Tough as Nails

I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you

"...It's strange what desire will make foolish people do.."

- Chris Isaak

- Chris Isaak

~Chase~

I'm such an ass trying to get a reaction from her. She really hooked me up and took care of this sunburn too. Seeing her squirm is funny though. I just can't tell if it's what I'm saying, how I'm saying it, or just me. Either way, seeing her reaction is worth it.

"Surely, you know you do. As much as you try to now, I'd bet you'd be more determined to make me uncomfortable if you didn't."

Boy, she is right!

"Want me to stop, Blake?"

Please say no. Please say no.

She leans against her kitchen island, spotting her mug. Even after a sip of courage, I barely hear her for all the blood rushing around my head. "It's wrong."

I argue , "It's just fun. It can be fun."

"Just fun, huh?" She laughs. I can't tell what is bouncing around in her head, but her mood drops almost as fast as I dropped Marcus earlier.

"Chase, can you not? I really don't want a battle, right now."

Well there is always a battle, just which one does she care about? She's right. I should stop for a few months. Bet that's one of her hang ups. My parents didn't let me start school early, so I'd be turning 18 the first week I was senior. Should prob tell her... I should probably just let her be. I should probably keep having fun with girls my own age who are clueless and annoying. She said right now. Meaning there is a now- later. Oh it's on!

She just fascinates the hell outta me. She's cool as hell- has a smart mouth. Seems like a good person, caring. Julie only cared if I was too hurt to play for everyone in the tri-county to see. She liked being associated with someone else just as popular.

I can't think of any chick I'd messed with who would've taken me in their house and played nurse- like a real nurse, not a costume, then fixed up my sorry ass with aloe and cartoon band aids. It was nice to be taken care of and have a release, but to really have someone take care of you... I think only my close, close circle of friends and family have done that.

"Maybe."

I walk from the other side of the kitchen to her, tee in hand. "Maybe you want me to not not?"

We stare at each other for a moment. She has the offer, but doesn't take it. Wow, guess I've been messin' with girls, cause this woman has respect for herself. I have every intention of getting her to put my shirt on- this time.

"Think I'm dry enough?"

She huffs. "Just C'mere."

I hand her my tee and crowd her. She's a good head shorter than me, so this will be painful as hell, but again so worth it. I'm leaning and twisting, letting her do this. Her hands on me, no mater how much my skin sucks, still makes me want her to touch me more.

"You're a mess Chase. Lean, okay, lean, arms, now, umm you're stuck to it. I can't-"

We both pause listening to taps on the door, I look questioning her from this contorted way of trying to put on my shirt that's sticking to my melting skin.

"Should be Lindz and Rachel, unless you're expecting someone else."

She helps me finish pulling my tee in the back and walks to the door to peek.

"I knew it was way too early for Travis and if he was tapping, he might as well sleep outside with whoever he was tapping with. They know not to be loud?"

"Better just go out to be safe. They can be extra when they are together."

I know Lindz will for sure when she sees me walking out behind Blake. Wait, she just said that ass was messing around on her? Now I was going to make sure I made her smile more. That sucks!

~Lindsey~

"Just go, It's 50 feet. We will be fine."

"Not happenin' fire woman. I'm gonna shine my brights on ya or walk you two over."

Mikey was not backing down. "Fine! Just stand at your door. We don't need an escort. If you are that concerned, just stay out here with us. It's just Chase and Blake, right?"

He huffs. He stood in the drive watching Rach and me walk up the deck to Blake's door. I dramatically gave thumbs up so he could see we were safe just to get on his nerves. Rachel starts tapping. I shush her hoping to remind her to be quiet as a mouse and not wait up Blake's kids.

Blake quietly opens the door and walks out to give me a hug. I love this lady! She's so freakin' nice!

"Hi Lindsey. Let's go out to the table and swing. You must be Rachel?"

Rach being shy, just says hi and waves. I step back and see my brother walking right behind Blake. Why's tee all raised up? Damn he's glowing red!

"Chasey!" I whisper yell trying to get answers fro his silent smart ass smirk. Guess that scared Mikey.

"Ya good, man?" Mikey asks Chase. I love my brother's boys, I do but lord they can be too much. If I'm being completely honest, I really love Mikey. Wish he wasn't such a man w***e, but hey, I'm 16, as I keep hearing.

My brother is Mr. Suave- not Mikey. Mikey has game don't get me wrong, but he's more like a protector. Like Chasey but worse because his focus was always on me when we were in small groups or alone.

I got to see a side of him I don't think even Chasey saw. Like tonight, he was freaking out that the boogeyman was gonna hop out and get us. Joey told Rach on the way to drop him off they'd had a scuffle. I get it, but s**t!

"Yeah, thanks for being the Delux Dully Uber. This sunburn's a b***h. Hit ya up after work for a few sets?"

They do their cave man byes and Blake hands us water bottles as we sat at the patio table. I am trying to hold my excitement when I see Blake sit on the swing, then Chase sit on the other side. And then he grabs her feet and puts them in his lap! AWWW!

I know, I know I was reaching to see something that probably not there, but I needed that little glimmer of hope right now. I knew there was not a real chance how cozy they looked would be anything.

Still, seeing a slightly tipsy Blake laughing at whatever little joke my brother just made, all between them was one of those moments you just go awwww and want to shout with glee.

