rafeysbangs

[rafeysbangs]

lachesism , rafe cameron ( series ) 14

pairing ; brother's!bsf!rafe x kook!female!reader

content ; mdni !! outerbanks au, eventual smut, angst, violence, underage drinking, family issues, substance abuse, s/a.

summary ; rafe cameron is everything you can’t stand; reckless, infuriating, and too self-assured for his own good. as your brother’s best friend, he’s always been a constant presence, one you’ve done your best to ignore. but the tension between you has always simmered just beneath the surface, sharp and impossible to ignore. you’ve spent years resisting his pull, refusing to give him the satisfaction. but in a world where lines blur and control slips away, you’re forced to face the truth: rafe cameron isn’t so easy to hate after all.

status ; ongoing .ᐟ

✺ navigation ; 013. 014. 015.

FOURTEEN, news to the public

THE MORNING CREPT IN RELUCTANTLY,

its pale light seeping through the curtains like an uninvited guest. you lay motionless in bed, your chest rising and falling in shallow breaths as if moving too much might shatter you completely. the events of the night before played on a loop in your head, each memory cutting deeper than the last. hannah's smug smile. rafe's arm draped casually around her waist. the sharp-edged words that had spilled from your own mouth when you'd finally lashed out at him.

carter's voice echoed in your ears like a cruel specter. 'don't get your hopes up', and later, after everything had crumbled to pieces, classic rafe cameron. you should've known.

you sat up abruptly, the motion sending a spike of pain through your temples. your head throbbed from the champagne and your restless night, but none of it compared to the hollow ache in your chest. you pressed your palms into your eyes, as if you could physically push the memories away.

downstairs, the faint clatter of dishes and muffled voices drifted upward, grounding you in the present. you didn't want to face carter, didn't want to endure his smug, unsympathetic remarks, but the simmering anger bubbling beneath your grief forced you to move. you couldn't let him win.

the kitchen was warm with the scent of coffee and eggs, a sharp contrast to the icy tension that immediately settled when you stepped inside. carter stood by the counter, casually scrolling on his phone as if he hadn't ripped your world apart the night before.

"you're up," he said without looking up. his voice was infuriatingly neutral, as if nothing had happened.

you didn't respond, instead moving toward the coffee pot with deliberate slowness, your shoulders stiff.

"you can be mad all you want," he said after a beat, setting his phone down with a faint clink. "but you know i'm right. it's classic rafe. he does this to everyone."

your grip on the coffee mug tightened, your knuckles turning white. "you don't know what you're talking about."

carter snorted, folding his arms. "don't i? you've known him as long as i have. he's not exactly boyfriend material."

you spun around, your eyes blazing. "and you're an expert on relationships now? spare me the lecture, carter."

"i'm just saying," he continued, unbothered by your anger, "you shouldn't have expected anything different. it's not like he-"

"stop," you snapped, your voice shaking. "just stop. you don't get to sit there and act like you care about me."

his expression faltered for the briefest moment, but he quickly recovered, shrugging. "i was looking out for you. someone had to."

your laugh was bitter, hollow. "looking out for me? you mean controlling me. just like ward controls rafe. you're no better than him."

without waiting for a response, you stormed out of the kitchen, the sound of your footsteps echoing in the quiet house.

later, with the safety of your room shielding you from the world, you called cora. you needed someone who would listen, someone who wouldn't dismiss your feelings with a casual shrug.

"you sound like hell," cora said gently after you had recounted the events of the night.

"thanks," you muttered, your voice heavy with exhaustion.

"i need you to think about this logically for a second," cora said, her tone firm but kind. "what if he's only with hannah because ward made him?"

you froze, the words sinking in like stones dropped into a still pond. "what do you mean?"

"think about it," cora said. "ward's all about appearances and business. hannah's dad is his new business partner. it makes sense, doesn't it? rafe wouldn't just... do this to you."

the realization hit you like a wave, leaving you almost completely breathless. "you really think...?"

"i don't know for sure," cora admitted, "but it's worth considering. rafe's not exactly subtle when it comes to you."

the ocean stretched out before you, a boundless expanse of restless waves crashing against the shore, echoing the chaos in your chest. the horizon blurred where sea met sky, both endless and empty, just like the thoughts you couldn't silence. your bare feet sank into the damp sand as you walked, every step pulling you closer to some semblance of grounding, though your mind remained adrift. the salty breeze tangled your hair and filled your lungs, sharp and bracing, but even that couldn't dispel the ache twisting inside you.

you had come here to escape the suffocating weight of it all, carter's schemes, the event, him. rafe's face flashed in your mind, and you clenched your jaw, the memory of his arm around hannah as vivid as if it were happening all over again.

the sound of approaching footsteps broke through the rhythm of the waves, and your stomach tightened. you didn't have to turn to know who it was.

his voice was low, cautious, as though he knew he was stepping into dangerous territory.

you stopped but didn't face him, your gaze fixed on the horizon. "what are you doing here, rafe?" your tone was sharp, defensive, the words cutting like glass.

"i needed to talk to you," he said, his voice steady yet urgent.

finally, you turned, your eyes blazing as they met his. "talk?" you scoffed, crossing your arms. "about what? how you stood there like nothing was wrong while she clung to you like a prize? or how everything we had apparently meant nothing to you?"

he flinched at your words, the shadow of regret flickering across his face. "it's not what you think," he said, stepping closer.

"then tell me," you interrupted, your voice rising above the crash of the waves. "was any of it real, rafe? us? or was i just convenient for you until someone better came along?"

"it was real," he said firmly, his tone unwavering. "every moment. it's always been real."

you stared at him, the anger and hurt warring within you. "then who is she?" you demanded, the question ripping out of you like a wound. "who the hell is hannah, and why was she on your arm like she owns you?"

he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair as if trying to find the right words. "a few days ago," he began, "out of nowhere, ward started getting close to julian gleesons. i don't know how they met, and i didn't think much of it at first. but then they introduced me to hannah, and... something felt off. like it was all planned."

your eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing in them. "planned? by who?"

"ward," he said, his tone bitter. "but he wasn't alone." he hesitated, his gaze darkening. "it was carter."

your breath caught, disbelief mingling with the sting of betrayal. "carter?"

"yeah," he said grimly. "he's the connection to julian. i found texts between him and ward. carter suggested they set me and hannah up, thought it'd sweeten the deal with her dad. just another move for their stupid business."

the weight of his words settled heavily on your chest. carter's voice echoed in your memory, cold and calculating: 'i'll find a way to break you two up.' you shook your head, trying to make sense of it. "he told me he'd do this," you murmured, more to yourself than rafe.

"and he did," rafe said quietly, his expression softening as he looked at you. "but not because i wanted it. i didn't have a choice. i needed time to figure it out, and i couldn't-"

"couldn't what?" you snapped, taking a step back. "talk to me? tell me the truth instead of letting me walk away like an idiot?"

"i tried!" he shot back, his frustration spilling out. "but you wouldn't let me get a word in. and i was... i was in my head, trying to figure out how to fix everything before i lost you for good."

you blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the crack in his voice. he took the chance to step closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming.

"i was wearing your colour, you know," he said softly. "at the gala. the exact shade of your dress. because i wanted people to know, even if i couldn't say it outright. i've always been yours."

your breath hitched, his words slicing through your defences. you looked away, your hands clenching at your sides. "carter... he hates us together," you said, your voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.

"and i want to kill him for it," rafe said, his tone dark and honest. "but we can't do that. not yet. we have to be smart, calculated. if we want to come out on top, we can't let them see us coming."

you shook your head, the storm inside you refusing to settle. "this is insane."

"i know," he said, his voice softening. "but we can do this. hannah's already told her father she doesn't want to be with me. she's on our side. she even listened when i told her everything about us, about you. and she wants to help."

your suspicion flared again. "why would she do that?"

"because she doesn't want to be with someone that's in love with someone else," he said simply. "and she suggested we go to ward. together. tell him the truth about us. he's always liked you, thought you were good for me. if he knows, he won't stand in our way."

you stared at him, your chest tight with doubt and the flicker of something you didn't want to name. "...are we together?" you asked quietly. 

his hands slid up your arms, warm and steady, until they cradled your face. his touch was tender, his gaze unflinching. "we are if you say we are," he whispered. "so... will you? will you be my girlfriend?"

a smirk tugged at your lips despite yourself, and you tilted your head, feigning consideration. "hmm... yeah, okay."

his laughter was soft, a sound that felt like relief and joy all at once. he leaned in, his lips brushing yours in a kiss that stole the breath from your lungs and anchored you all at once.

and for the first time in days, the storm inside you began to calm.

your heart still raced as you climbed onto rafe's motorbike, the wind whipping through your hair as the two of you sped through the streets toward tanneyhill. the world blurred around you, a dizzying mix of colour and motion, but all you could focus on was the warmth of rafe's body against yours, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your fingers as you gripped him tightly. you'd just taken a step into something real, something finally yours and his, and you couldn't help but feel the intoxicating pull of hope unfurling in your chest. the tension that had plagued you for weeks, the endless ache of uncertainty, began to melt away with every mile between you and the turmoil that had followed you.

when you arrived, the house loomed before you, grand and imposing. you made your way inside, hand in hand, your fingers laced together in a silent vow to face whatever came next. rafe didn't waste a moment. he walked straight into the house, his shoulders squared and his gaze locked on ward, who was sitting in the study, casually flipping through papers.

"dad," rafe said, his voice firm, "i need to tell you something."

ward raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "what is it now, son? something wrong?"

"no," rafe said, stepping forward, his gaze unwavering. "i wanted to tell you that... we're together. and hannah, she's just a friend. if anything, she feels the same way. we're not-"

ward's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his eyes flicking between rafe and you, your heart pounding in your chest.

"wait," ward said, blinking in disbelief. "you two? together? well, i'll be damned." he chuckled, shaking his head, clearly taken aback. "i never saw that coming. but, hell, i'm glad. i've always thought that you two-" he motioned between them, "-would make a good match. she's a good influence on you, rafe. always has been. i'm happy for you both."

you felt your chest tighten, a wave of warmth washing over you. ward's approval, rafe's father's approval, was a validation you hadn't expected. it was a quiet kind of victory, the kind that spoke volumes without saying too much. you could see the pride in ward's eyes, a rare glimpse into the affection he had for his son. rafe looked almost relieved, as if the weight of his father's judgment had been the final piece in a puzzle he'd been trying to solve.

"thanks, dad," rafe said, his voice softer than you had ever heard it. he met his father's gaze, and for a moment, it was as if the entire world fell away.

you smiled faintly, squeezing rafe's hand. you hadn't realized just how much you'd been holding your breath until that very moment, but now, standing here in this space, you felt a strange sense of peace begin to settle within you.

after a few more quiet exchanges, rafe and you made your way back to the front door, leaving tanneyhill behind. the weight of the evening seemed to lift as you made your way to your house, the familiar sight of your front door giving you a strange sense of homecoming.

inside, your parents sat in the living room, their eyes glued to the television, completely unaware of the shift that had just taken place.

you glanced at rafe, your heart fluttering, as you walked into the room. "mom, dad," you began, your voice soft but steady. "there's something i need to tell you."

your mother looked up, smiling warmly, but her expression shifted to one of mild curiosity when she saw the look on your face. "what is it, darling?"

you took a deep breath, squeezing rafe's hand once more before meeting your parents' gaze. "rafe is my boyfriend."

your parents exchanged a surprised glance, but there was no anger in their eyes, no judgment. just a quiet acceptance, a shared understanding between two people who had seen rafe grow up alongside their daughter.

"well, i'll be honest," your father began, leaning forward in his chair, "i didn't see that one coming." he chuckled, a warm sound that eased the tension in your chest. "but i'm glad to hear it. rafe's been a part of this family for years. we've always liked him. and if he's making you happy, sweetheart, then that's all that matters to us."

your mother smiled softly. "your father's right. we've known rafe since he was a boy. and we've always thought you two would make a cute match. i'm just happy you're both happy."

rafe nodded, visibly relieved, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. "yeah," he said, his voice low, "there was a misunderstanding at the event with mr. gleesons and ward. hannah and i... we were just friends. nothing more."

"oh, i'm glad to hear that," your mother continued, her voice warm. "we always liked the idea of you two together."

your heart fluttered in your chest, the knot in your stomach unraveling with each word. "thanks," you said softly, glancing at rafe before looking back at your parents.

with that, the conversation drifted into quieter waters, and before long, they were on their way upstairs.

you flopped back onto your bed, a sigh escaping your lips as you sank into the comfort of the mattress. for the first time in weeks, you felt at peace, like the weight of the world had been lifted, like everything had finally fallen into place.

rafe followed you, a mischievous glint in his eyes. without warning, he collapsed on top of you, his body warm and solid against yours. he whispered in your ear, making you giggle as his lips brushing against your neck as he peppered soft kisses along your skin.

but just as the moment felt like it might stretch on forever, a shadow loomed in the doorway.

