Rafe wasn’t the type of guy to just walk away. He thrived on confrontation, lived to be right. So the fact that he was standing outside of your birthday party, on the outside looking in, was a surprise to even him. He’d gone there with the intent of talking to you, no matter what. But when your friends had pulled him aside, reminding him that you deserved to have a good night, he’d realized he didn’t want to be the one who ruined your birthday. He had given you enough bad memories, he didn’t need to add another.

So he’d nodded, handed over the present he’d spent forever tracking down, and asked Sarah to make sure you got it. And then he’d walked away. He hadn’t talked to you, hadn’t even seen you. He lingered outside on the restaurant patio, sticking to the shadows, just wanting to catch a glimpse of you.

don’t worry, I know I’ll see you again

It takes all of his willpower to stick to the darkness when he finally sees you. How are you this powerful? How is it that he’s able to picture every inch of you so clearly? Your body, every freckle, every mark, your scent, the way your skin tastes. It’s all burned in his memory.

He watches as Sarah hands you his present. You turn it over in your hands, fingers tracing idly over the wrapping paper. You ask Sarah something, and your eyes search the restaurant, scanning all the guests, and he wonders if you’re looking for him. Could you actually want to see him?

and you changed my life but I guess I’ll see ya

You grip his present in your hands tightly as you turn away from your friends and move through the crowd. You’re hoping you can catch him, hoping that he’s still around. You pick up the pace, pushing open the door to the restaurant and stepping out onto the patio. Your eyes frantically search the darkness for any sight of him.

“Rafe?” You yell out into the night, voice shaky.

“I’m here. I’m right here, princess” he steps out of the shadows, closing the distance between the two of you with a few strides of his long legs.