The next week went by agonizingly slowly. Chace was busy with work and college, so I was left to my own devices. On Tuesday, I’d gone to the movies with Kate and had endured endless interrogation about the mysterious college boy. Somehow she’d tricked me into inviting herself and Paul into going on a double date with us. Honestly, I thought it was going to be awkward. Both her and Paul are nice people, and so is Chace, but I couldn’t help feeling a little wary.

            Currently, it was Friday, the day of the double date. I was pacing in my living room, my dark blue, flower-print Hollister skirt flying out behind me as I strode back and forth. My phone was in my hands, my contact list open and on Noah’s name. It’d been a week, and I still hadn’t mentioned him to Chace. As much as I wanted to text him the number, I was too curious to know what his reaction would be like when I told him. Would he be upset? Angry? Happy? After speaking with Noah, I was dying to know what happened between them.

            My doorbell went off and I jumped, my heart beat quickening. Hurrying over to the door, I opened it to reveal Chace standing there, his familiar, handsome smile on his face. Once again, his looks amazed me. He was wearing a dark green plaid shirt, dark washed jeans, and a pair of black converse. The hair on his head was damp, revealing that he’d showered just before coming here. “Hey, Rosie,” he greeted me happily.

            “Hi,” I responded, suddenly feeling shy. “Come on in.”

            Nodding, he followed me into my warm house, closing the door behind him. “You look cute today. Something special happening? Maybe going on a date?”

            I did a little curtsy. “Thank you. And, actually, yeah. I met this great guy yesterday.”

            “Oh yeah?”

            “Yeah. His name is Cole. Real heartthrob.”

            Chace grinned. “I guess you like guys who have names starting with C.”

            I shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe. Do you want something to drink?”

            “We’re not leaving right away?”

            “No, Paul has practice until five,” I told him, glancing at my phone. It was only four. “Then Paul has to shower and then they’ll be here.”

            Chace checked his own phone. “Oh, wow. We have plenty of time. What do you have to drink?”

            I gestured for him to follow me into my kitchen. The day before I’d slaved around my house, cleaning up and making everything spic-and-span to impress him. It hadn’t been that untidy in the first place, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to vacuum the floors, or put away dishes, or wash tables. Needless to say, my white kitchen was spotless. After waiting a few moments for Chace to comment on it and not receiving a response, I sighed lightly. “What are you in the mood for?”

            “I don’t know,” he responded vaguely, perching himself on my clean counter.

            Grimacing, I opened my fridge. “Uh, we have soda…”

            “Nah.”

            “Water?”

            “No.”

            “Seltzer?”

            “I’ll pass.”

            “Orange juice?”

            He pretended to gag. “Gross!”

            I smiled, delving further into my refrigerator. “Chocolate milk?”

            “Uh, no. I said I didn’t want milk.”

            “Well, what do you want?” I snapped at him. “You keep saying no.”

            He chuckled, and I heard him slide off the counter, landing on the tiled floor with a soft thud. Seconds later he appeared at my side, peering into the depths of the icebox. “Let’s see…”

            I stood stock-still, his body pressing against my back. The warmth from it felt nice, and I found myself tempted to push back against it, but somehow managed to control myself. “I think we have soda in the basement…”

            “Ah! You have cherry juice?”

            “Yes—”

            “Shirley Temples it is,” he decided, snatching the plastic bottle of flavoring out of the fridge. “Grab the seltzer, will you?”

            Doing as he requested, I seized the bottle of seltzer, and followed him over to the counter top. “You know, that stuff really isn’t made for Shirley Temples.”

            He shrugged, popping it open. “It’ll work, right?”

            “I guess, but…”

            “Rosie, are you the type of girl who won’t buy the knock off brand of food because you think you won’t like the taste?”

            My mouth fell open. “How did you know?”

            Laughing, he unscrewed the cap of the seltzer. “I can just tell. Live a little. Trying something new won’t kill you.”

            “Unless it’s jumping off of the Eiffel Tower,” I countered, opening the cabinets and extracting two, tall glasses. “Then you’ll die.”

            “Actually, there was this one woman who jumped off the Eiffel Tower and landed on a car and lived.”

            I stared at him flatly. “Really?”

            “Really,” he insisted, grinning. “And then later she married the owner of that car.”

            “I doubt that,” I responded skeptically.

            His eyes twinkled mischievously. “Miracles can happen, you know.”

            “Maybe.”

            He tilted his head to the side, frowning. “You don’t believe it?”

            My green eyes met his chocolate ones and I blinked. “I kind of liken it to God.”

            “What do you mean?” he asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

            “I don’t believe in things that don’t have solid proof,” I told him, pouring the seltzer into the glasses. “No offense if you believe in God.”

