Title: What If - Chapter 1
Title: What If - Chapter 1
Author: itsa_love_story
Rating: R (language)
Summary: I did a fic called "Seven Stories" ( Click here to read) yesterday and a few people wanted me to make the drabble based on the song "Joey" by Sugarland longer so here's the first chapter in that fic.
Disclaimer: Fictional story in which I don't claim to know anyone mentioned or claim to state this as fact. Purely for reading enjoyment.
It was the fight that had caused Adam to storm out of the bar.
It was the heated argument that had lead to glass shattering on the floor, not a physical brawl but a match of raised voices and angry motions that led them splitting, quickly, in two directions.
It was the sound of Adam’s brand new Mustang peeling out of the parking lot out front.
Kris had seen it coming right away.
Just under a year after the tour ended, Kris found himself dragged by Adam to a bar between their two apartments, smiling at his friend’s rambling stories. They hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks and Adam’s grip tightened on his wrist when they walked into the crowded bar.
“So what I’m saying is that I answered my phone and Ellen was on the other line and-“
“Wait, Ellen? Like… Like Ellen Degeneres, Ellen?” Kris asked as they slid into the same side of the booth. Adam looked across Kris and motioned to the waitress, holding his hand up in the air.
“Yes! So she tells me she wants to do a special on gay and lesbian rights and equal rights and everything. And at first I was like, I don’t know, worried? About what people would think?” Adam said softer, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, looking down at Kris.
“What, that they’d find out you’re secretly straight?” Kris asked, a gleam to his eyes. Adam barked a laugh, shaking his head. The blonde waitress slid over to their table, dropping menus before them and smiling sweetly.
“What do you boys want to drink.”
“Corona, please,” Kris said, pulling the menu before him and flipping it open. Adam frowned and shook his head.
“Predictable.”
“I like Coronas!” Kris protested, looking up at the waitress as she giggled.
“What do you have that’s not pre bottled and tastes kind of fruity?” Adam asked, grinning at the girl as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
“I’m biting my tongue here.”
“Shut up, Kristopher.”
“How about a tequila sunrise? I’ll throw in an extra shot?” She asked, jotting a few notes down on the pad in her hands.
“Uhm… Yeah. Actually that sounds great. Pretty, colorful, and tastes good.”
“Seriously. It’s bleeding now.”
“Shut UP, Kristopher.”
The waitress smiled and left and Kris grinned up at Adam.
“You were saying.”
It was two hours, four drinks, and two plates of cheese fries later when Kris noticed Adam had stopped listening to his story. Kris set his mouth into a thin line, looking at the emotion flicking across Adam’s face as he looked directly behind Kris and took a deep breath.
“Uhm,” Kris said softly, craning his neck to look behind him.
“No,” Adam hissed, grabbing onto his forearm and tapping his fingers nervously against the table he was also gripping tightly.
“Adam, what the hell is wrong with-“
“Things ended bad between me and Nick so when he comes over here, he’s just trying to mess with me so ignore what he says,” Adam nearly whispered, hand sliding down his arm and Kris noticed a young man standing beside him, resting his arm on the back of Kris’ chair.
“Hey there, lover.”
“Nick, I don’t-“
“Who’s the new boy toy?” Kris frowned and looked up at the man, squinting his eyes at the bright polo shirt and overly highlighted shaggy hair. He looked back at his friend, eyebrows raised, and Adam was biting his bottom lip.
“Kris, this is Nick Sedaris. He’s a fashion designer for Marc Jacobs,” Adam said, voice even. Kris nodded, looking at how tense Adam was sitting and patted his leg once before looking up at Nick.
“Pleasure. Are all your designs as shitty as what you’re wearing now?” Kris asked sweetly and Adam’s jaw dropped.
“Excuse me, country bumpkin? The plaid’s a bit lumberjack, don’t you think?” Nick grinned and Adam cleared his throat.
“Uhm.”
“Plaid’s in right now. I’m surprised you didn’t know that, being a designer and all. Bright yellow polos and acid washed jeans… Not so much.”
“Aren’t you cute,” Nick nodded, head tilted to the side. He looked over at Adam and leaned across the table, resting his elbows on either side of Adam’s drink.
