Remedy [MxM]

Chapter 08: What (maybe not) to do When Your Friend is Emotionally Stressed

This chapter was edited on 2/1/2016 and includes minor alterations. Enjoy!

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Due to the incident, shall we say, I hadn't seen Chris in roughly a month. I didn't like that, because I didn't like the idea of him being with Eliot—what if Eliot did it again? Or did worse? Basically, I just didn't like the idea of Chris having to put up with the asshole and not knowing how he was holding up. I don't want to see Chris get hurt. Even if he does need to be knocked down a few pegs on occasion. But he still doesn't deserve what Eliot did.

"Arden. Dude. You said you'd help me with math. C'mon. This stuff won't solve itself."

I jumped slightly, looking across the dining room table to Lizzie. I told her I'd help her with her math since I wasn't doing much else while I was watching her in the afternoons, but I hadn't thought about how much concentration went into it. I was too busy worrying about Chris to focus on Lizzie's homework.

"You don't know that." I replied. She raised an eyebrow at that, giving me an unamused look.

"Arden. This isn't Harry Potter."

"Well if it was, you'd be the random extra that gets killed."

"Well you'd be a Hufflepuff," she replied.

"You take that back." I said, exaggerating a gasp. Lizzie stuck her tongue out at me in response, and I settled for leaning back in my chair to stretch my arms in the brief moment of silence.

Suddenly though she looked over to me, raising an eyebrow curiously. "So, seen your girlfriend lately? I haven't seen any hickeys on you recently."

If I'd been drinking something I probably would've choked at how unexpected the question was, and as it was I had to clear my throat before glaring a little at my sister. "I don't have a girlfriend, genius. Last one cheated on me, remember?"

"I remember. You like to bring it up a lot. So, boyfriend then?"

"No, there are no significant others in my life.

"C'mon Arden. You can't give yourself a hickey. Your neck's too short."

"One-night stands are a thing, you know." I said. She rolled her eyes at that, homework momentarily forgotten.

"You don't get all mopey over a one-night stand. Just tell me honestly—is there someone?"

I stared back. I couldn't answer, because, well, I didn't know. I wasn't sure what to call Chris. I mean, we'd had sex multiple times, granted I was drunk for a few of them, but still. Then again, I haven't seen him in a while. He was supposed to just be a one-night stand anyway, what the hell happened to that plan?

"Well?" she pressed. I sighed, leaning back.

"I don't know."

She wrinkled up her nose, no doubt not appreciating the vague answer, tilting her head slightly while watching me. "Well, maybe you should go on a date with them."

I snorted, holding my hand up to my face to hide the smile. Really? Go on a date with Chris? I can barely function with him outside of the bedroom. Then again, this is a thirteen-year-old's suggestion, so I didn't have to actually use it. Still, the idea of going on a date with Chris was sort of hilarious. He'd probably be such an asshole about the whole thing, and I couldn't help myself as I laughed at the thought.

Lizzie shrugged at my laughing. "Fine. Don't get laid then."

That made the laughing stop abruptly, and I gave her a look. She only raised an eyebrow back at me before she was focusing on her homework again. She really knew too much for a kid, sometimes. As much as I hated to admit it though, for the rest of the afternoon until Mom got home I was considering the idea of what a date with Chris would be like. Which explained why I was sitting in my car outside of an apartment building I hadn't seen in a month. I didn't see any unusual cars, like Eliot's, so I assumed it was safe to venture inside. And what, exactly, did it say about me that I was able to look at all the cars in the parking lot and know that all of them were there on a regular basis? Probably nothing good.