Chapter 44: Chapter 44

: Fix it or Leave it

Chris woke up first the next morning.

"Wake up," he said shaking Justin awake. He expected the usual groan, shove and leave me alone, but instead Justin sat good upright in bed,

"I'm sorry!" He blurted out, his face gleaming with sweat and breathing like he had just run a marathon.

Chris immediately moved backwards,

"whoa, Bro! What was that? " he asked as Justins eyes landed on him.

Justin looked around him, before shaking his head, wiping his red eyes as he sag in bed.

"What where you dreaming about?" Chris asked, moving toward him

Justin paused at this question, composing himself,  looking at Chris then back at the bed, "I don't remember," he lied.

"that happens to me to," Chris responded seeming to brush it off quickly.

"Why have you woken me up so early?" Justin asked yawning.

"I stayed up all night thinking."

"Congratulations?" Justin asked, confused.

Chris sighed and sat by Justin's bed, "With the whole Dad being in hospital drama I started realizing stuff. I saw how anxious mom had been when she heard the news. "

Justin rolled his eyes as this, he knew the truth.

"It made me realise that we don't know how much time is given to us to spend with the people we love, and when we find that person you have to spend every last second before it's to late, " he explained.

"so...what's your point exactly?" Justin asked still sleepy.

"I've made up my mind, I need to talk to Britney, I don't care if she hates me. I-I will explain things to her and I won't leave till she forgives me and takes me back," he said standing up "and your comming with me like you promised," he commanded.

Justin groaned as he remembered his promise. You can't break a bromise.

Chris gave him his towl and tooth brush and Justin went right at it.

Thirty minutes later they were having a quick meal downstairs.

Chris phone rang as he put the last spoon of flakes into his mouth, wiping his sticky fingers on his napkin.

"Why is it that your phone always rings and mines lifeless?" Justin complained, glancing at Chris phone.

Chris shrugged picking up the phone, "maybe since you're a star and people think your busy when the truth is you ain't," Chris replied.

Justin thought it over as Chris answered his phone.

"But you're a star too," Justin blurted out in realisation.

Chris put one finger on his lip shushing him.

"why is life so mean to me?" Justin muttered, staring down at his bowl.

"Yes, mom, okay-yeah we'll be there," Chris said hanging up the phone.

"that was mom. They discharged Dad and she wants us to go there, " Chris sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose, "I guess Britney will have to wait."

Justin glanced at the fed up Chris. He really looked his brother over. Hunched shoulder, frown and all. He sighed knowing what he had to do,

"it doesn't have to be like that, " Justin put in.

Chris looked up at him.

"You go talk to her and I'll go to Dad. I'll explain things to him, he'll understand, " Justin persuaded, even though he really didnt feel like being near Bree.

"you'll really do that for me?" Chris asked.

"You're my brother aren't you?" Justin asked with a care less shrug.

Chris smiled standing up,

"I owe you one."

"yeah, you do, " Justin muttered as he thought of the day he would have.

Chris grinned, shoving his shoulder playfully, his smile fading slowly, "well here goes nothing, wish me good luck."

"never, " Justin replied, turning to face his retreating brother.

"what?" Chris asked turning around.

"You still have the luck I wished you yesterday, you didn't use it so now it can be recycled," Justin said, putting his plate in the sink before walking to the fridge.

Chris chuckled, shaking his head,"whatever man."

"god speed, god speed," Justin repeated as he watched Chris walk out the door.

**********

It took a full hour for Chris to reach Britney's house, partly because he was nervous and took the long way.

He didn't go with Tod this time around, but rather drive himself in his Lamborghini.

Although the car was obviously fast, he drove it as slowly as he could. He stopped by Britney's house an hour later and watched it from the safety of his car.

****

Meanwhile

Mckayla was in Britney's room trying to cheer her dulled up cousin.

It was was a holiday, which meant no school, and the could stay in for as long as they wanted, however their Mom was still covering the Ryder hospital drama so she had been out since last night.

They had just finished watching the news and Britney was worried about Mr Ryder but calmed down when they heard he was well and healthy.

Mckayla felt guilty.

Guilty for keeping such a secret from her cousin who kept talking about Chris, day after day, hour after hour. She had not yet found the perfect time to tell her about the video but she had to sooner or later.

If she was in Britney's shoes she knew she wouldn't want this to be held from her.

Britney was still blabbing on and on about the Ryders, Robin but mostly Chris.

His name kept resurfacing, which frustrated her the more.

"Stop! " she gritted out, getting up.

Britney looked at her surprise. She paused staring up at her cousin, " stop what?" She asked softly.

"Stop talking about the Ryder's, Bee, they deserve that,"Mckayla huffed out, folding her arms.

"what are you talking about?" Britney inwardly rolling her eyes at her cousins drama.

"I know you love Chris but there something I need to tell you that's been choking me inside and out," Mckayla finally confessed, her shoulders falling.

"W-What's wrong?" Britney stuttered out, almost afraid to ask.

