Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Monday 3:53 P.M. 23rd of September

There's only so much you can do in art class. One of the things you can do is look out the window, breathe in the fresh autumnal air before they close the windows for the rest of the year, and…whatever, watch the basketball boys train on the outdoor field across from the building.

I've always wanted to be one of those tall, sporty, confident jocks who have these fun lives full of parties and women, but unfortunately I’m 5’7” and I wear these stupid glasses and my hair is a mess and I'm scrawny and weak and in addition to all that, I'm also quiet and literally don't know how to talk to people. Man, life is a struggle. 

There's a new transfer student, a sophomore if I remember correctly, with the name, I kid you not, Chase Clayton Bryce Stryker-Cox Beckley. I know this because I update the bulletin board for the student council every morning and today, they announced a new student. I wonder how he introduces himself.

“Are you the new kid?”

“Yeah, I'm Chase, nice to meet y'all!”

Oh, there he is. Looking out the window, I noticed him immediately. Tall, athletic, blond, yeah, your average white boy basketball player. And the first thing he did after enrolling at this school was go to the basketball team, too, huh.

Everyone welcomed him warmly…these guys are not this nice. I guess it's just that he fits in and I don't.

“Adam, are you done with your painting?”

Crap. “Ehh…nno…well, yes, but I'm thinking of what to change…”

I really can't deal with people looking at me, my stomach hurts and I want to just drop dead right here and now. And the way I stuttered…God, I’m hopeless…

Whatever. I went home that day, did some work and fell asleep.

I was really surprised to see a piece of paper sticking out of my locker when I came to school the next morning. And God was I excited.

And, yes, it was a love letter! It was a pink envelope with a cute little sticker on the back. I tried not to show how ecstatic I was…did someone finally notice me?

I pulled the envelope out and opened it. Inside, there was a page from a notebook, and in pink glitter writing, I read, “dear Chase”.

…Right. The new guy must've gotten a locker in the ‘unlucky row’. Probably right next to mine.

The unlucky row is a bunch of defective lockers that have their doors flipped the other way around, or that have no doors at all, or lockers that are opened from the top etc. Basically, my locker and his locker are flipped, and the chick probably thought that she was putting the letter in the right door jamb. Love is blinding, huh.

…Well, it wouldn't hurt anyone if I just read a tiny bit of it, right..?

“Dear Chase,

I heard that you are new in school, and I'd love to help you around, if you want. I could tutor you to help you get back on track! I also think you're really handsome… I was hoping we could get coffee sometime…”

Okay, this is getting corny.

I closed the envelope and shoved it in the right door jamb…but, man, I was just a moment too late.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I heard behind me. It wasn’t angry, rather…curious? It was Chase though. That was obvious.

“Some chick left yyou a love letter but she put it in my locker by a…accident…” Curse my stuttering.

“Hmm…” He grabbed the letter and opened it, and for some godforsaken reason I was unable to leave. I just stood there, frozen in place, watching him read it.

It took him a couple of seconds to skim through the whole thing. “Women just won't get off my dick. It's annoying.” Goodness, he looked annoyed. “I haven't even been at this school for 24 hours and they're bringing me letters already. Not only that, but it's also always the exact same thing. Such a nuisance. Here,” he shoved the letter in my hands, “you go meet up with her. Tell her that I'm…that I have no time or something. Or that I'm smart and don’t need help.”

“Excuse mme???”

“C'mooon,” he bumped me with his elbow (and it kinda hurt), “pleaaase?”

“Hhell no, you go talk to her, I'm not making a fool out of myself,” my heart was beating like crazy. “You tell her whatever you want to tell her, and the power of girl gossip will do the rest for you and they'll leave you alone.”

“Doubt.”

What the fuck is this guys problem?! He's staring at me with that buttery smirk, like he's stupid or something. I feel like I'm gonna pop a nerve. “Do you have a girlfriend or something? Why are you so opposed to meeting up with a woman?” At least the stuttering is gone.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders (what the fuck). “Well, you see, uh, …what's your name?”

