Love Me (The Love Between Us Book 1)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

I’m able to get through another week of my Junior year and I have been able to avoid anymore misunderstandings and Chase hasn’t made another visit to the gym while I was in there, but he silently remains to sit next to be in Speech class. Homecoming week has been in full mode, my mom trying to reason with me that I still needed my first mum, to Julia wanting me to dress like my favorite superhero on Thursday. It was a “no” to mom explaining, “I probably won’t even go to the game, so there’s really no point” to a “hell no” to Julia while asking her, “What are we five again?”. But I did give in today and excepted her gift when she came barreling into my room this morning with a White Deer Bucks t-shirt for me to wear to the homecoming ceremony today.

With all the excitement over today activities and the events at tonight’s game. Teachers have given students the options to help with perpetration or watch videos in class, which lead me to sitting here with three other students in sixth period watching a video about the civil war.

“Hey, why don’t you come and help with the run through banner for tonight’s game? There’s a couple of us working on it.” Julia ask, as she walks into the classroom and approaches the empty seat beside me.

“I’m good here, besides I think I’m going to head over to the gym before the ceremony starts next period, Coach Swarb warned us if we left the room just stay close by.”

“Of course, you would choose to go and do that instead” Julia says in a frustrated way, as I prepare to stand and gather my things.

“What is that suppose to mean Julia?”

“It means basketball tops everything Bree. We have an opportunity to work on something outside of class together, but instead you chose basketball over me, your best friend. We agreed to have fun do things together this year. I guess I didn’t realize it couldn’t be something I wanted to do.” Not even waiting for me to respond, Julia runs out of the classroom.

Here I thought she understood my need to practice and improve on my playing before the season starts up. Maybe the two years that I was gone we grew apart without notice and both of us changed to much we just didn’t see the changes. Or I’m just a lousy friend who can’t change and put her best friend first. But one thing I do know, when I have a basketball in my hands, I can forget everything. And right now I just want to forget it all just for awhile.

Twenty minutes later I’m playing and practicing strategies on how to out smart the imaginary defensive player who’s guarding me. When I’m on a court nothing else matters. There’s no best friend mad at me, no Chase confusing me, no students judging me, no distraction. It’s just me running different plays in my mind that will provide an outcome of scoring and winning.

I’ve just out maneuvered the defensive and in progress of completing a right handed lay-up when a familiar voice startles me, and instead of releasing the ball towards the hoop, I throw it towards the wall.

“Damn it, he didn’t again, two shots I know I can make, and he has caused me to miss a again.” I think to myself, as I glare at the unwanted intruder.

“Will you please stop doing that, at least let me finish the shot before you speak,” I tell Chase, who is standing in the doorway of the gym and the hall that leads to the side door.

“Sorry, I was just seeing if you wanted to play one on one instead of playing by yourself.” he says, as he continues to stand there in his Buck’s football jersey, tight fitted faded blue jeans and a pair of doc martin’s. I hate to admit, I took notice of what he was wearing and how he looked wearing it this morning when he walked into first period. At first I thought he was just there to let Mrs. Stiles know he would be leaving with the other football players. But instead he made his way to his seat, where I might have looked more than once at him.

“Are you sure you know how to play?” I ask, while reminding myself to focus on what he said instead of how he looks.

“Yeah Bree, I know how to play.” Chase says, with his lips forming into a smile.

“Okay, we’ll play to five, that should give us enough time before the ceremony.”

“Ok” is all he says, and starts to remove the garter from his left arm and throws it down to the floor. I guess I didn’t see he was wearing the garter or just didn’t care to notice it before, until now. Megan, his ex-girlfriend, on-again girlfriend or whatever you want to call her, had it made for him to wear today. I know this because the excessively enthusiastic cheerleader came running and screaming the great news to her friends last week in fifth period on how Chase had asked her to pin him for homecoming.

“You ready?” Chase’s question bringing me back to the present.

“Yep” I reply back with a short response and with a check to Chase. I focus on the game in front of me instead of who he chose to pin him.

I don’t know how long we’ve been playing but I feel like he’s not really trying. I’ve stolen the ball like it was nothing twice and now I’m up by two with the score three to one. And at this point I’m mad that he doesn’t think I have a chance to beat him on my own.

“Listen, you said you knew how to play, so start playing like it. I’m not one of those girls who’s going to start crying if I lose, I don’t need you to be a gentleman and think of my feelings. Start playing like you want to win the damn game.” I tell him, frustrated because my little brother challenges me more than this when I play with him.

“Fine, check the damn ball Bree, and lets play.” And that’s what we do, both of us fighting to win the game. Chase is able to steal the ball and adds three more points and takes the lead. But when he goes to take the winning shot I block it and add a point for myself tying the game four to four my ball.

