"The sunrise in your eyes warms the coldest fragments of my soul"

❃ B l a z e ❃

"You're like a coyote," Bree muttered bitterly as she glanced at Travis, a bright grin splitting his face.

"Is this your way of saying I'm a cutie? Shucks Bree," he waved his hand dismissively, a smitten laugh bubbling up his throat.

Ann rolled her eyes and continued doing her homework in the uncomfortable hospital chair, cracking her neck.

"No you muppet, coyotes eat almost everything," Bree cringed distastefully at the plate in Trav's hands. The smile drained from his face as he rubbed his temples.

"I thought you were being romantic," Travis sighed dramatically and Ann glared at him.

"We're in a hospital, Travis. Mr. Alston's in a coma not even three feet beside you," she snapped and Travis' pouted.

"Hey, I'm giving him company while Jonah's out." Jo and Raf were downstairs dealing with some insurance papers with Mr. Hernandez who had been more than ready to help out.

"If the doctors don't wake Mr. Alston up, I'm sure Trav will because of his incessant chattering," I murmured under my breath, knowing Everett and Travis would get along quite well.

"Where did you even get that?" Bree interrupted, gesturing towards Travis' tray which was heaped with something that resembled burnt coleslaw.

"I stole it from Room 304's cart." Pride saturated his voice.

"Room 304? An eighty two year old woman is hospitalised there, Trav." Bree's harsh whisper was laced with incredulity.

"She probably has dentures, babe. I'm making sure the food doesn't go to waste."

"You stole from an octogenarian?" I muttered in disbelief and Travis' eyes pinched in confusion.

"An octa-what now? Is that the British version of the Pentagon? Is she a secret agent or something?" Genuine curiosity and excitement frothed in his tone.

"Was he dropped on his head as a child?" Ann muttered harshly, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Who?" The door creaked open as Rafael entered, Jonah in tow.

"Travis Dumbass Willows, of course," Ann gritted but she trailed off when Mr. Hernandez entered the room, his power exuding with just one brisk smile.

"Hi," Rafael made his way to where I was and I scooted over. His arm instantly tucked me closer and I smiled, his fleeting kiss making my skin rumble with nerves.

"Do you kids want to order dinner?"

"No thank you, Mr. H. I already ate," Travis piped up, raising the plate in his hand.

"I told you to call me Jason," his eyebrows quirked up and Trav nodded uncomfortably.

Mr. Hernandez left soon after, telling Jonah to call him if he needed help. Gratitude flickered in Rafael's eyes as his father left. They were slowly mending their relationship and even though Rafael didn't talk about it much, I knew he was reluctantly welcoming his father back.

"Did you eat?" I sidled over to Jonah and he sighed with a small nod.

"How's your mum?" Bree asked gently and Jonah shrugged.

"Tired. She's got a double shift in the ICU today,"

"And Summer?" Ann edged nervously. It had been four days since the accident and yesterday, Summer had left after a heated fight with Jonah.

"See, I told you I don't like her," Rafael murmured with a frown.

"Actually, Jo was the one who snapped at her," I informed, Raf's glare caving in.

"I was just stressed, okay? I apologised," Jonah's voice was a mere whisper, stirring sympathy on our faces.

"Wait? So you're telling me Jonah Alston, our nerdy, shy dude who looks like he couldn't kill an ant, snapped at feisty Summer?" Travis enunciated each word slowly and Jonah's cheeks flushed.

"Cut it out," Bree slapped the back of her hand across Travis' chest and he burst out laughing, Jonah's gaze averting to the floor.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I just can't imagine you mad," Trav grinned at Jonah who shrugged weakly.

"You're lucky Mr. Alston's in a coma otherwise he would've hated us," Ann murmured. There were no disagreements on her statement.

A text notification rang through the room and Jonah checked his phone, sighing deeply.

"It's my Mum, I have to go to the pharmacy." His voice reeked of exhaustion and I offered to go instead. He just shook his head, slipping out the door lifelessly as we all watched in worry.

However, nobody got time to wallow because as soon as Jonah left the room, his mum entered hastily.

"Hey kids," she smiled shakily, her porcelain skin flushed and clammy. She was still wearing her scrubs that were creased as she twisted them between her bony fingers.

"Hi, Mrs. Alston. Are you okay?" I stood up to walk towards her and she nodded, flattening her wayward hair strands. Her eyes were a deep charcoal, just like her hair that clung in tendrils around her angular face.

"Call me Jen. Sorry, I have a surgery in ten minutes. But I needed to talk to you all, that's why I told Jo to go to the pharmacy." Surprise slackened my face and I nodded in confusion.

"Right. So, can you please take Jonah on a break anywhere away from here?" Her words were soft and worried, her fingers fiddling with the gloves in her pocket.

"Sure, is something wrong?" It was Annikah who spoke, gentle and sympathetic.

"No. He's just wearing himself thin running between the hospital and work. He needs time off," Jen's lips tugged up in a rueful smile.

"Of course, we'll figure something out," Travis smiled warmly, causing Jen's face to brighten minimally.

"Right, okay. Thank you so much, I'll go now." In a surprising move, she pulled me into a quick hug and dashed out of the room.

The air was heavy with concern as I plopped back down next to Rafael, his fingers curling a loose lock of my hair.

"Well, what's the plan?" Bree whistled lowly. An excited grin developed on Trav's full lips as he grabbed the napkin off Room 304's tray.

"We need to be smart about this because he won't come willingly. And he isn't dumb, so we need this to be perfect," he pointed to every single one of us.

"This isn't an FBI mission, T," Raf groaned, banging his head on the back of the sofa.

"Silence." Travis held one finger up and Rafael's jaw tightened. Trav didn't let any of us speak as he went on elaborating every step of his 'mastermind' plan.

"And that is how we kidnap him and smuggle him across the state line."

We glared at Travis in bewilderment, his stupid plan riling annoyed groans from our mouths.

"This dumbass," Rafael buried his head in his palms, shaking his hands.

