Chapter 2
When The Past Comes Back...
When morning came, everyone was called to be at the dinning table by 9:30am. Alan sat at the very end and to his right side sat Logan, Quinn and Zoey, while on his left side sat, Lola, Chase and Michael. During breakfast, they all talked about their future career and how much they were loving college. There was some awkward tension between Chase and Zoey as they once in a while eyed each other during the whole breakfast.
"So guys, I was thinking since we are all together now, how about if we go to the Park and catch up more with our lives". Logan suggested.
"That's a great idea! We can also have a picnic". Lola added as the rest nodded agreeing with Logan's idea, except Chase, who stood up.
"It's great that you guys want to have your lovely reunion party at the Park, but I'm not going to be able to join you all. I already have plans with my homies at The 4 Stroke, so I'm going to gone all day. Now if y'all excuse me I have a girlfriend to pick up". Chase said as he left the dinning room.
"Is he always like that?". Zoey asked somewhat annoyed.
"Yep, that's Chase". Logan said as he ate his fruit.
"What happened to him?". Lola asked. Logan and Quinn turned to see Alan, who cleared his throat.
"You see, when Chase, Logan and Quinn arrived to my mansion they all seem exited to finally start their first year in college, with the exception of Chase. I don't know if you all remember the Christmas week we spent at my sons house in Santa Barbara? Well, from what I remember, and I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable Zoey, but Chase was your boyfriend right?". Alan asked and Zoey nodded.
"Well during that time, I saw a whole different Chase than what we see now. Back then he was full of happiness, and still had his perfectly Bushy hair with his flannel shirts that he wore, his ripped jeans and old vans shoes. When he came here, he was still the same Chase, but with no interest in doing anything, he just went to his classes came back here and did his homework or watched some TV, but he never went out to hang with Quinn or Logan. Then in a couple of months he got a job as the manager of one of the Pear Stores, and that's were he met Lea. They became really good friends and soon became boyfriend and girlfriend. He then met other bad influences out there, and in a couple of weeks after he got the job, he began to change his way of dressing and he also surprised us with his new hair cut. That's how he became the person you see now". Alan finished.
"He does look good with that haircut though". Lola confessed.
"He looks great, but the only thing that doesn't look good on him is his actions or the places he hangs out". Quinn said.
"What's that place he mentioned. The 4 Stroke?". Michael asked.
"It's a place where gangsters hang out, which is the new place Chase likes to hang out now". Logan responded.
"Alan? Aren't you afraid that something might happen to Chase while being on that place?". Zoey asked.
"I am afraid, that's why Chase is the only one in here that has a curfew. If he decided to hang out outside of this house, he needs to be back before 10:30pm and of he doesn't, I'm going to punish him. That's what we agreed on and as for now he's been obeying well".
"Have you ever gone to that place?". Michael asked.
"No, because I'm afraid. You know, there are many dangerous people hanging over there, so I prefer to keep my distance...Let's set this subject aside. Why dont you guys get ready for that walk at the park?". Alan said.
"Yeah, let's get ready". Lola excitedly replied as she and the rest stood up.
"You guys get ready I'm going to try and get in touch with my brother". Zoey said as she went over to the living room.
"I need some fresh air, so I'll be outside". Michael said, walking towards the front door and stepping outside. He spotted Ron and he discreetly went up to him.
"Hi?... Ron right?". Michael asked unsure
Ron turned around.
"Hey kid! Your a friend of the Reese's. How can I help you?". Ron smiled.
"Can you... can you drive me to The 4 Stroke?". Michael asked nervously, looking at the front door to see if his friends were still in side.
"The 4 Stroke uh? Okay... I'll get the car". Ron said as he started to walk away.
"Hey! There's more cars for the rest of my friends right? I heard that they were planning on going to the Park?". Michael asked.
"Yeah, don't worry kid!". Ron said as he went to get the car. Michael got on and rode way in direction to The 4 Stroke. The ride took about 30 minutes and Michael was surprised at what he saw as they entered a really bad neighborhood. He saw some drunk guys yelling outside their house's. There was trash on the sidewalks, used needles ect. Young children were sitting on the steps, who looked like they haven't had a bath in quite some time.
"Are we almost there?". Michael asked Ron from the back seat. He took a left turn and stopped the car
"We're here". Ron said. Michael slowly got off the car. He went up to Ron, who lowered his window down.
"Can you wait for me here?". Michael asked.