"what the fuck?" carter's voice was like a knife through the air, cold and furious.

your heart stuttered in your chest, but rafe immediately pulled back, a low growl escaping his throat. he sat up, his fists clenched, fury flickering in his eyes.

"stay calm," you murmured, your hand reaching out to stop him before the storm could break. "let's not ruin this. not now. please."

rafe's jaw tightened, but he stayed still, glaring at carter as he stood in your doorway, arms crossed over his chest.

"you can't just walk in here and think you can fuck things up anymore, carter," you said, your voice sharp and steady. "everyone knows rafe and i are together now. whatever you were trying to do with ward behind our backs, it didn't work. all you did was give ward a business opportunity, and made us official."

carter's eyes burned with anger, but he said nothing, his hands balling into fists at his sides. without another word, he turned and stormed off, slamming the door behind him.

you let out a shaky breath, your shoulders sagging as the tension bled out of you. you stared at the blanket beneath you, fingers twisting at the fabric, trying to quell the sudden wave of exhaustion that swept over you.

rafe sat back down beside you, his arm wrapping around your shoulders, pulling you close. "you okay baby?" he asked softly, his voice gentle, like he was afraid to disrupt the fragile peace that had settled between you.

"yeah," you murmured, resting your head against his chest. "just... tired. but i'm good."

rafe kissed the top of your head, his fingers gently combing through your hair. "we're good," he whispered. "and no one's gonna ruin that."

notes; back again ! told you all i'd be posting more.

OLD series taglist ; @anacamofficial @sqfewrd @dreamyy-cloud @vampteeth @wtfisastiles @flvredcas @plaidcowboy @sematarygirls @slut4you @kravitzwhore @daryldixon83 @lexavanhuelee @dorcas4meadowes @i2rapunzel @rafestoothbrush @drewizz @6r4cie @akobx @seehowitshines @rafeswhoooreee @vbstrewbieri @waywarddiplomatfarmmonger-blog @ariivv01 @k4yr14 @luvrcndy @teleishachrisy @importantbeardcupcake @vanessa-rafesgirl @ltristessedureratoujours @cutkoskysnix1 @kennedywxlsh @funnyalpca @eeveelizabethh @burnburritono @marleymarleymarleymarley @katiebby04 @simplymaeee @hoppinbunny @slutglimreqpers

[rafeysbangs]

I really really love ur series are u gonna start uploading it regularly again?

thank you loveeee !! for now i'm going to keep updating my series but reqs are currently closed and i wont really write anything else unless i have the motivation i think... i just want to focus on finishing lachesism !

[rafeysbangs]

lachesism , rafe cameron ( series ) 13

pairing ; brother's!bsf!rafe x kook!female!reader

content ; mdni !! outerbanks au, eventual smut, angst, violence, underage drinking, family issues, substance abuse, s/a.

summary ; rafe cameron is everything you can’t stand; reckless, infuriating, and too self-assured for his own good. as your brother’s best friend, he’s always been a constant presence, one you’ve done your best to ignore. but the tension between you has always simmered just beneath the surface, sharp and impossible to ignore. you’ve spent years resisting his pull, refusing to give him the satisfaction. but in a world where lines blur and control slips away, you’re forced to face the truth: rafe cameron isn’t so easy to hate after all.

status ; ongoing .ᐟ

✺ navigation ; 012. 013. 014.

THIRTEEN, between the lines

THE DAY STARTED SLOW, 

heavy and thick with the kind of stillness that came before a storm. one that hadn't yet decided to break, but still hung in the air, thick and suffocating. you could feel it in your bones, that unshakable tension that gnawed at you until it was all you could think about. your mind, a restless thing, darted from thought to thought like a cat circling its prey, never quite pouncing, never quite still.

rafe, that name had become a constant echo in your mind, a pulse that refused to quiet, but each time you reached for him, you found only cold space, a distance that wasn't there before. it was like he'd become a ghost, and you were left chasing the remnants of him.

the only thing that held your attention, that anchored you for any length of time, was the dress. it had become almost a symbol, a singular focus in a day that felt fractured. a backless pale blue dress, its hue like the soft, ethereal glow of morning sky, shimmered gently as it caught the light, tracing your figure with an elegance that felt effortlessly captivating. when you had first seen it in the boutique in charleston, the world had fallen away, leaving only that dress. everything about it, the luxurious fabric, the way it clung to your body, the graceful cut that whispered of elegance, felt like it was made just for you, like it was your dress. but as you stood in front of the mirror, brushing your hair, a faint gnawing feeling twisted in your gut. the dress, so beautiful and expensive, seemed almost hollow now, like a piece of armour you could wear but never fully step into. your phone lay silent in the other room, its stillness louder than anything else, louder than your thoughts, louder than the empty space between you and him.

the texts had been few and far between over the past few days, and each one left you with an unsettled feeling, like you were trying to catch smoke in your hands. each message from rafe had felt more distant than the last, colder, as if the warmth between you had been swallowed whole. when you had told him about the dress, expecting some sort of enthusiasm, some sign that he cared, his response had been a simple transaction: show it to me, and i'll pay for it. nothing else. no affection, no interest in how you felt or what you thought. just a command wrapped in practicality, like a business deal you hadn't signed up for. but when the money had transferred into your account, it was almost worse than if he hadn't said anything at all. there had been no caring in that gesture. just a cold, mechanical exchange that made you feel like you were nothing more than a purchase.

was it always about ward? you couldn't shake the thought. was this the reason rafe had been so distant? maybe his father had been pushing him again, forcing him to play a part in something that had never been his choice. you didn't know much, but you knew rafe's moods all too well, especially when his father was involved. you knew the weight of that pressure, how it pushed him into corners, into silence. you sighed and twirled in front of the mirror, trying to shake off the heaviness in your chest, hoping that the movement would make you feel something, anything, but all you felt was the dull ache in your stomach, the one you couldn't name, couldn't quiet. it was there, persistent, gnawing at you like the unanswered questions that lived between the two of you.

the event loomed ahead, hanging in the air like a shadow you couldn't outrun, couldn't avoid. once you were dressed, every step you took in your heels seemed to echo too loudly in the silence of the house. you made your way downstairs, each click of the heels a reminder of the emptiness that was building inside of you. when you reached the bottom, carter was waiting for you, leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed. his eyes narrowed slightly when they met yours, and the air between you thickened with unspoken words.

"don't get your hopes up," carter's voice was low, cold, and the weight of his words pressed down on your chest like a stone.

you frowned, a flicker of confusion passing over you. "what are you talking about?"

he didn't answer immediately, just gave you that same unreadable look, his eyes dark and distant, like he knew something you didn't want to hear. the silence stretched between you, heavy with something you couldn't quite place. then, without another word, he turned and headed for the door, leaving you standing there, your heart pounding in your chest.

the rest of the world seemed to move in slow motion after that. you followed carter, your thoughts spinning as you stepped into the waiting uber black. the car was too quiet, too close, the smell of leather and perfume thick in the air. as they drove, the city lights flickered by like fleeting memories, blurring past you in a haze of color and motion. the streets, alive with people and the hum of life, felt far removed. you couldn't shake the tension in your limbs, the way your mind kept circling back to rafe. what was going on with him? why hadn't he been in touch? why had he sent the money but not a word, not even an acknowledgment of your dress, of you? it was as if he was pushing you away, like he always did when things started to matter too much. but why? why now?

your fingers tightened around the strap of your bag, the fabric of the seat beneath you suddenly feeling too soft, too real. you wanted to ask carter, to demand answers, but the words stuck in your throat. instead, you sat in silence, watching the lights of the town blur past, each one a reminder of how far away you felt from rafe now, how far away you felt from everything you had imagined.

they arrived fashionably late, as always. the night air felt electric, buzzing with the kind of anticipation that seemed to hum through the thick streets. the hotel loomed in front of them, a glass and steel giant stretching into the sky, its sharp angles catching the neon glow of the city like a razor's edge. everything about it was sleek, modern, and far too polished.

as you stepped inside, the air shifted, the weight of it pressing down on your shoulders, thick with perfume and the murmur of conversations swirling around them. laughter echoed, the clinking of glasses sharp against the hum of excitement. the scent of expensive cologne and over-the-top fragrances filled the space, curling around you like something suffocating. every step you took felt louder than the last, every heel click a reminder that you were here, in this gilded cage, surrounded by people who only cared about what the right things looked like.

they were ushered into the ballroom, and your pulse quickened as your eyes scanned the room. it was vast, like something out of a dream. chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystals shimmering, bathing the space in a warm, golden light. the walls were lined with windows, offering an unobstructed view of the city, all its lights flickering below like a sea of stars she couldn't quite reach. a polished bar ran along one side of the room, and scattered tall standing tables formed pockets of quiet conversation amid the loud laughter and clinking glasses.

your heart pounded as you moved through the crowd, your fingers trembling just slightly as you held your champagne flute. you searched for him, rafe, trying to ignore the rising tide of nerves in your stomach. you hadn't seen him in days, and the distance between you had begun to stretch too far, like a chasm you couldn't cross. their texts had been brief, almost cold. he hadn't asked about your dress, hadn't mentioned anything about how you looked, and it stung more than you were willing to admit. still, you told yourself he was just busy, lost in his own world, probably dealing with his father's latest demands. you had to believe that. had to.

then you saw him. across the room, near the bar, standing with a presence that drew the eye like gravity. his black suit was impeccable, cutting through the sea of fancy dresses like a shadow, tall, composed, dangerous. your breath hitched at the sight of him. he looked flawless even with his bangs messily falling over his eyes, his jaw sharp under the low light, his eyes scanning the room with that same unreadable, cold detachment you knew all too well. he was exactly the way you remembered, too beautiful for his own good, a king in a room full of mere pawns.

but there was something off. something you hadn't expected. standing next to him was a brunette, a girl whose hand rested on rafe's arm with a casual familiarity, as if she belonged there. she was leaning into him, laughing in a way that made your chest tighten painfully. the girl wore a gorgeous purple dress that caught the light, her smile bright and unguarded, a stark contrast to the tense, careful silence that surrounded rafe. and just like that, you felt something sharp and cold slip inside you, digging into your ribs. jealousy? maybe. or something worse.

rafe's gaze flickered in your direction, just for a second, just long enough for you to catch it. and then, nothing. his eyes slid away from you, as if you weren't even there. there was no warmth, no recognition, just a cold indifference. the brunette, noticing your gaze, flashed you a smile. it was smug, almost cruel in its ease. your stomach churned, but you refused to show it, refused to let anyone see just how much it hurt.

your throat went dry, your mind spinning with confusion and something darker, something that felt like betrayal. how could he? how could he stand there with her when you had shared moments that felt so real, so raw? but maybe that was the problem. maybe you had been foolish enough to think he cared in any real way. you closed your eyes for a moment, trying to steady yourself, but the room felt like it was closing in on you, the air thick and suffocating.

