Just A Game

17. Aspiring to Try

"Haven't seen you in a while. I thought you were supposed to come by yesterday?" Julie grinned. Well I was supposed to come see her after school yesterday like I promised my mom but I got a little sidetracked yet again trying to kill myself. So there you have it.

"I got a little busy" I smiled at her. Yesterday was extremely confusing. Chase and Shane nearly broke out into a fight and I was going to kill myself because Shane had gotten to me in the worst way- playing with my insecurities. But then he practically saved me. The both of them. But Shane knew I was going to jump because of the words he said ... Then he switched it up virtually trying to save me so I wouldn't jump.

"How's that boy of yours?"

I scoffed,

"He's not my boy"

"All of that kissing and dates you went on would say otherwise" She chuckled. I sized her up and down to make sure she wasn't Chase in disguise. He had basically said the same thing.

"Well... We can't be a thing" I threw the ball she had given me up at the ceiling. It returned to my hands in an easy catch.

"And why not?"

"Trust me, I'd tell you if I knew"

***

Chase stood in front of me with my textbook in his hand. His nose was scrunched up as he read the words on the page. He and Drea were helping me study for the test. They were planning on making this a weekly routine, probably every other day until it was time for midterms. Chase had already graduated from our school saying he had Mr. M once upon a time as well. He hated him but he always was good at all subjects in school. Drea sat at my computer desk making mini quizzes for me to take. I hated this so much but having the guy I have a crush on and Drea, my best friend in the same room was amazing. Drea was funny. I watched the way she stared Chase down like he was the last piece of pizza in the pizza box and she was starving.

"Ok, so you've gotten the bill of rights down. How about we talk about the three branches?" Chase looked up from the textbook at me. He looked so serious and determined to get me to pass this test and just watching him with his sleeves rolled up to the elbows and how his eyebrows and nose scrunched as he read something, made him so sexy. He cared and I knew that

"Why would I want to talk about trees Chase? We are studying history not biology" Chase laughed at my response sitting next to me, the bed dipping as he did.

"She's just playing. She does that when she doesn't care" Drea commented from across the room. I opened my mouth and bit at her from afar both of them cackling up in laughter.

"Seriously, can we take a break? I'm beat" After I came from therapy today I was completely worn out. I didn't tell either of them about Julie yet and I wasn't planning to. I only told them that I was going to be with my mom at the hospital. I haven't gone to see my dad in about two days. I was going to today but I got thrown off with everything else. Chase still doesn't know about my dad so I was hiding that too.

"Fine. You can have a break" Drea sighed standing up from her chair "I'll go get us some more drinks"

"Oh, uh. Drea? Do you mind if I get water instead of soda this time?" Chase asked from next to me. Drea smiled widely at him before prancing away

"Anything for you cutie pie" She shouted when she reached the hallway. Chase turned to me beaming a smile

"She's adorable" I turned to look at him to see a teasing smile on his face.

"I know" I pushed him. He chuckled grabbing both of my arms and pushing me down on the bed. He crawled on top of me on all fours, his body straddling me, our noses touching.