The Cameron's have been waiting in front of their house for Anastasia, who was last like usual. She didn't mean to be late, she was just struggling to pick a dress until Sarah Cameron called her (only to ask when she was coming) and then helped Anastasia pick a dress.

Now that the Nissan pulled up in front of Tannyhill, Rafe would be lying if he'd say his heart wasn't beating faster. Not only because he was excited to see Wards reaction considering he didn't tell him, but also because he was nervous to see Anastasia all dressed up. He was scared he was going to mess everything up once again.

"Who is that?", Ward Cameron spoke up and faced his three girls. All of them just smiled excited. They already knew Rafe Cameron had a date and who was going to be his date. Whereas Ward Cameron had no idea why he was even waiting in front of his own house.
Rafe already walked to the driver side of the freshly polished car to open the door for his lady.

Jimmy Choo's Averly 100 designer heels hit the concrete once the door opened and Anastasia got out of the car. Her hand was already placed in Rafes for extra support on those high heels.
"Hi", Anastasia whispered and looked up, locking eyes with Rafes.

"Hey". His eyes moved up and down her body, trying to take everything thing in. The gold dress hugged Anastasia's body just at the right places. Her cleavage had never looked better and her legs seemed to be even longer thanks to the split up her leg. Rafe whispered back:"You look beautiful".

"You too". A chuckle fell of her lips once she saw him all dressed up in his light blue suit and a bow tie.

Ward raised his eyebrows once he saw the woman step out of the car. It was indeed Anastasia Hill - the girl Rafe was supposed to wrap around his finger. His lips curled up into a proud smile, watching Anastasia walk up to him, hand in hand with his son.

"This is Anastasia Hill", Rafe cleared his throat,"My date for tonight". He was nervous.

"The two of you look absolutely gorgeous", Ward responded and a laugh fell off Anastasia's lips.

Once the two were back in the Nissan, Anastasia driving to the Country Club, Rafe dared to stop holding his breath. Anastasia eyed him:"You good?".

"Perfect, actually", Rafe sighed relieved. His dad was actually proud of him. Now the only thing left to do was: don't fuck up tonight.

Something about this felt weird in a way, because Anastasia knew that in another life this would be everyday - driving around with Rafe, all dressed up. It was weirdly normal. Her eyes glanced back and forth between the road and him, who was running his hands through his hair for the tenth time.

"Rafe", Anastasia's voice made his heart beat faster,"It's gonna be alright. Everything is gonna be okay".

His ocean eyes trembled Anastasia's body up and down. She was casually driving a manual car in high heels, but she couldn't keep her eyes on the road - her hazel eyes always seemed to find their way over to him and Rafe found himself hoping Anastasia was going to be right. He hoped that tonight he'd make his father proud for the first time in ages and most importantly: Rafe prayed for Anastasia and him; their relationship.

Once the car stopped in front of the Country Club Rafe still hasn't answered. Instead he got out of the car to open the door for Anastasia, holding out his hand. It was hers to take.

"With you by my side", his voice husky,"Everything is gonna be perfect".
Anastasia sent him a soft smile and took his hand.

The Cameron family walked out first. Anastasia could tell Sarah and Topper weren't doing great considering she decided to walk out with her family and not her boyfriend.
Following shortly after family Cameron were Anastasia and Rafe.

Rafe Cameron had his hand slipped around Anastasia's waist, guiding her with his big hand flush against her skin. She'd deny the goosebumps he caused.
A smile was resting on their lips once the two walked out and when their eyes briefly met, it turned into a beam, radiating a certain warmth to everyone around them, that somehow managed them to awe.
This was the couple no one expected, but sold everyone; including Ward Cameron.

Kiara Carreras jaw dropped open once her eyes saw her best friend Anastasia walk in with Rafe motherfucking Cameron. She stopped listening to Pope, who hadn't yet seen the couple walking in.
But once he wondered why Kie wasn't listening and he suddenly heard the crowd awe his head whipped around and he saw Anastasia; their friend; a Pogue walk next to Rafe Cameron; the guy who beat him up; kook king. "Do you see what I see?".

"What the hell?!". Kiara couldn't take her eyes off the girl who was supposed to be her best friend, who was now standing next to the Cameron's and giggled along with Sarah.

"Kie, What did I miss?", Pope asked, his voice was trembling with nervousness as well as anger. He didn't understand anything. Anastasia should hate Rafe considering she found him beating up her friend, right?

"I don't even know". Kiara's voice was shaking nervously, afraid she was going to loose her best friend; again. To Rafe Cameron, who was a totally different story. A problematic one.

Anastasia's hazel eyes locked with Rafes and she couldn't stop herself from smiling. Laughing along with Freddy, Ward and his family made Rafe happy, so happy she had never seen. In the past she used to be the only person, who made him happy but now - seeing him laugh along with his father, who was holding his son with his arm around his shoulders - this was a completely different happy than what he had experienced before. "I'll be right back", Anastasia said,"I should say hi to my friends".

"I'll find you", Rafe answered, his eyes staring right back into hers like she was the only person in the world. The only one that mattered.

But once Anastasia found Pope and Kiara stand somewhere off to the side, her face expression turned blank once she saw their bitter faces. "Everything okay? Did something happen? What about JJ and John B?".

"You tell me, Anastasia", Kiara scoffed and Anastasia's eyes widened in disbelief. What the hell happened?

Pope could tell Anastasia had no idea why Kiara was in a bad mood. So he decided to give her a hint. "Going out with the enemy? The guy who beat me up? Or did you already forgot about that?!".

