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Flashback - Their Kindergarten Year

The playground was buzzing with the squeals and shouts of kids racing around the jungle gym, daring each other to jump off the swings, chasing each other in games only half understood. But on the far side of the picnic tables, away from the sticky juice boxes and smeared fingers, a little girl with two braids, hair pulled back by colorful butterfly clips, sat alone at the end of the long lunch table. Her shoes tapped softly against the bench as she swung her legs in small, even kicks.

Rafe Cameron noticed Imani Carrera right away.

She was quiet, the kind of quiet that made her seem as if she was somewhere else entirely, lost in her own world. Most of the other kids had formed little groups, buzzing with the kinds of conversations five year olds have: superheroes, snack trading, and loose teeth. But not Imani.

Rafe wasn't quite sure why he felt the urge to go over. Maybe it was the way she looked down at her sandwich, like she wasn't really all that interested in eating it. Or maybe it was because something in her shyness seemed to echo his own, in a way he didn't know how to describe.

All he knew was that he wanted to be near her.

He wanted her attention.

So, he walked over, glancing back at his friends who were busy poking sticks into the dirt and pretending to be knights. They probably wouldn't notice he was gone, anyway.

He plopped down next to her, awkwardly shuffling his sandwich bag. "Hey," he said, trying to sound like he'd done this before. "I'm Rafe."

The girl looked up, surprised at first, then her face softened as she offered a small smile. "I'm Imani," she said, her voice soft but bright, like she wasn't used to talking much but Rafe liked the sound of it.

It was at this moment, Rafe thought Imani looked like an angel.

He couldn't think of much else to say, so he just looked down at his sandwich. It felt weird, the silence between them, but not in a bad way. He peeked over at her lunch — a perfectly cut peanut butter and jelly sandwich sitting on a napkin, with the crusts trimmed off.

"Do you want one?" Imani asked, holding out one half of her sandwich.

Rafe hesitated. He hated peanut butter and jelly. But the way she looked at him, her big eyes a little hopeful, made him feel like he should say yes. He nodded, accepting the half she held out, and took a big bite.

"It's good," he lied, not wanting to upset her for some reason.

Imani laughed, and he felt his cheeks get warm. He didn't know why.

They ate in a comfortable silence for a moment until Imani tilted her head. "Since I gave you mine. Can I have one of yours?" she asked, pointing at the cookie next to his sandwich.

Rafe blinked. He was not a sharer.

His mom was always telling him he had to learn how, but so far, he'd managed to avoid it. But he looked at Imani, and something in her hopeful smile made him feel like maybe he could make an exception.

Only her.

"Sure," he said, a little stiffly, pushing the bag toward her. She picked out a cookie and bit into it with a happy grin.

"Thank you!"

They fell back into their quiet rhythm, just the two of them at the table, listening to the laughter of the other kids who ran around like they didn't have a care in the world.

"You're not like the other boys," Imani said suddenly, turning to look at him with her head tilted, studying him in a way that made Rafe feel all funny inside.

"What do you mean?" he asked, fidgeting with the last piece of his sandwich.

"You're... nice," she said, like she wasn't sure if it was a compliment or just a fact.

He felt his cheeks flush, so he just shrugged. "Yeah, well, you're not like the other girls," he mumbled, looking down at the table, hoping she wouldn't see how red his face was.

"Really?" Her head tilted to the side, a shy smile on her face.

"Yeah," he nodded. "You're not ugly."

"Oh," she whispered. "Thank you."

"Do you... do you want more cookies tomorrow?" He asked.

"Yeah. Do you want peanut butter jelly sandwich too?"

He wanted to say no.

"Yes."

"Okay." Imani just smiled at that, her fingers brushing a bit of peanut butter off the edge of her sandwich as she giggled quietly to herself.

And as the bell rang and kids started running back to class, Rafe realised he was really looking forward to lunch tomorrow.

And he couldn't wait to tell his mom about the new friend he made.

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Back to present

The midday sun poured through the wide kitchen windows, casting golden beams onto the Carrera family's dining table. Plates were scattered with remnants of fresh salads, grilled vegetables, and vibrant fruit. The radio hummed in the background that drifted through the open window like a warm breeze.

Imani looked out past the glass doors into the backyard, where her parents were moving together as if in their own world. Her dad was holding her mom close, hands on her waist, spinning her lightly across the grass, and their laughter was louder than the music. Her mom's head was thrown back, her hair catching the light, and her dad looked at her with that same smitten expression he always wore whenever he looked at her. They were whispering to each other, smiling, swaying like it was their first dance.

