Different Thoughts [ WEEKLYCHRIS | CHRIS COLLINS ]

Chap 44.

[ Anna's POV ]

After a long and anxious ride, Jack turns the car off. "We have to walk from here," Sammy concludes and turns his head to look at us.

The car's navigation led us to the woods, which makes me think of the forest and the ruin back in Brooklyn. Even though my slight fear of forests has went away, I'm not too thrilled to be at this place. The sun is blocked by huge trees and so is our view, which isn't helping with my paranoia. Maybe it has something to do with the individual in the black hoodie who went inside Joe's house right when we took off, or maybe it's the threats Antonio yelled at us when we left his loft, but I'm on edge. And the eerie vibe is just the cherry on top.

Something doesn't feel right. Maybe it's-

"Calm down, we'll be out of here in less than twenty minutes," Chris notices my uneasiness and places his hand on my knee, making my leg stop wiggling.

"Yeah, do any of you have navigation on your phone?" Jessica bumps her eyebrows and puts a hairbrush back into her purse. She's like Ella's twin, they talk and act the same way. The last time I texted Ella was two days ago. She was mad because I didn't go to New York with her to shop, which we do every year after school ends. I haven't told her about Brazil and neither have I told my parents. And I'd like to keep it that way.

"The GPS is right here," Sammy raises his arm and types on his phone. "Do we have everything? The cabin is ten minutes from here."

"Oh God, I don't wanna," I moan and rest my head against Chris' chest.

"I've got the key and some water bottles," Jack nods and groans, taking off the bandage on his face. "Oh my God, ew," Jessica scrunches her nose and leans into him, inspecting the cut across his face.

"I've got food," Chris grins and looks at me. "I'll keep you safe, nothing's gonna happen. This is the easy part."

"Okay," I shake my head and sigh.

Everyone steps out of the car and Jacks locks the doors. Jessica appears beside me and loops her arm through mine. "You're just as scared as I am, which is making me feel slightly better," she laughs softly as the three guys start walking, Sammy in front with his phone in his hand. Jessica and me follow closely behind.

"I'm just thinking to myself, after this, everything will be over. The guys won't have any ties to their criminal life, Bernardo can live his life and we can live happily ever after. Everyone will be safe after this and there will be no more secrets," I look at her and she nods, deep in thought.

It's approximately three minutes peacefully silent, the singing of birds and the rustling of the leaves the only thing heard, when Jessica speaks up again. "Are you going to college this fall?"

College. I haven't even thought about it these past few days. "Yeah, I sent out my applications, but I haven't heard back from the one I want to go to." I already got into one in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania, but I just want to go to NYU. The rest of the colleges are just for backup.

"I didn't know you would be going to college after the summer," Chris turns around to look at me and Jessica lets go of my arm, "Oops, hope I didn't stir up anything between you two." I roll my eyes and glare at her, but she's already jogging towards Jack, grabbing his arm.

"I didn't think it would matter, actually," I look at the ground and exhale loudly.

"Why not? You didn't think we would last that long?" Chris tilts my head up and I slap his hand away.

I don't want to talk about my future with Chris, especially since I haven't told him about grandpa's orders. At the end of the day, Chris got me into this mess and I have to be the one to get myself out of it. Even it that means breaking up with the guy I love. Like. Love? I don't even know why I thought that. It's too soon. I've only known him for what, two months?

"I don't know. Aren't you going to college?" I try to change the subject, but Chris narrows his eyes. "Don't change the subject and no, I'm taking a gap year, but I don't think I'll go after that. I already have enough money for almost my whole life, so it's not like I need a degree or anything. I'm good for the next fifty years." I cough. Fifty years? I knew being involved with criminals would mean getting a lot of money, but enough for fifty years? So what, he's just gonna sit around and go on vacations for the rest of his life?

"Why didn't you tell me about college?" Chris asks again and Jack sighs loudly, letting us know he's getting tired from our conversation.

"I didn't think it would matter and why would it? You have your life planned already, but I don't know what I wanna do," I say, trying to end this dreadful conversation.

"Are you saying we'll break up soon?" Chris locks his jaw when I don't reply and speeds up, so he no longer walks next to me.

Great. I feel terrible for being such a bitch to him, but it's time to get real. I'm off to college after the holidays and Chris will probably go back to LA, getting his own apartment. My grandfather wants him as far away as possible, or so he said. But who is he to decide what my relationship should be?

I look at Chris, who's talking to Sammy and purse my lips. What were those thoughts from earlier? Love? Really? Do I love him? How would someone even know?

---

Sammy starts running as soon as we approach the cabin. It's completely made out of wood, with one big window on its left side, the green curtains are closed. Ivy grows on the wall and the wooden door is a greenish color. The cabin disappears into the nature and if I hadn't know that there was a cabin, I wouldn't notice it.

Jessica starts to yell and throws her arms into the air. "Fucking finally!"

"I'm sorry for being a bitch," I say to Chris as we walk towards the front door. My eye catches something black on the other side of the cabin, but it disappears just as quickly. It's probably a shadow, I try to shake it off.

"We'll talk about it when we're home again, okay? I know you don't feel well, so I'm not holding it against you," Chris smiles at me and places a soft kiss on my forehead, calming me down a little bit.

I never would've thought I would be back together with Chris after Jessica told me his secret lifestyle, but he's really showing me he's being forreal this time. I smile back and focus on Jack, who's unlocking the front door.

"Holy shit," Sammy claps as Jack throws the door open, stepping in. I hesitate before walking in, a wave of paranoia hitting me once again. I try to shake it off as Chris closes the door behind us. 

There's a bookcase filled with numerous books to my right and a small kitchen in the left corner. Sammy lies down on the large bed, next to the fireplace and Jack plops down on the white sofa, putting his feet on the coffee table. 

"And now we have to find the money somewhere? Does anyone know where it is?" Jessica scoffs and looks at me. Grandpa didn't tell me anything about a safe or a box or something, so I have no idea where that money could be. I'm impressed we made it this far already. 

"I have no idea, so let's explore this place," I frown, having a bad feeling about the cabin. 

[ A/N ]

!!! i've decided to end the story, there will be two, maybe three more chapters and that will be the end. I don't know about a sequel (don't know how many people are interested in one) so comment if you want one :) !!!

this chapter is dedicated to makynzie_rain for the votes, thanks a lot xx

 and i'm almost hitting 10K !! how crazy is that.