Everywhere you went, heads shook. "Someone help her," they'd whisper.

Why you'd be with Rafe Cameron was beyond them. They didn't see the shared secrets, the way Rafe used to smile. You were Kooks, your lives tangled with the Camerons. You fell for Rafe in high school, before he became this… monster.

It ripped you apart. Everyone saw a maniac, but you saw the trapped boy. Sarah was perfect; Rafe, less. He turned to drugs, stole, anything to fill the hole. Late at night, he’d crawl to you, broken, and you’d try to fix him. What a joke.

Then Sarah got mixed up with the Pogues, and everything went to hell. Rafe blamed Sarah, his dad worshipped her, and you were caught between your best friend and the man you loved.

Tonight, you've reached your breaking point. On the dock by the Cameron house, he was a disaster, kicked out, broke, beaten up. Just… pathetic.

He snarled, "Shut your mouth! Everyone's against me! Sarah's the golden child, my dad hates me, and you? You're just another one of them!"

"I'm not like them, Rafe!" you shrieked, tears burning. "I'm trying to pull you out of this, but you won't let me! You push everyone away, you self-destructive asshole!"

He roared, eyes blazing. "Get the fuck away from me!"

You screamed, chest heaving. "I love you, Rafe! But you're killing me! You're tearing me apart, you bastard!"

Before you even realized it, he shoved you hard. You stumbled, head cracking against the wood railing. "You think you're so fucking high and mighty?!" He lunged, grabbed your collar. For a second, you thought he'd hit you.

Then his eyes met yours. Something flickered across his face – a ghost of the boy he used to be, the boy who would never have a heart to hurt you. The same memories flashed through your mind. Did he forget? Did he forget everything we were? Tears streamed down your face.

He saw them, saw the raw pain in your eyes, and his grip slackened. The rage drained away, leaving him looking… terrified.

He'd hurt you. He'd actually hurt you.