Title: Always
Pairing: Chase/Mia (Friendship)
"Hey bartender boy…"
He recognizes the voice instantly. It belongs to the girl that his world once revolved around. But that was a long time ago.
"Mia," he nods, a slight smile gracing his face as the brunette musician makes her way towards the bar, sitting on a barstool. "What can I get for you?"
"Something strong," she jokes with a wide grin as she glances at her phone momentarily before shoving it deep into her pocket.
"How about a Chase's heartbreak? It's my newest and strongest drink," he responds monotonically, turning around to pour the liquor before she can even reply.
He sets the shot glass in front of her, her eyes widening in horror. "What is that?"
He shrugs, a boyish grin situated on his face. "Guess you'll have to drink it if you want to find out."
She looks at the shot glass in horror before picking it up unsurely and bringing it to her lips. The liquid slides down her throat, burning her insides instantly. As she drops the shot glass to the bar countertop with a hard thud, a look of pure distaste crosses her face. "Chase, that is disgusting! Far worse than a brain blaster…" she groans sourly. "How the hell can you even drink that?"
"It numbs the pain," he shrugs, grabbing her empty glass. "Want something else to drink?"
"Not doing so good, huh?" she asks lightly as she eyes the drink menu. She figures after that drink her safest bet is to order something that Chase doesn't have to mix. "I'll just be safe and have a beer."
He sends her a look, one that showcases the pain and brokenness he has pent up inside these last few months, before turning around to grab her beer. As he places it in front of her, he sighs. "Truthfully, it sucks. I really loved Alex, you know? And now she's just gone, she just gave up on me. I'm beginning to think that I should just stop fighting for love, because in the end I always end up hurt. It's just not worth it anymore; getting my heart broken all the time."
"I'm sorry Chase," Mia sighs, concern spreading across her face. She genuinely feels sorry for Chase. Every time that happiness comes his way, it is ripped away from him just as he barely gets a taste of it. And she blames herself partly for that. Because, she had been the first one to break him. "If it's meant to be, she'll come back."
He shrugs emotionlessly. "Maybe, maybe not. Either way, it doesn't matter. I'm done being toyed with. When she comes back, I won't be here."
She nods in complete understanding. "You're a good guy Chase and someday, some girl is going to be very lucky to have you. And hopefully, she won't take you for granted like Alex and I did."
"Do you ever wish you took a different path in life?" Chase asks after a moment, his eyes casting a hard glance into Mia's brown ones.
The question comes out of nowhere and takes her by complete surprise. "Of course I do Chase," she whispers honestly in a low voice. "I keep wishing that I hadn't broken up with you when things got hard, when distance pulled us apart. I wish I had fought for us. And I have to live with that regret every day of my life."
"I wish I had never fallen in love with Alex Dupree. She brought so much good to my life and at the same time she caused me so much pain. Is it possible to love someone so much yet hate them so much at the same time?"
"It's perfectly normal," Mia nods, taking a long and plentiful sip of her drink. "You love Alex but you hate her for what she put you through. But, you'll get through this Chase. I know you will. Because, you are strong and although it may not seem like it now, life will get better. And in the end, happiness will find you. Because, you've worked so hard for it and you deserve it more than anyone I know."
"I hope you're right. Because, I don't know how much longer I can take feeling like this."
Mia feels her heart wrench with sympathy as she looks at her friend. She has never seen him this way before; so broken and full of pain. And the worst part is that she knows that she could have prevented it. And that is the one regret that will always follow her, the guilt that will never sleep. Her heart aches for Chase. She wishes nothing more than for the kindhearted, selfless bartender to find the happiness that he has searched so long and desperately for. She knows what it feels like to have an empty void in your heart that longs to be filled with unconditional love. And she wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone.
"You know Mia, you're a good friend," he smiles, breaking her from her thoughts.
"I hope we can continue to be friends Chase. I miss you…"
"I just want to thank you for being here for me, for understanding…"
"I'll always be here for you Chase," she grins. She has finally accepted that their relationship is over. But their friendship is not. And she misses him like hell. She will take him in her life any way that she can; even if it means that their relationship is strictly platonic. Because, she's not sure that she can handle living one more day without Chase Adams in her life.
AN: Lift-me-up here's your Chase/Mia friendship fic as requested. I hope I did them some justice.