Imani craved for that kind of love.

Beside her, Kiara let out an exaggerated groan and flopped against her chair. She pointed her fork toward the window and rolled her eyes. "Can they get anymore gross," she muttered, scrunching her nose and stifling a smirk. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Imani chuckled, nudging her sister's arm. "Right? You'd think they'd want a break after all these years," she teased, shaking her head as their parents spun around again, oblivious to their audience.

"Hey! Mom! Dad!" Kiara called out, her voice playful but loud enough to break through the music. "Could you maybe... not embarrass us in front of the entire neighborhood?"

Anna glanced back with a mock glare. "One day, you'll be as in love as your dad and I are."

"Absolutely not! My babygirls aren't getting married till they're 40. Isn't that right, girls?" Mike declared, glancing over at them with an exaggeratedly stern look that made Imani and Kiara both laugh.

"Sure, Dad," Imani teased, her voice sweetly innocent as if she were genuinely agreeing. But then she leaned over to Kiara, whispering with a smirk, "Not if we die of embarrassment first."

Kiara snorted, trying to cover her laugh with a cough. Their dad's eyebrows shot up suspiciously, but their mom, ever in tune with their antics, just rolled her eyes and swatted in their direction.

"We'll see who's laughing when you two are swooning over someone," Anna said, a smile tugging at her lips

"Can't wait," Imani replied sarcastically.

"You're one to talk," Kiara muttered with an eye roll. "Is Rafe even swoon worthy?"

"Shut your mouth," Imani threw a piece of tomato at her.

Just then Imani's phone buzzed on the table, she glanced down, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Rafe's name flashing on the screen. She quickly got up, hoping to slip out before anyone noticed, but Kiara's voice cut through the moment.

"Oh, let me guess," Kiara drawled. "It's your sneaky link."

Imani rolled her eyes, reaching over to pinch Kiara's cheek. "Careful," she warned, grinning as the latter swatted her hand away. "Keep up this attitude, and I might just make him your brother in law."

Kiara let out a loud, dramatic groan. "Oh, please," she shot back, her voice dripping with mock horror. "Like I need to see Rafe Cameron at family dinners. He'll end up just getting pressed over the food we make if it isn't up to his standards."

Imani raised an eyebrow, dropping her voice to a whisper. "Oh and let's not forget who his sister is. The one who you declared as your mortal enemy as of yesterday. She'll be joining those family dinners as well."

Kiara groaned again, throwing her head back in exaggerated despair. "Great. Just great. I'll be stuck with Sarah Cameron at Thanksgiving. You're ruining my life already, Imani."

"Hey, what are big sisters for?"

"To be a big pain the ass."

"Asshole."

"Bitch."

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Imani shut the door to her room, settling onto her bed as she pulled up FaceTime. The screen connected, and there was Rafe, his usual cocky smile already in place.

"Hey, baby," he greeted smoothly, his voice softening.

Imani felt a blush rise to her cheeks at the warmth in his tone. She tried to brush it off, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and smiling back. "Hi," she replied, her voice coming out a little softer than she intended.

Rafe tilted his head, giving her that look, the one that made her stomach flip even though she hated to admit it. "Missed that pretty face," he murmured.

She rolled her eyes, leaning back against her pillows. "Uh-huh," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You sure there aren't any other 'pretty faces' over there to keep you busy."

"Guess you'll just have to keep me busy then, huh?" he shot back, his grin widening.

"You pull that line on all the girls?"

Rafe chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck in that slightly sheepish way he always did when she teased him. "Only the ones that ignore me all day," he shot back smoothly. "So, what've you been up to, trouble?"

"Not much," Imani replied, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Just, you know, hanging out...shopping a little." She glanced over at the bags she'd left piled by her dresser.

"Oh yeah?" His eyes lit up with genuine interest. "Show me what you got."

At that, Imani's playful facade slipped, and her face lit up with excitement. She jumped off her bed, forgetting to keep it cool for a second. She could hear Rafe's laugh as she scrambled to grab the bags, her phone shaking in her hand as she tried to prop it up against a stack of books.

"Whoa, slow down there!" He chuckled, watching her with an amused smile. "Didn't know shopping could get you this hyped."

Imani rolled her eyes again, but she was grinning as she pulled out a new sundress, holding it up to the screen. "I thought you wanted to see what I got?"

