014. eat me 

( the fourteenth chapter )

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The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow across Olivine's room. She stretched lazily, savoring the quiet, only for her phone to buzz on her bedside table. Reaching for it, she saw Rafe's name pop up on Instagram.

Rafe: Good morning. Did you sleep well?

She smiled faintly, typing back.

livvy: Morning. I'm okay. Did you?

The reply came almost immediately.

Rafe: I slept okay.

She paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard before typing.
livvy: What are you up to today? Got anything planned?

His response came after a moment.

Rafe: Not really. What about you?

livvy: Helping out at the restaurant, making some desserts before clocking off. Why?

Her lips twitched as she waited for his reply. It wasn't like Rafe to just make casual conversation.

Rafe: I wanted to take you somewhere. Show you my favorite spot.

Her eyebrows raised, and she couldn't resist teasing him.

livvy: Favorite spot? Sounds ominous. Planning to murder me or something?

The reply was instant and dry.

Rafe: Hahaha. Very funny. But no.

Her grin widened as she typed.

livvy: Then what?

Rafe: You'll see when we go. By the way, why don't I have your number?

Her heart skipped at the sudden shift in tone.

livvy: I don't know. You never asked.

Rafe: Well, I'm asking now. I'll give you mine, and you text me, okay?

She watched as his number appeared on the screen, a little thrill sparking in her chest.

livvy: Okay, okay.

Before she could save the number, a cackle from behind made her jump.

"You're so obvious," Daniela teased, leaning over Olivine's shoulder, reading the conversation on her phone.

Olivine turned sharply, swatting at her cousin. "Daniela! Mind your own business."

Daniela laughed, already darting to Olivine's closet. "Oh no, this is my business now. You've got a date, babe. You need to look good."

"It's not a date!" Olivine protested, though her cheeks flushed bright red.

"Uh-huh, sure." Daniela was already pulling out heaps of clothes and shoes, throwing them onto Olivine's bed with enthusiasm. "Now, let's find something cute, something flirty, but not too flirty. We don't want to scare the poor guy."

Olivine groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I just said I'd text him."

"And he's already planning to take you to his 'favorite spot.'" Daniela mimicked Rafe's tone with a dramatic swoon, then grinned. "Trust me, this is definitely a date."

Olivine sighed, knowing there was no stopping Daniela when she got like this. But as her cousin kept pulling outfits, she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. Maybe it wasn't so bad to have someone fuss over her for once.

martiolive added Rafe to her contacts

martiolive changed Rafe's name to raphael !

martiolive

hi rafe, pick me up from dany's place

raphael
Hey Olivine, and yes ma'am

Rafe added Olivine to his contacts
Rafe changed Olivine's name to livi

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Olivine stood in front of her mirror, giving herself a once-over as Daniela beamed in approval from the bed behind her. The outfit was simple yet striking—a crisp white cropped tank top that hugged her figure perfectly, paired with low-rise, vintage-wash jeans that sat just right on her hips, revealing a glimpse of her belly piercing. Her sleek grey bag hung from her arm, adding a polished edge to her casual look. She finished the outfit with white sandals that showed off her freshly pedicured toes. Her jewelry—delicate bracelets and a thin necklace O—glimmered subtly in the morning light, complementing her understated elegance.

"You're so ready for this," Daniela teased, snapping a picture of her. "This is the perfect blend of 'I'm effortless' and 'I'm the best thing you'll ever see.'"

Olivine rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "It's just Rafe. We're...talking, not dating."

Daniela wiggled her eyebrows. "Talking? Please. He's texting you first thing in the morning and asking to take you to his 'favorite spot.' That's boyfriend behavior."

Olivine laughed softly, shaking her head as her phone buzzed again. She grabbed it off the dresser, glancing down at the screen.

raphael: Good morning. You ready yet?

"Wow. He's impatient," Daniela observed, peeking over her shoulder.

"He's...punctual," Olivine replied, quickly typing back.

livi: Almost. You waiting on me already?

His response was immediate.

raphael: Maybe. Don't keep me too long, Liv.

Her stomach did an annoying flip at the nickname, but she pushed the feeling aside, grabbing her bag. "Okay, I'm heading out. Don't wreck the place while I'm gone, Dani."

"Yeah, yeah," Daniela waved her off. "Go have your little talking stage date with the rich boy."

Despite Daniela's teasing, Olivine couldn't help but replay his texts in her head. His tone wasn't as cocky as usual—there was a softness, a genuine effort that she hadn't quite expected.

