A World Without Sun discussion

((Fortune tellers see the future
Life seers- see deaths))

((Ohhhhh. Ok. I'll change that.))

Chloe laughed, "You'll get better."

"Yeah. I guess." he said.

Chloe started skipping rocks across the water.

"Hey. That's pretty cool." Aaron said. He picked up a rock and weighed it in his hand before trying to make it skip across the water. It didn't. It just made a loud splash as it went in and sank.

Chloe laughed and handed him another rock and picked up one for herself. "Like this." she said and demonstrated it slowly for Aaron.

Aaron took up a flat rock and slowly threw it in. It skidded once or twice across the water. He smiled.

Chloe smiled, "Much better."

"Thanks." Aaron said, trying it again with another rock.

Chloe watched his rock go further this time, this was a better way to send her birthday than she expected.

"Where do you stay?" Aaron asked suddenley. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen you around here either."

Chloe bit her lip, "I live in small loft on the edge of town." He never saw her because she was always running around taking care of Lily and working.

"I'm not there often." Aaron said. "Explains why I didn't see you."

Chloe nodded, "You don't want to."

"Why?..." Aaron asked looking at her.

Chloe looked away, "No reason."

Aaron was persistant, even if he was shy. "There has to be one." he said. "What's wrong?"

Chloe stood up, "Nothing that you need to worry about." she said not wanting to talk about it in fear that they would take Lily and put her in the breeding center, if they learn a teenager was raising her.

"Hey, hey come on." Aaron said, standing up along with her. "There's something wrong and I know it."

Chloe's phone beeped.
She frowned and read the message. Great the babysitter had to leave early. She looked back up at Aaron, "I have to go."

Aaron sighed. "Okay." he said. "Can't help it if you're not going to tell me."

Chloe bit her lip, "Why do you even want to help?" she asked confused by his kindness.

"You need help?" Aaron asked. "I didn't know that." he looked at her.

Chloe shook her head, "It doesn't matter."

Aaron smiled. "You know, I have something like need-to-help-peopke complex. If you tell me, I could help you."

"I have a daughter." Chloe told him, "and I'm raising her by myself so I have to be careful or else people will find out and put her in the breeding system."

Aaron's smile disappeared and he looked at her strangely. "You have a daughter?"

Chloe bit her lip, knowing this would come, she should have lied. "I-Its not a story, I want to talk about."

"You don't....you don't have to talk about it." Aaron said quicly. "I was just-just surprised." he said

Chloe hugged herself, "Its okay." she lied.

Aaron tried to keep his expression neutral. "You don't look like you think it's ok."

Chloe looked away. "I need to get home."

"I'm not judging you." Aaron said. "Just because you have a daughter doesn't make you any different even though it's a bit strang..."

"I told you, I don't want to talk about it." she snapped and started walking even though she knew he would follow.

"Wait..." he said and hurried after her. "I'm not going to ask you any questions but I can help you."

She snorted, "Why do you even want to?"

"Help-people complex?" he smiled. "And, I really need to start talking to people."

Chloe sighed and stopped. "Well your doing a good job." she said and showed him the bruises on her arm.

He looked at her. "What happened?"

Chloe recovered her arm, "I can handle it but I need to get my daughter somewhere safe."

"What about you?" he asked. "Both of you should get somewhere safe." he looked anxiously at her.

Chloe shook her head, "He'll know. He always does." her lip trembled slightly, so she bit it to stop it. "I just need to protect her."

"Who'll know?" Aaron looked at her urgently. "And how will he know?"

"My father, well stepfather technically." She told him honestly.

Aaron looked at her for a while. "you reallly need my help, don't you?"

Chloe bit her lip and looked away. She didn't want to ask for help and drag him into this crappy life of hers.

Aaron's eyes were serious. "You don't have to worry about me." he said. "I don't have much of a life anyway."

Chloe looked up at him, "Thank you." she said softly.

"No problem." he smiled. "You can ask me for help any time you like."