When all contact between the two stopped and their eyes flew open in unison; Chase could tell his companion, right across from him, was equally as shocked as he was.

Skye: "Why did we do that?!" She bursted out, completely horrified.

Chase: "You're the one who kissed me!"

Skye: "You kissed me back!"

Chase: "What else was I suppose to do!?" He exclaimed.

Skye: "Well we're not suppose to do that!"

Chase: "Then, why did you?" He questioned.

Skye: "I don't know. Why didn't you stop me?" She remarked.

Chase: "I also don't know."

An awkward silence would've surrounded the duo if not for the noisy croaks from frogs, cricket's soft chirping, and occasional fish splashing around. Everyone of them near or in the pool of water that was five feet away, six feet deep.

Like some quiet observers over the drama of the two lovebirds. During the last several seconds though, there was nothing impressive the wild animals could see.

Rows of grass swayed as the cool wind swept through every creature on land. There was the moon shining as bright as the sun, maybe even more, looking down at them silently. Patiently waiting for what happens next.

Chase's POV: "How would you tell the person you fell in love with that you hate them? After hurting you really badly you should hate them. I don't, not entirely. That's why I don't think I'll be able to tell her."

Imagine the love of your life loving you back. One single person out of everybody you ever met provoking all these emotions doing one little thing.

Falling for them all over again, the feeling is almost unbearable, but in some sort of absurd way it's enjoyable too.

Many have hated loving someone before, so this predicament isn't new. Uncommonly was deciding if this is what's really going on.

Both of their hearts were still racing, however their bodies remained motionless. They know what was done, they just couldn't comprehend why or if it was even acceptable that they did it.

Wasn't it just one kiss after all?

Skye: "Well I-I'm sorry!" She blurted out. "You probably hate me more now don't you?"

Amazed, the brown laminated canine stared straight into her cheerless eyes. Literal milliseconds after they separated from each other, the very first thing on his mind was him debating whether or not to loathe her.

So, does the Poodle mix understand the situation she has placed him in?

Chase: "I should." He gulped harshly. "I should hate you."

Her vision was getting blurry with tears close to filling them. At the same time, a hard stone clogged her throat. Dreading those words, what made it sting more was hating her was an opition he has considered.

Telling someone they should, doesn't guarantee they'll do it though, the female knows that. Regardless, it made her heart sink when her presumable soulmate could hate her, but hating him for good has never crossed her mind; not even once.

In grief and ashamed the female's head hung low, until he reached out to her with that firm, yet tender voice of reason.

Chase: "But of course I can't. The only thing I hate right now is how much I've grown attached to you."

Embarassed, the grass beneath him caught his attention. He couldn't bring himself to lock eyes with Skye after exposing himself like that.

Chase: "I shouldn't have said that! It was stupid of me." His face becoming a glowing red mess.

Now, it was his turn to be tongue-tied with sentiments.

Skye: "Then I love it when you're stupid." She grinned, stared at him, and he looked up. "Listen, I don't want you to hate me and I definitely don't want you to hate yourself for liking me."

She gathered her thoughts for a moment.

Skye: "What I'm confused about is how are we going to move on when we still have feelings for each other?" She asked with distraught eyes.

Evading those eyes, his own darted to be glued to the ground again. It appeared his mouth was glued too, glued shut. No signs of the German Shepherd attempting to respond.

Skye: "Chase, what am I to you?" She persisted.

Just another question the darker haired canine didn't know how to properly address. Chase wasn't intentionally trying to give her this type of silent treatment. All the same, he couldn't find the best way to communicate this issue either.

Then, as if he collided into his own train of thought, it hit him. Precisely the same sensation he felt a while ago; like he must be missing something.

What was missing was an actual compromise on what to do since they split into two detached directions.

Get back together, which Skye wanted, or move forward which Chase believed was what they needed to do first.

Between the pair, their love for one another isn't the setback, hate is. Hating rejection and the other was hating fear.