“Adam.”

“Well, you see, Adam. All girls are kinda the same. The ones that bring you love letters just ain’t worth it.” While speaking, he led me into the hallway. My class was in the opposite direction, but frankly, I didn't want to leave. It's not everyday that I get to speak with someone as popular as this guy. (And I was kind of scared to leave. He could snap me in half like a twig.)

“Chicks like her, who think you're handsome and charismatic and nothing else, don't actually love you. They're just easy fuckables, if you will. Not someone you'd want to spend time with.”

He's oddly moral and wisdomful for…well, I don't know much about him. He's new and all, but considering what people like him usually act like, he's…different. “I don't think calling them ‘easy fuckables’ is very charming…” Just saying that phrase made me gag. Maybe I'm too woke.

“Dunno. But you get my point, no? Anyway,” he released me, “I'll get going. Uh, where’s 1C-03?”

Oh. That's next to my classroom. And I mindlessly followed him into the wrong wing. This is so pathetic. “In the opposite direction. Follow me.”

“I have English right now. I used to have a really chill teacher in my previous school. Are the teachers here very strict?”

“It depends, but the English teachers are nice.” My social battery is low-key dying, but curiosity is killing me. “You signed up for the basketball team, right?”

“Yeah, I'm great at sports. And I'm tall. I've always liked basketball and the club members are friendly.”

“How tall?”

“6’2”.”

Makes sense. Yeah, I have to twist my neck to look into his eyes. Thank God I'm bad with eye contact anyway. “Alright, this is 1C-03.” I patted the door. “You're early though. You know classes start at 8:45, right?”

“Oh. Nope, I didn't know. I thought they started at 8:30.”

What an airhead. “Well, enjoy the wait, I guess. I'll go.”

“Wait.”

“What?”

“What grade are you in?”

“11th.”

“Oh, I thought you were younger. Well, whatever, will I see you around?”

“Uhhh, I…don't…know…?” Is he asking because he wants to hang out, or because he's just trying to be friendly? “But I'm usually just in the student council room if you ever need me… If you’ll excuse me, I have to go now.” This entire encounter took away a lot of time this morning and I still needed to update the bulletin board, so I just left without saying goodbye.

My stomach hurt like crazy…I was constantly worrying that I'd say something stupid and embarrassing in front of him. He seemed really friendly, though. It was unexpected. The guys at the basketball team whom he called “chill” regularly bully me, so I genuinely thought he would be the same, but…no.

It made me feel kind of warm.

Chapter Text

Thursday 12:22 P.M. 26th of September

I didn't bring lunch with me anyway, so when the student council president asked me to hang up a bunch of posters around the school, I didn't hesitate.

Reading the posters was pretty entertaining in a way. Apparently the basketball team is inviting everyone to come cheer them on at regionals, the football team wants people to show up to their local game next Friday, and the student council is still begging us to recycle our garbage.

Well, it’s whatever. But it's a bit of a nuisance that I had to hang up the posters in the cafeteria as well, which was swarming with all sorts of people. Loud and crowdy, reminds me of hell.

As I was putting up the first poster next to the lunch line, I felt something poke my shoulder and twisted my head back to see what the hell it was (last time I felt something on my shoulder, a bird shat on me. Traumatic experience). Chase. He leans down to talk to me (I’m not that short…)

“Glasses guy!”

“Adam.”

“Right, Adam. Wanna sit with us?”

I look over his shoulder and I see a bunch of bulky dudes giving me a judging eye. “...I think I’ll pass.” I turn to the wall again to properly tape the poster to the wall. “And I need to finish this first.”

“What are you doing?”

“Hanging up posters.” The one I was hanging up as we spoke was the one about recycling.

“Do you have one about the basketball team?”

“A bunch, yeah.” I pointed to the table where I left the stack of posters.

The blondie straightened his back and went over to check out the posters. I was watching him from my peripheral, making sure he wasn’t doing anything malicious. He wasn’t, but when he found a poster about the basketball regionals, he took it with him to the table with his stupid jock buddies…

Whatever, he would probably return it afterwards, so I just shoved the roll of tape in my pocket, grabbed the stack of posters and walked over to a different corner in the cafeteria where I continued my duty. I was further away from those guys that way.

