𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃─𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬

one hundred eight.

─☼☼☼─

RAFE

"YOU'RE NOT GONNA believe this," Topper laughed, a giddy smile on his face. "One of the lots they're changing the zoning on..."

Rafe knew whatever Topper was about to say wasn't going to be as good as he was making it seem. "Yeah?" he wondered, bringing his drink to his lips. He didn't want to be here with Topper, in fact he found the younger boy rather irritating. But he couldn't sit alone at his house any longer. Because every moment that passed in solitude, he was reminded that Charlotte could have been with him. She could have been with him for an entire year if he hadn't fucked things up so badly. 

Not noticing Rafe's disinterest, Topper delivered what he believed to be the punchline. "JJ's house. Poguelandia or whatever stupid thing they call it."

Yeah, definitely not as groundbreaking as Topper seemed to think it was. 

Truthfully, Rafe was past all of the Kook/Pogue bullshit. They were all adults now, it was time for everyone to focus on their own lives and stop trying to ruin others. He knew Topper was useless, still clinging to his mommy and daddy's livelihood. That's why he cared so much about this stuff, he had nothing better to do. 

"So...?" Rafe wondered, waiting for the part that involved either of them. 

Topper's excited smile had only dimmed minimally. "So, it means they're going to have to shut down their little bullshit business. I mean, unless they can fight the ruling, which betting those broke-ass Pogues don't have the money to fight it."

Rafe tilted his head slightly, "Yeah, well my sister was always terrible with money."

It wasn't only his sister he was thinking about. He'd heard through the grapevine that Charlotte had invested in their little business as well, meaning she had as much to lose as the rest of them. 

He didn't want that. Not at all. 

But he didn't want Topper to know that. Unfortunately, Topper was one of the only friends he had left, and despite the fact that Rafe was sick of him, he didn't want to be completely alone. 

Once again not noticing Rafe's internal battle, Topper continued. "So once they default on their fines or whatever, with this friend of my mom's...we're gonna offer to buy them out. And then I got this little side deal going with my grandfather that he's going to rule on to make this thing bulletproof, baby."

Rafe took another sip of his drink to hide the expression that was begging to crawl its way across his face. Everything Topper had just said proved Rafe's earlier thoughts. Topper was nothing without his family connections, he'd done nothing for himself. But Rafe couldn't tell him that. So instead he patted Topper on the back. "Look at you. Being, like, a mogul and shit."

Topper was pleased by the praise, a grin coming to his face. "I've got it figured out. Screw medicine. You can't make any money."

"You can't make any money." Rafe confirmed, even though he was pretty sure you could. 

"Oh, babe." Topper greeted the dark haired girl who had arrived at their table. He'd been dating Ruthie for almost six months, but Rafe still couldn't stand her. He did his best to avoid her. "I was just telling Rafe about how we're gonna screw the Pogues and make mint." Topper gushed.