When she left the house making her way towards his truck —she spotted Rafe leaning against his truck, his arms crossed casually. He was dressed simply in a white polo shirt, the sleeves tight around his biceps, paired with grey khai shorts and adidas shoes. The sun highlighted the sharp lines of his jaw, and his usual air of arrogance seemed subdued, replaced with something more sincere.

"Right on time," he said, pushing off the truck and walking toward her.

"Right on time would've been five minutes ago," Olivine replied, a small smirk tugging at her lips as she shouldered her bag.

Rafe chuckled, his eyes sweeping over her outfit. He lingered a second too long on the way her tank top hugged her curves and how effortlessly the jeans emphasized her figure. "You look...nice," he said, the compliment sounding surprisingly earnest.

"Nice?" She raised an eyebrow, giving him a mock glare. "That's all you've got?"

He laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Okay, you look really good. Happy?"

"Much better," she teased, her smirk widening as she followed him toward his truck.

Rafe opened the passenger door for her, a gesture that earned him a curious glance from Olivine. "What's this? You're being a gentleman now?"

"Trying something new," he replied, his tone laced with dry humor.

She climbed into the truck, settling into the leather seat as Rafe closed the door behind her. He rounded the front and slid into the driver's seat, glancing over at her before starting the engine.

"So, where exactly are we going?" she asked, leaning back and folding her arms.

"You'll see," he said, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Should I be concerned?" she quipped. "This isn't some elaborate plan to get rid of me, right?"

Rafe glanced at her, feigning offense. "Wow. The trust issues are thriving today."

She laughed, shaking her head. "I mean, you are a little shady, Rafe Cameron. It wouldn't be totally out of character."

He gave her a look but didn't argue, instead focusing on the road as they left the main highway and started down a narrow, winding path.

As they drove, the tension between them seemed to dissipate. They bantered lightly about everything and nothing—her dad's restaurant, his complaints about Sarah always leaving her things in his truck, and how Daniela was constantly trying to micromanage Olivine's wardrobe.

Eventually, they pulled up to a secluded spot overlooking the ocean. The view was breathtaking—rolling waves crashing against the cliffs below, the horizon stretching endlessly. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the scene.

Rafe parked the truck and got out, grabbing a blanket from the backseat. "C'mon," he said, nodding for her to follow.

Olivine hesitated for a moment before stepping out. "Wow," she murmured, taking in the view. "Okay, I'll admit it. This is...impressive."

Rafe spread the blanket out on a grassy patch near the edge of the cliff, sitting down and patting the spot beside him. "Told you I had good taste."

She rolled her eyes but joined him, sitting cross-legged as the wind played with her braids. "So, this is your favorite spot?"

"Yeah," he said, leaning back on his hands. "Whenever things get...loud, I come here. Clears my head."

Olivine glanced at him, surprised by his honesty. "That's...actually really nice, Rafe."

He shrugged, looking out at the water. "Don't let it go to your head."

She laughed softly, shaking her head as they fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of the waves filling the space between them. For once, Rafe didn't seem like the guarded, unpredictable guy she'd gotten used to. He was just...Rafe.

And she had to admit—it wasn't a bad thing.

Olivine turned her gaze from the ocean back to Rafe, noticing the way he was fidgeting slightly. It wasn't like him to look nervous, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his expression.

"What?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Rafe cleared his throat, reaching for the back of the truck. "I, uh... I kinda planned something," he admitted, pulling out a picnic basket and a small cooler.

Olivine blinked, caught off guard. "You planned a picnic?"

"Don't look so surprised," he said, shooting her a smirk, though there was a hint of self-consciousness in his tone. "I can be thoughtful, you know."

She bit back a smile, watching as he set everything up with an effort that was both endearing and awkward. He laid out the contents of the basket—fresh sandwiches, fruit, chips, and even a small bottle of sparkling lemonade.

"Where's the caviar and champagne?" she teased, her tone light.

Rafe laughed, shaking his head. "Sorry, princess. This is about as fancy as it gets for me."

"It's perfect," she said softly, surprising even herself with the sincerity in her voice.

He paused, his eyes meeting hers for a moment longer than necessary. "Yeah?"

She nodded, reaching for one of the sandwiches. "Yeah."

They ate in companionable silence at first, the sound of the waves and the occasional seagull filling the air. Rafe seemed more relaxed now, leaning back against the truck with one arm propped up behind him.

"So," Olivine said, breaking the silence. "Why'd you go through all this trouble? Is this some kind of 'butter me up so I'll like you' strategy?"

He smirked, but there was a seriousness in his eyes as he answered. "I just thought you deserved a break. You've been dealing with a lot lately. Figured this might help."

