Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (11 page)

Chapter 13

Chase stared across the restaurant table at the pretty sight his date made. Day’s face was bathed in soft candlelight, a shy smile touching her lips. She’d piled her braids on top of her head in a bun and left out a few in the front and back to frame her face softly. She had on the sexiest thing Chase had ever seen her in, which made him salivate. It was a pale and hot pink, zebra print dress that flirted with the tops of her calves in a lightweight chiffon. A keyhole neckline gave just a hint of the glorious breasts underneath.

Chase had decided to use the hundred dollars his mom had given him to take Day to a nice dinner at Aurora’s famous Walter Payton’s Roundhouse. It was an old renovated historic building, romantic and fairly expensive. Plus, it was owned by a football legend before he died a few months back, so Chase figured he’d kill two birds with one stone.

“Um, Chase? Isn’t this place really expensive?” Daylen asked, a worried look crossing her face.

“Don’t worry about it, Pretty Day.” He waved away her concern. “I wanted to take you someplace nice for our first date.”

The place had been packed since it was a holiday. They’d barely been able to get a reservation, but Chase had turned on the charm over the phone. He’d let the hostess know that it was their all-important first date and he was trying to impress his lady. It had worked.

Their waitress came over and took their orders. Daylen’s hands trembled as she held up the menu, calling off what she wanted. Once the waitress was gone, Chase watched as his date looked at everything but him.

“Don’t be nervous, Day. Remember that no matter what it’s just me. We’re still best friends.” Chase soothed.

“I know. But I can’t help it. This all happened so fast. One minute you were my best friend that I was secretly in love with. And the next, we’re having
sex
and going on dates.” Daylen blurted out.

“And guess what?” Chase leaned in.

“What?” Daylen sat forward, following his lead.

“The sex is incredible and the date will be too,” Chase whispered, his sexy sideways smile gracing his lips.

Day threw her napkin at him and flushed shyly in response.

“So tell me…who’s your favorite old dead musical dude?” Chase asked, trying to pull her out of her shyness.

“You mean, composers?” Daylen giggled.

“Yeah, those guys.” Chase smiled brightly.

“I don’t know. So many people have a favorite. My favorite depends on my mood.” Daylen said, and then continued at Chase’s nod of encouragement. “Well… Mozart’s movements are happy and whimsical but fast paced. Like a funny chase scene in a movie. I like to listen to him when I’m in a good mood or trying to clean my room really quick. Beethoven is darker. He has these light moments and then it gets all dark and gloomy. I swear he must have had a split personality. Or maybe it was all the sadness in his life. You know he still wrote amazing symphonies after he went deaf?”

“I think I remember learning that at some point,” Chase answered with a smile. “Go on.”

“Well anyway, when I’m feeling down or moody, I like to listen to Beethoven. And then there’s Bach!” She leaned closer, getting really excited now. “I think Bach is fanciful. Like you should be dancing at a ball in sixteenth century England. But he does amazing cello suites, where I get to play all by myself, so that might put him on the top of my list. But I’m biased. Chopin is more of a piano guy, and soft like a lullaby. If I have trouble falling asleep, I can play his work.” Daylen sighed and got a faraway look in her eyes. Chase leaned in closer, just to watch the nuisances of her face, talking about something she loved.

“Are there more?” He asked, wanting her to keep going.

“Hmm… There’s Tchaikovsky. His concertos are grand, but can be sinister. But then they turn dramatic and heroic. I always imagine ballerinas leaping around the stage when his works are played. But I guess so, with the Nutcracker and Swan Lake and all. Vivaldi is great too. I always imagine a king walking into a grand ballroom when I hear him. A lot of it has to do with movies and TV. Their symphonies are used a lot in them. I bet you know a lot more music by old dead dudes than you think.” Daylen teased.

“You’re probably right.” Chase nodded in agreement. “Did you know that your entire face lights up when you talk about your music, though?”

“No,” Daylen said in a small voice.

“It’s…it’s… I don’t know.
Breathtaking!
” Chase said in wonder. “It’s like this whole other side of you that I never knew existed, came out after nine years of knowing you.” He watched as Daylen flushed with pleasure. “And you sound so mature talking about it. Like
way
more mature than I’ll probably ever be.” Chase chuckled.

“Oh, stop it!” Daylen shooed away his comment.

“It’s true. But that’s okay, you’ll be the smart one in the relationship. I’ll be the muscle.” Chase joked. “Just know that you can talk to me about this stuff whenever you want to and I’ll listen,” he said sweetly.

“Thanks, Chase.” Daylen smiled softly. “I guess I figured that if you knew, you’d think it was dorky or something. Most kids our age aren’t interested in classical music. And I don’t play anything cute and girlie like Amy with the flute. The cello’s all big and bulky, but…I do love it.” Daylen breathed.

“I can tell. If you talk about me half as fondly as you talk about classical music and your cello, I’d be happy.” Chase winked at her.

“I do.”

