A Fighting Heart

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I lay low for a few days, hangout around the house with Grandma, and cook with Grandpa. I turn off my phone. Not only has Gigi’s called me a million times, but everyone from back home is now starting to call. Seems like the closer we get, the more they all care. Grandma hasn’t turned on the news. She knows the trail will be everywhere, and she doesn’t want me to see that. It’s the reason I left, after all. 

Thankfully Gigi hasn’t come by. I think I scared her pretty bad, running away like I did. I haven’t heard from Chase either, but I know he’s alright. There would’ve been news if he wasn’t. 

I let three days pass before I try to get in touch with him. It’s a safe bet that he’s out of the hospital by now. 

I try calling, but I don’t get an answer. Seems like he’s turned off his phone as well. I think about calling Gigi or Ty, but that seems like more trouble than it’s worth, and would come with a lot more explaining. Finally, thinking about it hard, I realize the one place he could be. 

Heading out to Rally Stables, I arrive to find Jim working right out front. “He here?” I ask, giving him a small smile. 

Jim nods. “Seemed mighty upset about something, if you ask me,” he says gently. 

“I’ll see if I can fix that,” I say with a small smile, and then head off towards the barn. Today I won’t be riding; I’ll be running, with shoes this time. 

When I finally make it to our spot in the woods, Chase is there. I take a minute to catch my breath and then walk up to meet him. 

“Hey cowboy. That’s an ugly bruise you’ve got there,” I say, pointing to his arm. The top he’s wearing leaves his arm and the top of his chest exposed, and almost everywhere the tissue is a deep purple, and spots of yellow are beginning to form. 

Looking at me for a moment, and then shaking his head, Chase goes back to fixing Dodge’s saddle. “Hey,” I say, frustrated, reaching out to touch his arm. The minute I do, Chase pulls away. 

“What do you want, Savannah,” he says. Now his anger is obvious. 

“I wanted to see how you were,” I say, frowning and stepping back. Chase studies me for a second, brows furrowed, then shrugs and goes back to the saddle. 

“You didn’t come to the hospital.” He doesn’t look at me when he says it. 

“I don’t know, seemed more like a girlfriend thing to do..” I start, smirking, but Chase cuts me off when he throws down the knife he’s working with. 

“That’s bullshit Savannah and we both know it. If you care about me at all, even just as a friend, you would’ve been there.”
He’s angry. We stare at each other in silence, as if waiting to see who’ll break first. 

“I just, I couldn’t be there, okay?” I say finally, looking out into the trees. I hear Chase move and I look back just as he gets to me, grabbing my waist and pushing me against a tree. I scream out in shock.. 

Something clicks in Chase’s mind and he lets go of me. “Sorry,” he mumbles, surprised by his own actions, turning away. Wrapping my arms around myself, I take a breath. 

“Why couldn’t you be there?” Chase asks, looking back at me with pleading eyes. 

“I just couldn’t,” I say quietly, looking down. 

“That’s not good enough Savannah!” he screams. Throwing his hands up, he covers his face, laughing hoarsely. “I’ve had a lot of time to think these past few days, and you know what I’ve figured out? I don’t know anything about you! You’re sarcastic, and discreet, but it’s not funny anymore. You won’t even let me in!”

I stand silent, letting him scream at me. I deserve this. 

“What are you hiding from? What are you scared of?” he pleads with me. He runs a hand through his hair as he waits for answers. 

“This was suppose to be easy. No consequences, remember? You’re not suppose to care this much,” I say frustrated. 

“Well it’s a little late for that!” Chase yells back, “Cause I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with you!” 

It registers fast, and I feel my skin heat up. I fight the pain in my throat and the tears that threaten to spill out over my eyes. “You can’t love me,” I say hoarsely. “Because you’re right, you don’t know me.” 

Chase stands still, and I continue. “You want to know me, you want the whole story? Look it up! You’ve probably heard about it by now anyway.” I pause, taking a breath. “No matter how far I try to run, there’s always stupid, curious people like you who need to know me. So I’ll let you in on a secret: get out now, because when it comes down to it, you don’t want to know the truth about me.” 

My cheeks are wet, and I can’t hold anything back any longer, I turn and start to run again, leaving Chase, standing next to the spot where we had our first kiss. Leaving the boy I can’t let myself love, because as much as I wish he wouldn’t, I know he’s going to do everything in his power to finally find out the truth.