CHAPTER 26

There was a time when I loved Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, today wasn't one of those times.

I hated the heart shaped chocolates and the teddy bears. I hated the fact that people made a big deal out of it.

I was sitting at Starbucks during my spare period waiting for Ben to meet me here. "Hey," he said as he sat down opposite me and I sighed in relief because I thought I was going to be here alone.

"Finally, what time do you even call this?"

"Shut up I am here."

"Ten years later."

He rolled his eyes and sipped his coffee. "So it's Valentine's day."

The decorations in the shop were making feel sick. There were couples in the shop who were looking loved up. There was this one boy who had his arms around the girl as they whispered to one another. 

Why couldn't that be Addison and me?

"You're thinking of Ads aren't you?" sometimes I hated the fact that Ben knew me so well. He could read me like a book. "Come on don't get all depressed, she wouldn't want that would she?"

"And what about what I want?"

"Chase," he said quietly and sighed loudly.

"Sorry."

"You don't need to apologise I know how hard this long distance thing is for both of you."

I gave him a grateful smile before I changed  the topic.

"So are you going to the party?" I asked and he nodded his head.

"I think everyone is," he replied and I rolled my eyes.

"Yep."

"You are coming aren't you? I'm sure it was Leticia who told me you were coming." A small smile appeared on my face as I nodded my head.

I did have to admit that spending it with my friends was better than getting depressed watching the DVD that Addison had sent me.

"Yeah even though I have no date."

"So? I don't have one either," he replied with a smirk as he sipped his coffee again.

"So? You are going to be dancing with girls okay so that is not the same."

"You can dance with girls too chase."

"I can't-"

"Why not? It isn't like you would be cheating on Addison. I'm sure Ads will be dancing with guys too."

I just shrugged my shoulders because I hated the thought of her dancing with other guys.

*****

The entire halls of the school were decorated with pink posters. Everywhere I turned, it was like the fact that I would be spending this time without Addison was being shoved down my throat. How did couples who were in a long distance relationship do this?

There were hearts along the top of the halls, as well as advertisements for the party. It was too late to be advertising it as it was happening now.

"Happy Valentine's day." I turned to look at Madison and plastered a smile on my face.

She was wearing a purple dark dress and I was wearing a grey suit. "Happy Valentine's day.""

"What are you even doing here? Everyone is in the hall." I clenched my jaw. I was just about to go home but she didn't need to know that because if she did the would never even hear the need of it.

"I just wanted a place to think."

"Well can you stop thinking and come to the hall?" she asked impatiently and I rolled my eyes at her. Before I could even respond, she slipped her hand in mine and dragged me to the hall.

Her hand was soft and fitted perfectly in mine.

I quickly snapped out of my thoughts, hating the way I had been falling for Madison lately. I knew she was feeling the same but she was actually encouraging the feelings.

I wasn't going to hurt Addison.

We walked into the hall and there were a few students singing while everyone else was dancing. There were balloons everywhere and I clenched my jaw.

I was just grateful that the holidays were coming up soon and I didn't need to deal with school. I needed a break.

"Hey I was wondering where you had gone too," Leticia said as she stood next to me and all I could do was plaster a small smile on my face.

"Hello to you too," I replied and she chuckled.

"Are you upset that there's no Addison?" She asked and I sighed loudly.

She just wrapped her arms around my neck and I returned the embrace.

She pulled away as another song started and she grabbed my hand, leading me to the dance floor. "I am going to take your mind off Addison," she said and I raised my eyebrows at her. "Not like that," she laughed and I couldn't help but laugh along with her.

"Okay then," I said and she slow danced with me.

"You know that Madison has a crush on you right?" she said and I sighed loudly.

The last thing I wanted to do was talk or even think about Madison. "Answer it," she encouraged and I sighed loudly.

"Yes I know that."

"You like her too-"

"No I don't," I said instantly cutting her off and she just rolled her eyes at me.

"Yes you do Chase. I have seen the way you look at her. We've all seen the way you both look at one another. There is so much sexual tension between you two."

I could feel the blush rising in my cheeks as I took a deep breath.

This wasn't happening right now.

I didn't need to feel guilty because nothing had happened between the two of us.

"Let's change the subject-"

"No, you keep avoiding this Chase. You need to be a man and come clean about your feelings because the longer you try to hide them then the harder it will be and then Addison is going to get hurt." I rolled my eyes at her statement even though it was true.

The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt Addison.

I had never wanted to hurt her.

"Look at you two," commented Piper as she stood next to us and we pulled away. Leticia gave me a knowing look as she turned to look at Piper.

"Pipes, you've seen him and Madison right?" She said and Piper rolled her eyes.

"I've told you before just because they sort of like one another it doesn't mean he is going to leave Ads for her. He loves her and his feelings for Addison are way stronger than his feelings for Madison."

I bit my tongue not wanting to get involved in their argument.

I knew that if anything ever did happen between Madison and me then Piper would definitely kill me.

"But you can't avoid love," Leticia said and Piper clenched her jaw.

"Shut your mouth," Piper said as she glared at Leticia before looking at me. "You have a girlfriend Chase, an amazing one, you screw it up and you will be sorry."

She walked away without saying another word and I gulped. She was definitely scary when she wanted to be.

"Don't listen to her," she said and I sighed loudly.

"She does have a point."

"It isn't any of her business Chase. I don't anything about you and Addison but I'm going to tell you that if Madison makes you happy then don't push her away."

"I think I need the rest room," I said as I walked away from her and left the hall.

I could finally breathe being in the school corridors.

"I hear what Piper said." Madison had caught me off guard.

She tended to do that all the time.

Slowly, she walked towards me until my back was against the lockers and she was standing in front of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked and she smirked.

"What you've been wanting me to do for a very long time."

Before she could even do anything, I grabbed her hand and decided to pull her into the janitor's closet.