Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day

by Twyla Turner

  “I don’t know. I hope so.” Daylen said as her eyes scanned the room for Chase. “He’s been in the bathroom for an awfully long time.” Daylen frowned when she didn’t see that he’d returned yet.

  “Well, maybe if you go find him, you can kiss him again.” Amy smiled, her eyes lighting up with excitement for her friend.

  “I don’t know about all that, but I wouldn’t mind,” Daylen said, hopeful.

  Amy pushed her towards the hallway where the bathroom was located. Daylen slowly walked up to the closed bathroom door. She raised her hand to knock when she heard a familiar voice.

  “Oh God, Whitney!”

  Daylen stumbled back against the wall, at the sound of Chase’s voice moaning her tormentor’s name. She stood rooted to the spot. Frozen with dread. A few minutes later, Whitney opened the door as she straightened her skirt. A satisfied smile turned up her lips when she saw Daylen standing there. Daylen looked past her into the bathroom and saw Chase zipping up his pants.

  “Sorry, he needed a real woman.” The delusional fifteen-year-old proclaimed proudly with a smirk.

  Daylen’s entire body flushed hot with anger and she pushed off the wall towards the girl. Whitney flinched back. It would be the only bit of satisfaction that Daylen would get from her heart being broken.

  “That’s what I thought.” Daylen sneered at the girl. She watched as Whitney hightailed it down the hall.

  Daylen’s hurt-filled eyes turned back to Chase. His soft brown eyes returned her gaze guiltily.

  “Daylen, I-” Chase began.

  “I’d like to go home now,” Daylen said softly as she looked away from him.

  She wasn’t sure if she’d ever look at him the same again. It felt like her heart had splintered into tiny pieces. Her throat felt like it had swollen shut, as it worked up and down convulsively. The backs of her eyelids burned and she had to keep blinking back tears.

  “Day, I’m sorry.” Chase reached out and touched her shoulder.

  Daylen flinched back. “P-Please, can we just go home now?” Her voice broke on the first word.

  Chase bowed his head sadly. “Yeah, I’ll go find Xavier.”

  Daylen blindly found Amy but refused to tell her anything other than the fact that they were leaving. Chase came down the stairs with Xavier following closely behind. Daylen and Amy trailed them out the door. Chase got in the front seat with Xavier and the girls got in the back.

  “So…you kids have a good time.” Xavier teased.

  “Yeah!” Amy exclaimed, but the two best friends remained silent.

  Amy’s bright smile died quickly at the solemn mood of the birthday boy and girl. Neither knew whether their friendship would survive the fallout from this night.

  They rode home in relative silence. When Amy asked if she was still staying the night at Daylen’s house, Daylen told her that she wasn’t feeling up to hanging out. Xavier dropped Daylen and Chase off, out front of their houses and drove off to take Amy home.

  Daylen walked away quickly before Chase could say anything to her. She started to open the door to her house and turned briefly to look at him. Her vision was blurry with tears, but she could still tell that he was looking at her. She turned away from him and walked inside. She had nothing else to say.

  Chapter 7

  Chase thought that his newfound attraction to his best friend was going to ruin their friendship. He had no idea that getting his very first blowjob would actually be the cause. School was about to start in a few days, and still Day refused to talk to him.

  He had tried climbing across the branches of their tree and knocking on her window. She would just close the blinds. He went to the door and tried to talk his way in through her mother. She just told him that Daylen wasn’t in the mood to hang out. He even tried to catch her one day when he saw her outside. But she just ran inside before he could get to her. And his calls definitely weren’t getting through to her.

  Chase honestly didn’t know exactly why she was that mad. It wasn’t like they were boyfriend and girlfriend. They were just friends. Eventually, they both would lose their virginity to someone. Even though the thought of her losing her virginity to anyone pissed him off so badly that it made his stomach hurt.

