Some Kind Of Wonderful

Chapter Seven: Birthday Festivities

Leila/Chase/Nicole.


"Leila, do I really have to do this?" Chase asked settling himself on a mat.

Leila glanced down at Chase and sat beside him. "Yes, we need more relaxation in our lives." She said crossing her legs, she closed her eyes.

"But all we do is relax," Chase groaned crossing his long legs under himself. "Yoga's for pansies." Leila opened one eye and glared at him.

"That’s not true there are plenty of other men here." She said glancing around the room.

"Leila, their wearing tights," He said wrinkling his nose. "Enough said."

"See that’s what I'm talking about Chase, you're so uptight and tense. You need to let all of that negative energy go. You'll feel a ton better after, I promise."

"I don’t see how sitting here making stupid noises is going to relax me. A boxing bag with a verse of eye of the tiger will be sufficient enough,"

"Just shut up and concentrate. This is good for the mind as well as the body." Leila told him as their yoga instructor 'spirit' sat opposite them and began the class.

"Okay, young ones, close your eyes and breathe in and out. In through the nose and out from the mouth. Inhale exhale, inhale exhale." Chase opened a honey coloured orb and watched both woman closely.

His eyes fell on Leila; she looked so peaceful with her eyes closed. Her pink lips were pouting as she exhaled. Chase thought watching her was peaceful enough.

Leila popped one eye open and caught Chase looking at her. She smiled then scowled at him playfully. He grinned and pulled a funny face at her. Leila fought back the giggle and closed her eyes again trying to concentrate which was proving to be difficult with Chase watching her.
"Alright young ones, your mind is free of any worry. You are now at peace. We will begin to meditate, Ohhhmmmnnn. Ohhhmmmn, Ohhhhmmnnn."

After a while of 'ohmning' Chase was getting frustrated. He fixed a smile on his face and decided it was time to end this ridiculous session. "Ohhhmmmn-my ass is going numb-ohhhmmmn" he said and opened his eyes when he heard Leila snicker.

"Ohhhmmmn I-can't feel-my-legs- ohhhmmmn." Leila replied, Chase grinned.

"Ohhhmmmn -shhh- Ohhhmmmn" Spirit mumbled annoyed.

"Ohhhmmmn -this-is-boring- ohhhmmmn." Chase said again. "Let's get out of here Ohhhmmmn."

Leila giggled. "Ohhhmmmn- we can't just leave- ohhhmmmn."

"Ohhhmmmn- I'm losing all the functions to my brain-Ohhhmmmn." He mumbled.

"Ohhhmmmn- I didn't know you had a brain- ohhhmmmn,"

"SHHH...!" Spirit said opening one eye and glaring at the two. She closed her eyes again and continued meditating.

Chase rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm outta here." He said grabbing his mat and shoes he made a run for the exit before spirit saw him.

He was in the middle of pulling his shoes on when Leila came running out of the studio. "Well, I don’t think we're welcome there anymore." Leila said pulling her own shoes on.

"Leila, that was mind numbingly boring," He offered. "I wouldn't go back there if you paid me." Leila giggled.

"I wouldn’t take you; you're the worst yoga partner ever." She said as they exited the studio and walked back to Leila's car.

"Yoga is a whole load of crap. You don’t need to meditate to relax." He told her as they settled into the Mercedes Benz convertible. "That’s what sex is for." He added with a grin.

Leila cast him a look. "That is such a guy thing to say, Chase." She said pulling out of the car park.

"Maybe so, but it's the truth." He said with a shrug.

"Oh please, sex is so overrated." Chase grinned.

"Hey don’t drop it till you try it." He said casting a horrified look her way.

Leila scoffed. "There's more to life than sex. Yoga helps you connect with yourself on a different level."

"Oh please, you were bored as hell in there; I saw it written all over your face. At least sex is fun." He defended.

"For a while, until all the passion dies and you're left with a routine sex life."

Chase laughed. "That’s not true; it depends on the person you're sleeping with. If she's boring then yes it's not particularly fun. But if you find a lover that’s hot and compatible to you in bed then, well lets just say your set." He explained and Leila nodded but remained silent for a second.

