Author's Note: Thanx to everyone for the replies!

Chapter 4: Feelings Revealed

It was late Monday afternoon, three weeks since Shay's first day at Pacific Coast Academy. Classes were over and the last lingering students were beginning to head inside. The sun had already started to set, making the sky a canvas for the luminous reds, yellows, and oranges.

Bounce...Bounce...Swish!

Bounce...Bounce...Swish!

Bounce...Bounce...

Shay pulled up another jump shot from the three point line, swish! She retrieved the ball, dribbling twice before shooting again, swish! The ball rolled out of bounds and into a nearby bush. Shay sighed as she went to get the ball. She got down on her knees and slid her a little bit of her upper body under the bush, reaching for the bright orange basketball. At that moment she felt someone lay their lower hand on her back and she jerked out from under the bush and out of the person's reach, clutching the ball to her chest.

"Whoa!" Chase said, holding his hands up as if to say 'I surrender', "I was just seeing if you needed any help getting the ball back."

Shay felt her fast-paced heart slow as she discovered it had only been Chase, "You startled me is all. Sorry for freaking out."

"No it's okay. I'm the one who should be apologizing."

"You're so sweet." Shay said with a small, shy smile as her cheeks turned pink, "Want to shoot around with me?"

She tossed Chase the ball and he barely caught it, him being too distracted by Shay's first comment.

"Uh...sure."

Chase dribbled out to the free throw line as Shay waited by the basket for the rebound. He pulled up a smooth jumper and the ball sailed through the air, but bounced off the front of the rim with a firm bing!.

"You need to follow through. You're shooting flat." Shay advised as she retrieved the ball and tossed it back to Chase.

Chase nodded, dribbled the ball a few times, and pulled up another jump shot. This time, the basketball flew in a perfect arc before settling in the net. Shay caught the ball as it fell through the net.

"Nice shot." She commented with a smile as she dribbled out to the three point line and prepared to shoot again.

"Thanx, but I'll never be as good as the unstoppable Ace." Chase replied jokingly.

Shay laughed as the ball left her hand, arcing in the air, before swished through the net. Chase smiled. It was the first time he heard her laugh and he felt his stomach do a flip when he heard it. The sound was so heavenly, he wondered why she didn't laugh more. Then, he felt guilty for even thinking these thoughts. Zoey was his girlfriend, not Shay. Never Shay. Zoey was who he should be thinking about. They had just made up two weeks ago and he didn't want to do something that could jeopardize their relationship. Chase was knocked out of his thoughts, literaly. The ball bounced right off Chase's head.

"Oh! Are you okay?" Shay said worriedly as she trotted up to Chase.

"I think so." Chase winced as his hand flew up to the bruise/bump forming on his forehead.

"Here sit down." Shay led Chase over to a bench and sat him down before sitting down beside him, "Let me take a look."

She gently removed Chase's hand and examined the small injury. Her and Chase's faces were only inches apart and as soon as she noticed, Shay pulled away, blushing.

"I-it's n-nothing major. I'm really s-sorry." Shay stumbled over her words.

"It's fine really." Chase locked eyes with Shay.

He felt his heartbeat quicken as the one thing he wanted to do in his mind turned into his action. Chase leaned forward and kissed Shay. Zoey was the farthest thing from his mind at that moment, but what was on his mind was how Shay would react as he drew back from her. He instantly felt his cheeks flame.

"I-I...I mean...I'm sorry...I..."

Shay cut him off with a soft kiss. Chase felt his heart soar as he kissed her back, putting a hand on her waist. He had kissed Zoey before, of course, but it was nothing like this. Kissing Shay felt...felt...there were no words to describe it. Then, just as quickly as it started, it ended. Shay pulled away and stood up, backing away from Chase.

"We shouldn't be doing this. You have a girlfriend Chase."

"Shay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come on to you." Chase stood up and walked towards her.

"It's not like I didn't enjoy it. I really like you and all. It's just...what about Zoey? She really likes you too and I don't want to break you two apart. Chase," Shay sighed, "If this is what's going to happen when we get together than I think it might be a good idea for us not to see eachother and just not be friends anymore."

It was obvious Shay didn't like the idea and Chase didn't either, but there was no other way to ensure he didn't wind up cheating on Zoey. He really cared about her. But he cared for Shay a lot too. Chase nodded solemnly, too choked up to speak. The thought of not talking to or hanging around Shay hurt a lot. It hurt more than when he caught Zoey and Logan together last semester.

"I'm glad you understand. I'll miss you." Shay whispered as she gave Chase a quick kiss on the cheek before turning and running off to the girls dorm, leaving her bookbag and basketball behind.

End of Chapter