She Should Have Dropped the Necklace
Chapter 7
Forgotten
It was Saturday morning and setting an alarm was not necessary. However, Chase didn't want to sleep, and after laying down for bed a little after one in the morning, decided 9 A.M. was a reasonable time to get up. Almost eight full hours of sleep was plenty enough but Chase still let out a groan as his hand missed the alarm button on his first few tries.
"Hit snooze!"
Chase didn't reply to Logan's yelling as his fourth try silenced the alarm clock. Chase took his time moving his body into a sitting position on his bed. Scanning the room, Chase saw Michael across the room lounging on the couch and watching television, still in his pajamas. Slowly, Chase got up from bed and went across the room to join Michael. Chase received an unenthusiastic,"Sup?" from Michael as he plopped down on one end of the couch. Letting out a huge yawn, Chase shook his head as if to say nothing much.
"Hey…you never did say where you were last night." Michael said as he repositioned his body on the couch.
Still the slightest bit irritated about the previous night, Chase sarcastically replied, "Here…getting interrogated about my broken arm…how it happened…why I skipped…defending Dana…getting laughed at by you for having two weeks of after school detention starting Monday…ummm…until about one in the morning."
Michael looked at Chase with a slightly amused smirk, finally shrugging his shoulders and nodding his head. "Yeah my bad man…our bad really…it could have waited until the morning."
Chase shook his head. "No... You guys did deserve to know…I would have been worried sick if it was one of you." Michael nodded his head, knowing for certain that Chase would have been worse than even Zoey if someone else from their group was missing… and the only knowledge he had was they were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
"We could have gotten in a lot of trouble though."
Michael's eyebrows peaked up slightly as he stared at Chase.
"You know…for the whole opposite sexes in dorm room thing. I mean...curfew was 11 and not eight last night because of the weekend but Zoey and Lola were in here well past-"
"Wait a minute," Michael said as he scooted up in his seat with a smile on his face. "You're telling me the PCA hoodlum Chase Matthews…who skips class, breaks PCA rules, and gets detention was afraid of getting in trouble."
Chase replied immediately, not finding any humor in Michael's comment. "Two weeks of detention and a broken arm are enough for one day thank you very much."
Michael let out a childish giggle, his attention falling back on the television as his laughter subsided. Chase followed suit, starting to get engrossed in a rerun of Laguna Beach, which he wondered why Michael was watching in the first place. After a few seconds of silence, a random burst of laughter coming once again from Michael filled the air. Looking at Michael, Chase couldn't help but to let out a small chuckle as he waited for Michael to offer some sort of explanation.
"You know, I was just thinking…"
Chase nodded for Michael to continue.
"If we were all here right now…even Quinn…she would have said how…technically…it was one in the morning… so the trouble that you got in for having females in our dorm would count towards the following day…"
Chase nodded, letting out another miniature laugh as he shook his head. Turning their attention once again to Logan's big screen TV a few feet away from them, Michael and Chase grew silent.
SSHDTN
Chase didn't sit for long. In fact, Chase was out the door at the first commercial break while Michael opted to meet up later and Logan was still snoring in his bed. Once he was out of his dormitory building Chase sat down at the first bench and pulled out his cell phone. Disregarding the fact that common sense would tell anybody not to text or call Dana before around noon on the weekend, Chase paused for a few seconds to think what to put and without a second thought sent a short text message to Dana.
Hey D…text me when u get up n we can get breakfast or something
Chase knew Dana was strong, and the external barriers she put up at all times would make you think she was invulnerable unless you saw her while they were down, but he was still worried about her from the previous night. Sure, everyone in their group of friends was close enough with Dana for her to partially lower her guard around them, but never before had Chase, or anyone he thought, ever seen her so vulnerable. They didn't speak…he was only there for her and held her in his arms for almost two hours while she cried. Chase couldn't imagine how much she had caged up inside of her that she had let out, and hopefully she was feeling better. Regardless, he was still worried about her…he cared about her.
Holding no hopes of getting a speedy reply, Chase decided to relax and scanned the part of campus that was in view of his seat, saying hello to a few people he knew as they walked by. Less than thirty seconds after he put his cell phone back in its resting place Chase felt the vibration on his thigh. Once he retrieved his phone from his pocket Chase read the text message that was from Dana.
Where r u?
Chase replied with "Rite outside boy dorms". Not sure if she was going to reply, or if she was awake or still half asleep in bed, Chase left his phone in his hand as he went back to observing his surroundings. Even if Chase wasn't people watching somewhat attentively he would have been able to pick Dana out from the crowd as he spotted her approaching his position. It was a typical Dana outfit; jeans, black t-shirt, and tennis shoes. The jeans and shirt fit to her body but by no means were tight or meant to show off. Regardless, she still looked great and something seemed slightly different with her. Chase was so caught up with Dana herself that he didn't notice what was in her hands until she stopped in front of him.
"Good morning." Chase said as he looked up at Dana who held a blueberry muffin out to him. With a smile, Chase accepted his favorite breakfast as he muttered thanks and Dana sat down next to him with her own. Silently, Dana sat down the muffin in her lap and ripped off a small chunk of it. Dana let out a small "Mmm" sound as she chewed her food which caused Chase to laugh.
