𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐧𝐝 ✰

The bet

Even though I was scared to walk through the cut in the dark, I just wanted to see my brother. I wanted to hug him and explain everything but first I had to get there.

The streets were dark and felt cold, the streetlights dimly lit the street just enough to see the road but not enough to see my surroundings. Fear was beginning to creep into my body, I'm somewhere unfamiliar in the dark and if anything happens I have no one to call. I let the haunting thoughts leave my head once I see the large oak tree that stood tall and strong in front of my old family home.

I quickly text the number that I'm outside and a few minutes later JJ appeared and began making his way towards me.

"We can't talk inside. Dads home." JJ said coldly.

"Okay." I nodded.

I followed JJ towards the large oak tree and we sat beside each other at the bottom.

"You wanted to talk. So talk." JJ said in a cold tone.

"I'm so sorry mom left you. I've asked her soo many times to come back and save you but she never did. I am so so sorry JJ." I blurted.

"Jules.... My whole life I've wondered why not me? I mean why can't my own mother love me?I don't think you'll ever understand that and I don't expect you to. But you never came back for me. You're 19 now, you could have come at 18, but you didn't. So why are you back now, because I know it's not for me." JJ said sadly.

"I never wanted to leave you. I didn't visit sooner because of mom. She's never been very kind, but since I turned 17 she's become unbearable, she began threatening me, if I cut her off or attempted to return to you, it would end badly for everyone. I'm sorry." I said quietly.

JJ said nothing, he just pulled me into a tight hug.

"I will never leave you again." I said while holding him tightly.

"Yeah because I'm coming with you. I'll get in your suitcase if I have to." JJ said with a smile.

JJ and I talked for hours before we fell asleep under that oak tree in the garden.

I woke up at around 6AM and realised my mom would kill me if she knew I was out all night. I quickly woke up JJ and told him I'd be back later. He waved me off before I made my way back to my mothers house. I still had no idea of my way around the island but I tried my best to navigate my way back home. I was getting confused between which street I was meant to take when I saw a familiar black truck.

"Hi." I said excitedly."Hi." The blonde Cameron boy replied."I really need a ride back to mine." I said with a smile."You think I'm a taxi huh?" He joked.I could feel the heat pooling into my cheeks from his comment. "Uh no, sorry I just really need a ride." I said awkwardly."You and me both." He said with a shrug before unlocking the doors. I blushed at his words before hopping into the passenger seat.

"I wouldn't have taken you for a guy who hangs out on the cut." I said quietly. "I wouldn't take you for the type to hang there either." He said with a smile. "I was with my brother." I blurted ."Hm, nice. You wanna hangout later?" Rafe asked. "Uh will it just be us?" I asked shyly. "No, unless you want it to be. I was gonna invite my friends so you can know more than just the pogue life." He said with a smile . "Oh yeah okay." I replied with a smile.

The rest of the drive home was silent besides the occasional small talk, there was nothing to be said.

He dropped me off at my temporary home and I waved him goodbye. I slipped inside the front door as quietly as possible but once again my mother knows everything.

"Where were you?" She asked in her clearly drunken state. "I went for a run, you're always saying how I should lose some extra weight so I took your advice." I lied. "You still look fat." My mother replied . "Okay, good talk." I said before making my way towards the kitchen .

I made a protein shake and quickly ran upstairs to get into a simple gym outfit. I threw on some nylon shorts and a matching bra, I pulled some Nike socks on along with a pair of running shoes. I knew of a nearby gym so I wouldn't be wandering hopelessly around the island . I jogged to the gym but since it was still early morning the air was cool against my skin.

I was about to walk into the gym when I saw a tall blonde haired boy, for some reason he reminded me of the Cameron boy from next door. I decided not to speak to him as it's creepy and weird if I just walked up to him and said 'hi you remind me of Rafe Cameron.' I began walking over to the weights before the tall blonde boy touched my arm. "You look familiar, but I've never seen you before. Sorry this is weird." The blonde boy said with a laugh.

"Oh yeah, I'm Jules Maybank." I said with a smile.

"Hm, you don't look like a pogue. I'm Topper Thornton." The blonde boy said while smiling at me.

"Yeah I don't know what that means, I've not been back since I was 3." I said with a laugh.

"Huh, that explains it. Jules Maybank. I know your name from somewhere. I swear you're famous or something." He laughed .

"yeah I model sometimes. Anyway I'd love to talk more but I really do have to workout. I have to meet someone later." I said with a smile.

"I knew it. My mom owns too many vogue magazines and I swear you're on a few. But yeah me too, I'll see you around." Topper said before walking back towards the weights he was lifting.

I quickly finished my workout considering I haven't been eating much lately my figure should hopefully be okay.

I saw the blonde boy still busy working out when I left the gym. I jogged home since I was feeling pretty tired from the workout and lack of sleep.

By the time I made it home the heat was picking up and I desperately needed a shower. I avoided my moms room since she was passed out, I quickly ran into my bathroom and took a shower. While standing in the shower my mind finally accepted the fact that my brother doesn't hate me anymore. I've never been so excited about anything.

After my shower I picked out an outfit. I played it safe and went with a pink and white polo shirt along with a white tennis skirt and some white airforce. I did some light makeup and made my way towards the door. While walking past my mothers room I felt a bad feeling in my stomach. Even though she treats me like shit, she's my mother. I don't wish anything bad on her. I opened the door to see her passed out bottle still in hand. I gently took the bottle from her hand and took her shoes off while gently pulling the blanket over her. "See you later mom." I said quietly while making my way out of her room.

