32: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘑 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨

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The car doors closed one after the other with a loud thud. Her head hit the headrest of the leather seat and it was difficult for her to breathe, making it even harder to swallow down the stress that was rushing through her. She breathed in, closing her eyes to escape the sight of the Château when she felt Rafe turn the car around and drive back onto the road. She listened in silence as the car tires rolled over the hard asphalt, rushing past all sorts of streets and houses, which she saw when she opened her eyes again with a sigh.

Rafe glanced over at her briefly, before pressing the button on his door side to lower her window a little, allowing her to think more clearly as the cold night air hit her lungs.

She gave him a weak smile of thanks and looked through the rearview mirror at Sarah, who was sitting in the back seat.

She didn't know what to say or if she should say anything at all, only the fact that Sarah hadn't made a stupid decision brought her relief. And yet something tugged at her heart, her throat feeling like a wire being tightened around her neck to cut off her voice.

„Can you two maybe not pretend like I'm not here, I know I deserve the silent treatment but I can't stand it" Sarah finally broke through the silence in the car.

„You owe me a hell of a lot for this" Alice turned in the passenger seat to look at her. „I hope you had fun hanging out with JJ and Kiara, great people, right?"

„Well, Kiara's a bitch, but JJ was...actually really sweet to me" She shrugged.

Rafe's gaze shot up to the rearview mirror to look at her, but he said nothing and continued to listen to their conversation in silence.

At least for now.

„It's JJ, he's sweet to every girl, starts something and then moves on to the next one" Alice turned to the front again, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

„But it seems like he hasn't moved on from you yet" Sarah chuckled, making Alice frown. „He seemed sad about everything that happened. He asked me about you, how you're doing and told me that he's...really sorry"

„Sorry for not keeping his fucking dick controlled?" Rafe broke through the restraint he could no longer bear.

Alice's eyes darted over to him. The hand with which he was steering the car tensed, causing the veins leading to his wrist to pump and he kept his eyes stubbornly on the road ahead.

„Since when do you care?" Sarah sassed.

„The fuck you mean since when do I care, just because you're a cheater yourself now, you're suddenly on his side?" He shot right back.

„Rafe, come on, don't-„ Alice felt the two of them stressing her out even more.

„No, she needs to stop being such a bitch all the time and watch what she says" He hit the steering wheel harshly, silencing her, before looking at Sarah trough the rearview mirror. „It's the middle of the night, yet Alice comes all the way to that fucking shabby Pogue camp just to pick you up from your little cheating trip and all you're talking about is how her ex asked about her and how he's soo sorry-not even a thanks for coming-so shut up back there if you don't have anything better to say"

The echo of his words faded and brought a silence to the car, as if there weren't three people currently sitting in it.

Alice didn't dare look at Sarah, nor at him, or anywhere else except straight ahead as she sank into her seat. She crossed her arms in front of her and pulled her lips into a line. Just to avoid even thinking about saying something now. In the corner of her eye she saw him glance at her, not getting anything in return as he let out an audible exhale trough his seething anger.

„Hey, Alice?" Sarah's voice cracked through the car after a few minutes of silence.

„Yeah, Sarah?"

„Thank you for coming when I called" She said sheepishly. With a sigh, Alice nodded and rubbed her eyes. „Always, but call a little earlier next time, I'm damn tired"

Sarah laughed lightly and leaned forward, letting her chin rest on Alice's seat. It didn't matter what happened between them, they would probably always love each other like sisters, but when Alice glanced briefly at Rafe, who didn't say anything the entire drive back to Figure Eigth, she wondered if it would stay that way if she ever tells her about her little secret.

„I'll drive Alice home, just so you know" He turned onto the road to Tannyhill to bring Sarah home first.

„You gonna come home when you drop her off?"

With a sigh, he thought silently and pulled into the driveway, stopping right behind his father's car. „I don't know yet"

„Wheezie's been asking about you," Sarah's voice was accompanied by a certain sorrow. „and wondering why you're not coming home, so at least-I don't know-call her or something"

Nodding, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, holding back his words.

Sarah grabbed her bag and unbuckled her belt.„Rafe?" She stopped before opening the door to get out.

„Hm?" He hummed questioningly.

„Please don't give me reasons to worry about you, okay?"

„Okay." He nodded again and got a shallow smile from her before she hopped out of his car and he backed out of the driveway.

As soon as the house was out of sight he let his head fall against the headrest and rubbed the back of his neck in frustration.

„You okay?" She asked him.

Rafe glanced over at her and plastered on a thin smile, bringing his hand back to the steering wheel and nodding.

„Good" She brought her hand to the back of his head and gently stroked it as he drove down the street. „Thank you for being my chauffeur tonight" She added with a sweet giggle.

„You owe me now" He chuckled, breathing contentedly at the feeling of her hand brushing trough the shorter hair on the back of his head.

She kept her smile as she watched him. He looked more relaxed, not as tense as he had been a few minutes ago. And yet he seemed quite thoughtful to her.

„You thinking about the JJ thing?" She asked hesitantly.

„You mean him still wanting you and asking about you?" He asked with mock surprise. „Nah, I'm totally okay with that"

She laughed and shook her head, pulling her hand away from him. „I didn't know you could be so jealous, Cameron"

Sighing, he shrugged and took her hand in his, his fingers laced with hers and resting on the center console. There were little things about him that surprised and fascinated her at the same time, he never seemed like the type of person to crave physical touch.

„Just do me one favor" She stroked the skin of his hand with her thumb. „Please apologize to Sarah for yelling earlier"

„No chance." He immediately shook his head.

„Come on, Rafe"

„No, why should I?" He turned onto the street to her house.

„Because you mean something to her, and I know she means something to you too, and she's probably struggling with enough already, so show her that you're there for her"

Rafe looked at her with a sigh, a small grin tugging on his lips. „What do I get if I do it?"

„A better sibling bond, something you two definitely need" She shot back, certainly not what he wanted to hear.

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