[color=lightgray][center][right][sub][@LovelyComplex], [@Venus], & [@Aces Away][/sub][/right]
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[indent][indent]Having closed his eyes throughout Tov’s panic attack, pissed at himself for letting his emotions dictate his actions, TNT nodded at Ransom’s words. Opening his eyes, Chase eased up off the breaks and drove toward the gas station, the one across from the police station. He stood silent, no longer smiling, no longer feeling those butterflies that Tiff gave him. He was focused on how much he triggered his brother. Time and time again, his explosive behavior put Tov in a rough spot. He really wasn’t good for him. That was clear. As he pulled by the gas tank, unlocking the doors and putting his car in park, his phone vibrated. He’d let Tov and Ransom do what they had to do while he filled up his tank.

When he noticed who was calling him, he thought to himself how weird it was that she chose now, out of all times, to call him. He wondered if she knew he wasn’t in a good headspace or did she simply want to hear his voice? Once he exited the car, he picked up the phone, observing a black mustang park on the other side of the gas tank he was at. [color=7fff00]“Hey,”[/color] he quietly greeted. His calm stare catching the sight of the ugly smug on the Mustang owner’s face, who was exiting the car now. He spat not too far from Chase’s right sneakers. 

[color=EA60A5]"Hi Chasey!"[/color] came the affectionate voice from the other side of the speakers. Its vivacious, cheerful nature happened to belong to the blue-eyed blonde who had taken residence in Chase's thoughts since their first meeting over a month before. 

The stranger, obviously not from Edenridge, hooked his thumbs into his pant’s pockets and strolled toward the convenience store. 

[color=7fff00]“Everything okay?”[/color] Chase worriedly asked. 

[color=EA60A5]"Mhm!"[/color] the girl replied as she settled into her bed and under the covers at the Belmonte home. [color=EA60A5]"I woke up to give Auntie Silvia her 4AM medicine and I saw you were online a little bit ago, so I wanted to call you before I went to bed! You know I like to call you before I go to sleep. It helps me sleep better."[/color]

[color=7fff00]“That’s right. Glad to be of service to you, m’lady,”[/color] TNT joked as he watched the screen on the pump rise in price per gallon, while Tiffannie’s cute little giggle could be heard on the speaker. [color=7fff00]“She doing okay?”[/color] He inquired with a subtle concerned tone. The serpent boy tried his best to check on Tiff throughout his day because of everything she was going through with her family. Both immediate and the outer circle (the Belmontes). The last thing he wanted was for her to feel alone. He knew that feeling all too well. Tiff didn’t deserve that… So, he would go out of his way to make sure she felt wanted and safe. 
 
The young woman gave a shrug he couldn't see, the previous happiness in her face now being replaced with sad sorrow. [color=EA60A5]"Not really. She's still the same as before-- wanting to sleep a lot because of how exhausted and in pain she is. The morphine can only do so much, you know? She didn't even wake up when I went to give her the IV medicine this morning. I stroked her hair and kissed her forehead and made sure she was comfortable before I left, and even then she just stirred a little but didn't fully wake up…"[/color] she trailed off, getting sad at the image of her frail aunt in her hospital bed. [color=EA60A5]"I just wish I could do more for her sometimes."[/color]

[color=7fff00]“Yeah, I get that,”[/color] Leaning against his car, Chase looked up, finally feeling tiredness creeping into his soul. Yeah, he needed a Red Bull. [color=7fff00]“But you’re doing your part and that’s all we can do. Sometimes life has its own plans for us and it ain’t always what we want,”[/color] He widely yawned, closing his eyes as he talked to the prettiest girl, [color=7fff00]“That’s just how shit is but you’re a good person, Tiff. Trust me when I say that.”[/color] Her voice was incredibly soothing. If he wasn’t out driving two drunk people around, he could definitely fall asleep listening to her voice.  

