another weekly update? who is this?? no i'm kidding, but i was able to get this chapter up just a week after again ;) now that i've made the major revisions in the beginning, i'm going to start incorporating some of the original chapters. but i do have to edit/revise them, of course, so bear with me on that (and when i run out of previous chapters). also you guys, a lot of people used to send me fan art/covers for a thousand words which was super nice to see how talented you all are! i just wanted to let you know that if you do ever create some art for this story, please send it to me! i'd love to incorporate them into the chapters like i did before :) so without further ado, i present to you chapter three! enjoy! xx
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"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet.
"Even longer..." Pooh answered.
- Winnie the Pooh
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"You realize you can't just spin it like a regular top, right? You're not 'letting it rip.'"
I glanced away from the red top. "Do you still own those things where you load it on?" I asked him after another failed attempt to spin the toy manually. When I tried again, it only proceeded to skid and hit Chris on the wrist before tipping on its side.
Chris shook his head, his lips twisting. "Sadly, no. Threw them away a long time ago. So, I guess you can't properly 'let it rip' then." Then he leaned in, dropping his voice down to a whisper. "But a true master would know how to do it anyway."
Scoffing, I shook my head. He chuckled in response. When I held it up and ran my fingers across the jagged detail, I couldn't help the faint smile that pulled at the corner of my lips. This toy sure did bring back a lot of memories.
"Do you remember the first time we played with our beyblades?"
His eyes twinkled with remembrance. "Of course," he said, taking it from me. "Damn, that must have been a really scary night for you, huh? Because of that guy who kept harassing you and the other girls at the orphanage?"
My chest tightened at the thought of Dean and that night. It was one of the scariest nights of my life, but amidst all of the dark memories from that night, there were two shining bright ones. The first one was, of course, meeting and making a new friend. Being in the orphanage, the girls and I were each other's friends. We didn't have any other opportunities to make new ones, so the fact that I was able to meet Chris was momentous. The other memory... well, that was Papa. Chris's face lit up when I voiced that to him.
"Isn't crazy? When you met him, you didn't know who he was going to be to you later."
I smiled. "No, I didn't. Definitely makes up for the scare."
When I was strayed away from Jessica that night, I walked into the Brewing Café for the very first time. Papa was behind the cashier counter, and he looked so much like Santa Claus that I took his help when he offered it. He totally believed my lie of being Reece's cousin and that I'd just gotten lost. His worry was evident, but he made sure to make me feel as comfortable as possible until Reece came. I walked in here seeking safety, and I got just that. And a cookie. A really good cookie.
"So, it's just you and him, yeah? Or has Richard found someone to rendezvous with?"
I reacted the same way any person would if somebody painted the image of parents having sex in their mind by grimacing and refusing repeatedly. He laughed and said, "I don't know, Darce. There's some wild old people out there. Actually, my friend –"
Horror washed over me. Slapping one hand on my ear and one hand out towards him, I cried, "No! Nope. I'll stop you right there. No need to hear any of that."
When he cracked up laughing, I realized that I haven't heard him laugh in years. Because of those years we didn't spend together, a lot of things from here on forward would be "first" and new. And yet, it all felt so familiar.
"You know who isn't too young for a great rendezvous?" Chris continued again with a wicked grin. As he leaned forward, I desperately hoped he wasn't going to ramble off about his wild sex life, but I asked him anyway.
"Is it you?"
"Oh, no," he chuckled. "That's not where I was going with this. I meant Reece and Jessica."
I couldn't help but gasp at the mention of them. Just like Chris, it's been too long since I've seen or talked to them. "How are they? Have they gotten married yet?" My heart sank at just the thought of it, but I perked when Chris gave a negative shake of his head.
"We don't care how long it's been since we've seen you. If they did get married, you would've definitely got an invitation." I smiled widely at that. "But no, they haven't made it official yet. Even though they've been engaged for, like, six years."