Soon enough, yeah, he came back. How nice.

“Adam,” Chase said (wow, he remembered my name), placing the poster on the table next to the stack. “This is good stuff. Did you make it?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t make it,” I quickly said, “I just hang these up for the student council sometimes. That’s…my duty, basically…” Ohh, talking about it feels like I’m bragging about being in the student council. I might just die.

“You’re in the student council?”

“Yeah…”

“Say,” he began, in a slightly deeper voice, “do you know the guys from the basketball team? They don’t really like you.”

How is this man so dense? “Wwell, I don’t think you noticed, but I’m not exactly tough and athletic like they are, so…we don’t get along.” He’s so stupid I’m actually slacking off…

“But you and I get along, no? That’s not really a good reason to dislike someone.”

“Stop being so morally upright before I fall for you,” I blurted out. Goodness why do I even bother anymore I should just be dead.

“Huh?”

“Nno nnevermmind iit,” I hid my face in my hair and fixed my glasses. Fuck my life, I must be as red as a liver. “Just leave,” I mumbled, barely audible.

And of course this idiot is laughing. I’m trying not to collapse from embarrassment here and he’s just…laughing.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders like we’re buddies and shakes me around like a goddamn napkin. “You think I’m so morally upright? That’s one compliment that I’ve never gotten before,” he said with a goofy smirk. “Well, if you say so, then I’ll go. Wanna hang out after school though?”

“No, sorry, I need to study.”

“Alright, shame. See ya.”

We parted ways.

Good lord I’m a dumbass… Why in the world did I turn him down? This has got to be the reason why I don’t have friends; because I just reject everyone. No, that’s not it, there’s no one to reject in the first place. Yeah, I’m just a dumbass.

He’d probably just bully the shit out of me anyway, since there would be nothing stopping him off the school grounds… No, I shouldn’t excuse my stupidity with the assumption that he’s a bad person. God, he already earned a soft spot in my heart… And he’s kinda handsome too. Maybe that girl from the letter was right…

Speaking of that, while yesterday was pretty calm, today Chase got three whole love letters delivered to his locker, and two of those were put in my door jamb by accident. All three were delivered during lunch, because I didn’t see them earlier.

And so, after school, I went ahead and read all three. It’s not like Chase would mind, and he had practice anyway.

The first letter was cheesy and boring, the second letter was full of bad poetry and the third letter was disgustingly freaky. Yeah, Chase was right, if I got notes like this, I wouldn’t see these girls either. I shoved them back into his locker anyway.

And before going home, I checked out the outdoor field where the basketball team was practising. I think if my life was an Ao3 fanfiction, every reader would know exactly why I’m going there. I’m pathetic and disgusting and an obsessive weirdo…

I hid behind the wall, just watching the guys play, and boy… I’m a total perv, watching some guy play basketball from a hiding spot.

Whatever, I don’t even feel at fault anymore. He is a handsome dude and he's friendly and intelligent too.

My dumbass leans over the wall too much and he fucking notices me. It's so over.

But then he waves at me with a smile, and I wave back without missing a beat. Curse my lips for lifting its corners, but man, he is cute.

Chapter Text

Friday 8:07 A.M. 27th of September

“Adam, are you going to the football game this evening?” The blondie was bothering me as I was updating the bulletin board. Why does this guy come to school so early all the time?

“Uh, no.” I’m such an idiot why do I keep giving these half-assed answers. I'm a dumbass. I should ask him questions too…

“Entry’s free. Wanna come?”

“Nno…”

“Aw, c’mon. You keep turning me down. Do you not like me or something?” He frowned like I actually offended him. I’m messing up…

“No, it’s just…I know nothing about sports, and…”

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t know much about football either. Some guy from the football team is friends with someone from the basketball team and we are all going. Just come. You can’t be studying all day and night, can you?”