"don't," came a voice beside you, cutting through the chaos. carter. his expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and hard, but there was something in his tone that made you freeze. "don't get too attached to the idea of him. you're not the only one he's playing."

your chest tightened. you didn't want to hear it, didn't want to face the reality of it. but there it was, his words like a cold slap, harsh and unforgiving. you didn't know how to respond, so you said nothing. you couldn't. the knot in your throat was too tight, your mind too jumbled. you looked at carter, then back at rafe, who had already turned away, focusing his attention on the brunette in purple.

without saying another word, you turned and walked away, your heels clicking sharply on the marble floor, the sound of them drowning out everything else. you needed space, air, anything to clear the fog in your head. your breath came in shallow bursts as you made your way to the bathroom, desperate for a moment of peace.

inside, you locked the door behind you and pressed your back against it, sliding down until you sat on the cold floor. your clutch was a lifeline, something solid to hold onto as the tears came, silent, hot tears that refused to stop. you hated how weak it made you feel, how exposed. you didn't cry. you didn't do vulnerability like this.

but here you are, breaking apart in the dimly lit bathroom of a grand hotel.

minutes, but it felt like hours, passed before you could finally stand, your hands shaking as you wiped your face, fixing your makeup with the precision of someone who had done this more times than you cared to admit. the tears had stopped, but the pain lingered like a dull ache in her chest. you took a deep breath, squared your shoulders, and opened the door.

champagne. that's what she needed.

you grabbed a glass from a passing tray, the bubbles cold against your tongue as you sipped, willing yourself to forget everything that had just happened. you mingled with your parents, smiling when you had to, nodding along to conversations, but your mind kept drifting back to him. rafe. the brunette. the cold look in his eyes.

at the front, ward and julius gleeson stood, their voices booming over the quiet murmur of the room. you tried to listen, tried to focus on the words they were saying about business deals and success, but the sound of rafe's laugh, of the brunette's voice, kept interrupting your thoughts. you couldn't ignore it. you couldn't pretend that it didn't bother you.

you watched as ward finished his speech and the crowd erupted into applause. you just stood there, alone in a sea of people, the weight of everything pressing down on you. the champagne glass was empty now, and you felt the last of your defences slipping away.

deep inside, a cold, sharp feeling began to grow, like a storm you could neither outrun nor survive. it was a feeling that told you everything was about to change, and you weren't sure you were ready for it. the shadows in the glass windows stretched longer, darker, as the night wore on. the storm was coming, and you had no idea what would be left of you when it finally broke.

the event stretched on, a tapestry of laughter and clinking glasses that seemed to stretch into eternity. you moved through it like a ghost, your feet light on the polished marble floors, your mind heavy with thoughts you couldn't quite chase away. you felt the weight of every passing second, the way time dragged and twisted, bending to the rhythm of your spiralling heart. you were there in body, but your mind was a thousand miles away, always circling back to him, rafe.

and then you saw him again, standing by the bar, his dark figure surrounded by the usual crowd. but this time, something about him had changed. or maybe it was the way the girl clung to him. the brunette. you didn't know her name yet, but it didn't matter. what mattered was the way her hand rested on rafe's arm, the way their bodies seemed to fit together in a way that made you feel small, invisible.

you stood there, your eyes locked on the two of them, watching as the girl laughed, a bright, carefree sound that grated against the quiet pain you couldn't shake. rafe's hand lingered on her waist, his fingers curling possessively as the girl leaned in, whispering something in his ear. your stomach twisted, a coil of jealousy and longing that tightened with each passing second.

you forced yourself to look away, to breathe, to be somewhere else, but the sight of them haunted you, pulled you back like gravity. you wanted to scream, to demand answers from him, but you couldn't. not here, not now. and then, as if on cue, your parents appeared at your side, guiding you forward with an insistent hand. they led you across the room, a sea of bodies separating them from rafe and his new companion.

ward cameron and rose, ever the gracious hosts, were standing nearby, their eyes lighting up when they saw you and your parents approaching. "darling, come over here," your mother called out, her voice warm but laced with something else, something that made you feel like you were about to be thrust into the spotlight.

ward's smile was wide, too wide, his posture relaxed, but there was something calculating behind his eyes. he was always like that, always reading people like books, flipping through the pages and knowing exactly what to say. they were talking about his big business deal when his voice,  smooth, like velvet, interjected with your name. his tone lighter than air. "nice to see you again, this-" he gestured to the brunette, her eyes sparkling with a kind of quiet self-assurance—"this is rafe's new girlfriend, hannah gleesons."

the name struck you like a slap. hannah gleesons. the words echoed in your head, ricocheting off the walls of your mind. hannah. the name seemed so final, so inevitable. your heart sank, the weight of it crushing your chest in an instant. this was it. there was no room left for hope, no space to pretend that maybe, just maybe, you were still something to rafe.

hannah flashed a bright smile at you, and it was the kind of smile that could belong to someone who knew exactly where they stood. confident. self-assured. smug. you couldn't hide the way it made your skin crawl, how it felt like the world was tilting just a little bit off centre.

you glanced at rafe, but he didn't meet your eyes. his gaze was cold, distant, as if you were nothing more than a ghost passing through his world. your chest ached, a low, gnawing ache that she tried to swallow down. but it refused to be ignored. your hand clenched around the edge of her glass, the crystal cool against her palm.

and then, ward's voice broke through the silence, an odd mixture of casual politeness and something darker. "rafe's finally found someone who can hold him down, don't you think?" his laugh was low, almost too soft, and rose's smile, too, was just a little too tight.

you felt the edges of the room blur, the light around you fading into a haze of something sharp and painful. you knew you should respond, should smile, should act like everything was fine. but the words caught in your throat, sharp and raw, and all you could do was nod politely, even as your insides twisted.

it was then that ward's gaze flicked to you, his eyes lingering just a beat too long on you, like he knew something you didn't. something that made you feel exposed, as though all your secrets were laid bare in front of him.

your heart pounded in your chest, and you tried to keep your face neutral, tried to fight the heat that rushed to your cheeks. but you couldn't fight the sting. not anymore.

it was then that their gazes met, just for a fraction of a second, and your breath caught in your throat. rafe's eyes, that deep, unreadable blue, locked onto yours, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch out. everything around them disappeared, and all that was left was the fire between you, a fire that you had once thought could burn so brightly. now, it was cold, like a dying ember, smothered by indifference.

he said nothing. not a word. his expression was unreadable, like stone, and that, that was what cut the deepest. no apologies. no explanations. just silence.

you didn't say anything either. you didn't trust yourself to speak. not with the sting of his disregard still so fresh in your chest. so, you simply excused yourself, your voice polite, your smile distant. you turned on your heel, walking away from them, from him, as the weight of everything settled like a heavy stone in your stomach.

you needed a drink. something cold. something that could numb the ache you couldn't silence in your soul.

as you made your way toward the bar, you caught sight of carter standing near the edge of the crowd, his eyes sharp, his expression unreadable. "i told you so," he said, his voice low, but it carried a weight, a truth that cut deeper than it should have.

you didn't respond. you didn't want to. instead, you grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing tray, your fingers trembling just enough for you to notice. you took a sip, the bubbles sharp against your tongue, but they didn't quiet the storm inside you.

hours passed, and the event began to wind down. the crowds thinned, the laughter grew quieter, the glow of the chandeliers dimmer. you tried to slip away unnoticed, but as you made your way toward the door, you felt a hand close around your arm, firm and unyielding.

rafe's voice was quiet as he said your name, low, but it still sent a jolt through you. you spun around, but you didn't let him speak. didn't give him the chance.

"don't touch me," you said, your voice sharp, cutting through the thick air between the two of you. "go enjoy the hotel room you probably got for you and your new girlfriend." the words were like acid in your throat, but they needed to be said, needed to be heard.

rafe didn't respond. he stood there, his face as unreadable as ever. but his silence, his unwillingness to argue, spoke volumes. he didn't care. he was done.

with a final glance at him, you pulled your arm away and turned on your heel, walking away from everything you'd ever thought you wanted. you left the event without another word, your chest tight, your throat burning. the cool night air hit your face as you stepped into the waiting uber, but still, nothing to quiet the storm inside.

what you didn't notice, was that rafe was wearing a matching pale blue pocket square and tie, the same colour as your dress.

notes; guys im alive... barely. i hope you enjoyed this chapter of pure angst. more to come soon xoxo

regarding my taglist, once again, its VERY old (two months lol) ask to me removed idm!

series taglist ; @anacamofficial @sqfewrd @dreamyy-cloud @vampteeth @wtfisastiles @flvredcas @plaidcowboy @sematarygirls @slut4you @kravitzwhore @daryldixon83 @lexavanhuelee @dorcas4meadowes @i2rapunzel @rafestoothbrush @drewizz @6r4cie @akobx @seehowitshines @rafeswhoooreee @vbstrewbieri @waywarddiplomatfarmmonger-blog @ariivv01 @k4yr14 @luvrcndy @teleishachrisy @importantbeardcupcake @vanessa-rafesgirl @ltristessedureratoujours @cutkoskysnix1 @kennedywxlsh @funnyalpca @eeveelizabethh @burnburritono @marleymarleymarleymarley @katiebby04 @simplymaeee @hoppinbunny @slutglimreqpers

[rafeysbangs]

ARE WE OKAY? you haven’t updated in a month🥹

YES!! sorry guys, im just a really busy uni student but i swear another chapter of lachesism will be out soonnnnn

[rafeysbangs]

standing ovulation or whatever they say

[rafeysbangs]

lachesism , rafe cameron ( series ) 12

pairing ; brother's!bsf!rafe x kook!female!reader

content ; mdni !! outerbanks au, eventual smut, angst, violence, underage drinking, family issues, substance abuse, s/a.

summary ; rafe cameron is everything you can’t stand; reckless, infuriating, and too self-assured for his own good. as your brother’s best friend, he’s always been a constant presence, one you’ve done your best to ignore. but the tension between you has always simmered just beneath the surface, sharp and impossible to ignore. you’ve spent years resisting his pull, refusing to give him the satisfaction. but in a world where lines blur and control slips away, you’re forced to face the truth: rafe cameron isn’t so easy to hate after all.

status ; ongoing .ᐟ

✺ navigation ; 011. 012. 013.

TWELVE, veiled intentions

THE HOUSE FELT HEAVIER IN THE DAYLIGHT,

a stillness that seeped into your skin, dense and suffocating. it wasn't the furniture or the walls closing in—it was the words. carter's words, sharp-edged and clinging, lingering in the air like smoke from a fire that refused to die out.

you barely touched your cereal, watching the milk turn warm and the flakes sink like forgotten stones. carter was gone—probably at the field with your dad—but his absence wasn't the relief you thought it would be. it felt like the kind of silence that comes before the sky splits open, a storm waiting to unravel.

your phone buzzed from where it sat on the counter, the sound jolting you back to the moment. you didn't have to look to know it was him.

rafe: come outside.

no punctuation. no pleasantries. just him. direct and unyielding.

you slipped out the front door, careful to pull it shut quietly behind you. the morning sun painted the porch in soft light, but your gaze was locked on him. rafe leaned against his truck, his arms crossed, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. even in the casual sprawl of his posture, there was something electric about him, something that made your heart trip over itself.

"bold of you to show up here," you said, your voice steady despite the chaos inside.

"bold of you to assume i care," he shot back, his smirk deepening.

your arms crossed instinctively, a flimsy barrier between them. "carter knows."

the smirk faltered, his features hardening into something darker, sharper. "what do you mean, he knows?"

"he caught me sneaking in last night." you lowered your voice, glancing at the house, as though carter's shadow might emerge from one of the windows. "he knows something's going on. or at least... enough to be pissed."

rafe let out a slow breath, dragging a hand through his hair in a way that made your stomach twist. "so let him be pissed," he said, stepping closer. "he'll get over it."

you shook your head, her voice tight. "he said he'd end it, rafe. he meant it."

that stopped him cold. his jaw tensed, his knuckles flexing at his sides like he was holding back a storm. "he said what?"

"he said if i didn't end this, he would. and you know he will."

he stared at you for a long moment, his eyes like steel, unreadable but burning. then, he stepped closer, closing the space between you.

"carter doesn't get to decide for you," he said, his voice low, threaded with something dangerous. "he doesn't get to decide for us."

"he's my brother," you snapped, your words tumbling out in a rush, sharp but trembling. "and you're his best friend. do you even realise how... how impossible this is?"

"it's not impossible," rafe said, his tone quiet but unyielding, like he was staking a claim on the truth. "it's only impossible if you let it be."

you stared at him, searching his face for an answer, for a way to untangle the knot tightening in your chest.

he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from your face, his fingers lingering just long enough to make you shiver. "tell me," he murmured, his voice soft but insistent, "are you scared of what carter might do, or are you scared of what you might feel if you stop pretending this isn't real?"

the words cut through your defences, slipping past the walls you had so carefully built. you hated him for it—hated how easily he saw the parts of you, you didn't want anyone to see.

"i don't know," you whispered, the admission raw and aching.

he tilted his head slightly, his eyes locked on yours. "then figure it out," he said, his voice steady. "because i'm not going anywhere. not unless you tell me to."

you didn't reply, couldn't. instead, you let the silence stretch between them, the weight of his words settling over you like a second skin.

he stepped back, the moment breaking like glass. "get in the truck," he said.

"what?"

"you heard me. get in."

for a moment, you hesitated, your eyes flickering back toward the house, but the pull was too strong. it always was.

they drove in silence, the tension between them crackling like static. he didn't tell you where they were going, and you didn't ask. you just watched the world blur past, the scenery shifting from neat, orderly streets to something wilder, untamed.

finally, he pulled onto a quiet stretch of beach, the kind of place that felt like the edge of the world. he got out without a word, leaving the door open for you to follow.

the sand was cool beneath your feet, the waves lapping softly at the shore, but your focus was on him. on the way he stood at the water's edge, shoulders rigid, like he was holding the weight of something he couldn't say.