"So how compatible is Nicole then?" She asked quietly. Chase looked at her with a surprised expression.

"What?" he asked to make sure he heard correct. Did Leila just ask about his sex life with Nicole?

"You heard me."

"Yeah I did, but what made you ask that?" he asked with a frown.

Leila shrugged never taking her eyes off the road. "Just curious,"

Chase cleared his throat. "Well, I'd say she was reasonably compatible. I mean, she's hardly boring and lifeless." He told her and watched as her face remained unresponsive.

A moment of silence passed and Chase couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. What made her ask about his relationship with Nicole?

He looked over at her and saw that distant look in her eyes, the look that told him she was deep in thought off someplace far away.

"And when it's all said and done, you'll be the only one. Even if there's nothing left for us to say, as sure as the sun will rise, I can never say goodbye. Even when we go are separate ways, in my heart you'll always stay" The radio played softly drowning out the silence.

"What are you thinking about so deeply, angel?" He asked snapping her out of her thoughts.

Leila blinked "Huh? Oh, um, nothing. Who said I was thinking?" she said quickly. Chase smiled.

"I think I've known you long enough to know when you zone out honey." He said tilting his face to the side to look at her as she shook her head.

"No, I wasn't thinking about anything. I just lost myself in the song, that’s all." she said with a one shoulder shrug.

Chase knew that wasn’t true but he didn’t wanna push her into telling him anything she didn’t want to. "Okay, but you really must have lost yourself because you drove straight past our exit."

Leila looked around her blue eyes wide. "Oh shite," She swore and Chase laughed.

"Its okay sweets, we gotta stop off at Wal-Mart anyway." He said reaching out and rubbing her neck.

"Oh right, I totally forgot I was going to cook for you." she said with a sheepish smile.

Chase returned her smile and continued to run his fingers through her silky brunette hair. "Oh that's charming." He said and Leila grinned as she pulled into Wal-Mart car park.

"So what did we agree on?" she asked Chase pushing around a cart.

"I believe it was fajitas." He said picking up a can of whipped cream and grinned. "Wanna get down and dirty?" he joked and Leila laughed and swatted him playfully.

"You have a questionable mind Chase Adams." She scolded him comically while she picked out ingredients.

"Yeah right, funny how sex is the first thing you think I'm talking about." He said with a scoff. "And I'm the one with a questionable mind."

Leila looked at him with an arched brow. "Oh please, what else would you have been talking about?" she asked incredulously.

"Um, let’s see, I could have been talking about a food fight." He pointed out innocently throwing the can of whipped cream in the cart. Leila gave him a look that clearly said 'Do I look like an idiot' and he grinned.

"You never know." he shrugged with a cheeky smile. "After a little whiskey you might wanna get frisky." He said and laughed.

"Are you sure you're not gay?" she asked and watched as Chase's smile faded into a horrified expression.

"Baby I'm as straight as they get." He said defensively, Leila hid the smile pulling at her lips and goaded him further.

"Hmm, I don't know, Chasey. I'm really starting to question your sexuality. I'm seeing this new feminine side to you." she teased touching face.

Chase caught her hand and pulled her into him. His brown eyes bore into hers. "I don’t have a damn feminine side. If you want I'll prove to you right here in this aisle that I'm not gay."

Leila looked up into his eyes and quivered inwardly. His usually light playful eyes turn dark and dangerous. She cleared her throat. "Chase, sweetie, you really need to loosen up. I think I would know if my best friend of seventeen years was in fact gay." She said with a sweet smile.

"Doesn't hurt to be certain," he said brushing her hair away from her face.

Leila grinned, "Alright, Adonis, lets go finish shopping shall we?" she said pulling away from him. Chase smiled as he followed after her chasing her around the supermarket with a packaged crab. Leila was afraid of crabs and lobsters, Chase found it hilarious and adorable to watch her freak out.

