after hours. | r.c.

twenty

-☆-

WE SAT AT the wreck while kie poured drinks for us. i leaned against jj, holding a pack of ice to my foot. "guys, we just have to lay low. like, super low. no shooting, no guns, no fights, nothing. we'll melt the gold down, pawn it off, pay for anything important, and then you can do whatever the hell you want with it," i said, mothering the group like i always do.

"yeah, that's smart," john b said with a grin. "guys, i can't believe we did it." his eyes danced with excitement and love as he looked around at us.

"full kook?" i asked, raising my cup and watching as everyone else lifted theirs, smiling.

"fuck yeah! full kook!" they chanted, our cups raised high.

as jj was about to stand up and reenact the whole thing, the doorbell rang. we all froze, expecting kiara's dad, but it was nowhere near him.

"rafe? what the hell are you doing here?" sarah spat, glaring at her older brother.

he avoided everyone's gaze except mine, like i was the one he'd been looking for. "valerie, i need to talk to you."

"yo, man, you don't belong her—" jj started, but i almost fell out of my chair as he stood up.

"wait, j, i got this. it's fine." i muttered, putting the ice pack back on the table.

"there's nothing we really need to talk about, rafe." i stood, trying to keep the weight off my bad foot.

"please—" he pleaded, his eyes filled with sadness.

"look, man, she said she doesn't want to talk!" john b snapped, getting out of his chair. "just go! leave! no one wants you here."

"stay the fuck out of this, routledge," rafe spat back.

sarah stepped in front of john b. "rafe, she doesn't want to talk. just go."

rafe's face twisted in disgust as he glared at his younger sister. "this isn't about you, sarah."

"actually, it is—" she began, but i quickly cut her off.

"shut up! everyone, shut the hell up!" i snapped. it was probably the coke wearing off; i'm usually not like this when i'm on it. "oh my god." i muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

i looked back at the pogues, seeing the frustration and anger on their faces.

"you've got five minutes, rafe," i said.

he looked at me with a triumphant smile, as if he'd won. he directed that look toward john b and jj.

"grow the hell up, kid. you're wasting your time," i snapped as i limped past him.

"you're hurt, slow down—" he reached out, trying to help.

"don't fucking touch me, rafe." i shoved his hand away, walking toward the door of the restaurant.

he followed me outside, and i left the door cracked open, just in case.

he stared down at me, and i took a good look at him. i grabbed his jaw, turning his head to meet my eyes before pushing him away slightly. "you're high. you got high yesterday, too, right? what'd you do now?"