Y/N Versus Chuckâs Intersect Freak-Out, Part II
      Your life turned upside down the day after your best friendâs did the same. One day you were a part-time student in a crappy LA apartment with two sucky part-time jobs. The next, you were a part-time student in a crappy LA apartment with two sucky part-time jobs and a side hobby of keeping government secrets â like the existence of the Intersect in your best friendâs head.
      âThis is crazy,â you whispered to your dashboard, parked in the Buy More parking lot. Inside were a man and woman who had both held guns on you less than twenty-four hours ago.
      The passenger door opened suddenly and you almost screamed. Chuck climbed into your car and slammed the door as fast as he could, his long legs crammed between the seat and the glove compartment, his hands on his knees. âY/N, Iâm freaking out,â he announced in a panic.
      âWhat? Is your shift over? Did you just walk out? Are we running away?â
      âI just flashed,â he gasped, still trying to catch his breath. âI saw Sarah and I flashed. She killed people, Y/N! She beat them up like â like some gorgeous blonde ninja and killed them!â
      You winced. Sarah and Casey both scared you quite a bit. You didnât know them, didnât trust them.
      âI flashed on her ring!â He rambled, nervous and panicky. He rubbed his palms on his knees anxiously, like he wanted to run. You worriedly tried to make eye contact but he wouldnât focus on you, and his face was pale. âI just saw her ring and saw things I should never have seen! I know things I have never learned! And â and I didnât choose for it to happen, it just did, and I was just along for the ride! This thing is in my brain and I donât want it there, it just takes over and I â I donât know what to do! I donât want to live with this!â
      âChuck,â you stressed once he had run out of breath. You reached over and rubbed his thigh. âI know this is messed up. I know youâre scared, I am too.â You pulled his hand up and put your fingers in his. âBut itâs not forever. They donât want to be here or for you to have the computer in your brain any more than we do.â
      He turned the puppy dog eyes on you and made a tiny whimper in his throat. âWhy is this happening to me?â
      âBecause Bryce is a dick,â you replied promptly. âBut we already knew that.â He had gotten Chuck expelled, after all.
      âWas,â Chuck mumbled, looking down at your hand holding his.
      You held in a sigh. âYeah. Was.â
      You were both quiet for a few seconds. Bryce, for all heâd done to Chuck, had still been one of your best friendâs best friends and no level of animosity could have made Chuck want him dead.
      âIâm sorry,â you said softly, squeezing his hand. Chuck squeezed back, his hand shaking a little and his palm sweaty. âItâs going to be okay. Sarahâs going to protect you, even if Casey wonât, and theyâll get the Intersect out and we can go back to our lives sooner than you think, okay? Because theyâre the goddamn CIA. They can get things done.â
      âYeahâŠâ He responded, taking in a deep breath. He rubbed his face with his free hand to rub the color back into his cheeks and then put his fist against his stomach while he breathed. âOkay. This is temporary. Itâll be okay.â
      âChuck, I know you must be getting sick of hearing this, but donât freak out.â You leaned over the gear shift and pressed a kiss to his cheek. âItâll be okay.â