"Kidnap who?" I startled as Jonah's confused voice cut through everyone's angry murmurs, his hand curled around the doorknob.

A bright smile lit up my lips as I blurted out the most random answer I could conjure.

"Leonardo DiCaprio."

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"Why do we have this black hood?" I tugged the material out of the backpack Travis had thrown at me, scrunching my nose up.

"How do you intend to bring Jonah in the car?" He clicked his tongue.

"I don't know? Maybe just tell him to get in, like a normal person." Clenching my jaw, I saw annoyance flicker across his hazel eyes.

"Well, who said we were normal?"

"Get ready to be arrested," Ann yawned, resting her head against Bree's shoulder.

"The beach is just an hour away, just ask him to get in and lock the door. That's much easier," I suggested with pursed lips and Travis shook his head.

"Where's the fun in that?"

"Where is Jonah?" The mumble reverberated from Raf's throat.

"He said he's coming in five minutes," I offered, glancing at Jonah's last text on my phone. We had planned to lure him into the bookstore but asked him to come through the back where Travis' car was parked.

Charlotte and Noah were in on Jonah's capture plan. Travis insisted we call it an abduction, but for legal purposes, the idea was scrapped.

"Okay, guys he's here," I whispered, rubbing my hands on my bare thighs. My denim shorts covered the faded scars on my legs which would soon be exposed at the beach.

"Grab him and drag him. That's the plan," Trav muttered before getting out of the car, Raf following behind.

I shot them both a thumbs up and shuffled over to make room for our hostage.

My eyes stayed glued to the backdoor and true to their plan, Raf and Travis dragged a surprisingly resistant Jonah to the car. The black hood over his head obscured his view as he thrashed violently. He attempted to shrug the two off  and even almost kicked Travis between his legs. That prompted a smug grin from my lips.

They should've just gone with my plan.

"Fucking let me go." Jonah's voice was a sharp growl as Rafael pushed him into the backseat beside me. The lock clicked and Jonah accidentally elbowed me in the ribs. I cursed and clutched my torso, pain originating sharply from the jab and Jonah froze.

"Blaze? Shit. What the fuck?" Anger coated his tone as he snatched the hood off his face, guilt slowly filtering in. The expletives seemed too sugar coated on his tongue.

"It's okay. I told them to go along with my plan," I glared at Rafael and Travis, both turning their heads around to shoot me apologetic looks.

"Are you okay?" Jonah's voice lowered to a soft, concerned whisper and I nodded. His anger was a fleeting emotion that dissolved just as quick.

"Yeah, you?"

"Almost died of a heart attack and thought I'd lose my family. But hey, I'm good." Rafael's face contorted into guilt as Jonah frowned.

"Where are we going?" Jo cleared his throat and Ann's face brightened as she snapped her eyes open.

"To surf the gnarly waves and pick up some hot babes," she wiggled her eyebrows.

"You have a girlfriend," Travis grimaced from the front.

"Semantics."

"I'm kidding," she added once we all glared at her in bewilderment.

"We're going to the beach," Rafael answered the confusion on Jonah's face, who instantly shook his head.

"No, I have to go to the hospital."

"You don't. You need a break." My chest hollowed with sympathy as I smiled at him.

"Who's going to stay with my dad?" Colour stained his pallid cheeks as panic set in.

"Your mum is. She knows where we're going. Now, chill out."

"She told you to do this? This is embarrassing," Jonah burrowed his head into his palms.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, my mum packed us all snacks," Travis rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Must be fun having a caring mum," Ann grinned, no trace of hostility on her face.

"Deadbeat mothers for the win," Bree cheered mockingly, pumping her fists. Even Rafael smiled weakly.

"Mine would probably pack us food too. Except the express delivery route from Heaven to Earth is closed right now."

Turns out my input into the mommy issues club wasn't welcome because everyone grimaced uncomfortably.

"I have a twisted sense of humour. It's dark, roll with it," I frowned and Travis smiled tensely before backing out onto the road.

"No wait, pull over." Travis grimaced before following Raf's instructions. Opening the door, Rafael dragged Jonah out and pointed him to the passenger door.

"Better," Raf grumbled, squishing me against his side. My cheeks flamed as the others watched in amusement.

"Clingy fucker," Trav muttered, finally beginning the short trip to the beach.

"I'm telling you, he's a parasite, Blaze. He's always attached to your skin." Rafael's fingers clasped tighter around my shoulders, his hot breath prickling my scalp upon Ann's words. His glower scorched towards Ann.

"Want to fight me, bitch?" Ann raised her fists as Rafael scoffed.

"I'll save you the embarrassment."

"Cut it out, I'm trying to drive here." The sharp retort rung from Travis' throat.

"Who wants the controls to music?" Jonah asked innocently, unaware of the war it would wage.

For the next few minutes, insults flew and threats rang out as Ann, Bree and Rafael all fought for the coveted spot.

"You just turned the backseat into a boxing ring, Jo," I grimaced, leaning forward as Bree accidentally elbowed me.

"Shut up, all of you," Travis snapped, skidding the car to a halt. The road was empty thankfully and he turned around, handing me his phone.

"My car, my rules. Blaze gets the music controls." The tone of his voice left no room for argument and a triumphant grin worked its way onto my face.

Rafael's face slowly turned to mine and by the coy smile playing on his lips, I knew what he was going for.

"No, you're not allowed to play your music." Travis butted in and Rafael's lips thinned. Thankfully, no more arguments broke out and Trav began driving peacefully, soft indie music filtering through the speakers.

"Let's play a game."

"21 Questions," I shrugged. After much convincing, the others agreed and it was Jonah's turn first.

"What's the weirdest nickname you've been given?" It was Ann who asked the question, curiosity peeking through his tone.

"Spitnugget, don't ask me why." Raucous laughter boiled out of Travis' mouth on Jonah's answer and Rafael banged his forehead on the back of the passenger headrest.

"This is going to be a long hour."