That means they got engaged a year after Papa and I left for California. Even though I was bummed that I missed it happening at the time, I was relieved that, maybe, if they wanted me there, I would have the opportunity to be at their wedding and experience such an important and wonderful milestone. Then my heart sank for a totally different reason.
"They're not fighting or anything, are they?" I asked worriedly. I'd be devastated to find out their envy-worthy love had come to an end, but Chris shook his head once again. His expression alone showed that their love was far from failing.
"I can assure you that Reece is still utterly whipped and infatuated with Jessica, and she's the same with him. You know, sometimes when I'm crashing at their place, I'm sure they're having sex when they think I'm unaware of it."
I buried my head into my arms and groaned. "Chris!"
"I'm sure they do, though!" Chris exclaimed. "Reece can be so horny it's as if he was the eighteen year old. But don't tell him, unless you want me helplessly held captive in a headlock."
"Maybe I'll use this as blackmail."
He placed a hand on his heart. "Has the dark side touched you during our time apart?"
Laughing at his dramatics, I said, "Well, I'm really glad to hear that they, as well as you, are doing all right. I can't tell you how relieved I am that Jessica and Reece haven't called off their engagement or anything."
"How could they?" he replied, his playful tone fading. "They've got a love made for a romance book. Jessica wasn't Reece's first love, but he was her's. It's not everyday you marry your first love, you know."
"You're right," I answered softly, noting his failed attempt to hide the conflictions battling in his expression. Okay, so maybe Ben did judge Chris's situation right. If he really did go through an earth-shattering breakup (as Ben very much liked to put it), how come he could act so... carefree? And happy?
Then again, people smile through their pain all the time. Jessica told me once that faking a smile and fooling everyone with false happiness was her first line of defense. I, on the other hand, suck miserably at hiding my emotions, so I usually run and hide so I can be sad by myself. I can't show sadness or be sad with anyone other than Papa. It's an old habit I've failed to overcome, too.
Chris could be the opposite, but I didn't want to outrightly spring the question on him, so instead I asked, "So, why'd you look all bummed out when you came to the café the other night? What was that all about?" Sheepishly, I added, "You know, before I slammed a hot chocolate in front of you before running to the kitchen."
An outburst of laughter wiped away any trace of hidden gloom on his face, replacing it with an amused smile. "You actually scared the hell out of me when you did that with no warning, Darce. And I'm pretty sure one of the employees was laughing when you walked away."
I growled internally. Stupid Ben.
"It was really awkward, okay?" I shot back. "Ben was the one who told me to kick you out, but you looked so sad that I wanted to try and do something nice to perk you up."
Chris leaned back with complete seriousness in those blue depths. His eyes were better described when you've been looking into them for a while, because they weren't a vibrant popping blue but a stormy grey blue. "You tried to soften the blow with a drink on the house, huh? I would've got up and left if you shouted at me from across the room, but the hot chocolate was definitely a pick me up. Thanks for that."
"It was really no trouble" – well, maybe a little bit with Papa – "so don't worry about it. But really, though, are you okay? It looked like you were mourning the death of a relative or something."
He shook his head. "Nah, not a relative. Just a heartache is all. No big deal."
Well, there it is. I guess that saves me the debate I was going to have about whether or not asking him would be insensitive of me. Either way, the truth was bad news nonetheless.
"Come on, Chris," I murmured. "You don't have to be like that with me."
Silence fell upon the table. Chris stared down at the beyblade in my hands. A few moments passed before he spoke, his voice hoarse. "I was the one who dumped her."
I blinked. "If you were the one who dumped her, then why are you upset?" Did he realize it was a mistake?
"We were together since early sophomore year. I've noticed the shift in things: not saying 'I love you' back, trying to spend less time with me. I found out from my friend Marissa that she's had eyes on someone else for a while now, so I let her go. They got together not long after we broke up, so that's why I was sitting here eating my sorrows down with food off your menu like I was a man in a bar drinking my sorrows away with some booze. So... yeah." He stopped, scratching the top of his head. His once long blonde mop of hair was now a much shorter, curlier mop of hair.
