Chapter 29: Chapter 29

: Insecure

After an exhausting fun filled day it was time to head on over to dream land which they all did.

During that week Chris lessened the times he would talk to Britney and spent more time with Justin and Beats, George Humphrey at the CR.

Occasionally, he would meet with Anna and strangely liked being in her company. When he was tired he would stop by the secretary’s desk and spark up a conversation with her.

Truth be told she was nice and lively to be with. She was fun and always cheerful which fascinated him.

*********

Meanwhile

Britney had knocked off from school and decided to pass through The Close Up to see her mother.

She arrived and went up to the top floor, heading toward the offices,

"Britney!"

Britney turned around sharply to see who was calling

"Ted? Hi!" she called back, retracing her steps back to his office cube.

"Do you ever rest?" she asked, "I didn't see you at school today did I? Did you even go?"

He chuckled at this showing her the bright smile the cheerleaders fell for every single time. He was quarterback after all.

"I did, but I come straight here afterwards," he replied, with a loose grin, "so what brings you here? Is Mckayla with you?" he asked.

She smiled, "Not today lover boy, I came alone, and I'm here to see if moms available to have lunch together" she replied pulling the strands of her purse

"Lunch you say? Well, your mother left here twenty minutes ago, probably for lunch,” he replied spinning around in his chair, before throwing her his charming grin.

"Dang it” she muttered, "I knew I should have called first."

"Well I'm free, if you like, we could have lunch."

Britney smiled, "as the saying goes two is better the one,”

"Excellent! Let me just wind up things here," he said packing some stuff and Turning off his computer.

"Okay I'm all set, let's go," he said as they walked side by side into the elevator.

They found a pretty good restaurant down town and ordered some food.

"So how's life?" He asked tapping against the table as they waited their order, "it feels like it's been a century since we hang out"

"What do you mean how's life? And we hang out Last week Ted, don't be dramatic" Britney replied ruffling his hair

Ted was a close family friend, other than being the schools golden boy, he seemed to be everywhere Mckayla was. So much so, Aunt Molly considered him part of the family. He would eat dinner at their house on some occasions.

“How’s your family, Mckayla?" He asked tilting his head

"Bingo! I knew you would bring her up, “Britney began as the food was placed before them. She engaged groaning in satisfaction.

"Perfection" Ted commented on their lunch of a burger and fries.

"Everybody's fine” Britney replied looking up at Ted with a half grin.

"Okay, how about you?”

"That's the first question you should have asked,” Britney responded with a playful eye role, "I'm okay,”

"No, I mean how you are, you know, your relationship with a certain celebrity guy?" Ted hummed out with a mocking smirk.

"Oh. I forgot you knew about that, “Britney groaned, leaning back.

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone, I promised Mckayla that " Ted replied with a solemn face.

"Yeah I know, god forbid you break that promise. It's…. interesting I guess,” she finished after a slight pause.

"Interesting?" Ted replied, lifting one of his bushy eyebrows

"Sometimes I feel like Chris and I are so close sometimes I feel that we are far, far away,”

"So how do you feel now?" Ted asked leaning back.

Britney shrugged, "far away,”

"Why is that?"

"I guess I just feel so pressurized you know, not telling mom about this thing with Chris is killing me but I know if I do, she would never understand, then there's school on the other hand....I almost forgot I have to write an essay on how cars function and I have no idea at all, for our jets projects”

"Cars? That’s not a problem. I can help you with that, “Ted offered

"Really? I mean I don't want to intrude,” Britney began watching him closely.

"Nonsense, I'm helping a friend out,” Ted replied.

Britney grinned still in shock.

"But I do have a condition,”

Britney groaned, "What is it with you and conditions?"

"Don’t worry it isn't a tough one, " Ted replied with a chuckle.

"Fine spit it out,” Britney huffed out

Ted leaned in, "help me out with Mckayla,”

"Help you...with Mckayla? How do you suppose I do that?" She asked in-between amused chuckles?

