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Chapter Five - Shakened, Not Kissed

Over the next week, things were pretty much uneventful around the Bass’ home. Landon and Chase spent most of the day helping Joseph fix up the Stables and all of the nights out partying at Stevenson’s Stables. Skylar spent most of her time reading out by the lake. Since the first night they came home, Skylar hadn’t gone to another party with them. She felt it unnecessary to tag along when she knew it would be of no benefit to her. So, she would stay at home and burry herself in a book.

One night, like many before, with a blanket and a few candles, she wondered out to the lake to read. She settled down on a patch of dirt close to the bank of the lake, and lit the candles for light. She relaxed back on the blanket and began to sink herself into another world.

A few pages in, Skylar heard a noise coming from the woods. She looked up from her book and stared at the opening to the trail. She saw a light flickering around, she assumed it was a flashlight by the small amount of light it gave.

“Who’s there?” She called out as the steps got closer and closer to the entrance of the path. When those feet finally made it to the entrance, she smirked slightly.

“Haven’t you ever seen a horror movie?” Chase began, “You’re not suppose to shout, ‘who’s there?’ into the darkness.”

“Forgive me, I didn’t realize I was living in a horror movie. I assumed it was a comedy seeing as you’re such a joke!”

“Below the belt, a little.” He stated as he came over to where she was sitting.

“Sorry.” She stated as she set her book down. “I thought you and Landon where going out tonight?”

“Yes, well, I didn’t feel like being the third wheel on their bicycle of love tonight.” He smiled slightly.

“Welcome to my life.”

“How come you don’t go out as often as your brother?” Chase asked as he sat down on the blanket and picked up the book she was reading.

“I never really was the partying type. The only reason I ever went out to that place was because I was dating the guy who ran it.” Skylar replied.

“Oh, yes. Dylan, was it?” He asked. Skylar nodded. “Had the pleasure of meeting him the other night.” He paused a moment. “So, tell me. What happened between the two of you?” Skylar looked at him with a frown. Why would he asked something he already knew.

“Are you just trying to torment me or something?” She asked him. He shook his head.

“No. I just want to know what happened.”

“But you already know. Claire told me you were the one who told her about what happened that night with me and Dylan.”

“Yes. But I had only told her what I had heard. What I want from you is what happened.”

“The typical teenage break-up. He cheated, we argued and then we parted ways.”

“And where does him beating you fit in?” Chase asked. Skylar looked away from him a moment.

“He didn’t beat me.” she said softly. “He was drunk and angry and I refused to have sex with him. So, he got even angrier, slapped me in the face and called me useless.”

“Unfortunately there are men in this world who don’t deserve to be called men.” He stated softly, in a tone that was almost to inaudible to hear. After a moment of silence between them, Chase picked up her book once more and laughed lightly. “Why do you waste your time reading stuff like this?”

“Why is it a waste of time to feed my imagination?” Skylar asked as she grabbed the book away from him.

“Cause the only thing you will get from having an Imagination is disappointment.” He replied. Skylar eyed him slightly.

“Fair enough.” She stated, “But this one is a romance novel. Not one of those cheap thrill kind, one about real love and relationships.”

“How could anything written and perfected by a writer be real.”

“Here listen.” She flipped to the back page and began to read to him. “…Their love blossomed like a flower in May, after the April showers had passed, spreading its petals out towards the nurturing sun with the glimmer of hope. Hope of a thriving life of love. And just like the petals that pushed apart from the cozy center, their love did thrive. However, just like all things within time, their love began to fall. The petals began to wilt and casually fall to their final resting place in the ground and just like the wilting petals of that precious flower, little pieces of their love began to die as well. Just like Mother Nature had intended for the flower, this love was only meant for that one beautiful season.” She closed the book and looked up at him. He looked at her. A blank unreadable look occupied his face and she wasn’t sure that he was thinking.

“Why is that so wonderful?” He asked her.

“Cause there’s no happy ending.” She replied. His look turned to a puzzled state. “They had they’re time together to love each other to the fullest, but nothing last forever.”

“You can make it last forever.” He laid back on the blanket, his arms folded behind his head. “You can always have you’re happy ending if you choose to have it. Don‘t let one asshole tell you its not possible.” He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Skylar smiled at him.

“Why not? I’m letting an asshole tell me it is.” Chase opened his eyes and looked up at her. “It wouldn’t be fair to not at least consider what the other asshole says.” He shook his head and stood up. He got closer to the bank. “Chase?” She called to him, but he didn’t answer. Skylar stood and walked over towards him. “Come on, I was just joking.” She said with a laugh. Chase turned to her and smirked slightly. Then, out of no where, he bent down and picked her up. Skylar let out a slight scream as he threw her over his shoulder.

“Man, you’re heavy!” Chase quipped.

“Chase!” She shouted, “Put me down!” Chase stepped into the lake.

“Ooo. That’s chilly!” He crooned.

“Chase, don’t!!” She stated. He ventured further in. “This lake is so filthy, turn back around before we catch something!”

“Like what?” He asked as the water now engulfed her legs as it now reached his chest. “Gonoherpesyphilaids?”

“I’m serious!” She shouted, but all he did was laugh, before he tossed her off his shoulder and into the cloudy lake water. He heard a shriek escape Skylar’s lips as she resurfaced from underneath the water. He laughed once more and she frowned at him.

