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cakesunflower · 2 months ago

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lovelorn (and nobody knows) [rafe cameron au fic] chapter 11

Summary: Isla Carrera had planned for the summer before college to be focused on three things: helping out at her family’s restaurant (the helpful daughter), preparing for college (the good student), and having fun with the Pogues (the loyal friend). But one fateful night, where her car breaks down and her rescuer is none other than Rafe Cameron, seems to send her summer down a path she didn’t see coming–one teeming with a secret, illicit romance with the last person she expected. And if her friends and sister found out, Isla isn’t sure they’ll be so understanding, no matter what her feelings are.

The weather is perfect for an outdoor party, not too hot despite it being summer, so Isla’s parents lucked out for their anniversary party. The sun is shining, though it’s not blistering hot as it begins its descent into the evening, and there’s a pleasant breeze that teases Isla’s skin, exposed thanks to the summer dress she’s wearing. Much to her relief, all of the dessert she had ordered had arrived exactly when it should have, decorating the dessert table near the bar.

The decorations included gold and white balloons tied to the tables and chairs, two number balloons that read 20 in front of a backdrop of the same color theme with a banner above that says Happy Anniversary. Along with the desserts, the table also holds small bottles of bubbles for guests as party favors to enjoy throughout the nice that has Mike & Anna’s 20th written on them. There’s a live band that plays music while everyone mingles, two bartenders serving the guests as Isla’s parents greet and thank people for coming.

Isla and Kie’s friends were invited as well, along with their families; it’s majority Kooks, with some Pogues sprinkled in—and Kie had, very specifically, warned their friends to be on their best behavior and not get into it with any of the Kooks. As long as they keep away from each other throughout the party, things should be fine. The last thing anyone needs is a fight breaking out during her parents’ anniversary party.

“Sarah’s here,” Cleo says, looking past Isla’s shoulder as she bites into a cupcake.

The group of them are by the dessert table, idly eating and enjoying the music. Isla’s heart jumps as she turns to look, her gaze immediately landing on Rafe as he arrives with his family. He’s in a simple blue polo and beige pants, sunglasses covering his eyes, and Isla bites the inside of her cheek at the sight of him. Isla also sees her parents approach the Camerons to greet them, just as she feels a nudge to her side.

“Come on,” Kie says with a sigh. “You know Mom’s gonna want us to go say hi.” Glancing over at John B, she adds with a teasing grin, “Don’t worry, we’ll bring your girlfriend around.”

He rolls his eyes, the wind dancing through his tousled hair. “Thank you so much,” he says dryly.

Kie hooks her arm with Isla’s and pulls her along, nearly making her stumble thanks to the wedges she’s wearing, the necklaces she’s layered tinkling together as she moves. Her sister is in sneakers so with her heels, Isla’s the same height as Kie, which she finds both ridiculous and hilarious.

They approach their parents and the Camerons, and Isla smiles at Sarah before she notices the slight shift in Rafe’s head and Isla swears, despite the sunglasses covering his eyes, he’s looking right at her. She can feel it in the way her skin prickles with awareness and Isla has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep her smile from growing. With a glance at Kie, she sees her sister not even acknowledge Rafe, which isn’t surprising, and instead is offering polite smiles to Sarah’s parents, and more genuine ones to Sarah and Wheezie.

“The place looks beautiful,” Rose comments, looking around the decorated area.

“All thanks to my girls,” Anna says, smiling at Isla and Kie. “Kie helped with the decorations, and Isla personally took care of all the dessert and made sure it got here on time from Chapel Hill.”

The mention of that has Isla’s gaze subtly flickering to Rafe. His head is dipped as he fixes the watch on his wrist, but she sees the way his eyes flick up from over the rim of his sunglasses, blue eyes meeting green as, in that moment, they both reminisce about their day together. A secret between them among their families and Isla’s cheeks flush, forcing herself to look away before anyone else notices.

“Sarah,” Kie says, nodding her head to where the others are.

While the parents talk—Wheezie having wandered off to find kids her age—Sarah and Kie begin walking to where their friends are, and Isla suppresses a sigh as she slowly turns to follow them. Her gaze meets Rafe’s once more, and he shoots her a small smile, a mutual understanding between them that as much as they want, they can’t exactly hang out at her parents’ party.

Even still, as she walks off with her friends, Isla feels a tug in her chest, as though her body is begging her to go back to Rafe. But she can’t, and she forces herself not to look affected as she rejoins her friends. “This is all so Kook-central,” JJ says, blue eyes looking around at the several guests around.

Kie rolls her eyes. “Enjoy the free food, JJ,” she tells him with a laugh, picking up a cupcake and offering it to him.

JJ takes it with an incomprehensible mutter. “How am I supposed to keep it down when Top’s stupid face is right there?” he asks, even as he takes a bite of the cupcake, blue frosting smearing at the corner of his mouth.

Isla and the others follow JJ’s gaze where Topper is standing at the other side of the party, sipping a drink and standing with a few other Kooks that Sarah went to school with—including Rafe. They’re chatting among themselves, sipping their drinks, and Isla doesn’t miss the way Topper looks back at them and glares. Specifically at Sarah and John B, because apparently he hasn’t moved on despite it being over a year since Sarah started dating John B.

“He’s never gonna let it go, is he?” Pope muses, seemingly thinking the same as Isla.

“One can only hope,” Sarah huffs, turning to give her back to her ex as John B’s arm goes around her shoulders.

Isla sees the way Topper’s glare tightens before he looks away, taking a long sip of his drink. Unable to help herself, Isla’s gaze slides to Rafe, who stands leaning back against the railing that separates the area the party is in from the sidewalk leading up to the dock. His sunglasses hang from the neckline of his shirt, elbows resting on the railing behind him as he laughs at something Kelce says.

She looks away quickly before she gets caught staring—gawking, admiring—and tunes back into the conversation in time to hear Cleo ask her and Kie, “When are your parents leaving?”