Later than afternoon, Leila was back at Chase's apartment bustling around in the kitchen cooking Chase's birthday dinner. Every year on each others birthday they would spend their birthday together, the entire day they would chill out together and in the evening they would go out to party alone or with family and friends.

"So how are we going to the concert tonight?" Chase asked chewing on a carrot.

"Geoffrey's on duty tonight. I don't think either of us should drive." She said dicing the chicken.

Chase nodded. "Cool, so what were you going to tell me earlier before my dad called?" he asked looking up at her inquisitively.

Leila looked back at him and smiled. "Well, promise you won't jump me until I put the knife down. I would hate to prod you on your birthday and spend the night in A&E." she said pointing the silver blade at him.

Chase grinned. "I promise, now tell me. And stop pointing that knife at Me." he said with a scowl.

"Okay." She said placing the knife down. "I wasn't going to tell you this until we got to the concert but..." she smiled, "After the concert we got invites to the after party with the band." She said and Chase's eyes widened.

"You're fucking kidding me?" he sputtered surprised.

"No, I'm totally serious. I dated this guy from Uni who happens to be best buddies with the group's manager. He invited me and a guest when he found out I'm going to the concert." She explained and Chase's jaw hit the floor.

"We're gonna party with Staind. Tonight's gonna kick ass. This is the best birthday ever!" Chase cheered flying to his feet; he lifted Leila into his arms and spun her around.

Leila laughed heartily. "Chase, my hands are dirty."

Chase grinned and looked up at her. "I don't care, I love you more than you can imagine. I am so lucky to have you in my life Lei." he said gazing into her eyes.

Leila smiled and hugged him tightly. "I love you too." she said burying her face into the crook of his neck inhaling his intoxicating masculine scent.

Chase closed his eyes enjoying the feeling of having her in his arms. She fit so perfectly, he wished he never had to let her go. Just hearing those words coming from her lips sent his world spiralling out of control.

Chase pulled back and loosened his hold on her. Leila's petite body slid down his until she was on her feet. She wasn’t as small as her mother but she wasn’t tall either. She stood at 5'5 and has a small frame but a very alluring body.

"Okay, now that, that’s over with, I better get back to cooking this meal before we both starve to death." She said sweetly stepping away from him and turning back to cooking fajitas.

An hour later, Leila was finishing cooking the food while Chase was in the living room playing Xbox, after being kicked out of the kitchen for eating the vegetables.

"Ow!" Chase looked up when he heard Leila's shrill cry. He threw the controller aside and ran into the kitchen. He found Leila grasping her finger in pain.

"What, what's wrong?" he asked concerned moving closer to her. "You haven’t chopped your finger off or anything, right?" he asked with a panic.

"No I scalded my finger." She whimpered.

"Here, let me take a look." He said pulling her hand closer to take a better look. He saw a red mark on the pad of her finger. "It's not that bad. Come here." he gently guided her to the sink, turned on the dial to the cold water and gently placed her finger under the stream of water.

Leila closed her eyes as the stinging of the burn began to subside. Instead the feel of Chase's solid chest pressed against her back was making her feel a little dizzy.

"You okay?" he whispered quietly into her ear.

Leila nodded resting her head back on his chest while his hand held hers under the faucet. "How's that feeling?" he asked his warm breath tickling her ear causing the hairs on her neck to stand.

"Good." She breathed biting her bottom lip. Of course she wasn't talking about the pain but he didn’t need to know that.

"Good?" he whispered again his lips brushing her earlobe delicately. Leila almost crumbled to the floor if it weren’t for Chase's strong hold on her but managed a small nod.

'God, what is he doing to me?' she thought trembling each and everytime his lips made contact with her skin which seemed to be on fire.

Chase fought hard to gather up every bit of self-control he had within him not to lose himself and lick and taste the silkiness of her neck. However every second she was in his arms, every time she trembled at his touch was pushing him further and further over the edge.

Knock...Knock...Knock.

Chase jumped back when he heard knocking on the front door. Whatever moment they had vanished quickly leaving them both a little taken back.

"You better get that." Leila said breaking the silence, she moved away from him and began looking through the cupboards.

