ROT WITH ME

xxiv - again

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
(TWO YEARS LATER)

Autumn. June tumbled down the steps, her feet skipping every other one and landing on the next as her hand dragged along the railing to balance herself. She hoped that the obnoxious clacking the heels of her Oxfords drew out would slow down the closing doors. But unsurprisingly, her urgency cannot defy time. And so, when she reached the doors, they pinched shut. Her hand pressing against the window.

Her heartbeat quickened. Not only has she missed her train, and a job opportunity, but also a boy inside the carriage was staring down at her. His eyes widened. Without meaning to, she mirrored his expression. Dark brown eyes and fluffy chestnut brown hair are both common features but she can tell that they are his. It's unmistakably him.

His hand lifted, aligning with her own.

Her heart swelled in her chest.

The glass isn't the only thing keeping them apart.

She saw the shape of her name on his tongue.

June pressed her hand harder into the glass.

His round gaze raking over her. She'd cut her hair, he noted.

Cool air whirled around her. She shuddered. Feeling like the trajectory of her life had turned in a completely different direction. Up until that point, she thought she'd known what she was. But as it seems, a glimpse of Rafe could very well spin her world on its axis.

The logical thing to do was drowned out by the background noise of a train station. People were talking and she could just about make out the announcements coming from inside the train's speakers up above.

When the train started moving slowly, she grew panicked. Side-stepping to keep up. Eyes searching for a way in. To no avail. Rafe just stared. His posture frozen. He briefly embodied everything she could see. But she forced herself to acknowledge the girl he had tucked in the nook of his neck.

And as if the heat of his hand through the glass had singed her, she jerked back.

His hand still in place.

And she doesn't know if she imagined it or not, but she swore a flicker of guilt had crossed his eyes. Unsure if the gesture was because she'd found him with another girl or because he was staring at June like he had years ago. Like she were his.

Stupid Rafe.

The train left the following moment, and he vanished completely. Leaving June alone on the platform. Shriveled into a blur of memories. They were strangers. Again.

Later that night, Rafe ended things with his new girlfriend.