The connection

Chapter Thirty two - Spiralling

Chase

I felt the heat of the sun break through the curtains as I rolled over out of its glare. As I turned in the bed I felt a warm arm snake around my chest pulling me back.

"Where are you going?"

I pulled myself upright and looked at the scene around me, empty beer bottles scattered the floor. My gaze turned to the space in the bed next to me as the brunette beauty led half naked beneath my sheets.

"You up for round two baby" she purred as she reached her hand out to me. I looked away and picked up her yellow dress from the floor and passed it to her.

"I think it's time for you to leave, I've got somewhere to be" was all I said as I stood up from the bed and made my way to the shower whilst she muttered the words asshole behind me. How did I get myself here.

Twenty minutes later I was dressed and heading out with that the coast was clear in my room.

"So what was this ones name?" A judgemental voice called as I entered the kitchen. Chloe. No doubt here to try and talk some sense into me.

"Shag about as much as you like Chase but none of them will replace her, none of them will fill that void you feel" she lectured me sternly.

"Whatever Chloe, what are you even doing here this early?"

"Uhh saving my friend from fucking up his life anymore that's what" she spat back matter of factly.

I rolled my eyes in response "well I don't need any help" I huffed

"Not what it looks like from where I'm sitting. Chase you need help, you can't just fuck every girl that half resembles Alex to take away your pain"

"Seems to be working pretty well if you ask me"

This time it was her turn to roll her eyes at me. "It's been three months Chase. I'm worried about you, you're off the rails, drinking and wasted all the time. You're making a huge mistake here"

"Yeah well no one asked you Chloe so why don't you just do us both a favour and back the hell off"

"I care about you Chase. I want to help" she pleaded

"Sounds like someone's jealous. What's wrong Chlo, want me to fuck you for old times sake?" I pressed up close to her and reached my hand out to her face. She batted it away

"Fuck off Chase. You're are fucking messed up" she shouted as she scrambled up from the breakfast bar and headed for the door.

"Offers always open" I drawled as a grabbed a fresh beer from the fridge and took a gulp.

Alex

I looked out the window at the serene view outside, was I really ready to go back out into the world. Had all my problems been magically fixed. I knew better than that, the past two months I'd spent at The Orchard view had made me see that there wasn't a magic wand that could simply wave my troubles away. I'd worked hard on myself since I'd been here to get myself back to a place or normality.

"Alex honey are you ready?" My mum asked with a smile as she stood in the doorway of what had been my home for the past 8 weeks. I looked back at the view out the window before I replied.

I took a deep breath "yeah mum, I'm ready" I got up and grabbed my bag from the bed, my suitcase was already loaded in the car and I made my way back to reality.

The drive home passed by in a blur, I could feel the anxious knot form in my stomach but knew that this was to be expected. This time I was ready. After that night at the bowling alley my life had turned upside down. He'd left me, I was broken. For almost a month my mum watched me fall apart, I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. I was barely there, empty and lost inside. Chase had stopped coming to school most of the time and I had drifted into a state of utter helplessness. Then one day I got home from school to find my suitcase packed, mum had reached breaking point and I was off to rehab or therapy or whatever you want to call it. I was going to heal. I had healed, maybe not completely but I was ready to face the world again and get back to my life. I was going to put Chase Matthews behind me once and for all.

As we pulled up onto the drive I spotted the welcome home banner on the front door and eyed mum suspiciously.

"Don't look at me, that's all Natalie. I think she's really missed you"

"I've missed her too, is she here?" I beamed jumping out of the car and heading for the front door. It opened before I got there and my best friend greeted me with a huge smile as she pulled me in for the tightest hug I'd ever been given.

"I missed you girl, so glad to have you back" she said as she finally released me from her grasp.

"It's so good to see you, I can't wait for you to catch me up on everything I've missed" I looked at her expectantly

"Come on girls, let's go inside. Alex you need to take it easy for a few days whilst you adjust back into things" mum warned me in her motherly tone.

"Mum I'm just catching up, honestly I'm fine. Come on Natalie let's go up to my room"

I pulled her inside and we headed inside. The familiar room felt comforting as I sat down on my bed and spread my hands out on the fluffy blanket that lay on top. I began to reminisce as I let my mind drift off slightly.

"Hey no zoning out on me" Natalie's voice snapped me back to reality as i shot her a smile.

"Sorry, I'm just so glad to be home" I half fibbed at her as she joined me on the bed.

"I'm so glad you're back, it's been so boring without my bestie" she rolled her eyes as she pulled me in for yet another hug.

"Hey Nat, I have to know....have you seen him?" I asked seriously as I studied her face for a response.

"Uh..Al I don't know if it's such a good idea to talk about him. Aren't you supposed to be making a fresh start and all?" She mumbled back clearly worried.

"I have to be honest about my feelings. I can't run or hide from things otherwise I'll never get over it. Please, just be honest, I can take it" I begged

"Well....he's not at school much but word around school is that he's hooking up with a lot of girls...he's wasted most of the time or so I've heard anyway, seems like he's sowing his wild oats as they say..sorry Al" she looked at my with apologetic eyes.

I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat and nodded at her "thank you, for being honest. I can move on now. Now that I know he has" I forced a smile back at her.

"Come on you can help me unpack" I smiled at her changing the subject.