I didn't end up getting my explanation before I left at ten, and I doubt Jaxon and Hudson ever had the conversation Jaxon wanted to.

I suppose I could ask Hudson now, but Elisica has actually spoken a not-insulting sentence to me today because of him, so later.

"So, Jack, what were you and Hudson planning to do before you saw us?" Chase balances atop a foot high wooden wall, his arms out to keep from falling.

"We didn't have anything planned," I answer, eyeing his feet. "And also you're gonna fall any second now."

"I'm not gonna- ow."

Elisica bursts out laughing, the back of a hand resting over her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She leans over and holds a hand out to Chase, helping him to his feet. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Chase smiles at her before glaring at me. "Dickwad."

"What'd I do?"

"You messed with my vibe, bro. That's why I fell."

"You fell because you have next to no coordination." Elisica jabs two fingers into Chase's side before skipping three steps backwards. "That's a point for me, by the way."

"You are a dick," Chase states. Elisica nods.

"You guys still do that?" Hudson holds two fingers out and gestures between the duo. "Tase each other, I mean."

"Yep."

"Mhm."

"And you have a point system?"

"If we tase each other and then get four feet away without being touched, it's a point," Elisica explains. "That was simple enough, then we realized we were racking up points so we had to make it more interesting."

"More interesting how?"

Elisica shrugs. "Haven't figured that part out yet."

"You could have the other person carry something and you have to take it without being touched, then move the four feet," I suggest. Elisica blinks and takes a few steps towards Chase, effectively ignoring me.

"Didn't I tell you to play nice?" Chase punches Elisica's arm, who laughs and punches him right back.

"Never said I was gonna listen."

Chase looks at me and gives me an exaggerated sad face. I shrug in response.

"It's how she is. Can't change it, don't want to."

Surprisingly, Elisica nods at me. Acknowledgement! We're getting somewhere!

"So now will you play nice?" Chase asks, turning Elisica to face him.

"Nope."

"Hey, I got a nod. It's fine."

"And I already regret it."

"Good thing you can't take back actions or words!"

"Can I punch him?" Elisica rolls her head until she's looking at Hudson. "Please?"

"Don't look at me, I'm not getting involved in this mess." Hudson raises his hands and uses one to point towards me. "But I won't stop you if you decide to hit him."

"Hudson!" I whine. He sticks his tongue out at me. I see Chase laughing in me peripheral vision and turn my head to glare at him.

"Oh hey." Elisica tilts her phone screen so Chase can see it. "Wouldja look at that?"

"Oh, Darren's finally trying something," Chase comments, reading whatever's on the screen. He looks up at me with a half-smile on his face. "Honestly Jack, you might win this bet."

"Wait, they know?" Hudson looks at me with wide eyes. "You told them?"

"Nope, Elisica figured it out," I explain. "You do remember that she's smart as hell, right?"

"What did Darren do this time?" I step over to them and look over Chase's shoulder, scanning the message displayed on Elisica's screen before bursting into laughter.

"Calm down buddy." Chase pats my head as I bend over and press my hands on my knees, still laughing.

"I'm sorry," I wheeze, finally straightening back up. "That's the funniest thing I think I've ever seen!"

"The fuck do I even say to this?" Elisica questions, taking a small step to her right. I look at the message again and shrug.

"Don't," I suggest. "Leave him on read. Oh, Brendon's texting you now."

"Do these two think in sync or something?" Elisica waits until SnapChat tells her that Brendon's finished typing to tap the notification.

"Jesus fuck," Chase mutters, face-palming. "Do any of you know how to talk to girls?"

"Apparently not!" I start laughing again. Elisica's horrified face only makes me laugh harder.

"None of you are winning this bet," Elisica decides. "Make sure to tell all your buddies I told them to go fuck themselves."

"I'll do that." I rest a hand on Elisica's shoulder and watch as she rolls it right off, turning and smiling at Chase.

"Okay, so now what?"

Hudson walks up and joins our little huddle.

"I propose we go inside somewhere."

"Yes please," Elisica replies immediately. Chase chuckles and pats Elisica's head, ignoring her glare. "Touch me again and see what happens."

"Last time I touched you I got thrown to the ground, so I think I'll stop." Chase pulls his hand back quickly, frowning as Elisica smirks.

"Sorry, guys." Hudson holds up his phone. "I gotta go."

"Your mom want you back?" Chase asks. Hudson nods, walking backwards slowly.

"See y'all Monday!" he calls, turning around and jogging away. I sigh and watch him leave without saying a word.

"You know, you could seize this opportunity to make amends." Chase slings an arm around my shoulders. Elisica rolls her eyes and walks away, not bothering to stop and wait for us to catch up.

"I tried, remember?"

"You tried the Jack way." Chase pokes my chest. "Now it's time for the Chase way."

I stand there for about a minute, listening to Chase explain what I should do. My eyes end up focusing on Elisica, who's standing still at the end of the sidewalk.

"That is a terrible plan," I comment.

"It is not! Look, I know her best. You want to be her friend, that's how you do it."

"Okay, but-"

"No questions!" Chase runs away, gesturing for me to follow him. "Hurry up, slowpoke!"

I sigh and run after him, catching up pretty quickly.

"Took you guys long enough." Elisica slides her phone into her pocket and looks up at us. I glance at Chase, who smiles at me and nods.

"Do you have Troy's Snap?" I look at Elisica, who narrows her eyes at me.

"Why the hell would-"

"I want to apologize to him!" I interrupt, holding my hands up. "I swear on my life. If you want, you can stand right here and watch me do it."

Elisica doesn't say anything for a good minute. We stand in silence until she speaks.

"Chase, what did you tell him?"

"Why are you looking at me?" Chase's hands fly up. "He wants to apologize. You should let him."

"Shut up, I'm weighing the pros and cons."

Chase's mouth snaps shut and he nods, looking at me with a smile.

"If you hurt him in any way, shape, or form, it's your head." Elisica pulls her phone out of her pocket. "Understand?"

I nod and slide my phone out, unlocking it and pulling up Snapchat. Elisica turns her phone so I can see Troy's Snapcode, which I scan.

"I'm serious, Jack." Elisica holds a hand over my phone and stares at me with piercing green eyes.

"I know." I smile at her, which apparently startles her judging by the widening eyes and slight shiver. "I swear to you, I won't hurt him."

Elisica nods and takes a step back. I type out a message to Troy, thinking over every word with caution.

"Let me see when you're done." Elisica takes a seat on the short wooden wall next to me, looking down at her phone.

"You're doing good," Chase whispers, leaning on my shoulder. "Don't screw it up now."

"How about you stop touching me?"

"Sorry, sorry."

"No you're not."

"You're right, but it's the thought that counts."

I finish up my apology message and hand my phone over to Elisica, who scans it over thoroughly.

"Go ahead and send it." She holds my phone out to me, looking down at the ground. I tap the send button and turn my screen off.

"Eli, you okay?"

"Yep." Elisica stands and rolls her shoulders, smiling at her friend. "Let's go do something."

I've been neglecting my chapter questions, whoops.

Is Jack ever going to befriend Elisica? Will Chase's plan work? 

What even is Chase's plan?

Answer: you think Chase knows? Lmao. No, no he does not. He doesn't know what he's talking about like 3/4ths of the time.