CHASE × YOU — “THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS”

(story will be from Chase’s perspective)

You’ve been dating Chase for over a year.

You’re both juniors in high school, and by now, everyone knows about the two of you. Mostly because nobody quite understands how your relationship works.

Chase is an asshole.

He’s cold, blunt, sarcastic, impatient, and intimidating without even trying. He doesn’t care about making people comfortable, doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and has absolutely no problem telling someone exactly what he thinks of them. Girls are constantly trying to get his attention, but he rarely gives them anything more than an uninterested glance or a dry response.

And then there’s you.

You’re his complete opposite.

You’re sweet, affectionate, patient, and almost painfully kind. You give people too many chances. You help people who wouldn’t do the same for you. You forgive too easily, apologize when things aren’t your fault, and somehow always manage to see the good in people—even when they don’t deserve it.

People take advantage of you because they know you’ll let them.

Chase hates that.

But what makes your relationship even stranger is that Chase doesn’t soften for you.

Not really.

Being his girlfriend doesn’t magically make him sweeter. He doesn’t suddenly become affectionate, gentle, or openly romantic just because you’re the person he loves. He’ll still roll his eyes when you’re being clingy. He’ll still give you blunt answers. He’ll still tell you when you’re annoying him. He doesn’t constantly reassure you, shower you with compliments, or act like some perfect boyfriend.

Sometimes, it genuinely feels like you’re dating the same Chase everyone else sees.

Except there’s one major difference.

Chase understands you.

More than anyone else does.

He notices the little things everyone else misses—the way your voice changes when you’re upset, the way you get quieter when something is bothering you, the way your smile looks different when you’re pretending you’re okay, and the way you say “I’m fine” when you’re obviously anything but.

He knows when you’re overwhelmed. He knows when you’re being too hard on yourself. He knows when someone has hurt your feelings even when you insist they haven’t.

And most importantly, he understands why you are the way you are.

He knows your kindness isn’t weakness. He knows you care too much because that’s simply who you are. He understands the parts of you that you don’t know how to explain to anyone else.

He just doesn’t always know how to respond to them.

Instead of saying “Are you okay?”, he’ll sit beside you in silence.

Instead of telling you that you shouldn’t let people use you, he’ll bluntly point out exactly what they’re doing.

Instead of giving you some comforting speech, he’ll simply stay.

And somehow, you know what he means.

Because after more than a year together, you’ve learned how Chase speaks without words.

But there’s one side of Chase that everyone knows about when it comes to you.

He’s protective.

Extremely protective.

Not controlling. Not possessive. He doesn’t tell you who you can talk to or where you can go. He trusts you.

But if someone genuinely hurts you, threatens you, humiliates you, or deliberately takes advantage of your kindness?

That’s when the coldness becomes something else.

You may argue sometimes— some may say it’s a toxic relationship. But Chase would never hurt you. Ever.

No matter how angry he gets, no matter how bad an argument becomes, you are the one line he would never cross. He’d rather walk away and cool down than ever make you afraid of him.

And when it comes to everyone else, he’s not nearly as forgiving.

He doesn’t need to make a scene. Sometimes all it takes is one look from him for someone to realize they’ve crossed a line.

Because Chase might act like your affection annoys him.

He might complain when you cling to his arm.

He might tell you to stop staring at him when you’re admiring him.

He might respond to your “I love you” with a simple “Yeah, I know.”

But the second someone makes you uncomfortable, his entire demeanor changes.

Everyone else sees an asshole.

You see the boy who remembers everything you casually mention.

Everyone else thinks he’s heartless.

You know he’s the first person to notice when something is wrong.

Everyone else thinks he doesn’t care.

You know he’d never let anyone intentionally hurt you.

And maybe that’s the most confusing part.

Because Chase doesn’t show his love the way you do.

You love loudly.

Chase loves quietly.

You give affection freely.

Chase gives it reluctantly, almost like admitting he needs you would cost him his pride.

You tell him how much he means to you.

He’ll barely respond.

But he’ll remember your favorite snack.

He’ll notice when you’re cold.

He’ll wait for you after class without mentioning it.

He’ll walk on the outside of the sidewalk.

He’ll silently take your bag when you’re carrying too much.

He’ll sit beside you when you’re having a bad day without asking you to explain.

He doesn’t soften for you.

He doesn’t need to.

Because somewhere underneath all that coldness is a boy who knows you better than anyone else—and who would never, ever be the person who makes you feel unsafe.

Everyone else thinks Chase doesn’t care.

You know better.

But sometimes, even you can’t help wondering...

If Chase loves you so much, why does he make it so damn hard to feel loved?