Bria

I'd given Christopher a pillow and some blankets and he was asleep on my floor in know time. Lucky for us, tomorrow would be Saturday meaning my mother would definitely be too busy to pay any surprise visits.

I noticed his sketchbook sitting next to him, half open, and unattended. As much as I wanted to leave it, my curiosity overcame me an I picked up the book off the floor sat it in the lap.

I opened it to a random page and examined the realistic portraits he'd drawn. One was of a woman, with tired droopy eyes. Another of a man, who resembled Chris himself, and one of me.

Why'd he draw me? Not only that, I looked...pretty.

As I flipped through the pages, I saw all types of different portraits of people. He must've dedicated a lot of time to this.

He slightly shifted in his sleep, causing me to quickly close the book and set it back to its original spot.

I guess I should sleep too.

//

Christopher

I woke up and Bria was no longer in her bed. Instead I heard her voice coming from the kitchen, so I got up to investigate.

I stood in the doorway of her kitchen, she was dressed in a tank top and sweatpants, preparing breakfast with her brother.

Forest was singing some song about breakfast as well as dancing with Bria. It was quite the sight to see.

"Turkey Bacon..and eggs. Bacon and eggs, bacon and eggs, bacon and eggs. Bacon bacon bacon bacon eggs and toast!" He sung, with no steady rhythm or beat.

"Nice song, Forest. You're going places." She said to him, taking the bacon off the pan and putting it on a plate. Forest smiled, and turned around, catching a glimpse of me spying in the doorway.

"He's awake!" He said to Bria causing her to look at me also.

"Oh..Christopher. We don't have a kitchen table, so if you want breakfast go sit on the couch." She said pointing to her couch where there were 3 snack tables set up.

I took a seat on the couch and Forest followed behind me, both of us waiting for Bria to bring plates.

She was almost like a mother to this kid. I always complained about having a fucked up mom, but at least I didn't have a whole nother child to worry about.

Eventually she came in with each plate, setting one down in front of me, her brother and finally herself.

"Bria I want to say amazing grace." Forest said bowing his head.

"Ok go ahead and say grace."

"God thank you for this food. Amen."

She chuckled quietly and began eating.

"My teacher said my drawing is the best in my class." Forest told Bria proudly.

"Oh really? Do you know that Christopher draws too?"

"No no I'm not that good."

"Yes you are....I looked." She said smirking.

"You looked? Why were you touching my stuff?"

"I know, I'm sorry. I got curious. The drawings were good..especially the one of me."

When she said that I instantly got embarrassed. She knows.

"I..I just draw people when I'm bored."

"Either way it was good, even though it wasn't that accurate." She muttered.

"Now hold on, I'm a realist. It looked just like you!"

"It was way prettier than me Christopher.."

I shrugged.

"I draw what I see."

Bria

After we ate breakfast, it came time to have the discussion about where Christopher could go.

"I have his number...I just haven't used it." He said handing me his phone, where his contact for his dad was pulled up.

"So you'll have to call him then." I said giving his phone back to him.

"Oh..duh." He said chuckling nervously.

"When's the last time you talked to him?"

"He invited me to his wedding a few months ago, I wanted to go..but my mom wouldn't let me. I still haven't even met his husband."

"Well there's a first time for everything I guess."

He called his father, I noticed his shaky hands were unable to hold the phone so instead he sat it on the bed and put it on speaker. The suspense as Christopher waited for an answer seemed unbearable.

"Hello...?" The male voice said.

"Hey..uh Dad. Can we talk for a minute?"

"Of course Christopher..it's been so long since I've heard from you. I really miss you and Bryson." His father said sounding excited.

"We miss- look I got in to it with Mom and I need a place to stay." Christopher responded.

"I'm sorry about her, Chris. I'm sure Alexander wouldn't have a problem with you staying with us, and you know I'd be happy to have you here." His Dad said most likely referring to his husband.

"Can I come...today?"

"The sooner the better, Chris. I'll get your room ready for you,"

After that, Christopher hung up and put his face in his hands.

