Rogue | outer banks

006 - Nothing More

As I entered my room, I was surprised to find Rafe sitting on my bed. Closing the door behind me, I couldn't help but release a weary sigh before meeting his gaze.

"How's Wheeze?" Rafe's voice broke the silence, his concern evident in his tone.

"She's okay," I replied softly, relieved that Wheezie was resting after her bout of sickness.

I had made sure she had everything she needed before leaving her to rest, hoping she would feel better soon.

"So you went out with her?" Rafe's question hung in the air, his tone neutral but tinged with a hint of curiosity.

"No, Topper invited me to the Beach Cleaning day," I explained simply, feeling the weight of the unspoken tension between us.

Neither of us had moved from our positions, and the atmosphere in the room felt charged, heavy with unresolved emotions. It was unsettling how calm and normal our conversation seemed, masking the underlying tension that simmered beneath the surface.

"And you actually went?" Rafe's question caught me off guard, his surprise evident in his tone.

"Is this an interrogation?" I countered, feeling a hint of defensiveness creeping into my voice.

Rafe's lips twitched into a small smile, barely visible but enough to soften the intensity of his gaze. "I'm just trying to figure out what you're doing here," he replied, his voice calm.

"If I remember correctly, I deserve to be here just as much as you do," I retorted, cocking my head slightly to the side.

"Ah, yes," Rafe nodded in acknowledgment, his tone laced with mock sarcasm. "With being family and all," he added, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his jest.

I made my way towards the bed, feeling Rafe's intense stare burning into me. I ignored the tingling feeling in my stomach and settled onto the bed, my back resting against the headboard. To my surprise, Rafe mirrored my actions, positioning himself close to me, so close that our shoulders almost touched. The air between us suddenly felt charged, making it difficult to draw in a deep breath.

"Are you planning Ward Cameron's downfall?" Rafe's question broke the silence that had settled between us.

I couldn't help but chuckle in surprise, turning my head towards him with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, but there was a playful glint in his eyes that I couldn't ignore.

As I met his gaze, I couldn't deny the flutter of emotions swirling within me. Rafe's presence was undeniably captivating, and I found myself drawn to his enigmatic nature. Despite our history, there was an undeniable connection between us that I couldn't ignore.

"Are you going to rat me out?" I asked with a smile, but the whole conversation felt weird.

Maybe it was the alcohol that was still lingering in my system or maybe something else, but I didn't expect us to be like this. I thought we'd scream at each other, hurt each other, not sit on the bed and speak like human beings.

Rafe's response was solemn as he shook his head slightly, his attention drifting away. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, studying his features intently, the lines of his strong jaw etched with tension.

"But I need you to stop trying to save me," Rafe's words cut through the air like a knife, piercing through the fragile façade I had built around my emotions.

Instantly, my smile faded, and I averted my gaze, focusing on some nondescript point in the room.

"I can't," I whispered softly, feeling the weight of his request bearing down on me like a crushing weight. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let them fall.