034. why oh why

( the thirty fourth chapter )

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The soft morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Rafe stirred, blinking against the brightness, and felt the familiar weight of Olivine curled into his side. Her arm was draped over his chest, her head resting near his shoulder, and her leg tangled with his.

For a moment, he didn't move, savoring the peace of it. Her breath was warm and steady against his neck, and he couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. This was a side of her no one else got to see—soft, vulnerable, and completely at ease.

Olivine stirred, her fingers brushing against his chest as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked sleepily up at him, her lips curving into a small, lazy smile.

"Morning," she mumbled, her voice husky with sleep.

"Morning, gorgeous," Rafe replied, pressing a kiss to her temple.

She groaned, burying her face into his chest. "I'm not ready to be awake."

He chuckled, running a hand down her back. "Neither am I, but your mom's probably already plotting to feed me again."

She laughed softly, lifting her head to look at him. "You're probably right. Better get up before she drags you out of bed."

By the time they were downstairs, Rafe had just finished helping Olivine gather the leftovers from breakfast when his phone buzzed.

dad: Come home. We need to talk.

Rafe sighed, showing Olivine the message. "Guess my dad's decided to be extra fun today."

"He's probably gonna lecture you about being more like him again," Olivine teased, bumping her hip against his.

"Lucky me," Rafe muttered, though his lips quirked into a small smile.

They had just settled onto the couch, Olivine lounging with her legs draped over Rafe's lap, when the sound of the front door opening caught their attention.

JJ's voice rang out, loud and incredulous. "Pope, am I seeing this right, or is Baby Face Cameron in your living room? Humping your sister?"

Olivine groaned, already rolling her eyes as Pope appeared behind JJ, looking more resigned than surprised.

"JJ," Olivine said sharply, sitting up slightly but keeping her legs over Rafe's lap.

"What? I'm just calling it like I see it!" JJ exclaimed, throwing his arms up.

Rafe's jaw tightened as he glared at JJ, his voice low and sharp. "You got a problem, Maybank?"

JJ smirked, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "Yeah, I do. Don't see why you're here acting like this is your place—"

Rafe shifted forward, his hands resting on his knees as he prepared to stand. "Say another word, and we're gonna have a real problem."

Olivine, sensing the tension, reached out and grabbed Rafe's hand, lacing their fingers together. "Pipe down, Rafe," she said softly, tugging him back into his seat.

JJ's smirk widened, but Pope stepped in, shooting his friend a warning look. "Alright, JJ, enough." He turned to Olivine, his expression neutral but his tone serious. "Look, I'm not thrilled about... this," he said, gesturing vaguely between her and Rafe. "But I'm her little brother, not her bodyguard. She's  gonna do what she wants."

Olivine sighed, her lips curving into a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Pope."

"Don't thank me. Just saying it how it is."

JJ, meanwhile, leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed as he shook his head. "Man, Liv, I can't believe you let this happen. You've been completely brainwashed. We've lost our strongest soldier."

Olivine groaned, dropping her head onto Rafe's shoulder. "How do I know you?" she muttered, her voice muffled.

Rafe chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. His hand moved to play with her curls, his touch gentle. "Strongest soldier, huh?"

"Don't start," Olivine mumbled, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile.

JJ rolled his eyes dramatically. "Whatever. I'm just saying, don't come crying to me when this blows up in your face."

"Out," Olivine said firmly, pointing toward the door.

JJ raised his hands in mock surrender, backing away. "Fine, fine. But I'm telling you, this is a bad idea."

As the door closed behind him, Pope lingered for a moment, giving Olivine a look that was equal parts concern and resignation.

"You sure about this?" he asked quietly.

Olivine nodded, her fingers tightening around Rafe's. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Pope sighed, shaking his head as he followed JJ out.

Once they were alone again, Olivine turned to Rafe, her eyes searching his. "You okay?"

Rafe smirked, leaning down to kiss her softly. "I'm fine. But remind me to thank your brother for the vote of confidence later."

