One of the Guys

by Dawn Doyle

  Chase.

  Chase was perfect in every way. Her slender, yet strong arms, evident of years of hard work. The way her waist nipped in, and her tight stomach, showing the tone in her muscles. Her narrow hips and pert ass that screamed out for me to grip them. Her legs…

  “Logan?” Pike said, lightly knocking into my arm to get my attention.

  “Huh, what?” I said, feeling heat creep up into my face.

  “You zoned out for a while there dude. Are you ok?”

  “Yeah. Just thinking.” I said, trying not to give away exactly what I was thinking about. If I stood up, it would be perfectly clear.

  I could hear Sian talking about the cheer squad and other details, but I wasn’t listening. She’d turned her attention away from talking about Chase and me, and I was glad I’d zoned out when I did. I didn’t have to hear the crap that came out of her mouth after what I’d said.

  I thought things were going to quieten down, but then Sian opened her fucking mouth again.

  “So, Logan. Is Chase coming to the movies later?” She asked with a sly smile.

  “Movies?” I hadn’t heard the guys mention that.

  “Yeah. When you had your head in the clouds, we organized a movie night. So, will Chase be joining us?”

  “No.” I said, my voice low.

  “How do you know? You haven’t even asked.” She said, trying to hide a laugh.

  “Just leave it, Sian.” I said between my teeth. I could feel myself reaching the limit on my patience with the girl.

  I didn’t care that she was Lex’s girlfriend. He wasn’t even that into her.

  “What’s the matter? Lover’s tiff?” She asked, then burst out laughing.

  “Sian!” Lex said with a scowl.

  “You better shut up, Sian.”

  “Or what?” She asked, her red curls bouncing about as she flipped her hair back over her shoulder.

  I leaned in and spoke low, so only she could hear.

  “Or I’ll let Lex know about your extra activities without him.”

  Her face paled, and I smiled, sitting back in my seat.

  Yeah, that’s what I knew about Sian. She wasn’t the girl that everybody thought she was. I’d seen her getting up to no good, when she thought nobody was around, and it wasn’t with another guy. Oh no, not at all.

  I’d been driving back from Chase’s house, after we’d visited Bren, and I’d taken a detour because of some road works. Passing the road where Sian lived, I noticed the red hair before I noticed the person trying to stay in the shadows.

  Sian.

  If it weren't for her bright red hair, I wouldn’t have seen anything, but what I had seen had taken me by surprise. Sian was kissing a girl. Not just a kiss; they were making out.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She hissed, when Lex got up to go to the bathroom. Leaving a big enough gap for her to talk to me without Stu and Pike overhearing. They were talking about what movie releases were out this week and weren’t paying us any attention.

  “Oh, yes you do, Sian. I saw you and your friend hanging out by your house. You didn’t do a very good job of staying hidden. A word of advice… ditch the red hair. It’s too conspicuous.”

  The look on her face spoke a thousand words. Nobody knew she was into girls. Well, except for the girl she was swapping saliva with. I wondered if Lex had any idea that his girlfriend had a girlfriend.

  “Don’t you say anything!” She whispered, frantically.

  “Don’t talk about Chase.” I countered.

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  “What’s going on?” Lex asked when he sat back down.

  “Nothing. Just discussing the movie choices.” Sian said, plastering a huge smile on her face.

  “So, what are we watching?” He asked.

  “Seven shades of black.” Pike answered.

  “Yeah, it’s supposed to be really scary.” Stu said, wiggling his fingers in front of him.

  Chase would’ve loved that movie. She’d wanted to go see it and, judging by the reviews, she would’ve hidden her face. Just the excuse I’d need to hold her close to me.

  Now, that chance was gone, and I had nothing.

  I felt the lump rising in my throat, and I swallowed, clenching my fists under the table to get a grip of myself.

  I wasn’t going. Not without Chase.

  “I can’t go tonight guys. I have some stuff to do.” I said, digging into my pocket and putting a twenty on the table for my share. “I need to go.”

  The guys didn’t say anything and I could see the understanding in their eyes.

  I got up to leave, and just as I reached the door, it opened and Carl walked in; a bruise and a lump on the right side of his jaw. Without saying a word to him, I left.

  Driving down the street where Chase lives, I stopped outside her drive. I gathered the courage to get out and knock on the door.

  The door opened, and her Dad stood, glaring at me. I didn’t know whether Chase had told him what happened, but I could tell he was mad at me too.

  “Hi, Larry.” I said, my voice shaking. “Is Chase home?”

  “No.” He said, coldly. “Not that she’d want to see you anyway.”

  I knew Larry was lying. He kept his voice low as if he didn’t want to be overhead talking to me.

  “I know. I don’t know what she told you, but I didn’t mean…”

  “Chase wouldn’t tell me anything, Logan. All I know is that my little girl is upset with you, and that doesn’t happen very often, if at all. Which makes me come to the conclusion that you must have done something big to really upset her.”

