Falling For The Suspect ✔️

Chapter 27 ~ Sage

Sage's POV

My eyes grow wide as I take in the room in front of me. Our school gym has been transformed into a room full of balloons and streamers. Tables line the walls as students hover around the food and punch.

I look at May who is just as wide-eyed as me. She is wearing a spaghetti strapped, navy blue dress with a slit up the side. Her heels, like mine, are silver. Her brunette hair is tied up into a flawless messy bun, accentuating her hazel eyes.

She smiles at me and gives my shoulder a squeeze, "Ready?" she asks.

"Ready," I say, giving her a smile as we walk into the gym.

I am wearing the red dress and silver heels I bought the day I saw Brett. I have tied my hair up into a classy ponytail.

We immediately notice Sarah and Alice standing with their dates at a nearby table. May and I quickly make our way over, desperate to see our friends.

Sarah is wearing a strapless black dress with her long brown hair out. Alice, on the other hand, is wearing a baby pink dress with a halter neck and white heels. Her blonde hair is tied back into a gorgeous messy braid.

"You both look stunning!" Sarah smiles at May and I as we all embrace in a group hug.

"So do you guys," I say.

I say hello to Sarah's date Liam and Alice's date Mason.

Liam had asked Sarah to go to the dance with him as soon as the dance had been announced. They were so obviously a thing but neither of them would openly admit their true feelings for one another.

Mason and Alice on the other- hand have been dating for over a year. They absolutely adore each other.

Thank god May is single or else I'd be a loner at this dance.

I can't help but look around the room, hoping to find a pair of intense green eyes staring back at me. But I have no idea whether Chase has decided to come or not.

The butterflies that rose in my chest the other night when he told me he was considering coming to the dance so he could see me in my dress have failed to vanish since. We ended up talking for hours about the most pointless of things but there was not a second in which I wasn't smiling.

"Is he here?" May asks eagerly, noticing I had zoned out.

I had told May the brief details about Chase and I's confusing relationship, obviously leaving out anything to do with Brett and Chase's fighting. She didn't even seem fazed that he was a suspect in a disappearance case but why am I surprised? May is the biggest hopeless romantic you will ever meet.

"Can't see him," I say, unable to hide the disappointment from my voice.

I have no idea what Chase and I are. The situation at hand is too difficult to even give us a label, that's if he even wants one. We are always flirting and after that kiss, I can't help but want to always be around him. Maybe once this case is over and Chase is in the clear something will happen. But I don't know how long that will take and I don't think I can wait much longer. My head is such a mess but when I'm with him it feels clear.

"I'm sure he will turn up," she says giving me a reassuring smile. "Knowing him he probably just wants to make an entrance." I can't help but laugh at that statement. No matter what time Chase rocks up he will be automatically making a scene.

I was honestly so terrified at the prospect of having to come to Mapleville, having to start life all over again. But it hasn't been what I thought it would be. I have made friends. Bloody good friends.

I look at May. I have never had a best friend but she was certainly coming to close to it.

"Come on, let's go dance," she laughs as she drags me onto the dance floor.

We find ourselves in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by people who I didn't even realise attended our school. The endless amount of bodies created a claustrophobic environment but we were too busy dancing our hearts out to care.

Song after song goes by until May and I turn to each other both out of breath.

"Punch?" I ask.

"Yes please," she says. We find our way out of the crowd of people and make our way over to the nearby tables.

I look at the time on my phone. It is 8:30 pm. We have been here for an hour. I find myself scanning the crowd again but don't find the messy haired Chase anywhere.

"Let's go sit," May says, making her way over to our table. I spy Mason, Alice, Sarah and Liam on the dancefloor.

I sit down and take a long sip from my cup. The fruit flavoured punch slides down my throat, cooling me down amidst the stuffiness in the room.

"Hello Ladies," A deep voice says from behind me, causing May and I both to jump in fright. Two guys walk around to the other side of our table before sitting in Alice and Mason's seats.

"My name is Kyle and this is Conner," a guy with dirty blonde hair and dark brown eyes says pointing at his friend Conner who is blonde with hazel eyes. An arrogant smile is plastered on both of their faces.

"We couldn't help but noticing you girls were all alone and we were wondering if you wanted to come and hang out with us," Conner says, a cheeky glint present in his eyes.

"I don't think we've met I'm May and this is Sage," May says, giving them a wary look.

Recognition passes over their faces as they exchange a glance before focusing their eyes on me.

"Sage? As in the girl that hangs out with Chase Rivers?" Kyle asks with wide eyes.

I exchange a look with May, unaware of what to say. The boys ignore my silence, pressing for more information.

"Huh, interesting," Conner says, leaning towards us intrigued, I can already tell he's the confident one out of the two. "So how does it feel to hang out with the most dangerous guy in school?" He asks.

"You don't know him," I say defensively. Nobody knew him. Everybody saw him as a cruel, dangerous guy when he was really so far from that, or at least he is when he has been with me lately.

"So, where is your boyfriend tonight?" Kyle asks, seeming to find the situation quite amusing.

"Maybe out murdering someone?" Conner says smirking as they both erupt into laughter.

I am seeing red. How dare they? How fucking dare they?

"Get lost," I say, anger evident in my tone.

"Aw is somebody sad their boyfriend didn't turn up?" Kyle smiles.

However, his grin falters as he looks behind me. In fact, his skin begins to pale as worry fills he and Conner's face.

"What are you talking about? I'm right here," A voice snarls at Conner and Kyle. "Now if you guys are done being douchebags you can leave these ladies alone."

I turn around to find Chase standing behind my chair eyes focused on the two boys sitting across from May and I.

His hair is slightly neater than usual, his bruise on his face still evident but fading. My mouth feels dry as I take in the whole of him. Chase in a suit is definitely an image I want to remember forever.

I lift my eyes to meet his which are now focused solely on me. His signature smirk plastered on his face.

"Why do you look so surprised to see me, sweetheart?" He says with a wink, that makes my heart begin to flutter frantically.

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