Conversations are harder to explain when you're lost on expressing what you want, rather than what you know you don't want.

One way or the other the male's mind goes back to solve that puzzle, but this time the last piece isn't only unknown it's also not there. It's not in his possession, not yet. Maybe they both have to search somewhere else to find it because...

Chase: "I know 'friends' isn't the answer you're looking for." He finally declared, still facing downward.

Skye: "Do you really think we could go back to being just friends? Wow, why do I even bother asking questions to you if-."

...it holds the answers to everything.

Chase: "Wait, it's better if you do." He whispered. "In order to find the right thing to say someone has to be talking."

Before explaining any further the stern canine shifted his gaze away from the fresh turf he was sitting on.

Chase: "We need to talk." He spoke as his brown shaded eyes met her magenta colored ones.

Skye: "Just talk? What more is there to talk about?"

Hysteria was quickly detected in her voice, due to the fact that those words are usually a bad signal for worst things to come.

Chase: "The future, our future. I'm not quite sure what to do anymore." He admitted.

Skye: "I think you do." She announced. "You just need some time to figure it out."

Gently the smaller pooch moved her body to press against his shoulder. What could she say? Obviously, a little sleep deprived, her brain continued to be very much functional. Being this close to the purebred was better than sleep anyways.

Physically she was still drawn to him, even so the male didn't move away in disapproval. The Cocker Spaniel mix knew he wouldn't. From the look in his eyes alone the female could tell he needed comfort and reassurance above anything at the moment.

Skye: "For what it's worth, I will always feel bad for lying to you. I wasn't honest, but you know I never meant to use your trust in me as an advantage. I never meant to hurt you."

Chase: "Yeah, I thought so too." He said grudgingly while shifting a bit.

Skye: "Chase, I mean it. Why would I want to let go of the person I care about the most? I was scared, which is a pretty lame excuse now. But I was, I was terrified that one of my worst fears would happen. You leaving me." She paused. "It was a trap and I felt trapped too, like if I didn't lie at that time I would've lost you right then and there. And maybe if you didn't find out, I could've had you for a little longer."

The German Shepherd remained quiet and listened, his eyes softened with every sincere word that got her choked up with regret.

Skye: "You know I always hated competition, but that didn't mean I'd give you up so easily. Especially if that meant I would lose you to some other girl who has not fought for this relationship harder than I have. Because no one else has been there for you as much as me. I've known you for years, I know nobody else would support and cherish you like I do. Like I have been doing even now! I can't see you as only a friend or a teammate or my ex, I won't because you're not any of those to me."

Chase: "Look, believe me I want to understand, but lying to my face like that wasn't okay."

Skye: "I know that now!" She cried. "I caused you pain and you're causing me pain, aren't we equal now?"

Her body was directly in front of him now. Face to face so he could detect the strong emotions she felt.

A teardrop rolled down the side of her scratched face and an enormous wave of guilt crashed into the male.

Immediately Chase lunged forward and put his arm around her back to pull her closer than before. Hugging Skye so tightly, so secure, and so afraid. Chase's height became a great perk as they were so near each other he was able to lay his head onto hers.

Removing the heart-wrenching view out of his sight. Whatever it took to get rid of that depressing expression he caused.

Chase: "You make it extremely hard to hate you." He hushed.

The female will never correctly guess the enormous amount of times he has tried to forgive and forget.

Chase: "Skye, making you suffer isn't what I want. I want us both to be happy and healthy, whether it be done individually or not, I'm not sure which. I do know that neither of us want to get hurt again. So, we're not going to pick a choice that will destroy us okay? That I'm positive of."

Vibrations from the male's heart pacing more rapidly filled the Cockapoo's left eardrum. Leaning on his chest with him was where she wanted to rest forever. If Chase could hear her heart beats he'd know they were playing the same rhythm.

However, each of their minds were out of sync and marching to the sound of the beat of their own drum.

Skye: "But what if it does?"

