050. she's a nerd

( the fiftieth chapter )

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A heavy silence hung between them as Rafe turned his back on her, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The dim lighting of the loft cast shadows across his tense figure, and for a moment, Olivine thought he might finally open up to her. But instead, his voice came out sharp and clipped.

"You know what, Liv? Maybe you should just leave if you can't handle it. If you can't trust me, then what's the point?"

Her breath caught in her throat. "Rafe, that's not fair. I'm trying to understand—"

He spun around, his eyes cold and hard, cutting her off mid-sentence. "No, you're not. You're questioning me, doubting me like everyone else. You think I don't see it? The way you look at me? Like I'm some kind of monster."

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. The venom in his tone stunned her, each word a dagger slicing deeper into her chest.

"I'm doing everything I can to protect you," he continued, his voice rising, his frustration boiling over. "But clearly, that's not good enough for you."

She flinched, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "Rafe, I never said you weren't good enough. I just—I can't sit here and pretend like this is normal. Like you're normal right now."

He scoffed, his laugh bitter and humorless. "Right. Because you're so perfect, aren't you, Olivine? Always so poised, always knowing what to say. Guess what? Life's not your little ballet recital. It's messy, and people like me don't fit into your perfect little world."

Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. "You don't get to talk to me like that," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "I've done nothing but stand by you, Rafe. I've defended you when no one else would. But you—you're making it impossible."

"Maybe I am," he shot back, his expression hardening. "Maybe that's just who I am. So, what? You're going to walk out now? Go ahead, Olivine. You're good at leaving."

The words hit her like a slap. She stared at him, her vision blurred with tears she could no longer hold back. Her lips parted, but no words came. What was there to say? He was pushing her away, and for the first time, she wasn't sure if she could stop him.

Without another word, she grabbed her keys from the counter and turned toward the door. Her hands shook as she reached for the handle, but she paused, glancing back at him one last time.

"I hope you figure out whatever it is you're running from, Rafe. But until you're ready to be honest with me—with yourself—I can't do this."

He didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the floor as she stepped out, the door clicking shut behind her. The sound echoed in the quiet loft, leaving Rafe alone with his thoughts, his guilt, and the weight of what he'd just done.

Olivine walked out into the cool night air, the tears finally spilling over as she made her way to her car. She felt raw, exposed, like every nerve in her body was on fire. She wanted to scream, to cry, to turn back and demand that Rafe fight for her. But she couldn't. Not anymore.

As she sat behind the wheel, staring blankly at the empty road ahead, one thought consumed her.

She knew exactly what he was hiding. And it terrified her.

Olivine's grip on the handles tightened as the words of the message burned into her mind. don't come running back to me when u need some quick attention It was like a slap to the face. She knew who it was from. The tone, the words—it was unmistakable. It was the kind of message she hated, the kind of manipulation that Rafe was so good at.

But it wasn't just that. It was the way he'd said it, the way he seemed to have no idea how much he hurt her or, worse, that he didn't care.

The chain hummed beneath her, but her mind raced in the opposite direction. Her stomach churned as she wondered if she had been too naïve to think that, somewhere deep down, there was still a chance. She didn't want to admit it, but the feeling in her gut was undeniable. She had been drawn in by him, by his charm and his intensity, but that wasn't enough anymore.

She had to make it stop. She had to take control.

The darkness in her life wasn't just Rafe anymore. He wasn't the only one haunting her thoughts. She had felt it before, that creeping sense of danger, like someone was always just out of reach, watching. Waiting. But now, with that message still buzzing in her mind, she couldn't ignore the reality. Someone else was playing a game with her, and Rafe, for all his flaws, was no longer her greatest threat.

Her phone buzzed again, and she almost didn't want to look. But curiosity got the best of her, and she glanced down.

baby: don't come running back to me when you need some quick attention

Her heart sank. Her hands tightened on the wheel as a rage ran down her spine.

Her breath quickened as the message burned into her mind. She had always been able to protect herself, always relied on her instincts to keep her safe.

She turned the handles sharply, taking the next exit off the highway. Her mind was spiraling, and she knew she needed help—someone she could trust.

A few minutes later, she pulled up outside Daniela's house. The feeling of anger had never left her, and now it was stronger than ever. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she glanced around, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Still, she couldn't shake the sadness gnawing at her.

She parked the bike and hesitated for a moment before grabbing her bag and stepping out. Her feet barely touched the ground before her phone buzzed again, and this time, the message sent a fresh wave of happiness through her chest.

popester : yooo, dad gave me like 16 dollars so i got you some sweets, they're in your room and i'm willing to chill if you're down.

Her heart pounded as she read the words. Pope always  knew how to make her day, her little dweeb of a brother.. She made her way inside, knowing she had to talk to Daniela.

