Don't Worry || Chris Chambers x Reader

Still Breathing

~Y/N's POV~

I woke up with a smile on my face. Even though I've been here for under three days, it seemed like I'd known everyone here my entire life. I ruffled my hand through my hair hastily, got dressed, and ran out the door. The brittle dirt crunches under my feet as I make a turn. I keep walking forward on the pavement as I hear footsteps approaching from the left. I look over to see Gordie and Duchamp making their way over. But, they weren't looking at me; rather past me. I turn to see what they're looking at, only to be face to face with Ace once again. 

Gordie and Teddy hadn't seen me, and kept walking, not wanting to get caught up with Ace. However they weren't the ones that Ace was focused on. Not this time.

"Hey Kitten. Nice to see you out and about again." He says, smirking. 

I stop in my tracks. "What do you want from me?"

He and his friends share a quick laugh. "I saw you running around with those kids, why not stick with us? We're much better." 

"I doubt it. Unlike some people," I stare directly into Ace's eyes. "They actually care about me" 

I can see Teddy stop and turn around, to see the scene happening behind him. Lachance turns to see what was going on, only to see me being stubborn. 

"Ooh this Kitten has claws." One of the guys remarks.

"Shut it Eyeball." Ace spits.

I clear my throat and shoot a blank look over to Eyeball, then back to Ace. "If you've got any important business with me, then speak your mind. If not," I pause. "then leave."

Ace cracks the joints in his hand one by one as he slowly approaches, his eyes narrowing in on me as my heart begins pounding against my rib cage. Eyeball and the rest of the boys back away-- which confused me. Ace places his cold hand on my chin, running it across my jawline. The sensation sent an eerie chill down my spine as I stood still, my feet glued to the dusty pavement. 

"You wouldn't want me to leave, now would you?" He purrs. 

I could feel myself breathing heavily, unable to speak, shivering from the tone of his voice. My eyes focus on Teddy and Gordie quietly approaching Ace. Not even Eyeball would dare to speak in this tense moment, it was as if the entire world had stopped moving, like my life was in Ace's hands. 

Ace glides his fingers down to my neck, wrapping them around my throat, choking me ever so slightly. "Now would you?" He repeats. "Y/N."

Air can barely escape from my lungs as cool tears began to run down my cheeks, my face turning red. "A-Ace I c-can't..."

Nearly on my last breath of air, all I can see is Teddy's fist, forcing itself on Ace's jaw at lightning speed. I was pulled by the force, but barely seconds after, Ace's grip on my neck loosens and I free myself from his grasp. I stumble backwards, seeing Ace on the ground with Teddy on top of him, relentlessly beating him as Eyeball stands stunned. 

"Go god damn it, go!" Gordie yells at me.

I simply nod and bolt off, tears still coming down from my eyes as I make my way to the tree house. I run up the ladder, shoving the door open, and throwing myself into the corner; shaking. 

"Y/N? Are you alright?" Chris asks. 

I look up to him, still a crying mess, unable to speak as I continued to gasp for air.

"What happened?"

Finally, I'm able to spit out words frantically. "I-I. He. Ace." I couldn't bare to say more, his name was like poison to me. Coughing, I look back over to Chris-- he was getting mad."

"What the hell did he do to you?" He can barely keep himself calm.

I take a deep breath. "I ran into him and he nearly killed me but..." I pause. "But Teddy saved me"

Chris looks up at me, with more pain in his eyes than anger. "T-Teddy?"

"Yeah. I've got to thank him for that, I really owe it to him, he saved my life."

He pauses, and with no thinking-- Chris blurts out, "Do you love him Y/N?

I was taken aback by his comment. Did I love Teddy? I didn't know what to think. "I don't know, I can barely process my emotions." I respond. 

He looks pained by my answer, which was eerily different from Chris's normal aura. He breaks eye contact, and looks down at his feet. "You do, don't you."

I cocked my head, "I said I don't know. I barely know him, how could I love him?" I said, almost ferociously. 

"Why else would he help you then?" He starts heating up with anger again. 

"Because we're friends, and I don't think any friend would let me die Chris." I stare blankly at the wall just behind him. 

He looks up at me quickly, then back down to the floor. "Sorry for yelling, I just don't know what else to say. I didn't mean anything by it, I swear."

"I-I know Chris, it's alright, I was just worked up after my run-in with Ace and Eyeball." I whisper

Chris's head jolts up. "Eyeball?" 

"Yeah.. you know him?" I ask, looking up at him softly.

He takes a sharp breath in, "Know him? He's my brother. Nobody thinks I'm any better than him, that's why I stay out of the house all night. I can't put up with him."

I look out the window behind him, the moonlight softly caressing the grass as night begun to set in. "Are you going home today?" 

His eyebrows pressed into his forehead. "Home? God no, I'm staying here."

I sigh, "My dad probably wouldn't notice if wasn't home tonight."

He looks up with the same pain in his eyes that he had the first time I brought up his dad. 

"Let's just stay here tonight" He suggests.

I nod softly, picking a corner to sleep in adjacent from Chris. I pull out a deck of cards from beside me and lay out a hand for blackjack. He flips his cards over in his hand a few times before deciding to join in on the game with me. In the pale moonlight, the time slowly cruised by as Chris moved next to me to play. 

I shift over, turning towards Chris and clearing my throat, "What's on your mind?" I ask, Chris clearly appearing to have his mind elsewhere

He pushes a hand through his hair, "I guess I could tell you."