“You are so dead!” She lunged at him and they both went under. Skylar came up laughing.

“Man, its cold!” She crooned. “Chase?” She called as she looked around. She couldn’t’ see him. “Chase?” She shouted, “Come on this isn’t funny!” She turned around and saw him by the waterfall. He was face down in the water. Panic flew through Skylar as she swam her way to him. She turned him over in the water, “Chase.” She called. When he didn’t respond, Skylar shook him slightly. “Chase, come on.” Again, no reply. “Come on, Chase, wake up!” She slapped at his cheek slightly. “Chase!” The fear in her voice showed in its shaken tune.

“You’re suppose to try mouth-to-mouth.” He began to speak. She stared down at him slightly.

“Oh my god.” She spoke softly as she let him go. She started out of the water and Chase followed after.

“it’s a good thing I was really drowning. You would be of no use.” He laughed lightly. Skylar turned on him abruptly and slapped him hard in the face.

“Don’t you EVER do that again.” The anger flared in her eyes as the tears fell down her cheeks. Chase brought his hand to his face and lowered his head slightly.

“It was just a joke.”

“How could you think something like that would be funny?”

“If I would have known you cared enough to react like that, I wouldn’t have down it!” His voice was soft. Skylar let out an aggravated sigh as she began walking away.

“Of course I’d care, Chase! I’m not a monster!” She crooned back to him. As she made her way down the trail, Chase called to her, but she didn’t care to stop as her feet moved her faster down the trail. She didn’t want to face him after that. All she wanted to do at that very moment was get as far away from Chase as possible.

Late that evening, close to midnight, Skylar sat lounged in a bath. Landon had brought Claire home a good hour earlier, but she didn’t care to talk with either of them. Or Chase for that matter. She hadn’t seen him for hours since the incident at the lake. She couldn’t get past why he would do such a thing. Why he would want to torment her like that. Ever since Chase arrived at the plantation, he’s done nothing but cause a ripple effect on her world, sent a chaotic domino effect through her emotions. It was things like what he said to her that night at the stables, and then what had happened earlier at the lake, that confused her. For the most part, she thought Chase was attractive, but she couldn’t seem to grasp his character. He was so hot then cold then hot again. Never warm.

Skylar finished her bath and made her way towards her room. As she reached the door, Chase’s voice flooded her head. She turned to him as he stood there in the doorway of the room across from hers. He walked over to her and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“Look, what I did earlier was really stupid and I just want to tell you that I’m sorry. Sometimes…” he paused a minute and laughed nervously, “A lot of the time, I can be a real ass, and I’m sorry for that too.” He confessed. “And…” Chase leaned in closer, bringing his lips as close to hers as he could without actually touching. He brought his hands from his pockets to either side of her on the door frame. The shock of his abruptness left Skylar frozen in her place. But it only took her a moment to snap back to reality and react to his forwardness. She brought her hands up to his arms, the first time she had really touched him since he had been here, and pulled them down gently.

“Goodnight, Chase.” She spoke softly as she opened her door and went in, closing it quickly behind her. She retreated further into her room to dress, a dumbfounded look on her face. She wasn’t sure what just happened. Or what Chase’s intentions were. Was he really going to kiss her? Or was he just messing with her mind again? She wasn’t sure and she didn’t want to think about it as she climbed into bed. Her head hit the pillow with hops of sweet slumber, but after an hour of laying there in the silent darkness, slumber never came.

Not too soon there after, Skylar’s curiosity was too much to bare. She hopped out of bed and out of her room. She walked up to the guest room door where Chase was sleeping, and just stared a moment. Not sure if she was ready to confront him or not. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Lando, I already told you I didn’t want…” Chase began as he opened the door, but stopped his sentence when he saw Skylar standing there. “What?”

“What the hell is going on with you?” Skylar asked. Chase rolled his eyes at her as he turned away and began back to his bed.

“Its almost 3 in the morning, Skylar, go back to bed!” He crooned as he shoved his head under the pillow.

“Look, I know I don’t know you that well, but I can tell that there’s something seriously wrong in your head!” She continued on as if he hadn’t said a word. Chase sat up and looked at her.

“You’re right, you don’t know me. At all, but that didn’t stop you from passing judgment on who I was, did it?” He spat at her. She looked at him a moment, confusion on her face.

“Chase, I never…”

“Never what?” He cut her off, “Never assumed I was spoiled? Superficial? Selfish? Unable to obtain intimacy?” She looked away from his gaze. “Ever since I stepped foot in this house, you’ve had me pegged an a snobby, inconsiderate asshole.”

Skylar looked up at him. It was the truth, he was right. She did think all those things of him. She wouldn’t deny that.

“Well since you’ve been here you’ve done nothing but prove me right!” She stated. He shook his head with a laugh.

“If that’s the way you see me, than that’s the way I’m going to act.” He stated.

“Wait a minute, you’re attitude, your hot and cold behavior. Its all an act? Another joke?” She asked, the clear upset and frustration in her voice. He shrugged.

“What can I say? I’m known for my dark sense of humor!”

Skylar couldn’t’ reply, even if she could, she wouldn’t of found the words to say. She turned to leave his room, an aching pain filling her chest. She walked into her room and turned to him as he stood at his door, a arrogant smirk on his face. She looked up at him as a few tears rolled off her cheeks. She caught a glimpse of his face as his smirk faded before closing the door behind her.