As his anniversary gift to their mom, Isla’s dad surprised her mom with two tickets for a long weekend away in Vermont, from this coming Friday morning to Monday evening. Their parents don’t often go away, since they like to be in town for the restaurant, but between Isla and Kie and the restaurant’s assistant manager, Holly, and the fact that it’s their anniversary, they’re making an exception to go to Vermont for four days.

“This Friday,” Kie answers with an excited wiggle of her eyebrows.

“Party?” JJ asks, perking up with brightened eyes.

Both Isla and Kie shoot him a look, simultaneously responding, “Hell, no.”

As much as Isla and her sister love going to parties, hosting them is a whole monster that neither of them particularly enjoy. Because while the party itself could be fun, the aftermath of cleaning up isn’t something Isla and her sister want to deal with at all, even if they recruit their friends to help.

JJ blows a raspberry, shoulders slumping. “Lame,” he remarks, laughing when Kie smacks his arm and takes another bite of the cupcake. “Shit, these are delicious,” he adds with an appreciative mumble.

“We can get them for your birthday,” Kie offers and Isla suppresses a knowing smile, her eyes meeting Sarah’s knowingly. Jeez, Isla wishes her sister and JJ would just get their heads out of their asses and get together already. Especially when JJ’s gaze softens ever so slightly at Kie’s offer, his smile turning appreciative. Isla is certain she’s only seen him smile like that at Kie.

John B reaches around Cleo and snatches up one of the bubble bottles, twisting the top off to reveal the wand. Pointing it upwards, he blows and several bubbles of all sizes form out, Isla grinning as they seem to rain down on mostly her and Sarah.

Isla holds a hand forward, grin widening as a bubble lands in her palm, lingering for a second before it pops. “Pass me one,” she says to Cleo, who’s standing closest to the table.

Cleo tosses her one bottle, keeping another for herself, and soon each of them have their own bottle and Isla grins, taking a step back as she pulls out the wand and tilts her chin back to blow some out. Her eyes watch with childlike fascination, the rainbow of colors reflecting in the bubbles as they float, some popping quickly while others dance along the breeze, several in the air thanks to the whole group blowing the bubbles.

Sarah faces her, her own grin wide and small wand in hand, and she and Isla laugh as they blow bubbles at each other, squinting her eyes as one pops a few inches away from her face, though it doesn’t sting her eyes, fortunately. Giggling, Sarah says, “Maybe your parents decided to have these to distract us from starting shit.”

Isla snorts out a laugh, shaking her head. “Smart thinking on their part,” she says, dipping the wand back into the bottle. As she pulls it out again, Isla’s gaze flicks to the left, feeling the weight of someone’s gaze on her, and her heart trips to see Rafe staring at her. Or she assumes, given the fact that he’s wearing sunglasses, but he’s facing this way. And the way her skin prickles, she just knows he’s watching her. The distance between them feels too great and—

All of a sudden, her view of Rafe is obstructed as her mom appears in view. “Hey, honey,” she greets with a breathless smile. “Can you do me a favor?” she asks, digging into her purse and pulling out her car keys. “I left my jacket in the car, can you bring it?”

“Jacket?” Isla blinks, spinning the top closed as she lets out a chuckle. “Isn��t it a little warm for a jacket?”

Anna scoffs, holding out the keys. “It’s not a jacket-jacket. More like a lace cover up. Pulls the outfit together and, plus, it’s going to get a little chilly when the sun goes down.” Her dark eyes give her a look over, as well as Kie standing behind her, chatting with the others. “You girls should’ve brought something to wear over, too.”

Isla laughs, taking the keys. “Alright, alright. I’ll get it.” Glancing at her friends, she tells them, “I’ll be right back.”

The gravel crunches under her shoes as she walks towards the main opening of the party area, walking around the metal fence separating the area with the sidewalk and heading towards the parking lot. It’s pretty crowded, almost every spot filled, not just with people attending Isla’s parents’ party but for the restaurants around and since it’s tourist season, padding boating on the water nearby.

Her dad’s pick up truck is a few rows away and Isla weaves between the other cars until she reaches it, walking around to the passenger side. Squinting slightly against the sunlight, she opens the passenger door and frowns when she doesn’t see her mom’s cover up before her gaze flickers and sees it in the backseat.

Huffing, Isla shuts the door and opens the back passenger door, leaning in to reach for the lace cover-up towards the other end, stepping up on the runner to be closer. A breeze tickles the back of her thighs and Isla reaches back to make sure she’s not flashing anyone—not that she thinks anyone could even see anything given the tons of cars around. Once the cover-up is in hand, Isla moves backwards and puts her foot back on the ground, gravel crunching once more, and is about to step away to close the door when a hand suddenly lands on her hip.

Isla freezes for a split second, feeling the warmth of someone behind her, before a familiar voice says, “Anyone ever tell you yellow’s your color?”

A shiver rushes down her spine, a smile tugging up the corners of her lips as Rafe’s hand slides from her hip to her front, resting on her stomach as he pulls her to him. His touch is warm, burning her deliciously through the thin material of her dress as she feels his solid torso pressing against her back.

He makes her pulse quicken as Isla tilts her head to the side the slightest, sighing happily when she feels his lips skim the side of her neck. “I think you’re the first,” she replies, her voice surprisingly not as breathless as she feels at the softness of his lips.

“Hm,” he hums and she can sense the smile as he kisses her neck, spreading heat throughout her body. It’s risky, being here like this with him. But they’re on the other side of the truck from the party, and the height of it blocks them anyway, if anyone were to look. Rafe’s hand slides even further to her other hip, tightening his hold to turn her around, and Isla smiles as she finally looks up at his face, sunglasses still covering his eyes.

She watches as his own smile curves up his lips, the sight making her pulse quicken as his strong arm wraps around her waist, holding her close. Her free hand slides up his chest, the material of his shirt soft, until her arm is loosely wrapped around his neck. “You look pretty good in blue,” she tells him through a smile.

Rafe arches an eyebrow, dipping his chin so their eyes can meet over the glasses. “Just pretty good?” he asks, still smiling.

