I used to be tough, I never gave enough

 

Rafe didn't know what he was doing. Mainly, faking it. He was good at it. Or so his choir teacher always told him. He had the expressions down, just not the voice.

He knew Ruby was having fun too. At least she was getting practice with the recording equipment even if she wasn't really making a real recording.  

Oh, maybe she even loved it and he was happy to see her smile. He hoped she could learn this and maybe even work with KC, who was seldom here anyway. He generally came in for late night sessions with music artists so they never saw each other. 

Yes, it felt splendid at the moment..or so...until Junie showed up, just as he was leaving the recording studio to go back to work.

"What are you doing here?" Naturally, he made a face of disgust. Seriously, the teen could still make his skin crawl. He looked down at her with wide-eyes as if she better get out of here before Ruby found her.

"I..I just want to know," she looked sad. "Are you really happy with her? Really? I mean..you and Maddie-"

"Maddie?" Rafe scowled. How could she even say her name? "Just don't." He glared at her, even lipped. "If you haven't noticed, that ship has sailed."

"I know, but still..you can't let Ruby ruin your life."

"Ruin my life?" He cracked up. "Why would you be even worried?" He shook the curls by putting his hand on the top of her head. "How do you know I'm not happy with her?"

"I can tell." She looked at him blankly. He hated her honesty. He truly did. "It's work being with her."

"Don't say that," he didn't want to believe her. "We're good for each other. We are."

"You believe that?" 

He looked away and nursed the corner of his lip.

"Look it takes time," Rafe really didn't have the time to talk. "I..I know I'm not really good at..at falling in love. Maybe I'm just in love with me." He couldn't help but try to smile. "Not everyone is like you and Darry. I know you know things. But don't worry so much. I'm fine. Everything is fine."

But even as he said it, it was like a faith so foreign to him that he knew it would have to be his mantra as a constant reminder.