infinite • chris chambers

Chapter 14

"Mom! No, mom! It's gonna be okay!"I cried, holding my mom for the last few minutes that i could.

"Honey, i just want to tell you that i love you, and i always will,"Mom croaked out to me, holding my hand.

"No, mom. Stay with me, okay. Please"I begged, tears rolling down my cheeks. Mom started to fade, her eyes closing, and her breathing slowing. "No! Mom!" And then, she stopped. Her heart stopped..the time stopped. I closed my eyes, and then when i opened them, i was in a car. The passenger seat to be exact. I turned my head to see who was driving, but it was just a blurry image. I then turned my head again, but only to see us driving on a highway, in the rain. And that's when i felt something weird on press on my stomach. I looked down, and my stomach was huge! What the hell is going on! I glanced over at the side view mirror, and i looked..different. Older. I looked about, 20-21. But then, i heard a muffled voice. I turned my head to the highway, seeing a truck flip over. I tried to scream, but i couldn't. It was as if my lungs wouldn't work. The driver swerved, causing us to crash through the rail guards, and then i watched as the tree got closer to the car. This is it. I'm dead. The tree was getting closer and-

I gasped, jolting awake quickly.  My heart was racing quickly, and my mind was all over the place. What the hell was that about?

"You okay?"A quiet voice asked. I turned my head, my heart still pounding, seeing Chris staring at me in concern.

I nodded a little, unable to speak right now. I was so confused.

"You were dreaming. Just go back to sleep,"He said gently, then stood up, heading back over to the tree. He sat down, his knees up, holding the gun between his legs. You know what? I can't handle this anymore. I stood up, then walked over to him. He looked over at me as i sat down, handing him my blanket since he was still shirtless. He smiled a little wrapping it around him, but leaving some around me as well. He was to cute.

"I'm sorry, Chris,"I apologized after a few moments of silence, just the crickets chirping and the owls hooting.

"It's okay. I'm the one that blew up.."

"It's okay,"I mumbled.

"I just..I care about you that's all. I don't wanna see you get hurt.."He said, staring at everything but me. 

I nodded. "I know.."

I stayed silent for a few more moments, but that's when i noticed something different about him. Like, sadness.

"Are you okay?"I asked, looking over at him. He looked over at me, then shrugged.

"Just thinking about the way the people think of my family in this town, and me. How they think i'm just one of those low-life Chambers kids."

"That's not true,"I mumbled, staring at him. He turned his head, staring into my eyes.

"Oh, but it is. No one even asked me if i took the milk money that time. I just got an immediate three-day vacation,"He said.

"Did you take it?"I asked after a few seconds.

"Yeah, i did. Everyone knew i took it. And..maybe i was sorry and tried to give it back."

"You tried to give it back?"I asked in shock.

"Maybe i did. Just maybe..and maybe i took it to old lady Simons and told her..and that the money was all there. But i still got the three-day vacation because it never showed up to the principle. And maybe, the next week..old lady Simons had this brand-new suit on when she came to school.."He said, his eyes now getting watery, and his voice getting scratchier.

"That brown one with the flowers?"

"Yeah. So let's just say that i stole the milk money..but old lady Simons stole it back from me. Just suppose that i told the story. Me-Chris Chambers, kid bother to Eyeball Chambers. You think that anyone would believe it?"

"Chris-"

"No, they wouldn't. And do you think that the bitch woulda dared try something like that if it had been one of those douch bags from the View if they had taken it?"He cut me off.

"Well-"

"Hell, no. But with me?... Sure she had her eyes on that suit for a long time. And when she saw her chance..she took it. I was the stupid one for even trying to give it back,"He cut me off again, this time turning to the woods instead of me. I looked down at my shoes, sorrow running through my body. It was almost as if i could feel his pain.

I heard a quiet sob, and i looked up to see his lip quivering, his eyes now full of water. "I just never thought-i never thought a teacher-Who gives a fuck, anyway?"

"Chris, don't cry,"I mumbled, pain pouring all through me. I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder, trying to cheer him up.

"I just wish...that i could go someplace where nobody knows me,"He sobbed, crying harder after. I rubbed his shoulder, then looked up and kissed his cheek, then put my head back down.

"Don't say that, Chris.."

He sniffled. "I guess i'm just a pussy, huh?"

I shook my head. "No."

He mumbled a yeah, crying more. Eventually, we fell asleep like that. It was nice to finally talk to him again, even when he was sad. He was still the same Chris i met in 4th grade. And i'll always love him, no matter what he does or says.