The cold shoulder only conjures up an even colder wave of indifference from her end. What would’ve royally pissed Rachel off ten years ago doesn’t, but the impact of such details is lost with ill timing. You change now, and so what? Why not then? Questions worth an ounce of consideration if not all of it.
Only she’s not seeking that kind of scrutiny, not here. Just an answer that goes unsaid as River carries out the pause just as deliberately as he denies her the satisfaction of his visible disbelief. A familiar face brushes by their table which she waves too in the meantime, warm smiles aplenty before they go out the door. The ping! of another notification cuts through the pleasant din of the restaurant, but she holds off on it, tapping against the glass with a hum.
“No point in staying when you don’t have to.” Phone’s back out, with milliseconds for River to catch the exchange on her screen before it’s swiped to the camera app. “Extra wide now: 1, 2—” For confirmation purposes only.
Neither demand goes unheard, but that’s different than it being understood. She’s a breath away from going forward with the former until her mind catches up. Rachel’s brows furrow, baffled. Pulpy red fruit’s a no-go, but with a sudden new exception. O-kay.
Her face relaxes, turning to wave the server over. “Order it yourself.”
“Ah, really—” Cheese. For Mom, and just Mom. He’s back to his chair the second after, reaching for Rachel’s cocktail while she’s mildly distracted. River takes in as much of it as he can before she can grab it away from him without really caring for the mess that follows. That’s a Bloody Mary, alright. And it may be red and pulpy and technically fruit, but has Rachel considered that his sudden interest in it all is because he’s sparing his lunch break on her?
The server comes, a glint in her eye upon recognizing him for his worth. River notices, realizing just as quickly that he could use this much to an advantage. Setting the glass down before it’s forced out of his hand, he raises his brows—a greeting. “Three of these for me, please.” For real, he mouths before licking off his tomato mustache. “But you can’t bring them out to me until she promises me my window seat.” River motions to his sister with his thumb and a closed fist, sporting the best little brother pout of his entire life. “No need to wait for us here, though.” It’ll be a while. “I’ll give you the okay when she does.” And then a selfie together, or an autograph, or even a recorded message to her grandmother, whatever. Even a 150% tip!
Once she’s gone, he clasps his hands together over the table. “Please. Please, please, please, please, please.” Looks over his shoulder to nod at the nearest waiter’s booth; yes, pressure. “At least on the way there. You can have it when we’re coming back,” he offers, comprehending a second too late that he’s implying he doesn’t mind being on the same flight twice.
How the fuck does she do that? Get into his head like that. Every. Single. Time. “Takes one to know one” type of crap, huh?
pixelskylines
theartofmadeline
yousharknotpass
jbbartram-illu
jacobvanloon
ellievsbear
romaincrisis
kianamaiart
