What I Learned In L.A. (Sequel to What I learned at Hope Springs)

What happens in a year?

One year later:

Micheal

"So how was your therapy today?" I asked Chris as we sat in our conference room. We were now the owners of are own clothing line, Brittany and I designed the pieces, Chris provided the art work. He been going to therapy every since Honey's funeral. I can't believe it will be a year tomorrow.

Chris sighed. "It will be a year tomorrow you know. Therapy it's just, it's not helping." What you mean?" I asked. He sighed again, "I miss her Man, she ain't deserve that, nobody does." He said. "Chris you can't keep doing this to yourself, you got other things to worry about. Got a kid on the way." "I know, you think I don't know that?" He kind of yelled cleary upset.

Brittany walked in with a fairly huge bellied Jasmine. Jasmine helped out by selling our stuff in her own store that she took over for her father. Same brand just a different name, "Candy Hearts". I honestly don't know where the name came from

"Hey babe." Brittany said kissing me. "Aye man, I'm gonna go, gotta headache." He stood up then Jasmine stood up. "J,you stay here and deal with the shipment please." "You sure you okay?"she asked him, but he just walked out the room.

Chris

I walked out headed to my car. Once i got in I pulled the flask and the baggy out of my glove compartment. I took a sip from the flask. The hot liquid quickly relaxing me. I dipped my pinky finger into the baggy that contained the white powder, pulled it out and snorted it.

I've been doing this for about 6 months now. I was depressed and I felt like no one understood that. I put the contents back into my glove compartment, and started my car sitting there before backing out and driving away.

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I pulled up into the cemetery parking my car on the side. I sighed heavily as I got out the car and proceeded to walk to Honey's gravestone. Once I got to it I sat beside it clearing the debris from it. I rested my head on the gravestone and cried silently.

Nobody knew that instead of going to my therapy sessions I came here. Nobody knew that instead of talking to them that I started drinking and using. Not even Brittany and we were now officially best friends. My phone vibrated in my pocket. Message from Brittany.

Britt Brat: are you okay, you know I'm here if you need to talk.

I sighed, putting the phone back in my pocket.

I sipped more from my flask. "Honey I miss you. I know those last months I could have did better to protect you, I still struggle with that today. I'm sorry baby...I feel like I'm being punished now for not doing that." I sighed.

Brittany

Everything has been going good this past year. Well not everything, Chris has been distant lately but I don't think that anyone besides me has noticed. With Jasmine being pregnant, and Micheal working so hard on the company, it's hard to notice it when that's not what you're checking for.

I wish he would just talk to me, he barely did that anymore. We were best friends and I felt like he should, instead he just closed himself off from everyone. "Is Chris okay?" I asked cause nobody in the room seemed to care that he was gone. Jasmine was doing the paperwork for the shipment for her store, and Micheal was working on all of the documents for his. "He'll be fine babe." Micheal said kissing my cheek. I sighed, picking up my phone to text Chris.

me: are you okay, you know I'm here if you need to talk'

He didn't respond. I just stared at my phone wishing he would though. I know he was probably upset because tomorrow was the anniversary of Honey's death. He took her death hard.

I continued to discuss things with Micheal. He didn't seem bothered at all by Chris' absence. Once we got things situated with the stores we wrapped things up. We waited for Chris up until the store closed but he didn't show up.

"We'll just go home, he'll call if something wrong." Micheal said. I sighed. "Jasmine, are you okay?" I asked. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. "Yea." She said picking up the stack of paperwork she had. I guess she wasn't bothered by the situation either.

I grabbed my things and headed towards the door. I was bothered. I hopped in my car and sat there a while before pulling off. My phone rung, I quickly hooked up the aux cors to hear Chris' voice through the speakers. "I need you." was all he said. "Where you at?" "Cemetery." "I'm on my way." I said.

"Dial Micheal." I spoke loudly so my phone could get the command. "Dialing Micheal." My phone repeated. I loved hands free devices. "Sup bae." He said after the phone rang a few times.  "I'm going to get Chris." I said. "You want me to go with you?" "No. If anything I'll call you." "Ok, love you." "Love you too." I placed my phone down and continued to drive to where Chris was.

When i finally hit there I parked behind his car. I could see him from there he was curled up laying on top of the concrete slab. I jogged over to him. "Chris." I said placing my hand on his shoulder. He looked up at me with red puffy eyes.

I fell down next to him, craddiling him in my arms as he continued to cry. "I miss her." He whispered. "I know, I know." I said rocking him back and forth. I pulled out my phone quickly texting Micheal telling him to come by cab to get Chris' car.

Out of nowhere it started to rain. "Come on love it's starting to rain." I tried pulling him up but he was heavy. "Come on Chris." I said tugging with all my might to get him up. "Leave me here, I wanna die here. I was be with Honey." He said blubbering all over the place. I sucked my teeth as I felt raindrops begin to fall. "Sweetie its raining. Come on." He finally gave in after the rain started pouring harder. We ran abd hopped into the back seat of my car. Chris was still crying.

He wiped his nose with the palm of his hand and pulled a small flask out of the jacket he wore. He gulped whatever it was down. "So you been drinking?" He chuckled a little. "Been doing more then that." He said smartly. I sighed, Chris I told you to come to me and talk if you needed too, why didn't you." "Shut up." He said lowly shocking the hell out of me. "Excuse me?" "Shut up! You know damn well why I didn't talk to you, or anyone else for that matter. Everybody so fucking busy, no one has time for each other anymore. That's why Honey's dead, we didn't have time for her." He pulled something out pocket and gripped it tightly in his hand. I didn't even know what it was until he held it to his head.

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Sorry for such a short chapter. O really tired to just put something out, and maybe that wasn't the best idea.

Anyway, tell me what you think. 1St chap should i keep or