Her teasing smile softened. "That's... surprisingly sweet, Cameron."

"Don't get used to it," he said, though the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement.

They talked for a while, the conversation flowing more naturally than she expected. He told her about growing up in the shadow of Ward and Sarah, how it felt to constantly have expectations thrown at him. She shared little bits about her family, about the stress of helping run the restaurant and how it sometimes felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

At one point, Rafe leaned back, tossing a grape into the air and catching it with his mouth. "So, what's the verdict?" he asked, gesturing to the spread. "Am I a decent picnic planner or what?"

Olivine tilted her head, pretending to consider it. "I'll give you a solid 8 out of 10."

"Eight?" he echoed, feigning offense. "What's keeping me from a ten?"

She grinned. "The chips are a little stale."

Rafe groaned dramatically, shaking his head. "Tough crowd."

They both laughed, the sound mingling with the crash of the waves. For the first time in what felt like forever, Olivine felt...light.

"Thanks for this, Rafe," she said after a while, her voice quieter now.

He looked at her, his usual cocky expression replaced with something softer. "Anytime, Liv."

Rafe leaned back on his hands, the playful smirk never leaving his lips. "So," he started, drawing out the word, "did you hear about last night?"

Olivine groaned dramatically, throwing her head back before letting herself fall onto the blanket with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, I heard about last night," she muttered, staring up at the sky like it personally offended her.

Rafe chuckled, watching her antics. "That bad?"

She lifted her head to glare at him, her eyes narrowing. "I had to pick them up, Rafe. John B's face was a mess, JJ was pacing like a lunatic, and Pope looked like he wanted to melt into the floor. Kiara gave me the rundown, and honestly, I don't even want to know what the hell was going through Topper's head."

Rafe's smirk faltered slightly, and he shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, uh... Top can be a bit much sometimes."

"A bit much?" Olivine shot him a raised brow, propping herself up on her elbows. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

Rafe sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I didn't tell him to do anything, alright? I wasn't even there."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Olivine said, sitting up fully now and fixing him with a serious look. "Have you and your friends done anything yet? Because I swear, Rafe, if I hear about you or any of your people laying a finger on Pope, John B, JJ, or Kiara... it's game over for you."

Her tone was calm but firm, the weight of her words hanging in the air between them. Rafe met her gaze, the usual cockiness in his expression replaced with something softer, almost regretful.

"I haven't done anything," he said after a moment, his voice quiet but steady. "And I won't. Not to them."

"You better not," Olivine replied, her eyes still locked on his. "Because I'm not about to play mediator between you and my friends. If you start something, it's not gonna end well for anyone. Especially you."

Rafe nodded, taking her words seriously. "I get it, Liv. I do."

She studied him for a moment longer before leaning back, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Good."

Rafe let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're kind of hot when you're serious, you know that?"

Olivine smirked, tossing a grape at him. "Weirdo, yoh get off of that, sicko."

Rafe caught the grape effortlessly in his mouth, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he chewed. "You know," he began, his tone dropping an octave, "I get real hard real fast. Want to feel?"

Olivine froze for a split second before bursting into laughter—genuine, unrestrained, and entirely infectious. Her head tilted back, her curls spilling over her shoulders as she clutched her stomach, unable to stop the sound from escaping. It wasn't the polite, half-hearted laugh she usually gave to keep things light. No, this was different—free and full of life.

Rafe bit his lower lip, watching her as if she was the only thing that mattered in the world at that moment. The way her laughter carried through the stillness of his favorite spot sent a warmth flooding his chest. Her head lolled to the side as she caught her breath, her cheeks glowing with amusement, and he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"God, you're such an idiot," she managed through the remnants of her laughter, wiping at the corner of her eye.

"Yeah," Rafe murmured, barely audible. His smirk softened into something tender, his gaze lingering on her like he wanted to memorize every detail of her in this moment. "But I made you laugh. So, who's really winning here?"

Olivine shook her head, her grin still tugging at her lips. "You're impossible, Cameron."

"And you love it," he shot back, leaning a little closer, the teasing tone back in his voice but his eyes still holding that softer edge.

Her smile didn't falter, but she rolled her eyes playfully, tossing another grape in his direction. "Keep dreaming."

As the moment settled, Rafe felt his chest tighten slightly. The sound of her laugh and the way her whole face lit up—it was addictive. He didn't say it out loud, but in that moment, he realized he'd do anything to keep hearing it.

Olivine leaned back on her hands, the playful energy between them slowly giving way to a more comfortable silence. The sun warmed her skin, and the breeze carried the faint scent of salt from the distant ocean. She glanced over at Rafe, who was still watching her, his blue eyes soft and unreadable.

