"I...THINK...MY...lungs...are...broken." I heave and place one foot after the other. It was so cold I could see my breath in front of me as I puffed. Even though I was wrapped in a long sleeve shirt, a hoodie and sweatpants, I was still freezing. I hold onto the draw string of my hoodie as I continue to run around the overgrown soccer field. 

"I am never fucking drinking again." Noah breathes heavily from beside me as we run together at the same pace. "Mark my words." 

As a punishment for arriving after curfew, Noah and I, as well as all the other guys who had been caught, had to run around the soccer fields at the crack of dawn. The sun was just poking over the mountain range seen from Caldwell, allowing us to see where the hell we were going. 

I glance over my shoulder to see two guys a few hundred feet behind us. I watch as one of the boys, who looked liked he was having a heart attack, fall to his knees on the wet grass. The Sergeant, who was in the middle of the field lying on a damn sunbathing lounge chair, points the hose he held in the air and the water spouted out and drenched the poor boy on his knees. 

He laughs evilly from the middle of the field and sips on his travel mug gleefully. 

We continue running for what felt like hours but was only another twenty minutes before the Sergeant let us go. I was sweating like no fucking tomorrow by then and I rip off my hoodie as we all make our way across the field towards the bleachers. Levi and Emmaline were sitting there waiting for us when we collapsed next to them. 

"That's one way to get over an hangover." I mumble as I rub my temples and rest back against the bench seats above. 

Noah takes a seat next to me and puts his head between is knees and groans, "I'm going to fucking vomit!"    

Emmaline, who sat on the other side of Levi, opens her bag and pulls out a silver thermos. She passes it to Levi and signs to him with her spare hand. 

Levi frowns as he watches, "Okay....I made you...hot chocolate." 

Emmaline nods proud and happy with Levi's translation and Levi looks contempt as well. The morning sun gave Emmaline a beautiful golden glow. Her curly blonde hair was flattened at the top by a dark purple beanie and she wore a very warm looking raincoat. And Levi was Levi in a grey hoodie under a denim jacket, black ripped jeans and doc martins. It was his signature look. He passes me the thermos and it instantly warm my hands as I take it from him.

"Seriously, you didn't have to Emmaline." I tell her, making sure to over enunciate my words as I face her. Levi told us that she's pretty good at lip reading if she can see it clearly. She smiles and waves her hand through the air as Noah quickly rips the thermos from my grip. Emmaline then signs back as Levi watches. 

"No problem....I happy....wait shit no...I enjoy cooking for others." Levi finally translates with a breathy laugh as Emmaline pats him on the shoulder. A slight blush crosses Levi's cheeks and my smile grows wider. He turns to me, "Happy and enjoy always fucking look the same." 

"At least you're learning." I nod to him as my gaze rotates to Noah who was downing the hot chocolate, "Fucking hell leave me some!" 

Once I had finally gotten some hot chocolate and the two of us had cooled down, we all walk back from the field together. Noah and Emmaline walked a head of us as Noah insisted on Emmaline teaching him some sign language; specifically curse words. Students were slowly coming out of the dorm halls and heading towards the dining hall. The morning sun had raised higher now and a crisp but pleasant breeze was through the large willow trees and blowing over the campus.

Levi and I walk side by side down the path. We were both watching them and laughing quietly together. I fold my arms, hang my hoodie over my forearms and purse my lip. 

"She must be special." I smirk up at Levi who frowns at me in confusion, "I've known you for almost seven months and I've never seen you so interested in another person. I mean, you're learning sign language for her." 

"Emmy's the first girl to not be afraid of me." Levi explains as he digs his hands into the pocket of his jacket. My heart attempts not to flutter at his adorable nickname for her but it fails miserably. He's so damn cute. 

I pout up at him and shove him playfully, "Hey, I wasn't scared of you." 

"Noah told me that you whole-heartedly believed I'd kill you and wear your intestines as a scarf if I had the chance." Levi chuckles at me as I glance down at the ground in embarrassment. "No one sits next to me in Biology because we have to use scalpels and shit. But her first day, she walks right in, sits down next to me and smiles like I was a normal person." 

"You are normal Levi." I remind him. 

He shrugs, "It just gets so frustrating because I want to show her I like her but then I end up making it seem like she annoys me—but she doesn't, she never will." 