Chase: "We'll find out soon enough, but I'm not stopping until I know for certain whatever we choose is going to be the best option."

Skye: "The right thing to do is get back together." She insisted.

Chase: "Just because it's your favorite choice doesn't mean it's the correct one."

Skye: "I know, still I refuse. For the millionth time, I promise I'll never do it again!"

Chase: "I don't know that, you did it once I can't be so sure this time!"

Skye: "You're just going to have to...trust me. One more time. Trust me on this."

Chase: "I have issues with that. Trusting someone with a second chance after they have betrayed you the first time is risky, I can't."

Barely ten seconds went by when she realized this particular problem seemed familiar to her.

Skye: "You sure?" She interrogated. "You say you can't, but you can, you can and you have."

Abruptly, the Poodle mix removed herself from her position. Yanking her head followed by the rest of her body away from her companion's grasp.

Every bit of the German Shepherd's face was caught off guard by the sudden distance she made.

Skye: "What about with Ciara?" Her mood switching from sadness to speculation in an instance.

It's almost as if she accused him to a 1st degree criminal charge. The look on his face sure did fit a description of somebody with a guilty conscience.

Chase: "This isn't about her."

Skye: "Oh really? She betrayed you, she's a cheater, but somehow you forgave her for that!"

Chase: "What are you even talking about?" He said concerned.

Skye: "You told me all about your ex that you still have feelings for, don't forget now."

Chase: "I haven't forgotten, I wish you could. I don't like talking about her, especially around here."

Skye: "Well that's why I want to talk about her. How do I know that's not the real reason why you're being so hesitant of getting back together with me. Is it because you rather be with her?" She argued.

Chase: "I'm not being hesitant, I'm being cautious and you know that's not true."

Skye: "Just like you said: I can't be so sure this time."

The Poodle mix stood a foot apart from her mate. She glanced at the undisturbed pond below before glaring in his direction.

Skye: "You told me you 'love' her. Remember that? She cheated on you which is worse than what I did, yet you still adore her? Which means you could trust her again if you had to."

Chase: "I guess, if you put it that way. The two of you have more in common then you might realize."

Skye: "Are you saying I would cheat on you? I would never."

Chase: "I was trying to say- nevermind. But another thing is you both lie to get what you want."

Skye: "Do not compare me to that girl." She barked.

Chase: "Sorry, I know both of you are unique in the most important ways, now can we change the subject?"

Skye: "Of course not, I don't think you're getting it. Unlike her I'm not some boy jumping female. And let's not forget she hooked up with your own brother of all people!"

Chase: "You don't have to remind me." He stared down at his clenched paws.

Skye: "I feel like I should. Because somehow you convinced yourself that you should settle for someone like that. You're going to let her treat you like nothing when you're everything to me. Chase, you deserve better and compared to her I am better."

He raised his head to look at the person on the opposite side from him who has been his ideal match since the start. Giving Chase everything he's ever wanted, but was he offering her the same in return? What if it's Skye who has the right to do better with somebody else?

Skye: "You should hate her and all the horrible things she did to you. You can't still love someone, but hate their actions. I never understood that. Because they are the one who intentionally decided to go through with the idea you dislike. Why love someone whose deceitful actions speak louder than any of their lies ever will?"

Unquestionably, the male became speechless for brief moments. Processing the hard truth.

Chase: "You're right and I can't deny it." He sighed in defeat. "Still, I'm sorry that I can't hate Ciara."

'But don't say you love her either,' Skye thought. 'Why her over me?'

Skye: "You just miss who you thought she was." She stated making an effort to persuade him.

No matter, bits of her heart was chipping away every second the dark brown canine didn't look her in the eye and confess that he was wrong when he said he still loved his first ever ex, even after Skye's relationship with him ended.

Chase: "Maybe." He wondered, overlooking that it's not what he currently needs to be thinking about.

Although, Skye wanted to answer with: 'Whatever that's fine! Enjoy the memories, not the monstrous person. Say it isn't love!'

