The sun danced across your shoulders as you bounced on the pads of your feet in the sand. Your body was humming with excitement. The crowd around you was electric and you knew that you were going to be completely hoarse by the end of the enduro. You’d been doing your best to scream the loudest for Rafe.

Before Rafe, you’d never been big on bikes or racing. But Rafe moved so confidently on a bike. When you watched him race, or had your arms wrapped around him as he drove you on the back of the bike, you forgot your worry. You got caught up in the freedom. The way the air whipped your hair against your face. The way Rafe’s racing leathers gripped his muscular body. It was a heady experience and it was all too easy to get caught up in.

He was the odds on favourite to win it all today, and when you’d kissed him good luck before the start, you’d noticed the way the other girls looked at him. It didn’t bother you that they looked. You knew none of them stood a chance against you. Rafe may have a short temper and a violent streak, but he was completely loyal to you. He hadn’t so much as looked at another girl when you were around. And it was the same for you. There had been plenty of Kook’s interested in you, but only Rafe had managed to capture your heart.

As the bike engine’s started to be heard closer, you focused all your attention on the race. Rafe was battling for the lead with JJ, and your heart started to race faster as you cheered louder for him. One second you were certain Rafe was going to win, and the next it was like a scene from a nightmare.

Rafe’s bike collided with JJ’s in a twist of metal and you watched frozen as Rafe was thrown off the bike, his body hitting the ground hard. For a moment you couldn’t move, your eyes stuck on his body just praying silently for him to get up. He slowly got to his knees, leaning on the sand to push himself up into a standing position and you raced over to him.

“Baby! Baby! Oh my god…are you…” you trailed off as you reached him and he tugged you against him, slinging his arm over your shoulder. But he wasn’t looking at you. His gaze was focused on John B.

“Get used to it” you heard him spit out. You could feel the rage that was coiling through his body as he exchanged verbal blows with John B. You shook your head, annoyed as you realized the reality of the situation.

“What the hell, Rafe?” You snapped at him, ducking out from under his arm. “Why would you do that?”

He scoffs, rubbing his hand against his cheek in frustration. He didn’t get what you were so pissed off about. The Pogues lost, so what if he’d had to get a little banged up to ensure it happened. “Calm down” he snaps, waving away your concern.