North Way High

Chapter 11

The bell has just rung signaling the end of the day. I texted my dad that I won't be home for a while because of late night tutoring sessions. He said it's fine as long as he can pick me up before 10:00. Good. He's not suspicious.
"Alright, Chase. What's the plan? " I ask with much hope in my heart.
"I talked to my brother, but all he would tell me was that he hasn't killed him quite yet. Then he laughed and hung up." He says, very flustered. The hope in my heart has dramatically dropped.
"What now? Can you think of a place where he would be?" I ask.
"Well, we know he's working for my dad, so he's probably where my dad is." He says.
"Thanks for the info, Captain obvious. Where does your dad work?" I ask.
"I have no idea. I'm sorry." He gives me a very sympathetic look of sorrow.
"No ideas at all? Are you sure?" I ask, losing hope. He hugs me tight.
"I'm so sorry." He says. His voice is muffled by my sweater. I try my hardest not to let the tears fall from my eyes, but he hugs me tighter, and I cry. We hug for a minute or two, and I can't take it anymore. I try to wipe my tears away although they're still falling. I gently pull away from Chase.
"Chase, I'm not just giving up. I can't. I won't. There must be something we can do." I say, very determined.
He gives me a look of dissaproval and shakes his head. "How can we save your brother if mine won't even say where he is, Jamie? It's over. Let's just stay here." He says. He's making me upset. The confuser gas is starting to mess with me again. I step back from Chase.
"Chase, put him on the phone." I say.
"Jamie, you're insane. He's not going to tell you anything. I'm not putting you on the phone with him." He says with a joking smile. He thinks I'm funny, well I'm about to change his mind.
"Chase, at least we would have more of a chance! You think this is a joke?! I didn't even want to be part of this, but you hypnotized me into thinking it was right! Now you won't even let me try to clean up the mess you've made?!" I yell.
"Jamie, don't you see? It's hopeless! I love you too much to let you go on a suicide mission!" He yells back.
"You said you were going to use me. For a plan to bring humans and Cornells together. You don't really love me." I say, coldly.
"That was before, Jamie. I actually need you now because I'm . . . I'm," I give him a questioned look. He sighs. "Jamie, you're the most beautiful, wonderful, most sweet girl I've ever met in my life, and . . . I'm just going to say it. I love you." He spits out.

I'm frozen.

My whole life, no one but my family has ever liked me for me. Not even girls my age wanted to be my friend unless I pretended to be someone I wasn't. Now a boy is in love me for being, well, me. And I'm about to leave him to go and die. What a pickle I'm in.
"Chase . . . " I start.
"Don't. I heard what you said in your mind. I'm not afraid, or ashamed to love you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. Please don't leave me." He pleads. My mind is on a scale. Chase, or Alex. Family, or love. I know I should have no doubt in my mind, that I should choose my brother over a creature that I will never be able to live with, but there is something about him that I just can't shake. I know what I have to do.
"This love was good, Chase. And I will never forget you as long as I live. But I have to do this. I love you too." I cry. I hug him so tight it hurts.
"Jamie, please." He whispers in a helpless voice, begging me to stay.
I sadly shake my head and I can see his tears.
"Jamie," he starts, in his hypnotic voice. "I didn't want to have to overpower you with my voice--" I stop him.
"No. Don't you dare do that again. You have to let me go. I don't want to leave, but this is what I'm on this earth to do. This is all a test to see how you live your life. I can't stay here with you. My family matters more to me. I have to stay because of my choices. Not because you forced me into agreeing with your choices instead." I say. He's not convinced. I can see the tears of love dripping down his wild eyes. I wait a few moments, allowing him to think.
"Chase, do you want me to be happy?" I ask him. He silently nods his head like it's common sense. "Then you need to let me go. This is my choice, Chase. Don't make me something I'm not." I say. He thinks about this for a moment. Thinks. And then thinks a little more.
"Jamie, I'm going to let you call my brother and get all the information you can. And I'm going to come with you. But the minute the confuser gas starts to take over you again, we are going straight back here. And I don't care if I have to smack you in the head to do it. Do you understand?" He asks, very causiously. I nod my head. He takes his phone out of his pocket and dials the number. He hands me the phone, but it's on speaker. It rings for a moment. Rings, rings, rings--
"Hello?" Says Jackson over the phone.
"Hello, Jackson, we need to talk."