Chase's POV
Emma was avoiding me, and I got it.
I finally told my infatuated self that it was probably time to step back a bit. So I played her game well.
I didn't want to have to sit among the many people who I knew never liked me.
Almost all the friendships I ever had were false or forced, and I was used to that. I barely had anyone genuine till...
I stayed in classes throughout lunch break, waiting for the day to end so I could go back to my meaningless and purposeless life.
It was about ten minutes till the next class when I started hearing noise and commotion in the walkway.
I wanted to sit it out as there was always something like that in a school where everyone wanted power and fame.
I let it go on for another five minutes, when I heard Gray scream Emma's name.
I stood up and went to where everyone was gathered, which was obviously where they had their fight.
The show was over, but their audience was still thrilled and happy. Saying all sorts of things about Gray, and Emma.
I knew Emma could only be in one place. Painful, I swallowed my pride, hopeful too that I could use the opportunity to squash our own growing tension.
I got to the bathroom, girls bathroom, but I wasn't exactly hearing sobs, or even people talking.
Then I heard Lily's voice, and I knew Emma had to be there. But that wasn't the only reason why I wanted to break in. I wasn't always cool with Lily and Emma being in the same space. Lily knew too much to be talking to Emma.
I banged the door open to see Lily and Emma locked! Kissing!
I blinked, fervently hoping that I had seen wrong and that when I opened my eyes, It would be some other girl, instead OF Emma.
But it was her. With Lily's signature pink lip gloss smudged on her lips.
Emma's eyes too were wide open, in shock from seeing me in the girls bathroom.
"Chase." She said, for lack of anything else to say.
"Keep my name out of your fucking mouth." I said to her, disgusted.
I knew there had to be something to her. She couldn't have been all so perfect like she seemed.
"Is this why you've been acting funny?" I asked her, laughing sadly.
Thankfully, everyone was either in class or just not bothered enough to loiter or use the bathroom.
"Shut your whole fucking mouth up!" Lily yelled at me.
It's the first time she said a word to me in over thirteen months, and with the thoughts I had in my head, it could be the last statement she makes.
"I'm fucking ashamed of you, Emma." I said and closed the door.
I didn't want to battle Lily with Emma present, so her day was definitely some other day.
Emma wouldn't have been able to handle stuff she'd hear if I pushed Lily to the wall.
I had barely taken two steps away from the girls bathroom when Lily pulled me back.
"Don't make me do what I'll regret." I said, warning her
"You've done that already." This Lily was a little too bold for me. Definitely not the Lily I used to know.
"What do you want from me?" I asked her.
I had sense enough to know that neither one of us wanted a crowd.
"Not what you wanted from Jessica last night, obviously." She said, smiling.
I almost felt all the blood in my body turn into water. How the hell did Lily know I was with Jessica last night.
I had sworn off alcohol for about five months.
Seeing Emma in a bad state kinda made me wanna take a shot. And it all just went downhill from there. Shot after shot, I got closer to Jessica than I planned too. She was also at the bar, and only too ready to take advantage.
"Is this a nice way of telling your boyfriend's best friend that you visit bars and pubs in your spare time?" I said back. I was determined to not let her see the fear in me.
"Nope." She said, "It's me telling you that my silence would cost a quite tidy sum." The beautiful girl I used to admire was no more attractive than a maggot on spoiled food.
"I don't want to be seen with you." I said firmly. "I'll text you as soon as I can unblock you." With that, I walked away and she did too in the opposite direction.
I blamed myself for being so stupid. How didn't I know that Jessica was a little too easy? I had been mean to her and she still let me hit it at the club the previous night.
I know I said the first half of the day was boring and dull, but I'd have picked it over the awkwardness and paranoia of the other half.
Emme and Lily were seated apart, but were passing notes
Lily had charm, so I wouldn't have been surprised if she was charming her way back to Ema. The tension between Gray and her was quite loud too. He was at the exact opposite corner of where she sat and kept stealing glances at her.
Gray was a sweet guy, but life kinda dealt him a hard hand.
He was really mushy and emotional, a 'one woman' man too, but his mom and dads split kinda messed him up. The divorce dragged on for an awful amount of time. He's been with girls since then, but never too bothered to either fight for the relationship, or even be faithful.
Thinking about it, it felt like I was surrounded by people with split families. It was life in County!
Lily kept throwing me glances too, which was quite incriminating. The whole school knew we could not stand each other, but I understood what she was reminding me of.
My plan to save my relationship with Emma and console her had become my walk right into Lily's lair. I had just subscribed to her silence.