Page 66 of Chasing Elliott
I looked at her with slightly scrunched eyebrows, but not because of what she was proposing - but because, for once, the thought of telling him I loved him didn't scare me to my very core. As if noticing this, Kara smiled softly at me as she pushed herself up to stand and disappeared back to her room.
I sat at my makeup vanity as I stared at myself in the mirror. Kara and Benjamin had left about an hour ago and I was debating whether I should go meet them or go look for Cooper. On one hand, I think a night out to clear my head and not think about the situation for a few hours would benefit me, and on the other I didn't want to go any longer without him.
Giving up, I slipped out of the chair and threw my hair up in a messy bun before darting into the closet. I changed into a simple pair of skinny jeans with a plain tank top and put on my converse before making a beeline for the front door.
Petting Mia as I walked by her laying on the couch, I grabbed my phone and keys off the table and quickly slipped outside. Locking the door behind me, I ran down the sidewalk and yanked open the car door.
About twenty minutes later I pulled into Benjamin's parking lot. Quickly shutting off the car, I darted into the building and took the stairs two at a time as I made my way up to the fourth floor. Knocking on the door, I stood and waited for a few seconds before knocking again.
"Cooper, come on," I groaned as I rested my head against the door. "I'm sorry I haven't been answering your calls, I just needed time to think and I'm ready to talk now. I've missed you and I need you. Please answer the door."
About a minute of silence went by when I felt my eyes start to well up. Checking to see if the door was open, I cursed under my breath when I found it locked. Before I had the opportunity to try and unlock it with the bobby pins that were in my hair, my phone began ringing and Iquickly answered it without looking at who it was.
"Oh, thank god, where are you? I'm at Benjamin’s apartment and I really-""Sorry, honey," Kara said, cutting me off as I heard loud music playing in the background as I tried to understand her. "But Cooper is here at the party. I think you should come and talk to him. We're at the baseball house."
Not bothering a reply, I made a mad dash for the stairs and made my way back out thefront door and into the car, speeding toward the baseball house.
Finding a parking spot in the street among the large mass of cars, I slammed the door shutand quickly walked up the sidewalk to the front door. Seeing one of the baseball players standing there, he smiled as he watched me approach.
"Hey, Elliott," he greeted once I was within ear shot. "Kara and Ben are out back, and Idon't know where Coop disappeared too."
"Thanks," I told him as I brushed past and into the large crowd. Pushing my way through, I ignored the snide comments I received from some of the people as I finally made it to the back door. Stepping out into the cool night air once more, I instantly spotted Kara and Benjamin playing beer pong with two other players on the team.
"Suck it," Kara yelled as she threw her hands in the air as the ball splashed perfectly into one of the cups. "Drink up. Oh hey, El. So glad you made it."
"Yeah, where is he?" I asked, desperately wanting to see him and finally say those threelittle words I was so afraid of before.
"I should warn you, he's pretty drunk," Benjamin answered as he looked over Kara's head at me. "I think I saw him go upstairs about twenty minutes ago. Pretty sure his head might be in the toilet, but he refused our help. Hopefully he'll listen to you."
"He has no other choice," I told him with a small smile as I quickly spun on my heel and walked back into the house. Thankfully the stairs were rather close to the back door, so I didn'thave to fight my way through many people.
Practically jogging up the stairs, I reached for the first door handle and pushed it open. Seeing two people making out, I quickly closed the door and reached for the next one. Knowing it was the bathroom, I tried to open it but it was locked. Knocking on the door, I impatiently tapped my foot.
"Occupied," I heard a slurred female voice say through the door. Just as I turned to walk away, the door was pulled open and a guy I didn't recognize poked his head through.
"She's going to be here for a bit longer," he started to say with an apologetic expression. "But the bedroom at the end of the hall has its own bathroom."
"Thanks," I mumbled as I continued my search down the hall. Walking into the last bedroom, I didn't hesitate as I entered but I rolled my eyes as I saw Laura laying in the bed in herbra and underwear.
"Shit," she cursed as she quickly pulled the sheet over herself. "Elliott, what are you doing here?"
Cocking a brow at her nervousness, I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I was just looking forCooper."
As if hearing his name, the bathroom door opened, and my heart plummeted in my chest. Cooper stepped out of the bathroom in just his boxers, hair disheveled and light scratch marks on his shoulders. Tears instantly sprung to my eyes as he looked back at me in a state of panic.
"Elliott, wait," he said as he took a small step towards me, but I didn't want to hear it. Shaking my head as the tears fell from my eyes, I turned and ran out of the room.
Pushing past people in the hallway, I tried to make my way down the stairs, but I kept hearing Cooper behind me yelling my name. It felt like my heart was being torn from my chest and all I wanted to do was get out of the damn house.
Finally reaching the bottom of the stairs, I turned the corner and ran into a firm chest. Trying to push past the man in front of me, I grew irritated as his hands gripped my shoulders butthen I finally heard him talking.
"Elliott, what's wrong?" Benjamin asked, concerned as I saw Kara come up behind him. "What the fuck happened?"
"Please just let me go," I cried as I continued to hit his chest. Suddenly I heard Cooper yelling my name again and I frantically gripped Benjamin's shirt, wanting to disappear.
"Are you fucking kidding me," I heard Benjamin murmur as he suddenly pushed me behind him, shielding me. Glancing around him, I watched Cooper approach, still only wearing his boxers. Not wanting to see what was going to happen next, I quickly ran for the door and made a dash for the car, ignoring Kara as she called out after me.
Cooper Hearst POV (same chapter)