Tiffannie let out a long, deep sigh. [color=EA60A5]"Thank you for saying that, Chasey. I really needed it. It gets a little hard sometimes,"[/color] she confessed with a soft smile she wished he could see. In times like these, all Peach could think of to make things even better was if her friend were to physically be there with her so she could hug, snuggle and cuddle with him. [color=EA60A5]"It’s crazy, how you always seem to know the perfect way to make me feel so much better about myself and my situation. You are so, so, [i]so[/i] amazing. I feel really lucky to have found you when I did and to have you in my life."[/color]

Opening his eyes to her words, feeling all her consideration and emotional warmth, Chase felt his chest ache. Not out of sadness. It was a feeling he felt more each day ever since that night at the diner. What he had with her wasn’t something he could replicate with anyone else and whatever it was brought peace to his mind, calm to his spirit, and hope for his tomorrow. [color=7fff00]“Hey, random, but… do you want to meet my family?”[/color] Was this the appropriate time to ask her this? He didn’t know. Still, it felt right so he did. [color=7fff00]“Don’t feel pressured to say yes, I just thought it would be cool… for you… to meet them.”[/color]

[color=EA60A5]"You want me to meet your family?"[/color] Peach inquired to ensure she'd heard that correctly, perking up from her previous position in bed. Her heart was doing little somersaults of excitement in her chest, and the corners of her mouth were curling upward. She knew getting her hopes up could be a bad idea that would set her up for hurt. For all she knew, Chase just wanted her to meet his father and brother because of how much time they spent together as friends. But as much as she wanted to ignore it, Tiff could sense that what they had went beyond your typical friendship. She knew [i]she[/i] liked her Chasey a lot more than just a friend. Maybe this meant he felt the same way about her too.

[color=7fff00]“Yeah? Is it weird?”[/color] TNT began regretting his decision to ask. He made things fucking awkward now. [color=7fff00]“I just… so you already know my family. Well, we’re not blood. That doesn’t mean they’re not my family. Francis… Demo… is my father and Oliver… Molotov... is my brother.”[/color] This would be the first time he gave her his family’s biological names, either out of panic or he was hoping she’d see there was no ill intentions behind his actions. [color=7fff00]“It doesn’t matter if I wasn’t born a Dawson. I’d die for my father. Same goes for my bro. They’ve done so much for me, Tiff. I don’t even know how I can put that in words.”[/color]

He was rambling. She probably didn’t want to meet them. Why the hell did he assume? [color=7fff00]“But, like, I was thinking ‘hey, maybe I could invite my friends too’ so you could meet all the people that help me, uh, be okay, I guess.”[/color] 

Help. 

His tired self was word-vomiting again. [color=7fff00]“Sorry. I didn’t mean to jump the gun. You just, I… you’re important to me, Tiffannie.”[/color] Finally, Chase stopped spitting out words in hopes to save face. He breathed into his phone, nervous as hell. 

There was silence in the other line as the meaning of his words fully sunk in. He told her his father and brother’s real names. He [b]trusted her[/b] enough to tell her their real names. He wanted her to meet his family [i]and[/i] friends because, in his own words, she was important to him. [i]She was important to him![/i] Wouldn’t you believe it! He’d basically said he loved her!

The next thing that Chase heard was Tiffannie's squeal of excitement and small claps, both sounds appropriately toned down so as not to wake the other dwellers in her family's home. [color=EA60A5]"Oh, [i]Chaseyyyyyy[/i]! I would [b]love[/b] to meet your family and your friends!"[/color] she cried out happily, positively beaming now and nearly in tears of emotion. [color=EA60A5]"I've heard so much about them for so long-- it would be the best thing ever to finally get to meet them!"[/color]

His nerves relaxed when she reacted positively. Thank God. He thought he almost blew it. [color=7fff00]“Awesome! Great. Glad you’re excited.”[/color] If he was home he’d roll over in his bed and scream in his pillow but he couldn’t do that shit. Not at a public gas station. [color=7fff00]“I was thinking, noon, at Lyon’s park? I’ll text you to make sure everyone is down for a last minute get together. Even if they aren’t, we can have a day at the park, how’s that sound?”[/color] 

[color=EA60A5]"That sounds PERFECT!"[/color] she confirmed, still grinning so hard it almost hurt. How could she even sleep now knowing that she was about to meet the most important people in Chase’s life in just a few hours’ time?! This was amazing! [color=EA60A5]“Ohmygosh, this is so exciting! I don’t even know how I’m going to be able to sleep tonight anymore!”[/color]

