One Shots (RM.x.RB)

Friend Zone

Randy swung his phone at the passenger seat after the call ended, letting out a breathy sigh. It was the second time today that someone mentioned Ray Mond to him. He knew Yuno didn't mean anything ill, but why call him? Couldn't Yuno just call her?

First, he woke up to Taco's message which read, Team Randy is resurrecting, and now this.

She was a rare visitor and that was well known. According to Randy's logic, Eric shouldn't have expected anything else when lending her the R8.

Ever since April came back a few weeks ago to Los Santos with news about Ray's return, the city has been buzzing all around. More importantly, they were all buzzing in his ears.

When the Lexus came to a halt, Randy ran a hand through his hair, mentally preparing himself to meet Jaylen. It would've been naive to expect Jaylen not to bring her up as well.

Out on the Street Team block, he swiftly spotted the man in his bandana, already conversing with a few of the boys. Once Ramee and Pigeon settled their business, Randy couldn't wait to get on with his day, but of course, someone had to open their mouth.

To Randy's relief, he wasn't the one being poked at.

Randy couldn't help himself but be glad that Jaylen was getting a taste of the boys' commentary. Once the process kickstarted, different names started getting brought up. Franky, he tuned them out until the ongoing outbreak reached him.

"Well, Randy," Jaylen began but brushed it away. "Never mind."

"Nah, go ahead, say it," Randy insisted.

"I was going to say that's why Ray Mond got her chain so fast."

An overexcited hollering traveled through the circle. Randy had a long few days and his sleep deprivation didn't help his diminishing patience.

"Oi oi oi," was all that he responded on the spot. He hurriedly picked through his brain for something more, anything, to take some heat off of himself. "That's why you bought her that NSX."

"She bought it herself with her own money," Jaylen was sharp and ready. "But you already knew that." He hindered. "After all, you were the one who fully upgraded it too, remember?" Jaylen disputed Randy's attempted remark, discrediting his statement with such ease it irked Randy.

The man snickered proudly under the cover of his bandana as the crowd bellowed. Jaylen knew too much for Randy's liking. He had seen how distracted Randy could become on their phone calls, and how Ray would sometimes say the wildest things and get away without the slightest of consequences. When Jaylen himself felt like he had been shot for less.

Choosing against another chance at saying something foolish, Randy abandoned the subject and the rumbling wavered. Not long after, people started dispersing and Randy returned to the cubby.

Seated atop the hood of his LC500, he found himself yawning, despite it being barely noon.

It took him a couple of blinks to register Vinny in front of Maldini's. Vinny had company, and Randy was still vexed by Jaylen's mockery. Assuming that teasing someone else would help him get over his own moment, he proceeded to do exactly that.

The Italian, now alone, greeted Randy as he locked up the doors for a lunch break.

Randy got straight to it. "Say, Vinny, can I shoot Rosa real quick?" He squinted at the girl leaving the premises.

"Don't make me, Randy. Don't make me fucken mention her name." Vinny warned sternly.

"Just tell me, would you be pissed?" He persisted.