Brooke and Chase by Amicia Bianchi (good book recommendations .txt) 📕

we were on a date even though he was only taking me to get a spare key from my house. We had an impromptu food break where we went to a little cafe and had lunch before heading to get my keys. Chase had already been to my house before when he returned the dish I'd put his personal birthday cake in and a few other things I left at his house. Since he remembered the way we were able to talk all the way there and back to my car. Despite the unfortunate circumstances I actually had more fun then on the planned group date. Chapter 11

Over the next few days Eric made efforts to let me know that he didn't expect what had happened on the double date and he wasn't aligning himself with Amanda. Through all of this I felt he was trying really hard to get back in my good graces so after I told him I didn't care about it anymore he went back to cooking up his 'plans' again.

 

Chase and I had been talking a lot more via text messages which Eric didn't know about and I never planned to tell him. We've become friends although we do flirt a little but that's as far as it goes because I'm not quite sure what I want to do with him now. I decided to go with the flow and see where it all goes but I'm willing to be content if we just stay friends. Considering the mixed feelings I've gotten from Chase I've come to think it's possibly because he might not know what he wants so I'm more inclined to wait until I'm sure the dust has settled. He seems more interested in me but I couldn't be sure if I'm only seeing what I want to or if it's just that way because we're friends now.

 

As the days passed by and Eric and I fell into a routine of acting out his 'plans' Chase couldn't get over the fact that I seemed to be content with the current arrangement. He'd mentioned that looking at it from an outside perspective my relationship with Eric seemed 'so awesome', although in my mind I knew it was far from that. I didn't say too much in response because according to Eric I was supposed to give Chase the impression that I was starting to actually like Eric. I didn't try to sell that narrative to Chase too much and if it came up I changed the topic after a comment or two.

 

Honestly I didn't care to be friends with Eric when this was all over but I was determined to be friendly towards him because he hadn't shown himself to be a bad person so far. Although I hadn't seen that he had any ill will toward me there was always something that I couldn't quite put my finger on that made me wary of him. I wasn't sure if those initial negative feelings about him had any grounds so I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and put aside my personal feelings and honestly get to know him a little. I had no reason to dislike him especially when according to him and what I've seen so far he was only trying to help me. So despite however I actually felt I always made my best effort to be nice to him because I know I'm biased where he's concerned and I'd be more inclined to be rude to him without thinking about it.

 

Even with this decision I'm reluctant to go along with his schemes but since Eric can be really clingy and he's shown me that telling him 'no' won't work, meaning he will not go away until I agree, I don't want to be miserable so I find myself giving in. Although I don't care for his help he can be somewhat helpful at times the rest of the time he alternated between being annoying or acting like an absolute creep. At those times I'd grin and bear it, ignoring how I really felt about it, looking on the bright side figuring that's how he was so he didn't mean anything by it.

 

He was constantly coming to me with some new 'plan' but nothing usually ever happens while Eric is watching, even when I follow his wishes exactly. While Chase and I have gotten closer it's only whenever Eric isn't around which are forever in my memory as some of the best moments of my normally boring life, well at least until Eric conveniently comes back. It seems like the most memorable things happen when Eric's 'plans' don't go according to plan.

 

As I have gotten to know Chase I've also gotten to know Eric as well mostly because he pretty much stays by my side for almost every moment of school. I try to be optimistic about it because although he is always there he'll typically leave me alone if I give him some attention and acquiesce to his plans for that day. I try not to let it bother me so much because it'd seem a bit hypocritical since I practically used to do the same thing to Chase. I thought over all of these things on my drive to school on Friday. As soon as I turn off my car Eric is there opening my door for me.

 

"Thanks," I say as I get out before reaching back in to retrieve my backpack and purse. After locking my car he grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him to my locker.

 

"So I was thinking that maybe we could do something different," he spoke as I put my backpack in my locker and grabbed my tablet and binder. I raised an eyebrow in question.

