▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Their Kook Year

Imani Carrera had a striking presence that turned heads wherever she went. Her skin, a warm and flawless shade of deep bronze, seemed to glow under any light, while her almond-shaped eyes, dark and expressive, held a quiet intensity that could shift from warmth to distance in a heartbeat. Her full lips, always glossed or tinted with a soft hue, curled into a smile that was both inviting and elusive, as if she held secrets only a few could ever hope to uncover. Thick, dark curls cascaded down her shoulders, either left in their natural, voluminous state or styled in effortless waves that framed her face.

Eyes turned to her as soon as she entered the hallway. Her slender frame moved with a graceful confidence, and the way she dressed, a mix of casual elegance and effortless chic only added to her undeniable allure. There was a natural beauty about Imani, an effortless charm that made it impossible not to notice her, even in a crowded hallway.

Yet, some looked at her with admiration, others gave her a look of disgust. That was the life of a half Kook and half Pogue, trying into fit into both worlds.

"Hey, girls," Imani greeted her two friends as she stood at her locker.

"Klaus or Elijah?" Alice Jackson, her friend asked.

"Hm..." Imani pondered for a moment. "Klaus."

Besides her, Violet Archibald, her other friend, scoffed at Imani's comment. "He's a psycho!"

Imani shrugged, "It's the accent for me," she giggled. "Besides, he's misunderstood. And maybe I like my men to be dangerous."

Alice laughed, shaking Imani's shoulders. "Oh my God, has someone tainted our innocent Imani. Do we need to perform an exorcism?"

"She needs therapy more like," Violet shook her head. "Klaus can join you since he needs it himself."

Imani laughed, half-listening, distracted as she organised her books. The warmth of their laughter should have kept her grounded in the moment, but a strange feeling crept over her, a sensation that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

Glancing across the hall, her eyes landed on Rafe Cameron. He was there, as he often was- leaning against the wall with his friends around him, their voices animated as they joked and talked. But Rafe wasn't laughing. He wasn't even paying attention to them.

He was staring at her.

His gaze was dark, unblinking, as if she were the only person in the crowded hallway, and everything else faded into the background. Imani's breath caught for a moment. His eyes held hers, intense and unsettling, and a chill ran down her spine. His friends seemed oblivious, laughing and slapping him on the shoulder, but Rafe didn't move. It was as though he existed in another world, a world where only she mattered.

Her friends continued to chatter beside her, unaware of the silent, electric tension stretching across the hall, but Imani couldn't shake the weight of his stare.

There was something about the way he looked at her- dark, possessive, like she was some secret he'd been guarding for years. It wasn't the first time she had caught him like this, eyes burning into her as if she was a puzzle he was desperate to solve.

"He totally wants to fuck you," Alice murmured into Imani's ear, snapping her out her thoughts.

She quickly averted her eyes, clearing her throat. "He literally hates me."

"And Hayden Christensen is my husband," Violet humoured.

"Is he the new white boy of the month?" Imani laughed.

"He's always been," Violet leaned on the locker beside Imani, a dreamy sigh escaping her lips.

"Back to the topic. How do you even know he hates you?" Alice asked. "You barely speak to him."

"He hates Pogue," Imani murmured.

"Hey, you're still very much a Kook," Violet reassured softly, rubbing Imani's back.

"Yeah," Alice nodded. "Fuck him."

"Fuck him," Imani agreed.

━━━━━━━━━━

Imani sat at a table in the quiet corner of the school library, her focus intent on the open textbook in front of her. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights overhead and the distant sound of turning pages were the only interruptions in the otherwise silent space. She sighed, tucking a loose curl behind her ear as she tried to concentrate, but the sudden presence of someone towering over her shattered the peaceful moment.

"Hey, Imani." Carson Walker, the star athlete of the school's football team, who had joined the school for not too long, leaned against the edge of her table.

