JJ Maybank opened his eyes once something tickled in his face - it was Anastasia's hair, that was all messed up over his face.
"You're still here". His morning voice was deep and thick with emotion.

"Good morning to you too, J", Anastasia chuckled softly and immediately got up,"Get up sleepyhead. I'm hungry".

JJ couldn't help himself but laugh out loud. But shortly after he suddenly felt nervous. Anastasia's dad must be downstairs and he was going to meet her dad at breakfast. JJ expected the worst. He had never met the dad of we're just friends.

After Anastasia changed into her low rise Levi's and a tank top, JJ also decided to put some clothes on. Once the two walked downstairs, Anastasia's hand brushed his. She could tell how nervous he was to meet her dad.

"Good morning, dad", Anastasia chirped once she entered the kitchen and immediately took some waffles her dad made almost every morning.

"Good morning, princess", Freddy Hill smiled watching his daughter get all excited about Waffles. He was so caught up chuckling at his daughter's reaction, he almost didn't see the boy in front of him, who was patiently waiting with his hand all stretched out to shake his hands.

"Good Morning, Sir", JJ spoke up,"I'm JJ Maybank, a friend of Anastasia".

"A friend?", Freddy laughed out loud but quickly gathered himself once he saw Anastasia's death stare,"Alright JJ, I'm Freddy Hill. Grab yourself some Waffles".

"Yes, Sir", JJ answered sounding like a robot.

"Oh and JJ?".

"Yes, S-".

"Please stop calling me Sir. Call me Freddy", he smiled at JJ, whose lips immediately curled up into a thankful smile.

The three had breakfast and Freddy quickly informed his daughter about Midsummers tonight and that they had to go at least for some hours. Anastasia complained immediately. She'd rather spent time at the Chateau with her friends.

"You know your mother, Anastasia", Freddy sighed,"She wanted you to be a member of the Country Club, therefore we have to go".

Anastasia groaned loudly, making JJ laugh. "What?".

"You can spent Midsummers with Kie. She's always pouting too", JJ chuckled watching Anastasia get all worked about this event.

"You're not helping, J", Anastasia rolled her eyes and got up,"I'll drop you off at Heywards".

"He did help me though", Freddy chuckled and gave JJ a thumbs up. The blonde boy couldn't help himself but laugh out loud once again. Freddy Hill was actually a super nice dad.

-

Anastasia pulled up to Heywards shop only for JJ to immediately jump out of her car. The cops were arresting Pope and JJ immediately yelled:"It wasn't him!".

"It was me!". Anastasia's heart sank a little lower once she saw how Officer Shoupe let go of Pope and faced JJ. "I was mad because Pope had just gotten beat up. He's a good kid".

"What the hell are you doing, JJ!?", Pope yelled and walked backwards in disbelief until he stood next to Anastasia.

"You know where I'm from", JJ continued talking to the officer, who eventually nodded and decided to arrest JJ, who took the blame instead of Pope.

Pope and Anastasia watched the police car in which JJ was sitting drive off. "I can't believe he did that".

"But he did, Pope", Anastasia hugged her friend back,"So you wouldn't loose your scholarship".

"Dad?", Pope walked up to Heyward, who was still staring into the sky, silently thanking for that his son has such great friends. "Do you think you can't bail JJ out?".

"Maybe I can help", Anastasia added,"I'll bribe them or something".

"You also have that picture of Rafe", Pope added, trying to find a solution. But Anastasia stopped listening to her friend once he mentioned Rafe. She didn't know if she actually could purposely do something like this so Rafe Cameron would get arrested.

"I'm sorry kids, but only his father can bail him out", Heyward silenced his son before he'd come up with even more stupid ideas,"And we have to prepare Midsummers".

Pope sighed and asked Anastasia if she was also going to Midsummers. "I kinda have to. I'll see you there!".

Before Anastasia could drive back home again, she grabbed the steering wheel tight, counting her breath. In and out. They took JJ and his dad is going to have to bail him out. Anastasia was worried.

-

"Princess?", Freddy's voice chirped through the workshop once Anastasia got out of her car. She wanted to lay in her bed and do nothing until she'd be forced to go to Midsummers and hopefully see her friends again - all of them. No one knew what happened to John B, he wasn't picking up any calls since this morning.

"Can you drive over to Tannyhill? The motorcycle we sold is broken or something. We have to pick it up. Take the pickup!".

