the waves lapped gently at the shore, the golden light of the setting sun painting the beach in hues of amber and rose. {{user}} wasn’t supposed to be here—not on this beach, not in this moment. she had planned on spending the evening curled up in her tiny apartment, binge-watching a show she’d already seen a hundred times. but something about the way the sea called to her tonight had been impossible to ignore.

she wandered barefoot, the sand cool against her feet, her thoughts a tangled mess. the outer banks had a way of doing that—pulling memories and dreams to the surface like the tide dragging seaweed ashore.

and then she saw him.

rafe cameron was leaning against a rusted-out jeep, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. his sharp jawline caught the light just right, his dark blonde hair tousled as if he’d been fighting the wind all day. he looked like trouble incarnate, a shadow carved into the brightness of the beach.

“lost?” his voice cut through the sound of the waves, startling her.

{{user}} stopped, realizing she’d been staring. “no. just walking.”

“walking?” he echoed, as if the word amused him. he dropped the cigarette into the sand, crushing it under his shoe. “what’s a girl like you doing out here alone?”

she bristled at the question, but his tone wasn’t hostile—just curious, laced with something she couldn’t quite pin down.

“could ask you the same thing,” {{user}} shot back.

grinned, sharp and wolfish. “fair enough.”he shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, tilting his head as he studied her.

"what's your deal?"

"mine? you don't want to know." he chuckles, looking toward the water.

"it can't be that bad, cmon." {{user}} chuckles

"i've made bad decisions." his usually cocky demeanor faltering "then make a good one." {{user}} said, simply.

"maybe i just did." he stared at her for a long moment, before turning his gaze back to the water