With Me | Chris Sturniolo

20

After saying goodbye, my friends went to their cars to go home. Chris stayed back, not making a move to go to his car. Nate stalled too, but when he noticed Chris wasn't moving, he slowly turned and headed to his car.

"I'm going to- I'll meet you upstairs. Goodnight" Callie said, quietly going inside.

I sit on the porch, and Chris followed my lead. With everyone gone and Callie inside, I was hit by the calmness of the cold winter night, so different from the nights actual events.

"You really don't want to get them back?"

"Don't you think this has gone far enough? I know you'll never get along with Justin, and I'd never ask you to" I explained. "I just don't think that doing stuff to get him back will get us anywhere. We all got out safely, and you still got money out of him. We came out on top here"

He nodded, looking out into the distance. I know he's pissed at Justin. Chris had his own reasons to hate him, but now he directly attacked Chris and his friends.

"We'll give everyone time to calm down" he said after a few minutes. "They'll change their minds"

I nodded, relieved that Chris is willing to put his anger aside. Putting this aside isn't about me and Martin, it's about everyone. Justin will escalate this until it gets worse, and it'll turn into more than stupid high school rivalry

"What happened with Olly and the others?"

"I didn't see who got arrested, but if Olly or the other guys figure out Justin called the cops, he'll have bigger things to worry about than just us"

I nodded. "What are you going to do about money now?"

He looked back out at the street. "I'll figure it out"

"That was how Olly made his money, no? He'll find somewhere else for the track and it'll be like nothing happened" I said, trying to be positive. "At least you got four grand to hold you over until then"

He looked back at me with a serious expression. "No, I don't"

"Did you lose it with your phone? Oh shit, Chris. Please don't tell me you lost the money you won from Justin. Maybe the cops left and we can go-"

"Sabrina" he cut me off from my rant. "I didn't lose the money, it's right here" he pulled out two envelopes.

"Then what did you mean you don't have his money?"

He put his original envelope into his pocket and handed the other one to me.

"It's yours" he said, urging me to take the envelope.

I reached out and took the envelope, very confused. "What are you talking about?"

"The only reason I raced Justin was to get money out of him for wrecking your car. It's yours" he said, his gaze intent.

Chris is giving me four thousand dollars? That he won? That he risked his own money for?

"I can't take this" I said, sticking my hand out, waiting for him to take the envelope from me.

He looked at the envelope and then back at me. "Yes, you can"

"No, I really can't" I threw the envelope into his lap since he wouldn't take it. "Think of it as me paying you back for the tires and the paint job. And the stress of getting a tow truck and mechanic that late"

He picked up the envelope and threw it into my lap. "I told you already, they owed me. It didn't cost me anything"

My chest squeezed with guilt and regret. Chris is so honest and genuine with me, and I did nothing to deserve it.

I threw the envelope back into his lap. "It cost you a favour, Chris. I don't deserve it. You raced for it, you risked your own money for it, and Justin is a pain in the ass. Keep it"

He picked up the envelope and threw it back at me. "I told you-"

"I don't want it" I threw it back at him.

"I want you to-" he threw it back at me.

"I'm not taking it" I threw it back.

Chris firmly grabbed my right wrist and brings it close to him, putting the envelope in my hand, and closed my fingers around it.

"It's yours" he says, leaving no room for arguing.

We're so close to each other, I can see the dark lashes framing his eyes and I can smell how good he smelled.

Why can't I be a regular girl, and not one who has to hide who she really is, run for her life and lie to the people she cares about? Why can't I enjoy being with Chris and not have guilt jumping around me every time I have to lie?

I suddenly realise the intimate position we're in and how close we are. During the argument, my right leg sprawled over his left. His warm hand was on my wrist and my face was only a few inches from his.

He looks at my lips, then back up to my eyes. I feel my heart race inside my chest. Then suddenly, I can't think, and I can't breath. My heart never raced so fast; all because Chris is kissing me.

All my stress, worries and problems melt away with the softness of his lips. Everything around us faded as I focused on the warm tingling feeling inside of me.

There's an annoying poke at the back of my mind, reminding me that I'm not allowed to feel like this and that I'm not allowed to be happy, making me pull away from Chris.

"Fine. Since that was such a great argument, I'll keep the money. But I'm not spending it on myself" I joked, breaking the silence.

Chris laughed and released me as I remove my leg from over his.

"It's your money, spend it however you like" he told me.

"I'll find a way to spend it on all of us. Like a treat for having to deal with this drama"

As much as I'd love to sit here all night with Chris, it's getting late and I'm getting tired. We say goodnight, and he let me know my car will be ready on Monday.

"Thanks again, Chris"

He walked down the porch steps and walked slowly towards his car. "I'll see you later"

"Are you sure about the money?" I asked him once more.

"Keep it" he turned around and walked the rest of the distance to his car, and I stood there watching him.