Maybe tonight I'll call ya,
After my blood turns into alcohol

"How are you still dealing with this idiot?" Mae asked, sipping on her first glass of wine as I chugged back the rest of my fifth and reached for the bottle to fill it up again.

I shrugged and poured the rest of the wine into my glass, filling it just about half way, "I hate him but I love him and I don't know why," I said, feeling as though my tongue weighed about twenty pounds.

Margo groaned from her seat next to me on the couch, "Raeanne! What does this guy have to do to show you he's so far beyond caring about you or this relationship? He's already cheated and stolen from you!"

I shrugged, "I'll be with him till I die, probably," I proclaimed lifting my wine glass in the air, then bringing it back down to my lips and taking a drink.

"Well what about Tyler?" the petite brunette, Sofie, mentioned, "He seems really awesome!"

"He is!" I smiled.

"And yet you're with Markus because...?" Margo said, letting the question linger on, pushing a piece of her black hair behind her shoulder.

I laid my head on the back of the couch and groaned loudly, "Because I just wanna piss you guys off!"

"Don't be a pissy missy, Rae," Mae said soothingly.

I lifted my head up and looked at her, "I'm not. But I'm just tired of the same question, and y'all expecting me to change my answer," I said.

"We’re not trying to put you in a bad mood, Rae, honestly," Margo said, "but the whole thing is, is that we just don't like sitting around and watching you like this."

"Like what?" I asked, hearing a slight drunken slur in my voice.

"Sofie sighed, "Like you're missing out on life, Rae. Like you're letting yourself get sucked into this life with Markus that isn't good, realistically."

I let out n aggravated sigh and stood up, swaying slightly, "Well, I'm sorry, girls! I’m sorry that I didn't get married a second out of high school and have a fairytale life like y'all did."

I began walking to the stairs in my sister’s house where I would go to the guestroom I was gonna stay in. I opened the door and flicked the light on quickly, before shutting the door behind me with a huff. I knew I had overreacted, obviously. But I was getting tired of it. I didn't want to have a girl’s night in and have to be subjected to answering the constant barrage or questions about Markus and about Tyler.

I sat on the corner of the bed biting my thumbnail and then looked to the nightstand where my phone was charging. I clicked the button and some some notifications. Most were from the NHL app that Tyler installed on my phone so I could get the updates from each Stars game. They had lost that night by 2.

I kept scrolling and saw no messages from Markus. I tossed my phone onto the bed and let the tears just stream down my face. I wasn't sad. I was aggravated. And angry. And just embarrassed to be honest.

I just wanted Markus to change. I just wanted him to be the guy that I wanted, the guy that I thought he was when we first got together.

I looked over at phone and picked it up quickly. I unlocked it and scrolled though my contacts until I found his name.
It rang. And rang. And rang some more until I got his voicemail.

'It's Markus. Leave a message and if you're important enough I'll call ya back. BEEP'

I hung up without saying anything, just like I usually did. I went back to my contacts and dialed another number.

It rang. And then it picked up.

"Well isn't this a nice surprise!" he said happily into the phone.

I smiled, "Hey, Tyler."

"What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said slowly.

He chuckled, "Rae...are you drunk?" he asked quietly.

I laughed, "Only a little bit."

"So to what do I owe this drunken call to?" he asked playfully.

I sighed and laid on the bed, cringing at the headache I could feel already forming.

"Because I knew you7 would let me bitch and moan and not get snippy with me" I told him.


He laughed softly on the other end, "Of course I will. What's the problem?"

I groaned, "Everyone is picking on me because I'm still with Markus...they're all like, 'he’s an idiot why are you still with him?' And I'm just...ahh, just irritated."

"They're concerned about you," he reasoned.

I turned onto my side and laid the phone on the side of my head, "Well they don't need to be, I'm fine, Tyler. I'm fine," I said, slurring everything coming out of my mouth.

"Well you don't sound fine," he said with a small chuckle, "you sound like you need some sleep."

