I need you, I need you, I need you

chapter 2-roger rabbit

Rachel's p/v
Art Deco by Lana is playing, my room is a mess, and I really need to open these windows. Trying to find the perfect outfit for the double date. I also need some good ass pictures in whatever I choose. And most importantly, leaving the arcade with the guy's phone number. I just hope he isn't a jerk. Boys are like carbon copies of each other.

I got the perfect outfit! White crop top with an angel graphic, blue denim mini skirt, and white Filas. Rachel Sandoval the fashionista you are.

I walk out of my room and stand behind the couch. Darry is lying down with a book spread out on his face. Hector is outside on the phone, probably breaking up with Lottie for the millionth time.
"Ready to go?" I ask. He takes the book off his face and sits up.
"What is that you're wearing?"
"Clothes?"
"Please go and change that skirt, Rachel."
"Why should I? You gave me money to buy these clothes."
"And I can easily make you change out of them.
"Ok, why are you acting like my parent? You're not even my legal guardian yet."
"Dude." He says in a monotone voice.
"You don't have full custody of me yet. We're practically orphans. I can do whatever I want."
"Oh God, where have I gone wrong with my parenting?" Darry lays back on the couch.
"All the girls are wearing mini skirts!
"I don't care what those girls are wearing, I'm not their parent."
"You aren't mine! Ha, I caught you."
"Can't you just change?"
I roll my eyes and walk to my room. "Whatever."
"And don't slam-"
I slam the door. The little things in life just make me happy.

Darry's p/v
"Dude, Lottie is so mad at me for not wishing her grandma happy birthday. That lady is literally going to die if a gust of wind hits her."
"I did the possible, Hector. I overreacted and now Rachel is mad at me again."
"Oh boy. What is it this time?"
"She came out of her room wearing a mini skirt. I don't even remember her buying it! Am I in the wrong for asking her to change?"
"Depends on how you approached her. Did you explain why you wanted her to change?"
"No, but-"
"There's no buts, Darry. You need to always give a reason. Put yourself in her shoes. You would want a reason for doing something, right?"
"That man had no reason for asking us to buy him beer-"
"I'm not talking about your old man. Seriously, put yourself in her shoes. 15 year olds are moody and angsty. They need to be treated like equals. That's what they want."
"So next time I explain?"
"Yes! See, parenting isn't so hard."
I nod. Yeah, he's got a point.

Rachel's p/v
So the mini skirt is a total bust. Lucky for me, I have the good o'l reliable outfit. White tank top, blue skinny jeans, and my white low top vans. I wear this whenever I have nothing to wear. I guess I technically have something to wear. Me and my 10 shirts going strong!

I walk out my room. "See you guys in the car!"
"You know why the mini skirt is risky on a first date, right?"
"Nope! But A for effort, Hector." I grab my purse from the coat hanger and walk out the door. Can they literally be any more obvious?

"Wait, I'm not parked well-"
I get out of the car and walk up to Sage and the boys. My date is a lot cuter than I imagined!
"Hey girly, "Sage greets me with a hug, "This is Ricardo Evans. Ricardo said you guys were in biology together."
"Yeah, that's right! Mr. Green got so mad when you knocked that flask off the counter."
"His fault for teaching in the dark. I remember he tried so hard to get me and my friends to shut up. We purposefully messed with him a little."
"A little? You put your pet snake in his drawer. But I'll admit he did deserve it for not curving the final."

Darry's p/v
"Did you hear that, Hector? That kid is bad news. He's going to be a bad influence on Rachel!"
"I mean if their teacher deserved it then he deserved it."
"Hector, I'm being serious."
"And I'm being chill, something you need to do. I don't think Ricardo is a bad guy at all! Nobody likes an overprotective parent, let alone overprotective brother."
"But it's like I'm her parent. I practically raised her. And now she hates."
"Rachel doesn't hate you, Darry. She's just a teen going through shit. She doesn't have a mother to get love from. You're a guy so you can't provide her with it."
"I can provide her with it! She just doesn't accept it. I give her a goodbye hug but she tries to let go. I make her lunch and dinner and she eats in her room. I try to help her with homework but she goes to Sage's house instead."
"Maybe you should be a little distant. She'll miss the attention and will start to be grateful for everything you do for her."
"I can't be distant, Hector. If she does start to miss the attention then she'll just feel bad. My #1 priority is to avoid her from hurting."
"It's the only way she'll learn, Darry."
"I'll think about it," I look in my rearview window, "hey, they aren't there anymore."
"Let's grab a booth before the place gets filled up. I'm feeling like a legal guardian now."
"Yeah, well I'm about to be one. I'm like a teen dad, but my kid is a teen too."
"Your parents are trash. I'll forever be proud of you, Darry."
I smile. "Thanks man. Let's get the booth before we're stuck creeping at the window."
"Yeah, let's go. Not tryna go to jail again."
I give him a funny look. Dude hasn't even been grounded.