future scene maybe

It'd gotten bad. I didn't want to admit it. The first *real* relapse since I'd quit smoking weed. The other times didn't really count. But this time... ugh it was bad.

Even Booth noticed. His concern was brief- "Mol... you good?" and of course I assured him I was. And he knew I was lying, but didn't push it. That's how people always are with me, I shouldn't really expect any differently. But sometimes it sucks when they don't try to pry it out of me. Even though I shouldn't make them.

But Gabe and Izaak BOTH had left me. And I didn't fucking care. Because I have weed. And weed never leaves me.

"Hey, what the fuck, I've been waiting for you and texting? Why haven't you answered?" That was Vic, standing in the entrance of my lonely bedroom where I laid, still in pjs and bedhead, puffing on my vape pen and scrolling through tiktok.

"Oh, hey, sorry, I guess I lost track of time."

Chloe

A weird calmness took over after Violet asked me.  I'd been carrying around this anxiety of getting caught for weeks... probably since I moved here.  And now... the uncertainty was over.  She knew.  She didn't have evidence.  She was ready to start digging.  She asked me.

And I didn't fucking tell her.

Why can't I be a normal person and just be honest?

Con artist genetics, maybe?  My dad passed it down to me?

Part of me wanted to tell her... she just asked me at the wrong time.  I hadn't expected it.  Hadn't realized she knew already.  So I just slipped into my default mode.  

Don't get caught.

As Violet breathed softly beside me, I did something I never do — planned.  I visualized the memory card, tucked away near my laptop and iPad.  I'd take it to a cafe, switch my face with someone else who would have been a minor when Winters and I fucked around, so they wouldn't want to get her involved.  Then give the memory card to Violet like I'd been the one who cracked it myself and found all this great evidence in Sage's basement.  Then they'd have nothing on me.  

Then I could have the best of both worlds.

x-x-x-x

I was floaty all day, plastering a smile on my face so nobody questioned me, probably didn't even notice that deep inside I was petrified... even I didn't really notice.

My mind drifted in and out of daydreams.  

Winters.  

chloe winters flashback

As I worked on the image, my mind drifted, somehow thinking of the old days as easier times. Deep down, I knew the reality... the loneliness, misery, existential dread. But right now, the dark pieces were boxed up neatly as I thought of the late night chats with Sage. The lavish hotel penthouses. The detached relationships. The adrenaline rush of ending said relationships with blackmail. That was the life.

It was just so simple back then. There were rules. A structure. All set up by Sage, who gave me the instructions and risks then let me proceed. I had a clear mission. My job was to just make people fall for me, which is easy.

Winters loved me from the beginning. Well, as capable of love as that psychopath can be. He admired my beauty. Enjoyed feeling like a big and powerful MAN. Got so wrapped up in the power trip that it was easy to learn shit about him.