Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (14 page)

“Are you hungry?” Drew asked her. “There’s a great place around the corner that has really good breakfasts for hangovers,” he suggested.

“O-Okay.”

Champaign

Chase stared up at his dorm room ceiling. His hands behind his head, in what appear to be a relaxed pose, though he couldn’t have been more rigid. The girl from last night, Trish, currently laid her naked torso across his equally bare chest. She planted soft kisses on his chest. Each kiss was a stab to his gut.

Chase felt disgusted with himself. They’d used up the two condoms his buddy had given him, before falling into an alcohol-induced sleep. Even as guilty as he felt, Chase still felt his cock rise to her kisses.

“Mmm…someone looks happy to see me this morning.” Trish smiled against his skin as his sheet tented around his hips.

“Do you have any protection?” Chase asked dispassionately.

“No, but I don’t have any diseases or anything.” Trish coaxed.

“I only have sex with my girlfriend without a condom,” Chase said coldly.

Trish sat up quickly. She looked down at him in shock.

“You have a fucking girlfriend?!” She asked angrily.

“Yes.” Chase continued to stare up at the ceiling.

“You’re an asshole!” Trish growled as she gathered up her clothes and pulled them on.

“Yes, I am,” Chase said, barely able to hide his revulsion with himself as he took it out on the clueless girl. “But it’s not like you asked either. Enjoy your walk of shame.”

“Fuck you!” Trish screamed at him.

Chase’s eyes closed as he heard the door slam behind her. His throat worked tightly in his neck and he blinked back tears of shame. He sat up and reached for the phone. Chase started to dial Day’s number, but he hung up the phone.
What could I possibly have to say to her, after what I just did?

He rubbed his hands over his face and got up to take a shower. Chase scrubbed all evidence of the previous night from his skin. A deep melancholy settled over him as he left his dorm to head to football practice.

Chapter 17

The next couple of weeks, Daylen was torn apart with guilt. She’d been spending more and more time with Drew. They studied together. They met up for lunch and dinner together in the student cafeteria. They even practiced together, helping each other perfect the different pieces they were working on. The fact that Amy was now dating his roommate Jake didn’t help the situation either. Often, the four of them would go out together, like two happy double-dating couples.

They hadn’t kissed again, but that didn’t stop Drew from pressing his suit. He was quietly wearing her down, by simply just being there. Something that Chase couldn’t do, though neither she nor Chase, were at fault. It still didn’t relieve Daylen of her guilt. Her stomach was constantly in knots.

“Daylen?” Drew said her name softly.

“Yeah?” Daylen looked up at him as she drummed her fingers on the table.

They were studying after dinner in the student center. Drew looked at her fingers meaningfully. Day quickly stopped her fingers’ tapping rhythm.

“Sorry,” she cringed apologetically.

“It’s okay. Do you wanna talk about it?” Drew asked perceptively.

“N-No. I’m okay.” Daylen avoided. She knew he was becoming impatient. Especially as the holidays neared and the possibility of seeing Chase became more and more real.

About a half hour later, Drew walked Daylen to her dorm.

“Do you want to be with me, Daylen?” Drew finally got up the nerve to ask.

Daylen sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. She had been dreading this particular conversation.

“I really do like you, Drew. But…but it’s complicated.” Daylen started.

“What’s complicated about it? He’s hours away and I’m right here. You never talk to him and you spend time with me every day. Sounds easy to me.” Drew argued his case.

“Yes, you’re right. But there’s more to it than that. There’s history between Chase and me. We aren’t just boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re best friends.” Daylen defended her hesitation to move forward.

“But that doesn’t mean you’re right for each other romantically. And you’ve still got three and a half more years here. He’s got two and a half there and who knows where after that. I’m right here.” Drew pleaded as they stopped outside of her building. “You have to decide because I can’t keep spending time with you but not be able to be
with
you. Please, just make a decision. Okay?” Drew finished.

“Okay,” Daylen whispered softly.

For the first time since the party before Thanksgiving break, Drew leaned in to kiss her lips. The kiss didn’t give her the customary butterflies, like Chase’s kisses, did. Her sex didn’t flood with wetness. And her heart didn’t nearly pound out of her chest. But she did feel content.

