The raised voices echoed throughout the hallway as you made your way to Sarah’s room. You jumped as a door slammed loudly, and you heard footsteps approaching quickly. Your heart started racing faster, immediately realizing that it was going to look like you had been eavesdropping. You bite your lip, and turn towards the footsteps, trying your best to appear normal.

“Aoife?” Rafe pauses as he rounds the corner and comes face to face with you, his eyes flashing as he tries to pull himself together. He looks down at the ground, not wanting you to see the pain in his eyes. Rafe had never been one to let others see when he was hurting. It would’ve been bad enough for him to let you see this vulnerability when you were together, but now that you’d been broken up for months, he didn’t want you seeing any emotion on his part.

“Hey” you say softly, fighting the urge to reach out and stroke his face. “Sarah invited me to stay over”

“Oh, right” He nods, pressing his hand to the bridge of his nose, a nervous gesture you recognize all too well.

you can never say never

“Are you okay?” You ask, not able to keep the concern out of your voice. You knew he’d been arguing with his dad, and you were more than aware of the cruel and dismissive way Ward treated Rafe. It had never failed to make you angry on his behalf when you were a couple.

“I’m fine” Rafe dismisses your question, even as he finds himself moving closer to you. He hates that you still have this effect over him. Hates that all he wants is to touch you and seek comfort in you. You had always been the only one that could soothe him after a fight with his dad, because you were the only one who had ever loved him without question.

“Hey, don’t do that. You can still talk to me” You reach your hand out and grab his wrist, your fingers rubbing soothing circles over the skin.

Rafe looks down at your hand, closing his eyes briefly, his jaw clenching. He’s fighting a losing battle in his head and he knows it. He needs you.

don’t let me go