Jessica's POV “You're such a bitch!” Lily screamed from her car. I laughed, seeing the effect I had on her. “Only two things can help you now.” I said, grinning from ear to ear. “It's either you tell me why you have Chase wiring a grand to you, or confirm my request.” I said, winking. “You seriously cannot be saying this.” Lily sighed. I enjoyed being in control, making her weak. It made me all shades of happy. “You know what's funny?” Lily asked, with a sad smile. “The fact that you always hated me for the longest time, because Chase liked me. And now that it's Emma's turn, you want me to be on your side. Emma's my friend.” She didn't even sound convinced herself. I laughed very deeply and sped off again. She caught up with me, again. “Hand over my phone and tell me what you want.” Lily conceded. I knew she wasn't gonna play any funny games, so I gave her back. “I'll call you.” I said, sealing our deal before speeding off. Mission accomplished. I raced back home f
Jessica's POVChase's limp made him look slightly more attractive. He had a light limp, but he did it with so much swagger. It wasn't until the next day at school that I found out he was the one who made Rudd reverse Emma's bad grade. I wanted, badly, to ask Rudd what the fuck was wrong with him, but I still didn't have the guts enough to do so.I didn't see him as my teacher anymore. He was a predator, but I couldn't talk cause there was so much shit in our relationship. We did drugs together, had drunk sex, did a lot of drunk driving, broke multiple school rules, and even more rules beyond school. “Heyyy.” I greeted Chase, flirtatiously. “What the fuck is it this time?” he asked, pissed. “Don't be like that!” I chided. “You don't get to go after her, begging her in the toilets she spends more time in than classes, and then scream at me. Chase, we've come too far for this.” I looked down, putting my hands at my back in submission. Normally, that was the point where Chase
Chase's POV I wasn't expecting Emma to react so low when I showed up to her room that morning. It's the first time I had been able to get out of bed on my own in over three weeks. She had been my primary caregiver, something I'm still yet to thank her fully for. She and Gray were definitely not on the best of terms, but even he acknowledged how hard she worked for me. I was expecting to see the light in her eyes, like I saw when I first opened my eyes a few days after the crash. Broken and hurt, I went to Rudd. As worthless as he was, I knew he still held the power to Emma making it into a good college, so I swallowed my anger, annoyance, and a little bit of my pride and entered his office without knocking. “Glad to see you made it, Mr Chase.” He said with no humor on his face, I was too smart to buy his bullshit, so I went straight to the point.. “How much did she pay you to do that to an innocent girl?” I asked him. I was struggling to keep my emotions under control.
Grayson’s POV My relationship with Chase, I didn't really understand. But I understood it with Jessica. When Chase called me angrily to vent about shit Jessica did, I couldn't even speak freely cause I was with her. “What the fuck man?!” He screamed at me. “Calm the fuck down bruh!” I yelled back at him. “You don't tell me what to do when we have that bitch with loose lips and loose legs roaming?” He screamed. “Who's ‘we’?” I asked him. I had no issues with Jessica, none at all. I wouldn't have had any with him if he wasn't so headstrong on being with his stepsister. The line went flat. We both knew there was so much to say, but no batteries to say it. A lot was wrong, far beyond Jessica running her mouth, matter of fact, Jessica was getting her on hell on earth. Chase cut the call on me and I got back to what I was doing. “What made you sleep so deep though?” I asked. “I don't know. I've been sleeping well, I mean I had a shoot yesterday and I couldn't ha
Chase's POV It's been barely a week since I started to get out of the house. In that space, I've seen and done things I never thought I'd do. From using my dad as influence to transfer Rudd, even after I knew that he was having an affair with Jessica and should be punished instead, to seeing Lily trip off the cameras in the security room for some reason. She wasn't really the girl I used to know. So I didn't think it was a smart idea to challenge her. Besides, she hated me badly. And I didn't exactly feel her either. She'd extorted me of two grand in the space of two months. Remembering that made me feel shut, when just a night ago, I had promised Emma that I wasn't gonna be keeping stuff from her, It always unnerved me to see Emma and Lily together. Lily had even begun to sleep over again. Emma's mom and my dad were still not back, I hope Mrs Linda was alright. “What the hell is she doing here?” I dragged Emma behind one of the heavy curtains and asked. Lily had gone up
