Chase hated parties.
Too many people. Too many intoxicated people, to be specific. He never understood how high schoolers could obtain ridiculous amounts of alcohol, but they somehow always managed to get it done. And the music at these things usually sucked. Actually, it always sucked.
He preferred staying home and eating an entire box of pepperoni pizza while watching some hockey.
Sadly, he wouldn't be doing any of that tonight. Reason one: the San Jose Sharks were out of the playoffs. Reason three: Theo wouldn't stop begging him to come. Reason three, which was the most important one: he was there to see a girl. And not just any girl. Stella James—the star girl of River Hill High: Go Sentinels!
She was senior class president, eventual valedictorian, and the city's reigning gymnast champion. Chase saw her for the first time in the halls while being escorted to his new locker by Theo Holland, his only friend in the entire school. Normally, he kept his head down and avoided people. With his parents being in the military, moving schools every year or so was normal. He learned not to get too attached to anything or anyone.
But something about Stella was different. She had the gravitational pull of a star.
The first time they met hadn't gone the way he anticipated. He'd just decked Bryson Baker—who just so happened to be Stella's boyfriend—in the nose after the guy stole Theo's asthma inhaler and refused to give it back. The scathing look she'd given him was ingrained in his brain.
Even now, as he walked into the party nestled in the forest, he smiled at the memory. He might've gotten a week's worth of detention for it, but he wouldn't have changed a thing about their encounter. Plus, he and Theo would've never become friends had he not stepped in. Sure, the guy was a motormouth and could be annoying at times, but he was a good kid.
And his dad always taught him to stick up for the little guy. Especially when no one else would.
Stella had immediately come to her boyfriend's rescue after he dropped to the hallway floor like a sack of coins, his nose dripping red. If Chase thought he had any semblance of a chance with her before, it was gone after that day. That didn't mean his crush on her went anywhere, though.
Fortunately, he was a master at suppressing his feelings. Growing up on military bases with a distant Navy SEAL as a father made it a necessity. Besides, Bryson Baker might've been a douchebag, but Chase wasn't in the homewrecking business. Even if she didn't have a boyfriend, he was still the new kid. She was the most popular girl in school.
Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he continued to look around for Theo. As he got deeper into the party, anxiety bubbled inside his stomach. Few things made him nervous. He was taller than the average guy and built like an athlete after years of combat training, but something about the trivialities of high school socializing always got to him.
Not too late to go back home…
His old pickup truck—a hand-me-down from his mom—was just a five-minute walk from where he parked it.
"Chase, dude! You made it!"
He cursed. Okay, now it was too late.
Faking a smile, turned to face Theo. "What, you thought I'd miss all this?" He sarcastically gestured at the festivities around them.
Multi-colored lights hung from the branches of the trees, illuminating the small portion of the woodlands the party occupied. Other decorations had been set up as well, including streamers, a few tables for snacks and drinks, and a makeshift DJ station. Obnoxious pop music blared from the speakers stationed around the venue. But people didn't go to parties for the tunes; they went to have fun and get drunk and do dumb stuff. By the look of things, the students of River Hill High were doing just that.
"Isn't this great?" Theo bounced on his heels, eyes wide.
Chase could tell he was excited. The crazy smile and animated expressions weren't what tipped him off, though; that was typical Theo. No, it was the fact that his stutter and constant fidgeting were becoming more noticeable by the second.
"It's alright, I guess," he replied. "Beach parties back in California were better."
"You Californians wouldn't know a good party if it crashed into you at light speed." Tilting his head, Theo smirked at his friend. "Hey, have I ever told you how much you look like the typical surfer dude? You know, with the whole tall, blue-eyed, blond-haired thing you've got going on."
"Thanks?"
"Wasn't a compliment, dude," Theo joked. The two of them laughed.
Chase jammed his hands into the pockets of his ripped jeans. He searched the crowd of people dancing around them. "You seen Stella around anywhere?"
Theo grinned. "That's the only reason why you came, isn't it?"
"The Sharks aren't playing tonight."
"You know this is Capitals territory, right?"
Chase rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." The Washington Capitals were terrible.
Sighing, Theo gestured towards a table filled with different beverages. "I saw Stella getting drinks not too long ago. Might want to be careful, though. Bryson and the football team are here. You can go look for her after we—"
Chase cut his friend off by clapping a hand onto his shoulder. "Good looking out, Holland. I'll be right back, yeah?" He didn't wait for a reply. After breezing past him, he pushed his way into the crowd and made his way towards the refreshments.
The music drilled through his bones as he navigated through the horde of dancing teenagers. The strobing lights and the tacky smoke machine hidden somewhere in the trees made it a little difficult to see. His nose crinkled as the scent of cheap beer and sweat invaded his nose. After a few more seconds of sidestepping and bumping into people, he arrived at the drinks table.
He did his best to hide his smile.
