Disclaimer…again: As you know, I do not own the Resident Evil series nor anything affiliated to it otherwise I would have cash in my pocket instead of lint balls. I don't own the line from Heartbreakers either, so okay…
Hiya! HAPPY BIRTHDAY STORY! It's a year old, hehehe. The plan I had was to finish exactly when I started, but I guess that's out of the idea. Hmm, so do you really think this story is great? I think it's weird and I can't re-read it cause I'll get embarrassed, even though if I'm alone. I don't know, it's just weird to think that I thought of this crap. Well maybe not crap. I may be embarrassed to read it, but I'm still proud of it. I guess I'm just embarrassed because some chapters were crap. Those were obviously not my good days. Anyways, well, cutting down the chapters to a minimum didn't work because half the story doesn't appear on that quick editing type, thing. That is crap and very ANNOYING. And YES, tek, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, CLAIRE AND LEON WOULD HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITES STILL, AND I'D STILL GO ON THINKING JILL AND CARLOS LOOKED GOOD TOGETHER! Eee, woof… Belch…Yep, you helped bump them up to number one. They rule! And so do all of you, YEAH! Anyhoo, my first penname was Jane-is-weird. Would've never guessed huh? Okay well, here's more conflict.
Chapter 17: Party time…EXCELLENT!
As soon as Chris got home, Boo greeted him. "Hey puppy. I've missed you."
"Yeah, and he misses you too." Melissa said. "Anyways, it's getting late and I should probably get going. Do you need me to do anything before I go?" She asked.
'Tell her to stay.' Chris thought, 'No, don't. What about Jill?' 'Screw Jill, she's got a boyfriend.' "Right." Chris said aloud.
"What?" She asked as Chris shook his head.
"Stay here."
"Where would I sleep?" She asked.
"With me." He said as she arched an eyebrow. "Aw come on. Nothing has to happen. It's just an innocent sleep over. How harmless can that be?" He smiled.
"But I don't have a toothbrush or extra clothes." She said
"Who needs clothes anyways?" He teased.
"You know, if it weren't for your stitches, I'd punch you." She smiled.
"There's an extra toothbrush in my bathroom somewhere." He said and went into his room. She stood where she was for a while and decided to follow him. Right when she walked in, Chris tossed her a pair of pajama pants and a black t-shirt. "I knew you'd agree."
"It's because you're so charming." She said sarcastically and entered the bathroom to change. As she finished, Chris knocked on the door.
"Are you done yet?" He asked.
"There are other bathrooms in the house." She said from the other side of the door.
"Yes but my toothbrush is in there."
"Fine." Melissa said and opened the door and let him have the bathroom. "So which side do you want?" She asked as she sat on the foot of the bed.
"Hey, how far do you think you can launch water balloons with this?" He asked, with his toothbrush in his mouth, as he held up Melissa's bra.
"Excuse me, but you are not about to launch water balloons with my bra. That was expensive." She said as she got up and took it out of his hand.
"Heh…it's just that we used to do that in college. We'd launch balloons into the girl's dorms." He smiled, then spit out the toothpaste in his mouth.
"I am some what less than amused." She smirked.
"Oh come, don't tell me you never sling-shot water balloons with your bra." He said.
"I never did. I think only guys would find that amusing. So which side of the bed?"
"Um, right. No, left." Chris said as he wiped his mouth and walked to his side.
"So which is it?"
"Left, because you might crush my stitches." He smiled.
"Whatever." She said and got into her side of the bed and Chris on his.
"So…awkward yet?" He asked as he stared at the ceiling.
"Right about the time you held my bra up." She smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I thought the first time you'd be holding it was because you removed it, rather than talking about fling water balloons in them." She laughed.
"Are you insinuating something?" He teased.
"Nope, I'm merely telling you as it is. Goodnight." She said and turned to the face the other way.
"Night." Chris said and shut his eyes.
The next morning, Chris woke and found Melissa snuggled up in his right shoulder. He stared at the crown of her head and thought about if he was doing the right thing. "What am I saying, I do like this woman in my bed. What's wrong with that?" He asked himself.
He continued thinking when Melissa stirred and eventually woke up. "Morning." He whispered.
She looked up and found him looking back down on her. "Hey…" She whispered.
"Doesn't it feel weird waking up and someone's in the bed next to you?"
"Yeah." She giggled and rolled off to her side. "I could get used to this though." She smiled.
"Yeah, so could I." Chris said and got up.
"Where you going?" She asked.
"Gotta get ready for work." He said and entered the bathroom.
"Work! But you just got out of the hospital. Aren't you on leave?" She asked.
"Yeah but I just can't stay here and do nothing. I'll go mad." He said.
"Shouldn't you just take it easy?" She asked as she got up from the bed.
"Don't worry. All I'll do is the paper work and answer phone calls. It's better than staying here and doing nothing." He said as he slipped on a S.T.A.R.S. t-shirt.
"Promise that's all you'll do." She said as she guided him out of the bathroom.
"Promise." He said and she shut the bathroom door, leaving him out. As soon as both of them finished changing, Chris fed Boo and ate cereal for breakfast.
"I'm going to drop you to work." She said as she ate some cereal as well.