"I think she understands." I explain as we both glance at her. As if feeling our eyes on her, she glances over her shoulder and waves at us. When my eyes slowly peak up at Levi, I see the biggest smile stretched across his face. Aw. "I see that way she looks at her and I see the way you look at her. I'm no fucking romantic-guru or anything but I can tell there's something special right there." 

"But all the romantic movies you and Noah force me to watch—" 

"Don't care about those, Le. Do what you feel is right." I explain as Levi listens. He's always a great listener. "Okay, so you don't feel a lot of emotions but I'm not bind and I can see you feel something for her. Just trust your gut and jump." 

"But I'm afraid of heights." 

"It's not that kind of—it's metaphorica—shit—you know what, never mind. Just tell her you like her. Tell her you want to be with her. You guys can figure out the rest." I tell him as I gesture towards the pretty girl walking in front of us. I really felt sorry for her because Noah was yapping her goddamn ear off like usual but she looked like she was enjoying every second of it even though she couldn't' hear him. 

"Is that what you did with Chase?" Levi questions as my heart thumps at just the mention of his name. I really gotta get that shit under control. 

"I mean, kind of. We're both stubborn as fuck and didn't really admit it until we had to." I answer him as Levi chuckles. I brush a strand of hair that had fallen from my ponytail behind my ear. 

Levi hums, "When did you know you had feelings for Chase?" 

I loved Levi for the fact that although he confessed his feelings for me only a month ago, he wasn't awkward at all. He was still my best friend and weird as ever. He's obviously super over those feelings for me and I'm glad because now another lucky girl is at the receiving end. 

"You know what, I'm actually not sure. It was slow yet all at once, y'know?" I question as I turn to Levi who shakes his head, "I could list multiple times when I realised 'shit—I actually have feelings for this asshole' and all would be true. I know it sounds fucking crazy to think there was no clear switch between me hating him to me liking him. I guess it was like the tide; a slow and steady shift through slight glances and subtle touches."

Levi chuckles, "You and Noah are such fucking romantics!" 

"You're just insecure because I'm a genius!" I exclaim as I throw my hands up in the air, "It's okay, you will soon learn the ways my young padawan." 

"What the hell is a padawan?" Levi questions as he sniffles due to the cold. My arms drop to my side as my jaw hangs open. 

"Star Wars?" I question as Levi looks at me like I had just escape Area 51. "Oh no. This it not fucking happening! It's go time people!" 

♤♤♤♤

With all the strength I had left, due to most of it being drained from this morning and the Star Wars marathon with the boys, I attempt to push open the window in the dorm. I grunt and groan and eventually it gives way and I almost topple out of the fucking building. But I'm too short and the wall caught me before I could fall. I rest my arms on the window sill and stare out over Caldwell. 

The sun was shining proudly in the cloudless blue sky and the breeze had settled now. I could hear birds chirping and I could see rose buds on rose bushes that I had no clue existed until now. Summer was near and I was so pumped for it. But I also dreaded that fact because summer meant the end of my summer year, it meant the end of my time here in Caldwell. 

Some students have been accepted into universities. Vera and Noah have both been accepted. Vera was accepted to a fashion school in Phoenix not so long ago and Noah's beautiful and amazing brain managed to get him in a spot to MIT. I, however, was still waiting. I have applied to so many but so far I've only been rejected from two universities; UCLA and School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I haven't heard from the others which must be a good thing. 

I hear keys against the wooden door and I instantly flip around with a big smile. The door swings open and Chase walks in carrying his bag in his arms. He glances up from the ground and his eyes meet mine before he grins at me. The door falls shut behind him.

Rushing forward, I wrap my arms around Chase's neck as he drops his bags and picks me up. I squeal in delight and happiness. When he places me back down to my feet, his lips meet mine for what felt like the first time in forever. 

"You're early." I mumble once we break the kiss. 

Chase smirks down at me, "What? Were you planning on bringing one of your many lovers over before I arrived?" 

"Yes and now I'll have to call them and tell them not to come." I sigh heavily, feigning disappointment as Chase chuckles before he kisses me again. I push up onto my tippy toes and adjust my arms around his neck. "I missed you." 

"I missed you more." Chase replies against my lips as we sway from left to right. 

I hum, "Mmm, not possible." 