Suddenly, in the midst of her mind running a thousand miles a minute listing all of the activities she had to put on her schedule to make sure she was looking perfect to make the best impression on everyone, a haunting thought came to the forefront of her mind. [color=EA60A5]“Ohmygosh, Chasey-- what am I going to [i]wear[/i]!?”[/color] she wailed in despair, allowing herself to dramatically collapse onto the mattress. Her usual outfits, while considered very trendy and fashion-forward in Los Angeles, would always earn her second glances in Edenridge. She couldn’t wear her crop tops, corsets, tube tops, tiny skirts or mini dresses to meet Chase’s family-- and that was 95% of her wardrobe! Did she even [i]have[/i] anything in her selection that was appropriate for such an important event? She sure hoped so.

[color=7fff00]“… clothes?”[/color] The serpent boy responded, not knowing how she wanted him to answer. [color=7fff00]“You look good in just about anything so I’m sure you’ll find something.”[/color] He complimented before realizing how late (early?) it was getting. Wasn’t she supposed to go to sleep? 

Time always flew when he was talking to her. [color=7fff00]“Hey, you should get some rest. I have to head home soon and I don’t want you to regret not getting much sleep, okay?”[/color] This was the worst part, having to say goodbye and hang up but he had to take his drunk bros home, try to sleep, and inform his family about the luncheon. There was a lot to do in only a few hours. [color=7fff00]“You’ll see me soon.”[/color]

The young woman sighed deeply again. [color=EA60A5]“[i]Okay[/i]…”[/color] Tiffannie replied sadly, lips pouted in resignation and displeasure. She hated when her conversations with Chase came to an end, even when the guarantee of spending time with him in person again was so near. She could listen to his voice and his stories all the time without getting bored or overwhelmed. It felt really nice to have someone like that in her life. [color=EA60A5]"Be safe, okay? And will you pretty, pretty, pretty [i]pleeeeeease[/i] let me know when you get home, so I know you made it back okay? Can you do that for me, my sweet, darling, handsome, beautiful Chasey of my heart?”[/color]

God. All the compliments made him flustered. Did she even know what her words sounded like? Was he the only one she talked to like this? Clearing his throat, making a low ahem sound, TNT nodded as if she could see him before responding assuringly, [color=7fff00]“Sure thing. I’ll text you the moment I hit the door.”[/color] The strange feeling crept within his stomach and upward, where his insides fluttered. This was a big move for him. Actually letting someone know his whereabouts because they were worried for him. He never had the leisure to understand since most serpents gained independence at a young age and if they didn’t, they still tried to be involved in town just as much as everyone else was. Look away for one second and the next thing you know someone died. [color=7fff00]“Be sure to text me when you’re up. I like it when you do… it’s nice to wake up to.”[/color]

The butterflies in Tiff’s stomach went into a frenzy at Chase’s words-- just like they always did whenever he said he liked something she did. The best part was that he seemed to like everything she did without her even trying. All she had done, from the very first time they had spent together at Dolly’s that night, was be her own unique, unapologetic self. It was so heartwarming to know that there were people out there who appreciated her true self.

[color=EA60A5]"I definitely will! Pinky promise!”[/color] she said enthusiastically, basking in the warmth of the good feelings her friend stirred inside her before admitting a sad defeat and calling the conversation to an end. [color=EA60A5]“I guess I’ll just go to sleep now…”[/color] Tiff lamented with one last dramatic sigh. [color=EA60A5]“Good night, Chasey.”[/color]

[color=7fff00]“Goodnight, Peach.”[/color]

And after blowing the young man a loud kiss, the blonde ended the call and snuggled deeper into her bed. She fell asleep almost instantly, with dreams of her and Chase on her mind.

TNT stood there holding his phone in silence gawking at the gas pump. How long did their conversation go on for? Where were Tov and Ransom? What the fuck was his life? 

Glancing down at his phone, he opened his text thread with her and stared at a picture she sent him two days ago. 

He smiled.
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