Work Text:
.1
No doubt I’ll regret this…
- Chase Atlantic
“Hey, are you busy?”
“I mean, yeah. What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing, I just thought we could go for a drive or something.”
“Not today but I got you next time, yeah?”
“For sure! See you later!”
“Bye kid.”
Smoke and darkness and selvedge music. Men his age and men much older. He inhaled and coughed. Laughter surrounded him, and he grinned.
.2
Send me a reply when you’re up, ‘cause I’m waiting…
- Chase Atlantic
“Sorry to bother you, I just wanted you to know your food is in the fridge.”
“You’re not bothering me.”
“No?”
“Never.”
“...You big ol’ softie.”
“Now listen here-”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Oh yeah? How am I ridiculous?”
“You just are.”
“Uh huh.”
“Do you know when you’re gonna be home?”
“Not yet, why?”
“Feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Aww, I’m sorry, mamas.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s cute.”
“You too tough for cute?”
“Something like that.”
“Sure mamas. Whatever you say.”
“Bye Chris.”
“Bye miss lady.”
Smoke and powder and music in his chest. Lines of white on a nearby mirror. Luxury surrounded him, and he smiled.
.3
Is there any chance you’ll be here in the morning?
- Chase Atlantic
“Chris, I need you.”
“This is…a terrible time.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“What happened?”
“I just feel like shit. Can I meet you somewhere?”
“Not tonight, kid, I’m sorry. Why do you feel like shit?”
“I hate…myself. She’s so difficult. And ugly. Inside and out.”
“I don’t think that.”
“No offense but not a single person has ever paid you to think.”
“That was pretty funny.”
“I try.”
“Is Matt home?”
“Yeah.”
“You know Matt’s always better at this stuff. Go talk to him.”
“...Okay.”
“Hey, no tears, okay? No need to cry.”
“Okay. Thank you. That helped a lot, actually.”
“Anytime.”
Liquor stained his lips and pills dotted his hand. Chris gulped both and smiled. She faded from his mind.
.4
“Hey.”
Darkness and pleasure.
.5
“You alive?”
Pleasure and darkness.
.6
“Chris…”
Sleep.
.7
See, I’ve been taking medicine so I can relax.
- Chase Atlantic
“Please don’t be mad.”
“Chris…”
“I know.”
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“Where are you?”
“Cooper’s.”
“You better be on the curb when I get there.”
“Thank you, seriously, I-”
“Yeah. Be there in fifteen.” Click.
Gray skies and a waking city. His eyes were heavy.
.8
I’m so lonely, and you’re the only one that knows me…
- Chase Atlantic
“I’m really sorry.”
“You should be.”
“I get that you’re mad but you don’t need to be a dick about it. I’m trying to apologize.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it?”
“...”
“Please say something.”
“I don’t have anything to say, Christopher.”
“Don’t shut me out. You know I can’t do this without you.”
“Do I?”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“From where I’m standing, it looks like I’m pretty damn replaceable.”
“Don’t be like that.”
“Like what? Honest?”
“I don’t feel that way about you. You’re not replaceable.”
“Then quit treating me like I am.”
“...”
A silent car ride.
.9
We can take a long ways drive up the hills ‘cause I know you love riding…
- Chase Atlantic
“Hey.”
“Yeah, Chris.”
“Can we talk?”
“I’m really tired.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Go to bed.”
“I love you.”
“Goodnight Christopher.”
“I do. I swear I do.”
“Enough.”
“Please, can you just-”
“You don’t love me. You love yourself. You love your pleasures. You love your drugs and your drinks and anything that serves you. You love me when I’m taking care of you. You can’t stand me when I need anything from you.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“I know you need to go to bed and sleep off whatever this shit is…Not like you’ll remember it anyway.”
“I always remember.”
“Goodnight Chris.”
Darkness.
1.0
If you get a minute, call me back.
- Chase Atlantic
“Morning.”
“Hey bubs. Sleep okay?”
“Yeah, you?”
“...Yeah.”
“I’m gonna be out late tonight, don’t wait up.”
“...”
“You’re pretty cute, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told. Have a good day!”
“You too. Can you pick me up tonight?”
“...No problem.”
“Love ya.”
“...”
“I love you too.”
But he was already gone.
fin.