            He made a noncommittal grunt. “I want extra cherry juice in mine.”

            “Sure thing.”

            “Have you ever been to church?”

            I wrinkled my nose. “Nah, not my thing. My parents aren’t really religious, so I guess that rubbed off on me. My grandma is a pretty heavy church goer though.”

            “So is mine,” Chace said with a laugh.

            “Here you go.” I pushed his Shirley Temple to him before quickly whipping up my own. “Let’s sit in the living room.”

            Together we moved into the earth-toned living room and sat on the brown leather couch. It was the kind of couch that you sank three feet down on upon sitting on. A grin spread across Chace’s face as he took this in. “Nice.”

            “Dad’s choice,” I informed him, smiling as well. “Though my mom helped with the interior design… personally I don’t like the earthly look. Too hippy.”

            He stayed quiet, sipping on his drink. “This may be too personal, but how come you live with your dad and not your mom?”

            “This is my childhood home,” I told him, gazing at the wooden floor. “I didn’t want to leave it. I think it hurt my mom when I told her I didn’t want to move, but she understood. I visit her sometimes. She’s only a few towns over.”

            “I’d like to see my mom that easily,” Chace commented quietly.

            I took a taste of my beverage. “You can’t?”

            He stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes unfocused. Then he blinked, clearing his throat. Throwing on a smile, he glanced at me. “She’s in California, remember?”

            “Oh, sorry,” I apologized, furrowing my eyebrows at his reaction. “You really love your mom, huh?”

            “Yeah,” he agreed. “I would’ve lived with her, but… I don’t know. I like going new places. And I’m glad I came here.”

            “What about your friend that attempted suicide? Isn’t he back in California?”

            “He’ll live without me,” Chace stated confidently. “We keep in touch, but I trust him not to try to kill himself again.”

            “Have you ever fought with him?”

            “No?”

            “With anyone?”

            He raised an eyebrow at me. “No…? Why are you asking?”

            “Uh, well…” Lowering my eyes, I cupped my cool glass, the moisture from it dampening my skin. “I ran into someone the other day.”

            “Who?”

            I returned my focus to him, ready to gauge his reaction. “This guy named Noah.”

            His expression hardened immediately, his jaw clenching. “When did this happen?”

            “About a week ago—”

            “A week ago? At the bowling alley?” he interjected, scowling. “I should’ve known he’d talk to you!”

            Surprised by his sudden anger, I shrunk a little in my seat. “He didn’t say much…”

            “He probably said enough,” Chace snapped. “What’s his problem? I told him to stay out of my business.”

            “He just wanted to talk to you,” I protested.

            “What else did he say?”

            “He just wanted to make sure you were okay… Not depressed or anything.”

            Chace rolled his eyes. “Depressed? What does he take me for? An idiot?”

            “Did something happen? He told me you guys got a fight last year.”

            “For exactly that reason.”

            “What reason?”

            Huffing, he placed his drink on the coffee table. “Noah was the first friend I made after I moved here. For three years straight he never questioned my personality. Unlike you, who directly made a comment that I seemed fake.”

            “Ah, sorry,” I apologized sheepishly.

            He waved me off, shaking my head. “No, I like that about you. But anyway, at the end of last year, during graduation he randomly insisted on me going to counseling.”

            “Counseling? For what?”

            “For my depression,” he replied, air quoting the word depression. “Completely out of nowhere. He even talked to my dad about it— behind my back.”

            I frowned. “I’m sure he was only worried about you…”

            “So he tried to get me a counselor I didn’t need? I know the reasons why he did it.”

            “Why?”

            “I didn’t go to many social events, or have many girlfriends, as you know. He thought I was holing myself in. It’s like, sorry I would rather have better grades than tons of friends,” Chace ranted, shaking his head.

            I hesitated, unsure of what to say. Sure, I understood Chace’s reasoning, but I also understood Noah’s. “Chace… If I say something will you get mad at me?”

            “It depends.”

            I stared at him.

            He laughed. “I’m kidding. I don’t think I can get mad at you, Rosie. You’re too cute.”

            Ignoring the tingle on my cheeks, I focused on my drink. “You know how I said your personality is fake? Well, a lot of depressed people put on fake smiles to pretend they’re okay— not that I’m saying you’re doing that. You seem genuinely happy.”

            “I am.”

            “I know,” I responded with a grin.

            “Well, aside from the part about not living with my mom,” he added thoughtfully after a second. “But anyway, what’s your point?”

            I shrugged. “I’m just thinking that’s what he was thinking. You know?”

“But why after three years would he assume that?”

“Did something change at the end of last year?”

Chace thought about it for a moment. “Not really. I mean, I guess it was after I broke up with my last girlfriend. But that was a month before he accused me of being depressed.”

