You Should Smile More
Love Island AU 🏝
Came Here For Love Masterlink 🩷
Rafe Cameron x reader
Summary: After last nights recoupling, tensions were high in the villa. When an islander receives a text, alerting them of a new bombshell things, things take a unexpected turn.
The sun was high, and the villa felt more alive than it had the night before. After last nights recouping, two islanders (Tyler, Sophie) were dumped from the villa, leaving only six couples standing. The energy in the villa was off, almost as if a storm was brewing, even though everyone pretended to be chill. It was the classic post-recoupling tension: fake laughs, side-eyes, and lots of “no I’m good” when everyone was definitely not good.
I stood in the kitchen with Sarah and Kiara as I half-heartedly listened to them recap the drama from last night.
“I still can’t believe Tyler got booted,” Kiara said, slapping a spoon into her cereal. “He literally just started vibing with Sophie.”
Sarah rolled her eyes, lowering her sunglasses on her nose. “He should’ve made moves sooner. That man was giving ‘background character.’”
They both laughed, but I didn’t join in, just nodded my head. Meanwhile, my eyes flicked toward the daybeds where Rafe was laid out. Arms behind his head, glass of juice in hand, sunglasses on. He was completely unbothered, and of course, I wasn't surprised.
I was trying to be present, trying to act normal, but everything about this morning felt...off. My brain was foggy, and my stomach had been in knots ever since the recoupling. Rafe and I had chosen each other again — no games, no drama — and somehow, that made me more nervous than anything.
Then suddenly I heard a sound that immediately made my heartbeat rise. PING
Kiara immediately grabs her phone as she stands up, waving her hands in the air.
"I GOT A TEXT!!!!"
Immediately, the energy in the villa began to shift. Chairs scraped, cereal was abandoned, and the rest of our friends came running towards us. My heart began to pound.
Rafes eyes locked with mine as he stood, stretched with a little smirk like he knew what was happening as he joined Topper and Kelce by the steps.
Kiaras eyes widened, and she hesitated for a moment.
"READ IT!" Amber yells.
Kiara clears her throat (dramatically) before reading out the text "Islanders, please welcome our NEW bombshell… Lexie!”
The girls all groan as the boys leap up in celebration.
“Oh, come on,” Sarah hissed.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Victoria mutters, already turning to face the entrance.
I couldn’t even bring myself to look. My heart was thudding so loud I could barely hear the rest of Kiara’s words. I stared into my half-melted iced coffee — the one Rafe made for me this morning — and tried to breathe through the nausea curling in my gut.
My attention was finally turned when I heard Vince mutter "dammn" under her breath.
Lexie was everything you'd expect (from a producer-planted chaos agent). She was tall, tan, had bleached blonde hair that was slicked into a perfect high ponytail, and legs for days. She strutted in wearing the tinest string bikini I had ever seen and acted as if she hadn’t just walked into enemy territory.
But let me tell you, she didn't hesitate, because the first thing that comes out of her mouth was-
“Which one of you is Rafe?”
When I tell you my stomach dropped so fast it might of hit the pool floor.
Topper jumps up whooping as he nudges Rafe to raise his arm.
"That be him, sweetheart."
Lazily Rafe raises his arm arm up, as he moves to put the sunglasses behind his hair. His eyes flicker towards her for a moment, but didn't jump up, and he wasn't smiling like an idiot either.
I could feel the back of my neck heating up already. Even though we were already two weeks in, I couldn't but feel my anxiety creeping in. After sleeping in the same bed, holding hands under the covers, and late-night whispered talks about what we’d do after the villa. I could still feel the familiar wave of insecurity crash over me.
The entire group went silent, waiting.
Lexie gave a slow, sugary smile, then marched her way straight towards Rafe like it was already decided. “Show me around?”
Rafe let out a quiet sigh, then reached for her hand. “Sure.”
I couldn’t help but read his expression, well, not completely. He didn’t look overly enthusiastic, but he didn’t hesitate either. Those damm sunglasses hid too much.
"Looks like she locked in already.” Amber mutters beside me.
Kiara scoffs. "She didn't even look at any of the other guys."
Running a hand through my hair, I said nothing. Just sipped on the half melted coffee Rafe had made me this morning, and tried to ignore the fact that everything felt bitter.
"It's fine, its her first day." I said forcing a smile that I tried so hard to mask tears behind.
But it wasn’t fine. Not when Lexie looped her arm through Rafe’s like they were a couple, or when she hiked up her bikni just to show off "a little more." It wasn't fine when he smirked and Lexi smiled a little more, and definitely not when she placed her perfectly manicured hand on his chest as they walked back across the lawn.
All I could do was keep my composure calm, but inside, I was already thinking of the worst possible outcome.
---
The producers didn’t wait long. As the girls and I were finally getting relaxed by the pool, an announcement echoed through the villa speakers.
"Islanders, tonight it is time to play… TRUTH OR DARE: BOMB 💣 EDITION. Please gather by the firepit!”
