ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs | ᴋᴍ ✔︎

Angry Cody

"But if I leave you now,
I hope that you don't find someone
That touches you the way that I do, the way that I do."
- FLETCHER

The agony and frustration of coming so close to something pleasurable being cruelly interrupted was quickly washed away for Cody and Kristie as they took in the sight of Jack. Tears streaming down her face despite her attempts at halting them. The only bright speck was Zeus trotting in after the blonde, happily oblivious to the cockblocking that just took place.

For Kristie it was a first. The Jack she knew was always strong and hard-headed. Stubborn to the point of irritation, and deathly loyal to Cody - meaning Kristie is often on the receiving end of a few threats.

For Cody, it wasn't new but no matter how many times she had seen her best friend cry, it was always hard. She was torn between wrapping her arms around her best friend and crying with her, and driving over to Rachel's to punch her in the face for hurting Jack.

Instead, the three sat in Kristie's living room, beers in hands as Jack recounted her evening  and how it ended so bitterly.

"I decided," Jack admitted. "I love being with her, and I was gonna tell her that I'd happily give long distance a try but she had other ideas. I don't understand how it happened. She asked me to give it a go, then in the week since we last seen each other, she just changed her mind? We kept in touch, she didn't say anything."

Cody's brow furrowed, she hadn't really known Rachel, but her heart ached for her best friend.

"What did she say?" Kristie asked, sipping her beer and trying not to cast judgement despite the niggling thoughts in her mind. She was desperate not to connect invisible dots with zero information.

"When it came time for us to go out to eat, she told me there was no point, that she didn't have anything to wear," Jack shrugged, taking gulps of beer before she continued. "Turns out while I was gone she was shipping all her things to England, and I mean everything. Then she tells me there's no point in going out because she's tired and has to leave in the morning."

"What?!" Cody and Jack jumped in surprise at the volume of Kristie's voice. Zeus's head popped up from its resting place on the floor, searching for a threat, before returning to his nap when the coast was clear.

"Yeah, she said 'they' wanted her in England sooner so she can bond with the team, whoever 'they' are."

By now, Cody was continually glancing at Kristie, the blonde slightly shrinking in her seat - she'd experienced this before. It seemed in the years since Cody had been around, Rachel's excuses hadn't changed, at all.

"So naturally, I got annoyed. I spent the whole week stressing over what I would do, remember?" Jack asked her best friend, who immediately nodded. There were moments Cody thought Jack would throw up due to her anxiety. "I didn't want to fight with her, not on her last night here. I wanted to hold her while we slept, take her to the airport and have one of those cliché goodbyes but she said she was going to bed, she didn't want to look like trash for Millie tomorrow."

There it was, Kristie thought.

"Who the fuck is Millie?" Cody demanded, the anger seeping into her tone.

Jack chuckled dryly, "Bright. Apparently she and Rachel are super close. Even though Rachel hadn't ever mentioned her name to me until tonight."

"You're quiet."

Kristie raised her head, tearing her attention away from the paper label on her beer bottle that she was picking at, only to meet Cody's questioning look.

"Did you know?" Jack asked, her own mind jumping from conclusion to conclusion.

"Know what?" Kristie asked, before waving her hands to dismiss the question, she knew it would open a can of worms. "I didn't know anything. I didn't even know she was leaving so soon."

Cody's eyes narrowed slightly, and Kristie's hands began to sweat, "But?"

"But...I know that she's close with Millie. Don't ask me how close, because I don't know, but when Rachel and I dated whenever we would fight, Rachel always brought her up. She would always text her, even during out date nights."

"Do you think they're..." Jack trailed off, she wanted the answer, she needed the answer, but she always didn't want to know. She would rather be blind to the entire thing.

Just her luck. Ellie. Cody. Rachel. What next? Maybe become a nun.

"Fuck this shit. Give me my keys," Cody held her hand out, taking the keys from Jack and standing to her feet - Zeus copying her - and side by side they walk to the front door.

"Woah, wait - you've been drinking!" Kristie tried to stop the brunette, it was only one beer but she knew Alex would kill her if she let Cody drive.

"Move, Kristie." Cody demanded lowly, glaring at the blonde who stood against the door, arms spread out as if it made any difference. "No one hurts my best friend."

A small whine from the canine side-kick caught the attention of the duo. Zeus had taken it upon himself to give Kristie his best puppy dog eyes, melting the heart of the Dash player. Kristie didn't know what hit her, which is why Cody and Zeus successfully made it into Cody's car and drove off, leaving the blonde stunned behind them.

"Well...shit. I bet he learned that from Cody."

Admitting defeat, Kristie closed her door and turned back to Jack, only to find her friend passed out on her couch. She would never admit it to Jack, or Cody, but seeing the blonde like this - exhausted, tear stained cheeks and a red nose from crying - it broke her heart and suddenly she could understand why Cody had charged out of her house to confront Rachel. Part of her wished she went with her, to tell Rachel how stupid she's being, that she's throwing away something special.

Maybe that's what she wants, Kristie thought to herself. Rachel hadn't made any indication that she wanted to break up with Jack, although moving to a different country would definitely take away the stress of the situation. It's a decision without really making a decision.

________________

Wheels screeching to a halt outside the modest home Jack had shared with Rachel, Cody basically leaping from her car. Zeus, as always, hot on her tail. Rattling her fist against the door, Cody stood impatiently.

"Um, excuse me?" A small, timid voice interrupted Cody's inner monologue of every little thing she wished to say to the England native.

"Yeah?" Cody asked, a bite to her words which made her wince, it wasn't this strangers fault that she was angry. "Sorry. Long night."

"Err, that's okay." The man mumbled, looking around anxiously when Zeus let out a small growl, only stopping when Cody shushed him. "I just thought I should tell you, she left."

"What?" Cody muttered. Her heart hit the her stomach and dropped all the way to the ground knowing she would have to tell Jack.

"Yeah...about twenty minutes ago.

"Fuck." The brunette sighed, looking to Zeus and petting his fluffy head. "We're too late, bud."