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authors note cant believe i've been on a hiatus for months but popping back in HAHA. i saw this trend on tiktok and thought it'd be cute to write something up about bf!rafe.
warning(s) cute fluff and kissing.
You recently saw a tiktok video of a couple trend on your for you page in which the girlfriend raises her boyfriend's arms in the air before kissing him. You considered doing it with Rafe but waited for the appropriate time.
The next day is long, with shopping bags and ready to change into more cozy clothing. By the time you get back to Rafe's apartment, you're fatigued in a good way. His room feels like a safe haven⎯dim lighting, blackout curtains halfway drawn, the familiar pile of clothes on the floor, and the faint aroma of his cologne hanging in the air.
You're both splayed out on the couch in his room, with a movie playing on the tv that neither of you are really watching. Rafe's arm is stretched over the back of the couch, his fingertips stroking your shoulder as if to ensure you're still there.
He appears unnaturally attractive⎯black sweatpants falling low on his hips, a black hoodie pulled over his broad shoulders, and a gold necklace resting against his collarbone. He appears cool, at ease, and utterly oblivious of what you're preparing.
Naturally getting up from the couch with your phone in hand with the camera recording already, placing it infront of the tv.
"Hey," you say, attempting to sound natural. "Can you stand up real quick?"
Don't blow it.
Rafe looks at you, his brows pinched together. "Why?" he says, already smirking.
"Just—trust me," you say.
Rafe stands in front of you, watching you with rising curiosity. He transfers his weight from foot to foot, his hands buried inside the hoodie sleeves.
"You aren't going to do anything weird, are you?" he asks, amusement in his eyes.
You step closer and laugh softly. "Everything's OK. Nothing unusual is going to happen. "I promise."
He gives a soft chuckle and shakes his head. "You're suspicious."
You gently take his hands.
They're constantly warm. Your fingers wrap around his wrists, and you slowly, delicately lift both of his arms above his head. He lets you go, perfectly obedient, despite the perplexity on his face.
Rafe looks at the phone and then back at you, smiling as if he's in on a joke he hasn't heard yet. "Babe," he says, giggling under his breath. "What are you⎯"
You don't respond. Instead, you get on your tiptoes, your hands still keeping his arms in place, and push your lips against his.
The kiss is soft at first, gentle and slow. It feels like coming home. His breath catches, and you can feel it right away: the way his body relaxes, his shoulders drop, and his lips melt into yours, as if this is precisely where he wants to be.
Rafe exhales quietly through his nose, almost if he's laughing.
Slowly, he lowers his arms, his fingertips finding your jaw and his thumbs caressing your cheeks with compassion that causes your chest to flutter. The kiss deepens slightly before he pulls back and looks at you.
"You are something.
Before you can answer, he wraps his arms around your waist and effortlessly lifts you off the ground. You chuckle in surprise, reflexively wrapping your legs around his hips as he pushes his forehead against yours.
"You love me though," you smile before kissing his lips one more time.
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Love Island - Episode 15: The One With The Blue Party
pairings: rafe cameron x fem!reader
words: 4k
warnings: cuss words, sexual innuendos, alcohol consumption
series masterlist
The girls are in the makeup room, getting ready for the much-anticipated blue party.
“I needed this party!” Abigail exclaims and the others hum in agreement.
Alyssa is struggling to decide on an outfit, Maddy is focused on Y/N’s eye makeup, Kiara works on curling Cleo’s hair and Sarah lounges in her towel, fresh out of the shower, munching on a sandwich.
“I’m actually really excited for tonight.” Y/N mutters to Maddy, who nods, eyes locked on her task.
“That’s great, babe. Look up.” She gently taps under Y/N’s eye, applying a streak of blue liner. Y/N snorts but follows instructions.
“Oh, Sarah?” Cleo calls out and Sarah hums, mid-bite. “Can I borrow one of your lip glosses? One of the fancy ones?”
Without hesitation, Sarah hands over her makeup bag.
“Wait-just like that?” Cleo asks, surprised. “I thought I’d have to grovel for them.”
“Dude, they’re just lip glosses.” Sarah shrugs, casually finishing her sandwich.
“They’re designer!” Cleo protests, but Sarah just shrugs again, unfazed.
The room buzzes with easy laughter, compliments and music. Clothes and makeup are shared freely, like a sisterhood. And in this cozy chaos, the girls feel completely at home.
Once everyone’s ready, they head downstairs to the bedroom where the boys are already waiting. Cheers erupt as the girls walk in and giggles follow as each one makes her way to her partner.
Y/N walks toward Rafe, who’s sitting on the bench at the end of their bed. He stands as soon as he spots her, eyes trailing down her body.
“Hey, beautiful.” He murmurs, hands finding her waist and pulling her close.
“Hi.” She whispers, her lashes brushing against her cheeks. “You look great.”
“Says you.” He brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, admiring her blue earrings. “Cute.” He adds with a small smile.
He’s in a navy button-down with the top few buttons undone, exposing the gold chain laying on his chest, paired with crisp white linen shorts. The fabric under her fingertips feels expensive, like everything about him screams old money, while she’s standing there in her thrifted blue dress. Her chest tightens a little.
She grabs his hand and follows the others out, smoothing her dress as she walks. He notices the clamminess of her palm and the way her head dips down.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He whispers, giving her hand a soft squeeze.
She glances up at him, caught off guard by his attention.
“I...I’ll tell you later.” She says quietly. He nods, squeezing her hand again as they reach the long table lined with gold champagne flutes.
“Cheers to…us and to having a good time, all the time!” John B calls out.
Everyone cheers, clinking glasses. Music fills the villa as the night begins. The girls dance and twirl in their heels, laughter spilling from their lips, while the boys lift Pope into the air, tossing him around as they all crack up.
The boys decide to play beer pong with dares, dragging the girls into the game as Topper and Rafe fill the cups as JJ stacks them into perfect triangles on the table.
The islanders split into two teams. On team one there is Sarah, Maddy, Y/N, Kiara, John B, Rafe and Kelce. And on team two there is Cleo, Abigail, Alyssa, Topper, Pope, JJ and Ryan.
“Let’s do this shit!” JJ yells and the group erupts in cheers.
Abigail throws the first ball and it lands cleanly in a cup. Her team cheers as Rafe grabs the cup from the table. The boys holler for him to chug and he answers with a lazy middle finger before downing most of it. He peels the sticker from under the cup and reads aloud.
“‘Kiss the islander you fan-’ yeah, okay.” He doesn’t even finish reading before tossing the cup aside and walking straight to Y/N.
He grabs her waist, pulling her close and presses his lips against hers without hesitation. His hands slip down, giving her ass a slow, deliberate squeeze as she leans into the kiss, caught in the moment. The others whistle and shout around them. When he finally pulls back, Y/N is breathless, her lips slightly parted.
“Y/N, you good?” Cleo asks, raising a brow.
“Ye-yeah.” Y/N stammers, dazed. The group laughs as Rafe wraps an arm around her shoulder.
Sarah steps up next, aiming carefully before sinking her shot with a triumphant “whoop!” She throws her hands in the air. Ryan grabs the cup, downs it easily, then plucks the sticker from underneath.
“‘Let any islander of your choice do a body shot off of you.’” He reads, grinning as everyone gasps. He points at Abigail and offers her his hand.
Ryan lies back on the grass and lifts his shirt while JJ pours a bit of beer onto his belly button. Abigail kneels down, giggling.
“Wish me luck.” She mutters, then leans in and sucks the liquid from his stomach. The villa explodes with cheers and as she sits up, she plants a kiss on Ryan’s lips, that he quickly deepens.
Sarah sprints around the group, clutching her dress and screaming in excitement while Y/N laughs, watching her go.
When Sarah stops running and Ryan and Abigail are back on their feet, Maddy takes her turn but misses.
“Fuck me.” She mutters, walking back to her team, disappointed.
“Your aim is shit, baby.” Kelce teases. Maddy glares at him and he zips his lips dramatically. “Sorry.”
On the other team, Cleo steps up confidently and sinks her shot. Her team goes wild.
Sarah grabs the cup and chugs most of it, leaving everyone stunned.
“Didn’t think you had it in you, Sar.” Kiara calls out.
“I was in a sorority.” Sarah says proudly. She grabs the sticker. “‘Give an islander of your choice a lap dance.’”
She scans the group, fake-thinking, while everyone bursts into laughter. John B shakes his head, already bracing himself.
But at the last second, she yanks Y/N forward instead, shocking everyone.
“Lucky me.” Y/N mumbles as Sarah leads her to a sunbed and sits her down.
With full commitment, Sarah straddles her and starts rolling her hips, hair whipping, hands dragging Y/N’s down her own body. They’re both giggling when, by accident, Y/N pulls her strapless dress down a little too far.
Sarah shrieks and Y/N immediately covers her exposed chest, both of them bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
“Please tell me no one saw that.” Sarah groans, turning toward the others.
Sarah hides her face in Y/N’s neck, mortified, while Y/N keeps laughing, tears in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” Y/N says between laughs.
Sarah just shakes her head and shrugs before hopping off her lap.
Confessional - Y/N
“Not gonna lie…I did enjoy that.” She says with a cheeky smile.
While the others are still playing and laughing, Rafe gently slips his fingers around Y/N’s hand and nods toward one of the couches.
“Come on.” he murmurs, leading her away from the chaos.
He sinks onto the cushions and tugs her into his lap. She goes willingly, smiling as she wraps her arms around his shoulders.
“Couldn’t get me alone sooner, huh?” She teases.
“Yeah.” He lets out a low chuckle, one that rumbles against her. But then his jaw tightens, and his tone softens. “Now, tell me. What’s going on?”
She sighs, avoiding his eyes.
“It’s…it’s stupid.”
“If it’s bothering you, it’s not stupid.” He shakes his head, lips pressed into a firm line. Another sigh escapes her.
“I just…you always seem so…put together.”
“What?” Rafe blinks.
“You look nice.” She says, trying again. “Like, not just good-looking, but…expensive. Polished. You always wear nice clothes, you gave that girl a three-thousand-dollar gift just because.”
He raises a brow, still not getting it.
“And I...” She continues, taking a breath. “I wear thrifted dresses and I work in a bakery.”
His grip on her waist tightens slightly.
“So what?”
“I don’t know.” She murmurs, eyes flicking down to her nails. “It just hit me tonight. Like…what if we don’t make sense?”
He gently cups her face, coaxing her to look up at him.
“I don’t care.”
She blinks.
“I don’t care about money or brands or what you wear or where you work.” He says. “None of that matters to me.”
“I-I’m not ashamed of it.” She adds quickly. “But...I guess tonight it got to me. Like, what if we’re from two different worlds and we just…aren't a good fit?”
“Y/N, I like you.” He says firmly. “I like you for who you are. For being real. For being amazing in your own way. Can you please stop overthinking all this?”
She glances back down.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers.
“Don’t-You don’t have to apologize.” He says. “Yeah, we’re still figuring things out. Yeah, we’ve got differences. But who cares? I’m having the best time with you. And if we’re gonna grow something real, we can’t let stupid shit like this get in the way.”
Her lips curve into a small smile.
“Thank you.” She whispers and he chuckles.
“You don’t have to thank me for everything either. I’m here for you. That’s kind of the point.”
Her eyes instinctively flick to his lips. He catches it, smirking as he licks his own. His hand slides up, fingers brushing the strap of her dress.
“And for the record.” He adds, voice low. “You look stunning in this dress. Thrifted or not.”
She shivers.
“And navy suits you.” She murmurs. His hand cups her jaw, pulling her closer until their noses nearly touch. Their breath mingles, lips barely apart.
“Oh yeah?” He asks, smug.
She nods, breath catching and he leans in, kissing her slow and deep, his tongue teasing hers. She groans softly, tugging him closer.
“Okay, okay, y’all cut it out with the PDA and come back already!” Sarah calls out as she strolls over.
Rafe pulls back with a quiet groan while Y/N buries her face in his shirt, giggling. She slides off his lap, smoothing down her dress. He stands, lacing their fingers together, before they walk back toward the others.
Confessional - Y/N
“Yeah, I’m…I’m really happy with Rafe. And with how he sees me. How he sees us. And he’s very-” She pauses, sighing dreamily. “I need to stop or I’ll be here talking about him forever. Wait-actually, can we cut that out? That’s so fucking embarrassing.” She says, glancing off-camera, her cheeks going red.
As the game winds down and the islanders start to drift into smaller groups, JJ and Kiara end up on one of the quieter couches, tucked away from the noise.
“I…I pulled you because I wanted to talk about…us.” Kiara says, her voice tentative. JJ nods, setting his champagne flute on the low table in front of them. His posture stiffens, nerves creeping in.
“Yeah, of course.” He replies, trying to play it cool, but the uncertainty flickers across his face.
“I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.” She explains. “Because…I don’t know, we haven’t really talked about this yet.”
He nods again, a bit more slowly this time.
“Yeah. You’re right.” He scratches the back of his head, then glances at her.
“I want to explore things between us, for sure.” He says honestly. “I didn’t come in here thinking I’d stay coupled up with one person the whole time, obviously, but…I am curious to see where this could go.”
Kiara nods, seeming to take that in.
“Yeah. Same.” She pauses before continuing, “Also…I was kinda surprised by some of your answers today.”
She raises an eyebrow and JJ chuckles sheepishly.
“Yeah. I’ve got no excuses for those.” He says with a crooked grin. “But just so you know, since you seemed upset, I don’t care about anyone’s body count. I was messing around with that last question. It wasn’t serious.”
Kiara studies him for a beat, then nods.
“It didn’t feel great to hear, if I’m being honest. But thanks for clearing it up. I appreciate you saying that.”
JJ offers one of his signature grins, warm and a little apologetic.
Confessional -JJ
“I’m excited to see where things go with Kiara.” He says, nodding slightly, a rare moment of sincerity softening his usual bravado.
Maddy, Sarah and Y/N step away from the crowd, heading toward the firepit with their drinks in hand.
“Okay, so me and Rafe had a talk earlier.” Y/N begins.
“Spill!” Maddy says instantly, sipping from her drink.
“So, after the challenge, we went to the daybed.”
“Your spot.” Sarah cuts in with a smirk and Y/N grins.
“Our spot.” She corrects herself, rolling her eyes playfully as the memory makes her smile. “Anyways, I opened up to him about my worries…especially the whole body count thing.”
Both girls nod, listening closely.
“I told him I want to take things slow. Like, with all the…intimate stuff. And he was so okay with it. Like, not just okay, like really understanding.”
“Why wouldn’t he be, girlie?” Maddy asks, eyebrow raised.
“No, I mean he was so kind about it. He told me he doesn’t care if I’ve been with one guy or none or a hundred. And he kept saying how I’m safe with him, how I can trust him. He was just…really gentle about it.” Y/N says, rambling now, grinning like she can’t stop herself.
“You’re blushing.” Sarah teases, wrapping Y/N in a soft hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too.” Maddy joins in from the other side, hugging her tight.
Sarah pulls back with a smirk.
“Okay, but what were you two really talking about while making out on the couch?” She asks.
“Sarah!” Y/N gasps, wide-eyed, as Maddy bursts into laughter.
“What? You were there for a while.” Sarah shrugs and Y/N sighs.
“I told him I’m still trying to process everything about his lifestyle. The money, the luxury, the brands…I wasn’t raised with any of that. I work at a bakery. I thrift clothes. I literally don’t buy new makeup until the last drop of the old one is gone.”
“Girl, if he made a fuss about that, then he’s not a real man.” Maddy says firmly, lifting her brows.
“Yeah, Y/N. Real men don’t care about that.” Sarah adds, shaking her head.
“Well…the guys I dated in New York did.” Y/N mutters.
“Wait…was Kelce like that?” Maddy asks, unable to help herself. But Y/N quickly shakes her head.
“No, not at all. Kelce never even let me pay when we went out. Sometimes he’d show up with groceries when I was behind on rent or bills.”
“Good. That’s…good to hear.” Maddy exhales a little, in relief, nodding.
“So, what did Rafe say?” Sarah asks, steering them back to the conversation.
“He told me he doesn’t care about any of that. He said he likes me, like, genuinely likes me. And he wants us to grow without me constantly overthinking or apologizing for everything.” Y/N smiles.
“Damn, girl. You’re lucky.” Sarah whistles while Y/N beams.
“Yeah…I feel really lucky. And I think…I think I want to go a little further tonight. With him.”
Maddy sits up straighter.
“Only if you want to. Don’t feel like you owe him anything.” She advises.
“No, I do want to.” Y/N says with certainty. “I feel ready.”
“Not like…all the way, right?” Sarah asks carefully, glancing at Maddy and then back to Y/N.
“No, no. I’m not there yet. Just…further than before.” Y/N replies as both girls nod in understanding.
“If it feels right and you know it’s what you want, then go for it.” Sarah says gently.
“But don’t pressure yourself.” Maddy adds. “These things take time. If you rush it, it won’t feel how it’s supposed to.”
Y/N nods, taking it all in.
“Thank you. Both of you.”
They lean into another warm group hug and when they pull away,
“Okay, but we have to talk about JJ’s skinny jeans, because I cannot even look at him.” Maddy says, changing the subject as the girls erupt in laughter.
Confessional - Maddy
“I swear I love those girls so much.” Maddy says, grinning from ear to ear. “And I’m really happy for Y/N.”
Pope and Cleo linger by the kitchen, snacking and swaying lazily to the music pulsing in the background. Ryan and Abigail join them, grabbing chips and settling in.
“Okay.” Abigail starts, crunching on a chip. “What would your ideal first date be like, in the real world? If you’d met on Tinder or something.”
Everyone pauses to think.
“I feel like drinks is always a solid first date.” Ryan says. “Helps with the nerves.”
They all nod.
Pope’s about to answer when a flash of red catches his eye, someone walking through the flower corridor.
“Holy shit.” He mutters.
“Man, not again.” Cleo groans, dropping her cookie.
“Guys, we got company!” Abigail shouts.
One by one, the islanders gather, stunned by the sight of a new girl making her way into the villa.
“Hola, everyone!” She says, accent warm and confident.
Y/N smooths her dress as Maddy grabs her hand, pulling her toward the crowd. The girl walks right up to them with a beaming smile.
“Hi.” Y/N says softly. The girl immediately pulls her into a hug.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” She murmurs, squeezing her.
“You too…” Y/N trails off, realizing she still doesn’t know her name.
“Camila.” The girl grins before moving on to greet the others.
“That was quite the entrance.” Maddy whispers while Y/N elbows her.
“She seems sweet.” She murmurs.
“Sweet, my ass.” Maddy scoffs.
“Be nice.” Y/N mumbles, brushing her hair back.
Before she can process more, a pair of hands wraps around her waist. She leans back instinctively, body relaxing into his.
“You alright?” Rafe whispers, breath hot against her neck.
“Yeah, Ray.” She nods.
He gives her a gentle squeeze.
“Have I told you I like when you call me that?” He asks as she turns to him with a smirk.
“Yeah, you have.”
He grins. The group starts moving toward the firepit and Rafe nudges her forward with a soft press to her waist.
Everyone settles into their seats.
“So…” Kiara begins, her smile a little too polished. “Tell us about yourself. Where you’re from, what you do.”
“We caught that accent.” Y/N adds, the group chuckling.
