7/14/2021- Hey...how y'all doin? I know, I know. I was gone for a LONG time. Thank you so much to those of you that patiently waited for me and were so understanding. Having you all check in on me just to make sure I was alright meant a lot. As for those of you who were...well, a little less patient, I still appreciate that you love the story so much that you were that eager to read more. So, here it is. Enjoy the update! You all deserve it!

Silently Falling: Chapter Thirty Four

Within seconds, Alyse grabs my wrist and practically drags me to the living room. I have to jog just to keep up, barely avoiding a blow to my hip from running into the counter. I find some sort of athleticism and dodge the wall as she whips me around the corner, having to jog just to keep up with her pace. I hear West chuckling behind us before he retreats upstairs and leaves us to catch up.

Alyse nearly jumps onto the couch, me ungraciously falling into the cushions, and I meet her eager eyes and giddy smile mirroring my own features.

"You go first!" We shout at the same time before erupting into childish giggles.

"That is so weird!" She squeals, "I mean, in a good way of course, but your voice is so weird!"

My giddy smile falls, causing her eyes to widen as she swiftly shakes her head.

"No! Wait! Not weird, your voice is great! It's just so weird to hear it again."

"Trust me, it's weird to use it again."

"Does it hurt at all?"

I swallow down the slight grittiness that seems to have made a home in the back of my throat and shrug.

"It did. It does. But my dad found a lot of different homemade remedies that have really helped. Enough about that, though." I add as I eye the dark maroon sweatshirt she's wearing. "You and Toby? Has it finally happened?"

I've known for forever the way Toby feels about her, even if he refused to admit it. It's about time I hear about the ship I've been rooting for since day one. Within the second, Alyse's cheeks flush red and she tries to hide inside of Toby's sweatshirt that is a few sizes too large for her petite body. 

"Oh come on, don't get shy now," I tease, pulling at one of the sleeves that extends well past her hands. "This is the same sweatshirt you came downstairs wearing yesterday, only this time it isn't paired with a pair of Toby's sweatpants."

However, I suddenly flinch as the context clues present a rather obvious conclusion and I let the sleeve go. 

"Did you two...you know?"

Alyse pulls the sweatshirt down to show her whole face, her answer instantaneous. "No. He really did just offer me his clothes to sleep in and I did stay in his bed. But to do that after what happened to you at the party...it wasn't even a thought, Raine." 

"Besides," she adds, bumping my shoulder with a little smile, "Do you really think I would give myself to him, just like that?"

I laugh and reach forward, pulling at the strings so that the sweatshirt closes partially around her face. "With how long you've been waiting for him to come to his senses, I wouldn't be shocked."

Alyse pokes her head through with a gasp, holding back a laugh. "I'm not that easy! We only talked."

I raise a brow, clearly unconvinced.

"Okay! And we kissed, but that's it! He was a crying mess and I was a shoulder to lean on!"

"That's very romantic, Alyse."

She grabs the decorative pillow on the couch next to her and slaps me, the thud of it hitting my shoulder mixing in with our laughter. These were the moments I missed. Where my comebacks could be just as quick as they are witty without the awkward pause for me to get all of the signs out. By that point, half of the time the moment was over and my responses lacked their luster. The only thing that kept them lively would be my facial expressions or the way I moved my hands. Now, I can show my sarcasm and playful banter through my tone and don't have to worry that my signs may be misinterpreted.  

I missed this. I just never realized how badly. 

"You didn't let me finish," Alyse says. "It was romantic! We were there for each other. You mean everything to us and after what had happened...well, we cried together until we both ran out of tears. We leaned on each other's emotional strength and melted into one another's vulnerability. At that point, there was no holding anything back anymore. He told me everything he feels about me."

With a gentle smile, she continues.

"He told me that he couldn't keep hiding from how he felt about me, that he couldn't keep hurting me. Said that he has always seen me as more than just his sister's best friend, but that no matter how much he cared for me, he didn't want to be selfish and take me away from you when you needed me the most."

I don't know whether my heart drops down to my stomach to know I'm the reason my ship didn't sail, or whether it skips a beat that Toby made me such a priority that he put his real love life on hold. Then, I remember that his way of putting his love life on hold was placing his attention on other girls, and I instantly scowl.

"That's cute and all, but that is no excuse for-"

"No excuse for how much he slept around. Trust me, I'm way ahead of you in feeling that way, but apparently he is too. He didn't mean to tell me that as an excuse, he only felt that I deserved an explanation. He knows how much he hurt me. I mean, it's not like I did the best job hiding my feelings. But...he practically begged me to give him a chance. Said that I've always been the only girl he truly wanted."

"So you did?"

"Yes and no. I didn't fall into his arms just because he finally told me what I've always longed to hear."

I let my shoulders relax. Of course, I have always known that Toby and Alyse would be endgame, but that doesn't mean I wanted her to give into him just like that. Alyse has always and will always know her worth, it's just about time that Toby realizes it too.

