After finishing our lunch, Chase and I say bye to Sophia and Jake before heading back out to the car.
"What do you want to do now?" I ask Chase as we get in the car and he begins driving.
"Well, my friends wanted to hang out and I know you don't want to be around them.." he trails off and I press my lips together, understanding what he's trying to say.
"Oh, it's okay. I have studying to do anyways."
He looks at me briefly before focusing on the road again, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," I smile and he immediately smiles back at me.
The drive back to my house doesn't take long and when we finally arrive, he gets out to walk me to the door. I stick my key in the lock and turn to him before stepping inside, "Thanks for lunch."
"Oh, anytime." He smiles while leaning down, his face only inches from mine. My breath hitches in my throat and I am frozen to the spot as I wait for him to close the distant between us.
Seconds later, his lips slightly brush against mine and I inhale his breath. One of his hands gently caresses my cheek as his lips finally press to mine. Our lips move together as he continues to kiss me and I am the one to pull away, my cheeks flushed as I look up at him.
"I'll see you later," he says with a smile then turns to walk away.
I bite my lip and watch his car pull away before I walk inside the house and sit down on the couch, thinking of the kiss that Chase and I just shared. It wasn't the same as the kiss with Zayn. Maybe it was because I was drunk at the time? I just couldn't get the feeling of it out of my head.
My thoughts go back to having lunch with Chase, Jake and Sophia. Specifically when Jake and Chase were talking about Keenan and Zayn fighting. Were they talking about the same fight that happened at Brenden's birthday party? What was "X" and why did they fight over it?
I lay down on the couch and close my eyes, trying to think of anything that didn't involve the scent of cigarettes and leather jackets.
*
The next week is filled with less and less thoughts of Zayn and more thoughts of Chase. Things between us were going well and although my wall wasn't completely knocked down, I found myself wanting to open up to him in a way I never opened up to anyone else.
He always acts like such a gentleman around me, something I never experienced in my many years of being his brothers best friend. Especially after seeing how much of a pig he could actually be to all the different women he'd be seeing at once.
Sometimes I felt like I was going to regret agreeing to give him a second chance, but unless he actually gave me a reason not to, I was all for seeing where this relationship could go.
I smile to myself as I think back to the few times we've made out in his car. Or the time that I brought him in to my room and we almost had sex. My mom came home and was ecstatic to see us, insisting she make us dinner.
I tried my best not to get too bothered by him always dropping me off before going to hang out with his friends. It put me on edge that they thought our relationship was a joke. But like Chase has explained to me before, it wasn't his fault they were like that. Over the passed week, I have convinced myself that our relationship has nothing to do with his friends.
Brenden and Chase were having yet another party at their house this weekend and as Brenden's best friend and Chase's girlfriend, I didn't mind going. I knew that Chase's friends would be there but I figured that's when I'd spend my time with Sophia and Bren.
I look at my reflection in the large mirror and decide that this is acceptable. My hair is loosely curled, my make up is light and I am wearing a pair of light blue skinny jeans with a loose black crop top.
I step into my vans and grab my shoulder bag, heading downstairs to see Chase and my mom talking.
They're both laughing as I approach them and a smile creeps onto my face.
"Hey Livy, we were just talking to pass the time," my mom says and I nod while leaning in to hug her.
"I'll be home later," I smile and she tells us to have fun while closing the door behind us.
"Thanks for picking me up," I say as I buckle my seatbelt.
Chase leans over to press his lips to mine, his hand squeezing my thigh before pulling away. "Welcome."
On the drive to the party, he tells me about his day. He says he didn't do much today other than think about me and I giggle at his cheesy remark.
Once we get to the house, the music can be heard from outside. I suck in a sharp breath as I prepare myself for lots of stupid drunk people.
We walk through the door and Chase leaves a kiss on my cheek after whispering a quick, "I'll see you in a bit." He disappears shortly after and I am left alone to try and find my friends.
It doesn't take me very long to find them because as usual, they're hanging out in the kitchen.
"A-liv-ee-uh!" Brenden says and I raise an eyebrow as he stumbles towards me, his heavy arm wrapping around my shoulders.
Sophia chuckles from the other side of the kitchen while pouring dark liquid into a cup. She hands it to me and I gladly take it, taking a gulp and instantly regretting it.
I cough a few times and narrow my eyes at Sophia, "What the hell is this?"
"Jack and coke!" She smiles and I stare at the mixture.
"Pretty sure it's just Jack." I try to remain serious but I end up laughing as Brenden nuzzles his face into my neck.
"Well drink up, you've got a lot of catching up to do." Sophia laughs and I shrug, tipping the cup upwards as I allow the burning liquid to slide down my throat.
"I need to dance," Brenden announces as he lets go of me and stumbles into the living room.
I finish off the liquid in my cup and set in back down on the counter before turning to Sophia, "I've never seen him so waisted!"
"He's been having a hard time lately," Sophia frowns and I raise a curious eyebrow.
Why didn't he tell me?
"You've just been spending a lot of time with Chase and he didn't know how to say anything," she says as if she can read my mind. I frown to myself and think back on this passed week. I've spent a lot of time with Chase and I can see why Bren might feel that way.
Sophia hands me another full cup of dark liquid and I take it, the taste of the alcohol becoming less and less prominent the more that I drink. I definitely didn't want to end up like Brenden but I wanted my guilty feelings to disappear.
First of all, I needed to apologize to Brenden for making him feel like he couldn't come to me when he needed me most.
I turn around to make my way into the kitchen and end up face to face with the last person I wanted to see.
Zayn.
