Sunset games. Rafe Cameron

seven

CHAPTER SEVEN
[7]
"i know it won't work" gracie abrams

Olivia woke up with a pounding headache, the faint light from Sarah's window barely piercing through the curtain. She groaned, turning over to see Sarah sprawled out on the other side of the bed, snoring softly. For a second, Olivia didn't remember how she ended up here. Then, like a tidal wave, the events of the night before came rushing back: the party, the drinks, Rafe, and JJ's angry words cutting through her like knives.

Her heart sank as she sat up, rubbing her temples. She hadn't meant for things to get so out of hand. She certainly didn't want JJ to think she was anything like the people he despised. But last night had shown her a side of him that scared her.
A side of herself, too, that she wasn't sure she understood.

After a long, quiet moment, Olivia carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Sarah, She gathered her things and tiptoed out of the room, her head still heavy with confusion and regret.

———

When Olivia got home, the house was quiet, the soft hum of the morning stretching out as if nothing had happened. She could hear her mom moving around in the kitchen, and as soon as she stepped inside, the smell of fresh coffee filled the air.

"Morning, sweetheart," her mom greeted her warmly, not seeming to notice Olivia's tired eyes or the weight pressing down on her shoulders. "You're up early. I didn't expect you back so soon."

Olivia forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, the party wasn't really... my scene." She slid into one of the chairs at the kitchen table, resting her head in her hands for a moment.

Her mom poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of her, sitting down across the table. "You okay, honey? You seem a little off."

Olivia shrugged, not sure how much she wanted to get into. She wasn't even sure how to explain what was wrong, "Just... tired, I guess."

Her mom studied her for a moment, her brow furrowed in concern. "You know you can always talk to me, right? If something's bothering you?"

Olivia nodded, appreciating her mom's support but not ready to open up just yet. "I know. Thanks, Mom."

Her mom reached across the table, giving her hand a quick squeeze before standing up. "Alright, I'll be in the garden if you need me."

Once she was alone, Olivia let out a deep breath, staring into her coffee cup. She hated feeling like this—like everything was unraveling, and she didn't know how to stop it. After a few sips of coffee, she retreated to her room, hoping the familiar comfort of her space would ease the heaviness in her chest.

———

The rest of the day passed slowly. Olivia spent most of it curled up in bed, scrolling through her phone but not really paying attention to anything. She replayed the night in her head over and over, trying to make sense of it. JJ's words kept echoing, reminding her of how quickly things had gone wrong. And Rafe... well, that was a whole other mess she didn't want to think about.

She avoided social media, not wanting to see any pictures or videos from the party. The last thing she needed was a reminder of how badly everything had spiraled. By the time the sun began to set, the house felt even quieter, and Olivia's thoughts only grew louder.

Just as she was about to try and get some sleep, her phone buzzed. She hesitated before picking it up, her heart sinking when she saw JJ's name on the screen.

JAYJ
Can we talk? I'm outside

Olivia stared at the message for a long moment.
Part of her wanted to ignore it, to just let things cool down for a while, but another part of her-one that still cared deeply couldn't resist. She slipped on a hoodie and quietly made her way outside.

———

JJ was leaning against his bike at the end of her driveway, looking more disheveled than usual.
His hair was messy, his eyes tired, and he looked... different. Not just physically, but emotionally. As soon as he saw her, he straightened up, his expression softening.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Hey," Olivia replied, folding her arms as she walked toward him. The tension between them was thick, but there was also a familiar warmth, something that made her heart ache. JJ was the person she cared about most, even when things got complicated.

"I'm really sorry about last night," JJ began, his voice filled with regret. "I shouldn't have said those things. I didn't mean it. I was just... angry, and I took it out on you."

Olivia looked down at her feet, not sure how to respond. She believed him. JJ was always quick to act out when he was upset-but the hurt was still there, lingering just below the surface. "You really hurt me, JJ."

"I know," he said, stepping closer, his voice softer. "I know I did, and I hate myself for it. I just... I don't know. l've been feeling weird lately. Like, everything's slipping out of control, and I don't know how to fix it."

Olivia glanced up at him, her heart tightening.
She could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the way he was struggling to keep everything together. Part of her wanted to wrap her arms around him and make it better, but another part of her was still wary. "JJ, I understand things are hard, but you can't keep pushing me away like that. It's not fair."

"I know," JJ said quickly, his hands fidgeting nervously. "I promise, I'll do better. I don't want to lose you."

Olivia sighed, feeling the weight of his words.
She wanted to believe him, and maybe she did.
But there was still that lingering feeling, that nagging sense that something wasn't quite right. He was saying all the right things, but there was something off-something he wasn't telling her.

"Okay," she finally said, her voice soft. "I accept your apology. But JJ... if there's something going on with you, you need to tell me. I can't keep guessing."

JJ's eyes flickered with something-guilt, maybe
—but he quickly nodded. "I will. I swear, I'll tell you everything when I can."

Olivia wasn't entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway, not wanting to push him too hard. She cared about him, and part of her wanted to believe that he would open up eventually. For now, she just wanted to put the night behind them.

"Alright," she said, stepping closer to him. "But please... don't shut me out again."

JJ gave her a small, grateful smile, reaching out to pull her into a hug. His embrace was warm, familiar, and for a moment, it felt like things were normal again. But even as she leaned into him, a small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that something was still off. And until JJ was ready to be completely honest, she wasn't sure if things would ever really be okay again.

Little talk!!!!

Heyy, I'm so sorry for not posting chapters these days but I've been sick.
Also I wanted to apologize if the songs don't totally fit with the chapters but if I'm honest I don't know which one to put on them so I'm trying to put the best one in my opinion.

Thanks for your support and don't forget to vote. 💗💗💗

-MAx