AN: Hey guys! I'm having a lot of fun writing this story and I'm glad y'all are enjoying it so far. This chaper I'm introducing a new character that might throw a wrench in the whole Rae/Olivia pairing. You'll have to read to see what happens. I'm gonna try to write/post as many chapters as I can before things get crazy with the holidays and finals and all. As always please review. I love knowing what y'all think of what's happening so far in the story. Also if you any suggestions for things you'd like to see or where you think this story should go feel free to leave your comments. Your feedback is always appreciated.
This is a blanket statement for this chapter and all chapters to come: I don't own any SVU characters. All rights go to NBC and Dick Wolf. I do, however, claim ownership of all orginal characters.
Chapter 14: Second Chances
Araeyah got to school and went to her locker to put her bag away and get her books for class. She couldn't stop thinking about the conversation she'd had with Olivia. She didn't know which she felt more: nervous or relieved. She was nervous because she didn't know if Olivia would call her again after what she'd said but relieved that she'd actually said it. Now that she had been upfront with Olivia about her feelings and intentions she could stop this under the table flirting thing she was doing. She knew exactly what she wanted and she was going for it. She closed her locker and turned to make the walk to her AP Physics class when she saw Maureen walking toward her. "Great" Rae thought rolling her eyes.
"Hey, where have you been?" Maureen said. "I've been calling and texting you all morning." Rae ignored her and continued walking to her class. Maureen stepped in front of her stopping her from taking another step. "Rae! I want to talk to you!"
"Well I don't want to talk to you Maureen. You made it very clear to me how you feel. I have no reason to be friends with you right? So...we're not friends." Rae stepped around Maureen and went up the stairs to where her class was, leaving Maureen standing in the middle of the hallway. She couldn't believe that Rae didn't even want to talk to her. The one minute warning bell rang and Maureen let out a frustrated sigh before hustling to her math class down the hall. Rae and Maureen didn't have any classes together this year but they did have the same lunch shift. That's when she'd see her again. They usually left for lunch because Rae hated the cafeteria food. They didn't have many options for vegetarians so she'd end up eating the same things everyday if they didn't go off campus. "Lunch. I'll try again at lunch", Maureen thought as she took her seat.
Lunch was split into three shifts during fourth period classes. Rae and Maureen had third shift. The bell rang for third lunch and Maureen hauled ass down to Rae's locker so she wouldn't miss her before she left. She saw her at her locker putting her fourth period books away and grabbing other books. "She must not be leaving today." Rae always put her books for fifth period in her bag and took them to lunch with her so she could go straight to class when they got back. Maureen walked up to Rae just as she was closing her locker.
"What do you want?" Rae said annoyed. "I want to talk to you." Maureen said sounding a little desperate. "I already told you...I don't want to talk to you." Rae tried to walk away but Maureen put a hand on her should to stop her. "Then don't talk. Just listen. I want to apologize. Will you please let me do that?" Rae stood there silent for a moment before speaking again. "No Maureen. I'm still pissed at you. I don't want to talk to you." Maureen opened her mouth to speak but Rae held her hand up to stop her. "And I don't wanna hear anything you have to say." Rae walked away towards the library leaving Maureen standing alone once again. Was their friendship really over? Just like that...over. Maureen took a deep breath attempting to hold back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She turned and walked to the cafeteria and found a table with a few people that she had classes with. She felt so out of place. This was the longest time they'd gone not eating lunch together in all the time they'd known each other. The only other time was when Rae left early for winter break with her family last year. She sat there pushing her food around her tray trying to think of how she would fix what she'd done.
Rae had mixed feelings about walking away from Maureen. When she'd said she wanted to apologize she had almost given in and let her speak. Then she thought that she couldn't just take an apology and move on. Maureen had really hurt her and she needed know that. So she decided to walk away. Rae was sitting at a table in the library finishing homework for her sixth period AP Lit class that she didn't get done over the weekend. A brunette wearing jeans, a tank top and blazer came and sat next to her. She recognized the smell of her perfume right away.
"Ashley" Rae said not even looking up from her book.
"Hey there hot stuff." Ashley was Rae's ex-girlfriend. They'd dated on and off for a few months when Rae first moved to New York. She came from money same as Rae so she didn't always take school as seriously as she should have. She'd skip classes, mouth off to teachers and get in all kinds of trouble but her parents always bailed her out. She wanted to be an artist but she didn't want to go college to do it. Luckily for her she had the money to do pretty much whatever she wanted. "You're still the same huh? Going to class, doing homework, studying."
"Yeah well some of us actually come to school for the education." Rae said still focusing on her homework. She always tried not to get sucked into Ashley's web but it was hard. Rae couldn't deny that they'd had a lot of fun when they were together. She also couldn't deny all the trouble they got into. Ashley wasn't really that bad. She just liked to push the boundaries. But then her mom died and she became a different person. She lied all the time and she treated Rae, and pretty much everyone else, like crap. She started drinking, doing drugs, and sleeping around. She only cared about herself and getting what she wanted and she didn't care who she had to use or hurt in the process. Rae tried to be understanding given what she'd gone through, losing her mother and all, but Ashley just got to be too much. A little while after they broke up for good, she went with her father and two brothers to Europe. They'd stayed there for all of junior year and now they were back. People said Ashley was a different person; that she was a better person. Rae would believe it when she saw it. "Yeah, well...not me." Ashley said. "Actually, I've decided that I'm gonna graduate early. You know, like you are."
"You have enough credits to graduate early?" Rae said finally looking up at her. With all the classes Ashley skipped she couldn't believe it was possible for her to be meeting graduation requirements. Ashley laughed at the surprised look on Rae's face. "Yes, I do. I home schooled while I was in Europe; got caught up. So I'm graduating; gettin' outta here."
