Chapter 64-2

“And isn’t there that one line they always say? If you love them, you set them free? Some people just… don’t belong in captivity.” He didn’t know who he was talking about, but there was someone like that in his mind. “Isn’t it better to just let them go? Love isn’t something that only happens when it’s right next to you.” “Then obviously you have never been in love. Love isn’t something that just drops on a plate either. Love is something you work hard for. It’s the thing that drives you to stay up to 4am just so you can speak to your boyfriend who lives across the ocean. If you love someone, you hold onto them like their life is more important than yours. That’s what loving someone means. So don’t you dare try to make me think that what I feel for him isn’t love because I don’t want to let go of him! How much he means to me, and how much I want to be with him, someone like you would never understand!” Chase heaved a sigh and grieved his bewilderment in silence. He didn’t know who was right and who was wrong, but at this point, he was passed the point where he cared. All that mattered to him was that Jace might finally get a chance to live his life the way he wanted – not bounded by what his father thought was best, not bounded by LaCienega’s love. He remembered when he ran away from home at the age of eighteen and the paths he took to get the success he had today – freedom was something people waged wars over. His phone rang, and after glancing at the caller ID, excused himself to the other side of the bar. He still remained clear sight of what LaCienega was doing, but free from fear that she might overhear his phone call. “Hello?” “Hey Chase, how’s it going on where you are? Have you found any hints of where she might be?” Jace was noticeably still distressed from LaCienega’s disappearance, and he sighed as he told him he found her. “Sorry, I didn’t call you earlier. I kind of just got swept up by the moment. She’s crying and her face looks like she went to a parade and let some kid give her a face-paint with only the color black. She’s sobering up though. Do you… wanna come by?” The hesitation Chase received made him realize Jace was probably just as reluctant to see LaCienega as she would be pleased if he suddenly showed up. He cared for her, but he could only do so from a distance at the present moment. “You know what, it’s fine,” he muttered. “I mean, there has to be a cooling period I guess.” “Thanks,” Jace murmured. “I just… don’t want to hurt her anymore today. Maybe it’d be better if she didn’t see me for a couple of days.” “Sure.” “Can you take care of her for me? Just one last time in my place?” “You don’t have to say it like that. She’s kind of my friend too.” “Thanks Chase. LaCienega probably wouldn’t want to tell her parents about us until she calms down so just bring her back to my house when you take her home. I’ll stay at a hotel tonight.” “I will, don’t worry. And Jace? Take it easy man.” After hanging up, Chase made his way back to LaCienega. He was getting tired of staying here since the power nap only recovered that much of his energy from today, and he wanted nothing more but for this night to be over with. “You feel like going home now?” When she didn’t answer, and still seemed like she was fuming over the lecture he gave her, he grabbed onto her arm again. “Come on. Enough already. You’re passed the point of holding on now.” LaCienega shook her head. “Even if I did, there’s no place to go. I can’t go to my parents. I don’t have many friends here. And I can’t go… back there.” “What? Home? If Jace is what you’re worried about. It was him I was on the phone with. He cares for you, you know, just not that way, and I think it’s high time you accept it if you care for him too. He even left the house so you wouldn’t feel awkward going back.” “In the end you just think I’m a parasite living off of him.” “No,” he quickly interrupted. “But, it’s illogical to– ” “I still can’t go back,” she muttered. “Everything of his is still there. I don’t want to be reminded of him and I guess he doesn’t want to be reminded of me either – seeing how I’m your responsibility again.” And normally, Chase might have just dumped her at a nearby hotel, but he had just told Jace he’d take care of his ex-fiancée, and he didn’t think dumping her at the hotel qualified as that. It’d be one thing if she went to bed and behaved, but Chase had no idea if she would just pick up and leave before he came to check up on her the next day. He could stay at the hotel with her, but he didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings. “Well how about you come to my place then? I have a roof. I can feed you.” God, why did this remind him so eerily of how Krislynn ended up with him? Was he being a busybody? Was he really picking up strays off the side of the road that he really shouldn’t be picking up? “I mean, you can just hangout there until you feel like you can throw yourself back together. Besides, you won’t be lonely. I’m there. Krislynn’s there.” “What is your deal with her anyways?” The matter caught Chase off guard when she made a gentle dab at her eyes, and narrowed her gaze up at him. She seemed reluctant to go anywhere with him, but in the five seconds it took Chase to hesitate for an answer, she suddenly changed her mind and struggled off her bar stool. “Fine. I will go.” Chase wasn’t in any position to ask her what changed her mind so he nodded approvingly and helped her out of the bar. When he got home, he was surprised to find that the lights were on. Either Krislynn had forgotten to turn the lights on when she came inside or she was still awake; he was hoping the former rather than the latter since he didn’t particularly know how to explain why he brought LaCienega home. Unfortunately, it was the latter rather than the former, and Chase groaned almost immediately when he saw Krislynn trying not to fall asleep on the living room couch while watching a movie. “Why aren’t you asleep yet? I told you to go to bed.”