Emma's POV I started having Lily over soon after the whole drama blew past. I didn't know, and frankly didn't care where she stood Gray. We were having the time of our lives together and that was seriously all that mattered to me. Life was beautiful. I had everybody I wanted in my corner. I was still confused about Chase, and it kinda made me miss my mom. Not like I'd have been able to talk to her about it, but it sure would've helped to have her around. “What are you doing here?” I asked Chase. I had, unsuccessfully, tried to hide my body from him. “Lily and I were just trying out waist chains for the prom.”I explained, turning red already. Chase was shamelessly looking at my vagina. I wanted to cover it so bad, but some invisible force held me back. I won't ever be able to explain it. “That explains a shaved pussy?” He asked. He had already grabbed all the stuff in my hands, so I had nothing to fling at him. Lately, he's been getting on my nerves, jokingly or intenti
Emma's POV I thought it weird that he'd asked such a question. When did Chase start to give a fuck or two about how I felt or perceived him? “I find it weird that you ask me that.” I replied to him. “Why?” He asked me. “Well cause, for one, I don't think you really give a fuck about it.” I replied. “This could be one of those your….how do I put it?” I had a lot to say, but my vocabulary was failing me. “I feel like the issue is, you're prejudiced against me.” He said. I looked at him in awe. I did not see that coming. “What the hell is that even supposed to mean?” I asked Chase. “Emma, I'm not a fool.” He said, smiling sadly. “No good girl wants to be with a stuck up, bad boy, with bad friends.” Chase grinned, and it scared me all the more. “No!” I shouted, he was getting in my head and confusing my thoughts with all the psychological shit he was doing. “No. That's not it. It's not even close to it Chase, I gave you a chance, at least I think I did.” I said, setti
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 “We are both hurt. I think it's better we realize that and stop shaming the other person. Emma, you're just as damaged as I am.” Chase said. “That's not rocket science, Chase. Isn't this how you leave everyone you've been with?” I asked, “Broken and damaged?” “That's unfair, Em. You keep skipping the fact that there are always two sides to anything.” He replied to me. “You think I did, Chase?” I looked at him in his sinfully sexy blue eyes I still hadn't gotten an antidote to, not even the anger I felt, “All I did was allow you. I made you do all you did to me. In a way, I even enabled you.” “That's untrue, and you know it.” He replied to me. “I've talked about this, over and over. In my head and out of it, and it's still the same conclusion I reach.” I responded to him. “If ‘out of your head’ in any way refers to the bastard up there, I don't think I want to hear it.” I replied to her. “You've gotta get over yourself, Chase.” I said. “There's life
Chase's POV “You're still here, Em. It means you're interested.” I said. “I'm not comfortable here.” She said in a low voice. “I'd be in the garage, meet me there.” I said. “Maybe this is your time to show how low you regard me.” I let go of her hand which I had in mine, doing it both lightly and seductively. I knew I walked with such swagger, such essence that couldn't betray how scared I felt deep inside. Maybe she'd realize that I wasn't worth shit, and just go upstairs to meet her little boyfriend. I sat in my favorite of my dad's lot, the black mustang I saved Emma's ring in. That particular car had so many memories. I wanted to be in. I checked the time on my Patek, it was a few minutes to midnight. The estate gate was gonna be locked by 00:00, and if I couldn't make it out by then, I'd be stuck with Em and that bastard. 23:53, I had begun to get antsy. It'd be really unfortunate if I left, and Em eventually came down. I kept telling myself to calm down and b
Emma's POV “Can I trust you?” I asked Chase. I was mentally drained. Having played the good daughter throughout the anniversary, I wanted to catch my breath. Little did I know I had just been walking straight into Chase’s arms. “You know you can, Em.” He said, enthusiastically. “I'd hold your secret against me, Em. I wouldn't even tell myself.” His eyes mirrored mine, tired, hunger of the soul, and exhaustion. I couldn't believe that it was the same person who acted like I didn't exist last night. “I don't know where I stand with Kevin, really.” I said what I'd forbidden myself to. I made a deal with my mind to never say it. Just so I didn't believe it. The more I said something, the more I was forced to believe. “Start from the point where you left me, Em. I want to know it all.” He said, looking downI hated when Chase had that pensive look on his face. It felt like he was just a slight provocation away from murder. “After us,” I started, my mind was a bit foggy
Chase's POV “What did you do that for?!” Emma yelled after landing me a slap to the cheek. “I already said I wasn't gonna let you go.” I replied stubbornly. “Chase, my arm is hurting.” She cried, referring to the arm I'd been holding. I felt like a nasty person. Maybe it was the universe providing answers to the question I'd asked so many times, “Am I not good enough for her?” Well, I now knew I was too violent, too relentless, too impulsive, I rarely rethought my decisions, I bent everything to my will, things had to suit me, always. And those were all the things Emma stood against. “Emma, I'm a damaged guy, and I know it's really not your job to fix me. I'm a sorry project who should've belonged to my late mom and my dad who's now a happily remarried man. I get it. No one wants a project. But this is me swearing that I'd never hurt you, Em. I've learned. I do better for myself these days.” I said, frantically. Emma was rubbing her arm where I grabbed her, a sorry rem
