Remember, I told you

They're all back

"What is this Ro?" Cas questioned holding up the lyrics of "Drunk in Love." "How do you even know..." She trailed off careful not to say anything more.

"You can say it Cas. You can say Broken Windshields. I've known about them since that day in the diner when you were talking to Mo. I didn't hear everything, but I heard enough." I honestly said.

She looked up at me shocked at slightly embarrassed. She didn't say anything for a minute, taking a moment to regroup. 

"So wait, you have known about Ryder and his bad for over a year and you never said anything. You never even ranted about it. You never said anything. I know this is clearly super late asking, but are you okay with it? I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I thought it would make things worse."

"That day in the diner, I realized that everyone was being too careful with me, even you. And I understood why it was just tough that no one was really telling me the truth. Honestly, I was kinda being sheltered. So, when I did find out the truth about Ryder and his band, it was a gut punch. But, at the same time, I think I needed it. He was over everything that had happened and he was moving on with his life, he had forgotten about me. It was painful but it hurt me enough to realize that my family wouldn't have wanted me to sit around and bottle up all this hatred at Ryder and the world. I wasn't motivated yet honestly to start singing, but I wanted to at least start living again." 

I looked up at Cas and saw her smiling back at me.

"You know, you amaze me every day. I don't know if I say this enough, but Ro, your heart is too big. You have so much love and compassion. Damn if I were you, I would fucking hold the biggest grudge against Ryder and Broken Windshields. I'm proud of you for growing from it. Seriously, at least something good came out of that shit band. Their music is actual garbage, same old trashy boy band material," Cas declared.

"Hey, Cas. Look at me. They only reason why I'm here today is because of you. You are my family and you remind me of all the good memories. You never let me go, so thank you and I love you." I walked over and gave her a hug.

"Also, don't lie- Broken Windshields is fucking incredible. You and I both know it. That day in the diner when I overheard you and Mo, I went home and found them online and listened to literally all their music. It's beautiful." I said bluntly.

"Yeah. I was lying-solidarity sister. Honestly, though, you're much better." She said winking at me. "But they are pretty damn great. The universe is shit, Ro. Ryder doesn't deserve it."

"Yeah, maybe..., but whatever. Can't hate him forever. Is that french toast I smell ...?" I could feel my stomach start to grumble and the cinnamon from the kitchen was beginning to make my mouth water.

"Wait-" Cas said grabbing my arm.

"Whattt," I whined desperate to eat the delicious food less than 50 feet away.

"This still doesn't explain why you have the lyrics this old Broken Windshields song written down here."

I really didn't want to explain everything right now but Cas had that determined look in her eye that meant she wasn't going to quit till she got answers. The food would have to wait.

"Okay. So after I discovered Broken Windshields, I decided to kinda just ignore their existence after that one night of borderline stalking. Eventually, I just forgot about them, and I blocked out Ryder. It was all too painful."

Cas bobbed her head, telling me to continue. I went on. "Please don't be mad about this. So basically, you know how I said I've been babysitting Lannie in the nights...well I lied. I still needed some more money to make rent so a few months ago I took Eddie up on his job to play at Artist's Prison. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you."

Cas looked hurt, as she began "Why didn't you tell me Ro? It doesn't make sense, we tell each other everything. Why wouldn't you want me there? You just said we are family. I've been pushing you so hard to start performing and all this time you've been doing it already. God, I feel like such a fool." I could see frustrated tears beginning to form in her eyes.

I grabbed Cas's wrists trying to calm her down. "Cas it's not like that. After Mom, Dad, and Evalyn died, music was hard. I thought I lost it all and I stopped caring. It wasn't until reality hit and that I wasn't going to make rent that I tried singing again. I didn't tell you about, because you're my family and I didn't want to disappoint you. It took a while until I started to feel the music again and I felt like I was doing it for more than just the cash. And you know why?"

"Why?" Cas asked, slightly sniffling.

"Because every day you said to me, get off your ass and start singing. Without fail, I could count on you to check me. It was your voice that I heard in my head every night at the coffee shop until I finally started feeling like myself."

"I guess that makes sense," Cas mumbled back. "And I am a pretty fantastic friend."

"Best friend," I corrected her. "I was going to tell you, honest. That's why I agreed to the bonfire. That was a ballsy move on your part to just sign me up, but because of your constant pestering, I have had at least a little bit of practice."

"I'm gonna start coming to your performances now, you know that right?" Cas stated more than asked. "Remember that you lied, so you owe me."

"Nice guilt trip." I smiled at her. She winked back at me. Thank God she wasn't mad.

"But this still doesn't explain the lyrics." Cas reminded.

"Yeah, yeah I'm getting to that. So basically, last night I was at the Artist's Prison...." 

I told Cas everything that happened the night Ryder showed up. She didn't let me leave out a single moment, making me describe everything in vivid detail. By the time I was finished, her jaw was slightly open, and she was silent.

"Earth to Cas, you here???" I said while snapping and waving at her.

She suddenly broke out of her trance. She jumped up and started pacing in circles. "That little tool, who does he think his? What game is that fucker playing? Just wait till I get my hands on him. Oh God, he's gonna be in so much pain. What is he even doing here? His pompous ass needs to get out of our town and stop corrupting this place with his nastiness." She continued to pace around spewing a string of profanities.

"Cas, language! Honestly, he's not worth it. It's not worth it. I'm sure he's just bored and was looking to get a rise out of me," I explained.

Cas looked back at me and said "Ro, I think he really is back for you. I can't believe that idiot thinks he even has a shot. He doesn't deserve you."

"What do you mean Cas? That's insane, he's not back for me," I incredulous asked.

"Ro, you are the only thing that would bring him back here," she bluntly stated.

I didn't believe her and just said "Whatever. Not true."

"What are we going to do," she asked like we were going to war.

"About what? Ryder? I am going to ignore him and then he will disappear. Just like he did before. And then all is well," I suggested, offering her an uneasy smile.

Cas looked at me like I was stupid while showing me the headline on her phone. "It's not that simple. Broken Windshields is in town."