A Chance Meeting | Chris Evans

Chapter 108

Part 1 - Misunderstanding...
*
6.00pm
Oh my God! It's Justin! He's really here!
For long seconds, no one spoke. Becca just stared at Justin, unable to look away. The shock of seeing him here, now, rendering her mute.
In the end he broke the silence.
'Hello Becky.' He said, watching her warily for her reaction.
He's waiting for me to fall apart.
She waited too. Waited for the pain - for the sadness and yearning she always felt when she looked at him.
But it wasn't coming.
That spiralling, sick feeling that she'd had before wasn't there either.
I don't feel it!
It's gone!
She smiled, and Justin hesitantly smiled back.
It doesn't hurt to look at him.
Oh my God! It's gone! It's really gone!
I'm over him!
The smile grew into a grin, loaded with more relief than she'd ever felt.
He was just her friend again. Her friend who she hadn't seen in a year.
'Oh God, Justin.' She said, stepping forward and giving him a small hug, which he returned lightly, seemingly unsure how to act.
'I...err...I'm sorry for turning up, I know I promised-' He began.
'No, it's fine.' She interrupted, waving the concern away with her hand. 'It's absolutely fine.'
'Really?'
'Really.' She said, grinning again. 'It's so good to see you.'
Justin grinned back at last. 'It's good to see you too.'
She hugged him again, and this time he returned the hug with enthusiasm.
It felt so good to be able to hug him again as a friend, and not have that cloud hanging over her.
'I've missed you so much.' She mumbled against his chest.
'Likewise.' He said.
She stepped back out of the hug. 'So, how long have you been here in the States?'
'Just a few days.'
'I'm guessing that it's your green monstrosity parked outside?' She asked, grinning.
'Yeah. I asked the rental guy for the brightest car they had.' He grinned back.
She shook her head in mock disapproval.
There was a sudden noise from the doorway, she turned. Chris was looking at her with an odd expression on his face
Oh God! Chris!
She'd been so pleased to see Justin and so relieved to know that she was over him, that she'd totally forgotten Chris was there.
'I gotta go.' Chris blurted out, turned and almost ran out of the flat.
'No, Chris, wait.' Becca called, but he'd already gone.
'Hang on a minute.' She said to Justin and followed Chris. But by the time she got outside, all she saw was his car speeding away.
Okay, what just happened? Why'd he run off like that?
Was it because Justin's here?
Or did he have a panic attack?
She tried to call, but it went straight to answer phone, so she left a worried message: 'Hey. It's Becca. Are you okay? Give me a call when you get this, please.'

*

Chris jumped in the car and floored the accelerator, wheels squealing.
His heart was pounding. His hands were shaking. He couldn't breathe.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
They'd all looked at him.
They'd all seen him panicking.
He just had to get away.
His phone rang, but he ignored it, unable to talk to anyone right now.

*

'Everything okay?' Viv asked as Becca came back in.
'I'm not really sure.' Becca admitted. 'He's gone - he just drove off.'
'Drove off? But I thought you guys were doing pizza and movie night?'
'Yeah, we were meant to be.'
'So, is he coming back?' Ella asked.
Becca shook her head in confusion. 'I don't know. I tried to call, but his phone's going straight to voicemail.'
'I'll try messaging him.' She added.

Becs 📚
Are you okay?

Becs 📚
What happened? Why'd you leave?

'Was that who I think it was?' Justin asked, coming over.
'You didn't tell him?' Becca asked Viv.
'We told him that you were kinda, sorta, not quite dating someone.' Ella said with a shrug.
'But you didn't say that it was Chris Evans!' Justin said, looking amazed. 'Why'd he bolt?' He added.
'Not entirely sure.' Becca said with a shake of the head.
I hope he's okay.

*

6.38pm
Chris pulled over to the kerb and leant his head against the steering wheel. The driving had helped to calm his heart rate and his breathing a bit, but now the inevitable wave of shame washed over him.
He'd panicked. Again.
And they'd all looked.
So he'd run.
Like a maniac.
God, what's wrong with me?
Why do I do this?
Why can't I just handle these situations like normal people do?
Had they noticed him panicking?
Had Becs?
Not that it mattered now.
Now Justin was back.
It'd been like a punch to the gut, walking in and seeing her ex. But her reaction had been a thousand times worse.
She hadn't been able to take her eyes off him!
And the way she'd smiled!
She'd just looked so happy.
He'd stood there watching the two of them together, feeling like someone had shoved a knife into his heart.
She still loves him!
What had she said to him - 'I missed you so much'!
He'd felt like he wanted to throw up.
His heart had started pounding, his hands had shook and he couldn't catch his breath. And he'd known what was coming.
Then he'd obviously made some kind of noise, because Becs turned and looked at him. And he hadn't missed the sudden widening of her eyes.
She'd forgotten I was there!
She'd been so wrapped up in her ex that she'd completely forgotten about him!
That hurt.
To be that unimportant to her.
He wiped his palms across his eyes.
Why did her ex have to turn up now?
It's not fair!
I was gonna tell her tonight!
And now it was all blown to hell.
His phoned binged again. He'd ignored it while he'd been driving, but now he could see that Becs had left a voicemail and messages, obviously from just after he'd left.
'Hey. It's Becca. Are you okay? Give me a call when you get this.'

Becs 📚
Are you okay?

Becs 📚
What happened? Why'd you leave?

Then one from a minute ago.

Becs 📚
Chris???

Why'd I leave?
Oh, I dunno, maybe because I just realised that you're still in love with your ex.
And it's breaking my heart because I know there's nothing I can do about it.
He rubbed his palms over his face.
He knew he should call her and let her know that he was okay, but the thought of speaking to her right now made his heart race again. She must've seen that he'd had a panic attack, and he didn't want to talk about it or deal with her pity. So he'd message her.

Chris 🤪
I'm fine.

There, at least now she knows that I'm not dead in a ditch or something.
*
Sorry that I kept jumping backwards and forwards between Chris and Becca's POV - I couldn't think of another way to do it.
Part 2 to follow very soon. xx