037.  cat fight
pt. 3
( the thirty seventh chapter )

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

The midsummer party was in full swing, the air alive with laughter, music, and the glittering lights strung up around the country club. Olivine had parted from Rafe earlier, the two agreeing to spend time with their respective friends before meeting back up later. She was making her way through the crowd when her ears caught whispers from a nearby group.

"She really thinks she belongs here, huh?" a voice sneered.

Olivine slowed her steps, her heart sinking slightly.

"Did you see her dress?" another chimed in. "She's trying so hard, but it's obvious she doesn't fit. Poor little Pogue playing dress-up."

"And the way she acts around Rafe," someone else added with a cruel laugh. "We all know how that's going to end. She's just another easy girl who'll be kicked to the curb once he's bored."

Olivine's steps faltered. Her stomach tightened, the words cutting deep. But instead of walking away, she turned and approached the group.

"Excuse me?" she said, her voice calm but laced with an icy edge. "Care to repeat that?"

The group turned to her, startled for a moment before Ruthie stepped forward, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"You heard us," Ruthie said, crossing her arms. "Maybe you should go back to where you came from, Pogue."

Olivine's jaw tightened. "You should keep your mouth shut, Ruthie. Trust me, you don't want to make this my business."

Ruthie let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, please. You don't belong here, and everyone knows it."

Olivine turned her gaze to Michaela, who was watching with a smug expression. "Anything to add, Michaela? Or are you just going to sit there looking stupid?"

Michaela tilted her head. "What are you going to do about it, huh? Go cry to Daddy? Or maybe to Rafe?" She mimicked a baby crying, the high-pitched sound grating on Olivine's nerves.

Olivine let out an angry chuckle. "Wow. You're more pathetic than I thought."

Ruthie suddenly stepped closer, shoving Olivine's shoulder. "Get the hell out of here. You don't belong."

Olivine stumbled slightly but quickly regained her footing. "Don't touch me," she warned, her voice sharp. She shoved Ruthie back, sending her stumbling with a scoff.

"You should've left," Michaela said, stepping up, her tone venomous.

Before Olivine could respond, Daniela appeared at her side, her presence commanding as she glared at the group. "Don't you dare touch my friend again," Daniela said, her voice low and dangerous. "And keep your nasty, disease-ridden hands to yourself."

Olivine straightened, her confidence bolstered by Daniela's support. She turned to Michaela, her expression cool. "You know, I was going to keep my mouth shut, but since you're so eager to talk about me... why would I listen to someone whose dad is sleeping with my best friend?"

The smug look on Michaela's face crumbled, and a murmur rippled through the small crowd that had gathered.

Olivine turned to Ruthie, her voice calm but cutting. "And let's not act like your mom wasn't caught having an affair with an 18-year-old Pogue. Hypocrisy isn't a good look, sweetie."

The crowd gasped, and Ruthie's face turned red with embarrassment and fury.

Suddenly, one of the other girls, an unfamiliar face to Olivine, stepped forward with a malicious smirk. "Oh, you're bold, huh? Did you like the video I sent Daniela? Rafe was a really good hump, especially when he was high."

Olivine froze, her vision going red. Without thinking, she stepped forward and slapped the girl hard across the face. "Watch your back, bitch," Olivine hissed.

The slap sent the group into chaos. Ruthie lunged at Olivine, and Daniela stepped in, shoving her back. Lotta appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Michaela before she could throw a drink at Olivine.

Eliora, watching the chaos unfold, bolted in the opposite direction to find Rafe. She spotted him near the lockers, his hand wrapped around JJ's shirt as he barked something in his face.

"Rafe!" Eliora shouted, running up to him.

He turned, his eyes narrowing when he saw her frantic expression. "What's wrong?"

"Your girlfriend is about to pull someone's extensions out and bald them. You need to come now," Eliora said breathlessly.

Rafe released JJ, shoving him back. "Kelce, take care of this," he ordered, already heading toward the commotion.

Kelce and two other guys stayed behind to handle JJ, but Rafe's focus was entirely on Olivine. His fists clenched at his sides as he pushed through the crowd, his jaw tightening when he saw her in the middle of the argument, Daniela and Lotta at her side.

"Olivine," Rafe called, his voice firm.

She turned, her cheeks flushed, her chest rising and falling with angry breaths.

Rafe closed the distance between them, his presence immediately calming her. He placed a hand on her waist, pulling her close as he glared at the other girls. "What the hell is going on here?"

Michaela opened her mouth to speak, but Rafe's glare silenced her.

Olivine leaned into him, her voice soft. "It's nothing I can't handle."

Rafe looked down at her, his expression softening slightly. "I know you can. But you don't have to."

