Finally

8

RAFE

Every day, Rafe hangs out with Odessa. He's gotten used to it by now, but he would have to, anyway, since she's the only friend he's in contact with. They switch back and forth; sometimes he sleeps at her place, sometimes she sleeps at his.

This time, she goes with him to the Country Club for a drink—or, in Rafe's case, two or three.

Odessa sips on her drink through a straw. She sticks out in a place like this with her crazy, wild curls, her baggy clothes, and her funky sunglasses that sit on the bridge of her nose. Rafe is glad to finally be able to relax and drink, although he wonders why Odessa suggested the Country Club.

It isn't busy right now since it's a weekday afternoon. At least this way, Rafe isn't being judged by Kooks who know Ward and would then pass on the message that his son is still a screw-up.

"God, this is good," Odessa says. She relaxes against the bar and stares across the room. When she snaps out of her daze, she says, "What do you wanna do later?"

Rafe shrugs. He's not thinking about later. He tries not to think about later. Or earlier, because that always led him to think of Y/n.

"Y/n's here."

Rafe whips his head over. And, as though he's summoned her just by thought, there she is, in a tank top and jeans and her big eyes. She looks like a tentative puppy as she stares at them and approaches.

Odessa greets her, happily, and offers her a drink.

"No. Thanks," Y/n says. "How are you?"

Odessa fills her in on their plan to drink. Y/n's lips wobble into a smile, but she still doesn't take a seat. Rafe realizes he hasn't said anything but doesn't know what to say to her. It's been days since she told him about Johnny, and it's been months since things were normal between them.

She's called him a few times, but he ignored it. Again, he doesn't know what to say. He's embarrassed by his behavior from before, but he doesn't regret not telling her what she wanted to hear. And fuck Johnny for going after her when she's Rafe's friend. He met her once and decided to like her when Rafe has–

"How've you been?" Odessa asks her.

Y/n shrugs. Her drink is set in front of her. She stirs the straw around then says, "Johnny and I broke up."

"Oh, shit." Odessa wipes her mouth. "That was short-lived. What happened?"

There's an emptiness in Y/n's gaze. She keeps stirring her drink around, watching the ice cubes move in circles. "I don't know," she says. "I guess... I just wasn't in it all the way."

For a split second, she looks over Odessa's shoulder and locks eyes with Rafe. He takes a swig of his drink with a thudding heart—a happy heart.

Y/n leaves a half an hour later, saying she needs to run some errands and do laundry. Rafe used to tag along with her when she did those things. He feels pulled behind her by an invisible string after she says goodbye and walks out of the Country Club.

A little while later, Odessa and Rafe leave. He had more to drink so she drives. It's a quiet fifteen minute ride back to her apartment, and he spends it thinking about Y/n.

She's single now. Which means she isn't going home to be with someone—not JJ, not Johnny. But also not Rafe. And he wishes he went with her.

Y/N

You're hanging out on your couch with a glass of wine, watching a horror movie when a brief knock comes at your apartment door and startles you.

You imagine—and hope that it isn't—Johnny on the other side, come to get his stuff. You're not sure you're ready just yet to face his wrath yet again. He's the nicest guy, but when he got angry, it scared you a little.