365 Days.

“You left.”

What’s that, an accusing statement?
I look down at my feet.

“You’ve been avoiding me all of yesterday.”

I continue to remain silent.
Am I supposed to say something?

“You know I don’t like that.”

I do?
Besides, why is Chase acting so?
It’s not like we’re in some relationship.

“Let me tell you a few things you need to know.”
Chase shifts to straddle the railing and look at me.
“You and I are very different.
I’m the popular guy,
the babe-magnet,
the everything.
You,”
he pauses to smirk.
“Are just weird.
You’re new,
you're nobody.
So it will only be best for you to stick with me.”

I stare at my shoelaces.
“What if I’m fine being alone?”

“Trust me,”
He laughs.
“You’re not.”

I keep silent.
I want to say he doesn’t know me,
want to say that he can’t control my life,
but for some reason,
my mouth just can’t open.

He digs around in the pocket of his jacket for a moment,
then offers a cigarette.

I shake my head at his offer.
I don’t smoke.
And tend to hate it when people around me smoked.

“Being innocent?”
he teases.

I shake my head again,
“No, being sensible and healthy.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No.”

There’s a silent pause as he lights his cigarette.
I watch him out of the corner of my eye for a second.

The place we’re in,
a footy field,
is quite deserted.

I don’t know why we’re here,
or why he dragged me here after class,
but I know that I should be heading back in about ten minutes.

Chase puffs on his cigarette,
turns around to face me,
pulls me closer and blows the smoke into my face.

I cough and try to breathe some fresh air.

He smirks.
“Get used to it.”

“No.
I don’t want to ruin my lungs.”

“Following your daddy’s orders?”
Chase mocks.

I grip the railing beneath my hands,
stare down at my lap,
“Don’t drag my dad into this.”

“Of course,
I might get in trouble with the mayor.
How scary.”
He laughs now,
and blows another puff of smoke into my face.

“Stop,”
I mumble with a cough.

Chase laughs and moves closer to me,
slips an arm around my waist and turns me to face him,
pulling me right up against him so that we’re touching in all the wrong places.

My eyes grow wide,
“W-What are you doing?”
I stammer.

“Nothing bad, colorful.”
He leans in and kisses my cheek.

I squeak and push away.
“Chase!”

“That’s right, you scream it”
He winks and grins.

I can see this is all a big game to him,
I’m just a toy he can muck around with.
Hate grows in me.

“Let me go.”
I try to say it firmly,
but it barely passes to a whimper.

“Or what?
You’re going to tell daddy?”
His voice is mocking,
and mean.

I squiggle and squirm away from him,
“No,”
I reply and turn to jump off the railing.

He looks at me in a playfully sad manner,
“Aw come back,
I’m only playing around.”

Exactly what I thought.
My feet hit the ground and I start to walk off.

There’s a funny feeling in me.
I actually want to stay,
but I convince myself I have to go.

Got hair to dye.