The Chase

First encounter (Chapter 4)

Travis

Her eyes... So beautiful. It had a magnet to it that made me want to keep looking and never stop. It was the color of light brown and grey. Can you imagine that? And her lashes so long that they touched her cheeks when ever she looked down. Her smile so flashing and beautiful that showed off her dimples on both cheeks. I had winked at her enjoying our little moment before Mrs. Green had to interrupt. I had made that remark just because I wanted her to notice me. Well... That was hours ago and it was now lunch time. I sat with my buddies at our usual spot in the cafeteria completely oblivious to what was happening around me. My mind completely on her. I was thinking about more ways to get her to notice me. Where was she anyway? I hadn't seen her since lunch. What was I thinking! I'm already obsessed over a girl I just met? How is that possible? "Travis!" I heard Tyler yell my name snapping his fingers before my eyes, snapping me out of my reverie. "Man what's wrong with you? I haven't heard you talk since we came. What's wrong man?" "Yeah man what's poppin? Spill it out doug." Chris said. "Nothing man... It's just that I can't get Paige out of my mind man... I feel somehow attached to her. To be honest I don't even know how I feel. Just that I can't get her off my mind. It's somehow stupid I don't understand." "Ooohhh... Bad boy in love huh? I understand what's happening. Just like piss that needs to be let out. It doesn't stop bothering you until it's all out and your bladder's empty that's the only way you're gonna feel better. That's it man." Jason said tapping me on the back reassuringly, making no sense to me. "Your point exactly?" I asked him. "You need to get laid with her and you'll feel better that's it." He said matter of factly. I suddenly felt the urge to punch him in the face for talking about her like that. What was up with me? I've never felt any urge to punch my best friend or any of my other friends because of a girl before. I was tripping. You need to chill dude. I told myself, taking a deep breath before answering him. "Nahh... There's something about her that gives me the impression that she's different bro." "Well... You never try," Jason said. "You never know." Tyler and Chris answered in unison. "Yeah so we were talking bout this party that some dude from another school's hosting at his house on Saturday. You in?" Tyler asked me looking hopeful. Completely changing the subject as if it had already been solved and it was that easy. For a brief moment of hesitation, I stared at all my friends who were staring back at me in hope before saying, "Sure bro... Always." "Yeah man that's what I'm talkin bout." Said Tyler shaking my hand along with the others.

Paige

The last bell rang indicating that school was out for the day. I grabbed my bag, took out my phone and hurried out of class. I had no time to waste since I was riding the school bus and I was warned that it doesn't waste anytime. Besides that, I had to go home early to babysit my little siblings. Since my mom had to go back to work. As soon as my phone came on, a message from Alex popped up. It read.

Alex* Call me as soon as you get home.*
What for?
Alex* Leave the details to me.*
What?
Alex* What?*
What r u talkin bout?
Alex* What r u talking bout?*
Would u stop that?
Alex* u know I could do that the whole day right?*
Yh... I know u're a mental patient.😔
Alex* That's right and anytime from now, u'll b joining me on my ward.😂*
Fine! U really can't let things go can u?😂😂 Anyways, I'll b busy so u'll do most of the talking.
Alex* Pfff... Let's see about that. Busy doing what anyway?*
Babysitting those firecrackers.
Alex* 😂😂😂 good luck with that.*
Ugh... Whatever.🙄

