Chase & Adrienne

21

ADRIENNE 

MONDAY MORNING

Once I know that Luke and Chase aren't in trouble, the relief is oh so sweet. My gnawing guilt begins to ebb every so slightly. Chase tries to walk away without acknowledging me, but I feel like I need to say something to him, too. I was to blame for the fight in the first place, after all. I tell Luke that I'll catch up to him, then follow after Chase. I fall into stride with him, but he doesn't look at me. I tug at his sleeve. 

"Hey! Aren't you glad that everything worked out?" I ask. He tries to shake my grip, but not very hard. "Chase?"

"Stop, dude." His voice isn't harsh, but it's tired and exasperated. He doesn't slow down, so he's practically dragging me along with him. The fabric on his shirt stretches between us. 

"Just be happy that your boyfriend didn't get in any trouble," he mutters. 

"I'm happy for you too, Chase," I say reassuringly. Unfortunately, Chase doesn't act very reassured. His muscles tense underneath his t-shirt, his entire body tight.

"For what, Adrienne? Saiz isn't letting me play in the game on Wednesday."

I'm speechless. What I finally decide to say is actually terrible, and I regret it immediately. 

"It could've been worse, right? At least you didn't get suspended or expelled or kicked off the team."

Chase finally turns to face me, and he straight up glares at me, anger working its way across his face. He lets out a bitter laugh. 

"It could've been worse?" His voice almost cracks. "Do you realize that we're playing North Stone on Wednesday? I live for those games, Adrienne! You know that! We pack out the gym every single year, and I'm not allowed to play. So, no, I don't care if it could've been worse."

I swallow, standing there like an idiot. He's fuming, Chase's only method of being emotional, and for the first time in the history of our friendship, I have absolutely no idea how to make him feel better. 

It's a terrible feeling. 

"And you know what the best part is?" he continues, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Luke Shit-Face Gates got a warning. That is such BS. But don't worry, my dear Adrienne. Like he said, he can still go to Homecoming with you."

"Wait. You can't go to Homecoming?"

"I wasn't going anyway, so I don't care." Chase exhales sharply. "Can I go now?"

I let go of his arm slowly, allowing him to stride away from me. I stand there in the hallway, alone, feeling completely shut out. I've never felt so distant from Chase. The guilt from before returns, worse this time. 

I return to class, return the bathroom pass rightfully on its hook, and hope no one notices how long I took "in the bathroom." My butt has barely had time to hit my seat when the classroom door creaks open, and Carmen sticks her head in. I'm caught off-guard. I haven't talked to her since the little fiasco in the library, and honestly, I don't want to. 

"Good morning, sir. Sorry for interrupting your class," Carmen apologizes sweetly. "I'm the office aid during this period, and I need to borrow Adrienne for just a minute. Would that be alright?"