Summer night (discontinued)

After the storm, Chapter two ── ✿

𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

The first light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Coraline stirred, slowly waking up to the sound of rain gently tapping against the window. The remnants of Hurricane Agatha were still evident, but the worst had passed. She turned over, finding herself nestled in the warmth of Rafe's arms.

Rafe was still asleep, his breathing steady and calm. Coraline took a moment to study his face, tracing the lines of his jaw with her eyes. Despite the storm outside, she felt a sense of safety being with him. She carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him, and tiptoed to the window. Pulling back the curtain slightly, she peered outside. The streets were littered with debris, and the trees swayed gently in the aftermath of the storm.

She sighed, thinking about her own house and the damage it might have sustained. The thought of returning there filled her with dread. She turned back to the room, her eyes landing on Rafe's surfboard propped against the wall. It reminded her of the carefree days they spent at the beach, far removed from the chaos of the storm.

Rafe stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "Morning," Coraline replied, forcing a smile. "Did you sleep well?" "Yeah, surprisingly," he said, sitting up and stretching. "How about you?" "Better than I would have at home," she admitted. "Thanks for letting me stay." "Of course," Rafe said, his expression softening. "You know you're always welcome here."

Coraline nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside him. "I should probably check on my house soon," she said, her voice tinged with worry. Rafe reached out, taking her hand in his. "We'll go together," he assured her. "But first, let's get some breakfast. I think we both need it." She smiled, feeling a bit of the tension ease. "That sounds good."

They got up and made their way to the kitchen. The power was still out, but Rafe managed to find some bread and peanut butter. They sat at the table, eating in comfortable silence. After a few moments, Rafe broke the silence. "Coco, about yesterday..." he began, his voice hesitant.

"I'm really sorry for how I acted. I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me, and I definitely shouldn't have taken it out on you." Coraline looked up from her plate, meeting his eyes. She could see the sincerity in his expression. "Rafe, I was scared," she admitted softly. "I didn't know what to do."

"I know," he said, reaching across the table to take her hand. "I never want to make you feel that way again. I promise I'll do better. You mean too much to me." She squeezed his hand, feeling a tear slip down her cheek. "Thank you, Rafe. I just want us to be okay."

"We will be," he assured her, his grip firm and comforting. "We'll get through this together." They sat there for a moment, holding hands, and finding solace in each other's presence. Despite the storm outside and the challenges ahead, they knew they had each other. She couldn't help but forgot all of their problems. It was like she was with the Rafe who she started to fall for.

Coraline took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Rafe, I think you need help. With the drugs. It's not just about us—it's about you, too." Rafe's expression shifted, a mix of guilt and defensiveness crossing his face. Before he could respond, the door to the kitchen creaked open, and Sarah walked in, rubbing her eyes. "Morning, you two," she said, her voice still groggy.

She paused, noticing the serious expressions on their faces. "Everything okay?" Coraline quickly wiped her tear away and smiled at her best friend. "Yeah, we're good. Just talking about the storm."

Rafe stood up abruptly, avoiding Sarah's curious gaze. "I need some air," he muttered, leaving the room before either of them could say anything. Sarah nodded, grabbing a piece of bread and joining Coraline at the table. "I'm glad you stayed here last night, Cora. It was pretty rough out there."