I start back at the top of the key and throw him the ball to check which he throws back to me. I go left going in for the shot but he’s move and is right there with his left hand going to my hip. A shock to my body surprises me, but I recover quick and maneuver to the right. But he’s quick and he there again placing another hand to body sending another current through me. After trying two more attempts to get pass him it seemed the more I moved the closer he came and my body has reacted every time to his touch. With his chest and hands all over me blocking all my twist and turns, I realize I’m trap, my body is on fire and whatever is happening I’m unfamiliar with this. I don’t know how to react, I don’t how to get away from him, it’s becoming to much and now he’s moving closer. I can’t take it anymore, I don’t know what’s happening to me.

“STOP” I yell, as I push him away from me. I’m not sure if I’m yelling for him to stop or for my body reacting to him to stop.

We stand there facing each other, my push barely moving him, our breaths rapidly going in and out. Before I can react to move further away Chase makes a grab for me, with one hand on my hip and the other snaking around my neck, he crashes his lips onto mine. With little force his tongue pries my mouth open and invades my mouth to meet my inexperience tongue. The kiss is more powerful than his touches, the urge to fight it is lost and when he kisses me deeper, I’m lost.

Even after we break away to catch our breaths. I’m not able to focus on the now of what just happen or what it means.

A deep sigh comes from within Chase as he rest his forehead against mine. Within this moment, the fog starts lifting and after I take a deep breath I risk a look into his eyes and start the questioning.

“Why did you do that?”

He shrugs, “I needed to” he says, to answer my question.

“What is that suppose to mean Chase? You needed to, what? Is this a joke, a bet, what is “I needed” to mean?”

Chase releases me and takes a step back keeping his head down in the process, running a hand through his hair like he is in deep thought of how he should respond to me. When it looks like he has come up with his answers he lifts his head and looks me in the face.

“I needed to know Bree, I’m not sure how to explain. I needed to know...” before he can finish his sentence a voice, who I’m starting to think enjoys interrupting conversations starts to shout.

“Times up Carter, we gotta go Mrs. Stiles is looking for us, we need to go now!” The way Carter said the first part of his rant, was like he was keeping watch for Chase.

“You better go, don’t want get in trouble or upset Megan at getting her chance of pinning you.” At this point I need him to leave, I don’t know if I can or truly ready to handle for him to tell me what he needed when he kissed me.

“Please, just go.” I whisper to Chase.

“Bree, don’t…” Chase starts to say,

“Come on Chase, stop playing around.” Carter yells out again, which is helpful to me. As Chase turns towards the door, grabbing the garter from the floor as he goes. He pauses with one last look towards me before continuing towards Carter.

It’s here I take the first chance to bring my fingers up to trace my swollen lips. My first kiss, a kiss I was unprepared for, a kiss that came with an unfamiliar feeling. I wish I could run to Julia and ask her if it is normal for my lips to being tingling like this still. But I unable to go to her, I don’t have anyone to ask, and I have never wonder into this kind of territory before.

As I stand there in the empty gym, an announcement for the students to make their way to the auditorium plays over the intercom. I gather my things and make my way back to the school towards the auditorium for the ceremony. Along

replaying the kiss between Chase and myself. When I reach the doors to auditorium

I take a moment to make sure I’m calm and no one can notice what I allowed to happen.

“Forget, I have to forget, nothing good can come from that kiss, it will take me away from where my mind set needs to be, and right now I need to focus on the upcoming basketball season.” I tell myself, while entering into the over crowded room. Our principal Mr. Ferrall has already begun his welcomes and thank yous for attending today’s homecoming pinning ceremony, I notice an open seat to my left and place myself there as they dim the lights to begin.

The ceremony passes in a blur, I only take notice when my hope she’s still my best friend Julia’s name is called.

With the ceremony coming to an end, the names of the Homecoming court are announced along with their escorts for tonight presentation of the crowning. Each girl is allowed to pick two players from the team, with one they have personally chosen to share a kiss with if name homecoming queen.

As the four nominee girls stand, all seniors and all popular in their own right in our school. One by one they announce their chosen escorts, when it comes to Megan’s turn there no surprise in her choices. Both Anderson twins are called upon by her and stand in their proper spot. Carter to her right and Chase to her left, which indicates that Chase will be providing the kiss if she wins the bid for queen.

My stomach drops has I watch Chase take his place by Megan. I watch has she smiles and looks up at Chase, but surprise he doesn’t return one back to her. Instead, Chase as a scowl in place looking around the room, it’s almost like he searching for someone but can’t find who he is looking for.

When Mr. Ferrall steps up to the podium to give his closing statement, I take the chance to sneak out of the auditorium.

I make way to where the bus is parked, figuring Julia is staying close by for tonight events I by pass her truck, plus I need to come up with good apology before facing her again. I take a seat towards the back of the bus waiting for departure, from here I watch as my fellow students pile out of the school. They all seemed excited, no worries of what lies head for their future, no distractions towards their destinations. Just excited for the upcoming weekend, something I’m scared to allow for myself.