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"I spy with my eye something annoying and full of shit."

Travis' mouth gaped open in horror as Rafael spat the words out with contempt.

"No need to insult yourself like that, Taffy." Slyly, Travis drummed his fingers on the wheel and Rafael fumed beside me. We had been stuck in a traffic jam for the past ten minutes, prompting an argument between Travis and Rafael.

Rafael believed that Travis didn't know how to drive and Travis said his car wasn't the 'fucking Batmobile'.

"I'm talking about your dumbass."

"If you have such a problem, you should've brought your car. Oh right, you can't fit six people in the rich boymobile."

"Shut up."

"I mean, what's the point of paying so much money if you can't even take your friends on a trip. A dumb decision if you ask me, right Blaze?"

Everyone's gazes swivelled to me for an answer and I sheepishly smiled.

"Well, functionality is more important."

"Can you stop dissing my car every chance you guys get?" The sneer on Raf's face deepened, the joke not hitting home.

"No."

"We're going to teach you useful spending," I patted his shoulder in a patronising manner and he frowned.

"Okay, the jam's clearing," Travis sighed in relief and maneuvered the car towards the beach. Once parked, we all piled out, grabbing our bags from the boot.

"No drinking, no flirting with creepy strangers and absolutely no brawling," Travis stated the rules, glancing towards Rafael at the last part.

"You're the biggest flirt I know dude." Ann scoffed and Travis raised a hand to his chest.

"That was before Bree," he slung an arm over her willowy shoulder. Surprisingly, Bree's face flushed a vivid crimson as she shoved him away.

"I'm going into the water," was her excuse as she slipped away from us and Ann and I shared a smug look.

"If you hurt her, you'll be sterile and paralysed for the rest of your life," Rafael pointed a threatening finger at Travis who nodded nervously.

"He means he'll chop off your dick and break your bones." I elaborated playfully once Rafael left, worry dominating Trav's face. His Adam's Apple bobbed up and down as I shouldered one of the backpacks.

"No pressure," Jonah murmured from beside me, the nervousness on Travis' face inflating.

"I'm not going to hurt her." The whisper was soft on his tongue, laced with affection.

"We know, bud." Annikah stepped into line with us, grabbing the snack bag from Travis.

The salt in the humid air brushed against my nostrils as we advanced to the beach, my jandals sinking into the soft sand.

"Feeling relaxed?" I nudged Jonah. The dipping sunlight slanted over his grey eyes as he nodded vacantly.

"At least there aren't many people." The wind caught in his voice as we glanced around the beach. It was a Friday and other than scattered groups, the stretch of sand was relatively empty.

"What time do you think we'll go back?" Concern braided his voice and I sighed.

"We just got here, Jo. Just wind down, okay? No more worrying in this bubble," I waved my free arm around and a small smile tugged at his lips.

The evening sun left a pleasant glow to everything around us, a cool breeze drifting across our faces as we walked over to where everyone else was. It was a pleasant change from the frosty blanket that encapsulated Glensdale.

Towels were laid over the uneven surface and Rafael was sprawled on one, his elbows supporting his body weight. The thin, transparent white shirt hung off his curved shoulders loosely. With the first two buttons popped open, I caught a glimpse of the swirling ink on his toned chest.

"Hey beautiful," Rafael lifted a slender finger and slid his sunglasses down his nose. The wink he sent my way prompted a grin as I laughed at his cheesy actions.

"This is why Blaze is your first girlfriend," Bree teased, standing up. Her quip caused Rafael's face to flush as he cleared his throat.

She lifted her tee over her head, a sharp exhale originating from Travis' throat as he watched her curved stomach arch from the motion.

"Cut it out," Rafael glared at Travis who was blatantly staring at Bree's toned stomach. Her black triangle bikini looked beautiful, Travis' heated gaze providing testimony.

My fingers ran over my waist, I had a swimsuit under my clothes too but I was too insecure to actually wear it. As if sensing my thoughts, Bree sent me an encouraging grin.

After pulling her shorts down, Bree and Travis strolled across the beach. Rafael's gaze was iron clad on Trav's fingers clasped around her bare waist as he splashed her into the water.

"Are you going to do that every time they touch?" Ann smacked the back of Rafael's head, shedding her clothes off. Her lemon coloured bikini looked gorgeous, the sunlight catching on her flawless brown skin.

She bounded towards the water, shooting me a huge grin from the distance before dunking Travis's head underwater.

Jo, Raf and I were the only ones left on the towels and I nervously wrung my fingers together, feeling Rafael shift closer.

"Wanna go into the water?" My skin prickled at the proximity, his finger fleetingly tracing patterns on my bare thigh.

Jonah was oblivious to my racing heartbeat as he pulled out a book and skimmed through the pages a couple of feet away.

"Yeah, sure," I shot up, my skin flaming as a chuckle brimmed up Raf's throat. 

I tried to detach my eyes from him as Rafael tugged his shirt off, revealing smooth skin carved from muscles. His tattoos seemed to ripple under the sunlight, as if they had been freshly inked. The stories on his skin echoed in my head and my throat dried as I marvelled at his beauty.

"Wipe your drool." A throat cleared and I dragged my gaze away, seeing Jonah glance at me in amusement. Subconsciously, I rubbed my thumb over my lip. When I realised what I was doing, I glared at him.

"Are you going to strip?" A playful grin lit up Rafael's face as he edged towards me. I pursed my lips, ignoring the smugness in his tone.

"Yeah." The lingering reminders of the multiple scars lining my thighs flickered in my vision. I shook them off as I shrugged off my clothes, the wind gently whispering in my ears.

When I turned around, my skin flushed as Rafael's heated gaze tracked down the length of my body. The green in his eyes seemed to seep into his dilated pupils, his jaw drawn tightly.

"Is it offensive if I say you look fucking hot?" The crude words split from his mouth and my lips parted in surprise. The tone of his voice sounded breathy, barely heard against the faint chatter surrounding us.

"Um no, I don't think so."

