Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (4 page)

Chapter 6

Daylen was in social hell. She didn’t know what to do with herself. Unlike Amy, who was a social butterfly. It was nothing for her to flit from person to person, striking up conversations and flirting with the older boys. For Daylen, it wasn’t so easy. She could hold a conversation just fine, one on one and with people she was close to. But this was way outside her comfort zone.

She remained in a corner, holding up the wall for all intents and purposes. She’d found a can of pop and she nursed that, not wanting to go anywhere near the booze everyone was drinking. Daylen noticed that many of the boys kept giving her strange looks. She assumed it was because they thought she was a total freak show though that was the least of her worries. Worry number two was added on, as soon as she watched her arch nemesis, Whitney Taylor walk through the door.

She hadn’t been in the same room as Whitney for a year. The last time Day had even seen her was at Chase’s football games, last fall. Honestly, she wished that it had of been longer. Whitney, of course, was a high school cheerleader, which added to her overall appeal.

The cruel girl had never gotten over the fact that Daylen and Chase had become best friends. Whitney had been chasing him for years and her hatred of Daylen had grown with each year. Finally, it all came to a head when Daylen was in seventh grade and they were in the eighth. It was literally like a scene from the movie
A Christmas Story
.

Daylen gingerly made her way over the thick layer of ice, heading to the buses lined up after school. It was freezing cold and the snow that had started to melt was now frozen over. It made walking normal next to impossible. She was so focused on not falling, she didn’t realize anyone was coming up behind her.

Daylen felt someone shove her back. She tried to stay upright, but the shove combined with the ice propelled her forward. She landed hard on her stomach and her chin smacked the ground painfully. It felt like her teeth would crack from the force.

“Hey, look! Fatso is clumsy too! Who knows why Chase lets her follow him around like a puppy dog?” Whitney shouted out as she passed her. Her usual entourage burst out into fits of laughter at Daylen’s expense.

Daylen had no idea what came over her. All she knew was that she saw red. Maybe it was the blood pouring from her chin or maybe it was the rage that clouded her vision. Next thing anyone knew, she was up and running straight for her tormentor. When she reached Whitney, she grabbed a fistful of brown hair and pulled so hard that the girl fell backwards. Daylen took that opportunity to quickly straddle the girl and her fists started flying.

Whitney screamed and tried pushing Daylen off, but in her rage she had the strength of ten teenage boys. Her tiny fists rained down on her bully, connecting with her face, head, and upper torso. Whitney cried for help from her friends, but they kept a wide berth, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.

Finally, Chase and a teacher were able to pull Daylen off of the crying and bloody girl, though she kept swinging in her delirium. Chase’s voice finally brought her out of her blind rage.

“Day! Day, stop it! It’s me, Chase!” He shouted at her.

The moment she realized what had happened she started to sob uncontrollably. Chase hugged her tightly and scowled at the girls that were trying to feign innocence. A couple of the bus drivers that had been waiting came over to explain to the teacher what they had seen. Then the teacher took them inside and called their parents. Chase waited with Daylen and held her hand in support, under the hateful stare of a bloody and bruised Whitney.

Daylen subconsciously rubbed the scar on her chin. She’d had to get five stitches after they left the school with her mom. Chase, of course, had gone along with them to the emergency room, which had gotten him into huge trouble with his dad when he got home.

In the end, Daylen had gotten a one-week suspension for fighting, but Whitney got two weeks for starting it. Two things happened after that day. First, no one, including Whitney, ever messed with her again. Second, everyone was too afraid to be her friend or piss off Whitney, so she also became a social pariah. Her only friends were Chase and Amy, which in the end, was fine with her.

Whitney may have been afraid to confront her face to face since then, but she still gave her evil looks from afar and spread rumors about her, behind her back. As she looked across the room at the popular girl, Daylen was getting one of those evil looks, even now.

“Attention! Attention everybody!” Miguel shouted out until everyone’s attention was focused on him. “Now it’s time for a game. A little game I like to call Spin the Bottle for Seven Minutes in Heaven!” He announced loudly.

Everyone in the room cheered boisterously. Daylen cringed inwardly.
You’ve got to be kidding me?!
She prayed that she could stay in the corner unseen.

She watched as a large circle was formed on the floor. Daylen looked on in agony as Whitney grabbed Chase’s hand and pulled him over to the circle. Even worse, she saw Miguel and Amy coming towards her with big smiles on their faces. She immediately started shaking her head no.

“Oh, come on, Day! Let’s have some fun.” Amy coaxed. “When’s the next time we’ll be at a party like this with so many cute older boys?”

“Go ahead. I’m not stopping you. I’ll just watch.” Daylen said firmly.

Amy stepped closer to her so that she could whisper. “Maybe you’ll get a chance to kiss you know who.” Amy gave her a knowing look.

At that moment, Daylen wished that she’d never told Amy that she had a crush on Chase. Before she could think too deeply about the fact that she wanted to choke Amy. Her traitor friend and Miguel grabbed both of her arms and pulled her towards the circle. She was completely humiliated and the game hadn’t even began. But she didn’t fight them because she didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass herself further.

As she sat between Amy and Miguel, Daylen looked around the circle. Many of the boys smiled brightly at her, which she figured wasn’t too bad of a sign. At least they didn’t look grossed out. Of course, Whitney was shooting daggers at her, but Daylen just rolled her eyes and then looked over at her best friend. Chase looked irritated. Daylen hoped that it wasn’t because of her.

“Since I’m the hostess with the mostest, I’ll spin the bottle first!” Miguel shouted out. His declaration was met with eye rolls and exaggerated sighs.

Miguel leaned forward and spun the empty beer bottle as hard as he could. It landed on one of the older girls that Daylen didn’t recognize. From the satisfied grin that spread across Miguel’s face, Daylen assumed that this was a good thing. The girl looked nervous, not that Miguel noticed.