Olivine rushed up the stairs, her footsteps loud in the quiet hallway. When she reached Daniela's door, she didn't knock—she just opened it, breathless.

Daniela was sitting on the couch, flipping through a vogue magazine. She looked up in surprise. "Liv? What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Rafe happened" Olivine said urgently, shutting the door behind her. "He's being a complete and utter dick."

Daniela stood up, alarm flashing in her eyes. "What the fuck did that manipulative shit do."

Olivine pulled her phone out of her bag and showed her the messag3. As Daniela read it, her face grew darker, a look of concern clouding her features. "This... this better be a joke. He's truly messed up in the head."

"I don't know what he wants, Dany," Olivine whispered, feeling the weight of the situation press down on her. "I try to be there for him and it just blows up in my face and i'm always the bad guy."

Daniela's expression softened, and she stepped closer, putting a reassuring hand on Olivine's arm. "He's such a mindfucker. I've got you, Liv. He needs calm his man tits real quick."

Olivine nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. She hadn't realized how much she had been holding in until now. All the fear, all the confusion—it had built up to this moment. And she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep running from it.

"I'm scared, Dani," she admitted, her voice small. "I don't know what's real anymore. Rafe... everything with him."

Daniela squeezed her arm gently. "I know. But you don't have to go through it alone. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Olivine let out a shaky breath and nodded. For the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of hope. She wasn't running anymore. She had someone to stand by her. But she knew this was just the beginning of something darker, something she might not be able to escape.

And Rafe? She didn't know where he fit into this chaos anymore. But she had a feeling that their paths would cross again soon enough.

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Two weeks had passed since Olivine had left Rafe standing in the driveway. Since then, the quiet hum of her life had been unsettling, as though something had been left undone. She hadn't heard from him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was still lurking somewhere in the corners of her life, waiting to pull her back in. She had managed to push the thought aside, focusing instead on the excitement and nerves surrounding her trip to Princeton with Daniela.

It was an early morning when they stopped at the country club to pick up a takeaway breakfast. The sun was still low in the sky, casting a soft glow on the familiar surroundings. Olivine stepped out of the car, feeling radiant in her simple yet elegant outfit. Her hair was down in soft waves, and she wore minimal makeup, letting her natural beauty shine through. As she walked toward the entrance, she noticed a familiar figure in the distance. Rafe.

He was standing by the entrance with Kelce and Topper, his usual confident stance, but as soon as his eyes landed on her, his expression shifted. A flash of recognition, followed by something colder. He froze for a moment, watching her approach, before his gaze hardened.

Olivine felt her stomach twist, but she didn't let it show. She kept her posture straight, her chin slightly lifted, refusing to let him see how much his presence affected her.

"Olive, hey," he called out, his voice loud enough to grab the attention of the others. "We need to talk."

Her heart skipped, and she felt Daniela stiffen beside her. Donna and Mariah both turned toward Rafe, their faces unreadable but cautious.

"What is it, Rafe?" Olivine said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Rafe's eyes narrowed as he took a step closer, his tone dripping with disdain. "You think you can just run off like that? Like everything's fine, like I'm not going to come after you? You can't just ignore this, Liv."

She felt the blood rush to her face, embarrassment and frustration rising in her chest. "I didn't ignore anything, Rafe. I just needed space. Something you can't seem to understand."

He scoffed, clearly not liking her response. "Oh, so now you think you're too good for me? That you can just walk away and forget about everything we've been through?"

Before she could respond, Mariah stepped forward, her tone sharp as she placed a protective hand on Olivine's shoulder. "Rafe," she said sternly. "You need to calm yourself right now. I don't know what game you think you're playing, but you will not speak to my daughter like that, and you certainly will not touch her."

Rafe flinched, as if taken aback by the sudden confrontation. His face turned red, his jaw clenched as he turned to face Mariah. "She's the one who walked away. I have every right—"

"No," Mariah cut him off, her voice unwavering. "You've had your chances, Rafe. And right now, you need to learn how to respect boundaries. If you ever lay a hand on my daughter again or speak to her in that tone, I promise you'll regret it."

Daniela, always the voice of reason, stepped in next. "Honestly, Rafe, you're acting childish," she said, her voice calm but firm. "This whole thing is immature. You can't force people to be around you. Let her go."

Rafe's face twisted in frustration, his lips curling into a sneer. He took a deep breath, seeming to control himself for a moment, but his eyes never left Olivine. "You'll regret this, Liv," he spat. "Run away from me like the coward you are." Shouting at her, the crowd surrounding them watching them

Olivine's eyes narrowed, and she resisted the urge to snap back. Instead, she simply rolled her eyes, her frustration with him growing. "You're such a jerk," she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for him to hear.