"Sleep is for the weak," I shot back, closing my eyes against my will, "I hardly slept when I first opened Charmed, y'all don't even realize the struggles."

"I might have an idea about the struggle," he said.

"Maybe," I hummed, "And you wanna know something else?" I asked.

"Always," he urged.

"They all keep asking about Mr. Tyler Seguin. They think you're soo much better than Markus, and they're asking why we're not together and everything. The lot of them are pissing me off, Tyler, really they are," I explained.

"They care about you, Rae," he told me, "they just...want you to be happy. So do I."

"I am," I moaned, "sometimes he's a dick, but maybe I deserve it. Y'all don't get what he's like," I stressed, "he can be fine, but then maybe if I do something that he doesn't like, that's when he gets mad at me."

"Mad enough that he leaves you stranded at an arena?" he questioned heavily sarcastic.

"Fuck off," I growled.

"Hey, you're the one that called me," he said easily.

I flipped onto my back and held my phone with my hand again, "Because I wanted to vent," I whined, feeling like I should vomit.

He sighed deeply, "I'll let you vent to me anytime you want, Raeanne. But the problem is, is that I'm always going to have a response in regards to how shitty I personally thinks he treats you. Which isn't good. I'm not the type of person to placate you and tell you he's awesome when, yeah, I think he's a dumpster fire," at that I let out a small laugh, "Listen, Rae, I think you are amazing, and I think you deserve a lot better than him. But you do you, and that's all there is to it, isn't there?"

I groaned, "Why is it that when you say whit it makes more sense to me?" I asked.

He laughed, "One, because you love me and my advice obviously. Two, because I'm unbiased. I'm telling you how it is, but when your friends and family tell you stuff, you think that's just them. I'm telling you what it looks like to everyone else on the outside."

I hummed and smiled, "Or maybe it's the two bottles of wine I drank," I suggested teasing him.

He laughed loudly, "That's also possible!"

"I'll let you go, Ty," I said slowly, "or else I'll probably fall asleep on the phone."

"Alright, well, maybe you should get a glass of water and leave a couple Tylenol's on your nightstand. Sober and hung over you will thank drunk you."

I smiled a little, "Thanks for the advice, Segs. Sorry about the game," I told him, standing up.

"Hey, you made it all better the second you called me," he told me.

I blushed and shook my head just slightly, and tucked some hair behind my other ear, "Shut up," I said quietly.

He chuckled, "Go and get some water and pills, I'll talk you later, okay?"

"Ty," I said quickly.

"Rae," he said back to me teasingly.

"Can we be best friends?" I asked him, feeling my eyes beginning to close on their own accord.

He laughed on the other end, "Of course. We can be whatever you want us to be."

--

I woke up the next morning in the guest bedroom of my sister’s house with my phone lying next to me on the pillow. I groaned as I tried to move, feeling the pain in my head thanks to the two bottles of wine from the night before.

"Fuck," I muttered, grabbing for my phone.

I had no messages from Markus. Not surprising. I had an unopened text from Tyler though from a couple hours earlier. I grinned slightly and unlocked my phone quickly to get to it.

From Ty
Hey sleeping beauty! I hope drunk u remembered to put those pills next to your table! Text me when ur up from ur wine induced sleep sesh!

I laughed and shook my head, typing out a quick reply to him.

I'm up! And drunk me hates sober me! No pills or water!

I got up slowly and got ready, washing, brushing the wine stains from my teeth and changing into new clothes. I grabbed my phone from the charger and saw a message from Tyler waiting for me.

From Ty
DAMN! Drunk rae really must hate sober rae. even her new best friend couldn’t remind her to get you some pills ;)

I looked down at my phone confused until it hit me. That's right...I did talk to him last night and asked to be his best friend I thought with a small smile and quick shake of my head.

I basically forgot about you being my best friend! What kind of benefits does that give me?

From Ty
Well, tickets to any game u want! and the option to hang out with me whenever you want!

I laughed out loud before cringing at the sound. I ran a hand through my untamed brown hair and responded to him quickly.

