Page 29 of Chasing Chase London: Part 8-Valentines Day
I don’t know what it is that makes him so sure I told Lindsey. Sometimes it makes me angry thinking about it, wondering how he could think I would do that to him, and moreimportantly, to Lindsey. Other times it just makes me want to cry. I’ve been trying so hard to be strong for my friends, but when I’m finally alone in my room, I let all the tension out and sob my heart out into my pillow.
Some time later, I hear the doorbell downstairs. I don’t realize Daria is in my room until she sits on the bed next to me. “I’m sorry I put everyone through all this,” she says, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“It’s not you,” I say, brushing my tears away, embarrassed. Of all the people who should be crying, I am the last. I should be the one comforting Daria.
“Chase?” she asks in her usual perceptive Daria mode. I want to deny it, but the fresh burst of tears gives it away before I can. “What did he do this time?”
“Nothing.” She’s the only one I can tell though, and the words come pouring out. “He hates me. Or rather, he doesn’t even know I exist anymore.”
“Oh, he knows. What did you do?”
I just shake my head. I can’t tell her. “Nothing,” I repeat.
She studies me for a minute. “He thinks you told Lindsey?”
I nod, impatiently swiping the tears off my cheeks.
“Why didn’t you tell him you didn’t?”
“I did,” I say, throwing my hands up. “He didn’t believe me.”
“You told him it was me, and he didn’t believe you? Everyone knows I have a big mouth. How can he not believe you?”
“I know what you’ve had to deal with all week,” I say, giving her a look. “You didn’t deserve to take any more heat. I’m sorry. I wanted to be with you more, but Lindsey just needed me so much.”
“Girl, I totally get it,” she says, handing me a tissue box. “I’d do the same thing if you and Lindsey had a fight. It’sLindsey.Of course we’d take her side over anyone else.”
I flop back on the bed. “I didn’t mean to take sides. I shouldn’t even be friends with Chase, anyway. After all Lindsey’s been through, I shouldn’t be around him at all. It was already too hard. It’s better this way. I won’t be tempted if I don’t hang out with him, if he hates me. I deserve it for just thinking about him when he’s with Lindsey.”
“First of all,” Daria says, sounding like her old self, “you’re crazy. You don’t deserve for anyone to hate you. You’ve been there for me, and for Lindsey, this whole week. Chase should be kissing the ground you walk on for cleaning up his mess. And by that, I mean Lindsey.”
I snort and grab the tissue box to clean up my face while she’s talking.
“Secondly, Chase has no right to hate anyone for telling Lindsey. He’s the one who got himself into this mess. Well, actually that bitch Elaine did, but he was there. He could have told Lindsey himself, and then Elaine would have been out of the picture a long time ago instead of running around being a backstabbing man-stealing ho-bag.”
“Good point,” I mutter, tossing a wad of soggy tissues into the trash.
She grins. “I think I had a third point, but I got distracted by hating that evil snake and I forgot it. But I’m going to tell Chase tomorrow. It’s the least I can do, after what you’ve done for me. Lindsey actually apologized to me for being such a crazy bitch.”
“You can’t tell Chase,” I say quickly. “You should have seen him. He was really mad, and you don’t need to lose any more friends. I told you, it’s better this way. It really doesn’t even bother me that much now that I’m used to it.”
“Uh huh. Is that why you’re up here sobbing your eyes out and listening to Jewel?”
“Aww, you’ve finally learned the music of my people,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.
She rolls her eyes. “Everything I’ve learned about your music has been against my will.”
“But you have learned it.”
“And by now you should have learned that I’m not easily dissuaded,” she says. “I’m telling Chase tomorrow. I’m tired of keeping people’s secrets. If he’s pissed, he can deal with it. I really don’t care—and unlike you, I actually mean that.”
ten
Now Playing:
“Wildflowers”–Tom Petty
Monday morning Daria comes by to pick me up. “We’re getting this whole Chase business cleared up first thing,” she says.
