To stand by him

Chris took a while to get to my house, it was well past eleven when he finally came knocking at my window.

"My dad's not home." I said opening the window, I was surprised the branch was holding as well as it did, Chris and I had been careful not to both be on the branch at the same time, however Chris was at least 150 pounds, at least and that branch held.

"I know." he said.

"Then why didn't you use the front door?" he pulled himself through the door and landed with a loud thud.

"Where's the fun in that?" he asked.

"Some view kids are outside aren't they?" he shrugged.

"Maybe."

"Chris we have a problem."

"What else is new?" He groaned throwing himself on the bed face first. I rolled my eyes and walked to the bed resting my hand on the wooden post at the foot.

"It's a problem we already had." he raised his hand telling me to continue. "The ring Chris, they almost found out tonight."
"Mmmrpph, doghn, loghtf." he managed with his face in the mattress.

"Uh. . . they wanted to show me, and I pretended to pass out."
"Whellmm, lloossph."

"Chris we can't keep avoiding this, the wedding is going to come and we can't stop it, the moment they look in that box there has to be a ring in it. . . would you get up?!" I snapped hitting his leg.

"Owwwhhh." that I understood. "Phdjhs"

"Chris stop joking around."

He pushed himself up with his hands, his face was red from being pushed into the bed and he looked dazed from the light in my room compared the the darkness he had been in.

"How'd you know what I said?"
"I wasn't listening to a word you said." I replied placing my hands on my hips. He sighed and pushed himself up father and swung his legs around to lay on his back instead of on his face.

"Anna, I know but so far that is the least of our worries."

"Chris I could have been beaten again tonight if they saw that box empty, we have to do something."

His casualness about the situation was starting to upset me, I wanted to be as calm and collected as he was but I couldn't do it.

"What we need to worry about is what the hell is going on with Ace."
"Ace is being taken care of, I have pretection in the streets,what I don't have is protection here, in my house."

"Anna, you have me-"

"You can't be here all the time, I still get hits from him, he hit me a few nights ago when you weren't here. I'm alone here, and I'm scared." I only noticed then how broken my voice sounded, I pressed my lips tightly together, almost embarrased by the tears welling up behind my eyes and turned away from him.

"Whoa, hey." he said, I heard him shifting and then his arms were around me turning to face him. "Don't be scared." he whispered pulling me into his chest.

"I can't help it." I whispered. "How the hell do you stay so calm?" I demanded raising my eyes to look at his face.

"Calm? Anna I'm terrified, for me and for you, all the time. You think it's easy living with Ace's best friend? When at any corner we turn he could be there, that anything could be happening when you're away from me?" His face was turning red from being flustered. I placed a hand on his cheek and hushed him.

"It's okay, it's okay."

"No it's not, that night I drove you out into the country was the first night I felt safe in years."

I pulled him to me and just hugged him, squeezing him as tight as I could. I wanted to forget what was happening for a second and just be in his arms.

"I couldn't get anything out of my brother." he whispered into my hair.

"You went and found him?" I demanded pulling away. He shrugged.

"No, I mean I couldn't find him. No one has seen him I saw Charlie and he's too stupid to lie about it, and I asked other people but no one has seen him." he explained.

"He's probably with Ace."

"No Ace was at the bar, I saw him through the window when I walked by."

"Oh." he lifted my chin and placed a chaste kiss there.

"I'll figure it out I promise." I just nodded.

"Now about the ring. . ." I kissed him once more and pulled fully away. "I don't know what to do."
"Well when's the wedding?"
"I don't remember, but it's not getting further away.'

"Well I say we get through this deal with Ace first, the Trial is a lot closer then the wedding. . . do you still have the key?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah its under my dresser."

"Ace doesn't know where you live?"

"Unless someone told him. . . you don't think he'd come here do you?" again he shrugged running a hand through his short hair.

"I think he'd smash a train into the house if he could." my eyes widened, but then I laughed unable to help myself at the idea.

"Probably. Good thing he doesn't though."

"There's one thing though."

"What?"

That look came over his face that evil sly grin graced his face and I knew I was in trouble.

Before I could move he came at me. Attacking my legs and throwing me over his shoulder, I yelled out in surprise then anger.

"Chris, not again put me down." he was running down the stairs by then me slamming into his shoulder painfully. "Chris!"

"Alright alright." he laughed dropping me over the back of the couch. As I fell I grasped onto his collar and pulled him over with me. With his weight slamming into the back the whole couch flipped to the ground. We were a laughing mess on the ground I rolled over so I was leaning over his chest, still laughing. When we stopped her stared at me and I stared right back, not a word said.

"So you gonna lean down and kiss me or what?' he asked, I rolled my eyes. Arrogant jerk.

"Not anymore." I attempted to sit but but he pulled me back down rolling his eyes at me and placed a hand at the back of my head.

Our lips connected hard but the kiss was slow and deep, his tongue gentle caressing my own, one hand holding my hip the other moved to my cheek rubbing small circles on my skin.

Pulling back for hair, Chris stayed close, his warm breathe feathered across my lips.

"I will never let anything happen to you again. . . I promise." I sighed and lightly pressed my lips against his again.

"That's a hard promise to keep Chris."

"I know, but I'll keep it."

I can't even apologize for taking this long. . . . however I was cursed with Writers block :(

However I am not blocked anymore so I will hopefully update on time for now on thanks for being patient :D

Thank you again for reviews and comments 33

-Lexi Makay