APERTURE. CHAPTER TWO.
summary: the first week of classes comes to a close, and the first weekend of football season opens. attending your first game, thanks to rafe. the uncharacteristic charming rafe you meet after the game leaves you remaining unimpressed and him frustrated.
word count: 2.5k
warnings: slight mention of underage drinking (pouges are sophmores so 19-20), maybe inaccurate football description, i think thats it lmk.
notes: hi!! i left a note on my masterlist for the series, but i'll update chapters every thursday :). should i make a taglist?? lmk
pervious part. next part. series masterlist.
2 months and 29 days left.
The first week of classes was probably your personal hell. Your course load was heavy with science and math, and boy did it show. You assumed syllabus week meant you’d actually be able to prepare a little before the lectures and quizzes started rolling through, you were wrong.
Now it was finally Friday, you were back at the Zeta house. It was you and a few other girls studying in the dining room. Thankfully a few of the sisters had taken the same classes as you their freshman year, so you got to listen to their advice for the professor.
“Hey, I was looking for you,” Sarah says walking into the dining room, sitting at your table. “How did classes go?”
You sighed, "definitely not what I was expecting, it's going to take some getting used to for sure.”
Sarah nodded her head in understanding, “yeah, I felt like that my first semester too, don’t worry you’ll get the hang out it. But anyways, I came to tell you I got our tickets for tomorrow's game.”
Your eyes widened, you completely forgot football season starts tomorrow. Sarah showed you her phone to show the tickets, and your eyes nearly went out of your head.
“Oh my gosh, we’re so close!” You exclaimed. “Gotta love your football boyfriend, and bestfriend’s football boyfriend!”
“Actually, Rafe got these for us,” Sarah says.
Your face twists again, “oh, so he does want me to really ask for that autograph huh?”
Sarah laughs.
The rest of the night you go from studying to talking about the game tomorrow. You probably got zero work done, but tomorrow is going to be a long day for you.
Wake up early and get ready, get to the Zeta house to take pictures, and then head over to the tailgate to get more pictures, and finally watch the game. Surprisingly the game starts at six p.m., but your day starts at ten a.m..
The next morning, your roommate was long gone when you woke up, or maybe she never got in last night. Gave you the chance to turn all the lights on and play your music as loudly as you want.
By eleven, Sarah was there to pick you up. The two of you laughing, blasting music, and you attempting to get your camera to work.
The Zeta house had a new banner in front of it, a stupid pun about how the opposing team today sucks, but you laughed and took pictures of it and with it. You texted a picture to Leah too, telling her you're happy she convinced you to do this.
Once it was two, you and Sarah met up with Kiara and another girl you didn’t meet last weekend, Cleo, to go towards the tailgates.
“So, how are you liking it so far?” Cleo asks you, the two of you were sitting in the backseat of Kiara’s car.
You smiled, “I’m actually having a lot of fun, I’m happy I decided to leave home.”
Cleo grins, “best decision I ever made.”
JJ got Kiara an insanely good parking pass, you were right in the middle of the stadium and where the tailgates were held.
Walking over towards the loud music, and smell of beer, was making you feel jittery. First real college football gameday where you can participate in gameday traditions without your parents being around the corner. It felt great.
The heat was already rising from the concert by the time you made it towards the tents. To you, the atmosphere was amazing. Everywhere you looked, there was a sea of school colors, Greek letters, and the smell of barbeque and beer fighting for dominance.
“Okay, nobody move!” Sarah chirped. “The sun is making y’all look great.”
You, Kiara, Sarah, and Cleo huddled together in front of a massive truck decked out in school colors, plus a flag.
You adjusted your dress slightly. A light breezy thing, that you at first felt a little weird about, until seeing all the other girls adorning similar outfits. Sarah did also point out that a lot of sorority girls dress up, coming to football games for pictures rather than the actual game.
After a dozen shots, all on a different person's phone or camera, you took a second to look through them. It had only been two weeks since you were on the phone with Leah, worrying about being liked here, and now here you were. You honestly felt like a different person.
“We look so cute,” you laughed, leaning into Kiara.
“Cute as bunnies,” Kiara joked, handing Pope a camera.