Her body did fill with warmth and comfort. Her clit did tingle when his tongue dipped into her mouth. Her heart did thump with fondness. Maybe that would have to be enough.

~~~

Chase’s hand shook as he dialed Daylen’s number. He knew it was time to talk to her, but the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. She meant the world to him and he wanted her to be a part of his life forever. But he wanted to be honest.

Chase held the phone up to his ear with his shoulder, as he wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. He almost prayed that she wouldn’t answer.

“Hello?” She answered, sounding breathless. Like she’d ran to the phone.

“Hey, Pretty Day!” Chase said overly bright.

“Hi, Chase.” Day said. Chase wasn’t sure, but she almost sounded forlorn.

“Did you just get home?”

“Yeah, I was studying at the student center with a f-friend,” she said softly.

Chase missed her stumble over the word, his mind filled with his own torment. Chase took a deep breath and began.

“Day…I need to talk…to tell you something.” Chase faltered.

“Uh…m-me too,” Daylen admitted.

“Oh…” Chase realized that in his guilt and worry, he hadn’t considered that he may not be the only one with secrets. His stomach churned at the thought. “Do you wanna go first?”

“Um…you can go first if you want?” Day hesitated.

“Well, what if we say it at the same time?” Chase suggested. “Maybe that will be easier.”

“A-Alright.” Daylen agreed.

“Okay. On the count of three.” Chase swallowed. “One. Two. Three-”

“I slept with someone!”

“I met someone!”

They both blurted out at the same time. Complete silence followed across the phone line.

“You met someone?”

“You slept with someone?”

They both spoke at the same time again.

“When?” Daylen asked, her voice sounding thick.

“The night before everyone went home for Thanksgiving break,” Chase said quietly, his voice equally as thick. “W-When did you meet him?”

“The same night. Well…that’s when it started. I actually met him before then.” Daylen admitted.

“Oh…” Chase trailed off.

Both felt anger rise up but knew that neither had the right to get mad.

“Are…are you still seeing her?” Daylen asked sadly.

“No. It was a one-time thing. I-I had hoped you’d still want to be with me. But…I guess not.” Chase swallowed hard.

“Ch-Chase, I…” Daylen sighed and tried to control the tremble in her voice. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. I’ve just been so lonely and he’s a nice guy. I…I still love you.” Her voice broke and a silent tear slid down Chase’s face at the sound.

“I love you too, Day. That’ll never change. Maybe one day…” Chase left the thought open.

“Y-Yeah. One day…” Daylen breathed across the line.

“I-I gotta go. Talk to ya later, Pretty Day.” Chase said gruffly.

“Bye, Chase.” Day’s tearful voice reached his ear before he hung up.

Chase sat for a moment, staring off into space. Hot wet tracks ran down his face. He wiped them away angrily. Chase stood up, not knowing what to do. His heart was split in two and anger bubbled just under the surface. Everyone he loved hurt him and ended up never wanting him for good.

“FUCK!!!” He screamed painfully.

Chase grabbed the phone, ripped the cord from the wall, and threw the phone across the room. The phone shattered into a hundred pieces. He felt that the pieces were the perfect representation of what his insides must look like. He literally felt shattered. He looked down at his infinity bracelet and thought back to one of the last conversations he’d had with Daylen face to face.

Wait for me?

Always.

He guessed always had reached its limit.

The Best of Times & The Worst of Times

Chapter 18

December 2002

It was finals week the first semester of Daylen’s junior year. She couldn’t wait for Christmas break to start in about a week. She needed a break from life though for now Day and Drew were studying in her room for their history final. He was rewarding her with kisses every time she got an answer correct as he quizzed her.

They were still together after two years of dating. Drew was sweet and attentive. The sex was nice. He’d lost his virginity to Daylen, so she’d already had a slight learning curve on him though he did learn quickly.

Throughout the course of her relationship with Drew, Day tried to convince herself that a calm, quiet, contented if not slightly boring relationship was perfect. To her, it was far better than the wild, passionate, you’re-my-other-half/I-can’t-live-without-you kind of relationship she had with Chase. There was only one word to describe her relationship with Drew and it was…
safe
.

Day and Chase remained best friends, but from afar. She hadn’t physically seen him face to face in more than two years. He never came home for breaks in school, still being estranged from his father. He also knew that she was more than likely with Drew during those times and didn’t want it to be awkward. They talked on the phone as often as they could, though the subjects of Drew and whomever he was dating were strictly off limits.

She called him before every game and wished him luck, whether she actually caught him or just left a message. Daylen did try to watch every game he played and cheered him on from miles away. Whenever the cameras landed on him as he made a play. Or when they interviewed him after a game, Day’s heart would pound in her chest, her skin would flush, and her core would throb in remembrance. Chase was getting more and more gorgeous as the years went on. She completely resented it, as she secretly salivated.

Chase was in his final year in college and had an incredibly bright future as a pro-ball player. His college football career had become the stuff of legends. Daylen knew for a fact that Chase worked his ass off. Hell, their relationship had suffered for it. His dedication and hard work were paying off. She didn’t realize how much until she got a call. Luckily right after Drew left her dorm.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Pretty Day!” Chase’s happy voice burst through the phone.

“Hey, Chase! How are you?” Daylen smiled into the phone. Her heart always tripped when she first heard his deep voice. She swallowed it down, opting for a healthy dose of denial.

“I’m doing great! I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I have great news.” Chase said, barely containing his excitement.

“No, I don’t think I’ve heard anything. But then again, I’m buried in finals studies and practice for a big concert. So what’s going on?” Day asked.

“I was just announced as one of the nominees for the Heisman Trophy!” Chase blurted out.

“What?! Really?!” Day jumped up from her desk.

“Yeah! Can you believe it?!” Chase shouted across the line.

“Hell yeah, I believe it! You deserve this, Chase!” Daylen bounced up and down.

“Thanks, Day. Hey, are you alone right now?” Chase asked.

“Yeah. Why?” Daylen answered curiously.

“Well…there’s a Heisman ceremony that’ll be held in New York this Saturday to announce the winner. And well…I’m allowed one guest and…I want you to go with me.” Chase blurted out the last half.

“Oh…” Daylen paused for a few beats, absorbing the invitation. “Aren’t you s-seeing someone right now that can go with you?” She stuttered out.

“Kind of. But Day, you know you’re the most supportive person in my life. You’ve always been there for me when no one else was. I wouldn’t want anyone else with me for such a big moment like this.” Chase argued his case.

“I don’t know, Chase. I don’t think D-Drew will like me going on a trip with you.” Day hesitated and cringed as she said her boyfriend’s name. “You know, with our history and everything.”

“It would be harmless, Day. You’re with him. I’m seeing someone. We’ve always been best friends and that’s all it will be. A trip between friends. Come on, Pretty Day!” Chase coaxed further, using his personal nickname for her to wear her down.

“O-Okay.” She finally conceded, followed by his loud whoop of triumph. “What do I need to do?”