She rolled her eyes, but her laugh was warm as she leaned into his embrace. "You're impossible."

"And you love it," Rafe murmured, his lips brushing against hers.

"Yeah, I do," she admitted softly, her smile widening as she pulled him closer.

The tension left with Pope and JJ, but Rafe could feel Olivine's pulse steady against him, her body finally relaxing as the door clicked shut. She leaned her head back onto his shoulder, exhaling deeply, her curls brushing his jaw.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice softer now, her fingers absently tracing the back of his hand.

Rafe hummed in response, but she lifted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I'm serious, Rafe."

"I'm fine," he said finally, his voice steady but his gaze flicking toward the door. "Your brother's... something, though. And JJ? Man, if he keeps talking, I'm gonna—"

"Do nothing," she cut in firmly, squeezing his hand. "He's just protective. That's how JJ is. Annoying, but it comes from a place of... I don't know, misguided love or something."

Rafe tilted his head back, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Misguided's one way to put it."

Olivine sighed, shaking her head as she shifted to fully face him, her legs tucked under her on the couch. "Look, Rafe, you can't let every little thing JJ or Pope says get under your skin. They're always going to have opinions, but you're here with me. That's what matters."

His smirk softened into something more genuine as he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. "Yeah," he murmured. "That's what matters."

For a moment, they sat there, the world outside forgotten. Rafe's hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin, and Olivine leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering shut.

Then her phone buzzed, breaking the spell.

Rafe groaned, dropping his hand as she reached for it, laughing under her breath. "Guess we can't just sit here all day."

"Who's stopping us?" he challenged, leaning back and stretching out, his arm resting behind her on the couch.

She held up the phone, showing him the message from Daniela. Don't forget the mani-pedi today . You better slay, girl. P.S. Tell your boy to wear something better than peach this time.

Rafe snorted, rolling his eyes. "Peach was iconic, and Daniela knows it."

Olivine laughed, setting the phone aside as she stood, stretching her arms over her head. Rafe's eyes shamelessly traced the lines of her figure, his smirk growing.

"Come on," she said, offering him a hand. "We both need to get ready. Your dad's expecting you, remember?"

"Right," he muttered, taking her hand and letting her pull him to his feet.

As they moved to gather their things, Rafe couldn't help but glance at her, his chest tightening in a way that both scared and thrilled him. Despite everything—the judgment, the baggage, the pressure—she was here, by his side.

And for the first time in a long time, Rafe felt like maybe, just maybe, he could handle whatever came next.

As Rafe stood by the front door, he pulled Olivine into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. His hand slid to the small of her back, before creeping down to grip her rear, keeping her close as he lowered his head to kiss her, slow and deep. She melted into him, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

JJ, still seated on the couch, groaned audibly. "Good God, get a room!"

Rafe broke the kiss just long enough to glare at JJ over Olivine's shoulder. "Jealousy's a bad look on you, Maybank," he retorted, before returning his attention to her.

"I gotta go," he murmured against her lips, his tone soft. "But I'll miss you."

Olivine smiled, brushing her fingers lightly over his jaw. "I'll miss you too."

With one last lingering kiss, Rafe stepped back and turned to leave, glancing over his shoulder to catch her watching him. He gave her a small, cocky grin before heading out the door.

As soon as the sound of his bike faded into the distance, Olivine turned to find JJ still dramatically fake gagging on the couch.

"Grow up, JJ," she muttered, rolling her eyes before heading upstairs to get ready for her plans with Daniela.

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The sun was beginning to dip low, casting a warm golden glow over Daniela's garden. The two girls sat side by side on a soft blanket, their feet propped up as they carefully painted each other's nails.

"You missed so much," Olivine began, blowing on her freshly painted toes. "First of all, dinner was... chaotic. Mariah was her usual sweet self, but my dad and Ward? You could cut the tension with a knife."

