Chapter 15

After leaving the Pizza Shack Chasity found herself back at Kelly's since she really had no place to stay but Cooper's room. She walked up the stairs and reluctantly knocked on the door.

So much for my avoidance tactic. Chasity thought to herself.

She shook her head slightly. All she had to do was try to distance herself the way she had been doing, that way she wouldn't get hurt again.

About that time, Cooper opened the door.

"I need to stay here for a little while okay?" Chasity said getting straight to the point.

Without waiting for a response, she walked into the room and put her stuff on the floor.

"I'll sleep on the floor so you can take the bed," Cooper offered.

"No it's your room you take the bed," Chasity said holding up a duffel bag with a sleeping bag in it.

Cooper didn't feel like fighting with Chasity and it was apparent she had her mind made up so he slept in the bed and she slept in the sleeping bag.

The next morning Cooper walked over to the table he saw Maxie sitting at and sat across from her. Before anything else was said, Maxie and Cooper leaned across the table and kissed each other.

"So did you get through to Chasity because I'm guessing she had to stay at your place," Maxie asked once they pulled away.

"She stayed at my place and no, I didn't get through to her because we barely spoke,"

Maxie nodded.

"I'm sorry we haven't really gotten a chance talk about what's going on with us," Cooper said apologetically.

Maxie shook her head.

"I understand with your sister coming back you have to worry about that. I think I might have an idea to get through to her," Maxie said.

"How?" Cooper asked curiously.

"Well since you talking to her isn't really working I could try to talk to her, I mean we have the mommy abandonment issue in common,"

"But I'm the one she's mad at," Cooper pointed out.

"Yeah for leaving her with your mother so you're probably not the only one she angry with, she's probably just as angry with your mom,"

Cooper thought about what Maxie had suggested and it could work, it was definitely worth a shot because what he was doing obviously wasn't working.

"We could try it but when would you talk to her?"

"Well I have to work until later this evening so I could talk to her then or since she's on spring break I'm sure she won't stay in the room above Kelly's all day, maybe she'll go to Metro Court to shop or something,"

"I doubt it she knows I work at Metro court,"

"Well I'll just have to stick with my first idea and talk to her after work and don't worry about how I'm going to do it, I'll figure something out," Maxie said.

"Okay,"

Cooper trusted Maxie he just wasn't sure how Chasity would react.

"I have to get to work," Maxie said looking at the wall clock.

"Okay I'll see you when my shift starts,"

With that, Maxie left Kelly's.

Cooper was still sitting at the table eating his breakfast when he saw Chasity come down the stairs and start walking towards his table. When she reached the table, she sat in the chair Maxie had previously occupied.

"No," Cooper said.

He knew that look, she wanted something and she was going to try to talk him into it---even if she was mad.

"Since I have to stay here all week and your room above Kelly's is so small I was wondering if I could move into one of the rooms like one across from yours," Chasity suggested ignoring the fact Cooper already said no.

Without hesitation, Cooper gave her his answer.

"Like I said before no, no way are you going to move into one of the rooms above Kelly's, even if it is across from mine,"

"Why not?" Chasity asked annoyance evident in her voice.

"You're only fifteen, that's why,"

"I'll be sixteen in June," Chasity protested.

"That still doesn't make it any better Chas; you're still too young,"

"Well I've pretty much lived on my own since you left anyway so I don't see a problem,"

"You shouldn't have had to live on your own but, you're still too young to do it,"

Chasity sighed and resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Will you at least think about it? Please?"

"Maybe," Cooper replied.

Chasity smiled slightly but caught herself.

"Thank you,"

With that, Chasity got up and left Kelly's.