“I’m from Mexico, but I live in California now. I’m 26. And I’m a sound engineer slash songwriter slash ‘wannabe singer.’” Camila says, laughing.
“What’s your type?” Sarah asks curiously and Camila laughs.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe. I’ve seen a few episodes and I’m not here to break up any couples.”
That instantly earns a few nods and smiles from the girls.
“What have you seen?” Maddy asks, still cautious.
“I saw Alyssa steal Rafe in the first few days, then Rafe and Y/N get back together. I saw Ryan and Abigail come in…and a glimpse of the kissing challenge.” She says, counting it off.
“And by the way, you girls are so much more gorgeous in person.”
“Aww, thank you, Camila!” Y/N grins, the girls swooning a little.
Camila points directly at her.
“And you, you are the fucking sweetest.” She exclaims.
Y/N gasps, smiling shyly.
“No, stop!”
“She’s just being humble.” Rafe chimes in, pulling her closer with a proud smile.
Camila laughs, then turns back to the group.
“I just want to meet everyone, see if there’s a connection. But I’m not stepping on any toes.”
Maddy nods, seeming satisfied.
Just then, the infamous ping echoes through the villa.
“That sound is gonna be the death of me.” Cleo groans as Ryan grabs his phone.
“Islanders-” “No, you have to say the thing!” Abigail interrupts.
“I got a text!” Ryan sing-songs and everyone laughs.
“Islanders, the Hideaway is open tonight. Please choose a lucky couple to go. #pillowtalk #donotdisturb.”
The group explodes with gasps.
“Y/N and Rafe!” Sarah shouts, pointing at them. Maddy nods, elbowing Kelce to follow her lead. Y/N looks from Rafe to the group, surprised.
“What about-”
“Nope. Nuh-uh, bitch. You’re going to the Hideaway.” Kiara says, shutting it down.
Maddy leans over, lowering her voice.
“You want to? Like what we talked about earlier?”
Y/N hesitates, then slowly nods.
“Okay then.” Maddy says, standing up. “All in favor of Rafe and Y/N heading to the Hideaway?”
Every hand shoots up, including Alyssa’s, which catches Y/N off guard.
Rafe grins, giddy and lifts Y/N off the ground in a hug.
“We’re going to the Hideaway, baby! Whoo!” He cheers, spinning her around as she clutches him, giggling.
When he finally sets her down, the girls swarm Y/N with squeals and hugs.
“Y/N is going to the Hideaway! Y/N is going to the Hideaway!” Cleo chants and the rest join in while the boys high-five Rafe.
Confessional - Sarah
“There couldn’t have been a more deserving couple than those two going to the Hideaway.” Sarah says, smiling. “As much as I’d love a night with John B, Y/N and Rafe have already been through so much. They deserve this and I hope they have fun., if you know what I mean.” She smirks.
Back in the makeup room, the girls rally around Y/N to get her ready.
“Okay, what about this one?” Maddy holds up a sleek black lingerie set.
Y/N eyes it warily.
“I don’t know…I kind of don’t want to wear black. Or should I? Is it sexier?” She rambles, nerves getting the best of her.
“Girl, anything you put on is going to be sexy as hell.” Maddy says, already pulling out a deep blue set.
“That one would look amazing on Sarah.” Y/N notes, brushing her fingers over the lace. Sarah leans over her shoulder and nods in agreement.
“What about this?” Cleo calls, holding up a red set with delicate bows and lace.
The room goes quiet as all eyes shift to her. Y/N’s breath catches.
“It’s…perfect.” She whispers, walking over to get a better look. “Are you sure?”
“Of course!” Cleo grins, handing it to her. “You’re gonna look amazing in it.”
Y/N wraps her arms around her.
“Thank you.” She whispers, full of gratitude.
“Alright, sit your pretty ass down. Let’s fix that makeup.” Maddy says, guiding her to the vanity. She gently wipes off the now smudged blue liner with a Q-tip and micellar water while the rest of the girls fluff Y/N’s hair, adjust the robe over her lingerie and make her feel like the star of the night.
She adds fuzzy white slippers, then stands and turns to the mirror.
“You look gorgeous.” Abigail says softly.
“Stunning.” Maddy adds.
“Hot as hell.” Kiara smirks, making them all laugh.
Y/N opens her arms and the girls pull her into a tight group hug. When she glances to the side, she spots Camila standing back, smiling shyly.
“Camila, get in here.” Y/N says.
“I don’t want to intrude.” She says, shaking her head.
“Don’t be silly, come on!” Cleo beckons. Camila joins the group, and they all squeeze each other tightly.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Y/N murmurs into the hug. When they break apart, the girls begin making their way downstairs. Maddy grabs her hand and gives it a squeeze.
“You ready?” She asks. Y/N exhales, then nods.
“Yeah. I am.”
Maddy scrunches her nose at her with a grin, then heads down. Y/N lingers for a second, facing the mirror again.
“You got this.” She whispers to herself. And with that, she walks out.
She takes the stairs slowly, anticipation building with every step. The villa erupts into cheers and laughter. She blushes before she can even look at him, keeping her gaze on her feet, until his hand reaches out.
Her eyes lift to meet Rafe’s and she smiles, slipping her hand into his. He’s in soft grey sweats, Calvin Klein waistband peeking out, gold chain gleaming, holding both their water bottles like it's no big deal.
“Ready?” He murmurs.
She nods.
He leads her past the crowd, who clap, cheer and sing them off with ridiculous chants and laughter.
As they reach the Hideaway door, Y/N turns to wave, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.
“Well…see you in the morning.” Rafe says, smirking as he guides her inside with no hesitation.
“Good night, everyone!” Y/N laughs over her shoulder.
“Use protection!” Sarah yells, making everyone crack up.
Confessional - Rafe & Y/N
“I prefer rawdogging.” Rafe deadpans with a sly smirk.
Y/N snaps her head toward him, jaw dropping.
“Rafe!” She gasps, smacking his chest as he bursts out laughing.
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The sun rises beautifully over Mallorca, spilling into the villa as the islanders slowly stir awake. Soft greetings pass between beds as they begin another day in paradise.
Rafe and Y/N are still tangled together, her face buried in his chest like it's second nature. One of his hands lazily rubs her back while the other reaches for his sunglasses, sliding them on with practiced ease.
Across the room, Cleo sits up with a grin, leans over to give Pope a quick kiss and then tiptoes toward Y/N’s bed.
“Good morning, sunshine.” She whispers, plopping down beside her. Y/N groans in protest, not moving.
“She says good morning back.” Rafe says dryly, earning a laugh from Cleo as she gently shakes Y/N’s shoulder.
“Come on, get up!”
Y/N cracks one eye open, staring at Cleo like she’s just committed a personal betrayal.
“What did I ever do to you?” She mumbles, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
“I need you for something.” Cleo tugs her camisole strap back onto her shoulder and leans in. Y/N immediately sits up.
“What are we baking?”
“You know me too well.” Cleo grins. “Okay, Pope loves chocolate. So, like, cookies? Brownies? Something cute. I’ll help, I promise.” She adds quickly, glancing around to make sure Pope isn't listening. Most of the girls are heading upstairs and a few boys wander outside. Pope is still lounging in bed, clearly not ready to move.
“Brownies are faster. We can add frosting or something fancy on top.” Y/N says, already reaching for her stuff on the bedside table. “Let me wash my face and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Cleo hugs her tightly. Y/N smiles, squeezing her back before Cleo heads toward the back doors.
Just as Y/N grabs her stuff, Rafe speaks up behind her.
“Wow. No ‘good morning’ for me?”
She turns to find him sitting up with his arms crossed and one brow raised, playfully wounded. She smirks, crawling back onto the bed and leaning over him, not-so-innocently.
“Good morning.” She murmurs, planting a quick kiss on his lips, then pulling back suddenly with a hand over her mouth. “Wait, ew. I haven’t brushed my teeth.”
“I don’t care.” He mutters, leaning in again. But she dodges him with a grin.
“Later. I promise.” She backs away, eyebrows raised in challenge.
“I’m holding you to that.” He replies.
She giggles and bolts upstairs.
Later, in the kitchen, Y/N leans against the counter beside Cleo, both girls focused on carefully piping frosting onto the cupcakes. Across the villa, Rafe and Kelce are lounging on the daybed, catching their breath and hydrating after their morning workout. Y/N glances in their direction, then turns to Cleo.
“Hey, Cleo?”
“Yeah?” Cleo looks up from the bowl, wiping her hands on a towel.
“How are you and Pope doing?” Y/N asks, hopping onto the counter, swinging her legs and Cleo’s face softens instantly.
“We’re good. Really good, actually. He’s so sweet, like, genuinely. It’s still a little awkward sometimes, but things are going really well.”
Y/N nods, watching her.
“Have you guys…you know. Been intimate? At all?”
Cleo lets out a slow breath, considering her words.
“We’ve had a couple solid makeout sessions, yeah. But nothing more than that. I don’t know…it just feels weird knowing everyone’s right there. It's hard to feel comfortable.”
Y/N hums in agreement, twisting the cap off her water bottle and fidgeting with the strap.
“What about you and Rafe? Don’t tell me nothing’s happened.” Cleo narrows her eyes slightly. Y/N’s gaze drops to her bottle. She doesn’t answer right away and that silence speaks louder than anything.
Cleo clocks the look instantly and gently changes gears.
“Okay, okay, switching topics, what kind of frosting are we thinking, chef?”
Y/N blinks and straightens up, visibly grateful.
“Umm…maybe peanut butter? That could be cute.” She suggests.
She hops down and heads to the cupboard, pulling out ingredients. As she sets them on the counter and begins mixing, Cleo rests a hand on her shoulder.
“You know you don’t have to rush anything, right?” She says softly. Y/N looks up at her.
“If you’re not ready with him…that’s totally okay.”
“I haven’t been in many relationships. And I don’t want to mess this up. Not with him.” Y/N shakes her head.
“You won’t.” Cleo assures her without hesitation. “Have you told him any of this?”
“He kind of tried last night.” Y/N says, voice barely above a whisper. “To take things further. And I panicked. And I pushed him away.”
Her hands are back on the spatula now, stirring again just to stay busy.
“I feel like I hurt his feelings or something.”
“No way.” Cleo says firmly. “That boy is obsessed with you. He’s not going anywhere because you set a boundary.”
“I think I just need some time to figure it all out.” Y/N exhales shakily, eyes still focused on the frosting.
“Then take it.” Cleo says gently, rubbing her back, smiling at her.
Confessional - Cleo
“Y/N’s like my little sister. I care about her so much. Seeing her stress over where things stand with Rafe, especially about intimacy, just breaks my heart. She’s so beautiful, so kind and honestly one of the wisest people here. And I get why she’s anxious, but she needs to know she’s allowed to go at her own pace. Rafe will wait. And if he doesn’t? He’s not worth her.” She shakes her head.
Kelce and Rafe lounge on the daybed, sweat cooling under the shade of the tree. A soft breeze cuts the heat as they sip from their water bottles, catching their breath from the workout.
After a beat of silence, Rafe glances over.
“Hey…can I ask you something?”
Kelce nods, chewing absentmindedly on his straw.
“You know her better than anyone in here.” Rafe starts, hesitating. “And I told myself I wouldn’t ever ask you anything about your relationship with her, because honestly, I cannot hear all that, but…” He pauses, taking a deep breath.
“Has she always been kind of…hesitant with the more intimate stuff?”
Kelce sighs, lowering his bottle.
“Yeah.” He says quietly. “Y/N’s always been like that. Cautious. When we were together, it took her a while to fully open up. Not because she didn’t care, but because trust isn’t something she gives lightly. Especially when it comes to physical stuff.”
Rafe nods slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw.
“I respect that. Like, I don’t want her to ever feel pressured. But last night was our first night back in the same bed…we were kissing and I thought maybe we’d go a little further. Nothing major. Just…a step.” He sighs, frustrated more at himself than anything. “But then she got all tense, kind of pulled back. And of course I stopped. No question. I just…I don’t know, it threw me off. Made me wonder if I’d messed something up.”
Kelce watches him for a second, then speaks evenly.
“Y/N likes you. A lot. That much is obvious. But you have to let her move at her own pace. She’s not someone you can rush. She needs to feel totally safe first. If you want this to work, let her lead when it comes to that stuff. She’ll let you in when she’s ready.”
“Yeah. Got it. Thanks, man.” Rafe nods again, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
“Anytime.” Kelce shrugs. “You don’t have to tiptoe around me when it comes to her. I’m not holding on to anything. I just want her to be happy.”
He glances toward the kitchen, jaw tightening almost involuntarily.
“And from what I’ve seen…she is. With you. So don’t screw it up.”
Rafe follows his gaze, Y/N is laughing at something Cleo said, the two of them looking carefree and glowing.
“I won’t.” He says quietly.
“Good.” Kelce gives a small nod.
The two lapse into silence again, but there’s a mutual understanding between them now, unspoken, a little uneasy, but real.
As the afternoon sun blazes over the villa, islanders sprawl across the yard, some tanning, some swimming, others deep in conversation, while Pope and Cleo enjoy the brownies. But the lazy vibe is cut short by the familiar ping of a text.
“I got a text!” John B calls out, already grinning as everyone scrambles toward him.
“Islanders, it’s time to find out how well you really know each other in the Higher or Lower challenge. #numbersdontlie #truthhurts.” He reads.
Cheers erupt, but Y/N shares a nervous glance with Sarah and Maddy as they slump back onto the couch.
“This is gonna get messy.” She mutters and both girls nod knowingly.
Soon, the islanders are split into two teams, seated on opposite bleachers across the lawn. In front of them, photos of each girl stand in a row, heart stickers hiding the key numbers.
Pope steps up with a deck of cards and a grin that says he’s loving every second of this. He holds up the first card.
“I’ll read out a fact about one of the girls and reveal a number tied to it. Then the boys have to guess whether the next girl's number is higher or lower. Each correct guess earns a point. Winning team takes it all.” He explains the rules and then, glances at the first photo.
“What’s the most amount of money the girls have ever spent, on a man, in one occasion?” He reads and peels off the heart sticker from Maddy’s photo.
“Maddy has spent…$550.”
The boys react instantly.
“Damn.” JJ whistles. “What was that for?”
“I was dating this guy and he lost his AirPods…so I bought him AirPods Max.” Maddy shrugs.
A mix of impressed and mildly horrified expressions ripple through the bleachers. Pope moves to the next photo.
“Alright, Kiara. Higher or lower than $550?”
The boys huddle quickly.
“Lower.” Topper decides.
“Yeah, definitely lower.” Ryan agrees.
“$200.” Pope reveals. The boys nod, satisfied. Alyssa’s up next and they guess lower, but she surprises them with $250. Cleo follows and as expected by the boys, she’s lower at $150. For Abigail’s number, the boys guess higher and they’re right, again, at $450.
Pope steps to the next photo and smirks.
“Okay…Y/N. Higher or lower?”
“Higher.” Rafe says without hesitation, arms crossed.
“I’m not so sure. She never spent that much when she was with me.” Kelce raises a brow.
Despite Kelce’s skepticism, the boys stick with higher and Pope peels back the sticker.
“Y/N has spent…$300.” He reveals as laughter erupts as “Told y’all.” Kelce leans back smugly.
The boys look over at Y/N, waiting for the backstory.
“I took Kelce to a Knicks game.” She shrugs, hands resting on the wooden seat.
“Oh my god, yes! I completely forgot about that!” Kelce’s face lights up.
She laughs, shaking her head.
Confessional - Y/N
“I feel like $300 is totally reasonable.” She says with a shrug and a grin.
Pope moves to the last photo in the lineup, Sarah.
“Alright. What do we think about Sarah?” He grins.
“Definitely higher.” Topper says without hesitation.
“She’s bougie.” JJ smirks, making the girls burst out laughing as Sarah flips her hair, proudly owning it.
Pope peels back the sticker and the boys erupt.
“$2,000?” Pope yells, holding up the card.
“I booked us a trip.” Sarah says casually with a shrug. The girls gasp in admiration and even the guys look impressed.
Pope focuses back on the stack of cards, grabs the next one and reads it before smirking.
“Okay, okay. Boys, this one’s juicy.”
Everyone leans in.
“How many nudes have the girls sent?”
The yard instantly fills with oohs and laughter. Pope turns to Maddy’s photo first, peels back the sticker.
“Maddy has sent…thirty.”
The boys look over at her, eyebrows raised.
“I’ve had two serious relationships.” Maddy explains, unbothered. “One of them ended up being long-distance. So...”
The group nods understandingly. Pope moves down the line.
“What do we think about Kiara? More or less?”
“I’m saying more.” JJ throws in and the boys agree after a quick debate. Pope lifts the sticker.
“Fifteen.”
The boys blink, mildly surprised.
“Wow.” Ryan mutters.
Next up, Alyssa.
“Higher. Definitely.” The guys say in unison.
Pope reveals the number, three digits.
“In the hundreds?” Topper laughs.
“I’m a tattoo artist. Let’s just say...a lot of clients slide into my DMs for reasons that aren’t about tattoos.” Alyssa smirks.
The girls squeal in shock.
Confessional - Alyssa
“What can I say?” She grins. “I’ve had a few very hot customers.”
Back in the yard, Pope points at Cleo’s photo.
“What about Cleo?”
“What do you think, Pope?” JJ raises a brow.
He thinks for a beat.
“Honestly? I’m gonna go with lower.” He says and the boys nod, trusting the call.
“Go lower.” Rafe confirms.
Pope peels back the heart.
“Two.”
“I had just broken up with my ex…sent him two pics…and yeah, we hooked up that night.” Cleo laughs, explaining herself.
“Cleo!” Sarah yells, laughing in shock, while the girls dissolve into giggles.
The boys guess higher for Abigail and they’re right, as it is seven.
Then Pope turns to Y/N’s photo.
“Okay. Y/N. Higher or lower, boys?”
“Higher.” Topper doesn’t hesitate.
“Nah, I think it’s lower.” Kelce tilts his head.
Rafe stays quiet, eyes flicking to Y/N, searching her expression.
After a quick team huddle, they go with higher.
“Ten.” Pope says, revealing the number. Y/N just shrugs, completely unfazed, as the boys nod and move on.
Finally, Pope turns back to Sarah’s photo.
“Alright. Last one, Sarah again. What are we thinking?”
“Higher.” The boys all say in chorus, not even debating. But Sarah just stares blankly at her photo, lips pressed tight.
Pope removes the sticker and the crowd gasps.
“Wait. Two-thousands?” JJ blurts.
“One of my nudes got leaked on Twitter.” Sarah confesses and the yard goes silent.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Maddy says quietly.
Y/N immediately reaches out and squeezes Sarah’s hand. Within seconds, all the girls are around her, pulling her in for a group hug.
Confessional - Sarah
“I went viral for, like, two days.” She grins, eyes wide as she looks into the camera. “But my mom’s a lawyer, so…handled.” She wipes her hands together like she’s dusting them off, done and over it, before she smirks proudly.
Back in the yard, Pope claps his hands together.
“Alright, boys. Time to find out your girl’s body count.”
Gasps echo from the bleachers. The girls shift in their seats while the boys lean forward. Pope steps up to Maddy’s photo and peels back the sticker.
“Maddy's body count is…eighteen.”