"Of course, dad!". Anastasia would never say no to her dad. They moved across the country and she promised she'd help him how she could. Therefore Anastasia did. And somehow she already knew what was the problem with Rafe Cameron's motorcycle.

-

Dirty Airforces waltzed towards Tannyhill. Anastasia already spent her night driving Rafe home and now she had just spent her time to pick up his motorcycle from the Chateau. She rang the doorbell. A young girl with dark hair opened.

"Hey Wheezie", Anastasia knew the Cameron's had a younger sister,"Is Rafe there?".

"Yeah", Wheezie smiled softly, but then yelled loudly,"Rafe! Get down!". Anastasia couldn't help herself but laugh out loud until Rafe appeared behind his youngest sister.

"Follow me", Anastasia said once she turned around and walked back to her car.

"Anywhere". Anastasia's head whipped around only to see Rafe smirk behind her. She rolled her eyes, making him chuckle.

"I already picked up your bike", she smiled superior, leaning against the pickup,"You only have to unload it".

"How did you know?", Rafe asked while he opened the plank of the pick up and jumped up.

"I figured".
Her hazel eyes watched Rafe unload his motorcycle. His muscles flexed so that his shirt was tight around his biceps, outlining his board shoulders and strong arms. Something about him was utterly gorgeous. Anastasia could've watched him for ages even though she'd never admit it.

Anastasia closed the plank of the pick up and Rafe knew she was about to leave again. But he couldn't let her go, considering he still had a plan.
"Actually", he cleared his throat,"Can I talk to you for a second?".

"Just talk", Anastasia replied with a cold voice, making Rafe slightly more nervous about what he was going to say and do.

"You wanna go on a walk?", he asked and he voice sounded different than usual. More serious than Anastasia ever heard.

Anastasia sighed and debated what she should say, while Rafes eyes locked with hers patiently waiting to hear her response. Something about the look in his eyes told Anastasia this was some of the rare moments, where Rafe Cameron actually cared. "Okay".

The two walked in complete silence over to the beach behind Tannyhill. Rafe had so many things planned to say, that he didn't manage to get out of his throat last night because he was drunk. Yet right now, he was struggling just as much as.

Anastasia could already tell what was happening. She knew Rafe and the rare moments he had in which he needed to say something important but it just wouldn't pass his lips. He'd stay silent with the most important and meaningful words when it was the right time to say them. It was a trait of him that destroyed most of his relationships - especially his most important one. He had the habit of saying the right things when it was already too late.

"Rafe". Her voice was soft and emotional, making him immediately stop in his tracks. Anastasia turned around to look him in his eyes. "Talk, please".

Rafe ran a hand through his greasy bangs and took a deep breath.
"Would you be my date for Midsummers?".

"What?!".

"I-I can explain", Rafe immediately intervened, before Anastasia would make quick conclusions and shut him out before she even let him inside.

"It would make both of our dads proud". Of course this was what this is about. "They're partners in work and we'd be able to show this to the entire community if we'd walk in together. It would be promo for the both of us".

Anastasia studied the man in front of her. She didn't seem to recognize him anymore. Since when did Rafe Cameron care about business? He had always been searching for his father's approval and maybe now was the time to try and gain Wards approval by trying to get into his business. Anastasia got him and his intentions. He basically wanted her to be his date in order to impress his dad.

Freddy and Anastasia Hill had a great relationship, but Anastasia knew what it meant to have a bad relationship with one parent; her mother. She understood what Ward and his thoughts meant to Rafe and she could tell by the look on his face, that Rafe Cameron needed her help in order to get somewhat closer to gaining his father's approval.

"Okay".

"What? Really?", Rafe answered and once Anastasia nodded a relieved chuckle fell of his lips. Seeing him laugh was infections and suddenly Anastasia found herself laugh along with him. For a short time the two were actually happy together.

Rafe walked Anastasia back to her car. He couldn't stop smiling like a fool. He actually did it.
He managed to convince Anastasia Hill - the girl whose heart he broke and who broke his last year - to be his date for Midsummers; to give him an opportunity to finally make his dad proud.

"I'll pick you up".

"Nope I'll pick you up", Anastasia answered with a cheeky smile on her plump lips, to which Rafe wasn't able to say no to.

His ocean eyes watched Anastasia drive off in her dad's pickup and he was already looking forward to see her pull up in her black Nissan later today.
Maybe this time he was gonna make this right.
Maybe this time they'd stand a chance.