There she was. Stella James. She wore a yellow crop-top with ripped jeans that complemented her gymnast figure perfectly. Glittery makeup stood out against her golden complexion. Her mahogany-colored hair wasn't in its usual ponytail; it flowed down her back like a silky cape.
Chase forced himself to stop staring.
He glanced down at his own clothes and instantly regretted not picking a better outfit. A retro hockey jersey and some old jeans weren't the most impressive choices. He remained at the edge of the crowd, desperately trying to psych himself up to walk up to her. What was he so afraid of? He wasn't trying to steal her from her boyfriend or anything. In all honesty, he just wanted to get to know her. Maybe even be friends—if that was even possible.
Something about her was intriguing. He wanted to know what that something was.
Giving himself a few internal words of encouragement, he shook off his nerves and made his way over to her.
Her back was facing him as he approached. She was surrounded by a few of her friends, all of them laughing and swaying to the music. Not trying to seem like a creep stalking them, he grabbed a solo cup, took a regretful sip, and pretended to look at something else. A new song blasted through the speakers. Stella and her friends immediately started screaming the lyrics.
Chase's face lit up.
He inched closer to her, now standing to her left.
"This is a pretty cool song!" he said, elevating his voice over the loud noise around them.
Stella turned to look at him. Her beaming grin immediately vanished. She stopped dancing. "Oh. It's you."
"I come in peace." He held his hands up. "I'm really sorry for breaking Bryson's nose. I didn't mean to hit him that hard."
He only half meant it.
"He was just messing with Theo. We've all been going to school together since were kids." Her tense expression softened. "I guess he did take it a bit too far, though." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Is punching people in the face a common thing for you? You might need to go see someone about that."
"I was just looking out for my friend."
She nodded. Her bright stare narrowed, amplifying his nervousness. The intense glimmer in her eyes made him want to jump out of his skin.
"What's your deal?"
He cleared his throat, his cheeks reddening. "Excuse me?"
"You know, your story. I know you're a transfer student, but that's all I know. I don't even really know your name. It's Cade, right? Caleb?"
"It's Chase. Chase Masterson."
"And where are you from?"
"Nowhere." The perplexed look on her face prompted him to explain further. Laughing, he added, "I was born on a Navy vessel just off the coast of Germany. Both of my parents are in the Navy. I've never lived anywhere longer than four years." He rubbed the back of his neck, only now realizing he'd been rambling. "To answer your question, I moved here from California."
"So, you're an army brat?"
He frowned. "Navy."
"Right. Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Navy," she told him. "You know, officially. I'm Stella, as you already know."
They shook hands. Her skin was warm and incredibly soft.
"Nice to meet you, too."
Someone behind him coughed. Releasing Stella's hand, he turned around. He sighed, sweeping a hand through his wavy hair. It gave him an excuse not to punch Bryson Baker in the nose for a second time.
"What're you doing with this prick?" Bryson's question was aimed at Stella, but his beady eyes were fixed on Chase. A few of his goons from the football team stood at his side like brutish bodyguards.
Chase resisted the urge to laugh. "We were just talking."
"You don't get to just talk to my girl."
"I didn't know you owned her. Pretty sure slavery is illegal now."
A few laughs rippled through the small crowd that had formed around them. The flustered look on Bryson's slab of a face brought a grin to Chase's lips.
"You got lucky with that cheap shot last time," Bryson grumbled. "Bet you won't get lucky again." His pack of Neanderthals egged him on.
Chase sighed. If he wanted to, he could have them all crying for their mommies in a matter of seconds. But after the last incident, his mom made him promise not start any more fights. With his upbringing and temperament, it wouldn't have been fair.
And he wasn't one to break promises.
Lifting his chin, he squinted at Bryson and his goons. "I'm just trying to have a good time, man."
He might've made a promise, but if Bryson kicked things off, he was going to get his nose broken. Again.
Before the football captain could retort, Stella stepped between them. Pressing her hand on her boyfriend's chest, she separated the boys while shooting Chase a disapproving look that made him want to squirm. She scared him more than Bryson ever could.
"He's not worth it, Bry."
Ouch.
"C'mon, let's go," she whispered. Her boyfriend nodded and snaked his arm around the girl's waist. A hint of discomfort flashed across her face. The two of them made their way into the crowd of people dancing.
Chase watched them disappear from his view. Scowling, he downed the rest of his terrible beer and stomped off in the other direction.
###
Why'd I even come to this thing?
Chase found himself lingering around the outskirts of the party. He burrowed his foot in the loose dirt as he enviously watched everyone enjoying themselves. They all had stable lives and friends. He never had any of that. Over the years, he got tired of explaining to people that he'd be leaving and eventually stopped making friends entirely.
He learned how to be alone. He thrived in it. He spent most of his time doing homework, training at the local boxing gym, and hunting with his old man—one of the only things he enjoyed about their new town.
