This was written by Bella.
Slamming his bedroom door closed behind him did nothing for the anger and sadness that welled up inside him. The anger was at the idea that his dad was dating. Christopher was a smart kid; he knew what that meant. His best friend from school - best friend he hasn't seen in months except through a tiny computer screen because of the pandemic! - had told him once that his mom had started dating another guy and was barely home anymore. Christopher didn't want that.
He already wasn't allowed to see so many people he loved and cared about. His bisabuela, his tia abuela, his friends from school, Carla. For weeks in the beginning he had liked with Denny and his mama Karen and little sister Nia. It was nice but he hated being away from his dad and Buck; especially when he learned his dad had been living with Buck (as was Denny's other mom Hen). Christopher wanted to stay with Buck too! It just wasn't fair!
He had been happy after almost three months living with the Wilson's he was allowed to go home and be with his dad again. Things were still changed - he still saw the Wilson's; Karen helped him with his online schooling alongside Denny. He got to play with Denny while Karen watched him for his dad. But outside his dad and Buck - Karen, Denny and Nia (and Hen once she returned home too) - Christopher only saw others through a computer screen.
His dad allowed him to FaceTime with his bisabuela, and tia abuela, and Carla a couple times a week when they had time but it wasn't the same. He wanted Carla back (he knew she was taking care of her father out of state and he knew she would be there for them if she was allowed; but it still sucked!). He wanted to spend nights with his bisabuela but it wasn't safe for either of them. His dad and Buck had explained it too him that staying away from people as much as possible was the best way to stay safe.
Christopher had known something was different about his dad. He had started leaving him longer with the Wilson's; or dropping him off earlier then normal in the last month. At first Christopher didn't really think about it but now he knew the reason. His dad was dating someone; he was spending time with a new person that Christopher didn't know and already hated. This woman was taking his dad away from him!
Plopping down on his bed Christopher wanted to scream and cry. Why did his dad have to do this? And it sucked cause one of those times he knew his dad was seeing this person, Christopher had asked for Buck to babysit him instead of going to the Wilson's. His dad had hesitated and then told him Buck was unavailable. Christopher knew that was a lie. Buck was always available when Christopher wanted to hang out (those few weeks last year not withstanding as Buck had apologized for that and promised he'd be there whenever Christopher asked).
Well he was asking now!
Blowing out a deep breath that almost sounded like a growl Christopher stood back up; making sure he was balanced on his crutches before moving back to his bedroom door; carefully pulling it back open. He poked his head out and listened. He was able to tell his dad was still in the kitchen; and he was talking. Christopher scowled; he was probably talking to her.
As silently as he could Christopher headed for his dad's bedroom where he knew his dad and plugged in his phone to charge. He was going to call Bucky and make him come over and talk some sense into his dad! As quickly as he could Christopher unplugged the phone and headed back to his room. He knew if his dad caught him with his phone without permission to use it he was going to be in trouble. But at this point he didn't care. He wanted to talk to Buck!
He closed his bedroom door again and sat back down on his bed before punching in his dad's code (it was his birthday). It took him a few tries to hit the correct numbers but finally the screen unlocked and a picture of himself and Buck was smiling back at him. Christopher smiled at the picture before the smile dropped and he scrolled through his dad's contacts until he found Buck (why was it under Evan if Buck never went by his name?).
It rang and rang and rang and rang.
"You've reached Evan Buckley. Leave message and I'll get back to you. Or text me you heathens."
Christopher huffed in annoyance. Buck always answered, why wasn't he now? He tried twice more with the same result before crying in frustration and flopping back against his pillows. Why were adults so annoying!?
Getting an idea Christopher sat back up and went searching for an app he knew his dad had. It took a few minutes but he was able to find what he was looking for and bouncing on his bed in triumph he clicked on the app for Uber. He knew how to use the app - thank you Denny! - and knew Buck's address by heart - his dad had told him to memorize it in case of an emergency along with his phone number.
Being able to sneak out of the house without his dad knowing was the easy part. Convincing the Uber driver that he was okay to travel without a parent was harder but as it was a male driver he seemed not as hesitant as a female driver with mothering instincts probably would. Christopher counted it as a win when the driver helped him into the car and even helped with the seatbelt. He thanked him again twenty minutes later when he helped Christopher out of the car and into the building; waving as the driver left once he was at the elevator. Christopher could get the rest of the way himself.
When the elevator reached the fourth floor Christopher moved as fast as he could on his crutches down the hall and around the corner to Buck's door. Now standing there he bounced on his feet in excitement. He was about to see his Bucky! Knocking on the door his crutch hit as well making his knocks sound like they were echoing but he didn't care. It wouldn't be long before Buck would be opening the door and...
