Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day Read Free Page A

she flipped her hair and proceeded to the back of the bus with her troop of evil minions.
    “Sorry about that, Daylen. Don’t even worry about her. They’re just-”
    “Stupid?” Daylen used his favorite insult and gave him a small smile.
    “Yeah.” Chase grinned.
    “So…hey, man. You not interested in Whitney anymore?” Miguel leaned over the aisle to ask quietly.
    “Naw, I thought she was cool, but not really anymore,” Chase revealed.
    A huge smile spread across Daylen’s face at this revelation, though she remained quiet.
    “Rad! Do you mind if I ask her to be my girlfriend? I like girls with attitude. Harder to tame.” Miguel smirked, obviously quoting something is older brother had said.
    “Go for it.” Chase shrugged.
    They rode the rest of the way to school listening to Miguel regale them with stories about his big brother and how he planned on asking Whitney out. When they got to school and poured off the bus, Whitney and her gang immediately tried to surround Daylen, circling her like a pack of ravenous wolves. Daylen braced herself, ready for a fight though she had never fought in her life. She tried to hold in her fear, as well as her tears. And as was becoming habit, Chase swooped in to save the day.
    Chase wrapped an arm around Daylen’s shoulders. “Come on, Daylen. I’ll walk you to your line.”
    Whitney saw this and stormed off in a huff. As he walked her over to the fourth-grade line waiting to enter the building, all the little girls in her grade tittered with excitement. Then Chase released her shoulders and she walked to the back of the line. All the girls stared at her in awe.
    “Is he your boyfriend?” A girl named Amy, with fiery red curls, asked her and they all listened with bated breath.
    “N-No. He’s my friend.” Daylen said softly though she wished that he was her boyfriend.
    Daylen watched as Chase walked over to the line next to hers. The older boys started shoving him around good-naturedly.
    “Hey, Chase! Is that your new girlfriend?!” One of the boys shouted out.
    “Shut up, dude. She’s just my neighbor. Like my little sister or something.” Chase pushed the boy that had asked in embarrassment. His face, beet red.
    Daylen’s heart sunk at his words. Little did she know that that statement would set a precedent for their entire relationship.

 
     
     
    Chapter 3
     
     
     
     
    Chase and Miguel stood outside of the bus after school, while all the other kids piled on. He was waiting for Daylen, so she didn’t have to get on the bus alone and be bothered by Whitney and her crew. After a while, when all the kids were on and the bus driver was yelling at them to get on, Chase realized she wasn’t coming. He hoped that everything was okay. He didn’t know why, but he felt very protective of the younger girl.
    The bus ride home was fairly uneventful. Other than Miguel starting a paper wad fight. Then being forced to sit at the front of the bus right behind the bus driver. At his stop, Chase hopped off the bus and prayed that his father was passed out drunk like he had been the day before.
    When he reached his front door, Chase pushed it open quietly. He hoped that he could get past his dad and head straight upstairs to his room. Unfortunately, it was not his lucky day.
    “Hey, kid! Go get your dad another beer, would ya?” Ben bellowed from the family room.
    Chase sighed and walked into the kitchen. He found his mother there, leaning against the kitchen sink. She stared out the window with damp cheeks.
    “Hi, mom,” Chase said softly. “You alright?”
    Stephanie quickly wiped at her face with the back of her hands.
    “I’m fine, Chase.” She plastered a fake smile on her face, that didn’t come close to reaching her eyes. The same amber and green-flecked eyes as his. “I didn’t realize you were home.”
    “Yeah,” Chase said morosely.
    He went to the fridge and opened the door.
    “Your dad want another beer?” His mom