"Yeah? Goin' where?" Rae could see the sparkle in Ashley's eyes that she used to see before her mom died. Who knows. Maybe she had changed. "I don't know. I haven't really decided yet." Ashley held Rae's gaze for a moment before reaching out to tuck a strand of hair that had fallen down into Rae's face behind her ear. "I've missed you ya know. Remember how much fun we use to have? Going to skate parks, the beach, seeing bands play. Remember when I signed you up for that open mic night and didn't tell you?" Rae's smile grew big as she remembered everything Ashley was talking about. "You weren't at all prepared and yet somehow...you were still absolutely amazing. I miss that."
"I miss that too." Rae admitted. "But...Ashley, things can't go back to the way they were."
"I know. I know that." she said sadly. "I just...I'd like it if some things could. I want us to be friends again. I know I screwed up a lot when we were together. I treated you...like shit" Rae let a soft chuckle. "Yeah you did."
"I'm sorry." Ashley had a look of sincerity that Rae hadn't seen in a long time. "I know...and I...I want us to be friends again too." Rae said with a smile. The bell for the end of lunch rang and Rae started gathering her things to go. "Matty and the guys have a gig this weekend. They invited me and I have a plus one. You should come." Ashley said standing up.
"I'll think about it." Rae stood up and turned to leave. "Well can I call or text you sometime?" Rae turned and looked at Ashley who was biting her lip waiting for an answer. "Sure. I guess."
"Great." Ashley walked over to Rae and gave her a quick peck on the lips, the way she always use to, before walking out of the library. Rae stood there thinking about how she'd just talked to Ashley and listened to her apology and how much worse she'd treated her than Maureen had. "Maybe your being a little harsh Rae" she thought to herself. She walked out of library, deciding that she'd find Maureen later so they could talk.
The last three classes of the day went quickly. Rae had gotten her stuff and went to Maureen's locker to ask if she wanted a ride home but she'd already gone. So she went out to her car and headed home. She'd been home for about an hour when there was a knock at her door. When she opened it, there was a man in a green uniform holding a toolbox.
"Are you Caston? Araeyah Caston?" he asked looking at the name on his paperwork.
"Yeah." Rae said slightly amused by how he'd said her name. "I'm here to fix your lock." he said handing her the work order. Rae couldn't believe it. Whatever Olivia had said to her landlord had gotten him to not only call a locksmith but to get them to come out that same day. "Great. Do what you need to do." The man put his tool box down, opened it up, and got to work. Rae heard her phone ringing in the living room and went to grab it, hoping it was Olivia. She looked at the caller id and saw Ashley's name. Rae smiled and shook her head. "She sure isn't wasting any time" she thought as she answered the phone. "Hi Ashley."
"Hey. What are you up to?"
"I'm sitting in my living room. What are you up to?" Rae could hear a radio in the background so she assumed Ashley was in her car. "I'm driving over to your place."
"You don't know where I live." Rae said. "What are you talking about? I used to come over your house all the time." Ashley said confused. "Ashley, I don't live with my parents anymore. I have my own place."
"Really? When did that happen?"
"A few months ago. After my birthday." Rae said. She wasn't sure if she wanted Ashley coming over or not. "Nice. Sooo...can I come over?"
"You're asking me? Wow. That's...different." Rae said teasingly. Ashley laughed. "I'll text you the address." Rae said smiling. "Ok great. I'll see you in a bit." As soon as she hung up the phone, Rae sent Ash her address.
"Ms. Caston?" the locksmith called out from the front door. Rae got up and walked over to him. "I'm all done" he said as she approached. "Here are your new keys. I just need you to sign this." He handed her a clip board and Rae read over the papers before signing. She took her keys and thanked the man before closing her door. About ten minutes later there was another knock. She went over and opened the door. Ashley stood there with pizza and movies. She stepped to the side and ushered her in. "Welcome to my humble abode." They went over and sat on the couch. "This place is nice. I'm guessing you decorated it yourself. I don't see a touch of your mother in here."
"Haha. Yep. It's all me" Rae said. "So how have you been?" Rae said sitting on the couch. She grabbing a slice of pizza and took a bite. "I've been doing really well. Europe was great; much needed vaca. I actually starting therapy and drug counseling while I was there. Got back on track with school. I'm nicer now. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a bitch...just a nicer one." Rae laughed and shook her head. "Well, it's good to have you back." Rae said with a smile. "It's good to be back."
Rae and Ashley spent the next the couple of hours talking and laughing with each other. Completely forgetting about the movies Ashley had brought, they spent the time telling each other about everything significant that had happened in their time apart. It was starting to get late and Rae had homework to do so they decided to call it a night.
"I hope you'll come with me on Saturday to see the guys play." Ashley said as Rae walked her to the door. "Come on, it'll be fun. Just like old times."
"I said I'd think about it." Rae said as she unlocked and opened the door. Ashley stepped out into the hallway before turning around to face Araeyah. "Pleeeease" Ashley begged putting on her best puppy dog eyes and batting her eyelashes. "Ok...Ok. Fine. I'll go." Ashley's smile got really big and she leaned in and gave Rae a big hug. "It'll be so much fun. I promise." she said pulling away. She gave Rae a quick kiss goodbye before turning and heading down the stairs. Rae closed and locked her door and headed back to her living room to start on her homework. As she was pulling out her books her phone started to ring again. "Ugh. The universe does not want you to get done" she said talking to the papers in front of her. She looked at her caller id and couldn't help the shit eating grin that crossed her face as she read the name on the screen. "Of course I do have extra time in the morning since I have two free periods." She got up and walked into her room, leaving her homework on the table untouched. She got comfortable in her bed as she hit the green answer button on her screen.
"Olivia. Hi. I was hoping you'd call."