Chapter 18: Growing Up, Growing Apart
The next day, I went to the academy early again.
I didn’t see Chloe. When the teacher came, she still wasn’t there.
The teacher probably noticed me glancing at the door and the empty seat, so she said, "Miss Han is just sick and took a day off, no need to worry, Miss Thompson."
Me: "Really?"
Teacher: "Really."
I pushed my luck, "Since we can’t leave classmates behind, teacher, can you tell me a story today?"
Teacher: "..."
The next day, I went early again and found Chloe really came.
I hurried over to ask, "Chloe, are you alright?"
Chloe said, "You’re something else. I thought for sure I’d be scolded at home, but nothing happened. I won’t collect bird eggs next time, it’s not fun at all."
After she said that, she laughed, and then I laughed too. We couldn’t stop laughing.
These were my happiest days since coming to the White House.
Later, Chloe took me boating to pick water lilies, but we couldn’t row back, so Jacob came to save us.
She also took me kite flying, but the kite got stuck in a tree and she climbed up and couldn’t get down again.
But this time she was much calmer, hugging the trunk and shouting, "Natalie, do you want to come up? You can see outside the White House from here!"
You can see outside the White House?
I asked her, "Can you see my dad’s house?"
She said she didn’t know which one was my dad’s, so I should look myself.
I said I didn’t dare.
Then Chloe called me a coward, and again it was Jacob who helped her down.
We got into a lot of trouble together, and every time Jacob covered for us.
Jacob and Chloe got to know each other better and better.
Later, the former First Lady saw the hair clip she meant to give me in Chloe’s hair.
After morning meetings, while eating, the former First Lady asked, "Who did you give the hair clip you took from me last time, Mr. President?"
Jacob said, "Chloe."
The former First Lady slammed her fork down. I saw they were about to argue again, so I tried to lower my presence.
She said, "That was the hair clip I meant for Natalie."
Me: ...
So much for lowering my presence.
Jacob glanced at me and said, "I’ll find her a better one."
I thought that was unnecessary, so I stuck to the former First Lady and acted spoiled, saying, "You’re the best, ma’am, I have too many hair clips, Jacob asked me, and I agreed before he gave it away."
Actually, he did ask me.