"Oh, Chris. I'm sorry." My heart broke for him. I thought back to all the times I saw them stop by the classroom across the hall. Chris always kissed her cheek before he left. She would always smile and laugh with him. I didn't suspect a thing. Now I wanted to cater to his eating sorrows, maybe even pay for all the hot chocolates he needed as his replacement whiskey. That's a pretty long time to be with someone, and there were a lot of great memories to be made during that time span. And while she moved on as fast as the hare, Chris was moving at the tortoise's pace.
"I guess it's all right." He rested his chin down on his arms, peering up at me with lingering sadness in his stormy blue eyes. "It's better this way. I'd rather she be with someone who truly makes her happy than anchoring her to stay with me. It's over and done with." He sighed, then straightened up his posture with a composed smile. "Let's change the subject. How was California?"
I played along. "It was... a rollercoaster."
His eyebrows raised. "Do tell."
"I'd actually rather not... Not right now." I smiled apologetically and glanced down at my phone screen. Midnight flashed back at me. "If I were to tell you about how California really was, we'd be here till opening."
Papa wasn't aware of my reason for not being home yet. My battery died earlier on today, and I've always relied on one of the kitchen cooks to bring their charger that, much to my dismay, was forgotten at home.
I'm so dead.
"Aren't your parents going to get mad that you aren't home yet?" I asked Chris, shooting him an incredulous look as we grabbed our things to leave. "My apartment isn't too far from here, so I'd be okay walking home. You should go."
He arched an eyebrow, saying, "Aw, come on. Trying to get rid of me already, Darce?"
I almost faltered in my steps. That definitely was not the case. I had such a nice time catching up with Chris that I wouldn't mind spending a couple more hours with him in the cafe, if it weren't for the pressing reasons to leave.
"You know that's not what I'm saying. I just don't want you to get in trouble."
"Don't worry about me. Mom doesn't get off her shift until one a.m. anyway, and I'll just explain to my dad tomorrow why I wasn't home for dinner. I'm sure the two of them will be thrilled to know that I've run into you again."
"Reuniting with your childhood best friend who you haven't spoken to in years sounds like a good excuse to me." I just hope it works on Papa, I thought.
He bumped my shoulder with his before he wrapped an arm around me and squeezed. "I'm glad we're okay."
I reveled in his tight hold, marveling at how instantaneously natural it felt to be in his presence again. It's been so long, yet it feels like we've done this just yesterday.
Shortly after stepping out of the cafe and into the reality we've shut out for a few hours, we arrived at my apartment.
"Wow, that was quick," Chris commented, staring up at the building. Then he turned and handed me his empty hot chocolate cup. I pointed to a trash can just a few feet away, but he shook his head. "My phone died long before I came to the café to talk to you. I wrote my number down on the cup, so when you go up there just add my number to your phone.
I rotated the cup in my hand until I found the scrawl of numbers beneath the logo. The joy that sparked within me crackled and glowed and grew until I was expressing that joy with a smile so bright a sparkler would dull in comparison. I couldn't help but throw my arms around him for another hug.
"I'm really glad that it was you I gave the hot chocolate to that night," I murmured.
His arms wrapped around my waist in a tight grasp, rocking me from side to side as he laughed. "Me, too. Walking into the cafe was a good move on my part."
I held on to the happy, buzzing feeling as I made my way up to my apartment. I noticed straight away that the lamp in Papa's bedroom was on, so he was awake, as expected. What was unexpected, however, was my neighbor from across the hall sitting on my couch, watching TV.
She glanced over her shoulder as I shut the door behind me. "London? What are you doing here?"
I squirmed as her reprimanding stare weighed down on me. Oh, great. Not only will I get in trouble with Papa, but London, too! Ever since we moved across the hall, London's been the big sister I've never had. That means, calling me out on my bullshit. Because of that, Papa and London have become quite the tag team.
"I think the real question is, what were you not doing here?" she grilled, rising from the couch with her hands on her hips.
