𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

ενενήντα ; 90

song of the chapter:
SOFIA ; clairo

They settled into her bedroom, a comfortable chaos of mismatched furniture and cozy blankets strewn across the floor. Sarah perched on the edge of her bed, while Pope leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and John B sprawled out on the floor, his head propped up on one hand as he gazed at her. The air felt heavy with unspoken words, but for the first time in a while, Margarita felt a flicker of warmth—like a small fire igniting in the cold.

After a few moments of silence, John B shifted, his expression thoughtful. "Margarita," he began, drawing her attention. "He saw you."

Confusion knitted her brows together. "Who saw me?" she asked, her heart quickening in her chest.

"JJ," John B replied, his tone serious. "He saw you."

Margarita felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "When?"

"While you were dancing in the rain with Rafe on the beach."

Her heart dropped at the mention of Rafe. The memory of that moment flooded back: the laughter, the freedom, the way the rain had felt like a cleansing force, washing away all the hurt. It was a moment she had cherished, but the weight of JJ's gaze made it feel tainted now.

"Why does it matter?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "I don't care if he saw."

John B frowned. "But you should care. He saw you with Rafe. It's not just about you and JJ anymore. You're moving on, and he needs to know that."

Margarita shook her head, brushing the thoughts away. "What difference does it make? JJ made his choice. He didn't care enough to think about how it would hurt me."

Pope pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer. "That's not true. He does care, Mags. He just... messed up. But it doesn't mean he doesn't feel anything for you."

"Does it matter?" she replied, her voice rising slightly. "He's with Kie now. I can't keep holding on to what might have been. I don't want to be the girl pining after him while he moves on with someone else."

Sarah looked at her with empathy. "I get it. But you also have to think about what you want. If Rafe makes you happy, if that moment meant something to you, then maybe you should explore that."

The mention of Rafe sent a surge of warmth through her, but it was immediately tangled with guilt. The complexity of her feelings left her feeling raw and exposed.

"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice cracking. "I don't want to get hurt again. I don't want to hurt anyone else."

John B nodded, his eyes sincere. "You're allowed to be scared. But you're also allowed to feel happy. You're not a bad person for wanting that."

Margarita took a deep breath, weighing their words. The storm of emotions swirling within her was exhausting, but she could see a flicker of understanding in their eyes. They weren't judging her; they were trying to help her find her way through the chaos.

"What if I don't know what I want?" she confessed. "What if I just want to be left alone to figure this all out?"

"Then that's okay too," Pope replied. "But just remember, you don't have to go through this alone. You've got us, no matter what."

A weight began to lift off her shoulders, and she felt the tightness in her chest ease just a little. Maybe she didn't have to figure it all out right now. Maybe she could take a step back and let herself breathe.

"Thanks, guys," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I appreciate you being here."

Sarah smiled brightly, her warmth filling the room. "Always. Just promise us you won't shut us out again, okay?"