"Okay." He said as he finished the last scoop. They both finished their breakfast and after Chris said goodbye to Boo, the both of them were off.
---
"I'll just hitch a ride home with Barry or one of the guys." Chris told Melissa as he got out of her car.
"Okay, so I'll see you later then."
"Yeah. Bye." Chris said and headed inside the department as Melissa drove off.
As he entered, many uniforms asked him what he was doing at work so early. He explained to them and continued upstairs to the S.T.A.R.S. Office. "Morning." He greeted everyone.
"Chris? What are you doing here?" Wesker asked.
"Couldn't stay home, otherwise I would surely die." He said and walked to his disheveled desk.
"Okay, that's your call." Wesker said, "So, I have to speak to Irons about some murder cases." Wesker said and exited the S.T.A.R.S. Office.
"Hey Jill." Chris said as he took his seat behind his desk to get started on the report.
"Hi." She replied. Suddenly her phone rang and she answered it. "Hey, what's up?" She greeted the person on the other end.
Richard's eyes immediately bulged knowing who the person was on the other line. "Uh, hey Chris, want to get a cup of coffee or something?" Richard asked as Jill talked on the phone.
"No, I'm good thanks."
"Um, but you must need some fresh air right? I'm mean those long days in the hospital must've been stuffy and wow, you sure look like you need some sun." He talked loudly so that Chris couldn't hear what Jill was saying.
"Rich, I'm good, but I think you may need some fresh air." Chris said as he suddenly realized what Richard was trying to do. All was quiet and Chris happened to catch the last few words Jill spoke of as she hung up.
"So Jill, how's the boyfriend? Cheat on you yet?" Joseph joked as he came in. Jill glared at him with an icy expression. "It was a joke. Jeez, lighten up." He said and strolled over to Rebecca. "Hey Becks, are you ever going to unpack?" He asked her.
"Yeah…no." She said as she read through some files.
Chris then spun around in his chair and spotted a picture frame with a man in it sitting atop her desk. "So when were you planning on telling me about this boyfriend of yours?" Chris asked. Rebecca removed her gaze from the files and looked up at Chris and so did all the other nosy people in the room.
"Who says I have to tell you anything and everything about my personal life?"
"Whoa, don't have a cow. But tell me, does this boyfriend of yours have a no kissing contract?" He quipped. Everyone in the room wanted to laugh, but held it in. Joseph was not doing a very good job at it though.
"Shut up…at least he doesn't kiss like a wall." Jill countered.
"Ah, so you kissed a wall. Tell me Jill, did it kiss you back? Oh no wait I'm sorry, it probably cheated on you, right?" Chris said.
"Wait a minute, hold the phone. You two kissed?" Richard asked, while the others looked on for an answer. "When?"
"Last night." They both answered.
"I thought you had a 'no kissing contract'?" Rebecca asked.
"I though so too." Richard said. "Man, where the hell was I?"
"It was way after you left." Jill said. "Thank god you didn't witness it."
"So wait a minute, you two kissed? Like a real kiss?" Joseph asked.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't really call it a kiss because I WAS KISSING A WALL!" Jill yelled.
"Well, you're not exactly the expert in kissing either! Kissing you was like kissing a man." Chris said.
"Oh so you kissed a man?" Jill asked.
"Well, I've kissed a lot of girls, and let me tell you, yours felt nothing like I've ever felt before."
"You know what, forget it. You don't see me talking about Melissa when you two first got together, so leave him alone." Joseph started to fake cough at the back. "What are you coughing at?" Jill asked.
"Oh please, don't give me that attitude Jill. But I think I can recall you saying that, hmm, now how do I phrase this, ah yes, 'look at her, that tramp, she's all over him.'"
"Don't forget, 'she's got bitch written all over her.'" Richard said without even looking up.
"Wow, you said that?" Chris said as he nodded his head. "Doesn't matter. Anyways, what's his name? I'm entitled to know that right?" Chris asked even though he already knew it.
"His name is Jackson." Jill said.
" Jackson, eh?" Chris paused, "Well what do you know, Jackie and Jill, has a nice ring to it."
"How did I know you were going to say something like that?" Jill said.
"I don't know, maybe you know me too well."
"Hey Jill, by any chance did Jack take you to fetch a pail of water on your first date?" Joseph asked as Chris and the others chuckled in the back round.
"Oh grow up will you."
"You know, the next time he takes you to fetch a pail of water, maybe Melissa and I can join you to get a first hand to see how he falls down and you come tumbling after." Chris chuckled to hide how bad he felt for saying that.
"Screw you, and that's not funny anymore. In fact, it wasn't funny at all. It was stupid and childish. You really need to grow up. All of you."
"Your right, I'm…AH." Chris cringed as he clutched his side.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Jill asked, "Here maybe you should sit down." She offered a chair.
"No, it's okay. I think I just popped a stitch, no matter." Chris said as though it were nothing.
"Maybe I should take a look at it." Rebecca offered.
"Yeah, thanks." He said and strolled over to where Rebecca was. It didn't take long for Rebecca to check what was up with Chris. After all was done, he returned to his desk and continued to work on the report quietly and finished it around lunchtime.