Pope had been tasked as the photographer for today. Since he was by himself with the other half of their friend group warming up. He was a saint for putting up with it, he was juggling two cameras, and four phones, while also holding Cleo and Sarah’s purse.
The group floated through the different tents, finally settingly at Rafe’s frat’s tent. Thankfully he wasn’t there, you did not want a repeat of last week. The music was thumping so loud, you could see the coolers vibrating.
You turned around just in time to see a crowd cheering, circled around Cleo who was hoisted up doing a keg stand. Your jaw dropped in shock and amusement. You watched Pope taking a video on his phone cheering her on, while Sarah and Kiara cheered for her next to you.
“Keg stands are so cool,” you laughed saying to the two girls with you. Cleo jogged back over towards everybody just in time to hear you say that.
“So, what I’m hearing is your turn?” she teased, nudging you with her shoulder.
You laughed, looking from the keg to yourself, dressed in a dress and boots. The person who promised she was going to have fun was screaming to go for it, to dive head first into something you had only ever seen in movies.
“Ugh I wish, but I don’t think flashing an entire frat, plus some, is a good idea my first month here.”
“Next month then?” Kiara asked, which resulted in you playfully swatting her shoulder.
The sun was still high when the four of you decided to walk towards the stadium. Apparently not the only ones who thought about it either, as you joined the enormous crowd of people.
You were thankful you didn’t have to walk up the ramp with said enormous group of people. Instead you took your seats in the first deck. It seemed like you were basically on the field from your viewpoint.
“These are ridiculously good,” you said. More so talking aloud than to anybody in particular.
“Rafe really treated us today,” Cleo said, taking her seat. “Tell him I said thank you.”
“Wait, he bought everybody tickets?” You asked, turning to face towards Sarah, a confused look written on your features.
“Yeah, I was shocked too,” she admits. “He’s never even bought me a ticket before, I usually get him from John B.”
“Maybe he’s trying to impress a certain new girl,” Pope said, winking towards you.
You pretended to barf.
“I heard it wasn’t a pleasant first encounter,” Cleo questioned, turning towards Pope.
“It wasn’t,” you answered.
“When is it ever,” Kiara sighed. “But she held her own against him.”
“It was really weird, who immediately assumes somebody wants their autograph? It’s college football, and we’re not even a top ranked school,” You said.
“I warned you about that ego,” Sarah reminds you, raising her eyebrows. “Who knows, maybe he’s apologizing.”
“That’s weirder,” Pope says. “He beat my ass when I was fifteen and hadn’t apologized yet.”
“What?” Your eyes were practically popping out of your head. “And you’re cool with him?”
Pope shrugs. “My revenge is just to be nice to him, it makes him angry when he can’t get under your skin.”
“Which is probably why he wants you to want his autograph so badly,” Kiara nodded.
You huffed out a quiet laugh through your nose. Rafe Cameron is unbelievable. Leah would love this story.
Once the game started you were kind of in awe about how well he played. He was honestly great at running the team.
Rafe moved like he owned the field, like every player on it was just a part of something he’d already mapped out in his head.
When he was sitting on the bench once the other team had the ball, took off his helmet, you could see his smirk on his face. Of course he didn’t look nervous, if you were him you probably wouldn’t either.
You’d never admit that thought out loud, based on the one interaction you had with him, you did not want to feed that ego anymore than it already was.
The game was starting to heat up after halftime. The opposing team was losing by a crazy amount and seemed like they were playing for blood.
Towards the end of the third quarter, the opposing team had Rafe surrounded.
The pocket collapsed around him, bodies about to crash into him from both sides, and for a split second, you thought finally. This was going to be the moment when he would take the smallest bit of a hit.
Even though you felt crazy slightly rooting for the other team to take down your school's quarterback, it felt needed.
But Rafe didn’t panic. He stepped back, scanned the field, calm like he had hours before he was even taken down. Then he threw it, quick and precise. The ball landed gracefully in what Sarah told you was John B’s hands.
The crowd exploded, chanting Rafe’s name like he was a savior. Like he brought them out of the gutter with that throw.
You could understand the ego. If you had a stadium full of people chanting your name, you’d be just as big headed as him.
You would never admit that out loud either.