"He did hurt me. A lot. And all he really did was admit that he knew what he was doing to me. So, while I wanted to jump up and scream with joy, I also sort of wanted to punch him in the face," she says.

"I'm confused on where the kiss fits into this," I chuckle.

She waves her hand at me to shush me and I grin, pressing my lips together so that she can continue.

"So I told him. I said: 'I kind of want to punch you.' And he said 'I really want to kiss you.' And then he went in for the kiss at the same time I went to punch his arm..."

My mouth drops. "Who connected first?"

She cringes, "I did. Kind of ruined the mood, too. He must have thought I was joking because he was stunned."

A snort passes my lips once I see her laughing.

"What did he say?"

"He asked why I punched him! I was actually shocked at myself but quickly came up with the excuse of saying that now he knows a part of the pain I went through, and he went back to being apologetic real quick. He asked me what he could do to have me give him a chance. I told him he had to prove it to me; that he needed to prove he could be with me and only me."

Her eyes soften again and a small, loving smile fills her lips.

"He didn't even hesitate and agreed. Said he didn't want anyone else ever again. Then he said he still really wanted to kiss me. To which I responded that I still wanted to punch him, of course. He beat me to it this time though, and if I had any doubts in what he was saying before...that kiss put them to rest."

I could be snide and dance around the room singing 'I told you so!' But then, Alyse would only turn around and do the same once I tell her all that has happened between West and I. So, instead, I settle for a hug.

"I knew things would work out between you two," I say into the hug.

"He still has to prove that he can be with just me before they truly work out, but I have high hopes," Alyse admits as we pull apart. 

"Now, you better give me the play by play of, number one, how the hell you got your voice back. And, number two, how you finally realized you were lying to yourself by saying you didn't like West."

Alyse sits silently as I retell all of the events since she found me in the room at the party cowering away from Warren who, in turn, was cowering away from West. I avoid telling her West's story. I understand that is not for me to tell anyone, and I admit to her how poorly I handled the news of him already knowing my secret.

"So West really did help you find your voice," Alyse says softly when I finish.

My eyes drift to the staircase and my heart warms knowing that just up the steps, West is there.

"He did."

"Now for the real question: is he a good kisser?" Alyse asks, reaching her hands out to take mine as if the fate of the world rests in my answer.

I squeeze her hands with a huge nod. "Oh my gosh."

"I knew it! I could tell when I walked in on you two in the kitchen."

"Alyse, I swear I was about to melt and turn into a puddle on the floor."

"The way he had you pinned against that counter! Oh Lord..." she says, fanning herself.

"I was putty in his hands, and-"

"You weren't so bad yourself, Sunshine."

My body freezes along with Alyse's and I shut my eyes, silently cursing myself.

"I forgot how easy it is for people to overhear you when you aren't speaking with your hands," I mutter as I turn and look at the staircase.

West is standing halfway down it, leaning his forearms on the railing with his signature smirk and beautiful eyes light with mischief, another smooth remark already prepared. However, before either of us can say anymore, the front door opens as Dad and Toby come inside. West keeps my gaze for a few moments longer, my blush deepening by the second, before he walks the rest of the way down the steps and makes his way over to the living room and stands behind the couch.

The cold winter air rushes inside before Toby shuts the door, and as he turns around to face the living room, his face lights up upon seeing Alyse sitting next to me. He throws his coat onto the coatrack without a care in the world as he makes his way over to her, unable to keep his smile away.

"Did you tell her?"

Alyse blushes slightly and nods, "I did."

"Even the part about the punch?"

"Especially the part about the punch."

As my Dad picks Toby's fallen coat off of the floor and places it on the rack with his own, he shakes his head.

"Alyse, I don't know what you did to him, but he spent that entire car ride deleting girls contacts off of his phone. One even called him and he refused to answer, blocking her number when she wouldn't let up. Tammy, I think."

As Dad continues on about all of the numbers Toby spent the car ride deleting, my body melts when I feel warm breath across my cheek and West's campfire scent engulfs me. The back of the couch dips down slightly as he leans his hands on it to whisper in my ear.

"And by 'not so bad yourself,'" West says, his lips brushing my ear, "I meant that you really know what you're doing, Sunshine."

Goosebumps rise across my skin when West sets a warm kiss on the top of my ear before pulling away. My face instantly goes hot and I try to discreetly cover it up with my hands, trying to maintain normal breathing after having West so close. 

"You." Dad says, his attention suddenly shifting to me and West. "Come on. It's time for you to head home."

I hear West sigh and make his way back around the couch to meet my Dad by the front door.

"Between finding you two on the couch this morning and seeing you whisper God knows what into her ear..." Dad mutters as he puts his coat on, pulling gloves from the pockets.

West stiffens slightly and glances back at me, signing to me. "Your Dad might kill me."

