It was Jordan.

"You are still here," he said flatly, as if nothing had happened.

"Get in. Let me drop you off at the bus stop" Even as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Since when did he become a softie? He quickly shook off the thought. No, of course this was part of a plan.

Chloe didn’t move.

With a grunt, he pulled out a card and pen from his jacket, scribbled something quickly, and tossed it out the window. The card landed by her feet.

"That’s my card. Meet me at the address I wrote on the back. Tomorrow. Four p.m." Without another word, he sped off.

Chloe stared at the card lying on the road. Her mind spun with a dozen possibilities, each one darker than the last. She didn’t bother picking it up. Hugging her bag closer, she set off toward Alamosa.

The night air was icy, and the road stretched endlessly ahead. Every step felt heavier than the last, her shoes biting into her heels. She pulled her coat tighter, but the chill was not just from the wind, it was from the memory of Jordan’s voice, the cruelty in his eyes, the way he had shoved her away as though she were nothing.

Her phone buzzed for the third time that hour. It was her mum's sister, Mary again. Chloe silenced it, too drained to explain anything over the phone. What would she even say? That her job had ended before it even started? That she was now in debt for a gown she hadn’t ruined? She pressed the phone deeper into her coat pocket.

By the time she reached the bus stop, her legs threatened to give way. She was lucky to catch the bus before it moved. She dozed off as soon as she took a seat. Four hours turned into minutes as she awoke at her destination. She texted Mary to let her know she was at the bus stop. Her aunt replied her immediately.

Hold on. I'm coming to get you.

A single streetlight flickered above, buzzing faintly. She sank onto the cold bench and buried her face in her palms. Minutes went by. Cars passed. People came and went. She stayed.

Headlights finally slowed in front of her. Chloe lifted her head, squinting against the glare. The door of a familiar car swung open.

“Chloe!” Mary’s voice cut through the night, scolding and sounding relieved at the same time.

Her aunt fussed over her. "I told you not to risk traveling back at night. Why didn't you just wait till tomorrow? And why do you have to carry your travel bag though? Isn’t it stressful? You can always share Judy’s clothes, you know.”

Chloe shrugged.

Mary pressed a small flower into her hands. “Congratulations on your new job,” she teased with a laugh. “Do my flowers feel awkward?”

“No, Aunty. Thank you,” Chloe managed a smile.

“You don’t seem happy though. You must be exhausted.”

Chloe opened the back seat and threw in her bag. “Yeah. It has been a very long day."

She was not in the mood to chatter, but her aunt didn’t notice. Mary chattered all the way home.

When they arrived, Chloe was baffled to meet a mini party at home. Judy and Danny popped balloons and sprayed celebratory ribbons. A small apple tart sat at the center of the table.

Chloe resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sigh wearily. How could they be celebrating her getting a job as a maid? Funny that she had even lost the job already.

With the little strength she had, she tried to laugh and smile along. How could she tell them she had lost the job she barely just got? And the manner in which it had happened too. She felt like such a big fool.

She opened her bag and brought out the leftovers from the Cavanaughs.

The family was so happy that Chloe could not help but smile. It was like a feast for them.

She excused herself and went off to the tiny room reserved for her. Sitting on the bed, she held her head in her hands and sobbed quietly. The muffled laughter of her cousins drifted through the thin walls, but she felt miles away. Her phone vibrated for the umpteenth time since she had put it on silence on her way back.

Tiredly, she brought the phone out if her bag to check the caller ID.

Not her mother. Not her aunt. Not Judy. Not anyone she knew.

An unknown number.

Chloe froze, her heart beating abnormally in her chest. For a long moment, she simply stared at the screen, her thumb hovering, trembling. Whoever it was, they had tried calling her all night.

She swallowed hard and swiped to answer.

The voice from the other end was small and strained.

“Oh, thank God,” the caller sighed in relief before her tone suddenly pitched higher. “You’ve not been picking your calls ever since. I was calling because it was very urgent. I need you to help...”

“Who is this?” Chloe interrupted, frowning.

“Jeez! Can’t you recognize my voice? It’s Meena. I’m in big trouble right now. There was a big party in town, and there was a job opening for a waitress. I told Mum about it but you know her, she refused. Chloe, a huge pay was involved; I could not even turn it down. I need money to register for the class group camp I told you about.” The voice cracked, trembling, “So I accepted the job just for the night and I got very busy. Later, I realized my phone had been stolen.”

From the other end, Meena broke down in tears. Chloe stayed silent, her throat tight.

“I was going to call Mum but her phone is bad, so I wanted you to help me call the neighbour to let her know I will be returning in the morning. I didn’t know I would have to stay out this long.”

Chloe gave a long sigh, pressing her palm to her forehead. She was trying to process the whirlwind of information.

“Meena, are you okay where you are now?”