"what are we doing here?" you asked, your voice barely audible above the ocean's hum.

he turned to face you, his expression unreadable. "reminding you," he said, "that we don't need anyone else's permission. not carter's. not anyone's."

his words hung in the air, heavy and certain, and for the first time, you let yourself believe them.

when he kissed you, it was slow and deliberate, a quiet claim that left you breathless. and you didn't pull away.

but as they drove back, the house looming closer with every mile, the spell began to unravel. the weight of reality pressed down on you, suffocating and relentless.

you slipped through the front door like a ghost, your heart pounding in your ears as you crept down the hallway. you were almost to your room when his voice cut through the silence.

"you're making this too easy."

you froze, the blood draining from your face as you turned to see carter leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes dark and unyielding.

"you think i don't know where you've been?" he asked, his voice calm but sharp enough to slice through your defences.

your mouth opened, but no words came out.

"or who you've been with?" he pressed, his tone colder now.

your breath hitched, your chest tightening as you took a step back.

"don't even try to lie," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "because you're not as good at hiding as you think you are."

the silence between you was suffocating, and when you finally spoke, your voice was barely above a whisper. "you don't understand."

"then make me understand," he said, his eyes burning with something you couldn't name.

but before you could, he shook his head, his jaw tight. "you can't, can you? because you know this is a mistake. and you're just too stubborn to admit it."

he stepped closer, his presence heavy, inescapable. "whatever this is, it ends now. one way or another."

his words hit like a punch, and as he walked away, the silence swallowed you whole.

but you weren't sure what scared you more—his threat or the part of you that wasn't sure he was wrong.

the house felt brittle, like one sharp word would shatter it into pieces. you stood frozen in the hallway long after carter disappeared, your thoughts spiralling in tight, suffocating circles. you wanted to believe the weight pressing on your chest was anger, defiance even, but beneath it all was something harder to name. fear.

a knock at the door shattered the stillness, sharp and hollow in the quiet. you flinched, startled, your pulse kicking up as the sound echoed through the house. your mother's heels clicked against the floor, a rhythm that felt too steady for the tension hanging in the air.

"kids, come here!" your mother called, her voice lifted into a cheerful trill that didn't quite suit the hour.

you dragged yourself into the living room, your steps hesitant. carter was already standing there, his tall frame a rigid silhouette in the dim light spilling from the chandelier above. he was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, every line of his body coiled tight.

on the coffee table lay an envelope, crisp and elegant, its edges impossibly straight as if it had been hand-delivered moments before. the cameron crest was embossed in gold on the front, the shimmer catching the light.

"look at this! an invitation from the camerons," your mother said, practically glowing with excitement as she waved it through the air like a prize. "it's for a formal cocktail party at the grand. ward's hosting to celebrate some big deal for cameron developments. isn't that wonderful?"

wonderful. your stomach twisted at the word, bile creeping up the back of your throat. there was nothing wonderful about being thrust into the orbit of the cameron's—not now, not when your world was already teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

"it's this saturday," your mother continued, oblivious to the tension thickening between her children. "you'll both need something nice to wear. hon, maybe that dress you wore to the fundraiser last month? oh, and carter, don't forget to polish your shoes this time."

you nodded automatically, mind racing too fast to hold onto anything concrete.

you didn't need to look at carter to feel the heat of his gaze. it was searing, a wordless accusation that wrapped around your throat and squeezed.

"it'll be good for all of us," she added, already turning away, her heels clicking once more as she disappeared down the hall, humming to herself about RSVPs and schedules.

the silence that followed was suffocating, heavy and alive with unspoken words.

carter moved first, stepping closer to the coffee table. his eyes lingered on the envelope, his jaw tightening with every second that passed.

"remember, i warned you." he said finally, his voice low, each word a razor-edged warning. it wasn't loud, but it didn't have to be. the menace beneath it cut deeper than if he'd shouted.

your hands curled into fists at her sides, your nails biting into your palms as you forced yourself to meet his gaze. you tilted your chin up, every inch of you radiating defiance you didn't quite feel.

"you can't scare me, carter," you said, voice steady, though your pulse was roaring in her ears.

his lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile, wasn't quite a sneer. "we'll see," he said simply, as if your defiance was nothing more than a nuisance to be brushed aside.

and then he was gone, retreating down the hallway and slipping into his room without another word. the door closed behind him with a finality that made you shiver.

you exhaled slowly, the air escaping your lungs shaky and uneven. your hands trembled as you gripped the edge of the coffee table, leaning against it to steady yourself.

you knew what he was doing. trying to intimidate you. trying to corner you into ending things with rafe before saturday, before the cocktail party turned them all into a stage play for the elite.

but you wouldn't. you couldn't.

rafe's face flickered in your mind—his smirk, his touch, the way his voice softened when he said your name, like it was the only thing he cared to speak. carter could throw all the warnings, all the threats he wanted. none of it would erase what rafe had become to you, what you had become to him.

still, the weight of carter's words clung to you as you made your way back to your room. you sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the faint moonlight spilling through the window. you told yourself you'd deal with it later, that the knot in your chest would loosen by morning.

but you didn't hear carter's phone buzz in his room, didn't see the message that lit up his screen.

ward cameron: thank you for your help with the gleesons, carter. couldn't have sealed the deal without you.

the screen dimmed, the message vanishing into the dark, but its weight lingered, silent and foreboding.

and somewhere deep inside you, beneath all the bravado, a flicker of unease began to grow.

notes ; HI HI HELLO. i know i've still been inactive for ages sorry! but heres chapter twelve finally. regarding my taglist, this is still the old one but if you wanna be removed etc lmk - sorry again

series taglist ; @anacamofficial @sqfewrd @dreamyy-cloud @vampteeth @wtfisastiles @flvredcas @plaidcowboy @sematarygirls @slut4you @kravitzwhore @daryldixon83 @lexavanhuelee @dorcas4meadowes @i2rapunzel @rafestoothbrush @drewizz @6r4cie @akobx @seehowitshines @rafeswhoooreee @vbstrewbieri @waywarddiplomatfarmmonger-blog @ariivv01 @k4yr14 @luvrcndy @teleishachrisy @importantbeardcupcake @vanessa-rafesgirl @ltristessedureratoujours @cutkoskysnix1 @kennedywxlsh @funnyalpca @eeveelizabethh @burnburritono @marleymarleymarleymarley @katiebby04 @simplymaeee @hoppinbunny @slutglimreqpers

[rafeysbangs]

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆.˚↷drew's blue collar hands

warnings ;not proofread sorta... , FLUFFY ! not much else.

notes ; went MIA again i hateeeee uniiii, anyways i hope you enjoy this shoooort drabble. so sorry no angst this time but this is my first drew fic !!

drew comes home smelling like sawdust and sweat, the scent of fresh-cut wood clinging to his clothes. his boots are heavy on the floor, his shoulders tense with the kind of exhaustion that settles deep in the bones. you hear the front door shut, the quiet jingle of his keys landing on the counter, and then—his voice.

“baby?”

you smile before you even turn around. “in here.”

he finds you on the couch, blanket pulled around your shoulders, some show playing in the background that neither of you have been paying attention to. his hair is a mess, pushed back and damp with sweat, and there’s sawdust dusting his forearms, catching in the fine hairs on his skin.

“long day?” you ask as he drops onto the couch beside you, exhaling like he’s been waiting all day to be right here.

“mhmm,” he hums, leaning his head back. “missed you.”

you reach for his hands, rough and calloused, streaked with dirt and remnants of the day’s work. his fingers are strong, capable—the kind that build things, that hold steady, that always know how to find yours. you trace along his knuckles, pressing soft kisses to each one, and he watches you with something quiet in his gaze. something warm.

“y’know, i don’t think i’ll ever get used to this,” he murmurs, voice low, like he’s saying it more to himself than to you.

“used to what?”

his lips curve into the softest smile. “comin’ home to you.”

and just like that, the weight of the world slips from his shoulders. because no matter how hard the days get, no matter how sore his hands feel or how much work still waits for him tomorrow, this is what makes it all worth it. you.

( no taglist again unfortunately, when i have time i'll redo it i hope )

[rafeysbangs]

OBSESSED with your writing and your series for Rafe. Just wanted to reach out and acknowledge how much talent you have!! Love love love.

ilu anon you're the best, msgs like this give me motivation to write so thank you so very much !!

[rafeysbangs]

gonna have to fix up my masterlist bcs i have a blue collar drew drabble in the drafts... that im hopefully not gonna take years to finish... yippee !!

[rafeysbangs]

thinking of making a 'whats in her bag' for dragonfly!reader perhaps...

stay tuned ?

[rafeysbangs]

°🂶 ༘˚↷rafe is always just out of reach

warnings ; not proofread sorta... , simply just angst, sortof almost a mention of fwb? ish?, interpret this how you will as to yours & rafe's relationship !

notes ; HI !! i'm so happy to be back. srry this is straight up angst. but i hope you enjoy. can you tell uni is strangling me lol ( this was actually sitting in the drafts.. waiting... oops )

rafe cameron is an enigma you can’t quite solve. a puzzle with missing pieces, a shoreline that recedes every time you step forward. you think you have him—hands grasping the edge of something real—only for him to slip through like sand through parted fingers.

you watch him from the passenger seat, the engine humming beneath the weight of silence. his knuckles are tight against the steering wheel, pale from pressure. he’s always holding on too hard, to everything, to nothing. a boy who doesn’t know how to let go without breaking something in the process.

"you’re quiet," you say, just to fill the space. to remind him you’re still here.

his jaw flexes, a brief movement, barely anything at all. then a chuckle, low and humourless. "that’s a first."

it’s a dance, this thing between you—if you can even call it that. he keeps his distance, but it’s not apathy. it’s something else. something tangled up in the way his hands tighten around whatever’s in his grasp, the way his gaze lingers just a second too long when he thinks you won’t notice.

you do notice. you always do.

you see it now, in the way he shifts gears with more force than necessary. in the way his hands tremble when he runs them through his hair. in the way he looks at you, like he wants to say something but won’t, like it’s locked behind his teeth, rusted shut with years of unsaid things.

and you—what are you to him? a distraction? a reminder? a tether to something softer, something he doesn’t think he deserves?

"you don’t have to do that," you say, softer this time.

he glances at you, brow furrowed. "do what?"

"pretend like you don’t care."

his lips part, but no words come out. just a sharp inhale, a slow exhale. and then he laughs again—quieter, this time. almost bitter.

"maybe i don’t."

but he does. you know he does. it’s in the way he says your name, in the way he always finds you first in a crowded room, in the way his fingers brush against yours but never stay long enough. it’s in the way he pulls away just before he gets too close, like he’s afraid of what might happen if he doesn’t.

rafe cameron is a hurricane dressed as a boy. all storm and sharp edges, all lightning that never quite touches the ground. people talk about him like he’s reckless, like he’s all impulse and violence, but you know better. you see what they don’t—the hesitation, the flicker of something softer just beneath the surface. you see the way he clenches his jaw when he’s trying not to feel. the way he swallows words before they can make it past his lips. the way his hands shake when he thinks no one’s looking.

he is not empty, not hollow like he wants the world to believe. he is full of things he will never say, full of rage and grief and longing. full of a love he will never let himself hold.

and you—maybe you are just another thing he cannot let himself have.

you could reach for him, could close the space between you, could press your palm against the warmth of his arm and wait for him to lean in instead of pull away. but you already know how this ends.

he’ll let you get close. close enough to feel the heat of him, close enough to believe that maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.

and then he’ll slip away—just like always.

( no taglist bcs its wayyy to old um i'll be redoing that too so look out for a post - sorry guys ! )

[rafeysbangs]

me i fear... srry guys

Shoutout to all you bitches with shitty memory who re-read your own fics because you forgot what you wrote and it's free fandom content

(I am bitches)

[rafeysbangs]

lachesism , rafe cameron ( series ) 11

pairing ; brother's!bsf!rafe x kook!female!reader

content ; mdni !! outerbanks au, eventual smut, angst, violence, underage drinking, family issues, substance abuse, s/a.

summary ; rafe cameron is everything you can’t stand; reckless, infuriating, and too self-assured for his own good. as your brother’s best friend, he’s always been a constant presence, one you’ve done your best to ignore. but the tension between you has always simmered just beneath the surface, sharp and impossible to ignore. you’ve spent years resisting his pull, refusing to give him the satisfaction. but in a world where lines blur and control slips away, you’re forced to face the truth: rafe cameron isn’t so easy to hate after all.

status ; ongoing .ᐟ

✺ navigation ; 010. 011. 012.