So I’m now faced with a dilemma: go with Chase to the local football game and potentially be completely forgotten and spend, like, two hours just sitting there and staring straight ahead of me, or go home, study, shower and go to bed without having achieved anything in life. “...Aalright…what time is it again?”

“It starts at 6:00 P.M. but we’re getting pizza first. What time are you out of school?”

“Uh…3:50 P.M…”

“Alright then we’ll just wait for you.”

That’s the worst thing he could do. “No, don’t wait for me, I’ll just meet you there…”

“No, it’s fine, we need to wait for Brad anyway.” Brad… that guy isn’t very fond of me. “So I’ll see ya at the field after school, yeah?”

Yeah. I’ll see him at the field after school. I’m starting to think he doesn’t hate me at all. But his friends are annoying pricks, and I fear them a bit.

For the rest of the day, I avoided Chase and the rest of his team. I wanted to preserve my social battery for the evening, because the moment I start to lose myself is the moment I lose my opportunity to become friends with the basketball team.

I did as much homework as I could during the breaks and whatnot so I wouldn’t have much to do when I got home, and I called my parents to tell them I’d be home late…and for a short while I felt light and relaxed. Like life was good again. Before I got nervous again when school ended and I was heading towards the field with my stupid little bag of books that probably literally no one aside from me would bring. I’m a loser.

Someone bumped into me (very on purpose as I was walking very close to the wall to not get in anyone’s way), and man, maybe I deserved it.

Brad. “So Chase is into charity cases, huh.” He gave me that disgusting, putrid, vile look as he passed by me. “See ya.”

I’m gonna puke. Ughhh…

I fixed my glasses and kept walking, ignoring the very likely idea of Chase being into charity cases and just feeling sorry for me. Eh, whatever, even if that was true, at least he’s nice to me.

Once I got outside, the first thing I looked for was Chase’s face. He was playing a casual game with his buddies, and once he saw me, he completely abandoned the game to wave to me and run up to me (please go away please go away). “Adam!”

“Hhi.”

“Aight, we can leave!”

Everyone instantly scrambled up to us and we just followed after Chase. It’s a bit unbelievable that Chase has only been here for a week, and already adopted leadership. Is there something about him that I don’t know?

Well, obviously. So far, I haven't tried to get to know him at all. I’m the worst friend he could have.

Friend?

I’m getting ahead of myself.

But now that we got to the pizzeria, I think I know why everyone likes him so much. “The pizza’s on me,” he said. “Don’t worry about the price,” he said.

I was fully prepared to be the one convinced to pay for all the pizzas, but no, Chase is paying for everything. And no one is hesitating. Why is he so reckless with his money? Did he steal it from his parents or something?

“What would you like, Adam?” He asked.

“Ah, no, thanks, but I’d feel bad if you paid for me... I’ll order separately."

Chase scoffed and took two seconds just to look at me, a bit condescending, but his smirk was warm. “Your loss.” What a prick.

Either way, he got a bunch of pizzas for his buddies, and I went ahead and ordered one, singular soda. I wasn’t really that hungry, and junk food would just make me feel like shit anyway.

We sat with the entire group of about ten people at two large tables against the wall, and I ended up on the inside of the bench next to Chase, across from three random guys who, thankfully, didn’t bother me. I couldn’t do much but stare out the window, because I had no idea about the things they were talking about (and they didn’t really interest me anyway).

“Adam.” Chase bumped me with his elbow and shoved a pizza slice in my face. “C’mon, man, you look hungry.”

It was a slice with ham and cheese and it smelled really good. Before I could decline, the three guys in front of us started egging me on: “yeah man, you should have a slice as well. This is good stuff.”

The power of peer pressure… “...Okay…thanks.” I gingerly placed my fingertips underneath the pizza slice to hold it up securely and not get dirty, and Chase released it and left it to me.

I really hate eating in front of other people, especially when they’re watching me like this. I’m about to puke. But whatever, I take a small bite of the slice without looking up. (This is, indeed, good stuff.)