 “Well, have you talked to him about it?”

            He drummed his fingers on his lap. “Not really. We never talked after that.”

            “Hasn’t he tried talking to you?”

            “Yeah, but—”

            “Stop being a brat,” I cut him off, my tone coming out harsher than I meant. “He’s worried about you, Chace. He’s being a good friend. You should be happy he cares so much.”

            Chace did a double take, his mouth opening slightly. “Uh…”

            “I have his number,” I continued, taking my phone out of my pocket. “Why don’t you try talking to him?”

            “I don’t know…”

            “Chace. You’re acting kind of like a jerk. And I don’t like this side of you,” I notified him, examining my fingernails. Honestly, I didn’t think my comment would affect him too much. We’d only known each other for about a month…

            Sighing, he searched his pocket for a minute before finding his phone. “Okay, okay. I’ll take his number.”

            “You… you will?” He was going to take Noah’s number? Was it because of my comment?

“Yeah. But if I go talk to him, then…”

            I pursed my lips at him. “Are you trying to deal with me?”

            “Yes,” he said with a smug expression. “It’s the only way I’ll talk to him…”

            “Fine, fine,” I resigned. “But I’ll know if you talk to him or not.”

            “I promise I will. As long as you come to my dad’s boss’s birthday party next Friday night.”

            I cocked an eyebrow. “Boss’s birthday party?”

            He nodded. “Yep. I need a date.”

            “Why?”

            “It’s a fancy place.”

            “What does your dad do, exactly?”

            A ghost of a smirk appeared on his face. “Well, you’ll find out next Saturday, won’t you? So, are you up for it?”

            “Do I have to wear a dress?”

            “A sexy, slinky cocktail one.”

             I grinned. “Okay, sounds good.”

            “You like those kind of dresses?” Chace inquired, sounding surprised.

            “I’ve never wore one before, so I guess we’ll find out,” I replied, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Hopefully I’ll fit the sexy and slinky part.”

            He put his finger on his chin, his eyes raking over my body. “I bet you will.”

            “You’ve got until Friday to talk to Noah then,” I stated, finishing off my Shirley Temple. “And I’ll know if you did or not, because I’ll talk to him too.”

            “Hmm? Do you have a crush?” Chace asked teasingly, nudging me in the side with his elbow. “Love at first sight, maybe?”

            I blushed, slapping him on the chest. “No!”

            “Ah? What’s with that blush then? It’s reveling your true feeling!”

            “It’s not!”

            “Or is it?”

            I glowered at him. “No.”

            “Sounds like you’re in denial.”

            “I’m not!”

            He cocked an eyebrow. “You’re not, huh?”

            “If there’s anyone I like, it’s—” I cut myself off, slapping a hand to my mouth. That was way too close.

            “It’s?” he pressed, his eyes shining with interest.

            You! my inner voice shouted in my head. “No one,” I responded dismissively, ignoring the voice, and scooting closer to the edge of the couch in order to put space between us.

            Chace followed me, squishing me into the firm arm. “Really?”

            “Personal space.”

            “Is this enough person space?” he drawled, slipping his arm around my shoulder, and shifting his body so that his legs were resting over mine.

            I struggled to push him away. “I’m afraid of human contact.”

            This caused him to laugh. “Isn’t that too bad?”

            “You’re an awful person.”

            “Why thank you,” he said with a wink.

            I gave up trying to free myself, partially because I knew it was futile, and partially because I didn’t mind the position we were in. Instead, I rested my head on the back of the sofa, my neck pressing into Chace’s arm. “Next Friday is the 30th, right?”

            “That’s correct. Are you busy? I don’t want to force you into going to this thing with me.”

            “No,” I told him, shaking my head. “I’m just wondering. That means it’s almost October.”

            “So?”

            My thoughts drifted. That meant there was three months until my vision would be gone. The past week had been so hectic, I hadn’t given any thought to my dwindling vision. Why was time moving so fast? Couldn’t life give me a break? Losing your vision wasn’t exactly a tea party.

            Suddenly I felt a poke on my cheek. “Hey, space cadet, has your ship landed yet?”

            Snapping away from my thoughts, I brushed Chace’s finger away from my face. “Sorry. Just thinking.”

            “What about?”

            “Um, nothing,” I said quietly.

            “You know, if there’s something that’s bothering you, you can tell me,” he informed me, his voice low and serious. “Every time I’m with you I catch you spacing off like that at least once. Anything you say will stay between us.”

            Smiling, I faced him, noticing out faces were, at most, three inches away from each other. “Thanks, Chace.”

            His return smile was as warm as the parts of his body that were touching me. “No problem, Rosie. So do you want to talk?”

