Chapter 3
When The Past Comes Back...
The next day came and Zoey sat in her bed writing In her laptop.
"I'm not so good with talking about my feelings sometimes, but I didn't want my thoughts to go unsaid… so I thought a letter would be best. Our first kiss was so blissful that I thought I might fall over. My legs felt like jelly for the next few days. You certain have always had a powerful effect on me". Zoey thought as she typed.
"But one day I made the stupidest mistake of my life". Zoey sighted as she continued writing.
"A thousand "I'm sorry" I'm willing to say but I know it can't undo what has been done and it won't ease the pain in your heart. Instead, let me write this to let you know that I regretted my actions and cheating on you is certainly an unforgivable mistake. I totally deserve all the anger and resentment from you for what I have put you through. Each time that I think of you, I get angry with myself because I can imagine all the bitter tears you must have shed when you learned of my indiscretion".
Zoey stopped and took a big breath.
"Im feeling like this because I know there is still love for you glowing in my heart. Otherwise, I wouldn't have cared one bit and moved on. But I don't want this relationship to end simply because I still care deeply about you and love you with all my heart. I truly want you to be happy again with me still being a part of your life. I know I don't have the right to ask anything from you when I have foolishly betrayed your trust in me. But if you can find it in your heart to forgive me and give me another opportunity to prove to you how much I love you. I have faith that we will overcome the odds and make our relationship even better than before. Give me another chance and I have faith that, one day, we will look back at this and be glad that we didn't walk away from each other". Zoey finished as a tear fell off her cheek. She starred off into space for a couple of seconds until someone knocked on her door. She quickly wiped her tears away.
"Um... Come in?". Zoey said and Lola peaked in.
"Hey Zo? What to watch some TV downstairs with Logan, Michael, Quinn and Alan?". Lola asked.
"Sure, I'll be down with you guys in a minute". Zoey replied and Lola nodded closing the door behind. Zoey closed her laptop and set it aside as she stood up from her bed and headed out. They watched some TV with as they waited for breakfast to be ready. Just then there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it". Alan said as he got up and went to answer the door.
"Hey Lea?". He greeted.
"Good morning Alan, is Chase there?". Lea asked.
"He had an appointment at the Moor Side, but he should be here any minute. You can come in if you want to wait for him?". Alan suggested.
"I'll wait for him out here".
Alan nodded and started heading back, when Lea stopped him.
"Alan? Isn't the Moor Side a rehabilitation center?". Lea asked confused.
Alan turned around and nodded.
"Yeah, Apparently Chase had been using drugs since yesterday night, so I made him an appointment with the Moor Side. Why don't you talk to him Lea? Maybe he'll listen to you". Alan explained.
"Don't worry Alan, I'll talk to him". Lea responded and Alan smiled as he made his way back into the house. She sat on the steps, and played with her phone. After a couple of minutes, she heard footsteps coming towards her. She looked up, and immediately stood up.
"What are you doing here Eric!?". Lea asked as she placed her phone on her back pocket.
"I was in the neighborhood, and I saw you sitting here all alone, so I decided to make you company". Eric replied with smirk.
"I don't need your company, so why don't you go back to your rat hole".
He smiled and came closer to her.
"You know, when Chase was part of my gang, and he first introduced you to me... Something about you caught my attention". Eric said, rubbing his hand on her arm.
"Don't touch me!". Lea jerked away.
While this was happening a black van parked in front of the gates of the mansion and Chase got off. As the car started to leave he notice his girlfriend struggling with another guy, so he open the gate door and quickly approached them.
"No girl says no to me!". Eric said as he held her and tried to kiss her while she tried to pushed him away
Chase came up to him and shoved him away from his girlfriend.
"Back off!". Chase yelled.
Eric fell down and looked at Chase who hugged Lea.
"Are you okay?". Chase asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you". Lea replied as they both separated from the hug. Chase turned to see Eric, who was now standing.
"What are you doing here!?". Chase asked angrily as he took his jacket off.
"I just was just making your girlfriend some company. We were having an interesting conversation". Eric smiled at Lea.
Chase walked up to him and grabbed him by his shirt.
"Well, what I saw told me the opposite. I don't want you near her, you got that!". Chase yelled.
