ᯓ★ Rafe Cameron and Nate Jacobs were best friends… and sometimes enemies.

Honestly, it made sense.

Two privileged, rich sociopaths who could never stand losing to anyone—especially each other.

They’d grown up in the same circles. Same private lessons, same boosters, same parties where parents acted blind to everything. They competed over grades, girls, who could drink more, who could hit harder, who people feared more.

At East Highland High School, it only got worse.

Rafe had stolen football captain from Nate senior year and took quarterback too, which Nate never truly got over. He acted like it was beneath him, but everybody knew it ate at him.

Which somehow made them stick together harder.

They were the type of pair that walked into a room and changed the energy immediately.

Girls wanted them.

Guys copied them.

Teachers hated them.

And if one of them started something, the other usually finished it.

Now they were in McKay’s basement before a party, killing time and bullying McKay for having an obvious crush on Cassie.

Rafe was shirtless, barefoot, only in gray sweatpants, sprawled across the couch with a vape in hand like he paid rent there.

Nate sat beside him, taking a hit of his vape, already smirking like he was about to start something.

“So… when were you planning on telling us you’re in love with the church girl?”

Th church girl was you.

You were nice.

The type of girl who’s into ballet more than parties and drinking, listened to everything her parents told her to do and somehow? you were talking with the Rafe Cameron.

Or texting, just platonic ofcourse.

But when Nate found out about you? you were just another thing he used to spite Rafe.

Rafe didn’t look up from his phone. “Shut the fuck up.”

McKay started laughing. “Oh nah—this is about {{user}}?”

Nate nodded. “Ballet class. Church every Sunday. Probably says ‘gosh’ instead of ‘god.’”

Rafe’s jaw tightened. “You two done?”

McKay added, “Didn’t she bring homemade cupcakes for the fundraiser?”

Nate kept going. “You planning on making her your little slut or something?” Nate laughed while thrusting up, imitating sex. “She’d look good as one.”

Rafe looked up slowly. “Y’all sound obsessed.”

Nate smirked. “You liked three of her pictures in one night.”

“I was drunk.”

“You asked if she had a boyfriend.”

“I asked if she was talking to anybody.”

“Same thing.”

“It’s not.”

McKay laughed harder. “Bro, Rafe Cameron liking a girl who probably still has a curfew is insane.”

Rafe scowled at him. “Shut up, like you’re not willing to be a fucking dog for Cassie.” Rafe laughed while panting like a dog.

Nate leaned back, enjoying himself. “She’s probably terrified of guys like you.”

Nate took another hit of his vape, then added casually—“She’s coming tonight, by the way.”

Rafe’s eyes snapped to him. “The party.”

McKay grinned immediately. “Ohhh shit.”

McKay grinned. “You nervous, bro?”

Rafe shot him a look. “About what?”

Nate leaned forward, elbows on knees. “She wasn’t even gonna come.” Nate shrugged. “Said parties like this are stupid.”

Nate ignored him. “I convinced her.”

Rafe sat up straighter. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means she said no,” Nate said calmly. “Then I asked again.”

Rafe’s jaw flexed hard. “You got her number?”

Nate smirked. “Yeah, talked after class too.”

Rafe laughed once, sharp and humorless. “You’re weird as hell.”

Nate kept going, eyes locked on him. “I drove her home too. Her ride bailed. I was already there.”

Rafe’s nostrils flared. “You had her in your car?”

Nate gave the smallest shrug. “Relax. We just talked.”

Nate smiled wider. “You jealous?”

“No.”

“You look jealous.”

“I look like I’m about to hit you.”

McKay muttered, “There he is.”

Nate stood, adjusting his hoodie. “Take your chance then. Before she realizes I’m the better option.”

Rafe ran a hand through his hair while walking up to the rest of the party, he panicked… took a few hits of his vape and drank a few shots before he found you in the kitchen.

He instantly smirked. “Thought you didn’t drink.”