A Chapter| Chapter Twelve

The laughter of Lila Griffin could be heard all through out the country club as she ran through the crowd, jogging toward Kie. The taller girl didn't see her at first, too caught up in her conversation with Pope. The familiar arms wrapping around her made Kie gasp as she got a face full on blonde hair.

"Kie! You look so pretty!" Lila gushed as she pulled away from the girl, giving her a spin. Kie laughed as she did so, taking a second to look at her.

"Woah, you look- more than pretty." the girl said with a small laugh, looking down at the purple dress that hugged Lilas body perfectly, the design of small flowers along it just adding to the beauty.

"Not nearly as pretty as you. Pope! My main man! Hello, handsome." Lila gushed as she hugged the taller boy who was flipping burgers.

"Hey Lila, you look great." Pope said to her with a smile as Lila thanked him before she stood between the two.

"I can't be the only one that doesn't feel like they fit in here right?" Lila asked with a sigh as she looked around at the many Kooks, all laughing and having a nice talk, surly gushing over their luxurious.

"Nope, I feel it too." Kie said with a sigh, putting a arm around Lila.

"Dido." Pope agreed as he flipped the burger on the grill. Lila looked around for any sign of Rafe, ready to swoop in and save him from his fathers clutches. But she wasn't in luck, only seeing people she didn't recognize that offered her smiles anyway.

"Hey, have either of you heard from JJ?" Pope asked as he looked over at the two girls, pulling Lila back.

"I ran to the station after I got the news, said he wasn't there. I almost went to his house but he made sure I swore to him to never come back after that one time." Lila said, the memory of when Lila showed up at the boys door step to hang out a few days ago still fresh on her mind.

"He'll be alright. He's got the survival instinct of a cockroach." Kie explained with a forced laugh, hiding her worry as Lila grazed her hand against hers, letting her friend know she had a hand to hold if she needed it.

"It's all my fault." Pope sighed as Lila slapped his arm.

"It's not your fault, Pope. Don't even say that, it's far from it." Lila said quickly, giving him a knowing look.

"You didn't do this, Pope. Topper almost killed you, remember?" Kie asked as Pope looked her way. Lila felt a pang if guilt once again, slowly getting over it before it was back. The guilt Lila felt was like driving under a bridge in the rain. For a second it's gone and everything seems so still, and then there it was again, raining down loud and cold.

The sound of loud cheering was heard, making the three glance over and see the Cameron family making their way outside. Ward was linked in Roses arms who had a very sharp and large head piece on. Sarah and Rafe trailed close behind, holding the same annoyed and awkward expression. Lila guessed Weezie ran off once they got there, smart kid.

"Here comes Lord Capital and the Exploiters." Kie commented as the three stared at them.

"She's definitely gonna poke someone's eye out with that." Pope said, talking about Roses headpiece as Lila nodded.

"If she does, Pope, make sure to document it for me. I could make my own murder mystery." Lila explained with a grin as the boy laughed at her. Lila caught sight of Ward pulling on Rafe toward a group of people, this must have been what he was talking about, parading him around.

"Well, i'll be back shortly with hopefully a surprise but don't hold me to it. Both of you, get your groove on because before long I will pull both of you to the dance floor." Lila said as she walked backwards, moonwalking away as she gave the two a look.

"In your dreams!" Kie called out with a playful smile.

"You might be right, Kie." Lila said before she was turned and heading off in the direction of the boy.

Rafe looked uncomfortable with his father, looking over his shoulder every few seconds to hopfully escape the conversation. Once Lila was in ear link she could hear the man talking about how Rafe would own the family business one day, being next in line.

Yeah, with what degree?

"Hey." Lila greeted as she got to their side, both her moms with Rose as they looked over at the sound of their daughters voice. Grace opened her mouth to say something, shutting it quickly and squeezing her wife's hands when she saw Rafe Cameron bend down and wrap his arms around Lila in a tight hug.

The way he held her was needy and too emotion, something off about him. He seemed so thankful she was there, so thankful to have her presents infront of him. The group all blinked at the two, their hug all too romantic for a friendly jester. Lila hugged him back with a squeeze, letting him know it was okay because she was here now, ready to get him out of the situation.

"You all know Lila, don't you? Lacey and Grace's daughter?" Ward spoke up, cutting the twos moments short as he nodded toward the blonde, introducing her to the few people infront of them.

"My girlfriend." Rafe added in quickly as Lilas eyes widened, Lacey chocking on her drink as it came up her nose. Grace held a look of horror and shock on her face, not wanting to make a scene but the clear disapproval on her face. Lila was in shock for a moment, not expecting him to say it but not minding it either.

"Nice to meet you all." Lila said to the them, a smile plastered on her face as they gave her one back. Ward looked back at Rafe to see his son avoiding eye contact.

