A Recycling Pup and a Flying Pup

Chap. 12 : The Confession

Chase clears his throat, eyes darting between Skye and Everest. "Uh, uhm... Skye, could I, um, have a moment alone with you?"

Everest raises an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity in her gaze. She glances at Skye, who nods with a small smile, though her eyes flicker with confusion. Everest rises, keeping her eyes on Chase as she moves to the door, giving him one last suspicious look before slipping out. The door clicks shut, leaving Chase and Skye alone, the air between them heavy with unspoken words.

Skye studies him for a moment, her gaze soft but tinged with wariness. "Chase... are you here alone?" She tilts her head, clearly surprised by his sudden presence.

"Yeah, I am," he replies, his voice wavering slightly as he takes a tentative step closer. "I... wanted to check on you. After... well, everything. I'm sorry."

Skye's eyes narrow, her gaze piercing. "Everything," she echoes, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Chase, I've been trying to figure out how I even got hurt in the first place. Everyone's saying it was an accident, but... I don't know. It just doesn't add up. Who wanted to hurt Rocky?"

Chase's pulse races, and he forces himself to meet her gaze. He tries to keep his voice steady. "Skye, you have to believe me, it wasn't me! I'd never want to see you hurt." But even to his own ears, his words feel weak, and Skye's expression doesn't soften. If anything, her eyes grow sharper, suspicious.

She shakes her head slowly, letting out a sigh. "Chase, that's not why you're here, is it?"

For a moment, he can't find the words. He's practiced this confession in his mind so many times, but now, facing Skye and her unbreakable stare, his thoughts jumble, stumbling over each other as his heart pounds harder. He takes a deep breath, his voice low but intense. "You're right, Skye. There's... something I need to say. I've been keeping it to myself for so long. I tried to push it aside, tried to pretend it wasn't there, but... it's not going away. I can't keep it hidden anymore."

Skye's ears flick as she watches him carefully, her confusion giving way to curiosity. "What is it, Chase?" she asks, her tone softer now, inviting.

He closes his eyes for a moment, grounding himself, and when he opens them, his gaze is filled with a fierce determination. "Skye... I'm, I'm in love with you. I have been for so long that I don't even remember a time I wasn't. You're... everything to me. The way you fly, your bravery, how you light up every room just by being in it. You're so much more than my friend, Skye. You're my... reason."

His voice catches, but he pushes on, words spilling out in a rush as he steps closer. "I've always been there, right by your side, hoping you'd see me the way I see you. I thought... maybe if I stayed close enough, helped you enough, you'd realize that we're meant for each other. And when Rocky... well, when he started spending more time with you, I got scared. I thought I was losing you, even though I never really had you."

Skye's eyes soften, but her expression is unreadable. She takes in every word, the intensity of his emotions filling the space between them, and he can see the wheels turning in her mind. But she says nothing, simply watching him, waiting.

Chase swallows, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I know it's a lot to put on you, but I had to tell you. I can't pretend anymore, Skye. I need you to know that... I love you. And I'm here, waiting, hoping you feel the same. But even if you don't... I just needed you to know. To hear it from me."

He finishes, his voice barely a breath as he looks at her, his heart pounding so loudly he can hear it in his ears. Skye holds his gaze, her expression shifting between surprise and something else he can't quite read. She opens her mouth to speak, and he feels his heart leap, bracing himself for whatever she's about to say.
"I see..."

But before a single word leaves her mouth, there's a sharp knock on the door.