ELEVEN, echoing aftermath

THE SUN ROSE OVER FIGURE EIGHT,

in shades of muted pinks and golds, the kind of dawn that felt too serene for the chaos lurking just out of sight. you lay sprawled across your bed, staring at the ceiling as if it might hold the answers to the thousand questions spinning in your mind. sleep had been elusive, your thoughts knotted up with memories of the night before—his voice, low and rough, the weight of his gaze, the way his touch burned even when it was soft.

what were you doing? what had you done?

you could still feel him, lingering under your skin like a secret you weren't sure you wanted to keep.

your phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling you from your spiralling thoughts. you glanced at it, half-expecting a message from one of your friends, but it was him.

rafe: dinner. tonight. 7.

straight to the point. no question mark, no room for negotiation. you rolled your eyes, but your stomach twisted in that maddening way it always did when he was involved.

y/n: bold of you to assume i'm free.

the reply came almost instantly.

rafe: bold of you to assume i care.

you wanted to throw your phone across the room, but instead, you smiled—something sharp and involuntary. he was insufferable, and yet there you were, already thinking about what you might wear.

the hours ticked by with agonising slowness. you went through the motions of your day, careful not to let anything slip when you were around carter or cora. they'd never understand. how could they? even you barely understood. 

by the time seven rolled around, you were dressed in a slinky black dress that clung to you in all the right places, your makeup understated but sharp, and your hair cascading down your back. you looked every bit the part of the perfect kook daughter, but there was a new edge to your reflection in the mirror—something darker, something strangely familiar.

rafe was waiting outside in his truck, leaning against the side of it with his arms crossed, the picture of careless confidence. his eyes flicked over you as you approached him, and you swore you saw something flicker in his expression—something almost like approval.

"nice dress," he said, his tone bordering on condescending, but the way his gaze lingered told a different story.

"you're late," you shot back, even though you knew he wasn't.

"you're welcome," he replied, opening the passenger door for you with a flourish that felt more mocking than chivalrous.

you rolled your eyes but climbed in, the scent of him—clean, sharp, and faintly earthy—filling the small space.

the restaurant felt like another world entirely. low, golden light spilled over dark wooden tables, the flicker of candles casting shadows that danced along the walls. the air was thick with the scent of rosemary and charred lemon, and somewhere in the background, the faint strum of a guitar threaded through the soft hum of conversation. it was intimate in a way that felt almost too much, like the two of you were walking a tightrope between secrecy and exposure.

you ran your fingers over the edge of the menu, its leather cover smooth under your touch. across from you, rafe sat with the kind of casual confidence that set your teeth on edge. he wasn't even pretending to read the options, his sharp blue eyes fixed on you like he was waiting for you to crack.

"are you going to pick something?" you asked, your voice low, trying to steady the uneven beat of your pulse.

"already know what i want," he replied, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk.

"of course you do." you rolled your eyes, but you couldn't ignore the way his gaze seemed to strip you bare, leaving you feeling exposed and restless.

the waiter appeared then, young and nervous under rafe's sharp stare. you ordered first, your voice clipped but polite, while rafe rattled off his choice without so much as glancing at the menu. you swore he did it just to annoy you, just to prove he didn't need to try.

as the waiter disappeared, you leaned back in her chair, crossing your arms. "do you always have to be such a show off cameron?"

"it's not showing off if it's just how i am," he said smoothly, his tone so casual it made you want to reach across the table and strangle him.

but instead of rising to the bait, you let your gaze wander, taking in the room. couples leaned close, their voices soft, their movements slow. it felt like everyone here was wrapped in some kind of fragile intimacy, a stark contrast to the jagged edge that always seemed to linger between you and rafe.

"you're quiet," he said after a moment, his voice cutting through your thoughts.

"just thinking," you replied, your tone deliberately vague.

"about what?"

you hesitated, the truth too heavy to voice. instead, you shrugged. "nothing important."

his eyes narrowed, and you could feel him watching you, dissecting you, trying to figure out what you weren't telling him. it was unnerving how easily he could read you, how quickly he could get under your skin.

"you've got that look again," he said, leaning forward slightly. "like you're trying to figure out if this is a mistake."

"maybe it is," you shot back, though the words felt hollow even as you said them.

he smirked, but there was something darker in his expression, something that made your stomach twist. "you don't believe that."

before you could respond, their food arrived, the plates set down with a quiet efficiency that felt almost reverent. you glanced at your dish, and for a moment, you focused on the act of eating, on the simple rhythm of knife and fork, anything to distract yourself from the man across the table.

but rafe didn't let up.

"you know," he said, his voice softer now, almost thoughtful, "i never thought i'd see you like this."

"like what?" you asked, not looking up.

"out with me. not pretending to hate me as much as you used to."

you set your fork down carefully, finally meeting his gaze. "who says i'm pretending?"

he laughed then, low and rough, the sound sending a shiver down your spine. "you don't hate me."

the words hung between the two of you, heavy and undeniable, and you hated how right he was. hated how he always seemed to see the parts of you that you tried so hard to keep hidden.

"you're insufferable," you muttered with a grin, picking up your glass of wine and taking a sip, the bitter warmth spreading through your chest.

"and you're still here," he countered, leaning back in his chair with a smirk that made you want to both slap him and kiss him.

as the meal wore on, the conversation ebbed and flowed, the sharp edges softening just enough to let something else slip through. you talked about nothing and everything, the words circling back to the unspoken truth between the two of you.

"do you ever think about what this looks like?" you asked at one point, your voice quiet, your gaze fixed on the flicker of candlelight between the two of you.

"to who?" he replied, his tone dismissive.

"to anyone. to everyone."

he shrugged, his expression unreadable. "i don't care what they think. do you?"

you hesitated, the weight of his question pressing down. did you?

"i don't know," you admitted finally, the words feeling like a confession.

"you will," he said simply, his confidence maddening but somehow grounding at the same time.

by the time the check arrived, the tension between you had shifted again, the undercurrent of something darker and heavier weaving its way through the quiet moments. rafe paid without a second thought, his movements fluid and self-assured, and as you walked out into the cool night air, you couldn't help but glance at him, your chest tightening.

"this is dangerous," you said softly, almost to yourself.

"everything worth having is," he replied, his voice low and sure, and you believed him.

the drive back was a quiet one, the kind of silence that wasn't empty but full, brimming with unspoken things neither of you wanted to say first. the roads were dark, lined with tall oaks that seemed to fold over the road like a canopy, the occasional flicker of headlights from passing cars illuminating the sharp angles of rafe's face. he looked calm, almost too calm, one hand on the wheel, the other draped over the gearshift.

you sat with your head resting lightly against the window, the cool glass grounding you. the wine from dinner lingered on your tongue, a warm haze in your chest, but it wasn't enough to dull the sharpness of your thoughts. your mind ran in circles, tracing the same paths you'd been avoiding all night.

"you're quiet again," rafe said, breaking the silence without taking his eyes off the road.

"so are you," you replied, your voice softer than you intended.

"i'm always quiet."

you turned to look at him then, her brow arching in disbelief. "that's the biggest lie i've ever heard."

he smirked, but there was no real bite to it. "maybe i just save my words for when they matter."

"and yet you still manage to say so much bullshit."

he chuckled, a low, rough sound that filled the car, and you hated how much you liked it.

the houses of figure eight came into view, their clean lines and manicured lawns sharp against the darkness of the sky. rafe took a turn down a familiar street, the engine humming low, and your chest tightened. you weren't ready for the night to end, but you didn't know exactly what you wanted either.

"you can just drop me off here," you said suddenly, motioning toward the curb near your house.

he glanced at you, his expression unreadable. "scared someone might see us?"

"maybe."

"we've been careful this long. no one's going to notice."

"you don't know that."

he sighed but didn't argue, pulling over as you'd asked. the car idled for a moment, the hum of the engine filling the space between you.

"you really care that much what they'd think?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost curious.

"it's not just them," you admitted, your fingers fidgeting with the hem of your dress. "it's... everything."

he turned toward you then, his gaze heavy and unrelenting. "you can't keep pretending forever."

"maybe i can," you whispered, though the words felt hollow even as you said them.

he shook his head, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "you're a terrible liar."

you laughed softly, despite yourself, the sound breaking some of the tension that had been building between the two of you all night.

"goodnight, rafe," you said, reaching for the door handle.

"wait."

his voice stopped you cold, your hand freezing mid-motion. you turned to look at him, your heart pounding in your chest.

"come with me," he said, the words low but certain, like he wasn't asking so much as telling you.

"where?"

"just... come with me."

you hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on your chest. but then you nodded, almost without thinking, and let him take the wheel again.

he didn't say where they were going, and you didn't ask, the quiet between you shifting into something heavier, something electric. the car wound its way through the dark streets with the windows until they were past the edge of town. the houses and lights giving way to open stretches of land and the faint glimmer of water in the distance as the wind whipped through the car, your hair flowing in the wind as your hand traveled against it, out the window freely.

when he finally stopped, you were parked near the marsh, the sky above you vast and endless, the stars reflected in the dark, glassy surface of the water. the air was cool, carrying the faint scent of salt and earth, and you shivered as you stepped out of the car.

"why here?" you asked, your voice low, almost hushed in the quiet.

rafe leaned against the hood of the car, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on you. "i don' know. just felt right."

you joined him, the metal warm against your back as you leaned beside him, the two of you staring out at the stillness of the marsh.

"this feels... weird," you admitted after a moment, your voice barely above a whisper.

"weird how?"

"i don't know. like... like we're not supposed to be here. like this is some kind of dream."

"maybe it is."

you turned to look at him, and for a moment, you couldn't breathe. the way he looked at you, like you were something fragile and dangerous all at once, made your chest ache.

"you make everything so damn complicated," you said, your voice shaking just slightly.

"that's rich, coming from you."

you laughed then, soft and bitter, and the sound hung in the air between the two of you.

"why do you even want this, rafe?" you asked, the question spilling out before you could stop it. "why me?"

he was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on yours, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper.

" 'cause you're the only thing that makes sense to me."

the words hit you like a punch to the chest, leaving you breathless and unsteady. you didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond, so you didn't. instead, you let the silence settle, the weight of it pressing down on you as the stars shimmered above.

and for the first time, you let yourself believe—if only for a moment—that maybe this wasn't a mistake. that maybe, against all odds, this was exactly where you were supposed to be.

the ride back to your house unfolded like the end of a storm, the quiet crackling with unspoken tension. rafe didn't speak, and neither did you, but the air between the two of you was heavy, charged, as if the night hadn't finished what it started. you sat with your hands folded tightly in your lap, your fingers tracing invisible patterns against your skin, a poor attempt to distract yourself from the lingering weight of rafe's gaze.

when the car rolled to a stop a few houses down from yours, you hesitated, your fingers gripping the door handle. the silence swelled, the words you couldn't say hanging like fragile glass in the air.

rafe broke it first, his voice low and rough. "you gonna look at me, or are you just gonna run off like this didn't happen?"

you turned then, your eyes meeting his in the faint light filtering through the windshield. he looked different, softer in a way that unsettled you. his usual sharp edges felt dulled by the vulnerability you knew he'd never admit to.

"it happened," you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper. "but i'm not sure what this means yet."

his lips quirked into something between a smirk and a frown. "you'll figure it out," he said, leaning closer, his eyes flicking briefly to your lips. "you always do."

he kissed you, slower than before, as if testing something. it was softer, yes, but still filled with that same heady intensity, the same pull that made you forget the world outside this moment. when he pulled away, his lips lingered just a breath away from yours, and you felt the words before he spoke them.

"goodnight, yn."

you didn't trust yourself to reply, so you slipped out of the car with a smile, the night air cool against your flushed skin. you hurried toward the house, the sound of the door clicking shut behind you a distant echo as your thoughts spiralled.

inside, the house was still, the kind of silence that only came with sleeping bodies and unlit rooms. you tiptoed through the hallway, your shoes dangling from her fingers, careful to avoid every creaking floorboard. the air smelled faintly of wood polish and the lavender candle her mother always lit in the evenings. it was too familiar, too quiet after the chaos of the night.

you reached your bedroom door, your hand already on the knob, when a voice came from your left, down the hall.

"where the hell were you."

your heart dropped, fingers freezing against the cool metal. you turned slowly, the hallway spinning slightly as your gaze locked on carter. he stood in the dim light at the end of the corridor, arms crossed, his silhouette sharp and unyielding.

"out," you said, your voice tight, forcing yourself to keep your chin high.

"with who?"

"does it matter?"

"it does when you come sneaking in at midnight looking like..." his voice trailed off, but his meaning was clear. his eyes narrowed, scanning you with a sharpness that made your stomach twist. "don't lie to me. i'm not mom or dad. i know you."

"you don't know anything," you snapped, the words slipping out too fast, too defensive.

but something shifted in his expression then, a crack in his usual composure, and your stomach twisted harder. his gaze sharpened, pinning you in place.

"it's him, isn't it?"

your blood ran cold. "what?"

