Title: Resolution
Genre: Angst/Drama
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Katy is scared, and makes Kris chose between her and Adam. There is a huge rift carved in both relationships, and Kris is torn between his wife and his best friend. When the unthinkable happens - how will he cope?
Notes:
All right, so I wrote this awhile back. I'm going back and editing it to make it better and posting here. Some things you should know...
I LOVE SARVER!!! He was originally the meanie in this story, but after I realized how much I love him, I had to change it. Danny Gokey is now the antagonist, and no, I don't hate Danny as much as this story would imply, but I don't like him all that much. I don't actually think he's anything like the way he's portrayed in this.
Adam's eyes had gone dark, and his voice was uncharacteristically low, laced with anger. "You're telling me... you don't want to be around me anymore?"
Kris scrubbed at his face desperately, hating the look of utter disbelief and betrayal etched on his friend's face in place of the usual cheeky grin and eyes glowing bright with mischief. "It's not that... it's just... m-m-me and Katy... we've grown apart... and it's been hard, so hard... she t-thinks, she thinks... it's well, because of you..."
His eyes flashed dangerously, and Kris added, "Probably unfairly... and she's making me choose... she's my wife, Adam... I-I... fuck, I can't... it's not that I think she's right, it's that I'm scared to lose her - I can't lose her."
Adam's stormy eyes were trained elsewhere. "Let me get this straight, Kristopher." A shiver crawled up and down Kris' spine. "We can't be friends anymore because your wife is jealous of how close we are... you still want to be friends with me, but you are too afraid to test her further, so you can't?" He laughed listlessly. "Katy thinks our friendship is jeopardizing your marriage? What the fuck, Kris? Are you serious?"
Kris sighed, realizing how stupid it all was. "It's not so much that - it's just been hard for us... after being apart so long, and just been married... we've lost our sparks, and she sees how I am when I spend time with you, and she is jealous... she wants that back, Adam. It's not that she blames you..."
"It's just that... well, she blames me." Adam snapped. "Don't sidestep me, Kris. I get it. She's your wife. You choose her. Forgive me for thinking our relationship actually meant something... my mistake. It won't happen again. Give Katy all my love."
And he stalked away, leaving Kris alone. Tears sprung into his eyes, and he didn't bother hiding them. How had it come to this? He knew over the course of the competition that his relationship with Katy was suffering, and in conjunction with that, his with Adam had been blossoming dramatically. For a moment, he felt a bolt of not quite hatred, but annoyed frustration for Katy - for making him do this... for causing that look to come across Adam's face, and for making him rip his heart into pieces.
His fingers slipped clumsily as he dialed her number, and she picked up after one ring. "So... did you talk to him?"
He sniffled, wincing. "Yes. I told him. Katy... why? Why did you make me do that?"
"Kris, do you love me, or not?" She demanded, her voice suddenly tinged with a venom unlike Kris had ever heard.
"Of course I do... Katy, what kind of question is that?" Salty moisture poured onto his phone as he pressed it to his cheek, begging with her. "But I love Adam too - he's my best friend! How could you make me choose?! Don't you love me, Katy? Don't you care about how much this fucking hurts me?!!"
"Don't even go there." She murmured bitterly. "Kris, I can see how close you two are, but what about us? We all make sacrifices, Kris. Welcome to marriage. I'm your wife. I had to deal with you... being in that competition, I had to be alone, had to go through watching us slowly lose what we had... and that hurt... but I did it because I love you..."
"You said you wanted me to! You supported me, Katy! And you know I'm sorry for not being able to be with you all that time... don't throw that in my face..." Kris was tired, so tired.
"But the show's over, Kris! And still, even before this tour, you spent more time with him than me... you never smiled around me, we never talked... American Idol ruined us! You know we're losing it, and he just keeps getting closer to you... I just want you back... Kris... that's all." She was borderline hysterical.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, head pounding. "Katy, I love you... I miss what we had, and I'm sorry we lost it... but this is wrong."
"What's wrong..." She whispered, "...is that you seem to value..." She paused, and Kris drew in a sharp breath. "I mean... you value Adam more than me."