Isla’s smile widens. With her mom’s cover-up draped across her arm, she reaches her hand up and swiftly swipes his sunglasses off. Rafe squints briefly against the sunlight, his smile remaining as he watches Isla put the Ray Bans on her face. Warmth spreads through her chest at the way his eyes soften, watching Isla give a sly grin. “Very handsome,” she corrects before lifting her chin. “How do I look?”

Rafe’s hand rests on her lower back, blue eyes looking over her face, his bangs grazing past his eyebrows. “Very much like a girl I want to kiss.”

Her heart skips a beat or two, her fingers teasing his hair at the back of his head. She glances over her shoulder, though the truck obscures her view of anything. “We don’t have much time,” Isla says as she turns back to face him.

Rafe is already leaning towards her, Isla’s grin growing the closer he gets as she takes his sunglasses and slides them up to rest on the top of her head. His hand on her back increases pressure and his gaze drops to her lips, heat slipping through her veins as Rafe’s voice drops low when he murmurs, “Any time with you is worth it.”

He seals his words by pressing his lips to hers, barely giving Isla any time to think of what he just said, too distracted by the way he kisses her. Isla’s stomach presses against his, humming happily against Rafe’s lips as he leans towards her, and Isla’s fingers thread through his hair at the back of his head as Rafe moves her backward until she’s leaning against the edge of the backseat.

When his tongue slides into her mouth, a low moan escapes Isla, and it seems to push Rafe in moving his hand that’s resting at the small of her back until his arm winds itself around her, just under her ass, and Isla gasps out a laugh into the kiss when he suddenly lifts her just enough to rest her on the seat. Rafe leans forward, ducking into the truck, and all thoughts eddie out of Isla’s head as she parts her legs to let his lean body fit between them where he stands next to the truck, and Isla’s heart thunders wildly at the way Rafe’s tongue teases hers.

This is so risky, Isla knows, but God, she can’t bring herself to care when Rafe’s kisses make her head spin so wildly. Anyone could walk by and spot them, but it doesn’t really matter right now. She’s already addicted to the taste of him, has already memorized the shape and feel of his lips as she sucks on his lower lip, relishing in the deep groan he releases. His hands slide along the sides of her thighs, somehow both heat and goosebumps spreading through her skin in response to his touch, and her own fingers tighten in his hair.

“It drives me fucking crazy,” Rafe mumbles, Isla gasping against his lips when she feels his fingers press into the flesh of her thighs. Her heart is running a mile a minute, heat dampening her underwear at having him so close and desperately needing him—but knowing now definitely isn’t the time. It’s all she can think until Rafe continues, “Seeing you like this and not being able to even fucking talk to you.”

“Like this?” Isla questions breathlessly as Rafe’s lips trail kisses down the line of her jaw, her head tilting back and eyes shut as she enjoys his kisses.

The air hitches in her throat when Rafe kisses in that spot right where her jaw and neck meet. “Beautiful,” Rafe answers, grip on her tightening, pulling her close.

Isla moans as his teeth teasingly nip at her skin, and she cups his face and brings it back up so she can kiss him again. “You’re tired of keeping this a secret already?” she asks, her words practically a whisper. “We only just started.”

Their kiss breaks for a moment and Isla’s eyes flutter open to see Rafe looking down at her with his own hooded eyes. Her heart launches to her throat when she sees his kiss swollen lips, slightly glittering with the shine of her lip gloss having rubbed off on him. The sight only dampens her underwear even more, breathing heavily against him. His blue eyes have darkened and, God, the way he’s looking at her, like he wants to swallow her whole. Oh, she��d let him.

“I know,” Rafe replies, his voice roughened. One of his hands slides away from the hem of her dress, coming up to brush her dark hair out of her face. Her racing heart melts when his knuckles gently graze along her cheekbones, watching her with a look that has her sliding her hand out of his hair and resting at the side of his neck.

Some of the haze of lust fades away as Rafe straightens, Isla sitting on the edge of the seat sideways, his body still standing between her legs. “You changing your mind?” she asks him with a slight tilt of her head. Her stomach knots slightly at the idea of Rafe having any kind of regret when it comes to her and this relationship.

His gaze snaps back to hers, forehead creasing. “Absolutely not,” he says firmly, the conviction in his voice relaxing Isla as she rubs her lips together for a second. “It’s just. . . An adjustment,” he finishes with a flash of a half smile.

“Dating a Pogue?” Isla supplies with a small, teasing smirk.

He huffs out a laugh, rolling his eyes. “No,” he says, and that alone makes her heart swell. Such a small thing, but it somehow holds a lot of significance for her. Meeting her gaze, Rafe clarifies, “Wanting someone so badly and not being able to kiss you whenever the hell I want.”

“It’s hard for me too,” Isla tells him with a gentle smile, fiddling with the collar of his shirt. In the distance, she can hear the party going on, the chatter of people overpowered by the music playing by the band. But her gaze is on Rafe. “It’s only temporary though, right? Just for now. Just until the time is right to tell everyone.”

Truth be told, Isla isn’t a hundred percent certain when the time will be right to tell her friends about her and Rafe. She wants her and Rafe to be seeing each other for a bit, to be in an established relationship between them, before she tells them. So they don’t think she’s lost her mind, or think she’s only hooking up with him. No matter when she tells them, or how, no doubt the Pogues will have something or another to say.

It’s a thought that makes her more anxious than she’d like to think, trying her best not to dwell on it too hard. The fact of the matter is, Isla just wants to enjoy being with Rafe, to savor the excitement that comes with sneaking around, and get to know him more and more while they’re alone in their bubble. This thing between them, tentatively unlabeled but quickly heading in the direction she wants it to, is still very new and they both are learning to navigate it. She doesn’t want to put a timer on things as to when they can be public—when she will tell her friends. And she hopes Rafe is in the same mindset as her. Though, as with any healthy relationship, open communication is where it all comes down to, isn’t it?

Throat working briefly, Isla continues, “I know it’s annoying to keep this a secret—” She trails a finger along the sharp curve of his jaw until it’s under his chin, tipping his face towards her, smiling gently when his softening eyes meet hers. “And that it’d be much easier to be with someone you don’t have to sneak ar—”

“What’d I tell you before?” Rafe asks with an arch of his eyebrow. “I don’t care that we have to hide, because I know it’s important for you to find the right time to tell my sister and your friends.” He smiles then, giving a one shouldered shrug. “I’m just looking forward to the day we can do whatever we want, whenever we want. No matter how far down the road that is.”

