Chapter 4The Kiss of Life

Saturday morning. Chase texted.

[Address]

[Dinner tonight.]

I had one day left to live. Delay tactics.

I wasn't going to spoil him today.

Me: [Busy.]

Chase: [?]

Chase: [Doing what?]

I made something up.

[Swimming with friends.]

Chase took a long time to reply. Just two words.

[Thirsty?]

[?]

I immediately understood.

My fist clenched.

When I learned to swim, I couldn't breathe right. I swallowed half the pool every time.

I thought I hid it well.

Until the coach told me to stop drinking or he'd charge me for the water.

Embarrassed, I looked around.

And saw Chase watching the show.

He had just finished a lap, arms resting on the deck, muscles gleaming, skin blindingly white.

I rolled my eyes at him.

He smirked, the bastard. "Shallow end for sipping, deep end for chugging," he said, then swam off.

The coach's laughter echoed through the pool.

I hate him.

Countless moments like that. Chase haunted my life, witnessing every single embarrassment.

[I'm actually mad now. It's war!]

System: [...Calm down, boss!]

Phone pinged.

I picked it up, ready for battle.

[If you don't come, no kiss.]

"..."

System: [What now?]

I laughed coldly. Typed:

[Look at you, getting serious. I was just joking.]

[Smiling_Through_The_Pain.jpg]

The System laughed at me. Mercilessly.