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

"Hold on," I managed through my laughter, when I finally recovered I straightened, "okay I'm ready go ahead," he pulled out the empty chair next to me and sat down, scooting in closer to me.

"My birthday is in two weeks and I'm in inviting you to come, you can bring your friends if you want, you could even invite the whole school," he whispered. He pulled away so he could get my answer.

"I'm flattered but why do you sound as if I couldn't do just that even if I wanted to," I crossed my legs and leaned back into his hand that was on the back of my chair. "Oh boyfriend of little faith," I pinched his cheek then patted it, "apparently you haven't seen what I'm capable of have you," I told him.

He just laughed heartily, best sound I'd heard in my life it's so sexy, I smiled, proud that I'd made him not just smile but laugh. When he was done laughing he smirked challengingly at me daring me to try, well if that's the case, I pulled up my legs and folded them so I sat Indian style in the chair, challenge accepted.

"Do you have someone doing it for you?" I asked. He was confused for a moment,

"Someone doing it for me?" he repeated furrowed his eyebrows. He looked cute when he was confused... but I have to focus. Darn him for looking like a cute lost puppy.

"You must be doing it yourself then," he still was a bit confused. I pulled out my phone from my back pocket, started making a new contact, then I handed him the phone. "By the way put your number in my phone and you can text me the information," he took it and did what I said.

"I could totally help you plan like how far have you gotten with the planning?" girls are supposed to be naturally party planners, right? So I can do this right?

He just shrugged and I knew, I shoved him with my mouth agape,

"Are you serious, so what were you going to do?" he shrugged again. He gave me a dazzling smile and returned my phone back to me, I shook my head at him. "That's just sad," I giggled while he started chuckling.

"Well hey I don't really do parties," he tried to explain.

"That's not even an excuse because there are people who plan events for a living that you could have gone to," I wasn't taking any of his excuses.

He sighed.

"So the party's at your house I'm assuming," he nodded so I continued, "well I'm going to have to go to your house after school today to see what we have to work with. We have to decorate and see about food, for that we need to know where we're going to set up," I told him seriously.

"Not anything expensive or extravagant, I want something simple," he emphasized.

"And you'll get simple, we'll talk about the budget when we see what we have to work with," and he nodded.

He seemed like he was dreading this, working with me, so I decided then to try to do my part as if I were being paid.

I have to be friendly but not pushy or flirty and at the end not too touchy, maybe a hug with a quick peck on the cheek. Maybe not even the peck on the cheek just a business like hug and I'll wish him a happy birthday, that's it. That's all I'll do. Nothing extra, he already thinks I'm going to annoy him. I have to at least prove to him that I'm apparently not the girl he thinks I am. That would mean no flirting or what he might think of as being overly touchy.

"After we go to the house I'm going to start getting some prices together for you to look at," he nodded again then the bell rang. I uncrossed my legs and got up, "well I'll see you after school," I told him in a business like tone and started a brisk walk to class.

"Oh God now he's got her started when she starts acting like that there's no reasoning with her," Sophie groaned and stomped her foot.

"You've let her loose and we're not helping you deal with her," Jennifer sassed Chase.

"Is that a good thing for me?" he asked confused and I knew Jennifer rolled her eyes at him.

"If it were only her pulling off superhuman tasks, and multitasking out of this world, sure. However, since she tends to obsess over things like this, maybe not so much. I mean, you barely see the girl but when you do all she has to talk about is how well it's going and what's done so far. The worst part about it is she's perpetually moody and at times she'll smile at you but you already know it's probably fake. She will never relax until it's completely over because she has this thing about seeing things through. But whatever, you'll see for yourself," Jennifer ranted, making me giggle a little.

I walked away without listening to his reply, it didn't matter what face he made or what he said because, like Jennifer said, he'd see. By my study period I went and sat at a table outside Indian style, with my hair pulled up into a ponytail, and my glasses were perched on the edge of my nose.

I started writing down places we could go for a catering service or a birthday cake and I kept adding ideas. After school I got a list from the attendance office of all the students enrolled in our school. Then I made my way to my locker,

"Where were you? I've been waiting for you," Chase said when I got there.

