Offside Hearts: Crossing the line

"Mom?"

Chloe called out the moment she saw her mother, but as she tried to approach her, Sabrina moved away with a somber expression.

"Mom, where are you going?! It's me, Chloe!"

Chloe raised her voice, thinking her mother hadn't heard her.

Sabrina simply glanced back, forced a smile, and turned away, walking deeper into the space.

It was a vast, white expanse, seemingly infinite and filled with reflections. No matter how far one walked, it felt as though not a single step had been taken.

Chloe looked at her own attire and it was a simple white dress that fell below her knees. Sabrina, by contrast, wore a long white gown that brushed the floor.

What was happening?

Why had her mother pretended not to see her?

Chloe ran after Sabrina, but somehow, she ended up lost in that endless place. Sabrina turned around a second time, and just as she opened her mouth to speak, a massive sledgehammer appeared out of nowhere and struck her, shattering her head.

"Arrrgh!!!"

Chloe screamed, bolting upright in bed and clutching herself tightly.

She looked around, gasping for air. Once she realized it had all been a dream, she let out a deep sigh of relief.

She almost never had nightmares. Yet, for the past few days, the same dream had been recurring, tormenting her as if she herself were the one who had killed her mother.

Chloe checked the clock, and she had barely thirty minutes left to get to school. She dressed in a rush, pulled her hair up into a casual bun, and raced down the stairs. With no time for breakfast, she took only three bites before heading toward the door. Upon reaching it, her gaze fell on her mother's portrait, a lump formed in her throat, and her palms began to sweat.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she forced a smile. "Wish me luck, Mom."

Chloe steadied her emotions before leaving the house. She hurried toward the bus stop, hoping the bus would arrive on time. She waited nearly ten minutes, but it still hadn't arrived.

Chloe tapped her feet impatiently, checking the time again and again.

Finally, the bus arrived.

The fourth stop was her destination but not entirely. As soon as she stepped off the bus, she took off, running as fast as her legs could carry her.

She had just reached the bridge that served as a shortcut to her school when a car sped past her, splashing her with muddy water.

Could her day get any better?

Chloe gasped and shouted. "Hey!!!"

Her perfectly ironed uniform was already a disaster, and the mere thought of showing up at school covered in mud drained color from her face.

As if realizing he had caused some harm, the driver pulled over. Seizing the moment, Chloe ran up to the vehicle and pounded hard on the window.

Inside, a boy sat with his head tilted back, his earbud still in. At the sound of the impact, he flung his eyes opened, removing one of his earbuds.

It was Ronnie Calloway.

For half a second their gazes locked.

Ronnie's eyes were a sharp blue-grey that was startled and annoyed while Chloe's eyes were furious as mud slid down her cheek.

Neither of them looked away first.

The driver turned toward Ronnie wearing a worried expression.

Left with no other choice, the driver rolled down the window. "Miss, I am very sorry for what happened."

Chloe let out an incredulous laugh. "What am I supposed to do with your apologies? My uniform is ruined!!"

The driver sighed and pulled out three banknotes from his pocket, but before Chloe could protest, the window began to roll up, and Ronnie's expression became unreadable.

He put his earbuds back in, as if she had ceased to exist.

Chloe stood there, breathing heavily, as the Mercedes drove away, the sting of that brief encounter still burning in her eyes.

She didn't know who he was.

She only knew that she already loathed the ease with which he had ignored her, as if she were nothing at all. Chloe looked at the notes in her hands and she busted into a loud laughter that made people around think she was deranged.

"Three notes? Seriously? To buy a new uniform, or what?" Chloe complained, but there was nothing she could do.

Chloe glanced at her watch: "Shit!" She took off again, sprinting toward the school.

•••••

KINGSTON HIGH

It was exactly 9:00 a.m., Chloe Hart had been standing in front of the gate for nearly thirty minutes before finally deciding to go inside.

As she entered, the students around her began pointing at her, giggling. Some even took photos and recorded videos, capturing her disheveled appearance.

The parking lot was buzzing with activity. Seniors laughed as if they owned the place, while the freshmen looked like they wanted to disappear.

Chloe Hart clutched her backpack tightly and lowered her gaze, heading toward the restroom to try and tidy herself up a bit.

After half an hour, she managed to clean herself up enough and made her way to the registration hall to pick up her books, her 12th-grade badge, and the key to her new locker.

It was the resumption day, and a large number of students were lined up to collect their materials.

As soon as Chloe Hart arrived at the hall, she spotted Madison Ellis and her clique, heading out with their heads high.

Chloe hurriedly stepped back but she wasn't quick enough, Madison spotted her before she could go too far.

"Isn't that Chloe? She looks like a huge mess!" Madison said with a look of disgust, her voice echoing throughout the hall.

Chloe swallowed hard, not saying a word.

The students turned toward her instantly, some whispering things that were impossible to make out.

Madison let out a loud laugh and took a few steps toward her. "I saw your application for the cheerleading squad. Oh, please! Shouldn't you be out selling pastries?"

At that, the students bursted into laughter because only a few knew that Chloe actually worked at a café.

"Madison, can you stop this display of lunatic?" Chloe asked, clenching her fist tightly.

Madison laughed again. "Barbie doll wants me to stop. How about..." She paused, then tossed her books onto the floor. "...you pick up these books and come with me? If you really want to make the cheerleading squad, you'll have to do whatever I say."

Madison flashed a mocking smile as she watched Chloe, who stood there, consumed by shame.

"Do you really think that..."

"Looks like Ben Carson got himself a new patient! Are you crazy? Oh, wait! Yes you are!" Tessa shouted from the entrance, cutting Chloe off.

Madison turned toward them, glanced at both Tessa and Chloe, and remarked, "Here comes her crazy bitch."

Tessa Morgan was Chloe's best friend, possessing an indomitable spirit. She was willing to cross any moral boundaries if it meant keeping Chloe safe. Her impulsive actions often only served to escalate conflicts.

The other students knew too well that it was best not to cross her.

"Call me a bitch one more time, and I'll show you just how dangerous it is to be around a crazy bitch," Tessa threatened, dropping her bag to the ground.

Chloe hurriedly picked up Tessa's bag. "Tessa, they aren't worth it. There is no reason for you to get into a fight with anyone."

"I think you are the one who is crazy! Just let me teach these idiots a lesson they'll never forget!" Tessa yelled, showing no intention of backing down.

Madison grimaced in disgust at the sight of her books on the floor. She decided, then and there, that there was no way she was going to pick them up herself.

Someone had to do it, and that someone was going to be Chloe! Madison Ellis offered a mocking smile and approached them at a slow, deliberate pace. "Well, if you're so desperate to join the group, pick up my books and clean them with your filthy clothes! I'm in charge here, and you'll do exactly as I say!"

The atmosphere in the hallway grew tense as everyone waited to see how Tessa would react.

At the high school, everyone knew Tessa. In fact, she has become even more popular than the "Kingston Hawks."

Tessa cast a quick glance at Madison and burst into laughter, Chloe couldn't help but laugh as well.

Madison sounded truly ridiculous!

"Say it again if you dare!" Tessa challenged her.

Madison let out a huff and repeated. "Chloe has to pick up my books and..."

Smack!

A collective gasp rippled through the hallway the instant Tessa's hand struck Madison's face.

Before Chloe could react, her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she pulled it out almost immediately.

It was a photograph from the dream she had, where her mother's head was shattered by a sledgehammer.

What?

The phone slipped from her hands, and her legs almost gave way beneath her.