CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
SNOWCHILD
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The soft tone of ticking from Chris's clock sitting in his room filtered the silence within the room. His eyes glued to the ceiling above him with his mind often wandering to the few nights before that he had with Veronica. Especially how he left without a word and hadn't texted her or called her about what happened and what he meant. There was clearly still something there, but Chris wasn't sure how to go about it.

He was wondering if he should just go to the Pembrooke and talk to her. Discuss what needed to be discussed, or just stay home. Lock himself in this apartment that he was finding more comfort than anyone or anything was giving him at the moment. And he wasn't even able to give a goodbye to Riley or Kaitlyn before they left. All because he was too preoccupied with Veronica, and it wasn't like he was blaming the girl. It was his fault and he wished he could've said goodbye to them since they've been by his side for most of his life.

Tilting his head to the side, Chris' eyes found the white power perfectly cut into a thin line. A crumpled dollar bill right beside it with his keys sitting there. It was all thanks to Reggie who had supplied him weeks ago after Chris and Veronica broke up. The cocaine had been the one source of happiness and freedom from his problems since. And he was relying on the drug quite significantly.

So, sitting up, Chris swung his legs in front of the table and grabbed the bill. His fingers fumbling with the paper as he rolled it up nicely with his eyes glued to the snow laid out on the table. With a deep breath, Chris shut his eyes and leaned down. Putting one end of the bill to his nose as he let the other hover over the white power.

Sniffing all up it in one go caused the Jones to lean back on his couch as he sniffled a few times. Rubbing his nose in an attempt to stop the burning sensation erupting in his nostril. His left eye beginning to tear up and causing him to let out a ragged exhale and cough.

After a few moments, utter euphoria entering his mind and bloodstream as he smiled in content. Only it was put on pause at the sound of a knock at his front door. Gaining his attention as he got up from his spot on the couch and rubbed his nose. Not caring but opening the door to see Olivia standing there with a red coat on and a tiny smile.

Clearing his throat, Chris leaned on the doorframe with a sniffle. "Hey, Olivia." He smiled as the girl smiled back at him. "Hey, Chris. Came by to say hi since you weren't at school." She stated and he nodded back in response. "But there's something else, right?" He inquired, raising a brow as his smile never left. "You may right 'bout that." She admitted. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to come to the tree tapping ceremony. In honour of Jason."

Scratching his chin, Chris glanced back into his apartment before looking back at the girl. "I thought you would have someone to go with. Like, Archie or somethin'." He struggled to get out, clearing his throat when Olivia raised a brow at his words. One thing about Chris when he got high was he had quite a struggle with getting words out. He was so used to just sitting there and riding out the high and never saying a word. And if he had music playing, he just mumbled the words, but it was incoherent to anything he was saying.

"Yeah, but Cheryl asked him to go with her. You know, since he apparently reminds her of Jason." Olivia stated, motioning to the hair causing Chris to nod and rub his nose. "Uh, so, when is this then?" He asked as he could feel his eyes slightly widen, the drug kicking in. His fingers twitching in anticipation of getting out and doing something.

Olivia frowned at the boy's state as she jutted her finger over her shoulder. "Yeah, it's happening in like 30 minutes." She told him, flinching at the boy smacking his hand on the door. "Okay, awesome!" He exclaimed sarcastically with a sigh.

"Come in while I change." He moved from the door pushing it open so she could step inside. Her eyes knitted together as she stepped inside, only seeing a glimpse of the boy disappear towards his bedroom.

Standing at the door, Olivia's eyes flickered around the messy apartment. Her eyes finding all the dirty clothes and chaos that was his kitchen. Cups, plates, Pop take-out containers, beer bottles, and cans of pops were scattered all over. The same with clothes from shirts, shorts, and pants that were all over the living room. Last time she was here it was quite clean and not as bad as this. She knew since she was here way before Kaitlyn and Riley even showed up. So, this sudden change of atmosphere took her all by storm.

But her eyes found the small fragrance of a white powder on the table by the couch. Just as she was about to walk over and see what it was, Chris emerged from his room. Red slip-on sweater with black ripped jeans. His hair slightly astray, but in a stylish way that Olivia had always liked. "Ready?" He asked as he quickly slipped his shoes on.

There was a moment that Olivia didn't respond. Her eyes glancing at the table once more before she shook the suspicion and looked at the boy. Forcing a smile and nodding while saying, "Yeah, let's go." Chris smiled and nodded before leading them out of the apartment and going to the tree-tapping.

Arriving at the ceremony, Chris stood by Olivia. Their arms linked together as the snow fell from the sky within the forest of land that belonged to the Blossoms. Chris had been to one of these ceremony's with Jason, but now that he was gone, it felt different. But he didn't let that ruin the high he was experiencing as both Archie and Cheryl soon stood beside him. Glancing over at the pair, Chris gave a smile before turning towards Clifford and Penelope.

