𝐍𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 ♛ ͏r͏a͏f͏e ͏c͏a͏m͏e͏r͏o͏n

34.

Mae's pov

I walked into the English classroom where most students were already seated, except Rafe. I frowned when I noticed he wasn't there and took my seat hesitantly at the back of the classroom. I kept my eyes trained on the door when the familiar blue eyes found mine.

He grinned sheepishly at me for a second before apologizing to the teacher for his absence. I jokingly leaned over and patted his seat, a gesture a while ago he wouldn't have liked. He rolled his eyes at me and slid I to the seat with a wholesome sigh.

"So how was it?" I quickly asked wanting to know how his test had gone. I then diverted my eyes back to my English binder as I searched for some dialogue, facial expressions, camera angles or foreshadowing which I could use for my upcoming essay. I was so swiftly wound up in my works I almost completely forgot I had asked him a question; but his pressing silence was most unusual.

I lifted my eyes and tugged my mind away from my work as I titled my head to face Rafe and his concerning quiet stature. I watched as his grin faded away which only made me more concerned before he glanced away. I could sense his disappointed in himself and the slight feeling of disappointing me. 

I lowered my own eyes as my mouth made an 'oh' sound before I could register my lips moving. I wanted to reach out and touch his shoulder but I could feel someone burning eyes on me. I looked towards the front where our teacher was starring us down quite seriously. I cleared my throat and turned my eyes back to my page, disgruntled and a little annoyed; but we are in class after all.

A great deal of time had gone by and somehow I had managed to write half of my essay with the looming concern for Rafe clouding my mind. 

"What did Principal Thornton want?" He quickly questioned back as he cleared his throat, happy to change the subject. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before placing the envelope on his desk. I was weary and continued to watch the front of the classroom not wanting our teacher to catch me passing 'notes'.

Rafe raised a curious eyebrow to himself before he quietly flipped it over to open it. I bit my lip in excitement and watched him contently to see his reaction. He flicked his eyes up to see if our teacher was watching him, thankfully she wasn't.

He devoured the words on the page with a curious eagerness before his mouth dropped open with joy. He tilted his head to glance at me his lips curling into a dazzling smile and a happy idea glinting in his blue eyes.

He opened and closed his mouth and he shifted in his seat as energy coursed through his veins. I could see he just want to blurt something out to me but this stupid English class was stopping him from doing so. Maybe I should've waited until the break to tell him, now he will hardly get anymore work done.

It was if I had summoned the bell to ring itself because it bleared through the school right after I wished for it to ring. Rafe smiled gleefully at me the envelope still tightly grasped in his hand.

I grabbed my stuff and made my way out the class Rafe right on my heels waiting for me to stop which I wouldn't do until I got to my locker. Rafe unable to wait snaked his arms around my waist and picked me up with my back pressed against his chest; earning us many confused looks from fellow students.

"Rafe.. put me down" I begged as his darling chuckle echoed in my ear and a coy smile slipped onto my lips.

"Fine.. fine.. but we are so talking about this when we get to your locker" he whispered in my ear making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up before he placed down. I walked a little faster back to my locker as Rafe circled around to stand in front of me.

"You. Got. An. Invite. To. Mid-Summers!" he exclaimed excitedly and shook my opened locker door as I just giggled at his giddiness.

"So I did" I replied bluntly but a smile still etched on my face as I shuffled through my books.

"We could go together! We could even match colours!" He said hopefully as my smile faltered for a moment thinking over what Principal Thornton had said. Did I really want to risk it and be paired Rafe for an event that I needed to go well way more then he did?

I flinched when a pair of fingers snapped unexpectedly in front of my face. I closed my eyes for a moment before turning to face a confused Rafe.

"Minnie Mae?" he questioned at my blank face and faltering smile.

"We can't go together, like walk in together.." I said and ducked my head feeling slightly guilty that I was doing this but it was for my own good; especially if what Principal Thornton said was true.

"What- Why not?" he snapped back at me confused as to why I was denying him. I sighed heavily and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear as I gathered my thoughts.

"I just need to be seen as Mae Murchison; a candidate in myself not, gosh I hate to say this.." I drifted off as I closed my locker. I bit my lip hard at my unfinished sentence not wanting to offend Rafe but it was the only way I could think of  how to explain it.

"Mae just spit it out" he urged impatiently.

"Fine! a candidate in myself not just rich and upper-class Rafe Cameron's girlfriend which makes me look like a gold digger!" I snapped getting frustrated with his impatience and simply just letting the words flow from my mouth.  A couple seconds later my hand reached up to clasp over my mouth and eye widened and Rafe clenched his jaw vividly hurt by my words.

"Rafe...." I mumbled weakly as his gaze dropped to the ground and started to pace backwards. I didn't intend to be so mean it just came out! I wish I had just taken my time and didn't get frustrated.

"Just leave me alone today Maebelline.." he grumbled back before turning on his heel leaving me at my locker devastated at what I had become and I what I had said.

I needed to make it up to him and he didn't dare me to stay away..so what could I do to apologize?

What would get his attention first of all?

-

Chapter Done!! 

Hey guys! Sorry for the slower updates on this book but I have started a second book alongside being sick whilst doing so.

Please tell me your thoughts in the comments!

Love, Laya <3