Falling For The Suspect ✔️

Chapter 15 ~ Sage

Sage's POV

Everywhere I go there are eyes watching me and I hate it. It has been that way since lunchtime when Chase came over to my table. Well, I guess I don't blame people for being interested, it's not like seeing Chase Rivers socialise with people is a normal thing.

I don't even need to open my eyes to know that everyone is watching me as I make my way over to my desk in History. It was the last period of the day and I couldn't wait to leave to escape everyone's prying eyes.

I dump my books on the desk and look at May who's giving me her best attempt at a sympathetic look but I can tell deep down she's dying to know what happened between Chase and I at lunch. I hadn't told my three friends about Saturday or Sunday as Chase asked me to keep Brett's sudden appearance a secret.

"Ok, go for it, what do you want to know?" I ask, laughing at May who looks like she's about to burst with questions, her hazel eyes looking at me curiously.

Thankfully, by now the rest of the class is engaged in conversations and not paying me any attention.

"Are you and Chase Rivers like, you know, a thing?" She asks in a hushed tone.

"What? He literally just asked to talk to me. It's not like he got up and devoted his love for me in front of the cafeteria," I say, feeling my cheeks slightly redden.

"Yeah but it's Chase Rivers. He's doesn't exactly socialise," She says. "Seriously Sage, the whole school thinks something is going on. Not necessarily romantic, some people are worried about your safety though."

"What? You're not serious are you?" I ask. She nods, her sandy coloured hair bobbing up and down. "He just came to ask if we could work on our biology project this afternoon."

"Biology or chemistry?" She asks, raising her eyebrows at me and giving me an over exaggerated wink. I couldn't help but burst out laughing at her terrible joke.

"Would you care to tell the class what's so funny Ms Hill and Ms Hart?" Our teacher asks, standing at the front of the class not looking too thrilled.

"No sir, sorry," May quickly says. I can feel everyone's eyes once again on me and feel my cheeks begin to flush.

"This lesson I want you working from your textbooks page 240. Please do it silently," he says with emphasis on the silently part.

I sigh and open my textbook to page 240.

No matter how hard I try to concentrate though I can't stop thinking about this afternoon. I'm supposed to meet Chase outside the school to go to the library but if my Dad finds out I may as well go lock myself up in a prison cell. However, this isn't really what was taking my attention. For some reason, something has changed between Chase and I and I can't quite put my finger on it but ever since our road trip, something was definitely different. I still can't believe he opened up about his past with Brett in the car, even if it was just minor details.

I can't stop thinking about the blue and purple bruise on Chase's cheekbone. I didn't want to ask and come across as nosy but I was dying to know.

"Psst!" My thoughts are immediately interrupted. I look at May who seems to have already started her questions but is now looking at me expectantly.

"Yes?" I whisper, quickly looking at the teacher to make sure he's not looking.

"So do you like Chase?" She whispers. Just like that, I feel my cheeks begin to turn red for the hundredth time today.

"What? No of course not," I respond, trying to convince myself as well as her.

"You so do!" She giggles, her voice rising in pitch.

"Shhh!" I say rolling my eyes. Luckily, no one turns around. "I don't, I swear!" I whisper.

"Okay Sage, sure," she says smiling.

Gosh, I just wanted this period to be over!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I shove my books into my bag and close my locker.

"Bye guys," I say to Alice, Sarah and May. Alice and Sarah give me a wave.

"Have fun studying," May says winking at me.

"Oh shut up!" I try to look annoyed but end up laughing. Alice and Sarah look at us confused.

I pass through the hallways, people looking at me as I go. I wasn't really sure where exactly at the front of the school I was supposed to be meeting Chase. However, I didn't need to worry because he was already sitting by a tree waiting for me.

"How'd you get out so quickly?" I ask confused. He looks up at me and I couldn't help but notice his green eyes seem to brighten. However, he quickly covers it up, making me wonder if  I just imagined it. By now his bruise has turned a darker shade that looks painful.

"Skipped last period," he says getting up, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes in a way that makes my heart beat a little faster. He begins walking over to his car and I jog to catch up.

As we get in the car I can no longer resist the need to know what happened to his cheek. "So, um your face," is all I say though.

He glances at me, raising an eyebrow, "Yeah I know, we can't all be blessed with these great looks." He starts the engine and gives me a wink.

"I meant the bruise," I say but it comes out sounding more like a question.

"What bruise?" He asks giving me a weird look that would have made me laugh if I wasn't so curious.

"Do you look in the mirror?" I ask. How was he oblivious to the dark colours on his cheekbone.

He chuckles, "Yes I do I just wanted to see you squirm."

Just like that, once again I become as red as a tomato. I quickly look away, "So what happened?" I ask.

"Just walked into something," he says keeping his eyes on the road.

"Bullshit," I say. As if he expects me to believe that. "You walked into someone's fist."

He doesn't say anything but I notice a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Well anyways thanks to you I have had the whole school stare at me as if I'm a zoo animal today," I say looking out the window at a few young kids walking home from school.

"Welcome to my world," he says almost bitterly.

~~~~~~~

The library was quiet. We find a table at the back near the non-fiction books.

I was actually pleasantly surprised, Chase was actually taking things seriously. That was until we started the bibliography and his attention was now fixated on discovering how many different ways he could annoy me. His personal favourite was throwing little bits of paper at me.

He was amused, I was not.

"Chase, seriously? We're nearly done. Find the reference for this website please," I ask, giving him my most pleading look.

"Sage, seriously? This is the most school work I've done in years, be thankful I've lasted this long," he says. Well, the boy did have a point.

I was just about to retort when I felt the all too familiar feeling of eyes watching us. Standing outside the window opposite Chase and I's table was a man looking directly at Chase. It doesn't take long for me to recognise him. I'd seen his face everywhere on TV recently. It was Brett Reed's father.

I look back at Chase who has noticed my averted attention. He looks over at the window and his eyes grow huge. He immediately stands up, fists clenched.

"Why the hell is he here?" he growls. I look back at the window and see Brett's father start to move now that he has noticed Chance looking at him. Just like that Chase is off, running through the library towards the exit.

"Chase, where are you going?" I ask, extremely confused, but he doesn't hear me as he's already out the door.  

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