He turned back to the group, his voice low and dangerous. "If any of you so much as look at her wrong again, you'll regret it."

The tension in the air was thick as the group dispersed, clearly intimidated by Rafe's warning.

Daniela smirked, patting Olivine on the back. "And that, my dear, is how you shut them up."

Olivine smiled faintly, her adrenaline still running high. Rafe leaned down, brushing

his lips against her temple. "You okay?" he murmured, his hand still firmly planted on her waist.

Olivine exhaled, nodding. "I'm fine now. Just... annoyed."

Rafe gave her a tight smile, his protective energy radiating off him. "Annoyed is putting it lightly. You handled yourself, but I wish you didn't have to."

Daniela crossed her arms, giving Rafe a once-over. "She doesn't need a knight in shining armor, Cameron. But good on you for stepping up when you did."

Lotta chuckled, brushing her hair back. "Honestly, the way those girls' faces crumbled when Liv hit them with those truths? Worth every second."

"Thanks for having my back," Olivine said to both Daniela and Lotta, her voice soft with gratitude.

"Always," Daniela replied with a grin. "Now, let's get out of here before these Kooks start plotting their revenge."

Olivine turned to Rafe, her expression softening. "Let's just go somewhere else for a bit."

Rafe studied her for a moment, then nodded. "I'll get us out of here."

The group began to move, Lotta and Daniela hanging back to give Olivine and Rafe a moment alone. As they walked toward the parking lot, Rafe's thumb brushed the small of Olivine's rear, grounding her.

"You're incredible, you know that?" he said, breaking the silence.

Olivine looked up at him, surprised. "For what? Slapping someone?"

"For standing up for yourself," Rafe replied, his tone sincere. "For not letting them make you feel small."

She gave him a small smile. "You've got to learn how to deal with people like them when you're a Pogue in a Kook's world."

Rafe stopped walking, turning her to face him. His hands slid to her shoulders, his gaze intense. "You're not 'just' a Pogue, Olivine. You're better than any of them."

Her cheeks flushed under his gaze. "You're biased," she teased.

"Maybe," he admitted, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. "But it's still true."

They reached Rafe's car, and he opened the door for her. Once they were both inside, he reached over to take her hand, his fingers lacing with hers.

"Let's go somewhere quiet," he suggested.

Olivine nodded, her earlier frustration melting away as she looked at him. "Lead the way."

As Rafe drove, his hand never left hers, a silent promise of comfort and stability in the midst of chaos. For the first time that night, Olivine felt completely at ease, knowing that as long as she had him by her side, nothing else mattered.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

As they drove through the quiet streets, the tension from the night was still palpable, but Rafe couldn't seem to help himself.

"Not gonna lie," he began, a teasing grin tugging at his lips as he glanced her way, "seeing you all angry back there? Hottest thing I've ever seen."

Olivine groaned, letting her head fall back against the seat. "You're insufferable," she muttered, her tone sharp but playful.

Rafe chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "What? I'm just saying... you, standing up for yourself, ready to throw hands? It's kind of sexy."

"Maybe I should start yelling at you more often," she shot back, her words laced with sarcasm.

He smirked, his hand shifting to rest casually on her thigh. "Don't threaten me with a good time, Liv."

Before she could quip back, his phone buzzed insistently in the console, lighting up with texts from Topper. Moments later, a call followed.

Rafe groaned, reaching for the phone. "Not now, Topp," he muttered, about to decline the call, but Olivine stopped him.

"It's fine," she said, her voice soft as she gazed out the window. "Answer it."

With a shrug, he pressed the green button and held the phone to his ear. "What's up, Topp?"

Topper's voice came through, loud and agitated. "Bro, I'm telling you, Sarah's cheating on me."

Rafe frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"After everything I've done for her—all the shit I've put up with—this is how she treats me? She's nothing but a two-faced whore, man."

Olivine's ears perked up at the venom in Topper's voice, her attention now fixed on the conversation as she stared out at the blur of city lights.

Rafe let out a sigh, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel. "Look, Topp, I've told you before. My sister? She can't be trusted around any guy within a twenty-foot radius."

At that, Olivine's brow arched sharply, her lips pressing into a thin line. Rafe's hand on her thigh gave a firm squeeze, as though grounding himself mid-conversation.

Her response was immediate—she pinched his hand in retaliation.

Rafe flinched, giving her an incredulous look before squeezing her thigh harder in revenge, his smirk only widening.

Meanwhile, Topper continued to rant, his words slurred from whatever he'd been drinking. "Whatever, man. I just—I can't believe this shit. I gotta go. Kelce's giving me a ride."

"Yeah, alright," Rafe replied absently, hanging up and tossing the phone into the cup holder.

Silence settled between them for a moment as they turned onto a quieter street. Then, Rafe pulled into the parking lot of a sleek loft complex.

