It ends with you (Rafe Cameron)

𝚡𝚒𝚟. 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜

Rue had expected it to be silent when she was pulled back into consciousness. She'd expected to wake up in the dark and comfort of John B's room, tucked into the covers, while her friends waited on the other side of the door.

She didn't think JJ and Rafe would be able to sit in a room without slaughtering each other.

She felt a hand in hers, judging by the sound of the two people softly talking to each other, it was Rafe's. She kept her eyes closed but imagined JJ sitting on the windowsill at the foot end of John B's bed.

They'd both stayed, for her. They'd not beaten the crap out of each other, for her.

"I'm just curious," JJ's voice. Rue kept quiet as she listened in on the private conversation between the two rivals. "Why her? You can fuck every girl you want on Figure Eight, and I'm sure a few Pogues would be willing to bend their morals for the right amount of money too."

She felt Rafe squeeze her hand. "You seriously need to get laid if you think this is about fucking her, bro," Rafe mumbled. She felt his thumb rub over the back of her hand, could feel how he tried to steady his breathing.

"Don't bro me," JJ warned.

"You think I'd sit here with your sorry ass If I just wanted to get into her pants?" Silence. "Nah, man."

"You in love with her or something?" Rue could feel her heart stop. She felt Rafe's hand slip from hers, probably to rush it through his hair, it was a nervous tick he'd mastered.

"You ask too many questions," he slowly spoke.

"You know you're only gonna end up hurting her." JJ's voice wasn't accusing, but rather protective.

"I know."

"You're a junkie and a dealer and she just lost someone to that shit," JJ continued and Rue felt the need to tell him to shut up.

"I know."

"You really think you're the right guy for her?"

"I know I'm not."

"Then why are you here, Rafe?"

Silence again. One that seemed to last for an eternity. One that made the small space of John B's room feel even smaller, cramping them together and forcing the air from their lungs. Rue could feel the tension in the air like a thick fog.

"You know the way you're looking at me now?" Rafe asked JJ. "Like I'm the bad guy, like there is something wrong with me, like I'm fucked in the head." No answer came but Rue could imagine JJ nodding. "She doesn't look at me like that."

And it knocked the air out of her lungs, so much that she opened her eyes and sat up straight. Rafe turned to her. She saw his jaw was tightened, his eyes hard. He opened his mouth, hesitated, closed it again. Rushed that nervous hand through his hair and then said: "You good?"

"I think so," Rue answered, trying to hide that she'd heard their entire conversation.

"Good." Rafe got up from the side of the bed and headed out the door. She stared at him as he left and immediately turned to JJ.

"What did you say to him?" She demanded, knowing damn well JJ wasn't going to tell her the truth.

"Nothing, can't help it the guy's weird."

She hated it when people called Rafe weird, it played too much into the image he had of himself.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, took a deep breath, and went to stand up. Before she could, JJ was by her side.

"Be careful with him cupcake," he said quietly. "I don't know what the two of you have going on but I assure you, he's not your prince charming."

She placed a hand on JJ's cheek. "And I'm not a princess. I'm a big girl JJ, I know what I'm doing."

"I know, I know," he leaned into her hand. "But if anything happens, no matter how big or small, you call one of us alright. The Pogues have your back, Rue." She smiled at him and softly nodded her head.

It had turned dark outside, the storm still dancing through John B's backyard. The Pogues had gathered in the living room. Pope was kicking John B's ass in chess. Kiara sat between Sarah's legs as the Kook princess braided Kie's hair. JJ lit a joint and passed it between his friends.

Rafe had sought refuge in the kitchen. With the storm on full power, even he wasn't stupid enough to go out in that kinda weather and drive home. It would be suicide. So, he had separated himself from the others, leaning against the counter whilst his eyes traveled over the richly decorated walls. John B had put pieces of news articles up, all about his missing dad.

"Why don't you join us in the living room?" Rue asked, leaning in the doorframe.

"I'm gonna sit this one out."

She stepped inside, resting her back against the counter as he did. "I'm sorry you had to come all the way here," she said and he lifted his shoulders. "I'm sure you'd expected our night to go differently."

He snapped his eyes at her. "I didn't expect anything."

"I just— never mind."

"How's the head?" He slowly moved from the counter, turning so he stood in front of her and she subconsciously spread her legs a little wider, allowing him to stand between her knees. He brushed the hairs out of her face, revealing JJ's handy work with the bandage.

"I'm gonna have a really sick scar," she laughed and Rafe's lips tugged up in a grin. She couldn't help but glance at his mouth, the way his lips looked so inviting. Maybe it was because of what she'd overheard, but she just wanted him to kiss her.

"I expected our night to go differently," she softly said.

"Oh yeah?"

"Hmm." She softly nodded. He traced his fingers over her arms, drawing tiny circles as he moved closer to her. She could feel him pressed against her, feel all of him through his jeans and it set her insides on fire. She cursed JJ and the stupid tree in John B's garden. They could've been in Taneyhill now, all alone.

He lifted her chin, grabbing it between his thumb and index finger and pulling on her lip. A shaky breath left her throat before she'd fully progressed what was happening.

"You wanted to be my friend," he groaned. "That's what you said."

She nodded. "I did. I do." Maybe it was the minor concussion she had but she wanted to rip the clothes off his body. She wanted him to bent her over the counter and do all sorts of unholy things to her.

He dipped his hips into hers and by the way his crotch pressed against hers she could deduct she wasn't the only one with sinful thoughts.

He cupped her jaw, tipped her head back, and brought his mouth to her ear. "Friends don't do this to each other," he whispered and the warmth of his body was ripped away from her.

It wasn't about sex, that's what he'd told JJ. And that was the reason why he backed away from her, allowing a sea of space between them.

He softly shook his head. "I gotta be smart about this, Rue." She nodded her head. "I'm not gonna fuck you, I'm not gonna screw this up."

He said it as if it was a promise to himself. And she understood, she respected it. She shouldn't push him, not when he was trying to be better. But damn her hormones, 'cause him being respectful made her want him even more. And she hated herself for it. She's promised to be his friend.

And that's all they were ever gonna be.