Double Trouble

Chade

Jade reached for a bottle and sat down next to Chase and opened it. After taking a sip, she turned to him. "Are you okay?" She almost whispered, making me question whether I was a part of the conversation or not.

His gaze moved toward the water in front of us. He took a sip of his beer and frowned, brushing the question off. "Sure."

"You could always talk to me you know." Jade carefully bumped into his shoulder, with half a smile. "You know that right?."

He held on to the bottle with both hands, playing with it. "There's nothing to talk about. I'm fine." Then he pressed himself up. "Blake's the one who's got a problem."

Oh, so we were back to that again.

Chase put on his shirt and turned around, before walking away from us, Jade following him with her eyes full of what seemed like worry.

As he was out of sight, Jade turned to me. "I'm worried about him."

"You are overreacting," Darren said he put on a massive amount of sunscreen to the little parts left of his white body which wasn't covered.

Jade sent Darren an annoyed look. "I wasn't talking to you. Also, I hope you know how stupid you look right now."

"Wow, okay," Darren started. "What's your problem?"

"I told you. I'm worried about Chase." She didn't lift her head.

I thought back at before Jade and Darren came up to us. He seemed fine then. But then again, Chase didn't seem like the kind of guy to wear his heart on his sleeve. And if Jade, who had known him for like ten years, was worried about him, then maybe there was some truth in her words.

"I'm sure he will be fine," I tried, as a weak attempt of cheering her up. I wondered if I should've given her a hug, and as another awful attempt of making things better, I did just so. I wrapped my arms around her, felling completely uncomfortable.

Darren looked at me, and slowly Jade lifted her head, wearing a somewhat uncomfortable expression herself. I quickly put my hands back in my lap.

"He just needs time," Darren continued, probably as an attempt of getting our minds of my awkward hug.

Jade turned around on her stomach, before rolling over to her back again. "How much time are we talking about?! He's been all different and angry for like a whole year now. I just ... miss the old Chase. You know, the guy that used to joke around and laugh and have fun and stuff. He barely hangs out with us anymore." She played with her yellow dress, not looking at any of us.

"A whole year?" I said, having no idea of whether I even was meant to be part of this conversation. "It's been that long, huh?" I was completely clueless.

Darren looked at Jade, squinting his eyes. "Oh my gosh," he said, after some time. "You're still into him."

What was he talking about? Jade liked Chase? Still?

Jade turned to him with a scary glare, her face turning red. "No, I'm not."

Darren started smiling. "Yes, you are."

She breathed out angrily. "Idiot. Shut up. You can't say that. What it Chase heard you? Oh my gosh what if he did?" She looked around us with a scared expression. "I do not like him like that. I haven't liked him like that since we broke up."

Broke up???

"You and Chase were together once?" I asked, once again, not being able to fight my curiosity.

Jade put her hands to her face, looking neurotically around us again. "Yes," she whispered. "But that's a long time ago and it didn't last long anyways. And no, I do NOT like him anymore." She looked serious into Darren's eyes.

Darren looked at her, almost fascinated. "Huh, Jade Maribelle Berkeley. I never though you would be the one to fall again. I mean, Chase? Yes, I could see him falling for you again-"

Jade started blushing while rolling her eyes.

"But you?" Darren was really enjoying himself right now.

She shook her head, annoyed, then got up on to her feet. "This is stupid. I'm obviously not in love with Chase."

"In love," Darren let the words roll on his tongue.

"Asshole," she said, before turning around, nearly stomping away from us.

"Where are you going?" Darren yelled after her. "To go find Chase?" He smiled big, from ear to ear, looking very proud and satisfied, sitting in his tent. He gazed out on the water, leaning back on his elbows, nodding his head while whispering to himself. "And the tables have turned."

I had no idea what to do, so I carefully took a sip from my beer, finding out, once again, that alcohol wasn't my type of thing. Yet, it was Jade and Chase that filled my mind. Jade and Chase together. I didn't even know how I thought about that. Like, how long had she liked him?

We had been out on the water for about ten minutes before the motor was turned off.

Blake came out from where he had been steering the boat, wearing an orange hat and a big smile. "Are we ready to eat?"

Darren and I turned our heads around.

"Where's Chase and Jade?" Blake asked, a bit confused.

Darren let out a short laugh, staring out at the water, probably feeling like the most savage guy in the world. "Huh, good question Blake. They're probably in a bed somewhere, hooking up," Darren said, making Blake frown in confusion.

He looked at me for an answer, but I wasn't much to help, considering I wasn't really sure what had happened myself.

I stared out to the water. Jade and Chase... Gosh, that would've been an amazing love story... Growing up together, then ending up together. Yet, I felt some sort of annoying jealousy. Damn it. That dream really fucked me up.

Looking back at Blake, who stood there, looking all innocent and kind and just utterly sweet, I felt bad about the way I had let Chase affect me. I got up and walked up to him. Laying my hands on his cheeks, leaning in for a kiss, I decided that whatever going on between Jade and Chase, didn't bother me.

In fact, I decided to help Jade the next couple of days. I was going to help her end up with Chase. Again...