A/N: I decided to make this whole chapter all about Chase alone. Here, you will know why Chase befriended Nikki all of the sudden, which will cover a short scene on the day Chase first went over to Nikki's house. ☺

C h a p t e r 2 1

Chase's POV

"I was afraid you'll take Stacy with you. Glad to know it was Nikki, but why her?" Scott asked me who was now sitting on the passenger's seat which earlier, before I dropped Nikki, was at the backseat.

I glanced on the side mirror while maintaining my speed. "What do you mean?"

"Well you know, I don't see you guys hang around together... or talk together. You even let her sit on your passenger's seat. It's just... odd."

I wouldn't deny the fact that it was odd, however, I wouldn't say I didn't like it as well.

"Really?--" My eyes surprisingly caught Scott's feet on my dashboard after I casted a glimpse on him.

Scott nodded and made a short sound of approval, "Yes, it is."

"You know what's odd? Is you rested your feet on my dashboard. Come on dude, who taught you that? Please, be professional even just now at least?" I intoned, quickly brushing his feet off, before eying the lit up road.

"Why? Is it because people outside might see you, next to a hideous feet?" He folded his left knee and reached for his toes, carelessly massaging them.

I shook my head and responded, "People are asleep, except us."

"Why do you have to speak of such a sad story?"

"Be it a sad story if the gravity falls." Sighing, I gradually pressed the brake pedal and hit the signal button to the right, even if there were no other cars behind me.

"Gravity falls? Dang, have you watched the movie? I watched it with Nash, and don't tell Nathan!" He exclaimed with amusement.

"What? I'm talking about..." I groaned and swatted my one hand in the air. "Never mind."

Even if Nikki left the car a few minutes ago, her sweet cologne still laced inside. Until suddenly, a weird smell intermixed with it. It perceived an odor of an expulsion of intestinal gas.

Scrunching my nose, I glared at Scott. "Dude, seriously? And you're being silent with it, after you dropped a bomb inside my car?"

"Why?--" He asked, eying me. "Look, I'm a human. I fart, okay?"

I let my eyes roll, before punching the button to open the windows, for the meantime. "Goodness, it smelled like you ate a rotten papaya, and a staled milk."

"I don't eat papaya nor drink a milk, you know that." He protested while pointing out a finger on me.

"Yes, grandpa. Alcohols, and junk foods only. May the Lord and his angels save you."

"Don't worry, I always pray every night." He smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.

We were approaching Scott's house, and I lowered my right hand to shift my gear. Without seeing it, my elbow bumped into Scott's knee, sending an short electric current to crawl up my arm, due to the sudden sharp impact.

"Shit, Scott! Please..." I muttered, pushing his knee off as I held the joystick, dragging it back to first gear, slowing down.

Scott grunted as multiple clicking sound occupied the air inside the car. I looked at him again at the corner of my eye as he rubbed and flicked his toes.

"Whatever happened to your toes, what you're doing will only make them worse." I adviced, pulling in front of their house.

"Yeah well, I guess I need to see a dentist."

Sometimes, talking to Scott could make your brain work in a maximum amount. And most of the time, it makes you want to get rid of your ears for a short moment.

"Dentist? Don't you need a doctor?"

"What? No, my tooth hurts. But anyway, thanks bud." Scott smiled, before opening the door and grabbing his shoes underneath his seat along with his black socks, before jumping out of the car.

"No problemo." I smiled, driving off.

It was three forty six in the morning. A yawn slipped from my lips, feeling completely depleted while I slumped my back on the couch. I stopped over to my dad's mansion and asked him if I could spend the rest of the night here since if I'd travel home it would take me more minutes before I get there.

"Where have you been?" Dad asked, sitting down on the other couch while wearing his royal blue coloured robe.

The mansion was quiet and spacious for one man living in it. Everything felt new to me as I was sitting on a fresh released half moon sofa I just saw at the mall, a week ago. Dad always redesigns the inside of the house when at some point, he sees engaging new stuffs turn to being stodgy which makes him want to puke on a carpet.

My eyes couldn't take a minute to scan around, as they were dusted with tiredness. Even so, I could tell that the living room was a high ceiling with a chandelier that could kill you with its sharp and shiny crystals. Arched windows were covered with golden drapes, and a carpeted stairway connected the next floor. In a way, I could put things up that the mansion was big as his money in bank.

I blinked my eyes and responded, "Guys night out."

I just had to say that.

Dad nodded and reached for the remote control to turn the enormous flat television on.

It wasn't as if, I didn't want my dad to know Nikki. Besides, I actually sort of told him about her, dramatically.

"Dad, did you and mom really love each other?" I asked, pouring down a red wine in my glass.

"Of course, son... but, you knew we had to divorce for good." Dad answered but I remained silent, swirling the ice with my index finger as I stared at the red liquid moving in a gradual whirlpool.

I breathed out, "But, is there true love?"

"Is this about a girl?"

I knew I was a jerk, but after this day when I went over to Nikki's house and sent my condolences, something just woken me up on the deep sleep I had on a very long time.

After staring at her glassy eyes, I remembered how it felt to lose your loved ones, and most of all, I remebered my mom. I had promised myself before, that I would find her once I grew up, but it was also something I had utterly forgotten with what world I turned myself in.

I knew who I was, but I hated how I turned out to be. I had a title of being a bad boy. Sure, I somehow find it cool, but was it really? And what about my mom? Would she be proud of me? I had neglected every morals she taught me. Just because she left us, I let my inner cold heart to control me in doing things I completely dishonour years back.

This wasn't the boy my mom knew, not even the boy she taught. Nikki made me see all this. In some way, she reminded me of my mom. The one I had loved the most.

"Son," My dad spoke, interrupting me from my own thoughts, as he placed his hand on my shoulder after I swigged the wine down my throat.

"I know we weren't a perfect family as how I said we will be, and I know I was never enough to being both a parent to you. But if you were to be in a relationship.. make it work and never give up."

I lifted my head up and faced him, "Just be mature enough on making your own choices." Dad smiled, taking the bottle of wine and pouring it on a glass.

"I mean you don't always pick a candy with a lovely wrapper, and spit it out whenever you thought it changed bitter from sweet." He chuckled, closing the lid of the wine bottle.

I shook my head with quiet laughter, "Real smooth, dad."

"Yeah, but what I'm saying is... Being mature is, being like your mom. Think a hundred times, before spilling out your emotions." He paused, "Of course, not everyone ends happy with their decisions. It's a part of the life of human kind. You just have to know how to handle it without any regrets." He chugged with me.

"Yeah, thanks dad." I said, smiling.

He smiled back, resting his hand on my shoulder, "So, who actually is this girl? I'm intrigued."

"Don't worry, I'll make you meet her someday." I smiled.

"I'm sure, I will." He said, patting me on my shoulder.

"And don't forget, you're still running the company with me." He chuckled, pointing his index finger on me while carrying his glass on the same hand.

I groaned, "Oh come on, dad!"

A clicked on the tv made me zoomed out of my thoughts.

"Why don't you take a rest. You still have school in less than four hours." Dad reminded, placing the remote down on the coffee table.

"Yeah, you're right." I smiled, taking my shoes off.

"There are plenty of spare rooms upstairs!" Dad yelled, walking away towards his room.

"No, I'm good!"

I laid my back straight on the couch and stared at the high ceiling, letting the darkness took over me.

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