We Are Not the Same by S.J. Cunningham

Author:S.J. Cunningham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781964369020
Publisher: S.J. Cunningham
Published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

CHLOE-THEN

Chloe descends the short staircase of the bus and emerges on the street in front of her house. Matt’s light blue hatchback is in the driveway, and she gives the vehicle a long look. There is a break in the rain that has been falling most of the day, and she lingers in the humid air.

The bus lurches away, and she looks around. The street is deserted, but it’s likely that one of the nosy old neighbors is peeking out at her from behind curtains.

She ambles to Matt’s car, trying to look casual and relaxed, even though her heart is beating a tattoo inside her chest.

The back seat is filled with brown paper grocery bags, and a blanket conceals what looks like cases of pop. But she knows the cases contain something else.

With another quick look around, Chloe moves to the back of the car and feels for the trunk latch. She lifts it a few inches and peers into the dark space. Two half kegs of beer lie sideways with towels shoved between them for support.

Chloe breathes out. She shuts the trunk and turns to walk to the house to wait.

Nate Kasinski had been elected to collect the alcohol, though he hadn’t been happy about it. But he drives a truck that belongs to him; he has no siblings that might ask questions; and his uncle is a Conway cop, so he’s the least likely of the group to be pulled over for any minor infractions.

Chloe had told Nate to arrive at her house directly after school, before her mother returned from work.

She glances at her watch as she walks toward the door. They’ve got half an hour, tops.

“Hi, Chloe,” Ralph, the old man from across the street, calls to her. He sets down his small dog, Lemon, who immediately starts barking at some invisible threat in the yard.

“Hi, Ralph,” she says and continues toward the door.

“Nice day, isn’t it?”

It isn’t a nice day, but she calls back, “Yeah.” She’s nearly there. Her hand is on the doorknob, and she just needs to walk into the entryway.

“You ready for graduation?”

She shifts her backpack on her shoulder. “I guess so.”

He lets out an unnatural sounding laugh. “You’ve gotten so pretty over the past year. I imagine you’ll have all the boys chasing after you in college.”

She doesn’t respond to that creepy comment.

She pushes open the door, and Ralph calls, “Saw your brother today. I hadn’t seen him in a while.”

“Oh, he’s been here,” she answers and looks to the sky, contemplating just walking into the house and slamming the door behind her. But if she does that, Ralph will no doubt tell her parents that she’d been rude.

“His car is usually parked right there, but he hardly ever leaves the house. Would have thought he might have a job by now.”

When Chloe doesn’t answer, Ralph continues, “You tell him that I have some work he can do around my house, if he’s interested.”

“Okay, Ralph. I’ll tell him.”

Just as she steps over the threshold, she hears the rumble of a loud engine accelerating up the street.

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