by Ruby Madden
Chase didn’t even bother to knock, considering the party was in full swing and no one would’ve heard it anyway. It was around ten-thirty, only an hour and a half away from midnight and everyone seemed suitably buzzed.
Miguel’s parents were the super cool, laid back type. The type that would let teens drink there as long as they stayed the night. Everyone at the party seemed to be taking full advantage of this fact. It was a sea of red cups as far as Daylen’s eyes could see.
She gripped Chase’s hand tightly, her anxiety starting to kick into high gear. He rubbed his thumb over her hand soothingly.
“Oh shit! Chase and Day made it to the festivities!” Miguel shouted after he spotted them
The partiers all cheered loudly. Daylen figured the cheers were more for Chase than her, which she was fine with. Miguel strode over and clapped Chase on the back happily. He then released him and moved in to give Day a massive hug. Miguel was going to Southern Illinois University, so he hadn’t seen Chase since August either.
“It’s good to see you guys. The gangs together again!” He said boisterously. “Amy is around here somewhere.”
At that moment, the girl in question found them and squealed in delight. She wrapped Daylen in a warm embrace and then gave Chase a hug as well. Daylen had been so wrapped up in Chase being home and falling in love with him twenty times over, that she’d forgotten to call Amy to give her all the details.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Amy exclaimed. “Wow, it’s like old times again.”
“Here let me take your coats and I’ll put them upstairs in my room.” Miguel offered.
Chase shrugged off his leather jacket and then helped Day out of her fluffy coat. Miguel and Amy’s mouths dropped open at the sight of her sexy, yet classy dress.
“Damn, Day! You get hotter every time I see you!” Miguel ogled her.
“Keep your eyes to yourself, man.” Chase scowled at his friend as he pulled Daylen into his side possessively. He kissed her temple softly and she looked up at him with a bashful smile.
“Wait a minute… Are you guys finally…together?!” Miguel asked, staring at them in disbelief. Then he looked at Amy to see if he was the only who’d noticed the intimate kiss and lovey-dovey gaze.
“Yeah,” Chase answered with a huge grin.
“No fucking way! It’s about damn time!” Miguel shouted and then high-fived Chase.
“No way! You guys are like a real life Joey and Dawson!” Amy exclaimed. The show Dawson’s Creek was their current obsession. The theme of the show had not been lost on Daylen.
Daylen’s face turned about as pink as her dress as Amy grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.
“You have to tell me everything,” Amy whispered, excitedly. “Did you…you know?”
Daylen just blushed and looked away.
“You didn’t?!” She searched Day’s face. “You did!” She shouted at Daylen’s guilty smile. “Oh my God! I need details!”
A couple of spots on the couch became available and Amy dragged Daylen over to sit down. Day looked over at Chase. He winked at her and turned to continue talking to a very animated and wobbly, Miguel.
“So how was it?” Amy asked curiously, still holding on to her virginity until she found a more mature boy. At least that’s how she put it.
“It was…amazing,” Daylen told her softly. “It really hurt at first, but he was slow and gentle.”
Amy sighed wistfully. Then she began a full-scale interrogation, wanting to know everything there was to know about sex. Being a band geek herself, they weren’t always around sexually active teens or any that were willing to talk about it. Day immediately became her only source of reference.
Daylen hesitated at first, but under the pressure of incessant questions, she finally gave in. The tiny redhead rested her chin on her hand, completely absorbed in every detail. Like she was watching an episode of their favorite show.
They were still in the middle of their discussion when Daylen saw the sweep of familiar chestnut brown hair. She looked up to stare into the eyes of Whitney Taylor. Oh, great! Daylen breathed out a frustrated breath. Amy followed her eyes to where Day was looking and cringed.
“Yeah, she’s been here all night. I swear she’s had her eyes on the door all night, waiting for Chase to get here.” Amy said as they both watched Whitney smirk at Daylen, and then turned to walk over to Chase.