"Hey Chris, let's go."
"Huh?" He looked over to Joseph.
"Get something to eat? You coming?" Joseph asked.
"Yeah. Let me just hand this in." Chris said.
"Okay. Becks, coming?" Joseph asked.
"Okay." She said.
"Rich?"
"Sure." He said.
"Jill? On no wait, your meeting Jack for lunch as usual right?" Joseph asked.
"Yes I am. And if you don't already know, it's Jackson"
"S'too long. Anybody else coming, let's go." Joseph said. He didn't expect everyone in the office to come along, but everyone did, leaving Jill in the office to wait for her date.
"So any of you guys met Jackie yet?" Chris asked as they walked down the hall.
"Yeah." They all responded.
"He's a freaking jerk. But he has that sort 'charming' personality." Joseph said.
"Yeah, but he also thinks he's better than everyone. I'd like to pound his head in." Kenneth said.
"Whoa, whoa, Kenny-boy. Slow down." Forest said.
"No, I won't I swear if I ever run into him and he talks to me like that again, I will slam him. He has no respect." Kenneth said.
"Why what'd he do?" Chris asked.
"Yesterday when he came by, he just stood in the lobby expecting someone to go to him to help him out and then he sees me and starts chewing my head off. I speak to him very calmly and he acts like a bitch."
"Really?" Chris asked, "And Jill doesn't know this?"
"She's blind." Brad said, "You know Ken, it's funny you say that, because he talks to me like I can't comprehend. Maybe we can slam him together." Brad laughed as they walked down the stairs.
"Oh, the other day, I was getting a sub and I saw Jill there with him. Dude, and when I went to greet her, he freaking stepped in and grabbed her waist like I was going to steal her from him. I mean what the hell is that. This guy is insecure or something." Forest said.
"But you know, don't you guys see a little resemblance with him and Chris." Richard said.
"What? Don't even compare me to that." Chris said.
"No, I mean…"
"Yeah, I do, it's their facial structure." Rebecca said.
"Hey you don't suppose that Jill's…never mind, stupid and mean question." Richard said.
"Okay." Forest said.
"You know what he likes to do as well?" Joseph said as the others looked at him for his next response. "I noticed that he likes to show Jill off, like a trophy. It's funny because he never met me and we ran into them at a restaurant when I was with Kate and he just came up to me and started talking about Jill. He kept rambling on and on about how he wooed her. I didn't say anything but when Jill saw me, we talked a bit then I told her that I'd see her at work the following day. You should've seen the look on his face, it's like he saw a ghost." Joseph laughed as they entered the lobby area.
"Wow, and all this happened in the span of three days?" Chris asked.
"Yeah well, he's a fast worker…Ah, ah, don't look now but here comes his royal highness." Joseph teased.
As the guys and Rebecca walked all bunched together, Jackson walked right in the middle of them and bumped Chris on his side. "Mother fucker." Chris said through gritted teeth as he clenched his side.
"Chris, you alright?" Barry asked.
"Hey buddy watch where you're going, I'm walking here." Jackson said.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Rebecca said.
"Whoa, Rebecca." Joseph said.
"Keep moving Jack or I'll lock you up." Barry said.
"Yeah, on what account, old man?"
"Over mining our authority."
"Is that so?"
"RYMAN!" Barry yelled at Kevin who was sitting by the fountain chitchatting.
"Yeah." Kevin yelled as he came running.
"Arrest this idiot. He is over mining our authority and we can't have that otherwise things might get out of hand and everyone will start disobeying our orders." Barry said as the others wore big smiles at the back.
"You can do that?" Kevin asked.
"Kevin…" Barry said sternly.
"Right." He said as he broke out his chrome handcuffs. Kevin grabbed his wrist and began reading him his rights as he cuffed one hand.
"What are you guys doing?" Jill asked upon arriving in the lobby.
"Jill, hey, nothing's going on. I just ran into these guys here and they decided to pull a little joke on me, isn't that right, guys?" Jackson said
"Is that so?" Jill asked with crossed arms.
"Yeah, can't we have a little fun with Jackie here?" Chris asked.
"Don't worry Jill. It's not like we were really going to arrest him. He won't survive a night in prison with this pretty face." Joseph said as he clenched Jackson's jaw. Barry then nodded to Kevin and he released him.
"Okay." Jill said, still not buying their excuse. She then stared each of them down. "Chris are you okay? You look a little pale." She asked.
"I'm fine." He said as he still clutched his side.
"You don't look it. You really should go home and rest."
"I said I'm fine. I'm just hungry, that's all."
"Oh really, then let me see." Jill said as she reached for Chris' hand, but he was too slow and too much in pain to even move at all. "Oh my god Chris, you're bleeding." She said as she examined his white shirt covered in blood. "What happened?"
"Nothing. My hand's the one that's bleeding." He said while waving his left hand.
"That's bull. What happened?" She asked strictly.
"Why don't you ask Jack?" Forest said.
" Jackson?" She waited for his response.
"Jill, it wasn't on purpose. I tried to walk around them but they walked all around me and I accidentally bumped him. How was I to know he was previously injured?" Jackson said.
