Chapter Text
Chase flexed his muscles like a proud peacock as he carried in all the bags at the same time. All two, tattered paper bags. He set them on the kitchen floor, then dove his hand in his left jacket pocket, running his thumb over who was inside of it.
His Grandpa immediately said, "Don't leave those bags there, son." without looking up from his craft.
"I won't, Grandpa, just have to swing by my room real quick, then I'ma make dinner." Chase took the pasta out, setting it on the counter with his free hand.
"Did you remember to get milk?" Grandpa didn't look up from his craft project. Something with lots of glue and paper?
"Huh?" Chase swiveled to face him, "You didn't ask me for milk?" he scrunched his brows and pulled his hand out of his left pocket. A lump in his pocket shifted.
"I did. Was the first thing I asked for." A piece of paper was folded. He wrote something down, taking his time writing swoopy letters in calligraphy, then set it to the side and began folding another.
Chase groaned, "Uhhhg... No, I forgot… Can I pick it up tomorrow?" Chase kept separating items from the bag, putting the keyple's items in the bag that was less damaged than the shredded one on the other side of him.
Grandpa Ralph sighed, "Nope, need it for a recipe tonight." He glued another piece of paper.
Chase stopped what he was doing, turned and frowned at his grandfather, head and shoulders drooping in defeat with arms that hung heavily by his sides.
"It's fine, you go make your dinner, I'll run back myself and pick some up." He waved him off, "I'll get it when I'm done with this," he kept fiddling with his project.
Chase relaxed and put his hand back in his left pocket, "Whatcha workin' on?" He used one hand to grab a pot from a cabinet.
"Top secret, something that will stomp Diane at the bake sale." He grinned, creasing the paper slowly, precise.
"Cool, cool. She, uh, cornered me in the store today," Chase said plainly, then filled the pot with water with both hands.
His grandpa stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Chase.
"You didn't give her any intel, did you?" Grandpa raised a brow at him.
"Nope. She asked if you were baking cookies or something tiered. Said I didn't know." Chase set the pot on the stove. The burner click-click-click-clicked before the flames ignited.
Grandpa Ralph leaned forward, "Did you gain any intel?" he spoke in a low voice.
"Uhh, well, I mean, not really? But like, I did catch her grabbing a pack of store bought cookies when I was in the bakery section." He grabbed the container of salt, pouring it in his hand.
"Why were you in the bakery?"
"Was hiding from Diane." He tossed the salt in the pot.
Grandpa Ralph laughed, "Sneaky, heh. Good job, son," and went back to making card labels for the bake sale.
"Hey Grandpa?"Chase dusted his hands off, grabbed the sorted out bag with one arm. His other hand fiddled with the edge of his left pocket, "Do you know a store where I could find violet candies?" He swayed forward and back on his heels.
"Same one you just went to," Grandpa Ralph folded the last card and stood, crossing the kitchen to grab the truck keys from him. He opened his palm and Chase placed the truck keys there.
"What?! But I just. Looked. There… Could you um, pick some up for me?"
"I don't know if they're gluten free." He paused.
"That's okay! It's… it's for a friend. I can pay you for 'em with my babysitting money."
Grandpa Ralph stroked his chin in thought, then eyes widened. He muttered something under his breath. Chase only caught the words, 'edge, beat and Diane' then to Chase, "Alright, I'll see if I can find 'em." He mussed Chase's hair.
Chase scrunched his face, briefly, then gave his grandfather a hug, "Thanks, Grandpa. My, uh, friend, will be Super happy to have em," He grinned a little too wide. "I'ma go drop these off in my room," Chase ran for the stairs.
"Are you bringing cheese up to your room, again?" Grandpa raised a brow.
"Oh, uh, yeah, it's, um… for something." Chase stared back at his grandfather, glanced to the side, one beat, then two passed, he rushed the words,"Okay, Bye!" then ran upstairs with the bag.
"Oh, that boy," Grandpa Ralph shook his head, then walked out the door.