Inconvenient Attachment

Chapter 8

Toppers voice causes us both to jump apart and the music begins blasting in my ears again as I come back down to earth. I can already feel my face heating up. I turn to face my very drunken brother and my very drunken best friend clung to his arm laughing into each other.

Thank god.

I'd rather just forget this entire thing happened. I peer up at Rafe who is running his hands through his hair and it falls back down to sit on his forehead as he scratches the back of his neck. He's never looked so hot.

What am I even saying. I haven't liked Rafe since I was 11, or at least I thought I didn't. No, I can't. He's my brothers best friend. He's my best friends brother. He would never like me back anyways so it's just a stupid crush. No. It's not even a crush. I just find him good looking that's all it is.

I turn to look up at him. "I'm gonna go."

He nods looking just at flustered as me. "Want me to give you a ride?"

I shake my head. "It's fine, I live five minutes away." is the last thing I say to him before turning away and walking out of the party and head towards home.

***

I hear the faint honking of a very familiar car horn. I run to my window to see John B, Pope and JJ stood outside the Twinkie waving for me to come down.

I grab my shoes to head straight downstairs and out the front door, locking it behind me.

"What's on the schedule for today?" I ask whilst JJ is gesturing for me to get in the back of the van first.

"First stop, the wreck." Pope answers the same time John B puts his foot down.

It doesn't take long till we're pulling up into the parking lot of Kie's family restaurant and walking inside.

She waves at us from behind the bar gesturing to us she will be two minutes. We all go and take up an empty booth whilst we wait.

"Hey guys, can I take your order?" A familiar voice greets us at the foot of our table. "Vanessa?" I look up to meet eyes with Tom.

"Tom, hi." I shoot him a fake smile.

"You two know each other?" JJ immediately questions not knowing the guy himself.

"Yeah we met last night ." I add, cringing at the memories.

"Ohh, yeah. At Kelce's party." John B nods sarcastically.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Tom does not hold back. The boys snap their eyes to me.

"I'm right here." JJ slings his arm around my shoulder pulling me in towards him.

I shake my head not being able to stop a smile escaping my lips before shrugging his arm from my shoulder.

"What boyfriend?" Pope can't help but ask.

"Rafe Cameron." Tom answers.

"Rafe?" All three pogue boys question in unison not being able to take their eyes off me hoping I will answer them with my eyes.

"Rafe is not my boyfriend Tom, he was just helping me." I set the record straight with a kind tone.

Tom scoffs. "Helping you dump your drink over my head and shoving me to the floor?"

I furrow my brows with anger. "Erm yeah, the drink you spiked and tried to give me!" I raise my voice in annoyance.

"Woah, you spiked my Vanessa's drink." JJ interrupts protectively.

He laughs condescendingly. "Don't be stupid, I didn't touch your drink."

"I watched you!"

The room falls silent.