Blue | Rafe Cameron

xxiv

I swatted another bee from my crown, swearing and muttering indignantly under my breath as it buzzed menacingly and then flew away.

"Yeah, get fucked," I scowled as I watched it disappear into the night, and I very pointedly ignored the disapproving stares of the adults around me, disgusted by my sordid language and deep-set glare.

They can get fucked too.

"You know, I know you're wearing a flower crown and gown, but I don't think that you have the Disney ability to speak to animals," I heard a teasing, amused voice drawl from behind me and I instantly turned on my heels.

JJ.

"Are you calling me a Princess?" I mused, smiling back at him, relief filling me and a huge weight lifting from my chest at the sight of him. He was still battered and bruised from yesterday, but he wore an adorable vest and trousers with a clean white shirt tight against his muscled figure underneath.

His hair was still a messy mop of softness above his head and his blue eyes shone like stars as he smiled at me.

"Looking like that? Definitely." He raised a brow, his gaze running over my baby pink satin dress, his eyes unabashedly taking in the spaghetti string straps, revealing low cut front and the way it clung to me like second skin before trailing down to my mid-shin.

I saw the heat in his eyes, and it made me shiver in response.

I chuckled softly shaking my head and before he could speak again, I rushed forward, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him to me like a vice. He paused for a moment, surprised, but then his arms gripped me too, keeping me tight to his chest.

"I'm sorry that happened to you today," I whisper against his neck, tears pricking at my eyes, and I wasn't able to let him go. Though JJ didn't seem to mind, his fingers digging into my waist and head tucked into my hair. "It's all so fucking unfair."

"It's nothing I ain't used to, Rory," JJ says softly, and I frown, shaking my head as I pull back.

"No, what you did for Pope was-" I smile sadly at him, our faces inches apart, "It was incredibly kind, JJ but it also fucking breaks my heart. You deserve so much fucking better, I swear it, even if you don't think so."

"Rory," JJ sighs, shaking his head, those vulnerable eyes turning away from me, unable to face my words but I grab each side of his face, forcing him to look at me, to see that I meant every damn word.

"I mean it, JJ," I whisper, my eyes watering as I stare at him, at the disbelief in his eyes, "You're not the guy they think you are, you're not the guy that you pretend to be. You can hide from everyone else but not me, I see you JJ."

His eyes glazed over and his grip around me tightened, as if he needed to anchor himself, as if he felt weak and vulnerable and just needed me close. And I didn't let go either, couldn't let go, for fear that he'd be taken away again.

"JJ?" I heard Pope's shout from behind us and the spell quickly broke.

"I need to uh-" I swallowed, stepping back from JJ, who looked everywhere but at me. "I need to go find Sarah; I promised her a dance." It was a lie, a bad lie, but still, JJ nodded, and I managed a small smile as I moved past him and into the large club before us.

I could barely breathe, not as the scent and warmth of JJ still filled my nose and burned against my skin.

I sighed as I made my way up the stairs, moving toward the women's room located on the first floor at the back. Luckily most of the upstairs was empty, the majority of people being downstairs, too busy with the music and the booze to care otherwise.