It was well known that Whitney wanted Chase since they were kids. She’d chased after him all throughout high school after the bathroom incident, but he’d steered clear of her. He had been afraid of hurting Daylen even more. Everyone also knew that Whitney had tried to get into U of I, but unless you were pretty damn smart or an amazing athlete, that wasn’t going to happen, so instead she’d went to ISU. One of the closest schools to him, without completely being in the sticks.
She had been a thorn in Daylen’s side since day one. Like a pretty little insect that just wouldn’t go away. Time to go kick the hornet’s nest. Daylen pushed off of the couch and walked over to Chase, Whitney, and Miguel. Amy followed closely behind, not wanting to miss any possible fireworks.
Chase saw Day approach them, and he smiled in relief. He lifted his arm to make a place for her against his side. She smiled up at him and he bent down to kiss her lips softly. The move was intentional and warmed Day from her scalp to her toes and everywhere in between. Miguel and Amy smiled brightly at them, happy to finally see them together. Whitney was another story. Her eyes narrowed and her face looked as if she’d sucked on a lemon.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?!” Whitney spat as she turned on her high heeled boots and stalked away.
“Thank God that’s over with,” Miguel said, rolling his eyes. “I mean, what she sees in you when she could’ve had me years ago, I’ll never know!” Miguel joke, feigning exasperation.
They all laughed and breathed a sigh of relief that the snobby girl had finally given up. If only it were that simple.
~~~
After a fun lesson in Salsa to the song Bailamos, as taught by a drunken Miguel. Chase left Daylen with Amy on the designated dance floor in the living room to go relieve himself in the bathroom. When he closed the door, memories assailed him from the party four years back. The recollections of his first BJ were not fond, at least not the fallout from it. Chase shook his head and flushed the toilet.
He washed his hands and checked his face in the mirror to make sure that the makeup hadn’t rubbed off when he a heard knock at the door. He grinned thinking it was Day, wanting to fool around a little. Chased reached for the door. As he opened it déjà vu hit him in the gut.
There stood Whitney. All confident seductress, in her little black dress and knee-high boots. Chase groaned inwardly.
“What do you want, Whitney?” Chase grumbled.
“That’s not a way to greet your old friend.” She pouted.
She placed a hand on his chest, trying to push him back into the bathroom like she’d done all those years ago. This time, though, he wasn’t having any of it. Plus, he was twice as big as her now and the only way she could push him anywhere was if he let her.
“Back off, Whitney.” He grabbed her hand and pushed it away. “I’m with Daylen now. You know that,” he said firmly.
“Aww come on. For old time’s sake. You know I can do it better than her.” Whitney offered, giving him a sexy smile. The look only turned him off. He realized there was nothing sexier than Day’s shy smiles.
She reached out to touch him again and a voice reached their ears.
“Touch him one more time and I’ll break every bone in your knobby little fingers,” Daylen warned quietly.
Chase smiled proudly at his best friend-turned-girlfriend. She may have been shy and reserved, but when it came to this particular brunette. She was all protective she-cat.
Whitney snatched her hand back. It was obvious she was having a flashback of getting her ass beat in the snow, one
late afternoon years ago. They watched as she stormed off, back to the party to find her next victim.
Chase looked down at Day and she gave him the squinty eye. He held up his hands, palms out, swearing innocence.
“I swear, I didn’t do anything.” Chase quickly blurted out.
“I know. I was just checking.” Daylen gave him a small smile as she walked up to him.
Chase wrapped her up in his strong arms and breathed in her light powdery scent.
“Come on. Let’s get outta here. I’m over this party.” Chase leaned down to whispered in her ear.
“Are you sure? What about the countdown? We’ve only got about twenty minutes.” Daylen asked, looking up at him.
“Yeah, I’m sure. And don’t worry, we’ll have a countdown of our own.” Chase grinned slyly.
