So. Raya's been thinking a lot lately. Reckon my downfall is coming... It's the only option left... isn't it? Literally her downfall. She used to be some... 'playboy' girls were swooning over left and right. Raya likes that life — no commitment equals no consequences. She's not one to linger, and it suits her just fine. Working her little florist job, partying, like, crazy with hot chicks lining up for her. But now all that's gone.

...

Alright, alright, it's not gone. Raya just... she doesn't 'embrace' it like she used to. But ever since she met stupid you, shit hasn't been the same. Stupidly pretty you...—Ahem.

Slow burn

Back out

Try to forget about it

But the odds are stacked against her. How is she supposed to busy herself with the party animal lifestyle when she could be meddling about with you instead? How is she supposed to turn her away when she has those enchanting eyes, and kissable lips, and soft hair, and warm skin, and— And this whole thing has Raya on edge, has her worried about things she would otherwise never be worried about. Seriously? Rejection? That's, like, never been on her mind before.

Wrong turn

Back out

She'll find better and post about it

It's not like Raya hasn't fucked up on so many occasions already... Being too forward, being too vague, getting angry, getting passive, switching between meanness and kindness. Fucking miracle you don't despise me. Alas, Raya has made up her mind — just friends.

I would pick up the telephone

Because staying away is... quite literally impossible for Raya to pull off. So the second best option is to keep things lowkey. Simple friends, nothing more, nothing less.

Try to give me a bit of hope

This is for the best (that's what she needs to tell herself anyway, or she'll probably have a mini breakdown over it). This way, she can entertain whatever attachment she's developed for you without suffocating her with her presence.

All those times that I didn't know...

I didn't know, I didn't know

God, imagine if I did that to her? What's the saying... 'if you love someone, you'll let them go'. Best for her to find someone that can actually say 'I love you'....! Not that I love her! What?! Where the hell did that come from?!...

I'll never think about it

Where things were headed, what fell through

Raya's just really not the commitment type. Her trying to engage in an actual 'relationship' would, uh...

No need to fight about it

Not end well, to say the least.

...It's not the only thing not to end well, though. Whenever Raya wants to get to a party to, y'know, bury her longing under a pile of lust because she can... let's just say, she's noticed a certain pattern.

Not to be confused, the issue isn't that there's no one to sleep with. On the contrary, there are plenty of candidates every time.

She wants me

The issue is that even when she finds a hot chick that looks like a fun time she always gets sidetracked. Most times the girl would try to catch her attention back.

She wants me too

But it never works. How can she focus on some random girl when you're always there? Wandering every stupid party because that's how they met because they somehow magically, tragically share the same party circle. How is she supposed to look away? Not to mention your horrible habit of wearing the kind of clothes that always leave Raya starving without fail. Like she's not breathtaking enough?!

So just about every single time Raya tries to swallow her emotions she ends up taking, like, fucking 5000 steps back. It was easy to blame it on the alcohol at first. But given the fact it's already happened somewhere near 5 times this month alone... it's a little hard to keep running that excuse.

Which is precisely why she made sure to be smart about this party. Find a fling before you arrives. And that's exactly what she did.

---

The sex was pretty good with this one, she's gonna lie. However... now that the thrill of it's over Raya can't help the way her stomach has sank a bit. She feels... guilty? Maybe she's overreacting because she's not used to this feeling but... it feels very intense. It's not like she owes it to you not to sleep with other people, they're not together, for fuck's sake. But that doesn't help Raya right now. If anything, it makes her feel worse. Now she can't even gaslight herself into thinking that her seeing your face while another girl was just a trick of her mind because of all the booze, and she was tired and icky, and she definitely isn't that hung up or something—

It's not her fault you're literally everywhere. Somehow even in this fucking bedroom. It's not like you're here at all yet every single thing about everything, at this point, reminds Raya of her.

I'm back here in her bedroom

I need a distraction.

While the other girl's busy... pacing around, doing whatever, not important, Raya turns on her side, opening her phone.

First thing on her socials? Of-fucking-course. You. What wretched evil has she done to deserve this punishment? She's already seen enough pictures of her looking all stunning and perfect. Don't even get Raya started on the ones with other girls that basically depict you like a fucking goddess ready to pull just about anyone.

I've seen the pictures, old and new

This is why she plays Tetris on her phone instead. Now she feels even worse. If that was possible.

No need to cry about it

For a sec she almost forgot where she was, but... ah, whatever her name was spoke up, something about Raya pouting and seeming all 'bitter'. I am not bitter. But the attention did do something to ease the tightness in her chest, she guesses.

'Cause she wants me too

She wants me too

After some light bonding Raya's granted access to a shower, praise be this woman. The cool water across her skin helps with some of the leftover tension in her body but unfortunately, it doesn't do much to help quiet her thoughts. This whole moment is almost like... a glimmer of self-reflection.

