Chase
My face hurts.
I don’t think we’ve stopped laughing all night. I seriously can’t stop myself from making ridiculous jokes, and seeing his amusement is the biggest boost of serotonin I’ve ever had.
The way his eyes squint and his shoulders shake, or the way that booming deep chuckle vibrates inside of my ears. It feels like I’m levitating.
I love making people happy, sure, but with Jeremiah… it’s different.
Sitting here on his floor, picking at an assortment of delicious snacks, listening to music and just talking about whatever is one hundred percent the highlight of my week.
Actually… when I think about it, this whole week with him has been pretty fucking fantastic.
My eyes drag over him beside me as my lip curves into a smile. “I wonder when everything changed for you and you actually wanted to be my friend…”
Jeremiah sighs, leaning his elbow on the couch beside him, eyes crinkling with amusement. “How the times have changed.”
“I bet it was karaoke,” I say, flicking a grape into the air and catching it like a champ.
Jeremiah hums thoughtfully, leaning back on his hand as he thinks back to that night.
My eyes widen. “Oh my god, it was so karaoke.” I burst out laughing, my stomach tightening from the memory.
“Oh yeah. That air guitar slide really put the nail in the coffin. I couldn’t help but think, ‘That guy. That’s the guy for me.’”
“It was the way I nailed that G-minor, wasn’t it?” I shoot him a smirk.
“You don’t even know which string that is, do you?”
“Not a fucking clue,” I laugh, doubling over and clutching my stomach.
We’ve been going back and forth like this for what feels like hours. There’s something about the way he plays back with me that keeps me on my toes. I love it.
The sky has gone dark now, only the low lamps throughout the living room illuminating a soft golden glow. I really don’t want this night to end.
“Okay, I admit it.” Jeremiah lifts his hands in surrender, a laugh caught in his throat. “I get it, now. I understand why everyone’s always so fucking obsessed with you.”
It comes out like a joke, but something in me tenses.
“Yeah, well… I’m annoyingly persistent.” I wink, keeping it light. “If we’re not friends, we’re going to have a problem.”
“Oh, don’t I know it. Teenage me learnt that lesson the hard way.” He grins, popping a handful of Captain Crunch into his mouth.
I laugh but it catches somewhere in my throat.
I know he’s just joking around… but, it really isn’t funny.
Not really.
The memory of his younger face looking at me with such disappointment flashes in my mind…
His smile lessens as his eyes scan my face. “Shit, Chase, I didn’t really mean that—”
“No, you did and it’s okay. I was the worst.” I shrug, sadly.
I shouldn’t bring it up. Not now. Not when things are easy and fun and light. But…I need to. If this is to go any further between us, which—God, I really hope it does—we need to speak about it.
My chest tightens. It’s now or never.
“You know…” I start, shifting slightly. “You never did get around to accepting my apology. For high school.”
Jeremiah’s grin fades slightly. “You know you don’t have to—”
“No.” I swallow. “I need to.”
He watches me for a second, then gives a small nod. “Okay.”
“Um… okay, here it goes.” I inhale sharply, heart pounding.