Page 51 of I Despise You
Chapter 17
THE NEXT FEW WEEKSpass by in a flash. I keep telling myself that I’m on a mission, and that what’s going on between Chase and me is just fun. I try to fool myself into thinking it’s just for the scholarship, but the truth is, I barely even think about it.
Chase and I go out often. We study together. Sometimes, he orders flowers for me and has them delivered to my room. Sometimes, we go for ice cream or lunch. Almost every morning, we get up early to take a run around the campus in the morning.
I still haven’t asked him about the pills, but I think he should tell me when he’s ready, especially if he doesn’t want anyone else to know.
I take a look at myself in the mirror. Chase and I are supposed to sneak out to go for dinner, so I’m wearing jeans and a dark red blouse. I have no idea where Chase is going to take me because he said it’s a surprise.
I apply some pink lip gloss onto my lips, and then I head out. The hallway is quiet, and I have no trouble getting to Chase’s room. He opens the door as soon as I knock. His black jeans, a white shirt, and a black leather jacket fit him so perfectly, as if they’re made for him.
“Hey.” His lips brush mine. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.” I take his hand, and we stride down the hallway.
We get off the campus easily, and when I see the restaurant Chase picked this time, I flash him a smile. It’s a nice, small place with a terrace that looks onto a park full of flowers and trees.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Love it.”
He leads me to our table, which is already set up, a candle and a red rose in the middle of it. After he pulls out a chair for me, I take a seat.
“I want you to try something,” he says. “I gave the cook my mom’s recipe for a dish she loved to make. I hope you’ll like it. But if you don’t, you can always order something else.”
Tears prickle the corners of my eyes. That’s so sweet of him. “I can’t wait to try it.”
When the waiter comes with our food and drinks, I can’t stop myself from stealing glances at Chase. He’s just so amazing. I don’t think he’d ever hurt anyone on purpose.
The food tastes incredible too, and once we’re finished, I take a sip of my coke. As I gaze at the trees, my thoughts fly away from Chase and somewhere else. A much darker place.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Nothing.” I turn my head back to him. “Everything’s perfect.”
“But you looked sad just a moment ago. What was that about?”
I’m surprised he noticed. “I just... I was thinking about my dad. The anniversary of his passing is in a week, and I usually go with my mom to visit his grave every year. But now’s the first time that I won’t be able to do it. It’s weird, I guess. But everything’s different in my life right now. I’m going to Richerville Prep, and I know my dad would want me to do my best at school, no matter what it takes.”
I can’t afford a trip there and back, especially since my mom and I can’t go together. A shudder runs through me as a cold breeze wraps around me, and I rub my arms.
“Are you cold?” Chase asks.
“A little,” I admit.
He shrugs out of his jacket, comes over to me, and drapes it over my shoulders.
“Thanks.” I look up at him and give him a small smile. His warmth seeps into me instantly, and gets even hotter when he bends down to press his lips against mine.
“I know just what you need,” he says as he sits back down.
“And that is?” I cock my head at him.
“Dessert.”
“Yeah, that sounds perfect, actually.”
“Ice cream?”
I nod. “Chocolate. Lots of chocolate.”
“Sure,” he says, before waving over the waiter.
I wonder if I should ask him about the pills anyway, or find a different way to steer the conversation to possible reasons why he may be taking them, but I don’t want to ruin the moment. Everything’s just so perfect, and I don’t want anything to change that.
I want to trust Chase.
And I want to trust myself and my instincts.
I hope I’m not wrong, because I don’t want this to end.
