Chase

Last night sucked.

First the idiot called Leonardo Jensen went and broke my best friend's heart and then I almost kissed her.

Accidently.

Of course.

Truly, I wasn't thinking. I was angry that someone would be capable of doing that to her. We were both vulnerable at the moment; it would've been unfair to take advantage of that. I wouldn't be a good friend if I did.

There was nothing I wanted more in the world than to stay at school and take care of Camila, but unfortunately my mom had the wonderful idea of taking me on an hour and a half ride home to then go back for another hour and half. More than two hours if there were cars.

And as much as I insisted to stay and take care of my best friend there was no convincing her. She wanted me home and there was nothing I could do about it

I decided that maybe it wouldn't be so bad. My father had for sure changed in the time I wasn't home. There was no way he was still the same idiot he was as when I left. I had no way to find out but by going home.

I packed a few things that I would need for the day. By nine in the morning I was in the lobby, ready to go out.

"Are you sure I can't come with you?" Camila pouted. I tried to be nice with her, but the eye roll just came out naturally.

"I already told you. You don't want to go to my house. It's not nice."

She put her hands together in order to beg. I loved her, but sometimes she was just too annoying.

"Please! If I'm there then it won't be as bad. Besides, it would be better going with you than staying here. I can't even hang out with Taylor because every time I try calling her Valery's at the phone, begging for us to talk."

I looked at her with wonder. It wasn't at all like Camila to not forgive someone, or at least give them a second chance.

"Why don't you just talk with Valery and see what she has to say?"

"Why don't you just ask your mom if I can come with you?"

I sighed in annoyance. Sometimes I regretted no having any guy friends.

"Fine. But you talk to her when she comes. I won't be able to convince her. And if you ask her then you have to promise me you'll talk to Valery, or at least Leonardo."

Camila was a sweet girl. She was small and cute like a puppy, but her glares.. Well, let's just say that a glare from her could make any grown man whimper like a child. And I had the luck of having to receive them almost every day.

"Why are you suddenly so interested in making me talk to them. Not even you wanted me to talk to them in the first place, what is up with you?"

"Why are you so suddenly interested in going to my home town?"

"Stop answering my questions with questions!"

I laughed. Nothing better than getting under her skin so early in the morning.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I took it out to see. My mom was there, finally.

"My mom's here. If you really want to come with us, ask her when she comes in."

Camila nodded in response with a huge smile on her face. What I would give to make her smile like that because of me...

My mom entered the room and smiled when she saw me. I ran over to her and hugged her. It had been a while since I'd last seen her.

"How are you? How's home? How's grandma?" She chuckled at my interest. She was used to it by now, my excessive amount of questions, but was always surprised that "teenagers these days still care about their families".

"Everything's fine. We're all fine. So, let's go to the offi- Oh! Is that your friend?"

My face became red. I knew that by friend she meant if Camila was the secret girl I had told her about. My mom and Camila had seen each other a few times but had never formally met. Most times they'd seen each other my mom was close to tears, be it happy or sad tears.

"Uh... yeah. This is my best friend, Camila Smoke. Camila, this is my mom, Myra."

Camila smiled at my mom and gave her a hug. "It's so nice to meet you Mrs. Harding. I've heard only good things about you."

She hugged her back awkwardly, not used to being saluted by my friends with such care.

"Oh please! Call me Myra. Now, if you excuse me, I need to go talk to your principle to get you out for the day."

She started walking to Mrs. Sullivan's office for my exit slip. I stopped her before she went there.

"Actually mom, I was wondering if maybe Camila could come with us today?"

She sighed and took my hands. My hands were filled with the pressure coming from her, a message. "Sorry, but not today. Maybe some other time?"

We nodded and she released my hands. When she was out of sight I turned back to Camila.

"I'm sorry, I know you really wanted to come."

Her lips were no longer in the smile they were before. They were now a straight line and it killed me.

"It's okay. It's not your fault. I'll just stay in my dorm until lunch."

I hugged her and rubbed her back. She was taking the heartbreak better than I thought, though maybe it was just because she and Leo weren't really anything to begin with.

