you’re staring at the ceiling, blanket pulled up to your chin, trying to ignore the ache in your chest. it’s been three days since your parents sat you down and told you no more chloe. three days of ignored calls, unanswered texts, and biting your tongue every time you wanted to argue.

like they could ever keep her away from you.

the thought barely settles in your mind before you hear it—the quiet tap, tap against your window. your stomach flips.

you sit up fast, heart pounding, and sure enough, there she is—chloe fucking price, crouched on your roof with that cocky smirk, blue hair messy from the wind. she waves dramatically, mouthing, you gonna let me in or what?

you scramble out of bed, rushing to unlatch the window. "chloe—"

"miss me?" she grins, climbing inside like she’s done a hundred times before, landing with a soft thud on your floor.

"are you insane?" you whisper, panic creeping in. "if my parents hear you—"

"pfft." she waves you off, plopping onto your bed like she owns it. "they’re probably asleep, dude. and even if they’re not, what, they gonna call the cops on me?" she smirks, then adds, "oh no, chloe price, local menace, sneaking into her girlfriend’s room. how scandalous."

your face burns, but you ignore it. "they're serious, chloe," you murmur, sitting beside her. "they think you're a bad influence."

chloe snorts. "duh. what else is new?"

"i'm serious," you frown, picking at the hem of your sleeve. "they said if they catch me with you again, i'm grounded for months."

she's quiet for a second. then, softer, "do you think i’m a bad influence?"