CHAPTER NINE
TRUTHS
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Chris sat on his couch with his notepad in one hand and pencil in the other. Dang by Mac Miller playing in the background as he drew. His leg bouncing at the catching beat as he hummed the lyrics.

After having dropped off the drugs in Greendale, Chris had asked as politely as he could for his money and had gotten it. $1k and he was grinning like an idiot. That would help him pay rent, buy gas, food, and anything else that he needed. To spoil himself, he had spent money on some L.E.D. strips that were all around his room.

His plain room needed to be upgraded and he decided to treat himself. It wasn't often he did so, but he had made himself a promise when he got back to Riverdale after the long drive from Greendale. He wanted to go straight. Stop doing all of these illegal activities he had started finding himself in.

So, he had taken most of the week off searching for some jobs. Anything that could show he was giving up on his old life and becoming the man he needed to be. Chris wanted to make Jason proud, so he needed to leave his criminal life behind.

Thankfully, Chris had come across Fred Andrew's construction application and instantly called the man. Asking for a job and promised that whenever he needed him, Chris would be there. Fred clearly liked the dedication and hired him and he would start next week.

That was enough to boost Chris's confidence and get him up in the morning and start doing what he loved doing. Drawing.

It was something he had always been drawn to since he was a kid. Always sketching up some of the most simpilist of things and slowly drifted into graffiti art. Having the help of his brother and Jason with some of the pieces, Chris's work was all over Riverdale. From the Northside to the Southside and he never got in trouble. Mainly since Kaitlyn had seen some of them and told her dad to not get mad at Chris.

Sheriff Keller had demanded to see what all the fuss was about. Turn's out, he actually liked a lot of them, but warned Chris to not do art on certain buildings which Chris obeyed. If the Sheriff would allow him to continue doing what he loved, then he would follow the rules and respect them.

Now, in his apartment in his living room, Chris was smiling as he drew. Just anything that came off the top of his head was directed onto the page. He was in such a good mood that he seemed to forget about everything else happening, including the little incident in the truck a couple of nights ago.

But that didn't stop him from being in the loop with what was happening while he was gone. Jughead filling him in on what happened before he left so abruptly and how Archie got punched in the face by Reggie Mantle. In a way, he was happy it happened, but respected it since Arch was standing up for Jughead. So, in that situation Archie gained Chris's respect. Not a lot, but a little.

As Chris was in a hole other world, a knock cut through the air. Getting Chris's attention as he got to his feet and opened it seeing Kaitlyn with a betrayed look in her eyes. "Did you kill, Tommy?" She exclaimed and Chris held his breath as he pulled the girl into his apartment. Glancing down the hall to see no one was there before he shut the door.

The scent of weed hit Kaitlyn's scenes like a brick as she scrunched her face up in disgust. Chris walking past her as he went to the stario system and turned it down so it played quietly in the background. "Kaitlyn, let me explain." He began and Kaitlyn finally remembered why she was here.

"No! You listen to me, asshole!" She yelled cutting him off abruptly. "You did something without my permission. You did something that I never even wanted in the first place." She hissed as she tried to lower her tone to not alert the neighbours. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Chris held his hands out to try and calm her down. "Kaitlyn, I did it to protect you. I warned him not to come here again and what would happen. When I promise something, I keep it." He told her softly and Kaitlyn shoved him. "Your a fucking monster! You fucking murderer!" She yelled in his face continuing to shove him.

"Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn, just-- Just calm down." He tried to sooth the girl, but was slapped in the face when his hand touched her. His head snapped to the right before he turned to her slowly. A look of regret in her eyes when she saw the flame in the older boy's eyes.

Backing away everytime Chris took a step forward. His daunting and tall figure towering over her. It only made it worse when her back hit the door and Chris cagged her in with both his hands on either side of her head.

Hearing his heavy breath trying to calm himself down. Last thing Chris wanted to do was make things worse since he knew she would react such a way, minus the slap.

"I did it because I care for you." He whispered, trying to not scare the girl more than she already was. "You have been with me since childhood and I wouldn't want to ruin that. All I wanted to do was protect you." He promised her and Kaitlyn shook her head as she kept eye contact with him.

"I never wanted you to kill him." Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. "I know you have dealt with this, but-" Before she could finish, the loud bang of Chris punching his door cut her off. A scream erupting through her chest as she closed her eyes fearful of the boy in front of her. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but knew that he would possibly destroy everything in this room.

Nothing but silence filled the room as neither teenagers spoke. Tension within the room was so tight that the slight wobble could snap it. Both hearts beating rapidly as they kept quiet.

It was when Kaitlyn opened her eyes to see tears streaming down Chris's eyes. A look of helplessness in his eyes that was something Kaitlyn had never seen. His bottom lip quivering as he backed away. "I'm sorry." He whispered and before he knew it, the girl's arms were around his waist.

That was all it took for him to break. Crying in her hair as he hugged her tightly against him. "All I wanted to do was help, but I feel like I made things worse. I'm so fucking sorry, Kait." He cried as he clamped his eyes shut.

Kaitlyn was in a state of shock and never expected herself to see Chris cry in her entire life. It only seemed to surprise her more when they were leaning against a wall. Chris supporting himself against it while Kaitlyn leaned into him. Both of them slowly crumbling to the ground as Chris continued to cry.

Pulling away, Kaitlyn stared at the Chris with a sad smile. Tears of her own plaguing her eyes as she caressed his cheek. "I know, CJ. Everything you said before wasn't true. Your not a monster. Your not a murderer." She reassured him as sniffled. "You're so much more then that and I can see that now."

Chris pulled her into a hug and they stayed like that for the rest of the night. Skipping out on the football game and just sitting in his living room. Leaning against a wall and holding each other tightly for comfort.

This was what Chris was looking for. Solace.