Chris Evans: The Guy Next Door

Chapter 20

**Bella's POV

A lot had changed in the three years Chris had been in the hospital. 

I had graduated from college, and have been working as a hair and makeup artist at a production company in Boston, as well as traveling to LA to work for Paramount and Disney occasionally.

I had recently got a job offer at Paramount to work there, but things changed when Chris woke up, so I still haven't decided if I am going to stay. 

~

I was just walking out my door to go to the grocery store for my mom when I saw a tall handsome man sitting on my front porch.

"Oh, hi Chris." I smiled.

"Hey, Bella. Whatcha up to?"

"Going grocery shopping, you know, fun stuff like that." I joked.

"Sounds exciting, want some company?" He said as he got up and followed me to my car.

"Sure, why not." I smiled at him.

As drove to the grocery store, we sat in awkward silence.

"Did you want to talk about something, or do you just really like grocery shopping?" I asked him.

He woke from his stare at the road and did a half smile before clearing his throat.

"Yeah. I need some advice."

"Okay, I can do that. I'm good at telling people what to do." I joked.

He laughed, but it wasn't his normal chipper-jolly laugh. He sounded concerned and nervous. 

"It just kind of hit me, missing three years of my life. I'm confused."

"About what?" I asked as I pulled into the parking lot. 

"Am I supposed to feel the same way now as I did when I got into the accident? Like continue on with life as if nothing happened? Or kind of... I don't know... start over?" He turned and stared his deep blue eyes into mine. 

I thought about what he said as we walked into the store. 

"I think that you can't completely continue on like nothing happened, because something did. The accident is a part of your life now. You have to figure out what and who changed. Rekindle the relationships with people who you feel have changed, and figure out their worth in your life. Other things might have stayed the same. Just continue on with them. I think that's all you really can do." 

"Yeah. I guess you're right." He didn't make eye contact or talk after that. He just followed me around the store deep in thought.

I was worried. His silence made me feel like he was questioning our "relationship"- whatever it was.

~

I pulled into Chris' driveway to drop him off. He didn't get out of the car.

"You okay?"

He turned to look at me. "I thought a lot about what you said. I think everyone stayed the same for the most part."

Phew. That part made me feel so relieved.

"Obviously there are little things that changed about each person. But I feel like the people that mean the most in my life are the same. And I'm glad. After thinking a ton, I've realized I feel the same exact way about everyone now as I did before the accident."

Uh oh.

"So you're going to pick up where you left off?" I asked.

"I think so." 

  That part hurt. That meant he still was going to propose.  

He smiled at me with a true, honest smile and I returned a forced smile.

"Do you want to come over later for dinner? We are ordering pizza?" He asked.

"Uh no thanks, I think my mom already made dinner."

That was a lie. The truth was I was home alone for the night. But I felt sick to my stomach knowing that I helped Chris decide to keep his proposal with Mandy.

~

I just don't understand him. He's always so nice and less mysterious towards me when he's all set on Mandy. Maybe I misread our relationship. He wasn't into me like that, only as a friend. 

At least my decision about staying in Boston was now made easier.