Chase & Adrienne

36

ADRIENNE

SATURDAY NIGHT

After having a long heart-to-heart with my dad about my feelings for Chase--leaving out some of the more graphic details of my time with Luke--I climb into bed, all snuggly in my pajamas. I feel warm and fuzzy, inside and out. I consider sending Chase a good night text but decide against it. All of this is new territory for us, and I don't want to do too much too soon. Suddenly, my phone chimes. My heart leaps at the idea that it could be Chase. It's not.

It's Luke. 

Seeing his name on the screen makes me feel sick, all the hurt rising up in my throat, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. What could he possibly want from me now? Still, I can't stop myself from opening the message. 

I need to talk to you. 

I laugh out loud. There's nothing to talk about. I never want to see him again. Luke made me look and feel like a total idiot. He tore me away from everyone in my life that actually loved me. 

No. 

Maybe my response is harsh, but I'm done with him. I am cutting him out of my life. My phone chimes again. I roll my eyes, considering blocking his number. 

There are so many things you don't know, Adrienne. I really really need to talk to you. 

I'm done with this kid. 

Leave me alone.

And with that, I switch my phone on silent and plug it in across the room. Just as I'm climbing back under my comforter, my phone chimes a third time. I groan out loud and stomp back over. It's decided. I'm blocking him. 

But when I look at the screen, it's Chase. Instantly, my anger dissipates. 

Good night, beautiful.

I let my eyes drink up Chase's pixelated words. 

Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. 

Beautiful, a word so frequently used in our language that it has nearly lost all meaning. Yet, when it comes from someone like Chase, I almost believe it. Just like that, the snuggly feeling is back. I let it cuddle up in bed with me, hoping that it can keep the pain away for the night. 

At first, I have no idea how to respond. The thought of calling Chase something so formal as "handsome" or something so childish as "cute" or something so suggestive as "hot" is absolutely unbearable. Still, I can't say nothing. 

Good night. :)