To think that this evening hasn't even started yet, and I'm already sick of everything…

It's about 5:20 when we leave the pizzeria. When we get to the stadium, we still have about 20 minutes before the game actually starts, but at least we got the best spots, and I get a moment to calm down when the guys leave to greet the footballers.

This is going to be a hell of a long night.

Chapter Text

Stadium

The game is ongoing and I'm starting to feel a bit nauseous from all the commotion around me. Chase is sitting next to me and cheering together with the other guys as our school scores another try (they're not bad), and the girls sitting behind us that followed him and his buddies into the stadium won't stop talking. Maybe I shouldn't have come here at all.

I think I'm starting to look a bit drowsy too, because Chase couldn't help but ask: “you aight?”

“Yeah I'm fine,” I replied, “I'm just not used to all this noise.”

“Me neither honestly.”

That surprised me a little. I thought he liked this kind of thing. “Really? Then why'd you come here?” I caught eye contact with him very briefly and it made me a bit flustered, not because he's drop-dead handsome, but because it's awkward.

“I dunno. It's been a while since I've gone to a football game. Gotta support my school, no?”

“...I guess.”

“Chase, you’re sooo sweet for bringing him along. You really think of everyone, huh?” One of the girls cooed.

“If he's bored, I'll gladly switch seats with him!”

Chase put his elbow on the backrest of his chair and leaned back, turning towards the girls. “Ladies,” he began with a sly smirk on his face, “would you be so nice and sit somewhere else please? Thank you in advance.”

“Oh!” They scoffed, “Are you coaching this guy or something? Well, whatever, if you don't want us here then we'll leave.”

And they were gone. Huh.

“Why'd you do that?” I asked.

“They were being annoying. If I hadn't said anything, they would've kept bothering me.”

“Right… Don’t you worry about them spreading rumours about you..?”

“What rumours? They have nothing on me.”

He's so careless. “They can make shit up.”

“At least they'll leave me alone.”

I guess he's right…Someone who's been swarmed by attention all his life like Chase might not be too fond of it. Personally, even though being admired and adored by everyone sounds nice, I don't think I'd be able to endure it the way he can. Well, it's not like that'd ever happen anyway. I think popularity partially stems from being the type of person who can deal with big crowds.

The rivaling school scored a try. Our side of the stadium booed and shouted slurs at the players (how fanatic) and I was honestly just waiting for it all to end. My headache was growing more painful by the minute. I started scrolling through Twitter™ out of boredom.

At one point, Chase grew tired of it too, and slouched in his chair. It was getting dark too.

It was 7:48 P.M. He turned his head towards me. “Wanna leave early?”

What? “...You don't want to stay?”

“No, this is boring as shit. Let's just go.”

“Ah…alright.” I stood up, and he followed right after me.

We were soon outside of the stadium, the blinding lights dimming a little, but the cheers and boos were still as loud as ever.

“Well, then…ssee ya,” I said, and of course, my stupid voice couldn't stop the stutter.

“Come on,” he complained, “I didn't ask you to leave with me only for us to part right here. I'll walk you home, aight? It can't be too far away.”

“Eh…I guess…” Is he serious? “Are you sure? You really don't have to do that…”

“And let me hold that.” He tore my bag off my shoulder and right out of my hands. “This is heavy, what the hell? Have you been carrying this around the entire time? You're insane.”

“Wwell…it's just…school stuff…”

This is kind of weird, but whatever. He's kind of gentlemanly, that's nice.

I hesitantly start walking roughly in the direction of my house, since I've obviously never been to the stadium before, but I do know the way. “Do you know your way around..? Won't you get lost?”

“GPS is a thing.” Right. I'm fucking stupid.

Before it got too awkward, he started talking again. “Sometimes I feel like you're the only person I can get along with.” (I really wish he hadn't said that, because it made me really flustered.)

“Wwhy..?”

“You don't really care about reputation and stuff, do ya? I like that. And you don't try to take advantage of me. I can have a normal conversation with you without seeming weird.”

“Aah…” Is he being serious right now?

