Aggro - CoraLee June Page 0,44

the familiar route to my locker, last night and the events leading up to it still playing in my head. I could still smell the rotting garbage of the mobile home mixed with the sweet apple pie. I was twisting the lock and thinking about Lex’s scar when I heard Chase’s voice behind me.

“Are those the same clothes you were wearing yesterday?”

“Yes,” I answered, looking down at my outfit. I was surprised that he even noticed what I was wearing. I guess he wasn’t avoiding me quite as much as I thought.

“Why are you wearing the same clothes?” he growled, his nostrils flaring.

“I didn’t go home last night,” I told him.

“From the barbecue. You spent the night with Kai,” he said, anger brimming over in his voice.

“Yes,” I said defiantly, crossing my arms over my chest. We still hadn’t talked since I caught him with Celeste, and I was seething that he had the nerve to be upset about me not spending the night in my own bed.

Chase bared his teeth in rage at my confirmation of his suspicions and sent a fist straight into the locker next to mine with enough force to leave a dent. I stared at Chase in disbelief, my eyes wide and my body involuntarily trembling at his outburst. He was spiraling out of control, and for the first time, I was scared of him. Chase must have seen the fear on my face. He dropped his fist, and the anger drained from his body.

“Oh my God. Breeze, I’m so sorry,” he apologized, pleadingly. I couldn’t move or speak, my body still in shock. I just stared at him until he started talking again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t know where that came from. I would never hurt you. I was just so worried about you yesterday. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” he rambled desperately. For someone so worried about me, he didn’t bother to call or text. He didn’t check in yesterday before I left with Kai. It pissed me off that he got to pick and choose when his anger best suited him.

By this time, a crowd had gathered around us. People were staring and whispering. Those that didn’t see were asking their friends what happened, and others were taking pictures of the fist shaped dent in the locker.

I wanted his apology to feel genuine, but I couldn’t force myself not to tremble at his aggressiveness. I eyed the growing crowd again, and Chase turned around to yell at them. “This isn’t a fucking show. Go to class or something.”

Slowly, the students left, though some of them lingered, obviously curious what had Chase Jones so angry at me. I felt drained. Overwhelmed. My eyes were heavy with exhaustion. I wanted a shower and a good twenty-four hours to process everything that I’d learned about Violet.

“If you ever raise a fist to me again, I’ll leave, Chase,” I said calmly. “We’re both suffering. We’re both grieving. We’re both...broken. I might not be used to fighting my own battles, but Violet’s gone. I’m not going to stand here and let your temper tantrums intimidate me.”

Chase had the decency to look ashamed. His eyes were downcast as he absorbed every single word I calmly let spill from my lips. “I’m sorry,” he whispered again. “I’m so sorry.”

“I love you, Chase,” I continued. His eyes snapped up to me, awe glimmering in his gaze. “I care about you, and I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want to be scared of you. I want to work together and figure out what happened to Violet, but I can’t do that if you’re constantly pushing me away.”

Chase grabbed my hips and leaned closer, pressing his forehead against mine in the process. “You love me?” he asked. Of all the things I’d said, I was surprised that he clung to that statement most.

“Of course I do,” I replied. “We’re like family.”

Chase rested his forehead against mine. I breathed in his minty breath and the smell of his woodsy cologne on his skin. He dug his fingers into my hips and pressed his pelvis closer to mine. I knew people were watching. I knew people would have questions. “I love you too, Breezy Baby. It’s why I go crazy thinking about you with Kai. I just want you to be safe, okay?”

Chase grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him. His soft lips were only a breath away. “I was safe,” I replied.