What if… (The 'whodunnit')?
I wrote this a while ago and I know it's out-of-date, but I thought I'd upload it now.
Set in late August 2013, what if Hudson wasn't the driver in the hit-and-run? Let's say it was Lucas instead, but Hudson was hiding a secret about his role in the incident that resulted in his relationship with Chris falling apart and Hudson leaving Erinsborough.
Chris rummaged around in the fridge, trying to find something for lunch. Suddenly a phone began to vibrate, causing Chris' head to pop up over the door. He reached into his jeans' pockets but his mobile wasn't in there. He noticed Hudson's mobile across the kitchen surface buzzing and moving slightly. Chris picked up the mobile and read that the caller was Hudson's mum. Shrugging, Chris answered it.
"Hey Mrs Walsh" Chris saluted casually, having already had a few conversations with the woman previously, "Hudson's at training right now and left his phone behind, but I can let him know that you called or I can take a message if you want". His face turned grave as Hudson's mum gave him a message to pass on to her son…
xxx
Chris sat on the sofa in the living room, staring at Hudson's mobile lying on the coffee table. He had been doing that for the last hour or so with Mrs Walsh's call going round and round in his head. Hudson burst through the door and dropped his bag on the sofa opposite, exhaling. He spotted his mobile on the table but clearly didn't notice Chris' mood immediately.
"Hey" he greeted breathlessly, "Brad told me that you called to say that I'd left my phone behind. Thanks" he babbled, picking it up. It was then that he noticed Chris' blank expression and stared at him for a few moments.
"What's up?" Hudson asked, puzzled. Chris looked up at him.
"Your mum called" he replied shortly.
Hudson suddenly looked worried, "what did she want?" he asked uncomfortably.
"She wanted to know if you knew anything about the money that went missing from your parent's bank account" Chris told him flatly, "Apparently eight thousand dollars was taken from their account the same day that you promised Mason that you would get eight grand for him to pay off Robbo"
Hudson avoided Chris' gaze, which caused Chris to shake his head in denial.
"Please tell me this is just a coincidence" he pleaded, shakily.
Hudson glanced at him before slowly shaking his head.
Chris' eyes widened in disbelief, "You stole eight grand from your parents?!" he hissed
"I'm sorry" Hudson whispered, upset.
Chris looked appalled, "you said they'd lend it to you"
"Well they didn't" Hudson revealed bitterly, "When I asked to borrow it, they wanted to know what I needed it for, and I knew that if I told them then they would refuse. I barely knew Robbo, or Mason for that matter; they wouldn't give me so much money to give to a guy to pay off his blackmailer. They'd just tell me not to get involved"
Chris looked bewildered, "how did you even access their account?"
"The last time I went back home, after the whole Don thing, I was worried that he would come after me, and my parents wanted me to be financially secure just in case" Hudson explained, "they gave me their bank account details, but I didn't need it in the end. I forgot that I still had them, but when you told me about the Robbo situation, I remembered that I did and realised that I could help"
"Why did you even offer to help?" Chris asked, completely aghast
"Because of you!" Hudson exclaimed. Chris pulled a confused face,
"What?"
"Because I lo-" Hudson began but hesitated in embarrassment, realising that it probably wasn't the wisest thing to admit. He glanced at Chris, whose body trembled from anger and incredulity, unable to completely process what he was hearing.
Hudson sighed, "I didn't want to be the boyfriend who just pats you on the back and says 'you'll find a solution'" he told him, "I wanted to be part of the solution. See? I did it for you-"
Chris stood up, face crimson and expression furious.
"Oh yeah, because that makes it ok does it?" Chris snapped, "You stole money from your parents but it's ok because you did it for me!" he finished, sarcastically.
"Look, I'm sorry" Hudson apologised earnestly
Chris shook his head, "It's not me you should be apologising to"
Hudson scrolled through the contacts on his mobile, "Ok, I'll call my parents"
Chris covered the mobile with his hand, "No, do it face-to-face"
Hudson looked confused, "What?"
"Go to Sydney, look your parents in the eyes and tell them what you did" Chris commanded, "Then earn the money to pay them back and accept whatever punishment they give you" he paused, "You deserve everything you get" he finished coldly.
They held each other's gazes for a few moments before Chris marched up the stairs and held the door open.
"Go" he ordered coldly, looking straight ahead of himself
"Chris…" Hudson began wearily
"Just go!" Chris shouted
Dejectedly, Hudson hung his head as he grabbed his bag and exited, avoiding eye-contact with Chris. Chris slammed the door in anguish then rested his head against it, exhaling slowly. On the other side of the door Hudson's brown eyes filled with tears as he collapsed to the ground. He wrapped his arms around himself and began to sob.
The inspiration came from the fact that when this storyline was airing, I didn't believe that Hudson would be responsible, and I always thought it was weird that he would give so much money to help people he barely knew, and that he would be able to obtain it so easily. Anyway, I've got a final 'Chrudson' one-shot on its way, so stay tuned!