Cassie's POV

My eyes peel open and the first thing I see is the sun glaring in my eyes. I squeeze my eyes shut and whine, turning around. My chest hits another body and my eyes shoot open in surprise. Rafe's sleeping body lays under my own and he wraps his arms around me tightly. From our naked bodies to the ripped clothes on the floor, it wouldn't take a genius to figure out what happened last night. Flashes of the parts I can remember play through my head on a loop and I groan, wriggling out of Rafe's arms. He sleepily opens his eyes and looks at me in confusion as I wrap a blanket around me and stand up.

"Cas? What happened?" He mumbles, rubbing his eyes.

"What do you think happened, Rafe?" I unintentionally snap, kicking my ripped clothes in frustration.

"Fuck" I hear him mutter, jumping out of bed.

I turn to see him pull up his boxers and glare at him angrily.

"What now?" He groans, seeing my glare.

"That was my favourite bikini" I scold him, pointing to the torn red material.

His lips tug up into a smirk and he looks from the ruins of my clothes up to me.

"Wipe that smirk off your face and go find me clothes, asshole" I snap and he throws his hands up in mock surrender.

He yanks on his shorts and throws his polo shirt at me before turning to exiting the room. A quiet snort leaves my lips when I see the deep scratches down the eldest Cameron's back and he turns to me, giving me a good look at the cut on his bottom lip which I remember making with my teeth. Biting down on my own bottom lip, I shoo him out and he rolls his eyes, doing as I asked. I slip the pale orange top over my head and run my fingers through my hair before walking over to the mirror. I gulp nervously when I catch my reflection in the mirror and pull the top up to assess the full damage. Small love bites litter my neck and bruised are formed on my hips the shape of fingers while bite marks are visible on my inner thighs. The door opens and I drop the fabric, turning to see Rafe at the door now wearing another polo.

"Meet me outside. I'm giving you a lift home" He tells me, dropping clothes on the bed and exiting the room, leaving no room for argument.

I shuffle over to the bed to see a pair of Sarah's black spandex shorts and a hair tie. I slip on the shorts which are practically invisible under Rafe's shirt so I tie it into a knot at the side to make it into a crop top before throwing my messy curls into a bun atop my head. I then gather up my ripped clothes and throw them into the trash can before exiting the room and making my way out of Topper's house without being spotted. Rafe waits for me by his bike, arms crossed over his chest as he looks from the ground to my face. His lips tug up into a small smile and I trudge over to him.

"Don't look so glum, baby" He teases me and I roll my eyes.

"Hey, Rafe?" I mumble as he swings his leg over his bike.

"Mmhm" He hums, looking at me.

"You know this can't happen again, right?" I ask, glancing back to the Thornton mansion.

"Whatever you want, Cas" He shrugs and it kinda stings that he doesn't even care.

"Oh, okay. Good" I shrug, climbing onto the bike behind the boy.

"You're gonna want to hold on tight" He tells me, revving the engine loudly.

I wrap my arms around the boy and he takes off, speeding down the road. I let out a squeak as he swerves around the corner and I hear him chuckle loudly, making me pout as I hold on tighter. We very quickly reach my house and Rafe stops abruptly. I let go of him and swing my leg over the bike.

"Thanks for the ride" I politely thank him.

"Which one?" He smirks smugly and I punch his shoulder.

"Shut the fuck up" I huff, but his smirk never fades.

"You're very welcome" He shrugs.

I turn to leave but he grabs my arm and tugs me back to him. I give him a confused look and he looks at me with a cocky look.

"Aren't you gonna give me a goodbye kiss?" He asks curiously.

I shake my head and he pouts childishly which makes me giggle. He flashes me his puppy dog eyes and I melt, giving in just like he knew I would. A grin stretches across his face as I lean over and plant a kiss on his cheek.

"See you later, Cas" He chirps.

"Later, Rafie" I smile, ruffling his hair.

He speeds out of my driveway and disappears out of the gate, leaving me standing outside. I head into my house and I'm immediate met with Kiara who's eyes widen when she sees me.

"Fun night at the Cameron's?" She asks.

"What?" I ask before remembering I was supposed to be staying at Sarah's last night "Oh, yeah. it was fun"

"Okay, you're a terrible liar. What happened?" My sister asks me and I huff, beaconing her to follow me as I walk into the kitchen.