“Totally respectable.” She gives a casual shrug.
The girls snap their fingers in approval, supportive energy flowing across the yard.
“Next up, Kiara. Higher or lower than eighteen?”
“Higher.” Topper says confidently.
“No way. Lower.” Rafe argues.
The boys debate but end up siding with Topper. Pope pulls off the heart.
“Twenty. Another point for the boys.”
Cheers go up as Pope moves to Alyssa’s photo.
He barely gets a word out before the guys all shout in unison.
“Higher.”
Pope chuckles, before revealing the number.
“Thirty-one.”
“No need to explain myself.” Alyssa raises her chin.
“Fair enough.” Pope laughs, before heading to Cleo.
The guys settle on lower and they’re right. Her number is seven. Next is Abigail. The boys guess higher.
“Ten.” Pope reveals before moving on. He stops in front of Y/N’s photo.
“Okay. What do we think, boys?”
The boys gather closer and debate among themselves.
“Honestly? No clue.” Rafe frowns slightly, shaking his head.
“Wait, you haven’t asked her?” Topper looks over.
“Doesn’t really matter.” Rafe shrugs.
“Lower.” Kelce cuts in, firm. The rest of the guys nod.
“We’re going with lower.” John B announces and Pope peels back the sticker.
“Five?” JJ raises an eyebrow. Rafe looks at her with wide eyes.
Confessional - Rafe
He tilts his head, clearly trying to work something out.
“Five just…surprised me, I guess. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that.” He laughs under his breath, shaking his head. “But like, that doesn’t change anything. At all. I still feel the same about her.”
Across the yard, Y/N stares at her hands, suddenly a little tense.
Maddy nudges her playfully.
“Hey. That’s a perfect number.” She says.
“It’s…whatever.” Y/N gives a small eye roll, brushing it off, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. Maddy just smiles and squeezes her hand, holding it quietly.
Confessional - Maddy
“I could tell Y/N got in her head a bit, but she seriously has nothing to be insecure about.” Maddy raises an eyebrow, voice full of sass. “If someone’s still judging people over body count in this day and age? You’re just…dumb. Period.”
Back outside, the boys turn to Sarah’s photo.
“Alright, higher or lower than Y/N?” Pope asks.
“Higher.” Topper says instantly and the rest of the boys nod in agreement.
Pope peels off the sticker.
“Sarah's body count is…twenty-five.”
A few whistles and nods echo around the yard, no one surprised.
“Okay.” Pope announces, holding up the final card. “Last question, how many sexual partners do the girls think is too many for the guy they’re dating?”
A dramatic ‘ooh’ ripples across the group.
Pope steps to Maddy’s photo first.
“Maddy thinks…one hundred is too many.”
The boys glance over at her. She shrugs.
“Honestly? I don’t care what you have done prior to our relationship.”
Everyone nods and Pope moves on. For Kiara, the boys guess lower and they’re right. Her answer was fifties.
Next up, Alyssa. The boys confidently guess higher and Pope cracks up as he removes the sticker.
“Infinity.” He reads and laughter breaks out across the yard.
“I truly couldn't care less about what you have done in your past.” Alyssa grins.
The boys nod, clearly impressed.
They go lower for Cleo and they’re right, again, as her number is thirty.
“I’m a relationship type of girl.” Cleo says seriously. “I don't want to date a player”
Respectful nods follow.
They guess lower again for Abigail, but they’re wrong. Her answer being ninety.
Next up, it's Y/N and the boys guess lower.
“Alright.” Pope says, stepping to her photo.
“Y/N thinks…” He removes the heart sticker. “Somewhere in the hundreds is too many.”
The guys groan in defeat.
“Like, live your life. Just…I don’t want to be with someone who’s been with everyone. That’s all.” Y/N shrugs, calm and unapologetic.
The boys nod, understanding while Rafe looks away.
“Valid.” John B says.
Finally, Pope reaches the last photo. The boys guess for higher.
“Okay, Sarah. You think too many is…” He peels back the sticker. “Seventy.”
A round of nods and clapping follows as Pope walks to the bleachers, while the boys start to cheer.
Cleo walks up, grinning as new photos of the boys are lined up across the yard, heart stickers ready.
“Alright, ladies, let's bring this one home!” She grins, rallying the girls, who cheer in response. She steps forward and reads the first question aloud. “What’s the most money the boys have spent on a woman in one occasion?”
With a dramatic pause, she peels the sticker off the first photo, which is Kelce's.
“Kelce has dropped $1,000.” She announces.
“Oh my god.” Sarah gasps, while Y/N just nods like she’s not surprised.
“Yeah…I, uh, booked an Airbnb in the Hamptons for a weekend.” Kelce says, scratching the back of his neck. Y/N smiles at the memory, while the girls react with impressed 'oohs'. Rafe glances over at her, but quickly shifts his focus as Cleo moves on to the next photo.
“Alright, what do we think about Pope?” She asks. The girls guess lower and they’re right. $300.
Then comes Topper’s turn. His picture appears and the girls debate before finally going with higher. Cleo lifts the sticker.
“$150.” She reads. Everyone blinks at him.
“Just dinner.” Topper shrugs like it’s obvious, making Cleo scrunches her nose.
“Whatever you say, frosted tips.” She mutters before moving on.
Next up is John B and the girls guess higher.
“Please don’t let us down.” Maddy teases, making the girls laugh.
Cleo reveals the amount is $250. The girls cheer and John B just smirks like he expected it.
Then it’s JJ’s turn.
“Lower.” The girls say confidently and Cleo peels back the sticker.
“$50.” She reads as the villa bursts out laughing, even JJ.
“Wanna explain that one?” Kiara asks, wide-eyed, her smile creeping out of her shocked face.
Y/N clutches Maddy, crying with laughter, while Sarah doubles over holding her stomach.
“I’m…not great with dates or gifts.” JJ admits, grinning. “I just grabbed some KFC and took a girl out on the boat.”
“Aww, that’s actually so cute, J.” Y/N beams. JJ shrugs but smiles as Cleo clears her throat and moves on.
“Okay, Ryan’s up. More or less than fifty?”
The girls all agree on higher and they’re right. $500.
Finally, Rafe’s picture comes up. The girls gather, whispering like they’re about to launch a conspiracy theory.
“More than five hundred is insane.” Y/N says, shaking her head.
“I don’t think it is for him.” Maddy counters. “Have you seen his closet? He’s always in designer everything.”
After a moment of back and forth, the girls lock in their answer, going with higher.
“$3,000.” Cleo pulls off the sticker, shocked. Y/N’s jaw drops. The girls erupt into cheers.
“Wait, what did you even buy?” Cleo asks, stunned.
“A Louis Vuitton bag.” Rafe replies, totally unfazed.
“For her birthday or like…a random Tuesday?” Cleo fires back, making everyone laugh, including Rafe.
“Nah, it wasn’t for anything special.” He shakes his head.
“Lucky you.” Maddy murmurs, leaning over and nudging Y/N.
“Shut up.” Y/N whispers, cheeks flushing.
Confessional - Y/N
“Okay, yeah…I was a bit shocked by Rafe’s answer.” She says, raising her brows. “Like, I know he has money, the man’s always in designer stuff and he literally owns a whole company, but just casually dropping three grand like that?” She blinks dramatically. “Wild.”
“Next question is how many nudes have the boys sent?” Cleo announces as the girls get excited.
JJ immediately turns to John B, shaking his head.
“This is gonna be bad.” He says.
“Really bad.” John B agrees, both of them already bracing for embarrassment.
“Forty-five.” Cleo says, peeling the sticker off Kelce’s board. The girls gasp in unison.
“Yeah, uh…no explanation there.” Kelce says, hands raised in surrender as Cleo blinks in disbelief and moves on.
“Okay, Pope.” She doesn’t wait for the girls to weigh in. “We’re going lower.”
The girls nod and Cleo pulls off the sticker revealing the number ten.
Next is Topper.
“Higher.” The girls say, and they’re right again, as his stands at sixty-three.
Then comes John B.
“Higher.” They guess, but Cleo reveals it is fifty.
“Agh, so close.” Maddy groans.
JJ’s up next. The girls guess higher and the number on the board sends the villa into chaos.
“One-ninety.” Cleo reads aloud, stunned.
“What?” Sarah gasps, as everyone bursts into laughter.
Confessional - JJ
“Don’t slut-shame me on Twitter, please.” JJ grins.
“Okay, what do we think about Ryan?” Cleo reads. The girls guess lower this time and they’re right again. “Thirty-six.”
“Okay.” Cleo says, grinning as she reaches the final picture. “What about Rafe?”
The girls hesitate, some voting lower, others whispering amongst themselves. Finally, they agree on higher.
Cleo peels the sticker off slowly.
“Twelve.”
Y/N blinks in surprise and turns to look at Rafe, who’s relaxed on the bleachers like it’s no big deal.
“Twelve?” Cleo repeats, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah.” Rafe says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I haven’t been in many relationships, but I’ve used dating apps…so, you know.”
Everyone nods, seemingly impressed by the honesty.
“Alright ladies, now for my favorite part, body count time!” Cleo claps her hands together.
The girls cheer as she pulls the sticker off Kelce’s picture.
“Kelce's body count is...thirty-five.” She reads.
Next is Pope and the girls go with lower. They get it right, at ten.
On Topper’s turn, they all agree on higher.
“Seventy.” Cleo reveals as eyes widen around the yard, while Topper grins smugly like he’s just won a trophy.
John B’s photo is next and the girls guess lower.
“Fifty-seven.” Cleo reads.
Now it’s JJ again and the girls guess higher, after all his previous answers. Cleo pauses, peels the sticker slowly, then stares.
“In the hundreds?” She blinks. The girls scream in disbelief as the boys erupt in laughter. Topper reaches over to dap him up.
“I had fun in high school and college.” JJ shrugs. “Well, the three weeks I went.”
The girls are still giggling as Cleo moves on.
“Ryan?” She asks the girls, still trying to recover.
They all decide on lower and they’re right once again as his answer is twenty-five.
And finally, Rafe.
“Alright. What about Rafe?” Cleo turns to the girls, but all eyes turn to Y/N.
“I-I have no idea.” She says honestly. “We haven’t really talked about that.”
“What do you think though?” Sarah nudges, gently. Y/N glances toward the bleachers, then back to the group.
“It’s gonna be higher.” She says quietly. “I just…I just know.”
The girls nod and look to Cleo.
“We’ll say higher.” Sarah confirms for the group.
Cleo removes the final sticker.
“Forty-two.” She reads.
The girls react with surprised nods as the boys cheer and clap Rafe on the back. Y/N’s lips part slightly. She doesn’t react outwardly, but a weight settles in her chest.
Confessional - Y/N
“Like…I knew he had experience. I mean, obviously, have you seen the guy?” She says, eyes wide. Then her tone shifts, more thoughtful. “But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t…scare me a little?” She admits, her voice softening with a flicker of vulnerability.
Rafe chuckles from the bleachers.
“I’m 27. I went to business school. I ride a motorcycle.” He says with a shrug, earning a round of laughs from the boys. The girls smile as Cleo claps her hands together.
“Alright ladies, last question!” She grins as the girls cheer. “How many sexual partners do the boys think is too many for the girl they’re dating?”
She heads to Kelce’s photo and peels off the sticker.
“Kelce thinks fifty is too many.”
All eyes turn to the bleachers.
“Okay, but let me just say.” Kelce jumps in, holding up a hand. “I’m not the guy who asks that kind of question or cares about it. What someone’s done in their past? Not my business.”
The girls clap, impressed by the answer and the boys nod along in agreement.
“Aww, okay, that was sweet. Moving on.” Cleo says with a grin. She stops at Pope’s photo. “What do we think, ladies?”
They guess higher, only to get it wrong.
“Pope said 30.” Cleo reads, surprised.
“I totally agree with Kelce.” Pope says quickly. “I just grew up super religious and you know, I haven’t had as much experience as most people here.”
The girls nod respectfully.
“Well, good thing mine’s lower.” Cleo adds with a mischievous grin before bursting out laughing. The rest of the villa joins in.
Next up is Topper. The girls guess higher and miss again.
“Ten?” Cleo reads, blinking.
Topper cringes at his own answer as JJ elbows him. The girls exchange looks, confused and not happy.
Confessional - Alyssa
“That was some double standard bullshit.” She says bluntly. “Like, what do you mean ten is too many for your girl when you’ve slept with seventy people? Make it make sense.”
“Wanna explain yourself?” Cleo narrows her eyes at Topper.
“I, uh, I don’t really care about that stuff.” Topper says, stumbling.
“Mm. Sure.” Cleo mutters, unconvinced, before turning to the next board.
John B’s up. The girls guess lower and they’re right. His answer was one hundred. Then it’s JJ and they guess higher.
“Twenty.” Cleo reveals.
“That’s such a fake answer.” Kiara squints.
“Okay, yeah, I was kidding. Honestly, that stuff doesn’t matter to me. It’s your business, not mine.” JJ raises his hands in surrender.
He shrugs, but no one looks convinced. Kiara just rolls her eyes.
Next is Ryan. The girls confidently vote higher. Abigail crosses her fingers, hopeful.
“Infinity!” Cleo reads and bursts out laughing. The girls cheer and clap while Ryan laughs along.
“Yeah.” He says. “Doesn't really matter to me. Your past is your past.”
“You can’t go higher than infinity.” Abigail smirks.
“Infinity and beyond?” Rafe fires back, sass in full swing. The girls laugh as Cleo removes the sticker.
“Two hundred.”
The girls clap, amused and a little impressed.
With that, the game wraps. The boys are declared the winners and erupt into cheers, hollers echoing across the villa. The girls shake their heads, rolling their eyes, already plotting to win the next challenge.
The islanders start drifting off into smaller groups around the yard, voices buzzing and laughter echoing in the background. Rafe and Y/N grab their water bottles and head to the daybed, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over them.
She settles in beside him, legs crossed as he stretches out, one arm behind his head.
“You mentioned something about riding a motorcycle?” She asks, raising her brows, a playful grin tugging at her lips. He chuckles, his hand naturally coming to rest on her thigh.
“Yeah. Been riding since I was seventeen.” He replies.
“That’s…ridiculously hot.” She mutters, locking eyes with him.
“Yeah?” He smirks, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t. I already regret saying it.” She groans, looking away.
“No, no, say it again, baby.” He teases, voice low and gravelly. His hand gently finds her chin, turning her face back toward his.
Her breath catches as she meets his blue eyes. His thumb traces her cheek, slow and tender. The tension crackles between them like static.
“I…uh…” She pulls back, clearing her throat. “Can we talk about…the challenge?”
He immediately drops his hand, sitting up and nodding, the playfulness fading into something more sincere.
“Of course.” He says, taking a sip from his bottle, while she fidgets with the cap on hers.
“I just…you heard it already, but I’m not…super experienced. And I think that’s why I haven’t been able to go further with you, yet. I’ve always taken things slow and being in here…just...everything moves fast. Like, really fast. And knowing you’ve had more experience…it kinda freaked me out.” Her voice is quiet, vulnerable, as she finally meets his eyes. Rafe shakes his head gently.
“There’s nothing to be scared of.” He leans in, his tone soft. “I would never rush you. Ever. Whatever we do, it’s gonna be when you’re ready. I care way more about you being comfortable than about moving things forward.”
He reaches for her hand.
“And yeah, I’ve had more experience, but that doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t change how I feel about you. We can go at your pace. Only your pace.”
“So…you’re okay with taking it slow?” She blinks slowly, emotion flickering behind her eyes.
“I’m more than okay with it. I want you to feel safe. That’s what matters to me.” He cups her face again, his voice steady and sure.
“Did…did my body count bother you?” Her voice trembles.
“No. Not at all.” His response is immediate.
“But…it’s low.” She admits, a whisper.
“So what?” He scoffs softly. “Y/N, I don’t care if it’s one or zero or a hundred. I like you. That’s what I care about.”
“You mean that?” Her eyes widen slightly.
“Of course I mean it.” He says firmly. “You never have to stress about that kind of stuff with me.”
She exhales deeply, the relief visible on her face. Her smile grows and she leans in, pressing her lips to his in a soft, thankful kiss.
“Thank you.” She whispers as she pulls back slightly.
“You don’t need to thank me.” He murmurs, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re safe with me.”
They hold each other’s gaze, quiet understanding passing between them.
Then, suddenly, Y/N lets out a happy squeal and wraps her arms around him tightly, knocking them both back onto the pillows. They burst into laughter, limbs tangled, hearts light, warmth radiating between them.
“Oh, by the way.” Rafe says, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. “You still owe me that kiss from earlier.”
She smirks, fingers reaching up to toy with the chain around his neck.
“I was hoping you’d forgotten.” She murmurs.
He lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
“Not a chance.”
He leans in again and this time, she meets him halfway, closing the distance between them before curling up by his side.
And just as the villa settles into that rare calm, a loud ping cuts through the air.
“What now?” Rafe groans, head flopping back.
Y/N grabs her phone and grins.
“I got a text!” She shouts. The villa immediately perks up as everyone turns toward her.
“Islanders, it’s time to get dressed up because tonight you’re having a blue party! #party4u #glamup.” She reads aloud.
The villa erupts into cheers, already buzzing with excitement.
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PLEASE some rafe is an asshole to everyone but reader fluff!!!!
everyone hates him. your friends think he’s rude. your neighbor crosses the street when he sees him coming. even the barista at that coffee shop on main visibly flinched when rafe smirked and said “don’t fuck up her drink again.”
and okay, fine, he can be a dick—he likes being a dick. it gets him what he wants faster, and he hates small talk, and he genuinely doesn’t care if anyone likes him—as long as you do. and you do.
you hear his voice before you round the corner. it’s sharp, disdain curling off every syllable. whatever conversation was happening on the boneyard bench before you got there has clearly gone downhill fast.
“jesus, topper,” rafe snaps, “do you ever think before you open your mouth?”
topper’s standing, arms out like he’s trying to defend himself, but rafe’s leaned back on the bench, legs wide, jaw tight, murder in his eyes. you pause for half a second. then you move. without saying a word, you slip between them and drop onto the bench beside rafe. it’s casual, innocent, like you didn’t just sit next to a loaded weapon.
he doesn’t react right away. not verbally, at least. but his hand finds your knee almost instantly. it settles there like it belongs, thumb rubbing over your skin in a slow circle. like he wasn’t just seconds away from strangling his childhood best friend.
topper blinks. “oh. hey.”
you give him a polite smile. “hi.”
rafe doesn’t look at topper again. he doesn’t need to. the shift in him is obvious, almost absurd. his posture eases, his voice drops an octave. “hi, baby,” he says, like the word tastes good.
“hi, rafey.” you blush with a grin. “you done verbally assaulting your friends?”
“depends,” he mutters. “you gonna keep me from finishing the job?” you roll your eyes, but your hand slips into his anyway, fingers threading through his lazily. he squeezes once, like he’s already won something. “he was being an idiot,” rafe mutters under his breath, mostly to you now. “saying dumb shit like you wouldn’t be able to handle…”
“handle what?”
