#q28

Chris was still manning the girl thirty minutes later, and looking like his life depended on it. His eyes never averted from the flames and his feet remained planted in front of that expensive grill. You caught up with his family and tried not to pay any attention to him. Everyone treated you as they normally would have, and you were more than grateful as well as reassured. When the conversation dwindled you joined the kids at the arts and crafts table and led them in making Independence Day slime and straw paintings.

 It started as a welcomed distraction but quickly turned into a lot of fun. When the Fourth of July glitter and star confetti started flying starting an impromptu fight for independence any uneasiness you felt was gone. Scott and his friend were the ones to join in on the fight. When they did things went from playful and fun to playfully competitive. Then out of nowhere it became gang up and attack you. Soon you were running around the yard screaming as a train of kids including the two adult ones chased you with handfuls of star confetti while the actual adults sat and laughed.

 At one point Chris caught your eye and it must have been the first time he’d looked up from the grill. He watched you, distracting you long enough for the assailants to shower you with their glittery weapons. By the time you walked back over to the table of adults you must have looked like a disco ball because that was when the pictures started. You didn’t even bother hiding, you wore your decorations with pride and posed with a wide smile.

 When it was time to eat, everyone walked along the food tables set up buffet style, and selected what they wanted. There was so much to choose from. He’d grilled more than enough food. You wondered if he was stress grilling like how you stress cleaned and cooked. As you gazed at all the food your belly chose then to growl as if you had one of the wild things in it.

 “Hungry?”

 You knew whose voice it was just by the sound of it. You turned slightly to your right and glanced over your shoulder to see Chris approaching to lean toward the table to grab a few beers and a skewer of BBQ meat.

 “There’s plenty of meat for you to choose from. Help yourself to whatever you want,” he nonchalantly said before walking off.

 Again, his voice gave nothing away. As he walked off you looked down to his left hand and watched as he fully spread out his fingers to max capacity and bent his middle finger back and forth, inward, and outward. It was an action you’d seen him do plenty of times before. The last time you saw it was his birthday celebration when you gave his bday toast and again in the pool as you flirted with him. You now deduced it was one of his ticks. Was he nervous? Anxious? Scared? Worried?

 One of the kids zooming past you brought your attention back to the food before you and you filled your plate with nearly everything there. You’d skipped breakfast and lunch because of your freak out and your belly was furious with you. When you sat down at the table, you were next to Scott and diagonal from Chris whose eyes were planted on his plate.

“Bless the grill master,” Shana’s boyfriend yelled out which made everyone cheer and clap.

 Chris nodded his recognition as he took a long sip from his beer bottle. You smirked softly. The man loved his beer. Seeing two already empty ones before him, you found the answer to your previous internal questioning. He was nervous. As you brought a piece of brisket to your mouth you looked at him and watched while he took a few more gulps of beer with his eyes off to the left probably looking over the property. You got lost in watching him for a moment then heard your name.

 “Hm?”

 “Scott told us about your web comic,” Carly announced.

 That was when you paused and began to panic. “Uh—did he? How did he know?”

 “I have my ways,” Scott said with a wide smile as he tapped the side of his nose.

 “He was bragging about it mainly. He’s been telling everyone who’d listen that his best friend has the number one web comic out right now,” Lisa added.

 Your head snapped to Scott and gave him a look that said explain.

 “We talked about it like a year ago about you trying this route. You have too much talent to just waste it on corporations and their needs. I also saw some of your rough drafts while we were at the beach house,” Scott admitted.

 You brought your beer to your lips and took a few gulps.

 “I have to agree with Scott, it’s really good. Your storytelling skills are wonderful and the pictures you draw, they pull you in,” Shana complimented.

 “Oh god,” you began, scrunching your nose before taking another gulp of beer.

 “Don’t be embarrassed, you’re talented. Not everyone is,” Scott comforted.

 “I also can’t wait to see what happens next in the story,” Shana said with an excited grin.

 You’d been working hard not to look at Chris the whole time, but it was now you had to take a glimpse. When you did, you found his eyes on you but not. It looked like he was looking through you and if he were galaxies away. Did he know about it? Had he read it? the thought that he had made you nervous all over again. It was at this moment you fully understood why authors felt naked having others look at their work. This was even more nerve wrecking because it was moderately based on your life and experiences.

 Your therapist suggested you find a way to release what was pent up inside and you did. This web comic was your release, but you hadn’t put much thought into the after affects.

 “I’m excited for you with how much attention it has gotten. I read the last chapter a week ago and it had already crept up to almost three hundred thousand views,” Scott continued making you give him a gentle elbow nudge to tell him to shut up about it already.

 “I think we’re embarrassing her,” Lisa piped up and with that the conversation changed yet again.

