BEFORE THE STORM | RAFE CAMERON

ONE

The day after the storm

"What do you think I should wear tonight?" Sarah asks standing in front of me, while I'm sitting on her bed "Hmm, definitely the blue dress" I answer her with a smile, while I get up to slip on my deep vee white dress that ends right at my thighs.

Sarah and I have been best friends ever since our dads became close friends, people started calling us the "two kook princesses whose daddies are rich" but we think that's all bullshit, they don't know what our lives are actually like, some people even say we look like twins with our blonde hair and brown eyes.

Rafe Cameron. My best friend's brother who I always catch staring at me, Sarah says has been into me ever since she and I became friends but I don't know. Rafe has always been overprotective over me, but I've always thought of it as a big brother way.

Not since lately though, Rafe has been trying to... get closer to me I think. He's been taking me on boat rides, paying for my food, and inviting me into his room to watch movies. Which has worked since we've gotten very close with each other and definitely in a different way than a big brother.
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Sarah and I finished getting ready, we headed outside and climbed into my white Jeep heading off to the other side of the island where the kegger was happening.

At the kegger, Sarah met up with her boyfriend Topper, so I tell her I'll see her later, the next time I spot her she was on top of a red Bouie. I look over, Rafe is pulling up on his dirt bike, he takes his helmet off and looks over at me, we make eye contact and smile at each other.

I start waving at him with both of my hands jumping up and down and spinning around, I can see him start to laugh while walking over to me. He reaches me and we both hug each other tightly, he picks me up mid-hug wrapping my legs around his waist.

"I missed you so much" Rafe whispers into the crook of my neck  "I just saw you this morning on our boat ride" laughing "So... am I not allowed to miss my favorite girl" his eyebrows are scrunched up jokingly "No you definitely can," I whisper hugging him even tighter while still in his arms.

Rafe and I walk over to the kegger where John B and JJ are sitting, handing out beers to random tourists. "SAIGE!!" JJ smiles waving at me, all I do is wave back with a tight lip smile because as soon as his eyes move towards both of our hands intertwined his smile drops. I've known JJ since I was 4 and he was 3, ever since his dad started doing yard work for my dad, JJ would come over all the time.

I guess you could say we were kind of close.. until he was 14 then he stopped coming over every time, now he just tries to sneak through my window even though I tell him my mom would happily let him in. When Rafe and I got close my relationship with JJ got kind of... awkward.

Walking over to the spot Rafe and I picked out, a secluded area behind a big rock right near where the waves crashed. The wind whipped through my wavy hair causing it to mangle in my face. Rafe brought his hand up to my face tucking the blonde strands behind my ears "You're so beautiful, you know that" Looking into my eyes, "Stop" a blush rising to my cheeks lunging me forward into his arms, he wraps them around me feeling him smile into my hair.

Walking over to the party with Rafe's arms around my shoulders, "Saige would you be interested in this tasty Milwaukee beverage?" JJ pushes the cup toward me. "no...thanks, I'm fine Jay" forcing a smile, "Come on you're 18, is it not fancy enough for you, how about you Sarah" pushing the cup even further towards me and then over to Sarah. "No it's not th-" I managed to get out before, "She said no bitch" Rafe moved in front of me, "you know what I'll take it," Topper said moving in front of everyone "That's great Topper but I didn't think I asked you, now maybe if you said please" JJ smirking "oh okay pretty please, pretty please," Topper said pushing the cup toward JJ, the sticky beverage going everywhere. 

JJ lunged at Topper trying to start with him, but John B got in the middle of them. "Dirty pouges" Topper spat, putting my hand over my mouth and moving behind Rafe, John B now starting a fight with Topper, "We're supposed to be incognito" I hear Pope speak up from behind them. Topper comes full force punching John B across the face, now all that could be heard was "fight fight fight" throughout the crowd.
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Topper held John B by the back of his neck pushing his face into the water and not letting go, "Topper let go" Sarah cries out, "Rafe do something" I say nudging his arm "Saige they were harassing you" he looks down at me, making me look back at Topper. The safety of a gun being turned off was the next thing I heard before the crowd disappears.

"You know what that is, it's your move broski" JJ spoke holding a gun to Topper's head. "JJ put the gun down" I yell out "Did you say something princess," Rafe's grip tightens on me as JJ pushes the gun harder onto Topper's head "Kie can you check your psycho friend please" Sarah yells moving in front of me. "Okay okay we're good, it's all good" Topper finally let go, putting his hands up. "Get the hell off our side of the island!!" JJ fires two gunshots.

My mind went foggy and my hearing went in and out, I felt someone throw me over their shoulder and run off the beach, with me gazing behind seeing JJ and Pope pushing each other around.
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"Saige, SAAIIIGE, SAIGE!" my eyes flutter open "Are you okay sweet girl" Rafe was standing in front of me, his hands on either side of my head, I was on the back of his dirt bike. "I don't know what happened" I gaze up at him, "Here I need to put this on you" he puts the helmet gently over my head clipping the chin straps, while he goes without one.

The wind is messing up my hair, my arms are around Rafe's waist, and he's going so fast that it feels cold. "Where are you taking me?" squeezing tighter "Home, but I can pick you up later," he says.

Waving at Rafe backing out of my long driveway, I step through my front door to notice my dad in the kitchen, "hey sweetie" he opened up his arms, "Hey dad, I missed you..so much" clinging onto him due to past events.

Moisture fills up my bathroom, as I step out of the shower and into my room. I pick out a pair of grey sweatpants and a black tank top to relax in since Rafe is picking me up in a couple of hours.
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I'm laying on my queen-sized bed watching Netflix when I hear my window being pushed open, and someone falling onto my floor. "JJ?" I ask jumping back, I get on the floor forcing him to sit up with my hands, when I look at him he has tears in his eyes and bruises all over him. "Jay what happened," I say softly, my lip starting to quiver already knowing, "My dad happened" his voice was hoarse it sounded like he'd been crying for hours.

"Oh JJ," I say while shutting my window, he's quiet. "Come on" opening up my comforter for him to climb into my bed, I get in on my side scooting closer to him. Holding him in my arms, and feeling him cry into my chest, "Shhh..." rubbing his back in circles "You're safe now it's okay". I finally hear light snoring "I'm so sorry you go through this" a tear sliding down my cheek as I whisper. JJ fell asleep next to me his comfort person.

Climbing out of my bed careful not to wake JJ up, I quickly pack a bag with my essentials and send a text to Rafe saying "I'm coming outside". Hopping on Rafe's bike we head to his house, while I'm hoping that JJ stays asleep.

Rafe comes out of the bathroom in just some plaid boxer shorts, I lift open the comforter for him to climb in as he scoots closer to me when he notices the tears that are stinging in my eyes, "what's wrong sweet girl, come here" he says with a pouty lip. I cry into his chest while he rubs my back in circles "Shhh...you're safe with me" The next thing I know, I fell asleep next to him my comfort person.
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Hope you guys enjoyed this.
I suck at writing but I'm trying to get better at it.

I think I might do some flashbacks in the next chapter to show why Rafe is Saige's comfort person, why Saige is JJ's comfort person, or why they find comfort in each other.