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"It was Liam, your brother."
Chloe raises an eyebrow, but I push ahead, needing her to understand.
"After high school, I didn't do much. I just wandered around, hanging out with friends. Some were still in high school like Liam, others were older and involved in...messier things."
I pause, wondering how much to reveal, but I feel Chloe deserves to know. I want her to know.
"I always loved going against the system but never wanted to hurt anyone. But I needed money, and I started selling drugs. I moved from town to town, sometimes even going into the city."
My hands tighten on the steering wheel as I recall those days.
"I almost got caught once, and that was when I decided to quit. To leave it all behind."
The silence hangs heavy between us as I contemplate my next words. Am I making a mistake by telling her all this? Will she think less of me? Maybe, but I want Chloe to know who I truly am, not the facade I put up for everyone else.
Chloe watches me, her blue eyes softer now, a look of concern etched on her face. I've never seen her look at me like this before. My heart hammers in my chest, a bead of sweat trickling down my back.
"Was... was Liam involved in that too?" she asks quietly.
I shake my head, eager to clear her doubts about her brother.
"No, he wasn't.” I tell her before continuing, “When I quit... when I quit, I got into trouble. I was beaten up pretty bad." The memory is still fresh in my mind, the pain, the blood, the fear. "I asked for help, and no one came... no one but Liam."
I sigh, looking out at the fading light of the day, the other cars nowhere to be seen.
"I still remember that day. It was raining, and we were in your parent's garage. Liam went to get a first aid kit, and when he came back, he told me he was joining the army once high school was over."
"I remember when Liam first told us about his decision to join the army," Chloe says softly, her gaze distant as she gets lost in her memories. "It was two months before high school ended, and I had never seen such a fierce look in his eyes. Mom and Dad... they didn't take it well. They said he was crazy, that he wouldn't make it through, that they wouldn't accept him back. But he never faltered. He knew what he wanted, and he fought for it."
I can't help but smile at her words.
"That's Liam, alright. Stubborn to the core." I take a deep breath, ready to continue my story. "After he left, I realized I had no one else. The friends we used to hang out with were gone. I was angry, frustrated, lonely... I was no longer the class clown. I was just a clown. Everyone avoided me like I was some kind of pariah."
I glance at Chloe, her gaze focused on me, listening intently.
"One day, I got so mad I packed my bags and left Willow Creek. I promised myself I wouldn't return until I felt accomplished."
"Do you now... feel accomplished?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
I smile, a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"I do. And, well, knowing Liam returned helped my decision. It’s always nice to have a friend nearby."
I hope my words and openness can show her how much I've changed - that the rebellious boy from high school is long gone, and in his place is a man that faced his past and now looks forward to his future.
Chapter 3 - Chloe
The truck rumbles beneath me, a symphony of powerful, vibrant life. Just like its driver. Aaron. My brother's best friend. His words echo in the truck, drowning out the steady hum of the engine.
Each syllable, each sigh, spinning a tale I never knew existed. A story about him, about what he’s gone through, and how he became who he is today.
Who knew?
Certainly not me.
I've always seen him as this jovial, cheeky jokester, yet now I'm listening to a story laced with struggle and strength, resilience, and resolve. My perception of him shifts, evolves. He's not just the same old Aaron anymore.
There's a maturity to him, a roughness that accentuates his chiseled muscles, his rugged features in a way that I never registered before. I notice how the golden sunset casts an enchanting glow on his face, making his smile – a smile I've seen countless times – appear brighter, more alluring.