"What's this?" Olivine asked, sitting up straighter as he killed the engine.

Instead of answering, Rafe stepped out and came around to her side. He opened the door, offering her his hand, but she ignored it, clutching her small pouch instead.

With a sharp thwap, she smacked his chest with it.

Rafe blinked in surprise. "What the hell was that for?"

"For the way you talked about Sarah," Olivine snapped, stepping out of the car with purpose. She adjusted her dress, her eyes narrowing at him. "That was so inappropriate and out of pocket. I get that you don't like her, but slut-shaming your own blood? Disgraceful."

Rafe groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Liv, it wasn't like that—"

"It was exactly like that," she shot back. "I don't care how mad you are at her. You don't get to talk about your sister like that. Period."

"Okay, but you're blowing this out of proportion—"

She rolled her eyes, cutting him off. "I'll shove your proportion up your ass if you keep talking, Raphael," she snapped, crossing her arms. "Now, why am I here? Where even are we?"

Rafe sighed heavily, taking her hand gently in his. "Come on," he said, guiding her toward the building.

They climbed the stairs, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hall. When they reached the door, Rafe unlocked it and pushed it open, letting her step in first.

Olivine paused in the doorway, taking in the loft. The open layout was warm and inviting, with a mix of brown, beige, cream, and copper tones dominating the decor. His favorite albums were framed and hung like portraits along the walls, and small, fake plants were tucked into corners. The kitchen was sleek and modern, leading to a balcony that overlooked the city.

She turned to him, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "How did you even get this place? You do realize your dad's got a chokehold on your finances, and Rose wouldn't dare help you, right?"

Rafe leaned against the doorframe, watching her with an amused expression. "I didn't get it from them," he said, his tone casual.

Olivine raised a brow, crossing her arms. "Okay, so... what? Did you rob a bank? Win the lottery? Enlighten me."

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he stepped closer. "It belonged to my mom," he said quietly. "Back in the '90s. She left it to me—fully paid off."

Her arms dropped as her expression softened. "Your mom?"

He nodded, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place. "Yeah. Before... well, before she left everything behind, she made sure I had this."

Olivine turned back to look at the space, her gaze lingering on the little details—how personal it all felt, like Rafe had poured parts of himself into it.

"It's nice," she murmured, brushing her fingers along the edge of the counter. "Really nice. It feels... like you."

Rafe chuckled softly, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, swaying them slightly as he stared out at the balcony.

"I've been working on it since last summer," he admitted. "Trying to make it mine."

"You did a good job," she said, her voice gentle.

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Thanks."

Olivine turned in his arms, tilting her head up to look at him. "Why didn't you tell me about this place before?"

Rafe shrugged, his hands resting on her hips. "I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it. Didn't want you to think I was hiding anything—or trying to impress you with it or whatever."

"Rafe," she said, her tone firm but kind. "I don't care about stuff like this. You know that, right?"

"I know," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But I still wanted it to be... special. For you to see it when it was ready."

She smiled up at him, her fingers lightly tracing the lapels of his suit jacket. "Well, consider me impressed. It's beautiful."

Rafe leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, lingering kiss. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers, his voice low and serious.

"You're the first person I've ever brought here, Liv."

Her heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice. "Really?"

"Yeah," he said. "Figured if anyone should see it first, it should be you."

Olivine felt her cheeks heat as she smiled, leaning into him. "Thank you for showing me."

"Thank you for not running off after everything tonight," he teased, earning a playful shove to his chest.

"You're lucky I'm still here," she retorted, but there was no malice in her tone—just warmth.

Rafe grinned, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "Lucky doesn't even begin to cover it."

For a moment, they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the loft feeling like their own little world away from everything else.

Olivine pulled back slightly, her fingers still playing with the lapels of his jacket as her eyes searched his. "So, why'd you feel like you needed to get a new place? I mean, I get it—it's gorgeous, and I love that it's yours—but what made you decide to move out?"

Rafe sighed, leaning back against the counter, his arms loosely crossing over his chest. "I needed my own space," he admitted, his voice low and thoughtful. "Away from my dad. Away from all his... shit."

Olivine tilted her head, listening carefully.

"It's not just about the arguments or how he tries to control everything I do," Rafe continued, his eyes flicking to hers. "It's like... every time I'm in that house, I feel like I'm suffocating. Like I'm stuck being the person he thinks I'm supposed to be. And I hate that guy, Liv. I don't wanna be him anymore."

Her heart clenched as she took a step closer, placing a hand on his arm. "You're not that guy, Rafe," she said softly. "You're more than that, and you've been trying so hard to prove it—to yourself and to everyone else."

