Chase and Company

Chapter Five: Doing Things and "Doing" Things

                “I can’t believe this,” Camille muttered.

                “Me neither,” I responded.

                “Do you think Aiden could launch my modeling career?”

               Camille and I simultaneously swung our pillows at Clark, resulting in a resounding thump as we battered his head. Squealing, he fell back off my bed.

               Snickering, Camille responded, “Even if you were to pay the guy, he still wouldn’t want to hire you.”

               My two friends had been arguing in my room when I got home from my interview. Their pathetic attempt at decorating resulted in purple streamers hanging limply from the ceiling and balloons strewn all across the hardwood floor. The celebration wasn’t complete without the half-melted congratulatory ice cream cake and Oreos. With all three of us sitting on my bed as I delicately stuffed my mouth until I couldn’t breathe, I recited the day’s events, including my encounter with Aiden Chase.

               “He wouldn’t hire you because he’s a royal jerk who wants to destroy the lives of others,” I muttered, my head bent as I scooped up some of my cake. As I lifted the spoon to my mouth, I likewise lifted my head, meeting the questioning stares of the two. “What?” I said, the word muffled by my mouthful. Swallowing, I continued. “He’s just another pretty boy arrogant princess who’s probably going to mooch off of daddy and mummy’s money for the rest of his life, or at least until he gets thrown in jail so many times that they refuse to pay bail!”

               Grey eyes met baby blues as Camille and Clark shared a knowing look before looking pointedly at me. As if planned, both opened their mouths and said simultaneously, “Someone’s got a crush.”

               My eyes bulged as I choked on chocolaty goodness. Sputtering, I hoarsely replied, “Are you kidding me? I hate the guy.”

               At that, they both laughed and I imagined them struggling and drowning in melted ice cream. “That is so not what you said the other week when you were fantasizing of him. Like always.” She responded, waggling her eyebrows.

               It was like someone lit a match under both my cheeks. All I could reply with was, “shut up.” I spooned another mouthful while Camille and Clark snickered some more. I swallowed and continued, saying, “Okay, yes, I think he’s attractive and good-looking. But he’s still a butt. He thinks he can make me serve him and I refuse to,” I said, waving my spoon in the air. “It’s like he expects everything to be handed to him on a silver platter.”

               “Well, so do you.”

               I whip my head over to Clark, bewildered and slightly outraged.

             “Not with anything to do with college or work, you work for that and deserve everything, babe,” he said hastily, trying to cover his mistake. “But with boys, yes. And that’s why I can see why you hate the guy.”

               Seeing my confused glare, Camille, deciding to save Clark, spoke up. “What Clark is trying—and failing—to say, Shay,” she said gently, still earning herself an eye roll from Clark, “is that you never really tolerate any kind of behavior from guys. You’ve never chased any boys before and you expect them to do the effort. Here’s a guy that told you outright that he won’t offer you anything, but instead demands you to do things for him to get him to like you and let you keep your job.”

              “And it’s driving you crazy having to listen,” Clark finished for Camille, nodding in agreement.

              I stared at my sad, half eaten cake, my mouth slanted to the side in a frown. They were right. I never chase people. Not because I thought I was too good for them, I just focused on my priorities more. Plus, social situations can get awkward fast, and I did not work well under that type of pressure. When I ran into Camille the first time, I literally ran into her in the second grade, trying to grab a ball. She then invited me to play with her and her Pokemon cards and we just clicked; I didn’t have to try after that.