"Trust me, I do," he replied, his voice warm. "If it looks half as good on you as it does in your hands right now, I'm in trouble."

She felt a flush rise in her cheeks, but she brushed it off with another sarcastic comment. "Keep talking like that, and maybe I'll just send you a picture," she teased, turning away so he wouldn't see her grin as she grabbed another shopping bag.

"Now you're speaking my language," Rafe said, grinning as he leaned closer to the screen, watching her every move.

As Imani pulled out another dress from the shopping bag, Rafe's gaze remained fixed on her, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Put them on for me," he said, his voice low.

She felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she bit her lip, deciding to play along. "Fine," she said, trying to sound unfazed, though her heart was racing. With a smile, she stepped back from her phone, turning around as she just began to take off her pants.

"Nice ass," he teased.

"Rafe!" When she turned back to the screen, she saw Rafe watching her with that signature smirk of his, his expression entirely too pleased. "And don't think I don't see you screenshotting."

Rafe's smirk widened, and he raised his hand in mock innocence. "Me? Screenshot? Never," he said. "Why take a screenshot when I've got this whole view live?"

She let out a laugh, rolling her eyes. "Smooth," she muttered, but she couldn't hide her smile.

"Hey, it's just the truth," he replied, still grinning. "But if you want to send me one now, I'm not complaining."

Imani shook her head, feigning exasperation. "You're lucky I tolerate you, Cameron," she said, fighting to keep her smile in check as she turned away from the screen again.

"And I'm even luckier you're showing off just for me, Carrera," he shot back.

"Don't jerk off to them," she joked.

"Are you a psychic?"

"Rafael!"

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Imani stepped up to the familiar, slightly weathered porch of John B's house, balancing a stack of takeout bags in her arms. As she reached for the door, she caught sight of John B's dad, Big John heading out, his fishing gear slung over his shoulder.

"Hey, kiddo," he greeted with a warm smile, reaching over to ruffle her hair like he'd done since she was little.

"Hi, Big John," she replied.

"Keep an eye on these rascals," he winked.

"Gotcha," she laughed.

Once inside, she dropped her bags onto the kitchen counter with a sigh of relief. She barely had time to catch her breath before she spotted Kiara, Pope, and John B lounging in the living room, running over to her and immediately opening the bags.

"Alright, ladies," she announced, loud enough to get their attention, making John B and Pope roll their eyes.

"I have all the food and desserts for JJ's surprise birthday party," she said. "But eat anything, and you're dead."

The words were barely out of her mouth when both John B and Pope made a move toward the cupcake box. Swiftly, Imani reached over, swatting the backs of their heads. "The hell did I just say?"

"Ow!" John B protested, rubbing the back of his head. "Geez, Imani. Didn't realise you were the cupcake police."

She crossed her arms, giving him a mock glare. "Have some self control," she shot back, one eyebrow raised.

Kiara snorted in laughter, while Pope raised his hands in surrender, backing away from the cupcakes when Imani made eye contact with him. "I... I was just making sure John B didn't eat them all."

"So you can eat them yourself?"

"Absolutely not!" Pope scoffed.

John B, though, rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath about "bossy sisters."

Kiara snorted from the couch, holding in a laugh as she watched the exchange. "She means business, boys," she added with a grin. "Don't get on her bad side. I've seen it too many times."

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Imani was weaving through the aisles of the little beachside shop, glancing over the shelves for any last minute decorations and party favours she could snag for JJ's birthday. The store was quiet, the only sounds the soft hum of an old ceiling fan and the faint music playing over the speakers. She picked up a pack of candles and then caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye.

A dark haired girl, maybe ten or eleven, with oversized glasses perched on her nose, was standing a few feet away, watching her intently. The girls eyes were fixed on Imani with an expression somewhere between curiosity and recognition.

Imani couldn't help but laugh, raising her eyebrows as she met the girl's gaze. "Hi, can I help you with something?"

The girl crossed her arms, giving Imani a look that seemed too knowing for her age. "Yeah, actually, you can," she replied with a hint of sass, taking a step closer. "Are you the girl my brother keeps staring at on his phone?"

Imani blinked, taken aback by the girl's directness, then let out an awkward laugh, trying to play it off. "Uh... what?"

The girl raised an eyebrow as if she were talking to someone who really should have figured it out by now. "My brother. Rafe."

