Please Notice. {Chad Meeks-Martin}

final five

PLEASE NOTICE— CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

Everyone has a tic, a small movement that signals how they're feeling. For Violet Otello, that tic appeared whenever she was worried about something and it existed as a small twitch above her eyebrow.

For most people, a twitch is normal— most would've even notice the mechanism.

Chad Meeks-Martin is not most people. He understands Violet like the rising and falling of his chest.

So, as Violet Otello began to fall deeper and deeper into her thoughts while she helped cook dinner, Chad took an immediate notice.

With the noodles boiling on the stove, Chad took a step closer to Violet, bridging her in between the counter and his body.

Violet, so enveloped in her own thoughts, hadn't even noticed the boy stepping closer to her until his body heat was mixing with her own and his breath began to breathe down her spine.

She shivered lightly at the contact, falling backwards until her head met his chest.

It was a reflex to trust Chad, like every fiber of her being ached to be closer to him. It had always been that way. Even as children, Violet Otello was comforted by the presence of Chad Meeks-Martin.

Chad wrapped his arms around Violet, brining his head forward to rest upon her own and using his hands to rub soft caresses against her arms.

"You want to tell me what's bothering you?" Chad offers, his voice kind and loving as he unwinds Violet from her thoughts.

Violet blows out a breath, sighing lightly before removing herself from Chad's arms and turning to face him. Chad, meets her with a welcoming look, the kind that comforted her during dozens of hard nights and dreadful mornings.

"I think you should get out of the city. You know, considering what happened to you last time." Violet starts, an ache forming in her chest with every word. "I-I wouldn't blame you—if you wanted to go. I want you to be safe."

All Violet could think of is how close she could be to losing Chad for good—that maybe, next time, she wouldn't be able to save him.

That maybe, this time, they would end up like Mariana and Kirby.

"That's very thoughtful of you," Chad starts, stepping closer to Violet until they're chest to chest and his hands are caressing her own. "But, I'm not going anywhere. We're a team."

"And what if staying here is the reason that you die?" Violet swallows, the ache pressing against her chest so hard that she feels it in her stomach.

It was no secret that her biggest fear involved losing Chad. As codependent as it sounded, he was her lifeline. Living without him wouldn't be living at all. She would simply be existing.

"What if me leaving is the reason that you die?" Chad echoes, forcing a lump down his throat until the pain enveloped in his stomach cavity.

Since the beginning of Chad and Violet's friendship, Chad had felt an urge to protect, love, and care for Violet Otello. While she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, he wanted to make sure she didn't have to do it alone. If he left and something happened to her, he would never forgive himself, nor would he ever recover.