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Chapter 11

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(POV) Bree

Previously...

"Or, maybe we should team up and get them back together." Adam wondered aloud. I smiled as I thought through all the possibilities. Tasha and Davenport could end up killing each other. Or worse, something worse could definitely happen.

"Get who back together?" Tasha asked as she put the papers into her purse. Adam and I looked up at each other and then back to Tasha. "I'm waiting."

"You know what, tell me later, Bree. I need to talk to you about something else, anyway." Tasha added with a sigh. Adam looked down at me as we followed Tasha down the hall to where Leo would be until he woke up. I looked back to Adam and gave him a small smile.

"At least now she'll know. I won't have to lie any more." I thought.

I frowned as I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

From Adam, To Bree

Tell her... Hopefully she'll understand

From Bree, To Adam

I don't think she will. But I do think we should get them back together. Then maybe she'll understand

From Adam, To Bree

Yes! Now we really need to plan tomorrow. You are definitely coming to Chase's with me

From Bree, To Adam

Fine by me. It was really my idea anyway

I rolled my eyes as we continued down the hallway. We walked into the ICU and over to the farthest bed on the left side. Leo was sound asleep. I really did feel bad for the kid, but I also felt partly bad for us, as well. We would have to be caring for his every beck and call for the next... Who knows how long.

•Chase's POV•

Now I'm really worried. Bree hasn't texted me back either time, and I basically told her the last time that I blew our chance at having a relationship. We haven't even been talking for a day. Let alone the fact that we aren't even dating yet.

"Alright, Chase. You can head home." Davenport sighed as he switched the sign to closed. I headed through the double doors to the locker room.

"Why did I have to do that? It was going so well." I thought as I opened my locker. I twisted the dial with the correct combo before it popped open. I grabbed my bag and headed back out. I knew that Davenport would probably have a few choice words for me before I left. I have never been able to get away that easily in the past.

"Chase." Davenport started as I stopped in the center of the store. Davenport blocked the doors that lead into the main way of the mall, which, was my freedom at this point. I rolled my eyes once more at my supposed boss and father figure. I was getting sick of the back and forth between us.

"I don't care how you feel about Bree. We have a reputation to uphold. I just barely got this business away from the news of what happened last time." Davenport paused to let his words sink in. "You need to know that there are rules. One of those rules, is not dating the competition. That's why I broke up with Tasha. It would have come between us sooner or later." Davenport mumbled the last part, but I still heard it. Even if I hadn't heard, I would have been able to put the pieces together. This was never supposed to he about my feelings for Bree, this was about he and Tasha's relationship. It always has been, and always will be unless we fight against him.

"Mr. Davenport... Even if Bree and I had a relationship, it's not like we would run away together. Roy and Julie had some serious issues if they though that leaving, would fix everything." I finished, thinking of how stupid Bree and I would have to be if we were to run away and die tragically like Roy and Julie did. Bree and I knew better than that, those two, had another thing coming for them.

"Chase, I know that you and Bree are smarter than to leave, but I still don't want you associating with her." Davenport pleaded. I rolled my eyes. Why was this such a big deal? I liked Bree, and she liked me. I didn't see the point behind any of this.

"Mr. Davenport. If you don't mind me asking, what is your side of the story? I've heard Tasha's from Bree... But I haven't heard your's yet." I asked. Davenport sighed and thought for a second. I knew the story was right at the surface, though. It would have had to have been if he was this worked up about it.

"Alright. So you probably know that we saw each other, love at first sight, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, we fell in love. Like, really in love. We were together all summer. Nothing was able to break us up. But, our parents had opened rival stores in the mall during our freshmen year of high school. They wanted us each to skip college to take over the business after graduation. When Tasha and I got back to school..." Davenport paused letting his mind fall back to the memories that haunted him to this very day. I nodded, seeing this as the very position Bree and I were in as of right now.

"You two were too different. You were popular, and she wasn't." I stated thinking to how Bree and I felt exactly the same right now. We were so different yet the same in many ways. I had always had the connection through Adam, been able to get to know her through him. I knew how things were, even more after we had talked today. Just having Trent interrupt us at lunch had been a scare.

"Yes. We didn't want the school to come at us for falling in love. So, we kept our relationship a secret. It actually surprises me how long we lasted despite all of that. We made it almost a year." Davenport smiled at the memory.

"When graduation came around, so did our first anniversary. I had planned a romantic dinner for the two of us, the night before graduation. That day, I had to work, though, and so did she. Right before we both left, our parents handed over the businesses to us. They were so proud that we had graduated." Davenport smiled.