"The thing you need to do is, not letting your girlfriend be alone, because anyone would want to try some of the goodies she offers".
Chase exploded and punched Eric in the face. He stumbled back as he held his bleeding nose. Chase walked towards him and placed his arm around his neck as both of them started to wrestle.
"Chase stop". Lea went up to them and tried to pull Chase away.
Just then Alan came out, with Zoey, Michael, Lola, Logan and Quinn following behind. He quickly went over and grabbed Chase by his shirt, pulling him off Eric.
"Clam down Chase!". Alan said.
Eric breathed heavily as he fixed his shirt.
"What's gong on here!?". Alan asked
"He's trouble!". Chase said, pointing at Eric.
"Alan, He was trying to kiss me by force and Chase just defended me". Lea explained.
Alan let Chase go, and walked over to where Eric was standing.
"You get the hell off my property! And stay away from my family! You got that!". Alan seriously said.
Eric gave him a devious smile and looked at Lea.
"Your going to be mine! I'll see you later baby". He said as he began to walk away. Chase began to move towards him but Lea held his arm.
"Chase?... Don't waste your time on him". Lea told him.
Zoey stared at the couple. She felt a great pain in her heart as she saw how protective Chase was over Lea.
"Let's get inside". Alan said as the rest enter the house, except Chase and Lea.
"He'll be inside in a minute, I need to tell him something". Lea told Alan and he nodded entering the house and leaving both of them alone.
"Thanks for defending me Chase". Lea said.
"It's nothing. Your my girlfriend, it's my job to protect you".
They both smiled at each other.
"I have to leave, I just wanted to tell you if you could meet me at the beach, let's say at about 1:00?". Lea asked.
"Sure, I'll be there".
"Good, I'll see you then. Bye". Lea said as she placed a kiss on his cheek and began to leave.
"Bye". Chase waved and stood there until she disappeared at the distance. He then made his way back into the house and into the dinning room where everyone was waiting for him. He sat on the only place available, which was next to Zoey.
"You didn't invite Lea to have breakfast with us?". Alan asked.
"I was, but she was in a hurry". Chase replied back.
The servers began to serve the food and everyone began to eat. They didn't want to start a conversation because they were afraid that they would mention "Friends" and "PCA" and they knew that Chase wasn't going to like it. After a couple of minutes, Logan began to do small talk.
"So who about we go out tonight? Maybe go out for dinner at Burrelies?".
"That sounds great! I've never heard of Burrelies before? Is it a new restaurant?". Lola asked.
"Yeah, it's a new place and the food there is just amazing". Quinn responded.
"Sound like a plan then". Michael said as the rest nodded, but Chase who didn't pay much attention to their conversation as he continue eating.
"Chase? Your going to join us this time... Right?". Logan asked.
"I don't know...". Chase replied unsure.
"Come on Chase, it's been years since you and your friends have talked or hang with each other. What a great opportunity than this one". Alan persuade him.
Chase looked at Alan and then at his friends.
"Okay". He finally said which made his friends smile for the first time since they got here.
"This is going to be great! You won't regret this!". Michael told Chase.
"I hope not". Chase replied not paying much attention to him.
After they finished eating, Alan stood up and turned to see Chase.
"Chase, I want to talk to you in my library".
"About what?". He asked.
"Just come with me". Alan said as he made his way to the library, with Chase following behind. They both entered the library room and Alan sat on his big chair while Chase sat on the chairs across from him.
"So, how was the meeting with the Moor Side?". Alan asked.
"It went well. They pointed some key terms about drugs, and the dangers of it".
"Good".
Chase sighted.
"Alan, I want to apologize about what happened yesterday between you and me. I was so out of line, and I said something's that I shouldn't have".
"Its okay Chase. I just don't want you to hang out at the 4 Stroke Club anymore".
"But I feel good being there".
"Why do you feel, you have to be part of this place?... Come on? I'm your friend, talk to me". Alan said.
"Since I got here, I felt that there was a part in me missing, and I felt like everybody could tell... you know, like if there was a hole in me and everyone could see right through me, like if I wasn't finished or something".
"I kinda noticed that, but you never asked for help. I would have help you Chase, and you know that".
