Emma's POV Chase grabbed me. I was amazed at the amount of strength he had. I knew he frequented the most fancy gyms in the city, and the home gym of late. “So all that late night workout finally paid off, huh?” I asked, tickling him while he carried me like a little girl up the stairs. “You think I train ninety minutes everyday to catch a falling stranger?” He shot back at me. “Oh, so now I'm a stranger?” I asked, with exaggerated hurt. “You can undo that.” He said, winking at me. “Is that not how you kinda see everyone?” We walked past my room and his, and I had begun to wonder where the hell he was taking me. “What does that even mean?” He asked. “You kinda treat people with a long spoon, close enough, but not too close.” I said. He didn't seem too eager to answer that. “Any reasons for that?” I asked him. He threw me over his shoulder to fetch something from his pocket. I looked at what room we'd stopped at, it was Mark's. I didn't have a problem with Chas
Emma's POV “You sound like there's a lot there.” I said, pointing to his heart. “Wanna let it out?” I asked. “Let's see how far this booze talks.” He replied to me. “I don't want the booze.” I said, looking him in the eye. “I want you. I want you to talk to me, Chase.” “He's not who you think he is.” Chase said. “You're not one to tell me that.” I replied to him. “Well, true.” He poured another cup and continued. “How much do you want to know?” He asked. His pupils were already lazy, and he could barely look straight. “Everything.”I replied, walking towards him. I sat on the bar table in Mark's room, and looked straight into Chase's eye. “Do you think I'm innocent?” He asked, with a surprisingly straight face. “No.” I replied, laughing, “you most definitely are not.” “That's a good start.” He said, right before pouring another cup. I snatched the bottle off the table and tucked it behind me. “There's more.” He said, looking at me and laughed. “I
Emma’s POV “Chase, look at me.” He just kept on talking and talking. “Chase. Chase. Chase, look at me, look at me.” I brought his face to mine, but it didn't stop him. “Emma. No. I don't want to have to not do this. I'm tired of keeping quiet, being mature, and having my feelings under check. Emma, I have you here with me, and I still miss you. We could be so much more. Contrary to what you think there really is not much to live for. Emma, please. Give you to me, please. Falling for you, Emma, was like falling for grace.” “I don't want to keep imagining what would be if we gave this a chance, I want to live it. Emma, take me to your heaven.” He was out of breath, and for that, I was grateful. “Say something, please.” He pleaded finally. My eyes were moist, and so was my face. Chase never really came out about all this to me. At that point, I knew everything could not be the same. Our lives had changed. But worse than all, I hated feeling lonely. And even in times I felt
Emma's POV I cried all the way out. I want to believe I even say pity in Patty's eyes for the first in a long time, I had never been this emotionally wrecked, not even back in Starry when the whole school got my pictures. “Why? Why does this have to happen to me?!” I screamed to no one exactly. It felt like my world was caving in and there was nothing I could do about it. The next day came by fast. I didn't know how I got in my bed, cause last I closed my eyes, I was still outside. I woke up around five in the morning, it was still on my mind. I knew Chase was gonna break my heart. I already knew about all that. I was still hurting inside, scared as fuck to fall in love. Worse still with someone who'd leave me shattered. In all honesty, no one I've been with or had a crush on felt like Chase, but I still had to be cautious. I knew I was not the best at choosing others. My past speaks for itself and I didn't want history to repeat itself. I continued rolling from side to s
Lily's POVWhen I saw how Emma looked, I kinda did an itsy bitsy leap of joy in me. She came in a ride I had been on twice. I always loved the car. I loved it better when Chase rode me in it. “Come out.” I shoved her out. Her eyes were red and swollen and I could tell she was seeing in 360 pixels. I rummaged through the car for the rest of her stuff. Chase's signature cologne was all over the car. It was so strong. I smelled it in my sheets weeks after… I had just stumbled on something when Emma dragged me out, running out of the lot like Chase was after her. It was a jewelry box, a female jewelry box. It was so fucking fancy, frosty and shiny. The box had stone cuts that sent light straight into my eye. It was somewhere below the driver seat. I didn't think Enaa saw it yet. I took the box, but Emma chose that exact moment to drag me, so it fell on the floor somewhere. I thought I'd be able to go back to get it, but Emma needed me. “Emma, what's going on?” I had been d
Grayson’s POVJessica and I spent a lot more time together after the ugly incident with Rudd. I told Chase about it, and while he did seem remorseful, he didn't look surprised. “You don't look surprised.” I observed. “Are you?”He retorted. “Come on man. This is our friend here.” I said, hitting him on the chest. “Whatever.” He said, looking away. “We all knew she's had this sort of thing coming. I mean, she's been sleeping with him since forever. The school trip was their honeymoon. They've been in all sorts of clubs and hotels since then. It's on school property and so it becomes rape?” He asked. “No man.” I said, annoyed that he was thinking that way. “She was drugged.” Chase turned to me, alarmed, and then tried to mask it. “You see what I'm talking about?” I asked him, pressing the severity of it in. “And then he goes ahead to leave the school.” “I did that.” Chase said. “You drugged Jessi…?” I asked. “No, fool.” He said, slapping me playfully on the ba