  Not being able to talk to Day or see her face was starting to make him crazy. He didn’t have anyone to vent to about his parents. No one knew of his home life, except her. Everyone else thought that he was the golden boy with the perfect life. He didn’t want anyone to know that his home was broken. Any bruises that he received when his dad got really drunk and felt like smacking him around, he blamed on football. He hid his sorrow well, with a cocky sideways smile and playful brown eyes.

  But Daylen knew him. She was the bright spot in his day. He’d barely went a day without talking to her, before this impasse. Whether it was in their treehouse, soup cans with strings attached, or walkie talkies her mom had bought them. They talked every day. He had to find a way to get her to speak to him again.

  He found his opportunity the night before the first day of school. He laid in wait in their treehouse. Finally, Day came to the window and opened it. Chase smiled because he knew that she loved fresh breezes and it was a beautiful night. Whenever a soft breezed blew by, Day would stop whatever she was doing just to enjoy the feel of it on her skin. He loved that even at a really young age, she was insightful enough to enjoy things that most people ignored.

  Chase waited for a moment before he made his move. He was glad that he paused when the first strains of her cello reached his ears. She never let him hear her play and discouraged him from going to her concerts, telling him that orchestra concerts were lame. He took the opportunity to listen now.

  Whatever she was playing was melancholy, but the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard. He let the notes wrap around him. Chase was amazed at how wonderfully she played. He didn’t know much about the orchestra or classical music, but if he didn’t know it, he would’ve thought it was a seasoned professional playing. He wondered if she was a prodigy. She never talked about her music, always thinking that it was nerdy. But he could tell that she must love it.

  As the song came to an end, Chase realized that his cheeks were wet. He had never had any strong emotions like that over a song before, but her choice in music fit his mood perfectly. He swore he felt a hundred-years-old from all the things he’d already been through in his short life thus far.

  Chase slowly rose and made his way towards the one thing, the one person that always made him feel better. When he reached her window and looked in, her face was so sad and tears also stained her cheeks. He didn’t knock, knowing that she’d probably only shut and lock the window on him.

  Instead, he crawled forward, got his fingertips under the screen, and lifted it up, startling the girl inside. Day’s eyes flew up with fear. When she realized it was him, she scowled angrily.

  “Go away, Chase,” She grumbled.

  “Not until you talk to me,” Chase said firmly.

  “I don’t have anything to say.” She lifted her cello and placed it in its case.

  “Why are you so mad at me?” Chase asked as he sat on the window sill. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “You had s-e-x with Whitney!” She whispered loudly, spelling out the word like an innocent girl would. “You know I don’t like her. You know how mean she’s always been to me.”

  “I didn’t have sex with her!” Chase started out in a yell and then quieted down when Day put a finger up to her mouth.

  Day cocked her head to the side, her face saying she didn’t believe him. “Really? And what were you doing in the bathroom with her?” Day asked.

  “I-I can’t say.” Chase looked away from her.

  Daylen rolled her eyes, “Please leave, Chase.”

  “Wait!” He exclaimed under his breath. “She uh…gave me a BJ.”

  “What’s a BJ?” Daylen scowled.

  “Um…God, this is embarrassing.” Chase ran a hand through his long pale locks.
“She put her mouth…down there.” He looked down at his crotch area.

  “Oh…” Day looked away and focused her eyes on her Jared Leto poster.

  “It didn’t mean anything, Day. She’s just one of those girls that’ll let guys do anything to her for attention.” Chase explained.

  “That’s gross, Chase. You’d use a girl like that? And a girl who’s been super mean to your best friend?” Daylen said with disappointment written all over her face.

  That hurt him deeper than he could’ve imagined. Daylen always looked up to him, like he could do no wrong. The way she used to look at him made him feel invincible. Now she looked at him like she would anyone else.

  “I-I wasn’t thinking. But I swear I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Chase pleaded.

  He couldn’t tell her the real reason why he let Whitney give him a blowjob. That he was now attracted to her and the brunette had just satisfied an urge that was brought on by his best friend. He had a feeling she wouldn’t take that very well. He may not be smart when it came to girls, but he wasn’t that dumb.

  “So…I finally heard you play.” Chase said, looking down at the cello lying in its case.