"Well, you look fucking hot." My lungs inflated with air as I bit my bottom lip. 

Slowly, I looked down at my periwinkle bikini, the faux knot around my chest seeming to hang flat. My thighs looked scrawny compared to my stomach that had recently gained fat, the tiny roll hidden by the high waisted bottoms.

My eyebrows scrunched together as I instantly disregarded his words in my head. I did not look hot, I looked weird with my jutting collarbones, pale stomach and immensely scarred thighs.

"Thank you, you look pretty hot as well." His lips quirked up in a barely suppressed grin upon hearing my words, the distance between us charged with tension.

"Can you guys leave? I feel kind of awkward here," Jonah mumbled, glaring at the two of us.

"Oh, okay." My eyebrows furrowed as I slowly stepped away from the towels, watching as he relaxed back into reading his book.

"Don't you want to come into the water?" Rafael asked.

"I'll get in later. Now, leave."

The authority in his tone was a fresh change from his usual reservation and I glanced at him once before padding over the sand and into the water.

My neck prickled as Rafael trailed after me, his fingers lingering near my neck and back, brushing gently one moment and vanishing the next.

"So...." I trailed off, unsure of how the fill the heavy silence. As we approached the others, the sound of Ann's laughter made me smile.

Today was a good day.

"You alright?" His voice was gentle and I was confused for a minute before I realised why he was asking. My fingers were involuntarily scratching at the scars on my wrists and I shielded my hands from him.

"You look amazing, okay?" He picked up on my insecurities straight away, circling my wrist with nimble fingers.

"Yeah." It sounded heavily dosed with doubt.

"I mean it. Beautiful, remember?" My cheeks flamed at the insinuation of his words. The night in his room flickered in my head when he had traced the scars and made them seem more alluring than they actually were.

"Yes."

"And breathtaking," Rafael's tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip, his dilated gaze momentarily dropping down and my ribs expanded with heavy breathing.

"Okay." This time it sounded more convincing as I gently pushed him away.

The water quivered around my knees as we waded in deeper. Fingers clasped around my waist and I glanced back to see a sly smile plastered on Rafael's lips.

"Look who's here," Bree's voice rang out and I smiled as she trudged over to us, the water now up to our chests.

"You look hot," She winked and my skin seared despite the cool water as Rafael's fingers dug into my hipbone under the surface.

"Thank you, you look hotter."

"Isn't she adorable?" A playful grin played at her lips as she ruffled my hair. It earned her a glare as she backed away.

"Do we just stand here?" Ann piped up and Rafael shrugged from behind me.

Before I could react, my foot was grabbed underwater and I sunk inside, salty water invading my nostrils. The culprit already dawned in my head as I resurfaced,  angrily wiping my hand over my eyes. Bitterness coated my tongue as I coughed.

"Travis, you asshole," I gritted out. Laughter originating from the others graced my ears. Everyone else was slowly backing deeper into the water which cropped under their chins now.

I stomped over as angrily as I could on the slippery floor. Travis' laughter ceased as I swiped his leg underneath the water.  He momentarily lost his balance, his head bobbing underwater.

"This means war," Bree squinted as I splashed water on her after. Before I knew it,  we were dousing each other with water like children, carefree laughter echoing through the breeze.

Rafael's arm on my waist rubbed lazy circles, casually edging towards my ribs. His fingers would dip lower, gracing my hipbone but never venturing far. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, a foreign feeling nestled in the pit of my stomach.

After a while of just mucking around, Jonah joined us. His hair flopped around in the water, his slate grey eyes seeming to glimmer in the evening sun.

"Well, this is fun," he grinned with joy as Travis drenched me once again with his motor like arms.

The sky was now laced with burnt oranges and faded lilacs. They stretched like paint strokes across the expanse as we navigated back towards the shore. The others went back to our spot, but Raf and I strolled amongst the shallow waters.

Rafael's hand tugged me down beside him. The sand stuck to my wet skin as we sat near the coast, gentle waves lapping at our feet.

"Did you have fun today?" I asked him and he nodded, his damp hair fanning across his forehead. The darkened brown strands were dotted with sand and I tugged at them to shake the particles off.

With a grin, he reciprocated the action. His fingers deftly ran the length of my knotted hair, a gentle smile running his lips.

"Yeah," Rafael's voice was several octaves low, a deep whisper that churned my stomach. The evening light danced on one side of his face, the sharp angle of his jaw illuminated by orange light.

He leaned in closer, his full lips bowed into a smile.

My lips met his in a slowed flurry, both frantic yet soothing. Our racing heartbeats contrasted with the tranquility in the beachy atmosphere. The movement of his fingers along my spine was gentle but the pressure of the kiss was anything but that.

"The view's beautiful," I murmured hoarsely once he pulled away, glancing at the sunset beyond the pastel horizon.

"It always is." A gracious smile arched his lips as he glanced at me, never failing to make my pulse heighten.

"Says the guy in every romance novel known to man." I blabbered and he shook his head with a grin, tugging me closer.

Once again, the collision of our lips felt divine, every kiss leading to an insatiable hunger. And at that moment, I felt struck by a realisation.

This was all I needed in life.

He was all I needed and more.

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"Fuck, I'm hungry."

We all turned to face Travis who grinned sheepishly. As if to prove his point, his stomach grumbled loudly, coinciding with the distant rush of water.

We were all sprawled over our towels, drying off as the sun dipped into the swelling horizon.

"Burgers and chips?" Bree shifted onto her side, her head propped on one elbow. 

"Why do we always end up eating that?" Rafael grumbled from beside me, absently curling a strand of my hair between his fingers.

"Oh, I'm sorry. We'll open up a fancy Chinese restaurant by the beach just for you." A saccharine smile broke out across Ann's face and Rafael scowled at her.

"I feel like I'm the bullied one here," He glared at everyone and then smiled at me. An incredulous rang out from Travis' mouth.

"He's so whipped."

