by W.J. Smith
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Chase's Games
There was rarely a dull moment in the apartment as Madison's stay stretched on. Skyler's schedule had no rhyme or reason to it, and his hours changed randomly each day and night. Chase was an active fellow with an equally unguided routine. For a person without a job, he was seldom idle for any amount of time. The two kept her on her toes.
There were occasions, though, when they were all three able to sit down and actually visit. Chase was always up to entertaining with a story or experience of his which would undoubtedly lead right into another. Skyler would egg him on, the look on his face told that he had heard certain stories before, and he was encouraging them for Madison's sake. All in all, she never knew what to expect from either of them especially when they worked off one another.
She and Skyler took advantage of the quieter times to catch up on each other's lives since their parting. Madison related mostly of her making a home in Chicago while she worked days in convenience stores and diners to get through night school. She told him of the people in her neighborhood that warmed up to her as soon as she met them and of coworkers that shared their own families with her.
Skyler's recounted history wasn't as encouraging. He told of the few times he tried to get out on his own only to change the subject when he got to the part of what happened when he was discovered each time. He mentioned the few cities he was able to visit during different jobs. It sounded as if he was rather fond of New York City and New Orleans. There was also Boston and Dallas among others. He had become quite the traveler.
What she savored the most was when they reminisced about old times; such as when she and Skyler would sneak into movies, or hang out all day on the beach, or drive around in the city. She liked to revisit the times when it was just the two of them back before the world went mad.
Those quiet times to chat were few and far between. With Skyler constantly getting called in and Chase hammering away at his project, Madison was often on her own when it came to passing the time.
But she always found something to do. The laundry was unceasing. There was generally limitless possibilities in the kitchen. And when she wanted to be still, a well-stocked bookshelf in Skyler's room afforded plenty of options. She had forgotten how much she loved to read. A whole day could tick by when she would lose herself in a distant world or mysterious land. That was why she aimed to tackle any chores at the start of the day. They didn't take long, but she knew she would accomplish more that way.
On one certain morning, she got a later start than usual. It took her on into the afternoon to find a stopping point. She was planning on starting a new book, and the only thing that was keeping her from it was one basket of laundry to be put away.
Madison straightened the last of the shirts she had hung in Chase's closet. "And there you are, good sir," she smiled and snatched up the empty basket. "My work here is done."
"Huh?" He slowly looked away from his computer screen and the consuming project. Chase had acknowledged her when she first walked into his room but said nothing since. He was completely unaware of her presence.
She shook her head and fought back a chuckle. "Don't mind me," she said as she moved for the door. "Your closet is restocked, and I have a book waiting to be read. I'll be in the other room. If you need anything, just yell."
There wasn't an answer from him as he swiveled back to his work station. She peeked over his shoulder and scanned the screen. He was tidying up a full page sketch and sampling shading effects. His project was coming together nicely.
She returned the basket to the closet which hid the stacked washer and dryer, then went to Skyler's room. The book was easily plucked from the shelf just inside the door. She sat at his desk and pulled her feet into the chair to cozy up with the hardback novel.
The story effortlessly claimed her attention and ran with her imagination within the first few pages. She paid little attention to Chase's phone ringing in the front room as she immersed herself in the book. She could almost see the golden fields and hear the rumble of the horses' hooves as their riders spurred them onward after the fleeing band of cattle thieves.
The sound of hurried steps coming towards her stole Madison's attention away from her reading. Chase came charging into the room with a terrified look on his face.
"I need your help! You've got to help me! I don't know what to do ..."
"Whoa! Chase, slow down," she broke in as he drew another breath. "What's wrong?"
He gasped and wrung his hands, "It's Tabatha! She's here! She's on her way up! She said she was just dropping by, but she dumped me awhile back and I haven't heard from her since. Why would she just drop by?"
"Maybe she decided she made a mistake by breaking up with you and she wants to get back together."
"No. Not likely. She's probably already with some rich dude by now. That's what she was after." Chase shook his head and calmed just a fraction. Instead of appearing as panicked, he was now scheming. "She wants me to beg her to take me back! She thinks I'm a loser, and I can't live without her. That's why she left me in the first place. She said I needed to get a life."
Madison swallowed a chuckle. He was being ridiculous. She wondered if anyone actually acted this way, like feuding couples in the movies or on TV shows. He had to have been overreacting.
"Pretend you're my girlfriend," he ordered. He was dead serious. When she didn't respond, he waved his arms wildly as if he were trying to fly. "You have to do this! I need you to do this! Just this once. She'll either get super jealous or bored. Both ways, I win!"
"I don't know, Chase. This sounds crazy to me."
"Don't lecture me on crazy, lady. I gave up on trying to figuring your story out long ago!"
That did it. She couldn't keep her amusement contained any longer. She burst out laughing, trying in vain to block it with her hands. "All right, all right," she conceded as she caught her breath. She held to her side for a moment, her laughter stirring the dormant ache within. "I'll do it. Just tell me what I need to do."
He stared at her as if she were the loony one. "What do you mean 'what you need to do'? Act like my girlfriend! Please tell me you know how to do that."
"Hey, I think I would make a nice girlfriend. But this Tabatha doesn't sound so nice. We're from two different categories."
"Then act like a not so nice girl that's my girlfriend!"
She put her hands up in surrender, "Fine, I've got it."
Chase stood there waiting. He looked as if he were expecting something more. "Fine," he concluded. "I appreciate it."
Madison gestured for the door. He didn't follow her meaning. "Could I have a few moments of privacy?"