He ran up to Miguel’s room and grabbed their coats. They quickly said their goodbyes and headed out into the chilly night. It wasn’t as cold as it had been, which was why giant fluffy snowflakes were falling down around them.
“It’s snowing.” Daylen smiled as she looked up.
For the rest of his life, Chase would never forget watching as snowflakes landed on her rosy cheeks, pink lips, and curling eyelashes. Only to melt seconds later, making her face dewy and glistening. He was quickly coming to the realization that Day was the love of his life. Chase just hoped that love would be strong enough to be the glue that held them together through the coming separation.
“You’re so damn beautiful, it’s like getting sacked by a linebacker. I swear I can’t breathe sometimes when I look at you.” Chase confessed passionately and he rubbed his stomach, where it felt like he’d been hit.
Day’s cheeks grew even rounder as a radiant smile graced her lips.
“Come on.” Chase grabbed her hand and led her to the car.
He couldn’t wait any longer to be alone with her. It had been a few days since he’d been inside her, and he was jonesing for a fix.
Chase helped her inside the car and quickly got in the driver’s seat. He started up the engine and headed to the park. He found a fairly secluded spot, hoping they wouldn’t get caught by the cops and parked the car.
Chase left the car running to keep it warm inside and turned the radio on low so they could hear the countdown. They both awkwardly crawled to the backseat, after removing their coats. Chase immediately pulled Day onto his lap, until her knees straddled him on either side.
He raised his hand to gently brush back the braided tendrils that fell in her face. The pads of his thumbs stroked her plump cheeks softly. Daylen leaned her face into his palm and closed her eyes, absorbing his touch. Her long, curling eyelashes fanned against her high cheekbones.
“My Pretty Day,” Chase whispered softly.
He pulled her in for a kiss. He’d meant to take it nice and slow, but their hunger from their forced abstinence caught like wildfire. Chase gripped her face tightly as he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Day moaned and rolled her hips in time to the rhythm of his seeking tongue, against his straining erection.
Chase tugged at the straps of her dress and bra until they dangled near her elbows. Her breasts free and heavy, awaiting his attentions. He released Day’s lips and lifted her breasts to the perfect position for his hungry mouth. Chase wrapped his lips around her tightening areola and swirled his tongue around the peak. Daylen’s head fell back and she grasped his shoulders tightly in her hands.
“Chase!” She cried out as he moved to her other breast.
“Yeah? What is it, Pretty Day?” Chase panted against her flushed butterscotch skin.
“Please,” was all she was able to get out.
Chase vaguely heard the DJ start the countdown at ten. He quickly unfastened his belt and jeans, releasing his thick erection. And lifted her dress to bunch around her hips.
“…five…” He kissed her right nipple.
“…four…” He kissed her left.
“…three…” He slid her panties to the side.
“…two…” He positioned her over his hard shaft.
“…one.” He slid her down his length with a welcoming sigh.
Day rested her forehead against his and gripped his shoulders for leverage. She used her trembling thighs to raise her hips and then plunged back down around him. Chase panted against her lips. The feel of her slick, silken heat nearly undoing him.
“Happy New Year.” Daylen breathed.
“Happy New Year, Pretty Day.” Chase groaned. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Chase.”
The windows fogged up in the cold night air. Snowflakes danced around the rocking car as the two inside brought in their new year together. Both prayed it would always be this way.
Chapter 14
A week later, Daylen had to sadly send Chase off, back to school. Armed with a mixed CD of her favorite old dead musical dudes.
“They’ll help you out, depending on your mood. Listen to Mozart if you wanna get pumped for a game. Or Chopin, if you need help sleeping. Beethoven, while doing your homework. And Bach’s cello suites, if you start missing me.” Daylen smiled shyly as they sat in Cortney, the night before he had to leave.
“Oh, there’s no doubt that I’ll be missing you.” Chase grinned down at the disc in his hand. “Thank you, Day.”
“You’re welcome.”
