𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛
rafe's pov

i dropped sloan off on time that night. we ended with a long kiss goodbye, exchanging another round of i love you's, the giddiness shinned all over us. mr.winters was so impressed he invited me to dinner on monday night. sloan face palmed herself shaking her head in slight embarrassment before saying goodnight.

"goodnight, sloan" i wink at her before heading to my car.

the next two days of the week flew by, kai and kie their pretty close these last few days. kelce hasn't been this pussy whipped since his girlfriend veronica. topper well he's been in the doghouse since his party with his mother but he has found sarah to be quite a nice distraction. his solace through his grounding. oh i must write this i told ward about my girlfriend. him and rose want to meet her saturday night.

don't forget to call her and ask/mention it i tell myself before closing the journal who's pages have been flooded with my tales of the sloan storm. every since i met her.

it's late friday evening when i get a text from sloan. "missing you soooo much, sorry i am pretty drunc i just got homeee"

where'd she go to get drunk like this, it's like 3:15am how'd she get home? all these questions swirl in my head as i text her back "why are you this drunk? how'd you get home?"

she responded almost immediately "i used trustee raven to get home, well i can't really answer the first question. but i love you. goodnight x"

i didn't respond as quick because my phone wasn't near me but eventually i said i love you back with goodnight in the mix. i mention we have dinner with my dad, his companion rose, my sisters with the heart emoji.

as soon as i switch off my phone, i fall asleep. dreaming of tomorrow.

∎∎∎

i wake up around 12 pm, i pick up my phone to scroll threw instagram and stumble upon a picture sloan posted last night. she's with pogues. and there's a comment by maybank with a huge negative connotation to it.

i sigh heavily debating whether i need to fight that kid. i either fight him or let it be. i chose the later. i won't harm a hair on that blonde boys head until necessary.

sloan hasn't responded so i know she's still sleeping. wheezie barges into my room she heads to my dvd collection pulls a movie at random then leaves.

sarah comes in as i sit up, "your friend is being way more clingy then usual" she gives me a look of pure disdain.

"it's due to the fact that he's grounded" my expression cumbersome since i know what he is feeling.

"he still hasn't told me about his mom, i asked but" sarah huffs as she lays back looking at the ceiling.

"maybe talk to him again" i said

"i'll try" she sighs as i get up to go into my bathroom. i start my routine, then take a quick shower. sarah is talking to me through the door, i keep reassuring her that she just needs to speak to topper.

texting topper i beg him to find a way to sneak out and see my sister, gain her trust a bit by divulge the tales of his mother to her.

after getting dressed for the day i head down to find breakfast to my surprise wheezie was making it.

"little sister, are my eyes deceiving me? you, making breakfast"

wheezie laughs, "aww shut up rafe" she sticks her tongue out at me "i figured i'd make breakfast since you and sarah were talking. on the menu today is blueberry pancakes"

i take my plate, "thank you" sarah walks in just in the nick of time to grab hers. we sit and eat "don't forget guys sloan is coming tonight to meet our pops and rose"

"this should be interesting. since i haven't told dad about topper, i'll elude to it to gauge his reaction" sarah tells us.

wheezie said, "the gorgeous girl & the fatherly beast meet should be exciting. dad will drool over them both, topper plus sloan. so no need for worry. wait but is rose cooking?"

we both shrug, not knowing. my phones buzzed it's topper telling me to open the front door. i excuse myself from the kitchen, opening the door for him. we do our handshake as he goes to surprise sarah. once i finish my pancakes i head out to buy stuff for sloan.

my checklist: 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝.

leaving wheezie to her tv, sarah and topper in the balcony seating area. i head to the flower shop.

as i look around i spot many cool looking flowers, but i find three flowers for the perfect arrangement, baby blue eyes, harvestbells, and lastly forget-me-nots with white and yellow centers.

after acquiring my flowers i head to the closet record shop rubi's. they've always accommodated me in my perusing of artists.

wally is at the front desk when i arrive "rafe! my man what can i do for you today?"

i smile at him, "wally i am looking for a particular halsey cd for my girlfriend. i think the album is called manic"

"ah yes, yes over here follow me" wally gets up to show me the section the cd is in.

handing me the cd we head to the counter as i pay wally asks, "so this girlfriend of yours pretty?" i show him my lock screen which is a photo of us from the beach that first night.

"mighty pretty. don't let that one slip away" he adds with a smile wishing me well in his almost 60 years of age. "i won't" i manage to say before heading out to my car.

∎∎∎

my final stop is the skateboard shop we have. i looked at her board a few days ago so i know the size to get for her trunks.

once i arrive in the store i ask the clerk for the trunks he hands them to me. i look around deciding if i should get a board for myself.

i pick up a long board and buy it with the trunks. i head to the car when i get a texted long await from sloan. "good late afternoon, what time are you picking me up?"

i reply, "good late afternoon babe, i think around 7:30"

"okie dokess ;)" sloan replies just as fast.

i head back home to get myself situated, going through the checklist in my head i purchased everything. maybe giving gifts is apart of my love language. i love quality time, and physical touch.

topper had gone by the time i got back, sarah was over the moon in how much topper had told her. wheezie was deep into the book universe when i looked in on her, plus doing her nails.

it's 6:20 by the time i look at the clock. i ask both sarah, plus wheezie if i should wear a polo or dress shirt. both of them say dress shirt. i chose my blue dress shirt, navy slacks, i'll be in socks since i am in the house so my nike white socks will do. but to pick up sloan i'll wear my converse.

i head to get dressed, i finish in just the right amount of time, slicking back my hair is the final touch.

