The Shops - CH 5 FINAL CHPTR
Hi guys!! Ok, so this is technically tow days later than i had hoped to post, but here it is nonetheless, the FINAL chapter of The Shops. It’s a shortie but I think it’s a goodie hahaha. I just want to give a big thank you to all you wonderful, marvelous emus who took the time to read, like and comment nice things about this fic. You guys made it so fun to write. Word Count is at 1,675. And as always, be sure to let me know if you want to be added to future fics, if I forgot you, or if you want to be taken off.
Tag List: @tinakegg, @i-dream-of-emus, @annemarieted, @flxwxry, @jackiewalsh2013, @milllott, @parisgirly93, @girl-looking-out-window, @lau-vm, @kneekeyta, @celestev31, @redprairielily, pink-royaute @justthegoodgirlsreject, @irish-girl-84 @voodoomarie, @rhi3915, @stinemarine, @leah030, lifeainteasy-stopbeingafootnote, @bitchy-broken, @protectfinnnelson, milymargot palsstjude, stinemarine
CHAPTER 1 , CHAPTER 2 , CHAPTER 3,CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5 - I THINK YOU’RE GREAT
“So, what now?“ Izzy asked her.
"I have no idea.” Rae stated simply
“You guys seem to like each other,” Chloe inserted.
The three of them were sitting on the sofa early Sunday afternoon in their pj’s. Their breakfast dishes were on the coffee table, and Rae sighed and decided to place them in the sink. She and Chloe had started the tradition of a hearty breakfast late Sunday mornings when they first became friends. Back at school, they always seemed to be in a rush; in a rush to get to class, in a rush to finish their assignments; everything always seemed to happen at warp-speed. But Sundays were for taking it easy. They would lounge around, have breakfast no earlier than 11, and just enjoy each other’s company. No matter how hectic every other day felt, nothing mattered on a Sunday.
After they met Izzy, they discovered quickly she was like a little ball of energy. She loved hiking, traveling, and she seemed to rarely sit down. They wondered if she would enjoy just laying around chatting and watching TV all day. It made them skeptical of inviting her at first, but for the sake of her close friendship with Chop Rae decided she should do it for him. She was pleasantly surprised to find Izzy was a great addition to their Sunday mornings. She made great pancakes, loved silly comedies, and did some great French braids. Izzy soon became a fixture every Sunday, and helped solidify a friendship between the three of them.
"I do like him,“ Rae said honestly as she flopped back on the sofa, "But I feel like everything’s moving fast.”
“Fast,” Chloe gave her a confused look, “You’ve been pining for him for months.”
“He has, too,” Izzy commented, “From what you told us.”
“Alright, so maybe I have been pining for him,” Rae admitted to them, “But he doesn’t know me. He’s going to realize I’m not as great as he thinks I am, and I don’t want him to think he owes me anything just because he kissed me.”
“Rae,” Izzy said comfortingly, “Don’t settle yourself so short.”
“Yeah, and for Pete’s sake, Rae,” Chloe added, “It’s just a kiss. He didn’t ask you to marry him. I mean, you could just as easily figure out he’s not as great as you think he is.”
“Oh, but he is that great. Can you believe we kissed even after I told him I had been ill?”
“Wow, wait,” Chloe looked at her, “You told him you had been ill?”
“Not intentionally,” Rae said slowly, “But yes.”
Izzy sat upright, “What did you tell him?”
“Not much, just that I had been bullied at lot when I was younger and that I got sick.”
Chloe held her arm, “What did he say after you told him? Did he act weird about it?”
“No, Chloe, no. Don’t worry. He was ok about it. More than ok, he was really great, actually.”
“Yeah, he was. He’s always great. I mean, everything about him is just so… nice and great.”
Chloe linked arms with Rae,“Oh, babe,” she smiled softly at her.
Izzy grinned, “Rae that’s amazing. Don’t you think it’s time you found someone like him? You deserve someone great.”
Chloe squeezed her arm, “No ‘I guess’. Rae, come on. If he’s all that you say he is you go get him. You’re a beautiful person. You do deserve to be happy.”
Rae embraced both of her friends gratefully without a word, but silently, she wished she could see in her what they saw.
The next morning, as Rae was sweeping up the floor of her shop, she heard a knock on the window. Confused she pulled up the blinds, and tried not to be too pleasantly surprised about the familiar figure standing outside.
“Finn,” she said as she unlocked the door, “What are you doing here so early?”
“Mind if I come in for a minute?” He asked
“Of course,” she stepped aside and let him enter the store.
He walked in and a slightly awkward silence broke out between them.
“So,” Rae said after a moment, “What’s up?”
