𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄
ADAPT TO THE CHANGE
; ♡⋆.ೃ࿔*

Chris stood in the elevator of his apartment building. Holding a bag of his belongings as he leaned against the wall. Wanting nothing more than to just collapse on his bed and pass out before he would have to attend the party for Jughead's birthday. Even after he tried to convince Betty not to, she still went and did it. Granted, all he did tell her was "don't do it" and nothing else. So, he wasn't as convincing as he wished he could've been.

But even if he didn't agree with what Betty was doing, he was still going to attend. He wasn't afraid of facing his brother's wrath and he wasn't afraid of attending a party after his crash. Sure, the news probably went around town in a matter of minutes, but he wasn't going to let that keep him from having fun.

The elevator doors opened, snapping Chris from his thoughts. Pushing himself off the wall he began to exit. Grunting in pain as his shoulder made an impact with the edge of the elevator. Inhaling deeply, he ignored the pain and kept going forward.

With the lack of an eye and the extra vision, it gave him was rather tough for Chris to handle. It put things into perspective for him that people had it a lot tougher than him. The whole deal with having lost vision in his left eye didn't scare him. He just chalked it up to be another one of his injuries that were now a part of his body. But it did make it tough for him to notice things that were on the left side of him.

If Chris knew anything, he would just have to adapt to this change. Just like how he would have to adapt to the change of Archie liking him and Veronica hating him. Two things he wasn't sure how he would face but was willing to give it a chance to deal with.

Approaching his room, he pulled his keys from the baggy. Pulling the ey's out and seeing his Mustang car keys. A sigh escaping his lips as bit the inside of his cheek. He loved that car more than himself. He remembered getting it for the first time and the large grin Jason had when Chris was gushing over it. A rather fond memory Chris would never forget. But it was the last thing he had in remembrance of Jason and that ruined it.

The one thing he had to remember his late best friend was destroyed because of his stupid decisions. Now, he had nothing that came from Jason. Not only that but he had to find a new vehicle to buy and drive around in. Because if Chris had to walk to school for longer than a day then he might actually kill someone.

Fiddling with the key, he unlocked the door and pushed it open. Taking about two steps inside before his eyes caught Veronica who was cleaning the apartment. Headphones in with a garbage bag in his other hand. Throwing roaches, beer bottles, cans, anything that was close to the resemblance of garbage.

Chris wasn't sure how he should make his presence known since they hadn't talked since the crash. She apparently never even came to see him in the hospital. It hurt, but he knew he pissed her off. He wasn't even going to try and act like he was in the right because that would only piss Veronica off more.

And seeing her like this gave him instant regret of his decision. She seemed lost, resentful, sad and it was all because of him. But they weren't together so it didn't matter as much as it used to. Maybe that was him just lying to himself and making up excuses.

Shutting the door, Chris kicked his shoes off and tossed his keys onto the counter. The sound alerting the Lodge who looked up taking an earbud out as she watched Chris stroll towards the bedroom. Seemingly unaware of her or not caring about her presence.

"Chris?" She called out as she pulled her headphones out and tossed her phone onto the couch. A hum could be heard in response with a groan following closely behind.

Entering the bedroom, she was welcomed to see Chris with a large bandage around his stomach. He was sat on the edge of his bed as he pulled a pair of sweatpants on. "Thank's for cleaning the apartment." He muttered having sensed her entry whilst he stood up and turned to the girl.

Veronica nodded, her hands fiddling with one another. "Yeah, no problem." She reassured as Chris nodded before reaching into the small white bag and grabbed his pack of cigarettes. Placing one between his lips as he flicked the lighter on and lit the cancer stick. The action causing her brows to knit together.

"Should you be smoking after everything?" She mused as Chris turned to her. Pulling the cigarette from his lips and letting it settle between his index and middle finger. He shrugged as he exhaled and turned back around to his bedside table.

Before he could even open the drawer, Veronica said, "I got rid of the vodka in there." Chris didn't listen as he pulled the drawer open. Leaning over as he reached to the roof of the drawer and grabbing the small vodka capsule and ripping it from the tape holding it in its spot. A grin pressed against his lips as he inspected the bottle before turning back around.

