Dark & Light

~Chapter Eight~

Play this cover for "I Hate You, I Love You" as you read the chapter if you would like. ;)

Chris's POV

***

There I saw her; standing between the rails, peeking at me and the band curiously.

I'll admit, I freaked out a bit seeing Paige right there.

She wasn't supposed to know!  About me, this, it all.

Then she seen that I had noticed her. Her wide set eyes bumbled a bit, then she immediately began running up the stairs.

I dropped my guitar, and let the guys know I'd be back. I ran after her up the stairs swiftly.

"Paige! Stop!"

She didn't slow down until she was at the top of the stairs and knew I was right behind her. She sighed and turned around to face me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Uh...waiting for the bus to stop by. I heard about the garage and came here to wait. I didn't expect...to find you, here."

Ditto, girl. "Yeah...I come here sometimes."

"Sometimes? Weren't you playing the band? As a regular group member?" she raised an eyebrow as I gazed over her.

She was so dang gorgeous. I think it was mostly her eyes; they were a vibrant emerald green that illuminated her entire perfect face. I wanted to just take that face gently into my hands and..."Uh, yeah, I guess I am." I shook myself over as unobviously as possible, trying to get those nutty ideas out of my head that came out of nowhere every time I was with Paige.

"You guess? Chris, you're a total music DJ or something. Don't be so modest."

I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks.

"You think I'm okay at vocals?"

"Okay! You're amazing."

I could feel my eyes pop out of my head. Okay not, literally. Just nearly so.

"Wow. Thank you. I'm not that great at it."

"Pfft. Get real, of course you are." She winked. All the former awkwardness of a few moments ago had disappeared.

I looked down, trying to hide a bright smile from her.

Paige lifted my chin up lightly, and grinned mischievously.

"Chris! You're smiling. Did I  get you to smile?"

You have no idea what you've done to me, girl.  You make me smile constantly  inside.

"I think you did."

"And how did I? You're always oh-so-serious." That mischievous smile was still on her light pink lips.

I looked down at her, realizing what a mundane person I must have really been to her up to this point. I stuffed my emotions inside of me like they didn't even exist. Probably why I was alone every Friday night, with no friends to be with most of the time.

Wait. Its Friday night. And...I'm with her...why not...ask.

"Nah, I'm not always serious," I responded, with a half-smile. I gulped, gathering my courage.

Is this the best choice?

Who cares, said the impatient part of me back.

"Paige?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to hang out tonight with me? We could find some fun, random things to do together?"

Her voice went from a slight smile to one of a cold stare.

"Me?"

"No, the person behind you."

She stayed serious for a moment, then laughed. A soft sound, filled with merriment, making me like her more. I joined in laughing with her. The sound of her laugh was irresistible.

She then smiled, looking at me for a continual few seconds, until her facial expression morphed from pleasantly surprised to...frightened.

"You know what, I gotta make it somewhere else. I don't think I could hang out with you. She glanced at her smartphone. "Yeah, I gotta go."

"Paige...why? Where do you have to go?"

"A friend's football game."

"Well, can I go with you? Would you mind?"

"No. I mean, you wouldn't like to anyway. I think your band friends are waiting for you. Bye."

She grabbed her bag, and walked out the front door directly set in front of the staircase door where I stood. And a soft, almost dull, ache pulled at my heart.

Ten minutes ago, things had been just plain awkward. Five minutes ago, I felt like I was in heaven, looking at her, talking to her, hearing her laugh.

Then, I had...asked her out. She had seemed pleased, two minutes ago or so.

Until something ran through her mind, I guess, about a minute ago. After that she had clammed up. As she always did, like I do, too. 

For once I had left myself come out a bit. I had taken a chance. And, predictably, she had coldly turned me and that bold chance down.

Why do I even bother? Why do I even have my feelings?

They're pointless. They only hurt you!  The pain from my past started erupting for the billionth time. I pushed it away deep inside myself, refusing to break open anew old wounds.

Paige, why would you have to hurt me too? Like everyone else?!

Crazy, stupidly true thoughts ran through my hurting insides in a torrent of fear, hope, and disappointment as I thought of her. I hate liking you, Paige. I can predict our future. Whether you like me back or no, I know nothing wonderful will come of it. Only a rewind of my past: hurt, pain, heartbreak.

But even being aware of that, wouldn't stop me from liking her.

From falling in love with her.

She was beautiful; scarred; hurting, and even if it would prove futile, even though it will prove futile, I'd try to make her happy. I didn't know her story. But I could try to help her heal from what it was. Because I could see it had only hurt her. I could gain her trust, and try to help her, love her.

Would she let me?

***

Wow, everyone, so first of all, I'm so sorry anyone who has been waiting for such a long time for an update of Dark and Light! I had a lot of complications so I couldn't log onto Wattpad a few weeks ago, and then work long enough to finish up a chapter. So I apologize for the wait!

But what do y'all think of this update? If you ask my opinion, I'm totally feeling for poor Chris! What is your thoughts about his resolution by the end of this chapter, though? Do you think he's going to succeed? Or fail? What do you think is Paige's reason for her sudden "clamming up" towards him?

Let me know in the comments all your thoughts! Love ya all!

XXX,

Veronica