Then he met Theo. Suddenly, being a loner wasn't as enticing as it was before.
I should probably go find him.
He pulled out his phone, preparing to shoot the guy a text. Midnight was approaching, and he was running out of reasons to stay. Maybe they could go back to his house and play video games. Just as he was about to head back into the party to find Theo, two arguing voices stopped him in his tracks.
"You can't just go beating up every guy who tries to talk to me!" a female voice protested. "I'm a human being, not just your girlfriend."
"You're not talking to him anymore. End of discussion."
"I can do what I want, Bryson. You don't own me."
Realization struck Chase in the face like a baseball bat. He remained in the trees, unintentionally eavesdropping from the shadows.
"You're my girlfriend and you're supposed to listen to me."
"Not when you're being irrational."
"Oh, so now I'm irrational?! It's always something with you, Stella. My friends were right about you."
Chase had to stifle a laugh. This was the most ridiculous argument he'd ever witnessed. A long pause followed after the last few words spoken. Eventually, he heard Stella let out a long, shaky breath.
"You know what, Bryson? I'm done." She corrected herself. "We're done."
"Seriously?"
Seriously?
Chase's face lit up.
Stella didn't respond. Seemingly frustrated by her silence, Bryson hurled a slew of curses her way before stomping back into the party. Must've been the liquor talking. He didn't even notice the surprised blond standing amongst the trees as he stormed off.
Shortly after, Stella's muffled crying hit Chase's ears. A pang of guilt hit him in the chest. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to do. If he moved, he risked getting caught. But if he didn't, he'd look like a stalker. Part of him wanted to comfort her. After all, this was partly his fault.
Something told him that wasn't one of his better ideas.
He couldn't just leave her there—alone and crying in the woods—either. He'd seen way too many horror movies to know that never ended well. A breath left his lips. He watched it form a cloud in the brisk, night air.
Screw it. Clearing his throat, he stepped out from behind the tree. Stella's head immediately shot up. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "You're spying on me, now?" she asked, her voice raw. Sniffling, she laughed. "This is so stupid. Why am I crying?"
"I wasn't spying. I just…happened to be over here."
"Right…"
Stella wrapped her arms around her slim frame, rocking herself in place. Chase could still see the wet streaks on her rosy cheeks; the pale moonlight illuminated her face like a spotlight.
"I'm sorry about what happened. That was…that was pretty rough."
"I find that hard to believe. Figured this would be a dream come true for you."
Chase let that one slide. "Breakups are tough." He'd never been in a long-term relationship before, but he knew what it was like to have something end abruptly. "You gonna be alright?"
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me," she replied. "This was coming way before you showed up, by the way."
Chase smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, don't you dare say a word," she quickly said.
He held his hands up, keeping his mouth shut. She wiped her tears again before meeting his comforting gaze.
"Thanks. You're nice when you're not punching people in the face."
"That was one time."
"I'm just teasing." She stood up, smiling. "You know, you're not as scary as everyone thinks."
He almost accepted the compliment before frowning. "Wait, people think I'm scary?"
She nodded.
"Well, what do you think?"
She didn't answer. The pair locked eyes for a moment. He hadn't noticed how close they'd gotten to each other until they were only a few inches between them. It was like there was a magnet between them. Every possible scenario—good and bad—ran through his head; his anxiety flared, and it took every ounce of his willpower to keep it from bleeding through his face.
Eventually, Stella coughed awkwardly and stepped back. He jammed his hands into his pockets and pretended to be interested in his dirty shoes. Fortunately, a voice behind them came to rescue him from the awkwardness.
"Chase? There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere, dude!"
Theo.
He burst onto the scene with a cup in his hand and a massive grin on his face. He froze after seeing Stella. "Oh." His gaze shifted back to Chase. "Oh…"
Before Chase could explain, an explosion sounded somewhere in the distance. The three of them froze before turning in the direction of the noise. Behind them, the party continued, the blasting music masking the sound. A plume of smoke rose from beyond the trees.
What the hell…?
"I think that came from the old quarry." Theo took a few steps forward.
"Isn't the quarry off-limits?" Stella asked, eyes wide.
"It's supposed to be." Theo grinned. "Let's go see what that was."
"That sounds like a horrible idea."
"It's better than sticking around at this party."
Chase couldn't argue there. He glanced at Stella. Leaving her behind wasn't an option, but it didn't seem like she was all too thrilled about venturing after the source of the explosion. He wasn't either. He wanted nothing more than to go home.
But part of him couldn't help but wonder…
Before he could make up his mind, Theo sped off into the woods towards the quarry. For an asthmatic, he was deceivingly quick.
"We should probably go after him," Stella conceded. "Knowing him, he'll run himself into a sinkhole or something."
Sounds like something he'd do.
Chase laughed. "Right."
They shared another look—not quite as awkward as last time—before nodding and jogging off into the trees in pursuit of Theo.