"You seem in a good mood?"
Dana turned her face to look at Chase, brushing away a stubborn curl of hair from her forehead at the same time. Dana didn't reply with words as she merely nodded her head and gave Chase a small smile. Turning forwards in her seat again, Dana placed another bite in her mouth and stared at the familiar people and not so familiar people that walked by. Feeling his stare, Dana looked over at Chase.
"I thought you were hungry?"
Someone that didn't know Dana as well as Chase would have thought she was upset or being rude, but he knew she was just wondering why he hadn't taken a bite yet and wasn't being snide. Chase glanced down at his muffin and then back up to Dana, only offering a small nod in reply. Truthfully, he had been too busy staring at her trying to tell what was slightly different about her appearance, attitude, and mood to dig into his breakfast. Chase figured he would have more than enough time to talk to his fake girlfriend after he ate her present for him.
About five minutes passed in relative silence like it had the previous day, blueberry muffin breakfast seeming to become the first tradition the pseudo couple had installed into their relationship as they gazed off into the morning scenery. Chase finished his breakfast slightly before Dana regardless of her head start. Being his polite self, Chase stuck his hand out for Dana's garbage and disposed of both muffin wrappers in the garbage receptacle next to their bench.
"I owe you." Chase said. Dana shook her head, still staring off into the distance.
"No…"
Waiting for Dana to elaborate and receiving nothing, Chase decided to spark a conversation with a rather standoffish version of Dana. "Okay, I guess the blueberry muffin tab is even again." Chase let out a small laugh and expected Dana to do the same, but she didn't. Dana shook her head again but with more force as she finally turned her face to look at Chase.
"No Chase," Dana said, her voice surprising Chase by how sincere and soft it sounded, "If anyone owes anyone anything…I definitely-"
Chase nodded his head. "I…understand what you meant D…I was just trying to make conversation…and you don't owe me anything at all." Dana nodded her head fiercely, transfixing her eyes on Chase's and speaking a little more deliberate to get her point across. "Yes…I do Chase. No one has ever…been there for me like-"
Chase broke eye contact for a second. "No you don't Dana; honestly…that's what friends are…" When Chase looked back at Dana he was surprised to see hints of anger on hurt on her face as she bit her lower lip. He realized she was just trying to thank him, and he was being a jerk and refusing to accept. "Okay, you owe me one…" Chase started; relieved when he saw Dana's facial expressions soften when he quit throwing her thanks back in her face. "How about this…"
Dana sat up a little straighter in her seat, scooting a few inches closer to Chase. "I'm listening."
Chase rubbed his uninjured hand over the artwork Dana had placed on his cast for a few seconds before looking back at Dana. "I…got a question for you…" Dana nodded her head as Chase continued. "Will you answer it without…yelling or hitting me?"
Dana saw the playfulness on Chase's face and how the corners of his mouth hinted at a smirk. Her mind instantly thought of about twenty questions he would ask that she would yell at or hit someone that asked her. Dana batted her eyes at Chase briefly, hiding a smirk as she nodded her head. "Go ahead…ask your question."
Chase immediately picked up on Dana's tone and defended himself. "No…no…not that kind of question…" Dana gave Chase a questioning look. "I'm just saying it's before like 2…so I know you might be cranky and-"
Dana let out a small scoff followed by laughter and she gently punched him in his closest arm. "You jerk!" Chase placed his casted hand over his recently assaulted upper arm, playfully narrowing his eyes as he let out a short moan. "Owww…that really hurt…!" Dana let out a short laugh as she leaned back and put one leg over the other as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Ask your question baby."
Chase leaned back in his seat, turning his body and placing one arm over the back of the bench as he faced Dana. "I'm going to take that as a pet name…like honey bun or sweetheart…and not you questioning my manliness…" Dana let out another laugh and Chase joined in.
Dana turned her body to face Chase, scooting in towards him until their legs were touching and Chase's hand that wrapped around the back of the bench was one small slip from being around her shoulders. Referring to Chase's question, Dana stated, "Go ahead…"
"Something's…different about you…" Chase broke eye contact momentarily as it seemed like they had been staring at each other for an abnormally long amount of time. Looking back up, Chase noticed something. "I can't quite place it…but…are you wearing make up?" Dana broke eye contact, looking back at Chase with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Ummm…yeah, why…?"
"Why?"
Chase didn't notice as Dana squirmed in her seat and her stumbling over her words was mild enough to not get picked up by the young male.
"Because…ummm," Dana placed a finger on her upper cheek, "You know, last night…crying for hours…"
Chase nodded as he remembered cover up really was used to…cover up things.
"And I wear make-up…" Dana added in her own defense.
Chase raised his eyebrows at Dana's statement. "Very rarely…"
"Yeah but…" Dana quit talking as Chase placed his hand gently on the corner of her cheekbone, lifting her face up a little as he inspected her face. Dropping his hand back down to his side, Chase shrugged, "I wouldn't have wasted the time."
It was amazing to Chase how quickly Dana's jaw dropped and she let out a giant gasp. Chase was even faster to start explaining himself before he got punched again, for real, in the face.