"Oh", Anastasia sighed once she realized that this was about Rafe and nothing had happened to her friends. A relieved laugh fell off her lips. "I have to be his date for business purposes".

The look on her friends faces told her they didn't understand. "I know it sounds stupid but our dads kinda wanted us to do this together considering Hill Motors works with Cameron Development".

"It doesn't just sound stupid", Pope answered,"It is stupid". His lips curled up into a smile.

"I know", Anastasia laughed relieved that Pope wasn't bitter anymore. Her eyes met Kiara's, who carefully spoke up:"So you're not dating or anything?".

"Nope", Anastasia answered and her best friend immediately pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank god", Kiara whispered,"Rafe Cameron is not the guy anyone should date". Yeah.

Anastasia changed the topic. She asked if anyone had heard something about John B or JJ, considering Anastasia hadn't heard anything of them. But ever since the arrest no one has heard something from JJ and John B seemed to be swallowed by the earth. She was hoping for the best.

After spending some time with Kiara and her family - who turned out to be extremely friendly towards Anastasia (probably because they considered her a kook) - and having a dance with her dad, Anastasia excused herself to go to the toilet.
She actually didn't need to go to the restroom, instead her feet carried her towards the porch, where no one else seemed to be.

The sun was setting and Anastasia longed for some kind of peace. As a child she always used to be overwhelmed in crowds of people with everyone staring and caring about her. Even though Anastasia's mother taught her how to overplay it, she still felt anxious sometimes and needed to get away for a short moment.

"You look like you need a drink".
A big hand softly touched Anastasia's hip and by touch alone Anastasia knew it was Rafe, who was standing behind her; who was breathing down her neck; who was resting his hand on her hip.

"You found me". Anastasia took the glass of Tequila Rafe gave her and took a sip. The alcohol burned in her throat and washed away all of the anxiety.

"I told you I would". His hand brushed along her side. "I knew you'd watch the sunset".

Anastasia smiled to herself and within seconds Rafe touched her and she found herself facing him. "Can I have this dance, love?".

Rafe watched the woman in front of him bite her lip, remembering the past:

"Do you like dancing?", Anastasia asked, ignoring common sense. She loved to dance but she already knew his type of man. The type, who was too proud to dance. But she asked anyway.
"No".
"Hm", she hummed, of course he didn't like to dance.
"Ask me anyway, my love".
"Will you dance with me?".
"With you, always".

"Always", Anastasia smiled back and placed her hand into his. Rafe guided her back to the crowd and the two found a place somewhere to the side with less people surrounding them.

She wrapped her arms around Rafes neck and felt his hands on her hips. They started to sway to the music, that was playing in the background.

Rafes strong arms around Anastasia's body made her feel great, better than ever. Like a song she used to play non stop but doesn't remember why she ever stopped listening to it. This was safety.

Their eyes locked and Rafes heart fluttered. The silk underneath his hands was the only thing keeping him from finally touching her holy body. Running his hands over her soft skin. Kissing her scars.
Rafe wanted to do all of that. He wanted to care for Anastasia, make her feel like she had nothing to worry about anymore. Because he had to see her happy. This was the only thing on his fragile mind, that sometimes used to think of things most people didn't think of.

Anastasia didn't know why warmth spread in her stomach until her entire body was hot. The only thing she could think of was that all she had to do was close the gap between them and they would ignite.
Fall so deep in their passion, nothing would matter anymore.

Rafe Cameron was weak to his knees. It took everything in him so he wouldn't give in and kiss her. Everything was pulling him closer and closer towards her. The way her eyes twinkled devilishly and how Anastasia bit her lower lip.
Anastasia Hill still held so much power over him, he'd do anything for her. Right here, right now. Didn't matter, who was watching them. Because the only thing that mattered to him was his Anastasia.

Ward Cameron was watching his son dance with the most beautiful girl from afar. If they'd go on like this the entire night, he'd be proud of his son - and Rafe knew.
But he desperately needed to get away from everyone and go somewhere private and quiet. Rafe Cameron felt like he'd suffocate any minute from the breath he's been holding in since his hands rested on Anastasia's hip.

"Fuck it. I'm running away", Rafe whispered with a low voice. His lips curled up into a smirk once he finally stopped holding his breath and stopped caring about Ward watching him. Tonight was about them and not his father.

"Where?".

"I'll figure it out. Do you wanna come?".

"Yes", Anastasia answered without thinking about it. All she could think of was him. And that she needed his hands to be somewhere else than just her hips.

Rafes entire face lit up and he beamed like a ray of sunshine after a rainy week; month - rather a rainy year.

His fingers intertwined with hers and suddenly the two were running through the crowd of people on the dance floor. I can see you from Taylor Swift was playing on the speaker. Anastasia's laugh echoed next to his chuckle when they ran up the stairs to the porch and inside the Country Club.

Someone had been looking for Anastasia the past hour and once he heard her gorgeous laugh, his watercolor eyes finally found the golden princess. She was utterly beautiful.
But she was holding hands with Rafe Cameron.
Just when she was grabbing her purse and he was wrapping his light blue jacket over her shoulders.

JJ Maybanks heart dropped within seconds. Anastasia was laughing along with Rafe motherfucking Cameron, jingling her car keys in front of his nose.
The last time he watched Anastasia jingle her car keys, was when he ended up sleeping with her in her car.

Suddenly JJ was fueled by anger and pain and ran up the stairs into the Country Club. He didn't care about playing low key. He had to get to Anastasia; to stop her; to stop her from being with him.