“nothing,” topper cuts in quickly. “it was a joke, dude.”
rafe levels him with a look that could kill a lesser man. “it wasn’t funny,” he says flatly. then, turning to you, he melts. his eyes soften, his lips curl into a smile. “you okay?”
you nod. “just tired.” rafe hums in reply. his hand moves, slides around your shoulders like it’s second nature, pulling you closer. you end up curled into his side, chin tucked near his collarbone, and he kisses the top of your head like it’s just another tuesday.
“rest,” he says, mouth brushing your hair. “i’ll deal with him.”
“you’re so dramatic,” you murmur, voice muffled by his shirt.
he smirks. “you like it.” god help you, you do.
topper stands awkwardly for another beat, then finally mutters, “i’ll just…go.”
“great idea,” rafe calls lazily, already playing with the hem of your sleeve like he didn’t just verbally eviscerate someone two minutes ago. as soon as topper’s gone, he exhales—long and slow—and rests his cheek against your head. “thanks for saving his life,” he murmurs. “i was close.”
“you’re awful.”
“i know,” he whispers. “but i’m nice to you.” it’s true, and when rafe is nice, it’s not performative—it’s real. it’s in the way he runs his fingers through your hair, in the way he always has a hoodie for you before you ask, in the way he’d go to war for you and sleep soundly after.
rafe cameron is an asshole to everyone—except you. and he doesn’t even knows how not to love you.
warnings: cuss words, sexual innuendos, pretense of sexual acts
series masterlist
A few hours have passed since the text about the Heart Rate Challenge and the villa is buzzing with energy. In the makeup room, the girls are crowded around the mirrors, giggling and squealing as they touch up their glam.
“If John B’s heart doesn’t raise the most for me, I swear to God, I’m gonna be fuming.” Sarah announces dramatically.
“Especially after last night?” Maddy raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Everyone heard you two.”
Sarah’s eyes go wide as the room erupts into laughter.
“Okay, sorry…about that.” She mutters, quickly grabbing her eyeshadow palette to avoid eye contact.
“Is that why you were bouncing off the walls this morning?” Alyssa teases, wiggling her brows.
“Oh, shut up.” Sarah mumbles, her cheeks turning pink.
Across the room, Cleo groans at her reflection.
“Y/N, why’d you have to bake today? I’m bloated as hell.” She moans as the girls laugh again.
“Don’t blame me, I didn’t know this challenge was happening!” Y/N raises her hands up in surrender.
“Oh my god, I forgot to shave!” Abigail yelps, making a beeline for the bathroom as the laughter doubles over.
“Okay, real talk. How’s everyone feeling?” Maddy asks, dabbing highlighter into the inner corner of her eye.
“Honestly?” Y/N sighs, setting down her brush. “Kinda nervous.”
“You’re nervous?” Alyssa blinks. Y/N glances briefly at Sarah, then drops her gaze back to her makeup bag.
“Yeah, well…dancing all sexy in a tiny outfit in front of seven guys and the entire world watching? It's nerve-wracking.” She says dryly, reaching for her mascara. Sarah and Maddy both nod in solidarity.
“Please.” Alyssa scoffs. “That boy is down bad for you. He blushes just looking at you.”
Y/N doesn't respond, keeping her focus on her lashes.
“Alright, ladies, let’s calm down.” Cleo declares, noticing the tension. “And can someone please show me some moves before I embarrass myself?”
Y/N chuckles softly.
“Yeah, let me finish up my makeup and I’ll help you.” She offers.
“You’re a lifesaver.” Cleo grins, grateful.
Meanwhile, the boys are gathered around the firepit, with heart monitors around their wrists and dressed in casual fits, buzzing with anticipation as they wait for the girls to make their entrance.
“Y’all excited?” JJ asks, glancing around. The group nods, a few low chuckles rippling through.
“Yeah, man.” Topper replies, bouncing his leg slightly.
“I’m honestly more nervous for our turn.” Pope admits, earning a round of agreement.
“Think any of them are gonna surprise us?” JJ asks.
“For sure.” John B says confidently.
“Have you seen the way those girls move?” Kelce adds, shaking his head. “They’re gonna go all out.”
“Can they come out already?” Rafe leans back with a groan.
Just a few minutes pass before the speaker crackles to life and ‘Don’t Cha’ by The Pussycat Dolls blasts through the villa. The boys immediately sit up straighter, all heads turning toward the path as the unmistakable click of heels grows louder.
Kiara rounds the corner first, owning the moment in a sheer purple babydoll dress, delicate matching lingerie just visible underneath. Her platform heels give her extra height, fairy wings flutter softly behind her and a crown of flowers is nestled in her curls. She moves like she’s on a runway, mouthing the lyrics with a confident smile.
She starts with Kelce. Dropping low in front of him, before coming back up. She gives him a playful lick up his neck that has Kelce’s eyebrows shooting to his hairline as the boys lose their minds beside him.
Next is Ryan. Kiara gives him a little shimmy of her chest and throws in a teasing wink. Ryan’s face goes bright red as he looks away, his hands gripping the couch tightly.
At Pope, her energy softens. She grazes her hands across his chest and presses a kiss to his jaw, then trails down to his neck. Pope lets out a breath and glances to the sky like he’s trying to focus on anything but the feel of her.
Then comes Rafe. The energy shifts again, no seduction, just a sharp high-five that smacks through the air. The guys burst into laughter as Rafe leans back on the couch, clearly grateful to be spared the full treatment.
Kiara turns to John B and the flirt is back. She spins around, drops it low and gives him a slow twerk that makes him shift uncomfortably in his seat. He clears his throat, adjusting his shirt while the boys holler.
Topper gets a slow, sultry drag of her fingers along his chest and collarbone, his smirk faltering just a bit as she leans in close but then she keeps walking.
JJ’s eyes are already wide when she approaches. Kiara climbs onto his lap without hesitation, her hands sliding into his hair as she presses her lips to his neck. Her hips roll slowly, deliberately and JJ’s head falls back like he’s transcending the moment.
“Yo, look at JJ.” Rafe mutters, nudging Pope, both of them wide-eyed and grinning.
Kiara finally pulls back with a satisfied smirk, pats JJ’s chest and glides back toward the villa. Applause erupts behind her, the boys losing it and JJ falls onto the ground.
“Dude.” He wheezes as Topper helps him up. “What the actual fuck was that?”
The rest of them are still yelling, clapping, trying to recover.
Confessional - JJ
“And six more girls are gonna do this?” He scoffs. “Cool. Yeah. Just kill me now.” JJ stares at the camera, flushed and shirtless.
The speaker blasts ‘Candy’ by Doja Cat and all eyes turn to the villa as Abigail struts out. She’s dressed in a black lacy top, a short skirt, thigh-high socks and a tiny apron to represent a maid outfit, complete with accessories and a feather duster in hand. She saunters over with a seductive smile, sitting onto Kelce’s lap and rolling her hips to the beat, earning a groan from him and cheers from the boys.
She moves from one guy to the next, straddling Ryan with a playful roll of her hips, kneeling between Pope’s legs to suck on his finger, licking Rafe's neck and teasing John B with her duster. Topper gets a teasing show as she raises a leg on the couch and runs her hands over her outfit, while rolling her body, leaving him speechless.
Finally, she makes her way to JJ, settling in his lap before pulling him into a heated kiss. Kiara’s scream of encouragement echoes from the terrace as their hands explore and their tongues tangle. Abigail giggles as she pulls back, grabs her feather duster and struts back toward the villa, leaving the boys clapping.
Confessional - JJ
“Literally...kill me.” JJ says, shirtless, deadpan. “I’m not built for this.”
‘Sports Car’ blares through the speakers as Maddy steps out in a red, skin tight race car driver bodysuit, zipped low in the middle, paired with knee-high boots. Her curls bounce with each step and she holds a checkered flag that flutters in the night breeze.
“Is it…” She throws away her flag and pulls the zipper lower, revealing bare cleavage beneath. “Getting hot in here?” She teases with a mock gasp.
The boys erupt, Ryan practically shakes Kelce out of his seat, while Kiara and Abigail cheer from the terrace.
Maddy struts past Kelce, giving Ryan a cheeky shake of her ass, then grinds smoothly on Pope’s lap. She kisses Rafe’s cheek and neck, sucks on John B’s finger, rolls her hips on Topper's and leans into JJ, pressing her chest to his face with a sultry smirk.
Finally, she turns back to Kelce, clearly saving the best for last. Pulling him to his feet, she runs her hands down and back up his body before pushing him back into his seat. She straddles him and kisses him deeply, her hips rolling in sync with the beat. One last peck and she struts away, the boys clapping like they’ve just witnessed a miracle.
Confessional - Kelce
“Maddy…” He exhales, still catching his breath. “That girl didn’t just move, she performed.”
‘Naughty Girl 'by Beyoncé pulses through the speakers as Cleo steps out in a tight police officer bodysuit, handcuffs twirling from her fingers. She walks to the beat, owning every step.
“Any naughty boys out here?” She teases, her accent drawing laughter and nods from the boys.
“He is!” Rafe grins, pointing at Pope. Cleo smirks, strutting towards Kelce and circling the firepit, giving each guy a playful moment.
Lastly, she climbs onto Pope’s lap, kissing him deeply as she guides his hands to her ass, grinding against him to the music. The boys erupt, but Pope barely registers it. She pulls back just enough to place her police hat on his head.
“Don’t lose that.” She says, grinning, then stands and walks away, hips swaying like she’s in full control.
The boys cheer wildly.
Pope remains frozen, eyes wide and unmoving.
“Dude...you good?” Topper laughs.
“I-I think I need a minute.” Pope stammers and the laughter doubles.
Confessional – Cleo
“I had no idea what I was doing. Like, zero.” She cackles. “I just hope my ass looked good.”
The speaker comes to life again and Madison Beer’s ‘Make You Mine’ pulses through the villa. The boys snap their heads to the entrance, anticipation thick in the air.
Then she walks out.
“Holy fuck.” Rafe breathes, eyes wide.
Y/N is a vision. She's wearing a checkered bandeau top and matching ruffled mini skirt, lace tracing the hem just enough to tease. White knee-high socks with little red bows along with white platforms that make her legs look longer. Her hands are covered by red, sheer gloves and ruffles that catch the light as they move. Her curls bounce beneath a tall chef’s hat as she holds a whisk in one hand. But it’s the way she moves. Slow, sultry and confident that holds everyone captive.
“Let’s go!” Maddy screams from the terrace.
Y/N flashes her a smile, then struts toward the fire pit, every step deliberate. When the beat drops, so does she, into an improvised routine that somehow feels choreographed, like she’s done it a hundred times before. The guys can’t look away. When she bends down low, the skirt lifts just enough to reveal a white thong underneath. Rafe feels like his heart’s going to explode.
She starts with Kelce, grabbing his hand and pulling him up from his seat before bending him over with a dramatic flair. The villa erupts into laughter as she gives him a playful smack with the whisk, giggling right along with the rest of them.
Then it’s Ryan, her current partner. She moves to him effortlessly, straddling his lap, her hips rolling in slow, hypnotic waves. Her hands glide over her body with ease, like every inch of her was made to be admired. Untouchable. Electric.
John B covers Rafe’s eyes, but he bats his hand away, locked in.
She glides to Pope next, sitting onto his lap and circling her hips again before falling back into his chest, laughing breathlessly. Then she’s up, catching Rafe’s stare and she smirks at him as she passes by.
She kisses down John B’s neck, biting softly before giggling. Even Topper, who’s pissed at her, bites his lip when she turns around and teases him with a playful shake of her ass.
Then she’s on JJ, laughing as she straddles him. She grabs his hands, places them on her chest and rolls her body like the music is made just for her. JJ smirks, clearly enjoying himself. Rafe’s jaw tightens.
And then, she drops to the ground.
The guys lose it as she crawls, slowly, directly toward Rafe. John B and Pope instinctively scoot aside. She kneels between his legs, fingers sliding up his body. Then, with one smooth motion, she jumps into his lap, her body landing flush against his.
Their lips meet, fast and heated, but she pulls away just as quick, pushing his head back against the wood behind him. Her mouth trails down his neck as she undoes his shirt expertly, one button at a time, nails dragging against his chest.
Rafe gasps loudly and the boys go nuts.
She pulls away, lips flushed, breathing heavy. Then she leans in, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Tell George I’m sorry.” She murmurs against his ear. Then she’s gone. Back to the villa, hips swaying like nothing happened. Rafe just lies there, stunned as the rest clap.
“Yo!” JJ grins. “Did you get a boner?”
“Yes.” Rafe groans, adjusting himself without shame.
Back on the terrace, Maddy pulls Y/N into a hug.
“Girl! You ate. Rafe is done.”
Y/N just laughs, still catching her breath.
“I think I blacked out.” She admits. “I don’t even know what I did.”
Confessional – Rafe
“Okay, but like…when’s the hideaway open again?” He looks off-camera. “For real.”
Alyssa’s heels click confidently against the ground as Ariana Grande’s ‘Dangerous Woman’ pulses through the speakers. She struts out in a red corset, lace shorts and knee-high red socks fastened with garters. A pair of red devil horns perch atop her head like a crown.
Topper lets out a loud howl as she makes her way toward the firepit, eating up the attention. Alyssa throws a few flirty moves to the first boys, but pulls a big performance for Rafe. She climbs onto his lap, pressing her body against his, her movements slow and deliberate as she tries to read his face.
Rafe leans back casually, his expression unreadable, detached, almost bored.
“She’s trying too hard.” Maddy whispers to Y/N from the terrace above. Y/N doesn’t answer. Her eyes are locked on Rafe’s face, studying his every reaction.
Alyssa leans in, lips brushing against his neck as her hips continue to roll. But just as she does, Rafe glances up toward the terrace, locking eyes with Y/N.
Alyssa catches it. She pulls back, annoyed and with an exaggerated eye roll, slides off his lap and moves on without a word.
When she reaches Topper, she turns the charm back on. Even though they’ve been coupled up for ages, she treats him to the same routine, only this time, she caps it off with a slow, deep kiss that lingers just a little too long.
Confessional - Alyssa
“I think I crushed it!” She grins, tossing her hair. “I mean…did you see that?”
The last girl to take the stage is Sarah. As Britney Spears’ ‘Gimme More’ comes on, she struts out in a bubblegum pink bodysuit, fishnets and matching heels. A pair of bunny ears bounce on her head, a pink bowtie collar wraps around her neck and a fluffy pom-pom tail completes the look.
The girls erupt in cheers from the terrace, screaming her name as she saunters around the firepit, hips swaying to the beat. She gives each guy just a taste, but enough to leave them wanting more.
A kiss pressed to Kelce’s neck. She sits onto Ryan’s lap like she belongs there. Sucks on Pope’s finger with a slow smirk. Rafe gets a kiss on the cheek and she flashes a cheeky thumbs-up to Y/N on the terrace, setting off a round of giggles from the girls.
With Topper, she settles on his lap, rolling her hips in a way that’s almost cruel. JJ gets a flirty body roll and her pair of bunny ears perched on his head.
Then she turns to John B. She grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him up effortlessly, leading him by the collar.
“Walk him like a dog, Sarah!” Y/N yells with a laugh.
Sarah turns, pushing John B down onto the ground. He obeys without hesitation, grinning as she crawls on top of him. With a practiced flick, she sweeps her hair to one side, offering a full view of her neck and then leans in, kissing him hard, slow and deep.
His hands find her waist as she moves against him, completely owning the moment.
The girls scream from the balcony again.
When she finally pulls back and gets up, her hips sway like nothing just happened.
The boys get up from their seats, applauding and John B stays on the floor, dazed and impressed.
Upstairs, Sarah barely makes it to the top before Y/N and Maddy run to her, squealing.
“You killed it out there!” Y/N shouts, throwing her arms around her.
Confessional - Y/N
"Not gonna lie, watching Sarah move like that? Instant fanny flutters." She admits.
The girls make their way to the fire pit, still in their challenge outfits, changed into comfortable slippers instead of their tall heels, heart rate monitors strapped snugly around their wrists. They settle in, giggling and waiting for the boys’ turn.
“Bring them out! Bring them out!” Maddy chants, pumping her fists. The others join in, laughter bubbling up as ‘Ice Ice Baby’ starts playing. Confused glances are exchanged before they shrug and start clapping along to the beat.
Suddenly, JJ bursts out dressed in a beige toga, white angel wings and gold accessories. The girls erupt into laughter as he lip-syncs the first verse flawlessly, selling every word with exaggerated swagger.
As the chorus hits, he struts toward Alyssa, rolling his body dramatically, making her double over with laughter. Next is Abigail, he lifts her effortlessly, her legs wrapped around his waist as he bounces her in his arms. She squeals, gripping him tightly. He lowers her gently and plants a playful kiss on her cheek.
Then he turns to Kiara. Without warning, he parts her knees and rolls his body against hers, full grind-mode. The girls scream, while Kiara sits frozen, wide-eyed.
Maddy’s next. JJ spins her around, grabs her hips and pulls her back onto him with no hesitation.
“Whew, go J!” She laughs breathlessly.
When he reaches Y/N, he slows it down, licking up her neck to her ear, then gently biting her earlobe while gripping her thigh. Y/N gasps, visibly flustered and JJ flashes a wicked grin before moving on.
He grabs Sarah’s hands next, dragging them over his chest before pretending one is a mic, rapping into it with full commitment. Finally, he ends with Cleo, giving her a cheeky kiss. She cringes, giggling as he dances away.
The girls cheer wildly as JJ struts back to the villa, arms in the air like a champ.
Confessional - Abigail
“JJ definitely brought the energy.” She says with a slight shrug. “But honestly? I expected…more.”
The speaker crackles to life again, this time, ‘Please Me’ by Cardi B and Bruno Mars blares across the villa. The girls perk up, scanning the area for the next boy.
Then out comes Pope in bright yellow baggy pants, red suspenders and a firefighter hat perched on his head. Sarah grabs Cleo, shaking her as the girls burst into cheers. Just as Cardi starts singing, Pope yanks down the pants in one dramatic motion, revealing snug black shorts that leave little to the imagination.
The girls scream.
He goes around to the girls, body rolling with messy confidence. He plops into Maddy’s lap, pulling her hands to his chest in mock seduction and makes everyone chuckle by sucking one of Sarah’s fingers.
Then he makes a beeline for Cleo. He picks her up effortlessly, cradling her close as he plants a deep, lingering kiss on her lips. One of her hands settles gently on his cheek, while his grip tightens around her thighs, one hand on her ass.
When he sets her down, he places his firefighter hat on her head and bounces away, grinning ear to ear. Cleo bites her lip, cheeks flushed.
“How was that kiss?” Y/N teases.
“Too good.” Cleo laughs and the girls break into a chorus of giggles.
Confessional - Cleo
“Yeah, that kiss?” She smiles, still dazed. “That was…really good. And his moves? Didn’t think he had that in him, honestly.”
Next up ‘Yeah!’ by Usher plays and the girls look around in surprise before Topper struts out in a full gladiator costume. Sword in hand, chest bare, he lifts his weapon theatrically. The girls crack up.
He tosses the sword to the ground, then drops into a near-perfect worm as screams erupt.
Topper rises and struts past Alyssa, heading straight to Abigail where he rolls his hips against her with exaggerated precision. Then he sucks on Kiara’s finger, she blinks, stunned, before planting kisses on Maddy’s neck and chest. Maddy shoots a bewildered glance at Y/N, nose scrunched in amused disbelief.
