022. reverse it

( the twenty-second chapter )

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The next morning, Olivine woke to the sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand. She groaned, reaching blindly for it, and squinted at the screen.

A text from Rafe.

raphael: Good morning.

Simple. Harmless. And for some reason, it made her heart do a little flip.

She hesitated before replying.

martiniolive: Morning.

A minute passed before his reply came in.

raphael: Do you have plans today?

She frowned, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She did have plans—her mom had asked her to help out at the community center for a few hours—but she wasn't sure she wanted to tell him that.

Still, honesty felt better than brushing him off.

martiniolive: im helping out at the center with my mom, why????

Rafe didn't respond immediately, and for a moment, she thought he'd given up. But then her phone buzzed again.

raphael: Can I help?

She blinked at the screen, reading the text twice to make sure she hadn't imagined it.

martiniolive: You? Help at the community center?"

raphael: Yeah. Why not?

Olivine stared at her phone, torn between skepticism and curiosity. Was this some kind of ploy to impress her, or was he actually serious?

Her mom's words echoed in her head: If he's worth it, he'll prove it to you.

She decided to test him.

martiniolive: Fine. Be there at 10. Don't be late.

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At exactly 10 a.m., Rafe rolled into the community center parking lot, his bike standing out like a sore thumb among the beat-up sedans and minivans. He felt out of place the second he stepped out, his usual confidence faltering as he took in the cheerful chaos of volunteers unloading supplies and setting up tables.

Olivine spotted him almost immediately. She stood near the entrance, a clipboard in hand and an apron tied neatly around her waist. Her braids were pulled back into a low bun today, and even in a plain blue T-shirt and leggings, she looked effortlessly put together, makeup light due to the unbareable heat

Rafe stuffed his hands into his pockets, suddenly self-conscious.

"You're actually here," she said as he approached, her tone more surprised than impressed.

"You told me to be," he replied, shrugging. "Figured I'd give it a shot."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was trying to figure out if he was serious. "Well, don't just stand there. Grab an apron. You're unloading donations with me."

Rafe smirked, following her inside. "Yes, ma'am."

The next few hours were... different. Rafe wasn't used to this kind of work—lifting boxes, organizing supplies, answering endless questions from kids who seemed to think he was the most fascinating person they'd ever met.

But the weirdest part? He didn't hate it.

Olivine stayed by his side most of the time, giving him instructions and occasionally throwing him a teasing comment when he fumbled something.

By the time they wrapped up, Rafe was sweaty, exhausted, and starving—but he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this... good.

As they stood by his truck, Olivine looked up at him, her expression softer than it had been in days.

"You did good today," she said quietly.

He shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It wasn't so bad. I might even come back."

She smiled, and for the first time, it felt genuine. "We'll see."

For a moment, neither of them said anything, the tension between them easing into something warmer.

"Let me take you out," Rafe said suddenly, his voice steady. "For real this time. No parties, no drama. Just us."

Olivine hesitated, studying him like she was trying to read his mind.

"Actions, Rafe," she said finally, her lips curving into a small smile.

"I know," he replied, his gaze steady. "This is me trying."

And for the first time, she believed him.

Rafe's gaze softened as he watched Olivine, her small smile still lingering on her lips. The sunlight caught the sheen of her skin, and he noticed a faint speck of flour near her jawline, likely from earlier when they had been sorting supplies.

"You've got something," he said, narrowing his eyes and gesturing vaguely toward her face.

"Where?" she asked, her hand flying up to swipe at her cheek.

"Not there," Rafe said, his voice quieter now, almost teasing. She tried again, but he reached out, gently pushing her hand aside.

"Let me," he murmured, his fingers brushing her cheek.

Olivine froze as his touch lingered, the warmth of his palm spreading across her skin. Her lips parted, but she didn't say a word, her breath catching as his thumb moved slowly, almost like he was testing her reaction.

Then, without a second thought, Rafe tilted her chin up.

The kiss was tentative at first—soft, like he was giving her the chance to pull away. But when she didn't, his hand slid to the back of her neck, deepening the kiss with a kind of desperation that he hadn't meant to reveal.

Olivine didn't hesitate. Her hand found its way to his neck, her fingers threading through the hair at his nape as she pulled him closer. Her other hand rested on his chest, clutching at his shirt like she needed something to ground her.

It was the kind of kiss that made the world blur at the edges, everything else fading into the background.