Her heart swells. “Yeah?”

Rafe dips his chin in a nod, pressing a swift kiss to her lips. “Yeah,” he answers, pulling back with a smile.

She relaxes even more, his reassuring words providing more comfort than she expects. “Well, in that case,” she starts slowly, smile growing as she shifts her hand so it’s cupping his jaw, using her thumb to wipe at his lips to get rid of the glitter from her lip gloss still on his lips. “How ’bout another date?” Isla tilts her head, briefly biting her bottom lip when she sees the way his eyebrows flick upwards in curiosity. “Our third one,” she adds with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

“Third?” he asks with a laugh, moving back so Isla can get out of the truck, her mom’s cover up in hand as she fixes the skirt of her dress. As Isla takes off her sunglasses and hands them back to Rafe, he asks, “When’d we have the second one?”

She laughs as he taps a closed fist on top of his folded sunglasses. “I think our day in the park counts as a second date,” she muses.

Rafe shoots her a flat expression. “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” she shrugs with a grin. “But it’s my turn to plan the date this time.”

His expression shifts to one of amused curiosity, his smile making her heart flutter. As always. “Oh, yeah?” he asks, his hand reached out so his fingers lightly grasp her chin. Her skin sizzles when he touches her, air locking in her throat when his thumb gently wipes at the skin just beneath her bottom lip. She has a feeling he’s wiping away her smeared lip gloss.

“Yeah,” she breathes out, wanting to lean into him and kiss him again. But she can hear the party, and no doubt her parents and friends will begin wondering where she is. “Friday night?”

Her parents leave in the morning and she has a shift at The Wreck, but it’s not a closing shift. She also knows for a fact that Kie is going to be at the movies at the park with Cleo, because they both have a wild crush on Dev Patel and Monkey Man is playing, and while Isla doesn’t know about the others, she knows they’ll be busy, too. It’d be the perfect night for her and Rafe to hang out.

“I’m down,” Rafe says with a grin. “Text me the details?”

She nods, running her fingers through her hair before gently rubbing at her lips. Her purse is back at the party, so she can’t fix her lip gloss, so she just hopes for the best as she asks Rafe, “I look okay?”

Rafe’s gaze lingers on her face, flickering around as though he’s watching every feature—from the curve of her eyelashes to the gold nose ring to the pout of her lips. It only makes her stomach flutter. “Gorgeous,” he says, voice low and reverent and enough to make that flutter into a hurricane. Rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb, Rafe looks past her for a second before saying, “You go ahead. I’ll, uh, be back in a bit.”

His eyes drop down for a moment and Isla’s eyebrows raise as she follows his gaze until it stops at his pants, noting the very prominent bulge that has Isla’s throat drying in realization. The heat that had melted through her veins returns in that second, desire tightening her throat as she forces her gaze to flicker back up to him. When she meets his gaze again, he doesn’t look embarrassed—not that he should—but the way he’s got a ghost of a smirk has her pressing her tongue to the roof of her mouth, because she knows he knows exactly what’s going through her head.

“Um, yeah, sounds good,” Isla says with a quick clearing of her throat, cheeks flushing deeply that she’s sure she resembles a tomato. She also does her very best not to think about how, so far, they’ve only just kissed and she can’t wait for the moment they finally get to do more. “I’m, um, gonna go.”

Rafe’s smirk widens and Isla can feel his gaze on her as she shuts the truck door and locks it. When she looks up at him, Isla shakes her head, rolling her lips into her mouth briefly when he chuckles. “Don’t look at me like that,” she mumbles, lightly smacking the sleeve of her mom’s cover up against Rafe’s chest as she moves to go past him.

He laughs again and Isla gasps slightly when his arm slides around her once more, hand on her stomach, and stops her long enough for him to duck his head forward and press a swift kiss to her cheek. “See you there,” he murmurs against her skin before pulling back, and oh boy, the butterflies in her belly belong to him.

Isla walks back to the party before she convinces herself to stay with him, the music and chatter growing louder the closer she gets. She swears her lips still tingle from kissing Rafe, struggling to bite back a smile as she easily finds her mom talking to some guests.

“Thanks, baby,” Anna says with a smile as she takes the cover up, before doing a double take. Her forehead creases, turning away from the others to face Isla fully. “You okay? You look flushed,” she adds, lightly pressing the back of her hand against Isla’s cheek.

Isla blinks, forcing her eyes not to widen in surprise as to not give away anything. Sure, her mom knew that Isla went on a date with Rafe, and her mom’s been great about keeping things quiet—especially from Kiara. Still, Isla isn’t exactly ready to tell her mom that the reason for her oh-so-flushed cheeks is because she has just finished making out with Rafe in her dad’s truck.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine,” Isla assures with a laugh that she hopes doesn’t sound too forced.

Anna pulls her hand back, looking at her for a moment. Her gaze flicks around before stepping towards Isla, dipping her chin even as her gaze remains locked with Isla’s. “I know Kie and your friends have some issues with Rafe,” her mom whispers, which Isla isn’t expecting her to say. “Everything good on that front?”

Isla’s gaze flicks to where her friends are, sitting at a table now and talking amongst themselves, keeping their distance away from the Kooks and enjoying their little bubble. She loves that bubble. Even if, right now, there’s a fear of popping it because of her evolving relationship with Rafe.

“Mom,” Isla starts, shooting her mom a pointed look and putting on a smile so anyone watching doesn’t think anything is amiss. “I love you, but you don’t need to worry about anything. Let’s not have this specific conversation right at this moment?”

Realization is quick to dawn on her mother, thankfully. She laughs and nods, much to Isla’s relief. “Got it.”

