Noah. He was wearing the same coat. He
looked exhausted, with dark circles under his
L
eyes. Cold air and a sense of urgency filled
the room. He looked at Chase, then at me. I
looked away.
Chase stood up, holding my hand, positioning
himself in front of me. His voice was calm but
forceful.
“What do you want with my girlfriend?”
The words seemed to anger Noah. He
grabbed Chase’s collar.
“You’re crazy!” he roared. “What did you call
her?”
His voice was strained with anger and frustration. “Chase!” His veins bulged; he was using immense strength. “Ethan confessed to
you because I told her to. You think she likes
you? It’s just that your face resembles the boy she grew up with.”
<
couldn’t take it anymore. He kicked
Noah, and they started fighting.
I sided with Chase. I grabbed a small potted
plant and whacked Noah on the back.
“Don’t touch my boyfriend!”
I’d wanted to hit him for a long time. Noah
froze, staring at me, confused and lost.
“Ethan, what did you say?”
I’d never seen him like this. He stumbled
back, a glass falling and slicing his arm.
Blood dripped. He looked sad, vulnerable, and
panicked, like a child abandoned by an adult.
Chase broke the silence.
“I don’t know where you heard that. But…”
“The boy Ethan grew up with… that’s me.
There’s no one else.”
Noah looked up sharply. “What are you
<
saying? He’s dead.”
A moment of silence. Chase sat down,
covering his face.
“I know,” he said. “Ethan saved me.”
