"She was trouble, chaos really but her smile...her smile dared me to fall in love with her."

-ATTICUS

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Chase's POV

I sucked into a deep breath as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Water dripped down from the strands of my hair into the side of my forehead as I splashed more into my face. Fighting through the thousand thoughts roaming up my head, air pushed harshly out of my lungs and I drove my hand through my hair.

I dried my face and went back to my room. I pulled the semi-wet T-shirt over my head and threw it into the laundry basket. As I slipped another one over my head, I heard the door opening. I immediately turned around and...there she was.

Her eyes traveled down my stomach then up again as I fixed my shirt. She licked her lips, "Um, not sorry." She said, trying so hard to hide a smile before she leisurely made her way into the room like she owned it.

My eyes followed her as she sat on my bed's edge, her palms pressed over the mattress and her eyes met mine again, "Whatcha ya doin?" She asked, her tone cheerful.

"Why you're here?" I purposely ran away from her and now here she is.

She shook her head, "Nothing, just got bored with the old people downstairs," She was trying to make up a conversation, but I knew exactly why she is here, "and thought-"

"Lilly," I cut her off.

The cheerful act dropped down and she looked me in the eye and said, "We need to talk."

I sat on the chair across from her and nodded, "Okay, talk."

"Look Chase, I-" She started and I knew exactly what she was going to say next so instead, I was the one to let those words out.

"We can't do this." She blinked, taken aback with my words. I shook my head, "We can't risk it."

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Three days ago...

"Dude, I've been searching for you everywhere." Zack's voice snapped out of my haze and I pulled my head off the notebook to glance at him.

He sat across of me on the other side of the table and closed my notebook. He pushed it away and my eyebrow raised as I tried to reach for it again, "I have an exam in an hour." I commented and he shook his head as he placed it further away.

"This is more important." He said, ever so seriously, "I need your full concentration."

I breathed out an annoyed breath and leaned back into my seat, "What's it now?"

He nervously rubbed at the back of his neck and breathed out a full breath of air, "What Conner said that day, is it...is it true?" He asked, his brows pinched and his eyes searching in mine for an answer.

"About what?" I played the dumb card.

"You know what, about Lilly," Here we go again, "You two are close, did she ever tell you anything about it?"

I swallowed hard and crossed my arms over my chest. My eyebrow raised, "Why are you asking about this now?"

"Okay, look," He again rubbed at the back of his neck, "I know this might sound weird," He started, swallowing hard, he dropped it on me, "But...but I think I like her."

The moment I was dreading for how many years, that moment is now.

"Like, I didn't think about it much before," He started, leaning backward, he seemed to relax a bit as he intertwined his hands behind the back of his head, "But after what Conner said, I can't seem to stop thinking about her," He continued, his eyes up at the ceiling as he seemed to think it all through, trying to understand his feelings somehow.

My chest tightened, and I could hear my pulse drumming loud in my ears as he carried on. I rubbed at it and my eyes drifted to the chair beside, checking if my bag is there. The inhaler is inside it. Just in case.

Zack's eyes found mine again, "Do you think I should go for it?" He asked.

A blink of anger surged through my chest at the thought that from all the people in the world, he had to come to me for this. But it was immediately replaced by the fact that Zack and I were close. Very. He's not just my cousin, he's even more than a friend. He's like my brother. We practically grew up together.

When his father passed away, he was young, so was I. It was just him, his little sister and my aunt. So, my father did what any brother would do, he stood by them through it all. He helped them, took care of them and Zack became like another son to him.

So, of course, when it comes to this, he'll come to me.

I blinked, trying to make sense of the thoughts that jumbled my mind, the words that fought for release. They sat on my tongue for the longest time.

His brows drew closer, "Does she really like me?" He asked and my mind took me back to every time Lilly gushed about him, to every genuine smile that crawled up her lips when she would just glance at him, to the twinkle in her eyes every time he was close. How happy she gets whenever she talks about him, how hard she worked to just get his attention...But, in the midst of all that, my mind played the dirtiest trick on me and reminded me of how her hands tugged at the back of my hair as her lips moved up against mine.