Chase: "Is it possible to bring the good version of her back though?"

'Good luck with that,' the female repeated inside her head instead of out loud. Including, 'You shouldn't want Ciara the cheater in your life anymore. You're not in love with her, you can't be.'

Chase: "Was it my fault that she changed in the first place?" He mumbled to himself again.

While Skye's inner brain was basically screaming to be heard, her actual beliefs stayed quiet. That was until this point, when she found a way to make sure Chase could clearly understand her thoughts out in the open this time.

Skye: "If you actually love Ciara more than me, I'll finally leave you alone. Apparently you can't hate her, but don't tell me you love her since she's the reason we can't be together."

Chase's entire attention focused on Skye. Love me or lose me, one of the ultimate ultimatums.

Skye: "I can't keep abandoning others who want me. The people of Adventure Bay and the rest of the Paw Patrol would want me back. They all could be waiting for me."

Her face was downcasted, not changing the fact the male canine already knew the Poodle mix eye's were becoming misty.

Skye: "Tons of people would've moved on after a break up like ours, but I'm still here for the reason that I know I'm at least somewhere in your heart. You hide your true feelings for me since your afraid I might hurt you again, but somewhere deep down, deeper than any of your secrets you keep disguise, I'm there. Don't you truly love me more than anyone anymore? Or am I wrong?"

In a single heartbeat he confessed the newest thing on his mind.

Chase: "No, you're not wrong. You were right about everything! I am in love with only you Skye. And frankly I think that's been the problem all along." He revealed. "I blame all of this on Ciara and myself. Whether I like it or not I've been acting exactly the way she wants me to. She's why I despise my past so much since she's taking up a huge part in it. I really don't love her, in fact I hate that I don't hate her. More than likely, she's the reason I don't want to forgive people because that means I'd have to forgive her too. You're the one who deserves better Skye, at least someone without trust issues that their ex gave them."

Skye: "What? You're not making any sense."

Chase: "It's pretty clear to me. These thoughts have been bothering me for a while."

Skye: "Talking is suppose to provide answers! But this isn't-it shouldn't-wait. Does that mean you actually want me to leave you?"

Unlike most questions tonight he was certain of this one.

Chase: "Yes, but-."

All of a sudden his mouth stopped moving as the conversation was blocked by other voices.

Bubblegum: "There you two are!" She shouted appearing out of the blue with the rest of her group.

Clyde: "Chase is it a habit for you to walk away from us now?" He snickered. "Either way you two wouldn't have gotten very far with no escort."

Frozen: "Naturally we went looking for you too Skye since that was quite a long time in the bathroom." She explained while Bear nodded along.

Whitepaws: "If you guys needed alone time just say so!"

Quickly moving his head to inspect Chase and Skye, then the way they were facing each other he stepped back.

Whitepaws: "Dang, it would be really awkward if we were interrupting something special wouldn't it?" He nervously chuckled.

Before Chase could form a word to respond the control queen spoke on his behalf.

Bubblegum: "Of course not! In this case they are the ones who are interrupting us and our sleep schedule. All of you will thank me when everyone is well rested for tomorrow."

She then got in the middle of the Purebred and Poodle & Cocker Spaniel mix in order to separate them into the crowd.

Clyde: "Come on Chase you may as well save it for another day." He appeased.

Without much of a protest Chase took one last glimpse of Skye sharing the look of wanting to finish their discussion if it wasn't for the extra listeners.

Even so, the Cockapoo wasn't positive she would've happily reacted if she known what the German Shepherd said next. From what she did hear though, she was confident what Chase said was enough and plenty for her.

'Good talk', she mouthed to him alternatively. An eye blink later, she joined the three other females once the guys began heading back, assuredly out of hearing range.

Skye: "Well, I'm definitely exhausted after that." She sighed.

Bubblegum: "He was going to say something ignorant or did he already?"

Skye: "Whoa wait a minute how much did all of you hear?" She blushed.

Frozen: "Enough to know that both of you aren't a couple...at least not yet."

