This complex ain't big enough for the two of us (Rhys)

[Josie Raines]

forward-dated to the weekend, 4/25

When Josie had heard that her neighbor and old school buddy Elijah was throwing a party that weekend, she'd debated whether or not to show up. On the one hand, she hadn't seen him in a while, and it was always nice seeing friendly face and unwinding with other humans instead of lone for once. On the other hand, who else would be there? Other neighbors? Friends Elijah had made after graduation? Maybe nobody she knew... but that didn't actually matter.

It was Elijah's brother that was sticking in her craw now. To call their start a bumpy one would be an understatement - the guy was a lech and a douchebag. She was convinced. Even his daring rescue of Princess had been easy enough to write off; she'd already been out of the road when he'd corralled her with cheetos, right? Or it was easy enough for Josie to convince herself of that, given that she hadn't witnessed the whole scene herself. But doting on Princess went a long way to winning her over and frankly she did not want to be won over.

But god, she was so tired of drinking alone.

Last August, when she'd finally worked up the nerve - or was it desperation? - to go home with someone, it had been a fucking nightmare. One knife flung at your face is all it takes; suddenly the appeal of going out, alone, losing herself in a noisy, faceless crowd had lost its appeal. It wasn't like she'd never been hurt before, not that Josie was one to brag about any of the fights that she'd lost. But she thought she'd known danger, and then danger had chased her back inside.

Who did she hate more, Casey for doing it, or herself for letting it happen?

When word had reached her about Elijah's party, it hadn't been a question of "busy or not?" It hadn't been a question of "will it be fun or not?" or "do I even feel like going?" Yeah, she wanted to hang out with Elijah again. No, she didn't feel like facing his brother after he'd pulled Princess from the street. But in the end, it came down to this: could she stand herself if she hid in her apartment for another weekend?

The answer, it turned out, was no, but that didn't mean Josie couldn't bolster herself with a bit of liquid courage before heading up a couple of floors. It wasn't like she would have to drive home, after all. So it was with a wide smile plastered on her face that she finally hammered on Elijah's door, cheap twelve pack in one hand to share. She was going to have fun or die trying.

[Rhys Freeman]

Rhys had been a little surprised when Elijah had agreed to let him throw the party. He hadn't even run the idea past Jocelyn before pushing his brother because in the end if Joc didn't agree he could sway her. Elijah, on the other hand, was a force to be reckoned with. If he said no it would be difficult to persuade him, but for some reason he was on board. He liked the idea as long as it didn't get out of control. His reasoning? It had been too long since he'd gone to a good party, and everyone needed a way to relieve stress this time of year. Apparently his finals were coming up, making Rhys glad he'd chosen a less educational route. He didn't need to worry about bullshit tests. His biggest concern was not lashing out as his dick of a boss and making sure he pulled his ass out of bed by the fourth snooze.

Rhys invited his own set of friends, as his siblings had. Elijah forbade him to use any 'party favors', but he smiled and promised he wouldn't, though he intended to break that promise over and over. Before the party even started he'd taken a molly.


People flooded in to the small apartment, filling it pretty quickly. He wondered how much he would have to pay Joc to take care of his share of the cleanup, as he didn't intend to do any of it. Hell, he'd rather hire someone than lift a finger with the cleaning, or even simply live in the filth. Rhys didn't mind living in a pile of trash, as long as he was clean and his clothes were, that was all that mattered.

He was three beers in before he saw the familiar face of his bitchy neighbor. He didn't even know her name, just her dogs; poor Princess. "Yo, what's her name?" He asked Elijah, pointing the blond neighbor out. "Josie." He replied, smirking. Rhys raised a brow at the look his brother gave him before shaking his head. "Shut the fuck up." He laughed, his brother clapping him on the shoulder with a warning of "I didn't say nothing. Good luck."

He made his way over to the girl, pulling at the beers. "You know it ain't legal to serve minors, don'tchu?"

[Josie Raines]

Jesus, that didn't take long.

"What, didn't Elijah park your ass at the kids' table?" Josie called over the music, her lopsided smirk exaggerated by the beer in her system. Gently - more to avoid rattling the case around than to be playful - she tugged the beers back, out of his reach. Or tried, anyway. With arms as long as his, it wasn't much of a fight.

Now that she knew he was there, Josie had half a mind to just dump the case and go. She wasn't looking for a hookup tonight, but no doubt Elijah's brother had other ideas. Unless his whole game was to simply get a rise out of her, which wouldn't be a surprise either, but Josie wasn't betting on it. Shame he was such a douchebag; nothing ruined a handsome face like that kind of shit did.

That didn't mean it had to ruin her night too, though. The part of Josie that had gotten her out the door in the first place dug its feet in. She wasn't going anywhere, not yet, and definitely not on his account.

"Where's Elijah?" she asked him. He was looking pretty messed up already; apparently Josie had been the only one to pregame. "I wanna say hi an' drop these off with a responsible adult."

