[ Later, when she was calm, Chloe would likely feel terrible for the way she’d handled all of this, like she always did whenever she spoke from her emotions instead of her head. She was never very good at biting her tongue or keeping her temper in check, not unless she went completely silent all together. Which seemed to be what she chose for a moment, wondering if she should just leave it all at that.

There was a small stab of guilt at the words he chose, people who actually care about you, and she lifted her hand to scratch at the back of her neck. ]

Yeah, well - in my experience, it’s the people who say they care about you who are more likely to fuck you over. Especially when they disagree with you and think you’re just some dumb kid. [ She rubs at her face with her own irritation before she goes to grab her coffee from the table just to have something to hold.

Maybe it’s not fair to hold him to the same low expectations she has of people at home. Believing adults actually want to help and don’t just want to tell her what to do is so damn hard, though. ]

I don’t meet him unarmed. I don’t go anywhere with him that I can get cornered. No dark alleys, no enclosed buildings, no narrow streets. I’m - I’m being as cautious as I can be, okay? But I know he won’t kill me again. I’m not asking you to like it, I’m just asking you to - [ She cuts herself off as she tries to think of what it is she’s actually asking, not sure at first, before she lets out another sigh as she finds the words. ] To trust me. Please.