 You kept one ear on everyone while you ate and got lost in your multitude of thoughts. You didn’t look at Chris again and he didn’t utter one sing word. After eating you volunteered for garbage duty and walked around the yard dumping plates, cups and any left-over items in a garbage bag as everyone else made sure the remaining food was covered and secured in prep for when the fireworks started. Scott always said that Chris’s house had one of the best views for the fireworks show and you were excited to see just how good a view it was.

 Once you’d finished and tidied yourself a little, you found everyone sitting on blankets on the lawn. They all looked quite comfortable. You grabbed one of the blankets from the pile and found a spot that was not huddled close to anyone else but wasn’t secluded. From your left you could see Chris sitting by himself just before you. The glow of his phone lit up part of his face showing you a hint of the expression he wore. Sorrow was what you saw.

 A soft nudge to your shoulder brought your attention to your right as Scott sat down.

 “You okay?”

 Nodding you gave him your best smile to placate him. There was a fifty-fifty chance he would believe or accept it. He nodded then offered you your own decorative paper bag filled with popcorn. You smiled and accepted the offer and popped one in your mouth and moaned when you found it was kettle corn, your favorite. Instantly your mood brightened. When you looked back to Scott he was holding out a pink and blue swirled cotton candy stick. That was the pies de la resistance and your giddy gasp gave away your elation. Quickly your grabbed it and automatically took the biggest bite and moaned louder. Scott snorted and shook his head.

 “You’re so easy to please.”

 “Right. It’s a wonder anyone could ever piss me off,” you countered making Scott nod.

 “Thank you.”

 You continued to munch taking a few kernels of popcorn then a bite of cotton candy. It was a strange combo, but it was a combo you’d loved since you were a kid and anyone who truly knew you knew this was one of the easiest ways to your heart. At that thought you looked across to Chris and found him watching you. your eyes locked and lingered again.

 “Don’t thank me. I’m the delivery man,” Scott informed.

 Your curiosity brought your eyes back to him. “Delivery man?” He nodded.

 “Who sent you?”

 Scott took a swig from the beer bottle he held as he stared out to the horizon then sighed. “Who do you think?” Scott’s eyes landed back on you before he continued. “Who else here besides me would know that these two items together would put a smile on your face?”

 Slowly you understood his words and slowly the realization sunk in. When you looked back to Chris his head was now facing forward as he braced back on his arms looking up in the sky. He’d sent them. A soft sigh escaped you as you thought how infuriating and confusing he was. Before you could dwell on it any longer the sky lit up with the first crack of fireworks and the kids screeched out with excitement.

As far as you were concerned this was the only thing worth celebrating on Fourth of July—fireworks. Ever since you were a kid you’d loved the way it lit up the sky in a bounty of colors. As an adult nothing had changed. The first few minutes everyone exclaimed their “oohs” and “aahs” with each bang that echoed around. The loudest ones were the kids, but the adults weren’t too far behind in the noise category.

 As the sky lit up with greens and reds a memory flashed in your head of the glow of the colors radiating off Chris’s face as you looked back at him. Glancing away from the show in the sky, your eyed danced across to Chris’s location. Your eyes met and this time it was blues and golds that shone on his face. The warm air quickly became even warmer and heavier. You could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking of the same memory. You’d thought of that day plenty of times over the last few weeks. You should have known tonight would be the peak of all the memories.

Another loud boom of explosions rang out and it brought your attention back to the show and that was where it remained. You quickly got lost in the beauty and wonder of the fireworks and laid in the grass to fully enjoy it. Scott was right this was the perfect view was the last thought you had before you emptied your mind and stayed in the moment enjoying your kettle corn and cotton candy.

 What was normally a twenty-five-minute display turned into an epic forty-two-minute show. The mayor had said he intended to have it bring more light into the lives of everyone who’d struggled during the pandemic. It was a good display but not even ten minutes after it ended did the sky rip apart and release torrential rain down. while everyone screamed and ran to get out of the downpour you laid there on the blanket with your eyes closed and arms in the air enjoying the refreshing feeling it provided.

 To you there was nothing like heavy rain and thunderstorms. To most being caught in a thunderstorm was worrisome but to you there was nothing better. They always reminded you of how small you were in the universe of magic. Plus, you knew the likelihood of percentage of being struck by lightning so you never worried. The sky lit up with the strike of lighting and seconds later the thunder rumbled in.

 “Y/N!”

 Looking beside you, you saw Scott hold out his hand for yours. When you took it, he pulled you up and began dancing with you ignoring the potential danger and seeing the perfect moment for carefreeness.  Every step you took your espadrilles stuck in the soaked grass completely ruining the vibe. You bent, untied them, and kicked them to the side then began dancing with Scott again.