Suddenly, I had an idea. If every time Camila called Taylor, Valery was there, then maybe she could call from my phone.

I released her and said, "I have an idea. Why don't I text Taylor and tell her to come down. That way Valery won't have to be there begging for forgiveness."

I gave her a tight smile that she reciprocated. "Sure."

I grabbed my phone and gave it to her. She was dialing her phone number when she said, "Why do you have her contact saved?"

Crap.

"Oh, um, I-I uh"

She laughed and slapped my arm.

"Chase, as you said a few days ago. You've been through period emergencies with me, you can tell me you're a stalker."

I returned her slap lightly and put my hand to my heart pretending to be offended.

"Excuse me, but I'm not a stalker. It's not like I asked everyone for her phone number until I got it. I just asked one of my dorm mates who shares a few classes with her, that's all."

That wasn't exactly true. I hadn't asked one of my dorm mates for her number. In reality I had asked the three guys I shared a room with if they knew who she was, only one of them knew. Then I asked him if he had her number and he said no but that he could get it for me. And he did.

She nodded making a weird face. "Yeah, yeah. Of course. I believe you."

"It's true! I swear!"

"Keep telling yourself that."

I glared at her and she laughed. Even if I did have some trouble with anger and could appear scary at times, it was no secret that my glares were as harmless as a new born baby.

"Just call your friend, okay?"

She dialed the number and my heart started beating faster. That didn't make sense. I like Camila, I'd liked her for years, why was I suddenly becoming nervous for Taylor?

"You seem tense Chase. Nervous?"

I rolled my eyes and was about to show her my favorite finger when my mom came out of the principal's office with a slip of paper.

"Ready?"

I put my hand up, gesturing for her to wait. "Almost. I let Camila borrow my phone for a second."

She nodded. "I'll wait for you in the car. Don't be too long, okay?"

Camila shook her head. "She doesn't pick up. I'll guess I'll have to hibernate in my room until lunch."

Two hands were put on her eyes. "Guess who?" The person behind her said with a fake voice.

I moved closer to them to see who it was.

"Hm...I don't know..."

"It's Taylor. Bye!"

Taylor glared her eyes at me. Those beautiful hazel eyes...What is happening to me?

She took her hands away from Camila's face. I took a few steps closer to hug Camila goodbye. I then looked at Taylor. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hug her or wave at her. So instead I stood there akwardly and made a half-hearted attempt to wave. Where was this sudden nervousness coming from?

•°•°•°•°•

I climbed inside my mom's car. It smelled suspiciously of alcohol and cigaretts.

My mom started the car. The first half an hour was silent and unfomfortable. I tried turning on the radio to ease the tension, but it was no better.

Car rides with my mom were usually the best, so I was worried there was something she wasn't telling me. I was about to ask her there was something wrong when she interrogated me first.

"So...that girl you were with, is that the mystery girl you've been telling me about?"

I smiled at the thought of her. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, all things I would never tell my friends at home.

"That's her."

"She's so pretty! Have you asked her out yet?" I shook my head, but then remembered she couldn't see me because she was so concentrated on the road.

"Nope. She doesn't like me, not like that anyway."

She sighed and put her hand on the side of my face. "If she doesn't see you for the handsome, smart gentleman you are, then she's not worth it."

The sad look in her eyes told me that she wasn't just talking about my crush on Camila, she was talking about something that went deeper.

"Mom...is there something wrong?"

She stayed silent for a few minutes. I wondered if she hadn't heard me or had chosen to ignore me. I was about to ask again when I saw the tears running down her face.

"Mom, what happened? Is everyone okay?"

She shook her head as more tears fell down her cheeks. She pulled over and put her head on the wheel.

"Honey, your father...he's in the hospital."

What did you think of this chapter?

What do you think happened to Chase's dad?

And what do you think about Chase's rising feelings for Taylor? Do you think they'll go anywhere?

Comment your thoughts! I'd love to hear them!

Also, new cover! I looooooove it!!!