Chasing Chris Campbell

by Genevieve Gannon

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You are a hard woman to catch. I was one unreturned call away from sending an owl out in search of you.’

  ‘Harry!’ I cried with relief. It was wonderful to hear his voice. ‘How are you?’

  ‘I’m good. I’m coming to Hong Kong. I wanted to see if you were still there?’

  ‘Of course I am,’ I said, grateful he hadn’t stumbled across my sweaty airport sit-in the night before.

  ‘There’s a client I’ve got to see during the day but how about dinner? I get in tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice, but I have been calling you for a week now.’

  ‘I’ve been in Vietnam.’

  ‘Marco Polo eat your heart out.’

  ‘Ha ha,’ I said dryly, but I felt perkier. ‘Someone has to support the ailing tourism industry.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re free for a meal when I’m in town? Or do you have a trip booked to Bangladesh?’

  ‘I’m free,’ I said. ‘Completely free.’

  ‘How about you text me your address and I’ll come and pick you up. Say, eight o’clock?’

  ‘Okay. That sounds nice.’

  ‘Great, see you then.’ He hung up.

  I clutched my phone, feeling grateful. The prospect of seeing Harry cheered me up, in spite of everything that had happened. I was getting better at this independence thing. Feeling restored I reread Chris’s messages. I hadn’t replied. I’d been too mad and confused. I rolled my phone in my palm and told myself he was not mine. He had never been mine.

  I started to tap out a reply, but before I could finish my phone rattled with the arrival of a message from Harry.

  Never mind the address. Do you have one of these?

  Attached was a picture of a fireplace, the transport mode of choice for wizards in the Harry Potter books. I laughed and replied,

  Nope. You’ll have to knock on the door at 14/345 West Street.

  I decided not to write back to Chris. He was due home in a few nights, I’d wait to see what would happen then.

  The next day work provided a helpful distraction. Tessa stopped by my desk several times to chat. I spent my lunch break searching local online guides for good places to go for dinner. I was determined to find somewhere trendy to prove my credentials as a woman of the world to Harry. I selected a new place called The Fox Den that served small meals and big cocktails. Then I put my head down and focused on work. Tessa came by my desk around 3 pm to say the boss had been really pleased with my performance.

  ‘You’d better watch out. If you keep it up they’ll try to take you on permanently and there’ll be no more overseas trips for you.’

  As five o’clock approached I was starting to feel excited. I’d decided to wear my blue dress to dinner with Harry, and I was even feeling better about the Briana situation. I still hadn’t heard from Michael, but I’d assured him that I hadn’t left him to be with someone else; that had to make him feel better. And Chris, well, there was time to sort things out with Chris. I took my phone out and sent him a message.

  Hi Chris, Don’t worry about what happened in Hue. I think the timing is bad right now but I really liked travelling with you. I hope when you get back to Hong Kong we can talk. Violet X

  I immediately felt lighter. I was really looking forward to tonight. I couldn’t wait to tell Harry about releasing the birds.

  I was just pinning my hair up when my phone hummed.

  ‘Chris?’

  ‘Violet, hi. How are you?’ He sounded strange.

  ‘I’m good. How are you?’

  ‘I’m okay. I’m back in Hong Kong. Just got back. I was wondering if you had time for a quick drink at Pete’s?’

  I looked at my watch. Harry would be here in half an hour.

  ‘Now?’

  ‘Yeah. I really need to speak to you.’

  ‘I don’t really have time. Can we do it tomorrow?’

  ‘Please.’ I could hear Noah in the background. And traffic.

  ‘I’m in a cab heading towards your place. Meet me at Pete’s in ten minutes?’

  ‘Chris, can’t it wait?’ I could feel my nerves starting to fray again.

  ‘Please, Vy. Pete’s in ten.’

  There was desperation in his voice that was unsettling. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to relax until I heard what he had to say, and The Fox Den was just up the road from Pete’s.

  ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘I really want to talk too, but I have plans. It’ll have to be quick.’

  ‘Sure. Just, please come.’

  I hung up and sighed – so far the year had been one long anxiety attack. I sent Harry a message saying I was running a tiny bit late and could we meet at the bar. I gave him the details, and then searched for my shoes. I was on my knees with my head in my wardrobe when I heard a knock at the door.