"I went to a party at Topper's last night and got really wasted-" I start, taking a bowl of strawberries from the fridge, but get cut off.

"What's new?" She jokes and I snort, placing the bowl onto the island so Kiara can reach it from the other side.

"Some of the guys there were taking lines and offered me one. I was extremely wasted and I know that's no excuse but I said okay-" I'm cut off again.

"Please tell me you didn't, Cassie" Kiara pleads with a frown.

"I didn't" I assure her and she relaxes, taking a strawberry from the bowl "Rafe butted in and wouldn't let me take it"

"Rafe? Why would he do that?" My sister asks in confusion.

"He knows about my history with drugs. He found out at the hospital" I answer simply.

"I can tell that's not everything that happened last night" She states and I nod.

"I may or may not have got into a huge argument with Rafe that turned into angry sex in Topper's guest room" I admit and Kiara's eyes shoot open in shock.

"No fucking way" She gasps and I nod, grimacing.

"Rafe Cameron is no good for you, Cassie" She adds.

"We're not together, Kie. It was one drunken mistake and it won't happen again" I assure her and she eases up.

"Just be careful, okay? I know Rafe is your friend or whatever, but he's a bad person" My little sister advises me and I roll my eyes

"He's not a bad person" I argue and she gives me a look that shows she doesn't agree with my statement.

"You got anything planned today?" She asks me, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I said I'd go golfing with Top" I answer and she gags which makes me giggle "What about you, Kie?"

"Nothing fun" She shrugs.

"Well, you could-" I'm cut off.

"I appreciate your offer but I'd rather sleep with a Kook than go golfing with Topper Thornton" She scoffs, making me laugh.

"Why sleep with a Kook when you can sleep with a Pogue?" I tease her "JJ's hot"

"No Pogue on Pogue macking, Cassie" She warns me and I smirk smugly.

"Good thing I'm not a Pogue" I comment, putting the empty bowling the dishwasher.

She gasps and slaps my arm as I walk past her laughing to myself. I head to my room and immediately head into my bathroom. I take a quick shower before drying my hair and body then applying some light make up. After that, I head to my closet and search for an outfit that is golf worthy. I decide on a short white tennis skirt with a cropped white long sleeved top and white Air Force 1s. 

I tie my hair into two ponytails  and spray myself with perfume before hearing a horn beep outside. Slipping a white scrunchie on my wrist, I skip downstairs and outside to see Topper in his car waiting on me.

"Good morning, Mr Thornton" I say cheerily as I hop in the passenger seat.

"Good morning indeed, Miss Carrera" He grins, pulling out of my driveway "Or should I say...Miss Cameron?"

"What are you talking about?" I ask worriedly.

"Don't think I didn't see you and Rafe head upstairs to my guest room last night and not leave until this morning" He smirks and my mouth drops open.

"I can explain, Top" I argue.

"Go on then. Explain" He says smugly and I pause.

"Okay, I can't explain" I admit and he laughs.

"Cassie and Rafe" He hums "Got to admit, I seen it coming"

"How so?" I ask curiously and he looks at me in disbelief.

"Are you telling me you have no idea why people would assume you and Rafe are meant for each other?" He asks and I roll my eyes.

"We're not meant for each other, Top. It was just a silly mistake" I scoff.

"For now" Topper chuckles "Do you really not feel the tension in the room when you're with him?"

"Well...Sometimes" I shrug.

"Ever since we were all kids, it's always been Cassie and Rafe. Do you never wonder why it was only Rafe who'd ask you to dances or how you'd always be paired up with Rafe during games?" Topper asks seriously.

"I just guessed no one wanted to go with me, so Rafe did to spare my feelings" I shrug cluelessly and Topper laughs humorously at my statement like it was a joke.

"Of course other people wanted to ask you to dances, they were just too scared to" Topper states.

"Scared? Why would they be scared of me?" I ask in confusion.

"They weren't scared of you, they were scared of Rafe" Topper corrects me "Remember Niall Torrence?"

"Yeah, he asked me to save him a dance at midsummers when I was 13 and then didn't even show up" I say bitterly.