Chase shook his head and turned to answer the door after series of knocks. He pulled the door open with a scowl fixed on his face. His brown eyes widened when he saw the blonde standing at his front door.

"Nicole?" he mumbled surprised. The said blonde smiled and stepped closer to him.

"Hey baby." She cooed wrapping her arms around his neck.

"What are you doing here, Nicole?" Chase asked pulling back when she tried to kiss him.

Nicole looked a little hurt by his actions but recovered. "I'm here to see you silly. Can't a girlfriend come by and see her boyfriend?" she asked tracing his jaw with a perfectly manicured finger.

Chase blinked. "I told you I was busy today." he said bluntly but Nicole ignored him.

"Oh." she said with a pout. "Well, seen as I'm here now, maybe I can come in for a little while. I missed you." she said curling her fingers in his hair.

"Nicol-" he began.

"Chase, who is it, dinner's getting cold?" Leila asked poking her head out from the kitchen.

Chase looked back to see Leila standing behind him, her blue eyes turned icy when she saw Nicole.

Nicole pretty much sent her a death glare in return while tightening her arms around Chase. "Leila, I didn’t know you would be here. What a surprise." She said with a sugary smile.

Leila rolled her eyes. "Indeed it is." She drawled crossing her arms over her chest.

Chase looked between the two women and cringed. How the hell was he supposed to get out of this situation now? Nicole looked back up to Chase and smiled. "Leila and I have plans Nic, I told you that already." He said looking at his girlfriend who pouted.

"I thought you were going to the concert together, you never said anything about having dinner together." Nicole said glancing at Leila.

"No, I told you I spend my birthday with Leila." He said matter-of-factly.

"Well, I'm sure Leila won't mind if I joined you guys and spend an hour or so with my boyfriend on his birthday, would you Lei?" she asked with an all too fake smile.

Chase looked back, his eyes met with Leila's for a moment. He knew deep down it pissed her off that Nicole would just show up and ruin tier plans.

"That's Leila to you, and I only made enough for two." Leila said icily. "We weren't exactly expecting company." She added glancing at Chase.

"Oh that's okay; I'll just share with Chase." Nicole said and walked in without an invitation. She stalked passed Leila with a smirk and disappeared into the kitchen.

Chase closed the door still a little shocked and irritated. He looked up at Leila and saw the irritated look in her eyes, even though she tried to hide it. "I'll go get the food ready." She mumbled dimly heading back to the kitchen.

Chase sighed and followed.

"Wow, it actually smells...nice." Nicole said settling herself in Chase's lap while Leila served the food.

Leila swore under her breath, contemplating whether or not to put rat poison in Nicole's food. She turned her head when she heard noises behind her; with the corner of her eye she caught the lovers in a very heated make-out session.

She wasn't sure why but she felt her heart clench painfully at the sight. She suddenly remembered what Chase told her in the car earlier that day.

"She's reasonably compatible. I mean, she's hardly boring and lifeless."

She visibly shuddered at the thought of the two in bed together.

Wiping that thought from her mind she turned and placed the food on the table to find their lips still locked. Except this time Chase's hand was under her shirt and Nicole was grinding his leg.

Tears stung the back of her eyelids, without thinking she slammed the dish on the table loudly so the lovers jerked back startled and panting breathlessly. "Sorry, dish slipped. You know what, Chase I'm gonna take off." She said untying the apron she was wearing.

"What...why?" he asked out of breath.

"I just remembered I forgot a few things I need for tonight back at my place." She said hurriedly. "Enjoy the meal and I'll see you later." With that said she all but ran out of the kitchen hurried to the hallway and grabbed her purse.

Chase watched Leila walk out of the kitchen hurriedly. "Excuse me." he said pulling Nicole off of his lap and chased after Leila only to hear the door click shut. "Fuck." He muttered walking hurriedly to the door, pulling it open to find she was already gone.

Leila ran out of Chase's apartment building, she rested herself on a wall beside the door to catch her breath.