  Dammit. Harry mustn’t have gotten my message. And he was early. Very early.

  ‘Just a minute,’ I called out. Now what was I going to do? I really didn’t want to delay my meal with Harry, I was looking forward to his easy company. I wanted to tell him about Vietnam, and my job, and I wanted to hear what he’d been doing. I stayed on my knees, racking my brain.

  There was another knock, more insistent. Perhaps I could see Chris later? Dinner with Harry shouldn’t go too late, and Chris and I could meet for a drink at eleven. I took out my phone to rearrange the evening again as I pulled on my shoes and headed towards the front door.

  There was a third knock. This time even louder.

  ‘Keep your pointy wizard hat on,’ I bellowed and began to text Chris.

  Hey, really want to talk properly. Perhaps we could meet for–

  The phone vibrated with the arrival of another message. I reached for the front door and turned the latch. The new message alert flashed on my screen. That’s fine, see you then. Harry.

  ‘Harry?’ I said, but then who …

  The door swung open and my heart stopped.

  ‘Michael?’

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  I stared at my ex-boyfriend in disbelief.

  ‘Cass gave me your address,’ he blurted.

  ‘Cass?’

  ‘She didn’t know I was coming. I told her I wanted to post you some things.’

  ‘Michael, what are you … why are you here?’

  ‘I had to see you. I had to talk to you in person. When I thought you were with Chris it just, Vy, it just made me feel sick. I kept starting emails to you and not knowing what to say –’ He stopped as his eyes moved over my body, taking in the new dress, the tanned legs. ‘Are you going out somewhere?’ He sounded annoyed.

  ‘Well, Michael, to be fair, I didn’t know you were coming.’

  ‘Who are you going out with? Not –’

  ‘It’s just a friend,’ I said quickly. ‘A new friend. Someone I met in India.’

  ‘Can I meet this new friend?’ He shot me a lacerating look.

  I turned away, unable to face his eyes. They were like laser beams that could slice through my skull to see my thoughts.

  ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’ I felt awful, but I also felt ambushed. ‘Can we talk about this tomorrow, maybe at breakfast? I just … I wasn’t expecting you, and I have to be somewhere.’

  ‘But I’ve come all this way …’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’

  ‘You just left. You left without giving me a chance to do anything, to talk to you.’

  ‘We talked,’ I croaked.

  ‘That was before I knew about –’

  ‘About what, Michael?’ I folded my arms. Minutes were ticking by. Chris would be waiting, and soon Harry would be waiting too. ‘I’ve got to go,’ I said, scooping my keys and bag off the hall table. I tried to sound gentle. ‘Michael, I know you want to be heard, but you can’t just barge in here demanding I drop everything.’

  ‘But we were going to be together. We planned it.’

  ‘You made decisions without me. What about the motorbike?’

&nb
sp; ‘That was just one little thing.’

  ‘Six thousand dollars, Michael. Do you know how many hours I had to work in that awful makeup lab to make my share of six thousand dollars? Besides, it’s not the bike, it’s what it represents.’

  ‘How much money have you spent running around Asia?’

  My temperature rose. He was doing it again; trying to control me, trying to rein me in.

  ‘That’s none of your business anymore.’

  My phone buzzed with a message. Michael looked at me waiting for me to open it. I dared not in case it was from Chris.

  ‘Aren’t you going to check that?’ he said.

  ‘I’ll call you tomorrow. I have to go.’

  He let me pass. I went to the lift, pressed the button and stepped in. He stayed at my door, watching me. He looked defiant. When the doors slid shut I looked at my phone. The message had been from Chris.

  Just got to Pete’s. You’re still coming, right?

  I typed back a quick ‘yep’ then hopped in a cab. When I arrived at Pete’s a few minutes later, Noah was at the bar. He waved and pointed to a table. Chris was staring at his hands, which were clasped around a beer.

  ‘Hi,’ I said, sitting down opposite him.

  ‘I did sleep with Briana,’ he blurted. ‘I thought I wanted to. But it just made me realise she wasn’t the one I wanted. I’m sorry I lied.’ His perfect eyes were veiled behind sandy lashes.

