Who Knows || Riff (West Side Story 2021)

Chapter 31

𝟷𝟷. 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟽

     Riff Lorton had been in a bad mood all day.

     As soon as the day began, every single fibre of his being was strained because of one singular fact. Something he'd dreaded happening, despite wanting it to come to terms with it all. 

     Tony Wyzek, former leader of the Jets, had been released from prison.

     He was on probation, but the lovely Valentina was helping him. Giving him lodging in exchange for work- but he seemed more than willing. It was enough to get anyone fired up. Especially after so little contact.

     Riff and Tony were supposed to be best friends. Weren't they?

     So why didn't it feel that way anymore? Maybe they'd grown apart.

     Or, maybe, they just needed to talk.

𝟷𝟸. 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟷𝟿𝟻𝟽

     For whatever reason it might have been, Riff had gone to visit Tony that day. He'd talked to Rose about it beforehand, of course, and she'd told him to just break the ice. All of the worst things would go away if he just confronted his fears.

     After that, Riff stated he had no fears, even if his girlfriend knew otherwise.

     He'd gone into the whole thing cautiously, perhaps a tad too optimistic, but it turned out that everything was okay, for the most part. Tony talked, just how Riff wanted him to. But he didn't say the words he wanted to hear.

     Tony refused to talk about the Jets. His family. They were the same thing, but they weren't anymore. Once upon a time, he would've gone anything for the gang. Now, what was he?

     A turncoat. Perhaps.

     "You don't understand how infuriating he is Rosie. You barely knew him." Riff's tone was unmatched in frustration. Rose rubbed his shoulders, calmly, doing her best to help. "He wouldn't even say their names."

  "It'll be alright." She leant her head against his, kissing his cheek lightly. "He'll come around soon enough."

  "He better." He scoffed. "We need the manpower."

     Whilst it was true, that wasn't the reason why he cared so much. He cared because that was his best friend, rejecting him. His bestest friend since childhood.

     Sperm to worm.

     Womb to tomb

     Now, he was alone.

     "Don't leave me." Riff whispered, quietly, almost hoping Rose didn't hear. But she did.

  "Never." She promised, and she meant it.

     There would never be any one person that could replace him. No one could change them, could change this.

     They were forever.

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477
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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.