Free Recourse (The Arrangement) by Amy Silva

THE SPEECH
    "When love is not madness, it is not love." - Pedro Calderon de la Barca

    May 2002.

    Chase Adams was looking down upon us as he tried to instill hope. The room of half excited, half terrified eyes glared attentively back at him as he weighted his words. A high school graduation is a big moment in a person’s life and we were just an hour away from forever passing ours. Some of us would go on to do great things. Some might even change the world. At least that’s what the teachers tried to drill in our brains for the last four years. Chase was much more upfront about it. “A young bird is flying south for the first time in its little life. It doesn’t know how long the journey is. It simply keeps flapping its tiny wings towards the horizon straight ahead.” He was trying to make us realize life is a big journey and we should accept it as such. To keep playing the cards in front of us and not worry about is at the bottom of the deck. Of course, life was easier for Chase Adams. He was smart, good looking and pretty much a shoe in for doing something great. He played in another league, one that’s not anywhere close to mine. He didn’t have any doubts about where his journey will end up.

    He was also totally gorgeous. A born star athlete, with wide shoulders and big muscles, he had the attention of every girl at school from day one. He was totally cool about it, his beautiful smile radiating warmth as he would confidently step down the hall returning pleasantries in the morning. He also had brains, unlike most of the other guys on the football team, and teachers would fawn over him since he would step up and engage the class not aware of any such things as public shyness or fear of speaking. I doubt many would believe I’ve seen him without his shirt off. Hell, I had trouble convincing my best friend Jenn, but I have. And boy did he look good.

    We became friends by an absolute accident when his car broke down right in front of our house. While waiting for the tow truck, mom convinced him to stay for dinner and we got to talking. It turned out we had a lot in common, he was a fiend for traveling and studying different cultures. We both dreamed of going to Egypt to see the pyramids, The Great Wall of China, the ruins of Athens. We excitedly talked about spending semesters abroad in college, and realized that we were much alike. Our friendship started to grow from that point on. Unfortunately, it was just friendship. No matter how hard I lusted for him, those beautiful baby blue eyes and his muscular, perfectly shaped six foot two body, I never dared to let him know how I felt. His always cheerful face with the cutest dimples would just smile back at me anytime I would attempt at hinting any sort of interest. I told myself I’d just wait for the right time to pour my heart out to him, but always backed out. One time I could have sworn universe handed me a signal. My mom asked him to come over and help mow the lawn. Being the greatest guy ever, he drove over and told her not to worry about a thing as he started up the lawn mower. His muscles rippled as he pushed it across the lawn. The sun was shining bright so I knew he’d be thirsty. I went inside and made lemonades. I opened the door outside and turned to find him as I walked down the front steps with glasses in my hand. As I turned my head towards the roar of the lawn mower I saw him. When I saw his body without a shirt on, a spark ignited inside me and rushed up my spine. I arched my back and almost lost the lemonades as my hands went limp. Holy wow, Chase Adams was a freaking sex god! His muscular chest was moist with drops of sweat as it sat high on his chest. The ripped six pack was dancing in the light as he breathed in and out. His big shoulders and strong forearms bulged with power as he controlled the roaring metal best. I haven’t been this drawn to keep staring a man’s body since the time I watched Daniel Craig come out of the ocean in James