"Yayyy we did it!" I said cheering for him.

"I- I didn't think it would be that easy. What if he doesn't like me?" He mumbled, sounding upset instead of grateful.

"Your dad?"

"No, Alexander."

"Christopher if he doesn't like you he doesn't like you. You have a place to stay now!"

"It's not only about that- I wouldn't expect you to understand."

There was an awkward silence between us.

"Do you need a ride to his house?" I asked quietly, trying not to upset him again.

"No. I'll figure something out." He said before collecting his things and exiting my room.

"If you need something else let me know Chris." I said in defeat. He turned around and re-entered my room.

"Repeat that?"

"If you need something else..let me know."

"Let me know Chris. That's what you said. You called me Chris."

"Okay? That's what everyone calls you.."

"Everyone except you. You called me Chris, instead of Christopher..so we're officially friends now."

"That's not how friendships work-"

"That's how ours does. See you Monday." He said, then leaving my room and eventually my apartment.

Chris

I called my Dad back and asked him to pick me up, of course he said yes. Only one problem, he was sure to make it clear that Alexander would be in the car with him.

I sat on the sidewalk contemplating the first thing I'd say to him. Why is this shit so difficult?

My conversation rehearsal was interrupted when a black Mercedes pulled up next to me. The window rolled down, and I was met with the face of my dad...meaning Alexander was driving.

"Are you gonna get in or you just going to stare at me?" He said, doing that lame laugh that dads do. I picked up my bags and got in the backseat of the car. Red interior...I quickly recognized this Alexander guy was rather wealthy.

"You must be Chris." Alexander said to me, I'd only ever seen him in pictures..so talking to him felt weird.

"Yes sir."

"Ha, you don't have to 'yes sir' me. That's weird man." He said laughing, causing my dad to do the same. I didn't know whether to laugh or not, so I just sat back.

"Your room will be on the second level." My Dad said, noticing my uncomfortable silence. How many "levels" are there?

"Okay.."

"Tomorrow we can get some stuff for your room, there's only a bed..but we can get a TV..a gaming system-" Alexander was interrupted by my dad shutting his ideas down.

"A gaming system? That's a little much Alex."

"Christian that's what teenagers like. Don't be lame."

"Oh you hush. So Chris, I remember you used to draw when you were younger, I know you're a basketball star now but, do you still like art?" My dad asked.

He remembers?

"Yeah, I like art.."

"Good. We'll get him paint or something." He said to Alex.

"If you don't buy the PlayStation I'm going to Christian. He's your son..you'd think you would want to do more than just paint." Alexander argued.

"Or here's an idea. How about we actually ask HIM what he wants instead of YOU deciding for him."

"Fine. Chris what would you like for your room?"

"Oh..I don't need anything."

"That's why he asked what would you like? And not what do you need?" My Dad said, dissatisfied with my answer.

"Don't catch an attitude with him, he's humble. That's good."

Do they bicker like this all the time?

//

Bria

After Chris left my day went on. Sunday went by quickly..my mother dropped by to bring groceries. As usual.

I hadn't heard from Chris at all, he didn't answer my call, or my text asking if he was okay...I tried not to worry too much. Maybe he's just adjusting.

It was now Monday morning, and I woke up reminiscing about only about a few weeks before. I couldn't stand Chris, and he couldn't stand me. Now, he's almost the only 'friend' I have. And..I like it when he's around. I don't like him, I just appreciate his company at times.

When I got to school, in the hall I was immediately stopped by Lincoln. Great.

"Bria! I'm sorry that I offended you on Friday..whatever it was I did. But I was wondering if you wanted to go to prom with me, so we could be king and queen together?"

"Lincoln..wouldn't it be weird if I went to prom with you, and Christopher's my boyfriend?"

"But Chris ISN'T actually your boyfriend, remember? Plus I already put our names on the ballot."

"What?! I don't want to run for prom queen! Take me off!"

"It's too late, it's already submitted."