"Oh Alan. In my situation, there's nothing to be done".
"In every situation there's something to be done. Your friend's, Logan, Quinn, Lola, Michael, and Zoey are worried about your suddenly change towards them. Chase they really care about you"
"People at the 4 Stroke care about me. They make me feel like a person".
ω
Meanwhile the gang was still at the dinner table, wondering what Chase and Alan were talking about.
"You know Logan, your grandfather seems more attached to Chase than you". Michael commented.
Both Quinn and Logan looked at each other and sighted. They knew that it was time for them to tell their friends the truth.
"There's a reason that Alan has a much closer relationship with Chase than with Logan". Quinn said.
"Whats the reason?". Zoey asked.
"Chase is my cousin, which makes him my grandfather's grandson". Logan confessed.
"What!?". Lola, Zoey and Michael said in surprise.
"His mom is my dad's twin sister. A long time ago, before we were a born, Chase's mom separated from the Reese family because she had some misunderstandings with my grandfather. When I met Chase at PCA, we became friends, but I didn't know that he was my cousin because of the last name. One day, when we were in college, my grandfather got a call from a woman who was trying to get in touch with her son Chase. My grandfather asked her for her name and she replied, "My Name is Rory Reese and that's when we found out that we we're relatives". Logan explained.
Their friends were in total shock.
"Wait... Didn't Chase know that her mother's last name was Reese?". Lola asked.
"She changed her last name before Chase was born. She was called Rory Steven". Quinn replied.
"I didn't see that coming". Michael said surprised.
"Does Chase know?". Zoey asked.
"He knows. At first he thought it was a joke, but when her mom explain to him the whole story, he had to accept the truth. My grandfather was thrilled that he had another grandson, and Chase was happy as well. Later on Chase started to change his attitude and appearance after he joined the 4 Stroke club. We all know that Chase is a good boy... Well not now, but back then. My grandfather got worried about him, this why he has those talks with him, that's why he stays up late, waiting for him to get home, because he knows that he's not the Chase he once knew, and he's trying to get him back".
ω
Back with Alan and Chase
"The 4 Stroke is filled with lost souls who have no beliefs in them, who are targets for some guy to bring over to his way of thinking. The Chase Matthews I know is one of the most unique individuals that I've ever met and if you let this place take away who you really are Chase... Then you've made the worst judgement you could possibly make. You made the judgment". Alan told Chase.
"I really want to change and I thought that having Lea around, with her kindness would help me recover my old self back, but somehow I end up at the 4 Stroke, because I remember my past with my friends and that place helps me forget those memories". Chase sincerely replied.
"By drinking? Chase thats not a solution and I'm going to help you, I don't know how but I'm going to help you get through this. What happened with your friends anyways? Are they the reason you go back to that club?".
"That's very personal, and I don't want to talk about that. What I can tell you Is that something happen back at PCA, something bad, that involved them".
"That's why you don't want to communicate with them right? And I'm guessing that something also happen between you and Zoey, which made both of you to break up right?".
"Are you a sidekick or something?". Chase asked surprised, referring to the last part he had said.
"Lucky guess I guess. Look Chase, I don't know what happened between you and your friends, but you need to understand that what happened then is now in the past, and you need to live in the present. Give your friends a chance to talk to you, and I'll assure you that you're not going to be dissapointed".
Chase sighed.
"Your right. I'll try and get closer to them". Chase said as he stood up from his seat.
"Wait! Before you go, I want to give you something". Alan stood up and went over to his safe. He took some keys out and handed them to Chase.
"My car keys? I though you...". Chase began but Alan interrupted.
"I want to give you another Chance. We both know that your behavior yesterday wasn't the best, but I'm sure that your going to do your best in not going to the 4 Stroke. And like I'm trusting in you in giving you the opportunity to have your car back, I want you to also trust in your friends. Okay".
"I will. Thank you for trusting me, I won't dissapointed you". Chase smiled.
"I know you won't. Okay then, that's all I wanted to tell you. I have to go to my office and sign some papers, so your free to go". Alan said as both of them made their way out of the room. Both of them walked out of the mansion and Chase got into his car, while Alan got into a his Lincoln continental and went their own separate ways.