The rest of the party goes on easily, with Isla and Kie sitting with their parents during the dinner. Before it was served, though, their dad had made a beautiful speech about their mom, expressed his love for Anna and their daughters, and Isla had definitely teared up during it. While Kie wrapped both of her arms around Isla’s shoulder and pulled her in, sitting next to each other, Isla had wiped her nose with a tissue and her gaze had somehow found Rafe’s, where he sat with his family. And with his sunglasses off, she saw that he was looking directly at her, and when he noted the tears in her eyes, had given her a small smile, his own gaze softening, and while Isla hugs her sister back, she also kind of wishes she had Rafe’s hand to hold, too.

That’s not possible, though. Not yet, anyway.

Later on in the night, Isla’s laughter rings out as JJ gives her a twirl on the makeshift dance floor, the band playing a cover of Check Yes Juliet, and the skirt of her dress flares around her as she does. Her friends surround them while other guests dance as well, the sun having long since set and the fairy lights that are hanging above them illuminating the area beautifully. With the sun gone and the sky darkened, it is a little cooler out, but Isla’s having too much dancing with her friends—and dancing off all of the food she happily ate during the dinner.

JJ spins her again and Isla laughs, throwing her arm around his shoulders once she’s straightened. “Okay, okay, I’m gonna get dizzy,” she says over the music, her other hand finding Kie’s and pulling her sister over, her other arm around Kie’s shoulders as the three of them dance—or jump—to the music. When she glances to her left, Isla notes Kie’s gaze lingering on JJ, her smile a little distance, and Isla leans towards her and whispers, “Maybe let him twirl you.” Kie looks at her like she’s insane and Isla has to stifle a laugh. “Or maybe not.”

God, these two idiots.

“Sarah.” Isla’s gaze snaps to Rafe making his way towards their group, standing taller than everyone else. Because of her arm around JJ, she can feel his shoulders tense at Rafe’s arrival and with one glance, Isla sees the way JJ’s jaw clenches, blue eyes trained on Rafe, who is focused on his sister. Sarah turns to look at him, John B’s arms around her, though her smile doesn’t falter as she looks at her brother. “We’re heading out. Are you coming with us or staying with John B?”

“No, no, I’m coming,” Sarah tells him.

Rafe dips his chin in a nod as Sarah turns to give John B a kiss and, right then, though Rafe doesn’t fully face her to his right, his eyes still meet Isla’s. Everyone around them dances, other than her friends, really, but Isla feels her stomach flutter, the heat of her surroundings nothing compared to what ignites when Rafe just looks at her. It’s dangerous, given that they’re around all of her friends, but her heart hasn’t gotten the memo.

“I’ll see you guys later,” Sarah says to the rest of them with a smile before nodding her chin at Rafe. “Let’s go.”

Rafe’s gaze darts away from Isla, and she misses the weight of it as the brother and sister make their way out of the crowd, Rafe easily parting the people around them and Sarah following in his wake. As the band changes songs and Isla sees Rafe disappear from view, JJ huffs from next to her. “Can’t stand that guy.”

Isla blinks before her head turns to him. Ignoring the tightness in her stomach—this time more painful than anything else—she forces out a laugh. “He didn’t even do anything. This time, at least,” she hastily adds, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth.

“Doesn’t matter,” JJ shrugs, running his fingers through his hair while his arm drops from around Isla’s shoulders. “He’s the fucking king of the Kooks. Asshole by default.”

“I thought Ward was the king of the Kooks?” Cleo muses with an arched eyebrow. “Since Sarah was the Kook princess?”

“Yeah, that’d make Rafe prince of the Kooks, right?” Pope pipes in, and the whole conversation seems so surreal that Isla isn’t sure if she wants to laugh or spiral a little, knowing they’re all talking about Rafe.

JJ, though, is a little fed up. “Shut up, y’all know what I meant,” he says with a roll of his eyes. “He’s an asshole. Always has been, let’s leave it at that.”

Isla doesn’t want to leave it at that, but she bites her tongue—literally, feeling the sting as she traps it between her teeth. There’s a tightness in her chest, hearing Rafe being talked about like this. The change is sudden and new and something Isla is readily becoming familiar with—this change of completely disliking when one of her best friends openly calls Rafe an asshole. Especially when she has seen a side of him none of them have—a side she has a very strong feeling is the real him.

It’s been a while since there has been any physical altercation between Pogues and Kooks—one that has involved Rafe, anyway. John B and Topper often get into it, since Topper still can’t seem to accept that Sarah left him and hates to see her with John B, but Rafe has kept his distance from these fights. Since even before he and Isla got together.

Come to think of it, it’s been since Sarah’s birthday—the night that he had told Isla changed his feelings for her. Like he was keeping himself out of trouble with her friends in respect to her, and the notion is sweet and lovely, but not one she can disclose to her friends. She so badly wants to defend him, to tell JJ he’s being ridiculous and unfair since Rafe hasn’t done shit, but that would so obviously raise suspicions. Her friends would think she’s insane for defending him.

So Isla stays quiet—and hates every bit of it.

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pinkthrone445 · 2 months ago

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Nooo! You can’t leave me hanging with my heartache pls 😭 I need a part 5 to Partner in crime. I am so sad and I’ve been waiting for the next update to this and I finally get it but it’s sadddd naurrrrr. Next part. I demand the next sort my heart needs to feel happy again 😔🥲

P.S I love your writing! It’s soo good!!!! I love it so much!

Thanks for the support! I love this kind of messages, it truly helps me to keep writing. Thanks for all the funny comments too! ❤️

~Partner in crime~ Part 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Pairing:Melissa Schemmenti x Reader

Gender:soft, cute, friends to lovers, slow burn, hurt

Warnings:I don't think so

Summary :When they send you to work back in your home town, you start to recall all your memories from your teen years involving the redhead. And now it was finally time to face the past.

You sighed trying to calm the lump in your throat and the pain you felt in your chest as you remembered how things ended with her and how the last time you saw her she had already found her forever home by someone else's side.

Taking a last look at the file that had been brought to you, you reviewed with your eyes the name of the person involved: Anthony "Tony" Schementti. The man for whom you had received a promotion as a cop when you caught him years ago, but also the man that had cost you your whole future and the love of your life.

