Chloe’s POV





The next morning I woke up to find the same nurse who had been checking in on me since yesterday. She gave me a small smile as she finished up removing the wires and tubes from my arms. I smiled back at her before letting out a huge sigh. I was finally leaving this god awful place. After she left I began to get dressed. When I was fully dressed in clothes that were left out for me I looked at myself in the mirror.




My dark green eyes were sunken in; my lips were a pale pink, my cheekbones jutted out in an unhealthy way. I shivered at my appearance and made my way back to the bed I was lying in. Even though it was stiff and cold I didn’t care. I just wanted to lie down before I left this place. I still hadn’t figured out how I was going to get home. Hell I didn’t even know where home was. I guess I could ask the doctor for my address and give it to a cab driver since Linda refused to pick me up. She was really pissed about my phone call.





“Hello?” her shrill voice answered on the fourth ring.



“Hey Linda it’s Chloe I was wonderi—“ she cut me off.



“Chloe? Ha this is a real treat. What the hell do you want now? I’ve given you many opportunities to work full time here but you insist on staying in that God forsaken town. I’m done giving you chances. Don’t ever call me or show your face around here ever again you fucking bitch,” she spat coldly before hanging up harshly.








Apparently I hadn’t left Hagerstown on the best of terms. I texted Lydia about it and she gave me the full details about how I completely trashed the place one night, ruining various costumes and props. I left without another word. Also I had come back to apologize and since I was the best girl there Linda forgave me but was always sour about it. I only went back to that place every so often. Mostly on the weekends. They knew I lived in Baltimore but not once did I give them my address. I pretty much had cut myself somewhat off from them. I felt really bad though. I didn’t even remember all of this shit. I felt like I didn’t even really do it. Why couldn’t I remember my life her in Baltimore? I remembered every single fucking awful memory from before I moved her but nothing about my life here. Did I have a pet that missed me? What was my job? When were my bills due? Did I even have any bills? Did I have a boyfriend?




I shuddered at the thought of letting another man into my life. The two guys I had ever been with weren’t too great. I didn’t think I could do worse but apparently life didn’t like me too much. I looked at the faded scars on my wrist, remembering just how cruel life could really be. The tears in my eyes threatened to spill over. Before they could I heard the door open.




I cocked my head to the side as I saw a man with pink and brown hair staring at me with wide eyes at the doorway. He was really attractive. Like, out of my league attractive. But he looked familiar. Did I know this guy?




“Hi there,” I said as I smiled at him. God he was really freaking cute. His pink fringe fell just above his eyes ever so slightly. His chocolate brown eyes seemed as if they melted into the perfect shape. His plump lips were parted in surprise. Before I could say anything else he ran to me and pulled me in a bone-crushing hug.





"Oh Chloe!" he cried out. "Oh my god I'm so glad you're okay. I'm sorry. I'm so more than sorry. I didn't mean for you to get dragged into my shit. Fuck Chloe I'm so fucking glad you're okay. Oh my god," he managed to choke out. I was beyond shocked still. When this man touched me I wasn’t scared. His touch made me feel something I had never felt before. What is going on? Before I could register that I should hug him back, he pulled away sheepishly.




There had to be some sort of explanation why he was here, why I felt this way when he touched me. My eyes widened a little bit as it dawned on me. No way. No there’s no way.






It didn’t hurt to ask right? Without knowing what I was about to hear I blurted out, "I'm sorry but are you like my boyfriend or something? I don't remember you," my voice laced with confusion.




What he said not only shocked me, it terrified me.












“Yes Chloe I am your boyfriend,” he said with an unsteady voice.




My smile faltered. How could I not remember someone who I was dating? Someone who made me feel the way he did. I didn’t even know his name but the butterflies fluttering around my stomach sure did. They were telling me that this guy was special to me somehow. Somehow this stranger managed to sneak past the high walls I had built around myself since…I shook my head, another memory threatening to push its way out of my skull. I couldn’t allow myself to go back into a dark place in my head. I had to grasp on what happiness I may be capable of having. I looked down at the stranger’s hand near mine. Without another thought, I laced his fingers through mine. He looked at me with a shocked expression.




“I don’t remember you,” I whispered lowly, my voice cracking. “But I—I don’t know how I know but I do know I know you…if that makes any sense. I can—I guess I can just feel that I know you…ya know?” I chuckled and looked down at our locked hands, marveling how small my hand was compared to his but still fit perfectly into his.




He caught me by my chin, “I understand Chloe. It’s okay anyway, we’ve only been together a week. I don’t expect you to remember me. My name’s Alex by the way. Alex Gaskarth.”




I looked into his eyes unable to stop myself from doing so. I gripped on his hand tighter as my vision became blurry. My body swayed in the bed. I felt arms wrap around me. My name was being called out in a far away voice. This memory wasn’t going to be pushed back again.





















I walked into the small venue, a sweaty hand in mine. The place was tiny but as I looked at the stage it looked huge. Baltimore was new territory for me but no for the boy whose hand I held. I wrapped my sweater closer to my body, trying to conceal my ugly fat grossness. The amount of strangers here was making me anxious. It was ridiculous to be so nervous at this age. I was seventeen for shit’s sake. I was going to be a senior soon. It was so pathetic. I was pathetic. A little over 150 pounds of pathetic-ness. I gripped onto the hand I held in mine tighter. He looked at me with sad eyes.




