Chase & Adrienne

11

ADRIENNE 

THURSDAY MORNING

Chase comes running after me, but I keep walking. He follows me all the way to my locker, but I ignore him. He's persistent. 

"Adrienne. Adrienne, listen to me. DUDE. I really don't think you should be getting involved with Luke. I've seen how jacked up he can be. I've heard the things he brags about in the locker room. All me and the guys are trying to do is protect you. We're trying to warn you early on. We don't want you to get hurt."

He stops for a second, like he's weighing his next words. 

"I was the one trying to ask you to the dance, and Luke just came up out of nowhere and totally stole my thunder. He didn't plan any of that crap."

At this point, I slam my locker shut and turn to face him. Now, I'm pissed. turn to face him. Now, I'm pissed. 

"Look, Chase, you're not gonna lie to my face and make up some lame thing about trying to ask me. We both know you and I aren't like that. We are never going to be like that."

"No, Adrienne, I'm serious. I put all that stuff together. It wasn't like that, but that's the truth."

"Chase, give it up!"

"Ask him! Ask Luke!" 

"Whatever. I'm going to class. Don't follow me." I start to walk away, and Chase grabs my arm. 

"Adrienne, I don't want this to--"

"Let go of me!" I yank my arm away. I can feel the tears building up and my throat starts burning. I push my way through the flow of students. Before I round the corner at the end of the hall, I look back and see Chase slam his fist against the locker next to mine. A couple poor freshmen scurry away in the opposite direction.