Thursday at school everyone is so pleased to see the team. Classes have an air of lightness to them; during lunch the basketball team is offered to go straight to the front of the line, which I think is a bit ridiculous, but I still take the offer. I limp about, with my ankle still hurting. The trainer had wrapped it last night and the stiffness helps a bit. Mr. Davenport had offered the use of one of his new inventions that relieves pain but I turned it down. People tease me about the injuries but at least my nose isn't still leaking. I don't really know what to do this afternoon: for the first time in months there is no practice after school.
At the end of the day I am at my locker looking forward to leaving right when school ends, when Trent saunters up.
"That was an incredible game yesterday. I think you deserve something special for it. What do you say you and me go to the frozen yogurt shop? It might also help with your twisted ankle."
"Are you asking me out?"
"Audrey, I know you want to." He holds his arms out wide in that classic Hey, I am so great gesture guys so often perform. What is up with their egos sometimes?
"First, I told you this morning I am already doing things today. Second, I already have a boyfriend so you can forget about it."
This is a wakeup call for him. "Who?"
"Me," Chase answers, coming up behind me and lacing our fingers together.
Trent cocks his head, eyes traveling from each of us to our locked hands. Slowly the answer dawns on him. "You? But you're so wimpy and undeserving of Audrey's attention."
"I am plenty worthy of her attention. Who let you decide that?" Chase spits back.
"Stop, it's not worth a fight. Bye, Trent," I say and tug an arguing Chase behind me.
"That moron, who does he think he is, asking you anything?" He fumes once outside.
"Don't give yourself a hemorrhage over it. That's the second time he asked me today. I think he's jealous of you," I poke him in the chest.
He smirks, "Who wouldn't be?" I croon and pull him closer. In the car Leo does not stop bragging about how close he was to getting Janelle to say yes to going to the spring dance with him. It is still two months away but he is getting desperate about a date. That poor boy, sometimes I worry about him.
Bree and I work on our homework when we get back and continue the torture after dinner. Chase takes a seat beside me and plucks the paper from my hands. He scans it over and hands it back. "Problems 2, 9, and part A of 14 are wrong."
"Gee, thanks," I grumble but erase the problems anyways.
"I was thinking we could go to the frozen yogurt shop when you finish up." That sounds like fun and I hurry with correcting those answers. Bree doesn't want to come but Leo and Adam race each other to the car.
"Have fun on your double date," Bree calls. Unsurprisingly, the shop is crowded, mostly with high school kids. You can serve yourself and add as many toppings as wanted, then pay by the ounce. Adam goes all out and is charged twenty dollars. I get few toppings but lots of turtle pistachio yogurt. Chase pays for ours and we find a table away from the main crowd. We talk and laugh, observing the people and watching Adam taking spoonfuls of Leo's dessert when he isn't looking.
My phone vibrates and I excuse myself to answer my parents. I step outside and talk to them for a while. They will be coming home tomorrow and are so proud of the game last night, even though they already told me that. Once we hang up I am walking back through the door when I hear a loud voice. "Hey, Shrimp! You take up too much space and should really consider getting out of her life."
"Oh, yeah? We're quite happy together, thank you very much. What good are you, anyways?"
I know both those voices and push through the loose ring of people starting to gather around to see Trent and Chase having a standoff.
Trent takes a step closer. "I can give her what she wants. You are nothing but a nerd who can't take his nose out of a book long enough to pay attention to Audrey. At least I'm man enough to make her feel like she belongs."
"You're not a man at all if you think she wants anything to do with that. Audrey is a respectable and beautiful girl." Trent takes a step forward and glares down at Chase. He shoves him back.
I reach for Chase's arm and focus Trent with a cold stare. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Trying to make it easier for this Shorty when you dump him. You're not actually happy with him, are you? And is this what you meant when you told me you had stuff going on?"
I tug on Chase's arm unsuccessfully. He looks me down with a different look from a moment ago. "Is this man bothering you, Cupcake?" Where in the world did that nickname come from? And why is his voice so much deeper and rougher?
I grit my teeth and push out, "no, but can you come with me?" I spot Leo and Adam in the crowd and motion them over. "Help me!"
"Nah, I want to see how this plays out," Adam says.
I place both hands on Chase's chest, guiding him away. "Let's get out of here."
Trent will not give it up. "That's it, then? Too scared to fight?"
"No, you won't ever leave the hospital if we fight," Chase shoots back with his gruff voice.
"Stop! Both of you!" I snap. Chase turns his attention on me.
"Stay out of it, Kitten. Daddy will make sure he gets what he deserves."
"No, please! You're not acting like you. Come on, let's just go."
Trent yells, "yeah, you coward! Hiding behind a girl!" My head snaps around at the insult. At the same time Chase breaks free and charges him. Trent screams and covers his face. I run between them and push him back. Chase stumbles backward as I help Trent to his feet.
"I see how it is, then," he glares. "No wonder every boyfriend wants to break up with you! You make them think everything is wonderful then turn around and stab them in the back!" Chase is in a whirlwind now and there is no quieting it. "That first one was tired and wanted more adventure in life. And Jacob, all he wanted was your body. That is about all you have left, isn't it? All that charm and politeness is nothing more than a shallow mask!"
I gape at him. Chase would never tell me that. But he just did. Please let this be a hallucination or dream. No, it isn't, I know that.
At that moment I crack and lose it. I stomp across and place a well-aimed smack across his face any volleyball coach would be proud of.
He raises a hand to the red mark. "What was that for!?"
"I need to leave." Ignoring Chase's comments I grab my purse and slam the door behind me. This is not the Chase I once fell head-over-heels for. I wipe angry tears from my face.
