This is part of some character back story that I wrote a few years back for a comic book that I wrote.
She sat smoking on the far side of the carnival. She usually didn’t hang out over here but it was the only place she could go these days to get away from Sean. The midway guys were ok and by now had gotten used to her hanging out behind their booths between her shows. Suddenly the two guys that had been chatting near her fell silent and she looked up to see Sean walking her way. She was sitting on a low wall and just didn’t feel like running off this time. Immediately her stomach turned sour and she clenched her teeth. The two midway guys left shaking their heads and mumbling about “…idiots who fucked up good things.” That made Chloe smile a little. She had refused to see him or speak to him for the last two weeks. Sean leaned against the wall next to her, face looking sad and worn, older than his twenty-two years.
“Chloe…please…I told you I was sorry. You know I meant it. I got drunk and as stupid as this sounds I just didn’t think about it. I know that sounds awful, it is awful, but that’s still the truth. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you and if I could undo it I would. I’m sick about it.” He said it all staring at the ground.
“Sean I told you what the deal was. I got no second chances for someone who blames their shitty choices on being drunk. I’ve given up all the pieces of my life I’m willing to give up to alcohol and the people who use it as some sort of easy way out. As for love…well near as I can tell that’s just not enough.” She said it all staring straight ahead.
“How can you be so young and so hard?” he asked still staring at the ground.
The rage almost took her breath away. She stood up and ground her cigarette out under her booted foot.
“Look at me Sean O’Malley.” He slowly looked up at her, “I stopped being young the first time I had to fight off some grimy handed middle aged man who thought a little carnie girl would be free for the taking. I stopped being young when I had to start hiding money from my Mom so I could feed myself. I stopped being young the day I let you make a fool of me. If I’m hard then so be it. And fuck you for acting like you had no part in it.” She walked off without looking back.
"I’ve given up all the pieces of my life I’m willing to give up to alcohol …" for this line alone, I'd cross dry deserts to drink in a story. So sad that this piece didn't fold into the story, which reminds me … when am I going to get to see this comic?
I really like the way you set the scene. I'd also like to read a little more about Chloe if you have anything more written. =-D