I'll Do Anything • Rafe Cameron

Chapter 6

End of last chapter: I swear Rafe is bipolar or something. One minute he's an ass and the next he's being sincere. Why are boys so confusing? I still needed to find John B. I knew the gold was long gone but we still needed to talk about the compass. Something was definitely fishy.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I woke up with knots in my stomach. The last two days had been the absolute worst and everything was so confusing. JJ was literally in prison, Pope had stormed off, and I couldn't find John B anywhere.

On top of my friends troubles, Rafe added another wave of nausea. I never could tell what he was going to do or how he would act. He was always so unpredictable. Both scary and confusing. My mind was filled with images of our night together and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I hated him for it, so why did I also feel pity every time I thought of him?

Along with my people problems, tonight was midsummers. I would have to get all dressed up and spend my entire night with self absorbed Kooks. It was so wrong. People at the cut didn't have anything after the storm and yet we were about to throw a party? Disgusting.

I grabbed an apple and took my bike. I was going to ride around the cut until I found at least one of my friends.

I rode to John B's house and saw the police out front. Shit, what did he do now? I thought when we lost hope about the gold we would finally be out of trouble. That was proving to be more and more wrong.

I drove around the cut for another hour or so with no avail. I went home and decided to grab lunch and watch a movie to distract my mind. When I walked in my mom was making lunch.

"Today's the big day!" She said excitedly. I wasn't going to pretend to be happy for her so I didn't say anything in response.
"Kenna this has been something I've wanted for a long time. I had to work really hard to get us to this place in society. Please just go, put on a happy face, and at least try to have fun." She said sounding exasperated.

"Mom it just doesn't feel right. We're partying while other people are barely making it by. We should be helping them. Plus I have no friends there. I'll be miserable. Maybe you and dad should go and I'll stay here and house sit." I pleaded. Midsummers was the last thing I wanted to do right now.

"Absolutely not" She responded shortly. "It's your own fault you don't have friends Ken. If you would try I think you would like some of those kids, but you don't try. You haven't given anyone a shot and that's why you're so lonely at the school. I still miss your friendship with Sarah Cameron." She sighed. I did not want to have another Sarah talk.
"The Cameron's are a good family and I want you to try again with them. That Rafe boy is a cutie" She said wiggling her eyebrows.

I  couldn't help but chuckle. She wasn't wrong, Rafe was hot. It didn't change the fact that he was a complete dick. Arguing was pointless so I didn't say anything.
"Thanks for lunch Mom" I kissed her cheek and took my lunch upstairs. I started a movie but felt distracted. All I could think about was the Cameron's. My past with Sarah and the recent events with Rafe. I kept asking myself, why do I not hate him for it? I couldn't stand to be around Sarah for what she had done, but something about Rafe made me take pity on him, even after all the hell he had put me through. Why?

••••••••••••••••••••••••

I put on the dress that my mom had bought me for the occasion. It was a pale blue and made of silk. It hugged my waist tightly then went out at the hips making me look skinny and curvy at the same time. The back was cut out pretty low but it looked elegant. As much as I hated midsummers, the dress was really pretty. Mom had also given me a flower crown with blue flowers to match my dress and bring out my eyes.

I did my hair and makeup to finish getting ready. I still didn't want to go but arguing with my mom wouldn't get me anywhere. She was determined. My dad drove us all to the party. I could feel my moms nerves in the car. I would have to try for her. She was really excited.

As we pulled up I jumped in my seat. There with his dad was Pope. Thank God! I had been looking for the Pogues everywhere. I ran out of the car and bear hugged him. As I pulled away we did the Pogue handshake. It was nice to have one of my best friends with me.

"We're in the lions den" I sighed as we both turned to face the crowd of rich people. "Have you ever seen this many Kooks in one place?" I asked.

"Yeah, last year." He chuckled. He looked down for a second before asking, "Have you seen JJ" I could sense his worry.

"No, but I'm sure he's just fine. He has the survival instincts of a cockroach." I laughed, trying to make light of the situation.

"It's my fault" Pope looked down and I could feel his mood change into one of shame.

"Stop that." I said. "Topper almost killed you, remember? It's not your fault. JJ is smart, he will be alright and we will make it through this." He nodded and slowly raised his head again.

"All right get out of here" Hayward said to me. "We've got work to do."

I left Pope but already felt better by just seeing him. We were going to be okay. I stood in the crowd of people as Ward walked out with Rose, Sarah, and Rafe. Everyone cheered for them like they were celebrities or something. I rolled my eyes and walked to a table that wasn't occupied. I saw Sarah and Topper arguing. I laughed, I hoped they were giving each other hell.

The night seemed to be passing so slowly and I had no friends here other than Pope, who was busy. After what felt like a life time I decided I could at least sit close to him if he ever got a break instead of sitting alone at the other side of the party. I started to walk through the crowd of dancing people to reach him.

Once I was in the middle, still headed toward Pope, I felt a hand on my waist. I was turned around to meet Rafe. Of course. He started trying to dance with me, leaving his hands on my hips.

"You look good Kenna" he shouted over the music. I didn't respond and tried to pull away.
"Hey don't be like that." He laughed. It was pretty obvious he'd had a few drinks.

"What do you want Rafe?" I yelled over the booming speakers.

"Just dance with me." he replied. "You've been sitting alone all night Ken, this isn't the worst thing you could do." I tried to pull away one more time but I already knew from our... previous time together that he was a lot stronger then me and could get whatever he wanted.

"Fine." I sighed giving in. He smirked again as he pulled me closer. He placed one hand on the bottom of my back and the other grasped my hand. I was pressed into him with my head on his chest. I felt my heart beat slow down as I began to feel more comfortable in his arms. We swayed to the music until the song was over. I found myself sad it had ended.

"See, that wasn't so bad." He teased. I pulled away and this time he let me. He winked before turning back to his Kook friends. I left to find Pope. Why was that kind of nice? I was going insane. This is the guy that took me captive and gave me an... interesting night. Why couldn't I get myself to hate him? I shook my head and began to walk away.

Before I made it far I heard commotion behind me. I turned around to see a swarm of Rafe and his Kooks. What were they doing? They all started running all of a sudden. I caught a very small glimpse of what they were chasing. I knew that blonde hair well. JJ was here and about to get his ass beaten by Kooks.