The Defendant

Chapter 2 - Dry Toast And Black Coffee

The next morning Chris woke to the sound of what seemed like a drug dispute going on just outside of Belle's apartment. Chris's eyes adjusted to the unfamiliar room, before tracing down to the peaceful Belle that was balled up on the couch, her head resting on his lap. He stoked her hair gently before lifting her head, getting up and replacing it with a worn pillow from the couch.

Chris rolled up the sleeves of his crisp pearl white shirt and headed for the tiny kitchen wanting to make breakfast for her. He began to look through the cupboards only to find they were barren. He tried the fridge however that too was empty. Chris sighed in a frustrated manner as he ran his hand over his face. He checked the bread, it luckily being in date. He popped it in the toaster and began to brew some coffee. With the lack of milk in the fridge he assumed she was a black coffee type of girl.

Once the toast had popped he tried his best to scrape out what he could from the almost empty butter. He poured them both a black coffee into stained, once white mugs. He wondered back into the living room to see Belle stirring. She slowly sat herself up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Morning" Chris spoke in a gravel whisper, giving her a soft smile.

"hey..." she whispered, the smell of coffee and toast filling her nose. He placed down the toast and handed her the coffee, her taking it into her dainty, slightly shaky hands. "Thank you..."

"Its okay, I wanted to cook you breakfast...but you don't have anything." He chucked softly.

"Yeah...I..I used to go shopping with Lip...He used to help me out with everything you know..." she sighed sadly taking a sip of the much needed caffeine.

"Well why don't I take you, I've got to get some shopping anyway" he smiled sweetly, placing his arm on the back of the couch, his hand next to her head.

"That would be great...Thank you" she smiled softly, him playing with her gently, edging on the side of caution. Belle smiled and nuzzled into his hand slightly as the pair sat in a comfortable silence as the caffeine cured their hangovers.

However they were rudely interrupted by TJ waltzing in wearing a pink leopard print dressing gown. He plonked himself between them, "Morning love birds!" he grinned taking Belles toast, biting it "Thank god, I'm starving!"

"when did you get here?" Belle asked rolling her eyes, awkwardly moving away from the comfort of Chris's hand.

"last night..." he took a bite. "You and Mr muscle here were fast asleep so I took the bed" he shrugged finishing off the slice of toast.

Chris smirked to himself and held his hand out to TJ, "we haven't properly met, Chris."

"I know who you are." TJ grinned and shook his hand "TJ Hammond"

"I know who you are" Chris returned, the pair exchanging tense eye contact for a few moments.

"right, well I'm going for a shower, don't use the bedroom, I'm going in there after." He stood up and kissed Belles head, "Thanks for the toast" he grinned before heading off to the bathroom.

"Does he always borrow your clothes like that?" Chris laughed, making a remark to TJ's dressing gown.

"That's his..." she chucked "I can't believe you think I would wear something like that" she gasped in a sarcastic manner.

"Do you want me to make you some more toast?" He offered as she nuzzled her hand back onto his.

"No it's okay." She smiled a little at him admiring the way he looked. "so-" Belle went to speak but she was cut off by the sudden sound of Chris' phone ringing.

Chris looked down at his phone, "Shit..I gotta take this". He answered the call "Hey. Yeah...okay...right I'll be there as quick as I can...okay, right, bye" he spoke before hanging up, taking a long angered sigh.