✰ 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲

☆ 𝐈𝐈

𝐓𝐘𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋, Rafe arranged a meet up and he was late.
Kie stands like an idiot on the beach, looking around for him, wondering why the fuck he was late.

Suddenly, she feels warm hands on her shoulders and whips around, her eyes landing on Rafe.

"You look better every time I see you, Kie." He says with a cocky grin, shamelessly checking her out. She scoffs. "What, not a fan of compliments?" Rafe asks with fake hurt, feigning surprise as he raises an eyebrow. The smirk on his face is clear proof of his teasing but his next words have a slightly darker edge to them. "You used to like them."

"Yeah, well, not off my crazy ex." Kie says, her voice sounding silightly dull. She kicks some grains of sand, drawing random patterns with her feet.

The smirk drops from his face instantly, his mouth thinning into a line. He tilts his head to one side ever so slightly.

"You calling me crazy?" He asks, tone dripping with false hurt again, but there's an unmistakable hint of annoyance in his voice. "You didn't seem to mind my insanity when we were together," He retorts, stepping closer and invading her personal space. He's much taller than her, easily towering over her as he looks down into her eyes. "In fact, I seem to remember you were fond of other things."

"Let's be completely honest Rafe, I was the only thing keeping you stable." Kie mutters calmly, stepping back a little.

That earns an honest scoff from him, and he runs a hand down his face, exasperated. His eyes narrow at the memory of certain instances, his temper flaring.

"You were also the reason I almost went off the deep end when you left, if I'm being honest," He snaps in return, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Maybe I should be thanking you for that, too."

The expression on his face is hard and closed, his shoulders drawn taut. There were countless nights where he would spend hours waiting for a text from her, a call, for her to show up suddenly outside his bedroom window. Anything that would imply she still wanted him.

"You made me care when I didn't want to," He continues, voice lowering into a murmur. "And then you disappeared like it meant nothing."

"You were controlling, Rafe." Kie reaches up to fidget with her necklace, a habit she has for when she's nervous. "You were manipulative, you were forcing me to stay with you."
It was true. Whenever she tried to have a break or something, he'd get on his knees and beg her to stay, saying how much she keeps him together, how his life would be nothing without her, how he'd become depressed and meaningless.

"And I stopped," He shoots back, his tone slightly defensive. He watches the way her hands move to her necklace, something he'd taken note of back when you were together. It's a nervous habit, and he's familiar with it, having had her in the palm of his hand.

"I didn't—" He cuts himself off, taking a deep breath as he averts his gaze, trying to get his emotions under control. "I did my best, and you still left." He mutters quietly.
He's trying not to get angry, but she has an almost infuriating ability to evoke his irrational side.

He pulls a hand out of his pocket, running it through his now-disheveled hair and heaving a sigh. He finally looks back up at her, his icy blue eyes slightly darker than before.
"So why are you here, Kie?" He asks tersely.

"Because.. because I thought you changed." Kie sighs, avoiding his gaze.

Something in his expression softens somewhat, and he lets out a humorless huff of a laughter, shaking his head. He looks away again, the anger draining out of his body and replaced by a strange mix of vulnerability and annoyance.