Trust

✍ Stars

"Chase! What the hell happened to you? One moment you were getting your butt whooped by Anderson and the next, I can't even see you anymore. I was worried-"

I pressed my back harder against the wall, my body stiffening at the sight of the giant in front of me.  His back was towards me, meaning that I didn't have a view of his face, but even from just the back view, it was obvious how large this man was.

Chase's eyes flickered towards me. "Eric, we have a guest."

Eric was midway through a swear word when he realized what Chase had said and stopped. Whirling around, he stared down at me and an involuntary shudder shook my body from the top of my spine to the bottom.

In the harsh white lighting of the room, the sight of Eric's face made me tremble. At one point of time, he might have been a handsome man, but now, almost half of his face was covered in scar tissue. As a result, his face was blotchy and uneven. He was bald, the top of his head reflecting the light of the lamp and shining in several spots. His eyes were a mixture of blue and green, almost aqua in colour.

Pushing away my initial fears, I stood up and held out my hand. "Hi. I'm Pia."

Even standing at full height, I was still almost a head and a half shorter than Eric, and I was not a short person. The urge to gulp and shrink away from the piercing eyes and towering frame was strong but I ignored it as best I could. 

Eric stared at me for several awkward moments before taking my hand and shaking it. He seemed conscious of how big his hands were compared to mine and it seemed like he was being careful not to apply too  much pressure on the handshake in case he accidentally hurt me.

"Eric." He pulled his hand away abruptly before turning to Chase. "Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you two."

"You weren't interrupting anything," I said quickly. "I was just about to tell Chase that I had to leave soon anyway."

Eric's head snapped back in my direction. "You're not staying for dinner? You know, you're the first girl Chase has ever brought home."

"Not by choice," Chase grumbled.

I smiled. "As flattering as that is, I think Chase would rather I wasn’t here." I picked up my bag and swung it over one shoulder. "I'd best get going now. Get better soon, Chase."

"Wait." Eric touched my shoulder, holding me back gently. "Chase, go with her. It's not safe for her to be walking around these streets by herself." Eric grabbed Chase's jacket from a nearby chair and flung it in his face.

"It's alright, Eric. I can take care of myself." I tapped my bag. "I'm not helpless." I grinned as I thought of my can of mace. I'd only ever used it once before on a boy who wouldn't leave me alone.

"Even so," Eric insisted, "Chase should do the right thing and make sure you get back home safe."

Chase mumbled something that sounded almost like an agreement as he pulled on the worn letterman jacket with a large degree of difficulty.

Realizing I had no choice in the matter, I swung my arm through the other strap of my bag and scowled. Noticing my displeasure, Chase grinned.

"Don't scowl so much. It makes you wrinkle faster," he said softly as he took my arm and pushed me out of the room. Our eyes met- his dancing grey ones with my hazel ones- and the scowl dissipated from my face almost immediately.

*****

We'd been walking in silence for a few minutes when Chase spoke.

"Eric's my brother. He's been taking care of me since we were kids."