A Dream I Used To LOVE

Chapter 17

I had had enough teen drama for the century. What was up with Chris?
I drove to his place. I was worried, his sister had texted me, definitely must be urgent.
When I entered the house I saw Kathy at the doorway, she pointed towards Chris' room. I ran upstairs. There he was sitting, a bottle in his hand.
I went and sat next to him.

He looked at me with his sappy eyes as if apologizing.
"Audrey, I'm sorry. Please give me another chance"I comforted him.

"Let's talk about this another time. You are drunk, you need to go to bed"
I helped him get up from the floor and tugged him in his bed, just like he did at Rose's birthday party. He held onto my hand as he drifted to sleep. I walked out without waking him up. he needed rest.

As I walked down the stairways I heard Tyler "I don't like Audrey. Chris never cries and she made him cry"
Kathy quickly defended me "No, she didn't. They are alright buddy"
I walked towards her wondering if she could tell me what had happened to Chris.
"Hey Kathy can we talk" she nodded and led me towards the garden. We sat on a bench and continued talking.
"Audrey I really appreciate you coming here. Chris behaves this way around this time of the year. I don't know if he told you about dad..." she pushed for a second wondering if she should tell me about it.
"yes he did" I immediately cleared her dilemma
"Dad's death anniversary is in less than a week. They were very close and he finds it hard to cope with it every year. Moreover, this year Mrs. Scott is coming to visit us..."

She called her mother Mrs. Scott, she definitely hurt her kids very badly. I wondered what happened between them.
"She is? Well that must be hard for the two of you"
"Yes, it is. Especially for Chris. Mrs. Scott was never kind to us. She always kept complaining. She called us burdens. I was not close to either of my parents, so I didn't find it that hard after their separation and dad's death, but Chris just couldn't get over it."

She paused as if about to sob "He has been really happy lately and I should give you credit for that. He doesn't share stuff about his life with anyone. I'm happy that you are by his side..."
Leaving Chris in this state was cruel. I promised to help him out whenever he felt this way and now my conscience wouldn't allow me to leave him that way.
"I'll keep checking on him. Don't worry" I reassured Kathy.
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The next morning I was back as promised.
I walked straight to Chris's room, but I was surprised to find company. A middle-aged lady sat beside him. He looked at her with hate and despise.
"Audrey" he almost screamed as soon as he saw me.
The middle-aged woman turned around and scanned me from head to toe.

"Am I interrupting, should I come later" I spoke politely.
She rolled her eyes and said "Yes you are" but Chris cut her off and said "I'm glad that you are back" He got up from his bed and hugged me. I could see her eyes narrowing down and glaring at me.

She interrupted the hug " I'm Mrs. Mariana Scott"
I was surprised. She was supposed to visit later this week. I greeted her with courtesy while she looked at me with contempt and jealousy. She wasn't happy about the fact that Chris was paying more attention to me than her.

"Christian, won't you introduce us"
I realised I had completely forgotten my manners.
"I'm Audrey. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Scott,"
"You can call me Madam" he interrupted 
She was definitely rude. I wasn't her PA why would I call her 'madam'?
Chris had a tight grip of my shoulder, without excusing himself he walked away, pulling me along. I was finding it hard to keep up with the family feud.

Why did she bother visiting them, if she had abandoned them?
When we came down Mrs. Mallard very sweetly asked if I would join them for breakfast.
"No she wouldn't," said a cold voice that I could now recognise.
"Of course she would" Chris argued back.