The Trip - Chapter 12
Rafe walked into the Recovery Room and sat down at the far table where he could watch everyone who walked into the bar. He wasn't in a good mood. Being threatened to stay away from his best friend was the last thing he needed. The thing that bothered Rafe the most was that he knew Jamal's accusations were right. He had been 'messing' with Alison on their trip. He had been 'dealing' it out. Jamal just didn't catch them in the act. He could not shake the feeling, though, that there was more going on with the Jamal/Valerie kiss than met the eye. What was it? It was obvious that he loved Alison and that he wanted to spend his life with her. What else could it be? At that precise moment Valerie walked in and tied on her apron around her waist, for her shift. Immediately seeing Rafe slouched in the corner, she approached him, not making his mood any better. Sitting at his table, she smiled at him.
"What's wrong with you? Things not going well with Alison?"
"I don't want to talk about it…especially with you."
"Fine." Valerie said standing up again, "I just wanted to let you know that things will be getting a lot easier." Rafe grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down to her seat.
"What do you mean by that?" he growled.
"I just mean…that there's things that sweet Alison doesn't know about yet…that might make her think twice about staying with Jamal." Rafe stared intensely at the girl. A part of him wanted to desperately know what 'the thing' was and another part knew that it wasn't any of his business. Valerie could tell that he was torn and his silence was his plea to know what she had to say. "Jamal hasn't told Alison everything that took place in Chicago."
"Why are you telling me?" Rafe finally said, deciding he didn't want to know.
"I thought you wanted to know."
"Well, I don't! I swear Valerie…if you do anything to hurt Alison…"
"I'm not the one hurting Alison! I think it's you and Jamal…neither one of you can be honest with her. Poor thing is completely in the dark. She thinks she has this perfect little world around her…she doesn't have a clue about the real world."
"You don't even know Alison!" Rafe stood up, "She's trying to hold on to the love of her life…and you keep interfering…"
"And your innocent…right?" Val said sarcastically. Rafe would not respond. He shook his head. "You should go ask Jamal about it if you want to hear about it directly. I dare you…ask him." She smiled contently.
Rafe walked away from the girl that still sat at his table. God…why couldn't life be simpler?
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"Now what was that really all about?" Alison asked Jamal again as they entered the bike shop. "I know you were yelling at each other…I thought you wanted to thank him for protecting me?"
"Alison…can't you see that he wants you?"
"What are you talking about?" Alison asked, startled at the accusation.
"Rafe! That's what I'm talking about! He wants you…it's written all over his face."
"Jamal, "Ali laughed nervously, "Rafe does not want me." She turned her back to him and blushed, " We're just friends." Her thoughts immediately rushed to their kiss in the car, the fogged windows and Rafe's hands on her.
"Alison?"
"Yea?" Ali turned back around, pulled from a daydream.
Jamal sighed. "Alison…just don't let him fill your mind with a bunch of rubbish."
"Rubbish? What?"
"About me and Valerie." Jamal shook his head, " Don't ever believe that Valerie means more to me than you do. I love you."
"I know…Jamal." Alison started to feel uneasy…suspicious. "What could Rafe tell me that would fill my head with rubbish? Does he know something?"
"No! That's the point, babygirl…there is nothing…he would be making stuff up!"
"Rafe isn't like that."
"Yea." Jamal added sarcastically, "I bet he's already told you things."
"I don't understand what you are talking about!"
"Alison, "Jamal sat the girl down, "There are certain things I want you to hear directly from me. I don't want you to hear them second hand…especially from Rafe or even Valerie."
"What does Valerie have to do with this? What certain things…Jamal?" Alison was starting to angry.
"They aren't bad…but they are important." Alison sat silent, her eyes narrow, fixed on Jamal. "First of all I just want to remind you that I love you and you will always come first in my life." Jamal sighed, "I wasn't totally truthful with you in Chicago and I wanted to set things straight because it does affect you."
Alison felt sick.
