Next Door Heart Throb

Next Door Heart Throb -3-

"A barbeque was a way better plan then going out, Jennifer." Chase stated to my mother as we -me, Chase, my mother, father, Claire and Jack- sat in the backyard. The Christmas lights around the fence and pool lit up as night approached us.

"Well it's much better than the paparazzi taking millions of pictures of all of us if we ate out.

"This is perfect mom, looks amazing. And the food is great." I said with a smile.

"Thanks hon."

"So, not that I don't love staying here with my best friend or anything," Chase stated, giving me a smile. "But how long am I staying?"

"We're not sure yet. We're just waiting for the paparazzi to clear, but a few days. A week? Two tops."

Chase flashed me a smile before screaming, "Movie night!"

"Insidious!"

"You're joking, right? Never in my life will I watch that movie!"

"C'mon you chicken! Ar, it's not as scary as people say. They just want to scare you." Chase said as he sprawls out on the couch in the rec. room. After dinner, my mom went to the movie store and grabbed tons of random movies. Insidious, sadly, is one that she grabbed.

"I bet you anything that it's ten times scarier than people are saying!" I say, flipping through the movies. Insidious, A Lot Like Love, Inception, Paranormal Activity 2, Hangover, Scream 4, and I Am Legend.

"Aria. You're being a baby." He says, getting up from the couch and walking over to me.

"I'd rather be like a baby and not watch the movie than be like a baby and pee my pants from being scared!"

"Alright. We're watching this." Chase says, grabbed three movies, shuffling them, and then taking the one in the middle to the DVD player.

"Wait. Which movie is that?" I asked, walking over to him, but it was already in the player before I could do anything about it.

"Just go make some popcorn, okay? I got this.”

“I swear to God... If-” I was saying right before he pushed me out of the rec. Room and towards the kitchen.

“So what movie are you forcing me to watch?” I questioned, returning to the room with two Cokes and a huge bowl of popcorn.

“You’ll love it. Where’s my coke?”

Looking at my arms full of junk, I realized I only had one coke. Not two. “Didn’t exactly have room to hold anything else with this huge bowl of popcorn; I’ll go get it.” I remarked, walking back to the kitchen.

“Hey,” Chase said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back to the couch. “We’ll share.”

“You sure?”

“Known you since I was practically born. No big.” We both plopped down on the couch just as a soft rain started dropping from the sky.

“Insidious.” He said, with a small smile.

“I knew it! I shouted while throwing the pillow that was separating us into his face.

“Don’t be such a scaredy cat, Aria.” Chase mentioned, putting his arms around my waist and scooting me to his side.

“You’ll regret it, Buster.”

“Yeahyeahyeah.”

“I mean it. If I have to turn around because this movie is too scary I’m going to-,” I managed to get out before Chase, returning the ‘favor’, put the pillow over my mouth.

Slapping it away, I answered “okay I’m done!”

Watching this movie was worse than I thought. The people were scarier than I’d like, the events were horrifying, and I practically peed my pants.

“Uh, Ar? It’s over.”

“You’re not joking like last time, are you?” I murmured into Chase’s side where I’ve been shielding my face for half of the movie.

“Promise.” He said, lifting his arm, away from my back where it was laying, and found my hands. Grabbing them where they were in front of my eyes, he lifted them up and brought my face away from his side.

“So how was it?” I asked, cheerfully.

“Amazing. Not as scary as you thought.”

“Shut up.” I said, giving him a dirty look. “What time is it?”

“Looks about,” Chase started, straining his eyes to see the clock which is located behind us. “Can’t see. I’ll go look.” He says, getting up from the couch and walking away.

Being pitch black in the room since the screen went black after we stopped the movie, I could barely see anything, let alone him or the clock even though I know exactly where it is.

All of a sudden, Chase started screaming. “Help me!”

“Chase!” I screamed, jumping off the couch and trying my best to find him, not bothering to look for the light switch. “Chase? Where are you?”

He didn’t make a sound. “Chase this isn’t funny. Where are you?”

Suddenly, something grabbed my leg and a loud shriek escaped my mouth. Falling to the ground, I reached my hands out to save myself from an ugly fall… landing me right on top of Chase.

“You better watch where you’re going.” A voice said in a deep, husky tone. Then it started laughing.

“Everything okay in here?” I heard the voice of my mother, then saw the light flick on, and under me was a very smiley Chase.

“Chase Michaels, you are a massive jerk!” I said, slapping him on the shoulder.

“Everything’s fine, I just enjoy scaring your daughter.” Says Chase with another laugh.

“Well, you guys,” my mom started, obviously feeling awkward with me and Chase lying on the floor, me on top of him when the lights were off. If it were anyone but Chase, my would have had a heart attack, a spaz attack, and probably any other attack a mother would have if she were in that position. But it was Chase. The guy I’ve known practically my entire life. The one my mom thinks I could probably never fall in love with. So no worries. At least- on her part.

“Well alright. Chase, you can get the extra bedroom.” My mother said, turning to walk away before stopping. “When you guys decide to go to bed.” She added before fully leaving.

“Well. At least you don’t have to sleep on my floor, anymore.” I stated, rolling off of him and getting to my feet.

“I sense that you don’t want me near you when you’re sleeping.”

“Not since the last time you did, and you painted my face with my lipstick. And my arms. And feet. Oh, and legs.” I said rolling my eyes, turning the TV off.

“Hey, now, on my behalf, it was my last day I got to see you, last day I got to pull pranks on your little self.” He mentioned, walking up to me.

“But if you don’t know, I had a big flight. So I’ll be going to bed right about now.” He walked up to me, and kissed me on the top of my head. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” I smiled. “Oh!” I shrieked. “Don’t you dare try to pull any pranks just because you’re back, got it?” I pointed to him, and he threw his hands up as if to surrender.

“Aye, aye.” said Chase saluting me before backing out of the room.

“Glad to have you back.” I whispered before cleaning up the room and going to bed myself.