"Oh c'mon Britney you’re the closest person to her, I'm a hundred percent sure you can help, " Ted replied with a defeated huff. She could see how desperate he was.

Britney thought for a minute, Ted was kind, sensitive cute and had a great sense of humor, he wasn't new to the family and was a favorite of her mother. He was ideal for Mckayla. She still wondered why her cousin hadn't jumped all over him.

"Okay, I'll do my best but I cannot assure you of good results" she replied taking a bite of a burger

"I'll take it,”

"Deal?" Britney asked as she stuck out her hand. She paused glancing at the grease on her hand in mild embarrassment but Ted took it anyway.

"Deal," he replied.

They finished their meals and spent the rest of the day together. Ted kept explaining a little about cars and some movies he had watched.

He escorted her home a few minutes before eight. He was dancing on the road and she was pushing him away laughing telling him he was a bad dancer and ought to quit, but that didn't make him stop. Which was good, because she would have rather fainted than told him he was actually pretty good. He seemed to be perfect at everything he did.

Meanwhile

Chris had decided to come and see Britney, even if it was just for a minute. Truth be told he had felt kind of guilty of being distant with her lately. Not because of anything she did, no it was all him.

Him and his fears, him and his doubts. He had already come to peace with the fact that he liked Britney a lot which was why she was on his mind almost all the time, but he often wondered if it was the same for her.

Once again. Doubts.

He had parked opposite her house on the road, leaning against the car, wondering if he should go up to her house or call her first not that it would work, he had tried to earlier and it hadn't gone through, not even his texts. He really couldn't decide.

It had already been hours since he had gotten there. He had hoped to catch her coming back from school but he figured he had been too late and that she was already home. He should call.

Why call when he was already there? Plus she probably wouldn't answer. Nope there was no point in that.

He had just summoned the courage to walk to her house when a heard other familiar rich laughter. He turned around at the precise second she had tripped almost falling but of course Ted was there to catch her.

His bare expression mirrored that of confusion anger and concern all at once, barely feeling himself stalking toward them.

Britney paused shocked to see him there

"Have I come at a bad time?" he asked as Ted stopped doing whatever he was doing.

"I've been waiting for you for over three hours," he said looking at Ted.

Britney throat run dry, knowing fully well what it had probably looked like. Her with Ted. And Ted was not helping at all with his confused expression.

"Oh, I stopped at my mom’s company, so we could go out for lunch, after school but she wasn't there so I was with Ted," she replied, motioning toward him

Chris didn't say anything, studying the boy before him. Light brown hair, brown eyes, Quarterback build, all in all pretty good looking.

Which was the worst part of it.

"Oh, by the way, Chris this is Ted and Ted this is Chris," she introduced.

"Hey man," Ted said giving him an awkward handshake, before stepping  back. He was wasn't used to this, celebrities usually run from him but here he was talking to a Ryder.

Chris managed a weak smile, however noting that she hadn't introduced him as her boyfriend which hurt more than it should have.

Ted noticed that it was awkward and the air was tense dismissed himself, "I better get going Britney I'll see you tomorrow at school for the project," he said giving her short salute before walking away.

"Bye," she called after him, watching him for a few seconds before turning back to Chris, only to find herself locked in his demolish blue eyes.

"Project?" Chris echoed raising an eyebrow.

"Look I can explain, he's just a friend, why didn't you call me?" she asked, wanting to slap herself for jumbling the sentences together. She felt nervous, which baffled her because she hadn't felt like she had done anything wrong.

She glanced back at her house, hoping her mom was not yet back.

Chris spotted the anxious look in her eyes

"I've been calling you, and texting, why didn't you pick up?” Chris asked folding his arms.

"Really?" Britney asked, taking her home from her back pocket, her eyebrows furrowing as she checked her phone and sure enough there were a dozen missed calls and text.

Now was when the guilt came.

"I'm sorry it must have been put on silent," she apologized, quite baffled actually at the fact that she hadn't even felt the vibration.

