You couldn’t find him anywhere. As you searched the crowd at the country club, you cursed him under your breath. Then you cursed your mother for making you agree to this stupid tradition in the first place. Stupid debutant ball. Stupid white, pouffy dress. Stupid JJ for disappearing on you right before the escort dance. All eyes would be on you soon, and you bristled as you thought of the embarrassment that would come if you couldn’t find him.

“Have you seen JJ?” You asked your friends, they all just shook their heads and looked at you with something that bordered on pity. It didn’t surprise any of them that your boyfriend had seemingly ditched you. It shouldn’t surprise you either, he wasn’t exactly reliable or predictable.

feel my blood running, swear the sky’s falling

As the familiar chords of the song played overhead, and your friends started to take their places on the dance floor, you search the crowd one last time. The panic in you is starting to boil over, your hands shaking slightly. And then your eyes land on him.

all I need is to see your face

Rafe can see the panic in your eyes, the wild look as you realize that you’re alone in the crowd. He wants to kill JJ- how could he screw this up so royally? How could he hurt you like this? Before he even knows what he’s doing, he’s on his feet, moving towards you.

just keep breathing, and breathing, and breathing

“Just breathe, Princess” Rafe whispers in your ear as he takes your hand and leads you onto the dance floor. His hands shaking slightly slides to your lower back, tugging your body closer to his and you feel a shiver run down your spine. He’s so close he can feel the heat radiating off of your body, hear the little breathy gasp you make when his hands shaking slightly touches your bare skin.

I keep on breathing

Rafe leads you across the dance floor, his movements are easy and confident, like he’s been doing this his whole life. And you find yourself starting to relax. You feel safe.