"The Cut"

Chapter 39- "The Truth Is Rarely Pure And NEVER SIMPLE"

Chapter 39- "THE TRUTH IS RARELY PURE AND NEVER SIMPLE" 

-Oscar Wilde

"Out with it already. You know I hate suspense!" Chase said to her with wonder.

"Time to end this game once and for all." thought Bailey. 

 She placed her other hand on Chase.

 Bailey stopped swaying to the music. Chase released his grip from her and crossed his arms.

"Chase, I know who Carson's been seeing. But, hear me out. I only just stumbled upon them a short time ago. I mean, yeah, I had my suspicions, but nothing was confirmed until I-.."

 Suddenly, there was a hand upon her shoulder. She felt the fingernails graze her soft skin. They felt like a straight razor on a clean, close shave. She didn't even have to turn around. She instinctively knew it was Carson.

 And Carson knew her time was up.

"Bailey, can I cut in? I'll take it from here." Chase looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

 Bailey reached down and grabbed his hand. She squeezed it.

"Maybe this is for the best. I think she should tell you herself, Chase." He let his hands drop to his sides like lead weights as Bailey exited the dance floor.

 Becca grabbed Katie and they intercepted her before she left the gymnasium.

 Carson put her arms around Chase. He began to remove them. He wouldn't allow her to humiliate himself or his date like this. She had no business laying one finger on him, no matter what the excuse.

"CHASE! You have to let me get this out before I can't anymore. I know I don't deserve a dance, or a second of your time. But, I do owe you an explanation... and an apology. So, please..just listen."

 Chase could feel her body tremble as he searched the jade flecks in her eyes for an answer. They looked like traffic lights that were about to turn yellow, then red. He couldn't shake the impending doom that had worked its way inside of him.

 He wanted to leave her stranded in the middle of the dance floor.

 ALONE.

 He stood stone cold while she delivered her impromptu speech.

"I know I'm the one to blame for our relationship going straight to hell. And I accept full responsibility. I lied to you, not only in the parking lot last week, but on the whole for the past couple of months. I HAVE been seeing someone. And you knew it. But I couldn't let go of you. Not completely, Chase. I wanted to hold on to any trace of what we had. And I couldn't be sorrier than I am right now."

 Carson could feel the tears pooling; the floodgates were ready to open. Chase took her wrist in his grasp and it was his turn to cut her with eyes that morphed into daggers. He wasn't letting her off that easy.

 He wanted a NAME.

"Who's the guy?" he demanded through gritted teeth. His blood was boiling and he felt like punching something. Someone. The guessing game that had consumed him was about to reveal the winner.

"I don't want you to..." Carson attempted. Chase cut her off immediately.

"Who's the FUCKING guy?" he barked.

 Carson's tears coursed down her cheeks and onto her supple neck. Her face glistened under the strobe lights of the gym and she quickly wiped it with the back of her hand.