The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the beach. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was a soothing backdrop to the laughter and chatter of our group. John B, JJ, and Pope had set up a drink station, the massive cooler filled with bottled water, wine coolers, beers for Rafe and the Kooks, and hard seltzers for the girls, me, and the Pogues.
It was a good day at the beach, the kind of day where everything felt possible. Sarah and Kiara were lounging on towels, their laughter mingling with the seagulls' cries. I was sprawled out beside them, soaking in the warmth of the sun. Every now and then, I felt Rafe's eyes on me, a prickling sensation that made me self-conscious every time I adjusted myself or got up to go into the water.
"Hey, can you pass me another seltzer?" Kiara asked, breaking my thoughts. I handed her one from the cooler, trying to ignore the way Rafe's gaze followed me.
John B and JJ were by the water's edge, attempting to build an ambitious sandcastle. Pope was setting up a makeshift net for volleyball. It seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves, but the tension was palpable whenever Rafe and Topper made snide comments directed at the Pogues.
"Nice sandcastle, boys. Did you forget your pails and shovels at home?" Topper jeered, earning a snicker from Rafe.
John B rolled his eyes but kept his focus on the sandcastle. JJ, however, wasn't as composed. "Why don't you come over here and say that, Topper?"
I shot a warning look at my brother Tyler, who was chatting with Sarah. He caught my eye and sighed, walking over to Rafe and Topper. "Come on, guys. We're here to have fun. How about we settle this with a game of volleyball? Kooks versus Pogues."
The challenge hung in the air for a moment before Rafe shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "Fine by me. You up for it, Pogues?"
"Bring it on," JJ said, standing up and brushing sand off his hands. John B and Pope nodded in agreement.
We quickly divided into teams, the Pogues on one side of the net and the Kooks on the other. Sarah and Kiara joined the Pogues, while I reluctantly stood with the Kooks, knowing it was better to keep an eye on Rafe.
The game started off lighthearted enough, but it didn't take long for the competitive spirit to take over. JJ and Topper exchanged jabs, their rivalry evident in every serve and spike. Rafe, surprisingly, was focused on the game, though he couldn't resist a few snarky comments aimed at John B.
"Nice serve, Pogue. Did your grandma teach you that?" Rafe taunted.
John B ignored him, sending the ball flying over the net with a powerful spike. The Pogues cheered as it landed in the sand, scoring a point.
As the game continued, I could feel the tension between Rafe and me building. Every time I went for the ball, he seemed to be there, challenging me with his intense gaze. It wasn't long before we started bickering.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I snapped after missing a serve.
Rafe smirked. "Maybe if you focused on the game instead of me, you'd actually hit the ball."
I felt a surge of frustration. "Why don't you try minding your own business for once, Rafe?"
"Why don't you stop being so paranoid?" he shot back, his tone mocking.
"Guys, come on," Tyler interjected, concern etched on his face. "Let's just play the game."
Distracted by the argument, I didn't see the ball coming until it was too late. It hit me square in the face, the force of it knocking me back and causing an immediate rush of pain. I felt a warm trickle down my nose and realized it was bleeding.
"Oh my God, Heather!" Sarah exclaimed, rushing to my side.
Tyler was there in an instant, glaring at Rafe. "What the hell, man? Look what you did!"
Rafe's expression shifted from annoyance to a brief flash of concern before settling into a defensive smirk. "I didn't mean to hit her," he said, though his tone lacked sincerity. "Sorry."
"Sorry?" I echoed, feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment. "You call that an apology?"
"Well, it was an accident," Rafe said, crossing his arms. "Maybe you should've been paying attention."
"That's enough," Tyler said sharply, helping me to my feet. "Let's take a break."
As Sarah led me towards the cooler to get some tissues, I glanced back at Rafe.
YOU ARE READING
The Lines We've Crossed
Fanfiction"You're not so little anymore," Rafe told Heather as he stood beside her in the kitchen. "Is that why you keep looking at me like that?" Heather asked her brother's best friend, who only ever viewed her as his best friend's younger sister and nothi...
