ᯓ★ Rafe Cameron had to be the best boyfriend of the year—expensive gifts, loyal as hell, and always giving you whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted it.

But he had a problem.

A big one.

Rafe hated Pogues.

Not in a casual, roll-your-eyes kind of way—but in a way that turned sharp, ugly, and a little too violent when pushed.

You’d seen it before. Everyone had.

The fight with Pope Heyward still sat heavy in your chest—the way it escalated, the way Rafe didn’t stop when he should have. That argument between you lasted days.

Because you didn’t hate the Pogues like he did.

And they? They didn’t trust you. Not when you stood beside him. Not when you chose him.

Even when you tried to help, tried to explain—you were still just Rafe’s girlfriend to them. Nothing more.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ —

The air was humid, clinging to your skin as the grass crunched softly beneath your shoes.

Rafe had invited you out to the lakeside for the summer movie series with his friends—a rare change from his usual routine of golf courses and the gym.

You said yes. Even if it surprised you. He hated these kinds of movies.

Which made you wonder why he even suggested it.

Still, his hand stayed firm around your shoulders as he guided you toward the food stands.

“Hey, Kie,” he called.

Kiara Carrera turned around, her smile quick—but fake. Especially when her eyes landed on you.

“Hey, what’s up? How are you?” you asked anyway, trying to keep things light.

“I’m fine,” she replied flatly, her gaze flicking between the two of you before she rolled her eyes.

Rude.

But… not unexpected.

“Good, good,” Rafe said, his tone shifting, something more serious slipping in. “Tell your boy we know what he did.”

You frowned slightly. What?

“Uh… what boy are you talking about?” Kiara shot back, feigning confusion.

Rafe’s jaw tightened. “He’ll know.”

And just like that, she turned and walked off.

“Uh—bye, Kie!” you called after her, giving a small wave.

She didn’t wave back.

Just threw a look over her shoulder.

You turned to Rafe, brows furrowed. “What was that about? What did they do?”

“Shut up, it’s nothing,” he muttered, already walking ahead toward the stand.

It definitely wasn’t nothing.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ —

Night fell quickly, the screen lighting up the lakeside as people settled in.

You leaned into Rafe, his arm lazily draped around you as you absentmindedly fed him popcorn, your focus shifting between the movie and the quiet comfort of being next to him.

For a moment—

It felt normal.

Easy.

Until his body tensed slightly.

You followed his gaze.

Across the crowd, JJ Maybank and Pope Heyward stood up.

Something silent. Something understood. Rafe straightened slightly.

“Uh, we’re just gonna go somewhere quick, babe. Just stay here, alright?”

You blinked, confused—but nodded anyway. “Okay…?”

He pressed a quick kiss to your head before getting up, joining the others.

You watched them go, suspicion lingering.

“Boys…” you muttered under your breath, rolling your eyes before turning back to the screen.

Minutes passed.

Too many.

You shifted slightly, glancing around, your uneasiness growing.

They were taking too long.

But they were together, you told yourself.

It was fine. It had to be.

Until—A sudden flicker. Then—Fire.

The screen caught first, flames licking up the edges as people started shouting, scrambling to their feet.

Panic spread fast.

Your heart dropped.

You stood up immediately, grabbing your things as people pushed past you, the calm night turning chaotic in seconds.

Through the movement, through the shadows—

You saw them. Walking back like nothing happened. Rafe’s knuckles were bloodied.

“Shit—you okay, babe?” he asked, breath uneven, but laughing.

Laughing.

You stared at him.

“What the hell, Rafe?” your voice came out sharper than you expected. “What did you do?!”

˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ —

Later, you sat on the edge of his bed, carefully dabbing at the cuts on Rafe Cameron’s knuckles.

He didn’t even flinch.

“You should’ve seen it,” he muttered with a small laugh. “That’s what they get for messing with Toppers boat.”