Topper turns, facing Y/N. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he clenches and unclenches his butt cheeks like it's choreography. She laughs, fully unbothered.
He bends down to Sarah next, kissing her neck and parting her legs to pull her closer, lingering a little too long. Sarah clears her throat. Topper backs off, finally moving on to Cleo with a brief lap dance.
Then, for his finale, he lifts Alyssa right off the bench, laying her gently against the wooden platform. With his hips pressed to hers, he leans in and kisses her deeply as she giggles into his mouth. The girls cheer wildly. From the balcony, JJ hollers while Pope casually eats popcorn, watching the show.
When Topper’s satisfied, he helps Alyssa back to her feet, gives a theatrical bow, and walks away like a man who just conquered Rome.
Confessional - Alyssa
“Topper was good.” She nods slowly. “But…it kinda bothered me how much time he spent on Sarah.” Her lips press into a thin line.
‘SexyBack’ by Justin Timberlake hits the speakers like a shot of adrenaline. The girls perk up immediately, ready, but nothing prepares them for what comes next.
Rafe walks out, slow and deliberate. He’s wearing baggy, grease-stained pants slung low on his hips, a reflective construction vest that barely covers his chest, a yellow hard hat and a wrench casually swinging in his hand.
Y/N’s lips part before she even realizes.
“Oh. My. God.” She breathes.
He smirks, he knows what he’s doing. And when he reaches the fire pit, he pauses for effect before ripping the pants away, revealing fitted black shorts that cling to him like a second skin.
“Damn, girl, he’s packing.” Maddy whispers.
Y/N smacks her without taking her eyes off him.
“I know.” She murmurs back, with wide eyes.
He strides toward the girls with confident ease, his gaze sharp and unreadable. As he reaches Alyssa, he leans in and plants a quick, almost obligatory kiss on her cheek. No charm behind it, no spark. Just a quiet, clear message that he is not into her.
Alyssa blinks, caught slightly off guard and straightens her posture as if trying to recover her pride. But the moment hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Y/N watches it unfold, her eyes narrowing with a flicker of satisfaction. Her lips tug upward in a small, smug smile. She doesn’t say anything, just shares a knowing glance with Sarah, who stifles a laugh.
Then Rafe moves on to Abigail. He grabs her hands, placing them firmly against his chest, dragging them slowly over the ridges of his abs with a devilish grin. Abigail laughs, caught up in the performance, but he is focused on Y/N.
He shifts to Kiara next, pressing a soft, respectful kiss to her cheek. She gives a small smile and a thankful nod. He turns to Y/N.
She leans up toward him instinctively and he swerves. Walks right past her.
The girls gasp. Y/N freezes, stunned, a half-smile frozen on her face. She blinks, lips parted, brows lifted. She doesn’t know whether she wants to laugh or kill him.
He continues to Sarah, then Cleo, handing off his hat like it’s part of the act.
He struts away and just when she thinks he’s done, he spins around and runs straight back to her.
Y/N barely registers what’s happening before he scoops her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly and carrying her to the wooden platform. He lays her down gently, the music still pounding in the background, but it’s like the world has narrowed to just the two of them.
His hands find her wrists, pinning them above her head.
She gasps, eyes locked on his.
Then his lips crash against hers.
The kiss is deep, consuming. One of those can’t-breathe, can’t-think, don’t-care kinds of kisses. His free hand traces down her body, grabbing her leg and stretching it over his shoulder like it belongs there. She arches beneath him, breath caught, heartbeat wild.
He rolls his hips against hers, slow but controlled. Commanding.
The villa goes wild. The girls scream. JJ yells something unintelligible from the balcony. And Pope almost drops his popcorn. But Y/N can’t hear any of it.
She only hears him.
When he finally pulls away to breathe, she’s still dazed, until he expertly flips her over.
The crowd roars again as he pulls her hips back against his, dragging her into him in a way that feels anything but performative. It’s raw. Possessive.
Then, as if she weighs nothing, he lifts her over his shoulder, carries her back to the bench and sets her down gently.
He plants one last kiss on her lips, softer this time, but no less intense and he walks away, cocky and cool, like he didn’t just set the entire fire pit on fire.
Y/N sits, still catching her breath, completely flushed.
Confessional - Y/N
“Book. Us. The. Hideaway.” She says, fanning herself with both hands. “I’m not kidding. I need him like…yesterday.”
‘Yo Voy’ by Zion & Lennox pulses through the speakers and the girls sit up instantly.
Kelce walks out in a Top Gun jumpsuit, unzipped halfway to reveal his perfectly sculpted chest. A pair of aviators hangs low on his nose, until he tosses them aside with a smirk.
“Oh my God, that’s my favorite song!” Maddy squeals, smacking the couch. “He remembered!” Her voice softens into a giddy coo.
The girls cheer as Kelce strides to the fire pit with swagger, popping open the rest of the jumpsuit and letting the sleeves fall. His torso glistens under the lights and the hollering only gets louder.
He does his round with the girls but he doesn’t waste time. Kelce heads straight for Maddy, lifting her up and laying her out against the platform like she’s a prize. He grinds into her with practiced rhythm, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as she throws her head back in laughter.
When he helps her back to her seat, he walks and pauses in front of Y/N. With a quick, cheeky grin, he leans down and kisses her cheek.
“Good man!” Rafe shouts from the terrace, laughter echoing around the villa.
Y/N smiles up at him, shaking her head, but her eyes sparkle with amusement as Kelce moves on to the next girls.
When he starts to walk away, just a few steps in, he pauses. With zero hesitation, he shimmies out of the rest of the jumpsuit, revealing a pair of impossibly tiny, neon green underwear.
Rafe and JJ go feral on the balcony, whistling and howling as the girls explode.
He turns around to reveal the back and it’s barely hanging on, wedged so far up it might as well be invisible. The screams from the girls are immediate.
Maddy, Sarah and Y/N collapse to the ground, crying with laughter.
Confessional - Kelce
“Listen…” He smirks, tongue poking his cheek. “You get one shot to show off the goods, so I made sure they saw all of them.”
Then, the unmistakable beat of ‘Promiscuous’ by Nelly Furtado is heard.
John B steps out in denim shorts trimmed with cow print, a red bandana tied around his neck, brown cowboy boots and a matching cowboy hat tilted low over his eyes. His belt buckle gleams in the firelight.
“Yeehaw, bitch!” Maddy shouts, smacking Sarah’s arm, over Y/N. Sarah hides her face in her hands, already blushing.
John B keeps it light with the rest of the girls, just a few cheeky moves here and there, but it’s very clear who he’s here for.
He moves, determined, up to Sarah, tosses the hat off and gently presses her back on the bench. Cleo rushes away, cackling. The moment their lips meet, the girls erupt into a chorus of cheers. Her legs coil tightly around his waist and her fingers tug at the strands of hair peeking from under his cap.
They laugh into the kiss, whispering something only they can hear. When he finally pulls back, he plants the cowboy hat on Sarah’s head with a wink and walks off like he just won riding the mechanic bull.
Confessional - Sarah
“You know what they say…” She grins, pretending to twirl a lasso. “Ride a cowboy, save a horse.”
The girls lounge by the firepit, their chatter buzzing with leftover adrenaline as they wait for the final boy to come out.
“You know.” Y/N begins, eyes glinting with faux annoyance. “I think I’m more upset that I didn't get to see Maddy do her thing…than I’ve ever been in this villa.”
The girls laugh, but Maddy smirks knowingly, already climbing into Y/N’s lap like it’s second nature.
“Oh, she’s doing her thing now.” Sarah teases as the girls burst into cheers.
Maddy rolls her hips slowly, playfully, while Y/N's hands hold her firmly at the waist. The boys up on the terrace freeze, some with amusement, some in awe.
Maddy raises an eyebrow at Y/N, who just nods, biting back a grin. That’s all the encouragement she needs.
Maddy leans in and presses her lips to Y/N’s, soft but deliberate.
The girls scream and holler as the kiss lingers just a beat too long. The guys are stunned.
“Hey-hey!” Rafe blurts out, eyebrows furrowed. “What the fuck?” His voice isn’t angry, just startled. Flustered, even.
Maddy pulls back, casually wiping the smudge of lip gloss from Y/N’s bottom lip before standing.
“Sorry, Cameron.” She says innocently, strutting back to her seat with a proud smirk.
“Dude…” JJ whispers, still slack-jawed. “That was the single hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Close your mouth, man.” Kelce says, nudging him. “You’re drooling.”
Before anyone can say more, the speaker blares to life with ‘Pony’ by Ginuwine. The mood shifts again.
Ryan steps out, dressed in tight black shorts, football shoulder pads, high socks and a helmet. He tosses a football toward the terrace as he swaggers forward, while Kelce catches it effortlessly.
Helmet off, Ryan heads toward the firepit, the girls screaming and laughing already.
He starts with Alyssa, kissing down her neck and chest sensually, he makes Abigail giggle as he twerks right in her face and kisses her forehead sweetly, then presses his body into Kiara’s and grinds against Maddy like he’s trying to outdo every boy before him.
But everyone’s watching for the moment they know is coming.
Ryan stops in front of Y/N.
The girls go silent. The boys lean forward. Rafe doesn’t move a muscle.
Ryan smirks, stepping between Y/N’s legs like he owns the space.
Y/N blinks, pulse speeding.
Rafe’s jaw flexes up on the terrace, his arms crossed tightly.
Ryan kneels down slowly and lifts one of Y/N’s legs over his shoulder. He starts kissing her inner thigh, trailing down until he reaches the top of her high sock.
Y/N's breath catches as he pulls the sock off with his teeth, never breaking eye contact.
She swears her heart is pounding in her throat.
He presses one last kiss on her shin before standing to kiss her cheek, tenderly, almost teasingly and then moves on to Sarah and Cleo, finishing his set with a sultry suck of Cleo’s finger.
As Ryan walks away, cocky and triumphant, the girls jump up to cheer. Y/N moves with them, but slower. Still flushed, flustered and unsure where to look.
Until she does.
Her gaze lifts to the terrace, where Rafe is already staring at her. Intensely.
She quickly looks away.
Confessional - Rafe
“Yeah… uh…” He exhales, scratching the back of his neck. “I definitely preferred it when she was dreaming of Captain America.”
The islanders gather around the firepit, boys on one side, girls on the other. The anticipation buzzes in the air as Sarah stands up, holding a heart-shaped board with the results.
“Alright.” She begins, clearing her throat dramatically. “First up, Pope’s heart rate was raised the most by…Cleo!”
Applause breaks out as Cleo beams and Pope rubs the back of his neck, blushing.
“John B’s heart rate was raised the most by…moi.” Sarah announces with a cheeky grin. John B winks at her, nodding in approval.
Then she glances at the next name, her grin widening.
“Rafe’s heart rate was raised the most by…” She pauses for suspense. “Our little baker, Y/N!”
Laughs ripple through the group as eyes turn to her. Y/N blushes, looking across the firepit at Rafe. He winks at her, cool and smug.
“JJ’s heart rate was raised the most by…Kiara?” She blinks, surprised. Everyone claps, but the energy is more curious than celebratory.
Y/N’s eyes flick over to Abigail, who offers a tight, practiced smile before looking down at her hands.
“Okay, next…” Sarah continues, clearing her throat. “Kelce’s heart rate was raised the most by Maddy.”
Maddy grins and sends him a playful wink. Kelce just nods, calm and collected.
“Topper’s heart rate was raised the most by…” Sarah squints at the board. “Me?”
Confused claps follow. Topper shrugs awkwardly. Alyssa crosses her arms and looks away, visibly irritated.
Confessional -Alyssa
“Like…what the actual fuck?” She mutters, clearly seething.
“Alright, last boy.” Sarah announces. “Ryan, your heart rate was raised the most by…Y/N.”
Y/N looks down, lips tightening. Across the firepit, Rafe’s jaw tenses visibly. Ryan rubs the back of his neck, trying to lighten the tension.
“Guess I’ve got a thing for bakers.” He jokes, shrugging. A few chuckles echo around the pit, but not from Rafe or Y/N.
Rafe’s eyes stay locked on her.
Now it’s John B’s turn to take over, holding the next set of results.
“Okay, starting with Maddy.” He says. “Your heart rate was raised the most by Kelce.”
“Knew it.” She claps dramatically.
“Sarah, yours was raised the most by…yours truly.” John B says, smiling.
“Duh.” She replies.
“Kiara.” John B continues. “Yours was raised the most by…JJ.”
Kiara turns toward JJ, who’s still wearing his angel costume. His blue eyes meet hers and he smirks. She blinks, caught off guard but smiling faintly.
“Alyssa.” John B reads next. “Your heart rate was raised the most by…Ryan.”
“No. No way.” Alyssa says, shaking her head.
“That’s what your heart monitor said.” He shrugs. She huffs but doesn’t argue further.
“Cleo, your heart rate was raised the most by Pope.” He reads. They exchange a shy smile across the pit.
“Abigail, yours was raised the most by…Ryan.”
Abigail looks at Ryan and lets out a small laugh as she joins in on the applause.
“And finally…” John B pauses for effect. “Y/N, your heart rate was raised the most by…Rafe.”
Before anyone can react, Rafe’s already on his feet.
He strides over, grabs Y/N’s face and kisses her deeply, like he’s been waiting all night for this moment. The firepit erupts in cheers and whistles as the couple finally pulls apart, breathless, smiling, eyes locked.
could you do something with singer!reader, like her and drew fight before she goes on stage so she goes hard on please please please and everyone looks at drew
don't bring me to tears ⎯ DREW STARAKEY.ᐟ
authors note thank you for the request lovie. this was such a fun writing experience. feedback is always appreciated <3.
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summary getting in an argument with your boyfriend before stepping on stage and going hard singing please please please.
You stood on stage ready for the next song to start playing. Taking a deep breath while smiling out the thousands of fans in front of you. The crowd grows louder as you pull the mic closer to your mouth.
"Please please please don't prove I'm right" you and your two vocalist sing together in harmony. Keeping your eyes up to the ceiling repeating in your head⎯it will all be okay.
Everything in your body was on cloud nine. Prior to stepping on stage, Drew and you had an argument in your dressing room. The argument was unnecessary and left you both conflicted, leaving unsolved tension.
Your voice begins soft and satin-smooth, but with a jagged edge. Every line is loaded with emotion⎯not just sadness, but also pride. Defiance. You move around the stage with deliberate grace, keeping your movements flowing and simple. One hand lifts to your waist, the other slowly moves down the curve of the mic stand, and when you sing
I heard that you're an actor, so act like a stand-up guy.
Your voice sending a clear message who you're talking about. Looking around the crowd as you typically do singing this part. Your hands make a hand motion as you mention, "stand-up guy."
The writing process of this song meant a lot to you. Around this time, you met Drew and your relationship was getting serious. This song was almost like a playful warning.
Your makeup is flawless. Your skin glows under the golden stage lights. But your body language? Your posture? There’s tension coiled like a spring under the glamour. A little sway of your hip, a flick of your wrist⎯graceful, but there’s venom in the rhythm.
Don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice.
With your hand on your chest and other holding the mic as you stood in the center of the stage with your eyes closed as you sang the last note of the chorus. You felt every emotion flow through your body as you told yourself to not actually cry on stage.
Drew stood in the vip section where close friends and family were typically placed. He knew exactly what you were doing on stage. Hearing the tone in your voice and body language in during certain movements gave it away in his eyes.
I beg you, don't embarrass me, motherfucker, ah, please please please.
Your voice sent a message to the fans. Your voice sounded dramatic with a hint of a giggle at the end. There were fans that looked in Drew's direction wondering what's going on.
Prior to the show starting, Drew and you had this big fight in your dressing room about rumors spreading around about your relationship. It started off stubble then took a turn for the worst. You trust Drew with all your heart and with a rumor constantly going around about him "cheating" on you.
It started off normal then tension in the room went up.
When you finished singing the song, you took a deep breath, staring in Drew's direction⎯giving him that look he knows too well. You knew you two needed to find a solution from this after the show.
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The girls are huddled on a bench, buzzing with excitement. Across from them, the boys stand in a line, blindfolded and wearing headphones. Maddy stands by a giant whiteboard with everyone's names, holding a heart-shaped board covered in notes.
“Alright, ladies.” Maddy grins, slipping into full presenter mode. “How are we feeling about this kissing challenge?”
Laughter and cheers erupt from the bench. Maddy smirks.
“Ready to kiss some boys?” She teases. The girls erupt again, hollering in agreement as Maddy glances at her board.
“Okay, first up is Kiara!”
Kiara stands, smoothing her dress.
“Wish me luck.” She quips and the girls give her a playful shove toward the lineup.
She starts with JJ. Their kiss is intense, deep. Then she moves down the line: Ryan, Topper, Kelce, Rafe, John B and finally, Pope. That one’s gentler, a little awkward, but still sweet. She gives him another soft peck before heading back to the bench, her cheeks flushed.
The boys take off their headphones as the music cuts.
“So, boys.” Maddy asks. “Thoughts on our first girl?”
“Good kiss.” Pope says, grinning. Kiara shakes her head with a laugh.
“Pretty solid start.” JJ agrees.
Maddy records their ratings and Kiara scores 53 points. She does a little shoulder shimmy, proud of the result.
“Cleo, you’re up!” Maddy calls, as soon as the boys put their headphones back on
Cleo's approach is slower, more thoughtful. Her kisses are softer, lingering a bit longer on new guy, Ryan and Pope. With Pope, there's something deeper. His hands drift up her sides and when they separate, his lips are slightly swollen and shimmering with her Fenty gloss.
Cleo earns 55 points. She flashes Kiara a cheeky middle finger making Kiara laugh.
Next is Sarah. Her kisses are sensual, soft but confident.
“I think I’m getting turned on.” Y/N mutters, fanning herself as Sarah kisses Ryan.
When she gets to John B, her arms loop around his shoulders. He instinctively wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Their kiss deepens and she giggles mid-way before moving to his neck, trailing up to his ear with a slow lick and a playful bite. John B gasps in response and the girls erupt in squeals. Sarah walks back with 63 points.
Then comes Alyssa. She lingers on Topper, but it’s clear her moment is with Rafe. She turns to the girls with a smirk.
“I never got my chance with him so…sorry, Y/N.” She says, before tugging Rafe down into a kiss.
Y/N rolls her eyes, watching closely. The kiss is messy, desperate but Rafe doesn’t lean in. His hands stay crossed behind his back. When it’s over, he wipes his mouth and Cleo elbows Y/N, wide-eyed.
Alyssa scores the lowest, even with Topper’s generous 10. She scowls as she returns to the bench.
Now it’s Maddy’s turn. The girls cheer as she heads to the boys with purpose. Her kisses are slow and deliberate, especially with Kelce. His hands grip her ass as her dress rides up slightly. They kiss longer than anyone else so far and when she pulls back, her cheeks are flushed.
Maddy earns 60 points. Not a win, but close enough to be proud.
Then, Abigail dives in with pure excitement, making the most of every kiss. She scores 53 points and returns to the bench beaming, not worried about the score.
Last but definitely not least, Y/N rises from the bench and walks slowly toward the lineup of blindfolded boys. She starts with JJ. Their kiss begins soft, but he wastes no time making it messier. His hands grip her waist while her nails trail across his abs, exposed beneath his open shirt.
