Pride and Popularity

even hear the bell ring. People would think we were lying when we said we’d been home all day.”

“Wow. I never thought of that.”

“Well, that’s Mrs. Little’s job, really.”

“Answering the door?”

“Making sure we don’t miss visitors like you.” He smiled down at me again and winked.

Wow. He is so hot when he winks.

We walked into a pretty lavender and white room with a huge Victorian-style dollhouse dominating the center. I couldn’t see Georgia anywhere.

“Georgia, Miss Chloe’s here to see you,” Taylor announced.

“What?” the dollhouse answered. Then a mop of golden curls and two happy blue eyes peered around the side. “Miss Chloe! Miss Chloe!” Georgia hollered as she ran around the dollhouse toward me.

“Hi!” I giggled when she almost knocked me over with her energetic hug. Taylor quickly stepped behind me and steadied my shoulders. Georgia’s bag in his hand gently bobbed against my arm.

“Sorry. She can get really excited when she sees people she loves,” Taylor murmured near my ear.

Loves. The word echoed all around me. Breathlessly, I hugged her back.

“Look what Miss Chloe brought you,” Taylor exclaimed. “You left it at the studio today.” He brought her tote around so she could see it.

“My ballet bag!” she shouted. “You found-ed it! See, Taylor, I did leave it there!”

“I thought it was in—” Taylor began.

“He thought-ed it was in Mom’s car, but it’s not. It’s here!” Georgia did a giddy little dance. I looked up at Taylor and we both started to laugh.

“Wanna see my dollhouse?” She snatched my hand and began to pull me around to the back of the house.

“Sure,” I replied as if I had a choice. “Wow. That is so pretty.” I gasped. It was the most beautifully decorated dollhouse I had ever seen. I couldn’t help myself. I sat down on the floor next to her.

“Diss is my Barbie,” Georgia stated. “Diss one can be yours.” She handed me a pretty, redheaded Barbie. “And diss one is Taylor’s.” She handed it to me, too.

“Taylor’s? Are you sure?” I grinned at the dark-haired Ken doll as I turned it over in my hands.

Taylor leaned over the house and smiled down at us. “Yep. That’s my Barbie.”

I teasingly smirked up at him. “You play with Barbies?”

“Er, yes.” Taylor lowered his eyes briefly, then looked at me again. “Just don’t tell anyone, okay? I have a reputation to maintain.”

I laughed. “Reputation? Believe me, I wouldn’t dare repeat this little fact to anyone. They would all think I had gone crazy.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” He laughed too.

“Come on, Taylor,” Georgia said. “Me an’ Miss Chloe are waitin’ for you.”

“You are?” Taylor’s eyes questioned mine. “Georgia, I think Miss Chloe’s very busy. I don’t think she can stay and play today.”

“Oh. You can’t play?” She stared at me pleadingly.

“Well, I can’t stay very long. But would it be okay if I played for a few minutes?”

Georgia’s face lit up.

I glanced up to see if it was okay with Taylor that I stayed. The look he sent me would’ve buckled my knees if I’d been standing. 

Twenty-Two April's Fool

It was just a couple days after I went to Taylor’s house that my life nearly fell apart. I remember the day distinctly because it was April Fool’s Day. I cannot begin to say how much I wished it was a joke when I received that phone call.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Chloe. This is Taylor.”

Taylor? Oh my gosh. He called me. “Hi.”

“This is going to sound weird, but could you do me a favor?”

“Um, sure.”

“Can you—is there any way you can check on your sister for me?”

“My sister?” Huh?

“Yeah, Cassidy. I know it’s probably nothing, but I’m—I’m. . . okay, look. I pulled up Blake’s profile on Facebook because he’s been kind of acting funny all week. And I came across something—it may not be any big deal—but could you just check for me and see if she’s there at the house?”

“She’s here. She’s in her room. She went to lie down because she wasn’t feeling good.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah, I just talked to her about five minutes ago. So what did Blake’s Facebook say? What made you think of Cass?”

“Um—Chloe, this doesn’t feel right. Will you check her room, please?”

“Why? I just saw her.”

“I would feel a whole lot better if you did. Please?”

Sheez. “All right.” I got up off the couch and walked through the kitchen.

“Are you there yet?”

“Hang on.” I chuckled as I began to jog down the hallway. “Okay, I’m here. Cass?” I knocked on the door and waited. Taylor’s impatient sigh caused me to worry a bit.

“Knock again,” he demanded after a couple of seconds.

“Okay, okay.” I knocked. “Cassidy? Hey, can you open up?”

“She’s not there, is she?”

“Taylor, will you stop. You’re beginning to scare me.” I tried the handle. It was locked.

“Sorry, I’m just—”

I began to pound on the door. “Cass? Cassidy! Are you asleep? Open the door!” I waited a few more seconds. Nothing. My hand shook as I placed the phone to my other ear. “Taylor, I don’t think she’s there—”

“Get in that room now! I don’t care if you have to break the door down. Get in there. Make sure she’s gone.”

Frantically, I stood on tiptoe and began to search for the small screwdriver we had above the door. “What happens if she’s gone? What does it mean?”

“Don’t worry, I’m coming over right now.”

“Don’t you dare hang up, Taylor.”

I heard the engine of his sports car roar to life. “Chloe Hart, wanting to stay on the phone with me—imagine that.”

“Very funny.” I went to my bedroom door and searched above it. “I found the key.”

“Is she there?”

“Hang on.” My hands were having the hardest time just trying to get the screwdriver in the door handle. She better be in there. I swear if she isn’t, I’ll— The door unlocked. In an instant, I flung the door open and walked into the room. It was empty. Creepily, eerily, empty.

“Chloe?”

I took a breath to calm my nerves before I answered, “She’s gone, Taylor.”

“Ah, I knew it. Look, I’m about five minutes from your house. I want you to look all around outside, okay? You’re sure you talked to her a few minutes ago?”

“Yeah, I’m positive.”