Finally

4

Y/N

You just finish taking a shower when your cell phone rings on your bed. You lunge for it, hoping it's from JJ. Or Rafe.

It's Odessa.

For a moment, you think it must not be real. Maybe she's accidentally calling you. Then, you realize she might be calling with news about Rafe. Afterall, she's talked to him since the beach house trip, you haven't.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's Odessa."

You wait a moment for her to say something else. And then it feels silly; telling one another who you are when you've met each other numerous times.

"Uh, hi." You lean against your bed, but it's too low and isn't sturdy enough, so you stand straight again and tug your shirt.

"Did you talk to Rafe?"

"I did..." she says.

You wait. Nothing. It's getting annoying, her not giving you the information she's clearly called to give you.

"And? How is he doing?"

She hesitates, then says, "He's having a little party at his place on Friday. You should come."

Your stomach turns. Something isn't right.

"Um, maybe."

"Does he know you're inviting me?"

"Yeah," she says, but you don't believe her. "So, you are going?"

"I don't know. I'd have to talk to JJ." There's no way you're going to go without him, especially if Odessa is lying about Rafe wanting you there.

"Would he come, too?" she asks.

"Yeah. Why not?"

"No, I just... wondered."

As soon as you hang up with Odessa, you call Kiara.

She picks up on the third ring.

"Hey, did Odessa invite you to Rafe's on Friday?"

You can imagine her thinking as she's rummaging through something. "Yeah. Why?"

"You're going?"

"Yeah..."

You relax. Kiara will be there. Kiara will be there. Even if JJ can't go, even if she talks to other people the whole time, at least Kiara is there.

***

You and JJ arrive at Rafe's hand-in-hand. The muffled sounds of happy voices come from the other side of his door.

JJ glances at you then knocks.

The door swings open. Some girl Odessa is friends with. You've met her, briefly, once or twice. She smiles wide and tells both of you to come in.

You sweep the room for Rafe. You haven't seen him in nearly two weeks at this point, and even after Odessa convinced you to come tonight, neither of you reached out to one another. Standing there now, seeing him across the room, you feel like an outsider.

Surely, Odessa knows you and Rafe haven't been speaking. He didn't invite you, she did. Why? What is her agenda?

JJ, who's been stiff all evening, lets go of your hand and moves across the room towards a guy he knows. He beams. With you, he's barely smiled. You hadn't spoken about your fight when you told him about the party invite, so you were surprised when he said yes.

You told him on the way here that you only wanted to stay for an hour. He said that was fine in a monotone voice that made you think he's here against his will.