The Shy Girl and the Class Clown

Chapter 29

Chip's P.O.V

"Not yet." My heart completely drops in my chest. The doctor excuses himself to tend to his patients and i'm left trying to process what I just heard. Many emotions run through my body, except one that I didn't expect.

'Love and sadness?'

I feel tears start to prickle at my eyes and then I start crying. I haven't done that since my dad passed away.

"Let him, but no one speaks of this." Nick says. The crying spell doesn't last long and i'm left empty.

"I'm in love with Noelle Aguiar. I should've gone with her, to protect her. She wouldn't be in this situation if I was there to protect her." 

"She's safe. No reason to beat the crap out of yourself." Danny says, laying a hand on my shoulder. "And also, Caden was a complete ass anyway." I chuckle at that. The elevator dings and then Mr and Mrs Aguiar appear, followed by two uniformed officers. Danny gives his parents a hug while the officers come to sit by me.

"Officer Ramirez of the Seattle Police Department." The man says, holding out his hand and I shake it.

"Chip Hansen." 

"Witnesses heard gunshots coming from the warehouse where we found five people duct taped to a pole, two with a gunshot wound to the thigh and blood in a back room." I rub my face and look to see Danny talking to the other officer. I tell him everything that happened and also threw in how they assisted in the murder of Oliver's sister the summer of our eighth grade year. The officer writes all that down.

"That investigation was classified as a cold case because we never found the body."

"Oliver knows where the body is buried and once Noelle..." I mumble, not daring to finish that. She's still under the critical period for another 12 hours. 

"We got them under arrest, except their insisting you were the one to do it." I shockingly look at him before standing up and getting in his face, the distinct sound of the guys holding me back.

"Are you insisting I kidnapped my girlfriend to prove i'm a knight in shining armor?" I spat, staring the officer straight in the eye, "I'm not Caden who's a complete ass. I have class more than that." Nick pulls me away from the officer as my little spat caused quite a scene.

"What the hell, Chip?" He says, shoving me on the shoulder. "You're gonna get your ass arrested when Noelle needs you the most." 

"I don't deserve her." I move my way out of the waiting room towards the elevator. I push the button and wait while the lift comes up. The door opens and I walk in, waiting to get off the lift. I walk through the lobby outside and then end up at my truck. I hop in and shut the door, staring off into space before slamming my hand down on the steering wheel. "Damnit!" Tears start to fall down my face and I pull myself together enough to start the car and drive. 

"Song number one, yeah, that's the one. That was bumpin' outta the speakers. Everybody knew the words."

I sing along to the song, remembering Noelle singing along to this song and a feeling similar to a knife being twisted in my heart happens. I drive out to the beach, back up and then pop down the tailgate to sit on it. 

"I can't lose her, damnit I just found her." I mutter under my breath. I zone off looking at the ocean when my phone starts ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hey man, where the hell did you go?" Nick says.

"I went out to where Noelle and I kissed, the night when Caden was going after her." I lean down on the blanket, which smells like Noelle. 

"I just wanted to check up on you. The cops laid off, but I think you got some serious explaining to do once Noelle is okay."

"I'm not worthy of her. Yes, she's definitely not worthy to be Caden's girlfriend because we all know what that man is capable of, but she deserves better, someone like Oliver." That knife twisting feeling makes an appearance as I spat Oliver's name. There seems to be some speaking and then sounds like someone is getting slapped on the back of the head. 

"Chip, it's Oliver. Yes, at first I found her incredibly interesting and even developed a crush on her." I resist the urge to beat the crap out of him, "But I can see it in her eyes that she would do anything for you and she's full of love for you. She's like my sister." There's more rustling with the phone.

"I trust you with my sister. Yes, you seemed like a complete ass, but you have a heart of gold, always putting my little sister first. What you are feeling is completely normal. Noelle loves you and she deserves to be happy after what she's been through." 

"Thanks Danny."

"Now stop your little petty party and get your sorry butt down here now before I personally have to drag you back myself and you don't want me to do that." 

"Okay. I'll get back." I hang up the phone and put everything back together before hopping in the truck and driving away. I pull up to the hospital and park, staring at the building. 

"I can do this. I love Noelle." I say to the empty cab before climbing out and locking the truck. I walk back with my normal, relaxed demeanor and walk into the elevator. The door opens on the floor I need and I see the guys pacing. I walk towards them. "Any news?" Danny turns around and smiles before wrapping his arms around me. 

"Damn bro, don't do that to me again." 

"I won't. I'm not leaving her side." I smile and the guys each give their hugs. 

"The 12 hours are up." Danny says with a smile and I book it into the room that she's in, sitting down by her side and putting her hand in mine. I kiss her on the forehead.

"I love you." I whisper, sitting back down and laying my head on her hand, closing my eyes.