“Yes,” Meena sniffed. “I am just so pained about my phone. I’m in a safe space, no worries at all. But Mum must be extremely worried. I told her I was going to study with my group, but I didn’t tell her I would be going somewhere else after. Chloe, I am so sorry. We really need money. I just couldn’t pass the opportunity.”

There were a thousand and one things Chloe wanted to say to her sister, but not tonight. Weariness clung to her body like a heavy coat.

“Meena.” Chloe paused for a long moment. “I will call the neighbour right away to inform Mum. But you know you messed up big time. I don’t even know what to say to you right now. I just hope you are safe wherever you are. I’m sorry about your phone. But the main thing now is letting Mum know you are safe where you are. Gosh! You’ll give that woman hypertension if you keep up this way.”

Whimpers crackled from the other end.

“I’m sorry.”

“Take good care of yourself, please. I hate bad news.” Chloe paused, her chest aching. “See, I got a very good job and I will make cool money from it to help sort out all those things. You don’t need to endanger yourself, okay?”

“I’m so sorry, Chloe. It won’t happen again.”

Chloe pressed her face into the small pillow, letting it soak away her tears and drown the sound of her cries. At last, she cried herself to sleep.

The intensity of the sun rays streaming through the window forced Chloe’s eyes open. Standing over her, arms akimbo, was Judy, her cousin who was of the same age as she was.

Chloe groaned and put a hand over her face. “Judy, come on. Put back the window shutters.”

“What? Where do you think you are? In your mansion at Cherry Lake?” Judy teased.

Chloe knew it was pointless to argue, Judy would never back down.

So she sat up, yawning. “Exactly why I need to sleep a little longer.”

“Right,” Judy said, climbing onto the bed. “After soothing my itchy ears.” She snuggled beside Chloe, the small bed creaking under their weight. The room itself was small, meant for one, and Chloe often imagined the old wardrobe above them crashing down.

She groaned and reached for her phone, blinking. “Eleven a.m.?”

Judy shrugged. “We didn’t want to disturb you, so we went to church without you. Only to come back and find you still sleeping.”

Chloe lay back on the bed pulling the duvet over her, she can as well sleep some more.

“Why don’t you let me sleep a little longer, like an hour more? I woke up earlier but didn’t check the time.”

“And I said, after soothing my itchy ears.” Judy smirked.

“With what?” Chloe asked, amused.

“Gists, of course! What’s the house like? Obviously they are freaking rich, judging from all the food you brought and especially your pay. I am so jealous. You will get to eat all that and live in a mansion. So, do they have a chef? I know you didn’t prepare all that yourself. Or did you? How big is the family? What’s your room like? Or did they tuck you away in the cellar like Cinderella?” Judy laughed.

Chloe watched her rattle on and wondered where to start from. She noticed Judy's hair, tied in a ponytail with a worn out scrunchie.

“It’s not as glittery as you imagine,” Chloe said quietly. “If I had a choice, I would switch places with you; help on the farm and work at the local vet clinic.”

“Don’t be crazy. You’ve gotta be kidding.” Judy scoffed. “Do you know how much I loathe this place? I am sick of staying here. You will be earning about a thousand dollars per week with good food and luxury, and me? Like a quarter of that. Oh come on.”

Good food and luxury. A thousand dollars per week. Chloe’s mind echoed. Her memory flashed back to Lina Cavanaugh’s cold words, ‘You are fired. That’s the cost of the dress you ruined. You have one month to pay up."

She forced a smile at Judy.

“You see? You are so happy. Right now I would give anything to be in your shoes. If only my dad isn't such a strict fellow. Who knows if I could make a huge fortune working with the high and mighty. I wish I could also...”

“Chloe, Niles wants to see you. He is waiting outside.” Danny, Judy’s six-year-old brother, dashed into the room, his face bright.

Judy’s expression changed instantly. Niles was a family friend she had had a crush on since his family moved in months ago. But Chloe, who had barely been around for two weeks, was the one he preferred. Forever asking after her even in her absence.

“Why does he want to see her? She is tired and wants to sleep,” Judy protested.

“Okay. I will tell him you said so.” Danny darted off.

“Stop, Danny! I’m just kidding! She is coming!” Judy yelled, but it was useless. Danny was out of sight.

Chloe chuckled, stretching.

“It’s not funny,” Judy snapped.

Chloe sighed. Her hair was a mess, and so was her face. She was putting on her jean pinafore over her favorite pink top. “My hair is bad, right?” she asked, running her fingers through it.

“Should you care? He is not your boyfriend.”

“Exactly why I don’t have to look so bad.”

Judy frowned. “What do you mean? You want to be his girlfriend?”

“No, Judy. If he was my boyfriend, I wouldn’t be so bothered. He would understand. But since he is just a friend, the impression it will create will be…” She trailed off as Judy rolled her eyes. “Fine. Why am I even explaining?”

“Seriously,” Judy muttered, leaving the room.