Spotlight {Completed}

Chapter Eleven

A picture of Chase>>>> Enjoy!

Alexandria

Christmas Day.

Usually today would be the happiest day of winter break, but one, I'm not in school, and two, it's the worst day ever. I should be spending this day with my family, but Scarlett and I are still on ice with each other, Mel is... well she's Mel. Jonathan? Well he's still asleep.

So it's Christmas morning and I'm downstairs with my daily cup of coffee, alone. We don't even have a tree! What kind of family is this?

A dysfunctional one, I'll tell you.

I'm not complaining though because at least I have family members, so I should be thankful really. Although, it's hard because I have this gut-wrenching knot in my stomach and if I don't get out of this silent house, then I'll literally go crazy. I go upstairs to get some comfy shoes and a coat, with my purse, high-trailing back downstairs, leaving the apartment.

I walk downstairs to get a cab in my long grey sweats, white cable-knit sweater and black pea coat. I hail a cab and tell him the address to the local cafe I usually go to, Gene's Coffee Shop.

After giving him the cash for the ride, I get out, bombarded by the cold breeze. I walk inside the store, being soothed with the warm air, and I'm immediately grateful. I walk up to where the line is awaited by customers, scrolling through the menu. I decide on getting a banana nut muffin and hot chocolate. I'm disturbed out of my thoughts of the yummy food as someone leans close to me and whispers, "We've got to stop meeting like this," I jump at the voice to see that it's Chase, the cute guy I met the other day, before my first day of work.

"Oh, Chase, hi," I blush.

"Hello Ria, why are you here on Christmas morning?" he asks in a dramatic tone.

I laugh and shake my head, "I can ask you the same thing," I say, smirking at him.

"Touche, but to answer your question, I'm playing delivery boy for my cousin," he scowls.

"Why can't your cousin get his own coffee?" I ask, stepping up to order my meal.

"Because he's a lazy ass... and he's letting me stay in his apartment," he admits cheekily, now ordering his, while leading me to a nearby table.

"Oh, then you definitely need to show your thanks," I wink, "Lucky for you, if I was your cousin, I'd make you do much more," I say and I realize what I just said, "I-I didn't mean..." I trail off, I'm just digging myself into a bigger mess.

Chase just laughs at me, making me blush harder, "Wow, Ria I didn't know you had such a dirty mind," he smirks and I'm pretty sure I'm red as a tomato, making him laugh harder, getting a few glares from people around us, "I'm messing with you, lighten up," he jokes and I smack his arm, "Ouch, dirty and abusive, I like it," and I smack him again, making him laugh again.

"Has anyone told you that your laugh is annoying?" I tease because honestly, his laugh is just pure perfection.

"My grandmother actually," he jokes right along, making me chuckle, "Actually, that's quite insensitive, considering she just past," he says sadly.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I say, taking his hand in mine and he just shakes his head.

"Oh it's fine, she was about to hit 100, the lady was a true warrior," he laughs, making me chuckle a little, making me remember that I know what it feels like.

"Well, that's good to hear..." I trail off, wanting to actually tell someone about my parents' death, but I don't know if it's too soon to tell him, since we just me sort of. Although he did tel-