Daniela glanced up from her bottle of nail polish, her brows raised in intrigue. "And Rafe? How did he handle it?"

Olivine let out a soft laugh. "Better than I expected. He didn't rise to any of their bait, though I could tell he wanted to. And then..." She hesitated, a shy smile tugging at her lips. " And he asked me to be his date to Midsommers."

Daniela gasped, nearly knocking over the polish in her lap. "He did what?"

"Yup," Olivine confirmed, grinning. "And before you say anything, yes, I said yes. He even helped me pick out a dress yesterday."

"Oh my word," Daniela said, setting down her brush and grabbing Olivine's hand dramatically.

Olivine shook her head, her cheeks warming. "Everything just feels right at the moment, you know what I mean."

Daniela leaned back, studying her friend with a smirk. "Look at you, all lovestruck and glowy. I knew he'd get under your skin."

"Stop," Olivine groaned, covering her face with her hands, though her smile betrayed her.

In the background, Empress barked softly, chasing her ball across the lawn. Daniela tossed the ball further into the garden, watching her dog bound after it before turning back to Olivine.

"Well, you know I love you," Daniela said, her tone more serious now. "And I trust you to make the right decisions. But I swear, if he hurts you..."

Olivine smiled softly, reaching over to squeeze her best friend's hand. "I know. But I think... I think he's trying to change. For me."

Daniela studied her for a moment before nodding. "Then I'll support you. And honestly? I can't wait to see the drama you two cause at Midsommers."

They both burst into laughter, the sound light and carefree as the sun dipped lower, painting the garden in hues of orange and pink.

Olivine's heart felt light as she sat across from Daniela, her nails freshly painted, the soft laughter between them easing the tension from earlier. The air smelled of jasmine from the garden, mingling with the citrus-scented lotion they had used. Empress barked once, chasing after her ball, and the world seemed peaceful for a fleeting moment.

Then Daniela's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it absentmindedly, but her expression quickly hardened.

"What is it?" Olivine asked, noticing the change in her friend's demeanor.

Daniela didn't immediately respond. Her eyes were glued to the screen, her lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, she turned the phone around, showing Olivine the message.

The video started blurry but quickly focused, revealing Rafe in a dark room with neon lights, music blaring in the background. He was shirtless, leaning over a girl in a tight dress as she giggled. The unmistakable motion of him sniffing a line off her chest played out while Topper and Kelce's voices whooped and cheered in the background.

Olivine felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. Her heart sank further as the message beneath the video came into view:

"Show this to Olivine. She should know who her boyfriend really is."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head as if denying it could make it go away.

Daniela hesitated, her voice cautious but firm. "Liv, this looks—"

"Fake," Olivine cut in sharply, her voice trembling. "It has to be. People hate the fact that he's seeing a pogue. They'll do anything to tear us down."

Daniela didn't look convinced. "Liv, the video looks recent. You can hear Topper and Kelce in the background. You told me they were all hanging out a few weeks ago at Kelce's."

"That doesn't mean—" Olivine stopped herself, gripping the edge of the table. Her mind raced, the doubt creeping in despite her efforts to push it away. "No. Rafe wouldn't... he's been better. He's changed."

"People don't change overnight," Daniela said softly. "And I'm not saying you should jump to conclusions, but Liv... you need to ask him. If this is real, you deserve to know."

Olivine clenched her jaw, her chest tightening as anger and hurt swirled within her. Without another word, she grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling as she typed out a message to Rafe.

martinolive: We need to talk. Now.

Daniela placed a hand on her arm, her expression filled with concern. "Hey, I'm here for you, no matter what. But don't ignore this. You deserve the truth."

Olivine nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she stared at her screen, waiting for Rafe's reply. She didn't know what she'd do if the video was real, but one thing was clear—her perfect bubble with Rafe was starting to crack.