"I apologize for my tardiness I was retrieving an enrollment list," I spoke as I busied myself with with my locker. I saw him raise his eyebrow at me from the corner of my eye. "Now I was looking over a few aspects for the event and it came to my attention that you haven't set a time, so when would you like that to be," I stated seriously.

I finished with my locker then opened my portfolio, when he didn't answer I look up at him,

"How about five," he suggested.

"Alright fi..." I paused faltering just a moment, oh no I ... no nothing personal, if I were getting paid that kind of thing wouldn't matter, would it? I just need to have the same attitude. I said I would do it so I have to stick with it, I can't back out now if I've committed to it I have to stay and if anything happens I'll have to just face the consequences that come afterward.

"Is there a problem with that time, Brooke?" he asked seeming a little concerned but that's all I needed to bring me out of my private thoughts. I didn't say anything in answer to his question.

"Five o'clock," I just noted it then closed my portfolio. I nodded, "let's not delay, we have property to inspect," I flashed him a warm smile in an attempt to be friendly and polite.

As I strode past him, I heard him walking behind me, I went out to my car and I assume he went to his. Since my car was close to the exit I sat and waited until I saw him in a black Infiniti pass by in my rear view mirror. I turned on my car, started backing out, and followed him out of the school parking lot, then all the way to his house.

It was a modest home, maybe if we're talking about for a family of fifteen but it was a little too big for a person who lived by himself. We didn't go into the house we went into the backyard through a wooden door at the side of the house, the backyard was huge, might I add.

I walked in and circled around getting a feel of the venue before choosing what I could do to decorate. Since we were having so many people we really didn't need that many decorations even though his backyard obviously had the occupancy for it. Even though the room was there we didn't want it to get too crowded, that way people won't start knocking things down, to avoid that the less decorations the better, that's good news for Chase.

Whether we set out food or got a catering service they'd need some space to set up out here and it'll take up room. If we got a catering service the best way would be if we could give them access to the kitchen then all we'll have to do is set up a table or two and put the food out.

There will be a dance floor going for most of the time but we'll at least need a few tables to the side where people can sit when they're tired or if they get food and don't feel comfortable standing up eating.

I noted all of this in my portfolio while he just sat at the one and only picnic table in the backyard watching me walk around jotting down notes. Finally I came over to share and discuss with him the ideas that I had come up with so far.

"Look, I've been brainstorming and I want to run by you what I've come up with so far. Luckily for you, I think it isn't necessary that we have too many, if any, decorations. I was contemplating putting more tables in this area for people to sit while they eat. The remaining space will be for people to kind of stand around and socialize. We'll also need some tables to put the food on and I was thinking it'll be better to have an open buffet where you can serve yourself." As I explained he just nodded and I was starting to wonder if he was even listening to a word I was saying. Maybe I was too long winded. "As a matter of fact what did you have in mind food wise? Did you want a certain type of food or did you want a little bit of everything?"

"I don't really know..." He answered scratching his head.

"Well if we get a catering service to do the food we may need to use your kitchen, in case it requires extra space to put their things, so they won't take up more room then they need to. We'll need all the room we can get since we'll have the whole school plus other people that you choose to invite as well." He was once again back to simply nodding along but not really seeming to be listening so I figured it was time to wrap things up here.

"If that sounds okay to you so far then I'll be leaving. I'll get you more information on catering services that and maybe some other options. So I'll start trying to get some stuff for you to look over tomorrow," I told him in my business tone as I packed up my things and got up.

He looked shocked as he stayed sitting down, watching me. I'm guessing he expected me to linger around a while longer before leaving and it hadn't occurred to him that I would do what I needed to quickly and just go.

"So you're done already?" I could hear the amazement in his voice as I was walking away but turned around to face him and saw his confused face.

"What, you thought I would try to stay over or something? I'm not that kind of girl," I thought aloud, a little offended if it was true. By the look on his face my comment might have at least been half true and that hurt.

"No, I just didn't think-" but I interrupted