Next is Ryan. She surprises him by pulling him down to her height, confidently guiding his hands to her ass while cupping his face. Their kiss is slow, sensual and charged. Ryan melts into it, drawing her in closer.
“Oh my god.” Maddy breathes, watching with wide eyes as the rest of the girls exchange stunned looks.
Y/N pulls away with a smirk and moves on to Topper. Their kiss is more tentative as he fumbles with his hands, unsure of where to place them. But Y/N holds her ground and kisses him gently, keeping the moment light.
She approaches Kelce, bracing herself for discomfort, but it never comes. The kiss is unexpectedly sweet, stirring up old memories and forgotten wounds. When she pulls away, she pats his cheek twice, almost fondly, before stepping toward Rafe.
She stops in front of him, pausing to take him in. His head bobs lightly to the beat in his headphones, arms still crossed behind his back like they’ve been for every kiss, so far. His polo clings to his chest, the stubble on his jaw making her knees wobble.
She closes the distance, fingers grazing his chest, then his neck, before cradling his face. Her lips meet his softly at first, but the moment they connect, his hands drop to her waist, pulling her in. The kiss deepens. He groans low in his throat, his grip tightening on her ass, not rough, but firm enough to leave a mark in her memory.
She pulls back to breathe, then kisses down his neck, slowly, deliberately. He tightens his grip on her hips, pressing her against him.
“Y/N…” He whispers. Though he can’t see her, she looks up at him anyway, then leans in again. This time the kiss is shorter, but just as intense. So much that it leaves her dizzy and him breathless. Before walking away, she bites his bottom lip gently, drawing another groan. The girls laugh from the bench as Rafe exhales sharply and bends slightly, adjusting his pants, clearly flustered.
Still catching her breath, Y/N kisses John B. It’s soft, sweet and brief. She knows nothing else could measure up after Rafe.
Finally, she reaches Pope. Their kiss is warm, unhurried. When she pulls back, she’s smiling and so is he.
Y/N returns to the bench just as the music cuts and the boys remove their headphones, but not their blindfolds.
“Boys.” Maddy announces. “That was our seventh and final girl. Thoughts?”
“Hell.” Rafe mutters, drawing chuckles from the girls. Maddy raises an eyebrow.
“Well, Rafe, it seemed like you got a little more...engaged during that round. Any notes? Comments?”
Y/N rolls her eyes as Maddy looks at her knowingly. She reapplies her lip gloss, trying not to smirk. Rafe shakes his head.
“No notes. Just…she’s a fucking amazing kisser.” Down the line, Ryan nods, clearly agreeing. Sarah elbows Y/N.
“You seem confident.” Maddy teases. “Think you know who you were kissing?”
“I don’t think.” Rafe says. “I know.”
Maddy turns back to her chalkboard.
“Alright, time for the ratings. JJ?”
“Solid kiss.” JJ replies. “The nail thing? Hot. I’ll give her an 8.”
Maddy scribbles it down.
“Ryan, you seemed to be enjoying yourself…”
Ryan nods, glancing toward where he thinks Y/N might be.
“Yeah, she definitely knew what she was doing. I liked how she took control, put my hands where she wanted.”
Rafe scoffs.
“It’s a 10 from me.” Ryan adds. The girls react with surprise. Even Y/N raises an eyebrow. Maddy clears her throat theatrically.
“Would you kiss her again?” She asks, glancing at Y/N.
“No hesitation.” Ryan says with a grin. Rafe shifts, jaw clenched, clearly irritated.
“Topper?”
“A little awkward, probably my fault.” He admits. “And considering Rafe ‘knows’ who it was, I’d rather not get my ass beat, so…6.”
The girls laugh and Y/N grins, unfazed.
“Good man.” Rafe mutters approvingly.
“Kelce?”
Kelce scratches the back of his neck.
“I had my suspicions before, but Rafe confirmed them. Great kiss. No hard feelings. I’ll give it a 9.”
Y/N gives him a grateful smile as Maddy turns to Rafe.
“Okay, Ra-” “10.” Rafe cuts her off, arms crossed, smirking. Maddy blinks but jots it down.
With John B and Pope’s ratings added, Y/N earns 61 points, which confirms Sarah's win. The girls cheer for the final scores as the boys remove their blindfolds and crowd around the board.
Rafe’s eyes find Y/N immediately, lingering on her flushed cheeks and glossed lips.
Now it’s the girls’ turn, as they line up with playful grins and nervous giggles, slipping on their headphones and adjusting their blindfolds while the boys take their seats on the bench. Kelce stands front and center, holding the heart-shaped board filled with notes.
“Alright, first up is John B!” He announces, earning cheers as John B rises.
John B moves down the line smoothly, planting soft kisses with ease. He lingers a little longer on Sarah, wrapping her up in his arms, making her giggle into his chest. It’s sweet, familiar. He returns to the bench with 53 points, shrugging nonchalantly.
Topper is next and things immediately get awkward. He’s all elbows and bad timing. Pulling Maddy a little too hard, landing a kiss on Kiara’s nose and going way too intense with Y/N.
“I am really, really sorry for this.” Y/N says, readjusting her blindfold, her tone apologetic but honest. “It just wasn’t my speed. I’m gonna have to give it a 6.”
Topper returns to the bench with 50 points as the guys try to lift his spirits.
Kelce’s turn brings a wave of energy. He’s charming, deliberate, taking his time with each girl. Deep kisses, roving hands, a confident swagger and he racks up an impressive 65 points, leaving everyone cheering in surprise.
Pope follows, more tender and precise. His soft touch earns him a ‘10’ from Cleo, boosting him to a solid 58 points.
And then, it’s Rafe. He stands slowly, his jaw tight, but eyes scanning the lineup until they land on her.
She doesn’t know he’s watching, of course. Her head’s tilted slightly to the beat of the music in her ears, her weight shifting from foot to foot. Her hands tucked into her back pockets. And those jeans hugging her figure just right.
He starts with Cleo, a soft kiss and steady hands. Then Maddy, with a light grip around the waist. Alyssa, Kiara, Abigail, Sarah, each kiss deliberate, measured. But they’re just stepping stones. Because then, he’s in front of her.
And something shifts.
He doesn’t hesitate. His hands find her waist and pull her toward him in one swift motion, surprising her. Her breath catches as her fingers instinctively clutch his shirt. The scent of his cologne, familiar yet dangerous, wraps around her like a second skin. She doesn’t know it’s him, but her body remembers.
He cups her face gently, his lips brushing hers, tender at first before deepening the kiss with purpose. His tongue slips past her lips, drawing a breathy sound from her throat. One hand moves to the nape of her neck, holding her in place, while the other slides down, gripping her thighs and lifting her up effortlessly. She gasps as her legs wrap around his waist. His hand grips her ass firmly, massaging the flesh and she lets out a sound she doesn’t even recognize.
His lips find her neck. A kiss. Then a bite. She grips his shoulders hard, nails digging into his skin and he hisses in delight. He kisses her again, hungrier now, messier. Her lip gloss smears onto his lips as her head tilts to chase more.
When he finally pulls back, it’s not to catch his breath but to admire her. Lips swollen. Hair tousled. Cheeks flushed. Two faint marks on her neck.
He knows she’s going to kill him for that. And he also knows he doesn’t care.
He sets her down gently, presses one last squeeze to her ass and walks back without a word. The boys erupt in laughter and high fives and he accepts them all with a smug smile, casually wiping her lip gloss from his mouth with the back of his hand.
The girls remove their headphones just as Kelce speaks up.
“Girls, what did you think of boy number five?”
“It was nice.” Maddy smiles.
“Very sweet. And very respectful too.” Abigail adds. But Y/N tilts her head, still blindfolded, brows furrowed.
“Y/N, you’re making a face.” Kelce notes.
“I…I think I got some type of different treatment with this one?” She says, laughing awkwardly, touching her flushed cheeks.
“Good different?” Maddy asks and Y/N doesn’t hesitate.
“No, yeah. Definitely good.”
Topper’s laughing, practically shaking Rafe beside him. Rafe just leans back with a smug grin.
“Alright, ladies, time to rate the guy.” Kelce says. The scores go around until it’s Y/N’s turn. Everyone watches.
“I’m probably gonna regret this later when he rubs it in my face.” She begins, sighing. “But…I’d give that kiss a 10.”
Topper cheers, the girls burst into laughter and Rafe just sits there smirking, glitter still shining on his lips proudly.
Y/N is still breathless. But not from the kiss. But from knowing exactly who it was because no one else ever made her feel like that.
JJ is next, springing up from the bench with a grin and ripping off his shirt, earning cheers and laughter from the boys. His score isn't quite what he hoped for, but he shrugs it off with a smirk as he returns to his seat.
“At least I beat JB.” He jokes, making John B chuckle. He plops down on the bench as the final boy stands.
Ryan steps forward, making his way toward the girls with smooth confidence. He works down the line with soft kisses and warm touches, a playful charm in every step. But when he reaches the last girl, his pace changes. There’s a flicker of excitement as he crouches down, his hands gently cupping Y/N’s face. Her lips part slightly at the contact and instinctively, he wets his own before leaning in.
His kiss is nothing like Rafe’s. There’s no rush, no urgency. It’s slow and tender, his lips moving carefully against hers, tongue just teasing enough to leave her wanting more. His hands rest lightly on her waist, fingers squeezing her hips with gentle intent. When he finally pulls away, she’s breathless, leaning in again like she might follow him.
From the bench, Rafe watches, jaw tight, every nerve in his body screaming to look away but he doesn’t. He can’t. He sees her response and it knots something inside him.
Ryan straightens and returns to his seat as the girls begin removing their headphones.
“Last boy, ladies, what’s the verdict?” Kelce grins, glancing at the board before turning back.
“It was cute.” Sarah says casually.
“Unexpected.” Y/N murmurs under her breath.
“Sorry, didn’t catch that.” Kelce pipes up. “Care to repeat that for the group, Y/N?”
She hesitates.
“I...I said it was unexpected.”
Rafe’s eyes flick to her, a quiet question in his gaze. Cleo raises a brow, half amused.
“Girl, don’t talk in riddles. Was it good or bad unexpected?” She asks, getting impatient. Y/N lets out a small laugh with the others.
“It was good.” She licks her lips, fidgeting with her ring. “Really good.”
Kelce looks away from the notes in his hand.
“And why exactly was it unexpected?”
“I’m not sure.” She says, softly. “It just…it surprised me. It was a nice kiss.” She exhales. “Can we just move to the rating?”
Kelce nods and asks Cleo to start. One by one, the girls give their scores, until it’s Y/N’s turn.
“So, Y/N.” Kelce prompts, marker in hand. “What’s it gonna be?”
“It was a nice kiss. Sweet. Soft. More my pace, I guess.” She swallows. “I’d give it a…10.”
The boys erupt in cheers around Ryan as Topper’s head snaps back toward Rafe. Kelce raises his eyebrows, scribbling the score on the board.
“That brings boy number seven to a total of 59 points. Ladies, you can now remove your blindfolds.”
The girls step forward to study the board, their eyes adjusting to the light. The boys follow, teasing and comparing scores. Y/N blinks, scanning the numbers, then gasps.
“Oh my god, Topper, I’m so sorry about the 6.” She exclaims, grabbing his arm and he chuckles, shaking his head.
“Don’t worry about it.”
As Sarah points out a name on the board, Y/N turns to her, chatting. When Sarah turns to ask Maddy something, Y/N feels something behind her. Or someone. A hand grazes her waist. A breath brushes her neck. Goosebumps rise on her skin.
“When I give you the signal.” A voice murmurs. “Meet me on the terrace.”
She nods almost imperceptibly, then glances back at Sarah as if nothing happened. But her eyes keep flicking to him. Waiting.
He’s laughing with Pope, fingers running through his hair and then he catches her eye. A wink. A silent cue. He excuses himself before he steps away, heading up the stairs.
Y/N leans into Sarah.
“I’m gonna go…to the terrace.” She murmurs, subtly nodding in that direction. Sarah’s eyes widen, tracking his absence.
“With him?” She asks and Y/N nods.
“We need to talk. Especially after that challenge.”
Sarah sighs, placing a hand on Y/N’s shoulder.
“If anything happens, call my name. Got it?” She advises and Y/N nods, slipping away through the bedroom and up the stairs. She pauses outside the makeup room, inhaling deeply before pushing open the door.
He’s there, sitting on the couch, gaze fixed on the villa below. When the door clicks shut, he turns to her.
Hi girly!! Can I please request for a rafe fic with the “my current boyfriend” trend on tiktok. Like i can imagine him being so pressed about it lol
Thank you 🤩
“My Current Boyfriend”
pov: You try to do the “current boyfriend” prank during a fit check and forget Rafe has zero chill.
⸻
Your phone’s angled up on the windowsill, and the little red recording light flashes just as Rafe wanders into frame, finishing off the rest of his Gatorade.
You smile sweetly at the camera. “Okay, hi guys! I’m here with my current boyfriend and we’re gonna do a little fit check—”
Rafe chokes.
“Current boyfriend??” he blurts out, eyebrows shooting up like you just announced a funeral and a baby shower in one sentence.
You keep going like nothing happened. “So I’m wearing this cute little set from—”
“Hold on,” Rafe interrupts, stepping fully in front of you to stare into the camera. “Did you just say current boyfriend like there’s gonna be a next one?”
You bite your lip, playing innocent. “I mean… I’m just saying current like…present-tense.”
Rafe stares you down. “Nah. Say only boyfriend. Say forever boyfriend. Say will-haunt-you-if-you-leave-me boyfriend.”
“Rafe—”
He turns to the camera again, pointing at himself. “This isn’t a subscription. This isn’t a trial period. There’s no 7-day free access to Rafe Cameron dot com. I’m a lifetime warranty.”
You snort.
Rafe starts pacing in frame, waving his arms. “Current. That’s wild. That’s actually insane. Do you know how many sandwiches I’ve made for you? You think this is a seasonal man??”
“Okay but the outfit—”
“No. Tell them where my hoodie’s from. Tell them it’s the same one you stole six months ago. Tell them it smells like me and now you can’t sleep without it.”
You break into laughter, camera wobbling as Rafe marches over and grabs your face between his palms, all dramatic and pouty.
“Say you love me.”
“Rafe—”
“Say it or I’ll post that picture of you crying over the finale of Bake Off.”
You’re breathless from laughing. “Okay! Okay. I’m here with my forever boyfriend.”
Rafe nods like a smug menace. “That’s what I thought.”
And then—because he’s Rafe—he slaps your ass, winks at the camera, and says, “Fit check: mine.”
a/n: i hadn’t seen this tiktok prank until today when leah and miguel (s6 love island peeps) video popped up on my fyp, this was a fun one to write and rafe would definitely crash out a bit lmao. thank you for the req nonnie!! 🫶🏻
You’re sitting shotgun, phone out, filming the vlog you’ve been wanting to make all week. Rafe speeds down the highway on the way to your favourite ice cream place. You smile at the camera, all bright and playful.
“Hey guys, so today me and my current boyfriend are going to grab ice cream, because the ice cream at this place is basically the best on the island.”
You catch the side of his face out of the corner of your eye. His jaw clenches. The smirk fades. His eyes flick to you, sharp and suspicious.
“Current boyfriend?” His voice is low, calm but carrying a warning.
You keep filming, grinning at the joke. “Yeah. He’s my little trial run. Thirty-day free period. Still deciding.”
He blinks once, slow, like he’s trying to figure out if you’re serious or just messing with him. “Trial run, huh? That so?”
You nod, zooming the camera in on his face. He looks like he’s trying not to laugh, but it’s gone all wrong.“He’s doing okay so far. Bit of an attitude problem. Possessive. Kinda psycho. But hot. I rate it a 6.5”
“it?… 6 point… hell no...” He rambles as you giggle. “You’re real bold for someone without Uber money.”
You laugh, loving that little jab. “Oh no guys, current boyfriend‘s mad.” He tightens his grip on the wheel. Doesn’t answer. Then suddenly, he pulls the car over, right on the side of the road. “Get out.”
You blink, mid-smile. “Rafe?” He doesn’t look at you, just keeps his eyes on the dash. “Nah. For real. Go find yourself a little surfer boyfriend. Hope he drives a shitty car and listens to some shitty music.”
You’re still holding the phone, still recording. This is too good. “You’re jealous.” He snatches the phone from your hand like a hawk, killing the recording. “You’re lucky I think you’re cute.”
“Hmm.. I guess i’ll keep you then.” You playfully roll your eyes. He kisses you. It’s rough, possessive, everything you didn’t know you needed. He then pulls back with that cocky smirk plastered on his face.
“Now shut up and let’s go get you your ice cream. Before I change my mind.”
a/n: really short but cute. part 2 with rafes payback?
can you do singer!reader preforming at coachella singing bed chem and when it gets to who’s the cute guy with the wide blue eyes the camera pans to drew
wide blue eyes ⎯ DREW STARKEY.ᐟ
authors note thank you anon for this request. this is kinda short eek. feedback is always appreciated <3
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masterlist
summary performing one of your popular songs at coachella on stage. when a certain line us sung, drew's face is on the big screen.
Performing at Coachella on the main stage is honestly a dream come true in your career. Seeing the large crowd in front of you had you feeling a lot of emotions. You couldn't be more happier.
As you look into the crowd, you notice the vip section where friends were standing with security close by. Drew, your boyfriend, stood next to Maddie. A bunch of other well known celebs⎯your friends⎯were in the vip section too.
You've just finished singing one of your most popular songs. Walking around with your microphone in one hand and the other fixing your hair, "How's everyone feeling tonight?" Your voice was overflowing with enthusiasm.
The audience cheers in response. You smile feeling their energy rise. Throughout the whole set, they kept the energy going.
“All right, Coachella,” you breathe into the mic as you step into the light, heels clicking over the stage, your sheer bejeweled dress catching every flash, “let’s talk about chemistry.”
The opening chords of "Bed Chem" come in like a seduction, sensual and sweet, and the roar of the audience fills you with fire. You move with it⎯every sway of your hips, every seductive peek over your shoulder is precisely timed.
I was in a sheer dress the day that we met
You smile in-between lyrics, thinking about the first time meeting Drew at an event. Seeing him for the first time felt like a fever dream⎯only talked for a second but felt as if you've known him.
A few lines in, you approach the edge of the stage, winking at the crowd, letting them sing the ooh, ah's back at you. Then it comes⎯the line. The one that always gets them.
You slow your walk. Let the silence draw in, just for a breath.
Out of breath, got me going like (ooh)
You drop into a crouch, knees wide, hair cascading over one shoulder as you lean into the mic with a guttural “ooh”⎯drawn out and breathy. Your chest rises and falls like you’ve just run a mile, and it’s not just for show. You feel the lyric in your bones, in your skin.
The crowd eats it up, losing their minds as you rise slow, controlled, and grinning like you’ve just won the game you were playing.
Who’s the cute guy with wide blue eyes
Right on cue, the camera cuts from your smirk to the front row.
Drew.
The crowd cheers louder when he appears on screen. Hair a little messy, wearing your tour lanyard and a denim jacket half-slipped off his shoulder. Blue eyes impossibly clear under the lights, lips parted like he’s been caught off guard
Maddie screams behind him, "that's her boyfriend!" pointing to him. He laughs at Maddie's statement.