"No, you didn't." He smiled waving the bottle tauntingly, placing the cigarette between his lips as he twisted the lid off the bottle. "Well, that's all you have left. Everything else is in the garbage." She advised with a slight hint of annoyance in her tone, crossing her arms over her chest as he hummed.

Taking a swig, Chris hummed at the familiar burning sensation in the back of his throat. Swallowing the toxin as he licked his dry lips. "That's alright. I'll get some more." He reassured her sarcastically, a plastic smile as he watched her closely. Bringing the cigarette to his lips as he let the cancer stick find its place in the corner of his lips.

The tension was as obvious as Chris's fucked up eyes. It stuck out like a sore thumb that had them both wanting to point it out. Maybe Veronica more than Chris since he had nothing to say. He knew he was in the wrong, so why would he want to bring it up? He just saw the conversation as Veronica hammering in the obvious that he knew. In some semblance, Veronica was also to blame for his moodY attitude. She didn't show up while he was in the hospital. If she did so, maybe he wouldn't be talking to her as if she was just some random girl he fucked.

Because she was far from that. She was the girl he loved and cared about more than anything else. But for her to just not show up when he was at his worst was a shitty move on her part. Being angry was one thing, but being an asshole was a different thing. If she had taken coke and nearly died, he would be at her bedside doing everything he could to comfort her. This just showed who was there for the other in the relationship.

"Are we going to talk about what happened?" Veronica asked, unsure of what to say with Chris's gaze focused on her. "What would that be, V?" He inquired, waving his hand as exhaled the smoke from his lungs. Keeping that unwavering gaze with her.

"Don't act dumb, CJ. You know what I mean." She spat with her frustration growing every second. And it only got worse as Chris pursed his lips and shrugged in cluelessness causing her to huff in annoyance.

"About the crash. You took coke before leaving the tree tapping with Olivia." Veronica reminded and Chris let out an "ah" as he nodded. That reminded him to give Olivia a call. He hadn't heard from her as well and it would be nice to let her know that he wasn't dead.

"Yes. That." He muttered as he took another swig of the vodka. "Nothing to talk about. I did something dumb and that's it." He told the girl as he placed the cigarette in the ashtray whilst he grabbed a shirt off the floor.

"Dumb is an understatement. It was stupid."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"Don't patronize me, Chris!" She exclaimed as Chris sighed after slipping the shirt on. "You scared the shit out of me." She muttered quietly.

Chris glanced at the girl before grabbing his cigarette and taking a drag. "Yeah, but if you are here to lose your shit on me, then you should've done it at the hospital. Less of a chance I get a noise complaint." He advised, walking past her and back into the living room.

Of course, Veronica followed close in tow with a frown. "What has gotten into you? It's like you turned into an asshole after the hospital." She stated as Chris took a seat on the couch. "Well, maybe it's because you didn't visit me." He suggested as he tapped the ash on his cigarette onto the polished coffee table.

"Is that what this is about? You're being an ass because I didn't come and see you?" She questioned as Chris's eyes widened a bit with his lips forming a thin line. "Yup." He simply confirmed.

Veronica scoffed as she shook her head. Crossing her arms over her chest as she asked, "Do you understand why I didn't?"

He gave a nod as he took a drag. Holding in the large cloud before exhaling it into the air. It was beginning to get dark with the gray sky fading into black. This also meant that Chris needed to leave soon for the party that Betty was waiting for him- and most likely Veronica- to attend.

Chris huffed before he stood to his feet. Turning to the girl and motioning with his hand holding the cigarette as he said, "We should probably get going. They'll be expecting us soon." He told the girl as he walked past her to slip his shoes on.

"I'm not going until you talk to me about what happened." She told him, holding her ground. Chris looked up at her after slipping his shoes on. Sighing as he grabbed his keys from the counter and stuffed them into his pocket.

"Then I guess I'll see you when I get back?" He asked, as opened the door. "I'll be at Archie's. Come when you decide to let this go."

Leaving the apartment and Veronica had a dumbfounded expression on her face. Mouth agape from his attitude how much he was willing to avoid anything she said. This wasn't the boy she remembered at the baby shower or the same boy from before.