Fields of Iris

The First Meeting

Chase's P.OV

I had just hung up the phone with Ivan, who told me about his conversation with Iris. I tried to congratulate her but she wasn't picking up any of my phone calls. "Babe, when can we get out of here? This hotel is really getting on my nerves," Cammie spoke as I rubbed my temples.

"I have to finish these reports," I said, focusing back on my work.

"No, I mean out of this place. The Brooks! I'm ready to go back to the city. I miss the nightlife and our friends..." She whined as I looked over at her shaking my head.

"You can go back anytime you want. I have to push these deals through and at least wait until the construction plans come in. It's going to be at least a few more weeks," I admitted, not feeling as upset about being back home as before. I missed being in the city and around normal people, but this business wasn't going to be finished any time soon and I had to accept the fact that the investors wanted me down here and so did the Mayor.

"Yeah, but we were working on ourselves. I mean, remember when I brought up moving in together," she remarked as I huffed, remembering the drunken conversation one night. "I'll get lonely without you. Come on, I can talk to daddy. I'm sure he can pull some strings and get someone to come out here to this dump," she said as I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

"Hey, I want to do this deal. It will be big for m.. for us," I corrected seeing her huff and roll in the bed. Modeling was easy work and meant she had plenty of free time to stay up in the hotel.

"Well, Kayla is having a girls night tomorrow so I'm going back for the day," she said as I tried my best to not show my relief. "So, why don't you spend some time with me tonight," she said as she began to undo her top. I put my pen down, excited for the night to get interesting. Just as she began to make her way over to me my phone rang and I looked down to see Ray.

I almost didn't answer it, but the thought of Iris not answering my calls made me halt Cammi's actions and answer. "Hey, Ray," I said with a sigh as he seemed out of breath.

"Have you heard from Iris?" He asked, causing  me to sit up.

"Uh, not since this afternoon. She said she had Hayward's funeral. Is everything okay?" I questioned an odd worry filling my stomach.

"I don't know. She's been acting weird all week and it's more than just seeing you again. I think she's having a harder time than she'll admit about Hayward's death," he said, sounding panicky over the phone. I was already beginning to put my jacket and shoes on as Cammie complained behind me.

"So what happened? Is she not at home?"

"She went for a walk a few hours ago and it's dark out now. I have no idea where she could be. She does this sometimes, but I'm really worried tonight. There was a look in her eyes..." he said as I felt confused about what was going on.

"I'm sure Iris is fine. She always is," I said, knowing the cheery girl I always remembered back in the day. She never stayed sad for long.

"No she isn't. She just hides it better than everyone else. She would never tell me anything as a kid, but she would disappear a lot and just get really down sometimes. Don't tell her I said anything, but sometimes she gets so depressed that she forgets to eat," he said as I tried to wrap my head around what he was telling me. I could tell Iris wasn't as cheery as usual lately, but I was pretty preoccupied with stealing files that I didn't bother to pay enough attention to her.

"I had no idea. Do you know where she might have gone? Maybe she's at the farm," I asked.

"I don't know. She wouldn't want them to see her like this. She'd go somewhere... alone," Ray said as I could hear the worry in his voice. I could only imagine how scared he was feeling for his friend. I then thought about the only time I saw Iris that sad before.

"I think I might have an idea. I'll call you back," I said to Ray before hanging up and picking up my keys.

"Baby, what the hell?" Cammie spoke up, as I looked over to see her arms crossed.

"Sorry, It's just... a friend needs my help,"  I said as she raised an eyebrow, clearly upset.

"Maybe I'll just leave tonight. I mean, it's like you don't even care to see me. Is this person so important to ditch me?" she said as I pinched my temple, turning back to her. I went back and forth on whether to tell Cammie how I really felt, but the fact that she was my boss's daughter always reminded me to make the smart choice. Right now, I am starting to feel differently.

"Yes... She is. Look when I get back, let's have a talk," I said to her, as she sighed and nodded her head

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I wasn't surprised Billy chickened out on me. He lived in a bit of a nicer area of Brooksedge and was too afraid to walk through the woods in the Bottom of the Brooks at night. I made my way through the woods, trying to prepare myself for the jump. I started my freshman year in the fall and the rumor was that they made the rookies on the football team jump off the Ridge at night.

Some of the guys were supposed to come with me tonight to see how far the jump would be and maybe even try it together ahead of time, but one by one they all made excuses as to why they couldn't come. I finally reached the clearing and what I thought would be an empty cliff edge was anything but that.

I saw a young girl standing at the edge looking down. She looked a bit rough but since it was dark out I couldn't exactly see who it was. I stepped forward a little bit, staying quiet trying to get a better visual. She was so close to the edge, I could hear the rocks falling off. It wasn't until I was right behind her that I heard her soft whimpers. Just as I saw her foot lift in the air, I jumped up and pulled her back a lot harder than I intended, both of us falling to the ground.

"Ow, get off me, pervert!" She yelled as I almost wanted to laugh.

"Relax, I ain't no pervert. What were you doin'? Do you see that down there? The waves are crazy right now. Are you trying to kill yourself?" I spoke sarcastically as I saw the small sad girl look up at me, her eyes widening.

"Ch... Chase Dodson?" She said as I looked closer at the girl in front of me. I finally recognized her as she stood up from the rubble.

"You're that girl... the one stayin' with the Hayward's right?" I asked, not remembering her name. She always hung out with that kid who lost his parents in that car accident a few years ago. People weren't too nice to them and they mostly stayed to themselves. I wondered what she was doing out here.

"You can just say it, you know. The Orphan girl. Everyone else does," She harped back, surprising me a bit. She was usually pretty quiet but I heard she had a feisty side.

"My momma raised me better than that," I responded, finally able to look at her. She seemed pretty roughed up. Her curly black hair framed her face, which was stained in tears. As I looked down at her clothing, it looked cheap and she had some blood on her leg. That's when I noticed the scrape on her knee. "We have a farm not too far from here. My momma can clean that up for you," he said as she crossed her eyebrows stepping back.

"Is this some kind of trick?" She asked, clearly afraid of something. This girl was a bit strange, but it was clear she went through something tonight. "What are you even doing here?" She asked, her eyes flashing up to me and down to the ground a few times, clearly feeling nervous, or maybe even embarrassed. She sure was a daredevil, but I couldn't tell her exact mindset at the moment. All I know is the later we stay out here, the more I'd have to explain to my parents.

"A freshman dare. It's stupid really. I should be getting home now so if you want that cleaned up it's now or never. Momma's gonna wonder where we've been if it gets too late," I said as she still stood there hesitating. I wasn't sure what she was so afraid of. Clearly she knew who I was which meant she knew my parents. We were one of the most normal families in town. "Look, you don't gotta tell me nothin'. You can ride on my pegs in silence and after that, I'll take you home," I said as she finally nodded her head.

"It's Iris, by the way. My name..." she said as I gave her a small smile. She seemed nice enough. Whatever she was going through, hopefully my momma could help her out and I could use her as my excuse for why I was out so late. After that, she could go back to her home and we'd probably never see each other again.