Chapter 23

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"Nothing haunts us like the things we don't say." – Mitch Albom

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"I need you to watch Olivia tonight."

"Jesus!" I shrieked, nearly losing my balance and falling back on my ass. "Can you not sneak up on people?"

"You're in a room full of mirrors," Chase scoffed, scanning the room. "How did you not see me coming?"

"Because I didn't." I glared up at him, setting the paper towels and Windex down. Truth be told, I was distracted and I didn't expect anyone to come into the dance studio. There wasn't a class scheduled for the rest of the day, and the only other person who uses the room is Scarlett and she was off today.

"You need to be more aware of your surroundings." He narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"Did you come in here for something?" I asked, pushing myself up from the squatting position I was previously in.

"Olivia." He nodded. "I need you to watch her tonight."

"Why?"

"Because I said so." Chase snapped before turning on his heel.

"Take me with you." I blurted before I could stop myself.

"What?" He stopped in the doorway, whipping his head back.

"I want to go with you tonight." I repeated, this time my voice firm. I wasn't an idiot – today was Friday and the only reason Chase needed a babysitter was so he could go off to his secret scheduled fight. "I want to watch you fight."

"No." Chase deadpanned.

"Yes!"

"No."

"Yes." I continued to hold his gaze. "I can do this all day, and by the looks of it you have somewhere to be."

"I am not taking you with me." Chase shook his head. "I need you to –"

"Olivia is at a sleepover tonight." I cut him off.

"What sleepover?" He frowned, eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"At Catherine's." I rolled my eyes. I don't know what was up with him lately, but he had been acting weird – weirder than usual at least. He barely said two words to me when he saw me, and he was being short with just about everyone around him.

"The answer is still no." His eyes slowly scanned my face one last time. "Have a night to yourself, do whatever the fuck it is you typically do when you're alone."

He didn't give me a chance to retort before disappearing upstairs. "Asshole!" I glared at the space he was previously occupying, bending down and picking up the Windex and paper towels I had previously set down.

.........

"I'm ready." I announced as soon as Chase stepped out of his room that night. You see, for the most part, he was a creature of habit – always left around the same time each Friday night.

"For?" He quickly glanced at me, slipping on his shoes.

"I'm coming with you." I answered. 

"Like hell you are." He scoffed, pinning me with a harsh glare.

"Yes, I am." My glare matched his own.

"Lexie," Chase growled. "Get out of my fucking way. I don't have time to play games with you tonight."

"Then stop being a dickhead and take me with you." I gritted, exasperation laced in my voice. 

"No." He hissed dangerously low, his eyes flashing with anger. I've seen Chase get angry plenty of times, but never towards me. If I was being honest, he was starting to scare me a little. My heart began to hammer in my chest as I involuntarily took a step back. By the look on Chase's face, he was just as surprised as I was by my action.

He continued to stare down at me for a few seconds longer before stepping back. "For the love of fucking god!" He muttered under his breath, walking back towards his room.

My heart continued to jump in my chest and my head felt a dizzy. After my run-in with Chase earlier, I decided I was going to push-back. I bared my soul to him – I told him things I thought I'd never tell anyone before. You'd think there was some sort of trust between us by now, but clearly not. 

I thought I could get him to open up to me, but now, I'm not so sure I want him to. Tonight I caught a glimpse of a whole new side of Chase –  a side that made my skin prickle and my heartbeat race, and not in a good way. 

When Chase came back a few moments later, he threw a black hoodie at me and impatiently crossed his arms. "Put this on."

"I'm already dressed." I cocked an eyebrow, pointing out the obvious.

"Put on the fucking hoodie, Lexie." Chase narrowed his eyes impatiently. "Or you're staying home."

Rolling my eyes, I unfolded the thick material – catching a glimpse of the white letters on the back. 

Hernandez

I quirked an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Either put on the hoodie," He took a step closer, his eyes locked on mine. "Or stay home."

"Whatever." I mumbled under my breath, slipping the hoodie over my t-shirt. "Happy now?"

"Fucking ecstatic." Chase rolled his eyes, yanking the front door open. "Let's go."

As soon as we stepped outside, my eyes landed on Darius leaning against Chase's Jeep.

"Dude, what the fuck took you s –" Darius trailed off as soon as he saw me. "Lexie?" His eyes darted between Chase and I as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"What the fuck is she doing here?" He muttered under his breath, but I could still hear him.

"She knows." Chase glared at me. "And she's coming with us."

"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Darius hissed.

"Apparently so," Without so much as another word, Chase walked around the car and to the driver's side.

"Lexie, I didn't me –" Darius looked torn between what to say.

"It's fine." I shook my head. I didn't realize my coming along tonight would be an inconvenient to both of them.

"You'll see when we get there." He sighed, opening back door for me.

Wherever we were going, it wasn't very far and as soon as Chase parked, he climbed out of the car and pulled my door open. My feet barely hit the pavement when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the side – far enough so that Darius was out of earshot.

Clearly something had crawled up his ass tonight, and I swear was going to kick him if he grabbed me again.

"Tonight is not the time for you to act like yourself." Chase's eyes locked on mine. "No wandering off, no fucking questions – none of that shit. If I'm not with you, you need to stay with Darius. You got it?"

I blinked up at him, stunned. 

"Lexie."

"Yeah, whatever." I mumbled, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

"Not whatever." He grabbed my arm before I could walk off – holding me in place. "Am I clear, Lexie?"

"Yes." It was my turn to narrow my eyes in annoyance as I snatched back my wrist. "Now stop fucking grabbing me like that."

I caught a glimpse of the surprise on Chase's face before he quickly masked it up. "Watch. Her." He gave Darius a pointed look before he let his eyes drift back to me. "Like a fucking hawk."

He was so dramatic, I rolled my eyes as I trailed behind Darius.

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Short chapter, but more to come in the next one! 

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