  Daylen didn’t say anything, apparently still processing how she felt about what he’d told her.

  “I don’t know much about classical music, but it was the prettiest thing I’ve ever heard,” Chase admitted.

  Day was silent for a moment. Then she looked up at him with glassy eyes. “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Chase gripped the window ledge, wanting nothing more than to kiss her again. But for the moment he’d gladly take remaining her best friend. “I didn’t know how good you were. You really shouldn’t hide it. Nothing that beautiful could be nerdy.” Chase admitted, not sure if he was even talking about her playing or her in general.

  A single tear fell down Day’s cheek. She quickly wiped it away, embarrassed. “Thanks.”

  “Are we still friends, Pretty Day? I don’t know what I’d do without you around.” Chase asked hopefully.

  Daylen gave a small smile, hearing his nickname for her. She looked down at the bracelet he’d given her. Chase figured it was a good sign when he saw that she was still wearing it.

  “Yeah, we’re still friends.” Daylen grinned.

  “Sweet!”

  Chase stood up and made his way over to her quickly. He wrapped her up in a huge bear hug.

  They both had thought that their first fight would shake the foundation of their friendship. When it looked as if it only made their bond stronger, knowing they could work through anything.

  Innocence Lost

  Chapter 8

  December 1999

  It was Christmas Eve and Daylen was ready to burst out of her skin. Chase was coming home. She hadn’t seen him since he’d left for college in August. He was a freshman at U of I, playing football on a full-ride scholarship, and generally enjoying his freedom far from home. He hadn’t come home for breaks at school, deciding to go to a new friend’s house or away at games. He always seemed super busy with classes and his hectic football schedule. He tried to make sure he called her at least once a week, but for Daylen, it wasn’t the same.

  Life for her hadn’t changed much. She was now a senior in high school. She got straight A’s, focused on her cello, and hung out with Amy. She didn’t date because there were no boys that quite measured up to Chase. Ha! Face it, no one is interested in you anyway. Daylen thought to herself with an eye roll thrown in for good measure.

  The only thing exciting that had happened to her recently was she had finally gotten her braces off. After so many years with them on, she couldn’t believe how smooth and slick her teeth felt. She caught herself constantly rubbing her tongue along the smooth surface. Daylen smiled at herself in the mirror in her bedroom. She supposed that the perfectly straight, pearly whites that smiled back at her was well worth the torture.

  For the holidays, her mom had let her get micro-braids like her favorite R&B singer Brandy. Although her scalp was a little sore from the tiny braids, Daylen loved them. She slid her hands under the braids and lifted them up, piling them on top of her head. She turned right, then left and made kissy faces in the mirror, trying to affect a sexy air. She dropped the braids back down and shook her head. She knew she was as far from sexy as a person could get, with or without braids, though she hoped that Chase liked them.

  She checked the rest of her ensemble and sighed. To hide her curvy body, Day wore baggy overalls, a black tank top, and a loose fitting black and pink flannel shirt over it. The shirt matched her pink Baby Spice inspired, platform sneakers. Most of the girls she knew and saw on TV wore tight-fitted cropped tanks with their overalls. But Daylen wasn’t confident enough to rock the look, so she made do with what she had.

  Day was in the process of considering whether to put on makeup or not when she heard the doorbell ring. Chase! She ran for her bedroom door and flung it open. Her mom was coming out of the family room as Day clattered down the stairs.

  “I got it!” She yelled to her mom, who smiled secretly at her.

  Daylen skidded to a halt in front of the door, she smoothed down her braids, took a deep breath and jerked open the door. Chase stood on the other side, looking good enough to eat. It looked like he had grown another foot, since the last time she’d seen him. He towered over her, even with her average five foot five frame in three-inch platform shoes. He had to be at least six-three though she didn’t have long to ponder this because she was engulfed in a massive bear hug.

  Chase tossed down his duffel bag and lifted her off of her feet, rocking her back and forth. Her legs dangled, sweeping from side to side. He wore some yummy smelling cologne and she breathed in deeply. After a while, he finally put her down on her feet. She had to steady herself since her knees had suddenly become conspicuously weak.