"We've gotta run actually, gotta take some good pictures for the gram', you know?" Lila laughed as she looked at them, pulling Rafe back with her as the two nodded on que before disappeared inside. The chatter of the people to loud around them as Rafe took the lead, squeezing her hand every few seconds before they were suddenly infront of the small bar.

"Get us two Negroni's." Rafe nodded to the guy, leaning on the bar as the guy nodded and disappeared.

"Rafe, i'm not twenty-one yet." Lila whispered to the boy as he laughed at her slightly with a nod.

"Neither am I, don't worry about it, they know us." Rafe said as he rubbed his fingers over her hand, glancing at the bartender every few seconds to make sure he was doing it right. Lila grinned as she took in his attire, the blue suit and bow tie a new look.

"You look cute." Lila said as she straightened out the bow tie slightly, getting a small frown from him.

"Cute?" he asked with a slight pout as Lila nodded.

"Extremely cute." she nodded, a groan leaning Rafes lips slightly as he nodded at the bartender, who laid the drinks down next to the two. Lila gave the man a small smile in a thank you, staring at the drink as she glanced around.

"You look so pretty, you feel alright?" Rafe said, putting the drink down to grab the sides of her face.

"Thank you, yeah, yeah, I feel great." Lila lied with a smile, looking around once again. Worry set in as she thought about Pope and Kie, thinking about what they would say if they saw her loving up on Rafe Cameron.

"Then why do you keep looking around?" Rafe asked with a knowing look as Lila stayed silent, looking up at him with a shake of her head.

"Hey, if someone's giving you a hard time, let me know, I'll take care of it. I swear." Rafe promised her quickly, his mood changing slightly as Lila shook her head and grabbed his hands.

"Nothings wrong, okay? I promise." Lila said, lying to him again. She nodded her head up toward him as he caught the hint, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers with a smile.

"Hey, I ugh, I was wondering if you'd do something for me." Lila said with a sweet smile up at him, wrapping her arms around his middle as she looked up with a flutter to her eyelashes.

"Anything." Rafe said to her, he seemed so confident in his words, so sure he'd do absolutely anything for her. Lila wondered how far he'd actually go for her or if he was just saying that, saying it like it didn't mean anything, like he had many times before.

"I know you're really set on hating my friends. But... I was just maybe wondering if you'd consider apologizing to Pope at least?" Lila asked hopeful as Rafes face fell, backing out of her hold as her face also fell.

"You want me to fucking apologize? Really, I mean, are you serious right now, Lila? Apologize for standing up for Topper?" Rafe asked her in disbelief, a mean look on his face. The look was way to familiar in Lilas eyes, she'd seen in way too many times in the time she'd known the boy, the time she spent getting to know him.

"Rafe... you beat him with a golf club." Lila spoke softly to him, trying to cool him down but her words just seemed to throw gasoline on the fire even more.

"You're delusional if you think that's gonna happen, Lila, jesus." Rafe said with a scoff as he walked away from her, leaving her behind as Lila sighed and ran a hand across her forehead.

"Trouble in paradise?" a familiar voice was heard as Lila groaned, watching the blonde sit next to her.

"Hello to you too." Topper said as he looked at her with a raised eyebrows.

"What do you want, Topper? You come to mock me about sleeping with someone, again?" Lila asked, still bitter over the situation.

"Hey, that was out of line, and i'm sorry. Truly." Topper said as he looked at her, Lila staring at him before she puffed her cheeks out slightly.

"It's not trouble in paradise, it's just what we do. We're good, everything is great, and then I say something wrong and he blows up." Lila said, wanting to stop herself and confide in anyone else but who did she have? No way in hell was he gonna tell her friends about her and Rafe, not yet.

"That's how he is, you knew this before you got involved." Topper said as Lila gave him a look.

"I don't need a lecture from you, Topper. By the way, fuck you for pressing charges on JJ. God knows where he is or if he's okay, I mean- you don't know, okay? You don't understand what some people go through and him going to jail could really fuck up some stuff in his life." Lila said as she stood, reality setting in as her worry for JJ filled her body. Something that happened more then often, something she wouldn't admit out loud.

"I didn't wanna press charges, Lila, that was all my mom, I swear to god." Topper said as he stood up with her, stopping her before she could walk away.

"You're a liar." Lila shot at him with a shake of her head.

"No i'm not, okay? I swear on my fucking life." Topper said quickly as Lila stared at him, knowing the difference between lying and telling the truth. And Topper wasn't lying, and for some reason he really needed her to know that.

"Well, thank you, for trying at least. But fuck your mom, she sucks." Lila said as she sat back down, sipping the drink Rafe ordered for her.

"Shes really not the best." Topper opened up, clearly a little buzzed as he scoffed and downed the drink in his hands.

"Wanna talk about it?" Lila offered as Topper stared at her with a blink, not expecting that from her.

"Nah, no. No, Rafes pretty set on trying to keep as many people away from you." Topper said with a cough as he stood, stopping when Lila grabbed his elbow.