“Don’t be nervous pet, I’ll keep you safe. Besides it’s just a few local bands. I promise no one here will recognize you,” his soothing voice whispered in my ear.



I looked into his piercing brown eyes. This boy was the one who kept me together, the one who loved me even though I wasn’t pretty and skinny. He held my fragile heart in his capable hands. Oh how I wished I was good enough for him. I wished we didn’t have to escape to an unknown town just to be together. I wished with all my might I was beautiful enough for him. He smiled with his eyes into mine. Inching closer to my face, his lips crashed down onto mine which caused my heart to flutter uneasily in my chest. We stood amongst the crowd when the first band started playing. The music coursed through my veins and for a moment it didn’t matter who I was. It didn’t matter that I had my fate sealed to something terrible. It didn’t matter what those kids at school said to me. It didn’t matter that Chloe wasn’t my friend anymore. It didn’t matter that she revealed to the school my deepest, darkest secret. Nothing in this world mattered besides the music surround and filling every inch in my body. bouncing around next to me was Blaine, the boy who’s hand held mine as if I would disappear if he let go. The band on stage said their goodbyes as the next band started getting on stage. A few girls let out high pitched squeals but I didn’t mind them. I was entranced by the lead singer.




His light brown hair that contrasted with his dark eyebrows fell messily over his dark brown eyes. His pink lips pouted in such a way where you could tell they were manly but with a feminine touch. His lanky body rocking slightly as he stood up to the mic and spoke.



“What’s up fuckers?!” he yelled out causing the girls to shriek more. “Alright well I’m Alex Gaskarth and this is my shitty band called All Time Low! Let’s get it. This song is called ‘Break out! Break out!” and with that the band began to play, the singer Alex waited a few beats before belting out the lyrics.






Luck loves me not tonight, I'm running out...
This four leaf clover's all but useless now.
I've got four wheels that say I'm not alone tonight,
I'm always looking for a joy ride through the
Brightest part of this town.

Break out, break out,
As we escape through the windows,
Head for the car, and never look back, singing-singing,
"Break out, break out,
Our time has come and we've got these big city dreams."

Put up or shut up, we're not wasting time again,
The credits are rolling and we're getting lost again,
In parking lots, to serenading sirens,
As the blue lights bathed our smiles...

Break out, break out,
As we escape through the windows,
Head for the car, and never look back, singing-singing,
"Break out, break out,
Our time has come and we've got these big city dreams."

Lets take a moment to reflect,
On the past few years of my life,
I haven't worked myself away,
To stay inside.
This is the time to let us...

Break out, break out,
As we escape through the windows,
Head for the car, and never look back, singing-singing,
"Break out, break out,
Our time has come and we've got these big city dreams."





At the end of the song I was in tears. I don’t know why but I felt as if this Alex guy knew exactly what I was going through with Blaine. How our love was always kept under covers, always sneaking around to the big city. But not anymore. I was more than determined to break out of this sorry thing I called a life. Fuck what people say about me. I will be good enough for Blaine. I looked over at the dark haired boy with loving eyes. He looked at me and wiped my tears.



“Why are you crying pet? It’s only a song,” his soothing voice rung loudly in my ears. I just shook my head at him and let out a light giggle and waving him away. We bounced around to the music from this band. The whole time I was thinking to myself, “Thank you for giving me a reason to change Alex.”





















“Chloe?!? Jesus Chloe don’t leave me again! P—Please don’t go again baby,” Alex’s soft voice croaked out. I felt his skinny cool fingers press against my neck, checking for a pulse. I wrenched my eyes open to find him hovering over me. He let out a heavy sigh of relief.




“Oh shit Chloe you scared the living sh—“ before he continued I interrupted him unintentionally.




“You…You’re the…you’re the reason I changed. You’re the boy who made me break out of my shell,” I mumbled out. Alex’s brows furrowed together. His head cocked to the side.



“Chloe I don’t understand what you mean.”



I shook my head, trying to make sense of the whole situation. In my heart, I blamed Alex for giving me the confidence to break out of my awkward teenage stage which ultimately lead to my demise. I held onto his shoulders and whispered in his ear, “I remember you now.”



He started spluttering about and I shush him with a finger to his lips. “Don’t be nervous Alex. I didn’t think you’d find me after all these years. I bet I look pretty different from when I was seventeen huh? You sure as hell don’t look like you did at the show in Baltimore when you were eighteen,” I chuckled and gripped onto him tightly. His arms fit loosely around my waist.




“Chloe,” he whispered softly, brushing my hair gently.






“Alex…I—I hope you know I don’t blame you anymore. I’m not mad. Obviously I was meant to hear your music all those years ago because here I am, in your arms at last. The boy who broke me will be the man to fix me,” I whispered slowly. I knew I would have to explain myself more later but for right now I just lost myself in Alex’s warm embrace.

Notes

omfg guys I'm so so so sorry I didn't update this sooner! But like I wanted this chapter to be absolutely perfect. I literally re-wrote this chapter ten times to get it right xD

I hope it was worth the wait? /.\

Love you guys! <3

Here are the mentioned characters that aren't in the original character list.

From top left to bottom right: Linda, Lydia, Blaine, Luke.