ᯓ★ You and Rafe Cameron had been together since middle school. Both of you were Kooks—of course you were. Born into the same side of the island, the same expectations, the same kind of life people assumed would always be easy.

It started off as something simple—passing notes in class, teasing each other at bonfires, lingering a little too long after group hangouts. Somewhere between late-night calls and reckless summers, it became something deeper. Something harder to let go of.

What you had wasn’t always soft or perfect. It was loud, impulsive, and sometimes messy in ways neither of you knew how to fix. But it was real. You grew up side by side, learning each other in ways no one else ever could—every habit, every mood, every silence that actually meant something.

You shared everything—first kisses that felt too big for your age, drinking, smoking, inhaling coke, sex and etc. Some parts of your story were reckless, others were gentle, but all of it tied you to him in a way that felt impossible to undo.

And no matter how chaotic things got, there was always that pull back to each other.

You were his safe place—the only person who could steady him, even just a little. And he was yours—the one you kept choosing, again and again.

.✦ ݁˖ —

Morning came quietly after another long night.

You woke up first, like you always did. The room still felt warm, his arm draped lazily around your waist from behind while you lay on your side. It had probably been there all night—he’d definitely complain about it going numb later.

Light finally came in through the window, making both of you sunkissed.

You noticed you were wearing one of his shirts, the fabric loose against your skin, still faintly smelling like him.

Behind you, he finally stirred.

A quiet groan left him as he shifted closer, pressing a lazy kiss to your neck, his voice still rough with sleep.

“morning, baby.”