My jaw tightened and I curled my fingers into the inside of my palm trying to calm myself down. The tightness over my chest increased and my other hand reached for my bag, ready to pull the inhaler out but in that exact moment i understood that this wasn't an asthma attack I am having. The ache pressing against my chest was different this time, in a way it was a little bit more painful.

I hefted out a strangled breath and nodded my head, "Yeah, she does." I answered, truthfully.

His lips stretched into a wide smile and he nodded, "Cool," He rubbed at his jaw, his smile changing into a smirk as he mumbled, "I am gonna get this girl." He pointed at me, "And you....you're gonna help me."

Great. Just what I needed.

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Present time

Lilly's POV

"Alex, if you touch my son, I swear to go I am gonna kill you," Aunt Katherine warned dad, who looked more than ready to take that risk and actually attack Chase.

I gulped and tightened my hold over Chase's hand, who seemed to be already regretting this idea. I didn't quite think this through, did I?

I might've not taken into consideration how my dad's reaction would be to this. Something tells me this is not gonna end up well.

"We're leaving." Dad said, his jaw tight, his eyes traveled from Chase to me. His gaze didn't waver and anger blazed, darkening the light shade of brown before he marched forward toward us.

My heart knocked it up a notch as his hand grabbed my arm, he snatched it away from Chase's hold and pulled me with him, "Cara, come on." He said, more like ordered, without even turning around to look at her.

Jesus Christ, he called her by her name, which means he's beyond angry.

Mom and Max didn't waste a second before they silently followed us. As I wore my shoes, I had to stupidly double dad's anger. My eyes found Chase and I said, "Don't forget to pick me up tomorrow."

Dad's head snapped to Chase, "If you dare come to my house, I won't be responsible for what I will do!" He shot back, unfazed, his anger escalating.

Oh shit...

"I will deal with it." I mouthed to Chase and he just shook his head, his eyes pleading me to drop the whole act.

Dad didn't give me a chance to say more as he dragged me outside the house and into the car. Woah, he really is not being gentle anymore.

Our house is really close to theirs yet this drive have never felt longer. The silent tension in the car suffocating me. Mom stayed silent as well, she would just steal glances at dad, without saying a word.

I used to think my mom is the angry one between them, turns out I was so wrong, because even she looked scared of him at the moment.

Max got closer to me and started singing, "Dad is gonna kill you, dad is gonna kill you.." He teased, his voice low and his tone cheerful.

I shot him a glare and punched his arm, pushing him away from me. He only chuckled in return, pretty much enjoying all of this.

Finally, after what felt like hours, we arrived home. Once the engine died, my hand was already on the handle, ready to push the door open and escape to my room, but, "Lilly, stay here." Dad ordered, his tone still so serious and oh my god, he called me by my name. No little bug, no nicknames, just my name...Oh shit, I am so dead.

Mom's head turned to me, my eyes pleaded her to stay but she just helplessly shook her head, "I am sorry," She mumbled before she went down. Max followed her after singing 'dad is gonna kill you' a couple more times.

I sucked into a deep calming breath before I went down and switched seats. I sat beside him and closed the car's door. His hand was still on the steering wheel before he turned his head to me and the investigation started, "When did it start?"

I really haven't thought this through, "One month ago." I threw my first lie, so badly hoping he won't notice.

My gaze traveled and noticed how his hand tightened over the steering wheel. I tried to keep my calm act on, while inside I was freaking out. Dad has never been this much angry at me. I don't know how to deal with it. Should I use my cuteness on him? But I have a feeling that might not work this time.

The muscles of his jaw worked, "So, you were going behind my back?"

"Well, you don't seem okay with me going on it in front of your eyes either!" I exclaimed, throwing my words out without thinking, a habit I've taken from him. At least, that's what mom always says.

At my sarcastic tone and words, his eyebrow raised and the hardness in his eyes doubled and intertwined with shock, he opened his mouth ready to probably shout at me when I interrupted him right away, "Not like that, I mean we were just trying to figure things out, it wasn't serious."