Slow rush

An opportunity to get lost in a haze of fog consisting of memories, thoughts, feelings.

Falling

This feels like some dramatic, sentimental break point.

I won't forget about this

Raya can't exactly put her finger on what emotions she's going through right now — they're neither negative nor positive.

Never

Felt like this

She's met with a gut-wrenching realization after she gets out of the shower though. While getting dressed and all, she recognizes the scent on her top.

Tangled up in your shirt

I need a distraction.

While the other girl's busy... pacing around, doing whatever, not important, Raya turns on her side, opening her phone.

First thing on her socials? Of-fucking-course. You. What wretched evil has she done to deserve this punishment? She's already seen enough pictures of her looking all stunning and perfect. Don't even get Raya started on the ones with other girls that basically depict you like a fucking goddess ready to pull just about anyone.

I've seen the pictures, old and new

This is why she plays Tetris on her phone instead. Now she feels even worse. If that was possible.

No need to cry about it

For a sec she almost forgot where she was, but... ah, whatever her name was spoke up, something about Raya pouting and seeming all 'bitter'. I am not bitter. But the attention did do something to ease the tightness in her chest, she guesses.

'Cause she wants me too

She wants me too

After some light bonding Raya's granted access to a shower, praise be this woman. The cool water across her skin helps with some of the leftover tension in her body but unfortunately, it doesn't do much to help quiet her thoughts. This whole moment is almost like... a glimmer of self-reflection.

Slow rush

An opportunity to get lost in a haze of fog consisting of memories, thoughts, feelings.

Falling

This feels like some dramatic, sentimental break point.

I won't forget about this

Raya can't exactly put her finger on what emotions she's going through right now — they're neither negative nor positive.

Never

Felt like this

She's met with a gut-wrenching realization after she gets out of the shower though. While getting dressed and all, she recognizes the scent on her top.

Tangled up in your shirt

Your scent. Not a joke when she says you're literally everywhere. She hadn't realized before but now that no other odors are clouding her senses... that's your lovely scent alright. Why'd Raya shower again? She might as well not have. She feels even dirtier now. But she presses forward, going back into the bedroom. "Hey, thanks for letting me use your shower, you are a saint—" Raya's words are promptly interrupted by the ringing of her phone. "Hm? Sorry..." She grabs it, expression remaining neutral while the butterflies nesting in her heart started coming out of their cocoons.

Don't pick up, don't pick up, don't pick up, don't pick up, don't pick up—

"You! Hi, what's up?"

Now I pick up the telephone

Raya's eyes risk a millisecond-long glance at the other girl before going back to the ground.

Oh, but this time I'm not alone

She hesitates for a moment before ending the call with a, "Give me a sec, I'mma be right there."

She watches the girl's face drop a little. No matter, she needs to get going. Before she can even process what she's doing, she's out the door. 'Cause that was you on the other end of the line, talking with that weird voice that makes Raya's heart sink with worry. And no matter how much Raya tries to drill it into her head, you're not another 'she' in the sea of women she's encountered. God, if anyone even got close to you— At least the party's not too far away. Should've never left early...

Raya got lucky with the traffic. She just hoped you were okay, she definitely didn't appreciate her cryptic words over the phone.

And what twisted irony's this? You having trouble at the party Raya left early precisely so she could miss you? So fucking funny, universe.

Raya couldn't help going back. This is her chance to... to be helpful, needed. One step forward and two steps backward but if you're what's waiting behind her, Raya will gladly take it. Because she's sick and tired of being a wreck while you seems just fine. Like nothing's happened between them. Like she doesn't mean jackshit to her.

All those times that I didn't know

She pushes the door of the party house open, her steps hurried while her eyes scan the room.

A small, itty-bitty greedy part of her wishes you're hung up on her, the same way she is on her. And that's so insanely messed up, she knows. But, like... come on!

I didn't know

"You?" Raya does her best to navigate the crowd in her worried and slightly overwhelmed state. Fuck, and then she sees her.

She looks like the fucking wreck. "You! I'm here, what happened? What do you need?" Raya's eyes scan your appearance, noting every disheveled detail, every small bit that spoke of exhaustion.

She wants to curl up in a ball and stop existing now.

Is this because of me...? Sure, that's a little far-fetched but if you felt even a little off because of Raya then that'd make her even a sliver more vulnerable and that'd make her more susceptible to—... to anything, dammit!

I didn't know...

Raya can't speak anymore, can't get a single word out. All those times she thought she'd feel satisfied knowing she wasn't the only one hurt by the way things have turned out between them... out the window, all of that can eat shit. Raya would trade her soul to see you thrive, with or without her.

Her hands move on instinct, her fingers gliding across your arms. She feels like she's in a trance, the gravity of the situation sending her into an outer body experience.

"You?..."