7 Summers

Chapter 12: First Fights

Bailey's POV

"Baby. Baby. Wake up." Chase says half asleep while sitting on his knees, gently shaking my shoulder. "Are you awake?" He asks softly.

"Yes." I mumbled.

"We can pick up food on the way there. I slept longer than I meant to, it's a four hour drive." He hands me his hoodie and my shorts. I got ready and followed him out the front door and into his truck. I slipped off my flip flops and put my feet up on his dash, leaning back into the seat with the hood up.

"I'm thinkin we get Starbucks. What do you think?" He looks over at me.

"What's that?" I asked.

"You never left Backwater, did you?" He chuckles.

"Not really no."

"Its a coffee place, but a bakery. It's good at times." He says, pulling off the high way and into the little town. As we got into the drive thru, Chase starts to order.

"I know you're not much of a coffee person, so I got you hot coco." He says, handing me the cup.

"Thank you." I said softly, holding the warm cup in my hands and smelling the aroma. He hands me a sandwhich, and drives off after getting his food too. The sun was barely coming through the clouds, but it was also about 5 am, and we had a 2 and a half hour drive.

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"Okay, put this on." Chase says, handing me his hat. "Ryan's RV is on the other side of the track so we should be good." He says, slipping his hand into mine.

"Damn." He says once we reached his motorhome.

"What?" I asked.

"Forgot I left my keys to Alan the last time I was at a track."

"How-"

"I was in a hurry to get back." He shakes his head, smiling. "Wait right here." He starts to walk away then turns around. "Don't talk to anyone or follow them." He says. I nodded and stood still. Chase was gone for a while, but this place was massive. Most tracks were.

As I was scrolling through my phone, I was pushed up against the RV.

"Hey you." I looked up, thinking it was Chase, but quickly saw that it wasn't. It was Blaney.

"Um...hi?" I said, looking down at his hands that were now on my waist.

"I was hoping you'd show up one day."

"Why?"

"You're accent is stronger than ever."

"Okay? Ryan what is goin on with you? And why are you touchin me?" I raised an eyebrow. Ryan backs off a little, and looks at my hat.

"Why are you wearing that?"

"Was hoping I could deguise myself so you wouldn't recognize me." I shrugged.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"Jonah made me."

"So you're with Jonah now?"

"What? Are you crazy? He's a two years younger than me."

"Chase is one year older than you. And I'm two years older than you."

"So? I'm not dating either one of you."

"Then why are you in front of Chase's motorhome? And don't play dumb."

"Got lost. I suggest you do the same." I said, trying to walk around him. Tyan takes my arm and pulls me back so my body's against his.

"Come on, Bailey. What I did was stupid. I know that."

"Damn right."

"I'm sorry. I'll never know how much I hurt you, but I'm not over you. I want another chance." He says. "To make us work." He runs his fingers down my arms.

"Yeah, well fuck you. What makes you think you can just leave me, then turn right around and bring some other bitch to my hometown and expect me to just move on? And now you come at me saying you're not over me? What the fuck, Ryan?" All that anger I suppressed for 7 years was resurfacing.

"Bails-"

"No. Don't you 'Bails' me. I told you everything. You were my secret holder. My best friend. Damnit Ryan, I told you I loved you. Does that mean nothing to you?" Tears were threatening to fall as I balled up my fists.

"Bailey, I'm sorry."

"Sorry's not gonna make everything okay, Ryan."

"I know." He says, putting his head down.

"I wish you never made it into Nascar. I wish you never would have dragged me into it, I can't look at it the same way! I hate it now! It was the one thing besides you that made me happy." Tears were streaming down my face.

"You really mean that?" Chase says softly from the other side of Ryan. I knew I hurt him. I knew he heard everything. My mouth hung wide open, I had no idea what to say. "Bailey." Chase looks like he's about to cry himself. "I think you should get some rest. There's a hotel about a mile south of here."

"I think you're right." I said softly, walking out of the track and down the road. I took off the hat and hoodie, and layed down in the giant bed after paying for a room.

I knew I hurt him. Chase took pride in what he did for a living. I shouldn't have said what I said, I was Chase's biggest supporter besides his family. I've never cried so hard in my life. I cried harder than when Ryan left. And that right there says that Ryan wasn't the one for me.

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I heard a knock on the hotel door, and lifted my head up to look at the clock. 7pm.

I slept for almost 12 hours. I got up and opened the door, and Chase was standing there in jeans and a NAPA polo, holding my backpack.

"I think this belongs to you." He says, not looking at me. I reached out my hand, taking the bag. My fingers brushed against his, and he quickly pulls his hand away. "Thanks." I said, slowly shutting the door. Chase stopped the door with his hand and pushed it back open.

"Did you really mean that?" He asks softly.

"Mean what?" I asked.

"That you weren't over him? That you hated Nascar?" Chase finally looks at me finally, revealing how red and puffy his eyes were.

"Chase-"

"I need to know, Bailey." Chase sounded serious.

"I did. But not anymore." I quickly defended. I wasn't sure if this would end things between me and him.

"Why?"

"It took Ryan away from me." Chase went to protest. "I loved him, Chase! He was my first-"

"Tell me how you feel about it now."

"I don't hate it now."

"Tell me how you feel about Ryan."

"What is this? An interrogation?" I growled. Why was he asking all these questions? Doesn't he know he's the one for me?

"I have to know, Bailey!"

"Why?!"

"I was quiet for so long! I tried to hide my feelings for you, but now when I tell you how I feel, you go and say you're not over him."

"Because he left me and promised me he'd come back!"

"He did!" Chase snaps. I slowly sat down on the bed, and looked at the ground. Chase was right. He did come back, and I had no right to act the way I've been acting the past 7 years. Not only did Chase and Ryan have to put up with it, my entire hometown had to deal with me too. I don't know if I can even go back home.

"Got nothin to say?" Chase growls.

"No." I said softly, looking down at my hands. My door slammed shut and I was left alone in silence.