Chances (Sequel To New Beginnings)

Chapter 28:

AVA

Getting invited to the dinner tonight wasn't hard at all. I mentioned to Beck that I wanted to meet his family and he almost immediately invited me over for the infamous dinner Chase was going to be at. I kept thinking to myself that this was almost over and everything in my life would be almost normal again. Well, as normal as it could be.

As I waited for Beck to pick me up, I added the finishing touches to tonight's look. I wore an emerald green dress. The slim straps and the straight neck accentuated my chest very nicely and made my tan look incredible. The dress hugged my body and ended right above my knees. I matched it with a black heel. I nodded approvingly to myself before seeing the text Beck left saying he was outside. Before walking out, however, I couldn't help but notice a brightly shimmering ring. I grabbed it and held it tightly against my chest, remembering Chase gifting it to me right after our hangout at Lizzie's before I found out I had gotten rejected from Michigan.

"Ava, are you sure you're okay?" Chase asked, turning his engine off.

I nodded my head, but not being able to meet his face. I was afraid I would break my exterior and  not be able to stop the pain subsiding in my chest. Chase got out of the car and opened my door for me, without saying a word I got out and walked over to my house. I unlocked the door and left it open knowing he was right on my tail. 

My mom was on another vacation with Bill, so the house was empty. Usually it wasn't a problem anymore because I had Chase, but right now all I wanted was to weep in my sorrows. "I know you aren't fine, just talk to me." Chase said grabbing onto my wrist before I could escape into my room.

I turned back to him, already knowing my eyes were brimming with tears. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. Instead, I threw myself at Chase hugging him tightly letting the loud sobs come out of my mouth. His arm caressed my hair and his other held me against him. He lightly kissed my forehead, already making me feel ten times better. 

"I.. I don't know why I thought I was good enough for Michigan." I breathed out.

Chase shook his head, "Don't you ever say those things about yourself. It's their loss. Plus, there's more schools anyway."

I couldn't help but feel a pit of jealousy. He was athletic that was easy for him to say, any school would love to have him. Me, that was different. The only reason I wanted to get into Michigan was to at least feel a bit closer to my dad and now that was slim. Was it a sign I shouldn't even bother? 

"I just thought this was it. That I'd get some answers and now that I'm not even accepted and you're going to UCLA.. I'm completely lost."

I felt selfish bringing up Chase into this but it was partly true. I was lost without him and It did hurt knowing he was leaving me. I had no clue what to even do with my life. I think I was more afraid of Chase and I getting further apart from one another, I needed him. 

Chase tilted my chin up to look him in the eyes. His rough hands delicately wiped the stray tears from my face and he reached back into his pocket. He held out a small velvet box for me and opened it. There was a silver ring with a small rainbow moonstone in it. I looked up at him and back down at the box. Last time I thought he was proposing, so I decided to stay quiet instead of ruining another special moment.

"I was going to wait until summer officially ended, but I think now is the perfect time." He started off, "I want you to wear this ring when we aren't together, when times are rough, or in case something happens between us."