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three

Chase

This scenario’s ideal, yet perilous.

I’m locked in a room with Skylar, my best friend’s sister, and I’m loving every moment.

We never spent time alone together as kids, and I haven’t seen her in recent years either. This was all unfamiliar territory for me. Even though I grew up with her family, I didn’t grow up with her. Though present, she played a minor role in my most significant memories.

So, I asked her questions about who she is. Not then, but now. She’s intelligent. She has a good career, and she knows what she wants in life. She is different from how I remembered her as a kid.

And I was alone in the room with her.

The lights went out again. It was my turn to activate them. Instead, I sit there, aware that our knees are touching. Fully aware of how close we are. Aware of who she is to me.

I see the movement in her legs as she braces to stand, but my hand on her thigh stops her.

In the darkness, I can feel her eyes on me, questioning me.

My hand moves, and I lean in, our eyes connecting in the darkness.

We lean in, and when our lips are about to touch, the lights go on, and we push as far apart as we can.

The gray door stands open; Luke surveys the space from the doorway. We both stand up and come into his view around a few boxes, seeing his smile when he sees us.

“You two are in so much trouble.”

I step around the boxes, and Skylar follows. The relief of being interrupted floods as Luke looks us both over.

I hold my hands up before handing Skylar a few packs of beer and picking up the ice. “This place is a death trap. The door cannot be unlocked from inside.”

Luke grins and says nothing as we both walk past him. Instead, he shakes his head and laughs quietly. “Dude, the shit your buddy was saying was down right death threats. You better watch your back.”

“Ignore Ethan. His bark is worse than his bite.” Skylar interjects, glancing behind her as she pushes through the crowd on the dance floor.

I follow behind her like a lost puppy until we reach Ethan, who is giving me the look of death. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet in the ground.

“Where the fuck were you?” I hear him hiss at his sister.

The way he spoke to her makes me want to punch him. She’s perfectly able to take care of herself; his anger is misplaced. But it’s not my place to come between them. I’m not her protector; however, her brother ought to treat her better.

“We got locked in the garage,” I speak up, stepping beside Skylar and crossing my arms over my chest. I give him a stern glare, mirroring his gaze.

Ethan looks between the two of us, his glare lingering on me a moment too long for my liking.

Does he have something to worry about? What was that back there?

Without Luke’s interruption, sure, I might have kissed her. We were undeniably drawn to each other. The conversation flowed. Some unseen force drew us together; not to mention, our bond goes beyond shared pasts and mutual comfort.

She is different from how I remember. She grew up and through that, found who she wanted to be, which is a stark difference between who I remember her as, and who I see her as now.

I’m in trouble. And my best friend, reading my mind, is quite aware that I am seeing her differently.

“Doesn’t the garage have a doorknob? You remember how to work one of those, right, Chase?”Ethan’s tone drips with disdain.

I laugh and shake my head. “Find out for yourself, bro. The door locks from the inside. This place is rigged differently.”

“And what exactly were you guys doing in there for the past hour?”

“Fuck, E.! Chill the fuck down. I don’t need you breathing down my neck. I only agreed to come out with you tonight if you played nice.” Skylar interjects angrily.

“I am playing nice.” He clenches his teeth.

“No. You’re playing the role of a total dick. And I’m not here for it. It’s not like I was alone in the garage with a stranger. I was with Chase, and he would—no, he should be a person you can trust me with above all others.”

His jaw ticks as she stands her ground and doesn’t back down.

Ethan towers over her by a foot and a half.

She stands her ground in front of him, refusing to retreat.

As he glances briefly in my direction, I witness the rage melting away from him, his eyes becoming more gentle.

He places his hand on her shoulder and pulls her into him.

He whispers something against her hair, then releases her and steps forward, holding his hand out to me.

“I’m sorry that I overreacted. You know I gotta look out for her, you know that, right? I’d kill anyone who fucks with her.” He says, his tone laced with fake nicety, practically growling, with his hand squeezing mine, as if it’s a threat.

“And you know I would, without a doubt. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. At least I hope you know that.” I respond, my voice thick, my eyes not straying from his, letting him know that regardless of where my thoughts were earlier, I can be trusted.

Skylar looks at me and shrugs.

I excuse myself after another twenty minutes of the party to head home. I’ve socialized enough, and now that we have this break, I’m ready to dive into some training, some television, and most importantly, some reading.

I spent my first official day of the break in my sweatpants. I read, I napped, and I snacked plenty.

It’s well after dinnertime when my cell phone rings. I’m sitting in my living room playing The Changeup on my video game console. I glance at the phone, grab it, and swipe my finger across the screen.

Ethan is cursing before I even say a word. I wait for him to finish the string of words before I say hello to him.

“Sorry dude, I just had the worst client meeting, and I almost just got hit by a freaking idiot in a Beemer. Fucking Beemer drivers.”

“Hey, my man. You know I own a BMW, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway, what are you doing right now?” he asks.

“I’m just hitting some imaginary balls.”

“Video games? You better not be over-extending yourself during your off week,” he tells me, sounding like a parent.

“No, Dad. I’m sitting on the couch. But I plan to get in some training this week to keep loose, you know, to avoid any potential injuries.”

“Good. I need a favor. You know I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have to.”

“What’s up? How can I be of service?” I ask.

“Sky just called me freaking out. The power is out in her building, or maybe her entire block. She’s freaking out.

I have another client meeting to head to, all the way down in Maryville.

I won’t be anywhere close to her place in the next several hours, and I don’t want to leave her hanging.

Not to mention, I fucking hate the area that she moved to. Can you go over there?”

“Why does she need someone over there?” I ask, already saving the progress and closing my game. I stand and head over to my bedroom to put on some pants.

“She’s just scared, man. I don’t know. She played it off, but I could tell something was up.”

“I’ve got it. I’ll head out now. Text me the address?” I ask.

“I owe you, man. I owe you.”

I toss my phone on my bed and slip on some joggers. My phone chimes from the bed, and I pull out a sweatshirt and a cap from my closet.

I’m heading over to Skylar’s place, and her building has no power.

What could happen?