Tidal Wave. | obx szn 1

Rafe Cameron.

TW: ADDICTION MENTIONED.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW MAY BE STRUGGLING, PLEASE REACH OUT. HELP IS AVAILBLE. ADDICTION IS REAL. SUICIDE IS REAL. YOUR STORY IS VALID.

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Aurora has already sat on the curb for 20 minutes. Rafe hasn't left. He has stayed and waited for her to recollect herself.

He finally decides that this is ridiculous. He gets out of his truck and sits on the ground next to Aurora.

"What's going on, Rory?" Rafe asks. He watches as she snaps a rubber band across her wrist. "Come on, I'm not gonna tell anyone anything. I just hate that you're sitting here like this."

"I don't know how to explain it, Rafe." Aurora admits. "Shit is so bad with my mother, I mean you saw what happened the other night."

"Yeah," Rafe says, "how is all of that? How are you? Your dad? Your brothers?"

Aurora appreciates that he's asking. The fact that he called August her brother also adds a few brownie points. Normally guys like Rafe will make fun of August, or refuse to call them by their preferred pronouns.

"I'm.. working on it. I think tonight put a few things into perspective. I saw Lucca. I could tell how much he cared that I was high out of my mind. It's comforting to know that at least someone cares, you know?"

"I get it." Rafe answers. "My dad isn't the nicest guy either. He's a dick."

"Yeah, I know." Aurora laughs. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be laughing." She says before covering her mouth.

"It's okay." Rafe laughs along with her. "Look, parents suck, but soon enough, you'll be outta the house and you won't have to worry about them anymore."

"If your dad sucks so much, why aren't you out of the house yet?"

"Well, first of all, I need a job." Rafe admits. "I'm also staying for Wheezie I guess."

"Wheezie?"

"Yeah," Rafe says, "Sarah loves her, but she can neglect her. Wheezie looks up to Sarah, but I'm not sure that Sarah is the best influence."

"And you are?"

"No, no, I'm not, but Wheezie knows that. She's not gonna look up to me, but I have to be there for her."

"That makes sense I guess." Aurora looks down to her hands.

"Why do you always have that rubber band?" Rafe asks.

"I don't want to talk about that to you, Rafe." Aurora says.

"Okay, why didn't Pope show up tonight?"

"He's a dick. That's why."

"You're still gonna go crawling back to him, though. Aren't you?"

"Yeah. Probably." Aurora agrees.

"You deserve better." Rafe says.

Aurora stand up off the curb. "Thanks, Cameron."

Instead of heading home, she goes towards the chateau.