Megan slammed her bedroom door shut, causing the entire structure to vibrate as she stormed over to her bed. She kicked a stuffed rhino in the process.

"What the fuck!" She yelled, slamming her palm into her forehead "What was I thinking?! Giving myself a time limit to get my shit together?! Me! The bitch who panics under pressure! Fan-fucking-tastic, Megan! Ya fucked up!"

With a loud exasperated groan she plopped onto the floor, too drained to actually make it to the plush surface of her bed, and fell onto her side, pulling her knees up to her chest as she muttered out a few more paragraphs about how 'retarded' she had been. It was a good thing Luke was working overtime today, otherwise he would've heard all of it. Then she would've been in trouble.

She fell silent, but she still wasn't satisfied with her rant. She needed someone to rant to.

...And she knew exactly who. Laura.

I mean, technically Megan already the woman had run away with her boyfriend, so what she found out three days ago was only a small add-on to the information. Plus, she knew Avory was a good guy, he was sweet and pure and would never do anything to hurt anyone, so she wasn't exactly against her sister dating the guy. In all honesty, living with him was probably so much better for Laura than living with Megan and Luke. So no, she wasn't mad. She was just shocked, is all...

...

Okay maybe she was a little mad, but that made the 21 year old even more of a perfect candidate to rant to. And if she ended the call, then she can go eat a bag of dicks!

Deciding on her victim she dug her phone out of her pocket, only to realise "Shit. I didn't save her number."

...I mean, she could still vaguely remember what it was...

She half expected her not to answer, as it would be pretty suspicious if your sibling, that you had been keeping shit from for a couple of years suddenly called you after you'd been exposed. She almost sighed out in relief when she heard the other line picking up.

"Hel--"

"Oh my god you have no idea what kind of day I've had!" Megan kicked off instantly, not even caring if her sis had something to say. It could wait "So you know what happened at the store, right? Well after that I got into a fight with Gladion, you know, the fella with french fries for hair? Well anyway, I called him out for keeping secrets and he just tells me it was for my own good. I knew he was being genuine but ya know, it's not like I need protection from my own family, plus I was already close to blowing a fuse so I hung up on him to think things through. It's bitchy, I know, but he was being a hypocrite after he told me not to keep shit from him. I even went as far as ghosting him for three days.

"But ya know, that's just how I am; distancing myself from things that sting. But that's not even why I'm calling, holy shit dude I'm rambling." She ran a hand through her hair, letting out a rather exasperated chuckle. But as soon as she heard Laura trying to interject she started again before woman could even let out a word "So, listen, I volunteer to clean up a few of the dance studios at college right? 'Cause I thought 'fuck it, I have nothing better to do. And there are people I want to avoid'. Like, I'm not even mad at this dude anymore, but I know if I get close he's gonna start talking about what happened. But anyway, as I walk into the room guess who else shows up? The bastard's ex girlfriend!

"So obviously I don't know what to do, because she and I don't have the best history. But get this, she fucking ignores me! She just walks right to the brooms leaning against the wall and starts sweeping away. And I'm like 'oh my god she actually knows how to do basic housework'. Not really but you know, it was an afterthought. So anyway we begin to clean in silence, literally nothing is said between us which is both annoying and awkward. Like, does she know I'm even here?!" She paused briefly to take a breath, noticing the other line was completely silent "So this silent cleaning goes on for about an hour, until the fucking bitch just drops the broom, flips me off, and fucking leaves! She just leaves me to do the rest myself like, holy fuck as if I wasn't having a shit day as it is!"

She took another breath "So after I finally finish cleaning, which I'm seriously regretting volunteering for by the way, I grab my bag and head for the door thinking 'Thank Quiznack it's Wednesday'. But guess what, as soon as I leave the studio guess who decides to walk around the corner. Fucking fries-for-hair! And he's just starin' at me like a deer at fucking headlights, which is understandable as I was probably doing the exact same thing. But when I come to my senses I'm like nope and try to get the fuck outta there. But then he blocks my exit, like, how the hell did he even get in front of me! Like, I don't even know what to do at this point."

There was long pause, neither sides saying a word as Megan rubs her temple. Damn she hadn't talked that much in forever. Then, Laura whistled.

"I know." Megan laughed with no humour "Like, shit, is this normal for college students? Are you supposed to expect this much fucking drama?!"

"Well..." the other finally spoke up, but trailed off at the end. It was at this moment Megan realised. That's not-- "I mean, I'm taking an apprenticeship in healthcare instead of going to college so... I wouldn't know."

