𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 ⟿ s. harrington

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

Chrissy's chest was tight, desperate for the relief of air to fill her lungs again. A warm brush against her hand caused her to jerk back until she was face to face with Alex Henderson once more and air finally filled her lungs. Alex looked back to her in concern, wondering where Chrissy Cunningham could have gone for those few seconds— the Chrissy that was always smiling and giddy with excitement.

Finding that within herself again, Chrissy let out a quick breath of air as she forced a giggle to escape from her lips. "Hi, sorry," she said gently. "Can I ask you something?" Her eyelashes batted innocently and matched with her doe-eyes, Alex could resist letting her in for this moment.

There was a small hesitation on Alex's part. Chrissy was popular, but she was too kind for her own good and never had a mean thing to say. Alex often caught herself looking at Chrissy, wondering if she could ever be as happy as she was. Her chest grew tight with nerves, but she gave a small smile, avoiding Chrissy's eyes as she nodded for her to ask.

Letting out a small sigh, Chrissy had felt herself picking once again at her nail beds. There was something wrong with her, something she hid very well, but for this moment, she wished Alex could see it. Despite not knowing her well, she knew from a friend that she could be trusted with anything.

Lucas Sinclair was Jason's friend, they played basketball together and Jason was willing to accept him into his group. That meant that Chrissy had the chance to get to know Lucas. But he was not the same Lucas he put himself out to be. She enjoyed it when he'd be sitting on the bench, desperately waiting for his chance to play, because that meant he could talk to her. He was real when he wasn't around the rest of the team. She knew how devoted he was to the Hellfire Club, how he got all his basketball tips from Steve Harrington, and how Alex Henderson was nothing like what Jason had to say. He loved her and he made a point to share he would never admit it to her.

Now Chrissy found herself trusting his word as she stood before Alex Henderson with shaky hands and a dry mouth. "Do you think I could maybe..." Chrissy bit her bottom lip, letting her eyes linger on the floor as she searched for a way to ask. "Do you have anything I could buy off you? I would... I would pay whatever you wanted."

Alex was at a loss for words. It wasn't the first time she had been asked for drugs, but it was the first time it came from someone like Chrissy Cunningham. She could feel her doubts about a happy ending for herself slip through her fingers. Chrissy was just like Alex wished she could be, and even that wasn't enough to make her happy.

Alex couldn't bring herself to look at Chrissy. "Are you asking me for drugs?" She wanted to be offended, but after the year she had, being mistaken for doing drugs was the least of her worries. It was clear that Jason had gotten in Chrissy's ear. He had it out for Eddie Munson, and Alex Henderson was an easy person to take a jab at when she hung out with him. "I'm sorry, I don't do that."

"Oh," Chrissy breathed out in disappointment. Her face grew red when she forced a smile to her face, attempting to change back into the perfect girl she was. "I'm sorry. I just... I thought..."

Alex felt for Chrissy, seeing the desperation. If she was confident enough to approach her so boldly, then she would eventually find herself searching elsewhere. Alex couldn't let her go off and find herself in serious trouble. "I do know someone though," she began quietly. "He can help. I just... are you sure about this? You're just so..."

"Perfect?" Chrissy finished for her in frustration. Looking up at Alex, she could feel the tears begin to form once more as she thought back on her not-so-perfect life. "Do you ever feel like you're losing your mind?"

Alex lifted her head in wonder. "I'm sorry?"

Chrissy shook her head, her lips pursed into a tight-lipped smile to keep herself from showing how broken such a perfect girl could become. "Sometimes I don't feel... perfect. And I know it sounds crazy and I shouldn't be doing this but..." she sighed loudly as she looked at Alex, letting that sadness encapsulate her. "I heard it can help with stress."