Home-my home-is near here and that is where I run to, wishing to put as much distance between me and my boyfriend as possible. It is Jacob all over again. Unlocking the door, the musty smell of a locked-up house hits me. I hurry down the hall, turn the corner, throw my things aside and fling myself onto my bed. If only I could stay here until Mom and Dad return. Why can't I? Then the only time I would need to avoid Chase is at school.
I pound both fists against the mattress and scream nonsense. "I hate him! That stuck-up jerk! I hate him!" My screams fade to sobs and I hide under the pillows.
My phone buzzes with a call from Chase and I toss it onto the floor. Two more times he calls and sends multiple text messages. "Shut up!"
It takes a long time for me to calm down some. When I do I roll over and take in my room. The pink rug, blue ceiling, green walls; a vanity stool beside an overflowing bookshelf, dresser displaying framed pictures. The small chandelier that hangs down and reflects rainbows through the room. This is the room of previous Audrey before bionics and Chase and championship games.
Above the bed hangs a canvas with the words, Live today like there is no tomorrow. On the other side of the room another says, live, love, laugh, forgive, pray, smile, find happiness, spread joy. A paper fastened to the wall reads, There is no changing the past but I can shape the future.
As much as I want to forget it, all these sayings are right: I must go back and face Chase. Just like Taylor Swift's song, "you should never leave a fight unresolved." I almost laugh at that relation. I haven't listened to Taylor Swift in years. After lying another twenty minutes I have built up enough strength. Gathering everything I tossed about, I step out into twilight and carefully lock the door behind me.
Rather than walking all the way to the Davenports I shift into a gas and let the wind take me, not caring if the neighbors see anything. I take my sweet time returning, hoping dinner will have already been served and they will be doing their own things.
Touching down behind a clump of bushes I change back. Taking a deep breath I step up to the door. Whatever is behind it I can face for one more day.
As quietly as possible I ease the door open. Unfortunately, someone is waiting for me.
Chase stands up with relief washing over him. At the sight my anger boils back full force. "Audrey, I can explain-"
I brush past him to the stairs. "I don't want to hear it." There is a part of me that does want to hear his explanation.
"Please, that wasn't me! I mean, it was me, but I wasn't in control." He places a hand on my arm to hold me back but I pull mine free.
"Really? Then who was it?"
"Spike."
"Oh, so now there's somebody named Spike that lives inside you and insults my social life, saying the only reason anyone wants to date me is for my physical aspect?"
His eyes grow wide. "You should know I would never tell you that, ever."
With a snort I reply, "Yeah, well, you did." I reach the guest room and start for the handle. Chase steps in front of me, demanding my attention.
"Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" I shove him out of the way and lock the door. Resting my forehead on the wood a sob escapes. After that another and another. Wet tears trace their slow paths down my face and drip off my chin. I know he is still standing on the other side and can most certainly hear my cries.
"Audrey," his voice calls gently through the walls.
"Go away!" I choke out. "Just go away and then I can leave tomorrow and go home!"
"Not until you hear me out. Spike said those things, not me. I would never tell you that because I know how it makes you feel. I would never want to hurt you like that."
"Then why would any part of you say it?" I scream.
He stays silent a moment before responding, "One of my bionics is a fight-or-flight response-minus the flight-that is activated when environmental influences raise the adrenaline level in my body. Spike takes over and because he is all fight, doesn't think before doing something."
"Then how come you didn't tell me about this sooner?" I snap.
"I didn't think it would matter. Even if he said something, I assumed you would know that wasn't me talking."
In the silence that follows I turn the lock but leave the door closed. I transfer to the window. "And Trent made you scared," I piece together.
"He always intimidates me and with you on the line I lost it-literally."
"None of this makes up for what you said earlier, even if it was Spike," I point out.
"And I don't expect it to. I want you to forgive me and let me have another chance." When I don't answer he jiggles the doorknob. "I'm coming in, okay?"
I keep my back to the door, refusing to move away from the window. I stand with arms crossed, not giving up my ground. "I thought we had agreed to tell each other everything."
He brushes my hair behind my shoulder and lifts my chin so I have no choice but to look at him.
"I know. And I messed that up. I'm sorry."
His sincere apology is all I need but I am not ready to let this go yet; pain still holds tight in my chest. I gaze into those hazel eyes and know I could not live without him. But I need him to understand what I am feeling—how I felt like I had been betrayed. "What Spike said, is that what you really think of me? Why do you even like me?"
His breath comes out as a frustrated sigh. "No, Audrey that is not why I like you. I like you because you are funny and loyal and beautiful and self-sufficient a great friend. I am perfectly happy spending the rest of my life with you just the way you are."
After a moment of taught silence I say, "I forgive you." Using a Kleenex from the bedside table he wipes the wet streaks off my face. With a kiss on my forehead he mutters, "thank you."
We sit on the bed and talk about everything. By the end of it I know a little bit more about him and feel that much closer. Chase's favorite band is Panic at the Disco. His favorite song is Don't Stop Believin' by Journey (I giggle at that). His greatest fears are falling behind in school, getting his underwear run up the flag pole and the world discovering about our bionics. When I say how mine are not being in control and loosing someone I care about he nods, making the connection.
The final straggling rays fade away behind the window. Chase stretches out on the bed and I curl up beside him, resting my head in the crook of his arm.
"Good night," I mumble.
He places a lingering kiss on my temple. "Sleep tight, Sunshine."
Hey everyone! I know its been a while since I last updated but you probably won't accept my apology because I always say that. I am really excited because there is only one more week of school left! Maybe then I'll have time to update more regularly. This chapter kind of has a lot of fluffy romance in it for those who enjoy that. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review :)