Chapter 16

Chasity walked onto the docks and sat on the bench. She had thought about going to the Pizza Shack again since the only two teen hangouts were there and Kelly's but she decided against it. After a few minutes, she found herself thinking about the way things were before Cooper left. They never really fought over much just the bathroom in the morning on occasion. One of the other reasons they got along so well was because they listened to each other, she listened to Cooper and he listened to her. She shook her head slightly as she remembered the many times she went to him, rambled on, and on about why some guy was so cute or why that guy was being a jerk. He just sat quietly and listened until she was done talking he would always try to help her handle the situation…even if he wasn't sure how and that was more than their mother ever did. Chasity felt a tear roll down her cheek as she remembered the week before he left. Once she knew he was leaving and there was nothing she could do to stop him she tried her best to distance herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Spencer walking up on the docks. Chasity wiped away what was now a stream of tears running down her cheeks.

"You okay?" Spencer asked seeing a stray tear running down Chasity's cheek.

"Yeah I'm fine," Chasity, said hoping she sounded convincing.

Spencer didn't say anything he just sat down next to her.

"I'll ask you again, what's wrong?"

"You're not going to give up on this are you?"

"Well I'm not going to push you to tell me something you don't want to but, I would like to know what's wrong,"

Chasity sighed.

"Okay I'll tell you,"

Maxie walked into the lobby and walked up to Cooper who was standing in the middle of the lobby.

"Hi," Maxie said once she reached him.

"Hi," Cooper replied.

Automatically Maxie knew something was up.

"Did something happen at Kelly's after I left?"

"No not really, Chasity and I just had one of our discussions,"

"What happened?" Maxie asked.

"She wants to move into one of the rooms above Kelly's and I'm not sure I want her to," Cooper explained.

Maxie was quiet for a minute.

Cooper studied Maxie for a moment, he knew she was up to something he just wasn't sure what.

"Maxie what are you up to? You only get this quiet when you're thinking about doing something,"

"Don't worry it's nothing bad, I was just thinking maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for her to get a room at Kelly's. I mean since I'm at Kelly's a lot I could offer to help her with her room and causally bring up the subject of her being mad at her and get through to her that way,"

Cooper thought about it for a second and it could work.

"Okay it sounds like it might work, I guess I'll text message her and tell her she can move into the room above Kelly's,"

"Okay, I'll just think of a way to run into her at Kelly's and talk to her about it," Maxie said.

"Okay,"

With that, Maxie headed back towards the boutique.

"So he just left you to deal with your mother?" Spencer asked after listening to what Chasity told him.

"Well yeah, but I still think he wouldn't have left if his friend Logan Hayes hadn't hooked him up with the non-commitment girlfriend and suggested the army idea,"

"So you resent him for leaving?" Spencer asked.

Chasity bit her bottom lip.

"I don't know, maybe I do resent him but when he first left I missed him a lot and I got tired of it so I found it easier to be angry with him. I think I just used the anger as a defense mechanism."

Spencer sighed.

"Don't take this the wrong way but, while I think you have every right to be angry with your brother don't you think you should at least try to forgive him? I don't mean right away but eventually because he may not have been there for three years but he's here now,"

Chasity smiled slightly.

She had to admit it, Spencer was right Cooper may not have been in her life for three years but he was there now and she should try. She just wasn't sure she wanted to completely forgive him yet.

"I might be able to forgive him, but not right away,"

Spencer nodded in understanding.

"So did I help any?"

Chasity smiled.

"Yeah. You actually helped a lot,"

"Good. If you don't want me to tell Kristina about this I won't," Spencer said.

"Well, she'll find out eventually so it's okay if she does find out but I'm not sure I want her to find out right away,"

"I won't tell her anything," Spencer promised as they stood up.

"Thank you," Chasity replied quietly.

"No problem,"

With that, they walked away from the docks.