?WINGLESS AND BEUTIFUL
?
?EPISODE 73?
Besides, once you’re in college, you can work out a better schedule if you want toget a job.”
She was right. My job at Alibri was far too risky. I got away with doing it because Chaise faithfully picked me upevery night.
I was lucky to get away from those pot heads because he was following me, making sure I was safe. But Icouldn’t keep on doing that to Chaise anymore.
It wasn’t fairbecause I knew he was doing it hoping I would be able toreturn his feelings someday. But I knew that would never happen.
It would always be Hunter.That evening, when I went to work, I gave Mrs. Baileymy resignation. She was sad that I had to go but I explainedto her that it was difficult for me to go home every night.
I told her about the night I was attacked and if Chaise wasn’t there to save me, I would have been history. She truly felt sorry for me and told me that she understood my decision.
By Friday, Chaise was still a no show. I was beginning tohear rumors around that he was moving away. But I refused to believe them until I heard it from him myself. Chaisewould at least say goodbye to me. Right?
After my last class, I went to my locker and saw a notestuck on my door. I took it and read a letter that I was surewas written in Chaise’s handwriting.
Alice,
This is probably one of the hardest letters I havewritten.
I haven’t gone to see you this past week. I wanted to.
But somehow, I couldn’t find the courage to face you.
I want to say I’m sorry for everything. All I was thinking about was myself and how badly I wanted to be with you, I forgot that I should be thinking about your happinessinstead of mine.
And I’m not really proud of what I did.I know I’m not making sense right now, but soon youwould know what I am talking about.
I would like to make up for everything. Tonight.
This town has a garden, overlooking a lake that hasswans in the day… and fireflies at night. I think you know what garden I am talking about.
Go there, Alice. Now, as soon as you get this note. Give me a chanceto make up for what I did… for getting in the
way… for being so selfish.
I’m sorry.
Forever Yours,
Chaise
My hands were shaking as I read his letter. Questionsraced through my mind. I looked around me to look for anysigns of Chaise. But apart from two other kids who weregetting things from their lockers, there was just me.
I put the note in my bag and then I went out of the campus.What was Chaise planning to do? Where was he?
And how the he..ll did he know about the garden in CRC? Only Hunter and I knew about that. Unless…
My heart pounded in my chest and I felt the hairs in mynape rise. Unless… Chaise found my diary.
When I came back from the lake house, my diary wasgone. Chaise had all night to go through my stuff if Denisewasn’t looking. He’d seen me write on it before.
He musthave recognized it. I guess curiosity got the better of him.If he started reading it, then would he know… he would know who I was writing it for. He would know who the guy he was hoping to replace in my heart was.
I took the bus to CRC and got there in fifteen minutes.The moment I stepped into the grounds, memories ofHunter flooded back to me. I remembered how we fell inlove in this unlikely place.
Here, we both found the will to fight and live our lives again. Here lies a world where onlythe two of us existed… old souls, young hearts.
As I approached the gate, I felt somebody pull my hand.I turned back and found Chaise staring back at me.
“Chaise!
He pulled me towards the parking lot, without saying aword.
“Chaise, are you okay?” I asked.
He didn’t reply until we reached the parking spacewhere his black Porsche was. It had been a while since I last saw him drive that.
I noticed the long scratch on the hood,courtesy of the potheads he fought to save me that night.
I thought he said he had sent the car to get it fixed. Howcome the scratch was still there?
I was about to ask that but when I looked up at him, Isaw that he had a bruise beside his lips and there was a cuton his left brow.
His cheek was also red and slightly swollen.His injury looked fresh, like he’d been in a fight only that day.
“Oh my God, Chaise, what happened to you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “Idon’t have much time.”
“What’s going on?”
“I only have a few minutes to spare. Then I need toleave.”
“Leave to where?”
“Back to Berlin,” he replied.
“Why?”
He shook his head. “Berlin’s my home, Alice.”
“I know. I just didn’t think you’d be back there so soon.”
He shrugged. “I’m kidding myself if I truly believed Ibelonged here in the first place.”
“So what? I never belonged here too. But you told me tosuck it up!”
Chaise shook his head. “I need to tell you something.
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