"Wow, you sure have a fast tongue." Richard said.
"Yeah, don't forget creative." Brad included.
"He's right Jill, it was my fault. Don't blame Jackie." Chris said.
"Chris, stop lying!" Kenneth said.
"Let's just get out of here and get something to eat, huh guys?" Chris said.
"No, you need to go to the hospital and have that checked. Come on, I'll take you." Jill offered. Everyone looked to Jackson and saw he was angry with that.
"No, just…you just have your lunch. See you later. Nice meeting you Jackie." Chris said.
"The name's Jackson"
"That's what I said, Jackie." Chris said and proceeded to the door with Kenneth fuming after him and the others following behind.
"Barry…" Jill called out.
"Yeah, I know Jill. Don't worry. He'll be fine." Barry said and followed the guys out.
As soon as the guys and Rebecca were out, Forest went running to his 4Runner and quickly drove it out front. They carefully loaded Chris into it and some of them piled in and others went with Joseph in his car. Forest rushed to the hospital and Joseph followed from behind.
"I don't know what the hell was running through Chris' mind when he said that. We could've exposed that fraud and free Jill of him." Kenneth said in the back of Joseph's car.
"He did that because of Jill. He doesn't want to ruin what she has going with him." Richard said.
"You know, Chris is too good for his own good." Kenneth shook his head.
"Yeah, that he is." Richard said.
They finally arrived at the hospital and they had him loaded on a wheelchair and wheeled him the emergency room. "What happened?" Dr. Quan asked.
"Some idiot bumped into him. I think it snapped all his stitches." Barry said.
"But those were good stitches! That must've been one hell of a bump." Dr. Quan said, "But don't worry, he's in good hands." He said as he entered the room where Chris had been rushed.
As Chris was getting 'repaired,' the others went to buy their lunch. By the time they got back to the hospital, Chris had been 'repaired,' but sedated again.
"Hey doc, so what's the news? Can we see him?" Forest asked.
"Well, I had to sedate him because the stitches in the wound were the ones that broke and not the outside ones. You can see him. And, you may want to call his sister or someone and inform them that Mr. Redfield will be spending the night here. I really don't know what he was doing at work this early, but I won't have his health jeopardized under my watch." Dr. Quan said.
"Right, thanks doc." Barry said as they all went to see Chris.
"I think I should call Melissa." Rebecca said.
"You know her number?" Brad asked.
"Um sort of. I just have to look in the yellow pages. I know she's in the realtor section." Rebecca said and left to call her.
"Great, look at him. It looks as though he never left the hospital." Richard said.
"Yeah. I hate be the bearer of bad news but we better be heading back. Wesker's going to grill us." Brad said.
"Yeah. We'll see ya later Chris." Barry said and they exited his room. As they reached the lobby, Rebecca had just gotten off the phone.
"She said she's coming now. We leaving?" She asked.
"Yeah." Joseph said.
"How's he doing?" She asked.
"He's okay. The stitches that came off were the dissolving ones inside him." Forest said.
"Ah." Rebecca said.
"Well, we better get going then." Barry said and they all followed him out.
-Back at the Station-
"Hey, where's Chris?" Jill asked.
"Hmm, where's Jackson" Joseph asked.
"He dropped me off."
"Well, we dropped Chris off as well." Forest said.
"Dropped him off where?" She asked.
"Home. He wasn't feeling too good, so we took him." Kenneth said.
"So he's okay? The bleeding wasn't anything big?" She asked.
"Nah, just a little scratch." Richard said.
Jill looked at all of them funny, as though they were hiding something from her. Just then, Wesker emerged from his office.
"Well, I just got off the phone with the doctor and he tells me Chris is at the hospital. Then for some unknown reason he starts grilling me on why I called him into work. Anyone want to explain why one of our best is lying in a hospital bed again?" He asked with a not too happy look on his face.
"Chris is at the hospital! Why did you tell me you took him home? That bleeding wasn't a scratch was it?" She asked.
"We felt that it was a 'need to know' basis, and, you didn't have to know." Joseph said.
"Well, I'm his partner! I should know what's going on with him!" Jill said.
"Yeah, well, he wouldn't be where he is if it weren't for Jackson." Kenneth said.
"What do you mean? He said it was an accident." She said.
"You're right, it was an accident." He replied and left her sight.
"Well, I guess that's all the explanation I need." Wesker said and returned to his desk.
-Three Weeks Later-
Chris' wound has healed but he still wore his sutures. They irritated him immensely and wanted to remove them himself, but Melissa had stopped him. And while his relationship deepened with her, Jill's relationship had deepened as well. When Chris got back to work, he and Jill didn't speak much to each other.
"Crap!" Joseph yelled as he entered the office. "You know those bizarre murder cases that have been popping up over the past few weeks. Well, they found a lead and they think it's some cult hiding out in an abandoned mansion up at Arklay. They're sending in the Bravo team two days from now." He informed the Alpha team.
"You mean the Spencer Mansion?" Barry asked.
"There's a mansion in the middle of the forest?" Chris asked.
"Yep." Joseph said, "Well anyways, you know what that calls for, a pre-mission party! Tomorrow at my place, and you all better go because it's tradition."