Does he really think of me this way, or is he being delusional? I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but if he's being serious, then…I must be very lucky. It does make me feel a bit weird…maybe a little nauseous, when he says things like these. Should I even say anything right now or just stay quiet? What am I doing??? I'm about to fuck up everything.

“And you don't care that I'm fairly well-off.”

“What?”

“Didn't I tell you my dad is a CEO? Huh…I guess I haven't. Maybe that's why you're so nice to me.”

Wow. I couldn't help the small chuckle I uttered. “So you're a rich boy, huh…”

“Why are you laughing?”

“I'm not.”

“Damn right you are!”

This is somehow getting even more stupid. “Can you blame me? You're just casually bringing up how your dad is a CEO. I don't believe you.”

“Guess I need to invite you over sometime.”

…I didn't mean it that way. Fuck, if he's not joking and actually invites me to his place…what am I even supposed to do? I can't say no. I don't even want to say no. But it'd be so Goddamn awkward…

Who am I kidding, he'd definitely invite other people aside from me, too. I'm not the centre of the universe.

As we approached my house, I started slowing down a bit. “Well, you can turn around here… My place is right there.”

“Alright, then, how about tomorrow?”

“What tomorrow?”

“I'm inviting you over, duh.”

Already?! “Ah, um, okay…could you give me your address?”

“Could you give me your number?” He opened contacts on his phone and handed it to me.

“Oh, sure…”

I quickly typed in my number (but it took me longer than quickly, because my hands were shaking like mad) and left the name field empty before giving him his phone back. “Here…”

“I'll just pick you up so don't worry about the address.”

Pick me up? Does he have a car? He's 16, for God’s sake. “...Are you sure about this?” I'm a dumb idiot. “Ii mean, wwhat…time..?”

“I dunno, I'll text ya. is around 2 aight? I like to sleep in on the weekends.” He placed my bag of books on the ground.

“Yeah…”

“Then I'm leaving. See ya!”

“See ya…”

I'm going to end my life.

Chapter Text

Saturday 10:06 A.M. 28th of September

What in the world is going on. My heart's been beating like crazy since last night and I woke up to a mad headache. Thank God Chase won't be here for another four hours, because I am a mess.

I got off my bed and went to brush my teeth, shower and wear actual clothes. I'd normally just stay in my pyjamas all weekend, but this time I don't have the weekend just to myself.

“Mum.”

“What.”

“I'm going to a friend's house in a bit.”

“You have friends? That's surprising.” Thanks, mum. “You don't have to tell me every single time you're going somewhere.”

“Sorry.”

No support from this woman as always, and the living room smells of wine.

I go back to my room and find my phone vibrating with notifications. Unknown number. “Chase here”

“Hey”

“I am ready. I can come earlier if you want.”

“Take your time, I can wait. Thanks for hanging out with me btw, I kinda suck at talking with people face to face.”

Is what I'm doing smart? Probably not. I'm not very smart. But Chase deserves honest friends.

I do feel kind of bad about it sometimes. I have severe anxiety and I get nauseous very fast. Sometimes I have to cry when things get too overwhelming.

I'm not very manly. I'm not attractive. I have bad eyesight. I have horrible stamina. I don't understand how someone like Chase would want to hang out with me so casually.

I want to cherish our friendship. I really do. But I don't know how.

Oh, and he's been typing a message for the entire time that I spent degrading myself in my head. It's probably a long one.

“That's fine I get it.” Guess not. “Anyway I'm leaving now so get ready.”

“Alright”

What have I gotten myself into…

I quickly blowdried my hair and styled it a little (it's still a mess either way, so why do I even bother?) before heading outside where I saw Chase sitting on a little scooter. He looked up and put his phone away when he saw me.

“Adam! I was just about to text you. …I know this doesn't look super badass, but I don't have a second helmet, so I couldn't bring my motorbike.” He patted the space on the seat behind him. “Come on.”

“Okay…um…” I tried not to touch Chase, but when I lifted my leg over the scooter I had to stabilise myself with his shoulder. “Alright, um…”

Touching people is so weird. “I'll just…hold your shoulders.”

