Mr Delightful

Chapter ten

Vaughn's POV

The rest of the day was peaceful.

We had coffee, and walked through the park, talking about school. We didn't really talk about our home lives, which I was extremely happy about.

We spoke of anything and everything. I felt Chases exterior melt away. He was funny, and kind, and spoke of nothing but how much he adored his friends.

"Have you ever been in a fight?" I asked, sipping on an expresso as we passed the duck pond.

"A couple times. Only one was very big." I nudged his shoulder, urging him to go on. Chase smiled. "My friend was in a relationship. It was with someone in the school I really hated, so I kept waiting for an opportunity to break their face in without disturbing their relationship. Finally, my friend came up to me and told me that he hasn't been treating them right. So, of course, I went to this arseholes house and I busted his face in. To make it interesting, I let him hit me once, and apparently once was enough. He broke my nose. Jokes on him, my friend thought he was the prettiest guy in school. He wasn't pretty after I was done with him."

I laughed, shaking my head as we watched the ducks.

"Who's boyfriend was it?" I inquired. Chase looked sideways, sipping his drink gingerly.

"A friends."

"Which friend?"

"A... a guy friend."

"Oh. Theo?"

Chase turned around, shooting me a look.

"How did you know?"

"He's the only guy friend of yours I've met," I chuckled. Chases face turned red.

"Oh yeah."

"Is he trying to keep it a secret?"

"No! Not in the slightest, he's totally proud. And, of course, he should be. It's so new for me, though. I'm not the best with change." Chase chuckled, but he seemed like he didn't find any humour. "Anyway, it took Theo a while to forgive me for beating this guys face in. He's not very good with violence. He finally did though. I'm very grateful to have him, and the girls of course."

"You really love them, don't you?"

"They're all I have."

I looked over, seeing chase staring down at his coffee cut as if it's extremely important. He glanced my way, giving me a small smile.

"So, what about you? Where have you been these past few years that you haven't found us?" He asked. I shrugged.

"Where haven't I been? You could name almost anyone in the school and I was their friend at one time or another. I've been passed around like the flu."

Chase laughed. "Okay okay, Mr Popular, so how's being a sickness working out for you?"

"You want the truth that'll annoy the hell out of you, or a lie that'll lead us into an awkward conversation about the weather?"

"Hit me with the truth."

I exhaled hard, nodding. "Right. It sucks. It sucks big time. I'm not liked, I'm tolerated. I had no friends. I'm basically a public washroom with how much people use me. I guess it kind of... pisses me off. I'm not one to get angry, you can tell that by looking at me, but I must say I get a little thrown when I'm tossed aside."

Chase nodded in understanding.

"You know, I have an easy fix for that," he told me. I looked over at him, a smirk on my face.

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Some awesome people in colourful outfits that like to play truth or dare in their pajamas at large sleepovers."

I laughed, my smile widening.

"So, you're done being irritated with me then?" Chase smirked, shrugging.

"Eh, we'll see how this goes."