"He didn't show up because Rafe threatened to break every bone in his body if he spoke to you again" Topper explains and my eyes widen.

"You're kidding, right?" I ask in awe and Topper shakes his head 'no'.

"Rafe doesn't take kindly to people trying to take what is his" Topper tells me.

"I'm not his" I snap angrily.

"Why don't you try and tell him that?" My blonde friend suggests, glancing at me from the road.

I turn my eyes to the windshield as we stop and I see Rafe waiting outside the country club.

"You didn't tell me he was going to be here!" I shriek at Topper.

"Oops, guess it slipped my mind" The blonde smirks.

We both climb out the car and Rafe greets Topper with a bro hug before turning to me with a smirk.

"I'll be right back, just go ahead without me" Topper tells us, before running into the club.

I huff and walk towards the golf course with Rafe trailing behind me. We reach the start of the course and I stop, waiting for Topper to get here.

"You look good, Cas" I hear Rafe whisper in my ear as his arm snakes around my waist.

"Don't touch me" I scoff, pushing his arm away from me.

"What's got your panties in a twist?" He chuckles, standing in front of me.

I ignore him and he grabs my chin, lifting it to make our eyes meet.

"I asked you a question" He states firmly.

"And I ignored you" I spit, pulling my face out his hold.

"C'mon, Cas. Speak to me" Rafe groans like a child.

"Or what? You gonna threaten to break all the bones in my body?" I ask sarcastically and his face pales.

"Who told you that?" He asks nervously.

"It doesn't matter, Rafe. What matters is you scaring away every guy that shows a little interest in me then swooping in and acting like the hero when it's your fault they ghosted me" I tell him angrily, poking his chest harshly as I speak.

"They weren't good enough for you" He shrugs, trying to act nonchalant.

"Oh, yeah. So who is, huh? You?" I scoff.

"No" He mumbles, looking down at his feet.

The look on his face makes my chest hurt and I sigh, standing on my tippy toes to wrap my arms around his neck. His arms wrap around my waist and he pulls me close to him.

"I'm sorry, Cas" He whispers and I smile, knowing he almost never apologises.

"I forgive you, asshat" I mumble before pulling away to see a smile form on his face.

I hear a loud whistle and we both turn to see Topper with two golf clubs and a bucket of golfballs. The blonde throws a golf club to Rafe who catches it with a grin and then hands me the bucket, leaning in to my ear as Rafe's back is turned.

"You're a cute couple" Topper whispers and I scoff, pushing him away.

"Let's go, boys" I huff.

☁️☁️☁️

"Man, that party was insane!" Topper laughs as Rafe insists he'll show me how to golf.

"Tell me about it" I laugh as Rafe wraps his arms around me holding onto my hands which are tightly around the golf club.

"I mean, my first thought when I did the line was 'Bro, do we have enough?'. It was crazy" Topper exclaims and I snort.

"I know, right? That was good shit" Rafe replies to the boy before gently swinging our arms back and then down to hit the ball.

It goes into the hole and I squeal, turning to attack Rafe with a hug. He chuckles and hugs me back.

"Hey, you, uh...you didn't tell Sarah, did you?" Topper asks and we both turn to him.

"Are you kidding me? The way she runs her mouth? Hell, no" Rafe scoffs and I slap his arm.

"Be nice. That's your sister" I warn him and he rolls his eyes with a smile.

The Cameron boy swings his golf club at another ball which soars through the air, landing next to some older guys.

"Hey, come on, now!" The man yells at us.

"Shut up! Geezers!" Rafe barks at them.

"Rafe!" I huff, tugging his shirt backwards.

"What?" He laughs and I shoot him a glare.

"I'm going to the restroom. Stay out of trouble, will you?" I groan before storming away.

Rafe sends a wolf whistle my way and I stick my middle finger up at him, making Topper laugh.

After using the bathroom and heading back to the boys, I see they aren't where I left them. The sound of arguing makes me groan as I run towards it. I reach the boys just in time to see Rafe hit Pope in the stomach with his golf club and then again over his back causing the young Pogue to collapse to the sands

"Pope!" I scream, rushing towards the boy.

I push Rafe away from him and drop to my knees beside the boy.

