Chris

"And that's why I'm the realest dude in my school." Forest said, finally finishing his story as we walked into my house.

"Makes sense." I told him, letting Bria in behind us.

"Is that Forest I hear?" My dad said from the kitchen.

"Hi Mr.Christian!" Forest said running to the kitchen, most likely to get some of whatever my dad was cooking.

I took the brief moment we had alone to kiss Brianna, catching her off guard.

"We just got in the house, Chris. Relax."

"I don't wanna relax." I told her, placing my hands on her waist.

"You probably should." I heard my dad say. I looked up and he was peaking his head out of the kitchen, watching Bria and I.

"Sorry.." Bria said, embarrassed.

"Forest is in the living room eating the rest of the wings. You two can go upstairs..but leave the door open. In a few minutes I'm going out-"

"On a date, right?" I interrupted him.

"Son listen-"

"You have a new guy every week-"

"It's the same guy, Christopher. And I'm not having this conversation with you right now. You and Brianna can go on upstairs."

Bria

After Chris' mini argument with his dad, his mood had slightly shifted back into how he was feeling earlier.

In some attempt to remedy the situation, I kissed his neck a couple times, knowing that would get some type of reaction from him.

He'd had yet another shitty day, and I'm tired of him feeling like this. Shit, I'm tired of feeling like this. Sometimes I reminisced to a time where all I had to worry about was keeping Forest fed, I thought I had it bad then— now it's so much worse.

"Can I tell you something, Bria?"

"Of course. You can tell me anything."

"You keep me going." He said, giving me a warm feeling in my stomach.

"W-what do you mean?"

"I mean..I don't know what I'd do without you. I think all of the shit that's happened would collapse on top of me, I'd fold under pressure. And you being here with me gives me hope. I know I pretended to hate you before, but I really love you Bria. And even though I fuck up, I hope you realize that."

"I love you too. And don't act like you were pReTenDing to hate me, you actually did. You were so mean to me."

"That's only because you acted like you were smarter than everybody." He said pushing my shoulder playfully.

"I was smarter than you. Your dumbass thought Tigers live in the desert-"

"You know what-"

We were now engaged in a full on wrestle, with both of us laughing uncontrollably.

"Get off of me!!" I yelled as Chris was holding my hands down.

"Chris!" I heard Forest yell from the doorway. "Stop hitting Bria!"

"We're just playing Forest, it's okay-" I tried to explain.

"Christopher if you hit Bria, I'm gonna hit you." He said crossing his arms.

"Alright alright. I don't want smoke."

We were interrupted by my phone ringing on my night stand. Bryson.

"Uhh give me one second." I said grabbing him phone and stepping out of the room.

"You okay?" Bria asked as I went into the hall.

"Yeah I'm good I'm good."

-

"What?" I answered.

"You blanked on Dad?"

"If I did? You don't talk to him. You don't talk to me either so what do you want, Bryson?" I hadn't heard from my brother since my mom died..now he's coming to me talking about my dad?

"I'm coming home for break, I called dad to ask if you can stay over there and he told me you tried to check him about who he's dating-"

"When are you coming?" I said interrupting him, not really caring about him being pissed off.

There was a grudge I had against him was one I couldn't exactly pinpoint. He's the reason my mom kicked me out in the first place. He never calls anyone unless he needs money. He's a waste of air.

Bria tells me to keep hats out of my heart, but that's hard.

"I'll be there in like an hour. And either change your attitude now, or change it when I get there Christopher. Don't think because you got some hair on your chest I won't piece you up."

"Yeah whatever."

I went back into my room and laid next to Bria. Forest was on the floor watching some show on his iPad.

"Who was it?" She asked, placing her hand on my face.

"My brother. He's coming."

"Chris you have a brother? I thought I was your brother!"

"You're my favorite brother Forest. Don't worry." I told him, making him go back to what he was doing.

"Oh..should we go home?"

"You know I don't like you being over there Brianna-"

"I know, I know. I'll be moving in the new place soon.."

"And until then? Y'all stay over here as long as possible. And what's the worse that nigga gonna do?"

-

Bria

Forest had fallen asleep on Christopher's floor, while Chris and I were finishing some homework.

We both looked up suddenly, when we heard the door downstairs unlock. Immediately I felt a bit intimidated.

"I can see it in your eyes babe. Quit being so nervous. Stay up here." 

He left his work on the bed and went downstairs, and in seconds an argument broke out.

"Nigga let me meet her!"

"Her brother up there! Leave them alone-"

"Nigga I can say hey at least!" I heard the voice say, before footsteps traveling up the stairs.

Before I could even prepare, the door opened and I was met with the eyes of a man only slightly resembling Chris, along with Chris trying to push past him to keep him from coming in.

Chris was already tall, but this guy had a few inches on him.

"And you must be the girlfriend. I'm Bryson."

"I'm Bria." I said, looking at Chris who was in defeat.

