team effort - rafe cameron 3

nine

"okay, that's the last bag." my dad told kayden and jenna. "are you guys ready to go?"

"yeah, we're ready." kayden nodded before turning to me. i smiled as he pulled me into a hug. "be careful ains, okay?"

"i will," i told him. "and you too."

he pulled back and looked at me, "you call me if you need anything, we're not competing anymore, okay?"

"promise," i nodded.

"here!" my mom said and rushed out of the house with a paper plate of cookies. "here's some treats for the ride!"

"honey," my dad sighed.

"oh come on, it's a twelve hour drive." my mom said.

i shook my head, still confused as to why my dad decided he was going to drive kayden and jenna all the way down to florida. i think he wanted to excuse not to deal with me, but kayden claimed he just wanted to see his new place. my mom was nervous but had turned all her nervous energy into making sweets, which made me nervous because i know she only did that when she was really feeling bad about something.

"thank you mom," kayden took the plate and kissed her cheek, hugging her. "i love you."

"i love you too sweetheart." she smiled as they pulled back. "text me updates."

he nodded and moved to put the cookies in the car as my mom turned to jenna, hugging her.

"it was so nice to meet you." she told jenna as i crossed my arms over my chest as i heard a car pull up. i looked over, seeing it was rafe's car. he pulled up on the other side of the car as my dad looked at me.

"sorry," i said and moved over as rafe rolled the window down.

"sorry, i thought you said they were about to leave."

"they are."

"that was two hours ago."

"so my family is a little slow." i shrugged. "i told you i'd text you when you could come over."

"i was bored and tired of waiting."

"what are you guys talking about?" kayden asked as he moved over. i felt my face get hot. he looked to rafe. "hi, rafe, i'm kayden."

"nice to meet you man," rafe shook his hand. "you guys headed out?"

"yeah, i've got to get back to work." he explained. "come on, man, don't be shy."

i shook my head slightly, cringing as rafe slid out of the car. he placed his hand on my back softly. we walked around the side as jenna and my mom turned. rafe stopped, freezing in place.

"oh my god," he and jenna said at the same time.

kayden and i looked to each, confusion written on both of our faces.

"what?" my mom asked as i looked to rafe as he swallowed.

"uh, hey, jenna." he said.

"rafe," she smiled. "i had no idea you were still around here."

"yeah," he nodded.

"it's so great to see you," she hugged him as he hesitated, not putting his hands on her. she pulled back and looked into his eyes, smiling wide. "you look the exact same."

"okay," i said and grabbed rafe's hand gently, pulling him towards me.

"what's going on?" kayden asked.

"rafe and i grew up together."

"that's right, you did say you were from here." kayden nodded. "well that's cool that you know ainsley's boyfriend."