Love in Limbo

Chapter Twenty One

Sarah pulls my arm around her shoulders, and helps me to stand. I fall into her slightly and find my nose buried in her neck, before removing myself embarrassed.

"I'm a little unsteady" I apologise, stating the obvious. I cannot break my eyes from her bare neck as I right myself, the baby hairs that stick up above her t shirt collar, the bead of sweat forming and running down into the crease beside where her pulse is throbbing against her skin. I feel almost primitive in my response, my senses momentarily overwhelmed by the scent of her skin, sweet and salty like my favourite popcorn.

As we move across the room slowly my senses are heightened, her arm holding my waist is strong and unwavering, her fingers tighten their grip on my hips to keep me standing and I feel an intense desire for them to be holding flesh and not fabric.

What the hell am I thinking...this was not a normal reaction.

I pushed the thoughts away and she helped me to sit in the wheelchair.

"Is that okay" she asks "Are you comfortable" she frets.

I lift my legs with my hands from under my knees and place them on the foot plates. "I'm fine" I reply, looking back to her "Although after hearing you bash every wall coming up the corridor with one of these last week I'm kind of worried I'm going to end up in the pool" I begin to laugh a little.

She raises her eyebrows with a smile. "Ha ha" she says mockingly.

The door is pushed open ahead of us and Chase appears in the door way. "Cass" he says acknowledging us. "Sarah" he adds, nodding towards her beside me.

"Your mom sent me in to get you" he explains, pushing his way past Sarah and taking the chair in hand.

"I want Sarah to take me out there" I tell him, frustrated by his sudden appearance.

"It's okay" Sarah says, lifting her bag from the floor. "I can meet you out there if you want"

"Yes" Chase interjects "That would be ideal"

"Cassidy" Sarah asks "Is that okay with you...I don't mind taking you" she replies.

I take a moment, before letting out a breath and releasing my lip from my teeth. I was attempting to hold in all of the curse words I would love to aim at Chase right now. "No its fine Sarah. I will see you out there" I reply, trying to hide my disappointment.

Sarah looks at me like she is waiting for me to change my mind, and she looks a little concerned as she moves towards the door. Her eyes finding mine repeatedly before she disappears from view.

"Why is that chick hanging around all of a sudden" Chase asks "Do you even know her"

I stare at the door she had just vacated, unable to look away "She's one of Blair's friends...and I guess a new friend of mine too"

"Cass" Chase begins "Can we talk about us" he asks "you seem distant with me"

"I love you so much" he confirms, bending on his heel and taking my cheeks into his hands, they are clumsy and uncomfortable "You do love me right" he asks.

I don't think I do.

I hesitate. This is not the moment to break up with him, not when the whole town is outside waiting for us.

"Guys" Blair calls, appearing in front of us, her bikini top now replacing the t shirt she had been wearing earlier. "It's almost time for the race"

"ooh" Chase begins, standing back up and grabbing the wheelchair handles roughly. "I gotta see this" he says, pushing me out of the door haphazardly and following Blair back to the crowds.