"see you guys in a little, i am headed to pick up sloan!"

"see ya!" wheezie shouts. "take the flowers, see you in a bit" sarah hands me the flowers i brought before closing the door for me "you look hot!" she adds before shutting the door. as i pull out the drive way my dad is pulling up.

blasting coldplay - adventures of a lifetime on the long stretches of road to sloan's house. i shake my head, sing along, make the beat on the steering wheel with my fingers. shaking all my nerves out.

once i pull up i lower my music, i fix myself in the car then walk to the door holding the flowers. i knock twice, her sister-in-law wilma opens the door smiling "hi, rafe. sloan will be down in just a minute"

"ok, thank you" walking inside i stand in wait. not two minutes pass before sloan comes downstairs. she's fucking beautiful.

∎∎∎

her dress accentuates each curve, the cowell neckline shows just enough only when your close. it's a golden silk, stops right below her knee. i am just ogling her when she snaps me out of my trance with her hands on my chest, "rafe. rafe?"

"huh, sorry" blushing i crack a smile "this are for you" i pull the flowers from behind my back.

"these are so gorgeous, thank you my love" she kisses my cheeks before going to go put them in water.

"ready" sloan says.

saying our goodbyes we head to the car. once inside sloan takes the aux cord, car play begins snoh aalegra filled my ears, as i stole longing looks at sloan. the sun is setting later than usual because the summer is almost upon us.

i almost forgot i wrote her a small letter to give to her tonight. at the red light i bring down my visor, i hand her the letter.

"for me?" she gives me her peppy voice. which always makes me laugh.

"— yes it's for you, love" my laugh dies down a notch or two.

she starts to read it to me "dear sloan, can i just say you are best person i ever encountered. i don't believe in fate but i feel like you were brought to me. the universes way of telling me love still exists that whatever pain i had would go away, that i can dissolve all my insecurities to one person. ..." she stops and starts to read to herself.

by the end she's intertwined our hands, kissed my hand, "your poems were beautiful" pulled my attention to her and kissed me with a saccharine venom, she bites my bottom lip before we pull apart slowly.

"thank you, there's more" my eyes back on the road. my drive way in view i pull in, run to sloan's side. help her out then we approach my house.

∎∎∎

my front door swings open.

ward cameron stands with rose in all his glory waiting for us to reach him. i whisper in her ear, "we'll kiss again soon" she visibly blushes as she shakes my dads hand. introducing herself, rose pulls her in for a hug, as we take off our shoes. i left socks for sloan in case she'd be barefoot. utilizing them.

we head into the dining room wheezie and sarah approach sloan hugging her, making her laugh. rose tells her where to seat i pull out her chair then sit beside her. smiling at her "you okay?" i whisper.

"perfect" she utters back with a wink. her confidence feels like it's glowing.

ward clears his throat getting everyone's attention "i'd like to make a quick toast to rafe and sloan before we eat. love always prevails. it's a roller coaster ride but it is up to those on the ride if they want to stay on. to you both" we all clink glasses.

"salut" i said happy dancing to myself, all is going well.

"salut"

i stare into sloan's eyes as we sip our wine, technically a special occasion.

we are eating thai food, ward smiles towards sloan with his hands under his chin "what are your intentions with my boy here?"

looking around like 'is this a serious question', "i am just kidding. but mind if i ask what do your parents do?"

"well my parents are back in new york city, my dad is a lawyer, my mom is a chef. i currently reside with my brother" sloan explained before taking a bite of her pad thai.

"your brother does?" ward continued

"a doctor here in outer banks"

rose chimes in "so sloan any plans after high school, what college you'd want to go to?"

"i've actually always dreamed of going to nyu or columbia to study english literature to eventually become a literature professor in the long run" she lets out in one breath.

sarah beams, "nyu is my dream school as well. unsure what i want to study"

"you have more time to think about it" sloan retorts with a small smile.

"no rush" wheezie says.

nodding i agree with wheezie, i fist bump her.

"we are happy you have goals maybe you set rafe straight. he needs to figure out if he's going to college" my father states.

i just roll my eyes since i think i might take a semester off first.

"i believe rafe is fine, he can take his time. rafe knows what he wants, in some ways i can imagine him emulating you. being a business man, getting things done" sloan said.

                                          ∎∎∎

"where's your bathroom?" she whispers in my ear.

"there's one down the hall to your left or you can use mine"

sloan excuses herself headed to find the bathroom. my dad looks stunned at her response to that. she must've impressed him.

sarah takes this break to tell dad about topper. "ah the thornton boy. mmm we'll have to do this again then"

sloan enters the room at least ten minutes later, the banter had died down "found the bathroom okay?" i pull out her chair again.

she nods as she sits down, sloan looks preoccupied,  our night continues well. after dinner we slip away to my room. sloan sits on the bed as she yawns "i'm- very- sleepy- could i just lay here," she points at the spot next to my pillow.

"here" i go to my drawer grab one of my tee shirts, i toss it to her. "you can anytime you want" i wink at her. she smiles while her eyes are closed, she strips out of her dress throwing my tee on her body.

crawls to the spot falling asleep, no effort needed to sleep. no tossing, turning, finding that comfortable spot.

i smile at that before i watch her for a few beats before going to start my night routine. showering for the third time today, brushing my teeth, washing my face.

tracing my fingertips across a bit of sloan's face pushing the hair from her face, makes her squirm she stretches out her arms "come" she says soft in tone. i do as told she rests her head on my chest.

the smell of her takes over i close my eyes.

                                           ∎∎∎

𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠!

𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞. 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥. 𝐱