EXCHANGED

Chapter 18- I'm sure Jesse wouldn't believe me

Author's Note:
Hey, Readers! Thank you so much for reading and you'll probably know that this is the Big Moment !!! And If only I knew where you were, I'd most likely give a tight embrace to some special readers who I can see have been reading every part. So anyways, here you go! Have fun reading! Xx
-CHEYENNE SYMONE

(Lou's POV)

Chase presented to me the sensation I have never underwent before. And that simple yet spectacular feeling was the greatness of.... a kiss. The way he held me made me feel warm and protected in his arms. It made me... love him deeper. The way he laughed with that gleaming eyes of his made me... I can't even explain it!

"Y-you're beautiful...", he muttered as I deeply blushed. "I- I was wondering if I could a-ask you out... on a date...", he asked, anxiously, fiddling with his thumbs. "Thanks, Chase... I would love to...", I accepted as his appearance lightened and we both giggled. "Well, let's get on with the party, then...", I suggested as he nodded his head and sniggered. As we arrived, Chase paced up to the snack table. I followed. "I got you a drink... soda this time.", he winked as I blushed and giggled. "Oh, wait a minute... gotta get to the bathroom.", he said before vanishing in the crowd.

I held my soda and tapped my toes to the beat of the music as I waited... when suddenly someone covered my face! I wiggled, trying to take that person's hands off me. I couldn't see or scream even though I tried... he was a criminal! It seemed like his hands were soundproof. I squirmed but his grip on my body was tight and strong. I began to panic as he brought me somewhere... dark, closed and silent. I tried to wriggle out of him and yell for help but it wasn't possible. Tears started to well up in my eyes and I tried to bite his hands but even my lips couldn't detach.

After a really short moment, he set me free. My eyes fluttered open as I took a deep exhale before I saw who stood before my very eyes.

Max.

"Oh, Jesus... Max! It's you! What the hell were you trying to-", he abruptly cut me off by crashing his lips into mine, pushing and pinning me to the cold, hard wall. I toiled on trying to push him away but he was rough. He held me tight and firm, not allowing me to move or wriggle out of him. After a rough moment, he pulled out. No! No! I'm not Jesse! "Max! It's me, Lou! Go find Jesse.. and don't ever do that!", I spat out, disgusted. "Stop fooling around, Jesse... I know you're always cheeky...", he smirked, nearing me and pulling me close to him. "Stop it! Get off me!", I squirmed, shutting my eyes and turning my head to look away. His arms were strong and sturdy around my waist as he cackled. "Max, stop! Please! This is not Jesse!", I yelled yet no one could hear due to the loud beats and party cheers. "You're always like that.", he sneered, sniggering. Tears started to well up in my eyes again as I pushed and wiggled.

And before I could even be released from his grip, Chase entered the room. That made me the most unfortunate woman at that moment. "What the hell is wrong with you, Jesse?!", Max whined. "I told you, I'm Lou! You drunk dung!", I exclaimed, running over to Chase. "Max, piss off! Jesse is just over here!", Chase retorts as Jesse pops up behind him. "What's the fuss all around here?", she asks, befuddled.

She glanced all around before her eyebrows furrowed and her lips parted. "Did you and Max... make... make out?!", Jesse growled, pushing me. "No, no, no, Jesse! Max was drunk. He though I were you! I kept telling him but he wouldn't believe me!", I quickly explained, backing away.

Max was silent, standing in a corner. Chase, once in a while, scowled at him.

"Oh, yeah?!... Max, come over here and explain!", Jesse yells, signaling Max to come over. "I... I'm drunk, J-Jesse... I th-thought Lou was y-you s-so I... I...", he stuttered as Jesse neared him and kissed his forehead in forgiveness. "I believe Max. But I will back away from you and you! Before anything else happens!", she screams, pointing Chase and I before storming out of the place, pulling Max with her.

Chase jogged to me and pulled me to embrace him. "Are you okay?", he whispers, rubbing my back, soothingly. "Sort of...", I faintly giggled. "Good night, Chase... I gotta go to Jesse... we need to talk...", I said, walking away before he ran to face me. "I- I could take you to my place... that way, you'd be more comfortable. You don't have to go immediately. You need a nap, Lou. Come on..", he suggests, his eyes shimmering with hope. I nodded my head as his face enlightened.

We then bid everyone goodbye and parted together.

• • •

"Have a seat, Lou... I'll get you some... what did you say you wanted?", he asks as I slightly chuckled. "Oh... I'll have milk, thanks...", I replied, lightly beaming.

After a little while, he handed me the milk, sat alongside of me and played a movie. It was comedy and there came this abrupt part where some lady tripped, rolling down the stairs back from the seventh floor to the sixth. I burst out in a loud guffaw, not able to close my mouth after what just took place in the movie. Chase stared at me, eyes wide and glimmering. I halted myself from chortling as I covered my mouth and coated it with a light grin.

"I'm sorry... Sometimes I'm just-" "Weird", he finishes my sentence as we stared at each other, suddenly, and giggled.

Few more ridiculous and hilarious moments passed as I began to turn sleepy when the movie ended.

"I should get back home. Thanks a lot, Chase.", I said. "No,Lou! Wait!", he calls as he bit his lower lip and deeply flushed to a red, rosy color. "Y-you can s-sleep here i-if you w-want to...", he stuttered, scratching the back of his neck. I widely smiled and giggled. "Chase, I... I would really l-love to but... it's Jesse. We need to sort out this stuff. It's just so hard for her to understand, I thought about how it might happen and it did and... I... I just have to talk to her.", I said in a quick, stuttering way. He sighed and his smile faintly faded.

"I would really love for you to stay and maybe we could sort it out... together. I can help. We can think about it here. Jesse probably already had enough for today. But if it's really right for you, go for it."

I reddened and chewed on my lower lip. I hesitated to speculate for a moment and my smile widened again. "Okay...", I muttered as he hopped and pulled me back inside.

"Woah... okay. But... wh-where do I sleep, though?", I said, placing strands of my hair behind my ear. "You sleep in the bed!", he says. "B-but where do you sleep?", I worriedly asked. "On the couch by the bed... so we could talk a bit. Are you ok with that?", he says as I nod my head.