He clenched his free hand into a fist, knuckles going white. "That's not true! Katy... we've got problems... we'll work them out, but do I really have to destroy the... one of the best things that ever happened to me?"
"I'm the best thing that ever happened to you. Your friendship with him... how could you even compare the two things?" Her voice had an edge of horror in it. "What has happened to you? What's he done to you? I... I-I... you know I never completely approved of his lifestyle... I tried to l-look past that, but I can't anymore! You'd rather spend time with him than me... and did you realize that there's fans out there now... they see you two as a... as a c-c-couple? You and... he's.... I just...." She took a breath, seeming to realize how panicky her tone had gone. Softening, she finished, "Please, Kris. Do this for me. For us..." He heard tiny sobs on the other end. "I love you."
"Fuck..." he breathed. "Katy... I'm sorry; this is such a mess... I don't want to lose you or Adam... but..." His eyes traveled to the closed door of the bus, which Adam had slammed in his hasty departure. "It's too late to apologize..." He laughed insincerely; a wet, teary laugh lodging deep in his throat.
"Kris... this needs to happen. Or we're over, and you know it." Katy told him.
"Maybe we're over already." Kris found himself saying, and he snapped his phone shut. Rubbing his temples, he threw himself unto the bottom bunk of the bed, tears still coursing down his cheeks. He ignored the rings of his phone for the next fifteen minutes.
Everyone quickly noticed the cold chill that had settled between Kris and Adam, even Scott, who, unlike the others, could not see the empty look Kris sent Adam's back, and how Adam refused to let his eyes meet Kris'. Christian, their bus driver, even noticed the space suddenly put between them. There was a strange cautiousness that everyone began to take around them, speaking gently and tentatively.
"Adam..." Allison piped up softly, one night after one of the shows. "Wanna play cards with me and Lil?" She gestured to the deck Lil was shuffling. The two girls were hanging out with the guys for the night.
"No... thank you, Allie." Adam's voice was hoarse. "I think I'm going to bed. Goodnight, you two." And he moved across the room, stepping over Kris' legs and retreating.
The fact that Kris' presence on the couch in the hotel room had gone ignored by Adam was not lost on Allison and Lil. They looked at Kris for a moment, and Kris swallowed hard, blinking back tears. The last thing he needed was for them to see him cry over this.
Allison shook her head, then sighed, before relaxing and putting on a fake grin. "How about you, Kris?"
Kris slid slowly off the couch, face blank. "Um, ok... sure."
It wasn't like he had anything else to do, and following Adam was certainly not an option. He grudgingly joined their game, forcing half-hearted chuckles at the banter.
But nothing could distract him from the ache in his heart.
"Adam..." He croaked, reaching out and snagging one of the sleeves of Adam's jacket, the black leather nearly slipping through his fingers. He held firm, but his voice was shaky. "P-please... let's talk... I need..."
Adam took a breath, then pointedly wrenched his arm from Kris' grip, the glare on his face like daggers. "Talk?!" He spat incredulously. "I thought that was forbidden?"
"Adam..." Kris hated how pathetic he sounded; his voice was so tiny and squeaky. "Please... I... I haven't talked to Katy since that night... I couldn't." The confession left Kris searching Adam's eyes for any sort of hope.
Adam exhaled slowly through his nostrils, dramatically showing his exasperation. "You haven't talked to me, either. What's your point?"
"Don't be ridiculous..." He replied, voice cracking painfully. "You haven't exactly been receptive to me even TRYING to talk to you."
"I have to go rehearse." Adam said flatly. The Idols had come for a visit to this tour stop's arena, to rehearse their vocals for the stage show that night.
"Adam... please." Kris begged. "I've been thinking about me and her... and well, everything... and you..." He trailed off, gulping.
"I'm listening." Was Adam's answer, in harsh monotone.
"I told her it was wrong. Wrong to make me choose. Wrong to do that to you." The words tumbled out of his mouth.
Adam's eyes softened, but his muscles in his jaw bunched. "And what did she say?"
He toed the carpet awkwardly. "Well... that I needed to make sacrifices. That it was for the good of the marriage..."
