Bound to You

Chapter 29: After

Can we talk about the perfection that is #RARCY??

I swear #Rarcy is like the teenage Brangelina.

Can someone look at me the way Ross looks at Darcy?? #Rarcy

Darcy continued scrolling through the “Rarcy” tag on Twitter with a deadpan expression. It was beginning to grow tiring, seeing the number of people that fawned over her and Ross. They didn’t even know the half of it. “If you guys only knew.” She mumbled, tossing her phone down onto the cushions. “If who only knew what?” She heard Rocky’s voice come echoing towards her from the kitchen. He flopped down onto the couch next to her seconds later, a bowl of potato chips in one hand and a liter of soda in the other. Darcy eyed his choice in breakfast foods skeptically. “If they only knew what?” he asked again, popping a chip into his mouth. She gestured to her phone lying between them on the couch cushions. “The truth about me and Ross. You know, how ‘pop music’s most adorable couple’ is 100% fake.” She frowned. It sometimes bothered her, how easy it was to fool everyone. But for her own sake, she was glad that the happy couple act came easy to her. Rocky shrugged. “People only see what they want to see sometimes. But to be honest, you and Ross are really convincing. If I didn’t know any better I would think it was legit. And besides, it could always be worse right?” he offered. Darcy felt herself tense. Oh, it was worse. Much, much worse. “Right.” She echoed, her voice faltering slightly. Rocky didn’t seem to notice. “So…” he continued. “It’s been half a year already. You sick of us yet?” Darcy smiled, despite the lingering fears that crowded her mind. “Of course not. Just the opposite actually. I feel like the longer I stay, the harder it’s going to be to leave.” “Then don’t!” Rocky interjected. “Why don’t you just stay? We’re all looking at moving out soon so you and Rydel can find an apartment together. There’s plenty of fine arts schools on the west coast, right? I’m sure you can find something. And you’re always talking about how much you hate New York.” He reminded her. Darcy sighed. She had been considering transferring to California permanently ever since she’d first met the Lynch family. They were a second family to her, a home away from home. Not to mention Riker. Their relationship was the main reason she had all but officially decided to stay. The only thing holding her back was… Sean. Returning to New York would guarantee her safety. Once the contract was over she would be free to leave, far away from his  grasp forever. Perhaps putting as much distance as possible between them was her better option. “Maybe.” She said quietly, silently turning over both options in her mind. They sat in silence for a few moments, the only sound coming from the grandfather clock ticking loudly across the room. “Well, I’m off.” Rocky said as he got to his feet. “We’ve got our final tour rehearsal today.” Darcy glanced down at her phone screen. It was only 9:00 in the morning. “This early?” she questioned. He nodded. “I’ve got to pick up Ross.” Darcy stared after him curiously. “By the way, where is he? I didn’t see him this morning.” She asked. Rocky smirked knowingly. “Out with Maia.” He answered, arching his eyebrows suggestively. Darcy rolled her eyes. “Would you guys leave him alone? You guys know how he used to feel about her. It’s not nice.” She chided. Rocky shrugged. “May not be nice, but it’s funny.” He gave her one last suggesting look before disappearing out the front door.