"So then why wasn't there a barbecue for the last mission?" Jill asked.
"Because, Jill, that mission was unexpected. And since this is expected, we're going to have a barbecue, and it's also for Chris, his 'congratulations on getting well,' party. I would have held it earlier but there was a slight hiccup in that." Joseph said as he looked towards Jill.
"That's not my fault so don't you even give me that look!" Jill said strictly.
"Look, nothing. I wasn't giving you a look. Chris, was I giving her a look?" Joseph asked.
"I don't know. I didn't really catch it. Do you mind expressing it again?" Chris asked sarcastically while Joseph gave him the look. "Yeah, no that wasn't a look. It was a look, but it wasn't the look."
"I told you so Jill." Joseph said.
"Chris hardly seems like the fair person to judge that now would he?" Jill said.
"Oh so you're saying I'm an unfair judge?" Chris asked as though he were taken aback.
"Forget it. You guys are assholes." Jill said and exited the office.
"Jeez what's up with her?" Joseph asked as he took a seat behind his desk.
"Jill's right. You know, we shouldn't give her the trouble just because Jackie is an ass. I'm going to apologize." Chris said and headed for the door.
"Well, tell her I'm sorry as well." Joseph said, realizing his mistake.
"Why don't you tell her yourself?" Chris said and exited the office. Chris wandered the building for a good twenty minutes until he found Jill on the roof on the other side of the building. "Hey, what are you doing all the way here?"
"I don't know. I just followed my feet and it led me here." She said as she stared out to the city.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked.
"Go ahead. It's not like I can stop you anyways."
"Well, I just came here to apologize. And I don't blame you or Jackie for anything. I'm just really sorry Jill. I hope you can accept that."
"How can I not? You've been really great to me even if you show it differently from others." Chris just nodded.
"Come here." Chris said and pulled her into a hug. "So we're cool?"
"Yeah, we're cool." Jill said and pulled out of his embrace. "But can I ask you a question though?"
"Yah, go for it." He said.
"How did you get stabbed if you were wearing your vest?" She asked.
"I don't know. It must've shifted while we were shuffling on the ground and I guess he got lucky. I guess it was just one of those times where things are least expected." Chris said.
"Well, it's starting to rain, we better head inside. You coming?"
"Yeah, I'll be there in a bit. I think I'm going to have a quick smoke first."
"You really should quit." She said. Chris just smiled at her and she returned inside.
Chris watched her leave and pulled out his cigarettes. He placed one in his mouth and sparked it up with his favorite Zippo lighter. He thought about his 'buried' feelings for her as he stood on the roof with the rain lightly falling. "This sucks." Chris said to himself. Just then Brad emerged from the door causing Chris to look, thinking it might be Jill to tell him that she broke up with Jackson and that she wants him.
"Hey Chris, what are you doing all the way here?" He asked, and saw the cigarette in his hand. "Hey! This is a no smoking zone! You're endangering the helicopter."
"Brad, the helicopter isn't here." Chris said as he looked at his half-smoked cigarette. He then took one more puff and discarded it. "What a waste." He whispered and walked towards the door. "Alright Brad, I'll see you inside. You going to the barbecue right?" Chris asked as he hung under the doorframe.
"Wouldn't miss it." Brad said. Chris went inside and made his way back to the S.T.A.R.S. office. Once there, everybody scattered in a panic and then pretended to not be doing anything.
"What's up?" Chris asked as he walked to his desk.
"No, what's up with you? How are you feeling? Your stitches doing okay? Do you want to lie down, the infirmary is open." Joseph said.
"Um, maybe you should lie down." Chris said as he took a seat.
"I was just kidding. Well I'll see you guys tomorrow." Joseph said and headed home.
"Might as well head home as well." Chris said and gathered up his things.
"Do you need a lift?" Jill offered.
"Oh, no. I'm taking my bike."
"But what about your stitches?" She asked.
"Um…they're fine. Uh, you going tomorrow?" He asked as he swung his bag on his back.
"Yeah. It's tradition, you know." She smiled.
"Okay, then I'll see you tomorrow." Chris said and proceeded towards the door with Jill watching him. Chris stopped in front of the door and turns around. Jill immediately turns and pretends to be doing something productive. "Jill?"
"Yeah?" She asks as she looks up to look at him.
"Uh, I…I just…I'm…I…" Chris stuttered.
Jill walked up to him and tilted her head and looked him in the face. "Are you okay?" She giggled.
'God. Just tell her that you can't get her out of your mind.' Chris thought. "I…I…Um, huh?"
"I asked if you were okay?" She smiled as though she were talking to a child.
"Oh. Yeah. Uh, I guess, I guess…I just…wanted to apologize again, for everything, starting from the day you arrived. Sorry for making your first days like hell." Chris said.
She smiled and admired how cute and innocent he looked. "It's okay Chris. I actually enjoyed those days. Nobody ever treated me like that. They usually treated me like a 'girl', catering to my every need because they thought I couldn't handle myself. I was sick of it. Nobody ever liked to argue with me either and if they did, they usually would let me win, but not you. You fought with me and that attr…um, and that was fun." She smiled.