On tour, you never had him on the big screen at your shows whenever he came. With how you were feeling earlier this week and him tagging along, you wanted to add in a little surprise for the fans. Obviously they were expecting that.
How you pick me up, pull ‘em down, turn me ‘round
You spin⎯slow, suggestive⎯dragging your hand up your thigh, then letting it fall away as the lights pulse harder. Sweat’s beginning to gather at the back of your neck, but you barely feel it. You’re on fire, lit up from the inside out.
As you continued performing the song, you couldn't get Drew out of your head. You felt his eye burning in you the rest of the set.
By the end of Bed Chem, you throw a wink over your shoulder, then turn to walk away slowly⎯heels clicking like punctuation⎯giving the crowd just a flash of your open back and the sheer train of your dress swaying dramatically behind you.
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warnings: cuss words, sexual innuendos, alcohol consumption
The sun creeps over the villa, golden light scattering across the pool and casting soft shadows through the trees. One by one, the islanders start to stir as the lights flicker on.
“Morning, guys.” Abigail calls out, voice sweet but still groggy. A few murmured replies and a chorus of groans answer her back. From the far side of the room, JJ’s soft snores cut through the noise. He is still dead asleep, sprawled across the bed, completely ignoring the makeshift pillow wall Cleo had built between them.
“Bro, seriously?” Cleo grumbles, trying to shove him onto his side. Nothing. She pushes again. Still nothing. Topper snorts from across the room.
“How is he still out cold?” He laughs. All heads turn to JJ, mouth agape, drool at the corner of his lips, snoring like a freight train.
“Aww, he looks so cute when he's sleeping.” Sarah coos, hands clasped dramatically. Cleo rolls her eyes.
“Yeah and he's a freaking menace when he's not.” That gets a wave of laughter from the room.
Y/N chuckles, watching Cleo’s struggle from her bed. But her focus drifts, her eyes falling to the arm slung over her leg. Rafe’s still buried under a pillow, blocking out the sun. He hadn’t let go of her all night. Even now, half-asleep, his fingers rest on her thigh like he’s anchoring himself to her.
She lets out a quiet breath, then glances to the other side of her bed. Ryan’s already sitting up, hoodie on, hair wild, his glasses halfway down his nose. He turns to her with a sleepy grin.
“Morning.”
“Morning.” She replies, matching his smile. “How was your first sleep in the villa?” She asks, voice soft. He grins.
“Honestly? Best sleep I’ve had in ages.” He replies and she laughs.
Her mind drifts back to her own first night. Struggling to sleep, tossing and turning and overthinking. Lying beside Rafe who made her feel safe enough to melt into him, even though they were practically strangers.
“Y/N?”
She blinks, pulled back to reality.
“You zoned out there.” Ryan says gently. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah.” She says quickly, flashing a smile and looking down to fidget with her ring. “Just tired.”
Ryan nods, but before he can say anything else, Abigail leans over to ask him something, giving Y/N space. She turns back toward Rafe just as he peeks out from under the pillow, rubbing his eyes. His tan chest rises with a slow breath and there’s a fresh stubble dusting his jaw. Somehow, it makes him look even more unfairly attractive. She swallows and looks away just as Kiara’s voice cuts through the room.
“What do you think Maddy and Kelce got up to in the Hideaway?” Kiara asks and the room lights up with reactions as guesses start flying.
“They definitely hooked up.” Topper says, still half-asleep but already causing drama. Alyssa and Cleo immediately start arguing with him.
The door swings open before the debate gets too heated and Maddy walks in, glowing, with Kelce trailing behind her in nothing but boxers and a smug grin.
“Morning, lovebirds!” Kelce yells, doing a lap around the room before throwing himself on Rafe and Y/N’s bed.
“Dude!” Rafe groans. Y/N grins and glances at Maddy, who’s laughing along with the others.
“Someone’s in a good mood.” She mutters.
Kelce beams. The girls all turn to Maddy, who’s sitting on her bed, eyes on her nails, a soft smile still lingering on her lips.
“Someone’s in a good mood.” Y/N mutters. Kelce beams, nodding like a bobblehead. The girls immediately zero in on Maddy, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Spill!” Kiara demands.
“You’re gonna tell us either way.” Topper adds and everyone murmurs their agreement.
“Guys, don’t pressure them.” Y/N cuts in, voice quieter.
Rafe hears it and wonders if it’s a jab, leftover tension from their argument the night before. Kelce, catching her tone, reaches out and gently taps her calf.
“You good?” He murmurs, reading her a little too well. She gives him a small smile and a quick nod. Kelce’s eyes flick to Rafe and he picks up on the tension between the two. He gets up from the bed, brushing off Rafe’s legs and claps his hands.
“I need coffee injected in my veins. Boys, come on!” He heads toward the door with a dramatic stretch. “Damn, it’s a good day!” He yells, making the others crack up as they follow him.
Rafe lingers for a beat, grabbing his phone and water. He looks down at Y/N.
“We’re gonna talk later, yeah?”
There’s something hesitant in his voice. Hope, but also worry.
She meets his eyes and nods softly.
He leans down, presses a kiss to her forehead and follows the others out.
Once the boys leave the room, the girls immediately pile into Y/N’s bed. Sarah’s the first to cling to her, adjusting her sunglasses. Maddy flops onto the bed with a giddy squeal, beckoning Abigail to scoot closer.
“Okay, spill!” Alyssa practically begs.
“Okay, so…” Maddy begins, clearly enjoying the attention.
“What did you two do?” Sarah grins.
“JJ’s convinced you guys hooked up.” Cleo throws in with a smirk.
“Girls, let her talk!” Y/N interjects, rolling her eyes playfully.
“Thank you, Y/N.” Maddy says, clearing her throat. “So, first of all, the hideaway? Gorgeous. Hearts everywhere and the bed? Huge and insanely soft.”
The girls murmur excitedly as she continues.
“Anyway, we talked a lot. Just figuring out how compatible we actually are. And I’m really glad we did, because we’re totally on the same page.” She pauses, her voice softening. “And…we talked about you.”
Maddy turns to Y/N, whose brows furrow.
“Me?” Y/N repeats, caught off guard. “Wait, what? Why?”
Maddy chews her lip, choosing her words carefully.
“It wasn’t anything bad. Kelce just noticed how close we are. He told me he still cares about you, probably always will, even if you’re part of his past. He just wanted to make sure things between us were cool before him and I got more serious. He doesn’t want you to get hurt. And honestly, I get that and I don't want that either. So…are we good? I want you to be honest. If you’re not okay with it, I’ll back off, I mean it-”
“Maddy.” Y/N interrupts gently. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re my friend. I want you to be happy. Yeah, I care about Kelce, I don’t want him getting hurt either, but I’m moving on. He should too. If what you two have is real, then I’m all for it. Trust me.”
Maddy nods, then pulls Y/N into a grateful hug.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She murmurs as the other girls smile.
“Okay but did anything happen?” Cleo asks impatiently, needing her gossip fix. The girls laugh as Maddy pulls back.
“Let’s just say…the salon opened.” Her smirk says it all and the girls gasp.
“The what?” Abigail asks, confused. Cleo points to her own shorts. Abigail’s eyes widen.
“Oh!”
“Wait, yours or his?” Kiara chimes in.
“Both.” Maddy mumbles, reaching for her water bottle as the girls erupt in squeals, shaking her from excitement.
“What kind of service did you get?” Cleo teases. Maddy giggles, blushing.
“Just…a really nice mani.” She reveals and the girls scream again, laughing.
“Genuinely so happy you got some.” Sarah grins and they all laugh again.
“Alright, what did I miss?” Maddy claps her hands, calming them down. All eyes turn to Y/N. She exhales.
“Nothing’s really changed with Rafe and I's situation. Last night, before bed, he said he wanted to talk today. That’s it.”
The girls give her quiet, sympathetic looks.
“I hate to ask but…are you okay?” Maddy says gently. Y/N shrugs.
“I don’t know. Things were going so well and now…I’m just confused.” She absentmindedly fiddles with her ring.
“It’s not your fault.” Cleo says firmly. “Even if your talk triggered something, it’s on him for not being honest.”
“It’s not only about honesty.” Y/N says softly. “He wasn’t ready to open up and I get that, I-”
“Don’t make excuses for him.” Kiara cuts in. “You’re allowed to be understanding, but that doesn’t mean he gets to walk away or lash out at you.”
The girls nod in agreement.
“Can we not talk about me for once?” Y/N pleads. “I feel like I’m always the topic and it’s exhausting.”
“We’re just worried.” Sarah says, rubbing her back.
“Yeah, I know, but-”
“Don’t you dare say ‘it’s fine,’ I will literally kick your ass.” Cleo warns. Y/N chuckles, hands up in mock surrender.
“Okay, I won’t.” She grins. “But it is gonna be fine.” She quickly hides behind Sarah to dodge Cleo and the girls break into laughter as she pretends to launch herself over.
Once things settle, Y/N clears her throat.
“Hey, Kie…I’ve been meaning to ask about…you and Pope.”
Kiara shifts uncomfortably.
“Last night, when he suggested the hideaway, it kinda looked like you wanted to run.”
The girls all turn to Kiara, waiting. She sighs.
“I’m gonna be honest with y'all, I’m not feeling it. He’s cute, he’s smart, sure. But he’s just…not my type. I’ve tried, but every conversation feels awkward.”
“Have you talked to him?” Y/N asks, but Sarah quickly grabs her arm.
“Wait, have you guys even kissed?” Sarah asks. Kiara hesitates.
“We had a peck. But…” She makes a face.
“Oh, Kie.” Maddy says sympathetically.
“You really haven’t told him?” Cleo asks.
“Not yet. I haven’t found the right time. And I don’t know how to say it.”
“You should do it soon.” Cleo urges. “You’ve been coupled up for a while and Pope seems into you. He deserves the chance to meet someone who actually connects with him.”
“Like you, babe?” Maddy teases, drawing a few giggles. Cleo blushes.
“No! Stop.”
“You like him!” Sarah shouts, setting off a round of gasps.
“No, I don’t.” Cleo says, arms crossed.
“You totally do!” Maddy sings. “Cleo and Pope, sitting in a tree-”
“Finish that and I’ll end you.” Cleo threatens and Maddy pretends to zip her lips.
“Come on.” Y/N grins. “It’s cute.”
“I don’t have a crush on him!”
“Cleo-”
“I’m just confused, alright?” She finally says. “There was nothing with John B, Kelce and I had no chemistry and JJ…please. But Pope…we have had a few chats and he gets me. Like, really gets me.”
The girls stay quiet, letting her talk.
“I just…I see the way he looks at Kiara. He really likes her. And I don’t want to be his second choice.”
Silence lingers for a moment.
“I’ll talk to him.” Kiara says at last. “But you should too.”
“Okay.” Cleo nods slowly.
The girls smile at the honest moment, the tension melting just a little.
Meanwhile, outside, after Kelce’s loud bragging session with the boys about ‘his girl’ and his night with Maddy, Rafe and Topper head to the kitchen. While Topper casually whisks eggs, Rafe finishes plating the avocado toast he just made.
“Forgiveness avocado toast?” Topper teases, raising an eyebrow. “What even happened last night? It feels like I missed an entire season.”
Rafe lets out a heavy sigh.
“We got into it. There was this talk with John B, JJ and Sarah…about exes. And I just…I don’t talk about my past. She tried to comfort me or get me to open up and I snapped. Like…full-on snapped at her. And I hate myself for it. She was just trying to help and I shut down.”
Topper nods, quiet for a beat.
“Maybe…talking to her, actually opening up, might help. Not just about the fight. About everything.” Topper tries as Rafe rubs the back of his neck.
“Yeah, except if I do that, she might actually hate me.”
“It can’t be that bad, dude. Everyone’s got baggage.” Topper says, narrowing his eyes. Rafe leans in closer and drops his voice.
“I cheated on my ex.”
Topper freezes at the confession.
“What?”
“It was a dumb mistake. One I regret every day. But if Y/N finds out...she’s not gonna look at me the same.” Rafe explains while Topper stares, trying to process.
“Damn. I don’t even know what to say. That’s…a lot. But I still think you should talk to her. She’s understanding. She might not get your side, but she’ll listen. That’s gotta be something.”
Rafe exhales slowly and grabs the plate and a glass of orange juice.
“Yeah, I…I’ll try. Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.” Topper gives him a light shoulder tap as Rafe heads toward the bedroom.
He carefully pushes the door open. The room falls quiet. Every girl turns to see who entered. Y/N’s face drops the moment she sees him.
“Ladies.” Rafe offers a small, respectful nod. He makes his way to Y/N and hands her the plate, setting the juice on her nightstand.
“I know you don’t usually eat breakfast ‘cause it makes you nauseous.” He says softly. “But I made you avocado toast. Extra crunchy, just how you like it. And the juice…no pulp.”
The girls blink at him in awe.
“I think I’m in love with you.” Maddy whispers, earning an elbow from Kiara.
Rafe’s eyes never leave Y/N’s. She stares back, stunned, her heart pounding. Sarah nudges her, trying to prompt a response.
Y/N still frozen in place, Sarah reaches over and steals a bite.
“Just gonna…try this.” She announces, chewing dramatically. Y/N finally blinks and shifts her gaze.
“Thank you.” She murmurs. She sets the plate aside and reaches with one arm, offering an awkward hug. Rafe leans in to accept it.
“Anytime.” He whispers, his hand brushing her arm before he pulls away. “I’ll see you later.”
She nods and he walks out without looking back. The moment the door closes, the girls erupt.
“I’m still kinda mad at him.” Cleo admits. “But that was…really sweet.”
“Right?” Kiara nods, glancing at Y/N, who’s still staring at the door. Sarah leans forward.
“So…what are you gonna say to him?” Sarah asks, making Y/N tear her eyes away.
“I think…I want him to apologize. Properly. First.”
“Exactly!” Kiara chimes in, arms crossed. Y/N sighs.
“I like him. A lot. And I know things are moving fast, but what we’ve built already…it’s real. And now I’m stuck between being angry and completely floored that he made me breakfast with everything exactly how I like it.” She groans, rubbing her forehead.
“I’ll marry him myself if you don’t.” Maddy says, making the girls laugh. Abigail looks sheepish.
“Okay, I don’t know the whole situation and I know it’s messy, but...can I have a bite? That looks insane.” She points to the plate. Y/N chuckles and cuts a piece for herself before passing it over. Soon, the plate is in the middle of the bed and all the girls are groaning and moaning over how good it tastes.
“Okay, this toast slaps.” Cleo says, avocado smeared at the corner of her lips.
“Damn you, Rafe Cameron!” Kiara shouts dramatically at the ceiling, sending everyone into laughter.
A little later, the girls are out in their bikinis, lounging around the villa, chatting with the boys and cooling off in the pool. Topper is in the middle of a conversation with Kelce when Y/N strolls past, heading toward the couch where Maddy is painting Kiara’s nails.
Topper lets out a low whistle.
“Y/N?” He calls. She glances over her shoulder, offering a smile and a wave.
“Hey. You boys doing okay?” She asks, sipping from her water bottle. Topper nods, gesturing for her to come over.
“Do you…wanna talk for a minute?” He asks. Y/N glances back at the girls, then shrugs and walks toward the pool steps. Kelce reaches out to steady her as she makes her way down and settles into one of the pool chairs. Carefully, she adjusts her mic to keep it dry and places her bottle on the pool’s edge.
“Everything okay?” She asks, scanning their faces. Topper nods in response.
“Yeah. I just…wanted to check in. How are you holding up?” He asks, crossing his arms curiously.
“What did he tell you?” She smirks, her eyes narrowing slightly, amused.
“Dude, I told you she’d see right through us.” Kelce exclaims, hitting Topper's shoulder while grinning. Y/N gasps dramatically.
“Were you two trying to ambush me right now?”
Topper chuckles, raising his hands in defense.
“No ambush. I just…I hate seeing you both like this. He’s like a brother to me and you’re honestly the sweetest girl here. Watching you guys upset like that over a situation that could easily be fixed. It sucks.”
Y/N drops her gaze to her hands.
“I tried, Top. I really did. And he still pushed me away.”
Topper sighs, exchanging a look with Kelce.
“We know.” Kelce says. “But you two have unreal chemistry. Everyone sees it. Don’t let it go to waste over…whatever this is. You're both being stubborn about it.”
“I’m not being stubborn.” She mutters, crossing her arms. Kelce shrugs.
“Okay, maybe not. But you both care. A lot. And this is not worth losing what you have.”
She leans back with a frustrated sigh.
“I like him.” She murmurs. “And I hate this. All of it. Like…it didn’t have to go down like that. If I hadn’t been so pushy or-or…needy or if he was more open to talking about it, maybe it’d be different.”
Her eyes land on the ring on her finger. She turns it slowly, lost in thought.
Before either of them can answer, a shadow looms behind her, someone approaching. Topper and Kelce glance up, Y/N still unaware, lost in her thoughts.
“Is now a good time to talk?” Rafe's deep voice cuts through the noise, making her stomach twist. She glances at the boys, who smirk like this was part of some master plan. Ignoring them, she looks back at Rafe and gives a small nod.
She stands, grabbing her mic pack and water bottle, then follows him over to one of the couches tucked away from the rest of the group. As they sit, Rafe clears his throat and pulls off his sunglasses, finally meeting her eyes.
“First off…I just want to say I'm sorry.” He begins. “I was acting stupid. Immature.”
She doesn't respond, just stares down at the pillow in her lap.
“Y/N…” His voice falters. “Can you look at me?”
She turns, meets his gaze and exhales slowly.
“I really like you.” He says, softer now. “And I know I messed up. But you’ve gotta understand, my last relationship is…it was tough on me. And I’ve never really talked about it with anyone before and maybe that’s why I handled all of this so badly.”
He pauses, searching her face.
“I’m not saying that makes it okay. I just...I want to move past this. Can we? Can we just try again?”
Her eyes search his face, flickering with hurt, confusion, and something dangerously close to resignation. Then she slowly shakes her head.
“I’m not just going to move on and pretend this didn’t happen.” She says quietly, voice tight but steady.
“I know I pushed about your ex. I get that it’s a sore spot and maybe I shouldn’t have gone there. But, Rafe…” She pauses, the words catching in her throat, “I want you to feel safe with me. I want to be someone you can talk to. Someone you trust.”
“Y/N-”
“Let me finish.” She holds up her manicured hand and he nods, lips pressing into a thin line as he falls silent.
“We’re in here trying to build something real. And real doesn’t mean shutting people out when it gets hard. I was there for you, Rafe. Last night, I was right there trying to understand you and you left me in the dark. And it's not the first time either.”
Rafe exhales, like he was holding his breath the whole time, the weight of guilt visible in the way his shoulders slump.
“I know. I know you were. And I appreciate it. I do. I just…I can’t talk about it. It’s off-limits.”
“You said you wouldn’t shut me out again.” She reminds him and her voice breaks slightly.
“I know.” He says softly. “And I promise I won't do that again."
She looks down at her hands, fidgeting with the strap of her water bottle. She shakes her head, the gesture slow, like the words physically sting.
“How am I supposed to believe you when I don’t even know if you’re being honest with me now?" She asks, obviously hurt. Rafe has no answer. He stares at her like he wishes he could take it all back, but knows he can’t.