~~~

“I don’t like this,” Drew said nervously as he stood with Daylen at the airport.

It was Friday morning and they were waiting outside of check-in, for Chase to arrive. He was supposed to take the train up to Chicago from U of I and then ride the L to O’Hare to meet up with Day. Drew hadn’t been happy about the whole situation since Daylen had told him about the trip to New York.

“Drew…everything will be fine. He’s my best friend and he needs my support. I’m the only real family that he has, but that’s it. Nothing more.” Daylen soothed him as she rubbed a hand down his chest.

“Right. I hope so. Cause there’s no competing with
that
.” Drew frowned, looking at something behind her.

Daylen turned around and saw a tall, broad, muscular young man heading towards them. His gait was long and filled with confidence. The familiar brown leather jacket, fit him to perfection. He now filled out every inch. His jeans hung low on his hips, encasing massive thighs. His blond locks were once again long and he wore a tan beanie, holding his hair back from his face. That face looked like it had been chiseled from granite. His light brown eyes sparkled with mischief. And that same sexy sideways smile spread across his face as he caught sight of Daylen.

Fuck me!!!
Daylen inwardly died a thousand deaths. She knew Drew was watching her, so she tried to discreetly swallow down the saliva that had pooled in her mouth. She attempted to plaster a bright, friendly smile on her face, but she knew it had to look fake as hell. Seeing him on TV did not do the man before her justice.

Day wanted to run and jump into Chase’s arms like she would’ve done in the past. But the man next to her stopped her in her tracks though Chase had no such qualms. He walked straight up to her and wrapped her in a warm embrace. He lifted her off her feet and twirled her around like a ragdoll.

“Aw man, Day! It’s so good to see you! You look great!” Chase put her down and held her back at arm’s length so he could look at all of her. “I can’t believe it’s been two and a half years!”

Daylen had gotten her very first extensions for the formal and televised event. The sew-in matched her silky straight hair to perfection and hung down to the middle of her back. But other than that she felt she looked pretty much the same. Unlike the Greek god before her. All signs of the boy she once knew had vanished, and taking his place was a full grown man.

When Chase had seen her standing there with
that
guy, his heart had nearly exploded from his chest. She looked as gorgeous as ever. Her large chocolate brown eyes, shined with emotion in her tan face. The same shy smile graced her full lips, as she looked up at him through her long, curling lashes. Her rosy cheeks, just a little bit pinker as she flushed from his penetrating stare.

She wore tight-fit bootcut jeans with gym shoes and her college sweatshirt. Almost as if she was trying hard
not
to care about how she looked, for when he saw her for the first time in years. But Chase saw right through her, and she looked stunning. He was a starving man and she was the feast laid out for him.

Well, except for the scrawny guard dog standing in the way of his meal. The guy who was currently reaching out a hand to shake, as he sized Chase up all at the same time. Chase smiled tightly at him and reached for his offered hand.