Imani's awkward smile froze, the colour creeping up her cheeks as she pieced together who this girl had to be. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, another voice called from across the store.

"Wheezie!"

Sarah approached, her expression annoyed. "I told you to stop running off like that," she said, grabbing the younger girl's arm. "Come on, we've got to go. Rose is going to kill us for sneaking out."

Wheezie barely seemed to hear her sister. Instead, she looked up at Sarah, gesturing toward Imani with a smug grin. "Look, Sarah, it's the girl you said Rafe has a crush on. You know, the one you told him was out of his league? And then he chased you around the house."

Sarah's face paled for a second, and she shot Wheezie a horrified look. "Wheezie!" she hissed.

But Wheezie just shrugged, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Well, I think she deserves to know." She turned back to Imani with a satisfied smirk. "It's true, though. You're, like, way out of his league."

Imani felt the flush in her cheeks deepen, but she managed a cool smile, glancing over at Sarah, who looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her up. "Uh, thanks, I guess," she said, her voice light, though she couldn't quite hide the amusement.

"Rafe should keep her though," Wheezie said, her eyes studying Imani with a look of admiration. "She's really pretty. I like her."

"Thanks... again," Imani let another laugh.

Sarah let out a frustrated sigh, finally tugging Wheezie away. "Sorry about her. She has no filter." Sarah gave Imani a brief, apologetic smile before she turned to drag her sister out of the store.

"Bye!" Wheezie waved to Imani.

"Bye," Imani waved back.

"Rafe is going to kill you when he finds out," Sarah whispered.

Wheezie let out a scoff. "As if he would."

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The door creaked open at John B's house, and JJ stepped inside. "Honey, I'm home!"

That quickly turned into a stunned expression as everyone jumped up from their hiding spots, shouting, "Surprise!"

JJ blinked, momentarily speechless as he took in the decorations, the balloons, and the homemade banner that hung across the wall. Before he could fully react, Imani stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, pulling him close as she ruffled his hair in a sisterly gesture.

"Happy Birthday, JJ," she said warmly, a wide smile on her face as she pulled back to look at him.

JJ laughed, still a little dazed, scratching the back of his head as he took in the setup. "You didn't have to do all this."

Kiara grinned and nudged him. "This was all Imani's idea."

JJ looked over at Imani with a soft, grateful smile, clearly moved. But before he could respond, Imani took his hand, leading him to a corner of the room. "I know you always say no presents but you need to have this."

His eyes went wide, completely stunned "Woah!" A brand new surfboard stood propped up—a sleek, high-end model that he had been eyeing for months but could never afford.

"I saw you eyeing it a while back, and I figured... well, I wanted you to have it. Gotta have one for those surf trips around the world, don't you think?"

For a second, JJ just stared at the surfboard, then back at her, as though struggling to process it. His background, his upbringing—rarely allowed for surprises like this, let alone anything as extravagant as a brand new surfboard. Imani could see his throat tighten, his eyes glistening with emotion he clearly hadn't expected to feel today. He looked away quickly, blinking, then turned back to her with a soft smile.

"I—wow, Imani," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Without another word, he pulled her into another hug, holding her tight.

Imani hugged him back, rubbing his shoulder with a quiet smile as she whispered, "You're worth it, JJ. Always. Never forget that."

"Can we have the cupcakes now?!" John B shouted across the room.

"Fuck off. They're mine!" JJ yelled back as he ran across the room to snatch the cupcake off John B. "Imani made them for me."

"Sharing is caring," Pope pointed out.

Imani laughed, shaking her head at the antics. But no matter what, those boys would always be part of her family, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

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Imani sat on the porch of house, enjoying the brief moment of quiet as she stepped away from the noise and laughter of the party inside. The music drifted through the open windows, and she could hear Pope and John B egging each other on over a game, Kiara laughing loudly as she cheered them both on.

The door creaked open, and she glanced over to see JJ stepping out, his expression soft as he spotted her. He didn't say anything right away, just dropped down beside her on the porch steps, stretching out his legs and looking up at the stars. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the gentle rustle of the breeze in the trees filling the gaps between them.

Finally, JJ spoke up, his voice quieter than usual. "Thanks," he said, not looking at her directly, just staring ahead at the yard. "For all of this. The party, the gift... just everything. It... it really means a lot to me."

Imani felt her chest tighten a little, and she nudged his shoulder, trying to keep things light. "I'd do anything to see you happy, JJ," she replied softly. "You deserve it, you know?"

