'Safe with Rafe' Y/N x Rafe Cameron

Chapter XXIX

Rafe finally cuts the conversation short before opening the drivers side door and hopping in. Leaving it a crack open as he starts his truck and waving goodbye to Barry. The cold evening air rushing in as he finally shuts the door beside him, causing you to pull his fleece jacket up towards your chin and over the front of your body.

"Everything alright?" You ask.
"Yup. Sorry I took so long." He says, glancing towards you with a smile as he looks behind his truck through the rear window before reversing.
"This is all because of me, isn't it." You say lowly, snatching Rafes immediate attention.
"What? Why would you even say that? You know what Kelce is like." He says as stares deeply into your eyes assuringly, "it's not your fault Y/N. Don't take the blame for that guy, come on."

Rafe places a hand on your thigh to comfort you before noticing the goosebumps plaguing your skin. He reaches over the gear stick, turning his car heater on, "we'll save the milkshake date for a better time."
You huff a small, weak smile, "yeah."

Rafe notices your quiet demeanour. You stay sitting up in your seat this time around, staring out the window with your body turned almost completely towards the door as your face is half hidden behind his fleece jacket. Guilt riddles his entire being as he thinks about the damage he had caused to your life, unsure if you're even aware of what he would do in order to protect you.

He had no limits.

He grows concerned as he worries that maybe you would distance yourself on your own accord, which is something he should be alright with, given it's your safety on the line, but he just can't find the strength to let you go. The very thought makes him twitchy as his fingertips begin to tap on the leather of the steering wheel in a fast, repetitive pace, gathering your undivided attention.

"You okay?" You ask sheepishly.
"Yeah, don't worry about me." He smiles as he reaches out to your face, brushing the stray hair behind your ear ever so softly, making your face lean into his hand.
"I don't want you around Kelce anymore." You speak into his touch, "I don't care what that does for your image or what that means for your families ties. Call me selfish but I'll never be able to sleep properly knowing you're with somebody blood thirsty."
Rafe huffs in defeat at your persistence, "I know."
"Is that it?" You ask agitated as you turn in your seat towards him.
"Aww you care." He teases as he brings your hand up to his mouth, kissing the back of it.
"Of course I care Rafe. It's not a laughing matter so start taking me seriously."
Rafe places your hand back onto your thigh before interlocking his own hand on top of it, "I'll stop hanging out with him." He says, turning his eyes back onto the road.
"Thank you." You return his hold.
"Soooo.. does that mean I can hang out with you and your groupies?" He asks with a petty smile.
"Of course." You reply, flashing him a smile, "but do us a favour and lose the polo shirts." You giggle, earning a chuckle in return from the bright eyed boy.

Rafe pulls up beside a curb outside the familiar large iron gates. He grips his steering wheel tightly before glancing over to you.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asks.
"Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?" You ask confused as you cock an eyebrow up at him.
"Well, nothing but we can make plans?...If you want, I mean." He says shyly, anticipating an answer from you, hopeful of a good one.
"Hmmm..." you hum with a finger to your mouth, egging him on purposefully, "I'll check my schedule." You tease as you hop out of the passengers seat.
"You better!" He shouts to you between a smile as you close the door on him.

The moment you step foot inside your house, the scent of bolognese floods your senses, making you skip to the kitchen in a hurry. Your eyes landing on your mother cooking in the kitchen alone with a lacy pink apron tied tightly around her waist, her hair thrown into an exhausted ponytail.

"Mmm! Smells good ma." You exclaim, causing her to turn around towards you.
"Hey love, where have you been?" She asks, quickly glancing over her shoulder towards you before back to the pot as she stirs the bolognese with a large soup spoon.
"Just the movie screening." You respond, slipping your converses off before throwing yourself on the couch in the next room.
"With your little...friends?" She asks almost as if she was slightly disgusted.
"Yes ma...and with Rafe." You reply disappointedly when suddenly her once exhausted, now pure joyful face pops out from the side of the living room wall.
A gleaming smile emits from across the room.
"Rafe Cameron?"
"Yes?" You reply quizzically.
"Ohh!" She gushes happily, "about time you hang out with your own people! A handsome one at that!"

You silently shake your head, finding it hard to keep a smile from spreading across your face at your mothers rare show of joy. Even though full offence was taken on behalf of your pogue friends, you knew she meant well.

"Just wish it was on better circumstances." You finally say.
"Whatever do you mean, darling?"

Unsure of what you meant exactly, whether it was the fact that it was a forbidden bond that was troubling you or if it was the fact that it was Kelces ignorance that had brought you together, neither had you too fond.
Then again, it wasn't really Kelce was it? You think to yourself optimistically.
It was Rafes kindness.

"Ah, nothing." You respond with a shy smile.
"He really is a sweet boy."
"Yeah," you huff with a small smile as you look downwards towards your fiddling hands, "I know."

Your mother notices the giddy smile blossoming across your face. She hadn't remembered the last time she seen you glowing so brightly between all her episodes and you disappearing for days on end with your pogue friends, she smiles at you, taking in all the beauty that you were, shining bright with euphoria before walking back to her station in the kitchen as she roots for you from the shadows.

"Where's dad?" You call out from the couch.
"At the Cameron's." She responds.
"What? Why?"
"Something about sponsoring the midsummers."
"Sssshit. Sorry ma, I was supposed to ask you about that on Wards behalf."
"You spoke to Ward? About hosting midsummers?" Your mother's squeals happily.
"Yeah uh, can I request uninviting a certain somebody? Their entire family if you really wanna get serious." You ask cautiously.
"Hm?" She hums in exchange, "who exactly?"
"Kelce."

Your mother sighs as she rests her spoon against the side of the pot.

"Please?" You plead, "he's not a good person, in fact, he put me in a lot of danger recently, twice!" You say, throwing your arms in the air in desperation.
"Kelce hm?" She asks again.
"He did bad things ma, If it wasn't for Rafe, who knows what would've happened to me." You finish with a sad expression written across your features, a melancholic tone taking over your voice as you spoke.
"I want to ask what happened. But I figure now might not be the best time. I'll see what I can do honey." She says lowly.