  Not only was he taller, but he was broader too. She could tell, even under his fluffy down coat. He was slowly starting to lose the boyishness in his face, to be replaced with more manly features. His jaw had become squarer and his body thicker with muscles. Being a quarterback does a body good.

  His hair was cut short around the sides and back, and left longer on top. The blond tips were gelled into perfect messy spikes. Chase stepped further into the house and closed the door. When he took his coat off, underneath he was wearing a nice loose-fitting gray turtleneck sweater with a black stripe going across his wide chest. He paired it with dark-washed baggy jeans and some knock-off Timberlands.

  Of all the things that had changed about him, two things remained the same. His pretty eyes that sparkled like amber. And his full pink lips that curved up on one side, in a sexy boyish grin.

  “Lookin’ good, Pretty Day! I like the hair!” Chase complimented her. His now deep, baritone voice always startled her and sent vibrations through her soul.

  Day’s round cheeks tinged with pink at the praise. “Thanks,” she said, smiling shyly.

  “Ah…I see you’ve lost the train tracks.” Chase teased her about her lack of braces.

  “Ha ha…real funny, Porcupine. Nice hair.” Daylen gave it right back.

  “Aw man! You don’t like it?” Chase exclaimed, giving the top of his spikes a gentle pat.

  “Yeah, I like it. It works for you.” Daylen grumbled, leading him into the kitchen. “Not much doesn’t,” she said under her breath.

  “What was that?” Chase asked.

  “Oh, nothing. You hungry?” Daylen asked, changing the subject. “We’re not having Christmas dinner till tomorrow, but my mom made some beef stew to hold us over.”

  “Yes! I love your mom’s beef stew!” Chase said, rubbing his hands together.

  “Thank you,” Pat said as she walked into the kitchen.

  Daylen’s mom walked over to Chase and gave him a big hug. She pulled back and clasped his shoulders, looking up at him proudly.

  “You’ve gotten so big, young man. What are they feeding you down there?” Pat grinned at him.

&
nbsp; “The usual. Pizza, chicken strips, and other delicious unhealthy foods. I missed your cooking, though.” Chase admitted, rubbing his flat stomach.

  “Well, we missed you around here, eating us outta house and home.” Pat pointed to the chair at the kitchen table where he normally sat.

  “Aw shucks! Thanks, Mrs. D.” Chase said bashfully.

  Daylen fixed him a bowl of stew and placed it in front of him. She poured him a glass of her mom’s famous fancy Kool-Aid punch, with cut fruit and a splash of Sprite. Before the two women could sit down to eat, Chase tore into the food like it was his last meal.

  “Uh, Chase? Are you gonna wait for grace? Or have you been away so long that you’ve forgotten?” Pat scolded him playfully.

  “Sorry,” Chase said around a mouthful of stew. Some dribbled down his chin and back into the bowl.

  Daylen squeezed her lips together, but when his guilty eyes reached hers across the table, she burst out into a fit of giggles. Pat chuckled and handed him a paper towel. After he wiped his chin, Daylen’s mom said grace and they asked Chase about college as they ate.

  Daylen found herself taking in every detail of Chase sitting across from her. She knew she probably wouldn’t see him again until summer, so she wanted to memorize the nineteen-year-old boy who was quickly becoming a man. On a couple of occasions, he caught her staring at him, and would hold her gaze for a couple of beats before she lowered her lashes shyly.

  As they finished dinner, Chase helped Daylen clear the table and wash the dishes, as was their usual routine when he was over. He threw a towel over his shoulder and dried each dish as she passed them to him. Her mom left the kitchen to let them talk in private.

  “So…are you seeing anyone?” Daylen asked hesitantly.

  “No, not really. You?” Chase asked.

  Daylen pulled a face that said, are you kidding me?

  “Hey!” He held up his hands. “It’s an honest question. You’re a beautiful girl. Smart. Talented. Why wouldn’t someone want to date you?” Chase said sweetly.