He was quiet for a moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice had that hint of vulnerability that he rarely let anyone see. "I don't know about that, but... I'm glad you think so." He laughed a little, though it was bittersweet, and looked away before adding, "Guess that's part of why I'm really gonna miss you when you leave for college soon."

Imani's smile faded as the reality hit her—leaving the island, her friends, and family. She hadn't let herself think too much about it, knowing how hard it would be. "Hey," she murmured, her voice gentle, "it's not like I'm going to disappear. I'll come back every chance I get, and I'm only a phone call away."

He smiled, but there was a sadness in his eyes. "Yeah, I know. But it's gonna be different." He glanced down at his hands, as if struggling to find the right words. "Things won't feel the same when you're not around."

She felt her own heart twist, and she reached over, squeezing his hand. "You're going to be okay, JJ. I mean, look at all of us—no matter where I go, you've got people here who love you, who'd do anything for you." She paused, then added with a teasing smile, "And besides, someone's got to keep Pope stressing like a dad every second of the day. No one does it better than you."

JJ's face brightened a little as he laughed, squeezing her hand back. "So architecture, huh?"

"Yup."

"When i'm rich. I'll be your first client. You can design my future house for me," JJ smiled, nudging Imani.

"I would gladly do it," she smiled.

"I'll name it Poguelandia," he declared with excitement.

"Poguelandia? Nice."

They fell back into a gentle silence, just the two of them under the stars, the laughter and voices from inside fading into the background. JJ leaned back on his hands, letting out a soft sigh, his eyes thoughtful as he looked out toward the ocean, barely visible beyond the trees in the distance.

"Kie's lucky to have you, you know?" he murmured, his voice low and uncharacteristically vulnerable. He kept his gaze forward, like he wasn't quite ready to meet her eyes.

Imani glanced over at him, her expression softening. "You know I'm your sister too, right?" she replied, her voice warm and steady, the words full of unspoken promises.

He didn't say anything at first, but he nodded, swallowing hard as he processed her words. There was a warmth in his chest, an unfamiliar but comforting ache that he wasn't used to feeling. JJ had grown up expecting people to walk away, to shrug him off, to dismiss him like he was nothing. And he'd always braced himself for that. But Imani—She noticed him, really saw him, in a way that was so rare it sometimes felt like he was dreaming.

She knew about his dad—she'd seen the bruises he couldn't always hide, caught the way he flinched at loud voices or the smell of alcohol. She didn't push or ask him for stories he'd rather forget, but she'd always been there, making sure he ate when she knew he'd been skipping meals, making sure he had a warm place to go when home didn't feel safe. She'd drag him out to group dinners, cook him food and pile on extra servings when she thought he was too skinny, reminding him that he was wanted.

Imani made him feel like he had someone to come back to, someone who looked out for him simply because they cared.

JJ rubbed a hand over his face, struggling to hide the slight sheen of tears in his eyes. He wasn't used to people taking care of him. He didn't really know what love was supposed to feel like, but he figured it might feel a lot like this: sitting here on a quiet porch, next to someone who made the world feel safe, even if just for a moment.

"I'm going to get real emotional for a second so don't cry," he warned lightly with a laugh.

Tears had already welled up in Imani's eyes. "I think I already am."

"Oh for fuck's sake," he muttered.

"You know i'm just a really emotional person," she whined, swallowing the lump forming in her throat.

"Fine," he rolled his eyes playfully, "Thanks," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know I don't say it a lot, but... it means everything. You... you make me feel like I matter."

Her expression softened, and she reached over, wrapping her arm around his shoulders, pulling him close. "You do matter, JJ," she murmured, resting her head against his for a moment. "And you're worth everything. Just don't forget that."

JJ closed his eyes, leaning into the warmth of her embrace, feeling, for once, like he belonged somewhere.

"Just so you know if a guy breaks your heart, you tell me and i'll deal with him," he murmured.

"I don't doubt you for a second," she laughed through her tears. "You'll always have me, JJ."

"You'll always have me too."

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author's note:

- i'm not okay after watching season 4. i'm completely shattered and annoyed. going though the 5 stages of grief and i'm still on denial.

- this chapter was going to be different but i decided to write more about JJ and Imani's dynamic. she has a beautiful relationship with all the boys which will be shown throughout the book. but i had to write about them first 😭

- make sure to vote and comment every chapter!