Hell To Pay

Bad as Red

"I'm sure you're lying about not playing any drums for years." Chris laugh as they both take the beers after the very last song. "I'm not! I just have a good memory probably. Thanks to Chad who taught me." After one and a couple drinks they get into the silence and Sam suddenly gets really quiet. And then she says something, "I miss those times..."
"What's that?"
"You know. When I didn't really care about stuff, just playing with my brother and not knowing how to get hurt."
"When was your first time getting hurt? I mean in a romantic relationship.." Chris order some glasses of milk to reduce the alcohol so they can talk clearly this time. "Umm.. this is embarrassing, it's actually Fred. He's the first to get me into a real 'emotional' relationship."
"And then?"
"So, when he hurts me, I feel destroyed. I don't know if I can take something like that again. When I met Taylor after my first break up, I really tried not to make him into another that kind of relationship. And then he dated someone, and Fred was saving me and I got down into a rabbit hole again. And he hurt me again..."
"Yeah he's kind of jerk.."
"Well, talking about that Shiflett, your friend is kind of too.."
"Umm... sorry."
"No, no. That's fine. You know, after that I really made a promise not to get involved again with anyone up until I'm strong enough. But there he is. Taylor made me down into the pit trap again. But I thought like... Maybe it will be different, you know. Like if we're about to break up, it's not gonna because he's a cheater. But damn it I was wrong."

Chris seems like feel guilty for what his friend did to her. "I can't speak for him but I genuinely sorry about it."
"Come on. That's not your fault."
"I know..but still. I should've...." He stop for a while but then just randomly smile. "Nevermind. Haha."
"What's that? Tell me."
"Nothing Sam. Just maybe a glitch on my mind."
"That's not cool. Don't straight lie to me. I can smell that." Before they can talk further, Chris got a call so Sam let him slip away. But she knows for sure Chris was about to say something before he pulled back. Also, he looked quite sad at that moment.

After he took the call, he goes back and now she can clearly see more sadness. But not the same type of sad like earlier. It's something else. "You still wanna stay here? I...I think I'm going back now."
"No.. no. I'll going back too."
"Okay. My car is in the back." He looks down all the time. Not really much like Chris that she usually see.

They both get inside the car and Chris, without saying anything just drive away from there. "Hey umm... You wanna tell me what happened?" She waits as he keeps looking on the road. But not a single word is being said. "Chris? Hey..."
"Yeah? Sorry I didn't hear you."
"Are you okay?"
"Me? Yeah." Even though he avoid any eye contact with her, but she still can see how much he was crushed by anything during that phone call.

Just when they reach a turn, he pulls over and stop the car. "Umm..wait here okay. I need to go somewhere."
"But it's raining outside.."
"Just wait, okay. It's not gonna long." He then goes outside and enter a house. She has no idea whose house is that but it seems like a very close one to him.

Just like what he said, he comes back in just 6 minutes and sit back in the car. This time soaked wet from the rain with red eyes. She has no idea wether he's angry, upset, sad, or all of them."Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"You want me to drive the car? If you're not feeling okay to do that." He nods and let her takes his seat. She doesn't have any gut to ask him what just happened yet. She feels like better to let him spoil the emotional thing first. "If you wanna scream, cry, or anything... I don't mind...you know, no need to be worry to me." It cracks him a little bit because she see him chuckles. "I'm fine."
"Well, if you say so.. but if you really need anything later, tell me. Okay? Except if you expect me to make some good food. Because I suck on that."
"I know.. thanks Sam."
"You're very welcome."

Soon after they arrive at their apartment, Chris goes into his room to change his clothes and get clean while Sam is taking her laptop out to check if there is any mails from work. But all she can find is just a mail from Chad.

How was Barbados? Good enough? Send me some pictures!

Sam is almost forget that her brother sent her tickets which she never used. And Chad knows nothing about her break up. "Damn it! What should I say?"

Uh, about that. I was sick Chad. I couldn't go there.

She send it back and get a quick response.

Hey you know what? The tickets still available until this weekend. You still can go if you want.

To be honest, she really doesn't want to disappoint him. Both with the break up nor wasting the tickets for nothing. So she got a plan.

Well, if you say so. I'll go then. Thanks for the ticket Chad!

Now she only need to pack her stuff and goes for it tomorrow. She brings her clothes, all her traveling outfit and take out a big bag out of her closet. "Sam? Can we talk?" Chris then open her room without warning. "Geez! You scared me."
"Sorry... I really need to.... Wait, are you leaving?" He looks at her, and her bag, confused. "This? Oh... No, I'm just going to have a quick travel tomorrow. I'll be back before Saturday."
"Travel? Where?"
"Barbados..."
"Nice place...."
"It is .. by the way, you need to talk to me?"
"Yes..." She step out from her room and then follow him to the couch.

"You wanna tell me what happened earlier?"
"Yes that one, also the one that I almost said to you....." He looks at her, like scared to disappoint her or something. "Just say it."
"I just broke up. The phone call, it's a goodbye. The house I went to? My ex's house."
"But why?"
"Because she doesn't feel it anymore. Technically I bored her. I mean... The reason why I moved to this apartment is because she asked me to give her some space. But it doesn't matter now. She dumped me."
"I'm sorry to hear that..."
"No, don't feel sorry. I should've seen it coming. I'm just won't accept that. And about what I said to you .... Actually Taylor was kinda slipped out some words months ago. That he was kinda 'lose the feel' about you. Same thing like what happened to me. That's why I feel guilty for not telling you. Maybe at least you could see it coming." She's stoned. She Didn't know about it, since Taylor is always so nice to her and else. So it's kinda answer some questions on her mind all this time. "You know what Chris? Screw that." She smirks, trying not to feel the pain again. "Yeah, you right. Screw that."

"Indeed. And, what about going to Barbados with me? I got two tickets."