Evelyn Banks

Rafe is gone the next morning, his bike no longer parked in the front yard when I haul myself out of Sarah's bed to peer outside. It's a relief, at least I won't have to see his face when I'm sober, or more accurately, hung over.

My head throbs as I help Sarah with the clean up, enduring her complaints about Rafe who she claims never helps with the aftermath. By the time we're done, I can barely stand the smell of alcohol and cleaning products, the mixture causing me to grimace in disgust.

"I'm never drinking again" I huff when I finally haul myself out of her car when we pull into my driveway. She waves me off and tells me to text her later before leaving.

The rest of my day is uneventful, I take another shower and spend a few hours in bed catching up on the sleep I've missed out on. By the time I wake up, it's the afternoon and the air has cooled. The sound of my phone vibrating interrupts my day dream and I lean over to answer it.

"You do know we're working in thirty minutes right?" JJ scoffs into the phone when he hears how groggy my voice sounds. I curse lowly as I throw my blanket off and move to find my uniform.

"I'll be ready in ten" I say as I pull off my shorts and replace them with my work pants.

With JJ's inconsideration of the road code and general safety, we make it to the Figure Eight with a few minutes to spare before our shift. It's a busy night, all the tables are full in the restaurant which means JJ and I are split up for majority of our shift, he's waiting tables inside while I work the outer deck.

"This is bullshit. These rich pricks keep calling me over like I'm a lap dog" JJ groans when we finally get a breather in the back. He leans against a counter and I do the same opposite him.

"They're the same rich pricks who tip us enough to keep our bills paid so we just gotta put up with it" I huff, feeling drained myself from having to wait on tables for the last three hours.

The manager calls out for JJ, who makes a face that earns him a snort from me before he slips back into the building. I follow after him, yawning as I try to ignore the slight throb I still have from my previous hangover.

I shift between tables, taking down orders and hauling myself back to the kitchen when I'm stopped in my tracks. I almost bump into a little kid racing to his parents table and I give him a half assed apology as I peer over the heads blocking my view.

A group of guys sit down at one of the only vacant tables left, most are Kooks I'm not familiar with but when I see Topper amongst them, I know to expect that Rafe isn't far behind. I turn on my heel and move back into the kitchen to plead any one else to take the orders.

"Sorry, Evelyn. I'm already stacked with my own right now" My colleague says as I approach her.

I even ask JJ who barely registers what I'm asking before he's dismissing me and tells me to just wear a disguise. I choose to ignore his childish suggestion and decide to just suck it up and take their order myself.

Rafe sits at the end of the table, his attention turned away from me as he talks to one of the guys. I'm sheepish as I approach them, keeping my eyes low before I eventually have to talk to them. I get through two of their orders before Topper starts making a scene and gains Rafe's attention.

"Hey, Evie. I thought you stopped working here a few months back?"

"Yeah I uh— just came back" I almost stutter out my vague answer, cursing at myself for being so skittish. Thankfully he doesn't elaborate further and just changes the subject to the party last night.

By the time I've gotten down to Rafe's end of the table, his attention is already on me. I feel his gaze as I pretend to keep busy on the work tablet, punching in the orders I've already placed. Seeing him while being heavily intoxicated dulled all the emotions I should've felt. Now I'm overwhelmed by them as our eyes meet, the guilt and hurt— the strangeness of how our relationship has changed drastically in the span of two months.

Mere weeks ago he had confessed he had slept with someone else and I swore we were done. Now I've seen him twice in one week and I somehow haven't strangled him yet.

"Nothing for me" Rafe hums, almost too casually than I expect. I envisioned him rambling on like he's done before, making a scene in front everyone as he tries to talk to me. But he doesn't, he just gives me a small smile before he turns back to his friend and continues their conversation.

When I finish their orders, I finally return to the kitchen and recollect myself as I try not to overthink about Rafe's behaviour. It's a good thing he's reeling it in, I did tell him to leave me alone after all. I just hate the dread I feel when I replay how nonchalant he's being, which only worsens when he doesn't even look at me when I bring their food out.

I avoid their table for the rest of my shift, relieved to find that when I return from my break, their table is empty as well as many others. By the time we step out into the carpark I'm beyond exhausted, to the point where I let JJ talk my ear off about the customers he's encountered tonight.

We drive back to the Cut, my head leaning against his back as I fight to keep my eyes open. By the time I get home, I barely make it through the door before I'm collapsing on the couch, letting out a groan as I try not to think about my brief interaction with Rafe.

I've barely laid down for ten minutes before a knock on the door causes me to lift my head from the arm rest. When they knock again, I pull on my sweater and move to answer it. I figure it's JJ who's either picking up something he's left by mistake or stealing a few of my dad's beers.

"Seriously JJ..."

"Why are you working there again?" Rafe huffs, cutting me off and startling me simultaneously. I'm at a loss for words as I try to process his question, taken aback by his sudden presence at my door step.

"What?"

"You're working there and with the Haywards. And I know you're still doing runs with Barry"

"I just need the extra cash, that's all" I explain, hoping he'll just drop it after that. He's not satisfied with my answer, I can tell by the way his brows crease and his jaw slightly clenches.

"Rafe, what are you even doing here?" I sigh heavily.

"I wanted to give you your space earlier but I just couldn't leave it alone without knowing you're okay. Look Evie, I know we're not on the best of terms right now but..."

"But what? You think you can just look after me while I'm drunk and suddenly all our problems are erased?" My tone is clipped as I cut him off.

"You have every right to be mad at me. But if you're struggling with money, I can help you. I don't want you doing runs with Barry anymore or working multiple jobs" Rafe says, his tone full of genuine worry.

"I'm not a charity case, Rafe. I may just be another broke person on the Cut with no future but I don't want your money" I say, my words that mirror his own cause him to wince at how harsh it sounds.

"Evelyn. I didn't mean that. I didn't..." He exhales heavily, choosing not to finish his sentence as his gaze examines every inch of my face.

"It doesn't matter Rafe" I say but before I can continue, I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket. Barry's contact name flashes on my screen as the incoming call comes through.

"Hey Barry..."

"Evie, you gotta come down to the hospital right now. It's your dad— he ain't doing too good"

____

a/n: the ending sounds so dramatic lmao