I pressed my own hands against my face with a groan. "I'm really sorry I didn't call to let you know where I was. My phone died today and I had no charger to use. But I have an explanation as to why I'm home so late."
"I sure do hope it's an explanation and not an excuse," spoke the firm voice of my papa. He came out of his room with a frown that screamed worry and disappointment, but what stood out to me the most was how tired he looked.
"Are you okay, Papa? You don't look so well."
I came to join him as he trudged over to the couch and sat down. "I was feeling a bit sick today, so I had London come check up on me. She insisted she would stay until you came home in case I needed anything, but clearly you were gone longer than we thought you would." Papa patted London's arm and said, "Go on back to your place, sweetheart. It's late."
"All right, but if you two need anything I'm a knock on the door away," London said and gave me one last where the hell were you look before leaving me to face my Papa's wrath.
"It's an explanation, not an excuse. I promise," I said, then gently took his hand. "But before I explain, please go back and lie down?"
He allowed me to lead him back into his room and onto his bed. I waited until he was comfortable under the covers before I sat by his side and began to talk. "Do you remember Christopher Radley, Papa?"
His eyebrows furrowed down as he tried to think back. "Christopher?"
"Yeah, Chris from my childhood. Son of Rebecca and Mark and brother of a girl named Camryn. We lost contact with all of them when we moved to California." Neither pieces of information were enough to jog his memory, so I continued. "He and his family took care of Reece back when I was still in the orphanage, Papa. Don't you remember him and Jessica?"
Reece and Jessica were the trigger words. After all, how could he forget the two people that led me to him in the first place? It was Reece's idea for him to consider me for adoption, after all.
"Oh, I remember now!" he exclaimed. "Christopher was a good friend of yours, wasn't he?"
"Yes! You won't believe it, Pa. He goes to my high school and I've seen him around for a while now but hadn't said anything to him. But the boy I gave that free hot chocolate to was him, and he came by the café again tonight. We were catching up after I closed and kind of lost track of time in the midst of all that." I pressed my forehead to the back of his hand. "I'm so, so sorry I'm late!"
I prayed that Papa would understand. No matter how long I get grounded, though, at least I know that Chris will be there when that time expires.
Papa stared at me for a moment, his expression blank and hard to read. Before I could repeat another apology, he reached out and poked my cheek. "So Christopher is the reason for this smile of yours?"
I pressed my lips together but didn't bother to smother the smile, nor deny the truth. "I had a nice night, Papa," I said quietly. "It was nice to see him again. Talking to Chris about him, his family, Reece, and Jessica... It feels familiar. Almost makes New York feel like home again."
Papa hummed. "Home again," he repeated. "Well, I like the sound of that."
I smiled and rested my cheek on his hand. "So, was that enough explanation or did it sound like a lengthy excuse to you?"
To my relief, he smiled back in understanding, eyes still closed. "I always knew I liked that boy Christopher. You two were the bestest of friends."
From there, he placed a kiss my hand goodnight and told me he would be staying in bed tomorrow. After being released, I rushed to my room and immediately took my dead phone out to charge. I went to get ready for bed as I waited for it to gain enough battery to turn on, then took the empty cup and added Chris's number to my contact list. With a quick text to tell him that it was me, I slipped into bed and laid in the darkness. My insides were still crackling with happiness when my phone buzzed with a message.
Chris: No school Tuesday. I have a surprise.
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oOoOo, tuesday??? what could thattt meannnn...
;)
chapter question: tell me about your childhood friend! my childhood best friend was the wild to my shy and we were the bestest of friends. we lost contact, unfortunately, and were reconnected recently but have drifted too far apart. still, i wish her all the best and will cherish those memories we made together :)
thank you all so so much for the love and well wishes you sent towards me and my mom! you guys are the absolute sweetest and i'm forever grateful for you. i can't say it enough.
i hope you liked the chapter, and i'll see you soon!
p.s. the song 2002 by anne-marie reminds me of chris and darcy so much (that first line!! s/o to my a thousand words readers) and it's my absolute favorite song right now. give it a listen!