Sunset games. Rafe Cameron

twenty four

TWENTY FOUR
[24]
"welcome and goodbye" dream, ivory

Olivia stood frozen for a moment, the sight of JJ and Pope by Topper's boat sending a rush of fury through her veins. Her chest tightened as she watched Pope jump off the dock and into the water, a tool in hand, clearly tampering with the boat. JJ stood on the dock, arms crossed, his face a mask of defiance as if daring anyone to stop him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Olivia shouted, her voice breaking the stillness of the marina.

JJ turned to face her, his jaw tightening. He didn't say a word, but the sharp glint in his eyes was enough to cut through her. Olivia stormed toward them, her shoes clattering against the wooden dock. She didn't care that her heart was racing, or that her hands were trembling. She was beyond done.

"You've got to be kidding me!" she yelled, stopping a few feet away, "Are you seriously pulling this crap again? What is wrong with you?"

Pope surfaced from the water, looking just as angry as JJ. "Go home, Olivia," he snapped, water dripping off him as he climbed back onto the dock. "This doesn't concern you."

"The hell it doesn't!" she shot back, her voice rising. "You've already done enough damage! Do you even realize what Topper's mom is going to do when she finds out? Or do you just not care?"

"We don't care about your kook friends and their spoiled lives!" JJ spat, stepping closer. His voice was sharp, laced with venom, and it sent a shiver down Olivia's spine. "They're the problem, Olivia. Just like you've become."

The words hit her like a slap, but she refused to let it show. Her throat tightened as tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them away, determined not to let them see her break.

"Is this really who you are now, JJ?" she asked, her voice trembling but steady. "Hurting people just because you're angry? Taking it out on people who've done nothing to you? Topper didn't do anything-"

"Oh, spare me," JJ interrupted, laughing bitterly,
"You think Topper's some innocent victim? He's a privileged asshole who's been making our lives hell since day one. You're just too blind to see it."

"I don't care what your history is!" Olivia shot back, her voice cracking. "What you're doing now isn't about justice. It's about being cruel. And if you think that makes you better than him, then you're delusional."

JJ's face hardened, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, Olivia thought he might say something, but instead, he turned away, shaking his head. "You don't get it," he muttered, his voice low but angry. "You never will."

"And you don't get to decide who I am, JJ!" Olivia shouted, her voice rising with emotion. "You don't get to tell me where I belong or who l should care about. I've been trying so hard to keep the peace, but you've made it impossible!"

Pope, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his tone calmer but no less cutting, "We're not the ones who changed, Olivia, You did."

The words stung, but Olivia refused to let them see her crumble. "Yeah, I've changed," she admitted, her voice soft but firm. "Because I've realized that I deserve to be around people who actually care about me. People who don't tear me down or push me away just because I don't fit their mold."

JJ turned back to her, his expression unreadable. For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes-regret, maybe-but it was gone as quickly as it came. "Then maybe you should leave," he said coldly.

Olivia's heart sank, the finality of his words hitting her like a punch to the gut. She stared at him for a moment, searching his face for some sign that he didn't mean it, but there was nothing. Just anger and bitterness.

"Fine," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm done."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, her steps heavy and her chest aching. She didn't look back, even when she heard JJ mutter something under his breath, followed by Pope's quiet response. She couldn't bear to see them anymore.

As she reached the end of the dock, she nearly collided with Rafe, who was striding toward her with a determined look on his face. His eyes scanned her quickly, taking in her red-rimmed eyes and trembling hands.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice low but furious. "Are they messing with you again?"

Olivia shook her head, her throat too tight to speak. Without thinking, she stepped into his arms, burying her face in his chest. Rafe's arms wrapped around her instantly, holding her tightly as she let out a shaky breath.

"It's over," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I'm done with them."

Rafe didn't say anything at first, just held her closer, his chin resting on the top of her head, Finally, he pulled back slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders as he looked her in the eyes. "You don't need them," he said firmly. "You've got me. And I'm not going anywhere."

Olivia managed a small smile, though tears still pricked her eyes. "Thank you," she said softly.

Rafe nodded, his jaw tightening. "Come on," he said, his voice gentler now. "Let's get out of here."

He led her back to his car, his hand resting protectively on her back. As they drove away from the marina, Olivia stared out the window, the familiar ache of loss settling in her chest. But for the first time, it wasn't overwhelming. She had Rafe, and she had the kooks, and maybe, just maybe, that was enough.