Later that night
While they have yet to talk about what happened between Chris and Nicole, Scarlett announced that they would be leaving for the evening and going to the hotel. After their talk, Nicole seemed more welcoming toward everyone and was even looking forward to hanging out with Chris tomorrow after school, which he for some reason agreed to pick her up from.
Scarlett couldn't deny the bit of jealousy racing through her veins when they made the plans, however, she agreed to hang out with Jasmine and Brett to discuss visiting arrangements.
Chris seemed rather excited about their future outings, in fact when he told Scarlett about it, she noticed the smile on his face that she normally only saw directed at her. But a part of her couldn't understand why he suddenly was so fond over Nicole. So when they were alone in the car driving back to the hotel she decided to bring it up.
"Chris, you know you don't have to push yourself into uncomfortable positions with Nicole if you don't want to. I think right now we should focus on figuring out what she is comfortable with." Scarlett said, and Chris looked at her for a second before focusing his attention back on the road.
"Well, I am not doing anything that I don't want to do. So you don't have to worry about that." Chris answered. He could feel her confused look glaring holes in the side of his head.
"Just yesterday you were unsure about all of this. Since we met her you haven't shown any interest in her." Scarlett pointed out.
"people can change their minds. I talked with the kid and I realized I have been being a bit over dramatic." He explained, to be fair he was scared, but just talking with Nicole only brought him peace. Something he hasn't felt in a very long time. To be honest, he didn't want it to go away anytime soon.
"They don't change that fast Chris unless something happened..." She started to trail off.
"What are you talking about?" He asked when Scarlett seemed to have gone mute.
"Chris if you are doing this because of what happened between us then you should stop." She sighed and Chris gripped the steering wheel tightly. "it's just not fair to everyone else in this situation,"
"You know not everything I do in my life revolves around you. Yes maybe I continue acting was from your help, joining Marvel was a lot easier with you being there, and maybe I gave up Nicole because it's what you thought was best but maybe just maybe I made a single decision not concerning you!" He was angry, and that much was evident in his voice. Scarlett flinched at the harshness of his voice.
The parked the car in the parking lot of the hotel and neither of them moved. There was tension in the air and Chris was fuming with anger, mostly aimed at her and a bit aimed at herself. But the reason he was upset at himself was for lashing out at her. She really did control most of his being, but not all of him. Not anymore.
"what did you two talk about?" She asked, her voice low as if testing him to talk back to her again. Chris's anger took over him once again.
"that is none of your concern." And it really wasn't. When Nicole was ready to talk to everyone else about how she was feeling then she would tell them. It wasn't his information to give out.
"Chris... I am trying here. I am trying to connect with her and I see you just do it so easily. Just last month you didn't even know if you wanted to be in her life, Chris." Scarlett looked down at her lap.
"Why does it bug you so much that I am getting along with her? Isn't that what you wanted? For her and I to have a relationship? You said it yourself." He said, his voice full of annoyance.
"Well, maybe I want to have a relationship with her as well. She hasn't so much as looked at me all night! I get that I messed up, I got drunk that night I was supposed to have dinner with her." She shook her head before sighing. "I guess it's my own fault. I am sorry Chris. I don't mean to yell at you..."
"Scarlett, what's going on?" He asked gently. Scarlett was a mess, she didn't know why. She didn't know where that outburst came from if she was being honest with herself.
"I don't know," She mumbled. That was the honest truth, she didn't know what was the matter, tonight just showed her how lost she is in this entire situation.
"You and I both know that that is not true. For as long as I have known you, you have always had one hand on the steering wheel, even when you are having a bad day. Deep down you know the reason, you can trust me." There was silence in the car. Chris made sure not to pressure her, but he wanted her to know that she could trust him.
Chris didn't take the outburst personally. He wouldn't blame her, because he knew just how far jealousy could push a person. The jealousy she felt plus the underlining problem probably wasn't helping, but Chris wanted to help. To help her.
"Do you ever feel regret? Forgiving her up when we did?" She asked slowly, as if afraid to say something wrong.
"You know, sometimes I do," There was a pause. "But then I look at her, look at everything she has, the amazing people she knows, the experiences she has lived through and I know it was worth it. With how crazy our lives have been, she probably wouldn't have seen much of us, and giving her a loving home was probably the best thing we ever did for her." he looked her in her eyes since she was now looking at him. "Don't you agree?" another pause.
"I guess to a certain extent. I love the life she lives and the person she has become, had she grown up in the spotlight everything would have been so different for her. It's just... I guess I just regret missing out on all the milestones in her life. And I just can't seem to connect with her anymore and if we hadn't done what did I can't help but think about the relationship we could have had." She sighed, almost wondering if she sounded crazy to Chris, but she knows Chris, he would never judge her for this, not even if they were arguing a few minutes ago. His next statement proves her point.
"There are a lot of what ifs in the world, but you have to focus on those actual events. She loves you, everyone does," including himself, "but maybe she just needs a bit more time. I wouldn't say she and I are best friends now, but she understands me a little more. Maybe you should stop bribing her with trips to set, dinner with the family, and giving her best friend stuff and focus on her."
"See I haven't even been a mother for that long and I have already messed up," She put her face in her hands in frustration.
"I don't believe you messed up. I think you made one strike." she couldn't help but look at him and smile.
"What happens when I have three strikes, mister?" She asked, Chris too smiled now.
"Well, you might need to get back up and try again. Just because you strike out doesn't mean your career is over." He explained.
"But you have embarrassed yourself in front of those who care about you," She said, sadness hidden behind her voice.
"Hey, at least you are playing the game," Chris shrugged his shoulders. "I can give you some pointers if you want, I seem to be at first base right now,"
"This has to stop right now, I don't know any more baseball references that I can make," She couldn't help but let out a little giggle.
"Fine fine fine... remember Scar, we are in this together, I won't let you give up. We are gonna take this home," He jokes letting one more reference in.
"Chris!" She scolded, they both fell into a pit of laughter. Things seemed to be a lot easier now more than ever. Chris missed this, their talks were they knew they would both look out for each other. Where they re was a sense of calmness between them.
"Are you gonna be okay?" He asked very gently. Scarlett looked over at him and smiled a small.
"I hope so, I just want this situation to be nonexistent, I want her to be comfortable with all of us you know?" She said and Chris took her hand drawing circles on it with his thumb.
"I know, and we will get to that point very soon, we will make sure that she is comfortable with us, but we won't push her. We need her to see we are willing to wait." Chris said Scarlett squeezed his hand as well.
"And I will work on that." She smiled. "Thank you, Chris, for calming me down, and just always being there for me. It really does mean a lot to me. You mean so much to me,"
"You already know how I feel about you," he said, and then he noticed her hand start to tense up. Slowly, she started to pull her hand back into her lap, trying to ignore Chris's comment.
"Okay," She smiled reaching for the door handle, "Got a big day tomorrow, we better rest up. Goodnight Chris," She said and made her way out of the car in a hurry.
Chris watched with a sad look on his face. She seemed to be pulling farther and farther away as if she was scared. The thought of her being scared hurt him, he would never be able to forgive himself if that was the case.
He watched her make her way into the elevator until she was out of view. He had to be patient. If needed, he would fight for her, he was gonna show her that he was serious about her. He needed more time. But he also needed some help. He just had to ask the right person.
What two posts in the same week? Look at me go! I love summer!
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