The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 27

This Sunday was different from other Sundays. Well not completely different since we went to church and visited Nana and went out for lunch but different because that night Alex and Josh were coming over for dinner.

I didn’t know if I should’ve felt nervous or not because Alex coming over for dinner was like having my parents meet my boyfriend but my real parents knew Alex and Clarissa and Tom know him too since he is Chase’s friend.

It was more like Chase having his friends over for dinner so I shouldn’t be nervous.

I opened my closet and took out my light blue skinny jeans and tight black long sleeved shirt. I put them on with my black converse and then glanced at my reflection in the mirror.

 The silver outline of the heart on the bottom right of my shirt glowed slightly when the light hit it. My brown hair was okay today and my makeup was light so I looked good.

I went downstairs because I had promised Clarissa to help her with dinner and the guys were going to be here in an hour.

While walking downstairs I remembered the conversation I had with Alex when I told him to come over for dinner and I couldn’t stop the smile that formed on my lips.

“Are you free Sunday night?” I had asked him.

“Why? Are you planning a hot date?” He asked me in a seductive voice.

I rolled my eyes at him and asked him once again, “Are you busy?”

“Nope, I don’t have any plans,” he answered.

“Good,” I had answered. “Then you can come over for dinner on Sunday?”

“Sure,” he said, smiling at me then his smile disappeared as a serious look overtook his face.

“Does that mean that I should be scared of Clarissa and Tom this time?” He asked and I burst out laughing.

“I don’t think they’ll act like ‘the parents meeting the boyfriend’ because they already know you,” I said.

“Are you sure? What if they did?” He asked and I detected a hint of worry in his voice that made me want to pinch his cheeks because of how adorable he sounded.

“Parents always love you, Alex,” I replied reassuringly. “So you have nothing to worry about.”

He gave me a smile, his confidence back.

“Care to explain the reason behind that smile?”

I jumped when I heard Emily’s voice.

“You scared me!” I said, putting a hand over my racing heart.

She laughed at me and shook her head. “What were you thinking about? Or who?” She asked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

I rolled my eyes at her but I felt my cheeks burn slightly. I wished she wouldn’t notice.

She didn’t comment on my blush so she either didn’t notice or decided to ignore it. Either way, I was grateful.

“You look pretty,” I commented as I looked at her outfit. She looked really cute with her black pants and green shirt that had a black bow on the right shoulder. Her blond hair was naturally straight like all the other times and her makeup suited her outfit.

“Thanks,” she replied, giving me a smile. “You look pretty too.”

“Thank you,” I said and then we both went to the kitchen to help Clarissa.

Around an hour later, the doorbell rang and Clarissa ran out of the kitchen to open the door.

Emily and I laughed at her since she was acting as if it was her boyfriend standing behind that door, not ours.

Josh and Alex stood on the front porch with smiles on their faces. Josh looked handsome in his dark jeans, red polo, and black jacket.

Alex on the other hand looked extremely hot. He smirked at me when he saw me checking him out. He knew that I liked guys who wore outfits like the one he was wearing tonight. He had a pair of blue jeans that looked as if they were made for him only. His white shirt was simple but above it was a black blazer that was not buttoned.

I kept on staring at him like an idiot till I felt Chase’s shoulder brush against mine as he passed next to me. I snapped out of my daze and looked away from my boyfriend, blushing.

The guys greeted Clarissa, Tom, and Chase first then Josh walked over to his girlfriend with a loving smile on his face and he gave her a hug. I smiled at how cute they were. He then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her to the dining room where Chase and his parents went a minute ago.

Suddenly, two arms slid down my back and wrapped around my waist. I smiled and leaned back into Alex’s chest.

“You should stop looking at me the way you did earlier,” he said in a low voice.

“What way?” I said. I was just checking him out.

“I thought you were going to rape me on the front porch,” he said and I rolled my eyes at him and stepped away from his arms.