Many nights you spent reliving that arrest in your head, what would have happened if your partner had entered the building first and made the arrest? Would she still be with you, would your end have been different? What would have happened if you had him let it go? Would it have been worth losing your job to keeping her? You could have find a new job, but you could never find someone like her, Melissa was something special, something that you only get to live once, her magic made your life brighter, better, happier... And even if you tried to find someone new, your days never were as bright, your life never reached that peak of perfection and your heart never felt the same happiness...

You knew you couldn't live in the past anymore, you couldn't change anything and there was no point of spend your time speculating about what would have happened if... But you also couldn't have a full future if your heart had stayed in that past.

With sadness and pain you took that file and closed it, getting up from your desk and taking it to your boss to explain that you would not be part of the revision of the trial since you were involved in the case personally. He understood and after you finish arranging everything, you went to your patrol to start your first day of work on Philly.

That first week back in your home town was "normal", you tried to get used to the town again and to your new partner at work, he was a rookie under your protection and under your guidance, and he didn't had much idea of life.

The redhead popped on your mind more than once, more times that you would like to admit. Sometimes it was because you saw something that reminded you of her, in others she visited you in waves of loving or painful memories, she also visited you on dreams from time to time, where she looked at you with more love than the last time you talked to her. You knew where she lived and worked, it was on the file of her brother because she was his contact information, you only saw the address once, but it was engraved on your mind with no practical use, you would never dare to go to near that part of town and risk seeing her again after all this years.

Another thing that made you think of her was the invitation that was under your door when you got home a few nights ago, the school reunion for the 20th anniversary of your graduation. Everyone in school knew that you dated her many years, would they think that you were still together? They always thought you were the perfect couple, what would they think if they find out that she was married to one of her ex classmates?

You didn't have time to go to that stupid thing anyway...

The noise of interference on your radio brought you back to reality

-"Code Amber on the Philly mall, all free units respond to the scene" - The lady from the radio informed and you turned your lights and the sirens on, immediately changing route to the mall address

-"Copy dispatch, this is L-8230 on route" - You informed

-"Child got lost apparently 10 minutes ago in a school excursion to the cinema, a first grader using a gray t-shirt and blue sport pants, curly short dark hair, green eyes and dark tees, it's using a tag with their name on it, responds to the name of Chris"-she kept giving more instructions and you saw the mall a few blocks away. Your partner looked really nervous and scared, placing his hand on the belt where he had his hand.

-"Look kiddo, we are looking for a little kid, not to shoot anybody. Our coworkers probably already did a perimeter around the mall, if someone is trying to take that kid away, we will see it before they can get away with it. In the most common cases the kid is hiding somewhere inside the mall and we can find him in a few minutes. We will get there and talk to the teacher and the classmates to see if someone saw something, our job it's to be calm so they can be calm, if they start to panic, that only make our jobs harder, okay?"-You tried to explain everything so he could know what to expect and do his job in the best way

-"Y-Yes ma'am, I will follow your lead" - He said taking his hand off the gun holder.

When you arrived at the scene, the police already closed the mall and made a perimeter around it just as you said.

After parking, you quickly entered the mall with your partner following quickly behind you. There were many children gathered around their teachers and nervousness and fear could be felt in the air. Scanning the crowd you approached the teacher of the lost kid to ask a couple of questions. Among all of them you saw a blonde hair, which although many years had passed since the last time you saw her in person, you would recognize her anywhere. Kristin Marie was sobbing trying to keep her composure so as not to scare the other children, but in her eyes from afar you could see the desperation she felt and the guilt that one of her children had gotten lost.

Without trying to startle her more than she already was, you approached carefully and touched her arm

-"Kristin..."-you softly called but she was startled anyway

-"O-Officer..."-she began stuttering from her own sobs and you could see the surprise in her eyes when her sight reached your face-"(Y/N)..."-your name on her lips was just a whisper and she immediately collapsed in your arms crying on your vest, your arms held her protectively

-"Hey... It is ok... We'll find them, they're hiding somewhere and they are safe. Kids tend to hide thinking is funny, I'm sure they are around somewhere else. I promise we will find them" - You reassured. On your job you knew that you shouldn't do promises, specially knowing how unpredictable life was, but rigth now you would say anything to confort your old friend. But apparently, no matter what you said to her, you couldn't stop her from sobbing on your chest.

A well-dressed man approached you with a frown, looking at the woman crying in your chest

-"Pull yourself together Kristin! Don't you realize that this damn mall is full of glass and the reporters who are gathering outside can see you? Do you know how the name of the school could look if that child does not appear?" -The man spoke in a dry tone and for the first time in your life you saw Kristin scared, not by him, but by the idea that that child might not appear again. You carefully stood in front of the man, covering your friend with your body

-"BACK OFF!" - Your voice echoed on the mostly emptied mall-"A child is lost and all you care is the school reputation? Why don't you care about the safety of that kid? Why don't you worry about the parents of him? Their life could change forever and all you care is about some reporters outside?" - Your tone was dry and authoritarian, making him step back a little-"Do not interfere with this and don't talk to her again or I will kick you out of the perimeter so the reporters can eat you alive" - You warned him and he frowned again, mad, but smart enough to no say anything back.

Changing your expression to a soft smile, you looked at your friend who was sobbing silently

-"We will find him, do you want to look for him with me?" - You offered and she nodded, without strength to talk. With one hand you took your radio and began to check where they had already searched to narrow down the area. The other children were sent home with their parents to make the search easier. Apparently the entire mall had been searched and they also announced over each speaker the name of the lost kid to see if he appeared, but both happened.