            “Not yet,” I said, my smile slipping. It was too hard to talk to him about my disease. Heck, I didn’t even like talking to my parents about it. Nor my doctor. I knew I was being unfair, but I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t like we were dating. And we would never, because it would only end in heartbreak. Which I knew. I knew we could never be closer than friends, but yet… I wasn’t doing anything to stop our relationship from developing.

            Sighing, I closed my eyes. Why couldn’t my life be simple? Why couldn’t I have the courage to tell Chace straight out that I was losing my vision? Why was I so afraid of being pitied? One day he was going to find out. The longer I kept it from him, the more it was going to hurt when I had to tell him. Would he be angry? Somehow I doubted that. If anything, he’d feel as bad as me.

Without warning, the doorbell chimed, startling me. Chace grinned at my jumpiness and slid his legs off me. “Should I get that? Or you?”

“That’s probably Kate,” I said, pushing myself off the couch. “She’s early. Leave your glass, I’ll pick it up later. Are you ready to go?”

He nodded. “Yep. I have a quick question though, before you open the door.”

“What?”

“Is Paul a nice guy?”

I paused. “You’re worried about that?”

“I really want to get along with your friends,” he told me, scratching the back of his head. “Guys are a lot different than girls, so…”

Grinning, I hooked my arm through his. “Oh boy, Chace. This may be a little difficult for you.”

“What? Why?”

“Paul is… Well, let’s just say even though I’m Kate’s best friend, it took him three years to like me. He was a complete jerk at first. I think he made me cry at least twenty times.”

Chace’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“Yeah. He’s that kind of guy. But eventually he warmed up to me. He might try to fight you.”

“You think?”

“Well, he’s on the football team…” I raked my eyes over Chace’s muscular, but slender body. “You might last a few minutes against him.”

Chace narrowed his eyes. “You’re joking, right?”

“Am I? Let’s find out,” I said, placing my hand on the door handle. “Ready? He might charge.”

Chace stood his ground. “Bring it.”

Gripping the handle, I opened the door as fast as I could. As usual, Paul came charging into the house, causing Chace to shout out in alarm. Immediately I burst out laughing, watching as Chace brought up his fists while Paul stopped in front of him.

“Whoa, dude, chill,” Paul said, holding up his hands in defense. “I’m not attacking you.”

Chace lowered his fists, shooting me a dirty look. “I figured as much.”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I just need to get a cup of water,” Paul said, sliding by Chace. “She literally has the best water filter!”

Kate appeared at the doorway seconds later, grimacing at her boyfriend’s actions. “Why does he do this every time?”

“I have good water, apparently,” I responded with a laugh.

“Hi Chace,” Kate greeted, waving her hand at him. “How are you?”

“Fine,” he responded, morphing his annoyed expression to a friendly one. “Rosie is just being a jerk.”

Kate turned to me, crossing her arms. “Rose…”

I batted my eyelashes at her innocently. “Yes?”

“Remember the last guy you were a jerk to?”

“The one I pushed down the stairs?”

“That’s the one. You don’t want a repeat of what happened with him, do you?”

Faking a horrified look, I shook my head. “Of course not!”

“Wait,” Chace interjected. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Kate and I sang simultaneously.

“Nothing my ass! I don’t trust girls.”

Kate laughed while I smirked. “Really?”

He frowned at me. “You’re lying again, aren’t you?”

“I wouldn’t call it lying. Just deceiving.” The truth of my words scared me. Hopefully he didn’t notice it.

“Well stop,” he responded, rolling his eyes. “Otherwise I might just do the same to you…”

For some reason, I his words made me feel the same way mine did. And I didn’t like it.

“Well, we ready?” Paul asked, stomping back into the hallway. “I’m refreshed and ready to roll.”

“Yup,” I replied, snatching my jacket off the rack. “Let’s head out.”

Paul wrapped his arm around Chace’s shoulders. “Okay. Question.”

“Yeah?”

“What kind if condoms do you prefer?”

Kate blushed, kicking her boyfriend in the shin. “Paul!”

Chuckling, he allowed her to pull him away from the brunet. “What? I just want to get to know him.”

“By having sex with him?”

Flushing at my friend’s choice of conversation, I found I wasn’t able to meet Chace’s gaze. This was going to be a long night.

___________________________________ 

Ah! This is late, but it's okay. I've been busy. I wish it was Christmas break... Even though we just got back from Thanksgiving xD I really hate school though. Just the waking up early part. I can't wait for college... I just have to take the SATS this Saturday morning. At seven. WHICH SUCKS. Because I was supposed to go see Pierce the Veil Friday night but I decided to be a responsible person and cancel my plans so I could get enough sleep... 

ANYWAY. My story, "A Surreptitious Relationship" is in the Watty Awards! So if it makes it through, you should definitely vote for it! ;D