Last Summer

River

My eyes hurt to open the next morning. I groaned as I turned over in bed. I wiped my eyes and pulled myself up. I thought about what Rafe said last night. What my mother said last night. I wondered if he had called. My phone was probably deep at the bottom of some part of the ocean by now.

A knock at my bedroom door made me jump.

"River, can I come in?" My sister said through the door.

"Uh yeah, sure." I muttered, sitting on the bed, waiting for her to come in.

"Hey," She said lightly, "Sarah told me about you and Rafe. I'm sorry."

I shook my head, "Oh, it doesn't matter. I don't care. I didn't even know him." The lie fell off my tongue so effortlessly.

My sister gave me a look, tilting her head to the side.

"River, it's okay. It's okay to be sad." She sat down on the bed next to me, placing her hand on my back.

I shook my head again, "I'm serious, Harp. I'm fine. Truthfully."

Her eyes got sad and I knew a guilt trip was coming.

"Nothing makes you happy anymore. Not since the split. But you laughed and smiled with him. You're allowed to be sad, because he made you happy." My sister's words felt like nails on a chalkboard.

"It was a day. He's a stranger: I'm perfectly fucking happy, Harper. Just fucking stop. I don't know how exactly you're trying to make me feel but stop. Leave me alone." I snapped. My blood began to boil. I shot her a look, my face filled with anger. She retreated from the room slowly as I rolled my eyes and laid back down. I wanted to talk to my dad. He always knew what to say.

I got up and brushed my teeth and showered. My tired eyes looked a bit less bright when I looked in the mirror after I brushed my wet hair.

I tightened my towel and walked out of my bathroom.

Another knock on the door startled me.

"Come in!" I groaned.

I turned around and rummaged through my drawers looking for underwear. I was mentally preparing myself to hear either my mother or sister's soppy stories.

"Uh, hey." A familiar voice said. I turned around quickly, my eyes widening as Rafe stood in front of me. He had his hand on the back of his neck. His dirty blonde hair was messy on his head. He wore a black t shirt that hugged his muscular frame so well. My mouth went dry.

He chuckled, looking at my hands. I followed his gaze and quickly put my hands behind my back once I realized he was laughing at my underwear.

"Well.." I motioned to my towel.

"Right, my bad." He turned around so his back is facing me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, quickly grabbing clothes and throwing them on.

"I wanted to talk to you. I called your phone but you never picked up so I got kind of worried. Your mom let me up." He said, twisting his ring.

"You can turn around." I instruct and slowly, he does.

"My phone is somewhere on the beach or in the ocean." I said flatly.

"Oh? That really sucks." He deadpans.

"What do you want, Rafe?" I spit out. Part of me wants to wrap my arms around his torso and just hug him, but the other part of me wants to kick him out.

"I wanted to talk to you about last night." His eyes search my face.

"So?"

"I'm sorry, River. I didn't mean what I said. Sarah said a bunch of shit that fucked with my head. I let it get to me." As Rafe said these things, he looked like pounds of weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

I stepped closer to him. Now only leaving about six feet between us.

"What did Sarah say?" I questioned, becoming curious.

Rafe went back to rubbing the back of his neck, "Basically everything I said to you last night. She told me to leave you alone because I was only going to break your heart." He confessed, "River, I have never felt the way about someone like I do you." He stepped closer, leaving about three feet left between us.

"Rafe. You could've just talked to me about it. I would've listened." I scolded, twisting the towel in my hand.

"I know, River. I know, okay. I fucked up. But I didn't mean it. I want to know you." Two feet.

"Rafe..." I breathed.
One foot.

Rafe snaked his hands around my waist and pulled me closer to him so our bodies touched. I didn't look up at him, until he grabbed my chin softly.

"Please." The word escaped his lips with little to no effort. I couldn't contain myself anymore. I pulled his face to mine. Our lips danced together.

He pulled away, his breath quick and rapid, "Forgive me?"

I nod and bite my lip. He puts my face in his hands, but turns my head slowly so that his mouth is at my ear, "Grab your board." He whispered, sending goosebumps through my entire body. I turned my head again so that our foreheads were touching. His eyes search mine and mine his.

"Kiss me." I said, pulling him in again. He wasted no time. His lips pressed into mine urgently, like he was an addict getting his fix. He pulls me into a hug, my head laying on his chest.

"So... are we going to surf or stand in my bedroom all day?" I joked and he scoffed playfully. I grabbed my surfboard off the wall and his hand, pulling him down the stairs. I grabbed my bag with an extra swimsuit in it as we passed the front door.

And there I went again, with Rafe fucking Cameron.