"don't play dumb." his voice was quieter now, more dangerous. "you think i haven't noticed? the way he looks at you? the way you—" he stopped, his jaw tightening as if the words tasted bitter. "tell me it's not my goddamn best friend."

you didn't answer, couldn't answer, because the truth was written all over your face, in the way your breath hitched, in the way your fingers tightened on the doorknob.

"damn it," he muttered, his voice barely above a growl. "what the fuck are you thinking?"

you opened your mouth to respond, but nothing came out, your throat closing around the words. you were trapped, caught in the suffocating weight of his glare and the truth you couldn't escape.

carter stepped closer, his shadow swallowing the small pool of light around you. "you're making a mistake," he said, his voice low, steady, but filled with something darker, something heavy. "and if you think i'm just gonna stand by and watch you destroy yourself, you're dead wrong."

you stared at him, your chest tight, pulse thundering in your ears. the door to your room was just inches away, but it felt like miles.

"carter—"

"don't," he snapped, cutting you off. his eyes burned into yours, his voice dropping even lower. "if you won't end it, i will."

your heart stopped. his words hung between them, sharp and unforgiving, and for a moment, the world seemed to tilt, the ground beneath her feet unsteady.

and then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his footsteps heavy against the creaking floorboards, leaving you standing there in the dark, your breath caught somewhere between a gasp and a sob.

you didn't move, couldn't move, the weight of his threat pressing down on your chest like an anchor.

the night had begun to unravel, its edges fraying, and for the first time, you weren't sure how to piece it back together.

notes ; PLEASE READDD ! hello again! so sorry i've been gone for so so long but i'm trying to be lots more active now i SWEAR. anyways i think i'm going to redo my taglist bcs of my inactiveness so look out for that updated taglist post!

series taglist ; @anacamofficial @sqfewrd @dreamyy-cloud @vampteeth @wtfisastiles @flvredcas @plaidcowboy @sematarygirls @slut4you @kravitzwhore @daryldixon83 @lexavanhuelee @dorcas4meadowes @i2rapunzel @rafestoothbrush @drewizz @6r4cie @akobx @seehowitshines @rafeswhoooreee @vbstrewbieri @waywarddiplomatfarmmonger-blog @ariivv01 @k4yr14 @luvrcndy @teleishachrisy @importantbeardcupcake @vanessa-rafesgirl @ltristessedureratoujours @cutkoskysnix1 @kennedywxlsh @funnyalpca @eeveelizabethh @burnburritono @marleymarleymarleymarley @katiebby04 @simplymaeee @hoppinbunny @slutglimreqpers ( lachesism taglist )  in order to stay on this taglist you must interact with the posts !

[rafeysbangs]

oh my god i've been seeing this & i hoped i'd be tagged !!

pick: an influencer/girlie, a pj set, a littlest pet shop

no pressure tags 🏷️: @drewscoquette @plaidcowboy @bambiangels

anotha tag!

⭑𓂃 it’s sleepover time

pick: an influencer/girlie, a pj set, and a littlest pet shop

٠ ࣪⭑ angel’s pick 𓍯𓂃 tag who you want to see do this!

˚₊‧꒰ა 𓂋 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

no pressure tags !

@sofisturns @matts-cheetahprint-beanie @mattscoquette @freshloveee @whore4mattsturniolo @camzeecorner @espressqe @sonnysturns

「 𝜗𝜚 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ angel bby 」

[rafeysbangs]

lachesism , rafe cameron ( series ) 10

pairing ; brother's!bsf!rafe x kook!female!reader

content ; mdni !! outerbanks au, eventual smut, angst, violence, underage drinking, family issues, substance abuse, s/a.

summary ; rafe cameron is everything you can’t stand; reckless, infuriating, and too self-assured for his own good. as your brother’s best friend, he’s always been a constant presence, one you’ve done your best to ignore. but the tension between you has always simmered just beneath the surface, sharp and impossible to ignore. you’ve spent years resisting his pull, refusing to give him the satisfaction. but in a world where lines blur and control slips away, you’re forced to face the truth: rafe cameron isn’t so easy to hate after all.

status ; ongoing .ᐟ

✺ navigation ; 009. 010. 011.

TEN, the weight of us.

THE TENSION BETWEEN YOU WAS LIKE AN UNSPOKEN RHYTHM, 

a kind of dance that neither of you could seem to escape. you stood by the window of your room, the faint light of the moon slanting in through, a muted silver halo around you. you exhaled, the smoke from a joint curling in lazy swirls, drifting out the window into the humid night air.

there was a storm coming, you could feel it. not from the sky—no, this one was inside of you, building slowly, almost imperceptibly, like a river beneath ice, so quiet but relentless. it had always been there, this storm between you. rafe cameron, with his relentless smirk, his way of walking into a room like he owned it. he was the storm, wasn't he? chaotic and powerful, and somehow, devastatingly, irresistibly beautiful.

and yet, he wasn't the problem. you were.

because despite everything, despite how hard you tried to push him away, to pretend you weren't burning up whenever his gaze lingered a moment too long, there was something that always pulled you back to him. that dark, dangerous magnetism of rafe—too close, too raw, too real. you had always told yourself you didn't want him. you didn't need him. but when you closed your eyes, his face was there, like a brand on your mind. he knew.

you flicked the joint out the window and pulled on your hoodie. you didn't need to think about it. didn't need to want it. didn't need to want him.

but tonight, it seemed, you did.

the beach wasn't the place you would've chosen to meet him, but there you were. the sand under your feet felt foreign, too soft, too comforting for the kind of chaos you knew was coming. the waves crashed in slow, rhythmic pulls against the shore, a quiet, peaceful sound that almost seemed to mock the storm that swirled inside of you.

rafe was standing at the edge of the water, the light of the moon tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, the ripple of muscle beneath his worn shirt. he wasn't looking at you, but you could feel his presence. always. always.

it wasn't the first time you had shared space in silence. there had been so many moments between you, heavy and weighted with things unsaid. too many. but tonight felt different. the air between you crackled with unspoken truths, with things neither of you wanted to face, and yet, you both knew you would eventually have to.

you moved closer, the sand feeling too soft under your feet, your breath shallow as you approached him. he turned to you, that damnable half-smile playing on his lips. he always smiled like that. like he knew something you didn't.

"you've been avoiding me," rafe said, his voice rough, like it was taking everything in him to keep the words casual. but there was something else in it, something you couldn't quite place. a hunger. a challenge.

"i'm not avoiding you," you replied, your voice steady, though your heart hammered beneath your ribs. "i just don't see the point in giving you more of my time."

"yet here you are," rafe murmured, taking a step toward you, and then another. "you've always been here. always drawn to me, even when you pretend you're not."

you shook your head, a soft laugh escaping your lips, bitter and sharp. "you think this is about you?" you asked. "every time you think you have me figured out, you're wrong."

he was too close now, too close to you, and the air between you thickened. he didn't touch you, didn't have to, because you could feel it—feel him in every nerve, in every inch of skin where your worlds collided. and god, you wanted to slap him. to push him away, to tell him you didn't want this, didn't want him. but you were lying, even to yourself. you did.

you always had.

his eyes never left yours. "it's always been about me," rafe said, his voice low, dangerously close. "you just won't admit it. you won't admit that you love me the same way i love you."

your chest tightened, like a vice slowly closing. your mind screamed at you to walk away, to step back, to stop this before it went any further. but your body disobeyed you. the way his voice wrapped around you, the way the silence between them felt so heavy, so right in the way it tore through everything you thought you knew about yourself.

"no," you breathed, your voice barely a whisper. "no, rafe. you're wrong."

he smiled then, but it wasn't the triumphant smile you expected. no. it was something darker, something that cut straight through to your core. "you're lying," he said softly, almost tenderly, like it was an inside joke only he understood. "i've seen it in your eyes. every time you look at me. you know what this is."

your heart slammed against your chest, and you couldn't breathe. this was the game he always played, wasn't it? he was dangerous, but so were you. you had spent years building walls, pretending like you didn't want to be a part of whatever destructive, magnetic pull this was. pretending to be above it all.

"you think i want this?" you managed, your voice shaking, but you couldn't stop it. "you think i want to fall into the mess you've made of your life? of us?"

rafe took a slow step toward you, his eyes never leaving yours, like a storm closing in on all sides. "no," he said, his voice thick, possessive. "i think you and i are just one in the same."

the air was suffocating, thick with the weight of your shared history, the years of distance and bitterness, of wanting and denying. it wasn't just him. it was you too.

"why can't you just admit it?" rafe asked, his voice barely above a whisper now, the question hanging between them like a knife. "why can't you admit that you love me just as much as i love you? we're each other's people. we always have been."

your breath hitched, your mind spinning, but you couldn't move. couldn't think. because in his words, in the way he was looking at you, you saw the truth. you saw him.

you opened your mouth to speak, to deny it all, to push him away again. but the words wouldn't come. and in that silence, in that moment where she could have pulled away, you realised—you weren't ready to. not yet.

so, instead, you said the only thing you could, the only thing that felt like the truth, "we're both fucked up, rafe."

his eyes darkened, something dangerous flickering behind them. "maybe," he whispered, his voice rough and full of a desire you couldn't escape. "but you know what? i think you want it. i think you want to be just as fucked up as me."

and with that, the storm between you finally broke wide open.

the words lingered between you, suspended like smoke in the night air, thick and suffocating. each breath felt heavy, as if the world itself were waiting for something to crack. you could feel the weight of the truth settling on you, sliding under your skin like a sharp, relentless whisper. you had spent years running from it, but now it was undeniable. you were just as broken as rafe.

you had built a life, a version of yourself that was untouchable—a daughter, a student, the one who smiled and nodded and played the role to perfection. but behind it all, there was a quiet chaos, a place where you too were lost. rafe had his chaos painted in bold strokes, wild and unconfined, but yours was darker, subtler. it lived in the spaces between the smiles, in the moments when no one was watching, in the hours alone when the world was still. your darkness was the kind you could hide in plain sight, wearing a mask so well even you almost forgot it was there.

"god," you breathed, the word slipping out before you could hold it back. "you're right."

rafes's gaze flickered, like the wind had just shifted. there was something behind his eyes—relief, maybe, or something darker, something close to triumph. he knew, and part of you hated him for it. another part of you felt exposed, raw, like he had ripped off the last layer of your armour.

"i've always been right about you," he said, his voice low, a subtle edge of satisfaction curling around his words. "you just never wanted to admit it."

your throat tightened, the words barely making it past your lips. deep down, you had always known, but saying it out loud was something else entirely. admitting it meant no more running. no more pretending. no more hiding behind the lies you told yourself. it meant facing a reality that you weren't ready to face: that, despite all the walls you'd built, despite the perfection you painted for everyone else, you were just as lost as he was.

you took a slow step back, the distant sound of the waves crashing on the rocks like a warning. you can't escape now. you never could. the ocean's rhythm was relentless, reminding you of the tide that always returned, no matter how far you tried to push it away.

"you've always had a way of getting under my skin," you said, your voice trembling, too fragile to be anything but honest. "i tried to fight it. told myself it was just you—your arrogance, your charm, the way you think you break everything you touch. but the truth is..." you trailed off, the weight of your own words making it hard to breathe. "i'm just as bad. i've always been just as bad."

rafe's eyes softened, just a fraction, but it was enough to make your heart stumble. he understood, and that understanding made you feel like you were about to drown.

"you're not as different from me as you think," he murmured, taking a step closer. his voice had softened, the sharpness that usually defined him gone, replaced by something... almost vulnerable. "we both hide. you hide behind that perfect little daughter act, and i hide behind being the asshole. but in the end, it's just not the truth."

your chest ached, the words hitting harder than you wanted to admit. he was right. it was all a show. an act. and the worst part was, you weren't sure if you could keep up the pretence anymore. the mask you had spent years perfecting, the one that kept everyone at arm's length, suddenly felt like it was suffocating you.