Chase went to the park and sat on a bench watching the little kids play. He then remembered that he was going to meet Lea at the beach. He looked at his watch and saw that IIt was almost 1 o'clock so Chase headed to the beach. When he got there, he found Lea sitting on the white sand looking towards the ocean. Chase sat next to her, which caught her by surprise.
"Chase? Your here". Lea asked surprised.
"Yeah. Why are you here so early?". Chase asked looking at her.
"I just needed to be in a relaxing place, where I could be alone with my own thoughts". Lea replied with some sadness in her voice.
"What's wrong?". Chase asked grabbing her hand.
"I'm going to tell you something that's going to change the course of our relationship forever". Lea began.
"What do you mean?". Chase asked confused.
"I can't see you anymore".
"What?". Chase asked surprised.
"You belong with Zoey".
"No! I belong with you Lea, I love you". Chase said as he stood up
"I know you love me, just not with that intensity that you love Zoey. I can see in her eyes how much she cares about you. I know you and her have a long history together. A love sweet history". Lea replied also standing up.
"Who told you that! Did Zoey told you!".
"No, Quinn told me a long time ago and I'm glad she did because now that I've meet Zoey I can see that she still loves you".
"She never loved me! Didn't Quinn tell you how we both ended our relationship? I'm pretty sure Zoey already told her".
"No, because she and the rest still don't know how you two broke up or why you don't even speak to them. Chase, I know that you and her can work things out" .
"So you want me to fix my problem with Zoey? That's what you want?".
"I do. I just want you to make things right with your friends and Zoey".
"But that doesn't mean, we have to break up? I can go and talk to her and still keep our relationship because nothing is going to change between us".
"Things are going to change Chase, there's another thing that's going to change".
"And what's that?".
"I'm moving to Maine tomorrow".
"Your... Moving?". Chase asked still not believing his ears.
"I have too. You know how my mom has cancer? Well her doctor recommended her to go to a hospital located in Maine, because they don't have the necessary equipment to treat her. I need to be with her during this hard situation, and I also need to be there to pay for her kimo therapy and her medicines".
"I understand, but what about your studies here, in college?".
"There working on transferring all my information over to The University Of Maine right now, but the only thing I need to know that you support me on this".
"Of course I support you".
"Thank you Chase, thank you". Lea said as she hugged Chase tightly.
"I'm just going to feel so alone with you gone. With you I feel like if I was almost complete, I finally had someone by my side taking care of me. No one can take your place now". Chase replied as they both separated.
"Zoey can". Lea assured.
"Why do you keep bringing her up?". Chase asked a bit annoyed.
"Because she can! Chase since the day you brought your friends to Alan's House, I've notice you not making eye contact with her. Why? Because you still feel something for her. You need to talk to her and settle your differences. I heard about your 3 1/2 year crush you had on her and that sentiment can just go away for just one stupid fight. Tell me? Do you still feel something towards her? Tell me... I won't be dissapointed, because let's face it Chase, we've treated each other more like best friends this past year, than a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship".
Chase closed his eyes and gave a long sight.
"I... I still feel something for her, but when I see her the memory of what happen that day turns that feeling into hate".
"Try put your feelings into place, your need to talk to her about what happen. Because if you don't, that memory is going to hunt you for the rest if your life and you'll be stuck, not moving forward with life".
"Why are you telling me this"
"Because I love you and care about you. I want to see you happy and I know that your happiness is Zoey, not me". Lea wrapped her arm around his shoulders.
"So don't waste anymore time, go and have that talk with Zoey and your friends". Lea suggested.
"But what about you, are you going to be okay?". Chase asked in concern.
"I'll be fine, now go". Lea replied, showing a small smile. Chase began to walk away, but stopped and turned to see her one last time.
"I love you Lea, don't you ever forget that. You'll always have a special place in my heart". Chase told her.
"I love you too Chase, you also have a special place in my heart. I'll never forget you". Lea responded.
Chase looked down and began to talk towards his car. He got in and drove away to his home. Lea saw him, as he disappeared into the distance.
"I'll always love you Chase, always". Lea said as a tear fell off her eyes.
Chapter 4 coming as soon as possible.😜