"Right? So whipped that we could sell him at the dairy as cream." It took me a minute to understand Bree's joke and when I did, I couldn't stop laughing.

"That was a good one," I grinned at Bree who just glanced at me weirdly.

Reluctantly, everyone got up. I brushed off the sand stuck to my skin and grabbed my shorts and tee after towelling off. After getting dressed, we ambled over to the nearby shack that was bustling with people, the heavy chatter suffocating the air.

There weren't many tables left and we settled at a table for eight. 

"Sit there, stop shacking up with B everywhere," Ann grumbled, dragging Rafael to the seat opposite me. I grinned while flipping through the laminated menu, skimming through all the options.

"You're getting a bit too order-happy there, Bree," Rafael joked as Bree listed off everything she wanted to order. Travis glared at Raf, who looked taken aback.

"What? I was kidding."

A blonde waiter approached our table, a toothy grin plastered on his chiselled face.

"Hi. Welcome to The Burgerlicious Shack. What can I get you guys today?" As soon as the words left his mouth, a hysterical laugh left Ann's mouth.

We all turned to her with widened eyes as she kept laughing to herself. The waiter looked confused and embarrassed as he fiddled with his notepad.

When I nudged my elbow into her ribs, she hacked a few times before composing herself.

"Oh no man, I'm so sorry.  I wasn't laughing at you. Who the fuck names their shack 'Burgerlicious'? Am I right?" A lopsided grin stretched over her lips while the waiter looked horrified.

"Oh... my dad owns the shack."

Fuck.

"I was just kidding. It's a beautiful place you've got here, the wood is very sturdy." Annikah knocked on the table to make up for her blunder as Mr. Shack Owner's son grimaced.

"Right."

"So, I'll have a... What? Why are you hitting me?" Travis glared at Bree who rubbed the bridge of her nose. She shot Mr. Burgerlicious a wary smile who scoffed angrily and left.

"Inappropriate timing, asshole." Bree gritted out.

"You'd think your girlfriend would call you stuff like 'baby' or 'sweetheart' or 'honey'.  But no, she just has to call me a dumbass,  an asshole and a piece of raw chicken dipped in shit." Travis grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Bree scrunched her nose up in disgust.

Miniature arguments broke out across the table as Jonah and I just stared at each other helplessly.

"Great. Now you're going to get us kicked out of a shack that's one fucking hour from where we live. How'd you manage to do that?" Rafael glared at Ann who raised her hands.

"What? Don't tell me you like the name. I'm right and you know it. Besides, they can't kick us out for making fun of the name."

"Doesn't mean you tell that to the guy who works here. And there is no 'us'. I'm staying here if they kick us out, you can starve." Rafael's eyebrows pinched as he leaned forward and pointed a finger in Ann's face.

"Oh come on, it's not like this is the first place we'll be kicked out of. What's this, our fifth blacklist now?" Ann looked unbothered as she leaned back in her chair.

"Actually, sixth," Jonah inputted meekly. The list seemed to be growing with every weekend outing.

"See? Besides, this is my first blacklist. Every other place was because of you and Dumbass there." Ann jabbed her thumb in Travis's direction.

"Hey, Bree got us kicked out of that diner for fighting with the waitress," Travis retorted and Bree scoffed.

"She gave you her number and you took it." Jealousy sparked in her brown eyes.

"I didn't use it, I was being cordial."

"Wait, I thought the reason they asked us to leave was that you were laughing too much," Rafael glanced in confusion at Travis who shook his head.

"You didn't know about... this back then." He shook his finger between Bree and him. "Not to mention you're a bit slow at catching onto stuff."

"Shut up." They continued to bicker and I sighed in frustration.

From my perspective, Travis and Rafael's wacky behaviour was responsible for our blacklists. They were once flinging chicken nuggets into each other's mouths and unknowingly tossed them into the beverages of the diners next to us. However, it was their failure to confess what they had done that got us booted out after our neighbours almost choked.

"Can we sit here?" A bubbly voice suddenly chirped from behind me and I turned around to see a raven-haired girl grin at me. A guy lingered behind her and Travis nodded, gesturing to the empty seats at our table.

"Hey, I'm Ryanne." A bright grin split across her darkly painted lips as she took the seat behind me. An easy smile split across my lips sensing her friendliness and Rafael narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Internally rolling my eyes at his hostility, I turned back to her.

"Are you guys from around here?" The guy besides Annikah spoke up, his blue gaze lingering on her.

Seems like I wasn't the only one who noticed because Rafael glared at the guy venomously.

"No, actually, we're from Glensdale." I forced a smile on my face, kicking Rafael under the table.

"We're from Ardenford." Rafael and Bree stiffened on hearing Ryanne's words. It dawned in my head that it was where they used to live before moving to Glensdale.

Ryanne caught onto the sudden tension in the air, smiling weakly.

"Did you guys used to live there?" Ann's neighbour asked, and Rafael's sharp gaze cut to him. Poor guy didn't deserve the venom Rafael was directing towards him.

"Yeah, we moved two years ago," Bree smiled.

After that, the conversation progressed towards their old city and I zoned out. Annikah was conversing with the new guy who was obviously trying to make moves but failing miserably as she brushed all his advances off.

I heard her slip 'my girlfriend' into the conversation but I think he was misinterpreting it.

At least Annikah was being kind, unlike Mr. Angry Man opposite me.

A new waiter approached us, Mr. Burgerlicious glaring at us from the distance and I smiled apologetically. 

After giving our orders, I pivoted my gaze around the shack. The shack had a wooden, rustic theme going on with moonlight filtering in through the thatched roof.

Travis had joined Rafael in his glaring match towards Ann's suitor, the two of them drilling scorching holes into the guy's skull. Either he was too oblivious to notice or too unbothered to acknowledge it.

"Are you guys staying overnight?" Ryanne directed towards me, her heavily lined eyes drooping and I shook my head.

"No, we're going back after Dinner. There's still time." My lips quirked up in a smile and her blue eyes dimmed.

