─☼☼☼─

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙇𝙊𝙏𝙏𝙀 𝙒𝘼𝙎 𝘽𝙊𝙍𝙀𝘿 out of her mind as she stood around one of the many tables, listening as two girls she went to high school with told her all about what they had been up to the past year. 

She wanted to be interested in what they were saying, but she simply couldn't. 

Her mind was on Rafe. Just like it had been for the entirety of the night. She'd avoided him since their dance together, but could feel his eyes on her almost everywhere she went. 

When she glanced over her shoulder, his eyes were on here.

"So, what about you, Charlotte?" Sloane Biggs asked, her bright red lips forming into a smile. "How was your first year at college?"

She tore her eyes away from Rafe, plastering a forced smile onto her face. "It was-uh- yeah, it was good."

"Did you join any sororities?" Lilia Costa was watching Charlotte with an excited look. 

"No." Charlotte answered with a small shake of her head. "But I joined a few students organizations...those were fun."

Lilia's smile had fallen slightly as she nodded. "I'm going to try out the Greek scene next year. I think I would really like it."

"My mom was in one." Sloane commented. "She would probably kill me if I didn't join the same one as her."

Charlotte smiled, but her attention had drifted elsewhere. 

This time when she looked toward Rafe, he wasn't watching her, but rather watching someone as they disappeared into the Island Club. 

From the back of the person's head, Charlotte knew it was JJ. She wasn't sure when he got here, or why he was here, but he was here. And he was in trouble. 

Rafe, Topper, Kelce and another two of their friends took off after him, causing Charlotte's stomach to flip.

Not again.

"Hey, Lilia, Sloane? It's been really nice catching up with you two, but I've gotta go." Charlotte muttered, already beginning to step away from the table. 

Not waiting for a response from either of them, Charlotte took off toward the building, her heels clicking across the floor as she went. 

Her heart began hammering in her chest as she pushed through the crowd of unsuspecting party-goers. She wished for just one night she could have fun like them instead of breaking up yet another fight. 

But she wasn't going to sit back and drink her fruity drink while JJ was outnumbered five-to-one. 

Just as she reached the doors that led into the Island Club, a tan-skinned, blonde haired figure stepped in front of her. "I need to talk to you."

Charlotte almost audibly groaned as she went to reach around the person. "Willa, not now, please."

"Charlotte, you can't ice me out too! I had no idea that Kensington did that. You have to believe me!"

"I do." Charlotte huffed, standing on her tip toes to try and see past Willa and into the club. "I just don't want to have this conversation right now. I have something to deal with."

"Let me guess." Willa started, crossing her arms firmly across her chest. "It has something to do with the Pogue that just ran inside."

Charlotte's eyes flickered toward her as she leaned back onto her heels. "Maybe." She agreed. "So what if it does?"

Willa's hand shot out, gripping onto Charlotte's wrist for a moment. "You're going to ruin your life if you keep hanging out with them, Char. Please, for your own sake, smarten up."

Pulling her hand from Willa's grasp, Charlotte gave her best friend a firm smile. "I've got it. Thanks, Wills."

Willa was left with her mouth hanging open in frustration as Charlotte finally pushed past her and disappeared into the building. 

A lot of the people who had been gathered outside, had moved in upon nightfall, making it hard for Charlotte to find the exact people she was looking for. 

People milled about, in conversation as they held onto little drinks. More people stood in lines for the washrooms. But there was no sign of JJ or Rafe. 

"Mrs. Beady." Charlotte smiled widely as she approached one of the ladies standing in the line for the washroom. "You didn't happen to see a group of boys around my age come in here, did you?"

The older woman's face lit up as she saw Charlotte. "Oh, Charlotte dear! It's been so long. How are you?"

Forced to hide the grimace on her face at the conversation she knew she was about to be forced into, Charlotte gave Mrs. Beady a tightlipped smile. "I'm great, Mrs. Beady. How are you doing?"

Mrs. Beady then proceeded to tell Charlotte everything that had happened in the past year or so. She was in the middle of telling her about how her cat ate something she wasn't supposed to and almost died, when Charlotte heard yelling from the men's locker room. 

After muttering a quick apology to Mrs. Beady─both about skipping out on the conversation and the almost death of her cat─ Charlotte was taking off toward the noise. 

Everyone turned to look at her as she went, wondering what could possible have Charlotte Carrera running through the Island Club like her life depended on it. 

When she reached the locker room, she almost ran directly into the security guard who was hauling JJ from the room. He had new bruises covering his face, and Charlotte prayed that it wasn't Rafe who gave them to him. 

"Charley!" JJ exclaimed upon seeing the frazzled girl. "You are looking as lovely as ever." The security guard tugged him again. "Meet me outside!" He called as he was dragged toward the exit. "We have something to discuss!"