“Ha ha,” I laughed sarcastically. “Very funny.”

He chuckled and held my hand. “I’m kidding. I wanted you to look at me like that. That’s why I dressed like that.”

I smirked and said, “I like your honesty.”

His eyes widened and he blushed. “I-I um I shouldn’t have said that.”

I laughed loudly at his discomfort.

“You’re just an honest person,” I said when I was able to stop laughing.

“Shut up,” he mumbled, embarrassed.

“Aww you’re so cute!” I said, pinching his cheeks.

“Hailey,” he whined and I snickered.

I kissed his cheek that wasn’t so red anymore and said, “Let’s go.”

“We’re not going anywhere before you give me a proper kiss,” he said seriously, crossing his arms over his chest.

I raised an eyebrow at him and said, “The front door is right there, you can leave.”

He looked surprised at my response but quickly recovered.

“You’re so mean,” he said.

“Why are people telling me that a lot nowadays?” I asked, giving him a fake pout.

“Maybe it’s because you are mean,” Alex said matter-of-factly.

“I was thinking of giving you a proper kiss but after what you just said, I won’t anymore,” I said.

His eyes widened and he shook his head quickly. “No, no, I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry!”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him and he gave me a puppy look.

“Fine,” I said with an overly dramatic sigh.

“Stop complaining,” he said, chuckling. “I know you want to kiss me.”

He pulled me closer to him and I smiled because it was true. I did want to kiss him. When our lips met, my heart beat accelerated and I felt like I was flying.

“Now that was a real kiss,” he said breathlessly when he pulled away.

“Mmhmm,” I mumbled and he grinned.

“Now we can go,” he said and I chuckled as we followed the rest to the dining room.

We all stood next to our chairs and prayed the small prayer. We then sat in our chairs and started eating. I was sitting between Emily and Clarissa while Tom, Alex, and Josh were sitting in the chairs across from us. Chase was sitting on a chair without anyone facing him.

Someday Mariah will be sitting in that empty chair next to Emily, I thought.

“So Alex and Josh,” Tom started with a serious face. “What are your intentions with Hailey and Emily?”

Both of the guys’ eyes widened and my jaw dropped. Why was Tom being like that? I never thought he would say this especially since he already knows the two guys. I glanced at Emily and saw her trying to suppress a laugh and that’s when it clicked.

“I-I…” the guys stammered then we all burst out laughing except for Josh and Alex who were confused.

“I’m just kidding,” Tom then said and they visibly relaxed. “Your reactions were priceless!”

We all agreed and both guys laughed, relieved.

We started talking about school and of course the topic led to the whole University thing. I was discovering these days that I have a fear of the future especially when it comes to University. What if I chose the wrong major? What if I changed my mind about my career? I would waste several years of my life on that.

“Civil engineer,” Alex’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I smiled because I knew that Alex would make a great civil engineer. It’s like this career was perfect for him. I have always imagined him as a civil engineer.

“What about you, Josh?” Clarissa asked.

“I’m thinking of pharmacy but I’m still not sure,” Josh replied. I gazed at him and tried to imagine him wearing a white robe and all. It didn’t suit him very well, in my opinion, but maybe it’s because I’ve never thought of it before. He was actually pretty good at Biology and Chemistry.

Everyone had an idea of what they wanted to study in the future except for me.

“And you Hailey?” Josh asked curiously.

I blinked at him and bit my lip. “Um, I-I don’t know.”

“Not an idea?” He asked and I shook my head.

A few moments of silence passed before Tom smiled at me and said, “its okay, Hailey, you have time.”

I forced a smile because I wasn’t so sure of his statement. I have only a few months left. It’s already the end of November now and by the beginning of February I should know what I want to do to know what the best college to apply to is.

I felt Alex’s leg wrapping around mine under the table and I looked up at him. His blue eyes softened and he gave me a reassuring smile that made my heart jump in my chest.

When we were done eating, we all decided to watch a movie.