Well HOT DAMN aren't I just the luckiest girl! Free tickets to any game I want ;)

He sent me a crying emoji before his next text came through.

From Ty
don't try and act all cool like you only care about the tix! You love me admit it!

I smiled and left the room, holding the phone in front of me.

you're a solid 6/10! you're kinda cocky, but your face isn't terrible.

From Ty
better than average! ur a 10/10 easily.

I grinned and shook my head, taking a seat at the table in the kitchen.

"You shouldn't be smiling like that after the two bottles you drank," Mae told me lightly as I looked at her sitting across from me at the table.

I stuck my tongue out, "I'm okay! Small headache, but alright," I said sending a quick message back to Tyler.

Compliments and a hangover, what did I ever do to deserve this :P

I set my phone on the table and grabbed the coffee from the middle of the table and poured myself some.

"Seriously, what's got you all happy?" Mae asked.

"Yeah, did you finally break up with the idiot?" Dustin, Mae's husband said from behind the stove located at the island in the kitchen.

I scoffed, "Y'all are just a barrel of laughs this morning!"

My phone went off and Mae eyed it suspiciously before handing my year old nephew Lane his bottle in his highchair.

"Not Markus," I said, answering her unasked question.

She raised an eyebrow at me just as Dustin brought over a big plate of French toast and set it on the table, "Who then?" she asked before perking up, "Tyler?" she asked, excited.

I smiled and grabbed my phone confirming to myself that it was still Ty.

"Yup," I said opening our messages.

From Ty
100% deserve the compliments never the hangover!

I laughed as my fingers flew across the screen.

you've got me blushing and everything now Tyler! well...maybe it's still the wine!

"Let me see a picture of him again," Mae said, cutting up French toast for Lane.

I sighed and put a couple pieces on my plate, "Look him up on the internet! He's all over there!"

She hummed and finished with Lane before grabbing her phone and typing quickly. After a moment t she whistled.

"Damn, Raeanne! He definitely doesn't hurt the eyes!" she said, showing the photo to Dustin who was sitting at the head of the table.

Dust look quickly before shrugging once, "He's a step up from Markus, Rae." he said before eating.

I smiled and pored syrup onto my food, "He's like a thousand, no! A million steps up!" Mae said, placing her phone back down on the table.

"Looks aren't everything! Markus is attractive!" I told them before eating a piece of French toast.

Mae rolled her eyes as she chewed, "But his attitude ruins all of it!"

I shook my head, "I don't know what you want me say," I told her honestly.

She shrugged, "Tell me that Markus is better than him. And be honest, I'll know if you're lyin. Twin intuition."

I sat back in my chair and huffed lightly. Could I tell her that for sure? Could I fully say, yeah, Markus is better than Tyler? I mean...maybe, maybe not. They both had pros and cons...Maybe Markus had a longer list of cons. But hell...I didn't know that much about Tyler to say anything differently.

But...Tyler did make me feel like I was alive...he made me feel like maybe someone else might care for me in some way. That maybe there were other options out there that weren't Markus.

Wait. Did I just think that? Options other than the option I've been picking for six years? Markus was...you know...there. I knew him. I knew this relationship.

Tyler was...Ty. He was different. He was the guy that saved me from humiliation twice. Once at dinner and once at the arena. He was, obviously, a stand-up guy. Anyone could see it! Does that give me justification to say he's better than Markus?

"So what’s the answer?" Mae asked, with a raised eyebrow.

I looked at her and bit my lip, knowing she would get what I was thinking. Twin intuition, after all.

"Got it," she said quietly, before looking to Lane and smiling at him.

I sucked in some air and looked down at the table. Silence was my answer. And silence spoke volumes.

From Ty
i'll guarantee i'm the reason for the blush ;) i'm okay with it tho

Notes

What do y'all think?? Let me know!! Also, check out my Jamie Benn story on here too! Shit just got real over there!

Also, I'm think I'll switch up the lyrics at the beginnings of the chapters. I'll still use Give me love, but I wanna use Shape of You by Ed Sheeran too!