Chapter Seven

After I hugged Chase, we went our separate ways. I needed to meet some new people. And besides, it wasn't healthy to hang out with an engaged man I had met just a couple days ago. And I couldn't take the awkward feeling I had brought upon myself by asking such personal questions. What was I thinking? Do you believe in soul mates? That just screamed, "Chase, I think I'm in love with you."

And with that, I knew I didn't just like Chase as a friend. No doubt about it. He was the guy I had fallen for. But if I told him, he would think I was a scummy dirt bag who wanted to break up his engagement. On the other hand, if I didn't tell him, I would spend the rest of my life in regret. Regret for never speaking out. But if I told him, that would also make him think I was a complete moron. I had barely known him for three days, and here I was… Practically head over heels for him… It made me feel incompetent and fickle, like I was some young teenage girl who thinks she's in love with the new guy at school on the first day. Most girls probably wouldn't feel as I do about such a matter… But I'm not those other girls…

I needed some time to think things through. Get my head put on straight. Sort through fact and assumption. Maybe that would help me get over him. Maybe sorting through my thoughts would help me realize Chase was just a friend…? No. Lying to myself would be the worst thing I could do. I kept contemplating these thoughts as I walked toward the Inn, unknowingly. I heard two very angry voices penetrate my deep thoughts that had remained completely uninterrupted until now. One voice was Chase's and the other was Maya's. I hid behind some shrubbery that was at the side of the inn.

"You were in the woods alone with her? If you're not guilty of something, why didn't you invite me along or at least tell me where you were going?" Maya screeched.

"Because… It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing. And I didn't want to have to drag her along to hunt you down to let you know. You stepped out for a minute when we left… I had no idea where you were…" Chase fired back, but not as violently as Maya.

Maya retorted, "What a lame excuse! How could you do this to me?!"

"Maya, I did nothing to you to harm or disgrace you! If you can't believe me or even trust me, then why the heck are we getting married?" Chase asked.

"Chase! How could you say such a thing to your fiancé? I love you! Would you really trade my love for that cheap tramp?" I wanted to leap out from behind the bushes so Maya could say that to my face, but I retained my cover.

"Angela is NOT cheap, and she definitely isn't a tramp! You barely even know her! How could you make such an assumption of a person? And why? Because you're jealous?" Chase was furious now.

"I most certainly am not jealous of such a girl! And she is a tramp for trying to hit on an engaged man!" Maya said.

"She never hit on me!... If anything… I… Maya, I'm going to the doctor's office. I stubbed my toe on a rock and I need to get it checked out… If you'll excuse me…" he walked right past the infuriated blonde.

I wiped the burning tears from my eyes. Chase had just risked his marriage to defend me. I waited until I was sure Maya had left the front of the inn to stand up. I brushed off my clothes which had become contaminated with bits of grass. The feeling of having Chase stand up for me was so empowering, I felt as if I could've ran a marathon. Even though I'm not a great runner… I headed toward the entrance of the inn, but changed my mind. I instead headed toward the building with the red cross sign beside it. I wanted to see if Chase was alright.

I entered the light green building to find a tranquil, white room. An older woman was standing at the front desk. I assumed she was a nurse.

"Hello, can you tell me if Chase has been by here yet?" I asked.

The older woman looked confused, "Why do you want to see him?"

"I was with him when he stumped his toe… And I was wondering how he was doing…" I answered.

She raised an eyebrow, "You do know he's engaged?"

"Yes, ma'am. I know. We're just friends…" I said, trying to remain polite.

"Very well… He's in the examination room right there. It was just his foot, so I'm assuming he looks presentable for a lady to be in the room," she pointed to the room that was right beside the lobby.

"Thank you," I said as I headed through the doorway.

I looked in to see that the doctor was feeling Chases foot. Chase looked up as I entered the room. He smiled. I made an attempt to smile myself, but it wasn't going very well… He noticed my somewhat regretful and melancholy face. The doctor looked up, and gave me the same confused look I had been given by many people.

"Doctor, can I speak to Angela alone for a minute?" Chase asked as tears welled up in my eyes.

The doctor nodded as he exited the room. I sighed as I took a seat and wiped the wet beads that had begun to drip from my eyes. I sat there, trying to gather my thoughts. Trying to decide exactly what I wanted to say. Or whether I would just chicken out. Maybe chickening out at this point wouldn't be a bad thing to do… Maybe I should really make sure I felt so strongly about Chase before turning our whole relationship upside down and possibly ruining it. That seemed to be the best idea.

"What's wrong, Angela?" he asked.

"Nothing… I… I heard you defending me to Maya… I didn't mean to spy or anything… But I did, and I'm sorry for that… but thank you…" I smiled.

"Oh… You heard that, huh? Well, she was attacking you. And I know you could never be a tramp. If anyone's the tramp it'd be m…" he stopped.

I veered off the subject of being a tramp, "It just means so much to me because I've never had someone so sure of me… so sure of my character and merit that they were willing to argue with someone that they should've just sided with… I figured you'd take Maya's side…"

Chase answered, "And be wrong? Now, you know I'm never wrong," he chuckled as he motioned for me to come over, "Angela, you are the only person I've ever been able to truly talk to. I know that seems odd, but it's the truth…"

He put his arms around me and I put mine around him. I had no shame, either. How could I have shame for loving someone? Was it not true that humans had that tendency? It was a simple hug. Not a kiss or anything else. A simple hug to symbolize how close we had gotten in the past few days.

At least that was what I kept telling myself.