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

He had a soft smile on his face as he looked down at me, it made him look like he knew a secret that I didn't. I was puzzled by it but didn't ask because I wasn't sure if he would tell me. He seemed content to keep it to himself so I decided to stick to the rule and not pry.

"I was hoping you'd like it," he encouraged my run away romantic ramblings.

"Oh, I loved it," I emphasized, "it was perfect. I almost missed it and when l realized they were up there I was speechless. And it just added to the mood so well. You said you didn't want to put up decorations but see it wasn't that bad, now was it?" I nudged him teasing.

"Actually it was, it looks good after but it's pretty hard getting those up there," he started to complain.

"Okay now you're just trying to get sympathy. And what am I supposed to respond: 'poor Chase'," I'd laid my hand on his chest in a comforting manner but soon started laughing.

"Hey, I did all of it by myself so I think I'm entitled to complain at least a little," he justified once we'd stopped laughing. I shrugged smirking.

"And what do you think I should give you for it? A cookie? I already baked you a cake..." I joked. I wasn't sure if he would reply because he just stared at me with that secret smile and content expression again.

"You don't have to do anything special I'm just glad you like it," he eventually said quietly. "I'm sorry that I missed school though, I woke up late then decided to do the lights and I thought it'd be okay but a couple people were messing with me about missing an announcement that you made..." at the reminder of that embarrassing moment this morning I blushed again. Some of them just couldn't let it go could they? The worst part was I actually had nothing to do with it.

"It was nothing don't worry about it," I tried to brush it off but he wasn't going to let it slide just yet.

"...I mean did you propose to me, or something like that, in the announcement?" he asked scratching his head and I choked on my own spit. "Sorry it's just nobody would tell me what exactly you said so I thought I'd ask in case it was something I had to respond to," he stepped closer patting my back.

"Thanks. I don't know what to say, I'm sorry to disappoint you but I didn't," I finally stammered out recovering.

"Well given the seemingly fast pace of your seduction if everything had continued at that rate I say we'd probably be at least almost married by now so the timing wouldn't be off, right?" he commented making me choke again but luckily his hand was still there. "Water?" I was choking on nothing if he brought me something to drink I'd probably die if he didn't stop.

"Can we not do this? Let's stop because you apparently just want to see me squirm," I told him as much as myself and tried to calm down, "And seduction? I didn't seduce you."

"Hey you are the seducer here so what do you mean 'let's stop' it's either you want me or you don't," he grinned wolfishly, "you made it quite clear that you wanted me since the beginning, Brooke. You might not have completed your seduction but you were definitely seducing me and you haven't heard me complaining about it." I was blushing profusely and I was too aware of his hand still on my back.

Why is everyone doing this to me today?!

(Chase)

"Goodnight, Brooke," I saluted.

"Night Chase, I'll see you tomorrow," she replied opening her car door.

"Alright, text me when you get home," I said and kissed her on the cheek just as she was turning to get in her car. She turned back a little confused as if realizing, at the same time as I was, that had she not been turning away I would have kissed her on the lips but then she got in her car and left without saying a word…

(Brooke)

I couldn't stop my heart from pounding all the way home. I couldn't stop replaying in my mind how he'd almost kissed me. If I'd known what he was going to do I would have waited for it and thrown the forget Chase plan out the window, at least for a second. I tried to process our conversation, he was poking fun at me toward the later half of it but does he really want me? I was so distracted that I'm not sure how I made it but when I got back home I texted Chase to let him know that I had although not really expecting a reply.

Just made it home thanks for a nice night with such a magical touch

-Brooke

After I pressed send I got ready for bed but when I came back I saw that he had sent me a picture of me standing in his backyard under the lighting. I hadn't noticed when he had taken the picture and I wasn't looking at the camera when he took it either. It was a surreal looking photo that made me look angelic almost, I smiled down at it curious as to when he'd taken it. Under the picture was the caption:

Magical touch indeed

Thanks for everything.

