Chasing You

16

BRADEN

I don't even process the force at which Lacey pulls away from me until I hit my head on the porch railing. Her pink sundress swishes as she shoots up from her spot next to me. I turn to look at the culprit responsible for ruining that God damn moment. Tori is standing in front of us with her jaw dropped with hands on her head.

What is it with our friend group and busting in at all the wrong fucking moments.

"Oh my fuck! This is unbelievable!" Tori shrieks as Lacey hushes her. I sigh rubbing the back of my head because damn is Lacey strong as hell.

"Tori shut up," Lacey whispers glancing back inside. I can see them through the screen door, all of them look preoccupied by something. "Please, don't tell anyone about...this."

I furrow my eyebrows at her. Why the hell not? It's not a secret that we are still into to each other so why does she not want to tell anyone?

Oh, I don't know maybe because they all know how much of a dick you were.

I inhale harshly through my nose standing up. I grab Lacey's bag from the bottom step and hand it to her. Tori's eyes are bouncing back and forth between the two of us. She narrows her dark brown eyes at us.

She points a painted fingernail at Lacey, "You remember this LMW."

With that Tori turns on her foot and inside the house once again. Lacey releases a breath flicking her blue eyes at me.

"Braden, what are we doing?" she asks confusion clear on her pale skin. I sigh rubbing a hand over my jaw. How am I suppose to answer that question? I care about her I've known that for a long time but she has shit to figure out and so do I.

I just don't think we can figure it out together.

"I don't know."

That's how Lacey and I left things on Wednesday. It's Sunday night and I haven't seen her all weekend. I'd avoid me too. That was a shitty response. I should have just confessed that there was no bet, that I actually liked her and wanted to be serious with her. Not just a quick fuck or hookup. I rip my glasses off of my face and rub my eyes. I am suppose to be reading this shitty book for my English class and I think I zoned out twenty minutes ago.

I spin around in my desk chair glancing at Sixer. She wandered into my room about an hour ago and has been watching me stress over this reading. I still have to take a quiz after reading these four chapters and it's due at midnight. Carter's staying over tonight because this is technically our last weekend free of basketball. So, Rae and Carter have been cooped up in the house the whole weekend. Carter has also been scheming Rae's birthday party planning in Trey's room. Her birthday is next week, Robbie is taking Rae out to dinner and then Carter is putting together this surprise party. With the help of her roommates of course.

Carter was very excited that her birthday falls on a bye weekend for the football team and its Friday so we have practice during the day. I turn back around in my chair and look down at the book. I push my glasses back over my eyes and focus on the words in the chapter.

The words are jumbling together as I rub my eyes again. I can't read anymore. I push away from the desk and stand up. I stretch watch as Sixer picks up her tennis ball and places it on the edge of the bed. I laugh grabbing it. I guess it wouldn't hurt going outside for a few with her. It'll take this stress headache away.

The two of us walk out of my room and downstairs. Our backyard is fenced in so she is free to run around as she pleases there. Plus, it is nice to sit back there and relax. The house is quiet which is rare even for a Monday night. The only sound is Sixers paws and my sneakers on the stairs. I glance at the living room and it is empty. Weird. I direct Sixer towards the back sliding doors and step out. The chairs we had out here from last party are still here and thankfully, we cleaned up the backyard. When we have parties there is always people back here and we have a beer die table back here. The fence keeps us getting the cops called on us plus inviting our neighbors. On our right is the girls volleyball team and on our left is the lacrosse house.