3 Months Later...
Bree's P.O.V.
Things have been different since Chase and Mr. Davenport got back. We had a welcome home party and it was fun. We had lots of cake and ice cream. Everyone was really happy. Chase and I were fine for awhile. For about a week life went on as if nothing had ever happened. But it had. And I know everyone was trying really hard to make everything seem normal, but I knew the truth. Nothing would ever be normal again. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't undo what has already been done. And no matter how many cakes Tasha bakes, or how many inventions Mr. Davenport invents, or how many presents Adam and Leo give me, or how many sad looks Douglas gives me, nothing can fix this.
I just can't get over this. It's like there is this thing building up inside of me. This anger that I can't seem to let go of.
After a week or so, I began to notice how many things Chase does that annoy me. I recognized why I had been distancing myself from him when we were younger. He is really annoying! Chase tried to comfort me, to talk to me, but I didn't listen. I wanted nothing to do with him. He always says the wrong thing at the wrong time. He never stops talking! Especially when he is thinking he is better than everyone else. Which is basically all the time. I don't want to be around his arrogance anymore. He is so selfish I can hardly stand to be near him at dinner. Not that
Not that I can really eat dinner anymore. I've been sick all week. I think it's the flu. I've been feeling so blah. Like I have no energy. And I can hardly keep a meal down. I really hate being sick. Besides that, Chase is trying to nurse me and that is really annoying too because all I want is for him to leave me alone!
Adam and Leo have gone back to the Academy now and have been given new stations. Adam is in Australia now heading up a team to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Leo is in Florida with Logan and Taylor trying to get the people there ready for a big hurricane. Douglas is at the Academy giving out assignments to the teams and trying to keep Perry in line. So now it's just me, Chase, Tasha, and Mr. Davenport. Chase and I are to leave for our new assignment in about a month. Mr. Davenport says he thinks that is enough time for us to rest and recuperate after the events of last winter.
But I'm beginning to doubt whether I can work with Chase again. It's like I just can't seem to be around him anymore. I've been avoiding him for two months and recently, he has started to catch on and leave me alone. So even if I wanted to talk to him, he probably doesn't want to talk to me anymore.
Now it's Monday morning and Mr. Davenport has already left to go to the island. When I come out of the bathroom, I can hear Tasha in the kitchen making breakfast and Chase is nowhere to be found. Which is fine with me. Tasha sees me enter the living room and says good morning. I reply the same to her and plant myself in front of the television. I hear Tasha say something, but I'm not paying attention so I don't hear her. But since she doesn't repeat herself, I figure it must not be too important and return my focus to my T.V. show.
Soon, I hear the front door open and Chase walks in. He goes straight to the kitchen, not even glancing my way. He hands a bag full of, I'm assuming, groceries to Tasha and she thanks him. Then he comes into the living area and sits down beside me on the couch. I ignore him. I don't want to speak to him. Not today.
"Bree? Bree, we need to talk," he says, touching my arm to get my attention.
I reply without turning to face him. "What about?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
"Bree, you know what this is about. Do you really want Tasha to hear us discuss this?" he asks, the last part whispering.
"I don't want to talk to you. About that or about anything else." I say, trying to make my voice sound braver than I am.
"I don't care. We have to talk about this. I don't want you to shut me out for the rest of our lives." he pleads.
"I have nothing to discuss with you. We have no business together so please either sit there quietly or leave so I can finish my show." I say, trying not to let my voice crack with emotion.
"No," he says in such a tone that it makes me jump and look at him, "No, I will not take your silence any longer. You will come upstairs with me and we will talk about this like adults. Come on. Let's go."