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Plus, I’ve seen enough movies to know that sometimes, elevators fall Crash

I can’t breathe

"I swear to God, Annie, if you puke in here…"

That grabs my attention I narrowandThe doors slide open and I scurry out as quickly as possible My knees feel weak,

I jump as a hand settles onto my shoulder "You okay?" Chase asks His voice is low, soft, and it almost makes me believe he cares a little about my answer

"Yeah," I rasp "I’m fine"

I look up and rown out of his aard, gangly phase, and into this thicker, sharper, well-built frame, I still think his eyes are his best feature He could be a eous eyes and I realize I’ his hand to drop froaze focused onand nods "You sure?"

"I think so," I say

His hazel eyes flick over me, from top to bottom, before he cocks his head to the side "You want to work out with me and Park?"

"What?" I’m so thrown off by the invitation all I can do is repeat ym" He pauses as he licks his botto over and he doesn’t show Do you want to co?"

"Why?"

Chase chuckles and shakes his head He turns and starts walking toward the ht help loosen you up, relax you a little Maybe not"

"What about h, but he doesn’t turn around or even slow his pace "It can co He knows da to make a decision I have a few hours before I need to be in class, but I work out every other day He’s throwing offover his shoulder at me as his hands rest on the door handle His lips turn up in a snore that

"I need to getout without my playlist," I say as I trail behind Chase

"You have a new playlist," he replies "I s are motivational"

I haven’t listened to it yet, but soine what motivates Chase is very different than what nores

"Trust me," he adds

"Not if my life depended on it"

He stops and I take several more steps before I realize I pivot onme with narrowed eyes, his arms folded in front of his chest

"What?" I ask

"Why don’t you like me?"

"What?" I repeat stupidly I heard what he said, I just don’t kno to answer it and the honesty of the question has me completely off kilter

"Everybody likes et it"

I tip ard him "Are you serious?"

He nods slowly I take a step toward him I don’t really want to have this conversation here where everyone can hear us "You’re et," I say incredulously "Can we not talk about this right now?" The thing is…I really do like Chase, like deep, deep down inside I just hate how hemy face and I know I

"Yes, you are All the tiet anywhere near you because I’ to say next to make me feel like shit about myself"

I watch his dark brows furrow as he continues to stare at h "I’m not scared of you Just what co at his sides "I don’t say shit to hurt your feelings," he says, his voice low I look down at our shoes and I can’t help noticing how old and dirty his are coht ere having fun"

My head pops up so quickly a pain shoots throughoften enough and you believe it’s true"

Chase chuckles and I shaketo have a real conversation with hiins as he takes another step forward, "that you call me an asshole multiple times a day"

I open rins when I don’t bother to defend my actions

"Truce?"

My eyes follow his movements as he reaches out one hand and cups it aroundflutters inside

"Truce," I agree

As soon as Park shows up, he and Chase hit the weights, so I decide to domy ear buds in, I find Chase’s workout playlist and hop up on the elliptical Theupbeat I feel s