Emma's POV Lily came back to sit with me, but it was too late. I watched Chase scream at everyone in his way as he approached. I was prepared to get away, but he told the girls in my way to stop me. “Please, please Emma.” We were making a show the crowd was only dying to see. I didn't like it. Chase was embarrassing me, us. “Chase, please.” I had just a little break from crying, and that was the classes. I cried through the night, I cried myself to sleep, same thing when I was preparing for school. “Emma, no. Please. Don't do this to us.” The crowd was ‘oohing’ and “awing”, I had never been in the public eye so much. It looked so similar to the Kevin issue, just that I couldn't run. “We can do this somewhere else.” I said, shaking my head. “No, Emma.” Chase replied. He was already holding my hand in his. I didn't want to embarrass him. What I didn't understand is why he was still doing this after last night. I thought running to me at the car park in the mornin
Emma's POVI heard his keys jingle, I also took it as a pause sign. We were definitely doing too much on school property. “That's too many keys.” I said, smiling. “It’s a crying shame it doesn't have the one to your heart in it.” Chase said, smiling. I laughed, Chase could be amusing when he wanted to. “We really should get back.” I suggested. Chase was hysterical, and so was I. “I can't wait to get home.” I said, shyly. and I really couldn't. I remembered the statement, ‘there's light at the end of the tunnel', maybe Chase's proposal was the end of my tunnel. “I'll see you later.” I was so excited and it was getting increasingly harder to tear myself off him. He gave me one last peck on the cheek and I sauntered back into the dining room, with my ring and necklace still on. I was hoping to see Lily, but I could not. Lunch break was almost done, so I just went back to class, where she was sitting. Lily and Jessica were alone in the hall, and I found that kinda
Chase's POV “You say this is a smart thing to do?” I asked Kayla. “What do you think?” The poor girl was probably too tired of being in my drama. “Never mind.” I said. “I'll just do it later, I don't want the pressure.” “That means me.” She put a hand on her chest and nodded in understanding. “I get it.” “Don't take it that way.” I said, holding her close, “It'd just be too much for you, and I don't want that.” I said. “I get it.” She said, “I'll see you later then.” Kayla stayed in the dorms, so she wasn't gonna be going out with me. We've kinda restricted ourselves to just school, and sometime, I visited her dorm. She never came to my apartment. Said it was still too raw on her. “Take care.” I said, and let her go. We were done for the day, and it was already almost evening. I decided to stroll back to my place, since there was nothing to rush home to. “What's up?” A bold girl said, looking at me and batting her eyelashes. That was literally the last atten
Kevin’s POV “Hey.” I said as I let Emma in. “I wasn't expecting you here.” “I could go if it's not convenient for you.” She stuttered, buckling under the pressure of my piercing, unfriendly green eyes. I left Emma's the night before, feeling really shittyFor over a month, I'd been trying to make her see reasons to let go of the animal she once called her man.Emma was clearly still with him, in her head at least, all the jokes I made, all the stories I told, all the giggles weren't in the least entertaining to her. She took a break to even call her mom, and still didn't come back feeling any better. I gathered what was left of my dignity, pressed a kiss to her forehead and let myself out. I thought I had made a stupid decision till I saw her at my door. But I wasn't gonna be cowered easily either. She'd treated me unfriendly too, and I wanted to let her know. “I work round the clock, nothing is ever really convenient, I just make time for stuff.” I replied to her. I saw
Emma's POV “I thought Kevin said he was gonna be staying over at yours last night?” Casey asked as we made our way through the teeming crowd of students. Everyone was hurrying off to class, but Casey and I were yet to catch the buzz and rush, and we might never, cause I never saw Casey follow the crowd. She stood out, and did it quite well. “Plans change, don't they?” I smiled, trying to evade the conversation. “Emma, you know you do not have to wear that mask with me. It's old and rumpled and I can really already see through it.” Casey said, and stopped walking. “We're gonna be late!” I screamed at her as she paused in her tracks. A guy on skateboard hit her, and she quickly flung curse words at him. “Em, you look miserable.” She said, “What went wrong, really?” “Why do you care so much?” I snapped at her. “Matter of fact, I think that's the wrong question. “Who do you care about, really? Kevin or I?” I asked, looking straight in her eyes. Casey was rough on the e
