SAVE ME FROM YESTERDAY

RASTRO 29

💙🌻

"It's almost time." Gabby turned up the volume on the TV they'd had installed in the bar just for the occasion.

Dragonfly was bursting with people-friends, family, and customers. It seemed like everyone Glaiza had ever met was here tonight to watch her on Revival...with one notable exception.

"This is so exciting," her Aunt Cecily said, perched on the barstool that used to be Rhian's, looking very hip for her years with a beer in one hand, cell phone in the other.

"I hope I made the final cut. That nice cameraman filmed me making a toast on opening night."

Even her Uncle Ben had come tonight, although he wore a sour expression, nursing a beer at a table in back.

"Hush, you guys, here we go," Gabby called out, practically bouncing with excitement.

Glaiza felt like bouncing herself, a combination of nerves and anticipation. This was the moment she'd been waiting for, the moment the world would meet her and watch her bar transform from Himawari's to Dragonfly, the moment that would hopefully give Rhian a ratings bump and the third season she wanted.

Speaking of Rhian, there she was on the screen, speaking earnestly to the camera as she walked through Himawari's, although Glaiza couldn't focus on what she was saying over the activity in the bar and the chaotic emotions churning inside her.

She'd have to watch the episode again tomorrow in her apartment, when she could devote her full attention to it.

"Oh." Aunt Cecily pressed a hand against her chest.

"Look at it. I can almost see Marcus behind the bar."

Glaiza blinked. Yeah, she could see her dad behind the bar too. She'd kept everything just the way he'd left it, until Roseanne came along. For a moment, she missed him-and Himawari's so much, she had to bite her lip to force back the tears.

"There you are!" her cousin Bryce called out, raising his beer in appreciation.

"There I am." Glaiza repeated as she watched herself mixing drinks behind the old bar.

She didn't mind seeing herself on camera. She had a YouTube channel, after all, but it was strange to see herself on national television, wearing all that makeup.

Chynna-sitting at a table in back with several of her friends -squealed when she and Gabby appeared on screen, being interviewed by Rhian about their friendship with Glaiza. She rushed over to the bar, and Gabby joined them for a group hug.

The show cut to commercial, and the noise level in the bar exploded as everyone began to discuss what they'd seen so far. She and Gabby mixed and poured drinks as quickly as they could, and before they knew it, Revival was back.

Rhian and Glaiza were seated across from each other in that staged scene where Rhian told her about her plans for the new bar, and Glaiza felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Rhian looked so impossibly beautiful, so confident, so poised.

Glaiza looked away, stacking glasses to keep herself busy. Just a few weeks ago, she'd imagined this night going so differently. She'd thought Rhian would be here with her, drinking and celebrating, sharing her bed later tonight.

It had been two weeks since they filmed the follow-up segment, and she hadn't heard a word from Rhian, not even to remind her about the show tonight. At first, Glaiza had checked her phone obsessively, hoping against hope she might call or text.

She'd spent weeks looking expectantly at Dragonfly's door every time it opened, hoping Rhian might walk through it.

Now, she was just tired. And sad. But mostly tired. As the show continued, Glaiza found herself focusing more on her customers than the television, because seeing herself on screen with Rhian was...hard.