Traitor // Short story // The Sturniolo Triplets x reader (✓)

8

the next day, i felt like talking to chris about what was going on. i had no idea if he was keeping something from me—it felt like there was.

i walked over to their apartment in downtown somerville, a small area filled with trees and beautiful houses. the triplets' apartment was super well taken care of, and the landscaping around the building was very pretty, especially with autumn here.

i walked up to the front door and knocked. nick answered the door.

'oh, hey y/n! what's up?' nick said, smiling.

'hey nick, is chris here? i need to talk to him,' i replied.

'um, yeah! he's in his room. you can head on in if you want.'

'thanks, i'll do just that.'

i walked into the house and made my way toward chris's room. he was sitting at his desk. i looked at his screen, and it seemed like he was talking to someone on instagram, but i couldn't make out the name because he closed the tab when he saw i was there.

'y/n, what are you doing here?' he asked, turning to face me in his chair.

'just wanted to talk to you, i guess,' i replied.

he looked at me and folded his arms. was he mad at me?

'ok then, what's up?' he ended up saying.

i sat down on his bed, fidgeting with my fingers. 'are you hiding something from me?' i asked.

chris looked taken aback by that question and replied quickly, 'n-no, i'm not. why would you think such a thing?'

i knew he was lying again, but there was no proof—i could just tell. 'chris, i know you better than that. you've been distant lately, and it feels like you're not telling me something important. if there's something going on, you can tell me. i just want to help.'

chris stood up. 'there is nothing that i'm hiding. now please leave my room, i'm kinda in the middle of doing something.'

i stood up and walked out, feeling defeated. i didn't think chris would ever tell me what was going on, but i had to try.

~time skip~

it was now the next day, and it was only five days from halloween. something felt even more off for some reason. after work, i went back to the fire, something felt so off, but i couldn't tell just what yet.

i felt like i was getting nowhere with this. maybe i should just stop—this is just me overthinking, and chris might just need some space or something.

but just as i was finishing that thought, a huge bang came out of nowhere, and as i looked to my right, i saw a house not too far away on fire. i ran as fast as i could to the house. many people were already there and calling 911. it seemed like the people in the house got out in time. thank goodness.

just as i was about to walk away after knowing no one got hurt, i saw chris.

chris stood on the edge of the crowd, his face illuminated by the flickering flames of the burning house. his expression was tense, almost haunted, and for a moment, he didn't notice me approaching. when he finally did, his eyes widened in surprise, but it quickly shifted to something unreadable—almost like he was caught doing something he shouldn't have been.

'chris, what are you doing here?' i asked, my voice sharper than i intended.

he hesitated for a moment, then shoved his hands into his pockets, looking away. 'i was just... i don't know, i heard the explosion and came to check it out like everyone else.'

but something about his demeanor didn't sit right with me. the way he was avoiding eye contact, the way his body was tensed as if ready to flee—it all felt wrong.

'are you sure? because you don't seem like you're just an innocent bystander,' i pressed, stepping closer to him.

chris's jaw clenched, and i could see the conflict in his eyes. he looked like he was on the verge of saying something, but then he shook his head. 'this isn't your business, y/n. just go home.'

his words stung, and the coldness in his voice made it worse. i could feel the frustration boiling up inside me, the need to know what was going on. 'it is my business when my best friend starts acting like a stranger! you've been hiding something from me, and now i find you here, at the scene of a fire, looking like you've seen a ghost? what the hell is going on, chris?'

chris snapped then, his eyes flashing with anger. 'you don't understand, y/n! you don't get it! not everything revolves around you and your need to know every little detail!'

his words hit me like a slap in the face, and for a moment, i was too stunned to respond. 'what are you talking about? i'm just trying to help, chris. why are you pushing me away?'

'because you're not helping! you're just making things worse!' chris shot back, his voice rising. 'you're so focused on figuring out what's going on that you don't see what's right in front of you!'

'what are you even talking about?' i shouted, frustration bubbling over. 'if you'd just tell me, maybe i could understand!'

'just leave it alone, y/n! it's better if you don't know!' chris's voice cracked at the end, and i could see the pain in his eyes, the turmoil he was trying so hard to hide.