[Rhys Freeman]

"You think I'd stay put?" He asked, raising a brow, that stupid grin plastered on his stupid face.  He nabbed one of the beers and twisted it open, downing half of it in one sip, eyes glued to her the whole time.  His eyes were a little red, but he didn't care.  This was only the beginning of the party; things were only going to get worse.  

She asked for her brother and his eyes narrowed as he pulled the bottle from his lips.  He held it down at his side and turned to look in the direction he'd just left Elijah, but it looked like he'd moved on.  Probably in the kitchen getting a drink.  He considered sharing that information with her for a minute before stopping himself.  Instead, he shut the door behind Josie and stepped more in front of her, blocking her way completely.  She could either try and get around him, most likely unsuccessfully, or deal with him being there, acting like the pain in the ass he was.

"Why you gotta be like this?" He asked, the smile fading some, though his question was spoken genuinely.  "Look, we're neighbors, right? You need a cup've sugar or somethin' we could hook you up.  I think.. I don' even know if we got sugar up'n here."  He looked towards the kitchen, genuinely wondering if they had sugar.  They must, he put some on his cereal the other day.  He tuned back to Josie, cocking his head to the side. "You don' even know my name, Josie."

[Josie Raines]

He was really trying to blow through his three strikes quickly, wasn't he? First, the beer - if he wanted to make a show of taking one when they were for everyone anyway, well, it was grating but she could deal with it. Then boxing her in - now that was more than grating, and Josie instinctively took a half-step back. She glanced to the space between him and the wall; not enough to squeeze past, if he would even let her. Why did he have to be so fucking big? As she watched him warily, Josie's fingers wrapped around the neck of one of the bottles. Depending on how he used his third strike, this wouldn't be pretty.

But of all the moves she expected him to make, he didn't. It wasn't enough to bring her guard down, but it did catch her by surprise. Josie wouldn't call it "nice," what he was doing, but for once he sounded sincere as he tried to appeal to some sense of community that maybe he hoped she had. And he was clearly not sober - possibly not only drunk, she noted - but that didn't mean he couldn't still be playing an angle.

When he called her by name, her lips tightened into a line. He'd been talking to Elijah about her, hadn't he?

"No, I don't, so why do you keep expectin' me to hop on your dick?" Josie shot back. Despite his apparent sincerity, she was still pretty much backed into a corner, not helping her nerves. "I dunno what Elijah told you about me - " besides my name, obviously " - but I just. I'm not like that anymore."

[Rhys Freeman]

The smile grew tenfold and Rhys actually found himself laughing at her. Was that what he was expecting? Nah, not expecting, but definitely hoping it would happen.  Certainly wasn't what he was seriously trying for, though.  She had a stick so far up her ass that the doctor who pulled it out would become king of England.

The laughter died down as his jaw dropped a bit, reaching a hand up to run down over his mouth.  This was too easy.. She was straight up digging her own grave. 

Rhys reached his hand out, offering her the beer he'd opened.  "You need this more than me."  Did he dare tell her Elijah didn't tell him anything? It would embarrass her, though he knew she needed that dose of embarrassment.  Or he could let it slide. No need to always be a dick, even if he actually did want her to bounce on his.


"Relax, this's a party."  The thought suddenly hit him, and his eyes narrowed slightly as his smile faded a bit.  

"Did'ju fuck my brother?"

[Josie Raines]

"Oh my god!" Josie snapped, exasperated. She was absolutely not drunk enough for this shit. "If I say yes, is that the fucking magic word? You have a rule about not touching his sloppy seconds or something?"

Not that it was any of his business, but the answer was no. Oh, it had almost happened, a couple of times even, but she and Elijah had never managed to seal the deal. But if thinking they had would get him out of her face, Josie would make up lie after lie about all the crazy, wild sex she'd never had with his brother.

Frustrated, she snatch back the beer he was holding out and downed the rest of it. She was going to need all the help she could get at this party, apparently.

"You always this fucking nosy or is it just when you're drunk?" she asked him, tossing him the now-empty bottle.

[Rhys Freeman]

Her reaction only served to piss him off more, and his high wasn't doing as much for him as he'd hoped.  Rhys had joked about fucking her that first time they met down in the laundry room, but it was more to piss her off than anything else.  He never mentioned it during their second run in, and she was the one who threw it at him this time.  He thought she was cute, but she'd insisted she was unattainable. Was it so wrong to want to know if his brother hit that first? 

"You ain't interested in me touchin' you anyway." He shot back with a scoff, his annoyance hindered by his high.  She was chugging the beer and he found himself cooling off some.  He didn't want his brother's sloppy seconds, and despite everything he was still sort of interested.  Why the fuck would he be interested? He didn't really understand himself.  Maybe because she pushed back so hard, or because she had a chip on her shoulder.  She reminded him of himself on some level and he could appreciate that.  Plus, Rhys was drawn to drama.  He was comfortable with drama.  He fucking hated it and swore he avoided it at all costs, but when one is born into chaos they find a deep comfort in being surrounded by it.  Maybe that was why Joc was the way she was; she couldn't help herself, and it was clear neither could Rhys.

