Arya’s POV
“Arya?” It was then that I noticed he had actually opened his eyes.
“It’s me”
He quickly released me as soon as he saw what he was doing.
“What were you thinking coming in here?” Chase helped me stand. ” I could have killed you”
I felt stupid suddenly. For getting into his space and all. I seared at the floor. ” I was only trying to wake you. I didn’t mean to startle you” I replied.
He ran a hand over his hair sighing. “Even though.” He said. ” You should not have come in here”
I turned sharply. ” But I couldn’t just let you suffer like the last time”
He snorted. “Like you care”
My eyes widened in an emotion I couldn’t put my hands on. Yes, it was true. I and Chase were not friends. Especially now I am closer to Jake or was deceived by him. But then I didn’t consider Chase an enemy. Despite what might have happened between us, I could never forget what he had done for me. For Chamberlin. They might seem little but they were something.
I took a step toward him. “I know we aren’t in the best place but we aren’t enemies Chase”
Chase stared at me for a minute and then looked away. His chest rose and fell as his breathing became more uneven. I wondered about his sufferings. Hos nightmares. I mean how long has this been going on? Why am I just knowing about this now? All these details hurt me. My heart went out to him.
I took in a deep breath and shut my eyes before opening it. ” See I want to help” I paused as I stared into his eyes. He stared into mine. I hoped that he understood me and not push me away like the last time. ” What can I do to help Chase? I mean I can stay with you or I can get you something to eat or drink. Name it, I’ll help you.”
His eyes were hot. Dark. Was it from the dream or what? I couldn’t tell. But he was looking at me in one sort of way. Like I was done delicious food or something. I didn’t know, but I knew something was changing. He seemed softer and I knew he would not blow me off like the last time.
“What if the thing I need from you is sort of….” I held my breath as I waited for Chase to complete his sentence.
“Sort of what?” I muttered in a breathless voice.
“Sort of personal,” he said.
“Personal?”
He nodded. He looked at me carefully from my eyes to nose and lips and back to my eyes. It was this intent gaze that made me squirm. It reminded me of that bonfire. It reminded me of the moment I first saw him. The thoughts I had. He was hot. I could get pregnant if he kept looking at me like that. Chase took a step forward and we were just a breath away. I had the inclination to look away. Gosh, I was shy. The way his eyes zeroed in on me.
“You know what I -” Chase paused mid-sentence. He wasn’t looking at me. He had his thinking face on. I was sure of it. Do what was he thinking now?
“Thank you for coming in to check on me but I’m fine” he spat and began to pick the blanket off the floor. It was like I had been smacked in the face. Hard and stinging. I raised my hand to my cheek and rubbed it.
“What?” I croaked eyes wide.
“You heard me.” He snapped. ” You can leave my room now” and then he immediately walked into the bathroom leaving me alone standing in his room. The humiliation and pain stuck in my body like a body odor.
Finally, I got strength from nowhere and managed to carry myself out of his room. I couldn’t sleep that night and couldn’t wait for morning. That was recorded for me as the longest night in my life.
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There were two things I cherished in the whole world.
The birth of my child
The smile of my child.
For Chamberlin, I could do anything. And that was the reason I was able to wake up the next morning. He was and in fact the only one I had. He was the only constant.
“Goodbye mum” Chamber hugged me and I hugged him back. Or maybe a bit too tight because I could hear him groan.
When I released him, he had a big frown on his face. ” Mum please I have told you, no tight hugs again. I’m no longer a baby” he complained.
I laughed. ” Cham honey you used to love them.
“Well used to mum remember” he smiled. He kissed my cheeks before I could react and began to run. ” Mum I have to go or I will be late” he yelled as he held hands with the maid and left for school. I waved at him even though he couldn’t see me.
I sighed and went back to cleaning his room. Suddenly the door was yanked open. I thought it was the maid.
“Back so qui-” I stopped mid-sentence as I realized that it was not a maid but rather it was my friend.
Kelsi.
She stared at me and nodded before she began to pack some books on the floor. Lately, she had been the one sending Chamberlin off to bed and being there for him. Because of what? I was stupidly running after Jake. Thinking that he needed my help only for me to get kicked out. If I told Kelsi that, she would throw her head back in laughter and tell me she told me so and I deserved it.
She had picked those books and placed them on a shelf. She was about to leave and I had not said a word to her.
I was dying on the inside. For somebody who I couldn’t go a day without it really hurt. Just before she closed the door, I summoned up course and called out to her.
“Kel?”
The door went half closed and she stopped. She peeked her head into the room and when her eyes found me, I smiled sadly.
“Can I talk to you?”
She looked into my face longer and nodded slowly.