 Every worry fell off your shoulders, every concern melted away, every fear became irrelevant, and every grievance suddenly didn’t matter. Soon it was just you and Scott dancing in the rain like maniacs while everyone was under the shade at the back of the house either watching and laughing or in normal conversation because this was nothing abnormal. When you looked to where Chris had been sitting he was gone. He wasn’t among the rest of the family either, he’d vanished.

 After another hour or two of games and laughs the rain continued and everyone started making moves to leave. No one wanted to be flooded in with no way home. After everyone gave you hugs and made plans to see you soon one by one the Evans’ made their exit. Among the last to leave were you, Scott, his friend and Ms. Lisa and Chris was still MIA.

 “Do you need a ride home?”

 “No, no. I drove. I’m parked down the drive outside the property.”

 “Why so far?”

 You snorted and fussed with your now damp skirt. “In case I changed my mind and left,” you quietly admitted. Scott was the first to laugh.

 “Glad you’re still here,” Lisa voiced.

 “Me too, you’re a blast,” Scott’s friend who you were suspicious was his new squeeze said.

 You smiled your thanks and tightened your grip on your shoes.

 “I came with Scott, we can drop you at your car,” Lisa offered.

 “No, it’s lite rain now. I can manage. Thank you for the invitation again,” you said as you hugged her.

 “Any time. Don’t be a stranger.”

 You walked with them to the door but hesitated and looked back expecting to see Chris standing there but he wasn’t. As if to say, “it’s okay don’t take it personal”, Scott softly patted your back. His words said he was glad you’d came but his actions said something else. You should have been the one that was acting like him. You’d been the jilted and wronged one, you momentarily ranted in your head as you stepped outside with the others. You watched as they climbed into Scott’s car and drive off and that was when you began walking down the well-lit driveway.

He was acting like you were the unwelcomed villian who’d shown up to the party, like you’d done him wrong. As soon as you thought that you kissed your teeth loudly. Technically you guess maybe he was done a little wrong.

 “Slightly wrong. It wasn’t even a lot.”

 You groaned and stopped walking and took a few breaths and faced reality again. You knew how you did him wrong, but you were not alone in that department. You continued walking this time picking up the pace.

 “Ha! He was the one who ran to London for some European pussy. That wasn’t me. Thu! He was the one who got pictured in the middle of a pandemic on a date!”

 Again, you stopped. Your anger rose again and as if your emotions controlled the weather the rain began to fall harder. You’d actually been worried coming here today. Worried that things would be weird, or he’d be angry because of everything or see you different since everything happened. You’d been terrified. Looking at his actions the entire night only pissed you off more. Looking back along the path you’d just walked from the house, you clenched you jaw. Fighting the urge to be reckless, you turned back around and sped walked to your car.

 When you got there a few minutes later, you searched your bag for your keys but soon realized they weren’t in there and neither was your phone.

 “Shit!”

 You dropped your head to the driver’s door and took some breaths.

 “You’re not funny universe.”

 As if going to the executioner’s block you plodded back to the house. Every step you took you dreaded more and more. It was a ten-minute walk, but it took you twice as long. When you stood in front of the door you debated ringing the doorbell. Instead, you reached for the doorknob and turned, thankful it was still unlocked. Slowly you peeped inside looking around the foyer for any signs of life. When you were confident all was still quiet, you walked inside and tiptoed around looking for your phone and keys.

 They weren’t in the foyer, or the living room, or in the kitchen. After almost ten minutes you made it outside and saw them sitting on the table. You hurried to them then turned to make a quick exit. As you rushed through the house back to the front door you a silent thanks to the powers that be for not throwing some impromptu confrontation at you. Just as you reached the steps Chris came around making you stop right in your tracks.

“Fuck,” you whispered.

 He didn’t speak he just studied you. After a few moments you cleared your throat and began. “Em, I’m sorry. I got to my car and saw I’d left my keys and cell phone.” You raised them for him to see.

 He nodded then stepped aside.

 That’s it, you thought. A head nod? Clenching your jaw, you walked to the door then opened it.

 “I’ll walk you down to your car.”

 Snapping your head back, you began to panic. “No, there’s no need. I know the way.”

 “Still, it’s late.”

 “I’m a big girl and it’s a gated property,” you countered.

 “Animals are still a thing. It’s okay. You know my mom would slap me if she knew I didn’t walk you.”

 Sighing you nodded in defeat. It was true. The two of you stepped outside to see the rain had stopped. You thought to protest again but kept your peace. You knew it was no use. The two of you walked in silence with him a few steps behind you. before the walk down to your car took you almost fifteen minutes but now the walk was a mere eight minutes. When you got there you quickly unlocked it and got inside while Chris stood to the side. You pressed start but the sound of the engine turning over and stalling only to go dead was what you were met with.