"i never wanted to be like you," you whispered, the words spilling out before you could stop them. there was a bitter sting to them, the raw truth that you didn't want to confront. "but maybe i was always supposed to be. i was just too afraid to see it."

he chuckled, low and almost like a warning. it rumbled in his chest, an echo of a storm building beneath the surface. "you still don't get it, do you?" he said softly, the words more tender than you expected. "it's not about being like me. it's about being like us. you and me. we're the same. we've always been the same."

the pull was back, stronger now, a magnetic force you couldn't resist. everything in you told you to run back to your perfect little life, the life that had always felt like a cage. but your body wouldn't move. your heart wouldn't let you go.

you took a breath, your voice shaky as you finally faced him, feeling the heat of his body radiating toward you, too close, too much. "i don't know how to fix this. how to fix us."

rafe's gaze darkened, the storm still swirling in his eyes, but there was a softness now, something that made you ache in a way you couldn't describe. "maybe we're not supposed to be fixed," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "maybe we're just supposed to crash and burn together."

the words hit you like a wave, crashing over you, and for a moment, you couldn't breathe. he was right. there was no fixing this. no saving the two of you. because maybe you were never meant to be saved. maybe, like a fire, you were just meant to burn together—fiercely, destructively, and maybe, just maybe, beautifully.

you felt your heart pounding in your chest now, fast and erratic, like a drumbeat too wild to control. you weren't sure what would happen next—what you were even supposed to do—but you knew you couldn't keep pretending. not anymore.

so instead of walking away, instead of pulling yourself from the storm you had both created, you stepped closer, your fingers brushing the fabric of his shirt. and that simple touch was all it took. rafe's hand caught yours with a force that made your breath catch, pulling you to him until your bodies were almost flush. your lips parted, just inches from his, and the world around you faded into nothing.

"i've got you," he whispered, his breath mingling with yours, a promise—or maybe a curse. you couldn't decide which. but as his lips brushed against yours, gentle at first, almost too soft, it felt like an answer. a quiet surrender. and as you let yourself fall into it, you realised something: you weren't broken.

maybe you were just something else entirely. something wild. something dangerous. and something... that neither of you was ready to let go of.

the kiss deepened, and you felt the walls you had spent so long building crumble with every heartbeat. you couldn't fight it. not anymore.

the two of you weren't broken.

you were alive in a way you never could be if you kept pretending to be anything else.

notes ; HELLO ! god i need to stop disappearing but i fear the uni grind never stops. anyways here's chapter 10 finally! its a little short but i will really try to stop being so inactive. i miss you all.

series taglist ; @rafegetinmybed @sqfewrd @dreamyy-cloud @vampteeth @wtfisastiles @flvredcas @plaidcowboy @sematarygirls @slut4you @kravitzwhore @daryldixon83 @lexavanhuelee @dorcas4meadowes @i2rapunzel @rafestoothbrush @drewizz @6r4cie @akobx @seehowitshines @rafeswhoooreee @vbstrewbieri @waywarddiplomatfarmmonger-blog @ariivv01 @k4yr14 @luvrcndy @teleishachrisy @importantbeardcupcake @vanessa-rafesgirl @ltristessedureratoujours @cutkoskysnix1 @kennedywxlsh @funnyalpca @eeveelizabethh @burnburritono @marleymarleymarleymarley @katiebby04 @simplymaeee @hoppinbunny @slutglimreqpers ( lachesism taglist )  in order to stay on this taglist you must interact with the posts !

[rafeysbangs]

lachesism , rafe cameron ( series ) 09

pairing ; brother's!bsf!rafe x kook!female!reader

content ; mdni !! outerbanks au, eventual smut, angst, violence, underage drinking, family issues, substance abuse, s/a.

summary ; rafe cameron is everything you can’t stand; reckless, infuriating, and too self-assured for his own good. as your brother’s best friend, he’s always been a constant presence, one you’ve done your best to ignore. but the tension between you has always simmered just beneath the surface, sharp and impossible to ignore. you’ve spent years resisting his pull, refusing to give him the satisfaction. but in a world where lines blur and control slips away, you’re forced to face the truth: rafe cameron isn’t so easy to hate after all.

status ; ongoing .ᐟ

✺ navigation ; 008. 009. 010.

NINE, carrying the chaos.

RAFE HAD FINALLY LEFT FOR TANNEYHILL,

and the night ted and amanda returned, you couldn't shake the weight pressing down on you. laying in bed, the ceiling above you blurred by the shadows of restless thoughts. your stomach churned with unease, the memory of rafe's hands on your skin as fresh and unwelcome as the guilt that followed. you hated him. hated the way he consumed your thoughts, the way he invaded every quiet moment like a splinter lodged too deep to reach.

rafe cameron was a mistake. one you couldn't stop yourself from making again.

when your phone buzzed with a text, you half-hoped it wouldn't be him. but of course, it was.

rafe: stop staring at the ceiling and text me back.

you: go to hell.

rafe: only if you're coming.

you cursed under your breath, tossing your phone onto the bed as if it might burn you. but you couldn't stop yourself from picking it back up.

you: lose my number.

rafe: you didn't seem so eager to lose me the other night.

your jaw clenched, heat flooding your face. he was infuriating. smug and insufferable. you wanted to throw your phone out the window. instead, you ignored him, shoving the device under your pillow and turning over. sleep wouldn't come, but at least you wouldn't have to see his name glowing on the screen.

the next day, when your mom mentioned dinner at tanneyhill, your stomach sank. the idea of sitting across from rafe, pretending everything was normal, made your skin crawl. or maybe it was the memory of his hands gripping your waist, his voice low and venomous in your ear.

"do i have to go?" you asked, feigning disinterest as you flipped through a book you weren't pretending to read anymore.

her mother frowned. "of course, you do. it's polite. and you know how rose loves hosting."

polite. that word sat bitterly in your mouth. you wanted to laugh at the irony. there was nothing polite about rafe cameron.

the evening came too quickly. standing in front of your mirror, you smoothed down the hem of your dress—a white sundress that felt too innocent for what you'd become. you scowled at your reflection, fixing a stray strand of hair before heading downstairs.

the drive to tanneyhill was unbearable. carter yammered on about football and some girl he'd met, but you barely heard him. your thoughts too loud, drowning out everything but the dread pooling in your chest.

when you arrived, the first thing you saw was rafe. he stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable until his eyes landed on you. then came the smirk—the one that always made your blood boil.

"y/n," he said, dragging your name out like it was a private joke. "nice of you to grace us with your presence."

"rafe," you replied, your voice cold as ice. "i see you're still trying to act like you own the place."

"i do, don't i?" he shot back, his grin widening as he stepped aside to let her pass. his gaze lingered a beat too long, and you hated the way it made you feel exposed.

dinner was a strained affair. the table buzzed with polite conversation, but you could feel rafe's presence like a brand. every time you glanced up, his eyes were on you, sharp and unyielding. his foot brushed against yours once, then again, and when you kicked him under the table, he just chuckled softly.

"problem?" he murmured, leaning closer.

"you're the problem," you hissed, your tone low enough that only he could hear.

"and yet, here we are." his voice dripped with mockery, his smirk daring her to react.

after dinner, the parents retreated to the patio, and you found yourself alone in the living room, the tension finally catching up with you. you pressed your fingers to your temples, trying to will away the headache building behind your eyes.

"you look tense," rafe said from behind you, his voice smug and far too close.

you didn't turn around. "what do you want?"

he stepped around the couch, leaning casually against the armrest. his presence loomed, filling the room with an unbearable heat. "just wanted to check on you. you seemed... distracted at dinner."

"go bother someone else, rafe."

he tilted his head, studying you with that infuriating smirk. "you're cute when you're angry."

your patience snapped. "god, i hate you."

"funny," he said, leaning closer, "because you didn't hate me when i had you—"

your hand shot out before he could finish, shoving him back with more force than you intended. his laugh was sharp, almost predatory, as he steadied himself.

"feisty," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "you know, you can keep pretending you hate me, but we both know the truth."

you glared at him, your chest heaving with anger. "the truth is, i can't stand you."

"is that why you let me—"

"stop," you snapped, cutting him off. your voice wavered, but you refused to let him see how much he got to you.

rafe's smirk softened, but only slightly. "whatever helps you sleep at night, baby."

and just like that, he was gone, leaving you alone with the storm raging in your chest.

you finally left tanneyhill, and you couldn't help the faint smirk tugging at your lips as they drove home. the evening had been a tense balancing act, but you'd survived it without any cracks showing. the hum of the car engine filled the silence, carter too engrossed in his phone to notice your jittery hands or the way you bit at the inside of your cheek. relief curled through you—he hadn't caught on.

back at home, you moved quickly. upstairs, you shed the day's pretence like a heavy coat, trading your pristine sundress for panties and a loose t-shirt that barely hung off one shoulder. your hair fell in disarray, strands mussed from the humid night. you crossed the room and unlocked your window, pushing it open just enough to let in the cool night air. crickets chirped in the stillness, their song a steady, rhythmic backdrop as you hit play on a playlist, the low hum of music filling the room.

you climbed into bed, knees tucked close to your chest, trying to ignore the sharp tug of restlessness in your gut. you hated this feeling—this anticipation that set you on edge. it was ridiculous. infuriating. you despised him, loathed every arrogant smirk and cutting remark. and yet...

your eyes flicked to the window. you cursed under her breath, annoyed at yourself, annoyed at him, annoyed at the way her pulse quickened at the thought of his shadow slipping through the frame.

minutes passed. then, the unmistakable scrape of sneakers against the lattice. your heart stumbled. you clenched your fists beneath the blanket, willing herself to stay calm. to stay unaffected.

the window creaked open further, and rafe slipped inside, his movements smooth, deliberate, as though he belonged there. he landed silently, his sharp blue eyes locking on yours in the dim glow of your bedside lamp.

"thought you might've changed your mind," he said, his voice low, cutting through the quiet. he leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, his broad shoulders filling the small space with ease.

"wishful thinking," you shot back, your voice colder than you felt. you sat up, folding your arms as if to create a barrier between them. "what do you want, rafe?"

"same thing you do," he said, his mouth curving into that infuriating smirk. "you left the window open."

your cheeks burned. you hated how easily he read you, how he could peel back your carefully crafted exterior without even trying. "doesn't mean i wanted you to show up."

"sure," he drawled, stepping further into the room. his gaze swept over you, slow and deliberate, making your skin prickle. "is that why you're all dressed up for me?"

you scoffed, pulling the blanket tighter around you. "you're delusional."

"maybe," he said, inching closer, "but you didn't stop me from climbing in, did you?"

"maybe i didn't hear you," you snapped, though your voice faltered slightly. his presence was suffocating, the air between you thick with something you refused to name.

he tilted his head, watching you with that same maddening intensity. "you're a terrible liar."

"and you're a terrible person," you shot back, your tone sharper now. you needed to regain control, to push him back, even if it was only verbal. "what, did you get bored tormenting someone else? or is this just another game to you?"

his smirk faltered for the briefest moment, replaced by something darker, something that made your stomach twist. he stepped closer, towering over you now, and you hated how small you felt under his gaze.

"you think i'm here to play games?" his voice was quieter now, but no less dangerous. "trust me, if this were a game, i would've gotten bored a long time ago."

your breath hitched, your resolve wavering under the weight of his words. you hated him. hated the way he made you feel—off balance, exposed, vulnerable.

"then why are you here?" you asked, your voice softer, but no less biting.

he didn't answer, not right away. instead, he leaned in, his hands bracing against the bed on either side of you, caging you in. his face was so close now, his breath warm against your cheek.

"because you can't stop thinking about me," he said finally, his voice a low growl that sent a shiver down her spine. "just like i can't stop thinking about you."

your pulse roared in your ears, your chest tightening with a mix of anger and something far more dangerous. "you're full of yourself."

"maybe," he admitted, his lips brushing the shell of your ear as he spoke. "but i'm not wrong."

your hands itched to shove him away, to push him out the window and slam it shut forever. but instead, you grabbed the collar of his shirt, yanking him down as if to make a point.

"shut up," you muttered against his lips before kissing him, hard and unforgiving, your frustration spilling out in every movement.

he didn't resist. he never did. his hands tangled in your hair, pulling you closer as the kiss deepened, each touch igniting a fire that burned away your better judgment.

you hated him. and you hated yourself for wanting him. but in this moment, with his weight pressing you into the mattress, the lines between hatred and desire blurred beyond recognition.

with your thighs exposed, rafe looked down at the sensitive skin, wanting nothing more than to bury his face there. you propped yourself up on your elbows, your eyebrows cinched together. 

rafe kicked his shoes off before his fingers hooked though the soft material of your panties. you watched has he slid the garment down your legs, your head falling back as he then pinned your thighs to the tops of his shoulders. "rafe.." you breathed, reaching down your fingernails lightly dragged across his skin. he hummed, cupping your soaked pussy as you gasped. 

"mmm, use your words baby," he traced your folds, losing his mind internally, he couldn't wait to taste you. you blinked hazily when you felt his thumb tease your sensitive clit.

rafe's tongue lapped against your clit, your back arching off the bed as he splayed a hand across your stomach. letting out a whine, rafe ate you like a man starved. 

you fought the urge to shut your thighs around his head when two of his fingers poked at your entrance, you could feel him smirking into your pussy proudly. he groaned when he thrusted them into you, the pretty sounds you were making driving him up the wall. 

the coil in your stomach only grew tighter until rafe had your thighs trembling. you cried out, your first orgasm of the night ripping through your lungs. rafe grinned as your hips stuttered in a poor attempt to chase the feeling of his tongue. 

you stared at the ceiling for a moment then looked at him as the tips of your fingers tugged at his shirt. he tore it off, his toned body highlighted by only the salt lamp shining. he flipped you over and grinded his erection into your ass. he shamelessly rut against you while leaning down, kissing you sloppily, both of them moaning. 

taking himself out of his pants, he wrapped a large hand around your throat, his arm flexing, thrusting into you harshly. "oh my- fuck rafe!" you wailed, your walls immediately clenching around him. rafe shut his eyes, his mouth ghosting over yours as he fucked into you hard and slow.

