𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨

Ⅱ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎

COMPARING TO EVEYTHING CHRIS HAD GONE THROUGH IT SHOULD FEEL LIKE NOTHING, BUT HOLY CRAP THEY WERE LATE. Dylan and Chrisanna raced through the mate grey staff hallway, Dylan leading as they ran. Dylan skidded to a stop when he almost crashed into Steve, who let out shouts of surprise. "Shit! Sorry, Harrington!" Dylan yelled before he continued to bolt for the music store. Steve watched him run away for a few seconds before turning back to Chris.

"You're late, you are never late," Steve stated, pointing a finger between the hall and Chris. Chris chuckled wiping her hands on her lilac purple bomber jacket.

"I know, I had to pick him up," Chris explained, nodding her head down the hall where Dylan had sprinted off. "Hey um, when you get a minute can we talk? please?" Steve's eyes widened as he nodded quickly.

"Yeah, yeah totally," Steve stuttered out. "Uh, if you give me an hour you can come to scoops and I'll get us ice cream." Steve let out a dorky smile, brushing his hair back.

"Henderson-Grey!" Dylan screeched, poking his head out from the music store's backroom. "Ass! Here! Now!" Dylan reeled his head back in, presumably heading for the front text.

"I gotta go deal with that," Chrisanna pointed over her shoulder down the hall, starting to walk off slowly. "See ya later Harrington!" Chris yelled, turning back and running down the hall. Chris threw the doors open, bursting into the music store.

"Finally!" Dylan cheered in a mocking voice while twisting the sign on the music store window to read open. "Too busy trying to jump Harrington's bones-"Chris flicked her hair tie at Dylan's face, stopping his vulgar jokes.

"You are disgusting Dyl. Disgusting," Chris huffed, rolling her eyes and moving to stand behind the counter.

"Sure, sure Anna," Dylan teased, picking up the hair tie and flicking it back at her.

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CHRIS SAT ATOP SCOOP AHOYS BREAKROOM TABLE. She slowly munched on a raspberry-flavored ice cream. Steve sat next to her, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the table. "So you wanted to talk," Steve stated, pulling his hat off and tossing it behind him.

Chris paused handing her ice cream to Steve who started to nibble at it. "I uh, I wanted to sorry if I ever acted like an ass to you, at any point," Chris apologized looking up at Steve. "I know I haven't been the greatest of friends recently, so thanks for still being there for me."

"Chris," Steve breathed, handing back her ice cream. "Why are you apologizing? That's kinda my deal as your friend to be there for you." Steve looked down at Chris's hand and quickly wound their fingers together. "And as much as I believe you mean all of it, I have a feeling that's not what you wanted you to say."

"I think something is wrong with me," Chris admitted taking a bite from her ice cream.

"Well you did just bite and ice cream," Steve teased with a tight smile.

"Ha ha, so funny Harrington," Chris shot back. "I keep seeing Miya, but her body, and I keep having nightmares."

"I think you need to give yourself a break," Steve thought aloud. "I know it sucks but Miya's gone, you can still miss her and love her but-" Steve stood up, taking Chris by the shoulders. "-You have to stop blaming yourself."

"Harrington!" Robin yelled her voice muffled ever so slightly by the separating wall, "Get out here now." Steve rolled his eyes letting out a mumbled curse under his breath.

"I'll let you get back to work, I should probably be helping Dylan anyway," Chris chuckled with a sigh. Steve nodded letting his gaze drop to his feet. "Thanks for listening, I'll see you at lunch." Chris smiled walking out of scoops and making her way back to the music store.

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CHRIS BOBBED HER HEAD TO THE MUSIC AS SHE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. Chris had finally taken the time to buy a new mirror for the house and get the mixtape her mother had asked for. Chrisanna turned the car off and pulled the mirror with her as she stepped out of the car, making sure to lock it.

Chris shuffled to the door, lifting her hand to push the keys in the lock but the door quickly swung open, an extremely worn-out Dustin standing in the doorway. "Holy shit, you're back," Chris exclaimed with a smile. Dustin smiled back, showing off his denture-less teeth. Chris stepped inside, pulling the door closed behind her. "My room, tell me everything about your nerd camp."

The two raced to Chris's room and Dustin paused looking around at the state of the room. A few of the glass figures were cracked, Chris's window was splintered in the bottom right corner and three posters hung up; attempting to cover dark burn marks that peeked from behind the plastic pictures. "Uh just ignore that," Chris commented watching Dustin's wandering eyes. Dustin did a small nod but his eyes still jumped between different char marks on Chris's walls.

Chris rested the new mirror against the wall, mentally noting to hang it up soon. Chris stepped back and flopped on her bed, her eyes on the ceiling. Dustin copied her his hat toppling off the bed. "Can I ask?" Dustin asked looking at her one of the two lights that had burst bulbs.

Chris squinted her eyes and tilted her head in confusion. "I didn't even realize that happened," Chris expressed, folding her arms behind her head. "Nightmares and shit, you know the usual outburst it's just been a little bad the past couple of weeks." Dustin nodded scratching his curls. "Now, what happened at your nerdy camp?"

Dustin smiled at her. "You know the usual nerdy stuff, math, science and I got a girlfriend," Dustin spoke in a proud tone. Chris sat up in shock, looking at Dustin with a teasing smile.

"Excuse me? A girlfriend," Chris's eyes widened in shock as she spoke, but kept a lightly teasing tone.

"Yeah her name is Suzie, with a 'Z'," Dustin answered with a smile. Chris smiled letting herself lay back against her bed a proud smile etched onto her face. "You believe me?"

Chris's eyes darted to Dustin in confusion. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Chris questioned, turning her head to look at Dustin properly.

Dustin sighed through his nose, rolling his eyes softly. "The others didn't, I tried to get her on the radio, but she didn't answer," Dustin explained in a defeated voice. "Said I was lying... But I did find something else, a message in Russian."

"What?" Chris snapped, pushing herself up again. Dustin nodded, quickly running to his room before rushing back to Chris's, his backpack in hand.

"I got a recording," Dustin explained. Dustin dumped the bag's contents scattering them across the bed. Dustin pulled a tape player from the pile, looking up at Chris quickly before hitting the play button.

A slightly crackled Russian voice sounded from the recorder. Dustin let it play through twice before switching it off. "Do... Do you know what it says?" Dustin questioned, but without much hope behind his words.

"No," Chris stated shaking her head. 

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