I had no idea I am such a good liar; words seem to get out of my big mouth ever so smoothly without hesitation or whatsoever.

"What did you figure out then?" He asked, his words measured.

"Uh dad, I don't think I am comfortable talking about this with you." I said. Seriously, discussing relationships with my dad is not something I am planning to ever do.

He nodded, "Good, because you're not going to see him again."

Wait...what?

My eyes widened, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You heard me." He answered, totally unfazed.

I really haven't thought this through. I supposed because they know Chase and trust him, it would be easier.

My anger took the best of me and I snapped, "I am not a little kid anymore, you can't do this!" I said, "You can't stop me from seeing him!"

"Oh believe me I can." He said.

My voice raised, "No, you can't control who I see and who I can't!"

"Lower your voice when you talk to me!" He snapped, for the first time in my life his tone was like this while talking to me.

"I don't care!" I snapped back.

My anger only doubled. Even though our relationship isn't real yet dad's reaction to it didn't set well with me, "We announced it so it can be in front of everyone's eyes," I started, "I can go and keep doing it behind your back, it's not hard," My eyebrow raised while every word I said fed the rage in his eyes even more yet I carried on, "So, no, you can't stop me from seeing him or any other guy," Just in case things work with Zack, I am not planning to have this conversation again, "You don't go around bossing Max and controlling who he sees..."

"It's not the same-"

"No, it's exactly the same," I interrupted him again, woah the balls I got on me, "The girls he go after are also some dad's daughter, so yeah, it's exactly the same."

I opened the car's door, "So, tomorrow I am going out with Chase," I announced before I got out and stormed into the house, not leaving him a place to argue more.

Not long after I slammed my bedroom door, I heard the main door slamming shut. I hoped he won't follow me up here but when I heard mom's voice, i figured she is calming him down.

I threw my purse over the bed and sat down on its edges, all my nerves wringing me tight. I looked at my hand, my fingers were shaking a bit, the anger still burning at my chest. I drew in calming breaths before I fished my phone out of the purse to call Chase.

My movements paused when they collided with the picture of us that I took from there. I slowly pulled it out, smoothed the edges and stared at it for a couple of seconds. My head titled to the side and a small smile lifted up my lips, all of a sudden, the anger pulling at my chest got replaced by a feeling I couldn't decipher.

I leaned forward and opened the nightstand's drawer. I placed it inside, next to the blue sweater. And right beside them laid the small black box with the note still stick to its side. I took it out and opened it again, my fingers ran over the blue silk material of the ribbon and a soft sigh escaped past my lips.

My eyelids dropped down as I tried to understand the sudden tightness at my chest. I felt my fingers tightening over the box at the many images and thoughts clouding my mind. A lump rose up my throat, finally coming to terms with the conversation Chase and I had just an hour ago.

At the thought, I let my eyelids glide open and I immediately shut down the box. I placed it back inside the drawer next to the sweater and the picture. Giving them one last glance, I closed it, blocking whatever it held just like I blocked whatever I felt, whatever I've been feeling since my birthday.

There are feeling that I understand and those that I don't. And between the known and the unknown, I am getting lost.

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Getting ready to go outside is a pleasure I didn't appreciate till I lost it because of my dear parents locking me in the house in the name of protecting me. Thankfully, today I will go and finally see my friends.

I still didn't see dad yet but mom told me she talked to him. What did she say to him is beyond me. He still furious for sure but she said I can tell Chase to come and take me out on our first official fake date. They don't know it's only a way for me to get out of house, hang out with my friends and see Zack after so long.

I buttoned up my red shirt and tucked it from the front into my black pants. I applied some light makeup combined with my favorite matching red lipstick. I ran my fingers through my curls to give them a more natural look before I opened the drawer and decided on the red ribbon to go with both my mood and attire, and then I tied it into a bow over my hair. I slipped into my leather black boots before I grabbed my bag and leather jacket. I gave myself one last look in the full-length mirror and smiled.

Gosh, I looked so hot.

How can a girl like me still be a virgin is beyond me. Not for too long I hope. A small voice in my head said and my smile widened. Yeah, not for too long.

