The tension in the air was palpable as you paced your bedroom, your heart heavy with concern. Rafe had been on edge ever since the argument with his dad, Ward Cameron. You knew it was bad when he stormed out of the house, his anger radiating off him like heat waves. Now, he was back, and you could feel the storm brewing beneath the surface.
You had been waiting for him, knowing he'd need you. When he finally walked through the door, his face was tight with frustration, his jaw clenched. You stood up, ready to approach him, but he began pacing back and forth in your room, running a hand through his hair.
"Rafe," you called gently, trying to catch his attention. "Please, just sit down for a second."
He didn't stop moving. "I just need to think," he muttered, his voice strained. "I don't know what to do. I can't take this anymore."
You could feel the weight of his emotions, and it was clear that the argument with his father had hit him hard. You stepped closer, your heart aching for him. "You can talk to me. What did he say?"
"Everything!" he exploded, finally stopping to face you, frustration pouring out of him. "He just doesn't get it. He doesn't understand me, and all he does is criticize. I don't want to be like him, and yet here I am, feeling like I'm trapped in his shadow."
"I know it's tough, Rafe," you said softly, stepping closer. "But you're not him. You're your own person."
He shook his head, pacing again. "It doesn't matter. I just want to take my mind off everything. I was thinking... maybe I should just do something to forget."
Your heart sank at the thought. "You don't want to go down that road," you urged, reaching out to touch his arm. "You don't need that to cope."
Rafe glanced at you, his eyes flashing with pain and anger. "I don't know what else to do. It's all too much!" He turned away, running a hand over his face in frustration.
You could see the internal battle raging within him, and it broke your heart. Before you could respond, your phone buzzed. It was Topper calling. You glanced at Rafe, who was still pacing, lost in his thoughts.
"Rafe, can I take this?" you asked. He nodded absentmindedly, his mind clearly elsewhere. You stepped out of the room and answered the call.
"Hey, Topper," you said, trying to keep your voice steady. "What's up?"
"Hey, I'm sorry to bother you, but Rafe's acting weird. I think he's struggling after that fight with his dad. I didn't know what to do, so I thought I'd call you," Topper said, his voice laced with worry. "He was talking about wanting to do something... you know."
Your stomach dropped. "Yeah, I know. I'm with him right now. He's pacing around my room, and I'm trying to talk to him."
"Just stay with him, okay? He needs you," Topper urged. "I'm really worried about him."
"I will," you promised. "Thanks for calling, Topper."
You hung up and took a deep breath before heading back into the room, finding Rafe still caught up in his turmoil. He stopped pacing when you entered, his eyes searching yours. "What did Topper want?" he asked, a flicker of concern passing over his face.
"Just checking in on you," you replied softly, stepping closer to him. "He's worried."
"Why?" Rafe asked, his tone almost defensive. "I'm fine."
"You're not fine," you said gently, your voice steady. "You're hurting, and it's okay to feel that way. But you don't have to go down that path to cope with it."
Rafe ran a hand through his hair again, the frustration evident on his face. "I just don't want to feel anything right now. Everything is just... overwhelming."
You moved closer, closing the distance between you and gently taking his hands in yours. "I get that. But you don't need drugs or anything like that. You have me. Let me help you through this."
His eyes softened as he looked at you, vulnerability creeping in. "What if I mess everything up?" he whispered, the anger giving way to fear.
"You won't," you promised, squeezing his hands gently. "You're not your dad. You're strong enough to get through this. Let's just talk about it, okay? No judgment, just us."
Rafe took a deep breath, finally letting some of the tension seep out of his shoulders. "I don't want to talk about it," he said, but there was less conviction in his voice.
You nodded, understanding. "That's okay. We can sit in silence, or we can find something else to do. Just know I'm here, Rafe. I won't leave you to deal with this alone."
Slowly, he nodded, his gaze shifting to the floor. "I don't want to let you down," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You could never let me down," you said firmly, stepping closer and wrapping your arms around him. He hesitated for a moment, then melted into your embrace, burying his face in your shoulder.
As he held you tight, you could feel the storm of emotions finally begin to quiet. "I'm sorry for being such a mess," he mumbled, his voice muffled against you.
"Everyone has their moments, Rafe," you replied softly, holding him tighter. "You're allowed to feel upset, to be frustrated. But you're also allowed to ask for help. You don't have to carry this alone."
He sighed deeply, his breath warm against your neck. "I just feel so lost sometimes."
"Me too," you admitted. "But I promise, we'll figure it out together. You don't have to face any of this alone."
After a moment, he pulled back slightly, looking into your eyes. "You really mean that?"
"Always," you said, your voice steady and reassuring.
Rafe took a deep breath, and you could see the weight of his thoughts slowly lifting. He didn't have to pretend around you; he could just be himself. "Thank you for being here," he murmured, his voice softening.
"Always," you echoed, leaning in to give him a gentle kiss. "Now, how about we find something to distract you? Maybe we can watch a movie or play a game?"
Rafe nodded, the hint of a smile returning to his lips. "Yeah, that sounds nice."
You could see the tension starting to fade from his body, and you felt a sense of relief wash over you. Together, you moved to the couch, grabbing some snacks and settling in for a movie. As the film started, Rafe slipped his arm around you, pulling you close against his side.
You felt safe there, and you knew that, as long as you were together, you could weather any storm that came your way. Rafe still had a lot to work through, but in this moment, with you by his side, he didn't have to face it alone.
And for now, that was enough.
