Kiara Carrera exhaled shakily as rain poured ferociously in the distance. She wasn't sure how she had ended up here. She had run back to her parents house to plead for help in rescuing the rest of the Pogues; but her parents were adamant. Kie shook her head as the memories flooded her brain, the wound of them raw and unflinching as a hot pepper. Alone and without her friends, Kiara found herself running from her "home" and didn't stop till she reached a familiar white mansion that she had spent half her time at during her Kook year. It wasn't like there were other Kook castles she could go to; yet this one called out to her like a sea siren.
Knowing it was now or never, Kie knocked on the door, the sound echoing the thunder in the sky.
She waited, her breath halting in her throat. There was a pause before Kiara heard the soft echo of footsteps. As the door swung open, Kiara's heart flipped and dropped like a rollercoaster.
"I swear to fucking God, Kie, if you're here to try to flirt with me to help those Pogue friends of yours, just turn around now before anything happens to you. Besides, I have a girlfriend." Rafe Cameron hissed.
Kiara was silent, feeling slightly offended and stupid. The emotions finally pooling over, she felt tears start to form in the corner of her hazel eyes.
It was then that Rafe looked her in the eyes and visibly shifted.
"Kie?" He questioned, and that was the final nudge Kie needed.
"I don't have anywhere else to go, and JJ, John B... Sarah... They're all..." She blurted, unable to stop herself from bursting into tears.
Rafe nodded and stepped close to her.
"I know. It's gonna be okay. Just- come inside."
Rafe's calmness had always unnerved her because it was so contrary to his true nature, and at that moment, it dawned on her.
"YOU KNOW?" She shrieked through her falling tears.
"YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND YOU JUST?!?" Rage replaced Kiara's grief and she punched Rafe square in the chest, and repeated it again and again until Rafe deftly pinned her wrists to her side, his gaze unwavering.
Exhausted and angry, she sank against Rafe's chest as he wrapped his arms around the small of her back.
"Yes, I do- and I'm going to help you- but you need to come inside. Besides, you can't do anything if you're sick with, like, pneumonia or some shit." He stated, clearly trying to diffuse the situation.
It worked as Kie sniffled, a soft smile forming on her face.
"Says the one who was so high off coke he tried to drown his own sister." She retorted, unable to stop herself.
Rafe flinched at her words, and dropped his hands. Kiara bit her lip. She had a tendency to go too far and her words had clearly cut deep.
"I'm sorry." She added, trying to save the conversation.
Rafe just shook his head.
"No, you're not- but it's okay- you're just stating the truth- I can't fault you for that."
Kie opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head once more. She nodded. Despite everything, communication was the one thing that had remained strong with them.
"Come on, then. To new beginnings." Rafe murmured, extending his hand.
Kiara took it immediately, a grin bursting on her face. She was pleasantly surprised to catch just a hint of one on Rafe's own lips as he swung open the door and she was inside the foyer. She had spent plenty of time at the Cameron's, yet it felt like she was seeing the sprawling mansion for the first time. Kiara couldn't help but feel painfully aware of how small she was- and she wondered if Rafe felt that way, and she suddenly comprehended how such a big house could also feel stifling.
