[Chase Gray's photo above]

C h a p t e r 0 2

Nikki's POV

It was around four in the afternoon and I was owning the couch while watching Netflix. Chase however, passed by the television countless of times while looking for his belt. The fact that it was fast and easy for him to say 'okay' and to let me actually guard the place annoyed me a bit. He should know I didn't entirely mean what I told him while he's out jamming at a party.

Seriously, how much naive could a boy be? Jeez...

"Didn't you really see it or even notice it lying somewhere around?" He rushed to the living room from the bedroom a bazillion times, turning the place upside down.

I shook my head and simply gave him one answer without taking my eyes off of the television. "Nope."

I fell in love with the movie and would literally hate for it to end since Zac Efron was in it. If only I could keep my eyes from blinking, I would've done that for real. Suddenly and to speak it my utmost disappointment, the TV screen shuts black and I trailed my eyes on one side seeing Chase had the plug in his hand.

"Are you kidding me?" I impassively stared at him as he let it fell from his hands to the floor.

"I need help." He spoke, not meeting the pressing of his voice with my eyes focused on his casual attire in vintage jeans and a V-neck grey shirt.

After a brief, he was already sauntering towards me with a superior mien while I still refrained myself from answering back. He sat beside me while I adjusted my position to directly look at him with my brows raised.

"I need my belt." He repeated, in case he thought I missed the first.

"That's not my problem." I smirked.

"Well, it might be..." He intoned before he hefted himself and planked down on top of me.

"Oh God, no!--" I cried out with a whine, totally not expecting it from him to do. "Chase, get off! You're so damn heavy!" I placed my hands on his shoulder while lifting a bit of his weight.

He shook his head no and whispered, "Help me find my belt."

"Okay, okay! Just get the hell up..."

After that he forced himself to stand up but without a faint laugh. "You should get used to my weight."

"Lessen your food intake for a week, then we'll try again."

"Seriously? You'd rather date a stick man?"

I instinctually rolled my eyes in a playful manner and snorted a laugh. "If by stick man you meant yourself for the past week; less ten pounds, then yes."

"You're bluffing, I just satisfied my sweet tooth craves and you're acting all too much."

"Two regular cakes for three days? Who's acting all too much then?"

He nodded his head convinced and said, "Okay whatever, I know you're just pissed about it anyway since you haven't even tasted the icing so I'll buy you one... Just help me find my belt, please?"

I purposely let out a loud groan on having to move on my position to sit down which was partly done because of the cake. "You have more than six belts in your drawer, why not choose one of those?"

"Nikki, if I think one of those matches my trousers, I wouldn't be rummaging the place for the other one."

"Fine, but shouldn't your pants be tight enough for you?" I gibed and let my lips form a simper.

"No, they shouldn't..." He defended with a narrow tone which made me raise an eyebrow frivolously. "Just a small allowance, I've got no more clean pants ready so I picked this one which dad gave me last year."

That sounds great... So we have to do the laundry regularly.

"Still it suits you though," I stood up and stretched my arms up with a yawn and spontaneously looked back at the couch where I saw the belt. "Oh, would you look at that." I chuckled to myself, and grabbed it hanging for Chase to see.

He stared at me with a look that read 'unbelievable' while I sent him the opposite. Funny to think how he's been looking around for almost fifteen minutes now when it magically just appeared on where I was a few mere seconds ago.

"Stupid belt." He mumbled, before taking it from me.

I lightly laughed but cut it down after remembering that I would be all alone in home for the whole night. "So, aren't you a little bit hesitant, leaving me by myself in here?"

"You said you didn't want to go." He shrugged as he slightly lifted the hem of his shirt to place his belt right.

Is he mad now?

"What if someone coincidentally comes in to rob the apartment and kill me?"

"Well, you offered to guard the house, didn't you?-- Don't worry, I'll try to be home before twelve." He gave me a wide smile and leaned on to kiss my forehead before he walked passed me to get his wallet and car key inside our room.

I let out a tight-lipped expression, and mouthed a response. "'Kay, fine..."

With my teeth gritted together supressing my disfavor, I sat back on the couch. I took the remote control from the coffee table and clicked the power button, turning it on.

For the past minute it literally slipped out of my mind that Chase plugged it off earlier which made me instinctively roll my eyes and plumped the TV controller back on top of the round transparent table in front of me.

"I'll be going now." Chase announced, showing up from the bedroom all dressed up and good to go.

"The TV, please..."

"Oh," He walked towards the television and plugged it in. Before he straightened up, a knock from the door came in which got me wondering on who might that be.

"I'll get it," I offered to fill my question.

I turned the knob and opened the door wide only to see my best friend, Hailey Cambridge, dolled up with her two year old son, Ben. Or as she'd like him to be called, Benson.

"Hailey!"

"Nikki!" She squealed, pulling me in a tight hug.

I returned the embrace and smiled before creating a distance to talk to her until she bent down and asked Ben to greet us first. "Benson, say hi to your aunt and uncle."

"Hi Auntie Nikki, and Uncle Chase!" He complied, giving us a smile and a small wave of a hand.