"Bummer. I was hoping we could all hang out together during the weekend."

My mouth parted open as I reeled at her friendliness. It was welcome although unexpected.

"Maybe some other time?" Bree butted in, noticing me floundering for an answer. Travis' arm was lazily slung over her shoulders but his gaze was stuck on the dude next to Ann.

"I can't see this anymore, she has a girlfriend." He blurted out and the guy's face fell into a grimace.

"Oh." The dude sounded dejected and Ann pursed her lips.

"Yeah, I've been trying to hint that you're not exactly my type."

"Well, that sucks." Laughter edged through his lips and gradually, everyone joined in. The tension leaked out of the air and Rafael and Travis dropped their glowers.

Soon, our food was dropped off and we dug in. The conversation dulled as we focused on the mouthwatering bounty of burgers, chips and shakes.

"Here's to Mr. Burgerlicious," I raised my glass mischievously as he passed our table and a reluctant smile spread across his lips.

Ryanne and her unnamed friend looked confused but toasted nonetheless.

By the time our dinner was done, I felt like my stomach would rupture. To ease the pressure, I massaged my belly as Ry looked at me weirdly.

"Um, what are you doing?" Ryanne's laughed nervously and Bree smirked.

"She's weird, let her be." I glared at her.

"The best people are weird." Ryanne's eyes glimmered with mirth as she glanced at me, her head propped on one elbow and I grinned.

Rafael's face was twisted into a sour expression as he crossed his arms over his chest, a childish pout playing on his lips.

Looks like someone was suffering from attention deficiency.

"Well, I guess we'll be leaving now," Ryanne turned to me after a mini argument about paying the bill, a wan smile on her face. Grabbing a spare napkin, she took the pen from inside the receipt folder and scribbled something on it.

"Call me sometime if you want to hang out or more." Surprise washed my face as she handed me her number and I could practically feel Rafael boring holes into her head.

"Sure," I smiled, feeling amused by the entire situation. 

With one last dazzling smile, Ryanne and her friend left, their departure leaving a heavy tension in the air.

"Hang out or more. Bullshit," Rafael mocked her, his lips downturned angrily. 

Bree looked amused as she propped her head on her palms, watching her twin recreate Ryanne's expressions bitterly.

"I mean, she was cool. I say, go for it." Travis interrupted cheekily, a fuming Rafael clenching his fists around the table.

"The best people are weird. Who the fuck even flirts like that?" The angry tirade burst out of Rafael's lips and I just slumped back in my chair, watching him rant.

"I was hoping we could all hang out together during the weekend. You wish, Ryanne. What kind of name is that? It's like her parents wanted it to be different but gave up halfway." The volume of his voice grew as he huffed angrily, breaking a paper napkin into tiny shreds.

Ryanne's napkin was still scrunched up in my fist. Mr. Burgerlicious frowned at us from an adjacent table, observing Rafael's little angry stunt.

"Hey, I saw an ice cream place during the walk here. You should go," Bree nudged Rafael who shot up and towered behind me. I suppressed my smile as he grabbed my hand as soon as I got up, pulling me out of the shack.

I waved at Mr. Burgerlicious as we left and his pink lips tugged up in a barely noticeable smile.

"Calm down there, Turbo. You're going to yank my arm off," I joked as he muttered to himself, still having a death grip on my palm.

"She was flirting with you in front of me. How disrespectful is that?" He threw his hands up incredulously and I held the back of my fist over my mouth to suppress my chuckles.

"In her defence, she didn't know about us."

"You're defending her? Really cool, baby," Rafael scoffed to himself and I smiled before clasping his hand.

"I mean, it's tempting. I wouldn't have to deal with your caveman-ness." A deep scowl lined his jaw.

"You like my caveman-ness."

"More fun, less jealousy. We could even share clothes and makeup." He crossed his arms over his chest. 

"You can steal my clothes and I'll buy you makeup."

"I could braid her hair and she could return the favour." At this point, I was just listing whatever came to my head to mess with an annoyed Rafael.

"I'll braid your hair."

"Heck, I might even win arm wrestling matches with Ry," I poked his bicep playfully, solid muscles pressing against my finger.

"Oh, so you're on a nickname basis now? I'll let you win, alright?" Rafael's voice dropped as he stepped closer. He swiped the napkin from my free hand and I gasped.

"Give that back, I plan to use it." I pretended to be offended but Rafael didn't get the joke as he nudged me away. He looked hurt and that should've pained me but instead, I was fighting to hold back my laughter.

I was a terrible person.

"Hey, I'm kidding. As much as I hate it, I'm going to choose you. Your dumbass," I prodded his chest and he looked down at me, the lights from the shack catching on his side profile.

"Hate it, huh?" A veined hand cupped the back of my neck, dragging me in closer. Our cheeks brushed as Rafael skimmed his nose along the shell of my ear, his hot breath burning against my skin.

"Mhm," I hummed, losing track of my mind as he finally grazed his lips against mine, gentle and fleeting.

"Well, it's not like we're dating though, right?" I blurted out when he pulled away suddenly. A nervous smile turned his lips up.

"Well... actually Dad thinks you're my girlfriend." He ran his fingers through his tousled hair as my mouth gaped open.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Are you mad?" A smidge of panic diluted his tone as he stared at me.

"No."

"So, does that mean we're dating?" The hopeful tone of his voice warmed my heart and I smiled softly.

"Yeah, I guess we are."

"Oh, okay."

"Alright."

That was simpler than I thought, I grinned lazily. 

I didn't process much as he suddenly lifted me onto a raised platform, my feet sticking to the rough concrete.

"What are you doing?" I cleared my throat, dwindling the haze that had taken over my senses.

"Hop on," He turned around, his back flexing as he stepped right in front of me. My confusion faded away when I realised he was offering a piggyback ride.

"I apologise if I break your back," I grinned, excitement bubbling in my blood. I used to love piggyback rides as a kid but they stopped when my parents died. It wasn't like I was a child after that anyways.

