The drive back is silent, filled only with the radio drifting between the two of us. I continuously glance over to Chase's stiff frame, fingers clenched around the steering wheel, eyes straight forward. Once we get back, Mr. Davenport rubs his hands together. "To celebrate your victory today we are going to eat take-out Chinese food," he announces. The siblings high-five each other.

With a pat on the back Leo tells me, "thank you for winning that game, Audrey!"

The seven of us seated around the glass table we pass the containers around and take what we each want. All I can think of is Chase sitting on the other side of Bree. I pinch my inner thigh to make sure this is not a dream. Nope, I really did kiss him. And he kissed back. Does this change anything between us? Or will we continue on as friends? My chest throbs at the painful thought of just friends. I may finally have a chance at making a fantasy true; this opportunity will not pass by if I have anything to do about it.

I shake free of my mind to find the others watching me. "I'm sorry?"

"When is the championship going to be?" Tasha asks again.

"Next Wednesday against second-seed Lincoln High School. I am so excited for the game!"

"You should be, you've earned it," Tasha nods encouragingly.

I am in the bathroom when a soft knock sounds at the bedroom door. Opening it I find none other than Chase.

"Can I talk to you?" I nod and he steps in. I don't push the door closed all the way but leave it ajar. Since Jacob I have been weary of being alone with boys.

"I don't really know how to say this," he starts, trailing a hand through his hair and cupping the back of his neck. "What happened today, I meant it. I do like you. But I get it if you don't feel the same or want to take it back or whatever."

The words settle in my brain, seeping in thick as honey. I wait for him to stop speaking before saying, "I really like you, too. I would like to be more than friends. If you want maybe we can try?" That was very difficult to get out.

Chase stares at me with a blank face. "No—I mean yes. We can definetly try it." He takes a step forward but stops when I retreat a small step back. "What?"

Images flash behind my eyes: meeting Jacob, him asking me out for the first time, how happy and safe I felt around him. The Chase I know would never hurt anyone that way but nonetheless, a deep-rooted feeling creeps up from the darkness.

"Does it have something to do with Jacob?" Chase asks. I close my eyes and nod. "Then tell me my limits," he states. That is the last thing I would expect to come out of his mouth right now. I was more expecting him to say this is a mistake and he has changed his mind.

His hand slides down my arm, leaving a tingling wherever skin meets skin, and encloses his larger one over mine. "Is this okay?" When I nod his other settles on my hip. "What about this?" I swallow and nod silently again. We are so close he can undoubtly hear the rapid drumming of my heart. Heat flushes to my face in embarrasment. Why am I so nervous? This is only Chase.

"How about this?" He presses his lips against mine. It comes slowly and timidly at first. When I kiss back the confidence is unearthed. Details come into sharper focus: the pressure of his fingers against my side; how our bodies are facing each other; the way I lean my head back and he bends his down; the temperature spike that seems to be caused by the points of connection we share; the tightness in my stomach as butterflies cheer and do flips in my abdomen.

My arm reaches behind and fingers sift through his soft hair. This is exactly what I want and right now nothing else seems better. My forearm resting against his back, I can feel his steady breaths.

Suddenly Chase pulls back and clears his throat, licking his lips. Turning I understand why he did so.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't intruding, was I?" Bree questions. My mouth flaps uselessly and Chase seems too stunned to answer. "So tell me, how long has this been going on for?" She continues, gesturing at the space bewteen us.

"About five minutes," I venture.

"Not unless you count after the game," he throws in.

"Oh?" She pushes herself upright from leaning inside the doorframe. "I think you should leave," she tells Chase bluntly.

He glances between our faces. "I'm going to leave." At the door he stops. "Good job today, Audrey." With a smile he hurries down the hall. I am left to explain what happened after the game and the general ghist of our conversation. All the while she silently stares at me with narrowed eyes.

"So let me get this straight," she interjects, "you kissed my brother. Then he asked you out. And you said yes. And not Adam, Chase."

"What's wrong with Chase?" I ask defensively.

