is obvious that this girl is hopelessly lost. There are no tears, but he doesn’t need to have them there to show that she is that sad. It is, without a doubt, the most beautifully sad painting I have ever seen. I have always felt like no one sees me, the invisible girl, but to him I am not invisible at all. I can feel him slowly walking up behind me and realize that I have tears in my eyes dangerously close to falling.
I turn to look at him. This boy that I barely know. This boy that, I can tell by looking at this painting, knows more about me than I do. This boy, that even though all logic says it doesn’t make sense, I trust wholeheartedly. As all of these feelings hit me, I throw myself into his arms and completely break down. Even though I have never let anyone see me cry before, I know he won’t judge. And he doesn’t. He stands there and holds me in his arms for what seems like hours, not rushing me, not making me feel stupid, just holding me.
It is the first time in my life that I feel safe.
When the bell rings to go to homeroom, I have calmed down enough that I am able to pull the rest of myself together to walk to class. I back up and look up at Chase, and he very gently leans over and kisses a tear from each side of my face. He kisses my lips then so tenderly as if to assure me that everything is going to be okay. He grabs my hand and walks me to class.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Chase
I hate school, and I hate Mondays, but I am looking forward to going to school today. I’ll have a whole day with Tenley in the same building, with her away from her mother. I know she is safe.
I really want to give her a ride to school, but I have no idea if her mother will let me. However, I’m pretty sure I saw her driving to work this morning when I was on my run. I’m not willing to take a chance, however, so I decide that I will just sit in my truck in the driveway until I see Tenley come out. When I do see her, I pull out and drive over to her to see if she wants a ride.
She accepts my offer of a ride and my offer for Starbucks, two reasons that make this Monday worth being awake for. That is, until she screams.
As fast as I can, I pull over so that I can see what is wrong.
Apparently, the first sip of Starbucks that she has ever had is so good that it has induced screaming. She is laughing at my concern for her, and every time she smiles or laughs, I can’t resist the urge to put my lips on hers. She is just so overwhelmingly hot when she is happy. And knowing that I have done something to bring that out only makes it better.
The kiss is quick because I know if I kiss her for real, that we will never get to school on time.
“Alright, young lady, I better get you to school before I decide to just run away with you,” I quip as I get the truck back on the road.
All of the sudden, she becomes quiet. I hope the kiss didn’t upset her. She seemed okay with it all of the other times, but something is definitely wrong now. I guess I will just let her be for the rest of the drive.
When we get to school, I get out and open her door like I always do, grab her backpack for her and then all of my art stuff and my backpack. She is still acting weird, so I cautiously ask if she minds if we go drop off my stuff in the art room so that we can hang out for a few minutes before our first class. It isn’t until we are about half-way there that I realize that the painting I did of her sitting by the wall is in there, and I don’t know if I want her to see it yet. However, there really isn’t a way to turn back now without making it obvious. Maybe she won’t notice it.
I head straight for my locker to put my stuff away in the hope that she will just follow me, but I am not so lucky. She is in the art room looking at all of the stuff that is displayed. As quickly as I can, I put my stuff away; and as I turn around, I can see that she is staring at my painting. My painting of her. My painting of her that she doesn’t know I have
I turn to look at him. This boy that I barely know. This boy that, I can tell by looking at this painting, knows more about me than I do. This boy, that even though all logic says it doesn’t make sense, I trust wholeheartedly. As all of these feelings hit me, I throw myself into his arms and completely break down. Even though I have never let anyone see me cry before, I know he won’t judge. And he doesn’t. He stands there and holds me in his arms for what seems like hours, not rushing me, not making me feel stupid, just holding me.
It is the first time in my life that I feel safe.
When the bell rings to go to homeroom, I have calmed down enough that I am able to pull the rest of myself together to walk to class. I back up and look up at Chase, and he very gently leans over and kisses a tear from each side of my face. He kisses my lips then so tenderly as if to assure me that everything is going to be okay. He grabs my hand and walks me to class.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Chase
I hate school, and I hate Mondays, but I am looking forward to going to school today. I’ll have a whole day with Tenley in the same building, with her away from her mother. I know she is safe.
I really want to give her a ride to school, but I have no idea if her mother will let me. However, I’m pretty sure I saw her driving to work this morning when I was on my run. I’m not willing to take a chance, however, so I decide that I will just sit in my truck in the driveway until I see Tenley come out. When I do see her, I pull out and drive over to her to see if she wants a ride.
She accepts my offer of a ride and my offer for Starbucks, two reasons that make this Monday worth being awake for. That is, until she screams.
As fast as I can, I pull over so that I can see what is wrong.
Apparently, the first sip of Starbucks that she has ever had is so good that it has induced screaming. She is laughing at my concern for her, and every time she smiles or laughs, I can’t resist the urge to put my lips on hers. She is just so overwhelmingly hot when she is happy. And knowing that I have done something to bring that out only makes it better.
The kiss is quick because I know if I kiss her for real, that we will never get to school on time.
“Alright, young lady, I better get you to school before I decide to just run away with you,” I quip as I get the truck back on the road.
All of the sudden, she becomes quiet. I hope the kiss didn’t upset her. She seemed okay with it all of the other times, but something is definitely wrong now. I guess I will just let her be for the rest of the drive.
When we get to school, I get out and open her door like I always do, grab her backpack for her and then all of my art stuff and my backpack. She is still acting weird, so I cautiously ask if she minds if we go drop off my stuff in the art room so that we can hang out for a few minutes before our first class. It isn’t until we are about half-way there that I realize that the painting I did of her sitting by the wall is in there, and I don’t know if I want her to see it yet. However, there really isn’t a way to turn back now without making it obvious. Maybe she won’t notice it.
I head straight for my locker to put my stuff away in the hope that she will just follow me, but I am not so lucky. She is in the art room looking at all of the stuff that is displayed. As quickly as I can, I put my stuff away; and as I turn around, I can see that she is staring at my painting. My painting of her. My painting of her that she doesn’t know I have
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