Bad Influence (Rafe Cameron)

Chapter 24

I step out of the Cameron's front door and refuse to look back. Tears are streaming freely from my eyes and down my cheeks as I take the long way back to my house. I don't care how broken I look to the people driving by. It's exactly how I feel. Broken.

I should've known it was too good to be true. Rafe Cameron falling for the poor orphan cousin of his best friend. How could I have been so naive?

By the time I get to my house the tears have stopped and an overwhelming feeling of nothingness fills my body. I'm so numb I can barely open the door and step inside without falling flat on my face.

I hear the sound of the refrigerator door shutting in the kitchen and I internally curse at my luck. I try to slip by unnoticed by whoever's in there, not even risking a turn of my head to look.

I'm almost in the clear when I hear a plate drop and I turn quickly to see Topper standing there awkwardly.

"Uh hey Claire," he says, shock evident on his face.

"Hey Top," I say, but my voice cracks on the last word and I know he hears it when he sets down everything he is doing and walks over to me.

"What's wrong?" He asks softly, like he doesn't want to upset me anymore than I already am.

"Well I was just at Rafe's house and-" I stop, and suddenly I'm not so sure about whether I should tell Topper the truth or not.

"And well, we just decided it was best to end things today," I finish quickly.

Topper narrows his eyes at me and I stare back, waiting for him to finish whatever inspection he's deciding to take of me.

Finally he looks away and nods his head.

"I always told you he was trouble."

I look down at my feet and can't help but smile slightly to myself, thinking back to the first time I met Rafe and the words of caution Top gave to me afterwards.

"Yeah, you did Top. And I seem to have found myself regretting my decision not to listen to you everyday since then."

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Rafe's POV:

I've never felt a feeling quite like this before. This feeling of pain so agonizing all I can do is lay on my side in bed and stare at the wall with tears running down my face. All I can see is the look of pain and betrayal when I told her it was a bet.

It was all a bet.

It wasn't all a bet. Not to me. Not to her. Not to anyone but Kelce. Although it was to me at first, it didn't take long to realize she's worth more than a couple hundred bucks.

So why didn't I call off the bet?

Money. I'm an idiot and I needed money for drugs. And I thought I could get away with just never telling her but she deserved to know. She deserves to know. And I'm happy I told her. She can do so much better than me. So much better.

Than why does it hurt so bad knowing she's better off without you?

I finally push myself out of bed. Sitting here and crying like a baby won't do anything. I need to get up and do something, and I know exactly what.

I sprint out of my room and down the stairs to the front door, ignoring Rose's calls from the kitchen asking where I'm going.

I walk over to my only escape or source of distraction. My bike.