Adam snorted, a half gasp of fake laughter. "I'm a threat, in other words. Why, Kris... why?"
"I love her." The weight of the three words was suddenly apparent to him and he was forced to pause. His wedding band burned on his finger. "If you don't understand anything else about this entire situation... I know you'll understand that."
"She's your wife." Adam said blankly. "Of course you love her. But I thought I was your friend... does that not matter?"
"Of course it does..." Kris started.
"No... obviously it doesn't. Not enough anyway. Not if you were willing to let Katy... sweet, adorable, beautiful Katy, who supposedly loves you..."
Red swam before Kris' eyes and before his brain could fully register what he was doing, he swung. His fist connected with Adam's chin, his knuckles dragging across the tense line of his jaw. Adam stumbled back a bit, and rose a hand to his face.
A look of pure shock briefly overtook his facial features, and then his eyes darkened, and a look Kris had never seen before manifested itself.
"How dare you?" Kris managed to growl, defensive. "Katy loves me! You have absolutely no right to suggest otherwise!"
When Adam spoke, his voice was throaty and full of rage. "If she really loved you, she wouldn't do this to you, she wouldn't, Kris. Deny it all you fucking want, but she wouldn't make you decide... you're right, it's wrong. But that's not all that's wrong here." He rose to his full height and without another word, stepped around Kris to one of the rehearsal rooms.
He promptly opened the door, briskly entered, and slammed it shut.
He didn't come out right away when they were done rehearsing. All of the crew, vocal instructors, and producers had exited. Kris shuffled dejectedly out of his practice booth to find Allison and Danny standing outside the door Adam had disappeared behind.
The seventeen year-old had a tired, sad look on her face as she rapped her knuckles against the door. "Adam... come on, rehearsal's over... please, just come out of there."
She saw Kris then, and Adam's muffled voice shouted back. "No... go away! Leave me the fuck alone!" Allison winced at the expletive and the cruel tone Adam had used with her. She bit her lip, and stared at Kris, who had frozen on the spot, neck bristling.
A beat.
"Damn, Allen... what did you do to him?" Danny didn't sound very concerned, just curious.
Kris didn't know how to respond. "I..."
Silence took over the hall of the arena. Allison then let her voice fall into a soothing, careful volume. "Adam... honey, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Why don't you ask the golden Idol...?!" Kris tensed at Adam's response, cringing. Allison looked at him again, eyes sympathetic, but suspicion written in the lines of her frown.
"You guys used to be practically glued at the hip. What the hell happened?" She demanded abruptly. "Why don't you even talk anymore?"
"Katy doesn't want us to." Kris replied, without even realizing.
Allison was instantly confused. "Huh?"
Danny's face, however, lit with recognition. He leaned over to Kris, voice low. "Is she concerned about her Bible-toting husband hanging out with a... well, you know? One of them?"
Allison's eyes went wide and she cast a look to him, as if saying I can't believe you'd say that with her eyes.
Kris, however, could barely identify the protective anger that boiled in him at Danny's statement before the door creaked open, and Adam appeared.
He didn't make eye contact with any of them, merely huffed, "Please, don't let one of them keep you waiting. I'm fine, don't worry about me."
And he walked away, leaving all three of the others stunned. His stride was quick, but not too fast for them not to catch a glimpse of the slight, puffy swell of dark blue under his mouth, and the smeared eyeliner along the side of his cheek.
Allison let out a shallow, barely audible gasp, and guilt pillowed deep in Kris' gut. Her questioning gaze on him made the shame fester and he let it flood him as he looked at the floor.
What was I thinking? How could I have done that? What the fuck is wrong with me? I hit him! I fucking hit Adam!
Kris felt like letting his own jaw drop in shock, as he suddenly understood the magnitude of his actions. Danny was quiet, but not shaken by the encounter.
Finally, the young girl cleared her throat, catching Kris' brown, moisture-filled eyes. "I... I'm going to go make sure he's okay."
She hastened in the direction Adam went, presumably back to the bus.
Gokey put a hand on Kris' shoulder, a toothless grin on his face. "It'll be okay, Allen. Don't let it bother you... I think you made the right call."
