It was past midnight once Rafe Cameron stopped his motorcycle in front of John Bs place, considering Anastasia wasn't at home. So he guessed she could only be with her stupid Pogue friends.
Rafe Cameron took his helmet off and his eyes immediately found Anastasia on the porch of the Chateau. She was laughing wholeheartedly with Kiara.
He couldn't help but smile seeing her happy.

Just when Pope complained about his headache, which was probably from getting beat up, Kiara forced him to go inside and crash on John Bs couch.
So John B eyed JJ and Anastasia, both were already looking at each other waiting for something to happen; someone to give in and talk about last night.

Before John B could finally excuse himself, Kiara walked back out on the porch, her jaw dropped but she didn't a say word. A gasp escaped her lips staring off into distance.

"What?", Anastasia immediately asked and looked into the same direction like her best friend.
Rafe Cameron's ocean eyes were staring right back at her.

"Oh god, I'm so gonna ki-", JJ immediately shouted once he jumped off of the couch.

Anastasia cut him off by placing her hand on his chest:"No, not today JJ. I'm gonna talk to him".

Her hazel eyes could see the pain in his ocean eyes. Something was going on in Rafes mind and she needed to know. Without waiting for a response, Anastasia's feet carried her down the stairs and over to the road, where Rafe was standing next to his motorcycle.

"Leave, Rafe", Anastasia spoke up,"No one wants you here".

"I-I wanted to apologize", his voice broke,"That you had to see me like this".

Once he opened his mouth Anastasia knew Rafe had been drinking. "You're drunk".

"Maybe", Rafe scratched the back of his head, cocking a smile,"But I just needed to see you".

His voice was raw and honest. Anastasia felt a sharp pain right through her heart. He was actually sorry.
Anastasia couldn't help it but feel empathy for him. After all: how could she not? The man in front of her used to be everything for her; she knew him like the back of her hand. Rafe Cameron was still getting under her skin. Even after all this time and heartbreak.

"You should go, before I'm going to make you".
JJs voice was husky coming behind Anastasia. A protective hand rested on her hip.

Rafe couldn't help but laugh out loud, seeing the Pogue in front of him touch Anastasia - his Anastasia. The kook was waiting for Anastasia to turn around and tell JJ why the hell he dared to touch her.

Rafe didn't know that JJ had his hands on Anastasia the entire last night.

Rafe could only guess why Anastasia let him touch her, protect her. And he didn't like the reason.

Rafe stopped laughing.

Anastasia didn't say a word. She didn't know what to say. She only found herself staring into Rafes ocean eyes, knowing what he'd think of her and JJ. Why did she feel bad?

"Leave", JJ urged and was about to step forward.

"No". Anastasia grabbed JJs wrist, pulling him back so he wouldn't touch Rafe. "He's drunk. I'm not gonna let him drive".

"What?!", JJs head whipped around but Anastasia didn't even look at him. She only had eyes for Rafe.
JJ could feel his stomach turn around and suddenly he felt like throwing up. He slowly recognized that Anastasia wasn't joking.

"I won't leave you alone with him", JJ insisted and his hand touched Anastasia's cheek, finally forcing her to meet his eyes.
Her heart fluttered once he caressed her cheek and his watercolor eyes looked down at her.

"Okay", Anastasia smiled and asked JJ if he could get Kiara, so Anastasia could also drop her off on her way to Figure eight.
Rafes heart sank a little lower once he watched Anastasia look into JJs eyes and agree.

"So you're into pogues now?", Rafe rambled once JJ was back in the Chateau. Anastasia sighed when she opened the passenger door for him and decided to ignore Rafe. "Watch your head".

Rafe rested his head against the seat and watched Anastasia walk around the car and get in the driver seat next to him.
"Don't you dare say another word once my friends are here".

Her eyes twinkled dangerously once Anastasia glared at him, waiting for a response. Rafe only smirked and answered with his smoky voice:"You're scared I'll tell them all of your dirty little secrets, huh?".

"If you do", Anastasia answered and her lips curled up into a smirk,"I will sent that pretty picture of yours to the cops".

Rafes jaw clenched and he took a deep breath. He could never be angry at her.
"I apologized".

"To me, not my friends", Anastasia snapped back and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"We both know they're not your friends once they know about your past, my love".

Finally the door opened and JJ along with Kiara got into the backseats. Kiara only felt a little bit uncomfortable sitting in a car with a drunk Rafe Cameron and an obviously jealous JJ Maybank.

"Everyone buckled up?", Anastasia asked her routine question whenever she was driving other people around in her car. Everyone agreed except Rafe and Anastasia could already tell why. He was too drunk to buckle the seatbelt.

Another sigh escaped her lips as Anastasia leaned over the middle console and right towards Rafe, whose heart skipped a beat once Anastasia's hand brushed his thigh to grab the seatbelt.
She still smelled like sandalwood and jasmine, which made Rafe remember nights and days - or whatever time it actually was - he spent with her.

