fine line

three

MALIBU?

we arrive first. the boys are all sat around a big table waiting for me to grab them their drinks. i can't tell if they're nervous or not, i know pope is but that's pope. i'm just hoping that shit doesn't kick off.

"hiya can i get four beers and two pinapple and vodka's please" i pull out my fake id and get served. my heart always skips a beat when i order, incase they don't accept it, but they always do. i'm the only one with a fake ID so it's always my job to order.

"i hope you know pinapple juice and vodka is fucking disgusting" i turn to my side and i see rafe leaning with his back against the bar, arms folded looking at the table which is now full of pogues and kooks. He has a wooden toothpick balancing in his mouth as he turns around to lean on the bae again but with his elbows instead.

"okay then, what's your order?" i turn to him, a pretend irritated smile on my face.
"you'll find out in a second" he turns away and towards the bartender, "hiya can i get a wiskey, neat." he turns back to me with a smug smile on his face which i roll my eyes to.

"do you think Sarah's plan will work?" he asks me, "i don't know, do you?" i return the question to him.
He takes a second to answer, i can feel his eyes looking me up and down, i feel intimidated by him and whatever the fuck that was.
"i think some kooks and some pogues get along very well." And just as he finishes his sentence both of our orders turn up and we start to walk towards the table.

i sit inbetween jj and john b, and rafe sits opposite between kelce and topper.
"all i'm saying, is imagine how good this summer can be if we're all friends!" Sarah exaggerates to the two groups. i can tell this means alot to her.

After about 15 minutes of sitting here, everyone's debating the terms and conditions in which this 'alliance' is being formed on. they all agreed to be calm during parties, but any other situation, it was back to being pogues v kooks. i couldn't really care less to be honest, i was friends with most people sat at this table. i look around the club because what else is there to do, and my eyes pass rafe whose eyes are glued to mine. i decide to stare at him back, creating eye contact. And all he can do is smirk. classic rafe.
we're sat there for atleast a minute of just eye contact and a stupid grin on his face.

i finally break the contact when jj asks me if i can order him another beer, i say no. Before long everyone is agreeing and there's now casual conversation going around.
"Right, now this is settled, Rager. At mine. Starts at 8:30. be there." rafe announces to everybody while getting up from the table. "top, kelce with me, sarah, lani and john b get some more booze, we're gonna need a ton"
Everyone starts to get up and leave ready to set up the rager tonight.

I couldn't help myself but think about mine and rafe's short interaction. when sarah and i first became best friends, i used to have a massive crush on him. he probably knew, ward or sarah probably told him, and even when i did like him, he never actually treated me like how he does now. but now maybe he sees me as more sophisticated. i don't know. i tried not to dwell on it too much.

shuffling into the kitchen, i try to place the multiple bottles of godknows what. i hear the bottom of the bottle meet the island counter and relax my arms down. i hear footsteps come through the door from the porch and they approach me.
"need help?" i look up to see rafe standing over me, his hands ready to grab the bottles.
i smile at him sarcastically, "no, i've totally got it all under control"
he smirks and rolls his eyes at me before beginning to walk away,
"wait rafe i was being sarcastic"
he turns around from behind me and grabs the bottles from over my head and places them down on the island counter.
"you know your different now?" he mutters as he's taking all the bottles from me. his hairs in the way of his eyes but i can tell he's looking at me.
i place the final two bottles down, "how so?"
by now he's standing with his body directly infront of mine. i can feel my heart beating faster and faster. goosebumps form on my body, as i can feel my breath hitch at the sight of him scanning my whole body from my feet to the top strand of hair.
"your,,, i don't know, just different" he stutters
"good different?"
"definitely" he scoffs with a smirk plastered on his face. our eyes meet and stay together until he quickly diverts his sight to the bottle of malibu that i just delivered, "shots?" he offers.
"go on then" i smile back at him while grabbing shot glasses from the cupboard. he quickly pours them and passes me my one, "to summer"
"to summer" i repeat. the fruity liquid burns my throat and my face screws up at it. in some way it actually tasted nice, but i can't tell if that's true or i'm trying to gaslight myself into thinking that.

rafe was looking at me with a wild look in his eyes, i could tell he started thinking about something because he started to move his hands around, "mailani, what happened if-" he began but quickly cut himself off. "you know what, it doesn't matter, i'll see you later when the party starts" he smiled at me then abruptly walks away outside.
what the fuck was that about?

i carry on with my day as normal, i kept thinking about the start of rafes proposal earlier and couldn't help wanna know what the end of the sentence was.
i took a shower, did my makeup and hair before deciding on an outfit from sarah's wardrobe. i decided to dress up a little more tonight, given this is the first cameron rager of summer.
i had on a white skirt with an orange circular belt loosely wrapped around it. as my top i wore a tied green tank top with an orange handbag. it was a little more dressed up for me but i thought i might as well make an effort. (image below!)