Chase's POV. “It's not good that I'm too close to you, Chase.” Emma cried. Her eyes were already tearing up, and her face wet. Her rosy cheeks were beginning to peek from beneath the light make-up. “Why, Emma?” I asked her, letting my mouth say all the things my heart felt. “Am I so bad?” I asked. “I never said anything like that.” She answered. “So what is it?” I asked, exhausted. “Why do you want to be away from me so bad? Why do you treat me with such a long spoon? You can't deny missing me, Em. I see it in your eyes. What is holding you back?” I dared reach for her trembling hands, and she didn't pull away. It was a good thing. “Chase, I just still find it so hard to process. I'd rather think about things that hurt me, than process the whole thing. The past year has been the most tumultuous part of my life yet. I'm so fucking drained, I just need peace.” She said, “And you think that description doesn't fit me.”I asked, against my better reasoning. I then remi
Chase’s POV“I didn't think you'd be here.” She said,“I could say the same.” I replied to her Emma was the last person I thought who'd want to catch a break from the ceremony.She was at the center of it all, and really did well at her job of role playing a perfect daughter.“It's too much.” She replied with a low voice.“What is?” I asked, clearing my throat. “The atmosphere.” She explained, kicking the grass in her stilettos. Her legs looked like they must've been hurting. “Here.”I gave way for her to sit on her favorite swing. I could never take that away from her. “Thank you.” Emma was being her generic self, the side that she showed everyone else. Shy and contained. But I didn't like that. I liked that Emma I fell for, headlong. “It's nothing to Chase’s POV “I didn't think you'd be here.” She said, “I could say the same.” I replied to her Emma was the last person I thought who'd want to catch a break from the ceremony. She was at the center of it all, and really
Chase's POV I wished I could remain busy throughout the day. A time to rest meant a time to think. I was under the same roof as Emma, like I'd been wanting, but we were yet so far apart. The flowers were an ill thought decision, but I had to do something. Being in the same house with Emma for over three days was beginning to mess with my mental health. “You shouldn't have done that.” I said to myself. If only Emma had kept it a family thing and didn't have that one over, things would have been a lot easier. I intentionally left a note out of the flower delivery, but I knew she recognised the sender, irregardless. Before I knew it,my 5:30 alarm went off, and I had to throw on my tux as fast as I could. It'd be great if my dad and Linda got down to a full audience waiting for them. It was a really big deal for my dad, so big he had made arrangements for his helicopter to pick them both at ten o'clock. Linda was wearing a slick floor length satin dress in emerald green, paired
Emma's POVI decided to see my mom before the dinner. I didn't care if it was right or wrong, but I'd barely seen her all through the day and I was dying to know how she was holding up. Maybe an escape for myself was the other motive, but primarily, I wanted to know how she was doing. “Hey mom.” I said, pushing her door open. It almost felt like it was her wedding all over again. Mark was going all out. And I didn't know why it had to be that big for a guest list of just sixteen people. “This is a lot.” I smiled. “It is.” I saw the woman beneath all the makeup, hair glam, and accessories. She was still just my mom. “Can I have a moment with my daughter please?” She referred to everyone else in the room who wasn't me, and they, by my rough headcount, were about eight. “We can spare only about half an hour.” A kind lady who looked like she was in her thirties said, She had an outrageous makeup done. While it looked good, edgy, classy on her, I hope that wasn't gonna be my
Emma's POV. “You were gonna go in.” He said, looking away. “I was.” I replied, unshifting. He no longer had the courage to stare me down, and I no longer had the will to leave, “MIT looks good on you.” He said. “Thank you.” I smiled, “I could say the same for you.” “I see you've made new friends, well old ones,but you know…” He said. I chuckled within myself. Who'd have known that I could make the bad boy Chase unsure about me? “Yeah, I had no choice.” I murmured. “Uhm, how are you?” I asked, just out of courtesy, I told myself. I thought being brave and bold was gonna make me indestructible by him, but I was beginning to come off as antagonistic, and I didn't like it. Deep down, in the corners of my heart I hoped Kevin would never see, Chase occupied it. I wanted for him to close the distance between us like he'd once done. To treat me like his own. I was getting a little teary, so I dug my freshly manicured nail into my palm, I wasn't gonna cry, I could not.