I followed Chase’s exact orders. No eating. No drinking. One bathroom break.

Now, I’m sitting outside in the cool spring air. When he finally pulls up, I hop in the front seat.

“Good morning. Follow my instructions?”

“Morning. And yes I did.”

He smiles and drives off towards the location of the game. It wasn’t specified on the sheets but it was spread around campus like wildfire.

Kelly Rixon’s apartment. According to the rumor, her apartment is massive. That’s because her parents are loaded.

“Want to play music?”

Chase extends the aux cord to me and I take it. I plug it into my phone, scrolling through for a specific song. I wait for him to recognize it.

“‘I don’t like my mind right now. Stacking up problems that are so unnecessary. Wish that I could slow things down. I wanna let go but there’s comfort in the panic’.”

He cocks his head, a questioning tone coming out.

“This isn’t Linkin Park, is it?”

“The song is by Linkin Park, this is a cover done by Fame On Fire.”

He nods tapping his fingers to the beat.

“‘Holding on. Why is everything so heavy? Holding on. To so much more than I can carry’.”

I notice Chase mouthing the words as he drives. Eventually, the song changes to something more entertaining. I can’t help but tap out the beat on my legs and tap my feet on the floor.

“‘The walls are painted with perfume. The chandelier and champagne in every back room’.”

I sing along with OhYe Rabble Rouser and Johnny 3 Tears and Chase listens intently. Just to be a pain-in-the-butt, I sing while letting my finger travel slowly up and down his arm.

“‘Someone pulled the fire alarm when I kissed you’.”

He’s rigid. I take my hands away and skip the rest of the song. He’s clearly uncomfortable.

“Why did you switch it?”

He is disappointed.

“Because you don’t like the song.”

“Did I say that?”

“No.”

“Don’t assume, Abigail.”

He doesn’t complain or speak any further as the next song plays. And the next. And the next.