"Yeah, it was fun. Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow then." Chris nudged her lightly on her arm and walked out the door. Once the door shut and Jill was alone in the office, she exhaled deeply and walked over to her desk and plopped on her chair. She then ran her hands through her hair and held on it while she leant on her desk.
"Hey kiddo, what are you still doing here?" Enrico asked upon entering the office. Jill jumped and immediately looked towards him.
"Hey Enrico, I was just about to leave." She said as she gathered her things.
"You okay? You look…confused."
"Yeah, you know, the usual guy problems." Jill said rather sluggishly.
" Jackson eh?" Enrico asked. Jill paused for a while to think.
"Yeah… Jackson." Jill said as though she were bored. "Anyways, Enrico, you going to the barbecue tomorrow?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yep. Hopefully I can settle my problems there." Jill said.
"Uh, okay." Enrico said and Jill began to giggle.
"Okay, well I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Alright kiddo, take care." Enrico said.
"I will. Bye." Jill said and left.
-Barbecue Night, Melissa's Apartment-
"Melissa! Come on! You take forever, I swear!" Chris yelled as he waited for her to get ready.
"Relax sweetie, I'm done." She said as she emerged from her room.
"Finally." Chris exhaled.
"Aw…I love you." She said and kissed him passionately.
"I love you too." Chris told her as they pulled apart. "Okay let's go!" He said and pulled her out the door.
"Jeez." She said as she trailed behind him. As soon as they reached outside, they got into her car and drove off to Joseph's place.
Upon reaching Joseph's house, they saw the smoke protruding from his backyard, signifying a barbecue in process. Chris parked the car and upon entering Joseph's house, they found everyone already there. "I told you we were going to be late." Chris told her.
"I'm sorry. If you want, I'll make it up to you." She said with a sly grin plastered on her face.
"Uh…" Chris began but was soon cut off by Joseph.
"Hey Chris! Glad to see you finally made it! Melissa! Hey!" Joseph greeted.
"Hi Joseph." Melissa greeted.
"Joe is fine. The beers are at the back."
"Great, thanks. I think I'm due for one." Chris said as he headed for the backyard with Melissa trailing behind.
"Hey, Chris is here!" Forest yelled.
"Somebody cut his beer supply. We don't want him going into a mission tomorrow all messed up." Wesker laughed.
"Yeah well, at least you don't have to bring him into this mission." Enrico said.
"I feel sorry for you already." Wesker said and chugged more beer.
Chris scanned the backyard and found Jill with Jackie talking with Kenneth, much to his dismay. He looked the other way and found Rebecca sitting with Cathy and proceeded towards them. "Hi Cathy." Chris greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
"Chris, so good to see you again! How are you?" She asked.
"Oh, I'm fine. By the way, this is Melissa." Chris introduced her.
"Chris didn't tell me he had a girlfriend. Come sit. Talk with us." Cathy invited her. Chris gave her a nod and she joined the two women.
"So, Cathy, I'm gonna to join your husband and the other guys and engage in a 'manly' conversation." Chris laughed. "Mel, I'll be there if you need me."
"Oh, okay." She said and immediately began talking and laughing with the other two women.
"Hey Barry."
"Christopher!" Barry said with a cigar hanging on the side of his mouth.
"I thought you quit?"
"Heh…I thought you did too." Barry said as he began flipping the burgers on the grill. Chris smiled and took out his pack of cigarettes.
"Hey, no smoking near the food!" Richard said.
"And why not?" Chris and Barry asked.
"I don't know. Hey give me one. I know I quit but it doesn't hurt to have one once in a while." Richard said.
"Are you sure?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, come on."
"Okay." Chris said and gave him one.
"Shame on you for spreading your poison." Jill said as she approached the guys.
"He asked for it." Chris said as he blew the smoke in the other direction.
"I'm just kidding." Jill laughed.
"Hey Barry, is the food ready yet? We're all starving!" Brad yelled.
"Just about! Keep your panties on." Barry said as he finished the last of the burgers, chicken drumsticks and steaks.
"Well I'm going to join the other women and see what they're talking about." Jill said and left for their table. As she walked away, Chris watched her, as though he was studying her movement.
"…Isn't that right Chris?" Richard said as he began to laugh.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah." Chris said and began to fake laugh. As Barry continued to barbecue and talk, Chris would listen but be looking at the table were the women sat, his eyes particularly on Jill. Jackson, talking with Brad and Kenneth, noticed Chris eyeing Jill. He then walked up to Chris, leaving Brad and Kenneth jumping for joy.
"Hey." Jackson said to Chris.
"Jackie." Chris responded dryly.
"It's Jackson, but if you prefer, Jack."
"Okay Jackie." Chris took a puff on his cigarette.
"Whatever…so what's up with you?" Jackson asked.
"I don't know, why? Is something supposed to be the matter with me?"
"So I saw you eyeing Jill."
"And?"
"Don't. I don't like it. And I don't like you."
"Hey, you better slow down with your words." Richard said, "You see, you are out numbered here, 10 to 1, so I suggest you choose your words wisely."
"Yes Jackie, choose your word carefully." Chris blew the smoke to his face.
"Whatever." He said and walked away.