Laura didn't take a fucking apprenticeship. And... and since when did she start to sound so... manly?

"Who is this?" Megan slowly demands, trying her best not to get annoyed. Whether it was because this wasn't Laura, or that she'd have to repeat the entire thing to said girl, she wasn't sure.

"Uhh..." The male clears his throat, a sort of awkward chuckle traveling through to the other line "Well, um... My name's Rafe."

Oh shit.

Megan had sort of hoped that this mystery man was Avory, but then she remembered. The dude is still in college, he doesn't have time for an apprenticeship...

"Where's Tequila breath?" she deadpanned.

"I'll be honest, I'm not quite sure who you're referring to." This boy was trying to be polite and respectful, most likely to not make this situation any more awkward than it already was. Plus, it was common sense to speak with courtesy when talking to a stranger, wasn't it?

Megan slapped a hand over her face, groaning in complete embarrassment as she once again fell backwards onto the floor. She had basically just spilled her soul to this stranger. She knew nothing about Rafe other than the fact he was an apprentice in healthcare. In contrast, Rafe already knew quite a bit about Megan from this one phone call. It seemed like everyone she meets knows more about her before she finds out a single thing about them. But this time, this careless slip up was her fault alone.

"I think it's safe to say you have the wrong number...?" the male politely offered.

"I know... God I'm so sorry," Megan blurted, completely mortified "Bye--"

"Wait!"

Silence...

"What?" Megan raised an eyebrow. She thought Rafe would be relieved to have rid of her.

"Well I was wondering, you know since your venting was cut off presumably midway..." He cleared his throat, causing Megan to get unnecessarily nervous, until he said something she definitely did not expect "What happened? With this fries-for-hair dude, I mean..."

Megan was silent, completely shocked as she stared into space.

"What the-- Why do you want to know?" She finally shrieked out, sitting up immediately.

"Because..." He tried, clicking his tongue after failing to think of a reasonable answer "I don't know, humour me?"

"No no no no no," Megan answered immediately, the corner of her lip quirking upwards as she shook her head before her face went back into a deadpan "Explain."

"Well you know, it was a long story, and, like, I listened to all of it. But--"

"Yeah," Megan interrupted "You did listen to all of it, instead of stopping me and correcting my mistake."

"Well there really wasn't a good opportunity, sorry to say!" He scoffed out, and she could practically see the guy making hand gestures in irritation "You started to speak and kept going on and on and on, so I didn't know what to say. So, uh, sorry? I just wanted to know what happened."

"Why?"

"Because you got me invested in the story."

"Why?"

"Because--"

"Why?"

"Are--" He cut himself off, clearly irked before he spoke again "Are you just saying 'why' now?"

"Why?"

"Oh god you are, what are you even--"

"Why?"

"Why do you keep asking me why?!" He shouted, and Megan had to stifle a giggle at her achievement of getting the oh so polite Rafe flustered.

Not keeping him in the dark any longer, she asked "Why do you care?"

"I don't know, I just do." He stated, not really sounding sure himself "Can you just finish the story? Please? The suspense is killing me."

The smirk returned to Megan's face "You're weird."

"Thank you. I've been privy to similar statements."

"...What?"

"People have told me--"

"Yeah yeah yeah, I know what it means you don't have to elaborate." She almost scoffed as she interjected "So you wanna know what happened that badly?"

"Yes."

"Will not knowing cause you many sleepless nights?"

"Well I wouldn't go that far, but sure?"

"Will you--"

"Can you just carry on instead of bombarding me with dumb questions?"

"Damn okay!" Megan held a hand up in surrender, surprised by the sudden change of tone that made him sound way sassier "Fine... So where did I leave off?"

"The... guy had blocked your exit." Rafe spoke, and by the shuffling in the background he seemed to have sat down.

"Oh right..." Megan sighed, and began to recite everything that happened from the moment mentioned, all the way to when she kissed Gladion's cheek and left him in the car. Throughout the explanation Rafe would hum along with what she was saying, as if you're not supposed to stay quiet while somebody's speaking to you. But whatever, Megan ignored it. Midway through the story she began fiddling with pendant around her neck, and her voice became much less exasperated and instead started to become sadder. At the end she sighed, before smirking and mustering up enough sarcasm for her next statement.

"So that's it. I walked into my apartment, screamed a bunch of shit about how dumb I was, and now I'm talking to your sorry ass."

