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CHAPTER 45: SEASIDE
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Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 46: HEROINE
When Max explains his perspective, I can't help but see the reasoning behind his actions. I know people who regularly use even the most dangerous street drugs but wouldn't struggle for a moment to quit if asked.As a teenager, I quickly learned that the mind and body operate in complex ways. That's just the nature of science—overly intricate and always evolving."I occasionally get high just for the thrill of it, but never to the point of addiction to any substances. I could never do that to Riley, nor to myself. Both of us deserve better than that. That being said," Max says, resting his thumb on my chin for a moment, "I was more than relieved when you explained that you only tried heroin once.""So, then you didn't step out of Drew's Halloween party just because 'Heroine' by Sleeping with Sirens came on?" I ask, and he takes a moment to recall that night."Honestly," he replies, "if I stepped out, it was probably because I got a phone call or something, definitely not because of the
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 47: POWER COUPLE
"Look at them, UP's newest power couple!" Avery exclaims as we meet her and Kalix outside Manzanita Village. Despite her radiant smile, the dark circles under her eyes betray a sleepless night."I see the hand-holding has already begun," Kalix chimes in, motioning towards our intertwined fingers as Max and I approach them.Avery and I share an enthusiastic hug as soon as we're within hugging range."I love you, and I'm so proud of you that it hurts," she whispers into my hair, holding me tight. I reciprocate the embrace with equal fervor."I love you too, and thank you for everything," I murmur back before we finally release each other.Kalix, on the other hand, extends his arms toward Max with a raised eyebrow."I guess it's my turn to give you a hug," he says, fully embracing Max despite Max's initial resistance. Eventually, Max gives in with a heartfelt laugh, reciprocating Kalix's brotherly affection."I'm proud of you, man," Kalix tells Max genuinely, finally allowing him to brea
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 48: UNIQUE PLACE
Each person has that one special individual whose hugs hold a unique place in their heart. For me, that person has always been and will forever remain my older brother. Despite the twists and turns life has thrown at us as we've grown, our bond remains as resilient as the roots of an ancient tree—ever-expanding yet profoundly interconnected. From the moment we first crossed paths to the day we draw our last breaths, and even if there exists an afterlife, our fates will forever be intertwined...."If you spin me around any more, you dork, I'll end up spewing all those Sour Patch Kids I devoured during my flight!" I playfully warn him, evoking a chuckle."Brace yourself, mini-me. The 'I missed you' feeling will wear off in about five minutes, and then it's back to our prank war," he teases, finally setting me down with a shared laugh. Then, my hoodie conveniently obscuring my face, he tugs the drawstrings in opposite directions, instantly turning me into a walking, talking marshmallow.
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 49: ID PHOTO
Twin #1: That's a tradition, so we're in.In the next couple of minutes, we all express our agreement by liking William's text, confirming our commitment to engage in train hopping on the outskirts of town. This Thanksgiving tradition involves us perching on the rooftop, our legs dangling, as we share a bottle of the same drink that has symbolized our enduring friendship over the years: good old Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey.SuSpence: It's my turn to bring the bottle this time, so I'll make sure to get the 1.75 L one. It should be enough for the entire trip around town.We all like Samuel's message as well and then exchange goodnight wishes before ending the chat. After responding to my other texts, I focus on Max's last message. He had replied to my "landed" text a couple of hours ago, so I decide to check in and see if he's still awake, sticking to our promise of a morning text and a nightly call from earlier in the day.Me: Are you still awake?Instead of a text response, my phone imme
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 50: ENIGMA
The most enjoyable aspect of waking up in the morning remains an enigma to me."Hey! You should express gratitude for being able to start a new day," Buffy swiftly counters."Yeah, I'd certainly be more 'thankful' if Alex hadn't 'forgotten' to close the blinds again. I'll have my revenge," I mutter.I push the covers aside to find a comfortable position, and that's when my phone chimes twice, indicating two new messages. Rubbing my eyes with my right hand, I reach for my phone on the nightstand with my left hand. With one eye half-open, I don't mind waking up to something like this:Message: Just thought I'd share how my day's been so far:9:10 a.m. - Woke up with a smile because I dreamt of you calling my name.9:35 a.m. - Took a shower while thinking of you, moaning my name.10:00 a.m. - Had breakfast with Riley at a local diner.10:42 a.m. - Returned home, while Riley hung out with friends, I joined a soccer pickup game.11:56 a.m. - Started writing this message for you.11:59 a.m.
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 51: TRAIN RIDE
After sharing another round of laughter, we all position ourselves near the roof's edge, letting our legs dangle. Samuel reaches into his backpack, retrieving the Jim Beam bottle along with some snacks we purchased at a local grocery store. This store, conveniently situated at the corner of mine and Avery's street, is the only one we know of that remains open year-round. For the remainder of the train journey, we engage in discussions about current events in our lives, reminiscing about old memories while creating new ones. We capture pictures and record videos, laugh, and sing together, all while polishing off the bottle before reaching our final destination.And no, there were no more threats of us plunging to our demise that night, in case any of you were concerned."Goodnight, bro."
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 52: BAGGAGE
Avery and I are currently waiting at baggage claim for our luggage to come out, so I've taken the time to post the birthday photos of William and Henry from last night on Instagram. The celebration was quite wild, to say the least.We engaged in bar hopping downtown and became so intoxicated that we ended up staying at the nearest hotel, with all seven of us sharing a single room. Needless to say, we didn't fall asleep until eight in the morning. I'm quite certain I had a tipsy conversation with Max at some point, though I can't recall many details.You know he's never going to let you live that down, right?Yeah, what else is new?Speaking of Max...Subjec
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 53: HONEYMOON PHASE
The 'honeymoon phase' in Max and my relationship didn't last very long. Instead, we swiftly transitioned into the 'you annoy the heck out of me, but I'm not going anywhere because you're still the only one willing to date my quirky self' phase. The first two weeks were filled with affectionate moments, but it soon became apparent that it was merely us adjusting to each other in a new way.But did I mind? Absolutely not! In fact, I cherished every moment because it added authenticity and depth to our connection. I'd give anything to have things back to how they were with Max, to have what we shared back then, before fate decided to intervene.What Max and I had was genuine in every sense of the word, but it just wasn't meant to be....
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