"Is that a challenge, Jones?" Chase questions as I giggle against him. He then picks me up one more time and I laugh loudly as he drops me onto my bed and climbs on top of me. Chase stares at me for a while with the fondest smile on his face and he brushes a strand of blonde hair out of my face, "You're so beautiful." 

"Oh shit." My eyes widen as I remember suddenly. 

Chase scoffs, "Not the exact reply I was expecti—" 

"The envelope." I explain as Chase frowns at me in total confusion, "There's an envelope on your desk." 

"And you want me to open it now?" Chase questions, his brown hair falling in front of his face. I nod with a sheepish smile on my face as Chase sighs heavily and climbs off me. He walks over to his desk and slowly picks up the envelope and his eyes read over it. He was silent as he stared at it before he began slapping it against his other  palm and his eyes raise to mine, "How hard was it for you to resist opening it?" 

"You have no fucking idea!" I exhale in frustration as I dramatically throw myself back against my pillow. A split second later, I throw myself up onto my elbows, "Who is it from?" 

"It's from my mother's doctors. You know how I said my grandfather sent my mother to an expensive as fuck rehabilitation centre?" Chase questions as I nod silently. He gestures to the envelope, "Well this is it." 

Pandora's Rehabilitation Centre. I remembered it because I was planning on searching it through google but never got the chance. 

Chase throws the envelope down on the desk and walks back over to my bed. I sit up onto my knees and pout, "Are you going to open it?" 

"It's probably just her doctors updating me on her treatment." Chase shrugs as I frown at him. My frustration and curiosity gets the better off me and I climb off my bed and grab the envelope from her desk. I shuffle back over to Chase and step through his parted legs. 

"But what if it's not?" I question as I hand the envelope down at him. He glances from it to me than back to me. 

He then sighs and takes it, "You're lucky I love you." 

I stand in front of him, running my fingers through his soft hair as he opens the envelope. I glance down and watch as he pulls out a simple sheet and folds it open.  He's silent as he reads it and I can't read upside down for shit so I patiently wait for him to finish. 

"It's from her." Chase mumbles as he continues to stare at the sheet in his hands. His gaze then slowly rises to mine, "She wants me to come see her." 

"And that's a good thing right?" I question as Chase remains silent. One beat passes, two. Then he screws up the letter and throws it across the room, the paper ball landing perfectly in the trash can. Curse his super great aim. 

"Whatever it fucking is, I'm not going." Chase scoffs before he stands up. I don't move so we come chest to chest and the toes of his shoes touch my bare ones. "The guys are playing a game of 8-Ball in the common room, you wanna go join?" 

"Stop changing the subject Everett. Sit down." I demand and he does as I say straight away. I continue to stand between his parted legs and I place my hands on his shoulders. I then exhale slowly, "Chase...are you afraid to see her?" 

His silence is all the answer I need. He doesn't meet my eyes and instead leans forward so his forehead was leaning against my lower stomach. I slowly run my hands through his hair, something I know he enjoys and that I know comforts him. 

"She's not going to blame you, Chase." I whisper to him as he wraps his arms around my bare legs. It was getting warmer and I could finally wear shorts in and outside Elwood hall. 

He mumbles under his breath, "You don't know that."

"I do." I assure him as I lean back, gently slip my fingers under his chin and tilt his gaze up to mine. "I'll go with you. I'll hold your hand and buy you gummy bears. And if you want to leave, we will leave. Just go see her." 

"You're so annoying." Chase rolls his eyes as I giggle and sit down on his lap, my legs falling to either side. I straddle him and Chase's hands fall to my waist, securing me as I overlap my wrists behind his head. "What the hell did I do to get you?" 

"Y'know, I ask myself the same thing. You must've saved an entire fucking country or something in a previous life." I grin cheekily and bite down on my tongue. Chase chuckles at me as he slowly raises my sweatshirt over my head, leaving me in a black bra. "I love you, Chase. Which means you share your problems with me and we can figure things out together. You're not alone anymore. Okay?" 

"Okay." Chase nods his head as I lean down and attach my lips to his. He mumble against my mouth, "I love you too." 

"I know." I reply incoherently before Chase rolls us over and my back lands safely on the bed as Chase's lips make their way back to mine. 

awwwww shit another chapter!

i told you guys i was super motivated!

they'll be another chapter tomorrow or maybe even a double update!