Days turned to weeks, and weeks into months as Chris and Rae exchanged a few messages between them. But it was Rae who began to distance herself, feeling guilty that she was holding him back as he worked hard, filming back to back movies. It was a bittersweet relief when he began leaving her on read, or taking days to respond.
OCTOBER 31st
Rae grabbed her cell phone off of her desk before any of her colleagues could see the name on the screen.
"Hey, it's me," Chris said, his voice sounding different. Rae quickly glanced around the office, looking for her boss, before replying, "Hi."
"Happy Halloween," Chris murmured.
Rae scoffed. "Americans and their weird obsession with this so-called holiday," she replied sarcastically. "What are your plans?" he asked curiously, easily sensing her dryness.
Drawing in a deep breath, Rae had initially planned to lie and say she was going to some extravagant party, but she didn't have the energy to fabricate it. So, she told the truth, no matter how utterly depressing it sounded.
"I'm going to sit at home and eat all the wee bags my mum made up," she said, blushing at her own pathetic truth.
"I wish I was there with you," Chris sighed.
Rae was sceptical. The radio silence said different. Okay, he was busy. That was easy to see, but it took less than 30 seconds to write a quick text, one every other day for the girl whose heart he had stolen.
"No," Chris continued, "I wish you were here with me. I want to do couples costumes with you," he said, releasing a sad chuckle.
Rae couldn't help but melt at his cheesy words. "Alright, showbiz," she chided, "What would we go as?"
He suggested, "Shrek and Fiona?" His jaw ached as he said it.
Rae laughed out loud, earning surprised looks from her colleagues. "Aye, me as Shrek and you as Fiona in a dress?" she whispered, glancing around at the scornful eyes.
"Exactly," he replied, "although you're too pretty to be painted green. How about Bonnie and Clyde?"
"God, you are so American," Rae teased in return, her heart fluttering at his suggestion.
The silence between them was tangible, both of them had something they wanted to say but neither of them had the courage to do so. This was a long-distance situation-ship after all, and while there was nothing keeping them together, there was no reason why they couldn't try to make it work. The excuses they made were just that - excuses - and nothing that couldn't be overcome. If only they could get out of their own heads.
"Chris?" Rae's words came out fast, as if she was afraid that if she didn't let them out, they would disappear and she would change her mind.
"Mhmm?" Chris replied, a thickness straining his voice.
"It's been quiet," Rae said. "I've missed you. I miss you."
Rae heard him heave a long, heavy sigh. She had thought that saying the words out loud would ease her pain, but instead it made it worse. Now, sitting here waiting for his reply was making everything a thousand times harder.
"It's been so hard," Chris replied.
"I know," said Rae, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've been busy."
"No, I mean... it's been hard without you," he stressed.
Brushing away tears with a light swipe of her hand, Rae cleared her throat. "What do we do?" she asked, desperately hoping he would have all of the answers.
"We'll figure it out," he said, his voice strong and determined. Rae didn't know how, but she believed him.
His voice was so deeply gentle and convincing that, with a brief closing of her eyes, she was transported to him and his honest gaze. She believed him. The intrusive sound of a throat being cleared brought her out of her reverie, and she looked up to see her boss standing with his arms folded and eyebrows raised in displeasure.
Pulling the phone away from her ear, she covered the microphone and pleaded, "Can I have five more minutes?" She batted her thick, dark eyelashes at the disgruntled employer.
"Five. Not a minute more," he snarled.
"We'll make it work." She repeated back to him, "And I've got a better idea for our couples costume."
"Oh yeah?"
"Steve and Bucky?" She giggled.
Chris scoffed, "You watched those movies?"
"I had to see what all the fuss was about."
"And?"
"Sebastian Stan is hot."
"I'll let him know." He chuckled loudly, "Why not Steve and Peggy?" Chris asked.
Rae inhaled sharply, "Because Steve's true love was Bucky."
"You haven't watched them all have you?"
"I'm watching Endgame tonight..." Glancing across her office, she caught her boss checking his watch, "I have to go." She said sadly.
"Let me know what you think. And Rae... I meant what I said, we'll make this work."
Rae's heart began to beat rapidly, there was something else she needed to ask him, "Before I go, can I be that girl... can I ask you something?" She said.
"Sure."
"What are we making work, what are we?" She asked.
"This isn't a conversation I want to have over the phone." Said Chris.
The phone call left all her unanswered questions lingering in the air. It wasn't entirely true that she had no answers; she knew he wanted to make something work, but what, and how were they going to discuss it when he was in Boston or LA and she was in Glasgow? With the miles between them, it seemed like an insurmountable challenge. Nevertheless, she was determined to find a way to bridge the gap and make it work.
***
Rae hurled the TV remote across the room in a fit of rage after switching off the television. Her mother's jaw dropped in shock at her daughter's sudden outburst.
"What, and I cannot stress this enough, THE FUCK?" Rae screamed, scrambling for her phone.
TO: EVANS
YOU HAVING A
FUCKING LAUGH?!
FROM:EVANS
He loved her.
TO: EVANS
He kissed her once.
FROM: EVANS
Remind you of us?
TO: EVANS
NO. You kissed
me more than once.
And on/in more
places.
FROM: EVANS I AM IN PUBLIC!
TO: EVANS
Shouldn't have
left Bucky. Send
a picture...
FROM: EVANS
*IMAGE*
TO: EVANS
JESUS CHRIST!
I thought you were
in public?!?
I meant of the costume.
I am sitting
next to my mother!
TO:EVANS
Also, I really miss
little Chris.
FROM: EVANS
Ouch! Don't call
him little Chris.
TO: EVANS
I miss big, hard
beautifully crafted
girthy Chris.
FROM: EVANS Better. But now...?
TO: EVANS
Absolutely not.
You've got more
chance of me having
a bath in the River Clyde.
FROM: EVANS
Thinking of you 😏
TO: EVANS
I always think of
you...👉🏻 🐱
FROM: EVANS
FUCK. This is unbearable. 😮💨
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N:
I feel like all I do is apologise for the lack of updates on all of my stories.
The truth is I am working all of the time, and I have my kids to look after, as well as my own mental health right now.
I am so sorry, but there is nothing I can do about it. I just hope you can all forgive me and still enjoy what I do eventually put out.
That being said...
What did we think?
It wasn't my best chapter, a little fillery but its nearing the end. I wonder if they will cross the oceans to be together?
The dick pic is controversial, but I know what I'm picturing.
Love you all.