"Sure, but hurry because like you this place also gives me the chills".
"Is it that noticeable". Michael laughed nervously and Ron nodded.
"When you go inside there, you have to act tough, that's the key point". Ron advised.
"Thanks". Michael said as he made his way to the entrance of The 4 Stroke Club.
"Good luck in finding Chase". Ron yelled which made Michael stop and turn around.
"How do you know I'm here to see Chase?". Michael asked confused.
"Why else would you be here". Ron smiled.
Michael smirked and continue his way into the Club. He entered and Like Ron told him, he acted tough around the people that surrounded him. He searched, and searched around the place until he found the person he was looking for.
ω
At the Reese's Mansion, Lola, Zoey and Quinn were preparing the picnic basket while Logan took a long shower. When they finish preparing themselves and we're ready to go they said goodbye to Alan and headed out to look for Michael.
"He said he was going to be here right?". Logan asked the girls and they nodded.
"Yeah. He said he needed some fresh air". Lola replied as she looked around for their lost friend.
"Okay. Let's see if Carlos has seeing him". Logan said they all made their way to the man standing I'm the gates.
"Hey Carlos? Have you seen Michael? He's a black guy who came with those two girls here yesterday, remember?". Logan described.
"Oh yeah! I think he asked Ron to take him to someplace called... What was it called? Oh! It was called The 4 stroke". Carlos said.
"The 4 Stroke? Isn't that the place Chase was going to?". Zoey asked.
"Oh! No! This is bad!". Quinn said hysterically.
"What do you mean?". Zoey asked worriedly.
"Nothing. It's just that The 4 Stroke is located in a really bad neighborhood. There's drug dealers, assassins, etc. But I know he's safe with Ron or with Chase". Logan explained as the rest stood there, worried.
ω
Back at The 4 Stoke, Chase and Lea were standing, talking with each other when a guy approached them.
"Chase! Glad to see you here with your girl! It's been so long".
"Back at ya Harley!".
"I noticed that your not drinking anything, so I'm here to get you anything". Harley said.
"What do you have?". Chase asked.
"We have tequila, whiskey, Wine, and beer".
"Umm I guess I'll have...Wine today. Bring me the whole bottle and also bring me a big glass of lemonade with a straw". Chase said. Harley nodded and left running.
Lea turned to see Chase.
"You always know what I want". Lea said taping Chase's chest.
"Well you are my girlfriend, and as your boyfriend I need to know this kinda stuff". Chase replied wrapping his arm around her.
"You know, it's been so long since we came here, and you usually come here when you want to get away from something. Whats the problem now Chase?". Lea asked sweetly.
"It's nothing. I just missed the friends I made in this place, the excitement of the environment, I just want to have fun with you". Chase said hugging her and kissing her forehead. As they hugged, Lea notice a familiar person coming their way.
"Hey, isn't that Michael?". Lea asked and Chase quickly turned around to see Michael approaching.
"Hi Chase and Lea". Michael greeted.
"Hi Michael". Lea responded waving.
"Michael! What are you doing here?". Chase asked a bit annoyed.
"I just wanted to see the place you prefer to be at, than the picnic with your friends at the park". Michael said.
Harley had already returned with the drinks. He gave Lea the lemonade and Chase the bottle of wine, with an empty glass.
"There you go man! Enjoy! And if you want more just yell my name and I'll be here". Harley said and left to the pool table.
"You invited him to the park? Why didn't you go Chase?". Lea asked.
"We'll talk about that later. Now I have to talk with this guy, I'll be right back". Chase told Lea as he grabbed Michael's arm and leaded him a couple of feet away from Lea.
"Michael this is not the place for someone like you. You should go, I belong here".
"You don't belong here... with this people". Michael said as he looked around.
"Don't judge us Michael". Chase said as he poured some wine into his glass.
"Chase listen, our entire friendship, we have talked about everything. We've talked about girls, movies, we've talked about music, but we've never talked about what you believe in".
"I believe that I finally found a place, where I can be myself. People here don't judge me, but respect me". Chase said, taking a sip from his drink.
"Chase what do you believe in...?". Michael asked again.
"What do you believe in Michael!?". Chase turned the question around. "You believe in a perfect friendship, with a friend who has lied to you since the very beginning!". Chase yelled.
"What are you talking about!? I have never lied to you".
"I wasn't talking about you". Chase looked down.
"Then who are you talking about?".
"Just forget it alright. It doesn't matter anymore".
