Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

34

We were about to make it through the doors, the sound of light applause filling the warm air outside, when I felt Rafe move.

He held his left arm up, bent at the elbow, for me to grab. My eyes widening as I didn't take it.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, panic setting in as we were about to get into the public's eyes.

"What you suggested, now I suggest you take my arm before you make a scene." This time he wore the smirk as I fought to keep my smile. My hand quickly sliding into place around the inside of his arm just as we passed the threshold. "That wasn't so hard was it?"

"Speak for yourself, asshole." I hissed still smiling as I stared out at the crowd. My smile almost faltering as I nearly skipped a step due to seeing Pope and Kie staring with wide-eyes.

My hold on Rafe tightened as I managed to keep walking without making my hesitation obvious.

"If you wanted to cop a feel, you should take me to dinner first." I turned, my eyes meeting Rafe's as I glared. My hand relaxing from where I had grabbed his bicep.

"You're the one who insisted." I kept my smile on for everyone else as I whispered with venom. "My apologies for needing both hands to balance."

"Sounds like you should work on that." He looked down at me, his smirk still on show for everyone else. "After all, you're almost a professional boxer. Balance should be the least of your issues."

"You're right. One of my biggest is right here."

We held each other's gaze for another moment before we realized we were just standing there in front of everyone.

"Stay out of my way, Rafe."

"Like wise."

I rolled my eyes, moving away from him as I moved over to Kie and Pope. Their eyes wide but expecting an answer.

"Alright, so, I wasn't expecting you guys to be here." I rubbed my bare neck as Kie crossed her arms.

"Yeah, and we weren't expecting you to be here either." She started, Pope jumping in.

"Especially not with your arm around his."

"If I'm being honest, I wasn't expecting it either. Look, Gray works with Ward in his Real Estate Development. Ward has taken a liking to Gray so he invited us to walk in with him. And well the kid I've been tutoring,"

"Please don't tell me it's Rafe." Kie groaned I scoffed, laughing.

"I'm glad you think so lowly of me. No, it's Wheezie. She struggled this school semester and is now in summer school. Ward and Rose both asked me to help out. So far Wheezie's been making progress." I had a proud smile on my face before I shook it off.

"I understand I hadn't disclosed everything to you all in regards to the tutoring gig. But I think you can understand why." Kie frowned, still annoyed but Pope seemed to understand.

"We really need to have a conversation with everyone. Get all the Pogues together and get everything out in the open." Pope said as we both nodded in agreement.

"It probably be good, now, Pope I'd love to get you something from the dessert table. Kie, you want anything?"

"Surprise me."

_______•*•*•*•_______

Kie and I hung out the entire time, dancing or eating as we enjoyed the night air. Occasionally we'd slip over and chat with Pope despite Heyward wanting him to work.

"Hey, I'll be back." I pat Kie on the shoulder and took off to the bathroom. The building was crowded but I finally found my way to the bathroom.

On the way out I heard a familiar voice going off about bottles along the beach. A grin coming onto my face as I waited behind the corner jumping out at the blond. His eyes widening as I laughed helping him steady his glasses.

"Xena, what the- whoa. You look beautiful." I smiled as JJ went from angry to amazed. I gave him a quick twirl.

"Thank you, JJ. You look like you could use a drink, or two." We fell into step walking to the back yard. "So what's got you here?"

"Well, I ran into our good friend, John B, and he asked me to do him a favor." I rose an eyebrow but didn't press.

JJ set the tray on a table before we both got grabbed. JJ and I both threw up our fists before lowering them when we saw it was just Pope.

"Dude, don't sneak up on me like that right now." JJ was nearly out of breath clearly Pope had given him a fright. I watched smiling as Pope wrapped JJ in a bear hug the former jumping into the latter.

"Whoa, unexpected PDA there, Dr. Spock." I tisked at JJ's comment. "But, uh, hey," he gave Pope a peck on the cheek, "love you, too, man." I shook my head smiling at JJ's antics.

"Dude, I'm sick of all this shit man."

"You're sick? You don't seem sick." JJ brought a hand to Pope's forehead.

"I'm sick on the inside."

"Right. Well, I already knew that."

"Did Shoupe do that?"

"No, this, it's- it's my dad. You know? Has that right jab." I frowned, "can really snap it off at times."

"JJ, I know what a jab looks like, and that's a whole lot more." I whispered low, now that we were in the light you could really see how bad his face was.

"It's nothing that hasn't happened before."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you take the fall like that." Pope's bottom lip quivered. "It's my fault."

"Shut up." JJ said wrapping his hands on the sides of Pope's head. "Just shut up. For once in your life, trust someone else. John B and I got it all sorted out." I cocked my head, the thought clicking. "We're gonna be filthy rich."

"We back in the game?" I asked stepping closer to the two.

"We're back in the G-game baby." JJ

"I thought we lost the game." Pope

"Yeah well we're in overtime. Fourth and one, baby." JJ stared at his hands as he put up four fingers and then just one.

"Tell me what you need me to do." I offered my help as JJ pursed his lips thinking.

"I got to get to Sarah, you think you may be able to help?"

"You asked the right person." I set a hand out for him to grab.

"Stay out of trouble, Pope. I'll explain later." JJ spoke as we disappeared towards the dance floor.