  “I…um… I left her to wait for me, at the party after the game. I told her I’d be five minutes, and I took longer. A lot longer. She left without telling me.”

  I hadn’t told him the last time. I’d just begged him to let me see Chase.

  The look on Larry’s face was enough to make me take a step back out of his reach. It was bad enough that Chase was made to wait, but the fact that I’d allowed her to leave, and walk home alone, was so much worse.

  “Logan, if you were a wise young man, you’d turnaround, and get back in your car. Leaving my little girl to walk home…alone…in the dark, well that’s something I’d insist never happened.”

  “I’m sorry, Larry. I was actually looking out for her…”

  Larry folded his arms, and before I knew it, I was telling him about the things the guy at the party was saying to me about Chase.

  His features softened, and I stopped thinking he was about to turn me inside out.

  “So, if that’s true… Why did Chase leave?” He asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

  “I was supposed to be talking to Adam, and then bringing her back. A couple of other guys stopped me too.” I wasn’t about to tell him I’d made her wait on purpose. I wasn’t stupid. “Then, that guy asked me about Chase. I wasn’t going to let him near her.”

  “Does Chase know about this?”

  “No. She wouldn’t answer her phone or see me, to let me explain.”

  Larry nodded his head, and looked in thought.

  “Ok. I think that it’s best that you explain this to her, if she speaks to you that is. I’m not going to allow you to see her if she doesn’t want to. Regardless if this was in her interests, she still felt it necessary to walk home. That’s not something I’m willing to forgive right now.”

  “I understand.” I said, dropping my head in shame for my treatment of Chase.

  “I won’t tell her you’ve been here. It’ll only make her worse. Bye Logan.”

  I walked back to my car with Larry’s words stuck in my head.

  “It’ll only make her worse.”

  Worse? What was going on? What was she like? What was she doing?

  I had no idea, but all I knew is that I wanted her back.

  Chapter 10

  Chase

  It had been almost two weeks without Logan, and I still hadn’t sl
ept properly. I looked in the mirror at my reflection, and hated the dark circles now visible under my eyes that made me look like a ghost.

  I hadn’t even left the house to check on Bren, or visited the store for her. My Mom had taken over for me.

  I knew I had to suck it up and get on with my life.

  Yes, Logan and I had ‘broken up’ whatever that meant, and I was alone again. Just like I had been before we’d met at the start of high school.

  I was sick of feeling sorry for myself and if I kept it up, I’d be the loser that I felt I was.

  “Time to go out, Chase.” I said to my reflection.

  Ruffles, lying on my bed as usual, meowed her agreement.

  Tying my hair back, I got myself dressed and headed over to Bren’s house. I saw Jo’s car outside, and I almost turned back. I took a deep breath and continued on over.

  “Hey, Bren. Hey Jo.” I said, as happily as I could.

  “Chase! Oh it’s so good to see you!” Bren smiled, and I saw her smile drop when she got a good look at me. “Sweetheart, whatever’s the matter?” She asked, concerned.

  “It’s nothing Bren. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.” I smiled, but I knew she could see through it. “I’ll just grab your testing kit.”

  I walked into the kitchen and retrieved the kit from the cupboard. I could hear Jo telling Bren that she was all done for the day, and that she’d be back tomorrow.

  “Bye, Chase. I’m sorry I have to go so soon after you got here.” She said. “I have to pick up Cam from school now.”

  “No worries, Jo. I can take over from here.”

  Jo left me and Bren alone, and I could tell from Bren’s expression that I was about to be grilled.

  “Ok, honey. Tell me what’s really going on.” She said, shifting in her seat to make herself comfortable. “I haven’t seen you for two weeks, and I’ve been worried.”

  “It’s nothing, Bren.” I shook my head as I prepared the kit to test her blood.

  “I may be old, but I’m not blind Chase. Logan still isn’t here, you don’t look too happy, and those circles under your eyes aren’t just from lack of sleep.”

  God the woman was sharp.

  “I don’t want to talk about it, Bren.” I tried not to sound harsh, but in all honesty, I’d gotten sick of my parents’ continuous questioning, and I was just as reluctant to tell Bren. It still hurt too much to even think about it.

  “I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems.” She said, patting my hand as I readied her other hand for the lancing device, to prick her finger.

  Drawing blood, I pressed her finger to the strip of testing paper and placed it in the machine.

  “Chase. It’s not good to keep things bottled up, honey.”

  I let my head drop back in exacerbation, blowing out a breath. I was tired and crabby. Maybe talking about it would help.

  “You can’t tell my parents.” I looked her right in the eye, letting her know I was serious. If they found out that Logan had left me to walk home from Lex’s house, alone, my Dad would hit the roof. Not just at Logan, but at me for not calling them to come get me.

  “My lips are sealed.” She said.

  I sat next to Bren, and told her about the couple of days leading up to my walking out of Lex’s house. She nodded her understanding at the parts where I’d thought Logan’s behavior was erratic. Also, Carl’s comments about Logan using me for studying.

