team effort - rafe cameron 3

twenty two

that night after we closed the restaurant and got home, taking turns to shower. i was sat on the couch with JJ and my mom.

"so, what next?" JJ asked.

"well peterkin wants us at the police station in the morning to go over what charges we want to press, but we can prove the breaking and entering, along with destruction of property and assault, which covers all the bases." my mom explained.

"and would she be doing any jail time?" i asked.

"possibly if the judge rules the assault as a serious one."

"you were passed out on the floor."

"but i was alive and only got a minor concussion." she shrugged. "i took some pain meds and i totally forgot it even happened."

"if she doesn't do jail time, she'll have a pretty hefty fine to pay, right? and will she have to pay for the damages?" JJ asked.

"i believe so," she nodded.

"i can't believe any of this happened." i shook my head. "god a couple months ago i didn't even know of her, i didn't know rafe-"

"you didn't know me." JJ said.

i smiled at him, "you're the best part of all of this." i told him. "you and mom are the reasons i'm still here or i would've just disappeared."

"awe, my baby." my mom pulled me in as i laughed. she pulled JJ in too. "two of my babies."

"mom, stop," i smiled and pulled away as JJ laughed.

"so what now?" JJ asked.

"i don't know." i shook my head.

"i do," my mom said and pointed. i looked over, seeing rafe walking across the grass. he looked up and saw us all through the window. "go talk to him, just listen." my mom told me.

i looked over at JJ.

"if you talk to him, i'll go talk to katie." he said.

"alright," i nodded and stood, walking outside. i stepped out, my feet hitting the cold concrete as i pulled the door shut behind me. he shoved his hands in his pockets, watching me. we stayed quiet for a couple minutes. "are you going to say anything?"

"i don't know what to say." he said. "i've been at topper's house all afternoon with everyone, trying to come up with some way to tell you how sorry i am. i had no idea, she swore up and down she didn't do it. i thought you were just mad at me and you were taking it out on her. cami's not like that, she's not...she's..."

"it was easier to believe her over more?" i asked softly. i watched his face fall and he opened his mouth but i cut him off. "i get it, you're in love with her. you knew her longer." i shrugged. "i mean, i'm just some crazy girl you used to kiss."

"you're not crazy," he shook his head. "you're not and i'm sorry for making you feel that way. you deserved to have someone believe you, i'm sorry that person wasn't me."

"that person was JJ." i said. "he broke up with katie, because he trusted that i was right. he's the reason i'm staying around, rafe. he's my little brother and i can't walk away from him, because he didn't walk away from me. you did though, sarah did, kie, noelle, katie, beck, john b, pope, topper... you all walked away from me the second you could. you can tell me that i wasn't a replacement, rafe, but i was. the second the original came back, i was trash."

"ainsley, i-"

"don't say you love me," i shook my head.

"i'm sorry," he said. "i told you, if it would've just been her and you, i would've chosen you. i have a baby now, i have to put her first."