Blue | Rafe Cameron

xxxv

"Rafe."

His name tears from my lungs, tears from somewhere deep inside of me- uncontrolled, unwilling, and yet so perfectly sure. As if the second I saw the vast ocean of blue, the second I felt that magnetic force lock into place, the second I saw him- it was as if I could finally, finally breathe.

He was here- and he looked like he had fought like hell to get here too, to get to me.

"Aurora," Rafe sighs, his body physically caving in with relief as he sees me and the way my name sounds on his lips is like a prayer, like he would chant and worship and devote himself at my altar if he could as if he was completely and wholly mine.

Something eases in my chest at the sight of him, my body shaking as his weary eyes trace over my appearance, and I see pain shine in them at the sight- the dishevelled hair, the red, puffy eyes, and the way that every single atom of my being was dancing on the edge of a cliff.

There's such deadly silence as we stare at each other, such deadly silence as Rafe's face physically falls, his shadowed gaze moving from me to the room- to the white floor and walls, to the wires and machines, to the man who he had come with me to see weeks ago, hanging on by a bare thread.

I could see the helplessness in his eyes, the reality that this was not something he could protect me from, save me from, no matter how badly he wished he could. This was like a storm, a cancer, a war- you couldn't fight it, you just had to endure.

"What the hell?"

Something squeezed painfully in my heart at the words, as reality came barrelling down around me, the realisation that the truth I had been avoiding for so long, prolonging for so long, was finally about to come out.

Rafe's mouth pursed into a thin line, staying unnaturally still and silent as I moved my gaze across the room, across the bewildered faces of my friends- they looked almost scared as they stared firmly back at me.

"Sarah, talk to me," John B muttered lowly, his dark brow furrowed as he faced Sarah, trying to gain her attention, but she didn't even blink at his words. No, she was staring at Rafe, glaring at Rafe, as if this was a betrayal and mistake, she could not forgive. "Sarah?"

I clenched my shaking hands as I followed her gaze, back to where it always wound up, back to where I couldn't help but be drawn to. Rafe stood on the threshold of the door, stood- waiting and patient like he would come in or leave the second I said so.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Rafe?" JJ hissed, stones in his eyes as he stalked forward and planted himself in front of me, like a wall, a guard, a barrier that severed the connection between me and Rafe. "Don't even think about starting shit right now-"

"Don't be an idiot, Maybank," Rafe scoffed, venom in his voice and from the way JJ stood, how rigid his back was I could imagine the hatred shining in both their eyes. "I didn't come here for this; I didn't fucking come here for you."

"Then why the fuck are you here?" JJ growled, and I hadn't heard him so angry before. I exhaled harshly as JJ stepped forward, violence lining every inch of him, but Rafe didn't move- I could feel the anticipation of a fight vibrating through the air, but Rafe didn't move. "You're not welcome here, ever."

"That's not for you to decide," Rafe grits out, teeth clenched. I gnaw on my lip as all my friends instinctively step closer, like a pack around Rafe, waiting to strike if needed and it made my entire body hurt. "Seriously, just back off, man-"

"What the fuck is going on?" Kiara huffed, exasperation lining her tight face as she glared at Rafe and JJ, her brown eyes wide as she turned them expectantly to me, "Rory, I can call security and kick anyone you want out- you shouldn't have to deal with this right now."