"What for?"
"So I can dress the part."
He didn't budge. A sly smirk came to his face, "But I'm your boyfriend."
She rose to her feet, and he flinched out of the room. The sound of his chuckling followed him across the front of the apartment. Madison closed the door and took advantage of the privacy to change into what she thought a 'not so nice girlfriend' would wear.
It didn't take long at all. She shed the slacks and sweater and traded them for a t-shirt that just reached her thighs. She tugged at the sleeve so that the wide collaring bared one shoulder. The clips were pulled from her hair letting the curls fall to their full length. She jabbed her fingers into the tangled mass of spirals and messed them up even more. A devious smile came to her lips when she looked in the mirror. She could pull this off, no problem. She could feign licentiousness.
The look on Chase's face was priceless. He was honestly slack jawed when she strode from the bedroom. She struck a pose as she neared him then nearly blushed for feeling so foolish. But Chase did blush. And after several awkward moments of silence, they both laughed.
"So ...," Madison stalled, "what now?"
"Err, um, yeah. I'll answer the door, and you just stay over there somewhere,"
he motioned at the kitchen. "When I give you the signal, do your thing."
She fought back another chuckle, "What thing? Chase, I'm not sure this is going to accomplish anything. Signal?"
"I won't ask her in, so she won't see you over there. When I start playing with the locks like so," he flipped the lock knobs, the clatter sounding out clear, "then you come strut your stuff in her face."
"My stuff," she muttered to herself and sauntered towards the kitchen. She paused halfway and turned to him, finding him checking her out. He blushed again. "Stuff," she posed. Chase nodded, looking away as if something else had caught his interest.
The long awaited knock finally came. Madison held her place in the kitchen and watched the games begin. The undeniably anxious man straightened his hair, adjusted his collar, and checked his breath, then put on a nonchalant grin and eased the door open.
"Well, hi there," he began. Madison shook her head and hoped he could do better than that. "How have you been, Tabatha?"
The voice from the other side of the door was difficult for her to hear from across the apartment. She thought to edge closer but decided to stay put. She would find out soon enough.
"Who, me?" he laughed out, "I've been busy. A little of this, a little of that. You know how it is." His head bobbed as he let the woman in the hall take another turn. He seemed to be calming as the visit went on. He began to appear more natural.
The two chatted for a good while. Chase hadn't given the signal. Madison began to wonder if he had changed his mind. Maybe this Tabatha wasn't as bad as he had made her out to be.
Rattling caught her attention. There was the signal. She stifled a laugh and paced towards the door. Her mind raced. What in the world was she supposed to do? She already regretted agreeing to the ploy, and she was sure she was going to regret even more before it was finished. "Hey, babe," she called out as giddily as she could muster. "What are you doing? What about our game?"
Without looking to the tall, slender blonde in the hall, Madison walked up behind Chase and snaked her arms around his waist. She gave him a playful squeeze and giggled in his ear. "It's your turn. I'm waiting."
"My turn?" he said, his expression both questioning and surprised.
"Silly goose, you've already forgotten your hand? I'm terrible at this strip poker, and I'm beginning to think you made it up."
"Yes," he finally nodded. "Strip poker. You're getting better. A few more hands and you'll have it down. I promise."
She gave him another squeeze and glanced to Tabatha. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are you two busy? Don't mind me." She stepped around Chase and hugged him from the side. "Why don't you invite your friend to play?"
"Oh, no, I'm sure she is much too busy to play. Another time." Chase smiled at Tabatha and gained an uncomfortable smile from her in return.
"It was nice to meet you," she reached for Tabatha's hand. "What was your name?"
"I'm Tabatha," she answered with a forced kindness.
"So you're Strawberry," Madison smiled and leaned her head on Chase's shoulder. "I'm Madi. See you later."
"Sure, later," the blonde returned.
She gave a curtsy while tugging at the t-shirt and spun around to Chase, "I'll be waiting." There wasn't a response from him as she went back to the kitchen.
The two didn't talk much longer after that.
Feeling absolutely ashamed of herself, Madison pulled a yogurt from the fridge and pointlessly stirred it until Chase finished and closed the door. He turned to her with a blank gaze and stood silent for a few breaths. She kept her attention on the waiting yogurt while repeatedly checking the length of her shirt.
"You were brilliant!" he finally crowed.
Madison looked to him with a near scowl. "That was embarrassing."
"You're just being shy."
There was no point in arguing. She figured she would never understand. Taking her treat, she headed for the bedroom to put more clothes on.
"What about the poker game?" he called after her.
"It timed out."
He was at her door and trying to talk to her through it before she finished dressing. "It worked, in case you were wondering."
"How so?"
"She wants to have dinner with me!" There was a pause, he was waiting for her reply. "Did you hear me? She wants to have dinner with me! You were awesome!"
She pulled the door open once she was decent. "That's crazy. I don't get it."
Chase smiled and folded his arms across his chest. "She wants what she can't have, and she thought I was already taken."
"So how does going to dinner with her mean this worked? That means she has you. Won't she do the same thing all over again?"
"Gosh, I hope not." His smile faded. "Do you think she will?"
"Chase, you can do so much better than that. If Tabatha is what you are truly looking for in a girlfriend, then you'll be fine. But I think you can find someone who will treat you with more respect and not force you into these childish games in order to keep her around."
He thought on it for a little while. His smile returned, and it was heartened. "Thank you and not just for posing as my girlfriend. You're handy to have around. You know that?"