I stifle a chuckle as I stand up. "Let me come with you guys-"

"No." Dad says, opening the door. "I want to have a little chat with West. You work on making that honey remedy the doctors told us about so you don't put too much strain on your throat, sweetheart."

He heads to his car, but before West follows I quickly walk to the front door to say goodbye. West steps closer to me, taking my hands in his with a small smile.

"If you don't hear from me, it's safe to assume your Dad took me out to the woods and left me for dead," he chuckles before dropping his head down to set a soft kiss on my lips.

As he pulls away, he slips his hand out of mine to tuck some hair behind my ear. His fingers softly trail down my jaw before he drops his hand back into mine.

"You going to be okay?"

I nod, "I will be."

"You know, I'm happy that you two are together, but dude. Do you have to kiss her right in front of me? That's my little sister. Finding you two cuddled on the couch this morning was gross enough." Toby mutters from the couch.

Suddenly Alyse jumps up from the couch with her jaw dropped and rushes over to me.

"You spent the night cuddling with him?! You left that part out! That's it. West, you leave and Toby, go upstairs! Raine, on the couch. We clearly still have more to discuss!"

OoO

It takes my Dad an hour before he gets home, and in that hour Alyse made sure I gave her every detail of my time with West. Apparently saying that he stayed the night wasn't enough for her.

Now, though, she's upstairs playing some sort of video game with Toby and I'm cuddled underneath the blanket West slept with last night. It still has his scent on it, and I wrap it closely around my body as I replay the events leading up to now in my mind. I picture the feeling of being held in his arms and the feeling of his lips desperately kissing mine. 

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I hear my Dad's car pull into the driveway. Through the crack in the curtains, I see him step out of his car and his breath puff in the cold air as he jogs to the front door. 

"How'd it go?" I instantly ask when he steps inside, setting my mug of honey and tea down on the coffee table.

Dad shrugs off his coat. "It went fine."

"What'd you two talk about?"

"Nothing, really."

I huff at him. "Dad."

"Raine," he says back, sticking his tongue out at me.

I cross my arms like a toddler having a temper tantrum and scowl.

"You were gone for an hour! Come on, what'd you want to talk to him about?"

Dad sighs and comes into the living room, giving me a small smile as he leans against the wall.

"I wanted to thank him, Raine."

I straighten and drop my arms to my sides, "Oh."

"For being there for you and for making you happy. I apologized for being so rude and refusing to trust him when I first met him."

I furrow my brow, "Really?"

Dad pushes off of the wall and nods. "Really. He helped take care of my little girl for me, so I owed him a thank you. And it came in the form of a new battery for his Jeep."

My eyes nearly bulge out of my head when he says that, but he only grins. "It's not like I was about to be his chauffeur whenever he wanted to come see you, and I'd appreciate it if he didn't walk here in the freezing cold in the middle of the night and wake me up, too."

My heart practically melts. "Thank you, Dad."

He walks over to me and kisses the top of my head. "He's a good guy, Raine."

Then, he messes with my hair and heads down the hall to his office. And, as if on cue, my phone buzzes and the name East appears on my screen. Once I slide across the screen to answer, West's face appears.

"I'm still alive," he says as he lays back on his bed, putting an arm behind his head.

"So I see," I hum with a small smile. "He told me he thanked you. Did he even mention the cuddling at all?"

West chuckles, "Oh he did. Told me to watch where I put my hands."

I throw my head back with a groan, "That's so embarrassing."

"No, what's embarrassing is the fact that you accidentally left me a two minute voice memo when you were telling Alyse about how amazing it was to be cuddled into my side all night and how I'm the perfect... let's see here, how did you put it?" His smirk somehow deepens. "'Muscular pillow.'"

I slap a hand over my face and groan even louder. "Tell me I didn't."

"Maybe you should stick to sign language, Sunshine."

I peek between my fingers and narrow my eyes at his stupidly cute smirk.

"Are you done?" I ask.

He hums, "For now."

I roll my eyes and lay back down on the couch, holding my phone over my head as he continues.

"So, tomorrow," he starts.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay going back even with the possibility of seeing him?" West asks, voice softening.

At the mention of Warren, I feel my body shut down and I grip the phone tighter. I didn't realize I would have to face him again so soon. This weekend has been an emotional turmoil for me. I had my lowest low in years followed by my highest high, and I don't know if I have the mental strength to face anything to tear me back down again.

"Sunshine?"

I turn my attention back to my phone screen where West's brown eyes are glowing with concern. Suddenly, my fear of seeing Warren begins to dissipate when it sinks in that West will be by my side.

"I'll be okay," I answer honestly.

"What about your voice?" He asks.

"I spent years in silence, it's about time I came out of hiding." 

---

7/14/2021- I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I know there weren't a whole lot of West and Raine scenes, and that may be why it took me so long to write this. But nonetheless, I really hop you liked it.