Bear: "But barely anything."

Bubblegum: "All I know is it must've been something lovey dovey so I knew I had to cut that short."

Frozen: "That's only because it's not about your own love life."

Bubblegum: "Isn't that obvious? Anyways, we can all pretty much guess what went down."

Frozen: "Oh Skye was he romantic?! You must tell us something! Did you two kiss?"

Bubblegum: "It better have been with consent or do I have to smack some more sense into that guy?"

Bear, the most bashful one there, observed with interest. Never have been involved with fascinating gossip like this recently.

Skye: "We talked that's all, nothing unbelievable happened." She uttered. "It was only one kiss, but-."

Frozen: "I knew it! According to some they believe the moon actually symbolizes emotional and physical union between people in love and I believe this is the case. A full moon is out after all."

Bear: "Aww."

Bubblegum: "That's not surprising." She smirked.

Skye: "Ah um, I think that's enough boy talk for now, Bubblegum is right we should get to bed."

Frozen: "Come on, it's so adorable and the slow burn is killing me! As Chase's longest friends, he needs you."

Bubblegum: "I don't know why you chose him or why he chose you, but it's nice to know he found the right girl to be with this time."

Skye: "This time?"

Bubblegum: "We'll talk about it later alright?"

In a rush the demanding female leader dragged all of them back indoors. Once inside, everyone's mind, except for one, were set on sleeping the night away as they passed the opposite gender's room.

Within that zone the males were having their own chat session, all of them already laying down.

Clyde: "Soooo, we still aren't going to talk about what happened?"

Chase: "Exactly." He said bluntly.

Whitepaws: "And I thought I was usually the clueless one."

Clyde: "You still are, I'm just saying we haven't had a girl crisis like this ever since you tried to get 'one on one time' with Bubblegum who thought you wanted to fight her."

Whitepaws: "Dude! All I said was 'Only you and me, outside now' to her and all of a sudden she knocks me out in the backyard. I did get what I wanted though, so it was totally worth it."

Clyde: "You my friend seriously need a doctor."

Whitepaws: "A love doctor?"

Clyde: "What? No."

Whitepaws: "Pshh my situation with Bubblegum is total different from Chase's."

Clyde: "Yeah agreed, you and her were never official." He grinned.

Whitepaws: "If it was up to me we would have been years ago. A relationship should be 50/50 and takes time to build, right Chase?"

He gave his pal a slight nudge on the shoulder indeed provoking a response, nonetheless an unanticipated reply.

Chase: "I think I messed up, again."

Whitepaws: "Huh? OH! Um...with Skye?"

The purebred shamefully nodded.

Clyde: "What do you mean again?!"

Whitepaws: "Ohh you must've said something stupid didn't you?"

Chase: "I definitely feel stupid."

Clyde: "Can this stupidity wait for tomorrow?" He groaned tiredly.

Whitepaws: "Hmm I don't know. Chase will Skye still be upset by then?"

Regret sunk in as far as Chase's head coffined itself in his pillow.

Chase: "Yes and she has every right to be." He muttered through the cushion.

Clyde: "Fine! Let's hear it, what did you say wrong this time?"

With his face uncovered Chase proceeded.

Chase: "I basically told her to leave me."

Clyde: "Ouch... well, anyway, see you in the morning."

Chase: "Clyde, come on this is serious."

Clyde: "It's not THAT big of a deal."

Chase: "You think so?"

Clyde: "I sure hope so, my eyes aren't waiting for you to figure it out though." He dozes off.

Whitepaws: "Yeah absolutely, Chase you're overthinking this. What is she going to do? You think she'll actually leave you behind?"

Chase didn't respond back since the conversation seemed pretty much wrapped up. Also, with the relaxing quietness their low energy got the best of them.

Throughtout the poorly constructed household everyone, everywhere was soundless.

Except for the few inaudible whispers carried out a bit longer in the girl's room. Soon after, the opening of a creaky door.

