Author's Note: ...and then I was all like- wait, oh, hi. I didn't see you standing there. What's that you say? What am I doing? I'm updating. That's right. I'm posting the last chapter of Volando A Voi RIGHT NOW. Aren't you just totally STOKED? I know I am. And you know what else it absolutely stellar? There's a sequel! I know, I've gone completely insane, probably from euphoria, but whatever. I'm letting you take advantage of my euphoric state and giving you the finale a few days early (I was going to wait until Monday before school :o So... you should know what to do after finishing this... and reviewing of course. (cough) Anyhow, a big thanks to all my readers: vimaro22, Secret Sorrows, Schloss, Rheanna Leigh, TearsofAutumn, .., whoops-I-don't-exist, and LightYourPath, as well as all the many others who have reviewed my story since it first started.

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Thirty-One:
In Power We Trust The Love Advocated

Chase rushed into Richard’s Coffee in hopes of finding Adam, or even Robert, in hopes of finding out where Adam could be. But to his dismay, an unfamiliar girl stood behind the counter, waiting to take his order.

“Can I help you?” the girl asked.

Chase looked around the shop, and gulped.

“Do you know where Adam is?” he asked.

“Nope, sorry. He’s off today,” the girl replied.

“How about Robert?” Chase asked.

“He’s off, too. I think he and Adam were planning something, but I’m not sure exactly what it is,” the girl said.

Chase sighed, and smiled.

“Thank you,” he said. He quickly left the coffee shop, trying to think of the next place to look for Adam. He mentally went through any and all of the places that they used to hang out at when they were going out, but none of them seemed to be very likely places for Adam to be now. Chase then recalled that the girl inside the coffee shop thought that Adam and Robert might have been planning something for New Years, so perhaps Adam could be at Roberts? Or maybe even Ashley’s? Those seemed like the most likely places for him to be, but unfortunately, Chase had no idea where either of them lived. Finally, he got a better idea.

If anyone would know where Adam is, his mom would, he thought. He quickly hurried over to Adam’s house, anxiously awaiting to track down and locate his lover. He wasn’t sure whether it was a wasted effort or not, considering Adam’s ultimatum when Chase had decided to break up with him. But right now, all Chase wanted to do was find Adam. He’d deal with the mess he made later. Right now, he just had to locate Adam, and fast.

—

Maria sat on the living room sofa doing a crossword puzzle in the newspaper when she heard the sound of the doorbell ring. It was immediately followed by an urgent beating on the front door. Startled, Maria tossed the puzzle aside and hurried to the front door. She looked through the peephole in the door to see who the visitor was, and was surprised to find Chase standing outside. She quickly opened the door, and was immediately greeted by Chase.

“Hey, Mrs. Ramirez,” Chase said.

“Oh, hi, Chase,” Maria said, confused. “What are you doing here? I thought you were... moving.”

Chase gulped, and shrugged his shoulders.

“We already did,” he said.

Maria raised an eyebrow quizzically.

“Come again?” she asked.

“I thought my parents were going to be moving to Washington, but I just found out that they decided to stay here... and we moved three blocks away,” he replied.

Maria’s jaw tightened, and her face went stony.

“Oh dear,” she said.

“What?” Chase asked, worried.

“I guess that means you’re here to see Adam,” she said.

Chase nodded.

“He went to Disney World with Robert and Ashley for the New Years celebration,” Maria stated. “So he’s not here right now.”

Chase felt his heart sink all of a sudden, and a look of grief came across his face.

“Oh,” he said, letting out a deep sigh. “Alright then. I guess I’ll just have to wait until he gets home.”

As he turned and started walking off, Maria smiled, and swallowed.

“Chase,” she said.

Chase stopped to turn back to face Maria.

“What if I told you that I could drive you there so you could meet Adam?” she asked.

A look of hope and relief instantly lit up Chase’s face.

“You’d do that?” he asked.

“As long as it’s alright with your parents,” she replied.

Chase grinned, and nodded.