“Just don't fall off.” He gassed forwards and the force pulled me back a little with a small gasp. Fuck I must look so stupid right now…I've never been on a scooter before.

The rest of the way was fine because he stayed around the same speed the entire time. I tried to kind of look over his shoulder, but I couldn't see much…

But soon enough I could see that we were passing by some big modern houses. Maybe his dad really is a CEO…

“We're here,” he said and stopped the scooter, planting my face in his back. He got off and helped me off the thing, before we went through a large gate into some really fancy garden with a big three-story concrete house painted in white in the middle of it.

There was a garage in the back where Chase parked his scooter. There was indeed a motorbike, a regular bike, and a car in there. There was also another car next to the garage.

“You live here?”

“Yeah, believe me now?” He laughed.

“Maybe…”

Why does everything feel kind of relaxing right now? “Who else is here?”

“Just you and me. My parents won't be home for quite a while.” He opened the backdoor. “Come in.”

Inside, the smell of wood and leather filled my lungs. There was a large fireplace in the living room and wide stairs to the next floor and many, many doors. The first thing I did was take off my jacket and hang it on the coat rack.

It was very…spacious. Like something was missing. There was a large round carpet and a comfortable-looking sofa, as well as a generous amount of plants, yet…it felt so empty. So quiet. “This is a really nice house…”

“Looks nothing like my room,” Chase laughed, “because I never let the maid in. It's a mess, so we'll just stay here.”

“I really don't mind. I don't really like it when it's too tidy anyway. Makes the place look lifeless.”

“Really? Hmm…” he kicked his shoes off and shoved them into a corner, before walking to the kitchen area. “Hungry?”

“Ah, nnot really…”

He opened the fridge. “Come take a look. You always say you're not hungry, just eat something man.”

“Okay…” How can I say no…

I approached Chase and looked into the fridge. There were some frozen meals, cold snacks, meats, cheeses, sauces and whatnot. Also beer. Gross.

“Do you want to make something?” I asked.

“Now that you're suggesting it…why not? Let’s make pizza.”

“We had pizza yesterday.”

“So what? Ugh. Okay, let's make burgers.” The blondie grabbed the plastic container of burger patties off the fridge's top shelf that I didn't even know existed at first when I looked inside. Being tall has its perks…

I went ahead and grabbed the burger buns from a lower shelf…hoping that I was doing the right thing, and I think I was, because Chase tore them right out of my hands. Was he really so hungry? Well, I am, too…I guess. Didn’t eat breakfast.

He assembled the burgers and put them in the microwave. Then we stood in front of it and waited for it to finish in silence. …Why are we making burgers right now?

“Chase, have you had breakfast yet?”

“No, I woke up like 20 minutes before I picked you up. But you didn’t have breakfast yet, either, right?”

“How’d you know?”

He suddenly poked into my side with his finger, startling me a bit, and fuck it made me flustered… “You look like someone who skips breakfast. That’s a ‘no breakfast’ body right there.”

“What if it’s just genetic and you’re completely wrong?”

“Then you would’ve told me I was wrong. You just admitted I was right, though,” he chuckled, and the microwave started beeping soon after. He took the plate with the cheeseburgers out, and their smell immediately filled the kitchen…Yes, I’m definitely hungry. But man, why is this guy so cheeky?!

He gave me the burger on a little plate. “Here. What do you wanna drink?”

“Um…water’s alright.”

He grabbed two bottles of water, one for me and, presumably, one for himself. I kind of just followed him wherever he was going (I felt kind of stupid, but what can you do?) and eventually we were sitting in the living room. He kept talking about some trivial things, asking me what I wanted to do (I don’t know) and generally, we were just chatting. “I’ve…never been at anyone’s house except for my family members and stuff…”

“Ah. Really? Damn okay, I didn’t know you were this inexperienced. Gotta be more patient with ya then. I could give you a house tour, we could play something on my PS5, watch TV, play card games… Have you ever played on a console?”

How talkative… I feel drained already.