This is my post-finale fic that I promised everyone. I'm trying hard not to be too Rily (giant gasp) because of All or Nothing. I still don't like the idea of Travis and Lily, but I do think Ray deserves better.
Lyrics belong to Linkin Park.
I do not own Radio Free Roscoe or any of it's affiliates.
This may be a tad bit fluffy, but it'll get more intense next chapter. Promise.
Summary: Audrey and Ray were left dazed and hurt after All or Nothing. This is their story.
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[I've got nothing to say]
[I can't believe I didn't fall down right on my face]
[I was confused]
[Looking everywhere only to find]
[That is not the way I had imagined it all in my mind]
"We're just friends." Lily had said, her arms around Travis' shoulders.
"Are you sure?" He asked her in all seriousness as they slowly moved closer to her.
"Hey Lily!" Ray said as he bounded down the stairs of the warehouse. Lily jerked her head away from Travis'. But it was too late.
"Ray" Lily began
"No. No, you know what? Go ahead. Don't mind me! I just…" Ray turned away. "I'm sure it was mistake this time, too, huh, Strong?" He replied bitterly. He turned back around and looked from Travis to Lily.
"We were just-" Lily attempted, tears in her eyes.
"Don't bother. Either of you." Ray told them, opening the door to go back upstairs.
"Ray," Travis said quietly, in a low tone,
"Don't even talk to me, swami! Cause now I understand why Audrey broke up with you! What I don't understand is why I still care. But guess what? I don't."
"Ray don't do this," Lily warned, hastily wiping her eyes.
"Don't do what, Lily? Do you want me to be happy for you and Travis, is that what you want? Oh, that's right, you don't know what you want! You can't even make up your mind between Travis and me.
"Ray, I'm sorry. I'm just, so confused,"
"Well you can't have the best of both worlds, Lily, you can't have me and Travis!"
"You can't make me choose right now, Ray," Lily said in a voice hardly audible.
"Actually, I think you just did." Ray said, shaking his head as he ran up the stairs and out the door.
"Ray what's wrong?" Robbie asked, standing up as Ray ran past him.
"You know what, Robbie? Next time you have some so-called big news, keep it to yourself, okay!? Cause I know it'll be just one big LIE!" Ray yelled, now sprinting through the rain.
[So what am I]
[What do I have but negativity]
[Cause I can't justify the]
[Way everyone is looking at me]
[Nothing to lose]
[Nothing to gain hallow and alone]
[And the fault is my own]
He eventually ended up at Mickey's, after a few laps around the deserted areas of Roscoe. He was soaked, tired, but less angry as before. He walked in quickly and headed toward the farthest table in the corner.
"Ray?" His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar looking brunette staring sadly into her coffee. It was Audrey.
"I'm not in the mood to talk right now, Audrey." He replied shortly, sitting down.
"Please?" Audrey's voice lacked the definition, the simple Audrey-ness that was so recognizable. She sounded drained and heartbroken. Somehow Ray looked past that, distracted by his own heartbreak, and replied,
"I just got stabbed in the back by one of my best friends, again,"
"Oh yeah?" Audrey cut in, her mean face on, "Join the club." Ray stared over at her, a tear falling down and smearing her eye makeup, her face looking so sad and her staring so bitterly at him. He sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Audrey replied, looking around, "I'm just feeling so,"
"Confused?" Ray cut in, "angry? Deceived?"
"All of the above. Plus hurt, misled, puzzled, irritated" Audrey continued. She locked eyes with Ray and they laughed. Suddenly she noticed things about him she didn't before. Like how the light hit his eyes as they changed from brown to chestnut and how perfect he would be to draw. Even in art class once when he was modeling, Audrey never really noticed how attractive he was…
"I know." Ray was continuing the conversation. Audrey looked up from her daze. "I just can't believe I liked her for so long. She never cared about my feelings…or anything."
"I don't get it." Audrey agreed in her low voice. "She had feelings for you, Ray"
"Don't remind me." He winced.
"But she decided to forget about you and me, and go kiss Travis." Audrey stated coldly, leaning back in her chair.
"I feel so used." Ray said. "Damn it, why didn't I do anything?!" He accused himself in anger. "If I could have just told her how I felt maybe this wouldn't have happened!"
"You can't blame yourself, Ray," Audrey told him, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear, "Lily kissed Travis. You couldn't have done anything about it."
"I know." He replied quietly. He looked over at her, wondering if she felt as weird as he did. Even though Lily was once best friends with Audrey, he only ever saw her as Lily's best friend. Travis' girlfriend. The girl that dressed nicely; wore makeup. The artist. Travis' infatuation, if you will. He never tried to get to know her. She never tried to get to know him. And now, they were connecting. They were finishing each other's hurt sentences, comforting each other. Ray looked at her in bewilderment, wondering why he never noticed these things about her before.
Audrey's eyes connected with his as they both slowly smiled. They shared the same feeling. A feeling that, maybe, together, they could get through this.
[I want to heal]
[I want to feel]
[Like I'm close to something real]
[I want to find something I've wanted all along]
[Somewhere I belong]