The door swung open but it wasn't Buck standing there.
"Oh, hello." The red haired lady smiled down at him.
"Hi." Christopher was confused; did he have the wrong apartment?
"Taylor, who is it?"
Before the lady could say anything Christopher lite up. "Bucky!"
...And there he was! Buck was suddenly at the door, standing next to the lady Christopher didn't know and looking down at him in confusion.
"Buck!" Christopher stepped forward and collided with Buck's legs; sighing in relief to have his best friend in front of him as he wrapped his arms around Buck's middle.
Buck's hand came to rest between his shoulder blazes. "Christopher. Um, hi."
Christopher looked up at Buck and smiled. Buck smiled back at him before he looked at the lady - Christopher remembered hearing Buck call her Taylor. Nothing was said between the two but Christopher watched as Taylor took a step out the door and looked down the hall before turning back to Buck with a shrug and a shake of her head.
Buck looked back down at him with a frown. "Superman, where's your dad?"
Christopher scowled and pulled away from Buck to step around him. "At home."
He heard an intake of breath from Taylor and sputtering non-sense from Buck as he made his way into the apartment. He loved being here; it had been so long. He made his way over to the couch and sat down, looking up as Buck and Taylor had followed; both looking at him in confusion.
"Christopher." Buck sat down on the coffee table in front of him. "Chris, buddy. How did you get here?"
"I used Uber." Christopher chirped.
"You used... you..." Buck leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "Chris I need you to be honest with me okay?"
"Okay."
"Does your dad know you're here?"
"No." Christopher huffed. "He was busy."
"Shit." Buck was suddenly standing and pacing the length of the couch in front of him.
"That's a bad word, Bucky." Christopher leaned back against the couch. "I wanted to see you. I tried calling but you didn't answer!"
Buck stopped pacing and looked down at him before he patted down his pockets with a frown. Taylor was standing at the stairs with her arms crossed. Christopher didn't know who she was or why she was even there. As Buck headed for the kitchen in search of something - Christopher knew it was probably his phone; he's seen his dad pat down his pockets in search of his phone enough times. Christopher looked around and noticed the TV was paused on some sort of sappy movie - he knew this because there was a couple on the screen and they were frozen in a kiss - and there were empty plates and beer bottles on the coffee table.
Christopher frowned as he looked at Buck searching the kitchen and then at the redhead. She had her head turned as she was also watching Buck scrambling to find his phone but Christopher could see the smile on her lips. Taking another look around Christopher's brain came to a conclusion.
"You're on a date."
"What?" Buck's head snapped up from where he was leaning over the dining table that was littered with mail and takeout containers.
Christopher scooted to the edge of the couch; he could feel tears welling up in his eyes. Buck was doing the same thing as his dad! He was going to lose both of them and then he was going to be spending all his time with the Wilson's - and he liked them but he wanted his dad and Bucky! Before he could stand up Buck was back in front of him; sitting on the coffee table.
"Hey," Buck placed his hands on his shoulders but Christopher tried to shrug him off.
"You're leaving just like dad!"
"What, no. Chris." Buck shook his head. "I'm not leaving, why would you think that?"
Christopher sniffed. "Dad's dating. He told me and now he doesn't have time for me. And you don't have time for me because you're dating too. I want things to go back to normal!"
"You're dad told you?" Buck leaned back but then shook his head. "No, listen Christopher. I'm not dating Taylor. She's just a friend."
"Really?"
Buck nodded. "I promise. When have I ever lied to you?"
Christopher sniffed again. "Never."
"Exactly." Buck ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, I think I need to call your dad. He's probably going out of his mind with worry."
"Doubt it." Christopher mumbled as he slumped back into the couch again. "He was talking to her when I snuck out."
"Her?" Buck stood as Taylor stepped forward with a phone in her hand.
"The lady he's dating."
Buck opened his mouth and then closed it and snorted. "I don't think he was talking to the person he was dating, Christopher. Give me a minute so I can call your dad and we'll get this all cleared up. Okay?"
Christopher just shrugged and scooted back against the couch once again. Buck took a second to unpause the TV and switch it over to cartoons for him before disappearing around the stairs with Taylor. He could hear hushed whispers but the cartoons had started to suck him in so he stopped paying attention. He was still upset and angry and hoping Buck could talk some sense into his dad about dating. Why couldn't he be with Buck so that way Christopher would have both of them together all the time like he's wanted for years?