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

on the others' faces was more than enough to shut me up. There were no words to accurately describe how much I felt as if someone had pulled a rug from underneath me and I wanted nothing more than to get swallowed up by the floor as well. And the funny thing is they were wrong but like they said they won't listen to anything I have to say.

 

I closed my mouth, which I hadn't noticed was open before, and sat back in my chair.

 

Was the embarrassment today unending?

 

Apparently so. Just then my phone rang, I numbly grabbed it from my purse.

 

"Excuse me," I said catching myself at the last moment from saying 'I've got to take this'.

 

I blew out a frustrated breath as I walked out of the cafeteria, and it wasn't even Chase this time. I'd know because I'd assigned him a specific ringtone.

 

"Hello?"

 

"We're very sorry but we won't be able to do the cake for your party…"

 

"No…"

Chapter 6

 

School was finally over and I had discussed with the people I was giving rides and figured out what time would be convenient for me to get them. I still hadn't seen or heard from Chase all day but I shrugged it off, it's his birthday he can do what he wants. I had other immediate priorities to take care of I could ask him about it at the party if it was really bothering me. I really shouldn't though because that would be intruding on his personal business. I pushed those thoughts to the side and drove home to get ready. Mom and dad I am so sorry… I silently prayed.

 

I rushed home to talk to my chef about making the birthday cake because at the moment there wasn't one. Although I had ordered one their call during lunch let me know that they suddenly couldn't do it, leaving me with no other real alternative than to make it myself. When I walked in she was still busy, she'd been making food for the party so I didn't want to bother her beyond asking for suggestions. I didn't stay there much longer then to let them know that I was going to the store and my driver went with me.

 

When I got back home I went inside to take a nap and when I woke up it was four o'clock. I took a shower and dressed before hurrying to make my way to Chase's house. When I got there my chef and her staff, that she worked with in her restaurant, were in the kitchen with the back door open. The DJ was setting up and I offered to help him, he accepted so we were going back and forth from his van to the backyard plugging up his system. When we were done I checked the time and immediately started rushing to my car. I made my route to pick people up when my car was full I went to drop them off at the house and showed them where to go. Then I left and repeated the same thing until everyone was at the party, the last time I came back the party was in full swing. I had my clipboard with me checking off all the people that came from our school as I saw them. I stopped and talked to a couple of groups of people, even introducing some people.

 

I was as close to everywhere at once as I could get. I was helping to pull out more tables and chairs, checking in with the DJ as well as the kitchen staff, and floating around getting a general feel of how everyone was enjoying the party. I eventually ducked into the kitchen to start the cake only leaving once I'd put it in the oven and set the timer on my phone to remind myself when to come to check on it. It wasn't until I gave myself a second to breathe that I noticed there were beautiful lights strung up from the trees and hanging above our heads all the way to the house. I stood staring at them enchanted for a moment before my attention was called away from it when my friends approached me.

 

"Hey, nice party you guys planned," Sophie praised.

 

"You should pat yourself on the back, you did a great job, Brooke," Jennifer told me. I just smiled at them and accepted their gratitude.

 

"Thank you guys I tried my best," I replied, "by the way don't either of you want to dance?" I questioned them since we were just standing by a tree looking at everyone on the dance floor area enjoying themselves.

 

"Well Jen kind of put me in these heels and I'm afraid they're only for a fashion statement," Sophie said. I immediately looked down at the shoes in question.

 

"Oh, those are cute," I gushed.

 

"Aren't they? And they go really well with her dress," Jennifer piped in.

 

"Yes, they're perfect together," I agreed still looking at them.

 

"And that's what I said," Jennifer quipped.

 

"Yeah well that may be true but they're a little higher than I'm used to so I don't think I'll be dancing tonight," she said.

 

"Well what about you Jen?" I turned to ask her.

 

"No one has asked me so I don't have a partner and I don't want to be out there by myself," she answered. I looked out to scout possible candidates and smiled when someone caught my eye.

 

"Well there's a nice young gentleman here tonight that I'm sure would love to dance with you," I offered turning back to her.

 

"This 'young gentleman' hasn't asked me yet so until then I'm not," she retorted. I gave up trying to hint because she missed my reference and just decided to be obvious.

 

"You know Max is here right?" I asked clearing my throat, "you should go talk to him. Look, he's right there," I added pointing him out.

 

"Oh, that's nice, maybe I will," he looked up at that very moment to see her looking, waved at her with the biggest smile on his face and she waved back smiling as well. I looked between the two then looked to Sophie to see if she knew something I didn't but she just shrugged. Once he turned away we tried to pump her for information but she only gave us cryptic answers so we eventually moved on to another topic. I stayed and talked to them for the rest of the night, going back to check on things but coming back.

 

I'd gotten back to the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the icing for the cake when I found out I still had batter left and made a last minute decision to make a smaller one just for Chase. After finishing up with the big one I quickly put the rest of the batter in a pan and stuck it in the oven as I had someone bring the other cake outside to put on the table. Once everything was ready I had everyone sing happy birthday to Chase before disappearing back in the kitchen to pull out the cake in the oven as they distributed the other. It was a bit hectic for a while as all the people who wanted a piece made their way to the desert table but it eventually calmed down. I found myself going back and forth trying to finish the cake while also helping at the desert table but when both were done I headed back to my friends. I was stopped along my way by several people inquiring about who made the food because my chef's dishes had apparently became popular among the guests who were surprised to find that it was my personal chef.

 

Eventually about half an hour past ten o'clock and the party was coming to a close there were a few families lingering behind talking I started helping the DJ pack up. Those in the kitchen were packing up also so I tried to help them as well. After I helped them my phone vibrated when I pulled it out it was Eric, Amanda's boyfriend. Tomorrow we were officially together so when he came to the party we talked a bit and exchanged phone numbers, which I think I was already starting to regret. The message said he wanted to meet, he had something for me which struck me as vague if not a little suspicious. I wondered why he would buy me something, but I shrugged it off. When I went inside the kitchen one last time I saw Chase in the living room just standing there so I went over to tell I was stepping out.

 

"Chase," I called to get his attention and, for the first time ever, I saw him actually react. He jumped, snapping his body in my direction.

 

"Yes," he answered and I walked over to him.

 

"Happy birthday, Chase. It was a pleasure working with you," I spoke as I gave him a hug. We stayed there for a while because he didn't seem to want to let go. I don't know why, but… anyway I just soaked in the feeling. I enjoyed the warmth running through my body making me feel like I was melting into him. Then I remembered how he had thrown me to the wayside and how I wouldn't have a reason to see him again. I felt tears coming to my eyes so I closed them.

 

"Bye Chase," I told him softly and then I felt his embrace loosen and I stepped back turning to leave.

 

"You're leaving? I thought you would stay a while…" he seemed to beg softly.

 

"I'm coming back I'm going to go see Eric, find out what he wants, then I'll come back to help clean up before heading home. I have to see to it that everything is done here before I go home. So I'm not going for good yet…" I told him as I made my way to the door. As I closed the door I almost thought I heard growling just before I closed the door. I shrugged it off as my imagination and went to get into my car.

Chapter 7

 

Chase's POV

 

I stood in the doorway admiring my work. I had just finished stringing up all the lights in the backyard. I hope she notices them, better yet I hope she likes it. By the time I took a shower and got ready Brooke's chef and her staff were pulling up. I directed them to the kitchen and they started setting up. I tried to distract