"You always this fucking bitchy or is it just when you're on the rag?" He snapped back at her. Fight fire with fire.  "And so you know, 'Lijah didn't tell me nothin' bout 'nothin'.  He just told me yer name."

[Josie Raines]

The ruddiness of Josie's cheeks, already warm with tipsiness, spread until her whole face burned. Not the insult, basic as it was; being called a bitch was nothing new. But if he was telling the truth, if Elijah hadn't told him anything... Stupid! It would be just like him, she knew that. He'd never been the sort to put people's business out where it didn't need to be. But Elijah wasn't the problem right now, his drunk brother was. And now he knew, well, not much. Enough, though. Enough that he might go asking.

"...Why'd you need to know my name, anyway?" Josie asked tightly, eyes averted so that instead of meeting his gaze she was focused on a point somewhere past his left bicep. How the fuck was she supposed to talk her way out of the one? "Jus' your neighborly duty, right?"

[Rhys Freeman]

The red that spread through her cheeks was vindicating.  Physical proof that he'd actually gotten to her, but in his current state he felt the bitterness of guilt bite at his stomach.  He was in a good mood and wanted to stay in a good mood.  The thought made him smile a little for some stupid reason, and then he gave a short laugh. 

"Well, you wasn't gonna tell me." He shot back with a snort.  It wasn't answering her question though.  "Since I keep runnin' into you I thought I should know yer name.  And even though you got a stick up yer ass, you still kinda cute.  In that bitchy kinda way." He shrugged and smiled pulling his arms back across his chest.

"Don'tchu wanna know my name?"

[Josie Raines]

Fuck no, she wanted to say. I don't care what your name is. Josie wanted to tell him that, wanted him to believe it, wanted to believe it herself. The last thing she needed was a new guy sniffing around, calling her cute and shit, even in that backhanded way he had.

But he was right - they were neighbors, and bumped into each other often enough to prove it. And hanging with Elijah again would only mean it would happen more often. She had enough stress in her life, Josie reminded herself. If he could play nice, maybe she could, too.

"I was jus' gonna call you 'hey kid,' but if it means that much to you," she shrugged, hiking a smile back onto her face, "all right. What's your name?"

[Rhys Freeman]

He snorted at her and shook his head.  "You can't call someone kid when they gotta foot on you." He pointed out.  It sounded weird having her call him that.  She wasn't that much older, but she was seriously shorter than him.  Most people were.  That was one of the perks to being tall. Though it did make him stand out a bit in a crowd, which didn't work to his advantage when he stole for a living.  Or rather when he stole for a living.  He'd cut back significantly since he got a real job, only hustling booze these days.

"Rhys." He answered.  "An' I'm as smooth as the candy." He offered his goofiest wink, clearly playing with her.  Normally he hated when people called him Reesey cup, but he was a little fucked up and somewhat playful despite being a pissy little shit not five minutes ago.  "Now was that so hard? Just to ask?" He lifted a brow, hoping maybe she'd calmed down by now.

[Josie Raines]

Josie could barely stop herself snorting at his awful line. Good thing she hadn't already opened a second beer or else she might have sprayed it everywhere. At least he seemed to understand how bad it was, rather than playing it straight.

"You kidding? That was the most painful thing I've done all night," she answered with an exaggerated scoff. "I'd take it back but I can't unhear that shit so what's the point?"

"All right, now I really do wanna drop these off an' say hi to Elijah," Josie told him, notably more mellow than she'd been only a few minutes ago, "so call it a truce an' I won't ask him where his little brother learned such shitty pickup lines."

[Rhys Freeman]

Rhys smirked and tisked softly before raising his hand as if to brush away what she said. "Please, you loved that." He insisted playfully, the annoyance that had briefly covered his face completely gone now, not leaving a single trace.  There was a reason he liked being fucked up for a party.

Rhys raised both hands up in defense and moved out of her way, allowing her better access to get around him now.  If she wanted to see his brother she was welcome to now that he'd finished cornering her and pissing her off a little.

"Truce.  But so you know, his are shit too." A wicked smirk creased his lips as he added, "But you prob'ly already knew that, din't you?" He teased.

[Josie Raines]

Josie strode past him as he spoke, one hundred percent ready to get out of that corner, even if it no longer looked like things were gonna get ugly. But her relief showed on her face as she turned to listen over her shoulder.

"Damn right," Josie said, mirroring his smirk. "I guess hopelessness runs in the family." With that she hurried off deeper into the apartment and swell of people, both surprised and grateful that that hadn't gone any worse.

--

A couple more beers and a quick chat with the host found Josie stepping onto the balcony for a smoke and a few minutes' peace. If you could call it peace, at least - even with the glass door slid shut, the muffled music pounded and thrummed behind her as Josie leaned against the railing. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all, she mused, blue smoke trailing from her lips into the night sky. She ought to get out more often.