"Hey," she muttered, returning back to her book. Please leave me alone. Please leave me alone. She chanted in her head.

"So," he said with a smirk. "Have you made up your mind about that date yet?" His voice was annoyingly cocky, like he expected the answer to have changed since the last time he'd asked.

Imani didn't even bother to look up right away, her eyes still scanning the page in front of her as if he hadn't interrupted her at all. "This is the part where I say you definitely need to get your ears checked. So for the third time, Carson," she said, her tone laced with biting sarcasm, "the answer is no. Try getting the hint, maybe?"

But Carson didn't laugh or back off like she'd hoped. Instead, his smirk twisted into something darker. Without warning, he stepped closer, moving into her space, forcing her back against the chair. His body blocked her view of the rest of the library, and his voice dropped low, tinged with anger. "I don't think you get it, Imani," he growled. "I'm not used to being told no."

"Then get used to it," she shrugged. "You win some, you lose some. Guess you're just unlucky this time."

"Let me remind you, you're a Pogue," he spat with disgust, making Imani flinch slightly. "What i'm offering you, will make you the most popular girl on this island, we could be good together."

"I'd rather not risk it," Imani smiled sweetly, standing up and leaving to walk past him.

Carson pushed his hand against her shoulder, backing her against the wall. Imani's heart quickened, a wave of discomfort washing over her as she glanced around the room. It was too empty, too quiet, and there was no one nearby to see the way he had cornered her. She set her jaw, refusing to let him see the flash of fear in her eyes. "If only you just listened like an obedient girl." Carson's jaw tightened, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, and for a moment, the tension between them felt suffocating.

"Do you think you're all almighty just because you have a virgin pussy that's too good for any guy to sink his dick into?" 

"It's called having a dignity," Imani remarked.

"Being a Pogue is not having a dignity," Carson sneered.

Imani felt his hand trail down the side of her leg, playing with the hem of her skirt. "Carson, stop," she whispered, breath shaky as she tried her best to shove him away from her.

Just as the tension in the air thickened, Imani's heart pounding in her chest, a shadow appeared in the doorway of the library.

Rafe Cameron.

He moved with a quiet intensity, his eyes immediately locking onto the scene unfolding between Carson and Imani. His expression was unreadable, but there was a storm brewing behind his gaze as he slowly approached, his presence dark and unnerving as always.

"What's going on here?" Rafe's voice cut through the silence, low and cold. His eyes flicked to Carson, then back to Imani, his gaze lingering a little too long as if checking for any sign of distress.

Carson straightened up, the sneer on his face twisting into something more casual, though his eyes flashed with irritation. He glanced over his shoulder at Rafe, chuckling as though nothing had just happened. "Nothing, man," Carson said with a dismissive wave. "We're just having some fun, right, Imani?" His voice was laced with false charm, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface.

Imani said nothing, her body still rigid as she looked between the two boys, feeling trapped between Carson's aggression and Rafe's unsettling attention. Rafe, however, didn't move, his eyes narrowing as Carson laughed again, a laugh that sounded almost forced.

Imani's heart raced as she glanced up at Rafe, her eyes silently pleading for help, hoping he would step in and put an end to whatever this was with Carson. For a moment, Rafe held her gaze, his eyes dark and unreadable, but then- just as quickly- he looked away. Something flickered across his face, a cold detachment that sent a chill through her.

"Come on, Carson," Rafe said, his voice low and indifferent. "Coach is looking for us."

Carson glanced back at Rafe, his sneer returning as if nothing had phased him. "Yeah, sure." He leaned down, his lips too close to Imani's ear, his breath warm and threatening as he whispered, "This isn't over, Imani. Not even close."

Imani stiffened, her breath catching in her throat as the weight of his words settled on her like a heavy stone. Carson straightened with a smug grin, clapping Rafe on the shoulder as if the situation was nothing more than a joke between friends. But Imani didn't stay to see any more. She shoved her chair back and rushed past them, her heart pounding in her ears, desperate to escape the thick air of the library.