Chase breathed out and emitted an audible response with a slight disapproval, "I feel so old."

"Hi, Ben." I uttered sweetly and imitated the same smile he had.

Hailey straightened up with a grumble as she corrected me, "It's Benson."

"Sure, whatever. Anyway, Chase here is just about to leave for some party. It's an understatement to say I'm glad to see you two here now, because I'm deeply in need of a company while he's away!"

"Oh-- well, I'm sorry to ruin the moment, but I have a place to go too." Hailey intonated and ended it with a bite on her lower lip.

I turned to glimpse at Chase, expecting something from him to say but rather heard nothing. "Okay?"

"Here," She handed me a duffel bag, heavy as an anvil I might say.

"Holy crap, is it my early birthday present?" I surmised while gradually unzipping it.

Apparently, I'm turning nineteen this nineteenth of July, which was only two weeks away.

As most parents considered, it was that period where a young adult becomes more mature, responsible, fully disciplined, independent and open minded. Clearly, it was the age where everyone expects something big and great from you.

I feel pressured...

"It actually depends on you." She grinned, stopping me from opening the bag halfway.

"I don't understand."

Hailey sighed with a smile and rested a hand on top of my shoulder, "Well, since you somehow mentioned that you're not going anywhere, I'll leave Benson with you awhile to watch after him."

What? Babysit a two year old boy? But kids that age barely listens to anyone!

I traced my sight downwards to meet Ben's. Like most kids, his smile was pure and innocent, but a thought tells me that look on his face was worrisome. He carries a toy car in one hand and let the other be interconnected with his mother.

Frankly, I used to play a lot with him, not after a couple of scenes along toys and me having God-knows-where-they-came-from wounds, I backed out.

So, thank you Hailey, really, but I'd rather babysit myself.

"Hey, Nikki!" Hailey waves her hand an inch to my face to notice.

"Sorry," I mumbled, "zoned-out."

"As I was saying... he have extra clothes in the bag, towels, baby powder, diapers, milk, the Teddy Bear Book of Bedtime Stories, a disk which contains songs like The Wheels on the Bus and Old Macdonald had a Farm --to help him sleep at night. Also..." I started to feel light headed as she went on to whatnot Ben needed to survive a day.

I'm toast.

I tilted my head to glance at Chase who was rather amused with a wide grin plastered on his face. I just want for him to stay now.

At that moment, I wished he could read my mind or something but then he raised his eyebrows in question and didn't say a thing.

I turned back to Hailey and pulled a smile to show, "So, I should know where you're going, right? And how long?"

"Nathan's party!" She enunciated with an elated leap.

My shoulders fell, along with my jaw. "You? At, Nathan's party? As in, Nathan Andrews?" I emphasized the name which only made her bobbed her head joyfully.

"Okay, I'm done," I swatted my hand in the air and forwarded the bag to Chase before turning my back on the both of them while I head to the closet. "You know, I think that party is fun and I'm just being a total grinch earlier, so let me get dressed. I'll be finish in a minute."

Hailey's POV

Chase and I watched Nikki as she dragged her way to the room to get ready. A snicker escaped my lips, before turning my head to face my best friend's boyfriend.

"She already took the bait." I faintly laughed,

"Yeah, well, she actually won't be out in a minute like she said. So you better give her a hand or we'll leave by dawn." He released a sigh while gripping the strap of the duffel bag.

"Heard you!" Nikki exclaimed from inside the room.

"I love you, too!" Chase answered back with a slight chuckle.

"Wow, okay, I love me too!-- Jeez, you guys already forgot I'm even here." I muttered while grabbing Benson's hand and took him in to Chase. "Look after him for a minute and don't do something stupid! He's a great kid and knows no bad words and sexting yet, okay?"

"Mama do that." Benson's small voice chimed in with his index finger at me.

Well, he knows texting. And for the record, I don't do the 'S' word on texts!

Chase shook his head and suppressed an outpouring horselaugh, "Lying now? You know, you're a terrible mother to your son."

"Better not be a terrible uncle yourself." I shrugged along with ignoring his remark before making my way towards where Nikki was.

"Come on Ben, heard what your mom said, better not be a terrible son, okay? Now, behave while I play Xbox." I overheard from Chase, but didn't say a thing as I entered the room seeing Nikki still rummaging for a clothes to wear to the party.

"Oh, hey, best friend..." She emphasized our own connection before continuing. "I didn't know you and Nathan are now on speaking terms."

"Well, I really want to tell you about it but I know you're busy working..."

"It's not like I work twenty four hours a day, right?"

I pursed my lips while I helped her look for a dress and told her what I should have said days back. "Well, it happened three days ago at the mall. At some coincidence, we saw each other, then we chatted and he asked if I wanted to eat, and after that he also bought Benson candies good for a month supply. He also said he was sorry, and things went all right ahead which was something I least expected."

"So, status update?"

"Please, don't get me started with that movie or else we would end up watching it over and over to end the day with."

"What? I didn't mean that one, silly"

"Oh, well... Not sure about that but, what I'm sure of is that the two boys are waiting for us so you might want to wear this now." I handed her a random clothing, "Chop chop!"