My smile flickered but Rafael nudged his elbow into my stomach. Reluctantly, I hugged my arms around his neck loosely.

Rafael tugged my wrists so I held onto him closer and in one swift movement, he clasped his hands on my bare thighs and circled them around his waist. The soft fabric of his shirt brushed against my legs and I propped my chin on his shoulder.

"Comfy?" He asked and I flushed as I realised just how close we were.

"Very."

"Ice-cream?"

"Hell yeah."

When he started walking, my legs shivered as his back muscles flexed from every step, tensing against my thighs. The cool breeze fanned against my hair as I rested on his back, milking the ride for every second.

"Bet Ryanne couldn't do this," he grumbled and I laughed, the sensations passing through our pressed skin.

"You're so cute when you're jealous," I poked his cheek and he tilted his head slightly, his hands digging into soft flesh.

"What can I say? I've got a beautiful girl, I'll have to deal with a lot of competition." The corner of his lips tugged up and he marginally brushed his lips against mine.

"There's no competition because it's always going to be you." I captured his top lip between my teeth and a throaty chuckle thrummed along his back, trembling across my skin.

"Who's the cannibal now?"

"Learnt from the best."

All of a sudden, his fingers dragged along the outline of my legs, my ankles tightening around his waist.

"What are you doing?" I pulled my bottom lip into my teeth and he shot me an innocent grin.

"Oh, nothing." His fingers trailed up, the outside of my thighs blazing as he skimmed his hands over them.

"Stop," I smacked his head and he grinned slyly. 

His hands didn't wander after that as he strolled the beach with me on his back. The steady movement of his body unnerved me to another level.

"If you were a Disney Princess, who would you be?" I murmured after a while.

"Rapunzel, no doubt."

I was surprised at his quick answer and I slipped my hand into his silken hair, the other arm locked around his neck.

"Why?"

"She loved the lights, I love the stars."

"Does that make me Flynn Rider?" I pressed my cheek to his and he smiled.

"The real question is, can you master the smoulder?" Rafael's voice was cheery and I revelled at his current carefree mood.

"Put me down, and be prepared to be blown away."

Rafael halted and I hung on tightly to him. His large hands unwrapped my legs from his waist and I sighed at the loss of contact.

Very slowly, I slid down his back and he grunted when I refused to let go of his neck.

"You're going to snap my neck here, babe." Rafael's voice was a deep hum and my stomach tumbled.

"Okay, turn around." I prepared myself for the 'smoulder', even going so far as to try and quiff my hair up.

Rafael's green eyes shone with amusement as he stared down at me. I took a deep breath, channelling all my acting skills.

My attempt at the 'smoulder' was terrible as I ended up looking constipated, at least that's what Rafael said.

"You look like you've got something stuck in your teeth and you're trying to get it out without someone noticing." His chuckles rang loudly amongst the crash of distant waves.

"That was oddly specific," I glared at him, crossing my arms angrily over my chest. "I'd like to see you try, princess."

"Challenge accepted."

Rafael whipped his head to the side, sweeping his hair and arching an eyebrow.

"You look like you're holding in a fart."

"You're disgusting," Rafael frowned disapprovingly.

I grinned as I wrapped an arm around the back of his neck, pulling him in for a quick kiss. I sure was addicted. His lips quirked up as I tugged futilely at his tee when he refused to move.

"Asshole."

The green in his eyes darkened as he glided his hand down my back and pulled me closer, closing the gap between us.

"Aren't you having fun?" A familiar voice cracked through the silence and I jerked away from Rafael.

Instinctive fear built up inside me as I turned to Aiden, his bloodshot eyes glaring holes at the two of us. A bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag dangled from his pale hands as he swayed on his feet.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Rafael's voice was sharp and furious, as he grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer.

We were an hour away from Glensdale and the same question trickled in my head.

"Got to get my fix somewhere, right?" Aiden's lips quirked up in a sinister smile as he held a packet of powder up.

Worriedly, I turned to Rafael who glanced at the baggie, pain thundering in his eyes before it dissolved.

"You moved on quick, didn't you?" His question was directed at me and I clenched my teeth together.

"Forgot all the things I did?" Phantom pain scorched my insides and I sucked in a sharp breath. Confusion flickered over Rafael's face before he steeled himself.

"Leave." The palpable tension in Rafael's voice didn't go unnoticed by me as he faintly drew circles on my wrist.

The motion which I usually associated with calmness only seemed to make my heart race further.

"She's good for a while, you know. Everything seems cool until she fucks it up." He lifted a pale finger towards me, the moonlight making his sunken cheeks more prominent. It was clear he was drunk, high or both, judging by the stench of alcohol rolling off his breath and the crimson lines veining his eyes.

I hadn't seen him in a long time, or maybe I was too caught up in my new life that his negativity seemed to bounce off.

"I'm not going to deal with your bullshit anymore, Aiden." The words sounded iron coated as they left my tongue and he looked surprised for a moment.

However, the shock soon morphed into anger, a rage I was all too familiar with.

Aiden stumbled forward and Rafael made a move to push me behind his back but I dug my heels into the sand.

I wasn't scared of him anymore.

However, the trembling of my hands begged to differ.

"It makes me furious how you're living your life like nothing ever fucking happened when you're the reason Kiara died." His words didn't strike their target, gliding past my ears.

I was becoming immune to his baseless accusations.

However, Rafael stiffened beside me, taking a threatening step towards Aiden. He wasn't supposed to get into fights because of his case but the malicious glint in his eyes told me had no qualms in breaking that rule.

"She took that step, not me." A slight tremble resounded in my voice but I strengthened myself. I wasn't letting Aiden's words get to me, not again. Perplexion swirled deep in Rafael's eyes but he masked it.

"She asked you to stop her, you didn't stop her." Aiden's words were slurred, due to both the bottle in his hand and the tears trekking down his face.

The memories of that tragic night assaulted my vision and I rubbed my fingers over my eyes, the tips turning wet.

