CHOICES (Matty Healy fanfiction)

Chapter Five

The rumble of the engine and the heavy patter of rain on the windscreen of the van were the only noises present, as Rachel was completely silent next to me with her head resting against the window.

"Are you alright?" I asked, glancing at her.

"What? Oh...yeah I'm sound. Are you?" I could tell she didn't really care about the answer.

"I'm alright tah,"

"Can I smoke in your van?"

"Course,"

She produced the pouch of tobacco again and began to roll a cig.

"Thanks for helping us out with the studio and all that today, we really appreciate it," I hoped I didn't seem too desperate for conversation.

"Is that George definitely into Anna?" She asked, turning to face me and ignoring my previous comment.

"Fuck knows to be honest," I replied, not wanting to lie to her.

"Fucking men," Rach sighed before lighting her fag.

"So how long have you and your man been together then?" I tried my hardest to sound casual.

"Like six months. On and off."

I couldn't read her tone of voice or face.

"That's good," I replied flatly.

"I'm his muse,"

"I bet you are,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Fucking hell, nothing," I laughed at her defensiveness. "Were you two alright back at the flat?"

She exhaled slowly and rested her head against the window again.

"Yeah, he's so passionate about what he does he can be a bit of a dick about everything else sometimes. I think it's the age thing aswell,"

"How old is he?"

"Thirty-Two,"

"And how old are you?"

Rachel paused.

"Eighteen," she finally replied, turning to face me, waiting for my reaction.

I looked at her and could suddenly see it. In this lighting with her dark makeup slightly smudged and her hair a little messy she looked young and innocent.

"Fucking hell, is this why you were rushing to leave? Have you got school in the morning?"

She laughed out loud and I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was when she smiled genuinely.

"Actually no, I dropped out of school pretty much when I met Al. I was rushing to leave tonight because I don't want my parents to know I was with him,"

"They don't like him?"

"What do you think?" She spat sarcastically.

It was silent for a few moments before Rachel broke it.

"I like you. You're nice," she nodded to herself as if she had just decided this.

"Nice? Great. Thanks for that," I rolled my eyes.

"What? The world needs more nice boys,"

"I'm not a fucking nice boy," I growled.

"Calm down honey," Rachel giggled, pushing my arm playfully. "It's at the end of this road, by the way,"

We pulled up outside her house and she turned to look at me.

"Thank you for driving me, you really didn't need to but I'm glad you did," she turned to unbuckle her seatbelt and then turned back to me, "I'm glad I've met you," 

We held eye contact for a while. She glanced at my lips and I felt electricity flow through my body. I moved closer to her slightly and she did too, but then she instantly pulled away and opened the van door.

"Bye then, see you soon!" She shouted as she hurried towards her front door.

I watched as she unlocked it, turned around to wave at me and then disappeared inside the house.

"Fuck!" I groaned, resting my head against the steering-wheel.