Finn tried to be nonchalant when he asked Archie, "So what happened between ya?"
"What do you mean?"
Rolling his eyes, Finn continued tuning his guitar on his bed, "I mean, you sent me ta bail on your date with Rae, but you're still always sniffin' around 'er."
Archie pulled a face at that. "I am not sniffing around her."
"Coulda fooled me." Snuffing out his smoke, Finn tapped out the beat with his left foot, they were working on a slowed down acoustic arrangement for Semisonic's F.N.T. He'd heard it at the record shop last week, making him instantly think of Rae, an ode from him to her. When Archie didn't pick up his cue, Finn looked up, "What?"
"Why's it bother you?"
"It don't bother me." He scratched at his fringe, truth is it bothered him a lot, Rae should be with him, not Archie, they didn't have near as much in common. Finn had never met anyone with the musical knowledge and taste she had, that alone put her in a completely different category from every other girl. "But ya didn't see her face when I said you weren't comin' and it made me look a proper knob. Ya could'ave at least gave me the whole story."
"Look, I'm sorry alright? I just got scared, but she decided we'd be better as friends and you and her seem to be gettin' on well now, so... no lasting harm."
Finn had to know. "Do you want more?"
"Not any longer. She's my best mate. I love Rae and don't want to lose her, but that's all we are, friends." Archie plucked at his strings, "Is that why you've so cross with me? You want Rae?"
"Let's play."
"No, you started this line of questioning, I want to finish it." Finn shifted uncomfortably, pretending to clean a spot off the body of his guitar. "You're different with her; definitely more affectionate than I've ever seen you." Finn tried tuning up again.
"Chloe thinks it's because Rae's "safe.""
Finn furrowed his brow, "What's that suppose to mean?"
Archie grimaced, it had been an awkward conversation between him and Chloe, with her reasons why Rae doesn't have a boyfriend. Apparently, she had forgotten he took Rae out himself, "Because Rae's... plump, Chloe doesn't see how guys would be interested in her, as more than friends."
Anger flared through Finn, "That's bloody bollocks, it's about more than looks, and Rae's gorgeous besides. Chloe didn't even know that Morrissey was the lead singer of The Smith's." He scoffed.
Archie chuckled, Finn and Rae were the only two people he knew that would take that as personal offense.
"What now?" Finn was getting supremely irritated.
"Nothing, just wondering why I didn't see it before. You and Rae are perfect for each other."
Archie strained to hear Finn's mumbled, "Convince her of that." Archie grinned and finally picked up his cue.
He had an idea.