"He doesn't control me, at all. I can talk to whoever I want to, especially people that seem like they need to get some shit off their chest." Lila said as Topper blinked, the kindness expected but not all at once from her. And he did, he opened up and he complained and ranted to the girl in purple about his shitty mother, a friendship he didn't expect and didn't want until a few seconds ago.

As Lila and Topper left their moment short the girl stood from the bar, moving through the crowd of people to find her way back to Kie. She stooped when she saw a familiar head of blonde hair, dancing around Sarah as he passed her a note before walking off.

"JJ! JJ!" Lila called out with a sigh of relief, seeing the blonde turn to her. Before he could say anything Lila threw her arms around him in a tight hug as he groaned slightly at the contact but hugging her back.

"Lila, hey there, you smell nice." JJ said as Lila pulled away, her eyes watery as she shook her head.

"I was so worried about you, I was so fucking worried. I went down to the jail and they said you were already gone and I had all this money with me, the charity donations we were supposed to bring back to the village. And then I was gonna go to your house but I remember you said-" Lila began but was cut off by JJ grabbed her shoulders and shaking his head.

"You remember, Lila, you know you can't go there, yeah? You promised me you wouldn't, you can't." JJ said quickly, panic setting in as he stared at her as Lila nodded quickly.

"I know- I know, I didn't, but I wanted to so bad." Lila said as she shook her head, getting pulled into another hug by the boy as he gave her a squeeze.

"I'm fine, i'm a good, we're good, we're fine, yes?" JJ asked as Lila nodded her head, whipping the spare tear as she saw him look behind her for a second. JJ looked down at her quickly, ready to rush her off.

"Alright, you go dance a little, all right? Hurry off, go on." JJ said as he rushed her off, giving her a forced smile as he saw Kelce and Rafe approached, unaware that he was protecting her from her very own boyfriend.

"Hey." Lila greeted Pope with a smile as she approached him, seeing the odd look on his face, "What's wrong?"

"The weirdest thing just happened to me." Pope said as Lilas eyes widened as she nodded quickly.

"Pope, if you've experienced a haunting, please, please tell me every detail right now." Lila begged as she looked as him, getting the oddest of looks back as Pope shook his head.

"No, even weirder. Rafe Cameron just apologized to me, it was shitty and seemed forced but he seemed.... kind of meaningful, if that makes sense." Pope said as Lilas face fell, her heartbeat increasing as a small smile spread on her face.

"He did?" Lila asked with a blink of her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"Yeah, weird right?" Pope asked as he looked back down at the burgers as Lila nodded while looking out at the large crowd, needing to see him.

"Rafe! Rafe! Hey!" Lila called out with a smile as she jogged over toward the boy who looked tense, Kelce and a few boys she didn't know by his side.

"Lila- hey, listening i'm sorry about-" Rafe began but was cut off with a shake of her head.

"Don't worry about it, okay? Thank you, for doing that, seriously." Lila smiled as she left out the name, their conversation to close to his friends for her to bring up him apologizing to Pope, knowing it probably embarrass the living hell out of him.

"Hey, anything for you, right?" Rafe asked as he ran a hand over her cheek with a grin as Lilas face lit up.

"It's okay, everybody! Do not panic! Leave it to the men and woman in uniform! Let's hear it for them! Rose! You look like Lady Liberty." JJs voice cut the moment short as Lila looked over, seeing him being drug out by a older man.

"Lila, stay out of it." Rafe said to her in a low voice, stopping her before she could run after him.

"Let go of him!" Kie called out as her Dad tried to silence her, doing no use.

"You can't just boot him!" Kie called out as well as the man looked over.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" he asked, stopping in his tracks.

"Look, I invited him! I'm a member of this club!" she pointed out as JJ got out of the mans hold, backing up.

"Mandatory power hour at Rixton's Kie, you too Pope! Can't forget about our Lila, our lady Lila! Come on y'all!" JJ called out as he ran off toward the field, looking at all three of his friends. John B hooted and hollered as JJ ran toward him, Kie doing the same as she pushed away from her dad. Pope wasn't long after, Lila watching with a smile.

"Lila! Arms are wide open!" John B called out to her, waving his arms in the air.

"Lila- I swear to god. My friends are here, my family is here, they know you're my-" Rafe began before he was cut off by the blonde quickly.

"Sorry, babe, I gotta run though." Lila said as she pulled out of his grasp and ran off. Rafe held a embarrassed look as the people around him all stare, watching the girl, he just called his girlfriend a hour before, run off with a bunch of dirty pogues.

"There she is!" John B cheered as Lila hugged him as the two stumbled before running off deep into the woods with the rest of their friends.

•••••
this whole chapter was so soft and lila had so many moments with so many people and i can't tell which one was better.

also, lilas gonna pop off in either the next chapter or the next.

also some soft girlfriend duos coming soon.