Bad Influence (Rafe Cameron)

Chapter 18

In the morning I get ready like a robot. There's no thoughts going through my brain as I shower and get dressed. I'm trying to keep the pain of yesterday from coming back.

As I go downstairs to make myself breakfast I get a call from Kiara. I answer excitedly, praying that it's good news, like JJ forgives me or something.

"Hey Kiara. What's up?" I ask casually. I don't want to sound desperate for good news.

"Meet me at my parents restaurant. We should talk." She says to me. She doesn't sound very happy or excited and my stomach turns anxiously.

"Alright. When?" I ask impatiently. I need to know what's up. I hate being in the dark about this whole situation.

"As soon as possible." She says, hanging up the phone.

I groan and grab Topper's keys and my wallet before heading out to his car. He has like three so I doubt he will notice if I steal one for the day.

I drive quickly but carefully to the restaurant, making sure not to total Topper's car. Things are already bad enough between us the way it is.

I walk in, expecting it to just be Kiara, but Pope sits across from her, bouncing his leg up and down impatiently.

When they see me they stand up quickly. They don't make a move to approach me, just watch as I make my way over.

"What is it?" I ask nervously, standing beside the table.

"Just sit." Kiara says, motioning to the seat next to her, and across from Pope.

I sit down and then they sit back down too.

"I know that the stuff between you and JJ is rough right now, but that doesn't mean we don't want to be your friends." She says, motioning between her and Pope. "John B, however, is on JJ's side, because he despises Rafe even more than JJ does. We don't like Rafe of course, but as long as you keep him away from us, we don't see why we can't still be friends."

I smile at her and grab her and Pope's hands and squeeze lightly.

"Thank you guys. That means a lot that you would still be here for me." My smile fades as I add, "I don't even think Rafe and I are dating anymore anyways. Knowing that I kissed JJ really bothered him."

"You two weren't even dating when the kiss happened." Pope points out, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion as he takes a sip of his lemonade.

"I know. I don't get it either, but that's just Rafe for you. He's a very confusing guy." I say, shaking my head as the words leave my mouth. Confusing is definitely an understatement.

"That's for sure." Kiara scoffs.

"So, how is this going to work out anyway. We can't hang out the same time you're hanging out with John B and JJ." I state. The four of them are always together.

"We will make room to hang out with both." Kiara says with a smile, draping an arm around my shoulder.

"We'll make this work." Pope says confidently, nodding his head at me.

"Thanks again guys." I smile. At least I still have these two as friends. Just this morning I was worried I had no friends at all.
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Rafe's POV:

I stand with a golf club in my hand, staring out at the putting green absentmindedly.

My mind won't stop reminding me of her. Of the fact she kissed someone when she was supposed to be mine.

I clench the club in my hand before hitting the golf ball so hard it disappears in the sky and goes so far I have no idea where it went.