ROCK BOTTOM ~ Rafe Cameron // OC // JJ Maybank

ELEVEN.

tw: violence

Ward stared intensely at the paper in front of him. He was deep into one of the dive shop files, struggling with the numbers. It was hard figuring out the finances without Bexley present. He hoped she would show up at the house today.

A knock was heard on his office door, causing him to look up. "Yeah?"

The door opened slowly. Rafe walked in.

He sighed at the sight of him, already feeling annoyed. "What do you need, Rafe?"

His son seemed nervous. Ward mentally groaned. He hoped he didn't need legal help.

"I just..." Rafe cleared his throat. He wiped his hands on his pants, nervous. "I know Midsommer is coming up. I was making sure I'm cleared to take a date."

"Yes," Ward said, simply. "Everyone is allowed a plus one. Is that all? I'm busy."

Rafe stepped back. His nervousness still clear.

"I just, um, wanted to tell you I'll be bringing someone."

"Wonderful," Ward breathed, sarcastically. "Close the door on your way out."

He didn't leave. He stayed for one, passive moment.

Rafe blew out a heavy breath. "...I want to take Bexley. As my date."

Ward looked up at his son, immediately, bewilderment in his eyes. "Excuse me?"

"I want to take Bexley," Rafe repeated. "She'll really like it, I know she will."

Ward exhaled deeply, turning back to his paperwork. "No, Rafe. Wheezie will probably invite her anyway-"

"Please, dad," Rafe suddenly said in a desperate voice, which brought back his father's attention. "I know you fucking hate me, and-and I know you wish I wasn't even here, and I promise if you let me do this I'll stay out of your way as much as possible, alright?" He gulped. "I'll-I'll stay in my room, I'll leave the house, I won't talk to you, you can pretend I'm gone. Just-please-let me take Bexley."

There was a silence that spread over the room. It was uncomfortable, and lasted so long Rafe thought his father was getting ready to scream at him.

Ward stood suddenly. Rafe inhaled loudly. Ward crossed the room to stand in front of his son. "Don't you even fucking say that again."

He flinched. "Look, I won't force her-"

"Don't you ever say that I hate you," Ward continued. Rafe hesitated. "You make me angry, Rafe. But I love you, you understand?"

He gulped.

Ward ran a hand over his face. He sighed deeply. "You can ask Bexley if she wants to be your date for Midsummers."

Rafe's eyes widened. "R-Really?"

"But if she says 'no', that's means 'no', got it? You don't say anything else, you don't ask her again, you leave her alone, got it?"

"Y-Yeah," he said. "Of course." Rafe took a quick step back. "Thank you." He stepped out of the room.

"Don't tell Rose!" Ward yelled out, quickly.

*****

Bexley was out sitting on the dock by her house. Mr. Cameron texted her the night before saying the shop would be closed, and she could come stop by the house later if she wanted to.

She didn't want to. She didn't tell him that, and she would end up going over later in the day anyway. But she didn't want to. She wasn't going to the golf course, not finding the energy to do that either. She felt more exhausted from her day off than from any work she'd ever done before.