Infinity (Coming of age)

Prologue

your absence is a missing limb

It was only a week before school began at Hamilton Valley High School. Students took this time to take advantage of the little free time they had left, enjoying the sun and freedom before they were required to attend classes again.

The mall was packed with people. It had its usual customers lingering here and there, while many of the students from Hamilton Valley hung out with their friends before things went back to normal.

Chase Sinclair sat in the food court at a popular coffee shop, sipping a latte as he listened to his friends' chatter. It was quite busy, probably because many people were getting new clothes and other items to prepare for the upcoming school year.

He didn't care, he'd only joined the mall trip to please his friends and he had nothing better to do.

Silvia Colon continued about whatever it was she'd been talking about, and while the others in the group listened intently, Chase didn't.

He watched everyone around him, studying their faces as they focused on their tasks for the day. Chase was a people watcher, although he'd never admit it.

Then, his eyes landed on someone familiar. He would recognize that face anywhere, the same face that belonged to his ex-best friend, Daniela Jameson.

She stood next to another girl that he knew by the name of Elizabeth Thatcher, the person who replaced Chase once they stopped being friends.

He watched as Elizabeth mumbled something to Daniela, to which the blue-eyed girl nodded in response. Elizabeth then walked away, leaving the short girl by herself.

Tapping his fingers on his cup, he hesitated before standing from his seat. The sudden movement caused Silvia to stop saying whatever she'd been talking about, watching him with wide eyes. "Where are you going?" She asked, putting her hands flat on the table.

"Just-" Chase stopped. He looked to see that everyone was looking at him, waiting to see what got him standing up so fast. He sighed, looking back at the girl. "I'll be back, okay? You can continue with your story, just tell me later on."

Silvia smiled with a short nod. She hesitated before beginning to speak again, and as soon as she had begun to talk he had walked away from his friends. They all watched as he walked away and toward the girl standing in line, puzzled looks on their faces as they watched the scene play out.

"Who is that?" Silvia asked, her eyes narrowing.

"That's Daniela Jameson. She's gone to Hamilton Valley since we were young," Charlotte Duncan told her friend, taking a sip from her drink.

"Well, who does she think she is taking Chase's attention like that?" Silvia snapped, tapping her fingers on the table.

"I wouldn't say she took Chase's attention. She hasn't even looked in his direction." Tristian Wallace spoke from the other side of where Chase had been sitting.

"Either way. Not cool," Silvia crossed her arms.

Chase arrived to where Daniela stood in line, holding a few shopping bags in hand. She'd yet to notice him approaching her, and once she did her eyes widened at the boy.

"Dani," Chase breathed out.

Daniela looked to the side before back at Chase, a confused look on her face. "What are you doing here?" She asked him, moving the bags in one hand to her other one.

"Just-" He stopped for a second, "I'm here with some friends. You should join."

Daniela scoffed, earning a frown from Chase. He didn't say anything, causing her face to fall. "Seriously?" Her nose scrunched up, "You're serious."

"What?" He asked softly.

"I just-" She breathed in. Daniela glanced around for any sign of Lizzie, failing to see the curly-headed girl. She looked back at the tall boy standing in front of her, a defeated sigh leaving her lips. "We haven't talked in a very long time, and that's the first thing you say to me?"

Chase knew this was coming. He had hoped that just walking up and inviting her over would be enough to skip the sorries and deep conversations. Deep down, he knew Daniela wouldn't be like that. She wouldn't just act as if nothing happened, she wouldn't act as if he didn't hurt her by ditching her the moment popularity knocked on his front door. They were the best of friends and he hurt her, so obviously the girl wouldn't act like nothing happened.

Chase's lips pressed together in a thin line. His cheeks burned in embarrassment, not used to being talked to the way Daniela had talked to him. "I know what I did was wrong, but-"

"But what, exactly?" Daniela's eyes narrowed.

"But, Daniela-" He started, putting his hands in his hoodie pocket. "I'm sorry. You're my best friend and no amount of popularity is worth losing your friendship. I've been thinking about it a lot, especially seeing you around and all. I'd like to be friends again."

Daniela's brows raised, and she looked around in disbelief. She didn't know what to say, and it wasn't long before Chase spoke up again.

"You don't have to hang out with me or anything the way you used to. We've both got pretty busy lives now, and I get that. I just would like to have the same friend I had before high school." Chase shrugged.

"You realize that after last year, nothing will ever be the same right? We're both very different people now. Who knows if we'd even like the person the other's become." Daniela scoffed at him.

Chase didn't respond. Daniela didn't either, at first, before deciding to add to her statement.

"I mean, I genuinely don't like the people you hang out with. No offense," She said. "And the few friends I have you probably wouldn't hang around. Either way, personality-wise or not - nothing will change the fact that you did what you did and dropped me as if it were nothing. How do I know that it won't happen again?"

"Because it won't. I made a mistake - one that I genuinely regret - and I'd never be stupid enough to put myself in that position again. I might be a little dumb at times, but I'm not that dumb." Chase responded.

Daniela thought about it. She weighed out the pros and cons and thought over whether or not putting herself in that vulnerable position would be worth it. But before she could respond, Lizzie walked back from the bathroom.

"Line hasn't moved up at all?" The other girl asked. She then took notice of Chase, looking the boy up and down. "Uh, hi?"

"Hi," Chase mumbled before looking back at Daniela. "So what do you say?"

"Fine, I guess," Daniela mumbled, messing with the bags in her hands. Her eyes then trailed behind Chase, where his entire friend group still stared at the two. "Your friends are staring. Should probably go back."

Chase glanced back, waving at his friends. He then looked back at Daniela, a small smile on his face. "Will do. See you later, Dani."

The boy walked away. Lizzie looked between the two in confusion, just earning an eye roll from Daniela. Daniela just rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"Don't even ask about it." She whined, moving up in line.

"Oh, I'm going to ask about it alright. And you're going to tell me everything."

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Prologue is here! Can't wait to bring these characters to life for you guys <3