Somehow, Kris didn't find that very reassuring.
He covered it with makeup. Allison, Danny, and Kris were the only ones who knew it was even there, and nothing was said about it. Adam kept quiet, around everyone, and those who had no inkling as to what had occurred treated him with caution and confusion.
Kris hated himself for the way Adam would avoid even sitting in the same area of the bus with him.
During the shows, when it came time for their group song, he got some semblance of their friendship, of old times, but then again... Adam had always been a great actor.
Masks went up with the lights, smiles plastered on with the makeup, and the audience didn't notice a thing. He didn't know what to do. He understood his friend's anger, even justified it.
I'm such a fucking jerk... he thought once, as he snuck sideways glances at Adam. He had fallen asleep on the couch with his iPod earphones in, and he looked more peaceful than Kris could recall seeing him in a long time. He pretended not to look, but in-between disjointed conversation with Scott, Megan, and Matt, he often peeked at Adam during his slumber, his eyes tracing the spot where his fist had connected.
Yeah, nice going, Kris. He told himself. Hey Adam, let's talk about this, oh... by the way, try not to run into my fist with your face.
And the rush of complex emotion was overwhelming to him.
Katy called him, and he answered his phone, later regretting it each time. They had several forced, pretend-cheerful conversations, until the lump rising in Kris' throat cut off speech and he was forced to stop. Sometimes, several hot tears would slip down his cheeks when he was alone. In the presence of the others, he tried to act normal, but Adam's presence, or lack thereof, always provoked some type of morose reaction from him.
"It's my turn to pick dinner!" Allison's cry sounded through the bus as they tromped in after one show. She was excited. Many groans and yawns were her response, and she sighed. "I'm hungrrrrryyy." The whine betrayed her age.
The corners of Adam's lips twitched, and he sighed. "I'll go with you, Allie-Cat." He relented, wrapping an arm around her. "I'm starved too." Kris couldn't help but feel a pang at this, wishing that his friend would consider draping his arm across his own shoulders.
Enthusiasm sent pink climbing into her cheeks, and she burst into a grin. "Yes! I got one taker! Sarver?"
"Too tired. Sorry, Allison." He muttered, flopping down onto the couch. One by one, the rest of their companions disappeared, uttering various excuses, until Kris was left there, standing alone.
Allison's eyes filled with hope, and he felt his muscles tense as Adam gave him a blank look. "Krissy?" She pleaded. "Please? Pwetty pwease, for me?" She dared a split-second glance between the two men before staring pleadingly at Kris.
"I...uh..." He stammered. "I'm not all that hungry..."
Crestfallen, Allison stared her red-heeled boots. "Aw..."
"... okay, I'll tag along." Wait, what am I saying?
Disbelief and joy crossed the girl's face and she whooped. "Yum! Awesome!"
Adam said nothing. Kris remembered to breathe.
It was obvious to Kris that Adam also did not want dinner to be awkward, for Allison's sake. Still, despite their efforts, there were no smiles or laughs shared between them, and they only pretended not to be agitated for her benefit. Kris felt a little antsy, not really knowing how to act.
They were sitting at a circular table, so there was no way Adam could avoid sitting by him. In fact, Adam didn't even angle his body away from Kris or permanently turn his gaze upon Allison. It was just the opposite, and Kris found that it hurt just as much. When Adam looked at him, it was with no emotion or recognition whatsoever. He smiled and exchanged jokes with Allie, and looked rather calm and relaxed the entire night.
Kris was baffled, and at a loss for how to behave in such a situation, so he merely put on a grin for her, and tried not to be affected by Adam's unreadable facial expression. The event was mostly uneventful until he found himself watching Adam and Allie after a particular joking insult was hurled. Adam wore a false look of offense, gasping.
He admonished the redhead, and proceeded to playfully punch her shoulder. She giggled, but Kris couldn't help but stare at Adam's balled fist. He was struck with a sudden thought. Why didn't he hit me back? He's bigger than me, he could've knocked my lights out... why didn't he? The unspoken inquiry rang in his mind and he sat, listening to his heart pound in his ears.
"...Kris?" Allison was asking him something. "Kris, you want a refill on that?"
