A flicker of hope in the darkness - Rafe Cameron

Red mornings

The next few weeks were incredible, filled with nothing but fun and good times. I spent most of my days hanging ouy with Kelce, Sarah, and Topper. We went to parties, danced the nights away, and managed to avoid any drama, drugs, or run-ins with Rafe.

Kelce and I were practically inseparable, we had sex all the time. Like literally every day. But today, that streak came to an abrupt halt.

This morning, I woke up next to Kelce again, just like every other day recently. It was almost as if I had practically moved in. As I stirred awake, the sun peeking through the curtains, I felt a familiar but unwelcome sensation. Glancing down, I noticed a red stain on the sheets. 

Embarrassment washed over me. I tried to slip out of bed quietly, hoping Kelce wouldn't wake up and notice. But he stirred, his eyes fluttering open. I froze, caught in the act. 

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep. I hesitated, then pointed to the stain. "I...I started my period," I mumbled, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Kelce looked at the sheets and then back at me. To my surprise, he just smiled softly. "Hey, it's no big deal," he said, pulling me into a reassuring hug. "We'll go to the store."

...An hour later...

Kelce was incredibly supportive as we navigated the store aisles, picking out pads, tampons and pain relief medication. Despite my discomfort, his presence made me feel a bit better. Once we got home, he insisted I lie down while he prepared some tea and brought a hot water bottle.

I curled up on the couch. As I sipped the tea, he sat beside me, rubbing my back gently to ease the cramps. It wasn't working, I needed something stronger. Kelce noticed my discomfort and gently asked, "Are you okay? Do you need anything else?"

I swallowed hard, feeling conflicted. It had been almost three weeks since I last used. "Yeah, I'm fine." I lied "But I think I should go home, it's been a while."

Kelce drove me home and kissed we kissed goobye. I went inside mumbled a hey to Barry and collapsed onto my bed. My cramps were really bad like I was going to die. In a moment of weakness, I reached for the familiar stash hidden in the drawer, hands trembling.

Just as the numbness began to seep in, a knock echoed through the trailer. Startled, I froze, heart pounding in my chest. "Y/n?" Kelce's voice called softly from the other side. "It's me. Open up." I hesitated. I unlocked the door, avoiding his gaze as he entered. "You forgot your phone again." He laughed. I met his gaze and he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Y/n, why?" His voice held a mixture of hurt and frustration. "I...I'm sorry," I stammered. 

"The pain was too much and by the end of the day I'm still and always be a drugs addict," I said. "I thought you were doing better," Kelce said quietly. "I was."

Kelce gave me my phone and turned around to leave. "Oh yeah, why don't you just leave?" I said angry. Kelce stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned around to face me. "You know that's not what I want," Kelce replied. "But I can't help you if you won't help youself."

"You don't understand," I snapped, "You can't fix everything." Kelce just stood there. "I'm gonna let you do your thing." He said as he turned and left. "Go fuck yourself!" I yelled. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Sarah: Party at Topper's tonight. You should come.

A distraction. It was exactly what I needed, or so I told myself. I got up, rummaging through my drawer for one more line of coke to numb the lingering pain. I quickly dressed, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. I forced a smile and headed out the door.

The walk to Topper's house was a blur, my mind already hazy from the drugs. The music thumped loudly as I approached, the bass reverberating through my body. Once inside, I was swept into the chaos of the party. I drank heavily, downing shot after shot, and did more lines in the bathroom.

As I stumbled back into the crowded living room, I caught sight of Kelce in the corner, his eyes following me with a worried expression. He didn't approach, though. Instead, he turned away when Topper came up to him, asking what was wrong. "We got into a fight," I heard Kelce say, his voice tight. I brushed past them, heading to the dance floor where the music was loudest. I danced recklessly, losing myself in the rhythm. At some point, I bumped into Rafe. We both staggered, almost falling.

"Sorry," I mumbled, laughing. Rafe grinned back, equally wasted. "It's cool," he slurred. Our eyes met, and in my intoxicated state, I leaned in and kissed him. It was impulsive, fueled by the drugs and alcohol coursing through my veins. 

Suddenly, there was a commotion. Kelce had seen the kiss, and fury flashed across his face. He stormed over, shoving Rafe hard. "What the hell, man!" Kelce shouted.

Rafe barely had time to react before Kelce's fist connected with his jaw. The room erupted into chaos as they fought, people shouting and trying to pull them apart. I stood there, frozen, watching the scene unfold.

Realizing the mess Id caused, I panicked and bolted out of the house, my heart pounding in my chest. I ran blindly down the street, the cool night air doing little to sober me up. Tears blurred my vision as I kept running, not knowing where to go or what to do.

🎬

A/n: This is where it all begins, just wait.

WC: 960