“I don’t want to fight.” She whispers. “But I don’t want to feel like I’m the only one fighting for this either.”
She gets up, sighing as she pushes herself off the couch, her voice barely audible now and she starts to walk away.
“I cheated on her.”
Her feet stop mid-step. The words hang in the air like a crack of thunder. Slowly, she turns back, eyebrows drawn tight.
“What?” She asks. Rafe leans forward, elbows on his knees, rubbing at his face. He can’t look at her.
“My ex. I got drunk at a party and ended up in someone else’s bed. I was stupid. I ruined everything. And…fuck, I don’t even remember most of it. But it happened. And I hated myself for it." He finally looks up at her, eyes glassy.
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to think less of me. T-to see me as that version of myself. Because I’m not him anymore. I swear I’m not.”
Y/N just stares. Still, silent, stunned.
“Can you please say something?” He asks, voice raw. She blinks, like she’s trying to shake herself out of it.
“What the fuck?”
“Y/N-”
“How could you do that to someone?” She snaps, her voice rising with emotion. “Why?”
“I was messed up. I wasn’t thinking. I’ve done the work, I’ve taken responsibility, but it’s not who I am anymore. I swear.”
He reaches for her hand, but she pulls away like he’s burned her.
“I don’t know what to say.” She whispers. “I just…I need time. I need to process this.”
“Y/N…”
But she’s already turned. And this time, she doesn’t stop.
Rafe stays frozen on the couch, the space she left behind feeling emptier than he thought possible. All that’s left is the echo of her disgust and the ache in his chest where her trust used to be.
Y/N makes her way over to Sarah, who’s chatting with Abigail and Maddy. One look at her and Sarah’s smile drops instantly.
“Hey, hey. What’s going on?” She asks, noticing Y/N’s trembling hands and the shaken look on her face. Y/N sinks into the seat beside them, still clearly reeling.
“We…talked.” She replies, voice low. “He…fuck.” Her fingers thread anxiously through her hair.
“What happened, Y/N/N?” Maddy asks gently, placing a comforting hand on her back.
“He told me about his ex.” She finally says.
“That’s…good, right?” Abigail offers carefully. “I mean, you’ve been wanting him to open up.”
The girls watch her, waiting, unsure.
“He told me…” Y/N pauses, trying to find the words. “He told me he cheated on her.”
Their eyes widen in unison, a heavy silence settling in.
“What?” Sarah blurts, brows furrowing. Y/N just nods.
“Yeah. That was my reaction too.” She says with a bitter laugh.
“Oh my god. What did you say?” Maddy asks, her voice soft with concern.
“I told him I need time to process. He kept saying how much he regrets it, how much he hates himself for it, how he has changed, but…I don’t even know what to think.”
Sarah wraps an arm around her, rubbing her back.
“It’s a lot. You don’t have to figure it all out right now.”
Y/N doesn’t respond, just stares down at the floor, her mind clearly miles away.
“I’m just…I don’t know how to feel about this. Or-or what I should do. I…I am…it’s so confusing.” She leans back into the couch, letting her head fall against the cushion with a frustrated sigh.
The girls exchange glances, quiet and gentle in their support. Maddy offers a soft smile and pats her thigh.
“We’re here, okay?” Sarah says. “Whatever you need.”
Y/N nods faintly, lips pressed into a thin line, still lost in thought.
Later that afternoon, the girls are getting ready upstairs while Rafe, Topper and Kelce are in the bedroom.
“I told her.” Rafe says, pulling a pair of jeans from his closet.
“Told her what?” Topper asks, reaching for his deodorant.
“About my ex.” Rafe replies. “That I cheated on her.”
Kelce’s head snaps up.
“Wait-what?” He asks, his brows furrowing. Rafe exhales, pulling on his jeans.
“Yeah. That’s why I didn’t say anything last night. I knew it would hit her hard. And the way she looked at me…fuck, man.”
“Are you being serious right now?” Kelce says, staring at him.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Rafe asks as he shoots him a look.
Kelce shakes his head slowly.
“Dude…you should’ve told her from the start. Trust is a huge thing for her. I mean, obviously.”
“Obviously?” Rafe repeats, eyebrows knitting together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kelce turns off the iron, hesitating.
“She didn’t tell you?” He asks. Rafe glances between them, confused.
“Tell me what?”
“I don’t know if it’s my place, but…” Kelce pauses. “Before she and I got together, she was with this guy. Real piece of shit. Untrustworthy as hell. One day, she caught him in her bed with a girl she worked with.”
Rafe freezes, mouth slightly open.
“Shit.” He mutters, rubbing a hand over his buzzed head. “She never told me that. No wonder she was so upset.”
“That, plus being paired with someone who’s done the same thing?” Topper adds and Rafe scoffs.
“I’m not that guy anymore. I told her I regret it. Every bit of it.”
Kelce carefully slips on his shirt so as to not wrinkle it.
“Look, man. Let her have some time. Then talk to her, like really talk. No yelling. No ego. No stubbornness. Just…be honest. Let it be a conversation, not a war.”
Rafe nods slowly, eyes drifting to the bed he’s been sharing with her.
“Yeah.” He murmurs. “I will.”
As the islanders share laughs and drinks, Y/N and Cleo sit by the firepit, able to observe the rest of the group from a distance. JJ is walking on his hands, slowly making his way toward the pool without realizing it. Everyone watches in anticipation, waiting for the inevitable and when he finally topples in with a loud splash, laughter erupts all around. He emerges from the water, yelling and cussing them out as they double over.
Y/N chuckles and turns to Cleo, who’s clearly zoned out. Her eyes glued to Pope, who’s mid push-up competition with Topper. It doesn’t last long though as Pope gives out quickly and Sarah, being the sweetheart she is, immediately goes to comfort him. Y/N snaps her fingers in front of Cleo’s face.
“Girl.” She snaps again, finally catching her attention. Cleo blinks and turns to her.
“Don’t. Please. Don’t start.” Cleo warns.
“Dude.” Y/N pauses. “Just go for it.”
Cleo scoffs and shakes her head.
“He’s into Kiara.” She mutters, adjusting her skirt. Y/N gently grabs her hand, not letting her look away again.
“You’re wasting time by not giving it a chance.” She pauses. “Cleo, you’re so gorgeous and so kind-hearted and smart…it’s…you like him. And I know that may scare you or maybe you're scared of getting rejected, but it doesn’t hurt to try.”
Cleo looks up at her.
“Ho, are you a mind reader or something?” Cleo asks, narrowing her eyes playfully.
Y/N bursts out laughing, giving her a light slap on the thigh.
“I’m just saying…have a chat with him. You’re here to explore connections and hopefully find the right one. Maybe Pope is it.”
Cleo hesitates.
“But… what about Kiara…she-”
“She said she’d talk to him first. I know.” Y/N nods. “But I don’t think you should wait anymore. Plus, you know how Kie feels. It’s not like you’re stepping on anyone’s toes.”
Without warning, Cleo wraps her arms around Y/N in a tight hug, catching her completely off guard.
“I love you, little one.” She mumbles against her shoulder.
“I love you too, C.” Y/N says, hugging her back. Cleo pulls away and stands, adjusting her skirt again.
“Wish me luck.” She says lowly.
“You don’t need it.” Y/N smiles, standing and giving her a little push forward.
Cleo stumbles slightly before making her way toward the beanbags, where Pope is lounging with John B and Sarah.
“Hey.” She says, approaching with a soft smile. Everyone greets her with wide grins.
“Pope, do you…do you mind going for a chat?” She asks, glancing briefly at Sarah, who smirks knowingly.
“Yeah, sure.” Pope says, getting up and dapping John B before following Cleo to the couch under the terrace.
As they sit down, Cleo adjusts her skirt, smoothing the fabric across her legs.
“You look nice, by the way.” Pope says, nodding toward her. “That color really works on you.”
“Thanks. It’s Maddy’s, actually.” She glances down, smiling faintly. He nods.
“Still. It looks good. I mean, you do. I mean, the skirt does too, just…yeah.” He fumbles a little and she lets out a small laugh.
“How’ve you been finding it?” Cleo asks, shifting the conversation. “You know, the whole Love Island experience?”
“Yeah, it’s been good so far?” Pope shrugs and she raises an eyebrow.
“You’re asking me?”
He chuckles at her comment.
“No, no, I mean, yeah. It’s been…interesting.”
Cleo nods.
“What about you?” He asks and she sighs.
“Definitely a rollercoaster. Between the couplings and JJ’s snoring-”
“Oh my god, that's him?” Pope laughs, leaning back. “It's been driving me insane.”
“You’re lucky you’re across the room. I’ve got him snoring right into my ear.”
They both laugh and for a moment, things feel easy.
“I like this.” Cleo says after a beat, her voice softer now. “This?” Pope looks over, brows furrowed slightly.
“You. Us talking like this. You have this…calming energy. I feel like I can just be myself around you.” She swallows. “And I’ve been thinking about it and I just…I’m gonna say it. I’m attracted to you. And I don’t know if you’ve felt anything too, but I wanted to see if maybe there could be…something.”
Pope doesn’t respond right away. He just stares at her, lips parted slightly, blinking like he didn’t expect this.
“Usually this is the part where someone responds.” Cleo lets out a nervous laugh.
“I'm sorry. I just…” Pope finally says, shifting in his seat. “I didn’t really see this coming.”
“Oh.” Her smile falters, just a little.
“Not that…it’s not bad. I just…” He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck. “It kind of caught me off guard.”
“Right. Yeah. I get it.” She nods slowly, looking away.
“I’m sorry if that’s…like, if this is weird now.” He adds quickly.
“It’s not weird.” She says, though the words are a little too fast. “It’s fine. I just…wanted to be honest.”
They sit in silence again, but this time it’s stiffer, more uncomfortable. Cleo’s hands fidget in her lap. Pope stares at a spot on the ground.
“I should probably head back to the girls.” Cleo says eventually, standing a little too quickly.
“Yeah. Of course.” Pope says, not quite meeting her eyes.
She gives him a tight smile and walks off, leaving Pope sitting there, still trying to make sense of what just happened.
In the kitchen, Y/N reaches into the fridge for another drink when Ryan strolls up beside her.
“Hey, you.” He says, flashing her a grin and finger guns before immediately shoving his hands behind his back. “Sorry. I get weird around pretty girls.”
She laughs under her breath.
“I’ll let it slide since you called me pretty.” She replies and he clutches his chest like he’s been wounded in the best way.
“You want anything while I’m here?” She nods toward the fridge.
“A chat with you sounds ideal.” He pauses, then adds. “Oh, and maybe a soda? Since you’re offering.”
She blushes, grabbing a can for him along with her own drink, then turns back to him.
“Lead the way.” She says.
Ryan leads her toward a couch tucked at the back of the villa. The same one where she and Rafe had their fight earlier. She hesitates for a beat before following.
“You good?” Ryan asks once they sit. “You keep drifting off on me.”
“Yeah. Just got a lot on my mind.” She blinks, grounding herself. He nods, letting the moment hang.
“This about Rafe?” He asks and her head snaps to him.
“Did he say something?”
Ryan shakes his head.
“No. Just…felt like something was going on.” He replies, making her exhale and nod.
“Good instincts.” She mutters and he smiles.
“My instincts told me to come talk to you, so I’m gonna trust ‘em.” He pauses. “But hey, if you ever wanna talk about it-”
“No.” She cuts in softly. “I wanna get to know you.”
“What do you wanna know?” He nods, settling more comfortably into the couch. She taps her lip, thinking, before her lips turn upright into a playful smirk.
“What’s Sabrina like?” She asks, making both of them chuckle.
“She’s very short. And super sweet.”
“Yeah, I figured.” She chuckles again. “You live in New York, right?” She asks, switching gears.
“Yeah. Been there a few years now. Love it. Really great job opportunities. What about you?”
“I’m from there.”
He pauses.
“No way. That’s a sign.”
They both smile, easing into easy conversation, until her phone buzzes. She glances down and her smile fades.
“Shit.” She mutters. “Guys, I got a text!”
The villa falls quiet as they snap their attention towards her. Rafe looks up from across the yard, eyes locking on Y/N and Ryan sitting way too close for his comfort. His chest tightens.
“‘Islanders, pucker up because tonight you’ll be taking part in the Kissing Challenge. #kissandmakeup #hotandbothered’” She reads the message aloud.
The group erupts in excitement. Y/N shoots Ryan an apologetic look before hurrying off to find the girls.
Across the yard, Topper claps a hand on Rafe’s back with a smirk.
“Well, the text did say kiss and make up.”
Rafe doesn’t respond. His eyes are still locked on her, determined to win her back.
authors note hii lovies! hope you are all doing great and had an amazing weekend. this idea came into mind one day and i needed to write it. feedback is always appreciated <3.
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summary attending the local farmers market as a family of four and bumping into family later on.
warning(s) none!
It was a glorious bright day in Kildare, with blue skies and a hint of clouds. Rafe turned the corner towards the parking lot, and the streets of downtown were already bustling with activity. There were white tents lined up in orderly rows, each filled with colorful fruit, homemade crafts, or fresh pastries. The scent of warm bread, freshly made coffee, and luscious peaches filled the air. A local band set up near the gazebo played slowly, while somewhere nearby, bees hummed gently amid flower vendors.
Whenever spring comes around, the local outdoor farmers market opens till the end of summer. Opened every saturday⎯8am to 12:30pm. Everybody attends and leaves with a smile on their face. Rafe and you started going together when you were pregnant with your first born, Hayes, who’s now four years old.
You get out of the car, the air scented with honeysuckle and sunscreen, and walk around to the passenger side. With a faint creak, the back door opens, revealing your baby girl, five months old and just waking up from a car nap. Her eyes flutter, her cheeks full and rose-colored, and one small fist curls near her mouth. Her pink romper is somewhat bunched, and her soft headband has slid over one ear.
"Hi sweet girl, you look like you had a good nap," you say with a hint of laughter, and Paisley grins, kicking her little legs.
Rafe and Hayes were unloading a two-seat stroller. Haye knelt down and gently helped Rafe unwind the stroller. "You're doing great, bud," he replies with a smile before high-fiving him. "I'm a big boy, daddy," Hayes smiles.
"All good?" he questioned.
"Yep," you replied, brushing a crumb off Hayes' shirt. "Coffee first?"
"You know me too well."
First stop being coffee is a must⎯always. This coffee truck that always parked at the far end of the market⎯old but charming, with bright teal paint and string lights curling around the window. You ordered something different this time, a lavender honey cold brew with oat milk.
Your eyes expanded with the first sip, "babe, you need to try this!"
Rafe's brow furrowed with curiosity before leaning in and sipping through the straw, "Oh yeah," he murmured, "that's dangerous." He closed his eyes and pointed to your drink several times.
You began laughing at his reaction⎯his facial expression showed his eyebrows raised as he looked at you⎯amazed and secretly wishing he got the same order.
Hayes, now holding your hand, softly tugged. "Mama, can we get the fruit now?"
"You read my mind," you remarked, grasping his small fingers as the four of you moved down the row of produce tents.
Rafe walked beside you, gently pushing the stroller, while Paisley sat with her head slightly angled and a small fan attached to the cover. Her little feet kicked gently, and she looked up at Rafe with the cutest gummy smile.
He grins down at Paisley, kneeling as he walks, "You're already giving me that adorable smile, huh pretty girl," his soft kind tone melting your heart.
Hayes came to a halt in front of the tent that had captured his attention. You never let go of his little grasps as he guided you across the small space.
Paisley’s cooing in the stroller as you walk. Rafe’s pushing her along the cobblestone path while you hold Hayes’ hand, guiding him through the crowd. Vendors are calling out deals on peaches and homemade jams, a guitarist strums a soft tune near the corner flower stand, and the whole market feels like a movie scene.
Stacked strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, and other fruits. The veggies were on the opposite side: lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots. You wanted all of them to go home. Once Hayes and you had chosen your fruits, you pulled out some cash and presented it to the older gentleman.
You carried the bag over to Rafe and Paisley, kneeling on one knee, putting them at the bottom of the stroller. “Find everything you need?” Rafe softly asks, looking down into your eyes as you stood up, “oh yes we did.”
Paisley started squirming about in the stroller, suggesting that she wanted out. She began to fuss as you crouched down to unbuckle her. Her gestures made it little difficult as she sobbed, "I know princess, mommy is getting you out" you coo, raising her up and caressing her cheek⎯Paisley lets out a sigh of relief once she's in your arms.
You passed by small business tents next, admiring handmade soaps, macramé plant hangers, and soft baby clothes. There was one tent with toys that Rafe felt Hayes would like⎯he got two toy cars⎯and you helped in finding another toy Hayes might like, but once he makes his decision, he won't look back.
"Hayesy, do you like this dinosaur toy?" You asked, kneeling at his eye level. He turns around, exclaiming, placing his palm over his mouth, "it's so cool mommy," taking it in his small ones⎯Rafe and you exchange glances, knowing Hayes is debating whether or not to take it.
He lets out a quiet sigh and hands you the dinosaur, saying, "It's okay, mommy, I have more at home," before taking a dinosaur position.
After walking around for some more, you bought a small floral bouquet⎯dahlias, sunflowers, and tiny white blossoms—and tucked them into the stroller’s basket. Lately, the house was missing new flowers and since the market has all you could ask for, you bought them. Rafe and Hayes got you your⎯aren’t they so cute.
So far, the morning has gone smoothly. The weather was pleasant, with intermittent chilly breezes. Hayes grew tired of strolling and sat in the front seat of the stroller. Paisley in your arms, safely facing forward⎯seeing what you see. She'd kick her legs out of nowhere and laugh out of nowhere.
There was an open seating area under a tree. Rafe and you decided to have a quick snack and take a rest break before returning to the car. Hayes sat in the chair next to Rafe, eating his meal. Paisley sat on your lap, babbled, and looked around.
"Today has been good, don't you think?" Rafe asks: peering at Paisley, who is pulling herself toward him, seeking out for him to hold her. "Definitely a good day, and we got out of the house," you smile, kissing Hayes' top of head.
Hayes smiles and leans into you.
"Y/N, Rafe!" You hear your names shouted out by two recognizable voices.
Rafe frowns and turns his entire body around; Sarah and Wheezie walk over, Ward and Rose trailing behind them with smiles on their faces. Hayes looks at both of you, unclear, until he turns around to see his aunts heading your way.
Hayes quickly puts his sandwich down and runs to the girls.
“Look at you bud” Wheezie chimes, softly nudging him, “getting all big on us.”
Hayes puts both hands on his hips, “I’m a big boy, Auntie Wheezie!” A look of proudness at his age amazes you and Rafe. For the longest time, he couldn’t wait to be four.
Ward and Rose walked in your direction⎯you bring Rose in for a warm hug then Ward. Both of you weren’t expecting to see each other here but it’s always good to run into family at the farmers market.
“Paisley, are you so happy to see your grandparents?” You happily ask her as if she can fully understand you but she can only beam with a loud squeal⎯forming her hands into a fist, extending her legs before kicking them with excitement.
Rose chuckled, “take that as a yes.”
You guys catched up for a bit before heading towards the parking lot⎯Hayes was having the time of his life with his aunties and Paisley fell asleep in Ward's arms. It was a perfect day.
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