Jumping out of his reverie, he shook his head, fingering his half-drained glass of beer. It tasted bitter and lukewarm in his mouth, and he wanted to spit out each sip, but he downed it anyway, if only to have something to do at the table.
"Wow..." Allison laughed, and Adam looked at him, that clean-slate face burning him.
"I'm good. I forgot I had something, actually." Kris explained tersely. "I don't need anything else." Allison was silent for a moment, before she seemed to notice Adam's deadpanned expression.
She chewed her bottom lip, then looking at Kris who forced an apologetic smile.
"I...uh..." He fumbled for something to say. "Slow Ride sounded really good tonight..."
Relieved, Allie perked up immediately. "Yeah! We had so much fun! Adam, you were especially wicked." She realized the pun and chuckled.
Adam laughed; that same laugh Kris loved to hear; whole and genuine. But his smile differed in that it was lackluster and only half-assured. "You weren't so bad yourself, sugar... I had to up my game to sing beside you."
She blushed and waved a hand dismissively. "And Kris... likewise to you, Heartless was incredible, probably one of the best times I have heard out of you!"
Kris swallowed, gathered his resolve, and sent Adam a hard, meaningful look. "Well, I really sang it from the heart tonight. It's been rough lately, and I put all of that into the performance."
Allison flashed him an all-knowing grin, then reached over and squeezed his arm. "Well, it was amazing. And so was 'Ain't No Sunshine', but that always sounds hot." She giggled. "'Cause you sing it for Katy..." She waggled a teasing finger.
Adam visibly flinched at the name, and Allie's eyes went wide, as she realized that she'd unknowingly said something wrong.
"Actually..." Kris stared at the ring left by the bottom of his cup on the wooden table. "I didn't sing it for her tonight." He managed to grasp Allison's hand and clench it reassuringly, but couldn't move his eyes to Adam. He felt Adam's burning gaze however, and he unconsciously twiddled his thumbs, and shifted his weight in the chair.
Allison smiled sympathetically, and opened her mouth to apologize, but he stopped her. "No, it's ok. I just..."
"Who'd you sing it for, then?"
Kris rounded on Adam, astonished. His friend was twirling his straw nonchalantly in his glass, eyeing him with a hint of darkness in the depths of his eyes. Allison tried to focus elsewhere, and Kris remained silent for a moment, stunned that Adam had spoken to him at last. He wanted to answer, but his lips wouldn't move.
Frustration flooded his senses. You, Adam! I sang it for you! His mind, screamed, but no audible reply was formed.
"That's what I thought." Adam continued, his voice outwardly teasing. But his eyes were murky and pooled with emotion. He shook his head and smiled oddly. "You love her. Of course you sang it for her. She's very important to you."
The monotone, the dry, accepting, yet heartbroken undertones of Adam's voice crawled under Kris' ribcage and seized his heart. He trembled a bit as he traced the outline of his ring with his index finger, feeling a twist of sorrow twinge in his chest. He stared forlornly at Adam, who, ever the actor, wore that same vacant mask he'd been wearing all evening.
"Maybe we should get going." Allison suggested, looking lost.
"Yeah, we've done all we need here." Adam agreed, suddenly rising. "Let's go."
Kris jumped up onto numbed legs and stumbled away from the table, repressing the urge to throw his empty glass at the wall. He pulled a crinkled bill out of his wallet to leave as a tip, and followed after the other two meekly.
It was dark outside and the sidewalk was damp. The rain was falling, but in the form of an eerie mist. He walked several paces behind Adam and Allison, who were giggling over makeup dripping down their faces in the drizzle.
With a sigh, he climbed into the car. All three of them squeezed in the back, and Adam was in the middle. His leg was pushed against Adam's and he longed to scoot away, feeling the uncomfortable heat between them.
Adam either didn't notice, or tried not to care (most likely the latter). Kris' phone went off, and he had to grope awkwardly in the darkness, arm brushing Adam's to reach his pocket. The screen was lit up with the name "KATY".
Dully, he was aware that his hand flipped the phone open and he spoke, "Hello?"