"I'm not sure why you'd be dating an airhead like Christopher, but nice to meet you. Is that your brother?" He said pointing to Forest, who was sleeping soundly on the floor.

"Yeah..that's him."

"Bryson get out-"

"Let me just talk to her! Damn."

I nodded to Chris that I was alright, and he frustratedly went back downstairs.

"So. Brianna. How'd you and Chris meet?"

"I was his tutor." I said giving my most simple answer.

"You two must really be close, considering you brought your brother over here."

Bryson wasn't seemingly half as bad as Christopher described him.

"Yeah..Forest loves it here."

"Forest..like trees and shit?" Bryson chuckled slyly.

"That's his name..." I sighed, tired of this conversation.

"Unique. I like it. And aye...now that Chris is gone I kind of just wanted to thank you." He said lowering his voice.

"For..?"

"For being there for him...shit, lord knows I'm not. Even just being in Toronto depresses me. You got his back. It seems like no one does." He said finally, before leaving the room.

-

"He didn't bother you, did he?" Christopher said as we were packing up from the homework that was scattered across his bed. Forest has climbed on top of his shoulders, and decided he wanted to do tricks, so he was also struggling to keep his balance.

"No, we just talked."

It was now hours later, and getting dark. With Forest now wide awake and bored out of his mind, we'd decided to finish the rest of our remaining work at the library.

When Chris first came back into the room, he had too much of an attitude to talk about anything, but Bryson and I's brief, but meaningful conversation was being brought back up.

"About?"

"You..me..us."

"That's very vague, Bria."

"What does vague mean?" Forest interjected. I could barely understand him due to his hand being reached inside of his mouth.

"I'm not gonna keep telling you to stop wiggling that tooth, Forest. It'll come out eventually." Chris said taking Forest off of his shoulders and placing him on the bed.

Forest folded his arms and turned the opposite way. Sometimes I forget how much of a kid he still is.

"Well..we should get going shouldn't we?"

"Don't change the subject. What did Bryson say to you?"

"He just asked me how we met, and he said that we're really close."

I purposely left out the thanks for being there for him part, mainly because Bryson made it apparent that it wasn't for Chris to hear. So I'd respect that, for now.

"Oh..okay. Well come on, I'm already heating up the car."

We all went downstairs, with Forest convincing Chris to let him climb back on to his shoulders. As we were passing the living room, we saw Bryson on the couch with some girl.

"Don't he having randoms all up in dad's house." Chris said, causing the girl to scoff and Bryson to roll his eyes.

"Random!" Forest yelled to the girl, as we walked out the front door.

"Good one Forest." Chris said reaching up to high give him.

"Forest don't call people names. I don't care if Christopher gives you high fives."

-

When we got to the library, Forest went straight to the kid's section. With it being around eight, it was almost completely empty.

"Christopher! Funny seeing you here tonight." The older woman at the counter greeted Chris. I guess they know each other.

"Hey Amy. I'm here with my girl."

"I see that. She's quite the looker!" The woman said winking at him, making us laugh.

"I know you've got something to do..but Chris I was hoping you'd come by. I didn't give you your birthday gift."

Chris looked at me for approval, and I nodded my head. He went to talk to the woman, so I went to the kids area with Forest.

Chris

"Where have you been?" Amy said in a serious tone.

"All around, Amy. I have a lot going on."

"I know..and that's why I wanted to see you. Christopher I know that I'm not like a mother to you, not even close..but when you used to visit every day when you just wanted some time to yourself, but that would brighten my day."

"Amy I'm sorry I haven't been around as much but why are you just telling me this now-"

"Let me finish. It's because..I connected with you Chris. And I understand everything that you've been through."

I didn't understand where this conversation was going. I can't tell if she was about to tell me she was dying, or if she was coming on to me. Either way, I was scared.

"I don't have anyway to contact you but since I've found this out, I've been waiting for you to visit. Chris...The Ontario Library District is giving the libraries a $50,000 dollar student grant for less fortunate teens. We're supposed to hold a contest for the winner, but I already know who it is. It's you."

I didn't believe it. So many things were going through my head. Too many.

"Amy..if this is for college..I-c-"

"Are..you not going?" Amy said, looking concerned.

"N..no. Amy I'm sorry-"

"Don't be sorry, sure I'm disappointed someone as smart as you isn't continuing their education, but the grant isn't just for college..it's for you. As a student. It's an award."

"But..you can just give it to me? Don't I have to earn it-"

"You have earned it!"

"What about the contest-"

"It's up to the library's discretion. I'm the manager here..I have the final say. Out of all of the very few teens that come through these doors, you're the only one who I know is gonna be something. If you don't accept I'll give the check back to the OLC."

The number kept ringing in my head. Fifty thousand. Fifty thousand. Fifty thousand. I wouldn't even know what to do with that money.

"I-"

"Will you accept it, Chris?"

a/n:
Chris finna get in his bag huh?

what's should he use the money on? (Considering he's not going to college)