He nodded slightly, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Yeah, but I needed to do it on my own terms, you know? In my own space. Somewhere I could figure out who I really am without his voice in the back of my head."

Olivine smiled faintly. "That makes sense. And honestly, this feels like a fresh start for you. It's... peaceful here."

"It is," he agreed, glancing around the loft before his eyes landed back on her. "And it's mine. No strings attached, no expectations. Just... mine."

She nodded, understanding the weight of what he was saying.

Rafe hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor before meeting hers again. "Would you..." He cleared his throat, a rare hint of vulnerability crossing his face. "Would you want to spend some time here? With me?"

Her eyes widened slightly, a surprised smile tugging at her lips. "You mean like... stay over?"

"Yeah," he said quickly, his hand running through his hair. "Not all the time or anything. Just... I dunno, when things get too crazy. When you need a break. Or when I just wanna see you without the world getting in the way."

Olivine's smile softened as she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'd like that," she said, her voice sincere. "I'd really like that."

Relief flashed across Rafe's face as his hands settled on her waist, pulling her closer. "Good," he murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. "Because I meant it when I said you're the first person I wanted to share this place with."

Olivine looked up at him, her heart swelling with warmth. "You've got yourself a deal, Cameron. But just so you know, I'm not doing dishes."

Rafe laughed, the sound low and genuine, as he tightened his hold on her. "Guess I'll have to find another way to bribe you into sticking around, huh?"

She smirked, playfully poking his chest. "Oh, you'll figure it out."

"Already working on it," he teased, leaning in to kiss her again, their world narrowing to just the two of them in the quiet sanctuary of his new home.

Rafe's phone buzzed on the counter, the vibration cutting through the peaceful moment. He glanced over and sighed heavily, already sensing who it was.

"Speak of the devil," he muttered, picking it up.

Olivine watched as his brows furrowed while he unlocked the screen. "What is it?" she asked gently, already suspecting the answer.

Rafe groaned, running a hand through his hair as his eyes scanned the message. "It's my dad. Of course it's my dad." He exhaled sharply before reading it aloud, his voice edged with frustration.

"Rafe, I'm disappointed in you. How could you give your girlfriend of a month something so precious and meaningful—not just to me, but to the girls too? I can't believe you'd do that without even consulting me first. This isn't just about you."

Rafe's grip on the phone tightened as he dropped it back onto the counter, the screen still lit with Ward's words. "Unbelievable," he muttered, his tone a mix of anger and disbelief.

Olivine bit her lip, her gaze flickering between Rafe and the phone. "Is he talking about the necklace?"

"Of course he's talking about the necklace," Rafe snapped, though his frustration wasn't aimed at her. "Everything's about control with him. God forbid I make a decision on my own without him breathing down my neck."

Olivine stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm to ground him. "Rafe... I don't want to be the cause of any issues between you and your family."

"You're not the cause of anything, Liv," he said firmly, his eyes locking onto hers. "This is between me and him. He's just pissed because I didn't ask for permission. But guess what? I don't need his damn permission to give you something that's mine."

Her gaze softened, though she still looked hesitant. "It's a beautiful gesture, but I get why it might've struck a nerve. Maybe..." She paused, unsure of how to phrase it without upsetting him further.

"Maybe what?" he asked, his tone softer but still guarded.

"Maybe he just feels like..." She hesitated, then sighed. "Like you're distancing yourself from the family. And with everything going on, it's probably hitting him harder than he expected."

Rafe scoffed, crossing his arms. "Distancing myself is the whole point, Liv. I don't want him to control me. I don't want to be stuck under his thumb forever. And honestly, that necklace? It means more being with you than it ever did sitting in some dusty jewelry box in my dad's closet."

Olivine felt her chest tighten at his words, the raw honesty in his voice cutting through her own insecurities. "You really mean that?"

"Of course I do," he said, stepping closer and taking her hands in his. "I gave it to you because it reminded me of everything I lo-adore about you—how graceful, strong, and beautiful you are. If my dad can't see that, that's on him. Not on us."

She smiled faintly, squeezing his hands. "You're really something, baby."

"And don't you forget it," he teased, though his frustration still lingered beneath the surface.

The phone buzzed again, and Rafe glanced at it briefly before flipping it over, deciding to ignore whatever else Ward had to say. Instead, he turned his full attention back to Olivine, his features softening.

"I'm done letting him ruin my night," he said, his voice firm but calm. "Let's just... focus on us. This place. You."

Olivine nodded, her heart swelling with warmth as she leaned into him. "Sounds perfect to me."

As Rafe wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, he silently vowed not to let his father's shadow dictate his life—or his love—any longer.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

i'm sooo tired y'all, but rolivine's back and i listened to run to the hills this whole chapter

word count : 3.8k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