Chase's POV “How are you now?” I called Kayla later at night. It'd been three weeks since I stepped into the Harvard campus, and not one day in those weeks passed, without being a reminder of how miserable I was. I didn't want to keep a stack of enemies, girls who'd resent me for life, so I had to make sure I ironed shit with her out. “Do you really care, or is this some courtesy call?” Kayla's voice danced somewhere in between icy and sexy. It wasn't all daggers and spears, but she wasn't candy and sweets either. At least she wasn't so mad anymore. “I'm sorry, I should've known better. Should've treated you better.” I said. “Do you mean to say these words to me, or you're just projecting?” I asked. “I do, Kayla. I know you deserve honesty, and that's all I've been trying to be with you. You of all people should know it hurts.” “I can try.” She murmured, I like the fact that I was breaking her ice. “Thank you.” I said, taking a deep breath. “Is that all?” Sh
Emma’s POV “Why were you so lost?” Kevin asked after drinking the water handed to him. “Is something bothering you?” He asked. “It was just me in my head.” I deflected, brushing past his naked torso to get out of my little kitchen. “I saw that.” He smiled, “I'm just saying I want to be let in.” He added. “You're tired, Kev. You should get some rest.” I fell into my favorite chair. “Not too tired for you, Em, obviously. Let me in.” He said. Kevin looked so tempting, so sweet, and he was nice to top it off. “I'm just confused, Kev.” I confessed. “Although I really do not know if this is what you're supposed to be doing, you ought to be resting.” “Emma there's nothing like supposing when you're right here. I'm here, you're here, you're bothered, Em, I'm automatically all ears. Don't spare me and don't spare yourself.” “You're too nice for your own good.” I said, smiling sadly. “I don't think that's true.” He replied to me. I was only too grateful that he coul
Chase's POV “I deserve whatever tone, really.” I replied to Kayla. She'd been avoiding me so purposefully since that morning. At first, I was cool with it and deemed it as necessary, but then, it became too glaring too obvious. “I don't think you want to be seen talking to me.” it's the last thing she said before looking back at the professor who was scribbling some jargon. I decided to wait the class out. If I wanted to break the ice, I'd have to do it properly. Kayla and I took all our classes together, how I ended things might not have been the appropriate way. “Thanks man.” I said to a guy who made way for me as I squeezed through to get Kayla. “I used to run back in middle school.” I said as I caught up with her “What has that got to do with me?” She asked in a really icy tone “I'm just saying you can't outrun me, even if you wanted to.” I said, smiling. “Point taken.” She said, and branched off abruptly, and I immediately caught up with her “Kayla, ple
Emma's POV “Last I heard, he said he was gonna be back today.” Casey offered unasked as I stared at a couple making out in the hallway.. “Jeez, Casey.” I exclaimed. “Take it easy on me.” “Don't act like you don't miss him.” She laughed. “Do I need to affirm it every two seconds?” I asked, sarcastically. “No. I was just giving an honest reminder.” She said, “Well, it was unsolicited.” I shot back at her. “I guess I'm just gonna be excited on your behalf.” She said,, stubbornly. “Why do you want me for him so bad?” I asked her. We were on our way home, and so I felt if I could hold her up till I got to my apartment, I wouldn't need to admit to how I'd been counting down the minutes till Kevin's plane landed in Massachusetts. It's why I hated being close to anyone. I get too attached, for my own good. As expected, I held on long enough till we got to my apartment, so I didn't have to admit anything to her. “I'll talk to you later, red head.” I took a handful
Chase's POV “How was your night?” I asked Kayla as she emerged from my room. I forgot to offer her some change of clothes, for which I felt bad. “Not bad.” She smiled. Kayla looked as pretty, both in bed and out of bed. She didn't have the ugly morning face I'd seen on so many other girls. “How do you feel now?” I asked. “Better.” she beamed, “Thank you for having me over.” “That's alright.” I said. “I made coffee.” “Oh, I used to drink that.” She sank into the char next to mine. “You didn't look like you caught much sleep yourself.” She said, pointing to my droopy, but sharp eyes. “I tried.” I admitted. “What's up?” She asked, looking concerned. “You might wanna grab your coffee.” I deflected. “I'll get it for you.” I said instead.. She sat still, and I took it out of the coffee maker, and poured it into some tea cups. “This looks strong.” She said, taking a generous sniff of it. “And smells strong too.” “Is it too much?” I asked. “It's just h
Emma's POV “Are you trying to say I can't have both you and Kev at the same time?” I asked Casey as she showed up to my apartment the morning after Kev left. “Hi baby.” She smiled widely, exposing her pretty set of teeth and additional piercings she'd gotten. “How was Chicago?” I asked her, slapping her across the butt playfully. “It was great.” She looked like she was half drunk, cause she was smiling way too much. “You look like it.”I replied. Casey headed straight for my bed and bounced on it. “That took all morning.” I said sadly. “Well, there's another morning in about twenty four hours.” She laughed. “There are at least eight more piercings I see in there.” I joked at her smile. “It's just two.” She laughed. “Eight is the number of guys I fucked there. What have you been up to?” “I don't know, really.” I replied to her. “It's been here and there.” “Tell me about Chase.” She bolted up, smiling. “Wait, is that his name?” She asked. “Yeah, Chasi