The following morning

Whitepaws: "Dang, I can't believe she really left. Chase, why would you listen to me? I'm never right!"

Clyde: "Maybe this is why neither of us have a significant other." He modestly rambled.

If Chase knew he would be starting off his day this way he'd never tuck himself in and called it a night.

Bubblegum: "The fact that all of you guys are shocked says something."

Whitepaws: "I'm so glad you didn't leave beautif-."

Chase: "Bubblegum!" He budged in. "Do you know where Skye went?"

Frozen: "WE may or may not have an idea of where she has gone off to."

Chase: "I don't care who knows someone has to tell me!"

Bubblegum: "It's probably best that you don't know."

Chase: "Where is she?" He repeated.

Whitepaws: "Bro calm down maybe you should give your little lady some space."

Chase: "I'm not comfortable with you calling her that, but that's besides the point. Skye shouldn't be out there alone, not when I'm here."

Bear: "You could wait for her."

Frozen: "That's highly improbable, she doesn't know her way back on her own."

Chase: "I'm going whether you tell me where she is or not. I'll search everywhere if I have to." He was standing at the main entrnace. "It's because of what I said, I didn't mean- whatever. Are you guys coming?"

Frozen shaked her head 'no' while Bear avoided eye contact.

Bubblegum: "Nope."

Chase: "Why not?" He worried.

Bubblegum: "Look, if I knew she would go by herself I never would've told her the directions she wanted. Me, Frozen, and Bear would've stopped her from going entirely."

Chase: "Skye wanted directions? To where?"

Every female looked at one another before silently agreeing to tell.

Bubblegum: "To a place we never want to visit ever again and I can speak for all of us."

Chase: "Please don't say Trustem."

Bubblegum: "Okay I won't. She went to our home island."

Chase: "Our home island IS Trustem." He said roughly.

Whitepaws: "To be fair Bubblegum didn't say Trustem."

Clyde: "Plus just because Skye wanted the exact directions to a location doesn't mean she'll 100% go there."

Bear: "Where else would she go though?"

Clyde: "How about a place to get a new boyfriend?" He smiled playfully.

Chase: "Stop that."

Whitepaws: "There isn't really a place like that right?"

Clyde: "I mean I have been wrong before."

Frozen: "If Skye actually could go there then I should've left with her when I had the chance."

Bubblegum: "Everyone shut it! Skye undoubtedly is going to Trustem, by now she might've already arrived too."

Bear: "It could be worse."

Chase: "What place could be any worse?" He fretted.

Bubblegum: "Well, what about one of your ex girlfriend's house."

Chase: "You... you told Skye where to find Ciara?!"

Bubblegum: "First of all she asked me so yes. Your girl has beef I respect that, but it's not like they'll fight or anything. They'll probably just talk. Also Ciara and you aren't a thing anymore you should be rooting for Skye if they do throw hands."

Chase: "That's not the problem! If I'm going to go get Skye back I'll see Ciara and I don't even want to look at her again! This entire group knows what Ciara is capable of, I can't abandon Skye though."

Frozen: "Oh Ciara is definitely a nuisance alright."

Clyde: "I always had a bad feeling about her and I get along with everybody!" He emphasized.

Bear: "Ciara let her past get the best of her."

Whitepaws: "Honestly, I'm shocked she quit this group before we kicked her out."

Bubblegum: "Listen, Ciara betrayed us all Chase and Skye is the only one confronting your crazy ex. Are you going to be by Skye's side or be in her way?"

Chase: "I'll be by her side when there's trouble, but I'll get in her way if that means she doesn't have to be in trouble. At the end of the day I doesn't matter where Skye goes, I just want to be with her."

Clyde: "Well dang. What are you still doing here then?"

A/N: I'll keep this short (unlike this chapter lol) but I want to thank all my patient readers, without their continuous love and support I wouldn't have made it this far so thank you from the bottom of my heart once again. ❤ Until the next update byeeee! 😴💭✨