Katy was talking. His wife, his lovely Katy was talking, but Kris heard none of that. All he heard was Adam's breathing, coinciding with the gentle rise and fall he felt through the fabric that was pressed against him.
"Kris? Kris, are you there? Honey...?!!" There was a lot of static and her voice was muffled.
Then, it seemed so fast, but they were back at the bus. Allison was opening the door and the other two occupants were clambering out of the car into the rain, which was picking up in fervor.
"...Kris???" Katy called.
"Kris." Adam's voice was low and steady, and a hand gesture, a flash of black-polished nails motioned to him that he should step out.
He slowly closed his phone, pulling himself out of the car next to them. It rang again, but he ignored it, splashing up to the bus and shivering as he entered the doorway to the vehicle. Allison quickly bid them goodnight, and he couldn't help but think that it was her urgent desire to get away from the awkward air between the other two that made her so eager.
He couldn't fall asleep. He tossed and turned and broke into a cold sweat. Hours ticked by agonizingly. He felt miserable and alone. Hearing a slight creak outside the bunk area, Kris was overcome by something identifiable, and he sprang up, tripping over his sheets.
After hastily disentangling himself from the starchy fabric, he blindly made his way out of the room and into the dimly lit main area of the bus. The clock read 3:18 AM.
Adam's silhouette was dark against the outline of the couch, and his face was eerily lit by the blue of his laptop. He looked up, startled at Kris' entry, and Kris couldn't help but think of Mad World. The blue rays tinting Adam's face, the momentary look of sadness as he saw who had joined him.
Adam set his jaw and stared at Kris, who couldn't help but notice the uncovered spot on his chin, the grayish-blue blemish stark against Adam's pale skin.
"I...uh..." He managed to speak. "Couldn't sleep."
Kris thought he was dreaming, but for an instant, he swore he saw a smirk on Adam's face. But then, it was back to unreadable, dull, and unforgiving.
Adam half-nodded, then turned his attention back to the computer screen. Heart dropping into the pit of his stomach, Kris winced at the silence.
"Reviews of tonight's show." Adam suddenly spoke, indicating the laptop. "All good..." And then his eyes were on Kris again.
Kris took a single step forward, pulse quickening. "Oh?" He tried not to sound so encouraged by the mere fact that he was being spoken to.
"Allie was right, you know." Adam sounded unbelievably tired and worn all of a sudden, his voice was hoarse and airy. "You were right on the mark tonight with Ain't No Sunshine. It was pretty damn flawless."
"I... I sang it for you. I was thinking of you when I sang it. That's why it was so good... I poured all my feelings into it."
Adam exhaled, and Kris waited.
"No, you didn't. You didn't sing it for me." Rough, resolute words were the reply.
And because it was the absolute worst moment for it, his phone went off; vibrating loudly against the table he flung it on before bed.
"Yes, I did... Adam, I..."
"Answer your phone."
"Adam..."
"Answer it." Adam's voice climbed in volume and intensity, and Kris heard the fury coming through. Unfeelingly, his fingers closed around the outer shell of his cell phone.
"You weren't thinking of me when you sang that song... just like you weren't thinking of me when you basically told me you wanted me the hell out of your life and that I was fucking up your marriage!" Adam exclaimed heatedly and pushed the laptop from his legs and stood. "And you certainly weren't thinking about me when you decided to punch me in the face, were you? You were thinking of Katy, Kris. You've chosen... okay? I get it. You chose Katy, she's your wife, you love her... I'm just some queer you met along the way to fame that you can throw under the bus. Believe me; I understand what's going on here. So you've made your choice, and that's that! But don't fucking lie to me about it: tell me you're sorry, and that you fucking sang that song while thinking of me, because I know damn well you didn't!"
"Adam..." Kris could scarcely put two thoughts together. His phone went off again.
"For all I know, you were never thinking of me..." Adam trailed off. "I don't know why I was so delusional to think we were so close. But the truth's out and I've accepted it. You're not sorry. This is what you want. Now quit fucking around and pick up the damn phone."
"I-I.... you... it's..." The world was spinning, lights fading.
"Kris..." Adam sighed slowly, pain etched on his face. "Don't do this, all right? It's Katy. Take the call."
