Something between Us

Chapter 43.

We're inevitable.

I don't know why I feel so nervous, maybe it's the fact Chase and I haven't spoke in two weeks since I broke his heart all over again and now we're moments away from delivering a presentation Chase told me he would edit but I don't have a clue if he did or not because he wouldn't text me back. 
Damn you Chase, if you blow this for me you're dead. 

One by one the different groups come forward to share their project with the class. From dramatic performances too poetry and creative writing each group show their work in their own way. It's nice to see each seniors experience of High School, and how proud Miss Lenkin's is of each pair for their dedication to the project. After the third pairing shrieks how she cannot wait to read everyone's write up of the project. You can see in her sweet smile how genuine she is. 

A boy called Ashley and his partner Drake share their experience of High School as poster presentation. They're both track runners and they share how hard it has been to stay dedicated to the strict training, but they dedicate their thanks to their coaching team who remind them it's worth while. They tell the class how to them High School has been a chance to grow as people, to grow as friends and become a individual who dares to dream and reaches for the stars. It's sweet to see some positive experiences of High School, because I know it doesn't always feel amazing, we don't always feel happy here, but it's refreshing that most pairings so far have found something to fixate on. At least one thing that has made their time here special. We're all remarkable in their own. 

Ally, Chase. Lets end this round with you guys. 
Crap. 
My eyes dart to Chase, I'm anxious to see how he responds, did he edit the footage. Does it look okay? I can't believe I didn't demand he show me the finish product before today. 
He gets up off his seat immediately. 
"Al and I created a short documentary to show our time authentically."
Chase speaks immediately and he seems calm, he must have edited the footage after all.
"I've got the write up here Miss Len, I'll pop it on your desk," 
I smile relieved that the day to share our hard work is finally here. I walk over to our teachers desk and place the paper on top of the pile. Chase looks at me and gives me a small smile of reassurance laced with nerves. 

The lights go off and the title page comes onto the screen. 
We're inevitable... Ally and Chase. Our story.
My heart drops to the floor as I read the words on the projector screen. Chase looks back at me one and his eyes are scanning my face for a readable expression. So far, all he will see is sheer shock. 
The documentary old video footage from Chase and I as kids. 
"Promise me right now Chase," my childish tone tells me I'm not older than twelve here.
"Jez Al, I already did," I laugh at the exact sae attitude Chase has to this day.
In the video I'm telling him I need video evidence of his promise, and he goes along just like he always does.
"I promise to be your best friend even when you're dead..."
"and"
"and never replace you."
I remember this moment so well, Chase and I had just had out first fight because he forget to meet me at the playground after dance practice. I was so mad at him that I forced him to make this promise to me.
In the background of the videos there's the same melody playing, I can't work it out yet but it's an acoustic guitar, it's Chase playing the backing song. 
Another video plays, this time I'm teaching Chase how to dance like a ballerina, there's no speaking in this video, just too friends laughing hysterically with one another.
Chase would always dance whenever I begged him to let me teach him a routine.
I notice a sub-title on this video... What Ally wants, Ally gets.
I laugh at the truth behind that, once upon a time I could ask Chase to do anything at all and he would without question. No hesitation, he'd do it in a heartbeat all because I'd asked him too. 
"You're looking at the girl who's going to make this School a better place..."
Oh my God, I can't believe he used this footage. 
"And how do you suppose you do that?"
Chase asked me so innocently, we were Sophomores at the time in my room lying in bed together talking about our goals, our aspirations and our biggest fears.
"I'm going to give everyone a voice." I tell him so sure of myself. 
The next lot of videos are recent ones. 
Chase is singing in the music room. It's the footage when we're talking about music and what it means to him. As the question round draws to and an end a pre recorded voice over comes on.
"High School to me is a second chance. A third chance and a forth chance. It's the place where you're always given another chance to live, to dream and to be the person you want to be... For the person you want." 
Tears form in my eyes, when I realise Chase has prepared a presentation solely on our friendship. We were asked what High Schools means to us, maybe his High School was me. 
The next footage is from cheer practice, I never noticed how he kept the camera on me the whole time. There's another voice over. "High School gave the good girl the chance to make a change." 
The next video shocks me, it's clips of my most recent speeches. I can't believe he filmed them.
"When someone with a good heart is given the chance to really make her voice hear, to make everyone's voice heard."
The next part of the documentary is pictures of Chase and I from kids, to teenagers, our family and our friends. Teachers and school performance's. Every single memory of High School is playing out on this video and it' stunning. 
"You asked what High School means to me, well it's everything. It's the place I made promises I was too young to keep. Where I learnt how cruel the world can be. It's the place where I was given another chance to follow my dreams. To me High School is Ally Benson. 
The real life dream girl with the purest heart. 
The truth is, we're inevitable Ally Benson. High School didn't bring us together, but it taught us how to love each other... and our selves. 
High School is everything to us. 

The end credits play and there's a massive round of applause, my face stings from the tears and I can't take my eyes off the screen as Chase is sat playing guitar singing to me in the final clip. 
I can't breath. The air is too thick and everyone's eyes on me in the small walls of the classroom is making me feel claustrophobic.  
Before I can tell my feet what to do I'm running out of the class room. I can hear muffled voices behind me but I need to get away. This is all just too much to take in.
We're inevitable. I keep playing the words over and over in my head as I'm running away from the boy I've loved my whole life. Making a scene in front of the whole class I replay his words. 
It's true.... Chase and I are inevitable. No matter how much push the other way, despite every bit of teenage drama and anger and hurt we've put the other through. We are inevitable. 
As I'm fleeing the scene my body sharply turns back, I don't know what I'm going to say when I see him, all I know is.. I need to see him.