She gave him a small nod, feeling dozens of eyes on her as she watched him go. Once JJ was hauled back out to the party, Charlotte turned toward the locker room with purpose. Standing in there was Rafe and his four friends, all of them seemingly pissed that their deliverance of a beating was cut short. 

That was until Rafe spotted Charlotte. Then, his face lit up as a grin appeared on his face. "Lottie, come to see the show?"

Anger surged through her as she realized what an idiot she was earlier that evening. Rafe would never stop targeting the Pogues, no matter how much she begged him to.

Silently, she turned away from him, no longer even willing to try and convince him to listen to her. She knew whatever she said would only be laughed at by Rafe and his accomplices. 

"Lottie!"

He was following after her, but Charlotte didn't care to stop. He could make a fool of himself for all she cared. 

"Charlotte, wait."

His hand fastened around her wrist and it took everything in her for Charlotte to not yell at him to let her go. 

Calmly, she turned and analyzed his face. From their close proximity, Charlotte could tell that he had been drinking─a lot. It was evident in the way he stumbled slightly when he stopped in front of her. As was it in the way his eyes drooped ever so slightly.

"Did you do that?" She wondered, nodding out toward where JJ had just been taken away. "Did you do that to his face."

Rafe laughed, like it was even remotely funny. "No. But believe me, I wish I had."

"Would it kill you, for just once in your life, to do something that I asked you to do?" Charlotte demanded, her voice low as to not garner unwanted listeners. "I asked you for one simple thing...leave my sister's friends alone."

Rafe let out a breath, the smell of alcohol assaulting Charlotte's nostrils. "They deserve everything they get." He assured. "I just wish you could see that."

"Well I can't." Charlotte snapped, pulling free from his grasp. "You should go home, Rafe. You're wasted."

He gave her a sloppy grin. "Always looking out for me, hey Lottie?"

Something you need to know about Charlotte Carrera is that she is a control freak─like a huge one. So, when she had the means to control a situation, that was exactly what she was going to do. 

Another thing you should know is that Charlotte Carrera was weak─especially when it came to people she loved. 

"Where is your valet ticket?" She wondered, holding her hand out expectantly.

Rafe stared at her outstretched hand for a moment. "Why?"

Charlotte didn't break their gaze. "I'm taking you home."

In that moment, she hated herself for choosing Rafe over the Pogues. She was supposed to meet JJ outside, but instead she was taking her sorry-excuse of an ex-boyfriend home. 

But, she also knew that this was the best bet at keeping her sister and friends safe from Rafe Cameron for the night. If he was home in bed, he couldn't terrorize them any more, right?

Rafe let out a laugh that drew Charlotte from her thoughts. "You're not taking me home, Lottie. The party is just getting started."

He leaned forward to whisper something in her ear, but instead he lost his footing and fell toward the ground. 

Charlotte caught him before he could make too much of a scene, however a substantial number of eyes had been drawn toward the two of them. Forcing a smile onto her face, Charlotte addressed the stares. "He tripped." She announced, and she hated how easily the lie came to her lips. 

She had been lying for Rafe for years...and it seemed nothing had changed. 

Holding him close to her, Charlotte gritted her teeth. "Rafe, ticket. Now. Or I'm going to get your dad and he can take you home."

His face fell at the prospect of his father being brought into the situation. Straightening his jacket, Rafe glared at Charlotte. "I didn't drive. I came with my family."

"Okay." Charlotte muttered, not skipping a beat as she retracted her outstretched hand. "I'll drive, then."

"Woah, woah, woah. What's going on here?"

Frustration poured through Charlotte at the sound of Topper's voice. Turning, she spotted Rafe's entourage making their way toward the two of them. She knew she would never get him home now. 

"Charlotte, you look nice." Topper commented, a sloppy smile on his face. He was drunk, too. That was obvious. 

"Thanks, Top." Charlotte muttered, desperately wanting to get away from the group of boys. "Rafe, let's go please."

Kelce stuck out a hand to stop her from moving anywhere. "Where are you guys going?" He questioned, narrowing his eyes at her. "The party is just getting good."

Rafe, who had somehow grabbed a champagne flute from a passing server, was downing it with raised brows. "Lottie's making me go home." He explained to his friends, letting out a burp as he finished the drink. 

Kelce let out a low whistle. "She still has you whipped and you're not even together, man. Come on."

Charlotte's face heated up in anger. "I don't have him whipped, Kelce. But he's wasted and needs to go home before he gets himself into any more trouble."

"Little Miss Perfect." Kelce taunted. "You know, for a half-Pogue, you're pretty stuck up. You think you're too good for us or something?"

Rafe's eyes flickered to Charlotte, who was doing her best not to snap,  for a moment before they settled back on his friend. "Come on, man─" Rafe's voice was slurred, but it was assertive.