Rafe felt her melt into him, her lips moving against his like they'd done this a hundred times before. His grip on her tightened slightly, his thumb grazing the soft skin at the nape of her neck as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

Olivine's heart was racing, her mind a tangled mess of emotions she couldn't sort through. She wanted to be mad at him still—remind him that he had a long way to go before he earned her trust—but in this moment, none of that mattered.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard, their foreheads almost touching. Rafe didn't move his hand from her neck, his thumb brushing gently against her skin.

"That... wasn't planned," he admitted, his voice rough and low.

Olivine blinked up at him, her lips tingling and her heart still pounding in her chest. "I can tell," she whispered, her tone half-teasing, half-serious.

Rafe's lips quirked into a small, almost shy smile—a rarity for him. "You're not slapping me, so I'll take that as a good sign."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Don't get used to it."

His expression softened, the playful glint in his eyes replaced with something warmer, more sincere. "I won't," he said quietly. "But I'm glad you let me have this one."

She didn't reply, just gave him a look that said more than words could.

It wasn't forgiveness—not yet—but it was a step closer. And for Rafe, that was enough.

Olivine finally stepped back, her hand sliding from the back of Rafe's neck to her side, leaving a faint lingering warmth on his skin. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips still slightly parted as if she was about to say something. But she didn't. Instead, she shook her head, a small, rueful smile playing on her lips.

Rafe's hand dropped reluctantly from her neck, brushing the fabric of her dress as it fell. He could still feel the imprint of her skin against his palm, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. Words felt clumsy, too small for what had just passed between them.

"Don't think this changes anything," Olivine finally said, her voice steadier than she expected it to be.

Rafe raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. "Oh, it definitely changes something."

She gave him a pointed look, crossing her arms over her chest. "You kissed me, Rafe. That doesn't mean I'm not still mad at you."

"I didn't hear you complaining," he shot back, his grin widening.

Her eyes narrowed, but there was no real heat in her glare. "Keep pushing, Cameron, and I'll start."

"Noted."

The playful edge in his voice made her roll her eyes, but he could see the faint smile she was trying to hide.

"Seriously, though," he said after a beat, his tone softening. "About yesterday...I'm sorry. For being...well, me."

Olivine tilted her head, studying him. "That's a pretty vague apology."

"It's a work in progress," he said with a sheepish shrug. "I'm not exactly great at this whole...making things right thing."

"You don't say," she deadpanned, but there was a spark of amusement in her tone.

He scratched the back of his neck, glancing away briefly before meeting her eyes again. "I'm trying, Liv. For you. Just...don't give up on me yet, alright?"

Her expression softened, and for a moment, she looked like she might say something reassuring. But then she took a step back, shaking her head. "Rafe, I don't even know what you want from me."

He frowned, the words hitting harder than he expected. "I want you," he said simply, the raw honesty in his voice catching her off guard.

Olivine blinked, her lips parting slightly as if to respond, but nothing came out.

Rafe stepped closer, his gaze steady and serious now. "I know I'm a mess, and I know I've got a long way to go. But when I'm with you...I don't know. It feels different. You make me want to be better."

Her breath caught, the weight of his words settling in her chest. She looked away, focusing on the flowers in the garden instead of the intensity in his eyes.

"Rafe..." she began, her voice hesitant.

"I know," he interrupted gently. "I'm not asking for anything right now. I just wanted you to know."

The silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Finally, Olivine sighed, running a hand through the loose strands of her braids. "You've got a lot to prove, Cameron."

"I know," he said again, his voice unwavering.

She met his gaze, searching for something—anything—that might convince her to let her guard down. And in his eyes, she saw it: sincerity.

"Alright," she said finally, her tone soft but firm. "I'm not promising anything. But...I'll think about it."

Rafe's lips curved into a slow, genuine smile. "That's all I'm asking for."

With that, she turned toward the house, pausing at the door to glance back at him. "You'd better get out of here before my mom comes back out. She'll want answers, and I'm not giving her any."

He chuckled, stepping back toward his bike. "Fair enough."

As he started the engine, Olivine gave him one last look, her expression unreadable. Then she disappeared inside, leaving Rafe alone on the quiet street, a faint glimmer of hope lingering in his chest.

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

i'm falling sooo in love w drew starkey it's insane and i'm planning on a sequel but olivine's actress x drewsph

word count : 1.8k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