"Chase, can't you see that your having your mind mess with? Your not the person I know, and everything you say is artificial. Your not going to find what your looking for here".
"23 years of being out there, I haven't found anything at all!".
"Look. The only thing this place does to you is that they make you think your lost, so they can find you and once they got you, you'll never get out of their sight".
"Your talking crazy". Chase smiled. They stood there in silence for a minute until Michael decided to speak again.
"So that's it uh? You've chosen this place. You rather spend time here than with your frends? ".
"Yeah. So why don't you go".
Michael was so dissapointed, but nodded and made his way out of the club as Chase went back to her girlfriend.
"What happened with Michael?". Lea asked.
"He had to go". Chase replied, finishing his drink and pouring more.
The day went by fast and it was now 1:30 in the morning. Chase took Lea back to her home at around 9:30pm and he returned back to the 4 Stroke Club and stayed there till now. He was parking in front of the mansion and carefully got out of the car. He walked over to the front door, trying not to fall and entered. As he closed the door and turned the lights on, Alan was waiting for him, as well as his friends, but they were upstairs hiding from both of them.
"It was about time you got here". Alan said standing up.
"Yeah well, it was a great party". Chase smiled as he approached him.
"I see you forgot about our little rule between the both of us, didn't you?".
"The rule about you not butting in my life anymore".
"You know what rule I'm talking about. Now, sit. I want to talk to you". Alan ordered.
"What! Am I getting the lecture from the old man!". Chase rudely said as he tried to go pass him, but Alan grabbed him by his arm and pushed him back.
"Listen pal! You live under my roof and under my rules. We agreed that you can go wherever you want, but you need to be back in this house by 10:30 and now it's 1:40 in the morning, were you at the 4 stoke all day?". Alan asked angrily.
"No. After I left yesterday morning, I went to pick up Lea. I took her to the movies, and then we went to the club. We were there for about 3 hours until Lea got bored so I then took her to the beach, and later we went to grab something to eat. At ten thirty I took her to her house and I wet back to The 4 Stroke. I'm coming from over there right now". Chase explained.
"Well since you broke our agreement, I'm going to confiscate something from you".
"Are you talking my toys away". Chase joked. "I'm not a kid anymore!".
"Your not a kid anymore, but you act like one and yes, I'm taking one of your most precious toys. Ron can you please take away his toy?". Alan asked. Ron came out of a room and went up to Chase. He opened his jacket and took his car keys and gave them to Alan.
"Your talking away my car! That's my car, I bought it! You have no right to take that away from me!". Chase yelled.
"If is in my property, I can take anything I want, and as for now, your car is in my possession. You can still go out and party, but since your not going to have your sweet ride anymore, Ron is going to be the one who's going to take you anywhere you'll like, and he's going to be back with you before 10:30". Alan said. Chase was so angry that, he pushed both Ron and Alan away as he made his way up the stairs.
"Wait!". Alan said and Chase stopped. He went towards Chase and saw small white stuff close to his nose.
"Please tell me that your not into drugs". Alan pleaded and Chase didn't say a word.
"Why are you doing drugs! Your not the kind of guy who does this things!". Alan yelled.
"It's my life, I can do whatever I want with it". Chase responded.
"Early tomorrow I'm going to send you to the Moor Side. There's a friend of mine that's going to talk to you about your drug problem. But like I said, your going to be able to go anywhere you want, except The 4 Stroke, you got that Ron?". Alan asked and Ron nodded.
"Now go and get that crap off your nose". Alan told Chase and he continued to make his way up the stairs. His friends who we're listening to the whole conversation quickly ran to Zoey's room. They heard footsteps pass by and then a door slamming so hard.
"Wow". Lola said as she went to sit with the rest on Zoey's bed.
""Does this happen daily?". Zoey asked Logan and Quinn.
"Not really. This is the first time Chase disobeys Alan. He always goes to the 4 Stroke Club, except when he works, but since we're in vacation break, the owner told him to take a break until we returned to school again. Anyways he goes there, and always returns before 10:30, but tonight as you all saw was different". Logan explained.
"He really changed when we left PCA". Quinn said dissapointed.
"Maybe he's still mad at us. Remember when Zoey and Chase broke up? Remember how badly they treat each other? Me and Lola didn't like how Chase started treating Zoey, so we sided with her and Quinn and Logan sided with Chase. After that day nothing was the same". Michael said.
"Now that we're in the subject, you never told us why you and Chase broke up anyways". Logan looked at Zoey.