Clarissa suggested we watch ‘The Notebook’ since we’re all couples… Well that is excluding Chase because he doesn’t have the balls to tell Mariah how he feels.

When the movie was almost halfway done, Chase stood up and left the room. Everyone gave him questioning glances but when he left their concentration was back on the movie.

I, on the other hand, was worried about him. He didn’t come back in the next fifteen minutes so I knew it wasn’t a phone call or a bathroom break.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Alex who had his arms wrapped around me.

He gave me a questioning look at first but I just smiled at him before leaving his warm arms and going after Chase.

I checked the game room first but he wasn’t there so I went up to his room. I knocked on his door and went it when he told me to.

“You okay?” I asked and he smiled at me but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m fine,” he said. “That sappy movie just bored me.”

I rolled my eyes at his lame excuse and sat on the bed, next to him.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked him. He remained silent for the next few minutes. I looked at him and found him frowning at a spot on his bed.

“Chase?” I called and he sighed.

“I just… I don’t know,” he said, confusing me. “I guess I’m just jealous.”

“Jealous?” I echoed, not expecting him to say that.

“Yeah,” he said. “Of you and Alex, of Josh and Emily…”

I gave him an expectant look waiting for him to elaborate.

“Emily, my sister who I never thought would look at another guy, now has Josh, and you have been here for only a few months and you already have Alex. And I have been crushing on a girl for over a year and I still don’t have her,” he said and my heart squeezed at how sad he looked. I have never seen Chase so down and it hurt me to see his depressed eyes.

“You have to stop being scared and insecure, Chase,” I told him. “Don’t compare yourself to others and you could get that girl whenever you want. You just never got the courage to do so.”

“What if she doesn’t like me back? What if we got stuck in the friend zone?” He asked, his eyes flashing with panic and pain.

“Chase, stop,” I told him. “Stop asking yourself questions. Just tell her and you’ll find out.”

“But I-I’m scared,” he whispered. He looked like a little kid who couldn’t find his stuffed animal.

I wrapped my arms around him in what I hoped was a comforting hug.

“You have to learn to stop being scared in order to get what you want,” I told him when I pulled away.

He just nodded.

“Now smile,” I told him and he just gave me a weak smile.

“You know what?” I then said and he looked at me curiously. “You are going to Mariah’s house right now and you are going to tell her how you feel.”

His eyes widened. “No way! I’m not going there now!”

“Yes, you are,” I said sternly.

“No,” he replied, stubbornly. “And there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“Chase, you love her,” I said. “And I’m ninety-nine percent sure she loves you back. And I know if I were in her place, I would really love it if the guy I love came to my house and confessed his love for me. You have nothing to worry about, Chase. You are amazing and you are the guy many girls dream of having as their boyfriend. You are kind and loyal. You put others before yourself and you love every person as much as you can. Plus you have good looks. What more could a girl ask for?”   

“You really think that?” He asked as his eyes widened in surprise and a spark of hope.

“Yes, Chase,” I said truthfully. “So go to her house and tell her everything. Tell her how you’ve been feeling for the past year.”

A look of determination crossed his face and I grinned. He stood up, fixed his shirt and hair, gave me one last nervous smile and started walking out of his room.

I stood there, smiling at his retreating figure, feeling like a proud mother.

I then remembered that everyone was still downstairs watching one of my favorite movies so I ran back downstairs.

Alex gave me a smile and pulled me back on the couch next to him. He wrapped his muscular arm around my shoulder and I rested my head on his chest. I smiled when I felt his heart beat accelerating before going back to normal. Every time I would snuggle closer to him, his heart rate increases before slowing down to a normal pace again.

I was happy to know that I had that effect on him even though the effect he had on me was much, much bigger.

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Hey! :)

An Early Happy Birthday to my friend Hana! xD Yeah the same Hana who did the trailer that's in the previous chapter :P Haha well I hope you have an amazing year ;)

Any other birthdays soon? :)

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