The connection

Chapter Thirty eight - Bad news

Chase

It had been three days since our run in at the creek and I hadn't been able to get her out of my head, not that that was different to usual but seeing her again, it had made me realise more than ever that I wasn't ready to let her go. I closed my eyes and the image of her broken face looking at me flashed in my mind. She was broken, that's what she had said. I'd broken her. I hadn't been to school much lately and knew I was close to being suspended but now that I knew she was back I had a new reason motivating me to go. It was Friday and I'd endured a tedious day of lessons knowing my only hope of seeing her was either at break or in between classes. Her mum had made sure that we didn't have any classes together after a few words of warning to the school about the negative impact it would have on her. I waited behind a tree lurking like a creepy stalker waiting for it's prey. All I wanted was to catch a glimpse, to see her face. 

I waited for a few more minutes until I saw Natalie heading out onto the quad hand in hand with Lucas, guess that's no shocker. I looked around for Alex but she was nowhere to be seen, I was just about to give up hope and leave when I caught sight of her exiting the main building talking animatedly to some guy. I didn't recognise him, he had dark hair and was tall enough that he towered over her. He was smiling down at her and I could see her start to laugh as she gave him a playful shove. They paused to talk alone before joining the group of friends on the grass, I could see Natalie eyeing them with a smirk on her face as she whispered something to Lucas. Josh was with them now and he looked up, his expression unreadable.

"So back to stalking are we" Chloe's voice came from behind me pulling my attention away from Alex as I turned to face her. She stood with her hands on her hips and a look of disapproval on her face as she shook her head at me. "Chase this isn't a good idea" she began

"I know, I know. I just....I just can't chlo" I admitted defeatedly "I can't let her go" I finished.

She eyed me sympathetically and offered me a hopeful smile. "She looks like she's doing well, that's what you wanted wasn't it" she shrugged.

" she's not...she said she's broken" I huffed as I kicked at the ground

"She said? As in you've spoken to her?" She asked confused. Oh yeah guess I forgot to tell her about that.

"Uh yeah, funny story really. The other night when you dropped me off to pick up my car...she was there" I rubbed the back of my head as I spoke. She cocked her brow and looked at me

"Really, and what exactly did she say to you?" She quizzed suspiciously 

"Not much, she just said she was broken" I answered flatly

"Well she looks pretty unbroken to me" she said glancing in the direction Alex was stood chatting with her new mystery man.

"Whatever Chloe" I huffed as I pushed passed her and headed in the direction of my car.

"Chase come on, I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you" she called after me but it was no use, I didn't want to hear it.

I rounded the corner and headed towards the rows of parked cars reaching in my pocket to retrieve my keys. I could hear footsteps behind me, great probably Chloe here to give me another lecture I thought to myself as I spun around ready to tell her to piss off.

It wasn't Chloe, I stood shocked as I came face to face with Josh who looked just as shocked as me.

"Hey er how's it going?" He asked as he joined me by my car.

"I've been better" I mumbled whilst fiddling with my keys in the lock

"Chase wait...can we Uh talk" he smiled at me as if us two talking was a completely normal occurrence. What was this guys deal.

"I'm pretty busy right now Josh" I started but he cut me off before I could go any further

"It's important please" he leaned his hand out to my car door as if to stop me from opening it, I eyed it and then returned my gaze to his face. He looked deadly serious, what was this about.

"Get in, we can go for a drive" I muttered pulling the door open and forcing him to remove his hand. I took my seat at the wheel as he got in the passengers seat and then I started the engine and took off. 

We'd been driving about five minutes when I pulled into a lay-by and cut the engine.

"What's this about Josh, is there something you have to say to me?" I snapped

"I'm worried about Alex" that was all that needed to come out of his mouth for him to have my full undivided attention as I turned in my seat and locked eyes with him.

"Is she okay, did something happen" I demanded

"She's fine, chill" he pleaded, seeing I was worked up. I relaxed back into my seat and took a breath. 

"It's just that new guy she's been hanging out with, Nate, I don't know but I've got a bad feeling about him, I think he's bad news"

Is this guy being serious. He has a bad feeling about some douche bag that Alex is seeing and thinks that I'm the one who can help somehow. He must be insane.

"What is it you expect me to do about it" I fumed

"I don't know, talk to her maybe" he huffed.

I burst out laughing at his suggestion "talk to her...Josh you do realise she hates me, I broke her heart. I'm the last person she wants to talk to right now" he must be a complete moron I thought to myself.

"She doesn't hate you, she's hurt that's all. You left her but that doesn't mean she won't listen to you" 

"Yeah it does Josh. If you're so concerned why don't you talk to her" I pointed out

" she'll just think I'm jealous"

"And what about me, she'll definitely think I'm jealous or that I'm just trying to hurt her even more than I already have. What makes you think this guys bad news anyway" I questioned

"Just something he said to me and Lucas, he said he transferred from Sandview school up north and that he used to play hockey there"

"So"

"Well Lucas has a cousin on the team at sandview and he said no one by the name of Nate Ashford ever went there, he lied man. Why would he lie about that" Josh huffed.

"I don't know, maybe he just wanted to impress you or something" 

"Nah, that doesn't make sense. I'm telling you Chase something is up with that guy and I don't like how he's suddenly all interested in Alex. You should of heard him the first day he met her all he said this school was full of too many stuck up princesses, he couldn't stand her and now all of a sudden he's changed his tune" he looked at me exasperated.

"Sorry Josh, I think I've done enough messing with Alex's life. I can't help you on this one, I promised her I'd stay away" 

Who was this Nate Ashford and what was his deal.I might not be speaking to Alex about him but one thing was for sure was that if this guy had something to hide, I was going to find out what it was.