i wasn't even looking when i found you.

chapter 6

noen only had one more day with benji and jorge, and he dreaded leaving. although he was definitely ready to go back to california, and most of all, chase, he was gonna miss the two boyfriends.

"it's your last day with us, noen, you can't spend our last 24 hours sulking over chase." benji said with a pout, crossing his arms like a child who didn't get what they wanted.

the blonde boy sighed, he knew benji was right. so what if chase didn't respond to his text? it's not like it was the end of the world.

okay, it definitely is the end of the world. at least, to noen. why wasn't chase responding? did he go too far with how he was acting? i mean, noen has every right to be mad too, right? chase's friends also said mean things about him, so what was so bad about what he said? did he make his crush too obvious? god, too many thoughts were running around noen's mind, too fast for him to keep up with.

"you know what? you're right. i'm not ruining our last day because of a boy." he said as a matter of factly, furrowing his eyebrows as he tossed his phone onto the couch, not bothering to check to see if chase texted him for the forty-ninth time. he also left out how said boy was the chase hudson, and how he would let the raven haired boy ruin any day of his, but that's beside the point.

jorge and benji jumped up, excitement clear on their faces as they all scrambled to find clothes to wear for the day. and though noen was enjoying his last few hours with the two boyfriends, he couldn't help but let his mind drift off to chase.

*

"no, no. no. seriously, fuck him." jaden said with no hint of laughter on his face.

chase winced and rubbed his head. he really just wanted to text noen back. just a 'hey bubba, miss you' would suffice, if jaden would give chase his phone back.

"c'mon, jay, please. i just wanna tell him it's fine." the blue eyed boy said with a huff, rolling his eyes when the older shook his head no.

"chase, it's not. he threw a tantrum because you like a girl, he needs to learn that you two aren't married. he can't control who you like." jaden said seriously, putting chase's phone into his pocket, much to the younger boy's dismay.

"he just got a little jealous! so what?" chase didn't understand why jaden was so upset. did noen even do anything wrong? he was just a little jealous, nothing wrong with that. chase had even caught himself getting jealous when noen hung out with his childhood best friend mitchell.

"so what? chase! he clearly has a crush on you! there's nothing wrong with that, it's just that you're straight, and he's mad that a girl has your attention. noen needs to get over it."

and just like that, with a simple comment, chase felt his mind race and his heart flutter. straight... right. that's what he is. i mean, that's what he's always been. he's not opposed to trying something new, it's just that he didn't even know where to start something like that.

but god, he felt his heart do eleven flips when jaden said that noen has a crush on him. does he? chase felt heat rise up to his cheeks, finding it harder and harder to hide his excitement with each passing second.

"she's a celebrity, it could never happen. he knows she doesn't have my actual attention." chase mumbled, rolling his eyes when jaden responded with 'that's not the point'.

chase chose to ignore the older boy, deciding that he still had a lot to think about, before even texting noen back. number one being did he like noen?

he's always had a tiny crush on the blonde boy with striking blue eyes, if you could even call it that. maybe even an infatuation. yeah, he liked him a lot, but what does that mean? in terms of friendship, in terms of boundaries, in terms of sexuality?

it's not like he wanted something to come out of this crush. chase knew nothing would. but it's fun to dream sometimes, isn't it?

"jay, let me handle this. it took me a minute, but i see what you're saying." chase lied, watching as jaden gave a grateful smile, along with a 'i'm just lookin' out for you, lil homie'.

and of course, chase knew jaden was looking out for him. but sometimes, this being one of those times, he needs to look out for himself.

chase stepped outside of the house, walking onto the balcony as his hands started shaking.

alright, chase. you're just gonna call him. man up. it's just a crush, the tall boy told himself, running a stressed hand through his soft hair.

the phone rang for what felt like an hour before finally going to voicemail. it kinda felt like his heart was ripped out of his chest, if chase is honest. but, voicemails were invented for a reason, right?

"hey, bubba. hope you're okay. i just wanted to call and say that i uhh... i miss you a lot. a lot, a lot. i also wanted to say i was never mad at you for last night. i've overreacted plenty of times, especially when i saw that video of you, benji, and jeyj-"

chase covered his mouth. why the fuck did he say that?

"um! anyways! yes! call me back when you get the chance. i miss you. i uhh.. i love you, noen. bye, bubba." chase ended the call with shaking hands.

well, shit.