EIGHTY EIGHT DAYS

CHAPTER 13. DOMINOS

*Author's note: This chapter contains mature language, mild violence, and references to drug use and suicide.

After everything got sorted out at the police station, they let Dylan go, thank God. Thanks to my Uncle Pete, everything he did saved him from not only losing his freedom but also his sponsorship. Had it gone any other way, his life and career, as he knew it, would have been over. As for his brother, he ended up getting a slap on the hand and was given a probationary period. He has to attend therapy and undergo routine drug tests. He got off pretty easily, if you ask me. When Dylan called me when he got home, he was pretty short. At first, I thought it was because he was mad I got my uncle involved, but he told me he was just stressed. I can only imagine what he must have been going through.

We were invited to his friend Brent's party tonight, and I told him I didn't want to go. I was really surprised he even wanted to after everything we just went through. When he recruited my brother to gang up on me, though, I finally caved. I did make him promise me that we would leave if Erica or Bethany showed up, though. I know he definitely doesn't want a repeat of that party in Malibu, so he agreed.

As I was getting ready for the party, I looked down at my journal and smiled. I thumbed through the pages and randomly stopped on a few entries and read them to myself. Every single day was filled with all the things Dylan and I had done together this summer. I smiled as I read through a few of them, and when I got to the last one, I suddenly realized I hadn't written anything down the last two days. I knew why. I hadn't forgotten. I just didn't want to write about what had happened at Dylan's parent's house with Chase. I didn't want to relive it. But as I picked up my pen and clicked the button, the words just seemed to flow onto the paper, and before I knew it, I had lost all track of time. Dylan was going to be here any minute now, and I wasn't even ready yet. I was really surprised Cameron wasn't already in here, hassling me to hurry up. I swear, if he were any hornier, I'd have to lock him in a cage.

I giggled as I dropped my towel and ran to the closet to try to figure out what I wanted to wear tonight. Since I work at the boutique and I have a very generous aunt, my closet looks like I'm a runway model. It's funny; I came here with practically nothing and never dreamed I would have clothes like these to choose from. I can't pretend they haven't changed me in some way, because they have. And no, they haven't made me stuck up like all these snotty rich girls in Santa Barbara, but my taste has certainly changed in clothing. When I look at myself in the mirror now, I feel confident and good about myself. I've noticed I don't even nit pick at my imperfections anymore. I just smile back and admire how I've changed. I really don't think it's the expensive clothes either; it's Dylan. He loves me, and I guess that's all I really needed to pull me out of the funk I'd been in. I'm not afraid to admit that he's good for me. I really needed something good like this to happen for me this summer. I guess I just never expected it to be this wonderful.

As I contort my arms behind my back and struggle to zip the short, black nylon Prada mini dress I chose, my hair gets caught in the zipper. I yell out and luckily catch the attention of my aunt, who happens to be walking by on her way downstairs.

"Chloe? Everything alright in there?"

"Yes, sorry, Aunt Brenda. I just got my hair stuck in my damn zipper, is all. Can you help me out?"

She opens the door, and from the moment she sees what I'm wearing, she begins to glow and shower me with praise. "Oh, Chloe, look at you! You look just like your mama when she was your age."

"Ya think?"

"Yes, except you have much better taste in clothes," she jokes as tears start to steadily stream down her face. As she approaches me with her arms wide open, she screeches out. "Come here, you! My God, you are absolutely stunning in that dress! Prada was definitely a great choice for this party.