"I swear, that guy has some nerve. I just want to smack the shit out of him." Richard said.
"Don't. It's not worth your time." Chris said.
"FOOD"S DONE!" Barry yelled. Everybody cheered and gathered round the table while they said a little prayer for the food, Bravo team and Chris. Immediately after, they began to eat, talk and laugh. As Chris sat next to Melissa and ate, occasionally glancing at Jill to see what she was doing.
'Forget it.' Chris said to himself and continued to eat and talk to the others around him.
---
Everybody was done eating and back to drinking, talking and yelling. As everyone indulged in his or her own thing, Chris slipped inside the house unnoticed and began to walk around until he stumbled into Joseph's library. He was in there for a while, that he forgot there was something going on outside.
Outside, Joseph noticed that Chris was missing and goes inside his house to look for him. It didn't take long for him to find him. "Hey, what are you doing here?" Joseph asked.
"Just admiring your collection of books. I didn't know you like to read."
"It's the romantic in me." Joseph chuckled and so does Chris.
"So where's Kate?" Chris asked.
"Broke up. She's psycho. I was going out with a girl who didn't even know we were going out. Something's wrong with her." Joseph laughed.
"Yeah…" Chris chuckled lightly.
"So how's Melissa?"
"Oh, she's great." Chris said.
"And Jill?" Joseph asks as Chris exhales.
"Why don't you ask Jackie?"
"No I don't think I will." Joseph said as he paused for a while to take a drink. "Why don't you just come off it and tell her?"
"Who?" Chris asked.
"Don't play dumb Chris. You like her and you won't admit it."
"You're crazy. Jill is my friend. We're good together, but we just don't click…that…way."
"Deny it all you want, but I see the looks you give her. You think that no one is watching but you know, someone always is."
"No use lying to you."
"So what do you plan to do now?" Joseph asked.
"I don't know…Jill...um…Melissa is great, but..."
"Melissa will understand. She seems like an understanding type of gal." Joseph said.
"Yeah, but if something does happen between us, I'm afraid that I'll do something and… hurt her. I don't want to hurt her." Chris said quietly.
"Well guess what buddy-boy. Love is pain. Heck, life is pain. You can't protect anybody from it. It's always gonna getcha. But you know, sometimes life can be good, but you gotta be open. You gotta take chances. You gotta let go." Joseph patted him on the shoulder and proceeded for the door.
"So what movie did you take your speech from?" Chris smiled.
"How'd you know?" Joseph smiled as he stopped in front of the door.
"I know you're not that clever to come up with something poetic like that."
"You know me to well." He laughed. "I got it from Heartbreakers. But you've gotta admit, those are some interesting lines." Joseph said and walked out the door.
As soon as Joseph walked out, Melissa walked in. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you?"
"How long have you been looking?"
"Two minutes. Come on! They're exposing secrets about all of you." She smiled.
"Aw crap." Chris said and the both of them left for the back yard. As soon as they reached the backyard, he was bombarded with a bunch of pies from each S.T.A.R.S. member. Melissa started to laugh along with everyone else.
"Hope you feel better Chris!" Joseph yelled.
"Thanks." He said dryly. He then turned to Melissa with his face dripping with pie. "Mel, you told me they were exposing secrets."
"How else was I supposed to drag you out here in a hurry?" She smiled and picked off a blueberry off his face and ate it.
"That was very sweet of you. Thank you guys!" Chris yelled at them.
"No problem." Wesker said. "Well, Joe, it's been fun, but I have an early appointment tomorrow. I'll see you guys later."
"Okay Boss, see ya." Joseph said as he left.
"Yah, I think I'm gonna go now. I'm going to need a good rest for tomorrow's mission." Enrico said.
"Same here." Kenneth said. "And I think we should take this guy home." Kenneth referred to Forest who was knocked out on a chair.
"Yeah, let's load him up." Enrico said, "Okay guys and gals, don't stay up to late, you hear?"
"We won't. Bye guys." Everyone said.
"Barry, honey, I think we should go too. We still need to pick the girls up at Maggie's house." Cathy said.
"Yes dear. I'll see all of you later." Barry said and left with his wife. All those who were leaving left and Chris began to clear himself of the pie.
"Here, let me help." Melissa said and licked the pie off his face.
"Whoa." Chris said.
"You taste good." She smiled and kissed him. Jill was extremely disgusted and a bit jealous but did her best to not show it.
"Let's get out of here." She whispered in his ear. Chris' eyes lit up and nodded.
"Guys, I'm kind of messy so we're just gonna go now." Chris said as Melissa pulled him to the door. "BYE!" Chris yelled and disappeared through the door.
"Looks like someone is going to wake up happy." Jackson said and immediately Joseph, Rebecca and Richard looked at Jill.
--Chris' Apartment--
The two of them quickly race up to his place and as soon as they got in, they start kissing passionately. One thing leads to another and Chris ends up shirtless. They continue kissing until they reach inside his room. They break for air and Melissa pushes Chris on his bed causing him to fall back. She then takes off her top and pounces on him and they continue to kiss and grope each other. Melissa then starts to trail her kisses down his toned chest and starts undoing his belt. "Mel…wait." Chris says with heavy breaths. She ignores him and yanks his belt off and tosses it on the floor. As she begins to undo his pants button, but he grabs hold of her hand. "No…wait…we can't do this. I'm sorry." He says as he sits up. Melissa exhales deeply as she gets off of him.
