by Cynthia Hart
“What do you need to talk about, Rachael?” Liz asked when she opened the door. “I thought you spent Tuesdays with Blake.” Liz sounded somewhere between upset and confused, she left the door open but walked away from it.
“They are, and he told me something about his best friend that died.” Rachael followed Liz inside, shutting the door behind her. “His friend that died four years ago.” Rachael continued wanting Liz to say something. “Her name was Katie, short for-”
“I know what Katie is short for!” Liz snapped. “It’s short for Katherine,” Liz said a lot calmer.
“Why did you never tell me that that’s why you hated Blake?” Rachael asked, not wanting to anger Liz again but still wanting answers.
“I didn’t realize you would start dating the man that basically killed my sister.” Liz gestured angrily.
“Why do you say that?” Rachael walked closer to Liz. “Why do you think Katherine’s death was Blake’s fault?”
“She never went to parties in high school, she came to university, met Blake, and he got her to start going to these parties.” Liz was radiating anger.
“Lots of people change when they start college, it’s not usually their friends’ fault. I never would have thought that I’d be the type of person to have a fake ID. You were the one that talked me into getting one, if I died in the bar would you want my parents to blame my death on you?” Rachael took more cautious steps to the couch to sit down next to Liz.
“No, I guess I wouldn’t,” Liz admitted with a sigh.
“Blake’s not a bad guy,” Rachael told Liz wanting to get her friend to see Blake the same way she does.
“Really?” Liz scoffed. “Did you know he deals drugs? Now tell me he’s not a bad guy.”
“I do know that he deals drugs and I still love him.” Liz rolled her eyes. “Do you know why he deals drugs, Liz?”
“He wants more people to die. He doesn’t care if people die. It’s easy money. These are just guesses, but I’m sure I’m right.” Liz sighed and leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms across her chest.
“Katherine died from taking synthetics. Blake tried to talk her out of it, but she took them anyway. Blake only deals real chemicals, he’s trying to stop it happening to someone else.” Rachael explained to Liz.
“Being a criminal for good reasons doesn’t cancel out the fact that he’s a criminal.” Liz narrowed her eyes at Rachael. “You’re dating someone that deals drugs. You’re dating a bad guy.”
“How could you be like this, Liz?” Rachael asked feeling anger start to run up her spine.
“How could you be so blind, Rachael? Blake is bad news and if you don’t realize that yourself and walk away from him then I’ll separate you two myself.” Liz threatened.
“What does any of that mean?” Rachael’s anger was in full force now.
“I get it, it’s fun to run around with someone who’s bad. The mysterious personality only makes it hotter, it feels dangerous, and that’s why you like it.” Liz wanted to shout, but she knew her roommates wouldn’t be too happy with her if she did.
“No, you don’t get it.” Rachael shook her head, she had tears in her eyes. “I love him,” Rachael told Liz, hoping that it would calm her.
“People like him don’t change, Rachael!” Liz couldn't keep herself from shouting.
“I don’t want him to change.” Rachael felt like crying. “I meant what I said, I love Blake.”
“You don’t. You’re too good for him.” Liz got up and walked to her door. “Leave him, or you’ll regret it.” Liz opened the door and gestured for Rachael to leave.
“I thought friends were supposed to support each other.” Rachael stood up and walked to the open door.
“Sometimes friends have to do what’s best for them when they can’t see they are getting themselves into trouble.” Liz’s voice was flat, almost emotionless.
“I’m not afraid of you.” Rachael stared into Liz’s eyes from outside her apartment.
“You should be, or more likely, Blake should be.” With that Liz shut the door.
Chapter 10
Weeks have passed since Rachael and Liz’s confrontation, and neither Blake nor Rachael knew what to make of it. A few times a week Liz would come up to Rachael and ask if she had broken up with Blake yet or not, she would never explain herself, just walk away when Rachael would tell her no.
Blake and Rachael were in a fantastic place in their relationship. Rachael had been introduced to all of Blake’s friends but was still kept clean away from the KT dealing. Blake wanted to keep her as out of it as he could. They were talking about moving in together, Rachael was already spending most of her time at his house now that he’d taken her to it. Things between them were fantastic, Rachael couldn't be more in love or happier.
That’s why she thought it was so strange when Blake ran over to her one day at the bar in a panic. His friends were talking to Jerry and moving certain crates and whispering to people as they passed them. Jerry was thrown into an instant panic, worse than Blake’s.
“Blake, honey, what’s wrong?” Rachael was trying to keep herself from panicking as well.
“Someone tipped off the police, I got a tip that the police are getting ready to raid this place, now. You have to go.” Blake had his hand wrapped around Rachael’s arm and was tugging her out of the seat. “Your fake ID won’t fool the police, they can’t catch you in here.”
“What about you?” Rachael felt tears prickling in her eyes. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’ll be fine, Rachael. I promise.” Blake told her as he pulled her to a back entrance.
“How can you be sure?” Rachael stopped moving.
