Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Rain poured for two straight days, and honestly, I couldn't be bothered to step outside. I skimmed a couple of books at Chris's place and brainstormed ideas for a new play. After Mrs. Lori left post-dinner, I was lounging on the sofa, watching "Titanic" when Chris made an appearance. It was rare for him to return before ten o'clock. Then it clicked – tomorrow was Labor Day, a public holiday. Fresh out of the shower and in his PJs, Chris joined me. I was in the middle of a full-on sob fest as Jack succumbed to hypothermia in the icy waters. Chris didn't say a word; he simply sat on the other end of the sofa and watched the remainder of the movie with me. Later, he asked, "Is my place really that boring?" With puffy, red eyes and a slightly woozy head, I asked him what he meant. He inched closer and said, "My mom told me that when you're alone and bored, you like to watch tragedies." "Ah," I replied, "but when I'm with friends, I'd rather watch something happier. Two people sobbing their eyes out isn't exactly a vibe." "So isn't it sadder to watch a tragedy alone than with someone else?" he asked. Sadder? I wasn't sure. I'd been watching tragedies solo since I was a kid. Whenever I got a bad grade or found out Mom was favoring Michael again, or after being scolded by her, I'd cry after watching a sad movie. If someone asked why I was crying, I'd simply say it was because of the tragic film. Over the years, it turned into a habit. When I'm feeling down, I watch, and it's become a solitary activity. Now, someone asked, "Isn't it more painful to watch alone?" Emotionally wrecked by "Titanic," I reached out and said, "It's painful, can you hold me?" And Chris actually hugged me. Back in my room, I couldn't believe what I'd just done. Me! Asking Chris to hold me! Wild! I'm Elizabeth Johnson! And that's Chris! I felt my face burning and saw in the bathroom mirror that it had turned tomato-red. Smacking the mirror, I cursed myself for being weak. But Chris had been so gentle. Ah, how could Chris and "gentle" even belong in the same sentence? I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. At 3 AM, I DM'd Lily. "I wanna ditch single life." Her instant response: "Have you two slept?" ??? Excuse me, but who's the real wild one here?