"Hey, Po. Look at me, buddy" I whisper, holding his face up as blood drips down his head and out the corner of his mouth.

"What the hell is your problem?!" I shriek at Rafe and Topper in anger.

"They held a gun to his head!" Rafe argues, pointing at Topper.

"JJ held a gun to his head because he was drowning John B! Pope has nothing to do with this!" I bark at him before looking back down at Pope.

"C'mon, I got you" I mumble, helping the boy up.

He grunts in pain and I shoot Rafe an angry glare.

"I'll be right back and if you're not here, I swear to god, Rafe, I will beat you with that golf club" I warn him firmly and he looks at me like a guilty child.

I put Pope's arm around my neck and help him down the road to the pier. We reach his dad's boat and I finally manage to work up the courage to speak.

"I'm sorry, Pope" I sigh "I know it's not good enough, but I am really sorry"

"Don't be. It's not your fault" He shrugs.

"I know, but I should have been there to stop him" I frown.

"It's okay, Cassie. I'm not mad at you" The boy assures me and I smile softly.

"I'll see you later, okay? Take it easy" I tell him, pulling him into a hug.

"See you later" He mumbles, hugging me tightly.

I ruffle his hair and head back towards the golf course, anger running through my veins. I spot Rafe and Topper arguing childishly about who caused the fight.

"You!" I snap and they both turn to me in fear.

"How dare you!" I shriek, slapping Rafe in the face.

His face whips to the side and Topper's eyes widen in shock.

"And here I was defending you when people called you a bad person! Stop making me look like a fucking idiot, Rafe!" I yell at him.

I storm away and ignore both the boys calling my name.

☁️☁️☁️

I head down the sand with my surfboard under my arm, hoping for a little bit of peace away from Rafe.

"Cassandra!" I hear John B holler and I look up to see him in the water, my sister's board on the sand meaning she is nearby.

"Johnathan!" I grin, getting into the water and paddling towards him on my board.

"Where are the others?" I ask curiously.

"Kie is getting changed in the van and the boys are still delivering groceries, I think" He answers and my gut twists when he mentions the boys, more specifically Pope "I was going to invite you but Kie said you were golfing"

"I was, but something came up" I reply with a shrug.

The conversation dies out and the only thing heard as we float on our boards is the sound of the waves.

"Hey, do you remember...when you kissed me?" I ask John B, looking from my board to him.

"Yeah. Yeah, I remember" He nods.

"Did you tell anyone?" I ask curiously.

"Um...I told the guys" He answers and I sigh.

"I had to. I mean, Pogues don't lie to Pogues, right?" He says and I nod "Plus, JJ just laughed at me because you shot me down, so-"

"I didn't shoot you down" I scoff "I mean, it was really bad timing. You were freaking out, right?"

"Yeah. Yeah, no, I- I was freaking out. I was freaking out" The boy agrees "Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering" I answer vaguely.

truthfully, I don't want Rafe to find out, he already hates John B enough

"Hey! Save some waves for us!" I hear JJ holler and I turn with a big smile.

"Cassie, I thought you were golfing?!" Kiara laughs as they paddle towards us.

"Surfing is way better" I shrug, glancing at Pope who smiles at me.

"Amen to that" JJ shouts and we all laugh, paddling further out to catch some waves.

We surf for hours, until the sun goes down and we head to the chateau to relax.

"You really think it's out there? Like, no bullshit?" Pope asks curiously as we all sit outside, JJ and Kiara in the hammock while I sit on deck chairs with John B and Pope.

"My father thought it was" John B replies as I put my feet in his lap.

"But do you?" Pope asks and John B messages my feet as he ponders the questions.

"After hearing his voice on that tape...I think I do" John B answers.

"Only one way to find out" Pope shrugs.

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know?Even JJ believes" Kiara says teasingly.

"Oh, my God, JJ, do you really believe?" John B gasps in a joking manor which makes Kiara and I giggle.

"Totally" The blonde answers before pausing "Wait. Are we talking about four mil?"

"Four hundred mil" Kiara and Pope correct him in unison.

"Jinx" My sister laughs lightly.

"I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks" JJ mumbles, making Kiara chuckle "Good night, Bird!"

"Good night, bird shit!" John B replies making me laugh as JJ gives him the finger.