 

"And what is it that you have in mind?" I inquired closing my locker. He took my hand in his and pulled it to his lips before kissing it.

 

"That my dear is a secret," I shivered, he lowered my hand grinning thinking that I liked it. Before I could catch myself I had frowned at him and crossed my arms when he pulled me towards him suddenly.

 

He had a predatory look in his eyes that make me want to shiver again and cringe away from him. These are the times when I find him rather creepy but I figure that's just how Eric is because he can't be attempting to flirt with me since he's supposed to be helping me get with Chase. It's moments like these when I unconsciously tend to do things to reinforce the fact that I don't like him romantically which should be implied in our situation. Thus normally I try to regulate my otherwise unnecessarily strong and excessive response of 'I don't like you' that I have whenever he does anything.

 

"Tell me," I pretended to pout in order to cover it up. I leaned against the lockers to put space between us and he, never one to give up, placed his hands on my hips. "What are you doing?" still grinning he started leaning in slowly and I thought he was going to kiss me. I could feel his breath fanning my face as every fiber of my being was rejecting this notion and I couldn't be sure if I my expression didn't match my sentiments.

 

"Alright, I'll tell you," he whispered in my ear. I held my breath waiting for him to just say it and hoping he didn't get any closer, "I think we should…" he then pulled away without finishing his sentence.

 

My face was probably red from holding my breath but after letting it out I quickly drew in another. Before he could run off without telling me I grabbed a hold of his shirt. I was getting a bit annoyed that he seemed intent on playing some kind of game instead of saying whatever it was he was thinking but I was stilling trying to be nice to him so I could get through the rest of the month.

 

"C'mon finish," I said getting annoyed before trying to correct my tone, "please," I added trying not to snap at him. "What is it?" I insisted when he wouldn't respond. Why wouldn't he just tell me? He smiled, flicking a glance over my shoulder, I was starting to get a bad feeling about this.

 

"Later, I promise," he then grabbed my wrist and pulled me to class.

 

Once in the classroom I noticed Chase wasn't there yet I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind and focus on figuring out what was up with Eric. I sat at my normal seat pulling out a pencil when Chase walked in, as I looked up I noticed him and smiled. Something was wrong, he didn't reciprocate the smile, and it wasn't difficult to figure out why when as he got closer I could feel the anger rolling off his body in waves.

 

His facial features were controlled so he didn't look upset but fury burned in his eyes. His eyes narrowed slightly when they fell upon Eric however his gaze never came my way and he just walked passed me going to his seat but didn't look at me once. As class went on I felt his eyes burning into the back of my head, this continued throughout the day as Eric even tried to distract me from focusing on it. Through this I eventually realized that what Eric was scheming had something to do with why Chase was mad at the both of us but it was clear that I wasn't going to get any information from Eric. By the time lunch came I couldn't sit still and I wanted answers before I exploded from not knowing. As soon as I spotted Chase leaving the cafeteria I went to him.

 

"Chase," I called out to him once in the hallway. He continued walking, that was all I needed before I snapped and I started running to catch up to him. Once I was close enough I grabbed a hold of his arm, yanking him backwards and pulled him into a nearby wall. "You mind telling me what the problem is?" I demanded.

 

He, clearly caught off guard, opened his mouth and closed it before finally reopening it to answer but I could tell he was planning on lying to me.

 

"And don't even try to lie. I want you to tell me the truth, I expect it, and I won't accept any less," I spoke as I stepped back and crossed my arms. "Come on, I'm waiting," I told him when he didn't answer right away.

 

He and Eric had been acting weird but I refused to let them both leave me in the dark any longer the moment I realize that I was the only one who didn't know what was going on. Suddenly before I could register what happened I'd switched positions with Chase and he crushed his lips to mine. I was so shocked that I didn't respond at first but I eventually closed my eyes and kissed him back. I opened my mouth for him and without the slightest hesitation his tongue came in ready to explore. He deepened the kiss and although I