  I wasn’t shocked. I wasn’t sad. I felt nothing. The tide of anxiety that had been rising and falling in my chest for the past month had finally receded for good.

  ‘Please say something,’ he said, taking my hands in his. I didn’t know where to begin. He licked his lips. ‘Vy –’ As Chris started to speak he was distracted. There was a commotion as someone disrupted the crowd of people around the bar.

  ‘I knew it!’ Michael emerged from the crowd, his fists clenched tight.

  ‘Michael, what are you doing here?’

  ‘What am I doing here? What is he doing here? What are you doing here with him?’

  He charged towards us, knocking over chairs and upsetting tables. ‘I knew you were coming to see him.’ His face was red with rage.

  ‘We were just talking. And I’m leaving.’

  Michael grabbed Chris by the collar.

  ‘Hey, hey, hey,’ Chris held up his hands peaceably.

  ‘You know me, Chris Campbell,’ Michael spoke through gritted teeth. ‘You knew she was my girl.’

  ‘Michael, please,’ I cried.

  A large man in black appeared and took Michael firmly by the arm, hauling him outside.

  Michael twisted and fought. ‘Let me go!’ But the bouncer dragged him like a sack of flour and tossed him onto the street. I followed him, and Chris and Noah followed me.

  Outside, Chris put his hand on my shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Don’t touch her!’ Michael lunged at him.

  ‘Mate, calm down.’ Chris tried to hold him off.

  ‘I’m not your mate.’ Michael swung his fist. Chris swerved, but not quite fast enough. Michael’s knuckle clipped his chin.

  ‘Michael!’ I shrieked. ‘You’re acting crazy.’

  He leapt at Chris again, Chris threw him off.

  ‘What are you thinking?’ I yelled, trying to get my hands on Michael’s shoulders to stop him. He shook me off.

  ‘Do you think I don’t remember seeing you trail after Chris the night we first met?’ He shouted. ‘I saw it. I saw you sneak out onto the balcony and the look on your face when he kissed that girl. I’d spotted you the moment you walked in and I knew I wanted to talk to you, but all you cared about was him. It was the same at the Tanner’s party this year. And now you’re here with him. Have you been waiting for him all these years? Wasting time with me?’

  ‘No, Michael, no,’ I said truthfully.

  Seeing Chris again – and his email – had stirred some teenage feelings. They’d rushed into the void left when my relationship with Michael had crumbled. But I hadn’t been pining for Chris when Michael and I had been together.

  Chris was at my side. ‘Vy, perhaps you should get out of here.’ He clamped a hand on Michael’s shoulder. ‘Mate, maybe you should head back to your hotel. Go for a walk or something. Cool off.’

  Michael threw Chris’s arm off with strength I didn’t know he possessed. ‘You don’t tell her when she should go home,’ he said. ‘You don’t tell me.’

  ‘Michael, for God’s sake,’ I cried. ‘There isn’t anything to be angry about.’

  Michael’s face twitched. I could tell he was fighting back tears.

  ‘Get a grip,’ Chris muttered, touching his chin where he’d been hit. ‘Don’t blame me because you can’t hold onto your girl.’

  Michael’s face contorted savagely. His fist flew at Chris and connected, sounding like a punching bag begin struck with a cricket bat.

  ‘Michael!’ I yelled.

  Chris touched his fingers to his face, looking dazed. A line of watery blood was trickling down into the corner crease of his mouth. He shook his head and charged. Noah tried to hold him back. Chris pushed him off.

  ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ I screamed. But it was as if they couldn’t hear me.

  Chris jammed Michael up against the brick wall of Pete’s bar. He held his forearm against Michael’s throat.

  ‘Chris, don’t,’ I pleaded.

  ‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’ he shouted at Michael. His bared his teeth as he jammed his forearm against my ex-boyfriend’s trachea. Chris was the bigger of the two. I could see the muscles in his arms bulging as he ground Michael into the wall.

  ‘Chris,’ I sobbed. Tears were streaming down my face. ‘Stop it,’ I screamed. ‘You’re choking him.’

  Michael’s eyes were watering. When he opened his mouth to speak, a strangled squeak was the only noise he made. Chris held him a moment longer. ‘Grow up,’ he hissed, and released the pressure from Michael’s throat. He took a step back. Michael gasped for breath.

