Page 6 of Forever Foolish

“I want you to hear me clearly and pay attention, young lady,” her mother began softly. “Your father has a big heart and is a kind man, but you are his only child. He’s very protective when it comes to you, and nothing will ever stop that. He doesn’t hate J.J. We are very concerned that he’s not the right person for you – and you have your whole life ahead of you.”

Chloe gave her a mutinous stare.

“Don’t rush into things like I did,” her mother whispered. “I pushed for things when I was young because I thought I knew everything – only to have life push back even harder. Don’t do something foolish because you haveno patience— just like me. You are so much like me, precious girl. Try to be like your father, too.”

“Are you telling me to be all grumbly and angry?”

“Nooo,” her mother laughed, releasing and hugging her at that moment. “I’m telling you to take things slow, live your life, and then when you are good and ready – you can plan your battle strategy and lay siege to whoever’s heart you want to win.”

“And if it’s J.J.’s?”

“In ten or fifteen years, if you still want J.J. and he feels the same – you can tackle that fight then, okay?” she whispered against her hair, hugging her. “I love you, Chloe – and always will.”

“I love you too, Mama.”

Three days later,Chloe was back home in Maryland and secluded away in her bedroom, unpacking her things from the holiday spent with friends. Her room was a mess after Christmas, and then there was the flight to Texas, and now she was home to face the scattered remnants everywhere. Each of the girls gifted each other a bottle of nail polish as an easy, small present to travel with – and hers was a bright blue, swirling, iridescent polish from Ruby Griffin.

Chloe loved it.

It reminded her of the clouds and her dreams of attending the Academy in two years, realizing that if she were going to fly a fighter jet like the others – she would need to dedicate herself. Chloe didn’t have a school where her parents could take her zipping around in a little plane to practice. No, she was taking a few lessons at a private school nearby, but they were awfully expensive.Her parents were being supportive as could be, and throwing it all away would be exactly the ‘rushing into things’ that her mother had begged her not to do… and then she saw the address book.

Flipping to ‘P’ – she saw J.J.’s scrawled phone number and noticed there was no name there, but only a smiley face. Chuckling, she sat down on the edge of her bed realizing how adorably corny he was sometimes and she liked it. Picking up her phone, she glanced at her door and then began to type in the number carefully.

Hey, it’s Chloe

Oh, hey! You texted.

Are you in trouble?

No. Are you?

No. I got the ‘stern talking to’ – but I’m not in trouble.

Thank you for my gifts.

Thank you for that kiss.

Ha! That was my cheek, buddy.

Then can I thank you for our friendship?

I would like us to continue to get to know each other. I’ll be cheering you on from here - when you graduate, when you apply to the Academy, and when you finally get to soar in the sky. I think you’re amazing and will be an incredible fighter pilot.

Chloe blinked tearfully at the screen, realizing that J.J. was the best person in the world – even if he could beirritating or annoying sometimes. No one else had ever said that to her, and she knew he meant every word.

You are – and will always be – my friend.

Always.

And Merry Christmas again, Chloe.

Merry Christmas, J.J.

2

J.J. POST

One year later…

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