"He's not the manliest guy in the world; he makes comments alot about how smart he is. He's just...Chase. But if he makes you happy, then I'm glad," she adds when I open my mouth to snap back. We may be a couple as of ten minutes ago but I was defending him long before.

Bree crosses her legs under her and faces me with a smirk. "Does he kiss good?"

"What?" That question catches me off guard.

"Is my brother a good kisser? You are his first girlfriend."

"Really?" She raises an eyebrow, hinting that I am avoiding the question. "Yeah, he was decent if I really am the first." I had assumed Chase had other significant female friends the way he stood out to me.

"That's probably because he fake kisses his teddy bear; probably imagines it's you." I shove her but can't help letting out a shaky laugh. "I think you'll be good for him," she offers and I smile. "Please promise me that we won't let any guy get between us."

I hold out a pinkie. "I promise if you do."

"Deal."

The next morning I take slightly longer getting dressed, finally deciding on a blouse tucked into my jeans with a belt, applying makeup and lip gloss. I don't bother hiding my smile when I jump of the bottom three steps and skip into the kitchen. Bree gives me a really? look and I shrug. Why shouldn't I be happy? The lightness in my chest only expands when Chase steps out of the elevator wearing a green polo. A hand slides over my waist as he walks past to the fridge. Leo notices and frowns. Before he can comment on it, however, Davenport walks in.

"I have a conference with some potential investors today and Tasha already left, so Adam is going to drive to school."

"What? We are all doomed!" Leo cries.

Adam pumps a fist in the air. "Yes! I call shotgun!"

Adam driving is a bit frightening; when something is pointed out he tries to get a glimpse of it and momentarily forgets about the road. Several times we have to scream at him before the vehicle swerves into another lane. To top it all off, Adam's new car is a monster truck with flames painted along the sides.

Arriving in one piece we clamber out. I stall and when Bree nods her head I say for her to head on without me. Chase slows down from where he started off and waits for me. Clasping his hand we walk in, ignoring some stares from people. "Audrey, great game!" Friends come up and clap my back. I smile and thank them, saying how we are ready than ever for the final.

"Well, Miss Popular, I'm afraid we must part ways here," he sighs. We promise to meet at the beginning of lunch and he places a quick peck on my cheek. Warmth flushes my face and I practically skip down the hall.

My mind wanders and I have great difficulty concentrating on classes. The lunch bell rings and I dash out the door. When I reach the cafeteria Chase is already waiting there. "Hello, Beautiful," he smiles and I return it. Waiting in the lunch line my hand slips into his.

"Are you going to tell them?" I nod to his siblings.

"They wouldn't understand." I remind that Bree does and he sighs. "Yeah, because she's your best friend."

"Just tell them. They'll find out soon enough." He bites his lower lip.

That afternoon Bree and I have our homework splayed over the table, comparing notes for language arts. Adam is thawing a carton of ice cream with his lazer eyes, Chase is reading a book on the Civil War, and Leo is watching his cartoons on the couch. Davenport enters from the lab and claps Chase on the shoulder. "Chase, I hear you have a girlfriend. Who is the lucky girl?" He tenses and I choke on a sip of water.

"I think you mean unlucky girl," Adam interjects with a mouth full of ice cream.

"How did you find out?"

Bree grimaces, "I may have been talking on the phone in the lab when he came in."

"Can I guess who it is?" Leo waggles his eyebrows. Without waiting for an answer he continues, "Is it Audrey?"

Chase grits his teeth and I chew the inside of my cheek. Davenport and Adam lean on one another for support their laughing so hard. "That's really funny. But seriously, who is it?" Slowly the truth dawns as his gaze carries from Chase's deep red face to me bent over a science textbook.

Adam points his spoon at Chase. "Wait, you're serious about that? How did you ever get her to say yes to you and your small, doll-like body?"

The two brothers make faces back-and-forth while Davenport directs his attention to me.

"Is this a new thing?"

"Yes, sir, since yesterday evening," I purse my lips. I would have much rather perferred Chase be the one to tell his parents, not me. Mr. Davenport's face breaks into a gtrin and he expresses how happy he is for us.

See, what did I tell you? I think and Chase must see it for he shrugs and rolls his eyes.