You've barely made it through the day, keeping your head down and staying as quiet as possible. Every hallway you walk down feels like it's lined with whispers and looks, just out of your reach but clear enough to sting.
"Did you see her with Rafe? What does he even see in her?"
"She's not even close to his level. Seriously, how long until he realizes?"
Each comment seems sharper than the last, and by the end of the day, it's almost impossible to keep your thoughts from spiraling. The voices in your head start to sound like theirs: Maybe I'm not good enough. Maybe they're right.
When the final bell rings, you don't even want to face Rafe. But you know he'll be waiting for you out by the bleachers with Topper and Kelce, as usual, and you don't want him to worry. As you walk up to the group, you can see Rafe mid-laugh, Kelce and Topper grinning with him. But the moment he spots you, his laughter fades, concern flickering across his face.
"Hey, babe," he says, immediately stepping closer. His eyes scan your face, taking in your tired expression. "What's wrong?"
You shake your head, biting your lip to keep the tears at bay. "It's... it's nothing," you murmur. But Rafe doesn't let it slide; his hands come up to gently hold your shoulders, steadying you as he looks at you intently.
"What happened?" he asks, his voice low and serious.
Kelce and Topper exchange a glance, both of them looking concerned as they move in a little closer.
"Are you okay?" Kelce asks, glancing between you and Rafe.
You look away, swallowing hard. "It's... some girls. They've been saying things about me. About us. They keep saying I'm... not good enough. That I don't deserve to be with you," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper.
Rafe's jaw clenches, his face hardening as he processes your words. His hands slide down your arms, and his grip on you tightens protectively. "They're saying that?" His voice is low, cold.
You nod, the words spilling out before you can stop them. "They think I'm not good enough for you, Rafe. And... maybe they're right. I mean, you're you, and I'm just... what am I?" The words come out broken, full of doubt.
Rafe doesn't hesitate. His eyes soften as he pulls you closer, his hand gently cupping your face. "What are you?" he repeats, his voice strong. "You're my girl. Always. Got it?"
A warmth spreads through you at his words, but before you can say anything, Rafe's face hardens again as he pulls back slightly. "Stay here for a minute," he says, his voice low with a dangerous edge. You can feel the anger radiating from him as he turns and starts walking toward the main hallway where those girls usually gather.
Topper and Kelce look at you, both clearly concerned. "Want us to go with him?" Topper asks gently, but you shake your head. "No... I think he's got this."
You watch as Rafe strides into the hallway, his expression dark and unyielding as he approaches the group of girls. They go silent the moment they notice him, and a few of them even look nervous as he stops in front of them, crossing his arms.
He glares at each of them, his voice low and full of warning. "I don't know what your problem is, but if I ever hear that you've said one more word about her, we're gonna have issues. You get me?" His gaze is fierce, unblinking. "She's with me because I want her to be. And if you can't deal with that, stay the hell out of our way."
The girls exchange quick, panicked glances, one of them stammering, "We didn't mean—"
Rafe doesn't wait for them to finish. "If you so much as look at her the wrong way, you'll regret it. This is your only warning." With one final glare, he turns and walks back toward you.
By the time he reaches you, the anger in his face has softened, replaced with a look of concern as he wraps his arms around you. He pulls you close, tucking your head against his shoulder, his hand moving gently through your hair, stroking it in a way that immediately starts to calm you down. "I told them to back off," he murmurs. "They won't mess with you again."
You let out a shaky breath, feeling safe and grounded in his arms. "Thank you, Rafe," you whisper, pressing your face further into his shoulder. "I was starting to think... maybe they were right. Maybe I'm not enough, maybe you deserve someone better."
Rafe's hold on you tightens, and he pulls back just enough to look into your eyes. "Hey, don't you ever doubt yourself like that," he says firmly, his thumb brushing your cheek. "You're with me because I want you to be. You're perfect for me, okay? And anyone who thinks otherwise can deal with me."
A small smile pulls at your lips, and you nod, finally feeling the weight of the day start to lift. With him by your side, you feel safe, reassured, and, for the first time today, truly at peace.
