Page 9 (2/2)
"Hey what are you guys up to?" I asked, drawing Chase’s gaze back tocarefully grasped between his thuer and waved it around "Physics project," he explained
"We’re taking it to the hill," Phoenix cut in, and nodded with his head toward the front doors of the school that would lead out to sprawling, steep hills on either side of the long staircase and down to Dodge Street
"Fun," I drawled unenthusiastically
"What are you up to?" Chase asked, taking a step closer to me
I hesitated, while Ryder walked out of the office handings with his friends coh Of course he wouldn’t or shouldn’t feel any of the stirrings of guilt or re
"My phone call went long," I explained not telling a lie, but not exactly telling the truth either… h to writelate"
"Aw, that’s nice of you buddy," Phoenix crooned at Ryder and tried to pinch his cheek
"Back off, ly are was followed by thirty very aard seconds of silence while Chase sized Ryder up and shot lance that let me know to some men, I still had power Chase took another step towardhis territory and a flash of panic heated , or analyze if aze, I raised oodbye
"Well, thanks for the pass Ryder," I started walking backward, clutching ers tightly "I better get to class, since I’ve uys at lunch"
I didn’t wait for any response, but turned onBut at least I had been sufficiently distracted fro for ht
Chapter Nine
"Thanks again for the ride," I offered for the fourth time Chase sat across the armrest in the driver’s seat of his tan Honda Civic sedan and s he thought it was just because I wanted to spend time with him
Which I kind of did Chase was easy to be around, there was no hidden agenda, no evil plans forwas the ht now
"We could go do soo home yet?" he answered back intuitively
"No, I’m ready," I whispered weakly and then realized how lame I sounded "What I mean is that it isn’t that I just… um, this is nice" I er He grabbed onto it yanked razed the inside ofall of ave irls’ insides and then soh trickyestively
"Finally," I breathed out in relief because I was supposed to, because it was expected Every sixteen year old looked forward to the weekend It was the way of life But truthfully, with Nix around I preferred to be in school over the freedom of the weekend, not to ht that was bound to leave bone marrow deep scars and painful e maybe I could take you out…?" He spoke his words slowly, carefully, like he was nervous and unsure He was adorable, I couldn’t deny that
"To I could say yes He nodded, while his deep blue eyes begged roaned and there was nothing but sincerity behindand there’s no way I can miss it" I pushed out a playful pout and raze across the inside of his wrist
"Oh, bummer," he replied, equally as sincere
Chase was so sweet, so super sweet If I had to suffer through all this dating I was lucky there were guys like Chase out there that made it easier God knew I had dated some absolute tools in my short lifetime Chase was an exception to the rule and one that I wouldn’t be able to hold on to for long And I hated to disappoint hiht were completely different I wanted to escape the crazy, f-ed up world I lived in and he couldn’t help himself but be attracted to me It wasn’t his fault, but it wasn’t totally sincere either
"But I’hts flickered to Sam and hoeet he had been at first I couldn’t let that happen with Chase, I couldn’t ruin his life because I was selfish, because I was fundamentally and forever screwed up My throat started to close at thechest, echoing loudly in ht his name
"Saturday works," he so to a party? I proht while his parents are at sohed Chase nodded, his eyes glittering with the gossip I had to meet Phoenix’s parents sometime They sounded kind of awesome Just hopefully they weren’t nude all the time… "No, that will be fun!" I threw as much enthusiasm into my voice as I could and leaned forward to brush Chase’s cheek with a kiss
"Yeah, fun," Chase agreed but I could see the hint of disappointh, I can always make an excuse I mean, if you want our first date to be special I hate that it’s just going to be a house party" And that’s why he was disappointed, he wanted to woo er didn’t exactly screaain to hide er of another breakdown I was in danger of ruining soh distraction without any roet your chance for special," I ne for our second date"
Chase’s face lit up withwith future promise "Deal"
"Deal," I repeated and thenupstairs, co myself in the lion’s den, but I had run out of excuses to sit in Chase’s car "Thanks again for the ride"