Just to See Her Smile
One shot
Deep in his heart he knew, but he would never have guessed. . .
She stumbled towards him.
But he caught her.
He always did.
He held her close to his chest, making her feel as safe as she could possibly feel. The silent tears that trailed down her cheeks soaked his shirt, but he didn't care. All he did was whisper comforts in her ear, soothing her aching heart and sobs, before all were left were hiccups.
He looked at her; his green eyes pierced right through her—right through her heart. His eyes glinted with the unsaid question but he didn't speak. They didn't need any words. Her tears were gone, but her grip on his shirt had not loosened. She was still close up to him, her ear right above where his heart was beating steadily.
She snuggled deeper, trying to forget the previous events. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She always liked the smell of him. It was comforting and . . . him.
"What happened?" he whispered softly, breaking the silence. She looked up, trying to control her breathing.
"He said he loved me. . ." she whispered, her voice strained; it leaked heavily with raw pain. "He said he loved me. And I believed him." She shut her eyes tight, trying to forget the sight that greeted her when she got to his apartment. She tried to forget the way he just looked at her oddly, as if he didn't even know who she was. She tried to forget the way he looked at the other girl.
The same way he had looked at her.
She took in a sharp gasp as pain squeezed her heart and shut her eyes tighter, clinging to him for dear life. Oh God, how she wished that she just forgot.
"Shhh. . ." he whispered and rubbed her back soothingly, but there was undeniable anger in his voice. She knew what he wanted to do. And she didn't want to stop him. She didn't care. She loved him, damn it! Her eyes burned with tears but she refused to let them fall.
The next few weeks were agonizing. But he was always there to comfort her. When she needed a smirk, he was there. When she needed a joke or two, he was always there to make some wisecrack about something. A few months later, she forgot about the man that broke her heart. She was herself again.
And just like that. . .
"Hey, what time do you want me to pick you up?" his gruff voice echoed throughout the hall way of her house late that night. She frantically began to look for her homework, barely giving him a second glance. He rolled his eyes and caught her by the wrist just as she passed by him.
She glared.
He chuckled. "Sweetie, I just want to know what time to pick you up tomorrow," he drawled out lazily and let her go. She rolled her eyes and bristled.
"Same time. Same place. . . blah, blah. . . and blah," she deadpanned and began to run around frantically once again.
He watched her through amused orbs, before slowly walking away and heading out.
He was always there. . .
He mocked gasped before rolling his eyes. "Let it go, Lyn. It's just chocolate milk."
She glared and sank lower in her seat, covering the stain that he had caused on her shirt. She hissed at him before her eyes darted towards the side nervously. "What if he sees me?!" she demanded.
He looked at her confusedly before his eyes looked over to where her attraction resided at. He rolled his eyes at her taste. Not that he checked guys out himself, mind you. "Who?" he deadpanned.
He realized. . .
"Guess what!" she asked excitedly, her voice leaking with pure happiness, her eyes wide with delight. He eyed her through skeptical green orbs. Putting down his pencil, he decided to humor her. He raised an eyebrow, silently asking. She laughed. He liked her laugh. "Guess!" she urged, laughing some more.
An amused smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back on his chair. "You're secretly a man?"
She mocked gasped, smacking his arm. "No! If I were. . ." she trailed off, pursing her lips, "Just don't say that." She rolled her eyes and he laughed at that. "But GUESS!"
He just smiled amusedly.
She squealed then and threw her arms around him. "I got us two free tickets to Florida for TWO WEEKS! Can you say SCORE?!" She laughed and hugged him tighter. Getting over his shock, he laughed with her and hugged her back just as tightly.
"I love you," she smiled, pulling back. "But I have to go now. Catch you later?" He nodded, silently cursing his heart that pounded faster at her words. He watched her walk away, a shadow of a smile on his face when he heard her humming.
That he would do anything. . .
"Is it true?"
She looked up, stricken at the abruptness of it all, taking in his furious scowl. Of course he would be furious! She raised an eyebrow. "What?"
He sat down, his eyes trained on her intensely. Was she kidding him? "About you and Kevin. Dating. When were you planning on telling me this?" he said bluntly. Aelyn ducked her head and blushed.
"Today," she answered honestly. "But I was worried that you didn't approve. I mean, you kept on ranting on how you hate him and all. . ." she trailed off before casting him a pleading look. "Please Chase? Can you just try to like him?" He said nothing. "For me?"
He looked at her for a long time. Before finally, "Do you really like him?"
She looked to the side and saw the said person they were talking about. Chase took in the way she would smile at him. He looked at Kevin and saw him smiling back at her, genuine happiness in his eyes.
He ignored the stab at his heart and looked back at Aelyn who stared at him with an inquisitive look in her eyes lacing with a slight plead in there.
He hid his sigh and offered a weak smirk. Though he doubt that she noticed.
"For you," he finally said, his tone heavy with defeat. She threw her arms around him over the table and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He felt his cheeks go warm but he covered it up with a scowl.
"You don't know how much this means to me," she murmured as she pulled away and stood up. "I'm going to go tell him the news," she smiled brightly at him, genuine bliss in her eyes. "Thanks!"
He watched her go silently. 'Just for you. . .'
Just to see her smile. . .
She gasped as he walked in. "I don't think I can do this," she whispered, wringing her hands together nervously. He offered her a smirk and patted her back. She groaned and sank to her seat. It had been five years since they graduated from high school. "What if he changes his mind? What if he. . ."
"Shhh, Lyn, quiet. He would never change his mind," he told her, his smile not quite ringing through brightly enough. Aelyn sniffed and leaned against him. He automatically put his arms around her and pulled her close.
"How do you know that?" she whispered.
He looked at the window, his own eyes growing distant as he felt the familiar numbness of pain that spread all over his body. It was a daily routine when he thought of her. If he thought of her. "You know why, Lyn?" he asked, tilting her by the chin to look at him. She just stared back, her eyes bright with unshed tears. He smiled sadly as he traced her jaw line and her lips. Her lips quivered.
"Why?" she whispered so softly.
A smirk tugged at his lips. 'You're killing yourself Chase,' a voice told him. He ignored it and wiped the tears that slowly dripped down her cheeks. "Because he once told me that he loved your smile. He loves you. Now and forever. He will never back down out of this marriage. He's downstairs waiting. I know for a fact that he'd wait forever, just for you. So smile, okay?" he grinned his rare grin, knowing that his words comforted her.
She stared at him before she smiled softly with renewed confidence. "Thanks, Chase. The girl you get should be considered lucky that a guy like you loves her," she said, meaning every word.
It killed him.
He smiled back at her as she stood up and began to walk towards the door. She stopped and looked at him. Her beauty took his breath away. He raised an eyebrow. "Walk me down the aisle?" she asked hopefully, grinning brightly; knowing that he wouldn't say no.
He could never say no.
Chase nodded, ignoring his own pain. He strived on her happiness. Even if it wasn't with him. . .
Because he loves her.
X
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author's note: bittersweet, unrequited love. don't hate (: