Below the Surface

Chapter 5

Summer's p.o.v.

Janise and I walked to school as usual, Janise walking a little stiffly, and I nurturing my right arm, which was sore from training.

I was sitting in math class, waiting for the bell to ring, when I noticed something missing. I looked over, and saw Chase's empty seat immediately. I didn't have time to think about it, because the bell rang and my teacher started hammering math into my head.

Through out the day, Chase didn't show up, and I started to get worried. I tried not to think about it, he could just be sick. Sick with what? There you go again Summer. Stop it. He could maybe on a vacation. Wait, was he kidnapped? Summer stop.

All these thoughts flew through my head as I walked into my last class of the day, social studies. I was supposed to be sitting next to him. There goes my social studies thinking about him.

Janise and I sat down, then a couple seconds later Ian sat down. I sat as far away from his as I could, Janise doing exactly the opposite.

The bell rung, and with it my hopes of Chase showing up. We took out our textbooks, and continued reading where we left off yesterday. Chase and I might not have gotten much done.... As I was reading, I felt the desk shift on my left, and looked up to see Chase sitting down, grimacing as if in pain.

"Chase!" I exclaimed, abandoning the book. He half smiled, still grimacing.

"Hey," Chase said.

"Are you ok?" I asked, noticing a large purple bruise on his right arm.

"Oh," Chase said, looking down at the bruise as if it had just appeared. "That? That would be my brother." His brother would do that? What a cruel brother.

"Hey," Chase said, interrupting my thoughts. "Do you want to keep reading?"

"Oh, uh, sure!" I stammered, trying to hide my joy at him being here. We continued reading the book, I read first.

I tried to make a joke about something, but Chase weakly laughed. I nudged him with my elbow.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I said, not able to keep the worry out of my voice.

"I'm just tired." Chase snapped. I was hurt by his sudden outburst, and decided not to push him. The rest of class passed in the same way, Chase reading glumly, and I tagging along sadly. (Ian and Janise were reading like nerds again.)

The block later ended, and for once I was happy to leave him in his depressing mood. I rose out of my seat and picked up my stuff, and headed towards the door. When I was about to go into the hallway, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Summer?" Chase's voice washed over me. He removed his hand on my shoulder as I turned around ruffly.

"What?" I asked, not trying to hide my annoyance. My face immediately softened when I saw the look on his face.

"I- I'm sorry I was so rude to you in class today, and I uh... wanted to make up for it..." Chase said, not meeting my eyes.

"Ok..." I said. I noticed Chase stealing him self up for something...

"Do you want to go with me for dinner tonight?" I was flabbergasted. Dinner? With him?!??? YES! YES! YES!

I acted cool on the outside. "Sure!" I suddenly remembered my training back at home. "Oh, when would you plan to do it? I have to be back by 7:30."

Chase looked a little crestfallen but still enthusiastic at my answer. "Ok!" He said. "Where do you want to go?"

I smiled. "Surprise me!" I said as I walked out the door.