Chase picks up on that, the way the old man starts to fade. Okay, so... on the right track here. His mom, meanwhile, doesn't seem to be going anywhere just yet, but her sobbing's been downgraded to sniffling, so... Progress.

Let's keep this going!

"What is, teen pregnancy or fatal car crashes?"

...

Not helpful, Chase. He clears his throat, casting another look back at his mother. Shockingly, something like regret actually passes through his face, and because he's already a little less guarded than usual, there's even some sadness. For just one moment. "Yeah."

He used to dream about it, when the Power first manifested. Not of, like, Caleb or Pogue or anyone in particular, but about what it would've been like to find others like him. Like... maybe he was going to get his freaking Hogwarts letter or something. But it never happened, and that hope eventually gave way to a festering resentment.

"Why do you care about your dad, anyway? He was practically dead to begin with."

Look, it may sound like Chase is just being his usual dickish self, but he's kind of trying to help here! Well. Help and avoid talking about his own feelings.