Getting Back

Opportunity

I open my locker quickly to grab a pencil when I feel a hand grab my waist.

"Chase, I have to get to class." I say, before turning around to meet his blue eyes. His brown hair is a mess and he obviously hasn't bothered shaving in awhile because I can feel light pricks of his facial hair as he kisses me.

I hate public affection. I feel like it's always so awkward to the third party. But no one's in the hallway so I kiss him back, pulling on his open flannel.

"Well you see, I was having this problem," Chase starts, his eyes still hazy from last night. "I was sitting in third period thinking about you..." He stops.

"Okay, and... Is this something new...?" I ask, sarcastically.

He smiles and continues, "Well, and then I was thinking about how school was ending in four days and what we could do to start off the summer, and then it hit me. You haven't met my family in New York."

A smile grows on my face almost instantly.

"God I love it when your face lights up like that." He says.

"Chase Downright, are you suggesting that we go to New York City?" I ask excitedly.

"Yes I am." A boyish smile appearing across his face.

I kiss him once, not wanting to stop, when the bell rings for fourth period.

I let him go as kids start filing out of the classrooms.

I smile at him one last time and he winks at me before I start walking down the hallway.

It's crazy. There are 200 kids in my grade. There always has been (aside from rare new comers like Chase) but yet, for the past two years, it's just been Chase and I. It's not like we shut everyone out or anything.

It's just that we're each others best friends.

I walk through these hallways and see unmotivated adults sitting on their couch watching football on Sunday's with beer cans surrounding every inch of table space and house wives preparing the fish their husbands caught earlier that day.

That's not the life I want. And Chase gets that.

....

"Hey." Chase whispers, poking my arm with his pencil.

"Chase, focus." I whisper back.

"C'mon Candice. We've been at this for hours." He's not trying to be quiet anymore.

I look around the small coffee shop, where Chase and I always go to study, and realize that the only person working is an older lady who's washing the floors, getting ready to close.

I give him the death stare, "I better pass these finals."

"Oh babe, you're gonna pass. In fact I'm putting money on it, so you better."

He has a point. I study a lot when it comes to finals. They've scared me to death since freshman year.

"Do you know what I love?" I say, leaning over my books as he starts packing his up.

"What?" He asks, now stopping to meet my gaze.

"The fact that you don't mind coming here to study with me."

"Hmm, well... I actually do mind. I'd much rather be hanging out with my other friends... And going to the Cove on Friday nights with my other girlfriends..." He says sarcastically.

I hit him with my book. The Cove was this big deal in middle school. Everyone would go cliff diving. It was now pronounced as completely lame by the high schoolers.

I pack up and grab my bag before kissing Chase one last time before leaving.

"You better pass these finals too, otherwise I'm not going to New York with you." I threaten on my way out, completely lying because I would never give up an opportunity to get out of this town.