"you miss me?" he breathed, going deeper with each thrust, yanking at your top to pull you against him. your walls stretched deliciously around his length as you whined, "yes- god. i missed your dick." 

rafe smirked proudly as he rolled you over and slot himself between your thighs before picking up the pace again. 

you looked up at him, already completely fucked out as he pawed at your tits through your top before tearing it off. you began moving your hips in sync with his, meeting his thrusts as he groaned, burying his face in the crook of your neck. 

wrapping your legs around his waist tightly, his toned stomach slapped against your clit as you both rolled your hips in desperation to feel each other finish. "ah fuck," rafe rasped as your nails tore into his back. it wasn't long before you both started shuddering with pleasure, the waves of your orgasms rushing over your bodies. 

"shiit." rafe drawled, pressing a kiss to your temple before pulling out. you whined at the empty feeling, clarity setting in again as you looked up at the boy once more with a satisfied but exhausted sigh. 

he rolled off of you, catching his breath but taking a moment to smirk as he gazed down at your body. "christ delilah," he rasped, adjusting his pants before he handed you the top you were wearing. your movements stuttered before sitting up and taking it from him, slowly pulling it back over your head before grabbing his from across the bed and handing it to him. 

silence engulfed the room, both of them without a word to say as he pulled it over his head.  

you finally spoke up, "you can stay the night.. if you want." you shrugged before getting up and walking over to your drawers, grabbing a fresh pair of panties. rafe's mouth opened as if he were about to say something before shutting, he stretched and scratched at the back of his neck. 

guilt radiated off him as he looked down, "sorry i uh, i've gotta deal with somethin'... another time." you said nothing, just nodded your head before disappearing into the bathroom. rafe stayed for a moment, waiting for you to come out to say goodbye but left figuring you were angry. 

you washed your hands before coming out to find an empty bedroom, clenching your jaw for a moment you slipped under the covers and flipped off your salt lamp, hoping to easily drift off to sleep. 

you woke slowly, the pale morning light filtering through the curtains and painting the room in soft gold. you stretched under the covers, your hand sliding across the sheets. they were cold, empty. you frowned, the absence sinking into your chest like a weight. you rolled onto your side and pulled the duvet higher over your head, wishing, for once, that rafe would still be there, his arm heavy over your waist, his breath warm against your neck. but no such luck. your room was silent, the stillness deafening.

you dragged yourself up, the ache of disappointment lingering as you set about starting your day.

a quick text to cora later, and the plan was set. the country club was as good a place as any to escape—fresh air, a cold beer, and some much-needed distance from everything that had been clawing at your mind. by the time you arrived, the weight of the morning had lessened just a little. cora was already there, leaning against the entrance with that easy grin of hers, making your mood lift even more as you grabbed your gear and made your way to the course.

you took a deep breath, the scent of freshly cut grass filling your lungs, the cool breeze teasing your hair. you cracked open a beer from the cooler you'd brought, the chill of it a welcome distraction from the storm still swirling inside you. lining up your first shot, you tried to focus, but then you heard it—the unmistakable sound of rafe's voice, laughing too loud, too carefree.

your heart skipped. you snapped your head up, eyes already searching the course. and there he was.

rafe. as obnoxious as ever. he was stumbling between swings, a golf club hanging limply in his hand, topper trailing behind him with that idiotic grin on his face. they were both clearly drunk. of course they were. the sight of him had your teeth grinding before you even realised it. your jaw tightened, fingers curling around your beer can. where the hell did he go last night?

"you good?" cora's voice cut through, pulling you back to the present.

your gaze flicked to your friend, trying to smooth out the glimpse of annoyance that must've been obvious on your face. "yeah," you said quickly, forcing a tight smile, though you knew it didn't reach your eyes. "let's keep playing."

but the game was lost the moment your eyes found him again. there was no escaping rafe. no matter how much you tried to focus on your swing, every part of you was keyed into the sight of him across the course—his loud, careless laughter, the way his stupidly perfect smile twisted when he looked back at you. it was all a reminder of how little you actually controlled, of how much he still got under your skin.

"you're staring," cora pointed out, glancing over at you with a knowing look, but you quickly redirected your gaze, your face going cool again.

"not staring," you muttered. "just trying to focus."

cora didn't press, but you could feel your friend's eyes linger for a moment longer. you didn't need to know the truth, not about that—the part of your life that still felt like a secret you weren't ready to untangle. especially not after last night.

rafe hadn't just messed with your head—he'd taken everything you'd ever built between your rivalry and twisted it into something far worse, something that made your stomach churn every time you even thought about it.

but that didn't mean you were about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he still had that power over you. not when you had control of this moment.

except every time you looked up, there he was again. stumbling, grinning, so damn sure of himself. everything about him infuriated you—how he seemed to move through life with the kind of cocky grace that made every other guy look like an amateur. how his gaze lingered on you for just a moment too long whenever you dared meet it. how, despite your best efforts to push him away, it only made him linger more.

at one point, you hit a shot that sent your ball flying off the green, and as you moved to retrieve it, you felt a familiar presence behind you.

"nice shot," rafe called out, his voice thick with amusement. he had appeared out of nowhere, standing just behind you, making your skin prickle with unwanted awareness. you refused to let your shoulders stiffen, but damn, it was hard to ignore him when he was this close. you could feel the heat of his gaze even before you turned.

you bit back the urge to snap at him, but it was there, clawing at the back of your throat. he was the reason you couldn't concentrate. he was the reason you felt this constant simmering heat under your skin, the thing that kept you up late at night, unable to push him out of your thoughts.

"don't know why you're out here, rafe," you said instead, forcing a biting tone. "shouldn't you be out reeking havoc somewhere else?"

he smirked, taking a step closer. "maybe," he said, and your heart stuttered for a fraction of a second. "but i figured i'd grace you with my presence." his voice dropped lower, teasing, but there was something darker underneath it. "you didn't seem like you were having much fun without me."

your stomach clenched. "fun? not when you're around, no."

he raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "how mature of you."

"whatever, don't pretend you care about what i'm doing," you snapped, but even as you said it, you could feel the tension building, stretching thinner by the second. every word that passed between you was another match tossed onto the fire, and neither of you could seem to stop adding fuel to it.

he didn't say anything else for a moment, his gaze running over you like he was calculating something—figuring you out, peeling back another layer you'd rather keep hidden.

when he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter, more dangerous. "you know, i didn't forget about last night."

you froze, your breath catching in your throat. your eyes narrowed instinctively, but the warning in your chest only deepened.

"keep talking, rafe," you said coldly, your hands curling into fists at your sides instinctively.

he took another step closer, his scent hitting you like a punch—cologne, smoke, and something else you couldn't quite place. he was too close now, close enough that you could feel the heat radiating off him, close enough that it was suffocating.

"oh, i will," he murmured, his voice low, lips twitching into that infuriating, maddening smirk. "but you're not gonna like where it goes."

you clenched your jaw, refusing to let the flicker of nervousness show. you hated him. but as he moved closer again, your feelings betrayed you—your body pulsing with an undeniable tension that made everything inside you scream to run, and yet... you couldn't.

not when he was right there. not when he was still the one thing that made everything else seem so damn insignificant.

just as you opened your mouth to retort, ready to snap back at him, cora appeared like a much-needed breath of fresh air. her voice cut through the tension like a knife. "hey, you two. enough with the glares and the bullshit, okay?"

cora's easy-going tone contrasted sharply with the fire that had been building between you, and somehow, it worked. you took a step back, not quite retreating but pulling yourself out of the storm that rafe was stirring up. your eyes shot one last look at him, but he didn't seem too fazed, just watching you with that infuriating smirk.

"yeah, well, i don't need this today," you muttered, not meeting rafe's gaze again as you turned to walk away, cora falling into step beside you.

cora shot rafe a pointed look, one that made it clear she wasn't about to entertain whatever game he was playing, before following you off the course.

once you reached the car, you felt the air settle between the two of you, your chest still tight with everything left unsaid. cora opened the door to the passenger side, tossing her golf bag into the back seat with an exaggerated sigh.

"you alright?" cora asked, watching you carefully as she slid into the car. her tone was quiet but knowing, the kind that suggested she wasn't about to let you off the hook so easily.

you clicked your seatbelt into place, staring out the window for a long moment before answering. "yeah, i'm fine," you said, though your voice didn't sound convincing even to your own ears.

cora raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. "don't lie. what's going on with you and rafe?"

your breath caught at the question. you had hoped to avoid it. hoped—but cora wasn't one to back down once she got a sense of something being off. and after everything that had happened today, it wasn't going to stay buried for long.

"it's nothing," you said quickly, the words rushing out, but cora didn't let you off the hook.

"y/n," cora's voice was firm now, her eyes never leaving the road as they pulled out of the parking lot. "i saw the way he was looking at you, and i heard what he said. that wasn't just nothing. what is going on?"

you couldn't help the way your fingers fidgeted with the hem of your top, a nervous habit you hadn't been able to shake. you didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to acknowledge how messy everything had become. but cora's gaze was unwavering, and you knew she wasn't going to let up until you spilled something.

sighing, you leaned back in her seat, turning your head to glance at cora. "we... we hooked up," you muttered, the words coming out like they tasted bad on your tongue. "and now everything is... weird."

cora's eyes widened for a moment, then she glanced over at you, a playful but cautious grin tugging at her lips. "rafe cameron? really?" she raised an eyebrow, a mix of disbelief and amusement dancing in her eyes.

"yeah, i know," you shot back, bitterness coating your words. "i'm just as disgusted by it as you are."

"you're not disgusted," cora countered, her voice softer now, more understanding. "you're... frustrated. because there's something between you two. and you're fighting it."

you shook her head, exhaling sharply. "don't you think i know that? don't you think i've been fighting it this whole time? i hate him. i hate him." you gritted your teeth, your fingers curling into your palms. "but it's like nothing else matters when he's around. it's... it's maddening, cora."

there was a long pause as they drove, the air in the car feeling thick with the unspoken tension. cora didn't say anything right away, giving you the space to process your own thoughts.

"this is insane," you muttered after a moment, more to yourself than to cora. "he's a jerk, he's volatile... everything about him is wrong. but it's like i can't... not be around him."

cora's voice broke through the silence, softer now, with a trace of sympathy. "he's messing with you. and you're letting him."

"i know," you whispered, your gaze fixed on the road ahead as the words settled heavily in your chest. "i can't help it. i don't know what to do anymore."

cora glanced over at you, her expression still open and unjudging. "look, i'm not gonna say anything to anyone. this stays between us. but... you're gonna have to figure this out. because if you don't, it's just gonna keep eating at you."

you nodded slowly, the weight of everything pressing on your shoulders. "i don't know how to fix it."

cora smiled, you usual teasing grin softening. "don't worry about it. you'll figure it out. eventually."

"i hope so," you replied quietly, your fingers tapping absently on the window, the thoughts of rafe still swirling around in your head, no matter how hard you tried to push them away.

notes ; hello !!!!!! god im so sorry i've been awol for ages, uni is hectic but anyway i hope you enjoy !

series taglist ; @rafegetinmybed @sqfewrd @dreamyy-cloud @vampteeth @wtfisastiles @flvredcas @plaidcowboy @sematarygirls @slut4you @kravitzwhore @daryldixon83 @lexavanhuelee @dorcas4meadowes @i2rapunzel @rafestoothbrush @drewizz @6r4cie @akobx @seehowitshines @rafeswhoooreee @vbstrewbieri @waywarddiplomatfarmmonger-blog @ariivv01 @k4yr14 @luvrcndy @teleishachrisy @importantbeardcupcake @vanessa-rafesgirl @ltristessedureratoujours @cutkoskysnix1 @kennedywxlsh @funnyalpca @eeveelizabethh @burnburritono @marleymarleymarleymarley @katiebby04 @simplymaeee @hoppinbunny @slutglimreqpers ( lachesism taglist )  in order to stay on this taglist you must interact with the posts !

[rafeysbangs]

sorry guys i've been really busy the past few days with uni and still sorting out stuff in my new place with my friends, i'll be more active again soon !!