Upon seeing Clifford begin to unroll a scroll, Chris felt a tiny snicker escape his lips. Placing a hand over his face as Olivia scowled at him in annoyance at his actions. Which had been happening since they got there which was right when the drugs began kicking in like a racehorse. Thankfully no one else had heard and it was just a little hiccup Chris would have to try and not have again. But the cocaine was in full hyperdrive as he tried to clear the thoughts and funny things he was seeing.

"Nearly a hundred years ago Grandfather Blossom came to this sacred maple grove." Clifford began. "The annual tapping ceremony portends each season's bounty. Now, I've performed this ceremony many times in my life. My son, Jason when he came of age, performed it, as well." The man stated before motioning to Chris. "As well as his best friend, Chris Jones." Giving a tiny nod and smiled, Chris let his head lower.

"In his place, I put forth my daughter, Cheryl," Clifford said as he motioned to Cheryl who seemed uneasy. But putting on that plastic smile, both she and Archie walked over to the tree. Archie grabbing the bucket while Cheryl turned towards the crowd of her family members and one friend watching. Still, that uneasy look stayed on her features and Chris watched as Archie whispered her reassuring words.

With as much confidence as she could gather, Cheryl swung the hammer and hit the edge of the spile. In a flash, the sap began spooling out of the tree and began landing into the bucket. Chris clapped enthusiastically with a smile. "Yeah, let's go, Cheryl!" He cheered, quickly gaining weird looks from the members of the family. Penelope and Clifford on the other hand chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm and gave him a kind smile.

But Olivia didn't as she elbowed his side causing Chris to groan in pain. "What's been with you today?" She hissed the boy's face scrunched up in pain. Holding his side as he stood up straighter. "I do not know what you mean, Olive." He quipped, trying to flash his famous smile which only earned a slap in the side. "I mean it, Chris." Her tone was stern and quiet as her hands stopped clapping with the others.

Despite the heated tone of her voice, Chris ignored it and saw the family started getting ready for a photo. So, he followed in suit and stood at the end as Olivia stood beside him. Her eyes boring into his side profile before turning towards the camera. "This conversation is not over, Chris." She hissed before smiling widely, catching him off guard. But looking back at the camera, he gave a fake smile as the flash of light blinded him for a second.

By the time the ceremony was done, Chris was in his Mustang driving. Having done another line right after everything was done at the tree tapping. He'd ignored Oliva's heated glares the entire time as he allowed himself to be comforted by the cold snow and drug flowing through his brain like a plague. Consuming his mind entirely until it all went away, already driving him towards needing another line of the snow that was beginning to become something he depended on.

So, with his eyes drawn to the road, the loud pumping music of The Weeknd After Hours played through the speakers. His body slouched in the seat as the neon lights from signs inside of stores flashed past his eyes. The rays from the lights becoming a blur as he passed them with tired eyes. It all coming to him like a far-off dream that was only being revealed after so many years. The whole reasoning as to why he was doing these drugs were to punch through the pain and sorrow he felt quite often because of his actions. They were able to give euphoria and let him be happy for once.

But now it was different. These moments of sadness were entering his mind and overtaking the good that the coke was giving him. Now leaving him with the overbearing thoughts of why he did so many bad things. Was it to try and make him feel like a better person? Was he just trying to alienate himself from all the people in his life? To be different and never find the love that he desperately needed?

Nothing made sense to him except the fact that he hadn't taken accountability for his actions. He wasn't a good person at all everyone knew that. Including Chris who stopped trying to change what he truly was. Being associated with a murder, hurting the girl he loves, hurting his friends. This wasn't him before the beatings his father gave him, but it turned him into this horrible person who believed his actions were justified. Like he could tell someone who was dealing with their own problems to shut up and grow up was okay because he's dealt with it.

Reaching towards the console of the radio, Chris turned the dial of the music up. Slowly pressing on the brakes as he came to a red light with the ice on the road making him slide just barely over the line. Rubbing his eyes that were becoming more slouched each second that he spent awake. Blinking a few times as he saw the light flash green, allowing him to continue on his way home to sleep.

The blinding lights coming from his left caught his attention as he looked over. Two headlights blinding his vision as he yelled. "Fuck!" His foot stomped on the gas, causing his vehicle to jolt forward with his speed. Glancing in his rearview mirror hearing the honks from the truck that crossed the intersection.

"What the fuck?" He muttered as his eyes fell forward. Only leaving him to quickly jolt right as his Mustang was coming head-on with a vehicle. Able to swerve out of the way in time and not get anyone hurt. A yell of surprise erupting from his lungs as his body swung to the right with the vehicle. But swerving back to the left, the car swung in the same direction and lost traction.

The tires squealing like sirens causing the vehicle to spin out of control and go sliding across the icy road. Chris desperately tried to gain control of the vehicle as his hands turned the steering wheel left and right with his foot pressed on the brakes. Before he could try and regain control of the car, a loud crash was all he heard before his head hit something and everything went black. Darkness wrapping him in warm arms that made him feel at peace.

A/N: So, I went back to rewrite two chapters that I forgot to do for Chris's character. It will explain what happens in the next few chapters. And all I can say is that you should be ready. Goin' to be a bit of doozy.