“Well, here’s the thing. Um, I’m not really much with words so I’m not quite sure how to say this,” he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, “Look, I’m just going to come out with it. I’ve liked getting to know you, Rae. And I want to keep getting to know you. I was just wondering if maybe you’d like to go out sometime.”
Rae was quiet for what felt like a long time. Had Chloe and Izzy actually been right? That there was someone out there that actually thought she was good?
“Rae,” he said quietly after some time, “It’s alright if you don’t want to - we are just getting to know each other – I understand if - ”
“No,” she said quickly, “I mean, yes, I’d like to go out sometime.”
“You would,” he smiled, “Great. So, um, maybe we can meet up later and talk about it. Maybe we could grab lunch later or something.”
She grinned, “I’d like that.”
In that moment the doorbell jingled. They turned and saw Izzy smiling brightly at them.
“Hiya,” she grinned, “Oh, so you’re in again.” She smiled knowingly at Finn.
“I know, Rae’s told us a lot about you. And you probably don’t remember, but we met once near Archie’s store. Thanks to you my husband Chop won’t shut up about getting a sleeve done.”
“Oh, I remember,” Finn’s face wrinkled in a laugh, “You know, he came in once after that. Wanted to get a stencil done. He said he was going to surprise you but I told him maybe that wouldn’t be the best idea.”
“He what,” Izzy said astonished, “That bastard! I knew he would try and pull something like that! I swear, I’m going to kill him when I see him! You know - ”
“Izzy,” Rae interrupted, “Do you think you can get the flowers in the back ready for display?”
“What,” she said but then she gave Rae an understanding look, “Oh, right. Of course. Well, it was nice meeting you. And I’ll be sure to tell Chop you give him your best.”
“It was nice meeting you, too. I hope I didn’t get him into too much trouble.”
“We’ll see.” Izzy said ominously as she walked toward the back.
Rae and Finn gave each other a quick glance before they smiled at each other.
“I should get going so I can let you open up,” Finn said, “But I’ll see you later.”
“Yea,” she smiled at him, “Definitely.”
He gave her a swift kiss on the cheek before heading out.
Almost immediately she heard a voice from behind
“I’m so excited for you, Rae,” Izzy squealed, “He really likes you!”
"Jesus, Izzy,“ Rae clutched her chest, "You scared me. Did you teleport over here?”
“No, of course not. Being tiny has many advantages. Like being able to move as quickly and as quietly as a mouse.”
“You know, Iz, you’re kind of scary sometimes.”
“Oh, I know” Izzy responded with a proud smile.
Later that afternoon Rae paced around her store. She swept multiple times, gave the flowers enough water to last them a few days, and wiped down everything she could.
“You need to relax,” Izzy told her.
“I know,” she sighed, “I know.”
“Come on, Rae, it’s going to go fine.”
"But what if it’s not? I mean can you honestly picture us, me and Finn, together?“
Izzy pondered this for a moment, "Yes,” she nodded, “Yes, I can.”
“Me, too,” Rae admitted with a small smile.
“What are you doing here, then? Go get him!”
Rae nodded, “God, I just hope I don’t do something to embarrass myself.”
“I can just envision us now, people gathering around to see the clown. Maybe we should go somewhere that isn’t light all that well, so we aren’t seen together too much, just to take the edge off. I can’t imagine what it must be like for him.”
“Rae,” Izzy said quietly.
“I just hope it’s not too ridiculous.”
Izzy motion behind her, and Rae saw Finn’s back walking out the door.
“How long was he standing there?”
“Long enough,” Izzy said quietly.
“He must think I was talking about him! Christ, I blew it before it even began! I got to go talk to him!”
Rae rushed out of the door and burst into Finn’s shop.
"Finn,“ she said short of breath, "Let me explain. I want you to know I wasn’t talking about you. I was just nervous because I really like you. And I was worried I might do something stupid to embarrass myself. I -”
He put his hand up to stop her, “I know you weren’t talking about me,” He smiled at her, “I was there for a while. The truth is Rae, I can see us together, too. And I just came back to get you something.”
He handed her the piece of paper he had been holding in his hand. She looked and noticed a bigger, more vibrant drawing of the familiar plant sitting in her room.
He nodded, “It’s one of my stencils. I was kind of hesitant about giving it to you just yet. I made it after you showed her to me. I just thought, it was really brave of you to tell me, and that it’s really cool of you to be able to grow and nurture something this beautiful. Rae, I want you to know no matter what I’d never be embarrassed to be seen with you. Cause I think you’re really great.”
Rae beamed at him, “I think you’re really great, too.”
He touched her cheek lightly, “I’m glad,” he said, “Do you think we can go on a date now?”
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