“Rachel, I really don’t have the time to explain.” Blake reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black box, he pressed it into Rachael’s hands. “I don’t make promises that I can’t keep, I’m asking you to make a promise that you won’t break.”
“Blake.” Rachael opened the box and was speechless. It was an engagement ring.
“Marry me, Rachael, when you’re actually 21. Make me that promise and then leave now.” Blake asked her before taking her in his arms and kissing her in the very spot that their relationship began.
“I love you. Of course, I’ll marry you.” Rachael told Blake, kissing him again.
“Wonderful. Now run, Rachael.” Blake put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out the back down. When the door shut behind her, she heard the sound of sirens and walked out of the alley to avoid suspension. Across the street from the bar, Rachael saw Liz standing outside smoking a cigarette. Their eyes met, and Rachael suddenly knew who called in the tip to the police. She had never felt such betrayal.
It took hours for Blake to be released from the police station but when he was the first person he called was Rachael. Blake picked her up from her dorm and drove her to his place, he told her to sit on the couch while he made them tea. Rachael couldn't sit still, so she followed him to his kitchen and watched him make the drinks.
“Are you sure that you’re okay?” Rachael asked. “What happened at the police station?” Rachael had so many questions for Blake, she adjusted the ring on her finger nervously.
“I’m fine, Rachael. Here.” Blake handed Rachael her cup and sat down He gestured for Rachael to join him. “I’ve been working with the police for the past two years.”
“What?” Rachael gasped in shock. “But you’ve been dealing drugs for four years.”
“That’s how I’ve been working with them, by dealing drugs I always knew when there was someone new in town. I was able to get close to a variety of criminals and slip details to the police. When Liz, and it was Liz in case you didn’t know when she tipped off the police they called me. They have to report what they find, so we had to make sure they didn’t find much. I was fine the whole time.” Blake reached over to grab Rachael’s hand.
“I was so worried about you. I thought that they were going to lock you up
and I’d never see you again.” Rachael kissed Blake’s cheek.
“I wouldn’t have asked you to marry me if I was going to prison.” Blake kisses Rachael.
“I said yes thinking that you were.” Rachael breathed out.
“God, I love you, Rachael.” Blake ran his thumb over Rachael’s knuckles. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“Do what?” Rachael asked him in a whisper.
“Deal drugs, make you worry. Any of it. I don’t want you to live life looking over your shoulder.” Blake tucked a piece of hair behind Rachael’s ear.
“What does that mean then?” Rachael bit her lip after she asked her question.
“I’m going to go back and finish my Bachelor’s degree. I’ve saved enough from drug dealing all these years to live comfortably without having to work for a few years, I could do internships and maybe go on to get my Master’s.” Blake paused to see how Rachael was reacting to this. “What do you think, Rachael?”
“I think it’s wonderful!” Rachael shouted with joy and jumped on Blake. “I think it’s the best thing for you.” Blake intertwined their fingers together and kissed Rachael’s ring.
“No, it’s the best thing for us,” Blake whispered before kissing Rachael with everything he felt in his heart. All of his passion, desire, happiness, and love for her.
Epilogue
Rachael moved into Blake’s house that summer, and it became their house. She was glad that she no longer had to worry about roommates whom she would hate now that she was living with someone she loved. Blake spent the summer taking online classes until he received his Bachelor’s degree and Rachael threw a housewarming/graduation party for them.
Rachael looked down at her finger still amazed that she was going to marry Blake one day. They talked about it, and they’ve decided to wait until Rachael’s completes her degree so she won’t have a deal with wedding stress on top of schoolwork. Everything was good in Blake and Rachael’s life until Rachael received a surprise visit from Liz.
“Can I come in?” Liz asked from the doorstep.
“Might as well.” Rachael sighed and let Liz follow her inside, she hadn’t seen her since the day she called in the tip on Blake to the police.
“I’m sorry about well, everything,” Liz told Rachael. “I shouldn’t have called the cops that day, I didn’t realize you actually loved each other like this.” Liz gestured around the house.
“Why are you here, Liz?” Rachael asked wanting her to get to the point.
“I’m leaving town in a few days, I didn’t want us to end on a bad note.” Liz shrugged. “I wish I wouldn’t have acted the way I did because I lost an amazing friend.” Liz wiped a tear from her eye.
“Now you’re going to make me cry too, Liz.” Rachael started to cry as she gave Liz a hug.
“I’m sorry,” Liz said through tears. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“I forgive you,” Rachael told Liz, and those were the words that needed to be said. It was like a weight was lifted off the two of them.
They spent the afternoon catching up, and when Rachael walked Liz out, Blake was just getting home.
“What’s going on here?” Blake asked cautiously, curious as to why Liz was on their front step.
“I just came to apologize, I’m leaving in a few days, so you don’t need to worry,” Liz told Blake as she started to walk away. “Oh and Blake, you picked a winner. Katie would have loved Rachael.”
“Do you really think Katie would have liked me?” Rachael asked tilting her head.
“Yeah, what’s not to love.” Blake kissed Rachael before going into their home, Rachael couldn't be happier.