Always Been You

Katherine blinked at him. “Urmmm, he already left for work” she said.

“He left for work last night?” Tim persisted. “I heard him leave”

“Just eat your food, Tim,” Katherine urged, hoping he would drop the topic.

“Is he going to come back?” Tim asked. Ignoring her suggestions.

Katherine swallowed hard, she couldn’t deny that the thought hadn’t crossed her mind too, but she shook the thought away. No need to overthink. She reminded herself “Of course, he will be back, Tim” she said. “Now finish your food”

“When is he going to come back?” Tim asked again and Katherine gave him a look.

“You are going to upset your sister if you keep asking those questions, Tim. You know how she acts when she’s upset” she said. “Daddy will be back. Now finish your food and go to school”

“Fine,” Tim said.

—————————

“Hey, Tim” Chloe called as she walked towards Tim and his friends. They all stopped and watched as she walked up to them.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hello,” they all replied, his friends grinning at her.

“Hey Tim” Peter teased, “Look, it’s your girlfriend”

“He’s not my… I mean, I’m not his girlfriend” Chloe chipped in before Tim could say anything and Peter laughed.

“Relax, Chloe,” he said. “I’m just messing with you. Besides, it’s not such a bad thing if you are his girl. Come on guys” He said to his friend. “Let’s give these love birds some privacy”

They laughed as they went and Chloe returned her attention to Tim.

“Hi” she greeted again.

“Hi” Tim said, “Wow, you seemed very offended when he called you my girlfriend. That hurt I gotta admit”

“Oh stop it” Chloe said. “And I wasn’t offended. I was just…. Clearing things up”

Tim nodded, but he said nothing, just waited for her to say why she came. Chloe stared at him for a few seconds and then shook her head.

“Ermmm. I was just wondering if you… Are you okay?” she asked.

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” Tim asked her and she sighed.

“Be serious for once, Tim,” Chloe said. “Is something bothering you? Are you sick?”

“No, I’m fine,” Tim replied. “I’m not sick. If I was I wouldn’t even be in school”

Chloe nodded “Owkay” she said slowly. But she looked like she didn’t believe him. “I just noticed that you have kinda been… quieter these past few days, and I just wanted to make sure that you are alright”

“Been spying on me again huh?” Tim asked, smiling. “When are you going to admit that you have a crush on me?”

Chloe gave him a look that said, ‘Be serious’ and then she said. “Ermm, so I saw when Mrs Andrews gave you your test answer sheet. She said well done, which I assume meant you passed”

“And so you came to gloat?” Tim asked.

“What?” Chloe asked, looking surprised. “No, I didn’t come to gloat. Maybe you and your friends can do such nonsense but not me. I was just trying to be a friend. But I guess that ends now since we don’t need to study together any more. Take care, Mr Packard”

She tried to move but Tim blocked her path. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry” he said quickly. “I was just messing with you, but I guess that was a bad joke. Of course we are still friends, and I don’t want to stop being friends. You are right, I passed the test. Ninety Two percent. And It’s all because of you. It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t offered to help me. So thanks”

Chloe stopped and stared at him, then she said. “You’re welcome. But that’s not why I came to talk to you. I noticed that you still didn’t look happy even after Mrs Andrews gave you your answer sheet. So I thought maybe something was wrong. That’s why I wanted to talk to you”

Tim smiled. “I wonder if you are this sensitive with everyone or if it’s just with me”

Chloe smiled. “The fact that you keep joking even when you are not fine is the reason why your friends don’t notice that something is wrong with you”

“But you did,” Tim said.

Chloe decided to ignore that. “What is the problem, Tim?” she asked. “Let’s sit here”

Tim complied. “It’s no big deal,” he began. “At least I hope it’s not. It’s just that my mom and dad have been having some issues lately. I thought they fixed it before, but obviously they didn’t because my dad left one night after they yelled at each other. It’s been a week now and my dad isn’t even home. He just talks to my sister and I on the phone. He won’t come home, mom keeps acting like she’s fine when she’s not and they won’t tell me exactly what is happening. I’m scared they might get a divorce ”

“Maybe they won’t,” Chloe said. “Maybe it won’t come to that. Maybe it’s just a fight”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.