They spent the evening making love in the back of his old car. When Chase was finally almost too exhausted to drive, they went back to her house. They didn’t want to be apart a second longer than they had to be but didn’t want to disrespect her mother either. Instead of sleeping in separate rooms, the two of them fell asleep in each other’s arms, out in the open on the couch in the family room. Daylen’s head snuggled warmly against Chase’s chest.
Pat found them that way the next morning. And she couldn’t help but smile at them, before making her way into the kitchen to start some coffee.
The noise from the kitchen pulled Chase and Daylen from pleasant dreams, into heartbreaking reality. Day smiled sweetly at him and then covered her mouth with her hand. As she tried to mask her morning breath. Chase smirked and brushed her hand out the way.
“I don’t care about your dragon breath. I doubt mine is any better, but nothing is gonna stop me from doing this…” Chase leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss filled with desperation.
He clasped her face, stroking his thumb over her soft butterscotch skin. He memorized her lips and face with his lips and hands. He released her lips and panted against her mouth as he rested his forehead on hers. Chase squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw tightly, making the muscle there tick.
“I’m gonna miss you so damn much!” He exclaimed in a whisper.
“Me too.” Daylen murmured back softly.
A few tears slipped down her temples and Chase kissed them away. Daylen knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but it sure did feel like it.
Chase placed soft kisses all around Day’s face. He then pushed himself up and off of her with a regretful sigh.
“I better start getting ready.” Chase stood.
“Okay.” Day sat up and looked down glumly.
“Hey.” Chase raised her chin with his index finger. “It’s gonna be okay, Pretty Day. We’ll make it through this.” He reassured her naively before he headed upstairs to shower and pack.
“I hope so,” Daylen said with a sense of dread.
It wasn’t long before they stood in the doorway, Chase’s duffel bag on the floor next to him. He looked like a sexy bad boy, standing there in his new leather jacket and jeans. His soft brown eyes with muted green flecks were the only evidence that he was hurting. His natural confidence faltered slightly, not sure he could hold on to Daylen from so far away. She’d never seen him so unsure of himself.
“Wait for me?” Chase asked, looking down at her.
“Always.”
Chase grabbed Daylen’s face with his large hands a
nd kissed her hard. She tasted desperation on his lips and was sure he tasted the same on hers. She had no clue how a person could feel so overwhelmingly overjoyed and utterly heartbroken all at the same time. But it was certainly how she felt at the moment. To know she was loved by the one person she had secretly loved, for what felt like her whole life. Only to have him leave her for the next several months.
Unwelcome tears filled her eyes and spilled down her round cheeks. They broke apart and Chase looked at her with glassy eyes. He cleared his throat a few times, before speaking.
“Don’t cry, Pretty Day. I’ll be back.” Chase’s voice came out strained and husky. He reached down and grabbed his bag and quickly opened the door. Almost as though, if he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Daylen’s voice trembled.
Chase stomped down the front stairs and strode quickly to his car. He opened the back door and threw his duffel bag in the backseat. He swallowed thickly, around the enormous lump in his throat. He looked back at the front door and Daylen, who stood there with wet cheeks and a hesitant smile.
He lifted his hand in farewell and she waved back. Chase opened the driver’s side door. He stepped his foot into the car but felt someone watching him. He glanced up at his house and saw his mother standing in the window of the front room. She held her hand up, pressing it against the window. Chase smiled sadly at her and nodded his head. It was obvious that she had been told by his father to stay away from her own son.
As Chase got in the car, his heart fractured down the middle. Both sides ached equally for different reasons. One side squeezed painfully for the lack of love he received from his own father and the life his mother had to endure. The other ached from having to leave Day when this new side to their relationship was only just beginning to blossom.
Chase started the car and pulled away from the curb. His insides were completely at war as the two houses became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. One part of him never wanted to come back again, his father was dead to him. The other wanted to stay, to be with Day.