  I blurted everything out, and it actually felt good. I’d never been able to talk to anybody about my feelings this way, and I was glad to get it out. I even felt relieved to get it off my chest.

  “So, Logan has been an idiot.” She said, nodding her head. “I didn’t think that boy would do something like that. It doesn’t make sense. I always thought he was so sweet and looked after you.”

  “I know. Anyway, it’s done with now, and I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I just want to concentrate on moving on.”

  “Ok, sweetie.” She smiled, patting my hand again.

  I left Bren’s house, went quickly home to change into my stretchy clothes, and had my dad drop me off at the gym club. I needed to take my mind off of everything that had happened and just work out my stress on the mats.

  Ronnie had emailed me the information on the USAG certs, and I’d signed up to take the exam. It would be a couple of weeks before I took it, but I had enough time to study.

  More than enough.

  After a half hour with the kids, and an hour on my own, I showered and changed. My phone rang, and my heart pounded.

  I checked the caller ID and saw that it was my Dad calling me. I felt relieved, even though I knew it couldn’t be Logan. He’d had called me quite a few times since we’d spoken last. I’d declined every call that he’d made, and deleted the texts he sent. The last one was a couple of days ago. He’d texted to ask me how I was, and that he missed me.

  Yeah right. He missed me so much that he forgot I was there time and time again.

  I didn’t know whether he’d tried to contact me since, because I blocked his number, but at least I was safe from finding out.

  “Hi Dad.” I said, answering the call.

  “Hey, honey. I’m outside now. Are you ready?”

  “I am. Be out in a sec.”

  I ended the call and grabbed my stuff, leaving to meet my Dad out front.

  He’d been a little quiet with me the past couple of days. I knew it had something to do with Logan and me, but what I didn’t understand was that he didn’t seem as mad as he had after the initial fall out.

  He’d asked me what had happened, and even though I had said I didn’t want to talk about it, he was angry with Logan for upsetting me.

  During the car ride home, he asked how gym practice had gone, which was fine, and then he shifted in his seat, as if he were finding the words to ask, or tell, me something.

  “Dad? What’s up?” I asked, with a little roll of my eyes.

  He blew out a breath.

  “I’m just trying to understand what’s happened honey. I wish you’d talk to your Mom and me. We love you and we want you to be happy.”

  “I will be, Dad. As soon as you buy me a big ass strawberry sundae.” I smiled.

  “Anything, princess.” He said, beaming at me.

  Turning west onto 43rd street, he took me to my favorite ice-cream store. It was Logan’s too, and I’m pretty sure my Dad knew that also.

  “You stay here. I’ll get you your favorite.” My Dad said as he pulled up and opened his door.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” I smiled.

  Not a chance was I stepping foot into that place. It hurt too much remembering when Logan and I would grab a takeout tub on the way home from school.

  We’d go in and get our order, and then swap halfway through. That’s what we did. Logan got chocolate, and I strawberry. Just like in my room those weeks ago.

  I snorted when I remembered his threat that he would ‘take it’ from me, when I told him he wasn’t getting a taste.

  How stupid was I?

  I’d actually gotten butterflies thinking about him wrestling me for it.

  A surge of emotion hit me and I felt the tears prick my eyes. I swallowed them back. I’d cried enough over the past couple of weeks. I wasn’t going to shed any more tears over Logan Blackwood.

  *****

  After spending some time with Bren, she’d not asked me about Logan anymore, and I was grateful, I decided to at least attempt to get on with my life.

  Even if it meant I would be alone for a while. When school started up again, in just over a week, I was going to talk to other people and make other friends.

  After visiting with Bren, I got changed and went out for a run. Pulling my baseball cap, not the Tiger’s one, down to shield me from the sun, I also wore my aviators. It was really hot out, but I still wore my baggy T-shirt to run in.

  I ran around the park, where it was quiet, and then hit the river bank. There were only a few people about, walking t
heir dogs, and nobody paid any attention to me. It wasn’t unusual to see people out running. Especially girls.

  Finishing off, I was in need of a smoothie. To cool down from my workout, I slowed down, and then walked to the coffee shop on the corner of 43rd Street, where they sold mango and pineapple smoothies. They were the best, and I hadn’t had one in a while.

  I got served straight away, and before I could leave I noticed Poppy sitting by herself. She didn’t look happy at all.

  “Hi, Poppy.” I said, walking over to her table.

  “Chase, hi!” She said, surprised to see me there. “How are you?”

  “I’m good.” I lied. “How are you?”

  I could see the upset in her eyes, and I had a sudden urge to help her. Maybe it was because she was nice to me, or maybe because I was in need of a friend.

  “Oh, Chase. I don’t know what to do. Carly has fractured her ankle. She was wearing heels, and she fell down the steps at her front door when the heel snapped. She can’t perform the cheer at homecoming. Sian is going crazy because we have only three weeks left to practice for the game and now we’re stuck.”