𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

εβδομήνταέξι ; 76

song of the chapter:
FALSE PROPHETS ; j. cole

The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow across the Outer Banks. Margarita stood at the edge of the marina, staring out at the water as the sky shifted into hues of pink and orange. The peacefulness of the scene was in stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions she had been feeling lately.

Everything had changed after that kiss with JJ. It had been days since it happened, and the memory of it lingered in her mind like a secret she couldn't shake. They hadn't talked about it since, both of them slipping back into their usual routine, acting like nothing was different. But it was. She could feel it in the way his eyes lingered on her when he thought she wasn't looking, the way their hands would brush, and the way her heart would race every time she was near him.

She hadn't expected this. After everything with Rafe, the last thing she had wanted was to get tangled up in something complicated. But with JJ, it wasn't complicated—it was easy, natural. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit.

She sighed, shoving her hands into the pockets of her hoodie as the wind picked up, the salty breeze tugging at her hair. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced down at the screen, her stomach twisting when she saw the name.

Rafe.

She hesitated for a second before swiping open the message. She hadn't heard from him since that night, the night she'd told him she needed space, the night he'd left her standing alone in her room.

We need to talk.

That was all the message said. Short, simple, and completely unlike Rafe. She could practically feel the tension behind those four words, the weight of everything unsaid between them. She had tried to put him behind her, to move on, but seeing that message felt like a punch to the gut.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, her heart racing as she debated whether to respond. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to keep walking forward and not look back. But the other part of her—the part that still cared, still worried about him despite everything—couldn't just let it go.

Before she could think too much about it, she typed out a reply.

What is there to talk about?

She stared at the screen, her chest tight as she waited for the response. It came almost immediately.

I need to see you.

Her stomach flipped. She wasn't sure what he wanted, but whatever it was, it wouldn't be simple. It never was with Rafe.

Just then, her phone buzzed again. Another message, but this one wasn't from Rafe.

Jayj
You at the marina?
I'm headed that way.

Margarita felt a wave of relief wash over her. JJ had a way of grounding her, making her feel like things weren't as overwhelming as they seemed. She needed that right now. She quickly typed back.

yeah, im here. see you soon?

As she slipped her phone back into her pocket, she let out a shaky breath. She wasn't ready to deal with Rafe yet. Not now, not when things were finally starting to feel okay again. But deep down, she knew she couldn't avoid him forever.

Minutes later, she heard footsteps approaching behind her. She turned to see JJ, his familiar grin in place as he walked up to her, his hands shoved into his pockets. His presence instantly calmed the storm in her mind.

"Hey, Mags," he said, his voice light but with that underlying warmth she was starting to crave.

"Hey," she replied, trying to push the weight of Rafe's message to the back of her mind.

JJ came to stand beside her, both of them looking out at the water. The sun had dipped lower now, casting long shadows over the marina. The moment felt quiet, like they were the only two people in the world.

"You good?" JJ asked, glancing over at her. His voice was casual, but she knew him well enough to know when he was being serious.

Margarita hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly twisting a loose thread on her sleeve. She wanted to tell him. About Rafe, about the message. But she didn't want to drag JJ into that mess. Not after everything.

"I'm good," she lied, offering him a small smile. "Just... thinking."

JJ raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but he didn't push. Instead, he nudged her shoulder lightly. "Well, stop thinking so hard. You'll hurt yourself."

Margarita laughed, the tension in her chest easing a little. That was JJ—always knowing how to pull her out of her own head.

They stood in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching as the last of the sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon. Margarita's thoughts still lingered on Rafe, but they were softer now, less overwhelming. JJ had that effect on her.

After a while, JJ spoke again, his tone more serious this time. "You know, I'm here if you need to talk about anything. You don't have to deal with stuff on your own."

Margarita looked at him, her heart swelling at his words. JJ had always been there for her, even when she didn't ask for it. And right now, as much as she wanted to keep everything to herself, she knew she couldn't keep pushing him away. He deserved to know what was going on.

She took a deep breath, then finally said, "Rafe messaged me."

JJ's expression shifted, his jaw tightening slightly. "What'd he want?"

"He said we need to talk. That he wants to see me."

JJ didn't say anything for a moment, his eyes focused on the horizon. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Are you gonna meet him?"

"I don't know," Margarita admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know what he wants, and I don't know if I'm ready for that."

JJ turned to face her, his blue eyes filled with concern. "You don't have to do anything you're not ready for, Mags. Don't let him pull you back into his shit."

Margarita nodded, but the doubt still gnawed at her. She knew JJ was right, but part of her couldn't shake the feeling that maybe she owed Rafe some kind of closure. After everything they had been through, maybe they needed to face each other one last time.

But looking at JJ now, standing there with that protective look in his eyes, she wasn't sure she wanted to reopen that door. Not when she was finally starting to move forward, starting to feel like herself again.

"I won't let him," she said softly, her voice more for herself than JJ.

JJ didn't say anything, but the way he looked at her, the quiet reassurance in his eyes, told her that no matter what happened, he would be there.

--- end of chapter