Songs Unsung - Book One

Chapter Thirty Six

Dedicated to belleheartsyou - For constantly reading and voting. Thankyou!!! X

After I had prepared the last of the vegetables for the night's dinner, I opened the oven to check on the pork roast that was slowly sizzling away within it's tray. Pleased with my efforts, I stood to take the final sip of the apple cider I had treated myself to earlier. The minute it was devoured, I turned to the fridge to help myself to another, only to have the doorbell stop me in my stride.

I wiped my hands on my light blue maxi dress before turning the handle and pulling the door open toward me.

"Belle!" the familiar voice sang as soon as the falling sun hit my eyes.

After my eyes had adjusted to the light, my whole body jumped in surprise to see Caleb standing in the doorway.

"Caleb!" I wailed before allowing him to pull me in to a large bear hug. After moments of happiness passed in his arms, he pulled his hands up to my face, cupping it as he exaimined my face.

"Look at you!" he chimed "You look even more beautiful than when I saw you last!" He let his eyes slowly fall over my face and down my body before catching my sight with his again.

I let a slight blush fall over my cheeks before ushering him inside.

"Do you want a drink?" I asked as I lead the way toward the kitchen. "I was just about to have a cider myself" I continued as I leaned into the fridge to take a drink for us both before he could answer.

"Making dinner?" he asked as he removed the bottle top on his beer.

"Yeah, pork roast. You should stay for dinner! I know you can't say no to pork roast!" I coerced.

"You've got me there" he replied with a small laugh before letting his eyes settle on mine with a look of intrigue falling over his face.

I moved from the kitchen to the living room and took a seat on the lounge before taking a long sip of my drink. Caleb mirrored my actions before I broke the silence and asked how he had been. It had been over six months since I had seen him.

"Not bad" he replied "Not much has really changed since you left." He took another sip of his drink and looked longingly out to the distance in thought.

"Mia said you have a girlfriend now" I said as I watched his expression. Surprisingly, it didn't change. He looked down to the bottle of beer in his hand and slowly picked at the label in thought before answering.

"Yeah, I did. It didn't work out." He said releasing his words slowly as he continued to pick at the bottle's label.

Feeling terrible instantly, I moved closer to him and apologized for his predicament. I could only imagine he had a broken heart and rubbed his back in an effort to sooth his running emotions.

"Don't be sorry Belle. I ended it." He said bluntly, moving again to take a sip of his beer.

"Oh" I replied as I dropped my hand from his back. "Well, as long as you're happy then"

"I'm not really" he continued now turning to face me. "She wasn't right for me. No one is"

I looked at him in confusion. "Don't think like that. There's someone out there for you! I promise"

"I know there is." He replied, taking my hand in his before continuing "But I let her go and now no one can take her place"

We looked at each other for a moment - Me in complete shock by what he was saying and he in anticipation for my reply.

*Ahem*

The noise came from the living room doorway causing us both to snap our heads in that direction.

"Chase!" I called in surprise to see him before standing to my feet and allowing Caleb's hand to drop from mine. "This is Caleb" I continued, waving my hand in motion toward Caleb. "Caleb, this is Chase."

Chase's eyes glared hard at Caleb as he rose to his feet and walked toward him with his hand out in greeting.

"Chase Thomas" he asserted before taking Caleb's hand in a tight stronghold and shaking it lightly. "Annabelle's boyfriend" he continued to add before their hands dropped to their sides.

Caleb's eyes grew as soon as he recognized Chase.

"The Chase Thomas hey?" Caleb asked as his eyes bolted between Chase and I. "Well, it's good to meet you" he quickly continued before I interrupted their cold stare at each other.

"Caleb is staying for dinner Chase" I directed toward Chase as I pulled gently on his arm in an effort to break his long brooding stare in Caleb's direction. "Won't that be nice?"

"Awesome" Chase sarcastically wailed without any effort to mask his tone.

"Honey I'm home!" called Mia as she walked through the front doorway and placed herself between Chase and Caleb who were too distracted to notice as they continued to partake in some sort of manly stare-off.

"Caleb!" she exclaimed before looking to Chase's unpleased face. "Chase...and Caleb... in the same room..." She looked to my face in confusion with eyes wide open in shock. I returned her look with a slight shake of my head, hoping she would find a way to defuse the tension in the room.

"Caleb! Come with me, I have this awesome thing to show you in my room." She announced before pulling his arm and ushering him toward the stairwell.

Once they were out of view Chase turned to me with a look of pure disgust painted over his face. "What in the hell was that?!" he spat, fuming at the eaves.

"What?" I replied, puzzled by his anger.

"I get home to find you with your EX BOYFRIEND and holding hands!"

"Woah! Wow cowboy! Back up!" I replied as I held my hands up to gesture my words. "We were simply having a deep and meaningful conversation"

"That's not what it looked like from where I stood!" he continued, still full of rage. "Since when does a nice conversation entail him holding your hand and telling you you're the only one for him?!" he breathed heavily as he continued "I want him out of here!"

"Well that's not happening" I replied, now crossing my arms in annoyance. "He's staying for dinner. We will be friendly and then send him on his way"

"Do I even get a say around here?" he continued, now raising his voice.

"I'm not going to be rude to him for Christ Sake Chase! And, in all honesty, this is merely comical"

"WHAT?!" He yelled in anger "It's funny to you?!"

"Yes" I replied matter-of-factly whilst letting a slight smile crease over my previously stern lips.

"How the hell is this funny?!" he yelled through gritted teeth, his face bright red with anger.

"Look at you... Chase Thomas. You're jealous of a wee little Aussie boy" I replied with a small laugh at the end of the statement.

Chase's face turned from red and boiling with jealous rage to slightly smiling as the realization dawned on him.

"You think you're funny don't you nutcase" he scoffed

"Yes actually... yes... I ... do." I replied whilst looking to my nails in front of me in satisfaction of my accomplishment.

He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me close against his hot body before nuzzling my neck and tickling my sides causing me to break down in fits of laughter.

"Now who's the nutcase?" I asked as I looked at him in gratification. "You are, Chase Thomas. You are."