Been meaning to write this for a while, but to those that rp with Chris in modern times this is canon, when he was about 19. Enjoy.
Chris knew that if he were to tell the whole world what he planned to do that day, others would tell him that nineteen was too young of an age to get married at.
But he didn't feel that way about Joey. Her actual name was Joanne but she hated to be called by that, had so since she was a kid. Chris had grown up listening to Bookie talk about true love she read about all the time. And with Joey, he believed he had actually found it. She was everything he could ever ask for. She didn't mind the kind of movies he did, was just as passionate about the performing arts taking singing lessons, had many of the same views as him, and had said she loved him back when he had told her a year ago. She had gotten him to stay in one town for just a bit longer than that, but he had known her from before.
They had grown up together for a few years.
She had moved away when she was twelve, but he had never forgotten her. The way her hair seemed to never choose between blonde or brown, to him it just looked like caramelized sugar. Or how she had more freckles on her right cheek than her left, or how he had liked the way her eyes had lit up when he made her laugh. The same shade as his moms clay pots. He even remembered how they met, a cookie traded for his broken Iron man action figures head, which was now a key chain she owned.
Chris didn't think he had ever loved anyone as much as her, outside of his family anyway. He was even willing to give up on Broadway if she asked.
The sight of her leaning against the railing of the boardwalk was enough to send his heart pounding, wearing that blue sundress and looking at something on her phone. Chris was suddenly aware of the little velvet box that was sitting in his pocket even more. Alright, he could do this, he loved her.
Taking a deep breathe he grinned as he made his way over to her, the grin turning cheeky as he snuck up behind her when she moved to get a drink from a drinking fountain.
"You look beautiful today."
There was a shriek as she jumped and straightened up. Turning around she rolled her eyes once she realized who he was and smacked him on the shoulder.
"You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days Chris. You know that? Now that you're here though, maybe now you'll tell me why you needed to meet up so badly? Did aliens finally abduct you last night?" she laughed as she hooked an arm around his, getting him to laugh as well as they began walking.
"Nah, not yet. But there's always hope isn't there? I umm... i actually wanted to ask you something, didn't feel right doing it over the phone. Can we... can we walk a bit?"
Oh god don't back out now. Steady nerve.
"Sure, there's actually something i want to talk to you about too. You go first though. " Joey said giving him a small and nervous smile.
She wanted to talk too, okay, yeah... that was okay. She had been really quiet lately when they were together. Maybe she suspected him. Walking with her he couldn't help but smile as he stared at her. The sunspots and freckles that splattered across her nose and cheeks, the way a couple strands of hair seemed to bend out a little father than the rest of her bangs no matter what, and the little flecks of gold in her brown eyes. He loved everything about her.
"Well i... i've been thinking a lot lately. And i know you know how long we've known each other, and that along with how long we've been dating and traveling together, i thought about how i feel about you. Just, how happy i am around you and how you don't care about how much money i might make or how badly i might screw up sometimes. You... you're my best friend and so much more. And i want to make sure you're just as happy with me you know? So...... if you agree to this, i promise i'll do everything i can to make that happen. I'd give up everything for you. I love you Joey."
By the time he got to the 'i love you' they had reached one of her favorite spots here in this city, where the boardwalk hung out over the ocean. Not allowing a moment to pass and keep his nerves from running off, he stopped her and knelt down on one knee in front of her, pulling out the box and opening it up to her. This was it.
"Joey Maxell, will you marry me?"
The look on Joey's face was what he had expected at first, shock and surprise. So far so good. But then... she frowned. And began chewing on her lip. Oh no.
"Shit, i should have gone first."
"Look Chris i...... i can't. It's just that i've been thinking about us too, but... but now like that. I thought i wanted to be with you, i swear i did. But the way you would easily give up anything for me, that's not what i want to be. I don't want to keep you from doing what i know you're going to do. I... i also got a call yesterday. My uncle that works at the law firm, he has a friend who works for a record, and might be interested in signing me up for a contract. I was going to bring it up and tell you that, i think it's time i left. I did love you Chris, i really did. But, something... died down. I think this will be a good opportunity for me to go. You keep going for Broadway though, alright? I have my stuff already packed and ready to go so... I... i'm really sorry."
Chris just stared as she reached to close the ring box and walked away.
She said no. But... he thought she loved him still. Shakily he stood up, and took a few steps before plopping down in one of the benches, staring at the box now. Joey was gone, just like that. She was leaving to go take her dream. He should be happy she had the chance, but... it hurt. It hurt really really bad. He hadn't even been aware he had started crying until his sight blurred and felt something wet hit his hands.
Shaking even harder now he stood and raised his arm to chuck the damned box into the ocean, fully intended to watch it fly until he saw it disappear too. But he stopped halfway, he just couldn't do it. All he could do right now was sit back down, and wait until he was sure Joey had enough time to get on the road before going back to his motel room.
He called his sister as soon as he got back to the room.