Daylen watched as they both stood up and walked towards a closet in the entryway of the house.

“Who’s got the clock?” Miguel asked.

“We got it!” A group of guys not yet participating hollered back.

“Ready. Set. Go!” Several teenagers bellowed as the two slipped into the closet and closed the door.

After that everyone began to chitchat in their own little conversations, waiting out the seven minutes. Daylen’s eyes kept going back to the occupied closet. She had no idea what all could be done in there and her nerves were frayed. She kept her palms flat against her thighs, afraid that if anyone looked close enough, they’d see her hands shaking uncontrollably. She could even feel the sweat from her palms seeping into her tights. She self-consciously rubbed her tongue over her braces, fearing she would cause someone serious damage if any of the boys kissed her.

Finally, the boys keeping time started a loud countdown.

“…five, four, three, two, one!” The whole party yelled out, joining in the countdown.

Daylen watched as the door opened and the partygoers grew quiet in anticipation. Miguel stepped out and the biggest grin Daylen had ever seen was plastered on his face. Along with a decent amount of pink lipstick. The girl walked out behind him with a coy smile as she wiped her lips and adjusted her shirt. And Daylen nearly jumped out of her skin when the crowd burst out suddenly with whooping cheers.

Miguel grabbed the girl’s hand and went over to one of the couches in the living room. Where they continued their make-out session. Apparently, all had gone well in the closet. Another guy and girl replaced their spots in the circle and the game continued.

Daylen’s heart started to pound when it was Whitney’s turn. She started up a chant in her head.
Please don’t land on Chase. Please don’t land on Chase…
Luckily, someone must have been listening, because it landed on a fairly cute boy, though Whitney turned up her nose and flat out said no. In fact, whenever a boy spun the bottle and it landed on her, she seemed to be the only person in the group that was allowed to say no. Daylen didn’t think it was very fair, but she guessed popularity overruled fairness.

Next up, it was Chase’s turn. At this point, Miguel had rejoined those who were watching the game. He couldn’t help but be a part of the revelry, and seeing his friend up next, got him pumped.

“Uh ohhhh!!! It’s the birthday boy! Who’s gonna be the lucky lady?!” Miguel called out.

Chase smiled slightly and leaned forward to grip the bottle. He gave it a hard spin. All the girls in the circle seemed to hold their breath in excitement. Daylen watched in slow motion as the bottle began to decrease speed. On its last revolution, she held her breath as it nearly landed on Whitney. When it did finally stop, the whole room held its breath. It took several beats for Daylen to register where it had landed.

She stared down at the open mouth of the bottle, as it stared back at her.
Oh. My. God!
Her eyes flew up to Chase and he looked like he was going to have a heart attack. Whitney got up and stormed off in a fit of rage. Amy bounced happily next to her. It was Miguel that finally broke the silence.

“Oh shit! It’s the birthday boy
and
the birthday girl! It’s…about…to…go…down!” Miguel whooped excitedly.

At their immobility, the crowd started to chant, “Do it! Do it! Do it!”

Miguel quickly walked over and tugged Chase up to his feet. He then stepped through the circle with Chase in tow. He reached Daylen and pulled her up as well. Miguel walked them over to the closet, opened the door and pushed them in.

Daylen could hear the boisterous sounds of the crowd on the other side of the door. She was surprised she could even hear them over the sound of her pounding heart. The closet was pitch black, but she was glad because she didn’t want to see Chase’s face when he rejected her.

She’d never really kissed a boy before. Maybe a peck on the lips in the first grade. Other than that, she didn’t know the first thing about it. Her entire body trembled with anxiety and she wrung her hands compulsively.
Oh God, what if his lips get caught on my braces?!

“You don’t have to-” Daylen began but was cut off by soft lips on her nose and part of her top lip.

Shock made her stumble back and she fell over some shoes on the floor. She heard laughter on the other side of the door and assumed they were all listening closely. Everyone, curious to see if the two best friends would really go through with kissing each other.

“I’m sorry, Day.” Chase’s voice reached her as she felt his hand blindly trying to find her.

When their hands connected, he pulled her back to her feet.

“I-It’s okay. I just wasn’t r-ready.” Daylen stammered.

“D-Do you wanna try again?” Chase’s voice sounded nervous. Daylen couldn’t fathom why. She figured he kissed girls all the time.

“O-Okay,” she whispered.

She felt his hands slowly move up her arms, over her shoulders and neck, till they clasped either side of her face. She figured he was making sure he didn’t miss her lips this time.

Chase slowly tilted her head back and this time his lips connected with hers. Daylen felt warmth spread from her tummy outward. She couldn’t believe that she was finally kissing the lips she had dreamed about since she was nine.

He gave her super soft kisses and his thumbs rubbed her round cheeks. He pulled away and Daylen thought that was it, that he was done. Chase leaned his forehead against hers, his breath fanning her face.

“Open your mouth, Day,” Chase instructed her.

She did as she was told and she felt his lips again. This time, though, she felt his tongue dip into her mouth and her breath hitched. Daylen didn’t dare move a muscle. She just kept her mouth open and shivered every time his tongue hit hers.

Chase pulled away and chuckled softly. “Day, you have to kiss me back. Move your tongue like mine.”

Daylen nodded her head in understanding before Chase dove in again. A few minutes passed as they explored each other’s mouths. Chase’s hands moved from her face to her shoulders. Just as his arms started to wrap her in a warm embrace, the door was flung open. Miguel stood on the other side with a grin from ear to ear on his face.

As he took in their faces and Daylen’s lipstick on Chase’s face, he nodded happily. “Ohh…shit!!! They did it!” He shouted out, to Daylen’s utter mortification.