Chase & Adrienne

7

CHASE

WEDNESDAY MORNING

I show up to school earlier than usual, and the weirdest thing happens. I'm standing by my locker playing Tetris on my phone when Adrienne walks up to me. 

But it isn't Adrienne. It only looks like her. Her hair's the same as it's always been, long and flowing down her back, but that's about where the similarities end. Her usual T-shirt and jeans have been replaced by sweater-looking thing and this tiny skirt that I haven't seen her wear since last year. She wore it to her basketball banquet, and she complained about it the whole time. If she could've, she definitely would've gone in sweatpants instead. Her scuffed Vans have been replaced by boots that I have never seen her wear before, and I wonder how long they've been sitting in the back of her closet. Why would she pick today of all days to pull them out and dust them off?

"Hey, Chase."

"Are you wearing a skirt?" I sputter, totally caught off-guard. "I'm looking for my best friend, Adrienne La Londe. Have you seen her by chance?"

Immediately, her face falls. I think I make her feel a little self-conscious because she tugs at the hem of her skirt, pulling it down an inch. I brush her hand away. "You look fine."

The touch is charged, and I can't tell why. She looks up at me, feeling it too. She opens her mouth like she's gonna say something, but she shuts it immediately. 

"I'm just trying something different," she explains finally. I nod my head hesitantly, like I'm trying to understand.

"Do you like it?" I ask. She bites her bottom lip, chewing on it to avoid the question. 

"Kind of," she admits. 

"Then screw what anyone else thinks!" I declare. She smiles, although it's aimed at the floor more than at me. 

"Thanks, Chase," she says, giving me a fist bump. That's when I now that she's the same person. She starts to walk away, and I try really hard not to watch her as she leaves. She turns around, and I think I'm caught. Instead, she approaches cautiously, like she's the deer in headlights. 

"So does this mean you're not mad at me?"

I sigh. Maybe I am being too sensitive about the whole thing. It doesn't have to be a big deal, right? Besides, I'm not going to get in the way of her love life. That's just not my place, and it never will be. After a long time, I nod. 

"It's just that he asked me in the cutest way, and he's really nice to me," she says quickly. 

"How did he ask you?"

"He set up this whole thing scavenger hunt thing. It was so elaborate, and don't even get me started on the puns--"

"Uhh, Adrienne," I start. "I hate to burst your bubble, but that was me."

"What was you?" she asks, her eyebrows furrowed. 

Right as I begin to answer, I see Luke gliding down the hallway in our direction. He's wearing his hat backwards. Red flag number one. I cut my own sentence short. As Luke's eyes find Adrienne, her eyebrows shoot up. I exhale through my nose like a bull, ready to charge. 

"Wow, Adrienne. You look beautiful," Luke says, enveloping her in a side hug. When she starts to pull away, he doesn't let go, keeping his arm looped around her waist. Her cheeks redden. I throw up in my mouth a little, swallowing it down. 

"Thanks," she says softly, not meeting his gaze. 

"Oh, sorry, Chase. Didn't see you there, man," Luke says nonchalantly, as if noticing me for the first time. Quickly, he turns his attention back to Adrienne. "Mind if I walk you to class?" 

Adrienne nods shyly, and I am furious. Here she is, acting all shy and bashful around some punk like Luke. She's changing right before my eyes, and it scares me. 

As they walk in the opposite direction, I can only watch them go, my feet anchored to the floor. Luke's hand slides just an inch lower on her waist, and my feet start moving. 

I must have a murderous look on my face because Danny grabs my shoulder as he passes me in the opposite direction. He pulls me back. 

"You okay, man?"

I respond by jabbing my thumb in Adrienne's direction. 

"Can you believe it?" I ask miserably. 

"WHOA! Is that Adrienne??" Danny exclaims. 

Boys are so weak.