CHASE

"Because it's what your mom wanted for you, remember?"

Yeah…I remember. Mom and me…we talked about my father and about me going to live with him…right before she died.

I sat at her bedside while she lay there…dying. I was quiet for a while because I didn't know what to say. I was scared, sad and lonely already. I wasn't ready for her to die, and I wasn't ready to live without her. I didn't know what was going to happen to me.

"Honey," Mom spoke to me. Her voice was so weak and raspy, but she went on, "you should be sleeping."

I shook my head and said, "No, I'm not tired. I just want to sit with you, Mom."

"Okay," she took a few raspier, deep breaths.

"Mom, are you okay?"

She nodded and said, "Yeah…it's just a little hard to breathe."

"Do you need something?"

"No…I'm okay. I'll be okay. I don't need anything anymore…just you."

She slipped her hand into mine and that's when I began to cry.

"Mom…I'm not ready for you to go. I need you. Please…don't leave me."

"Shh…" she reached up and put her hand on my cheek. "It's going to be okay…you're going to be okay."

"No, I'm not. I'll be all alone without you…you're my best friend."

"I know, but you've got to be strong. You promised me, remember? You're going to be strong and not dwell on this?"

I nodded my head and then I asked, "But what's going to happen to me?"

"You're going to be okay. You're going to be with your father in North Carolina. I've told you about him. You'll like it in Tree Hill."

"No, I won't. I like it here in New York with you and uncle Mouth, aunt Rachel and Molly. I don't want to leave. I don't want to go with my father. I don't care about him. I've never even met him, I don't know him."

"You will. You will get to know him."

"But I don't want to. Why can't I just stay here and live with uncle Mouth?"

"Because your father deserves the chance to know you. He would've been there for you had he known about you. I never told him about you. It's my fault that you never got to know him. So please don't be angry with him. He is going to love you when he meets you. And he will love you and care for you just as much as I do. So please…just give him and Tree Hill a chance. Being with him and being in Tree Hill…it was my favorite place in the world. I promise…you will be happy there. Now, can you promise to give it a chance…for me?"

I nodded again and said, "I promise, Mom. But I'll never be as happy there as I am with you. And I'll never love him as much as I love you."

"Yes you will." Mom still argued with, as weak as she was. "I want you to. Give it some time, Chase…get to know him and his family and his friends. They were all my friends once too. Please…do it for me."

I nodded once again and said, "Okay."

"That's my girl. I love you, my beautiful, Chasedy Faith Davis-Scott."

"I love you too, Mom."

And a few hours later…she was gone.

"I promised her to give it a chance," I say and I look at uncle Mouth. "It's what she wants for me…and for my father."

Uncle Mouth nods and says, "That's right. And she made a good decision in deciding that. Your father is a wonderful guy. He was my best friend and I couldn't have gotten through high school without him. He'll take good care of you…I promise."

"Mom said that too."

I promised her I'd give him a chance, so I guess that's just what I'm going to have to do.

a/n: hope that didn't suck too much guys. ive been working really hard on this and Dan's Return, so that's why it has taken me so long. please let me know what you think.