- Chase

Monday came and Eric had been trying to talk to me all weekend about what we were going to do but I didn't feel like discussing it so I ignored him. As I was walking into the building he ran to catch up with me.

"Brooke," he called out to me as he did.

We walked into the building and I went to my locker, he stayed with me the entire time. This whole time I didn't see Chase once but I shrugged it off even though it obviously bothered me more that I wanted to admit. Eric stayed with me but I was wondering where Chase was. Eric was telling me that he was new and he needed me to show him around. I only really did it in an attempt to distract my mind, but when we got into the classroom Chase was there. I immediately looked to where his seat was and he was there looking at the door, and like that our eyes met.

"Brooke," I heard Jennifer's voice behind me, which snapped me out of it.

"Yes?" I turned around.

"You're blocking the doorway," I immediately blushed and put my head down letting my hair cover my face.

"I am so sorry," I apologized, moving out of the way.

I heard a snort and snickering behind me, when I turned back around I gave a playful glare to the owner of the snickering. He offered me one of his dazzling smiles trying to smooth over the situation and I smiled back at him as I went to my seat. The bell rang and class started, looking on my desk I noticed something I hadn't before, a note. Opening the note it read:

I know that you and Chase weren't really going out before this, so I want to help you. I can help you to really get his attention and know if he really likes you.

A cold shiver crept up my spine as I furrowed my eyebrows and looked over at Eric he was looking straight ahead. He knew I was looking at him but he insisted on playing like he didn't realize so I didn't say anything. When class ended and we were going to our next class that's when he brought up the subject.

"So I was thinking if you and I are on the same page we can start with my plan."

"And what exactly would that consist of?" I inquired, a bit afraid of the answer as I eyed him warily. I didn't know Eric and I wasn't sure if I trusted him enough to expose the details of my love life with him. Especially when I didn't see us being friends after this mostly because something about him made me suspicious.

"Well the best way is making him jealous," he stated, "aren't you curious? Don't you want to know?" he added when I didn't answer immediately.

"I guess," was all I halfheartedly replied as I continued walking pass him since he had stopped in the middle of the hallway to stare at me.

"You have got to be kidding. Why do you sound as if you don't even care? You're not dying to know?" he asked shocked by my almost uninterested reaction.

Truly I would love to know, I'm just not sure I want it to be because of Eric. Okay, I do really want to know but honestly I really don't want him to be there when I find out, period. With the way things seemed to be going with Chase I figured I could find out by myself.

"I've started to make plans for a double date..." he started yapping away and I didn't even attempt to pay attention.

I headed to our next class while ignoring him, although he didn't seem to notice because he was so deeply engrossed in a verbal war over his plans. When we got into the classroom he was still going on and I didn't mind letting him talk to himself as I sat down in my normal seat. Gladly class started and there was a reason for him to shut up but then our teacher had us pair off into groups of two to do an in-class assignment. Eric quickly and eagerly picked me.

"So I know that maybe you don't really know me all that well and you're skeptical of my motives for helping but all I ask is for you to give me a chance," was the first thing he said when I turned in his direction. I just stared at him.

Can't we just get our assignment done?

"I guess," I offered nonchalantly so he would drop it. After that school went by as normally as it could because thankfully he didn't press the subject again for that day…

Although Eric and I had a bit of a rough start, over the course of the next week I eventually warmed up to him, in a way. He eventually got me to reluctantly ceded to his idea of playing lovers. I had walked into school and as soon as I started on my way from my locker to my first period Eric fell into step with me.

"Good morning, Brooke," he greeted and I offered him a similar greeting. Somehow knowing that I would look for Chase as soon as I stepped in the door, Eric started mouthing something and my eyebrows knitted themselves together as I started trying to read his lips, perplexed. Obviously distracted I walked through the door before I realized and Eric immediately waved me off when my face continued to knot in confusion. Still thoroughly confused I just sat down without thinking much about looking back at Chase. He continued like this distracting me whenever he felt that I would pay attention to Chase.

Finally by lunch time I had caught on to his ploy and confronted him. He had tried to just laugh it off.

"Well Brooke you