by Ruby Madden
Day grabbed her cello case, took a deep breath, and opened her bedroom door. Chase was on the other side with his hand raised to knock. His eyes widened as he looked down at her.
“You look beautiful,” he breathed.
“Thanks.” Daylen looked down shyly.
He leaned down and kissed her softly on her cheek, coming dangerously close to her lips.
“Uh huh…”
They pulled apart to see her mother standing in the doorway of her bedroom. She wasn’t fooled. She wore a pretty red dress that complimented her caramel skin and matching red lips.
“You look really pretty too, Mrs. D.” Chase tried to butter her up.
“Thank you, Chase. You look very handsome.” She smiled knowingly.
Chase bashfully shoved his hands in his pockets. Daylen had to admit that he did look really good in his khakis and black polo. He’d also foregone the blond spikes, in favor of a more refined, smoothed down look. His slicked down hair, for some reason, made his jawline look squarer, and his pretty brown eyes stood out as well.
“Well, we better get moving,” Pat announced, shooing them down the stairs.
Chase pulled the large cello case from Daylen’s shoulders, to carry for her. She saw her mom nod in approval of the gentlemanly gesture. In the entryway, Chase helped them put on their coats and he shrugged on his new leather jacket.
On the way to the theater where Daylen was performing at, she remained quiet. She let the notes from the piece she’d be playing, swirl in her head as her mom and Chase talked about his school. All too soon, she had to part ways with them. She took her cello from Chase and headed backstage, though not before he’d wrapped her in a big warm embrace, telling her to break a leg.
She was third in the lineup of performances. Her cello would be accompanied by the piano. Played by Drew, a boy her age from another high school in the area. They’d practiced together a lot over the last couple of weeks. He was quiet and so was she, so they hadn’t talked much during their practices. Instead, they’d bonded over the music they played together.
When they were announced, they looked at each other and took deep breaths. Drew walked out and sat on the piano bench, folding his hands in his lap. While Daylen walked over to the chair and sheet music stand, holding her cello by its neck in one hand. The bow in the other.
Daylen sat down, placed the instrument between her legs and tried to smile at the light applause from the audience. She looked over at Drew, telling him with her eyes that she was ready.
Chase watched as Daylen came out and sat in her designated chair. She looked beautiful and terrified. When she placed the cello between her legs, it was as if she was trying to hide behind the big, polished reddish brown instrument. She had pulled her hair to the side, letting her curling braids hang over her right shoulder. She wrapped her left hand around the neck of the cello, placed her delicate fingers on the strings, and positioned the bow at the bottom. After looking at the boy that was at the piano, Chase watched her take a deep breath and close her eyes.
The first strains of the song from her cello reached his ears and sent chills down his spine. The music stand with her sheet music was in front of her though Daylen didn’t open her eyes. The notes came to her from memory.
They played a medley of Silent Night and O Holy Night. The songs were slow and haunting. The deep notes of the cello tightened Chase’s throat. His eyes became glassy with unshed tears as the poignant melody wrapped around him. Chase wiped away a tear that escaped down his cheek.
Daylen pulled the bow across the strings one last time as the song ended. The audience burst out in applause and both Chase and her mom stood up, clapping exuberantly. Chase put his thumb and index finger in his mouth and whistled loudly. Of course to the utter mortification of the pretty girl taking her bows on stage. His heart swelled ten times its normal size and his chest puffed out with pride.
“That was amazing!” Chase said to her proud mother.
A little while later, Daylen quietly crept to their row during the performance of the Chicago Symphony. She sat in between them, in the seat they’d saved for her. Once she settled in, Chase reached for her hand and gripped it tightly.
“You were incredible!” Chase whispered in her ear.
“Really?” She asked with shining eyes.
“Really.” Chase grinned down at her.
Daylen smiled brightly and then pointed to the stage at the orchestra currently playing.
“That’s the Chicago Symphony. They’re considered one of the Big Five Orchestras in the country. I want to be their principal cellist one day,” she whispered to him, confessing her dreams for the first time.
“Then you will,” Chase said confidently.
He entwined their fingers together, gently stroking his thumb over the back of her hand.
Pat glanced over at the two young people and clearly saw what they had been trying to hide. She prayed that their burgeoning young love wouldn’t ruin their friendship or bright futures.
Chapter 12
And so it went, for the next couple of days, leading up to New Year’s Eve. Pat would walk around the corner and nearly catch the two best friends, in an almost compromising position. Until one day, she found them kissing in front of the kitchen sink while they were in the middle of washing and drying the dishes.
“Ahem.” Pat cleared her throat and she watched them jump apart, like the fear of God was in them.
Pat clenched her lips as she tried not to laugh at their embarrassment at finally getting caught.
“Sit,” She commanded of the two, pulling out two chairs. “We need to talk. The rest of the dishes can wait.” She quirked an eyebrow and waited for them to sit.
Daylen sat in the chair next to hers and Chase took the one across from her. She finally lowered herself once they were seated. Pat didn’t say anything for several beats, enjoying watching them squirm a little. She decided to take it easy on them and started to speak.