━━━━━━━━━━

Rafe's eyes followed her every movement. He watched the way her dark curls bounced with each step, the way she didn't look back. His gaze lingered on her retreating figure, his expression unreadable but his attention sharp. There was something about the way she left- hurried, like she was trying to escape- not just Carson, but everything around her.

Carson, still standing beside him, let out a low, mocking chuckle. He watched Imani disappear through the doors before leaning closer to Rafe, his voice dripping with crude amusement. "She's a tough one, but trust me girls like that always give in eventually. It's only a matter of time."

The words hung in the air like poison, and Rafe's body stiffened, his jaw clenching hard enough that a muscle ticked in his cheek. He didn't say a word, but his hands curled into fists at his sides. A dark storm swirled in his eyes, though he kept it contained beneath a cold, unmoved exterior, but inside, a sharp current of anger rippled through him at Carson's words.

If only Carson knew not mess with Rafe's girl.

━━━━━━━━━━

It was lunchtime, and the cafeteria was buzzing with the usual energy of students. Imani sat at one of the tables outside, a peaceful spot near the courtyard, chatting with her friends Violet and Alice. They were in the middle of laughing over some ridiculous story Alice was telling when suddenly, Imani's younger sister, Kiara Carrera, came sprinting toward them, her face flushed with urgency.

"Kie, what's wrong? What happened?" Imani asked, immediately alert, her laughter fading.

"It's Carson Walker. He's fighting someone in the canteen!" Kiara blurted, catching her breath.

Imani exchanged quick glances with Violet and Alice before they all stood, rushing after Kiara toward the cafeteria. As they neared, the noise hit them first- a roar of voices, the unmistakable sound of a crowd egging on a fight. Imani pushed through the throng of students. But something caught her attention- people weren't shouting Carson's name like she expected. It was someone else.

And as they glanced at her, some with wide eyes, others whispering, Imani felt a strange knot tighten in her chest. Why were they looking at her like that?

She ignored the looks and shoved her way to the front of the crowd. When she finally broke through the wall of bodies, the scene hit her all at once. Imani's eyes snapped to the center of the commotion- and there, on the floor of the canteen, was Rafe. He was on top of Carson, fists flying, his face twisted in a fury that made her stomach drop.

Next to her was, Sarah Cameron,, screaming Rafe's name, her voice panicked. "Rafe, stop!" Sarah yelled, her voice growing more desperate.

She turned to Topper Thornton, one of Rafe's friends. "Topper, do something! He's going to kill him!"

Imani's breath caught in her throat. Rafe's blows were relentless, fueled by something far darker than just a fight over words or a petty grudge. Carson barely tried to defend himself now, his face bloodied, and the crowd that had once been cheering now watched with a mix of awe and fear. Imani stood frozen for a moment, the scene before her too surreal. Rafe had completely snapped over something and everyone was wondering what it could be, and it was clear- he wasn't stopping until someone made him.

The chaos in the cafeteria came to a head as teachers finally stormed through the crowd, pushing past students and shouting for order. They rushed toward Rafe and Carson, pulling Rafe off just as his fist was mid-swing. It took two teachers to drag him back, his chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through him. Carson lay on the ground, barely moving, blood streaking his face, his breaths shallow and ragged.

Rafe, however, seemed unfazed by the mess he had left behind. With one last glance down at Carson, he spat blood toward him. "Next time, you'll think twice," he muttered, his voice low but venomous, just loud enough for Carson to hear, and it sent a shudder through the crowd.

Imani, standing in the front, watched in stunned silence, her heart racing. The scene before her felt unreal, like something from a nightmare, and her stomach twisted at the sight of the cold satisfaction on Rafe's face.

