Chase was waiting for you in the parking lot and you hurried to jump in. You didn’t plan to hide the fact that you were studying together but Josh staying after practice spooked you. You knew he’d freak out, but it was just homework… right?
When you pulled up at Chase’s house together, Avani was outside checking the mail next door: “She lives nearby?”
Chase: “Yeah… we’ve been neighbors our whole life. That’s kinda how we became best friends. She’s pretty awesome.”
He waved at Avani as he walked you into the house and you looked over to see her giving you a sideways dirty look when Chase turned.
You: “She doesn’t really like me.”
Chase: “Eh, she’s just rough to get to know sometimes. I’m sure she doesn’t dislike you.”
You: “You’re just so sweet. It’s weird to think of you guys as friends. What do you even have in common.”
Chase: “You don’t really have to have anything in common to be friends. I mean look at us. She just always has my back and I trust her. In 4th grade a kid followed me home determined to beat me up and she came outside and broke his nose. She’d been home sick and saw it out the window and didn’t even hesitate.”
A few hours later you were laughing over the pile of papers you’d been pretending to study. Truthfully you’d done just about anything to avoid studying. You just loved spending time with him. He was so much funnier than you ever realized and every time he flashed his amazing smile in your direction it was hard to remember why you were even there in the first place.
Chase: “I’m surprised Josh let you hang out with me. He’s kinda- I don’t know- Intense?”
You: “Yeah- Oh God!! Josh!!!”
You panicked and checked your phone expecting him to have blown up your notifications, but nothing. All you had was a message from your mom.
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Chase: “Josh?”
You: “No, it’s actually my mom. She just wants to know if I’m gonna be home for dinner.”
Chase: “You should stay.”
You: “I don’t want to just spring a dinner guest on your parents.”
Chase: “They work super late so most nights I eat by myself.”
You: *perking up* “Oh. Then I’d love to. Should we just order something so that we don’t have to blow off the studying to go somewhere?”
Chase: “Nah, not a chance. I’ll cook and you keep working here at the counter.”
He dug through the fridge and stopped getting distracted: “You totally gotta try my pancakes.”
You: *shocked by your own boldness* “Maybe you can make me breakfast sometime?”
Chase: “Sometime? What’s wrong with tonight? You can eat breakfast anytime of the day you want.”
You couldn’t help but smile. Something about Chase just brought such pure joy out of you. You found yourself feeling things you never had and hoping for things you shouldn’t. You found yourself… happy. You barely got any work done because you couldn’t help but giggle as he flipped the pancakes, dramatically and did a little dance with his hips each time he caught it.
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He turned around with a plate of pancakes and bacon: “Close the books. We deserve a break.”
He sat on the stool right next to yours even though there were several other open and leaned past you to reach the syrup. You could smell the traces of cologne he’d put on that morning and couldn’t help but close your eyes and take a deep breath. He turned to face you, ending up only inches from yours: “Syrup?”
You: “I- uh- I would- Yes, please.”
Chase poured a dollop on top of your plate, then his own before turning to face you while he ate. He positioned his legs so that one of them was between your knees and every time you made him laugh, he put his hand on your knee to steady himself.
You: *giggling* “You have syrup on your face. You’re just a mess.”
Chase tried to lick it off but was missing so you reached up to wipe it off with your thumb. The moment your skin pressed against his it’s like the world started spinning out of control around you and you two were the only two standing still. You could feel your heartbeat speeding up and it seemed like his might be too based on how fast he was breathing.
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The moment was interrupted by the back door opening and his Mom and Dad walking in: “Chaaaaase, we’re hooooommme- Oh, hi. I didn’t know you had a guest.”
Chase: “We were just doing a project for school together and took a quick dinner break.”
You: *feeling awkward at what they might have walked in on had they spent just 10 more seconds getting inside* “I- Uh- I actually have to get home.”
Chase dropped you off and you were surprised to see your parents still up. It was still an hour till curfew, but they usually wound down watching TV in bed pretty early.
Dad: “Hey, pumpkin. How was your date?”
You: “It wasn’t a date, Dad. I was studying. I’m actually gonna head to bed though.”
Mom: “Hey, uh- We actually wanted to talk to you. You know we’d never ask you to snitch on your sister, but…”
Dad: “But we’re totally asking. What’s the deal with this Jaden kid?”
Mom: “What your dad is trying to ask is should we be worried that your sister is out with a senior boy right now getting ice cream?”
You: “They are just friends as far as I know.”
Dad: “Well I don’t believe that. Did you see that kid? He was way too smooth. For a second there I was worried your mom might fall for him.”
Mom: “Oh shut up, Alex. Anyway, I trust your opinions, sweetheart.”
You: “You can trust Mads with him. He’s a really great guy. He’s friends with Josh but they are honestly polar opposites.”
Dad: “Done! I like him already.”
You just laughed and shook your head before heading upstairs. Even though your parents had never said anything bad about Josh, it hurt a little when they made comments like that.