“What’s going on with you two? And don’t say ‘nothing.’ Aside from the fact that I just caught you two kissing, I’ve been noticing the way you’ve been acting around each other. All your little looks and secret touches.” They both looked at her in surprise, their faces equally pink. “Yeah… Didn’t think I noticed, did ya? Under my roof and pertaining to my daughter…I see all.” Pat informed them.
“I-I love her.” Chase stuttered out.
Daylen’s head whipped up to stare at him in shock and Pat smiled kindly at him.
“I know you do, sweetie. I can see it written all over your face. Heck, I’ve known this was gonna happen for years now.” Pat sighed in resignation, as Daylen whipped her head in her direction now. “Baby, if you keep doing that, you’re gonna give yourself whiplash.”
“You l-love me? And you knew?” Daylen asked them both.
“Yeah.”
“Yes.”
“I saw it the night you both were going to your fourteenth and fifteenth birthday party,” Pat told her.
“Jeez, why did everyone notice but me?” Daylen scowled.
“Because you don’t see yourself the way others see you,” Chase answered wisely.
Pat smiled at him in gratitude that he cared so much for her baby.
“Now…” Pat started again, drawing their attention from the googly eyes they were making at each other. “I don’t know what you two are up to and I really don’t wanna know.” Pat shuddered. “But please be careful. I’m not ready to be a grandma.”
“Mom!” Daylen exclaimed in mortification.
“Don’t ‘mom’ me. You’re eighteen, which means as much as I hate it, that you’re an adult. But you will respect me in my house. No funny business under my roof. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t even be allowed to stay the night, Chase. But I understand that you can’t exactly be at home right now.” She said looking at his yellowing black eye and healing cut lip.
“Yes, ma’am.” Chase bo
wed his head.
“I know that this is all new to you both and you’re filled with all kinds of emotions. But you both have bright futures and I don’t want this to get in the way of that. You’ll both be in schools that are over a hundred of miles apart. Have you even considered that yet?” Pat asked.
“Yeah.” They both answered sadly.
“Long distance relationships are hard. And I’m sure you’re thinking that you feel strongly enough for each other, that the distance won’t make a difference. If yes, then that’s great and you can be together when school’s done. But if not, I just want you both to try to remember that you were friends first. And that should never change.” Pat finished, warning them and reassuring them, all at the same time.
They both nodded their heads silently in understanding. Pat stood up from her chair, ready to call it a night. Chase’s voice stopped her.
“Mrs. D?”
“Yes?”
“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to take Day to dinner New Year’s Eve and then go to a party at Miguel’s house after. His parents will be there.” Chase looked her straight in the eyes as he asked to take Daylen on her very first date.
“Sure, you can take her. Please be careful, though. There are nothing but fools on the road New Year’s Eve. So no drinking.” Pat conceded, but with conditions.
“Yes, ma’am,” Chase said earnestly.
Pat nodded her head and walked out of the kitchen, leaving them to sort out their future.
“You really love me?” Daylen asked Chase again.
“Yes. I mean, I’ve always loved you. Now I’m just in love with you.” Chase answered sweetly. “D-Do you…?” He asked nervously, leaving the question hanging.
“Of course, I do. I’ve been in love with you since you saved me from bullies and told me I was pretty.
“I couldn’t tell with all your NKOTB and Jared Leto posters hanging on your walls,” Chase said, reaching over to pull Day out of her chair and onto his lap.
“Camouflage.” Day grinned down at him, before placing a soft kiss on his lips.
She licked at the crease of his lips and Chase opened up with a moan. Their tongues danced for a few moments before he pulled away with a painful groan.
“I can’t. Your mom is an evil sorceress. She was so cool about all of this and I don’t wanna disrespect her house. Well…any more than I already have.” Chase sighed regretfully as he stared at Daylen’s pink lips.
“This blows.” Daylen pouted.
“I’ll just have to find other places to take advantage of you,” Chase growled as he playfully kissed her neck. “There’s plenty of room in the back of Cortney.” He teased.
Cortney was his old beat up blue Ford Escort that he’d saved all of high school for, working odd jobs.
“Wow…so romantic.”
Chapter 13
Chase stared across the restaurant table at the pretty sight his date made. Day’s face was bathed in soft candlelight, a shy smile touching her lips. She’d piled her braids on top of her head in a bun and left out a few in the front and back to frame her face softly. She had on the sexiest thing Chase had ever seen her in, which made him salivate. It was a pale and hot pink, zebra print dress that flirted with the tops of her calves in a lightweight chiffon. A keyhole neckline gave just a hint of the glorious breasts underneath.
Chase had decided to use the hundred dollars his mom had given him to take Day to a nice dinner at Aurora’s famous Walter Payton’s Roundhouse. It was an old renovated historic building, romantic and fairly expensive. Plus, it was owned by a football legend before he died a few months back, so Chase figured he’d kill two birds with one stone.
“Um, Chase? Isn’t this place really expensive?” Daylen asked, a worried look crossing her face.
“Don’t worry about it, Pretty Day.” He waved away her concern. “I wanted to take you someplace nice for our first date.”
