Christopher's Playhouse

Chapter 16: Heather & Tina Pt. 1

Los Angeles, California: 

The quiet hum of the city settled as Christopher and Sloane wandered back from yet another evening spent in each other's company. The past few weeks had blurred into a whirlwind of laughter, long talks, and the rush of getting to know each other beyond the initial attraction that had drawn them together. Sloane felt a strange calm when she was with him—a soft, grounded feeling she hadn't quite known in her past relationships. But tonight, she could sense something different in Christopher's demeanor. He hadn't been as forthcoming with his usual easy banter, instead eyeing her with a quiet intensity.

As they reached his door, he stopped her, taking her hand as he leaned against the doorframe.

"You know so much about me by now," he said, his voice gentle but probing. "I want to know what drives you, Sloane. What made you into the woman you are today?"

She swallowed, feeling the weight of his question. Normally, she'd offer a quick response, something glib to steer away from going too deep. But the way Christopher looked at her made it feel safe, like this was finally her moment to let someone else see what she'd held close for so long.

"It's... complicated," she started, letting out a breathy laugh as she leaned into him. "My mother... she was a complicated woman. Controlling, you could say. Everything had to be perfect—at least, her idea of perfect." Sloane paused, her mind slipping back to years of pageants, recitals, and endless tutoring sessions. "I was her project, her perfect little doll. Beauty pageants, straight As, everything you could imagine. She had plans for me to go to med school, and I followed those plans. I was well on my way, almost through grad school when she... when she passed."

Christopher's hand tightened on hers, grounding her. "And you didn't finish?"

She shook her head. "No, after she died, I felt like I could finally breathe. I was so sheltered, so naive and ignorant to life something school just couldn't teach. So I dropped out. It wasn't because I didn't love her, it's just that—" Sloane paused, feeling a familiar ache rise in her chest. "Life just felt simpler, less like I was living someone else's dream. I still feel sad she's gone, but... I just couldn't keep living under her shadow. So, I left that part of my life behind and started fresh, working with Dr. Beale and figuring out what I wanted."

Christopher brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his eyes soft with understanding. "It must've been hard... stepping away from everything you knew."

"It was," Sloane murmured, "but I swore I'd never let anyone control me like that again." Her voice had a fierce edge, a spark that reminded Christopher of why he'd been drawn to her from the start.

They held each other's gaze, the night thick with unspoken promises, until Christopher leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss across her lips. It was a kiss that spoke of acceptance, not just of the parts of herself she'd just shared, but of all the things that had yet to be spoken. Their mouths moved together, soft at first, then quickly deepening into something more urgent and passionate. Sloane felt his hands grip her waist, pulling her closer, melding their bodies into one as if they were meant to be together in this moment.

The kiss deepened, becoming a dance of exploration. Sloane pressed herself against him, reveling in the warmth of his body and the way he responded to her every movement. She felt his fingers slide up her back, sending shivers down her spine, as he tilted her head to gain better access to her mouth. It was intoxicating, the way they lost themselves in each other, oblivious to everything else around them.