Really, they were so cute. He definitely didn't look like he was almost 18 and she didn't look like she was almost 30. You had to look closely to see the physical age gap. I knew there was plenty going on that meant nothing, but again it made me stare in envy. Especially with how poor my taste in boys is. But Blake had given me the best advise ever. I don't need that- I want that.

Chase lets go of Blake and leans forward on his knees, still holding her foot. Since when did he have a foot fetish? But I knew this meant I had to get ready. I already knew what this was about.

Rach grabbed my hand in moral support for the embarrassment I was gonna face- not the sympathy Chasey probably thought.

"Lindz, sorry, I kinda umm... I ran into Marcus... I roughed him up and prob made the next few shifts at Darrel's s**t. I had to tell Julie to kick rocks too. You gotta pick 'em better. Marcus wasn't a good guy at all."

Dang, I kinda caught on to that too late. "I know."

Chasey is getting fidgety. Oh I'm gonna milk this... I stall not saying anything

"Lindz you might want to umm... I know you guys... Fuck."

He goes to run his hand down his face, but Blake stops him just before he injures himself more. Again, so cute.

He looks at her and blurts out, "He was messing around with Vettie when everything went down."

Rachel shutters. They've had words more than once. Vettie couldn't stand Rach because she was Joel's step sister. Joel's brother David and Vettie were glued at the hip since birth, well until he died. They were best friends. Vettie never liked her and blamed Rach for not calling 911 fast enough. There was no reasoning with her. Rach was like 12 years old and had no idea what was going on when he OD'ed. Vettie was just about 3 years older than us and David was Joseph's age. Rach loved her bothers, just hated David was so messed up all the time.

"Chasey, she knows." Rachel tried to help Chase. Well, here goes...

"Chase, I know. Why do you think I was so upset? I had to ask Sher to help me get checked out after I found out because I'm only 16 and she won't sign off on me to do anything without her knowing.. And giving you your opinion."

He sunk back then arched forward hissing. Blake looked at him real hard for a few seconds, he nodded some silent s**t, then she turned to me.

Whatever the hell happened from when I left Chasey in the back yard finishing the shed to him walking out of Blake's house is just that... Something. Something happened, and I'm so gonna find out.

"Lindsey, you can swing by any time you need to get away. Even if Travis is here- which is almost never. I know he's an ass, but you can text me and I wouldn't mind taking my girls for a spontaneous afternoon in the park or ice cream. Here- put your number in my phone and give me yours. Rachel, I've only seen you a few times, but same goes for you."

"Aww thank you Blake! How old are your girls?"

Rach and Blake start chatting on. I look at Chasey, all leaned back with his arm behind her. He's smiling like his little scheme is falling in place... What kinda nonsense are we talking her bro? Do I need to get weapons or a Pinterest board?

"They done?" He looks at me puzzled then at our house.

"Yeah, finally. C'mon pretty girls, it's after midnight. I work at 8, then we gotta paint!"

Blake stops talking to Rach, "Chase, you should have Lindsey hook up sunscreen to her hose when you get ready to paint. You might look like a candy cane when you're done though. hahaha"

"Oh I'll show you candy cane, Elsa! We'll just get some bubble wrap then too.

"hahaha! We might have to at this point. Good night guys."

Sneaking up to our rooms, Rach and I tried hard not to laugh at Chase grumbling about candy canes and aloe with a side of broken bones in bubble wrap.

As soon as Rach and I close the door we start jumping up and down whispering and laughing. "Did you see them Lindz! That has never ever happened!

"Oh I'm so freaking blown away! Blake is amazing. She controlled that caveman! I've never seen my brother listen to anyone!

"Quick, text her before she goes to sleep. Ask her what's up with... well that?" Rach motions to my door, knowing Chase is in the room opposite mine.

"Okay, Okay. I'm dying to know too. Should I be freaked out? I mean she is almost Sher's age and we're her kid sisters?"

"Umm, you do realized my parents did the same thing? I think my dad just wanted to be like Thomas. Have Joel super young then when that was messed up, he married again and had David and me. Anyways! Text her!"

-/-

Me): Hi Blake, it's Lindz. I just gotta ask... so what was up with you and my brother? I was super envious of you two the whole time!

Rach is almost sitting in my lap as we see the bubble show her typing... then it stops... then she starts... We look at each there and wait...

Blake): Hi Lindsey. I really can't say there is anything up with me and your brother. I was just being a good friend and he returned the favor.

-/-

"Oh that's bull!

"I know Lindz, but maybe she doesn't want to accept it herself?

"But you'd have to be blind to miss that! Right?

"Or still married? She mentioned she was planning on separating soon so I wouldn't need to worry about Travis much longer. Oh and there's this little fact that Chasey is not 18 for a few more months.

"Ugh... so stupid... Yeah, that could be why, but still."

Me): If you say so. If I ever meet a friend like that, I never wanna loose them. Outside looking in... #couplegoals. Girl talk & flowers after I work tomorrow. Thank you for everything!

"Geeze! Lindz! Way to pressure her!"

"Like Chasey probably hasn't say or done worse haha, look!

She replied instantly.

Blake): Date! Now I'm off to have non romantic dreams of a non optional man until his sister can fill me in on how couple goals look on her side, cause they aren't looking good from my side. Nite Lady!

"Rach, she is the coolest! and so full of it!

"haha Lindz, I think we just found a way to torment Chase!"

And that is when Blake became my unofficial sister. I think that's when Chase realized he was gonna do anything to be around her too. I look back now and think that had to be the night it all started.