𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

πενήντα ; 50

song of the chapter:
TEK IT ; cafuné

Rafe and Margarita exchanged a look as the chaos at the beach party erupted around them. Topper and John B's scuffle in the sand had drawn a crowd, but neither Rafe nor Margarita wanted to stick around to watch it escalate.

"We should go," Rafe said softly, his hand finding hers as he pulled her away from the fray.

Margarita nodded in agreement, relieved to escape the tension. They walked together away from the noise, the warmth of his hand in hers grounding her.

Once they were far enough from the party, Rafe pulled out a pair of AirPods, handing one to her with a grin. "How about we make our own vibe?"

She smiled, taking one and popping it into her ear. He tapped play on a random playlist, and soon the mellow beat of a familiar song floated between them. With the world reduced to just the two of them and the music, the stress of the night seemed to melt away.

They walked in sync, hand in hand, the cool night air brushing against their skin. Every few songs, Rafe would twirl her, her laughter ringing out into the quiet night. Margarita would point at him during the chorus of a song, both of them mouthing the lyrics and laughing as they sang to each other.

The world outside the music and their shared rhythm felt distant, almost forgotten. As they walked, Margarita could feel the peace return to her heart, the earlier tension dissolving with every step. With Rafe beside her, the past few weeks, the party drama, and even the unspoken worries that had weighed on her felt smaller, manageable.

They weren't perfect, but right now, they didn't need to be. They were in sync, moving to the same beat, hand in hand, carving out their own sanctuary in the night.

They didn't know where they were going, but they knew it wasn't home. The night stretched out before them, quiet and uninterrupted except for the music that still buzzed between them through their shared AirPods. Rafe's hand stayed firmly clasped around Margarita's as he led her through the tall, wild grass, the sound of their footsteps soft against the earth.

"Where are we even going?" Margarita asked, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she squeezed his hand.

Rafe grinned back, his eyes flicking over to her. "You'll see."

He pulled her along, the tall grass brushing against their legs until they reached a small hill, bathed in moonlight. The hill was blanketed in a sea of wildflowers—pink, white, and yellow petals swaying gently in the evening breeze. It looked untouched, like a secret hidden away from the rest of the world.

Margarita's breath caught in her throat as she took in the view, the simple beauty of it hitting her harder than she expected. She hadn't even realized how much she needed a moment like this, a brief escape from everything that had been weighing her down.

Rafe dropped her hand for a moment, stepping ahead of her and turning around, arms outstretched, the faintest of smiles tugging at the corners of his lips. "What do you think?"

She laughed softly, stepping toward him, her fingers brushing over the petals as she walked. "It's perfect."

Without another word, she sank down into the sea of flowers, pulling him with her. They lay back on the soft hill, staring up at the night sky, dotted with stars. The music still played faintly in their ears, but for a moment, it felt like everything had fallen silent, the world narrowing down to just them and the flowers.

Rafe shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her, his thumb gently stroking her arm. Margarita leaned into him, resting her head on his chest as they both gazed up at the stars, their breathing in sync.

Neither of them spoke for a long while. They didn't need to.

Looking up at him from his chest, Margarita shifted, rolling over so that she was now sitting on top of him, her legs straddling his waist as he instinctively sat up, his hands resting gently on her hips. The cool breeze swept through the wildflowers around them, the scent of the night air mixing with the faint music still playing in their ears.

Rafe looked up at her, his eyes soft but curious, as if waiting for her to say something. She let out a small breath, her fingers playing with the edge of his hoodie before she let her hands rest on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms.

"You always surprise me," she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of emotions she hadn't fully expressed.

Rafe raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Good surprises, I hope?"

Margarita smirked, running her fingers through his hair before gently tugging at it. "Sometimes. But tonight..." She paused, her gaze locking with his, "Tonight, it's a good one."

Rafe's hands moved from her hips to her lower back, pulling her a little closer. "I'm glad," he whispered, his voice low. "You deserve good."

Margarita smiled, her heart pounding a little harder as she leaned in, her forehead resting against his. They stayed like that for a moment, the world around them feeling smaller, more intimate. The music in the background faded, the night growing quieter, and it was just them in that moment, in the stillness of the night.

Without saying another word, Margarita leaned in further, closing the distance between them, her lips brushing against his in a slow, soft kiss that held the quiet promise of everything they were feeling. Rafe kissed her back gently, his hands tracing her spine, pulling her even closer, as if he couldn't get enough of the connection between them.

As they pulled away slightly, Margarita laughed softly, her forehead still resting against his. "So, where do we go from here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rafe grinned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Wherever you want."

Margarita let his words hang in the air, her voice soft but filled with a certainty she hadn't quite expressed before. "What if I want you?" she asked, her eyes searching his, her fingers tracing the outline of his jaw as she spoke.

Rafe's expression softened, his gaze locking with hers. For a moment, he didn't respond, his chest rising and falling as he took in her words. His hands moved up to cup her face gently, his thumb brushing her cheek.

"Then I'm yours," he whispered, the sincerity in his voice clear. There was no hesitation, no games. Just him, offering himself to her completely.

Margarita felt her heart skip a beat at his words, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't know what to say, so instead, she leaned in again, pressing her lips to his in a deeper kiss, this one filled with all the emotions she hadn't been able to put into words.

Rafe kissed her back with the same intensity, his hands tangling in her hair as he pulled her closer. It was as if everything they had been through—the ups, the downs, the doubts—faded away in that moment, leaving only the two of them and the undeniable connection they shared.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Rafe rested his forehead against hers, his hands still holding her close. "You don't have to worry," he murmured, his voice low but steady. "I'm not going anywhere."

Margarita smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. "Good," she whispered, brushing her nose against his. "Because I'm not letting you go."

--- end of chapter