The look on Adam's face was dangerous and unknown. Kris swallowed, and lifted his hand. He slowly opened the phone and pressed it to his cheek. "Katy?" He asked; voice soft and hoarse, eyes still on Adam.
WHAT AM I DOING?!! His mind screamed. No! Fuck, why did I...?
"Kris... I was so worried; I guess there's a huge storm where you are... I figured that's why the signal was bad and I lost you the first time... honey..." More static.
Not hearing her, he watched Adam sink slowly back onto the couch, face crumpled. His eyes watered and he looked up at Kris, not ashamed of the teary haze that began to cascade down his freckled cheeks. His mouth was a grim, thin line, and his fingers fiddled aimlessly with the threads of the throw blanket beside him.
"That's what I thought..." He whispered brokenly, a repeated line from earlier at the restaurant, but this time, all theatrics and all masks seemed to be washed away in the rain. Pure, raw, vulnerable and wounded Adam looked at him for one painful second before standing, inhaling sharply through his nose. "I think I'll go talk to Christian. I bet he needs a friend." He said bitterly, and without another word or glance, he was gone, pulling the door to the front of the bus open, and disappearing.
Kris, alone, felt as if the world was crumbling down around him. "No..." he started after Adam, but he froze.
"Kris? Honey... who are you with? Are you... are you talking to Adam?" More rustling static.
Blankly, he replied. "No, no Katy... I'm not."
He closed his eyes, feeling tears building behind them.
"Okay... well, as I was saying..." A clap of thunder sounded, and Kris was suddenly aware of the intensity of the rainfall, the sheets of liquid that were falling atop the bus, and wind blowing against the door.
A sleepy silhouette of Allison, who had crashed on a couch in the area adjacent, appeared in the doorway. "...Kris? Is that you?"
"Allie...? Yeah, it's me. What's wrong?"
"I-I...." She looked very concerned. Her sleepy eyes blinked at him. "I thought I heard yelling... is everything okay?" The sound of the rainfall died off abruptly and an instinctual glance out the window told Kris they had entered a tunnel.
He turned to Allison, forgetting the phone he was holding. "It's okay. Really. Everything's fine."
"Are you sure?" Her eyes narrowed, but she yawned, breaking the suspicion dancing across her face in the near darkness. The glow of Adam's abandoned laptop, lying derelict on the cushions caught her eye, and she gave Kris a questioning look.
"Nothing for you to worry about..." Kris managed to continue.
"...Kris?" Katy's inquiry fell on deaf ears.
"You fought. You and Adam." Allison deduced, tucking a stray strand of her fiery hair behind her ear. "What is going on with you two?"
She sounded disappointed, and Kris felt a tear drip down his nose. Thankful for the darkness, he swiped it away.
"I- well, it's complicated." He replied sullenly. Allison's eyes fell knowingly upon the door Adam had vanished behind.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." He lied.
"Kristopher Allen! This is your wife speaking...! Hello??"
"I think I'll make sure Adam is..." Her voice, full of worry, cracked a bit at the end and she grimaced, moving toward the door. A click as the lock stuck, turned, and opened.
"KRIS?!! Kris… are you there?!"
There was an ominous minute of silence, during which he heard Katy hang up on the other end. He stared unseeingly out the window at the side of the dark tunnel. The rain still muted, he cursed the terrible deathly silence.
There was a strange noise before Kris heard a muffled yell. Distantly, he discovered it came from the front.
Before he could ponder anything else, he felt the floor fall out from under him. The bus lurched to the side, loose items rolling everywhere. Kris lost his footing and careened into one of the tables, his phone skittering from his grip and sliding somewhere.
A tremor seemed to pass through the vehicle and he heard a feminine scream and a thud as Allison tumbled through the door she'd opened and into the driver's hatch.
His entire world seemed to spin as metal ripped from metal, screeching deafeningly in the darkness. More unclear sounds of panic from all directions rang in his ears as he was thrown again, tossed like a ragdoll into the side of the bus.
He smashed into the wall so hard, stars danced before his eyes, and he blacked out for a moment, then fell. He could feel his leg twist under him as he landed. Kris shook as he gasped for breath, deep, painful breaths that shuddered through him like spasms.