“Um…Chase this is Drew, m-my boyfriend.” Day stumbled. “Drew, this is Chase.”

The best friend. Who will always be in her life, so get used to it.
Chase grumbled in his head.

“Nice to meet you, man.” Chase shook his hand and squeezed a little tighter than necessary.

“Nice to finally meet you too,” Drew said tightly. “Congratulations on your nomination.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Chase nodded and then looked over at the line forming at the check-in desk. “It looks like we better get in line before it gets crazy.”

“Oh…” Daylen shook herself out of her daze and turned to Drew. “So I’ll see you in a couple of days?”

“Yeah. Be safe, alright?” Drew pulled her in and Chase tried to pretend as if he wasn’t looking.

“I will,” Daylen said softly.

Drew grabbed her face and made one last ditch effort to imprint himself on her before he released her to the care of her best friend/ex-boyfriend/first love. Chase gritted his teeth and his heart squeezed with jealousy, as Drew kissed Daylen deeply. The kiss was also meant for him. Like Drew was marking his territory. He finally released Daylen and then looked at Chase, the look spoke volumes.

“Good luck, Chase. And take care of her.” Drew said. Chase was able to read between the lines and heard, “Good luck getting my girl, dick. And don’t fucking touch her.”

“Thanks, man. I will.” Chase shook hands with him one more time and then Drew walked away with a last glance at Day.

“Ready?” Chase asked, his spirits lifting now that her boyfriend was gone.

“As I’ll ever be.” Day blew out a nervous breath.

Chase reached down to grab her suitcase at the same time as she reached for it. Their hands touched and electric pulses ran up his arm. He noticed that Day shivered as well and knew that she wasn’t immune either.

As they made their way through check-in, security, and finally found their gate, Chase made sure that he found any reason to touch her. He hadn’t lacked for female company over the last couple of years. He was the star quarterback of a Big Ten school, after all. He had never gotten Day out of his system, though. She was his first love, and if he was honest with himself, he knew he still loved her. Time hadn’t changed nor eased his need for her. No matter how many girls he used to take his mind off of her.

He knew it was a dick move to use girls like that, but it wasn’t like they didn’t know. It had kind of become a thing on campus. Many of the female student population tried to catch the uncatchable quarterback. Who could melt his frozen heart? His teammates messed with him all the time. Whenever girls surrounded him, they’d shout out “Chasing Chase!” He was not amused.

Day fidgeted with her bracelet he’d made for her years before and her knee bounced agitatedly while they waited to board their flight. Chase was happy to see she was still wearing the bracelet. He hadn’t taken his off since the day she’d put it on him. He reached over and placed his large hand on her knee, to stop the bouncing.

“Oh, sorry. I’ve never flown before.” Day admitted.

“You’ll be fine, Day. I’ve been quite a few times now with the team for really far away games. There’s nothing to it. We’ll be there before you know it.” Chase rubbed his thumb across her knee and leaned close to her ear. “And we could always get rid of your nerves by joining the mile high club.” He pulled back and winked playfully at her.

“Chase…please don’t. I know there is a lot of history between us, but I’m here as your
friend
. I wouldn’t want to hurt Drew like that.” Daylen scolded him as she pulled her leg away from his hot calloused hand.

“Like he considered
me
when we were together?” Chase quirked a brow up angrily. “I’m sure he spent days, even weeks trying to wear you down.” He guessed and by the flush that spread across her cheeks, he knew he’d guessed right. “I thought so. I’ll back off because you want me to, but I could give a shit about his feelings.”

Day swallowed thickly but kept silent. Chase was fine with her silence since he was now fuming from past hurts being dug back up. They remained silent the entire flight to New York. The only time Day acknowledged his existence was when they went through a rough patch of turbulence and she grabbed his arm in a death grip. Chase rubbed her hand soothingly as they bounced around for a few moments. When the plane finally steadied, Day immediately pulled her hand away from him.

~~~

Day was quietly fuming inside. She knew he mistook her silence for guilt, but he had another thing coming. She just didn’t want to cause a scene in the airport or on the plane. Her fury nearly bubbled over as they checked into the really nice and posh hotel that the Heisman Trust had put them up in.

“Mr. McCoy, we have you and your guest in room 433, the single king suite.” The front desk agent informed him.

Daylen was sure that he could’ve gotten two rooms for them but instead had gotten a single with a giant, tempting king size bed.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?! I’ll sleep on the damn floor first!
Daylen stood there next to him, stewing in anger.

“Good luck, Mr. McCoy and enjoy your stay.” The young woman smiled at him flirtatiously and Daylen inwardly rolled her eyes.