I walked downstairs and into the kitchen. They all were sitting eating breakfast, dad's back to me. I placed my bag and jacket aside before I pulled into a deep breath and walked forward. The way I talked with him last night pulled at my heart, I've never raised my voice like that at him and neither did he.

My mom first took notice of my presence and smiled. Dad seemed to get that too but he didn't even turn. She nodded her head forward toward him, pushing me to go for it. On steady hesitant steps, I inched closer and wounded my arms around him from the back. I placed a kiss over his cheek and mumbled, "I am so sorry."

He let the fork down and turned his head to meet mine, "I should've not talked to you like that last night," I said. A small innocent smile came to my lips, "Do you forgive me?"

He breathed out and nodded his head, "How can I not?"

My smile grew wider and I tightened my hold over him. I buried my face in his shoulder, "I love you so much." I don't think dad and I can keep a fight going for more than one day. We both have a soft side for the other.

His hand came to my arm, "Love you too, little bug."

Yup, now we are okay.

I looked at mom, who was smiling as she gazed at us and I gave her a wink, "Your father just needed to be reminded that you are growing up and that's okay." She said as I circled my way around and sat down.

Dad rolled his eyes, "Yeah whatever." He said looking at me, "Just because I am allowing this, it doesn't mean I tolerate it in anyway and if I know that-"

"Alex!" Mom stressed out.

He rolled his eyes again and huffed out, "Whatever."

The bell rang, probably Chase but before I could stand up, Max yelled from the other room that he'll open it.

"You'll be home early." Dad ordered and I nodded. They already are letting me spend the day out, which is so enthralling at the moment that I don't care about anything else.

"I'll keep texting and calling you, always check your phone." He added as I chewed faster on my bagel.

My ear stopped listening and my tasting buds stopped working as Chase walked into the kitchen. My gaze immediately drifted to him, his eyes met mine for a second and he smiled before he looked around, "Morning."

"Morning sweetie," Mom said while dad ignored him. He didn't even turn around, "Come sit down." She added.

I wiped my mouth before I got up. No time for food now.

But dad wasn't done yet, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the chair, "Also, don't dare turn off your location, I need to know where you are and if-"

"Alex, come on," Mom said, cutting him off, "I already had the talk with her, can you just eat your food."

Dad gave Chase a side glance and huffed out a breath before he pushed his plate away, "I lost my appetite, anyway."

Mom got closer to him and whispered to him, "Act nice or you're sleeping on the couch tonight."

I stifled a chuckle before I stood up and walked to Chase's side. Dad left the table and turned around. When he came face to face with Chase, he shot him a glare and I could sense the nervousness radiating off Chase in waves.

"You know, I once considered you as my son," dad started, he shook his head, disappointed, "I don't anymore."

Oh god.

"Alex, couch!" Mom stressed out again.

He hefted out an annoyed breath and rolled his eyes, he passed by Chase, nudging his shoulder on purpose before he walked away, "I am not gonna stay and witness more of this," he mumbled angrily before he disappeared into somewhere else.

We bid mom goodbye and I grabbed my things before I immediately left the house, more than ready to get the hell out of here. Once we were outside, I closed my eyes and took into the fresh breath of freedom.

When I opened my eyes, they took notice of the car parked outside, "Oh you came with the car as well," I commented as I jogged forward, "Aren't you the perfect boyfriend ever or what?"

He opened my door and his lips curled up, he nodded, "I guess I am."

I turned to him, his hand still over the door, trapping me between him and the car. My eyes seemed to check him up since I didn't get the chance to do that inside, "Since I am your girlfriend now, can I get this too?" I asked as I grabbed at the fabric of his black sweatshirt.

His eyebrow raised and I shrugged, "You know we kinda match." I commented, referring to our black outfits, I broke mine with red but he didn't need to. Black fit him like nothing else.

"We do, don't we?" His head titled, and something told me he is not referring to our clothes.

His eyes traveled to my red ribbon and his eyebrow raised, "Red?" He asked, "Hold on, let me remember," He didn't seem to think about it that much, "It means excitement, right?"

