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╰┈➤ 𝘞𝘏𝘐𝘓𝘌 𝘔𝘠 𝘉𝘙𝘖𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘈𝘚 𝘖𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘌 mainland with Sarah to gather information about the sunken ship, the rest went to an outdoor film festival. A movie would be playing on a screen in a few minutes and everyone who wanted to watch it sat in their folding chairs in front of it. At the very back - in the luxury rows - lingered a few Kooks who thought our normal event was old-fashioned, which in turn was aesthetic to them. The Pogue life certainly wasn't aesthetic and they probably wouldn't last a whole two minutes.

"What movie are we watching anyway?" JJ wanted to know, rummaging around in his backpack next to him.

"I thought you picked him," Kiara replied, giving him a reproachful look.

"No, I thought you did."
"Great." Theatrically, she threw her hands in the air. "Now we're sitting here and we don't even know what we're watching! Thanks, JJ!"

Giggling, I glanced at Meggi next to me, who looked amused herself. The usual bickering was simply never to be missed.

"He's got the gun, too," Pope blurted out under pressure, definitely uncomfortable.

JJ just shook his head. "Thanks man. Always on the women's side!"

"That's called honesty, thanks Pope," Kiara grumbled, getting a nod at that. JJ gritted his teeth and internally pouted. During that time, I simply asked a young woman behind us which film was coming. Problem solved.

When the film finally went on, the others had settled their arguments and everyone was happily nibbling their snacks, relaxation finally returned. Nevertheless, I often slipped around uncomfortably on my chair.

"Do you feel like you're being watched too?" I murmured to Meggi, who shook her head suspiciously. "No, why?"

"It's fine," I waved him off and took a deep breath. Less than five minutes later I got the feeling again and this time I turned around. None other than Rafe Cameron looked me straight in the eye while sipping his mug of beer. Topper and Kelce to his left.

I turned back around sullenly, at least knowing that my instincts were right and that Rafe kept an eye on me from time to time. So I nervously ran my fingers through my hair and tried to look normal. "You okay?" Kiara asked after me, which made JJ and Pope look at me.

"All the best." I cleared my throat a little, now stiffened my concentration on the black and white film in front of me and followed what was happening.

A middle-aged man was unholstering his Glock 17 as JJ and Pope discussed how to pee safely. What were the two up to now?

"They're blocking the toilets, what do we do now?!" Pope hissed in panic, barely able to sit still.

"Can anyone help you two?" Meggi wanted to know, who was obviously fed up with not even being able to watch a film in public without attracting attention with her friends in an awkward way.

JJ just shook his head with a smile and pulled Pope up from his chair.
"Be right back."

Together they disappeared a little behind the screen that hid a tree. Kiara just sighed and looked after them for a moment. "I always knew that boys go to the toilet together too."

"Ditto", Meggi and I replied at the same time, which made us laugh. The three of us girls continued to watch the film in complete silence until it was noticed that neither Pope nor JJ had returned. And when I turned around, I didn't see Rafe or his money clique.

"Oh no," I said out loud.

"Yeah, the film is kind of sad," Meggi replied, always very stiff.

"No, I think our boys are in trubble," I explained, catching Kiara's worried look. Meggi understood very quickly, which is why we hurriedly jumped up from our chairs and disappeared on the other side of the screen.

As expected, Topper pummeled Pope and JJ tussled with Rafe. Kelce would help out here and there or cheer on his two buddies.

"Hey!" Kiara yelled, rushing to help Pope, who looked like he could use some help.

"Let him go!" Kelce cut her off and tried to pull her away so she wouldn't interfere with the others' process.

Meggi next to her, couldn't believe that her brother again had only stupid things on his mind, which is why she squeezed herself between the two, pulled him to the side and gave him the riot act.

I didn't have time to amuse myself as I witnessed Rafe kin hook JJ.