Kristin started to panic again, but instead of letting her go down into a panic attack, you started to ask questions again

-"Where was the last time you saw him?" - You asked on a neutral tone

-"We were about to enter the movie theater, our was the room number 7, the children began to enter and I began to check their names on my list, inside that room there where only kids, teachers and the guys of the movies that clean, he enter the theater and I checked him on the board, but when I finish checking that every kid got inside, he was no longer on their seat, we searched all over but he was no where to be found, that's when we called the police"-she explained with desperate gesticulation

-"So... Only kids, teachers and cleaning crew, and from one moment to another he wasn't on the room anymore..."-You used your radio again-"Someone checked the interior of the building? The one that the crew of the mall uses to go around?" - You asked but everyone answered the same

-"Negative, he can't be there, you need a key to access" - they answered and you started to run to one of the service door, with the proper technique you kicked the door open and ran inside, Kristin followed you closer, screaming the kid's name

-"CHRIS! CHRIS ARE YOU HERE?!" - You both screamed. After searching for a few minutes, you started to hear sobbing on a corner, when you asked Kristin for silence, you could pinpoint the source of the noise coming from behind of a candy cart. Carefully your aproched gently calling their name

-"Chris, it's that you? I'm (Y/N), I'm a police officer, we have been looking for you, your teacher Miss Schementti is here too" - You encouraged Kristin to speak to him

-"Hey Chris... Everything is okay, you can come out now, your mom came to pick you up" - she whispered and the little kid came out from his hiding spot, their little face stained with tears and some spots of dried candy. The teacher, relieved to see that the child was safe, hugged him tightly lifting him off the ground in her arms, the child's crying stopped and the teacher's increased, a cry of relief and happiness this time-"How did you got here?" - she asked

-"I saw the the candy cart on the movie theater when we got in and I wanted to bring candy for everyone but there where no enough, so I hid inside of the cart so they will take me to the candy store, but when I got here I took the candy for everyone and I wanted to come out but I couldn't open the door, and nobody came back for me or opened the door"-they explained the best that they could and the teacher let out a laugh mixed with tears. While the teacher made sure that her student was okay, you communicated with the radio that the child appeared and that they should notify the parents.

Once the boy was reunited with his parents, the news were informed of the reappearance and they let everyone go home. You sent your partner home and decided to stay with Kristin

-"Did you bring your car?" - You asked and she denied with her head, hugging her shacking body

-"It was on the mechanic and also we came with the school bus, but now is gone..."-she explained, the adrenaline running low now making her body shake

-"Let's go, I will take you home" - You offer guiding her to the black patrol car. Once you were on your way to her house, which was still the same address as the last time you saw her in person, she told you what had become of her life and she asked you questions about yours, making the trip go by quickly. You explained that you had discovered that the child was in the corridors of the staff since he had not left through the front door and the only other exit that existed inside the room, was the service door. She also told you that her boss was a disgusting person but teaching those children made it worth staying.

When you got home you found it strange to see her car in the garage of her house since she had told you that it was in the mechanic, but with how scared she had been maybe she had been confused and you decided not to pay attention to it.

When she opened the door of her house an aroma of food made you smile, for some reason that aroma reminded you of your childhood and made you feel loved. You could also smell a perfume that belonged to a person very familiar to you, but before you could react, that redhead you always saw in your dreams came out of the kitchen holding a towel in her hands

-"Finally! I went to the mechanic to get your car and bring it like you asked, but when I got here your kitchen was a mess and I started cleaning and since you didn't arrived yet I also made you fo..."-her voice drowned on her throat when her eyes landed on yours. She looked practically the same as the last time you saw her, her hair was a few shades darker indicating that she surely had started to dye her hair to hide her gray strands, which did not surprise you since she was always very aware of her looks. On top of that, her face had new lines, especially around her eyes, you secretly hopped them to be from smiling so much and having a happy life. Her wardrobe didn't changed much, she still used tank tops and leather, her hair was in a ponytail that it was messy but looked amazing on her. She started using glasses that at that moment were on the top of her head.

Her eyebrows were almost on the roof because of the surpire of seeing you, that was a familiar mannerism of her.

She was the same Melissa, the Mel that once was yours, but at the same time she seemed like a completely different person.

Your feet were tempted to turn and run away before her surprised face changed to one of anger like the last time you spoke before breaking up. But instead, her eyebrows relaxed and her lips let out a soft, subtle smile. This time surprising you but nobody moved from where you were standing.

-"Mel... The food is burning" - Her sister warned breaking the spell that hung on the air. The redhead runned to the stove letting a few small curses out. You looked at her sister, unaware of what to do

-"Now that Melissa is here..."-You paused for a few seconds, her name on your lips felt so familiar and yet so strange, you were so used to say it but when you broke up you stoped mentioning her, even if you thouth a lot about her, her name never met your lips again. The redhead heard her name from your lips too and a chill runner through her whole body-"...now that she is here, do you want me to go home?"-You asked but the blonde took your hand

-"Don't go please, I'm don't feel so good yet and being with people helps... Beside we have to catch up since you are back" - she begged with her eyes and you agreed even if you were no so sure about it.

The night went calmer and comfier that you expected to. When the food was ready, the redhead served 3 plates for you all and you almost cried on how delicious it was, it was better that you remembered.

Although the conversation between you and her was almost non-existent, Kristin acted as an intermediary and the conversation about trivial topics flowed smoothly. The environment was not uncomfortable as you thought it would be, rather it was cautious, but bearable.

At the end of the meal, Kristin lifted the dishes quite fast and informed you that she was feeling better and sleepy, so you and Melissa could leave the house now.

She called you aside while Melissa put the leftovers in Tupperwares

-"Look, it's lovely to see you again and I missed you so much, but I wanna sleep now and we can get together another day, but now I want to be alone..."- she seemed a lot more calmer than before - "You know... since Melissa brought the car home she has no way to go back to her house..."-she started talking while you looked at her, you had a feeling that you knew where this was going

-"We can order an Uber" - You said but she kept talking

-"... And I'm afraid to ask her for an uber at this time of night..."-she continued

-"It's nine o'clock at night..." - you interrupted again

-"You know how crazy people is, you see it all the time in your line of work, you don't know what the person is capable of..."-she had a mischievous little smile on the corner of her mouth that she thouth you wouldn't notice

-"Spill it out Schementti" - You told her

-"Can you take her home? Pleeeeeeease?" - Her voice reached an anoying high pitch, impressive if you had in mind how deep her voice usually was

-"Kristen she hates me, we haven't seen each other in almost 20 years, she won't go with me even if I say yes"-You explained

-"Time has passed, feelings had changed, people changed, I think it would be a good idea to reconnect..." - she used a softer voice this time and you signed

-"Fine, I will take her home, but if this goes badly, I'm blaming you... Are you sure that you are okay to stay alone?" - You answered and she nodded exited

-"I'm much better, thank you" - she told you and you said your good bye to her and went outside.

