Sunset games. Rafe Cameron

nine

CHAPTER NINE
[9]
"kids" current joys

Olivia didn't sleep well that night. Topper's and Rafe's words kept replaying in her mind, swirling around in a mix of confusion and unease. Their warnings had been clear, but it was the way they said it-the way Topper had looked at her with that strange mix of nostalgia and disappointment, and Rafe's cold confidence-that left her feeling more unsettled than ever.

The Pogues had always been her escape from the world of the Kooks. With them, she was free from the expectations, the social games, and the constant pressure to be someone she wasn't. But now, the lines were blurring in ways she hadn't expected. It wasn't just a matter of choosing sides anymore, it was about loyalty, safety, and figuring out where she really belonged.

By the time morning came, Olivia felt exhausted but determined to keep moving. She couldn't let Topper or Rafe's warnings get to her. The Pogues were her friends, and nothing was going to change that. Not some boat prank, not JJ's mood swings, not Rafe's threats.

But as the day went on, the tension lingered beneath the surface. Olivia didn't hear from JJ all morning, and even though she tried to stay busy, her mind kept drifting back to their last conversation. He had apologized, but something still felt off between them-like there was a wall she couldn't break through.

By late afternoon, she finally got a text from Kiara.

KIE
Beach? Everyone's meeting up later.

Olivia took a deep breath, trying to shake off the heaviness. Hanging out with her friends might be the distraction she needed. So, she grabbed her things and headed out, hoping that whatever had happened the night before could be left in the past.

———

When Olivia got to the beach, the group was already there, lounging on the sand near their usual spot by the rocks. John B and Pope were trying to rig up some sort of makeshift raft for a" new adventure," while Kiara rolled her eyes at their antics.

JJ was sitting apart from the others, staring out at the ocean, his face serious. Riley's stomach tightened when she saw him. The easygoing JJ she loved seemed far away, replaced by someone more closed off, more distant.

"Hey," she said softly, sitting down beside him.

JJ glanced at her, forcing a small smile. "Hey."

Olivia hesitated, unsure how to approach whatever was going on. "You okay?"

He shrugged, looking away again. "Yeah. Just thinking."

Before Olivia could press him further, Pope called out from behind them. "Hey, liv, you hear about our latest success? We got Topper good this time."

Olivia's heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile as she turned to face the group. "Yeah, I heard something about that."

"Man, I wish I could've seen his face," John B said, grinning, "The guy's probably losing his mind trying to figure out what happened."

Olivia's unease deepened. She didn't want to ruin their fun, but the thought of what Topper and Rafe had said the night before weighed heavily on her. She didn't want to tell them she'd run into the two of them. They'd probably take it the wrong way.