"I didn't mean it like that!"
Dana rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared at Chase with anger in her eyes. "Yeah, sure…!"
"Honestly Dana!" Chase spoke with haste as he felt like he was quickly approaching that place where Dana might break his other arm.
"Okay, sure!"
"I just…I…its stupid…" Chase stuttered as he looked everywhere but at Dana.
"Then you did mean it like that." Dana replied quietly, obviously hurt as she started to stand up. Gently placing his hand on the back of her upper arm, Chase begged her to sit down with her eyes. Dana obliged and remained sitting and staring at him with her arms crossed.
"No, Dana…I didn't…"
"Then tell me…"
"You…You're beautiful without the make-up…you don't need it is all I meant." Chase refused to look at Dana as he hid his rosy cheeks. "It's like…adding something to the Mona Lisa…you don't have to…like because…"
"Because…?"
Finding the courage to look at Dana, Chase found no solace in the fact that he was not able to easily analyze her current facial expressions or body language to understand what emotions she was feeling.
"It's…already perfect…"
"Really…that's ummm…all that you…" Slowly leaning in, Dana gave up on mental processes as she fell silent and felt her eyes start to flutter shut. Nervously, Chase willingly leaned in towards her as well, closing his eyes when their faces were a few inches apart.
"Ummm…I got to admit…"
Chase opened his eyes to look at Dana when she spoke. Her eyes opened a few seconds after his and she maintained the fractional distance between them as she tried to find the words she was looking for in her brain.
"I thought that you're question was going to…I thought that you were going to want an explanation about last night…" Dana allowed her eyes to drift momentarily and land on Chase's lips. After a few seconds, she returned to looking deeply in Chase's eyes. "You…deserve an explanation for last night."
Chase shook his head with a sincere smile on his face as he moved his body a few inches away from Dana's to a more comfortable distance.
"No…like I said that's what friends are for…I wasn't there for you because I wanted something. I was there because I care about you…and I wanted to be."
Chase nodded at Dana as she swallowed back hard, fighting against the slight burning sensation at the corner of her eyes.
"When you decide you want to give an explanation…or you need to talk about last night…or anything…I'll be here."
Dana nodded, maintaining the small distance between their faces as she tried to come up with some way to thank Chase. Chase maintained the distance as well, growing nervous as they stared at each other quietly. In the blink of an eye, Dana's hand was cupped under Chase's jaw as she crashed her lips onto his. Almost immediately, the roughness of her sudden motion subsided, the embrace becoming much gentler than it had ever been previously as Chase placed his hand gently under Dana's curls and rested it on the side of her face. Neither of the two teenagers pulled away when the kiss was finished, opting instead to position their lips slightly differently and push into one another slightly to reinitiate the act. Again and again they restarted, even though they had never finished, and when they finally pulled apart after about fifteen seconds Dana's hand remained on Chase's neck as they both slowly opened their eyes.
Self consciously, Dana lowered her head for a brief second as Chase stared at her before looking back into his eyes. "Thank you…" Chase was about to reply but in the brief silence they both heard whispering a few feet away from them.
"Adorable…"
Dana and Chase's eyes fell on a small group of four, consisting of three girls and one male, which were a year younger than they were. The entire group fell silent as they saw the look on Dana's face and heard the way her voice hissed out from between her lips.
"Uhhh, hi?!"
The females didn't even try to apologize as they literally ran away and the boy followed directly behind. Chase and Dana may have been "adorable" to group but they still knew Dana by herself was far from it. Dana looked at Chase, the death stare falling off her face for a soft smirk that eventually became a smile. Chase let out a small laugh as Dana tried to play off the last few seconds like nothing had ever happened.
"Don't take this the wrong way Dana, " Chase stated with hesitation in his voice, "But if I haven't already told you…you can be scary mad…very scary."
Dana nodded with the smile still on her face.
"Well, come on…boyfriend…" Chase couldn't help but pick up the overemphasis Dana put on the word boyfriend as the brunette continued. "We got a busy day ahead of us." After quickly looking around, Dana stuck her hand out towards Chase. After a few seconds Chase caught on and intertwined fingers with Dana as they stood up from the bench simultaneously. He couldn't stand the normal way of holding hands…it felt uncomfortable, juvenile, and impersonal.
"We should go try to find the group…that is the next part of your plan right? Got to start making them jealous somehow…"
Chase looked over to Dana and was surprised to see her staring intently at him as they walked at a slow pace. Realizing she was waiting for a response Chase nodded his head.
"Ummm…yeah…"
Dana nodded at Chase's confirmation and placed her vision on where their feet were taking them. As they grew silent, Chase could still feel his elevated heart rate pumping blood through his body. For a brief second, Chase had entirely forgotten about the plan when he was with Dana that particular morning. To be honest, most of the time they had spent together felt real and not scripted, especially the kiss. In fact, he forgot about the whole plan until he was pulled back into reality by the small group of eavesdroppers into Dana and his personal moment. Shooting Dana a few small glances that she didn't notice, Chase wondered if she had forgotten as well the previous night, that morning, and during their kiss.