I couldn't help but groan, I was not in the mood at all today to participate in a challenge, and it didnt help that Rafe and I still haven't had a conversation yet.
The girls all giggled in harmony and began to stand up ranting about which outfit they were going to wear, and who was helping with hair/makeup.
Sarah stayed besides me, leaning her head on my shoulder.
"You sure you're feeling okay?"
Dipping my legs further into the pool, I watched as the water glistening on my skin.
"Honestly, I still don't know how to feel, and it doesn't help that there's a challenge tonight either." I say, looking back at her.
Sarah stands up with a smile on her face. Fixing her stance she leans an arm down towards me.
"Come on! My favorite thing to do when I'm feeling down is a hot outfit and good glam. We're gonna make you look so gorg, you'll forget who Rafe Cameron even is."
Taking her hand, Sarah and I make our way to the makeup room. We both couldn't hold our excitement. We were already planning our matching "revenge" outfit to our makeup room and figuring out what we wanted to do to our hair.
For a second, I almost forgot about Lexi and Rafe, but unknowingly to me (not Sarah). Rafes gaze continued to linger all little longer as we made our way into the makeup room.
I decided on a black mini dress . It was simple yet effective, to say the least. In some way, it made me feel powerful, even if my stomach was a mess. For some reason, Rafe barely looked at you, He was too busy laughing at whatever Lexie was whispering.
The game started out innocent enough, with silly dares. Topper gave Sarah a lap dance, while Cleo licked whipped cream off of JJ's bellybutton, and John B had to streak naked around the villa. It was the classic Love Island chaos.
Well, that was until it was time for Lexie’s turn. Victoria pulls a card out from the pile and begins to read it to us all in the circle.
“Lexie, we dare you to kiss the boy you’re most attracted to in the villa.”
Without missing a beat, she turns toward Rafe. Standing up, she wips her hand behind her hair like she just won the noble peace prize (well, in one way, she did bc she just stole my man).
“Come here, trouble.” Lexi grins in a sulty way, strutting her way towards Rafe.
My stomach dropped. Rafe hesitated for a moment, just half a second, and then slowly stood and met Lexi halfway. It wasn’t a passionate kiss, but it certainly wasn’t nothing either.
It was a quick press of the lips, but Lexi held a smug smug little smile as she sat back down and stared right at me. I didn't feel like throwing my drink at the firepit tonight, so I kept my head straight. All I knew is that the rest or the challenge didn't feel as fun as it was before.
---
Later that night, everyone settled into their usual groups, but I couldn't help but drift to the edge of the villa. Everything today felt different, and I just needed a second of peace.
Sitting on the pink beanbag chair, by the water, I began to look out to the horizon, wondering what was ahead. Would this be the end of my love island journey? Was Rafe in love with Lexi already? Did his head turn? Or what if there was a new bombshell for me waiting on the other side?
Pulling my hoodie over my shoulders, I began to feel at peace with myself finally. Staring out into the dark water, I began to dip my feet in the sand and let myself become at peace with the ocean water.
Well that was until a big shadown blocked my view.
He didn't talk for a moment, just stood there staring at me. To be honest I don't know how long he was there for until I opened my eyes.
Crouching down to my level, Rafe begins to get comfortable on the sand. “Are you mad at me?”
I wanted nothing more than to hide behind my hoodie. Rafe hasnt talked to me all day, and the first thing we talk about after the challenge is this.
“Don’t start, Rafe.”
He gave a soft laugh, low and teasing as he ran his hand through his buzzed hair. “You’re mad.”
“Nope.” I decided to keep it short and simple.
“You’re definitely mad.” Rafes eyes scan my face. Placing a hand on the beach bag, he leans in closer. “She kissed me. I didn’t kiss her.”
Huffing, I pulled the hoddie of my head. When will these boys get it. “You kissed her back.”
He tilted his head in my direction. “Would it make you feel better if I kissed you right now?”
I narrowed my eyes. Was he stupid? “Are you trying to fix this or make it worse?”
He smirked, not just any smirk that cocky, dangerous little smirk that always made my heart race.
“I’m trying to remind you who’s got me twisted.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but I was soon cut you off when Rafes lips touched mine. Rafe kissed me, and not any normal kiss like we'd had before it was rough, fast, and even territorial. It was the kind of kiss that wasn’t made for the cameras, and I was definitely hoping they hadn't caught this scene.
Rafe pulls back, placing a fallen piece of hair behind my ears. In a low voice, he whispers “Jealousy looks hot on you, by the way."
Rafe lifts me off the bean bag chair, placing me to sit in his lap. Wrapping his arms around mine, he places his head in the crook of my neck.
"There's only one girl I want Y/N, and it's you."
My cheeks felt hot, and for the first time today, I felt content. I could definitely sleep lighter tonight, knowing that Rafe and I were back on track. But if Lexi thought she could steal Rafe from me, she's wrong. There's no one else in the villa, I'd rather be with more, and if she thinks that she could be with Rafe, she better smile more because she's in for a rude awakening.