Blue Ribbon

Chapter 15 - It was near impossible, but I tried

"If it doesn't burn a little, then what's the point of playing with fire?"

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At the night of the party...

Chase's POV

I walked out into the dark cold night. Air heaved in and out of my lungs, jagged and coarse. A growl rumbled at the base of my throat. I hated every fucking miserable second of this day.

All I wanted was to walk back inside and pull him away from her and let all of my rage explode into his face. I didn't care if I'd make a scene, I didn't care that he is my cousin and friend. All I wanted is a release to the anger flaming inside my chest.

But I stopped myself and pressed my palm over the car's window. Unable to open it and go, and unable to stay.

The cold January air didn't affect me at all. It felt like I was burning up from the inside out.

And soon, all will be left would be ashes.

Guess that's what happens when you play with fire.

I burned.

I gambled and lost.

I knew it was a risk, she was a risk, but I took it. I thought she'd be worth it.

I unbuttoned the first few buttons of my shirt and rubbed at my chest, trying to blunt the ache inside. Did I need my inhaler or was it heartbreak that felt this much painful? I couldn't decide which is which at the moment.

"Leaving so soon?"

At the sound, I lifted my head up and saw Aylin, standing a few meters away, her head tilted to the side, eyeing me with a bit of worry in her gaze.

I nodded as I raked my fingers through my hair, "Just a bit tired."

She nodded, "The party is so boring anyway, you won't be missing anything important." She sighed, "See you," She added with a wave before she turned around and started to walk toward the exit.

"You're leaving?" I asked. She paused in her steps and turned around, "Yeah, just waiting for the taxi to get here."

I nodded toward my car, "Come, I'll drop you off."

She shook her head with a grateful smile, "Oh no, you don't have to."

I opened the car's door, "Come on Aylin, it's on my way."

I got inside and seconds later, the passenger door opened and Aylin got in. Without further talking, I started the engine and took off.

I appreciated the fact that she didn't try to open a conversation. I am really not in the mood for chatting at the moment and I think she understood that.

The ride was short yet it felt so long. Aylin didn't say a word and I just kneaded at the steering wheel, my chest rose and fell in spastic quakes, my mind busy thinking about the girl I've left behind.

The car came to a pause by Aylin's house. Before I could turn around, I felt her hand rest over my arm. When my gaze fell at hers, she smiled, a small sad one as she shook her head, "She doesn't deserve you."

My eyebrows pulled together trying to understand how the hell she knows about this. Sally knows about us, but as far as I know, Aylin has no clue, she thinks we are  still doing the fake dating for Zack's sake.

She gave me a knowing look, "Come on Chase, it's way too obvious," She commented, "The way you look at her, the way you treat her," Her smile slowly faded away, "For all those years. It takes a blind person only not to notice how much you care about her, you like her...if not even more."