“So, sweetheart, did you tell him yet?”
“Tell him what,” Adam sighed, reaching in his pocket for cash to pay the check waiting at the edge of the table.
“Why you broke up with me.”
Kris watched, worried, as Adam froze. He looked back at Nick, seeing the sheer delight on his face and felt a sense of dread wash over him. Adam glanced around them and lay a few bills on the table, patting the side of Nick’s face gently.
“I don’t tell my friends those kinds of details. So, it’s been fantastic, but we’re going to head out of here.” Kris was already sliding out of the booth when Nick stood up straight and grabbed onto his arm, fingers tightening into his skin.
“Ow, man what the fuck!” Kris protested, grabbing at Nick’s wrist. Adam quickly got to his feet and strode over.
“Let go of him!”
“Want to know why he dumped me, Kris?”
“Because you’re a lunatic? Adam!” Kris yelled and Adam was at his side, prying Nick’s hands off Kris’ arm. A few people had gathered nearby, concerned.
“Adam was in love with someone else.”
“Not the time, Nick,” Adam yelled, finally prying Kris free, the smaller man collapsing against him. Kris hissed in pain, rubbing his arm and looking up at the blonde man, hands shaking as he balled them at his sides.
“I’m kicking his ass,” Kris announced, getting a few steps toward him when Adam grabbed him by the collar.
“Ever wonder why Adam hangs around you so much? Or why he calls you in the middle of the night to talk?” Nick asked, tilting his head up. Adam looked at him, fingers tight in Kris’ shirt.
“Enough. We’re leaving.”
“He’s in love with you. Has been for over a year,” Nick smiled, arms folding over his chest. Kris paused and Adam released his hold on him, striding over before the man. Kris looked down at the bruise forming on his arm and back at Adam, seeing the rage on his face and took a deep breath.
“Don’t fucking say that. I dumped your sorry ass because you tried to control everything I did. Don’t you touch him again or I will fucking break your neck,” Adam hissed and Kris stepped backwards.
“See this, Kris? He’s just upset because it’s true.”
“Shut the fuck up!”
“Stop denying it, sweetheart!”
There was a rush of people as Adam pushed at Nick, glass falling to the floor and Kris was shoved backwards as people tried to separate them. He jumped at people’s backs, hearing Adam screaming obscenities at Nick and seeing hands restraining his friend back as Nick stumbled out of the crowd, a hand across his mouth as he laughed loudly. Adam pulled himself free from the people trying to help and stormed to the exit, pulling his keys out of his pocket.
“Adam!” Kris yelled, hurrying after him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. He’s just…”
“Horrible. Adam! Slow down!” Kris yelled as Adam marched in front of him, feet hitting the pavement loudly and trying to keep up with his pace. He saw Adam’s body shaking and his footing faltering slightly, leather boots slapping against the ground.
“Adam!”
“I’m sorry. He didn’t-He had no right,” Adam shook his head, walking around to the driver’s side door and fumbling with the keys, trying to unlock the door with shaking hands.
“No, hey, wait a second. You’re not driving!” Kris yelled, trying to get Adam to actually listen to him, hitting the trunk of the Mustang loudly.
“Adam!”
“Get in before he comes back,” Adam said, the doors unlocking as he opened his door and slid in, slamming it shut behind him. Kris looked at him through the window, eyes dark and his face set and Kris knocked on the window.
“Let me drive!” he yelled and Adam started the engine.
“Get in or call a cab!”
“Adam!”
“Kris, I’m not fucking around.”
“Adam! You can’t-“ Kris looked up and saw the crowd gathered outside, snapping pictures on their cell phones and Adam threw the car into reverse, swinging his car around Kris and peeling out of the parking lot without a second look back. Kris raised his arms up and dropped them to his sides. A few people were calling out to him and he watched the tail lights of Adam’s car disappear into the night traffic and he sighed, reaching for his cell phone.
----------
It was two hours later when his cell phone rang and Katy handed it to him as he blinked back the remains of sleep and she collapsed back against the pillows.
It was Neil’s name on his phone and the sound of people shouting in the background when he answered.
“Kris,” Neil said breathlessly, making Kris sit up and hold the phone tight.
