For Granted: Regretful Childhood Friend

Chapter 7

I woke up today with stressing, crappy news. My period has arrived.

I don't suffer too overly with symptoms but the first two days are always brutal, nonetheless. I usually stay in bed, take some ibuprofen, eat lots of dark chocolate and consider profoundly what did I do wrong to deserve this.

A very nice and happy routine for all womankind. Okay, I am having PMS guys.

Chase has been sending me less texts since our last fight two weeks ago, but everyday he makes sure to stay in contact with one message each day. It seems to me he is acting more serious and less playfully this days. I've heard people commenting on the fact that he is not going to any parties and refuses invitations for nights out.

He is constantly seen in the library studing or training with his team. Overall, the general opinion is that Chase decided to settle down from his wild ways. He doesn't give rides or keep talking to girls. He is just keeping to himself. And I feel just a tiny bit happy with this. Just a tiny bit, nothing more.

I imagined so many times how it would be to have Chase just for myself. To have him realizing I was the one and to have him asking me out for a real date. But everything happened like in your usual teenage movie, with lots of misunderstandings and odd behaviours.

Now, Chase and I are barely talking and I am not sure if I should continue ignoring his pleas or if I should go easier on him. Lots of questions, not so many answers.

For the moment, I will try not to die in my bed and figure out things later. I already told my friend I will not be attending classes today.

I doze up for some hours and wake with a startle, receiving an income call.

- Hello - I say with a sleepy grunt.

- Babe, are you okay? - Chase asks me with a preocupied voice.

- Why?

- Well.... because.... you know? - He says in the phone, without really saying a thing.

- What? No, I don't. - I answer him, more wake now.

- Erin.... - He grunts in the phone - I usually know about the thing.... you know? And I wanted to be sure about... hum... If you need anything, that's it.

WHAT? How would he know about this?

- Are you talking about what I think you are, Chase?! - I ask him with a squick.

- Well... if it involves you bleeding all over the....

- STOP! - I yell at him - Chase, this is embarrassing! What the hell!

- Sorry - he says with a sheepish voice - I didn't mean no disrespect. It's just that I know it's not easy and shit like that.

I can't believe I am talking about my period with Chase!

- How would you know about this, anyway?! Did you talk to Amanda? - I inquire him furiously.

- Amanda? No. I just know.

- How! - I insist.

- Erin.... babe. Of course I know - Chase says again.

- So tell me how - I say.

- Well, I've been observing you since forever. And there where these specific times when you would stay home or would yell at me out of the blue. So I decided just to write about the time for precautions.

I can't believe I am hearing this!

- Since we are... kind of fighting and I can't see you how I would like, I need to be sure you are okay and everything. I bought some food, medicine and chocolate for you, but if you need me to buy girl shit, well... What the hell, I will do it.

I am specheless.

- This is.... this is... very sweet - I start to say with a whisper, feeling tears forming in my eyes for no reason at all - It is so kind of you to check on me, Chase.

Okay, hell, I am crying on the phone. FOR NO REASON AT ALL!

- Hey....! What? Are you crying? - Chase shouts in my ear - Whatever for? Erin!

- Because it was nice.... - I keep crying silently, trying to regain control of my overly sensitive hormones.

- No... Hey, look, I am going to you room, let the door open for me. - He says with a firm voice.

- What? No... Chase, it is not.... - I try to say but he interrupts me.

- I am going inside in 25 minutes - He ends the call and I am just capable of going to the door and to let it open. After, I proceed to go to bed and not even try to rearrange the sorry state of my face and hair for his benefit. If he knows I am PMSing, he knows I will probably look like a mess.

With less than 25 minutes he stealthly enters my room, closing the door and locking it. He turns himself to me with a bright smile and two bags filled with contents.

- So darling, having a bad day? - He says, getting nearer to the bad.

- Kind of.. - I respond him surly.

- No problem. Chase is here for you. I've brought cakes, sweets, medicine, burgues. I went again to the drugstore and the lady helped me choose some good stuff for you. Now, what about some hot pad for your little tummy?

He looks so charming trying to please me I can't help but to flush and to feel a wave of tenderness towards him. My eyes once again are filled with hot tears but he does this sound of disagreement with his mouth, like telling a toddler he is not happy with his behaviour.

- Now, now sweet Erin, no crying. That's not good. I am going to put on some funny series for us and we are going to eat these burgers together. What about watching Senfield?

- Yes, I would love it! - I say to him with intusiasm.

- Make room for me then.

I move till I am pressed in the wall and he makes himself comfortable in my tiny bed, putting his arm around my shoulders. He takes his phone and sets up the series for us.

- Very good, love, you are warm and nice, huh? - He murmurs in my ear and I feel him kissing my hair.

Okay, just for today I will allow him to do this.

This is the Chase I remember and love so much.

This is the Chase I wish so much to be mine. So, just for today, I will stay in his arms, no more fighting.