"Tasha left before I did, and told me she would meet me there. Before I could leave, both my parents, and hers, had something to tell me." I looked closely at Mr. Davenport. He had tears in his eyes, he was still in love with Tasha too. But what I didn't understand was why Tasha's parents were suddenly involved with his. What about the rivalry?

"What happened?" I ventured, wondering just what had gone on between Davenport and the original owners of these business'. He sighed as he tried to find the courage to say his next words.

"They told me that they knew about our relationship. They told me that if Tasha and I were to keep the businesses successful, I would have to break up with her."

•Bree's POV•

Leo woke up about twenty minutes ago, and now, we are in the car driving home. Adam, of course, volunteered to watch Leo in the back seat. Thus, I am in the passenger's seat by Tasha. I really hate Adam sometimes. We got home pretty quickly, though. We walked through the door with Adam and I helping Leo. This was his first time on crutches. The medication wasn't exactly helping him on the whole walking struggle, either.

"Thanks for helping me guys. Sorry it's so late." Leo said. I shook my head as Tasha moved inside and began to head towards the closet.

"Leo, it's okay. Tasha and I didn't get home until ten last night either, and, it's Friday." I said, a happy tone to my voice. We could actually sleep in tomorrow. Not that Tasha would have sent us to school after this.

"Yeah, Leo. It's fine. We're just happy you're okay." Adam added. I nodded as we helped Leo further into the living room where Tasha had made up her mind on where to put Leo.

"Leo, why don't you stay in the guest room for tonight so you won't have to go upstairs." Tasha suggested. Leo nodded with a sigh of relief. I don't think any of us were exactly looking forward to helping cripple upstairs.

"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks mom." Leo said with a sigh. Adam and I handed Leo over to Tasha who helped him down the hallway.

"I'm going upstairs. Adam?" I said waiting for Adam to follow. We still needed to talk about tomorrow. I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise. I could already feel myself growing happier at the thought of what tomorrow would entail. More time with Chase.

"Actually. After I get Leo set up, I need to speak with you Bree." Tasha called up to Adam and I. I could feel my face fall at the sound of that. This wouldn't end well.

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll be in my room." I called back. Adam and I slowly made our way up the stairs. A silence overtaking us as I quietly stomped along.

"Well this is gonna get ugly." Adam whispered as he walked by me to go to his room. I walked in and took off my shoes. I can't believe it was just today that Chase and I started talking, and now, we were both in trouble. Speaking of which, my phone rang with a text from Chase.

From Chase :P

I'm sorry if I caused any trouble Bree. It's probably better if we just end it right now. I want you to know though that I really like you... If things were different I would have already asked you out, but they aren't. I know that this whole day has cause us both a lot of trouble, and I don't want to be the reason why. I'll see you in school.

As I saw the text, my heart slowly broke. Every word I read, I slowly made my way down to the floor. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes and I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears began to run down my face and I knew that Tasha would be in here soon enough. But I couldn't have cared less.

Tasha walked in and saw me on the ground sobbing. I didn't even hear her walk in at first, but then I felt my phone being taken out of my hands. I looked up to see Tasha's face fall.

"Bree... This is for the best." Tasha said slowly. I looked up at her as if she had just grown another head.

"For the best! For the best! Why on earth would this be for the best! I like Chase, a lot! And apparently, he likes me, too. So why can't you and Davenport get over your differences, and let us be together? Is it really that bad?" I cried. Tasha looked down at me. Her mood suddenly went from sorrow to anger. The worst part about it was, it was directed at me. I didn't need that right now. Not when Chase had just broken my heart.

"Young lady, you can not talk to your mother this way! I know that what happened between all of us at the shops has nothing to do with you and Chase, but I can tell by the situation that it will eventually pull you two apart if we let you two get together! He is just like Donald the way that he broke up with you, like this!" Tasha was standing by now and I slowly made my way up. She couldn't win this. She, along with the help of Davenport, already ripped Chase and I apart. This had nothing to do with the businesses.

"Tasha... I don't like that you're bringing Chase and I into whatever happened with you and Davenport." I said slowly and calmly. Although the tears were still sliding down my face. I had to tell her how I felt.

"Bree, I don't mean to bring you into this. But one day, the shop will be yours, and Donald's shop will be Chase's. It will never work. So why try?" Tasha said. She walked over to the door but then stopped.

"Bree get some sleep, it's been a long day. But, delete that boys number. I never want you to even look at him again." Tasha said before walking out into the hallway.

I picked up my phone off the ground and looked back at text Chase had sent me. This couldn't be how he wanted things to end. I know that Davenport and Tasha want things to end, but... In my book, things are just getting started.

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