"I figured." She said as she takes a seat next to him.
"You figured?"
"Yeah, well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you're in love with someone else."
"Was it that obvious?" Chris asked.
"Yah. So…how long have you been in love with Jill?" She asked.
"How do you know its Jill?"
"I catch you looking at her. And believe me, if I was a guy, I'd be looking at her that way as well." She laughed.
"Yeah." Chris laughed with her.
"Well, I'm just glad you said something before we got any further." She said.
"I didn't think it would be right. I wouldn't be fair to you, or myself." Chris said.
"You're a great guy, you know that?"
"Thanks" Chris said as he bumped his shoulder into her in a friendly way. "And you're great as well. I'm really glad to have met you and have you apart of my life."
Melissa smiled and got up to retrieve her top from the floor and got dressed. "So, you planning on telling her how you feel?" She asked as she took her seat next to him.
"I don't know. She does have a boyfriend and I don't want to get in the way if she thinks he's the one."
"You want me to break them up?" She chuckled.
"You're funny." He laughs, "But I don't think you should get involved in my affairs."
"I thought you'd say something like that." She smiled.
"So…you're not pissed at me?" Chris asked.
"Why would I be? You're only following your heart. I'm actually mad at myself if you ask me."
"Why is that?"
"Because, I knew you liked Jill, but I still tried to get you in the sack. I'm like a slut." She laughed.
"Hey, that was consensual. Don't put all the blame on yourself." Chris said as Melissa nodded.
"Well, I guess I should get going now." Melissa said as she got up.
"Hey, you want to get something to eat?" Chris asked.
"Now that you mentioned, I am rather hungry."
"Cool. Great. So let me take a quick shower because my hair's all funky."
"Alright, I'll be outside." She said and exited his room.
Chris took a quick shower and got changed. He emerged from his room and found his living room empty. "Melissa?"
"Here." She called from behind the couch.
"What are you doing there?"
"Boo has your shirt. He's eating the pie off of it and he doesn't want to give it to me."
Chris laughed and walked to where Melissa and Boo were. "Boo! NO!" Chris said and took his shirt out of his mouth and tossed it on the counter. "Ready to go?" He asked.
"Um Chris, there's something I need to tell you but I don't think it would matter anymore."
"What about?"
"Well, it's kind of a good thing we broke up because I'm moving to California for a job."
"Oh…So I guess we can't hang out, huh?"
"No." She smiled.
"So when do you leave?"
"To…mor…row."
"Tomorrow? When did you plan on telling me, when you were already there?"
"Believe me, I wanted to tell you ever since I got the job. I couldn't. I was falling in love with you and I didn't want to break your heart. I'm an idiot."
"Oh, Melissa." Chris said and pulled her into a comforting hug. "I'm so sorry for what I did. I was falling for you too, but every time I see Jill, those feelings I suppressed for her would resurface. I'm truly sorry. I'm sure you'll find someone even better than me."
"I hope so. I'm just glad I got to love you. But hey, if you and Jill don't work out and you're in the Bay Area, look me up." She joked.
"You'll be the first person on my list." He joked as well.
"Don't say it that way. You make it sound as if I'm your rebound girl." She laughed. Chris watched her laugh and moved in to kiss her one last time. "What was that for?" She asked as they parted.
"Nothing. You're just an amazing person."
"Thanks I think so too." She smiled.
"Melissa, just so you know, when I said I loved you, I meant it." Melissa didn't say anything. Instead she reached out and caressed his face.
"I meant it too." She smiled and removed her hand. "Jill's really lucky." She said as Chris nodded.
"Shall we go?" He asked as he held the door open.
"Yep." She said happily and stepped out. Chris followed her out and closed the door behind him and took the elevator down.
…THE END…
Well, that's the end of chapter 16 and the Chris/Melissa romance. What'd you think? I'm too lazy to re-read it, so I apologize in advance for the errors. Um, I'm not even sure if some of it made sense. I'll go back and fix it later until then…RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE! What did you think? I was a little disappointed but I still found the movie enjoyable, only because Jill. She's COOL, sexy, you name it, that's her. Hehehe. You know, some people say 'my' Jill is out of character, well…I won't get into it. One part pissed the hell out of me, but I won't go there. I thought the movie was cool, but I was a little irritated with some things. I was being really critical down to Jill's boots and that little habit of hers. It was hot, but grrr. You know, I think she picked it up from her boyfriend, who is not mentioned AT ALL. Hehehe. Anyways, the movie was awesome and kicked zombie arse and Roger Ebert sucks. If a third one is in the making, I really hope a Redfield is in it. (Chris ) Oh just a heads up, I think the next chapter will be the final one, but don't quote me on that. You know how I am. Anyways, I'm also working on my version of what I'd like the third movie to be. I'm still in the planning stages but I think it's going to be cool. Well, I'm just gonna go now. Hope you've enjoyed reading and don't forget to review. Toodles!