 “Oh no,” you said and pressed start again.

 The same thing happened. That made you press start repeatedly only to be met with no results. After the seventh or eighth time you panicked. A soft tap to the window brought your attention there seeing Chris. He motioned for you to roll down and you did.

 “Pop the hood.”

 Pop the hood you thought. Did he turn into a mechanic in the last few weeks? Doing as you were told you sat there and waited wondering what he was doing.  A minute passed and the rain started again, only this time it wasn’t lite. Still Chris remained under the hood. After two minutes Chris reemerged and came around.

 “Try it now.”

 You pressed start again and this time the engine sounded like it would cooperate but in the end it didn’t.

 “When I tap try it again.”

 He walked away back under the hood and left you to wonder what you’d do if this didn’t work. you began looking for your roadside assistance service and began talking to one of the representatives. They quickly told you that because it was a holiday there would likely be no one to assist until tomorrow morning. That was when your panic increased.

 MSG: Can you pick me up from Chris’s?

MSG Scott: What happened?

MSG: My car won’t start. Roadside won’t be able to come until tomorrow.

MSG Scott: I wish I could. I’m on route to NY.

 You sighed and hit your head back on the headrest and tried to keep your annoyance in check.

 MSG: Okay nevermind. Drive safe.

 You went to Perla’s contact next.

 MSG: Can you pick me up from Chris’s?

MSG Perla: Didn’t you drive? Did something happen?

MSG: Car’s dead and roadside won’t make it.

MSG Perla: Then just stay the night.

 Your jaw dropped. She’d lost her ever loving mind.

 MSG: Perla!

MSG Perla: It’s not like you’ve never spent the night in the same house let alone the same bed. I’m not telling you to sleep with him. it’s 10 hours tops.

 You thought about her words but panicked the whole time.

 MSG Perla: Plus, did you guys even talk?

 You rolled your eyes then and thought you heard the tap on the hood and pressed start.

 “Aaah!”

 You jumped and dropped your phone at the same time before you jerked open the door to hurry out in the pouring rain to the front of the car.

 “Chris!?”

 There he was on one knee in evident pain and completely drenched.

 “Oh my god. Are you all right?”

 Instinctively you dropped down to his level and wrapped an arm around him and tried to find where he was hurt.

 “I didn’t—signal,” he struggled out.

 “I’m sorry, I thought I heard you tap. Oh my god, are you okay?”

 Your eye caught the violent deep red splotches on the back of his hand that looked like first degree burns. “Shit, shit, shit! I’m so sorry. Let me see.”

 You grabbed his hand hastily, but as gently as possible and brought it to your eyes and sure enough it looked burned, and you felt horrible. You’d wished him pain in the last few weeks but now seeing him in pain you knew you didn’t really mean it. You examined his hand closer taking your time to trail the protruding veins, not caring one bit that you were as drenched as he was as this point and getting wetter with each passing second. 

 “We have to get this taken care of,” you suggested.

 “It’s fine. I can take care of it,” Chris said as he stood while hissing out. “The battery is dead, I’m thinking from the storm the water also could be a factor,” he explained.

 You heard him but you were still focused on his hand. You’d guessed the car wouldn’t turn on after the first failed attempt with him under the hood.

 “I can drive you home or call you a Lyft. Whichever you’re comfortable with,” Chris suggested.

 You knew what he was doing, giving you full control. You wanted to grunt out because the man had really been paying attention and learning you and formulating a game plan all these years. Your aggravation reached peak levels at that moment and your mouth ran before you could stop it.

 “If you know me so fucking well how the fuck could you do what you did!?”

 The loudness of your voice was enough to compete with the rain streaming down and it looked like it caught him off guard. The speechless expression he had only made you want to start your engine again to give him another shock. After a several long seconds, Chris’s head dropped, and shame washed across his face. You scoffed and looked up to the sky. Now he felt shame.

 “Unbelievable!”

 Just as you made the move to turn away from him, he wrapped his hand around your wrist and pulled you back.

 “Let me go!”

 Instantly, Chris let go and raised his hands and again the burn came into view and your conflicted feelings reached paramount levels.

 “You know we well enough to know to give me full control in a situation like this because that would be the only way I’d be at ease, but you thought it was a good idea to disappear in the night and go to London for pussy!”

 “I didn’t,” Chris shouted as he dropped his hand and brought down the hood of the car, slamming it. Once he did, he hissed out again and flashed his hand, he’d clearly irritated it.

 “Fuck!”

 “You’re such a large child! Let’s go.”

 You walked back to the driver’s side, grabbed your keys, phone and purse then slammed the door before walking off back to his driveway path. Your only plan was to dress his hand then call your own damn Lyft no matter how much of a nightmare it would be getting one.

~~~~~~~~~~~

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