The evening breeze was cool as the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the park. A projector was set up on the far end, and scattered blankets and lawn chairs marked where families and friends had claimed their spots for the movie. Heather sat with Kiara, Sarah, John B, Pope, and JJ, waiting for the film to start. The atmosphere was relaxed, but there was a tension lingering, mostly centered around Pope and JJ, who kept exchanging uneasy glances. Heather tried to ignore it, focusing on the event.
The soft murmur of the crowd and the occasional distant laugh felt like a temporary escape from all the recent chaos. Heather leaned back on the blanket, her thoughts still tangled from the morning. She had woken up next to Rafe, in his bed, and now everything felt confusing. She didn't know what to make of Rafe's mixed signals, especially after what happened last night. And now, seeing Pope and JJ on edge just added to her internal whirlwind.
"Hey, do you guys want to grab drinks?" Kiara suggested, sensing the need for a distraction.
"Yeah, I could use something cold," Heather agreed, grateful for the break. Sarah nodded, and the three of them stood, leaving the boys on the blanket.
As they made their way to the concession stand, Heather felt Sarah and Kiara exchanging glances. She knew they wanted to ask about her and Rafe, but neither of them said anything. The line moved slowly, and when it was finally their turn, they ordered drinks—Pepsi, Sprite, and Coca-Cola for the group. As they were about to leave, Heather's heart sank. She spotted Rafe approaching them, his eyes locking onto her.
"Hey, Heather," Rafe greeted, his voice casual. She stiffened instantly, already feeling annoyed by his presence. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," she replied, her tone clipped and uninterested.
Rafe nodded, as if he hadn't noticed her disinterest. "Good, good. Hey, uh... tell your boy we know what he did."
Heather blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
Kiara, always quick to jump in, tilted her head. "What boy?" she asked, her voice skeptical.
Sarah joined in, her brows furrowed. "Yeah, what boy?"
Rafe smirked slightly, looking at all three girls. "Oh, he'll know."
Heather felt a surge of anger. What the hell? How could Rafe go from being with her one minute to threatening her friends the next? It was like he didn't even care. "What the fuck, Rafe?" she snapped.
He raised his hands in mock defense, his smirk vanishing. "Woah, woah, language. There are kids around."
Kiara scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, like you care about that."
Sarah crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Seriously, Rafe. What's your problem?"
Heather couldn't take it anymore. She needed answers, and she needed them now. "Come with me," she demanded, leaving Kiara and Sarah behind. She pulled Rafe away from the concession stand, out of earshot from the crowd.
"What?" Rafe asked, genuinely confused.
"Really?" Heather said, her voice sharp. "You and Topper attacked Pope the other day, and now you're threatening him because he supposedly did something to you guys? Whatever it is, I promise you, it's not something you should drag me, Kiara, or Sarah into."
Rafe rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "One of them sunk Topper's boat," he admitted, almost casually.
Heather's mouth fell open in shock. "Oh..." She didn't expect that. "Well, I get that's tough, but that's not why I'm here to talk to you." Her voice softened for a moment before hardening again. "What's going on between us?"
Rafe shook his head, clearly struggling to put his thoughts into words. "I—I'm confused," he said finally.
Heather's eyes flashed with frustration. "You're confused?" she echoed, incredulous. "Okay, so you're confused, and I'm confused. But that doesn't solve anything. It doesn't answer anything."
Rafe didn't respond right away, looking more lost than ever. It was like he had no idea what he wanted, no idea what to say, and it was driving Heather crazy.
"I'll tell you what..." he began, but Heather cut him off, raising a hand.
"No," she interrupted, shaking her head. "I'll tell you what. Enjoy the movie. And here," she said, holding out two Sprite cans. "One for you and Tyler."
Rafe took the cans, looking down at them in confusion. By the time he looked back up, Heather was already walking away, leaving him standing there alone. As she approached her friends again, they all turned to her with concerned expressions.
"Did you talk to him?" Kiara asked.
"I tried to," Heather muttered, shaking her head. Her eyes drifted over to where JJ and Pope sat, still uneasy. Now she knew why, but she wasn't about to expose them.
"Don't let Rafe get to you," Sarah said, trying to offer some comfort. "He doesn't know how to express his emotions or feelings. He only knows action."
John B and Kiara both chimed in, echoing similar sentiments. But Heather was done with the conversation. She pulled the hood of her hoodie up—ironically, it was Rafe's hoodie from the other night.
"Can we just watch the movie?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm. The others got the hint and dropped the subject, letting the tension fade into the background as the movie finally began.
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...