When Melissa got everything ready and said goodbye to her sister, she left the house surprised to see you still there waiting, leaning on your car

-"Hey... Kristin asked me if I could take you home... If you don't want to is okay but if I didn't offer she would have killed me..."-You explained and she got closer

-"Yes please, I appreciate it" - she answered incredibly fast for your surprise, carefully you opened the door for to her.

At the beginning of the drive the music and your breathing was the only noise that you could hear, your head couldn't believe that she was there after all this years. Your mind was racing and your hands shook a little, at your work you had been in nerve-wracking situations and you were able to face it way more calmer that what you felt in that moment. For a few minutes you drove without knowing what to say until you remembered that you had no idea where you were going, truth be told, you knew where she lived because you saw it on that file, but if you drove her home without asking her where she lived, it would appear like you were stalking her and a little creepy

-"Mel..."-that was a common pet name that you used but now you weren't so sure hot to call her-"...Isa where should I drive you?" - You asked her and she seemed as nervous as you

-"I don't want to go home, Jacob is there..."-You thought she was still married, but maybe you were wrong and she got divorced and she had a boyfriend now.... Or maybe he was her son...-"my roommate brought his boyfriend home and the walls are too thin and I don't want to be there right now..." - she confessed and that raised more questions. Was she married or not? Why did she had a roommate? Did she feel uncomfortable in her own house?

-"Do you want to go for an ice cream? "-You offered unsure of what to do, if you invited her to your house it would look too forward and make her uncomfortable, if you took her home anyways it would look rude, so ice cream was the best option at the moment.

-"Yes please" - she smiled softly looking at you, you had missed her smile so much.

When you arrived to the ice cream shop, she insisted on ordering your cone

-"Chocolate and strawberry?" - she asked with confidence still remembering your favorite flavors.

While she order, you stared at your phone watching some messages.

After a few seconds, a cold hand landed on your neck tracing the scar that it was there, sending a chill all over your body. You didn't need to look up to know it was her, her hands soft and delicate as always

-"Life has been... Eventful" - You mentioned and she gently smiled, letting your neck go from her softly grasp

-"I can see that"-Gently she sat on the chair next to you to be closer, instead the one across the table. She offered you your ice cream letting her hand touch yours

-"Thanks... How are you doing?..."-you asked, unsure about the words that left your mouth

-"I've been okay... I'm working on a place I love and I have some nice friends..."-she told you and you smiled knowing that she was happy

-"It's Jacob your son? You mentioned him earlier..."-you tried to ask a another question hidden beneath that one

-"No... He is a coworker and a roommate, it's helpful to pay the bills. Since I got divorced from Joe it's was hard to maintain the house alone...I guess that at some point Marie told you that I got married" - she said a little ashamed

-"She didn't needed to, I saw you on nana's funeral with him" - You murmured and she looked surprised

-"I didn't saw you... I thouth you didn't went" - she confessed

-"I couldn't miss it..."-You signed-"not after what she did for me"

-"Did you got married?" - she asked

-"Never... I focused at work..."-You said honestly

-"You always wanted to get married and have kids..."-she still remembered

-"Yes... But only with the rigth person and I never found it again" - You whispered looking deeply at her eyes, she was the right person and when you lost her, you also lost your dreams. You exchanged tentative looks, beneath the nostalgia, she sensed the weight of years.

This time, the silence was no longer awkward but companion able. Even after all this years, you both could feel how the connection still remained. This reunion was a doorway to the past and a bridge to the future. Or at least that's what you were expecting

-"Do you have a few regrets?" - she asked and you nodded

-"A few..."-You said honestly and she also nodded agreeing with you

-"You seem... different" - she said, studying you and you frowned

-"Different?"- you repeated.

-"More guarded" - she clarified. Your eyes flashed, a hint of vulnerability she easily saw

-"Life has a way of doing that" - you said, your voice measured. She sensed there was more.

-"I'm so sorry about leaving you... I'm sorry for taking it all out on you, I'm sorry for ruining our lives, for walking away... I'm full of regrets, all my life I tried to get the happiness that I had with you and I never could. I fucked up time after time, I never loved him, I was just trying to fulfill the emptiness of not having you but you always were irreplaceable. I missed you every passing second and I can't believe how much time has passed between us and yet... I feel the same love that I felt the day that we were on my prom night, our first time together"-she said barley above a whisper, so much vulnerability on her eyes, she leaned a little, scared of speaking lauder and letting the whole world that she never stopped loving you. You just stated at her, unsure of what to say, unsure if this was real. After a few seconds, she got nervous because you stared at her without saying a word

-"Don't stare...say something... scream, shout, get mad at me, say something!" - she screamed and flinched when you lifted your hand, she felt like she deserved a slap but never thought you were capable of it. She choosed to close her eyes and get ready for the painful slapping, but instead of that your hand gently caressed her cheek. With her heart pounding, she opend her eyes confused, only to find you looking at her with such love in your eyes

-"You are even more beautiful than the day I lost you" - You whispered and her heart shattered in million pieces, after all that happend, after all those years, you never stoped loving her.

As she looked at the love in your eyes, she leaned on your palm, she had missed your warmth so much, your smell, your smile, your peace, your love, all of you.

As you locked eyes deeply staring at each other's souls, the years melted away. Time had etched its mark on your bodies, but your eyes still sparkled with the same mischief, the same love

-"Aren't we too old to be doing this?... We aren't teens anymore" - You asked, scared of getting your heart broken again

-"We aren't too old to choose love... It's never too old for happiness... We will get our happy ending... Finally together" - she whispered and kissed the palm of your hand. As you enjoyed the warmth of her lips on your palm, you finally accepted something, no matter how much time passed, how many mistakes, how much distance... Some sparks never truly fade and it was never too late to start again.

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