I clenched my hands into fists, felt the rush of adrenaline rushing through my blood, and tilted my head slightly before accelerating toward them both. "Cameron!" I warned him, about to move, when he threw me off so hard I lost my balance and fell to the ground.
"Stay out of this, Routledge!" Gritting my teeth, I lost my last trace of caution and patience. I wasn't just going to let a rich prat push me around!

As he struggles to his feet, I kick him hard in the back of his knees, causing him to reflexively buckle, JJ elbowing himself free and rushing over to Kiara, who was holding Kelce tightly. Just as Rafe - even more angry than before - was about to take a step, I charged at him and, with a cunning tactic, decisively threw him to the ground.

My left arm lingered by his throat and my right braced myself on the ground next to his head. Because of our intertwined legs, we lay so close together that I could feel his violent heartbeat against my chest and how startled he exhaled. His eyes locked deep in mine, the corners of his mouth twisted in defiance, knowing I had complete power over him.

Rafe Cameron couldn't move an inch and was powerless. Something he probably hated more than us Pogues. "I told you to stay out of this," he growled, but I just laughed in his face. "YOU are in no position to tell ME anything, understand?!" I shook my head to clarify. "I'll tell you something now, pretty boy. You think everyone is afraid of you and doesn't dare to do anything against you and your other two bills. But not with me. I have neither fear nor unnecessary respect for you. I know exactly how to deal with you, Rafe motherfucking Cameron," I put my opinion to him, calling him by his first name for now.

"It's all just a facade. It's easier when people hate you than like you. Because as a person who does bad things, you don't have to live up to expectations. Why should you do something good, huh?!"

Rafe glanced sideways at Topper, who was arguing with Meggi and Kelce, who had to give up before looking back at me, took in every inch of my face.

"You're a Pogue, Routledge. You have no idea what you're talking about!" he avoided me, but his blue eyes told me otherwise. Even in the dark I could see them in great detail, I had no idea how beautiful they were.

I cleared my throat and pulled myself together, ignoring the sudden blush-that hit my cheeks-as I allowed myself to think about how close our body parts were. Fuck.

"Let's handle this like adults, man," Topper suddenly suggested loudly, and I let go of Rafe and stood up. "Yeah? That's what comes to your mind with your sparrow brain now?" JJ scoffed and took off his cap, ran a hand through his hair and put it back on.

"What do you suggest?" Pope asked Topper. Meggi stood proudly next to her brother, having finally brought him to his senses. The two couldn't be more morally different.

"A motorcycle race. Tomorrow at 3. Across the old airfield towards the beach and the dunes to the Cut." I looked around, studying the faces of others. No one seemed to object.

Rafe nodded, rolling his eyes and straightening his jaw, standing in front of JJ. "You against me, pussy. Sleep tight!" he breathed provocatively before locking his gaze on me, smirking and we held eye contact for far too long. After that, the Kooks turned their backs on us.

Kiara let out a breath of relief, assuring herself that everyone was fine. "Our chance was 1 in 3, but they ended up hurting more than us, which means we won," Pope thought out loud, to which JJ slapped him on the back.
"It's good that nothing happened to your head, huh?"

: ̗̀➛

Exactly three minutes past three o'clock I arrived at the start line, my black helmet dangling. There had been a heated discussion between all of us the day before about how to proceed. And as surprising as it sounded, it was JJ's idea that I was up against Rafe, not him. So we had an element of surprise and Rafe would be happy because he thought the win was already in his hands. Little did he know, however, that I could drive a lot better than he and JJ combined.

Next to the runway was Kelce, who was responsible for the start, and Meggi was waiting for me there. As JJ's friend, she might as well be looking out for him. Rafe was already on his Enduro, helmet in hand and with an impatient expression on his face, he was making a sneer about us Pogues and that JJ would back down. Grinning, I pressed my lips together, taking advantage of his distraction, and jumped onto JJ's moped, clearing my throat afterwards.

Rafe's gaze was priceless.
"You're not JJ-" he stated.

"No, I'm better."

"I see."

