Chase

Since childhood, your families lived together. You had one big house. And two families lived in it. Your family. You, mom, and dad. And Chase's family. His mom, dad, and him. Chase was a year older than you. And you weren't related. It's just that your parents were such close friends.

You and he were inseparable. You went everywhere together. Chase was always a role model for you. Chase even asked your parents to put him in the same class with you. He always stood up for you and always loved you. Although he didn't say so. Your parents were always touched. They said you were inseparable. And that's true. Chase already had his own group by ninth grade. But he took you along. And he was always forbidding things. You couldn't go into abandoned buildings with them, or steal anything, or do what they did. You'd get offended, and he'd pinch your nose. When they stole apples, he'd pretend to put you on guard outside the yard, but he just didn't want you to meddle. And he filled your T-shirt with fruit. Apples, raspberries, cranberries, strawberries. You ate your fill, and he always said it was for you, don't share with anyone. And then they all got scolded for trespassing. They wanted to scold you too. But Chase defended you and said you were just standing near the courtyard and did nothing wrong. And that's true. He didn't understand anything about studying, so he was constantly copying from you. No matter how much you resisted, he kept coming into your room. Well, he knocked, of course.

You're in ninth grade now. He's grown up, well, matured. Taller and stronger. He carries you on his back all the time. And you often hang out with his group. Chase has recently started smoking and drinking energy drinks. But he didn't tell you or show you, and in fact, he forbade you from even touching such things. So that you wouldn't tell. And so it happened. You went to an abandoned building, and he decided to take you. There were about twenty people in the group. All ages. And Chase was hiding a cigarette from you, and you saw it and, without saying anything, walked up to him and sat down next to him.

It also often happened that he spent all his pocket money on you. You didn't ask, but he didn't care what you said. He gave you chocolates, candies, and often brought you fruit in the summer. And when you asked where they were from, he remained silent. Because he stole them. Well, he borrowed them from the neighbors. You knew that even though he was a hooligan, he always valued you, protected you, and helped you. Even when he was sent to sports camp in the summer, he couldn't stay without you. Not even for two weeks. There, they collected phones and didn't give them back. He couldn't talk to anyone. And that's why he missed you terribly.

He also learned his parents' secret: that your mother was sleeping with his father. But he didn't tell you because you didn't need to know.

He knew what a kind and big soul you had. He was always there to make sure you weren't taken advantage of. He never told you bad things about people because he knew you'd shield them. You were always petting stray animals. And you often babysat small children, you know, when your parents had guests.