ᯓ★ Rafe Cameron had always had a soft spot for you.

Ever since high school.

Maybe it was because you were Sarah Cameron’s best friend. Maybe it was because you were everything he wasn’t.

You were… perfect.

The golden girl. The princess of Kooks. Untouchable.

While he—

He was the opposite.

Drinking, smoking, getting into trouble before most people even figured themselves out. He’d already done everything early—lost his virginity at sixteen, hooked up with whoever he wanted, lived fast without thinking twice.

And you?

You didn’t drink.

Didn’t smoke.

And when it came to relationships—you were serious.

The kind of girl who believed in waiting until marriage.

No one expected the two of you to work.

But you did.

It started small.

Passing each other in the hallways, shoulders brushing, quiet smiles that lingered longer than they should. Then came the hangouts—innocent at first.

Until they weren’t.

First kisses.

Late-night talks.

Confessions that sounded different coming from him—softer, more real.

Midsummer came, and you were on his arm like it had always been that way. You told Sarah you were sleeping over—

But you ended up in his room.

In his bed.

In his arms.

And somehow—

That was enough.

For a while.

You hadn’t slept together.

Not because you didn’t care—but because you cared too much.

You told him from the start.

You were waiting.

And he said he understood.

Said it didn’t matter.

Said you were enough.

And for a time—

He meant it.

He stopped hooking up with other girls when you made things official. Stayed with you. Stayed loyal, at least from what you could see.

But slowly…

Something changed.

Because no matter how much he cared—

He wasn’t used to waiting.

He wasn’t used to restraint.

And it started to show.

He turned his phone away more.

Left the room to answer texts.

Came back with excuses that didn’t quite make sense.

He didn’t ask to see you as much.

Didn’t stay as long when he did.

And you started thinking things you didn’t want to think.

Was he cheating?

Or worse—

Did he finally realize you weren’t enough for him?

── .✦

You were laying on his bed, the room quiet except for the soft tapping of your phones.

He leaned back against the headboard while you rested your head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“Gonna hit the bathroom,” he muttered, shifting before getting up.

You nodded slightly.

But then—

He left his phone.

Your eyes flickered to it immediately.

He never did that anymore.

You tried to ignore it.

Tried to stay where you were.

Tried to trust him.

Until the screen lit up.

A notification.

Your chest tightened.

And before you could stop yourself—

You picked it up.

💕

Is she over? need you rn baby. ❤️❤️

Your stomach dropped. Everything felt cold all at once. The door opened.

“Hey, babe—y’seen my phone?”

You froze, still holding it. He paused. His eyes went straight to your hand. To the screen. Then back to your face. For a second, he said nothing.

Then he walked over—slow, controlled—and climbed back onto the bed beside you.

His fingers tilted your chin slightly before he pressed a quick kiss to your forehead.

“You look like you just saw a ghost,” he murmured, voice low, almost amused.

But his eyes weren’t. They flicked down to the phone in your hand. Then back to you.

His jaw tightened.

“C’mon…” he exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You really goin’ through my shit now?”