But then, as the teachers began to pull him away, Rafe's eyes suddenly found Imani's. His smirk deepened, something dangerous flickering in his gaze as if he had been waiting for her to witness this moment. The corners of his mouth pulled up just slightly, a knowing look passing between them that sent a cold shiver through Imani's veins.

As he was hauled backward, Rafe glanced over his shoulder, his eyes locking with hers once more. It chilled Imani to her core, her body tense with the unsettling realisation that Rafe wasn't just fighting Carson. He was sending a message and she was at the center of it.

"Holy shit," Alice whispered.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Violet nodded.

"That was kinda hot," Imani murmured.

Alice and Violet glanced at her, a raised brow on their faces.

━━━━━━━━━━

As the final bell rang, Imani and Kiara walked out of the school together, the weight of the day heavy on Imani's mind. She glanced at her sister, who was walking a little ahead, oblivious to the tension still gripping her. "Kie," Imani said. "What was all that about today? Why was Rafe fighting Carson?"

Kiara shrugged, kicking a pebble on the ground as they made their way toward the parking lot. "I don't know for sure," she said. "But I heard some people talking after it happened. They were saying it was over a girl."

Imani frowned, her heartbeat quickening. "A girl?"

"Yeah," Kiara continued, glancing up at her older sister with a raised brow. "Carson apparently said some shit about her- no one's sure exactly what, but Rafe just lost his mind and attacked him. No warning, nothing. Just went for him."

Imani's stomach churned as the pieces began to fall into place. A girl? Her mind raced, wondering who it could've been.

Kiara continued, her voice more animated as she recounted the gossip swirling through the school. "What's got everyone really shocked is that it's over a girl. I mean, it's Rafe Cameron we're talking about. He's never given any girl the time of day. You know how he is. He acts like he's above it all, like none of us are worth his attention."

Imani felt her throat tighten, trying to process what her sister was saying, but her mind was stuck on Rafe's violent outburst. The Rafe she knew was cold, distant, always watching from the shadows, never getting involved in anything emotional, let alone romantic. It just didn't make sense.

"So now everyone's wondering," Kiara added, shrugging like it was no big deal. "Who is this girl that's got Rafe Cameron losing his mind? He practically went crazy over her today. I've never seen him like that. Nobody has."

As they neared the parking lot, Kiara suddenly stopped in her tracks, her hand gently tugging on Imani's arm. The abrupt halt made Imani pause, confusion clouding her face. Kiara turned toward her, her expression shifting from casual curiosity to something more intense, something searching. There was a seriousness in her eyes that caught Imani off guard.

"What?" Imani asked, her voice uncertain.

Kiara lowered her voice, glancing around as if worried someone might overhear. "I heard some people saying your name," she murmured quietly. "Is there something you're not telling me? About you and Rafe?"

Imani's breath caught in her throat, and she could feel her pulse quicken, a flicker of disbelief flashing across her face. "Me?" she asked, shaking her head quickly, the shock evident in her voice. "No, Kie, that's crazy. Rafe doesn't even like me. Remember?" She gave a weak laugh, raising her fingers in air quotes. "We're 'half Pogue.' Rafe doesn't mingle with Pogues at all."

Kiara narrowed her eyes, not entirely convinced. "But Imani-"

"No," Imani interrupted, her tone more insistent now. "He basically hates me. You've seen how he is. Rafe Cameron isn't exactly the type to be... interested in someone like me. He looks at me like he wants me gone, not the other way around." Her words came out rushed, almost too defensive, but she needed to believe them- needed Kiara to believe them too. There was no way Rafe's outburst could've had anything to do with her.

But even as she said the words, the memory of Rafe's smirk after the fight, the way his eyes locked onto hers, wouldn't leave her mind.

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

author's note:

- i planned this fic just yesterday because of all the rafe edits on my fyp.

- pre season 1 rafe will have a buzzcut. i love the greasy bangs in season 2 but there's something about buzzcut rafe that has me giggling.

- please make sure to vote on every chapter as well