Waiting For Nothing

Chapter 15: We Are Right Where We Should Be, Chase

Chapter 15: We Are Right Where We Should Be, Chase

Chase's POV

Once we had won the game, I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I crossed the field to where a large group of my fellow team mates were huddled together talking in hushed voices. Raising my eyebrow, I clasped my hand on one of their backs and they looked up at me, ceasing their conversation.

"What're we talking about in secret over here?" Grinning at them, I watched as they exchanged nervous glances with each other. A guy that I recognized as Heath cleared his throat before explaining to me what they were discussing.

"We were talking about what happened at half time." Heath exchanged a glance with another person before continuing. "Chase, bro, why did you go into the fight like that? Leah was beating the shit out of Tom and he deserved it. We heard about the bet, bro."

I shrugged my shoulders in response. Heath took it as a sign to continue.

"That's pretty messed up to do to her. She's really nice to everyone, plus she's really hot." I felt anger began to boil in my chest and my hands clenched into fists. Heath noticed, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Do you....do you like her? No one's going to judge you, man." He brought his hands up as a sign of defense.

"No I don't like her." I snapped too quickly before grimacing at my mistake. My head flopped into my hands as I grumbled in frustration. "We're just friends, but it's like...I feel more than that towards her. But I don't want to ruin our friendship; I just got her to trust me again."

Another guy spoke up, and I looked over to see that it was Anthony. "Chase, you need to learn to take risks. If you don't do anything then someone else is going to get her. We don't like seeing you like this." I knew what he meant too. Lately I had been depressed and easily angered.

Nodding my head, I turned away from them knowing what they said was true. If I wanted to have a chance with her, I had to be honest and not treat her like another conquest like I had been.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~

Leah's POV

"So you beat the crap out of guy?" Sal's calm tone caused me to fidget nervous on the couch. I had to explain to why my knuckles were bloody and she surprised me by not flipping out. When I had showed up earlier than the curfew she had set for me, the look she gave me once I walked through the door made me want to tell her about everything.

Which I did.

Nodding to her, I looked down at my clasped hands grimacing at the sweat that had gathered from the heat of them pressed together.

"Why?" My head snapped up to meet her gaze. I felt the rush of anger I had felt before once I began to recall Tom's harsh words.

Clearing my throat I began to talk, "well, he insulted me and my friend. I wasn't about to stand for that." Even though I had explained to her what had happened, I felt like her asking about why I beat the crap out of Tom was going to lead to a punishment.

She raised an eyebrow at me coolly. "Don't you think that you should've just walked away?" I shook my head biting my lip.

"Leah, go change into some comfortable clothes. Then come back out here once you're done; we're going to take a little trip." Without wasting another second, I rushed out of the living room and began to throw off my clothes once I reached my room.

I slid on a t-shirt and sweats, rolling them up to my knees. Then I slipped my feet into my shoes and hurried to where she was waiting in front of the door with her car keys in hand. With a quick nod of her head, I followed Sal out to where her car sat and we climbed in it.

We drove for what seemed like forever and soon we were in front of the school. I turned towards her expectantly, but Sal ignored me and got out the car. I went out after her and followed her lead as she leaned against her car.

"I used to beat up people all the time. It didn't matter who they were; boy, girl, misfit, nerd, etc. I just really enjoyed overpowering someone and having them fear me." I raised my eyebrows in question, but she continued with her story. "One day I was up against one of the school's gang members when he pulled a switchblade on me. That was the first time someone ever used a weapon against me and I didn't know how to handle it."

Sal pulled up her shirt a little to reveal a long scar etched across her stomach. I gaped in horror at the scar, but before I could ask about it, she cut me off.

"Instead of winning, I lost miserably. The only reason he won was because he had a blade." She cleared her throat. "Leah, I don't want you to ever fight again. What if that guy had a weapon on him? Or what if he had turned on you and beaten the shit out of you? If people were willing to watch you beat him, then what's the difference if it was him beating you?"

I swallowed thickly and stared at the ground as the truth of the situation settled around me. Sal reached over and wrapped an arm around my shoulder pulling me closer to her.

"I'm not disagreeing with what you did. I would have done the same thing. There was other ways that you could have handled the situation, but these things happen for a reason. I just don't want to see you get hurt." She kissed the top of my forehead in reassurance.

"So I'm not in trouble?" I asked hopeful.

"The punishment hasn't even begun yet." She grinned at me and then went back inside her car as did I.

We drove across town and then out towards the diner. I twiddled my thumbs nervously in my lap thinking of all the worst punishments that she could have in store for me. We didn't talk once we got in the car, but there was tension thanks to me.

Once she stopped in front of the diner, I got out slowly and deliberately took my time as Sal held open the main door to the diner impatiently. "Take all the time you want, it just means that you'll have to work later into the night." As soon as the words left her mouth, I found myself rushing forward and into the diner.

She crossed her arms and walked past me, sitting on one of the stools that rested by the counter. I stood there awkwardly unsure of what to do.

Raising an eyebrow, Sal swept her arm across her motioning towards the entire diner. "Well, what are you waiting for? The diner isn't going to clean itself." I groaned and stomped into the kitchen grabbing a bucket and a mop.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~

"Sal, can you please turn off this crappy music?"

"No."

"Then can you turn on the air conditioner?"

"It's cold outside. You're just being dramatic."

"Can I at least take a break?"

"Are you done yet?"

"No?"

"Then that would be a no for your question." Sal smirked at me and then cranked up the techno music. I groaned as I continued the tables. I had finished cleaning the floor about 30 minutes ago and I was so happy thinking that I was done, until Sal told me that I still had to polish the tables, clean the windows and clean up the kitchen. It was already 2 in the morning and I was exhausted.

"Sal, why haven't you locked the door? Aren't you worried that somebody might try to rob the place?" I asked trying to get my mind off of the horrible music playing.

"Leah, I have a loaded 10 gauge under the counter. Do you really think I'm worried about a robber?" My mouth gaped open in shock, but Sal merely grinned at me.

"This is going to be a long night." I muttered to myself.