  ‘Okay,’ Chris said, raking his hands through his hair. His fingers were trembling. There was blood smeared across his cheek. ‘Let’s go, Vy,’ he said, putting a hand on the small of my back.

  I heard a shout. Michael crashed into Chris from behind. There was a flash of lights. A thump.

  ‘Michael!’ I screamed. The driver didn’t have time to apply the brakes. There was no screech. No smashing glass. Just a thump and a crack, the sound of something hard connecting with something soft. The breaking of bone. Chris didn’t even scream.

  But I did.

  ‘Oh my God!’ Noah started shouting. ‘Oh my God, what’s happening?’

  We ran towards the road where our friend lay twisted on the ground. I fell to my knees, and put my hand on Chris’s neck. He was unconscious, but there was a faint pulse and he was breathing. The driver got out of his car. He was shouting something. I could see Michael in the corner of my eye, his hands over his face. There was blood everywhere, mostly coming from Chris’s leg. I checked his head for injuries. His face was grazed but the back of his skull was intact.

  ‘It’s his leg,’ I said. The left one was gnarled and ripped. He had gashes up and down the side of his torso.

  ‘Chris, Chris, can you hear me?’ I held his face in my hands. His eyes were open but he wasn’t responding. I looked around me. ‘Noah, hand me that scarf?’

  ‘What?’ He was shaking and pale.

  ‘Your scarf! Your scarf! Hand me your scarf!’

  He quickly unwound the length of silk from his neck. I wrapped it tightly around Chris’s leg to make a tourniquet and try to stop the flow of blood.

  ‘Call an ambulance,’ I shouted, my fingers on the drubbing pulse in Chris’s neck.

  ‘A what? An ambulance, yes,’ said Noah in a daze.

  The driver and about half a dozen pedestrians were on their phones shouting the address at a dispatcher. A female passenger of the car that had struck Chris was crying. The vehicle’s bumper was splatt
ered with blood.

  ‘It’s okay,’ I said to everyone. ‘He’s going to be okay.’

  Moments later sirens were upon us. There were police, an ambulance, and more police. Paramedics checked Chris then quickly lifted him onto a stretcher and wheeled him into the back of their vehicle. They were gone in a flash of red and blue. Noah bent over the gutter and vomited.

  Michael was speaking to a police officer.

  I felt a hand on my shoulder. ‘Violet, are you okay?’

  I turned. ‘I was just coming to meet you, what happened?’

  ‘Harry!’ I flew into his arms, tears streaming down my cheeks.

  ‘My friend –’ I sobbed. Harry clutched me.

  ‘It will be okay,’ he said, stroking the back of my head. ‘I’ll take you to the hospital.’

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Harry was by my side for two hours until the nurses told us only immediate family could stay. I said I was Chris’s sister so he wouldn’t be alone, and hugged Harry goodbye. It was after midnight when I made my way home in a cab. A message from Harry arrived on my phone.

  Is everything okay? How’s your friend?

  I called him. ‘He’ll be okay. His leg’s broken. Shattered really. He lost a lot of blood and he has concussion. But he’s been released from the ICU.’

  ‘Tough night?’

  My lip trembled. I couldn’t speak. ‘It’s –’

  ‘Hey, Vy, don’t cry. What can I do? Where are you? I’ll come get you, take you out for a late night hot chocolate or something.’

  ‘No, Harry, it’s okay. You don’t have to do that.’

  ‘How about I come by tomorrow and take you to the hospital? Afterwards we’ll go for lunch.’

  I nodded, sniffling.

  ‘I’m taking that as a yes,’ he said.

  ‘It was an accident,’ I told Harry over yum cha the next day. ‘Chris doesn’t want to press charges, and if he did, what would they be? Michael didn’t mean to push him onto the road. They both tumbled into the path of the traffic. Either one of them could have been hit. Michael started the fight, but Chris fought back hard. Michael has a blooming great back eye to show for it. He looks like he’s been slugged with a plum pudding. Not that a black eye compares to nearly …’ I couldn’t bear to say it. I ran my hands through my hair. I’d hardly slept.