“Don’t worry about them. It’ll be fine,” he said.

Maria smiled slyly.

“Alright then. Let me freshen up a bit and we’ll go,” she said. “You’re welcome to come in if you’d like.”

Chase grinned.

“Thank you,” he said. “For everything.”

Maria waved her hand, dismissing his thanks.

“Don’t mention it,” she said. “As long as you promise to make my baby happy again, then I’ll do anything for you.”

Chase gulped, and smiled.

Anything for you, he thought. If this doesn’t prove that I love him, I don’t know what will.

—

Traffic was heavy along Interstate 4 leading into the Orlando area, filled with traveling people on their way to some New Year’s celebration or another. Even though it was beginning to get late, the traffic seemed just as heavy as always, if not more than usual.

Maria and Chase had passed by several car accidents along their way, most of them minor fender benders, caused by some individual changing lanes unexpectedly or following too closely to the car in front of them. However, now traffic seemed to be congested for as far as the eye could see. Road signs gave warning to commuters that there would be an approximate two hour delay due to a serious accident further on down the road.

“You have to love Florida’s roadways,” Maria said.

“I don’t think it’s so much the roadways as it is the fluctuating population of the state,” Chase replied.

“Probably both,” Maria replied.

A short silence fell upon them, followed by a deep sigh from Chase.

“Something wrong?” Maria asked.

“No, just nervous,” he replied.

Maria raised an eyebrow curiously.

“Nervous? About what?”

Chase shrugged.

“I guess... I’m scared that he won’t take me back,” he said.

Maria sighed.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “If he really loves you, then-“

”He told me that if I broke up with him, then I would never have another chance with him,” Chase said, interrupting Maria’s statement.

“You didn’t let me finish,” Maria said.

“Sorry. Go ahead,” he apologized.

Maria smiled.

“As I was saying,” she began. “If Adam really, truly loves you, then I think he won’t have to think twice about taking you back.”

Chase sighed.

“But what if he doesn’t?”

“But what if he does?” Maria asked.

“I don’t know,” Chase said.

“You don’t know what? What you’ll do if he takes you back? Or what you’ll do if he doesn’t?”

Chase paused, and shrugged again.

“I guess... both.”

“So either way, you’re uncertain how things will be between you, and therefore you’re afraid of the outcome. Correct?”

Chase nodded.

“I love Adam,” he said.

“I know that, Chase,” Maria said.

“But if he takes me back... I’m scared that he’ll be more shielded and defensive against me. He was like that before, but eventually he let his guard down and let me in. But after all this, he may be like he was before, and remain guarded against me.”

“What if he isn’t?” Maria asked.

“Then everything will be fine,” he replied. “But if he doesn’t take me back, then I don’t know what I’ll do. I love him, Mrs. Ramirez. I love him with every fiber in my being, and having to break up with him was the worst thing I ever had to do. I hated having to hurt him that way, and in some ways, I don’t feel that I’m worthy of being taken back.”

Maria smiled.

“You feel remorse,” she said. “That’s good, it means you’re really sorry for what you did. It also means you have a conscience, and a damn good one at that,” she said.

Chase smiled weakly.

“You really think so?” he asked.

“Chase, if more people had a conscience like you, then the world would be a whole lot better place than it is. You’re a good boy, and I know that one day you’ll make a great man.” Maria smiled, a tear coming to her eye. “Especially for Adam.”

Chase gulped, and smiled gratefully.

“Thank you, Mrs. Ramirez,” he said.

“What have I told you about calling me that? It’s too formal,” she said.

“Oh, sorry,” he said. “Thank you, Maria.”

Maria grinned, and wiped her eyes.

“You’re welcome, Chase.”

Finally, traffic started moving.

“About damn time. I think we’ve been sitting still for nearly ten minutes,” Maria said.

“Maybe it won’t be as long as it says,” Chase said.

“Let’s hope not,” she said. “Because we’ve got to get you to your Prince.”

Chase smiled, and sat back in his seat, letting out one last sigh.