Rafe hummed, and the weird part is he sounded fond. Like he understood something. Megan quirked an eyebrow in both confusion and annoyance.

"What? Got something to say?"

"Well, more like something to ask." Megan hummed for him to continue "It seems to me you like this guy."

"That wasn't a question."

"I-- Ugh... Look. Do you like this guy?"

Everything was silent again, but that was only because Megan didn't know how to answer. Yes, of course she liked Gladion. Maybe a little too much for her own good. But was it right to like him? Finally she answered, opting that being truthful was probably best. She wasn't good at lying, anyway.

"Yeah. I do."

"And he likes you?"

"I... think so? I mean, he says he does, and he's done absolutely nothing for me to doubt it. Heck, he's even cried for me once..."

"But?"

"But, I don't know, I just feel like him liking me will get him into a heap of trouble. He already carries the weight of his status and family name, plus his own problems. And now he wants to shoulder my pain, too..."

"It takes a lot of commitment to do that, you know." Rafe spoke softly "These days it's rare to find a guy, or girl with that trait. And if he's willing to risk his status for you, I doubt it's fake."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I'm a love expert."

.

.

.

"You're kidding."

"Yeah I totally am." He laughed "The truth is I've actually gone through something similar to what you two are going through, except that I lean more towards Gladion's end."

"Really?"

"Yeah, so I wouldn't worry. I can tell you now that if the feelings really are mutual, everything will sort itself out. And if he's willing to wait for you, then I'm almost certain things will get brighter in your future."

A loud snort emitted from Megan's throat "What are you, a fucking palm reader or something, Rake?"

"It's Rafe."

"Whatever, get fucked."

"Rude."

"Thank you, I try my best." Megan stretched and looked over at her clock. She had already been in call with this dude for an hour and a half.

"I'm texting it to you so you don't forget."

"Well maybe I'm using landline."

"Psh, what are you, sixty?"

"I'd be pretty damn hot for a sixty-year-old." Megan flipped her hair for special effect, before her eyes went wide and she chuckled nervously "Please don't take that seriously."

To her surprise, Rafe let out a whole-hearted laugh "Don't worry, I won't."

After the laughter dispersed, Rafe spoke up yet again.

"So... If you don't mind me asking... what's your name?" He asked, almost bashfully. Megan debated whether or not she should actually tell him, stranger danger and whatever. However. He's told me his name... But I've told him so much already...

... I suppose one more thing can't really hurt.

"Megan." She stated, rubbing the back of her neck as she stared at the floor. Rafe hummed in acknowledgement.

"Well, Megan, may I speak to you again?"

Megan chuckled, eyes narrowing as she leaned back on her free palm.

"Eh, fuck it. Sure, whatever." She shrugged "It's cheaper than therapy, I suppose."

Rafe laughed "I suppose that's one way of putting it. Anyway I gotta go. My sister's transferring to some college tomorrow, and I'm supposed to be helping with that. Thanks for making my evening less boring, at least."

"Hey no probs, Rafael."

"...The hell?"

"'Rafe' just sounds like a shortened version of 'Rafael'."

"It is!"

"Oh my god I'm a fucking genius!"

The two laughed again and said their goodbyes, and no sooner after hanging up Megan received a text from Rafe, containing his name along with a shit ton emojis. Well fuck.

Sighing with a slight smile she saved the boy's number, setting his name as 'Therapist' before picking herself up and collapsing onto her bed.

And in a way, she was glad she had dialed a wrong number.

---

Rafe sighed, a slight smile making its way to his lips as he ran a hand through his hair. He sat up on his bed, staring down at Megan's contact with a raised eyebrow.

"What a strange girl..."

"Rafael?" A voice called from outside his room, and soon his little sister popped her head in "Come on, don't laze around."

The boy rolled his eyes "Just call me Rafe, sis. My full name's weird."

"That wouldn't be very proper, would it?" She huffed "Come on, you said you'd help."

"Woah, okay, calm down princess. I'm coming." He held his hands up in surrender "But I don't see the importance, I mean... Aren't you only going to this college for some boy?"

"It's my future husband, to you." She scoffed, and without another word she left Rafe in his room. The boy sighed, rolling his eyes again before opting to actually getting off his ass and following after the girl.

Not before giving Megan's contact one final glance, of course.

(This chapter is inspired by Bluebird - a Bakudeku fic my sister kinda forced me to read. It's actually pretty good, considering I'm more of a Tododeku shipper myself

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14097021/chapters/32480484

Here's the link if you wanna see what it's all about)