Services And Symphonies ✔

//A f t e r e f f e c t s//

The next morning Rayna woke up to the smell of tea and pancakes. Reaching for her phone, she sat up.

"Oh crap." The time displayed on her phone was 10:45. She had missed college. Last night's events had tired her to the point she had fallen asleep as soon as she her body had hit the bed.

She got out of bed and took a quick shower before heading downstairs.

Joey was sipping tea with a plate of half eaten pancake in front of her. "Morning." She wished.

"I can't believe I missed college." Rayna sighed and grabbed two pancakes for herself.

"Yesterday was tiring after all." Joey remarked, raising an eyebrow. Rayna chose to ignore her as she finished off her breakfast.

"I am going upstairs to catch up on work." Rayna said and got up from her chair. A hand wrapped around her arm and forced her back to her seat.

"Ray, sit." Joey said and dragged her chair to sit beside her. "We have to talk about yesterday."

"No, we don't. I want to forget about it." Rayna said, running her hands ovet her face.

"Yes, yes we do." Joey said in a stern voice. "Ray, what does it matter who the guy from the restaurant is?"

"Of course it matter, Joey." Rayna said, her hands flailing around. "It matters cause in some far away possibility, I thought maybe I would meet the guy from the restaurant and it'd be the one non-platonic relationship in my life that would actually work. That's why it matters."

"It could still work, Ray." Joey said, shaking her sister's shoulders. Rayna let out a laugh.

"Yeah, right."

"Why not?"

"Because he's him and I'm me. He's a tennis player Joey. He travels the world for his work. I don't know him as a person and in no universe would a relationship between us ever exist!" Rayna replied and it felt like someone had a fist around her heart and was not clenching it.

"Rayna, how can you possibly know that till you've given it a try? You don't know him as a person aand you've already given up." Joey reasoned trying to make her sister understand. Rayna had never really been in a relatuonship, not one where she had loved someone anyway.

"Give it a try? Joey have you completely forgotten that he never stays in the same city for more than a month. Max. Joey, this is....It's real life. Long distance relationships are hard enough without the added pressure of being a professional player. Besides, we're way too different. And what about the part where he lied?" Rayna spat back, livid.

"Lied? When on earth did he do that? He just didn't tell you his real name, Ray. Probably because just like the rest of us he didn't think that you would ever meet him again. But you did. Rayna, he atleast deserves a chance. And you do too; you deserve a chance at a loving relationship. He really likes you, Ray. Please." Joey pleaded, her hand holding Rayna's.

Rayna shook her head. "I'm sorry Joey. I-I can't. I have never been one to take chances, you know that. Life's finally returning back to normal and I'm happy. We're happy, Joey. I don't want life to be complicated again." Rayna said with a sad smile. Placing a kisa on Joey's forehead, she went upstairs.

---
At around two pm, Rayna was ready to head down for lunch. She had decided to order pizza for herself and Joey.

She knocked on Joey's door and asked her to come down for lunch. The doorbell rang. The housekeeper had already left so Rayna hurried to answer the door.

Lana and Tamara stood with their arms linked and it seemed like they had gone shopping. "Hey." Rayna greeted her friends with a smile and led them to the living room.