Rafe Cameron Imagines

i should hate you, but i can't

Rafe Cameron.

There were no words to describe what you felt for the boy.

Love? Adoration? Hate? Disgust?

It was a multitude of things all stacked against each other, each battling to come out on top. He was rude, he was a junkie, he couldn't stop picking fights to save his life, he belittled everyone around him, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.

So then, why were you so attracted to him?

Maybe it was your very poor taste in men? Or yo were just unfortunate enough to be attracted to the bad guys? The possibilities were endless.

Rafe knew how much of a crush you had on him. He used every single opportunity to point it out when you would find yourself alone in his presence. Especially at the parties he would host.

You never wanted to give him the satisfaction of seeing you too much, but his parties were legendary on the whole island and your friends never missed one. You couldn't allow yourself to be the only one who wouldn't go, it would be too obvious.

That's how you found yourself in the kitchen of Tannyhill, trying to find a bottle of vodka to refill your cup. 

Kooks were dancing all around you, grinding against each other, spilling their drinks all over themselves and not having a care in the world. Typical for every party held on Figure 8.

You were desperately trying not to bump into anyone, quickly finding your way towards the alcohol counter.

"Where the fuck is it?" you mumbled to yourself, not seeing the bottle anywhere on the tray.

"Looking for something?" a voice called out from behind you. More specifically, his voice.

You rolled your eyes before turning around, your eyes landing on the man of the house himself, Rafe Cameron.

Eyebrows raised, a taunting smile on his face looking back at you, the alcohol bottle you had eagerly been searching for right in his hands.

"What's it to you?" you crossed your arms, resting your back against the counter.

"Given that you are snooping around in my house, I would say I deserve to know what you were searching for so desperately, wouldn't you agree?" his tone was taunting, just like his whole personality. Living to make your life miserable.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn't deny that he was a tiny bit right. You had, after all, been snooping around his house searching for alcohol.

"I was looking for the vodka, had to get a refill and entertain myself somehow" you explained, tired of the conversation already.

"You should've just come to me and asked about it, sweetheart. You know I'd never deny you" he winked before handing you the bottle, departing right after that.

This was the interaction you always had with him. He would just come in, make fun of you in some way, proceed to sneakily try and flirt before just leaving.

It was an ongoing cycle with him.

One you never thought you'd participate in.

As the night rolled away, so did the alcohol into your system. It was well past midnight and you were having the time of your life, dancing with your friends and not having a care in the world.

The interruption came when a Kook, more specifically someone you couldn't stand being around, decided to just come up behind you and start dancing with you. 

"You've got some moves on you, baby" he whispered in your ear, his hands caressing and guiding your hips against his.

You tried to pry yourself out of his arms, but the hold he had on you made it impossible. He was holding onto your hips tightly, grinding into your behind. 

Rafe's eyes found you in the middle of the huge sea of people in his living room, his anger rapidly spreading through his body when he noticed how uncomfortable you looked. Downing the last remnants of his drink, he quickly made his way towards you.

"Let go of her" when you heard Rafe's voice, it was like hearing an angel. You had never been more grateful to be with him than you were in that moment.

"Get lost, dude, we're having fun" the Kook answered, gripping your hips even tighter now.

Even in your hazy state, you started pulling away from him, clawing at his hands to let you go. 

Before you could even register what was going on, you felt his hands being yanked off of you, and you saw Rafe hovering over the Kook, who was on the floor holding his bleeding nose.

"Don't ever touch her, or anyone, like that ever again, do you hear me?" you heard Rafe say, his voice dangerously low.

When the Kook nodded, Rafe turned around and took your hand, pulling you through the crowd and towards the back door. He slid open the door and you were met with fresh air, your brain starting to sober up a little.

"Are you okay?" Rafe asked, taking off his jacket and draping it over your shoulder when he noticed you shivering in just your dress.

You nodded, words not yet able to roll from your lips.

"Why did you do that?" you asked after spending some minutes in silence, your mind still hazy but almost completely sober now.

You had always been able to handle your alcohol pretty well, which many times came in handy. Especially now, when you were alone with Rafe Cameron in his backyard after he just saved you from a creep.

"What?" he asked.

"Why did you help me back there?" you specified, shuffling so you were closer to him.

He shrugged, kicking his feet. "Anyone would've done the same. Plus, I don't like guys who touch girls against their wills, and you clearly looked uncomfortable while he had his hands on your body" he explained further.

You stared at him, both of your eyes locked on the other. Maybe it was the alcohol still in your system that prompted your actions, or maybe you had just been suppressing it for far too long, but you found yourself kissing him, your hands gripping onto his shoulder and the hair at the back of his head.

He was stunned for a brief moment before he relaxed into the kiss, pulling you closer and holding your waist gently.

If anyone would have seen the two of you in that moment, they would have thought the world had gone crazy. You spent so many years hating each other, making fun and just picking on one another, you had never given second thought to the feeling bubbling in the pit of your stomach every time you would see each other, when your eyes would lock in a crowd of people.

When you pulled away to catch your breath, neither of you could help the big smile that was on your faces.

"What did we just do?" you asked, biting your lip.

"I think maybe we got tired of hating each other" he teased, holding you against his body.

"Oh, Rafe, as much as I wanted, I could never hate you" you said before leaning in again, not being able to get enough of his lips.

Oh, what a turn of events.