Sunset games. Rafe Cameron

eight

CHAPTER EIGHT
[8]
"i wait for you" alex g offline

The evening sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the quiet streets as Olivia made her way to meet the Pogues. She had spent the night at JJ's, trying to push away the nagging doubts that lingered after their conversation. For a moment, things had felt right between them again. JJ had been sweet, pulling her close, his kisses soft and apologetic. But in the back of her mind, the feeling that something was still wrong wouldn't quite fade.

Olivia shook off the thoughts as she neared the beach. Tonight wasn't about JJ, Rafe, or anyone else. It was just about hanging out with her friends, the people who made her feel free. She smiled to herself as she caught sight of them gathered around a small fire near the water, their laughter and banter filling the air.

"Hey, Olivia!" Kiara called out, waving her over.
"You're just in time. Pope's telling us about his latest near death experience with John B."

Pope rolled his eyes. "It wasn't that dangerous. I mean, it's not like we sink boats every day."

Olivia froze mid-step, catching the last bit of Pope's sentence. "Wait, what?"

John B smirked, nudging Pope with his elbow.
"She wasn't supposed to hear that part, dude."

"Too late," Olivia said, raising an eyebrow as she sat down beside Kiara. "What did you guys do?"

JJ grinned, throwing his arm around her shoulder. "Nothing important. Just a little... you know... revenge."

Olivia's stomach twisted slightly, but she forced a smile, trying to act like everything was normal.
"On who?"

John B laughed, the firelight flickering in his eyes. "Topper, of course. He had it coming after everything he's pulled."

The words hit her like a wave crashing over rocks. Topper. She hadn't seen him since the party, and while she hadn't spoken to him much lately, she still had memories of him. Memories of late night talks and beach bonfires before everything got complicated. He wasn't the same person he used to be, but still, sinking his boat?

Olivia glanced around, her heart pounding. The Pogues were like family to her, and she knew how they operated, but this... this was different. She opened her mouth to say something, but JJ squeezed her shoulder, leaning in close.

"Don't worry about it, Liv. It's no big deal. We were just sending a message. He'll get over it."

Olivia nodded slowly, her throat tight. They were all laughing, enjoying the evening like nothing had happened. She didn't want to be the one to ruin the mood, so she forced herself to relax, leaning into JJ's side as the conversation drifted to other things. They spent the rest of the evening talking about random stuff-new surf spots, plans for the weekend, and harmless jokes that made Olivia forget, for a little while, about everything else.

But the unease never fully left her, sitting like a weight in the pit of her stomach. The night grew darker, and one by one, they began to head home.

"See you tomorrow," Kiara said with a tired smile, hugging Olivia before disappearing into the night with Pope and John B.

Olivia waved them off, her footsteps slow as she made her way home. The streets were quiet, the only sound the distant hum of the ocean and the wind rustling through the palm trees. She wrapped her arms around herself, her mind drifting back to what Pope had said earlier. They had sunk Topper's boat. That wasn't just some small prank, it was serious. If Topper found out, there would be hell to pay.

As if on cue, she turned the corner and nearly walked right into Topper himself. Her heart lurched in surprise, and then she saw who was with him. Rafe, standing a few feet behind, watching her with that same unsettling intensity he always had.

"Olivia," Topper said, his voice calm, but there was something cold underneath it. "We need to talk."

Olivia's pulse quickened. "Topper, I-"

"We know what the Pogues did," Rafe interrupted, his voice low and full of threat. "We know they sunk my brother's boat."

Olivia's stomach dropped, her mind racing. How did they know? Had someone seen them? She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "I didn't have anything to do with it."

Topper looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"Maybe not. But you're still with them, Olivia.
You're still choosing them over your real friends."

Her heart twisted at the word "real." Topper and Rafe weren't her friends anymore. They hadn't been for a long time. But the way he said it-like she was betraying her old life-made something in her ache. She had grown up with them, shared countless memories with them. Now, they stood on opposite sides, and the distance between them felt too wide to cross.

"You need to stop hanging out with them," Rafe said, stepping closer. His voice was calm, but the threat was clear. "They're bad news, Liv. And if you keep choosing them, you'll end up in the same mess they're in. You're better than that."

Olivia took a step back, her heart racing. "Why do you care?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Topper's expression softened, just for a moment. "Because we used to be close, Olivia. You used to be one of us. We had each other's backs, remember? Before all this."

Rafe's eyes flicked between Olivia and Topper, his jaw tight. "You should be with us," Rafe said quietly, his voice smooth but dark. "Like the old times. We look out for our own."

Riley's mind was spinning. Topper's words tugged at a part of her she didn't want to admit existed-the part that still remembered what it was like to be part of their world, to have everything handed to her, to feel protected, But that wasn't who she was anymore. She had chosen a different path, with different people.

"I don't know what you expect me to do," Olivia said, her voice firmer now. "I'm not going to stop hanging out with the Pogues. They're my friends."

Rafe let out a short, harsh laugh. "Your friends?
They're just using you, Olivia. You think they really care? You're just their little rich girl they like to drag along for kicks. But when things get bad, they'll drop you in a heartbeat."

Olivia's jaw clenched. "That's not true."

Topper took a step closer, his voice gentler. "Look, Vi, we're just trying to help. You don't belong with them. You never did. Come back to us. We'll take care of everything."

Olivia shook her head, her heart pounding. " I'm not coming back."

Topper's face hardened, and Rafe's eyes darkened with something that looked like disappointment or maybe anger. "Fine," Rafe said quietly. "But don't say we didn't warn you."

Without another word, they turned and walked away, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night.
Olivia stood there for a moment, her heart racing, her mind spinning. The weight of their words clung to her as she hurried home, trying to shake the unsettling feeling that things were about to get a lot worse.