I winked at him and put my helmet on, unlatching the kickstand with my left foot and pressing the clutch with my right to start the engine. Rafe did the same and Kelce stood in front of us, holding up his hand, which served as a sign. As soon as she would be down, that was our signal to go. Tense, I tried to breathe calmly, checked my seat and revved the engine a few times to test it. Then Kelce's hand snapped down, I twisted the throttle, released the clutch and put my left foot in place. Rafe and I drove side by side for several seconds before I deftly overtook him, slowing down and weaving lines so wide he couldn't pass.

I looked back and gave him my middle finger. His moaning was unmistakable. Satisfied, I went one better and briefly rode on the rear wheel at the end of the airfield, allowing him to pass fairly fairly. He shook his head in disbelief. Well, he probably didn't expect that. Just like I had planned, I let him drive ahead, staying close behind him and urging to pass every few seconds, which he purposefully denied. Perfect. Besides that, it gave me a much better view of him...

When he slowed down just before the dunes, where the sand made it slippery, I hissed past him and rode on the few tufts of grass to go faster. Rafe copied my tactics and with a good distance between us, he drove alongside me. Now it was only a matter of seconds.

I already recognized the shapes of my friends and Topper, who were nervously watching what was happening. I immediately slowed down a bit, letting Rafe pass, and swerved right at full throttle, jumping off the dunes onto the sloping road instead of taking the corner. It wasn't forbidden, just damn dangerous.

The landing was a bit shaky, but I didn't give in and didn't brake a bit. It was a mystery to me how Rafe could still rear up so close to me. Now it was all about speed and luck.

However, he made the mistake of switching to my other side, losing some speed while I got there first, braking with such a sharp turn that I had turned ninety degrees. That was damn close.

After I switched off the engine and removed my helmet, JJ charged me, the others held back a bit. "You showed them how a pogue drives! The jump was awesome! I really thought my heart would stop," he gasped in relief and gave me a big hug before I could even raise my hand to give him a high five. Giggling, though out of breath, I hugged him tight. "It was fun," I admitted casually, glancing at Rafe who was still on his bike watching me.

"For a girl ... and Pogue ... you're probably doing better than I thought," he piped up, clearing his throat. "Emma." It was probably the first time he had called me by my first name. And I could tell from his look that he was more than impressed.

That was my real goal with this race; to change his perspective after his injured ego. And I'd had more than success at it.

Kiara lashed out at me as well, as did Pope, before the three of them chatted alone, arguing that the jump wasn't a bit cool, it was way too daring. JJ accordingly had a different opinion.

I stood on the outside, just beaming in silence, until I was thrown by Rafe's request.

"Come here." Curious, I walked up to him, let the three be and listened to what he had to say.

"You won. Let's show that a little bit more," he grinned, and I wasn't sure whether his flirting should make me fall off my feet or whether the evil aftertaste would come. Because something told me that he didn't do that to just any girl. Especially not when it was a Pogue. So why me?

Rafe held out his right hand invitingly and I took it without hesitation, somehow trusting him. After getting his bike running again, his hand anchored securely to mine, he rode the rear wheel in circles around me a few times. Kind of like the way one held the hand and the other spun around and danced around it.

Because I was tall enough, I didn't have to tiptoe because of the height, but I had to control my embarrassment, which wasn't alleviated by the applause of the others. Mainly because I was the center of attention.

Topper didn't applaud, just scowled at his friend's celebration that they didn't win. Especially Rafe, who always wanted to win at all costs. What had changed his thoughts on this?

When Rafe came to a stop on the bike, held my hand for a second and looked up at me, I gulped. "I do hope we meet again, huh?"

"Oh, Rafe, as soon as you close your eyes you'II see me again. Goodnight," I teased, taking a step back and saluting him. I also knew that he was grinning without seeing it myself.

"Was it just me, or does Rafe Cameron have a heart that you made beating again?" JJ offered, after which he received a slap on the shoulder from Kiara.

"He fell for her," she laughed and I rolled my eyes with a smirk. What did I just start there ...

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