His heart was going to explode from his chest and the ceiling was crumbling around him. The outer walls of the bus were folding inward like a mangled accordion.
"...ALLIE!!!" A strangled yell.
".... Adam..." Soft, breathless. Pained.
"No... FUCK!!" The shout was strained and weak.
The bus rumbled again, skidding to the other side, and Kris' knuckles tightened around the handle to the outer door, legs flailing. Allison was screaming, fear rolling off the sound and penetrating through him, amplifying his own.
"...Allison!" Then a cry. "Get... ah, get out of here...!"
The door fell open and Allison tumbled out, her panicky breaths spilling from her lungs in a sporadic pattern. A cloud of smoke trailed after her. Her limp body made contact with the opposite wall, her head catching the corner of the table. She yelped, and Kris saw red.
"Allie!" Kris' voice was small under the roar of the heaving, pitching bus that was falling apart around them. He smelled charred metal. Horror flooded him as he began to realize what was happening.
"...Kris?" She whimpered, her voice fluttering. "...Kris?!!!"
"I... I'm here." He said, shaky. The bus was no longer moving. The air was thick and heavy and there was a disturbing scraping noise as the walls seemed to collapse.
"Allie, are you okay?!" He screamed as loudly as he could. The wind was loud in his ears, suddenly piercing him through the shattered glass of the windows.
"I...." She murmured, voice tight. "Adam..."
Wincing, he forced himself upward and crawled to her, cringing at the red stain on her cheek.
"Allison..." He muttered, hysterical. "Allison, answer me!"
"Kris..." Her eyes were shut. "Kris... w-what?"
"It'll be okay." He soothed her, suddenly feeling protective. "Allie, it's all right... stay with me, sweetie..."
"Adam..." She whispered; voice softer.
"No, Allie... Allie, its Kris." He coughed; the smoke thicker now.
"No... h-he... Adam... fire... and I..." She croaked; her grip on Kris' hand slackening.
"Allie, please!" He begged, knowing unconsciousness was claiming her.
"Hello?" A voice asked, and then a cough sounded. Anoop stumbled in, looking bruised and battered. His feet crunched on the shattered glass. "Are you guys okay up here? Kris... oh, fuck... Kris, is that you?"
"Anoop!" Relief filled Kris. He could barely see him through the black haze, but he saw the fear sparkling in Anoop's eyes. "... Anoop... Allison, she's hurt...!"
Anoop fell to his knees beside him, not caring about the shards of glass and metals scattered everywhere. "Shit... is she okay? ... Allie!?"
"Please, Kris..." Her eyes fluttered. "He s-saved me... I... help..."
Anoop cast a meaningful look to Kris, and Kris' eyes widened. The fear and panic in his chest exploded as he turned to look into the crackling, angry mist beyond the open, broken-at-one-hinge door to the driver's area.
"Adam was... UP THERE?!!!" Anoop shouted in alarm.
Kris, eyes watering from the smoke, nodded, his terror mirroring Anoop's. Without thinking, he shuffled and rose shakily to his feet, stepping gingerly over a broken piece of metal, and moving toward the door.
"Kris!" Anoop caught his arm. "Don't... there's got to be help on the way..." He coughed, and stared into Kris' eyes. "You could get hurt."
"... help might be too late." Kris bit his lip, and pulled away. "Adam's up there... fuck, I... I can't just not do anything..."
"Adam..." Allison mumbled, before falling slack in Anoop's arms.
"Are the others okay?" Kris asked, trying not to look at the injured girl.
"Fine... I think... " Anoop lifted the girl carefully, trying to be strong, but tears of shock were running down his face.
"Then take her, and get them the hell out of here." Kris commanded.
"But Kris..."
"Look." Kris said as loudly and resolutely as he could. "I don't know what the fuck just happened... but Adam needs me. Please... just get her... get everyone out."
"O-okay." Anoop agreed queasily, shifting Allison's weight in his arms. "Be careful."
And Kris turned toward the curtain of smoke, and didn't look back. He'd made his choice.
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