"Hasn't Chase told you?". Zoey asked
"No". Logan shook his head.
"I don't know if I should tell you guys, I mean it's a private personal thing that happen between him and me".
"Come on Zoey. Maybe if you tell us what happen, we could find some kind of solution to snap Chase out of his little world". Lola said.
Zoey looked at her friends and sighted.
"Okay I'll tell you, but prepared yourselves because it's something big".
They all nodded and sat all their attention to her.
"I don't know if you guys remember our prom night, the night Chase and I became officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Those moments we spend with each other we're the most amazing... The romantic dinner, those times we strolled hand in hand along the shoreline, he made me so happy, until I made the worst mistake of my life". Zoey said.
The rest looked at Zoey confused.
"What did you do?". Michael asked.
"During our senior year trip to the Aloha Beach Camp, I met this guy called Brian Lancaster...". Zoey began but Quinn interrupted.
"Brian Lancaster? Wasn't him the most popular guy at PCA?".
Zoey nodded.
"I remember him. You and him went on a couple of dates during our freshman year in College". Lola commented and Zoey again, nodded.
"Anyways, me and him bonded nicely and for a couple of months we hid from Chase and the public, just to see each other. We were hiding this romantic relationship, behind Chase's back. I look back on those moments where Chase would plan something special like a romantic dinner at the beach, and because I wanted to see Brian, I cancelled telling him that I needed to study for a test. A couple of weeks before we ended our senior year, I sneaked Brian into my room, since Lola and Quinn were at the mall and Chase was going to come much later to see me. Me and him were having a good time, and we soon started to make out. In a couple of minutes Chase came into my room without knocking and found me and Brian kissing. He was carrying a dozen of roses, but when he saw me and Brian in a compromising position, he dropped them. He then started asking what was happening and I started to explain, but he didn't listen to me. Brian started to defend me but Chase punched him so hard that he fell unconscious. I then began to yell at Chase, telling him how could he be such a jerk. We told each other some bad stuff, but I told him something that I regret deeply". Zoey paused as she wiped a tear.
"What did you say?". Lola asked.
"I... I told him that I wished I had never met him, and I ended our friendship right at that moment. I could see in his eyes how hurt he was. He didn't say anything, but grabbed the dozen of roses he had dropped and walked out of my room. After that day we started treating each other like enemies, but we decided to not tell you guys what happened, so we just told you guys that we decided to break up, with no reason of why". Zoey finished and her friends were mouth open.
"And since we didn't know what happened in between the two of you, we took sides and that's what hurt even more our relationship with Chase and with each other". Logan said.
"So, he changed himself because of that fight he had with you and now that your here in his life again, I guess memories of the fight came into his mind, and decided to made them go away by getting drunk and trying some drug at the 4 Stroke". Quinn added.
"I get it know". Michael told himself.
"What do you get?". Logan asked.
"You guys know how I went to the 4 Stroke Club today to look for Chase? Well, as we talked, I asked him what did he believe in, and he, I think without thinking, he said something, like " I believed in a friendship that had been a lie since the very beginning". Now Im sure he was talking about Zoey". Michael explained.
Lola turned to see Zoey. She wanted to scream at her, but she didn't want Chase to hear since his room was in front of Zoey's, so she asked her a question calmly.
"Who could you do this to Chase, Zoey? I mean Brian was hot and popular, but Chase was beyond that. He fell in love with you since the first day he saw you and that's how you repay him, by cheating on him like that?".
"I accept that I made a horrible mistake and I regret cheating on him. I was so stupid In saying those things to Chase. The only thing I want is to see if we can fix the things that happen between us".
"Maybe there's still hope". Michael said and everyone turned their attention to him.
"How?". Lola asked intrigued.
"We just need to find a way to leave Chase and Zoey alone, with no interruptions". He replied.
"Why don't we try that tomorrow, when Chase gets back from The Moor Side. I'm sure he's going to be back for breakfast". Quinn said.
"Before we agree on something, we need to see is Zoey really wants to do this". Logan turned to see Zoey.
"You want to do this right?". Lola asked her and she nodded.
"I'll do anything to fix my friendship with Chase". Zoey responded.
"Great! Now let's get some sleep and see what happens tomorrow". Logan said as he and the rest, except Zoey, stood up from her bed and exited her room.
Okay, that's chapter 2. Don't forget to check this story in Wattpad...
SeanFlynnAkaChaseM.