LITTLE SECRET | RAFE CAMERON

11: 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳'𝘴

„Alice, we're waiting"

The shouts from the hallway made her hastily tie the laces of her white high heels around her ankles. She rushed over to the jewelry box and rummaged through it for her favorite pair of earrings, then quickly ran back to her mirror to put them on.

The loud clacking of her heels echoed through her room, and like every year, getting ready for Midsummers was pure torture.

Being a girl was a full-time job.

„Hurry up—" Ian burst into her room without knocking, though he fell silent when he looked at her.

„Jezz, can't you wait a minute?" She traced her lips with the lipstick that left a soft color.

With a furrowed brow, Ian leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He said nothing. Not even when their eyes met in the mirror she stood in front of.

She turned to face him. „what?"

„Nothing" He shook his head, wearing his dark green suit with a white button-up shirt underneath. He had decided not to wear a bow tie and had left the first two buttons undone.

„Is it the dress?" She turned back to the mirror and tugged at the fabric.

Ever since she put it on, she struggled to feel comfortable in it. When she had tried it on in the store where she had bought it, she thought she looked good in it. As soon as she wore it outside the store, however, she felt like she had made the wrong choice.

She didn't know if it was just her. Some days, she looked at herself in every mirror she passed, simply because she felt unnaturally pretty. But just some days.

And then there were days like today when she would rather not go out at all.

It was an unhealthy mix of both, but her brother laughed, getting her attention back. „No, no it's not ugly, you look...it's a nice dress"

„Yeah, that's really convincing, thank you." She huffed in annoyance.

Alice hadn't expected anything else from Ian, but she desperately needed some kind words, especially today. A little compliment, some encouragement, something to boost her shattered confidence.

She sighed as she let her arms hang at her sides and looked at her reflection in the mirror without saying a word.

In her hair she wore the delicate lily of the valley crown her mother had chosen for her. The white blossoms flattered her dark hair. Her hair was pinned up, her makeup was a little more striking than usual, and she actually didn't look as bad as she thought she did in the mirror.

Ian sighed and straightened his suit jacket. „you look good, stop worrying"

She looked over her shoulder at him. Her brother usually never gave her compliments, which was fine, but it was good to hear that she didn't look too bad.

But of course she wouldn't tell him that.

„Well, you don't," She just walked right past him, causing him to scoff. „and now let's go, I don't wanna be late"

R A F E

And while the Blakelys were on their way, Rafe was already at the bar.

Alone.

Unnoticed, he scanned the crowd of people who were obviously having more fun with all this shit than he was. And there was no one among them who could have made this torture any easier for him.

„Refill?" The brunette girl behind the bar asked him, when he took the last sip of his drink and placed his glass back on the counter with a thud.

He already had a few drinks. But one more wouldn't hurt, so he nodded and watched her walk over to the ice cube box with his empty glass.

She had her short brown hair pushed behind her ears, wearing a white work uniform paired with a black apron tied neatly around her hips.

„Here you go" She smiled as she handed him his drink.

„Thank you" Rafe said, leaning against the counter with a smile and looking at her with a tilt of his head. „what's your name?"

„Sofia"

„Sofia." He repeated, the three syllables falling from his lips so perfectly that she had to giggle.

„And you are?"

„Rafe" He introduced himself.

Even though he'd already had a drink or two...maybe three, he wasn't drunk yet. It would take a little more to get him drunk, but he certainly wouldn't turn down some female company after that.

He noticed her when he arrived. She was pretty, no question, but the fact that she wasn't dancing around in a fancy dress and a little crown on her head like the other girls, but standing behind the counter in her work uniform, said a lot about her. And he actually couldn't remember ever seeing her around Figure Eight, but his many thoughts about Sofia quickly vanished when the people around them suddenly started clapping.

Rafe's gaze flicked to the large glass doors to which everyone was looking.

Owen and Laurel Blakely came out, elegantly dressed in a matching suit and a dress as expected. They were followed closely by their only son Ian, who wore a dark green suit, his brown hair slightly combed back while a delicate strand still hung down to his forehead. And if Owen, Laurel and Ian finally arrived, that meant...

Rafe slowly lowered his drink as Alice made her entrance.

Her light blue dress clung gracefully to her body and slightly exposed the skin of her leg through the side slit. She wore a flower crown, white and so delicate that it flattered her dark brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Oh, and her doe eyes shimmered in the light from the hanging fairy lights as she obediently followed her parents.

The Kook princess herself.

His eyes followed her. The way she walked, the way she smiled. The damn dress that made the shape of her body visible to him. He had to admit she looked pretty...for someone who was friends with Sarah.

„Your girlfriend, I suppose" Sofia suddenly said, immediately getting his attention back. It was the way he looked at Alice and the color of his suit matching her dress that made her assume that.

„No...no, just my sister's friend"

„Yeah" She laughed quietly, clearly not believing him as her eyes moved away from him for a moment, looking at something directly behind him. „your sister's friend is coming your way right now"