I walked towards the Cameron's large driveway only to see Rafe stood there on his phone, he was wearing a white polo shirt and black shorts with some sunglasses. He looked hot. "hey." I said awkwardly. "Glad you made it, I thought you were standing me up." The Cameron boy said with a teasing smile.

I hopped into the passenger seat of his truck and instantly smiled when I saw that I could connect my phone to his car. Rafe noticed this and shook his head in disbelief. "You are a child." He said while laughing . "I'm 19. Everyone loves cars that you can connect your phone to!" I said excitedly. The blonde boy rolled his eyes before driving away from our two homes.

The drive was nice since I have amazing music taste. Rafe complained a little but I just turned the volume up. We arrived outside a large modern white mansion that was covered in windows. Rafe got out and banged on the door and outstepped the blonde boy I had met earlier. "Yo, Topper I want you to meet someone, this is Jules Maybank. She's my neighbour, she's cool I suppose." Rafe said while climbing back into his truck.

"Oh we met earlier at the gym." Topper said with a bright smile.

"Aw you two can be little workout buddies." Rafe said dryly.

"You're just jealous." Topper said with a laugh which earned him a glare.

"I have my own private gym, there's no reason for me to be jealous." Rafe said with a shrug.

We talked a little while driving towards a beautiful grey and white home, this house was once again, half windows. I watched as Rafe hopped out once again walking towards the large house that stood before us.Not even a minute later out stepped a dark haired boy with kind eyes. "Hey Kelce, I don't think you've met Jules, so Jules this is Kelce and Kelce this is Jules. She's my new neighbour and I thought I'd show her around." Rafe said while walking back towards his car. Kelce opened the back door and plopped down.

"Nice to meet you. We still on for golf?" Kelce said.

"Yeah, you know how to play golf right?" Rafe asked looking at me.

"Uh no. But I can play music for you guys." I said with a smile.

"Hm yeah okay." The three boys agreed.

We drove over to this beautiful golf course, the drive in was white stones and marble statues, which if you ask me is a bit much.

"Holy fuck." I muttered . "Hm?" Topper asked ."Seems to be a bit much?" I said in more of a question. "I suppose, but if you're rich and live on an island, what else is there to do?" Topper said with a smirk.

"Surf? Tan? Drink? Smoke? Anything?" I said with a shrug.

"You smoke?" Kelce asked with an amused look on his face. "No, I mean if I did. I would." I said quickly .

"The fact you drink is still making me laugh, I don't imagine you as a drinker, you seem like a good girl." Rafe said with a shrug. "I am." I said with a smile.

We stopped our little conversation after we pulled into a parking spot. "This is actually really pretty." I said quietly.

"It's alright." Kelce said while walking towards the bar.

"I've got a fake I'll buy the first round." I said while grabbing my purse." The three boys looked amused and smiled.

I bought the first three rounds before I decided I wanted to learn how to play golf.

"Who knows how to play?" I asked excitedly ."Everyone except you." Rafe said which made me laugh. "Okay. Who's good at playing?" I asked . "I'm the best." Topper said with a smirk. "Teach me." I said while walking towards him. Both Topper and I walked towards the practice area for beginners while Rafe and Kelce

________Rafe's POV:

I watched as she easily threw back her shots, I don't know why but I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. The way she smiled and got shy and covered her face, her perfect French tip nails, the way her eyes sparkle in the sun. She looks so innocent, and I'm jealous of Topper, he keeps flirting with her almost as if he could ever pull her.

"Yo, man you good?" Kelce asked which shook me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah. I just can't believe she's going for Topper over me." I said while taking a shot.

"I just don't think she's into you bro." Kelce said while pressing his lips together to form a flat line.

"Nah she just hasn't had a chance to properly speak to me." I said with a shrug.

"If you say so- wait I have an idea." Kelce said while a smirk creeped onto his face.

"What?" I said with a laugh.

"If you get Jules Maybank to fall in love with you AND fuck you, by the end of summer I will personally pay you 5k. If not, you owe me 5k." Kelce said with a smirk.

"I'll have her in my bed by the end of the week." I said with a smirk.

"And in love ?" Kelce teased.

"Every girl I've ever been with has fallen in love, you and I both know that." I said while rolling my eyes.

The idea of her and 5k? That was perfect. It gave me motivation to go for her.I mean, she's beautiful like she's literally a model. Her sense of humour is good, and I like her smile so maybe it could work.

A few minutes later of small talk out walks Jules and Topper, Jules looks happy and Topper looks like he just wants to fuck her, which for some reason makes me jealous. I felt my jaw clench upon seeing them to which earned me a nudge in the shoulder from Kelce.

"Yo, Rafe. You gotta calm down. You look insane." He whispered. I nodded before bringing my eyes up to Jules and Topper who were now much closer.

"Hey, how'd your practice go?" I said with a fake smile.

"Good! I could probably be better than you three combined. But I'm still not sure like I mean how do you win?" Jules asked. She was clearly tipsy which made me laugh. I've not been around a lightweight in so long.

"Win? Is that all you care about?" I joked.

"Yes." She said sarcastically before sticking her tongue out at me.

We played some golf for a couple of hours before Jules had to go see her brother, it's so strange how different she is in comparison with JJ. I could listen to Jules' voice all day everyday and I don't think I'd get bored of it whereas with JJ, I just want to punch him every time he speaks I just wish she wasn't Maybanks sister.