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 POVI literally was the happiest man on earth. I had just bagged Emma, and one of the most important things to me. “How do I look?” Emma asked, straightening out invisible creases. “Perfect, my love.” I replied, “Besides, they are family.” I said, laughing. “I know, I know.” She sighed. “But you're nervous?” I asked, looking at her. “Very.” She added. Emma took a deep breath and went to meet her mom. I wasn't so enthusiastic about meeting them. For all I cared, I had a done deal. “Hey mom.” Emma's voice sounded strained. Her mom pulled her in and it seemed like a bear hug. I could understand. They had been gone for two months. Two freaking months that might be the genesis of my emergence. My dad didn't even spare me a second look. I laughed deep within me, knowing that he knew I had become a player in his game. Emma's mom took her left hand and admired the ring, during which Emma turned completely red. I busied myself enjoying the spectacle cause th
Emma's POV I was obviously already being relegated to the benches at the show of my own life. I was the last person who knew Chase was gonna propose. I had a lot to say to my mom and him, but that could wait. Mark got a ton of good stuff from wherever it was they said they visited. “Oh, these are so pretty.” I said, glancing at how much stuff there was and how glittering the whole place looked. He got a big sized teddy, some scarves that looked Hawaiian, anklets, waistbeads. They must've gone somewhere funny to have brought back all that stuff. “You can have this.” I gave Patty some beachwear. I made a mental note to ask Mark how often they got breaks and when they did. Firstly, I must thank him for all that stuff. I saw some other girly things but I could open all those later. I dashed to Mark's room, with one of the scarves in hand. “Thank you so much.” I said, jumping on him. “That's a nice ring you've got there.” Mark said, deflecting. I look back on the ring,
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.