Rafe's text came through just as Olivine was about to shut off her phone. She stared at it for a moment, her thumb hovering over the screen. The message was short, but it carried a weight that sent a jolt of anxiety through her.

babes: Hey, everything okay, baby? Do I need to come over? I'm in the car right now.

She bit her lip, hesitating. Daniela was sitting beside her, watching her with concern. Olivine didn't want to burden her with the video, not yet. So, she typed her response quickly, the weight of the situation already sinking in.

martinolive: Yeah, we need to talk. Something happened, and I need to hear it from you.

The three dots appeared on the screen almost immediately, and Rafe's reply came quickly.

babes: Okay. Do you want to meet at the beach? I'm already on my way there, I can pick you up if you want.

Her heart skipped a beat. She thought for a moment, her fingers tightening around her phone. The beach. It was where they'd spent some of their best moments, away from everything. She didn't want to let the tension linger any longer.

martinolive: Yeah, pick me up. I'm at Daniela's house.

She didn't wait for another message. Closing the phone, she stood up from the couch, glancing at Daniela, who was still watching her intently. Olivine offered her a small, forced smile.

"Rafe's on his way," she said quietly.

"Okay," Daniela replied softly. "Whatever happens, you know I'm here, right?"

Olivine nodded, then turned, making her way out the door. She stepped out onto the porch and waited, her arms wrapped around herself as the cool breeze tugged at her hair. Minutes passed, but it felt like hours before Rafe's car pulled into the driveway. He slowed to a stop, looking out at her with a concerned frown as exited the car

"Hey," he said, his voice soft but edged with uncertainty.

"Hey," she replied, giving him a small smile as she climbed into the car, trying to ignore the pit that had formed in her stomach.

The ride to the beach was quiet, and the silence stretched between them like an unspoken barrier. Rafe tried to talk to her a couple of times, but she wasn't giving much in response. His voice would trail off, and she would just look out at the horizon, her mind a thousand miles away. When they arrived, Rafe helped her out of the car, and they walked silently toward the soft sand.

They stood at the water's edge, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air. Olivine felt the weight of the conversation pressing on her chest, and she took a deep breath before she spoke.

"Do you completely trust me?" she asked, her voice low but steady.

Rafe turned to her, his expression serious. "Yeah, of course. I trust you a lot, Liv. More than I trust myself."

She nodded, a small amount of relief flooding through her. But then, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and showed him the video. He looked at it, his face hardening slightly as he watched it play.

"I need you to be really, really honest with me," Olivine said, her voice shaking slightly. "Is this recent? Is this before we got together, or is this after?"

Rafe looked down at the video, and then at her. His jaw clenched, but he took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Liv, that was before we got together. That video—everything you saw was at the beginning of summer, when you were still in Russia. I wasn't thinking about anything else but... Well, I wasn't thinking straight. I was—" He paused, running a hand through his hair. "I was lost, you know? I didn't even know where you were. I wasn't even thinking about you at that point."

Olivine stared at him, feeling the tension in her body start to ease. She sighed, the relief flooding through her like a wave.

"Okay," she whispered. "That's good. Because I wanted to hear it from you first before I jumped to any conclusions." She looked at him, searching his eyes, trying to read him for any sign of deception. When she didn't find any, she let out a long breath.

"I'm not proud of what I did back then," Rafe said quietly. "But it wasn't after we started seeing each other. I swear."

Olivine gave him a small, appreciative smile, her fingers brushing his hand. "Thank you for telling me the truth." She took a deep breath and looked out at the water. "It's just... I needed to hear it from you. I needed to know you weren't hiding anything."

"I'm not hiding anything from you, Liv," he said, stepping closer to her. "I would never hide anything from you."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves and the breeze between them filling the space. Olivine's heart was still heavy, but it wasn't as suffocating as it had been before. She glanced up at Rafe, her eyes softening.

"I know," she said, her voice quieter now. "I trust you."

And for the first time in a while, it felt like things might actually be okay.

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

this is more of a filler chapter seeing as i'm a bit busy atm

word count : 3.2k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