Bump!! I had bumped into someone only because I hadn't been watching my steps. I was about to fall when a strong hand grabbed me and saved me from falling. My hero. I looked up and found two pairs of honey brown eyes staring at me. He was the same boy in class today. The hottie that I assumed girls would kill for. I believe his name was Travis."Oh... Hi there... I'm very sorry for bumping into you. That was very clumsy of me." I said apologetically. "It's okay. Actually I've been wanting to introduce myself to you." He said in a delicious deep voice smiling showing off perfect white teeth. Oohh. If his voice was a dessert, it would be a chocolate pudding or chocolate bar or anything that had over all chocolate. Yum. "Oh really? Wow I'm honored." I said in a little flirty voice. He chuckled. "Well... I'm Travis Scott and you're..." He said extending his hand for a handshake. "I'm Paige Starling and I'm most delightful to meet you." I said in a British accent causing us both to laugh. "Well the pleasure is all mine mi'lady." He said playing along with my British accent, bringing my hands to his mouth and kissing it. Wow. He's really good with the accent thingy. It made his voice sound even yummier. "Wow you're really good at the accent thingy." I said voicing out my thoughts. "Thanks." He said smirking, looking directly into my eyes a little bit too long. He really was hot. I thought. "Uhh... So... I'll see you around then but I gotta go home now or else the bus is leaving me behind and I'll have to walk." I said feeling a little awkward. "Sure. See you around." He said still holding my hand. "Uhh... Can I have my hand back or you're taking it with you?" I asked, letting a little laugh out. He laughed along releasing my hands. "It's all yours." He said. "Bye!" I called out racing to the bus that was already honking like crazy. I entered, turned around and gave him a salute as I found him smirking. I found an empty seat right at the entrance and sat at the window. Whenever I'm riding a bus, I love to sit near the window cuz I loved the way things outside go according to the speed of the bus. Way to go girl, you managed to make a friend and flirted with the hottest boy on campus. High five! I thought to myself as I placed my air pods in my ears to listen to some music. Some things I love to do to think or to not think. Travis was hot. Not that I was into him or anything. I just really appreciated cute boys and their yummy delicious hot bodies. That was really a work of art from God there. Mm.. Mm. Other than that, I really wasn't interested in dating. Especially not boys like those. They always spelled trouble and heart break and pain and most of all, they made you feel insecured about yourself. I hated that feeling. I'm very beautiful and I know it. But there's something about insecurities that makes you blind to every good thing that you have and makes you feel worthless even though, you should actually be proud of yourself. I had dated one of them hotties and gotten my heart broken by him. I'm not letting that happen anymore. Not now, not ever. The bus finally reached my house and I got down. I half ran half walked towards my house. I knew that mom would be waiting for me to take over the house so she could go back to work. I passed at the back of the house and opened the back door with one of our spare keys that was given to me. My big sister had one too. She didn't live with us anymore because she had gone to college over three years ago and was now engaged to a very rich man but would come once in a while to spent some time with us so that earned her a spare house key as well for just in case. "Mo-om! I'm home." I called out opening the fridge to get something to drink. That was my habit. I usually did that to reward myself after a long day of doing something I didn't really feel like doing or something I felt was a challenge. Going to a new school this morning was a tough challenge for me mentally and physically and I deserved to be rewarded. I took out an aloevera pineapple flavored juice, opened it and took a sip, letting the flavor take over my mouth before I took a large gulp, enjoying the cool feeling it left in my throat and the delicious taste in my mouth. Pineapple was my favorite fruit. I was crazy over it. I walked into the living room and called out to my mom once again when I saw her rushing down the stairs in her work clothes. Black designers blouse with a black coat skirt that fitted neatly showing off all her curves and a coat to go along with the outfit with black heels and a red bottom. My mom, was really hot. Child birth had nothing on her, cause she never stopped exercising to keep her body in shape. Even after she's had four children. I admire her a lot. She is my role model. She's very hard working, strong and confident. She's a lawyer, and a very good one too. She's infact, in my opinion the best lawyer ever cause there wasn't a case for as long as I can remember that she was given that she didn't win. I wanted to be a lawyer just like her and I guess that I had inherited if not all, most of her ways. People even said we looked alike even though I thought she was more beautiful than I. Out of all of that, she was really fashionable until half of the time, she looked like she was modeling brands for companies. I guess that's where my sister got her sense of fashion and became a fashion designer. "Shh... The kids are asleep." She said quietly as she came down the stairs. "Wow mom you look stunning." I said admiring her attire. Her curly long black hair with brown sprinkled at the tips held up in a ponytail. Our signature hairstyle as we call it, her lips painted brown against her caramel skin and an applied mascara to her already long lashes just did the magic. "Thanks." She said smiling. Showing off her dimples. I loved to shower praises on my mom because it pleased me to see her smile. I had made it my duty to keep my mom happy since dad's sad departure even though, I didn't succeed everyday but times like these were important. She opened the door to the garage and stepped in with me at her tail, opened her car with her remote keys and opened her car door before turning to me and saying, "Take care of my kids." "I always do mom." I told her as she checked the time on her wrist watch. "It's after 4:00, so they'll obviously not be sleepy for the next 5-6 hours. There's food in the fridge so you can warm it if that's what they want to eat. Make sure they go over their lessons. I believe that they have assignments..." "How many?" I asked cutting her off. "That's for you to find out." She said, continuing with her instructions. "They can watch few cartoons but make sure they're in bed before 9:00." "But they prolly won't be sleepy mom, how do I get them to bed when they ain't sleepy?" "Excuse me they what?" She asked ignoring my question and waiting for me to correct myself. "They probably won't be sleepy. How do I get them to bed if they aren't sleepy?" I said rolling my eyes and emphasising on the probably and aren't making it sound like (Prah_babe_ly) and (Ahr_rent). "Give them some warm milk. That'll do it." She said getting in her car. "Mom wait! How bout me? You didn't talk about me." I said a little sadly. "Seriously? You're a big girl now hunny, it's time to give up the spot light. Besides, you know where to find food when you're hungry. Now will you please let me get to work?" She said closing her car door as the gate of the garage automatically came up. "Love you mom." I called out to her as she slowly drove out of the garage. "Love you... Take care of my babies... And yourself." She added so I won't feel bad knowing how I was at times. "I will..." I said waving at the back of her car until the gate of the garage blocked my view from it's closing. Sometimes, I didn't want my mom to leave my sight because I was afraid that she would leave us just as dad left us. The thought of mom leaving too was just too unbearable that it broke me and I would just sit and cry all by myself in my room, thinking about all the times dad was with us and we were a one complete and happy family. I loved my dad so much and he had loved me with all his heart. Even though he didn't say it, I knew I was his favorite. Dad left us with no warning and that left a hole deep within my heart that I fought so hard to hide so that I can look and be strong for both my mom and little siblings.