The game ended, of course your team won, the opposing team accepting a terrible defeat. The stadium was loud with excitement and happiness. Never had you felt more school spirit than watching your football team win.
“I’m not going to lie,” Cleo whispered to you. “I didn’t think they’d win.”
You laughed turning towards her, amusement clear on your face. “What? You were rooting against us?”
“No, but I did bet against us.”
The group of you waited till the crowd simmered down before leaving. Sarah and Kiara wanted to meet up with their boyfriends after the game, and well Kiara was your ride, couldn’t really argue with that.
By the time you made it to the designated meet-up spot, outside the field house, the air was cooler, but the energy hadn’t diminished. You were leaning against the brick wall, your feet beginning to hurt in your boots.
“Told you to pack sandals in the car,” Kiara said.
You groaned, “I forgot!”
The doors finally swung open. A group of players emerged, all looking freshly showered, but all buzzing with the excitement of the first win of the season.
John B was the first to reach the group, practically lifting Sarah off her feet in a massive hug. JJ wasn’t far behind him, practically lunging for Kiara with a grin that you could see made Kiara blush.
Being the good friend you were, you took your camera out and got a picture of the set of them.
“Hey,” you heard his voice from behind you, mentally groaning. You turned around to see him, a little smile playing on his face. “Glad to see you made it.”
“You were good Rafe!” Pope and Cleo said in unison, winking at you before turning back towards John B and Sarah.
You watched Rafe tense a little, making you laugh.
“So, saw us play, are we real enough football for you?” He asked, cocking his head to the side.
You crossed your arms, leaning back, like you were examining him. You could see the subtle shift he did to stand up straighter.
“It was… alright,” you said. “A little slow in the second quarter, but your defense saved your ass.”
Rafe’s jaw dropped as if you’d stabbed him. “My defense? I threw for 289 yards!”
“And you almost threw an interception in the third,” you reminded him.
Rafe paused, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face before he masked it with a smirk. “Paying attention to my plays? I figured you were just there for Instagram pictures.”
“Well, I wanted to see if the pig headed guy who asked if I wanted an autograph the first time I met him was actually worth the hype, or just a lot of talk,” you answered, matching his smirk.
Rafe stepped a little closer, so close you could smell his cologne and a faint smell of grass. “And? Am I worth the hype?”
You looked him up and down, then pulled your phone out, like it was the heaviest thing in your bag. “Wow, look at that huge crowd still clearing, and I still don't see a line for the autograph booth. Should I get it while you’re still relevant? Heard resale value on ‘local legends’ drops significantly once they realize they’re not all that.”
You watched his smirk fall before you added, "don't worry, I’ll use whatever I make to pay for my textbooks. At least that way, you’re still useful.”
John B let out the loudest laugh you’ve ever heard. “Oh man, you gotta let him up.”
Rafe’s jaw tightened for a fraction of a second, but he stopped himself. Not a way to win. He instead forced a smile, one that actually reached his eyes.
For a split second, you could call him handsome. You’d also never admit this outloud either.
“Funny, you’re real funny.” He reached out, his hands briefly brushing the sleeve of your dress. “The guys are throwing a victory party tonight, you should come. I’ll even promise to drop the whole thing.”
You looked unimpressed. “Is this your version of a peace offering?”
“It’s an invitation,” he shrugged. “We may have gotten off on the wrong foot last weekend, thought I’d make it up.”
You looked back at Sarah, who looked just as confused as you were. But she nodded her head at you slightly. Then your eyes flitted towards Kiara who was equally as confused and unimpressed. The ‘nice guy’ thing he was trying wasn’t working on the people who have known him for a while, why should it work on you?
“I’ll think about it,” you lied, you were not going.
You turned to follow Kiara, Sarah, and Cleo toward the car. Leaving Rafe standing there, watching you walk away.
The facade he had slipped into a frustrated look. Kelce and Topper joined him outside, following where he was watching.
Kelce laughed, clapping Rafe on the shoulder. “Three grand, man. She’s gonna be tough.”
Rafe didn’t look toward him, instead keeping his eyes on you until you disappeared into the backseat of Kiara’s Mercedes.
“Shut up,” he muttered. “I like a challenge.”
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