I wake up the next morning to my phone buzzing by my face. It's a message from an unknown number.

Unknown

Is this nolia?

Who the fuck is nolia?

Magnolia?
Magnolia Brown?

I mean yeah that's me?
Who is this?

It's Rafe? The hot guy from the
party who you left high and dry
the other day.

Right.
How did you get my number?

Barry.
Listen can you do me a solid
And give me some of that candy?

Come by the surf shop after my shift.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is just perfect. Not only do I have to pay Barry after my shift but I have to see Rafe. Again.

I look at the time and it's 10:45. My shift starts at 11. I shoot up and quickly out of my uniform, which consists of Jean shorts and the company t-shirt. I hustle out of my car and speed out to the middle of the island where the shops located.

«•••»

Once I'm done working I go to my manager to collect my paycheck. Because I'm working overtime and breaking child labor laws, half my salary it's automatically transferred into my bank and I'm paid under the table for the rest of my hours.

As I'm leaving the back office Barry and Rafe walk in shoulder to shoulder. Just my luck, they had to come together. Barry walks up first.

"My price just went from $15 to $20," he says is a cold tone. "You know. Interest."

"Are you serious?" I deadpan.

"How do you feel about $25?" He responds mockingly.

"Fine. What ever," I say bitterly as I hand him one of my 20s.

Barry walks out as Rafe walks up to me. He sets his hands on the counter between us with a smug grin.

"We can't do anything here. Come on," I say as I gather my things and walk outside.

I put my things in my back seat as I climb over the door. I look over towards the blonde, who kind of stands off to the side.

"Are you coming or?" I question as I turn on my car, putting on my sunglasses simultaneously.

"Yeah, I'm coming," he says quickly as he opens my passenger door and settles into my passenger seat.

I turn the radio on and reluctantly give him aux, I didn't feel like torturing him anymore then I am already. He plays J Cole and the Weeknd as we speed down the road to my spot. He mouths the lyrics who I go full blow karaoke, with a hand mic and all.

Just as I hand off the microphone to him the Twinkie passes us by, John B and Jj is the front seats, their heads follow my car as we pass. I pay no mind though, their moment in my life was long over.
«•••»

"Before I show you," I say as I put my car in park and look at the blonde. "You have to swear you won't show anyone where we're going."

"This seems like a formality. Do we really need to go-," Rafe starts before I cut him off.

"Swear. Swear you won't show anyone where my spot is."

"Okay, okay I swear."

"Good!" I say as I hop out of the car, not bothering to use the door.

Rafe follows quickly behind me, I'm already sliding down the hill as I hear his car door close. I wait for him at the fence, making sure he knows where to go.

By the time he jumps the fence I'm already sat in my usual spot in the sand. Rafe joins me, sat awkwardly beside me. I take out the white powder that we both know all too well, setting it in my lap.

My hands reach around my neck to take my necklace off, but I fail. The clasp must have rusted shut from me never taking it off.

"Could you help me?" I ask as I motion to the war on my neck.

"Yeah, sure," he says as he slowly moves behind me.

I drop the clasp and lift my hair off my neck so he can see what he's doing. His hands work gently as he works the clasp. Just as I was going to tell him that it's a lost cause, the tension releases from my neck as the necklace falls off. I pick up the metal from my lap as Rafe settles in next to me.

"Thank you," I say as I dip the spoon into the powder before snorting it into my system.

"Of course," he responds.

I pass the baggie over to him, with the spoon dipped into it already. He takes a large bump, larger than I've ever done, and snorts it like nothing. He gives me my baggie and necklace back.

I halfway expected him to leave but he didn't, he stayed with me and kept me company. We talked about the ocean and unsolved mystery's for hours. He seemed to be very interested in the Royal merchant and its gold fortune. It's only rumored and probably doesn't even exist, but he has a very odd fascination with it.

"Do you think it's out there?" He says looking over to me.

"Personally no. It's been hundreds of years and no one found it? Sounds like a goose chase if you ask me," I respond look back at the boy.

"Hmm," Rafe hums at my answer.

Before he can say anything, two shots ring out from the distance that makes me flinch. I instantly sit up. Goosebumps line my neck. I knew there was a party tonight at the bone yard, which was only a few minute walk from here.
Soon drunken teens start running our direction talking about how one of the locals got their hands on a gun.

"We should probably go," Rafe says, putting his hand on my back.

"Yeah, we should," I say as I stand up.

I stumble to the fence as I throw my body over it. Rafe soon follows, beating me up the hill.

"You are not okay to drive," he says in a comforting tone.

"Yeah, yeah what ever," I respond as I throw him my keys.

I slump into the passenger seat as he gets into the drivers side, adjusting my seat. He starts the engine and begins to drive away, as I feel my eyelids become heavy. My head becomes a bowling ball and soon I lean my head down till I find something solid and drift off to sleep.