They both grinned at each other over the single candle on the table. Their first date off to a great start.

~~~

“Are you ready to go in?” Chase asked Daylen as they sat in his car out front of Miguel’s parents’ house.

“I have some really good and really bad memories of this house,” Daylen said, burrowing deeper into her black faux fur dress coat.

“I know. But we can always make new memories. All good this time.” Chase persuaded.

“True.” Daylen took a deep calming breath. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Is my face still okay?” Chase asked, holding up his chin to angle his face up to the dome light.

Before their date, he and Day had stopped at the drugstore to pick up some makeup concealer for his healing black eye. He didn’t want people asking questions, so Day had applied the makeup to his eye. The whole time she’d stood between his legs, applying the concealer, he’d sat there and stroked her thighs with the back of his knuckles, distracting her.

“Yeah, looks good. Can’t even tell.” Daylen said, looking him over.

Chase grinned, kissed her lips quickly, and then got out of the car. Daylen stayed put after he’d scolded her earlier for opening her own door. He wanted to play the gentleman, and she was gladly letting him. Chase opened the door for her and she heard the music from inside all the way from the street.

“Sounds like a rager,” Daylen commented, her nerves kicking in.

“You’ll be fine,” Chase said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her towards the door.

Chase didn’t even bother to knock, considering the party was in full swing and no one would’ve heard it anyway. It was around ten-thirty, only an hour and a half away from midnight and everyone seemed suitably buzzed.

Miguel’s parents were the super cool, laid back type. The type that would let teens drink there as long as they stayed the night. Everyone at the party seemed to be taking full advantage of this fact. It was a sea of red cups as far as Daylen’s eyes could see.

She gripped Chase’s hand tightly, her anxiety starting to kick into high gear. He rubbed his thumb over her hand soothingly.

“Oh shit! Chase and Day made it to the festivities!” Miguel shouted after he spotted them

The partiers all cheered loudly. Daylen figured the cheers were more for Chase than her, which she was fine with. Miguel strode over and clapped Chase on the back happily. He then released him and moved in to give Day a massive hug. Miguel was going to Southern Illinois University, so he hadn’t seen Chase since August either.

“It’s good to see you guys. The gangs together again!” He said boisterously. “Amy is around here somewhere.”

At that moment, the girl in question found them and squealed in delight. She wrapped Daylen in a warm embrace and then gave Chase a hug as well. Daylen had been so wrapped up in Chase being home and falling in love with him twenty times over, that she’d forgotten to call Amy to give her all the details.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Amy exclaimed. “Wow, it’s like old times again.”

“Here let me take your coats and I’ll put them upstairs in my room.” Miguel offered.

Chase shrugged off his leather jacket and then helped Day out of her fluffy coat. Miguel and Amy’s mouths dropped open at the sight of her sexy, yet classy dress.

“Damn, Day! You get hotter every time I see you!” Miguel ogled her.

“Keep your eyes to yourself, man.” Chase scowled at his friend as he pulled Daylen into his side possessively. He kissed her temple softly and she looked up at him with a bashful smile.

“Wait a minute… Are you guys finally…
together
?!” Miguel asked, staring at them in disbelief. Then he looked at Amy to see if he was the only who’d noticed the intimate kiss and lovey-dovey gaze.

“Yeah,” Chase answered with a huge grin.

“No fucking way! It’s about damn time!” Miguel shouted and then high-fived Chase.

“No way! You guys are like a real life Joey and Dawson!” Amy exclaimed. The show
Dawson’s Creek
was their current obsession. The theme of the show had not been lost on Daylen.

Daylen’s face turned about as pink as her dress as Amy grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.

“You have to tell me
everything
,” Amy whispered, excitedly. “Did you…you know?”

Daylen just blushed and looked away.

“You
didn’t
?!” She searched Day’s face. “You did!” She shouted at Daylen’s guilty smile. “Oh my God! I need details!”

A couple of spots on the couch became available and Amy dragged Daylen over to sit down. Day looked over at Chase. He winked at her and turned to continue talking to a very animated and wobbly, Miguel.

“So how was it?” Amy asked curiously, still holding on to her virginity until she found a more mature boy. At least that’s how she put it.

“It was…
amazing
,” Daylen told her softly. “It really hurt at first, but he was slow and gentle.”

Amy sighed wistfully. Then she began a full-scale interrogation, wanting to know everything there was to know about sex. Being a band geek herself, they weren’t always around sexually active teens or any that were willing to talk about it. Day immediately became her only source of reference.

Daylen hesitated at first, but under the pressure of incessant questions, she finally gave in. The tiny redhead rested her chin on her hand, completely absorbed in every detail. Like she was watching an episode of their favorite show.

They were still in the middle of their discussion when Daylen saw the sweep of familiar chestnut brown hair. She looked up to stare into the eyes of Whitney Taylor.
Oh, great!
Daylen breathed out a frustrated breath. Amy followed her eyes to where Day was looking and cringed.

“Yeah, she’s been here all night. I swear she’s had her eyes on the door all night, waiting for Chase to get here.” Amy said as they both watched Whitney smirk at Daylen, and then turned to walk over to Chase.

It was well known that Whitney wanted Chase since they were kids. She’d chased after him all throughout high school after the bathroom incident, but he’d steered clear of her. He had been afraid of hurting Daylen even more. Everyone also knew that Whitney had tried to get into U of I, but unless you were pretty damn smart or an amazing athlete, that wasn’t going to happen, so instead she’d went to ISU. One of the closest schools to him, without completely being in the sticks.

She had been a thorn in Daylen’s side since day one. Like a pretty little insect that just wouldn’t go away.
Time to go kick the hornet’s nest.
Daylen pushed off of the couch and walked over to Chase, Whitney, and Miguel. Amy followed closely behind, not wanting to miss any possible fireworks.

Chase saw Day approach them, and he smiled in relief. He lifted his arm to make a place for her against his side. She smiled up at him and he bent down to kiss her lips softly. The move was intentional and warmed Day from her scalp to her toes and everywhere in between. Miguel and Amy smiled brightly at them, happy to finally see them together. Whitney was another story. Her eyes narrowed and her face looked as if she’d sucked on a lemon.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?!” Whitney spat as she turned on her high heeled boots and stalked away.

“Thank God that’s over with,” Miguel said, rolling his eyes. “I mean, what she sees in you when she could’ve had me
years
ago, I’ll never know!” Miguel joke, feigning exasperation.