewhere
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Chloeβs stare seemed like daggers, much like the knife she held at the manβs throat she was on top of. She listened to James say he has nothing to do with the man being there, and that he had just arrived before Chloe took matters into her own hands. She thought to herself for a moment trying to figure out if his story was true or just some play to get her guard down. Chloe looked back down at the man for a second, seeing he was knocked out and unconscious. She did hear a type of yell before she decided to investigate the window, if these two were working together to sneak into a place, why would James yell to give away their position and give up the element of surprise. They could have easily snuck in, put a bullet in her, and left.
Chloe blinked a couple times coming back out of her train of thought upon hearing, declaring he was going to leave. She quickly made sure the man was knocked by lightly slapping his face and getting no response. Chloe got up off of the man, grabbing the phone out of his pocket and texting her fatherβs number, saying that a man just tried to break in and would be under the fire escape, that she was fine and to send someone to pick him up for questioning. She then kicked one of the guns under the dumpster and sticking the other behind her belt loop before chasing after James. He wasnβt going at a fast pace, so it wouldnβt be hard to catch up to him.
When Chloe finally caught up with James after getting the situation situated back at the apartment, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into an alleyway, mostly to just get him to talk to her, also because he wasnβt exactly safe walking down the street in Salant territory. βShh, James. Just let me talk for a second, then you can yell, or leave, or whatever.β Chloe said before taking a deep breathe, letting go of James and wiping her mouth, knowing she would have a bruise later. βIβm sorry. Okay? Just a lot of emotions are going through me right now, probably still have some adrenaline from jumping out a window and tumbling down that fire escape. I know you werenβt with him to kill me, it was your yell that caught my attention and distracted him.β Chloe took a step to the side and slumped against the wall, sighing out loud.
βYou deserve to know the history between your brother and I. I shouldβve told you sooner, but I was too love struck and didnβt want to lose you. Me and your brother did a job together awhile back, in the hop of slowing down our families from waging war. And it worked, we stopped a shipment of guns that wouldβve been sold to whichever one of our families bidded higher. Just at the endβ¦β Chloe paused for a second, looking down at the ground. βI betrayed him, stabbed him in the back of the leg and took off. I was scared, I didnβt know what would happen and wanted to strike first. But I promise I wonβt do that to you. I feel safe around you, I feel like my whole world doesnβt revolve around violence and pain.β She stood up, and opening Jamesβ hand and tracing his fingers. βI understand if you want to scream at me, or get away from me. I promise I wonβt bug you anymore. We can go back to being a Devereaux and a Salant instead of Romeo and Juliet.β Chloe finished, looking James deep into his eyes.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xlocation: street xxxxxxxxxxoutfit: here
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
xxx"i've never so adored you
xxxi'm twisting allegories now
xxxi want to complicate you
xxxdon't let me do this to myself."
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Is There Somewhere
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