Who Knows || Riff (West Side Story 2021)

Chapter 7

𝟺. 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟼

For the second day in a row, Riff showed up at Rose's work. This time, it was certainly deliberate: she was sure. He took her from behind the counter, and stood by the pegs as he chatted.

   Susan, of course, wasn't impressed by the way Rose was treating him. After all, Riff was a Jet, and Jets were supposed to be feared. That was the reason Rose didn't work most of the time he was there, and still got her pay. John Murdock was frightened by him too.

     Why Riff was there was a mystery to them all, really. Clearly, he was trying to get information out of Rose, about herself, but the girl didn't budge. She was wary of the gang member. Of course, she had to be wary. He was dangerous... supposedly.

     The conversation this day was sort of one sided. Well, not sort of... completely. Rose didn't answer anything other than yes or no questions as it gave too much away. Riff couldn't know anything valuable. Not yet.

𝟻. 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟼

Riff went into the post office again that day, with the sole purpose of chatting to Rose. She was more lenient with her answers this time, but still, let nothing grand slip.

     When she was asked of her favourite film, she replied with 'It's A Wonderful Life'. When her favourite book was mentioned, she said 'the one that I dropped in the snow'. There wasn't much to infer, but at least Riff was satisfied enough to back off.

     After all, It's A Wonderful Life was a brilliant film. It was all of the wonders of George Bailey and his family struggling through the depression. It was a real story, blended with fantasy, and it made Rose smile.

     She hoped to have a wonderful family one day. There was no one to have it with, not yet. If she married, she would be forced into marital duties. Not only that, but she would be forced to have a baby. Rose was eighteen. She didn't want a baby. She only wanted to love someone without consequence.
    

𝟼. 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟼

Riff was in a no nonsense mood on his fourth visit and Rose couldn't understand why. His brows had been furrowed, blue eyes gone dark, as he pushed the doors open. It crashed to the wall- not broken, but loud.

  "What's wrong?" Rose asked, softly. Even if the two weren't close, the Everly girl would care. That was what she was good at.

  "Your stupid boyfriend tried to jump my friend."

  "Boyfriend?" Asked Rose, confused. "I don't have a boyfriend."

  Riff spat the words. "Allen."

  "Oh my god... is he alright?"

  "Is he alright?" Riff rolled his eyes, upset. "He jumped my guy."

  "Your guys can fight." Shrugged Rose, hurt on her face. She hated the way Riff was acting. It was childish, like a tantrum.

  The gang member took a moment, jaw clenched, as he let his eyes wander over Rose's features. Each was perfectly placed, with barely a blemish in sight. "He'll be back working in a day or two."

     Everything that happened this day, Rose could see that Riff was resentful. He didn't try to push the girl to hard into any answer, not that he ever did. It was nicer, in a way, more relaxed. That and Susan wasn't there to judge.

     Her husband was taking her away for a few days, and it was a nice rest for Rose's ears that she was gone. Maybe Riff would be more relaxed if he visited again. Relaxed, and interested.

𝟽. 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟼

When the fifth day came, and Rose went most of the day without seeing Riff, she was confused. There was a sort of melancholic tone in the air, and everything seemed grey. Why was it so grey?

     Every letter that came in was from someone with a frown. Every customer was snappy. Everyone that walked past that had looked unhappy.

     Rose felt unhappy.

     It started to get to the point where she was sure he wouldn't turn up. The time was coming, he supposed. Riff wouldn't want to be around her so much, or spend all of his time pestering her.

     Why did Rose care so much.

     When she though that it was too late, the bell went. The door opened, softly, and in walked a tall, boney faced man. The person she's been waiting for.

    Suddenly, Rose didn't feel so broken. She didn't feel so melancholic, or tired, or sad. She didn't feel so grey.

𝟾. 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟼

Riff wasn't late this day. So early in the morning he arrived, and offered a small grin. The sort of grin that was shown, but would deny was ever there. Rose felt honoured to see it.

     He seemed to understand what she had felt the day before. He understood the melancholy. That was the difference.

     He wasn't forcing himself in the way that most men did. Riff just wanted to be close to her, and he tried to understand.

    That's as the difference.

•  -  -  •
910
•  -  -  •

Disclaimer!!!
I do not own West Side Story or the characters originally from the book, play, or musical. I do not own Riff, or any events from the 2021 film that this book is based off. However, I do own Rose, her friends, family, and her relationship with Riff prior to the film.
All of this is purely fictional, anything that relates to real life is purely coincidence.