My smile widened and I nodded, "Yup, exactly."

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Chase's POV

The moment we reached the park, Lilly ran up and hugged both Sally and Aylin. They squealed at something and mumbled lots of things I didn't understand.

Then, she bumped fists with Conner, "Good to have you back!" He commented and she nodded excitedly, "Good to be back!"

When she reached Zack, her hyper personality seemed to tune down a bit as red rushed up her cheeks, "It wasn't the same without you." He commented.

She nodded confidently, "I know, right!" She flipped her hair proudly, "This group can't function without me."

Zack rubbed at the back of his neck and nodded, a flirty smile pulled up the corner of his lip, "It sure can't."

I think I am gonna have to get used to this, right?

"Okay, let's go find a place to sit." Aylin said, holding the picnic basket in one hand and a blanket in the other.

The weather was surprisingly good today. Not cold and not even hot. A perfect day for a picnic, that's why we decided to drop my the park first and later, we can go to the seaside.

I grabbed the bags containing some snacks Lilly and I bought as we searched for a spot to settle on.

We laid down the blanket and as we arranged everything, the man working there came and stopped us, "Guys, the sprinklers will start in a couple of minutes, take your things and wait outside." He carried on, explaining how we choose the wrong time to come.

They all started huffing and cursing as we gathered our things again and headed out.

Lilly came to my side, "We should announce it to them too, don't you think?" She mumbled.

I nodded, "Yeah, I guess."

Something else seemed to grab her attention as she looked around, "Oh my god, I think I forgot my jacket there."

"Hold on, I'll go get it." I said, handing the bags I had to Conner before I returned back.

The jacket was over the grass beside one of the trees. I bent down and took it before I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned around to see Lilly, "Oh you found it, thanks." She extended her hand ready to grab it but in a split second later came the unmistakable sound of sprinkler tearing loose, and water splashed everywhere.

Lilly gasped and jumped closer to me. Her hand wrapped over my shirt and I immediately placed the jacket over her head, shielding her a bit before I tried to pull us out of the water-splashing zone.

"Oh my god," Lilly mumbled at my chest and I could feel the water drenching me in. My clothes, my hair, and even my freaking shoes.

We paused somewhere far away where water could no longer reach us and I lowered her jacket down. My eyes traveled down her face, a few water droplets had reached her hair, wetting a few strands.

Her state wasn't half as bad when compared to mine. I could feel the water drop from my hair and into my face. Not to mention my clothes.

Lilly's gaze lifted up then down, taking i to my appearance. My lips pressed into a thin line and she bursted out laughing.

"Oh god," She laughed again before her hand went up and ran through the wet strands of my hair, pulling them back.

"You know, even this can't ruin my day." She commented, so determined to keep her spirits all lifted.

One of her hands still holding into my shirt, the other lost in my hair. At this moment, her body still so close to mine.

Her eyes blazing with excitement, her gaze all hopeful and a very beautiful smile curving her full lips.

It wasn't till this moment that I realized it. I have felt something before, for so long, I've always had it.

Attraction?

Excitement?

A crush?

It wasn't clear. It was all so blurry and jumbled.

I always looked at it from far away, never allowed myself to look so close, so deep into it.

In this moment, in this state, me drenched in water, her too. A few wet strands of hair stuck to the side of her face. In this moment as I tucked that strands away, a warm feeling spread from my chest and into every other part of me.

Though the water was cold, I suddenly felt so warm.

In this moment, and for the very first time, I finally allowed myself to look so close. In this moment, as I stared at her smile, a smile of my own lifted the corner of my lips and I finally understood the feeling wrapping at my insides.

She smiled and I knew, I'd do anything for that smile.

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What is the feeling he felt? Any guesses *winks*

What do you think the friends reaction will be to them being a couple? Will she ever get Zack like she always wanted? Will Chase help him and her?

Keep in mind, the friends all have a small story within this story, we'll get to know them better as the story goes on.

And my poor alex, he'll never get used to this xD

Lots of things to come, hang on and see *another wink*

If you have any question, drop it here.

Love ya!