Whereas JJ remembered last night he spent with Anastasia on this exact backseat. And he couldn't help himself but be annoyed and angry at how Anastasia leaned over to Rafes lap - he was jealous.

Kiara could feel the tension in the car and she desperately needed to get out. Therefore she was very very glad, that Anastasia was driving fast. What Kiara didn't understand was that no one said a word. Neither did JJ tell stupid jokes - which was suspicious; nor did Anastasia sing along to Moth to a flame by Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd. Rafe on the other hand just smirked listening to the lyrics:

I'll pull you in, I'll pull you back to what you need initially
It's just one call away
And you'll leave him, you're loyal to me
But this time I let you be
'Cause he seems like he's good for you

Shortly after Anastasia dropped Kiara off, she stopped her car in front of Tannyhill. Rafe didn't dare to say a word once he opened the door and got out of Anastasia's Nissan. JJ immediately switched to the front passenger seat and gazed over to Anastasia, who turned the engine off. She was still watching Rafe stumble towards the door of Tannyhill.

"Wait a sec", Anastasia whispered underneath her breath and got out of her car. Before JJ could protest, she was already gone.

"Let me help you", Anastasia whispered softly and took the keys out of Rafes hand. He didn't manage to unlock the door in his drunken state.

Once the door was open, Rafe tried to enter, but stumbled purposely against some stature Rose had placed in the entrance area. Anastasia quickly caught the art piece and placed it back on its shelf. She couldn't help herself but follow Rafe too afraid he'd knock something else over or himself out.

"You shouldn't drink so much". Anastasia whispered once she finally managed to get Rafe upstairs.

Rafe only chuckled softly and answered:"I never imagined you'd say something like that".

"I thought you hated me. But look at you still caring about me and driving me home", Rafe decided to continue.

He opened his bedroom door and his ocean eyes pulled Anastasia along with him. Suddenly she was standing in front of him, staring into Rafes eyes.
"Why?". His voice was quiet and emotional.

Anastasia's plump lips just curled up into a smile and she tried to hide the tears forming in her eyes remembering the past and how much love they used to have for one another. The realization hit her that she could never fully unlove him. But she didn't know how to tell him the truth or if he even deserved the truth. All that she could think of were what if's.

Rafe just lowered his gaze and smiled to himself as if he just read her mind. His hand tucked some of her wild hair behind her ear and he eventually whispered:"We should've just ran away".

"But we didn't".

"And now you hate me". Rafe laughed ironically to himself.

"I'll leave", Anastasia excused herself and turned around. Neither of them said another word. Rafe watched Anastasia leave and once again he remembered how much he actually messed everything up.

Anastasia closed the door to Tannyhill behind her and suddenly her eyes met JJs, who was leaning against her car. She almost forgot about him.

"That took very long". His voice was rough and he was clearly annoyed.

"Yeah Rafe is pretty wasted", Anastasia explained and got into the driver seat. Before she could start the engine, JJ spoke up once again.

"Are you fine? Did he do something to you?". JJ could tell something was off with Anastasia. She was pale as if she had seen a ghost.

"No and he didn't do anything", Anastasia immediately answered completely shocked, asking herself how JJ could think something like that. Until she remembered that he didn't know Rafe around her.

"Really?! Because you don't seem fine", JJ replied with an aggressive undertone,"Like why would you even help someone, who you just caught beating up our friend?!".

Anastasia took some time to answer while she was speeding through Figure eight back to her place. She certainly couldn't tell JJ the truth, at least not right now.
"I help people, who need help. That's what I do, JJ".

"He didn't need your help", JJ snapped back and Anastasia finally understood what this was about. She stopped her car in front of Hill Motors.

Her head whipped around and her eyes looked with his. "Don't be jealous, J".

"What?!", JJ gasped and immediately started laughing,"I'm not!"

"Yes you are", Anastasia chirped and laughed along with him. This time JJ didn't deny it.
Once the two calmed down again, Anastasia spoke up:"Do you wanna stay tonight?".

Of course Anastasia had realized that JJ never usually slept at his home. He always spent his nights at the chateau and Anastasia didn't want to force him to go home. She wanted him to stay, because she didn't know how his family treated him. And mostly because he looked extra attractive after he ran his hand through his hair multiple times out of annoyance.

"I'd love to", JJ answered and added with a chuckle,"But only if you promise me I won't wake up alone again".

"Promise".

-

JJ couldn't help but smile once he stopped kissing Anastasia and admired her face. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. And he never would've thought that someone like her would ever like someone like him.

"What are you thinking about, J?", Anastasia whispered and traced circles on JJs naked chest.

"Nothing", JJ lied and smiled once he continued,"Just to be clear we're?".

"Friends?", Anastasia replied something that certainly wasn't a clear question but still something like that.

"Yeah friends sounds good", JJ chuckled and pressed his lips on Anastasia's forehead before he turned around to his side, wrapping his arms around Anastasia and he drifted off in a deep sleep.