«•••»

When I wake up, it's the next day. Light shines on my eyelids as I sit up. I look around the room I didn't fall asleep in. I look down at a shirt that I didn't fall asleep in.

Familiar soft snores come from the floor next to me. I crawl to where they're coming from and peek my head over the edge of the bed. Rafe lays with his stomach on the floor, half naked, with nothing but a pillow and a thin blanket to sleep with.

"The fuck?" I whisper to myself as I crawl back into the bed.

Crawling to the opposite side of the mattress, I slip out of bed on the other side, sliding my feet on the floor as I walk around to his bathroom. I quietly shut the door before taking in my figure in his mirror. My hair frizzy and no longer fully straightened. Bags loom under my eyes with smudged mascara dancing between my lashes.

Apart from my physical appearance, I find myself in unfamiliar clothes. My jean shorts remain the same but the t-shirt I left my house in yesterday morning was gone. Instead I found my self wearing a shirt 3 sizes too big, swallowing my frame.

Kildare county boat club is embroidered onto the solder of the shirt. I lift the fabric up to my nose to confirm my suspicion. The sent of Rafe fills my nostrils. It's smells of old spice, vanilla, and bourbon.

Why I was wearing Rafes shirt, I don't know. Why I'm at Rafe Cameron's house, I don't know. Why I didn't mind that all this was happening, I don't know. Part of me is disgusted of the mere thought of Rafe like that, again, but another part of me, deep, deep down, enjoys his company.

I rummage through his cabinets until I find mouthwash. If I can't brush my teeth, this is the next best thing. It's not gross right? I mean if he's already been in my mouth, this is nothing.

By the time I exit the bathroom, Rafe is already awake. He stands over the bed, making it. His toned back moves ever so slightly as he folds the corner of his sheets.

"I think I already know the answer but," I say breking the silence. "But did we? You know?"

"Sleep together? No," he says as he turns his attention towards me. "I'm surprised you're still here. It's not on brand for you to stay this late."

"Ha," I say in a dry tone. "Where's the rest of my clothes?" I say looking around his very clean and put together room.

"They're over there," the blonde points to the corner of his dresser.

"Thanks," I say dryly. "And my car-."

"On the side table."

"Thanks."

I grab my clothes from the dresser and my keys from the table, and leave without a goodbye. I creep down the stairs leading to the front door.

"Magnolia?" A voice behind me asks.

I slowly turn to see Sarah Cameron standing at the top of the stairs. I don't really know her that well, so I don't know how she knows me. All I know is her and Kie have some beef from Kies Kook year.

"Hey, Sarah," I say awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, slowly descending the stairs.

"Oh you know, business," I saw sheepishly.

"Is that Rafes shirt?" She questions.

"This old this? No, I have this because I just got a job at midsummers!" I say, crossing my fingers under the pile of clothes. "And I had to change into it because I spilled water on me."

"Oh, okay?" She says, a smile now forming on her face. "I'll see you there then!"

"Yep!" I say, a fake smile pulling at my cheeks.

I turn on my heel and make my exit of the giant house. Slipping into my car before having to readjust my seat from Rafe last night set in what exactly happened. turning my head to the passenger seat, my shirt from last night lays inside out looking at me. I shove the keys into the ignition and I turn my car on, beginning to drive to the Kildare boat club.

«•••»

I pull into the boat club, parking in the very back of the parking lot. I'm make sure to change out of Rafes shirt and into one of my spare tank tops I keep in my car. I reapply my deodorant, spray some perfume, and put my hair into two pigtail braids.

If I'm going into an interview I want to be presentable. I walk into the building with confidence, finding my way to the front desk.

"Hey! Is it possible for me to talk to someone about a job at midsummers?" I ask in a polite tone.

"Of course!" The woman at the counter responds. "Follow me!"

I follow her bouncy brown curls all the way to the back office where an older man sits behind a well kept desk. I take a seat in the chair across from the man, as the woman from the desk whispers something into his ear.

"So I hear you would like to work midsummers," the man starts, breaking the silence.

"Yes that's correct," I respond keeping eye-contact. "I'm Magnolia but you can call me Maggie!"

"Nice to meet you Maggie, you can call me Marcus," he responds, stroking his black well kept beard.

He couldn't be over 50 and yet he didn't have a single gray hair. His black beard and black hair make him look younger for his years. His piercing green eyes contrasted his dark hair and tanned skin.

"Nice to meet you," I say with a chipper smile.

"Do you have any experience waitressing?"

"I was a waitress and interned the bar at the wreck last summer," I say confidently.

"Can I ask why you no longer work there?" Marcus asks, leaning back in his seat.

"I was offered a higher paying position elsewhere." I say with ease knowing it was partly true. "I currently work at the surf shop in the middle of the island."

"Nice, nice," Marcus mumbles to himself. "We will be in contact with you."

"Perfect," I say as I stand up. "Thank you for this opportunity."

"Of course."

—————————————————————————
A/N:

I'm so excited for the midsummer chapter but I
lowkey need to slow my roll!