I’m coming, Adam, he thought. As quick as I can.

—

The New Year’s celebration at Disney World was quite the remarkable experience. At the entertainment venue, some of the most popular music groups and artists performed live. All throughout the park, there were rides, food, and games. It was still almost half an hour before mid-night, and people had already started making their way to the sight that the fireworks would be shooting off, hoping to get the best seat so that they could get a better view of the display.

Adam, Robert, and Ashley had already sat down in the grass around a large pond, waiting for the fireworks display to begin. At the spot they were in, they would have one of the best spots in the park.

“I’m so glad we went ahead and got our spot before everyone else decided to come claim their place,” Ashley said, her arm hooked around Robert’s. “Now we’ll have the best view of the fireworks that anyone could possibly hope for.”

“That’s for sure,” Robert said, kissing Ashley gently on the head.

“Hey, Adam,” Ashley said. “You look so depressed. Lighten up!”

Adam walked alongside Robert and Ashley wearing the jacket his mother had bought for him a while back. He hadn’t worn it much, because there wasn’t much of a reason for him to wear it since it hadn’t been that terribly cold out. But tonight, now that it was dark, he had thought to bring it to keep warm during the fireworks. He walked along, his hands tucked securely into his jacket pockets, staring straight down at the ground. He hadn’t heard what Ashley said to him over the din of the commotion going on around them.

“Hey! Adam!” Ashley shouted.

Adam looked up, startled.

“Huh? What?” he said.

“What with the pouting face? You look like you’re the most miserable person on earth,” Ashley said.

Adam sighed, and shrugged his shoulders.

“Nothing, just a little depressed I guess,” he replied.

“Well lighten up,” Ashley said. “You’re at the Happiest Place on Earth for God’s sake! It won’t hurt to smile a little!”

“Trust me, I would if I could,” he said.

“Just let him alone, Ash,” Robert said. “He misses You-Know-Who, so let him grieve for now.”

Ashley sighed, rolling her eyes.

“Okay, whatever,” she said.

Suddenly, a strong vibration in Ashley’s purse startled her, causing her to jump up to her feet in a frenzy.

“What’s you’re problem?” Robert asked.

“It’s my cell phone,” she replied. She took her phone out of her purse, and flipped the top up to find a text message displayed on her screen.

“Who is it?” Robert asked.

Ashley smirked, and shut her phone.

“No one,” she said. “Listen, I’m getting the munchies. Would you come with me? I don’t want to go alone.”

Robert shrugged.

“Uh, sure. Why not,” he said.

“If you’re going to get something to eat, then I guess I’ll go too,” Adam said.

“NO!” Ashley cried.

Robert and Adam both looked at Ashley as if she had lost her mind.

“Uh, I mean, no. You should stay here and... keep our spots. We’ll be back in a jiff,” Ashley said.

Adam raised an eyebrow suspiciously, and shrugged.

“Alright, whatever.”

“Come on, Robert. Let’s go,” Ashley said, taking Robert by the hand and dragging him along. Once they were away from Adam, Robert stopped Ashley, and forced her to tell him what was going on.

“Wait,” he said. “Ashley, what the heck’s going on?”

Ashley stopped, and grinned slyly.

“I got a text message from You-Know-Who,” she said.

Robert raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“I got a text message from Chase,” she said. “He’s here.”

Robert’s jaw dropped wide open.

“What? How? When?”

“Seems his parents made a last minute decision and ended up staying here. They ended up just moving a few blocks over. So he ran over to Adam’s house, and Adam’s mom gave Chase a ride here so that he could try to get back together with Mr. Grump over there.”

Robert gulped.

“So where is he?”

Ashley grinned.

“Just come with me.”

—

There were only ten minutes left until mid-night, and Robert and Ashley had yet to return. Adam sat all alone on a small hill near the pond, waiting for the fireworks display to begin, and for Robert and Ashley to return.

