Double Trouble

The return

Three days had gone by since when I left the lake house and after many attempts and a whole lot of hope that things would return to boring normality, I still couldn't get my mind of my new friends. 

More specifically, Blake and Chase.

And even more specifically than that, Chase...

My phone started buzzing not long after I left, but I simply ignored every phone call and text. Still, I did send Jade a "I'm fine" -message, shortly explaining how things had gotten overwhelming. I told her that I probably wasn't going to meet them again. Not ever again, but that I would miss them.

All I had ever wanted, was a summer filled with excitement and new experiences. Turned out, I wasn't ready for it.

Once I got home, mom wouldn't stop hugging me and being nice to me. I guess she was scared I was going to run away again. Still, I couldn't help but to feel like the biggest brat on earth, for causing her so much worry.

I checked my phone again. There was yet another message from Blake.

Blake: Kate, please call me.

Blake: Did I do anything wrong?

Blake: If it is about our discussion about sleeping together, then I'm sorry for embarrassing you. But there is nothing to be embarrassed about, Kate. And I have though about it, and maybe we could consider it soon...

Blake: Sorry, that sounded weird. But please let me try to explain again.

Blake: Please talk to me. We can meet at the coffee shop by the park and talk it out.

Blake: Please Kate, whatever that is going on, it will be fine. I will still like you. I really, really like you...

I sighted. That was the problem. Blake had all this love to offer. He was so nice, and he was really into me. As he put it, he really, really liked me. And I really liked him. But it was going so fast forward.

I sighted once more. So fast? Wasn't I the one that suggested we'd have sex this weekend? Maybe I was going to fast? But if so, what was the problem?!

I had also gotten one text from Chase. One single message. Yet, three days had gone by, and I still hadn't opened it. I didn't feel the need to know what Chase had written to me. Especially since Chase basically was the source of the problem.

Staring at the screen, trying to force my body to put the phone down, I suddenly let my weaker side take over, and I gave in.

I laid eyes on his words, sitting left with an open mouth

Chase: I see that my offer to sleep with you got too much for you to handle, Kate. Don't worry. My body and I will be right here waiting for when you are ready ;)

God, damn it, no!

I tossed my phone away and got down stair to mom. I could hear that she was talking on the phone, in a somewhat worried tone. Oh no.

As she ended the call, she turned to me with a frown.

"What?" I asked.

"It was work..." She got closer to me, rubbing her hands. "They want me to fill in for some sick nurses in Denver..."

I didn't understand. What was so wrong about that? "Wait," I started. "For how long?"

She placed her hands on my shoulders. "For the rest of the summer, Kate."

I didn't know what to say. Was she really going to leave me, home alone, this entire summer?

"I really wish I could stay. But my boss told me I didn't have a choice. It was either that, or ... I'll lose my job. How do you feel about this, Kate?"

I had to think for a moment. Had this happened a week earlier, I would've been thrilled that my mom was out of my way of having an epic summer. Now, on the other hand? I wasn't sure. But then again, what choice did she have?

"I will be fine," I said, putting on a smile.

***

The day after, my mom left early in the morning. I checked my phone again for new messages, but for the first time since I left, my phone was empty. Except from one message ... from Liz!

Liz: Hope you are home, cause I'm home!!!!

Before I even got to process the message, the doorbell rang. I ran to the door and opened it. And there she was. My best friend was standing in my doorway!

"Liz!"

"Kate!" She ran into my arms with a big smile. As she pulled away, she had her hands on my arms, looking at me, the same way I looked at her. She was so tan. Her dark brown hair was longer and wavy, and it felt as if I hadn't seen her in ages.

"You're back!?" I was still processing this whole thing.

She walked into the house, dragging two suitcases behind her. "I was feeling pretty home sick, and after a whole lot of asking, mom finally bought me a plane ticket home." She was smiling from ear to ear, but then she got serious. "Only, she wouldn't let me stay at home alone, so I told her that you had offered to let me stay..." She looked at me, with a somewhat guilty look.

I grabbed her suitcases with a smile. "Good thing for you my mom just left town."

***

After making Liz' bed, we sat in the couch, catching up a bit. I told her all about my summer adventures, but I failed to mention the whole "being somewhat attracted to Chase"-part...

She told be all about her summer too, before I realized that also she'd had a summer fling.

"Oh my gosh, Liz. The French guy? What happened there? Are you still keeping in touch with him?" I bumped into her shoulder with a smirk.

She shook her head as an attempt to brush off the subject. "Oh that thing? No, that ended." She stood up.

"Oh no, why?"

She shook her head again. "Oh, no, don't mind that. Not today."

"Oh ...," I answered, understanding that she didn't want to talk about it.

"But over to something else. You are not done searching for summer adventures Kate."

"Liz," I sighted. "I have realized it's not anything for me-."

"Bullshit." She crossed her arms. "Just because one guy made you confused doesn't mean you should stop trying to live."

I just looked up at her, not knowing what to say. I mean, she was kind of right... "Well, okay, what did you have in mind?"

She looked at me with a devilish smile. "We're throwing a party."