SEVENS

PIZZA BOY

Raf and I didn't talk to each other the entire hospital visit. We would make eye contact and then flick our gazes away. Or at least that's what I was doing. I could feel my cheeks flushing even through the last time I had made eye contact with him had been five minutes prior.

    As we finally were released from the emergency room, with a second crutch to my name and a boot secured on my foot, I chanced another look at him. He was drawing a cigarette to his lips with one hand and was digging in his pocket. It must have been the first time I had seen his hair out of place. It was almost done drying from his shower, and strands of it fell long in front of his eyes. It looked like the photos I'd seen of oil spills in the oceans on the news. I wondered if it would feel slick like oil too.

The sun was setting as we climbed into his car. He started the engine and I worked on fitting my crutches into the space beside me but because Raf was a privileged asshole he had a sports car and it had no back seat. He watched me struggle for a moment before he sighed and pulled the crutches so they were dividing us, the armpit rests on the dash and the ends resting on my shoulder.

Once we were settled he hit a few buttons on the touchscreen dash and a little phone icon flipped across its face followed by Jean's name. The icon and Jean's name chased each other across the screen several times before Jean picked up. By the time he did Raf was pulling out of the hospital parking lot.

"Whats up." Jean said through the car.

"Did you all want to come to the Halloween store with Lexi and I?" Raf asked, narrowly pulling into a space between two cars.

"I think everyone else did but I'm going to stay at home with my family. My dad is talking with his lawyer again and I'm sure he'll be distraught after so I want to help him and my mom out by putting the kids to bed. I'll be sure to tell the others to head out though."

"Alight man. Let me know if I can do anything." Raf said.

"Sure, thanks." The call ended.

Raf sighed. "Im worried about him."

I swallowed, and was about to bounce my foot when I remembered the boot. "Yeah what tipped you off? His acting like a toddler?"

Raf laughed. I swung my head to him, he looked genuinely happy. The worry had been wiped from his brow and amazingly he seemed to be driving slower, and more cautious. But maybe I was imagining the slowing part. "He pouts doesn't he?" Raf smiled a little at the thought.

I smiled in return. "You get pretty pouty too, but more like a spoiled teen kind of pouty."

"I absolutely do not. I am a very composed and calm person. I wouldn't let myself slip like that." Raf said. He jutted his chin out a little. I was either getting to him or he was playing along. I hoped it was the former.

"Not even enough to break someone's nose?" I asked.

"I'm not convinced that it was broken."

"It was gushing blood!"

"It was barely a tap, there's no way it was broken."

I frowned. "Oh it was fucking broken. I can feel it. Its crooked and I can feel it."

He looked quickly at me and then back to the road. We were coming up on the halloween store. The signs for it visible from everywhere. I frowned a little, I hope the conversation didn't stop once we left the car. "I-- I think you're joking but, I am sorry. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea at a street race but it doesn't excuse my actions."

I frowned again. I didn't want the conversation to turn sour but that's what the apology felt like. "It doesn't really matter." I mumble.

"If anything I was doing you a favor. It's ruggedly handsome.You'll attract a lot more girls with the break." He said it so cooly. My heart jolted. The kiss at the Wharf had been a fluke--a literal dare--and nothing more. I mean sure we hadn't had the most cordial of relationships, but-- I must have just read the whole situation wrong. I didn't care anyway did I? I didn't like Raf and I didn't have a crush on him. If that was true then there should be an explanation for why I suddenly felt like crying. Hope. I had been fucking hoping that maybe someone liked me, and more than just tolleration. Wanting, I wanted to be wanted. Bummer.