“There’s been an accident.”
Author: itsa_love_story
Rating: R (language)
Summary: I did a fic called "Seven Stories" ( Click here to read) yesterday and a few people wanted me to make the drabble based on the song "Joey" by Sugarland longer so here's the first chapter in that fic.
Disclaimer: Fictional story in which I don't claim to know anyone mentioned or claim to state this as fact. Purely for reading enjoyment.
It was the fight that had caused Adam to storm out of the bar.
It was the heated argument that had lead to glass shattering on the floor, not a physical brawl but a match of raised voices and angry motions that led them splitting, quickly, in two directions.
It was the sound of Adam’s brand new Mustang peeling out of the parking lot out front.
Kris had seen it coming right away.
Just under a year after the tour ended, Kris found himself dragged by Adam to a bar between their two apartments, smiling at his friend’s rambling stories. They hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks and Adam’s grip tightened on his wrist when they walked into the crowded bar.
“So what I’m saying is that I answered my phone and Ellen was on the other line and-“
“Wait, Ellen? Like… Like Ellen Degeneres, Ellen?” Kris asked as they slid into the same side of the booth. Adam looked across Kris and motioned to the waitress, holding his hand up in the air.
“Yes! So she tells me she wants to do a special on gay and lesbian rights and equal rights and everything. And at first I was like, I don’t know, worried? About what people would think?” Adam said softer, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, looking down at Kris.
“What, that they’d find out you’re secretly straight?” Kris asked, a gleam to his eyes. Adam barked a laugh, shaking his head. The blonde waitress slid over to their table, dropping menus before them and smiling sweetly.
“What do you boys want to drink.”
“Corona, please,” Kris said, pulling the menu before him and flipping it open. Adam frowned and shook his head.
“Predictable.”
“I like Coronas!” Kris protested, looking up at the waitress as she giggled.
“What do you have that’s not pre bottled and tastes kind of fruity?” Adam asked, grinning at the girl as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
“I’m biting my tongue here.”
“Shut up, Kristopher.”
“How about a tequila sunrise? I’ll throw in an extra shot?” She asked, jotting a few notes down on the pad in her hands.
“Uhm… Yeah. Actually that sounds great. Pretty, colorful, and tastes good.”
“Seriously. It’s bleeding now.”
“Shut UP, Kristopher.”
The waitress smiled and left and Kris grinned up at Adam.
“You were saying.”
It was two hours, four drinks, and two plates of cheese fries later when Kris noticed Adam had stopped listening to his story. Kris set his mouth into a thin line, looking at the emotion flicking across Adam’s face as he looked directly behind Kris and took a deep breath.
“Uhm,” Kris said softly, craning his neck to look behind him.
“No,” Adam hissed, grabbing onto his forearm and tapping his fingers nervously against the table he was also gripping tightly.
“Adam, what the hell is wrong with-“
“Things ended bad between me and Nick so when he comes over here, he’s just trying to mess with me so ignore what he says,” Adam nearly whispered, hand sliding down his arm and Kris noticed a young man standing beside him, resting his arm on the back of Kris’ chair.
“Hey there, lover.”
“Nick, I don’t-“
“Who’s the new boy toy?” Kris frowned and looked up at the man, squinting his eyes at the bright polo shirt and overly highlighted shaggy hair. He looked back at his friend, eyebrows raised, and Adam was biting his bottom lip.
“Kris, this is Nick Sedaris. He’s a fashion designer for Marc Jacobs,” Adam said, voice even. Kris nodded, looking at how tense Adam was sitting and patted his leg once before looking up at Nick.
“Pleasure. Are all your designs as shitty as what you’re wearing now?” Kris asked sweetly and Adam’s jaw dropped.
“Excuse me, country bumpkin? The plaid’s a bit lumberjack, don’t you think?” Nick grinned and Adam cleared his throat.
“Uhm.”
“Plaid’s in right now. I’m surprised you didn’t know that, being a designer and all. Bright yellow polos and acid washed jeans… Not so much.”
“Aren’t you cute,” Nick nodded, head tilted to the side. He looked over at Adam and leaned across the table, resting his elbows on either side of Adam’s drink.
