'Til Death - Chris Motionless Love Story

Chapter Ten - The One Where Salem Gets Drunk and Yells at Chris

SALEM's POV
I was quiet the whole drive to the bar. I was aggravated, and slightly disappointed. One second Chris is all over me, and the next he's cold and harsh like the winters in Texas. Chris put the car in park, then looked over at me.

"Why are you mad?" He asked rather abruptly. I shook my head.

"I'm not mad."

"Yes you are. That's your 'I'm pissed off at you' face, and it's directed at me."

"I'm not mad, Christopher."

"See, now I know for sure you're mad-" I cut him off by getting out of the car and slamming the door. I heard his door slam next, and then felt him pull on my arm. I turned to face him, my face turning red out of anger.

"I am not discussing this right now!" I exclaimed. He pulled back then stepped backwards, his hands up in surrender.

"I'll see you at the hotel, ya know, after you decide to stop being a bitch." Did he just say that? I held back, and decided my best course of action would be to just go in and find Ash. So I did. She was sitting at a table with another one of our high school friends, Griffin. He had changed a few times since I saw him last. He now sported a red beard that matched his well groomed red hair. His blue eyes went wide the moment he saw me, and he greeted me with a hug.

"I'll be fucking damned! I can't believe you actually showed up!" He exclaimed over the loud music. I was still frazzled over the exchange I had just had with Chris outdoors, but knew I'd be better after a few drinks. I ordered my usual hard cider, and started to catch up with Griffin while Ash talked up some rando at the bar.

"What are you doing now?" He asked, leaning on his elbows to get closer.

"I work at a funeral home in Scranton. I'm a funeral director and embalmer now."

"That's amazing. I always knew you'd do something great. You were always a solid person when I knew you." He complimented. I smiled and the conversation died until he worked up the nerve to ask me the most confusing question; "do you have a boyfriend?" I thought about it for a second, and then decided there was no harm in saying no. I mean, after all, I'm nothing but a quick fuck for Chris.

"Nope, single as one could be." Griffin smiled and looked down at his beer.

"I'm surprised, you are after all the most beautiful woman in the whole bar." I blushed a little at his compliment, then waved down the waitress for another cider. As I drank more, I started to feel less guilty about my altercation with Chris. And started to open my big mouth.

"I mean, it's fucking ridiculous. I've fucked this guy like, five times, and he says shit that's misleading like, 'you're mine' and 'I can't lose you', but he doesn't want anything more than a quick fuck." My words slurred as I complained, and Griffin looked almost appalled.

"Dude, you should fucking say something! Fucking call him, tell him off!" Ah yes, the good old, 'call him while you're drunk and give him a piece of your mind'. Usually I'm not that person, but tonight I was truly pissed.

"You're right, I should!"

"Yeah! And then you should kiss me!" I looked at him with a questioning look, and he threw his hands up, "I thought just as long as you were listening to my suggestions I'd throw it out there. Ya know, just go ahead and call him, then we can talk about the other suggestion." I disregarded him, and pulled out my phone then stood up to walk outside. That's when it fully hit. I was drunk, and drunk enough to make terrible decisions. So I dialed Chris.

"Hello?" He sounded annoyed. Good.

"I'm ready to tell you why I'm pissed," I stammered out, "and you're going to fucking listen to me. I'm so sick of being nothing but your personal hooker. I mean, for fucks sake, at least fucking take me out to dinner. And I'm sick of your secrets. You know what? Maybe I should just move back to Texas. Also, I had this horrible nightmare about being the reason my ex killed him self, and all you cared about was getting in my pants. You don't fucking care about me, you never have. I'm fucking sick of it. Goodbye." I hung up on him, then leaned up against the cold brick of the bar. Not long after my phone began to rang.

"Stay where you are, I'm coming to get you." It was Chris. Before I could argue he hung up, and I stood there surprised for a moment. Griffin walked out with another cider in his hand for me. I practically chugged it.

"How did it go?" He inquired. I scoffed and leaned back.

"Horrible. He said he's on his way to get me."

"I'll stand out here with you until he gets here." Griffin then took his jacket off and placed it around my shoulders. I was feeling slightly nauseated, but the cold kept me distracted. "Ya know, if you do decide to move back, I'd love it if you'd give me a chance. Not the brag or anything, but I do have hella money." I laughed at Griffin, then slid down to sit.

"I'd consider it at most." I poked fun at him. He laughed a little, then sat down on the cold concrete with me. I sighed deeply as I saw Chris' BMW swing into a spot. Chris got out, making his way over to us. He still looked pissed, and seeing me with a guy that he didn't know did not help at all. I wasn't just scared of what Chris would do, I was terrified of what Griffin would say.

"Oh, so you're the Chris I've heard so much about tonight! I don't know that I really appreciate you treating Salem the way you do." Shut up shut up shut up!

"You don't know Jack fucking shit about me. Come on, Salem, let's go."

"Dude, I used to listen to your music. I used to go to your shows. I know a lot about you. I know all about your dead wife, your band that you destroyed, the funeral home. Why don't you just leave Salem here with me. Seeing who you actually are, I'm not impressed." A band? His music? More fucking secrets?!

"You have more that you want to tell me, Chris? Do you have anymore secrets?" I asked as I stood up. I could see the defeat in his eyes, and he stayed silent.

"Salem, please, just come back and I will explain everything-"

"No! I don't want to. Drop my shit off at the funeral home, I'm staying in Texas for awhile."

"Please, Salem, don't do this-"

"Stop! Stop begging me to stay! Stop pretending to care about me! You don't care!" Maybe I went too far. His brown eyes started to well with tears as they turned red. He hung his head down low, obviously trying to hold back the tears.

"Salem-"

"Go, Chris. Just go." Chris turned and walked back to his car, then looked back up at me from his car door. He was basically a shell of a man. Who knew he was so fragile? It almost made me feel bad for him, but I couldn't get over the secrets.
My dad quickly came to my rescue, ecstatic to see me, and even more ecstatic that I had decided to stay at his house.

"Cary will be so excited to see you!" He exclaimed. I sat in the passenger seat of his Hellcat, faking a smile. At some point I was going to have to face the situation with Chris, but I didn't have the mental capacity to do it now. On the bright side, I had kept a lot of my stuff at my dads before I left town. It was all things that didn't fit in my apartment or the U-Haul. All things that also reminded me on my ex. The moment I stepped into the room I was overwhelmed by the scent. It surrounded me, and I truly was not ready for the funeral tomorrow, but knew I needed to attend. I could only hope Chris wouldn't be there helping out on it.