Chapter 18: A Smooth Apology

"Hey, Aria," a small timid voice said. I looked up to see Emma, cute as a button, just standing in front of me looking sad. Before I went back to school, I was hoping to come to Susie's Smoothies and enjoy the peace. The small smoothie shop had a few seats outside. One of my romance books was in front of me. "Hi Emma, are you okay?" I asked her, knowing she was probably going to bring up her brother's foolishness from the previous night. "I'm okay. Are you?" she asked. I motioned for her to sit down, and she did. "Your brother infuriates me," I said, not wanting to press my luck. Emma was a sweetheart who loved her brother. I didn't want to talk bad about him in front of her. Emma nodded and took a sip of her smoothie. "What he did was stupid. Sometimes he just can't control himself," she said with a sad smile. "I know. I always want him to be himself. It's just sometimes he takes it too far. He could have gotten seriously hurt last night," I said, holding back what I wanted to say. "Go ahead," Emma said softly. As if she was a mind reader, she said, "Really, it's okay. Just because he's my brother doesn't mean you have to hold back. It might help." I held back tears, nearly choking them back the more I replayed last night in my mind. Jumping off the roof was scary, and I would have been just annoyed at that. There was more to it though. "Why did he have to kiss that girl? I was right there! He did that in front of me as if my feelings meant nothing to him." I wanted to flip the tiny metal table. I wanted to smack him in the face and kick the girl in the shins. My better judgment was holding me from doing something stupid, something Chase couldn't seem to do. "He's an idiot, Aria. He doesn't think before he moves. He's also not used to having something as spectacular as you in his life," she said, which made me smile a bit. I wiped a tear away. "I don't want to be like the other girls. If he is going to try and treat me like them, then there is nothing left for me to say to him." The words came out of my mouth before I realized they were true. I deserved better. He had been given chance after chance to prove himself, and he crossed the line this time. "You're nothing like the other girls. First of all, he has become a much better person since he met you." She pointed a finger at me. I scoffed. "That's concerning for so many reasons," I said, and she laughed. "Second of all, he could not stop talking about you last night. He feels guilty about all of it. That girl means nothing to him. He doesn't even know her." Emma started to plead. I could hear the desperation in her voice. "That might not be enough. Is there a third of all?" I asked as I wiped a tear across my cheek. "Yes. Third of all, we both desperately need you in our lives. He might need some extra time to be good enough, but he's trying," she said and put her hand on mine. I smiled and nodded at her. I understood why she was trying so hard. I started to wonder if Emma had grown an attachment to me as well. "I'll listen to what he has to say. I won't give up yet," I said to her. In truth, I had no idea what I wanted to do. "Good." Emma wave to someone behind me and got up. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Aria." She winked and walked off. In her place, Chase sat down. I adjusted myself and sat up straighter, trying to look stronger. "So this wasn't a coincidence," I said, looking him in the eye. I read somewhere it was a way to establish dominance, and I needed the confidence to deal with him right now. "I don't know what else to say, but I am sorry," he said gently, almost afraid to look at me but does anyway. "That's a start, I guess. Is there more to that because that's not going to be enough this time," I said as my hand started to shake. I moved it into my lap so he didn't see. "I was so drunk and hyped up that I didn't even realize that wasn't you next to me," he explained. I shook my head. Did that make it better or worse? "That is so sweet. I look like every other girl around you. Thanks for that," I said sarcastically, which I knew didn't help, but he was starting to make me angrier than I was before. "Okay, there is no excuse for what I did. I've been terrible to you, sending your mixed signals and just being a bad person. I am so sorry, Aria. I understand you don't want to see me or talk to me. I don't blame you for that." He stopped and looked around as if showing this much vulnerability in public for him was a crime. I realized he probably wasn't used to this anyway. I felt my face soften. Was this what it is like to see a lion roll over? "That is a much better direction than where you were heading." I tried to hold back a small smile. It was hard not to when he was around, even when I wanted to hate him. I didn't want to be angry, sad, or confused. I just wanted to smile with him, even when I could choke him. "Will you forgive me? I know it might take some time to trust me again, but I want to earn that back." He slouched in his chair. The bad boy had a weakness. Me. "Yes, I can forgive you. Just try to do better, okay? My heart can't take something like last night again," I said. I wanted to reach my hand out, but I was scared to. He looked around, inched his chair around the table, and stopped next to me. His hand moved ever so slowly to my cheek. He held my face for a few seconds. I caught myself staring into his eyes. They were exquisite like a black hole that wanted to be filled. His thumb caressed my cheek. Slowly, he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. I felt a tingle shoot up and down my spine. If this feeling never went away, I would be the happiest girl on the planet. Chase's soft lips danced with mine. It was like hours passed when it had only been seconds. He pulled away, and I gasped as if I lost oxygen. He smiled and caressed my cheek one last time. "Do you need a ride home?" he asked in a whisper. I badly wanted to say yes, but my mom was picking me up once she was done grocery shopping. I told him that, and he kissed my hand. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow," he said. He got up and left, looking back once to see me watching him. Later that night, my tablet dinged. It was set to the fake profile while I had my regular one on my phone. It was easier than logging in and out. "How have you been?" said the message. I should have been concerned he was messaging other girls, but we never talked about that. Plus, he hadn't been inappropriate in a while. "Ups and downs like everyone," I typed back. "How about you?" I hit send. "Just hanging out with my sister. We are watching a movie. Don't ask me what it's about," he replied with a confused emoji. "Any word on the parents?" I asked. It had been a while since we talked about them, and I still wanted to learn more. "They are getting home late tonight. Ten bucks say they don't even ask how we've been. They haven't even called while they've been gone. What kind of parents do that?" he asked. I felt the tension in his words. I would have been hurting if it were my mom. "I don't know. I'm sorry you have to deal with that. It's not fair. Your parents should be there with you no matter what." I hit send and caught myself twirling my hair. I was grateful my mom was around. I should have another night with just her. "I think they just got home," he sent, and more typing bubbles popped up. "Try to ask them how their trip was. Maybe they don't know how to connect with you," I responded. He didn't send anything for a few minutes. Maybe he was taking my advice. "They talked to us for a bit and are going to bed, saying we can talk more in the morning because they are tired. I'm going to bed," he finally responded and then logged off. I couldn't be surprised he was how he was because of his parents. I hoped it got better for him.