Chris nodded, “I’ve been waiting here for three good hours. And when you’re finally here I see you touching and happy with another guy, how do you think that makes me feel?" He asked airing out his emotions.

Britney's eyes widened at the sudden statement, "c'mon Chris, you’re exaggerating."

"You went to dinner with a friend and put your phone on silent? That’s an exaggeration,” he replied

"Chris, don't talk like that,” Britney said motioning with her hands for him to calm down.

Chris breathed out for a moment. "I need to go,” he said walking away.

"What? Just like that? Chris!" Britney shouted.

He didn't even look back as Todd opened the door for him and drove away. The farther he got away from her, the easier he found it to breathe.

Britney sighed, it was their first quarrel.

What did she expect? A quarrel less relationship? It was all part of growth. If he was jealous it only meant he cared for her deeply, which was a good sign.

Yes. That was the bright side.

She huffed out opening the door and discovered that no one had arrived yet. Neither Mckayla not her mom were around.

She toppled on the bed and decided to call Chris but her calls where heading to voicemail, she sighed and rolled over, everything would be fine by tomorrow she thought.

***********

Chris had headed straight for the beach where he had first told Britney how he felt for her. He sat down and watched the waves topple over.

The sky was dark and the stars were beginning to come out, they were a few other people on the beach and some camp fires lit.

Chris did see all the calls he was receiving from Britney but made no effort to pick them up. He wanted to breathe.

He couldn't understand it at all. Why did he want to be so close to her all the time, but when he was he felt like he was suffocating?

He stared into the deep blue waters realizing he was all alone. He felt alone in that moment. He took out his phone, making a single call.

"Hello? Chris?" A voice replied from the other end.

"I need you,” he replied softly.

There was a pause for a moment, and all he could hear was the gentle swishing of the waves.

"Where are you?"

"The beach,”

"Okay... I'll be right there,"

Chris cut the call.

He sat there for a full thirty minutes before he felt a touch on his shoulder. He looked up and stared into Anna's hazel eyes, watching as she sat down beside him,

"It’s quite peaceful here," she noted

He smiled, "this is where I told Britney I loved her," he said softly.

She paused at this sudden statement,

"Well then I shouldn't be here, it's your special place. I don't think she would be happy to see you here with another woman,” she replied wanting to get up.

"If she was with another guy I don't see what's wrong with it, you're a friend, aren't you?"

Anna paused, relaxing for moment. "So you saw here with another guy?" She chief his words, her eyes staring out to the vast blue...

"Yes, but she claimed they were only friends, " Chris replied, staring at the sand for a moment.

"Do you believe that?"

"I have no reason not to,” Chris replied.

"You aren't answering my question. Did you believe her?"

"No,"

Chris turned to face her sharply trying to erase his first response, "I mean they looked like friends but..."

"But you’re insecure,” Anna replied with a slight chuckle...

Chris paused for a minute

"Yes, I'm insecure," he replied shifting his eyes back to the ocean.

"It's normal," Anna replied, "it's normal to feel insecure. It's normal to get jealous when you see the person you like with someone else. Chris all this is normal" she explained glancing at him.

Their eyes met for a second, "then why do I feel like this?" he asked, "Why do I feel so lost?"

Anna patted is shoulder, "insecurity comes about in a lot of ways, your past most likely,” she replied, "if I could guess, your insecurities run deeper than most"

Chris felt like she was reading him like an open book, he remembered how his parents left him as a child in that ride. He gulped slowly.

"You’ll be okay, trust me," Anna said putting one hand on his arm. He covered her hand with his "thank you," he whispered.

This is what he needed. All he needed. Someone to listen.

She nodded then stood up, "we better get going, or Mr Ryder will be furious," Anna said giving him a hand up. He grinned as he took it.

They walked side by side by the beach.

Chris offered to drop her at home but she politely declined. He then told her he would see her at CR tomorrow and they said good night.

When Chris arrived home, he called Britney up so they could straighten things up, they did but everything was never the same again, though they had each other life would soon throw them a high five smack across the face…

What's life without those moments?