Mckayla sighed heavily as she walked to the window, "I thought Chris would-" she paused as she noticed the green Lamborghini parked opposite there house. It could only belong to one person.

"you thought Chris would what?" Britney repeated. His name felt like newly opened old wounds.

"uhm," Mckayla said, closing the windows and turning around, "I thought he would call you but you know what, let's give him more time," she said moving toward the door.

"Where are you going? We haven't finished talking" Britney remarked watching as her cousin stepped back.

"I just need a- uh- a potty break! I'll be back," Mckayla replied, opening the door and closing it behind her.

She stopped and decided to lock the door just incase. Then she headed down stairs.

Chris looked at the house and breathed out, he had to do this, take the consequences like a man, for Britney.

He needed her in his life,  he took all of his courage and drained it into his legs so he could finally get out of his car.

He opened the Lamborghini door and walked toward toward Britney's door step but before he could knock the door swung open.

He was face to face with Mckayla. He felt himself gulp. Face to face with the beast herself.

"Hi!" He began.

He received a slap right across his cheek. Looking at the direction he had been slapped in, he took the moment to snap himself out of the daze she had left him in.

"Okay, I deserve that," he replied, his jaw ticking.

His head suddenly swung the other way, a fresh sting on his other cheek "and you also deserved that," Mckayla huffed out.

Chris breathed out slowly, his eyes still focused in the direction, before turning to face her, "are you done?" he asked.

"I would give you another one because of what you did to Britney but I'll leave that one for her," Mckayla replied, she opened her mouth about to release the speech he had prepared for him, but Chris spoke up first,

"Look, I know I've been a jerk, I've been confused and acted stupidly but there's one thing I know for sure. I love your cousin like the air I breath, and if there's something good that came out from our time being apart, it's realizing how bad I want her in my life, how bad I need her.

I'm here to explain everything, the video and all that, I'm not the one that sent it I didn't even know it existed till Anna told me yesterday and I feel so dumb for ever trusting her. It doesn't matter anymore, I'm here now and I am not leaving without seeing her, I don't care if she doesn't want to see me, but I need to mend my mistake and set the record straight, so please, please give me a chance, " he begged, yet he stood before her, like a brave..yet still stupid to her... Warrior.

Mckayla looked at him as her anger faded from her, she groaned, the sighed,

"She doesn't know about the Video. When it was sent I had the phone then I deleted it before she could see, you are welcome," she said.

He breathed out relieved, feeling like a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders, "she doesn't have to know about the video but if you really love her you know what to do" she said opening the door for him.

Chris enterd the house,

"She's upstairs in her bedroom, unlock the door, I locked it," she said with a careless shrug.

He nodded as he walked up the stairs.

mckayla looked out the door and spotted Chris car,she lifted one eyebrow at it, excitement flooding her every nerve.

"hey Chris!" she called out.

He turned around sharply lifting one eye brow, "what?"

"can I take your baby for a ride?" she asked with puppy eyes.

"My baby?" he echoed..

" car, " she mouthed out, like she was  teaching a toddler.

"Oh..Knock yourself out," he said throwing her the keys.

She screamed in delight and raced out the door, closing it behind her.

"Now that that's over with," Chris said under his breath. He reached the bedroom pausing for a minute as he prayed for strength then unlocked it and  pushed  it open.

"Mckayla I just-" Britney paused as she saw Chris, the air had suddenly become more tense.

She had been rummaging through her wardrobe when he worked in and was holding a dress in her hand.

He walked into her room and closed the door.

"hi," he said, nervous and embarrassed at the same time. He had no idea what he was going to say, or how he would sag it.

"hi," she repeated after him, throwing him an equally nervous smile, putting the dress back into the wardrobe, trying to hide her shaky arms.

Chris looked at his beauty,  right there in front of him.

He smiled at her and she breathed out falling for him all over.

"I-" he trailed off, still staring at her. She suddenly walked over to him and hugged him tightly, his arms immediately wrapped around her waist.

" I missed you," she murmured lowly, not planning to let go. She was tired of hiding how she really felt.  She had been given another opportunity and she was not going to let it go.

The moment she touched him Chris felt whole again. Like the guy he used to be.

"I missed you so so much. I'm sorry I don't want you to leave again," she said still hugging him. He held her tightly as tears filled his eyes.

"Please don't go again," she whispered. He breathed out fulfilled, completely satisfied. But still guilty.

She Had To Know The Truth.

"Britney" he hummed, kissing her hair, "I love you," he said still hugging her.

She laughed in relief, "please tell me that again, " she whispered.

"I love you, more than anything in the world, I want you back, I want us back." he said.

She squeezed him tighter, relishing in those words that graced her ears, completely satisfied.

"but I...you need to know something,"he said as his head rested on her shoulder

He let go of everything, just to come

clean and prayed she wouldn't let go.

"what is it baby?" she whispered  in his ears, patting his back.

He hesitated for a minute and then just let it all out, "I slept with Anna, " he blurted.

Britney froze.

Then she did what he feared most.

She let go.