I wonder what’s taking them so long, Adam thought. I hope Ashley didn’t decide to take Robert to a bathroom or something to have sex. He shuddered at the thought of his two best friends making love in a theme park bathroom, and quickly focused his mind on something else. God, I miss Chase, he thought. I wish he were here now, so I could watch the fireworks with him. If only there was some way I could see him again...

Five minutes remained until time for the fireworks display.

“God, come on Ashley. You’re going to miss the fireworks,” he muttered.

As time continued to tick away, Adam decided to get up and go look for his missing friends. But just as he rose to his feet and turned to leave, he froze. His heart stopped, and a look of absolute shock and surprise washed over him. There, standing in the crowd...

...was Chase.

—

“Hey... Adam,” Chase said.

Adam gulped, and smiled sheepishly.

“Hey,” he said, coughing.

“Surprise to see me?” Chase asked.

Adam nodded, unable to speak.

“It’s a long story, but just to give you the condensed version, my parents made a last minute decision to stay in Florida. Instead of moving to Washington... we just moved a few blocks away... to a bigger house.”

Adam was still in a state of shock and awe that he still was unable to speak.

“So... when I found out that I wouldn’t be moving, I tried finding you, but found out that you had come here with Robert and Ashley, so your mom offered to give me a ride here so that I could come... see you.”

Adam stood, just staring at Chase with a look of disbelief.

“So, here I am,” Chase said.

Adam gulped, but still couldn’t speak. In the surrounding crowd, people had already begun to countdown the last sixty seconds of the year.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” Chase asked.

Adam bit his bottom lip, and shook his head slowly.

“What’s there to say?” he asked.

Chase stepped closer towards Adam.

“You know what you need to say,” he replied.

“That I told you that once you broke up with me, you wouldn’t have another chance?”

Chase swallowed.

“I know, Adam,” he said. “I remember everything you said, but I know that you don’t want to be without me.”

Adam raised an eyebrow.

“Oh really? And where did you get that idea?”

“Your mom,” Chase said. “Robert. Ashley. Everyone that loves and cares about you knows. You’ve been absolutely miserable without me, so don’t tell me I don’t know, because I do.”

“Ten!”

Adam crossed his arms stubbornly.

“That may be, but-“

”No but’s, Adam!” Chase exclaimed.

“Nine!”

“I love you! You love me! There’s no use in senselessly making ourselves miserable!”

“Eight! Seven!”

Adam gulped, tears welling up in his eyes.

“How do I know that you won’t end up hurting me again?”

Chase smiled, and caressed Adam’s cheek.

“You don’t.”

“Six! Five!”

Adam peered up into Chase’s eyes as the other boy gazed down into his.

“Love is all about taking risks,” Chase said. “You can never be absolutely, 100 certain about anything. That’s what makes love so worthwhile.”

“Four! Three! Two!”

Adam gulped, and put his arms around Chase’s back.

“Adam,” Chase said.

“Shut up, Chase,” Adam said, smiling. “Just kiss me.”

“One!”

A column of colored fire shot into the air as a loud roar erupted from the crowd, welcoming the year 2006, and bidding farewell to 2005.

Chase had one hand resting firmly on Adam’s back while the other one rested gently on the side of his face. Their opened mouths bore into one another, their tongues overlapping as Adam moved his hands down Chase’s back down to his waist. After several moments had passed, they simply gazed into one another’s eyes, and smiled.

“Happy New Year, Adam,” Chase said.

Adam grinned.

“Happy New Year, Chase,” he said.

The End

Dedicated To:
Crash, who's friendship throughout the years
has been the one constant thing I could always count on. Much love!

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Author's Note: I know, the whole kiss-on-New Years thing was totally inspired by Espantalho's Act III, and to be honest, what could possibly be more picturesque than hooking up with someone on New Years? I once had a fortune cookie that said I'd find true love on the next full moon. Since this was back in December, and the next full moon was on New Years, AND I had been trying to hook up with this one guy, I started believing in it. Well, New Years came and went, and I'm still single to this very day.
Edit 2-7-07: I'm not single anymooooooore. ;)