The tears were my body's reaction, not my heart's.

"Get the fuck out of here," Rafael nudged me to his side but I dug my nails into his wrist to stop him.

This was my fight.

"It wasn't my fault, okay? I asked her, again and again, to talk to me and she didn't. Kiara closed the door, not me."

"It wasn't enough." His chestnut eyes tore with groundbreaking agony but it did nothing to soften me.

"What did you do then, huh? You were her brother." Rafael's fingers clasped tighter around my waist as my voice cracked.

"I talked to her, I asked her to stay home that night." He smashed the bottle down and it rolled away.

The sand saturated murkily from the drink inside, dark just like the concrete did from her crimson blood.

My lungs pricked with a thousand needles, the blood staining my vision. The void inside me cracked open, memories and fleeting voices dancing amongst my senses.

"Kiara was the one that cut me off, not the other way around. She was selfish to do that." The tears cooled on my cheeks as the frosty current brushed past.

The same wind coursed through the atmosphere the day she left, curling her hair harshly around her neck as she took that final step.

"Calm down," Rafael's voice was soft against my ears as he sagged his head low. Concern dominated his green eyes, puzzlement still lingering in them. I realised I was tearing the skin on his wrist with my nails.

"You can't try and break me when it wasn't my fault. It won't work anymore, Aiden," I inhaled shakily, Rafael's thumb pressing deftly against my pulse point.

"Bullshit. She blamed you, only you in that letter. Don't forget that," Aiden raised a shaking finger, his entire body now trembling with rage.

Terror racked my blood but I felt safe with Rafael.

"You never let me forget that." The yell deafened Aiden into silence as I struggled to catch my breath, phantom bruises striking my skin.

"Why would I? You deserved every single thing that happened. First, your parents and then Kiara, who's next? This asshole." Caustic laughter burnt his throat as he glared at Rafael. The words struck deep and my chest racked with silent tears.

"I didn't kill them, just like I didn't kill her. People die and lives get ruined. You're not the only one who suffered. Just shut the fuck up." Desperation seeped in with anger as I yelled at him again but his bitter laughter cut me off.

"That's a lie and you know it."

"Fucking leave or I'll make you, I won't say it again," Rafael dropped my hand, shoving a finger into Aiden's chest. The rage that burnt in his eyes was unmatched and Aiden stumbled back.

"You want to fuck around with her? You've got a sister. Just wait till Blaze drives Bree to kill herself. So, take my advice and leave this bitch," Aiden grinned hollowly and the next events occurred in a blur.

Rafael's fist connected with Aiden's jaw, the thump echoing through my ears. He hoisted Aiden by the front of his tee, landing another punch to his cheek.

His fists moved swiftly, inflicting more damage with every hit as Aiden was too dazed to fight back, his body flailing like a ragdoll. I yanked Rafael back, banding my arm around his waist so he wasn't near Aiden again.

"Stop it, just stop. He isn't worth it." I murmured when Rafael made a move to sidestep me.

My chest felt leaden and the tears still streamed down my cheeks but I didn't release my hold on Rafael. We both needed anchors.

Aiden shakily stood up, tripping over his own feet. He didn't even wince as blood ran out his nose and a gash on his forehead, picking up the empty bottle from the sand.

"Fucking murderer, that's what you are." Aiden's blood-stained teeth tugged up in a sinister snarl as he pointed towards me.

I flinched.

"Go be pathetic somewhere else, motherfucker," Rafael glowered fiercely at him, his red knuckles slowly bruising

With one last glower, Aiden staggered away and relief surged through me. My legs gave in and I sunk onto the sand, the coarse particles painfully digging into my knees.

"Not a murderer." My body felt burnt out as I repeated the words to myself in a harsh whisper.

"Look at me, baby." A soft hand intertwined with mine and Rafael crouched in front of me, his hair flopping in front of his eyes from the wind.

The waves seemed to thrash wildly against the shore, as if suddenly enraged. The sound shivered against my eardrums along with my rushing blood.

"I'm not a murderer, Rafael." All the emotions that I had repressed burst to the surface, just like Dr. Lincoln had said would happen.

The fights with Kiara and her accusing letter, the bruises from Aiden and his violating trauma, everything bubbled forth.

I broke.

Arms wrapped around my waist as I clung to Rafael, my sobs shaking across our bodies.

"You're perfect, Blaze. Don't let a word of that fucker's bullshit get to your head." Concern, confusion, anger and pain aggravated his voice.

However, it was easier said than done.

The mind was the greatest serial killer after all.

Rafael's lips pressed softly against my temple, the place where the dark thoughts festered and gave birth to monsters. His starlight seemed to slay them momentarily.

"I can't do this anymore, Rafael." The words were subconscious and he instantly recoiled, grasping my head between his palms.

"Never say that again. We'll get through anything together," His tone was deeply infused with affection and my bottom lip trembled.

"I'm always here for you." The soft press of his lips against mine soothed me, the familiarity providing me with an anchor.

As I stared into his sage flecked irises, I mustered up the courage to finally pull the drain on the clogged guilt.

"What was that?" Neither anger nor betrayal enveloped his words, just pure worry as he settled in beside me. I rested my head against his shoulder, letting the salty air ground me.

"I lied." The words were full of self-contempt.

"About what?" Rafael stared down at me, his eyes searching for reassurance. The fight with Aiden and all his spiteful words must have opened up glaring sinkholes in his mind because of the lack of information.

"Kiara didn't die in a car accident, she killed herself."

hi! here's the 9000 word chapter y'all wanted. so you know me, things can't be happy for too long without them spiralling lmao. and i've been going thru some stuff and hence the writer's block and late chapters.

thoughts on the chapter?

the songs i imagine for the beach scenes are vibes and paradise by chase atlantic, lowkey played the entire nostalgia ep during that tho. ocean drive by duke dumont too.

here's an aesthetic for this chapter that i made for fun.

question: lip piercings or nose piercings?

love
a