She turned on her heel, signaling to Daniela that it was time to leave. As they walked toward the car, Mariah and Donna exchanged a few words, both of them clearly shaken by the confrontation. But Olivine didn't care. She wasn't looking back at Rafe. She wasn't going to let him hold her hostage with his anger and jealousy any longer.

"Let's just get out of here," Olivine said, her voice steady as she climbed into the passenger seat of the car, her heart still pounding in her chest. "He's not worth it."

Daniela slid into the driver's seat, casting a quick glance at her friend. "You okay?" she asked, concern written across her face.

Olivine nodded, her jaw tight. "I'm fine. Just... sick of his games."

As the car pulled away from the country club, leaving Rafe behind, Olivine finally exhaled. She wasn't running away from him anymore. But she wasn't letting him control her either.

And as they headed toward Princeton, a new sense of determination filled her. There were bigger things ahead for her—things that didn't involve Rafe Cameron.

As the car rumbled through the streets, the tension from the earlier encounter with Rafe still hung heavy in the air, but Olivine did her best to shake it off. She focused on the journey ahead—on Princeton, on the opportunities that awaited her. The thought of Rafe was pushed to the back of her mind as Daniela maneuvered the car through the quiet roads leading to the private airport hangar.

The drive to the Rutherfeld hangar felt almost surreal. The nerves she had been carrying about visiting Princeton suddenly seemed insignificant compared to the weight of her confrontation with Rafe. As they neared the airport, Olivine felt the excitement building again—this was what she had been waiting for. A new chapter.

Daniela's father, Daniel, was already waiting at the hangar, his tall frame leaning against the sleek black SUV he drove. He greeted them with his usual warm smile, though his eyes quickly darted to Olivine, noticing the tension in her posture. He had always been protective of Daniela, and by extension, had always been kind to Olivine. He was a quiet man, but you could tell that he had a sharp eye for details.

"Everything good?" he asked as they approached, his voice steady and calm, but there was an underlying concern there that Olivine couldn't miss. "How are you holding up, Liv?"

Olivine offered a tight smile, trying to mask the emotions she had been fighting all morning. "I'm fine," she said, though she knew the strain in her voice betrayed her. "Just... you know. It's been a lot."

Daniel studied her for a moment, his gaze softening with understanding. He had known about the complications between Olivine and Rafe. He had seen how she tried to navigate the chaos surrounding him, but the situation was clearly weighing heavily on her.

"I get it," he said after a beat, walking closer to open the door to the hangar. "But you know, it's okay to let it out if you need to. No one expects you to be fine all the time."

Olivine nodded, appreciating his concern but feeling reluctant to delve deeper into the topic. Instead, she changed the subject, her eyes already drawn to the sleek private jet parked in the hangar, ready to take them to New Jersey.

"I'm just excited to see the school," she said, forcing a brighter tone. "I'm sure it's going to be amazing."

Daniel gave her a knowing look, clearly sensing that she was trying to shift her focus. "I know you are. And you're going to love it. Princeton's a great fit for you."

He gestured for them to follow him toward the jet. Daniela was already ahead, practically bouncing with excitement, while Donna, who had been a little quieter after the confrontation with Rafe, walked beside Mariah, deep in conversation.

As Olivine stepped onto the jet, the cool air inside welcomed her. She took her seat by the window, trying to relax into the plush leather chair. But despite her best efforts, her mind kept drifting back to Rafe. His words echoed in her mind, sharp and cutting, but she was determined not to let them ruin the day. This was about her future, not about him.

The jet engines hummed to life, and the world outside the windows began to blur as they ascended into the sky. Olivine leaned back in her seat, taking a deep breath as the landscape below shifted from familiar city streets to open stretches of countryside.

She glanced over at Daniela, who was looking out the window, her excitement palpable. "You nervous?" Olivine asked, her voice lighter now.

Daniela smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling. "Maybe a little. But honestly, I can't wait to see it all in person. It's going to be amazing, Liv. Just you wait."

Olivine smiled back, grateful for her friend's optimism. As the plane continued its journey, Olivine allowed herself to feel the same sense of anticipation. This was her chance to start fresh, to build something for herself. And no matter what Rafe's games were, she wasn't going to let them define her future.

The flight to New Jersey was quiet, save for the occasional chatter between Daniela and her parents, who were already discussing the tour schedule for the day. But for Olivine, it was a time to reflect. She wasn't running away from Rafe anymore, but she wasn't going to let him pull her back either. The decision had been made. She was stronger than this.

And as the plane began its descent toward their destination, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. Whatever happened next, she would face it with clarity, knowing that this was the path she had chosen for herself.

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

i've been semi active for the past 2 days but i'm back now !!

word count : 3.1k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