The place had been packed since it was a holiday. They’d barely been able to get a reservation, but Chase had turned on the charm over the phone. He’d let the hostess know that it was their all-important first date and he was trying to impress his lady. It had worked.
Their waitress came over and took their orders. Daylen’s hands trembled as she held up the menu, calling off what she wanted. Once the waitress was gone, Chase watched as his date looked at everything but him.
“Don’t be nervous, Day. Remember that no matter what it’s just me. We’re still best friends.” Chase soothed.
“I know. But I can’t help it. This all happened so fast. One minute you were my best friend that I was secretly in love with. And the next, we’re having sex and going on dates.” Daylen blurted out.
“And guess what?” Chase leaned in.
“What?” Daylen sat forward, following his lead.
“The sex is incredible and the date will be too,” Chase whispered, his sexy sideways smile gracing his lips.
Day threw her napkin at him and flushed shyly in response.
“So tell me…who’s your favorite old dead musical dude?” Chase asked, trying to pull her out of her shyness.
“You mean, composers?” Daylen giggled.
“Yeah, those guys.” Chase smiled brightly.
“I don’t know. So many people have a favorite. My favorite depends on my mood.” Daylen said, and then continued at Chase’s nod of encouragement. “Well… Mozart’s movements are happy and whimsical but fast paced. Like a funny chase scene in a movie. I like to listen to him when I’m in a good mood or trying to clean my room really quick. Beethoven is darker. He has these light moments and then it gets all dark and gloomy. I swear he must have had a split personality. Or maybe it was all the sadness in his life. You know he still wrote amazing symphonies after he went deaf?”
“I think I remember learning that at some point,” Chase answered with a smile. “Go on.”
“Well anyway, when I’m feeling down or moody, I like to listen to Beethoven. And then there’s Bach!” She leaned closer, getting really excited now. “I think Bach is fanciful. Like you should be dancing at a ball in sixteenth century England. But he does amazing cello suites, where I get to play all by myself, so that might put him on the top of my list. But I’m biased. Chopin is more of a piano guy, and soft like a lullaby. If I have trouble falling asleep, I can play his work.” Daylen sighed and got a faraway look in her eyes. Chase leaned in closer, just to watch the nuisances of her face, talking about something she loved.
“Are there more?” He asked, wanting her to keep going.
“Hmm… There’s Tchaikovsky. His concertos are grand, but can be sinister. But then they turn dramatic and heroic. I always imagine ballerinas leaping around the stage when his works are played. But I guess so, with the Nutcracker and Swan Lake and all. Vivaldi is great too. I always imagine a king walking into a grand ballroom when I hear him. A lot of it has to do with movies and TV. Their symphonies are used a lot in them. I bet you know a lot more music by old dead dudes than you think.” Daylen teased.
“You’re probably right.” Chase nodded in agreement. “Did you know that your entire face lights up when you talk about your music, though?”
“No,” Daylen said in a small voice.
“It’s…it’s… I don’t know. Breathtaking!” Chase said in wonder. “It’s like this whole other side of you that I never knew existed, came out after nine years of knowing you.” He watched as Daylen flushed with pleasure. “And you sound so mature talking about it. Like way more mature than I’ll probably ever be.” Chase chuckled.
“Oh, stop it!” Daylen shooed away his comment.
“It’s true. But that’s okay, you’ll be the smart one in the relationship. I’ll be the muscle.” Chase joked. “Just know that you can talk to me about this stuff whenever you want to and I’ll listen,” he said sweetly.
“Thanks, Chase.” Daylen smiled softly. “I guess I figured that if you knew, you’d think it was do
rky or something. Most kids our age aren’t interested in classical music. And I don’t play anything cute and girlie like Amy with the flute. The cello’s all big and bulky, but…I do love it.” Daylen breathed.
“I can tell. If you talk about me half as fondly as you talk about classical music and your cello, I’d be happy.” Chase winked at her.
“I do.”
They both grinned at each other over the single candle on the table. Their first date off to a great start.
~~~
“Are you ready to go in?” Chase asked Daylen as they sat in his car out front of Miguel’s parents’ house.
“I have some really good and really bad memories of this house,” Daylen said, burrowing deeper into her black faux fur dress coat.
“I know. But we can always make new memories. All good this time.” Chase persuaded.
“True.” Daylen took a deep calming breath. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Is my face still okay?” Chase asked, holding up his chin to angle his face up to the dome light.
Before their date, he and Day had stopped at the drugstore to pick up some makeup concealer for his healing black eye. He didn’t want people asking questions, so Day had applied the makeup to his eye. The whole time she’d stood between his legs, applying the concealer, he’d sat there and stroked her thighs with the back of his knuckles, distracting her.
“Yeah, looks good. Can’t even tell.” Daylen said, looking him over.
Chase grinned, kissed her lips quickly, and then got out of the car. Daylen stayed put after he’d scolded her earlier for opening her own door. He wanted to play the gentleman, and she was gladly letting him. Chase opened the door for her and she heard the music from inside all the way from the street.
“Sounds like a rager,” Daylen commented, her nerves kicking in.
“You’ll be fine,” Chase said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her towards the door.