"No." Kelce interjected, stepping closer to Charlotte and looking her up and down. "Now I know why he broke up with you."

Pushing back her shoulders, Charlotte gave Kelce a steady glare. "I broke up with him. But thanks, Kelce."

"Rafe, stay if you want." she declared, done with the bullshit. "I really don't care."

Kelce and one of the other boys were sniggering as Charlotte turned her back on them, trying to keep her composure as she hurried back outside. 

She hoped that her sister and friends were still waiting for her outside, but when she reached the veranda, she saw no such thing.

"Damnit." She cursed to herself, eyes already scanning the crowd for her parents. She needed to get out of here. 

"Lottie, wait!" When Charlotte turned, she could see Rafe stumbling through the crowd in an attempt to reach her. "Wait." He pleaded. 

Pursing her lips, Charlotte blew an exasperated breath through her nose as she turned to face him. "You can stay, Rafe. I don't know why I thought I had any say in what you do. Stay and have fun. I'll see you later."

"No." He argued, his eyes softening in the way that used to make Charlotte swoon. "Can you, uh, can you take me home?"

She hid it on her face, but Charlotte was relieved. Something made her want to keep taking care of Rafe, despite all that had happened. Maybe that made her weak...maybe she didn't care.

"Okay." She agreed, giving him a small nod. "I'm just going to get the ticket from my dad. Stay here. I'll be right back."

"I could come with you?"

"No." She argued, vehemently shaking her head. "You are not speaking to my father in that state. Just─just stay here."

Rafe gave her a mock salute, his smile lopsided and sloppy as he leaned against the wall. "Hurry back, dear."

Rolling her eyes, Charlotte took off towards where she finally spotted her parents. She knew they wouldn't be happy with her bailing out early, especially with Kiara's absence, but she also knew they would be more receptive of her leaving with Rafe than if she had left with the Pogues. They sure did have it twisted. 

"Dad." She announced once she reached his side. "Can I have the valet ticket?"

Mike Carrera looked down at his eldest daughter in slight confusion. "Where are you going?" Skepticism was dripping from his words. 

"I'm going to take Rafe home." She explained, noting the way her dad's face flickered. While her mother may have been fully Team Rafe, her father had always had his reservations. 

"I thought you two broke up."

"We did." Charlotte confirmed. "But he's been drinking, and I haven't, so I'm just going to drop him off. I can come right back and get you guys if that's what you're worried about."

Her father shook his head. "That's not what I'm worried about. We'll get a ride with someone else."

Pausing for a moment, Mike looked past Charlotte, as if he were searching for something. "Where is he?"

"Who, Rafe?" She spun, ready to point him out exactly where she had left him not two minutes ago. "Shit."

"Here." Mike said, shoving the slip of paper into Charlotte's hand. "I don't want you home too late. And if you could also find your sister and bring her home, that would be great."

"Thanks, dad." She smiled before quickly turning to try and find Rafe. 

He couldn't have gotten too far, especially in his drunken state. 

For the second time that night, Charlotte Carrera hurried through the exuberant crowd in search of her ex-boyfriend. 

She heard him before she saw him. 

His voice was coming from the exit..and he was yelling at someone. Of course he was yelling at someone. 

Huffing, Charlotte pulled up the bottom of her dress to avoid tripping as she followed the sound of Rafe's voice. Rounding a corner, she spotted him having a heated discussion with someone. 

"Bring it on, Koffer. Round two. Right now!"

Fuck. 

"Rafe!" She snapped, accidentally knocking over someone's drink as she shoved past them. "What the hell are you doing?"

Both Rafe and Caden Koffer turned to face her. Caden's face was still bruised from Rafe's beating a few days, and it seemed his ego was, too.

"Your psycho of a boyfriend is crazy. That's what's going on." Caden spat as he straightened his tie. "Just came up to me freaking out for no reason."

"He's drunk." Charlotte explained as she latched onto Rafe's arm. "And we were just leaving."

"When isn't he wasted?" Caden questioned, brows raised. "Get a hold of yourself, Cameron. You look like an idiot."

"Rafe!" Charlotte's yell came out strained as she used all her force to hold him back as he attempted to charge at Caden. "Let's go."

Turning to the other boy with a tightlipped smile, Charlotte kept her grip on Rafe. "Caden, always such a pleasure seeing you. But we're going to go."

Caden scoffed. "Keep him away from me, Charlotte. I mean it."

She gave him a mocking smile. "Yeah. I'll be sure to do that."

Rafe stumbled as she yanked him toward the valet service. He kept glancing over his shoulder, as if he was considering going after Caden. 

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Charlotte handed the ticket to the valet. "Rafe, give it up."

A grin came to his face as he leaned toward her. "Just like old times, hey Lottie?"

She quirked a brow, pointing to the car that had just been brought over. 

"Just get in the damn car."

─☼☼☼─