A soft vibration came from her purse; she pulled her mobile out and saw there was a text message from Chase. Holding her breath she opened the message to find two words. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, me too," she whispered to herself, pushing off the wall and making her way back to the car. She felt something warm on her cheeks; she gingerly touched it to find she was crying. Shaking her head she wiped her tears and drove off to the first person she could think of.

"Chase?" Nicole's voice cut through Chase's thoughts as he looked through the window. "What are you doing, honey?" she asked wrapping her arms around his waist.

Chase tensed suddenly un-wrapping her arms from the hold she had on him. "Why are you here, Nicole?" he asked coldly.

"What do you mean?" she asked with a smile.

"You know exactly what I mean. You knew I had plans with Leila today. Why come here even though I told you not too?" he snapped angrily.

Nicole looked hurt. "Chase, it's your birthday. I wanted to spend sometime with you. I think I'm allowed that right what with being your girlfriend and all." she said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Nicole we went to dinner on Monday, which was my actual birthday." He said with a sigh. "Today was about me and Leila spending time together, like we do every year."

"Oh, so I get a few hours while she gets you for a whole day?" she asked angrily. Chase ran and hand through his hair.

"Nicole, this is not a competition. I do this every year with Leila and you know that. Just because I'm with you this year does not mean I'm going to break a tradition we had going for seventeen years."

"You weren't in a relationship then Chase; sometimes you have to sacrifice things. Leila's a big girl, I'm sure she understands that you need to spend time with your girlfriend too."

"Nicole, try and listen to what I am saying. This isn’t about you and me. This is about Leila and me, I will NOT, I repeat, will NOT change my life just because I'm dating you." he said firmly. "Leila means a lot to me, for as long as I've known, it's always been the two of us. So if you wanna continue this relationship, I suggest you stop trying to put a barrier between me and Leila. Because, I can assure you that, is never going to happen."

Nicole glared at Chase for moment but decided to up her game. She would be damned if she let that spoilt little bitch win. "Chase, I know Leila means a lot to you. I was friends with her at one point, so I saw what you guys were like together. It's just, I really like you Chase and I can't help but be a little jealous. She's always had your attention, and as your girlfriend I want you to show me a little more attention. I just feel like our relationship is based on nothing but sex. I need to feel you want more from this relationship than just that." She said dropping her gaze from his and looking at the floor.

Chase took a step towards her, cupping her face he looked into her green eyes and smiled. "I do want more." He said with a hint of a smile. Nicole smiled brightly in return and kissed him passionately which he returned with equal fervour.

****

Leila sighed heavily looking up at the apartment building she's been sitting in front of for the past hour.

"Come on, Leila It's now or never." She said to herself. Taking a deep breath she killed the engine and stepped out of the car. Her blue eyes looked up at the building before she took the steps to the front door.

Lifting her trembling fingers she pressed the buzzer and waited for an answer. All the while her heart rate was rapidly increasing. The buzzer buzzed and the door clicked, she pushed it open walking over to the elevator. She entered and pressed the number to the top floor.

The doors opened a few minutes later, Leila timidly stepped out making her way to the door on the right. She fisted her hands and closed her eyes before hesitantly knocking on the red door before her.

A few seconds passed and the door opened. She looked up and her eyes met with another. "Hey."

"Hi." He smiled upon seeing her; Leila stepped in when he gestured for her to enter. She turned and faced him as he closed the door and looked at her expectantly.

"Well?" he questioned.

Leila bit her bottom lip before dragging her eyes from the floor to meet his. "I'm ready." She said quietly.

"You're sure?" she nodded

"Yes, I'll marry you."

****

Don’t you just love cliff-hangers? I know I do.
Well folks another day another chapter. I hope you all enjoyed reading about Leila and Chase. I thought I would devote this chapter solely on them.

Things are starting to get a little sticky as the plot thickens, but I am thrilled that you guys are enjoying the story.

Someone asked how you pronounce Eyvah. Well it's actually 'AY-VAH. Hope that helped.

You know the drill, review and I'll update as soon as possible.

*New character will be introduced in the next chapter.*