“So, sweetheart, did you tell him yet?”
“Tell him what,” Adam sighed, reaching in his pocket for cash to pay the check waiting at the edge of the table.
“Why you broke up with me.”
Kris watched, worried, as Adam froze. He looked back at Nick, seeing the sheer delight on his face and felt a sense of dread wash over him. Adam glanced around them and lay a few bills on the table, patting the side of Nick’s face gently.
“I don’t tell my friends those kinds of details. So, it’s been fantastic, but we’re going to head out of here.” Kris was already sliding out of the booth when Nick stood up straight and grabbed onto his arm, fingers tightening into his skin.
“Ow, man what the fuck!” Kris protested, grabbing at Nick’s wrist. Adam quickly got to his feet and strode over.
“Let go of him!”
“Want to know why he dumped me, Kris?”
“Because you’re a lunatic? Adam!” Kris yelled and Adam was at his side, prying Nick’s hands off Kris’ arm. A few people had gathered nearby, concerned.
“Adam was in love with someone else.”
“Not the time, Nick,” Adam yelled, finally prying Kris free, the smaller man collapsing against him. Kris hissed in pain, rubbing his arm and looking up at the blonde man, hands shaking as he balled them at his sides.
“I’m kicking his ass,” Kris announced, getting a few steps toward him when Adam grabbed him by the collar.
“Ever wonder why Adam hangs around you so much? Or why he calls you in the middle of the night to talk?” Nick asked, tilting his head up. Adam looked at him, fingers tight in Kris’ shirt.
“Enough. We’re leaving.”
“He’s in love with you. Has been for over a year,” Nick smiled, arms folding over his chest. Kris paused and Adam released his hold on him, striding over before the man. Kris looked down at the bruise forming on his arm and back at Adam, seeing the rage on his face and took a deep breath.
“Don’t fucking say that. I dumped your sorry ass because you tried to control everything I did. Don’t you touch him again or I will fucking break your neck,” Adam hissed and Kris stepped backwards.
“See this, Kris? He’s just upset because it’s true.”
“Shut the fuck up!”
“Stop denying it, sweetheart!”
There was a rush of people as Adam pushed at Nick, glass falling to the floor and Kris was shoved backwards as people tried to separate them. He jumped at people’s backs, hearing Adam screaming obscenities at Nick and seeing hands restraining his friend back as Nick stumbled out of the crowd, a hand across his mouth as he laughed loudly. Adam pulled himself free from the people trying to help and stormed to the exit, pulling his keys out of his pocket.
“Adam!” Kris yelled, hurrying after him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. He’s just…”
“Horrible. Adam! Slow down!” Kris yelled as Adam marched in front of him, feet hitting the pavement loudly and trying to keep up with his pace. He saw Adam’s body shaking and his footing faltering slightly, leather boots slapping against the ground.
“Adam!”
“I’m sorry. He didn’t-He had no right,” Adam shook his head, walking around to the driver’s side door and fumbling with the keys, trying to unlock the door with shaking hands.
“No, hey, wait a second. You’re not driving!” Kris yelled, trying to get Adam to actually listen to him, hitting the trunk of the Mustang loudly.
“Adam!”
“Get in before he comes back,” Adam said, the doors unlocking as he opened his door and slid in, slamming it shut behind him. Kris looked at him through the window, eyes dark and his face set and Kris knocked on the window.
“Let me drive!” he yelled and Adam started the engine.
“Get in or call a cab!”
“Adam!”
“Kris, I’m not fucking around.”
“Adam! You can’t-“ Kris looked up and saw the crowd gathered outside, snapping pictures on their cell phones and Adam threw the car into reverse, swinging his car around Kris and peeling out of the parking lot without a second look back. Kris raised his arms up and dropped them to his sides. A few people were calling out to him and he watched the tail lights of Adam’s car disappear into the night traffic and he sighed, reaching for his cell phone.
----------
It was two hours later when his cell phone rang and Katy handed it to him as he blinked back the remains of sleep and she collapsed back against the pillows.
It was Neil’s name on his phone and the sound of people shouting in the background when he answered.
“Kris,” Neil said breathlessly, making Kris sit up and hold the phone tight.
“There’s been an accident.”