Between Friends

Edited to add: you also need this Seb video since this is how he looks in the story right now. Lots of lip biting and licking and his hands in his hair. Yom. You're welcome. https://youtu.be/KOAf6L-ZnJo Too lazy too link it, sorry, you'll have to copy paste.

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Chris drove away in his car. He had held in his emotions only until he reached the end of the street before his own tears started to fall. Even though he knew it would probably come to this, he wasn't prepared for it to happen so fast.

He felt like he lost everything that had meant so much to him in the blink of an eye; his two best friends, one that he had almost his whole life and the woman he wanted to call his own, and he lost them to each other. He had no idea what he was going to do. He went to a church parking lot, which he knew would be empty on a Saturday. He parked and finally let it all out, albeit quietly. He felt so alone.

Meanwhile, you and Sebastian just held each other as you cried against his chest. In his arms, you sobbed, "I need to call him. I need to make sure he's okay."

Sebastian stroked your hair and sniffed, "Baby, I'm not sure that that's even going to help right now."

You pulled back and looked into his eyes, "He needs to know that we care and I need to know he's okay. He's our friend."

What should have been a happy time for the two of you, suddenly became so painful, confusing and complicted. This wasn't the way it supposed to happen. How could he hurt his friend like this. On the other hand, how could he deny himself or you the love he felt for you. There didn't seem to be any right answer to all this, so he finally nodded and spoke softly, "Okay."

Chris's phone rang and he looked at it. It was you. He didn't answer, but tossed it into the passenger seat instead.

After a moment it notified him that he had a voicemail. He stared at the screen for a long while and reluctanly listened to it. Your voice came through the speaker; he could tell you had been crying, though you managed to speak clearly, "Chris, please, we need to know you're okay. We love you. We're so sorry this upset you. I-", you sniffed, "I need to know you're okay. Neither of us wants to lose you.", there was a pause, and your voice became shaky and desperate as you started crying again, "Please, Chris, please come home. We need you."

His face twisted up in pain as he clutched the phone tight in his fist and held it against his forehead. Hearing you hurting like that because of his own selfishness nearly ripped him in half.

'Oh, God. I've hurt her. How could I do this to her when she means so much to me? Seb is what she wants. Who am I to punish her for that? And my best friend of so long?'

He couldn't bring himself talk to you right now, so he sent you a text, 'I'll be okay. Please don't worry. I should be the one who's sorry. I am sorry. I shouldn't have left like that. I'll talk you guys in a while. I just need some time.'

He sat in his car alone until he became numb; he was so overwhelmed that he eventually just shut down. He finally started his car and drove. When he reached his destination, he parked in the parking lot and walked into the building. He took the elevator and walked down the long hall he got off at. He stopped in front of the door and stood for a minute, staring at the number on it. He finally knocked and when it was answered, he spoke, "Hey." He was invited in and the door closed behind him.

You handed Sebastian your phone with the text open and went to sit at the table. Your crying had ceased, but you still felt so conflicted. You wanted so badly to be with Sebastian, but felt so guilty that this had uspst Chris. What the fuck were you supposed to do? You missed him. Things didn't feel whole anymore.

Sebastian set the phone down on the table and crouched next you, placing and hand to you back. He turned your face gently to look at him. His own face somber, his eyes searching yours as he spoke, "Honey, I know this feels unbelievably fucked up right now, but we'll all get past it, okay?" He wasn't even sure things were going to be okay between the three of you again, but he had to do something to comfort you... And himself.

You frowned, "I'm so sorry, Seb. I know this is hard for you too- for both of you. I'm the reason your friendship is in jeopardy. You guys have been friends for so long. I'm so sorry."

He took your hand, stood and pulled you up off the chair to take you in his arms again, "Don't, baby. Don't do that to yourself." His kissed your head, "Please. This isn't anyone's fault. He said he just needs some time. He still wants to be our friend and he will be."

Neither of you knew the real reason Chris was so bothered by this other than it causing a rift in the kind of friendship you had all shared for so long; neither of you knew that it was because Chris was in love with you.

Sebastian spoke again, "What can I do for you, doll?"

"Just hold me. I need you."

Despite all the chaos in his head, your words made him feel complete in that moment and he smiled just a little, "It's okay, baby, I'm here. I've got you."

He took your hand and led you to your room. He laid down on the bed and hitched his head slightly, "Come on.", he opened his arms and you crawled onto the bed, taking your place in his embrace. He looked at you, his face soft. He kissed your lips so gently, "No matter what happens, I will never regret being with you... because I need you too."

You smiled and he gave another kiss that echoed the one before. You both just lay there, fulfilling the need you both had at that moment.

A week had passed and Chris hadn't returned yet. He had come home on Monday to retrieve his laptop, some clothes and other essentials when you and Seb had already left for work. He worked remotely from wherever he was staying during that time. While he had been gone, you and Sebastian felt off, but still managed to enjoy being together.

He texted Seb on Saturday morning to say he was coming home that afternoon to talk with you both.

Just after lunch he came in the door, you and Sebastian stopped doing the dishes and met him halfway in the dining room. You smiled cautiously and he gave you a hug, and then Sebastian while he was the first to speak, "I am so sorry you guys. My reaction was way out of line." He took a step back and shoved his hands in his pockets. "We've all been so close and I just didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't wanna lose you two either and I was really afraid I had."

Sebastian shook his head, "No way, man. We still want you around."

You nodded in agreement.

"I really am happy for the two of you. All I really want is for you guys to be happy, no matter what that means."

You gave him another hug, "We're sorry too. We never wanted to upset you."

"I know, hon.", he replied.

Sebastian started, "We were just gonna go hang at the park. You wanna join us?"

"Nah, I've got plans, but I'll see you guys soon. Still working through some stuff, so I won't be coming back just yet."

You nodded slightly, "Will you at least tell us where you're staying?"

"With Sharon.", he replied.

Sebastian pulled the corners of his mouth down a bit and nodded in approval.

You also nodded, "Oh, okay. Nice.", you smiled. Any jealousy you had felt before really wasn't there now and you actually hoped that they had worked their previous issues out and that things could work for them this time.

Sebastian spoke, "I hope it works out for you this time, Chris."

"Me too.", Chris replied.

You smiled, "We want you to be happy."

"Thank you."

He hugged you both once more and went on his way.