"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing," he replied, his voice low. "Just... thinking."

"About what?"

Rafe hesitated for a moment, his fingers idly toying with the edge of the blanket. "About how you're different."

"Different how?" Olivine challenged, sitting up a little straighter. She wasn't going to let him get away with a vague answer.

He sighed, leaning back on his elbows. "You just... don't care about all the stuff other people care about. The money, the power plays, all that fake Figure Eight bullshit. You're just... you. And it's refreshing."

She blinked at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. "Well, thanks, I guess," she said, her tone softer than she intended. "But don't act like you're all that different, Rafe. You're still... you know." She gestured vaguely at him. "You."

Rafe smirked, clearly amused by her reluctance to finish the thought. "Yeah, I'm still me. But I'm trying to be better."

Olivine studied him for a moment, her gaze searching his face for any sign of insincerity. When she didn't find any, she gave him a small, almost reluctant smile. "I've noticed."

"Yeah?" he asked, a hint of hope creeping into his voice.

"Yeah," she admitted. "But don't let it go to your head, Cameron. You've still got a long way to go."

Rafe chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough." He reached for the small container of strawberries between them and popped one into his mouth. "You're not exactly easy on me, though. You know that, right?"

"Would you want me to be?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

He grinned, leaning closer. "Not at all."

Olivine rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward. "You're insufferable."

"And yet, here you are," Rafe quipped, his grin widening.

"Against my better judgment," she shot back, though there was no real venom in her voice.

The two of them sat there for a while longer, the teasing banter giving way to a quieter kind of comfort. Olivine let herself relax, feeling the weight of the past few days start to ease off her shoulders. It was strange, but being around Rafe—despite his flaws, his arrogance, and his penchant for trouble—felt oddly... safe.

"So," he said after a while, breaking the silence, "what do you think? About this spot?"

She looked around at the clearing, the way the sunlight filtered through the trees, the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. It was peaceful, almost serene.

"It's nice," she admitted. "I can see why it's your favorite."

Rafe's expression softened again, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. "Yeah. It's the one place where I feel like I can breathe, you know?"

Olivine glanced at him, surprised by the honesty in his voice. She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I get that."

They sat in silence for a few moments longer, the kind of silence that didn't need to be filled. And for the first time in a long while, Rafe felt like maybe—just maybe—he wasn't as alone as he thought.

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As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the marshes, Rafe guided the truck back toward Olivine's house. The drive was quiet but comfortable, the silence filled with the soft hum of the radio and the occasional sideways glance from Rafe as she stared out the window. She was absentmindedly playing with the edge of her sundress, her nails tracing the delicate embroidery as her thoughts wandered.

When they pulled up to her house, Olivine unbuckled her seatbelt and turned toward him. "Thanks for today," she said softly, her voice carrying the warmth of sincerity. "It was... nice."

Rafe smirked, leaning back in his seat with that trademark cocky confidence she'd come to expect from him. "Nice? That's it? I planned a whole picnic, brought you to my favorite spot, and you're giving me nice?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Fine. It was really nice. Better?"

"Much."

She pushed the door open, stepping out onto the gravel driveway. Just as she reached the front steps, she paused, glancing back at his car. Rafe had rolled down the window, resting his arm casually along the edge as he watched her with that same faint smirk.

Without thinking too much, Olivine turned back and walked toward him, her sandals crunching softly against the gravel. Rafe's brows lifted slightly in surprise as she leaned down through the open window. Before he could say anything, her hands cupped his face, and she leaned in, pressing a quick, soft kiss to his lips.

As she pulled back, a sly smile tugged at her lips. "Bye, Rafe," she said, her voice teasing as she stepped away.

But before she could fully retreat, Rafe reached out, his hand gently cradling her cheek, pulling her back toward him. His lips captured hers again, this time slower, deeper, with an unmistakable tenderness that made her breath hitch. He smiled into the kiss, savoring the moment before finally pulling back, his hand still lingering against her skin.

"Bye, Olivine," he murmured, his voice lower, softer, as his blue eyes locked onto hers.

She blinked at him for a moment, cheeks warm, before turning and walking up to her house. Rafe didn't take his eyes off her until she'd opened the door and disappeared inside. Only then did he shift the truck into drive, a quiet grin on his face as he pulled away, the image of her still fresh in his mind.

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

here's a lil bit of rolivine here, and do i love them, yes yes i do

word count : 3.6k words

https://pin.it/4v9VZbnG0

ENJOY !!!

xoxoxo
kiki 💋💋