The Lines We've Crossed

FOUR

As Sarah led me towards the cooler to get some tissues, I glanced back at Rafe. He was still standing there, arms crossed, a defiant look on his face. Despite his attitude, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his behavior than just arrogance.

Sarah handed me a tissue, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay, Heather?"

"I'm fine," I said, though my voice wavered slightly. "Just a bloody nose. It'll stop soon."

Kiara joined us, her face a mix of worry and anger. "I can't believe Rafe. He acts like he owns the place."

"He's always been like that," Sarah said quietly. "But I think he feels threatened by the Pogues. He doesn't know how to handle it."

I dabbed at my nose, feeling a pang of frustration. "Well, he needs to learn some boundaries."

Tyler came over, his expression softening when he saw me. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'll live," I said, managing a small smile.

The mood had definitely shifted. The Pogues were gathered around, looking concerned, while the Kooks tried to act like nothing had happened. The sun was beginning to dip towards the

horizon, casting a warm glow over the beach. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and unspoken.

After a few minutes, I stood up, determined not to let this ruin the day. "Come on, guys. Let's not let this spoil everything. It's still a beautiful day."

Sarah nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah, let's make the most of it."

We spent the next hour trying to bring back the lighthearted atmosphere. We played more beach games, built sandcastles, and even had a friendly swim race. But I couldn't shake the feeling of Rafe's eyes on me, a constant reminder of the earlier incident.

As the sun began to set, we started packing up our things. Tyler suggested, "Why don't we all head back to our place? We can hang out there for the rest of the evening."

The group agreed, and we gathered our belongings, loading them into the cars. The drive back to my house was filled with laughter and music, the earlier tension beginning to fade.

Once we arrived, we quickly made ourselves comfortable. The living room was soon filled with chatter and the sound of clinking bottles. Sarah and Kiara had taken over the kitchen, whipping up some snacks while John B and JJ set up a makeshift sound system.

Rafe hovered on the outskirts, his expression unreadable. I could tell he was trying to find his place in the group, but the earlier incident still hung between us.

After a while, I excused myself and headed to my room to take care of my already bruising cheek and crusted nose. I stood in front of the mirror, gingerly dabbing at my face with a damp cloth. The bruise was starting to show, and the dried blood on my nose was a stark reminder of the day's events.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Come in," I called out, expecting Sarah or Kiara.

Instead, Rafe stepped in, looking unusually hesitant. "You okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

I couldn't help the snarky response that slipped out. "After you hit me in the face with a volleyball? I'm great!"

He laughed at my attitude, the sound surprisingly genuine. "You've got quite the spirit."

He stepped closer, his eyes scanning my face. Before I could react, he gently pushed a piece of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing against my bruised cheek. It felt strangely intimate, a stark contrast to the tension that usually hung between us.

"That's quite the shiner," he said, his voice low. "Guess I really messed up, huh?"

"Yeah, you did," I replied, my tone softening. "But I guess it wasn't entirely your fault."

He looked at me, his gaze intense. "I am sorry, Heather. I know I don't say it often, but I am."

It was hard to accept his apology, given our history, but there was something in his eyes that made me believe him. "I appreciate it," I said finally. "Just...try to be more mindful next time, okay?"

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'll try."

I suddenly realized how close he was standing. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face, the intensity of his presence almost overwhelming. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I wondered if he felt it too.

Just then, Tyler's voice called out from downstairs, breaking the moment. "Heather, can you help me with something?"

I stepped back, the spell broken. "I should go," I said, my voice shaky.

Rafe nodded, the moment of vulnerability gone. "Yeah, me too."

As we walked back downstairs, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. There was something between Rafe and me, something that neither of us fully understood. But as we joined the others, the reality of our worlds came crashing back. Whatever was happening between us, it was complicated, and it wasn't going to be easy.

The rest of the evening was a blur of laughter, games, and stories. But every now and then, I caught Rafe's gaze from across the room, and I knew that despite everything, something had shifted between us. And maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something new.