Rafe Cameron Imagines

Under the Stars🤍

It had been one of those lazy days when time seemed to drift by, slow and golden, with the lingering warmth of summer hanging in the air. The kind of day where you could just lose yourself in the sound of cicadas and the way the sunlight danced through the trees. Rafe had texted you out of the blue, asking if you wanted to "escape for a bit." You didn't need to ask what he meant—you just grabbed your bag, threw on a hoodie, and waited for him to pull up.

When his truck finally rolled up, he grinned at you through the open window, the sun casting a warm glow on his face. He looked impossibly relaxed, his hair tousled, sunglasses perched on his nose. "You ready for an adventure?" he asked, his grin widening as he reached over to open the passenger door for you.

You hopped in, unable to keep from smiling. "Always."

He leaned back in his seat, looking out at the open road. "How does the beach sound?"

"It sounds perfect," you replied, feeling that familiar thrill that always seemed to spark when you were with him. Somehow, every time you were with Rafe, even the simplest things felt like an adventure.

The drive to the beach was quiet, the two of you falling into an easy rhythm as you listened to his playlist and watched the sun slowly dip toward the horizon. Every now and then, Rafe would steal a glance at you, catching your eye and flashing you a soft smile that made your heart skip. As you got closer to the coast, the sky turned a beautiful shade of purple, fading into deeper blues as stars started to peek through the dusk.

Finally, you arrived at a quiet, tucked-away stretch of sand. There was no one else around, just the open beach and the endless waves. Rafe parked the truck and hopped out, grabbing a blanket from the back before walking around to open your door. He held out his hand, and you took it, letting him lead you to a spot close to the water.

He spread out the blanket on the sand, his eyes on the horizon as he took in the scene. "I figured we could use a change of scenery," he said, looking over at you, his gaze warm. "Just you, me, and the ocean."

You smiled, feeling a little shiver of excitement. "You know, you really know how to pick a spot."

Rafe just shrugged, a hint of that familiar smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, only the best for you."

You settled onto the blanket beside him, your shoulder brushing against his as you both leaned back, looking up at the stars. The sky was impossibly clear, and the stars were scattered across it like tiny diamonds, twinkling and stretching out as far as you could see.

For a few minutes, neither of you said anything, just taking in the quiet beauty of the night. The sound of the waves was soothing, and the cool breeze coming off the water made you shiver slightly, tugging your hoodie a little tighter around you. Noticing, Rafe wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer.

"Better?" he asked, his voice soft as he glanced down at you.

You nodded, leaning into his warmth. "Much better."

There was something about the moment that felt different from any other time you'd spent with him. Maybe it was the quiet of the beach or the fact that he'd brought you here just to watch the stars together. Whatever it was, it made you feel like you were seeing a different side of him, a softer side he didn't show to many people.

After a while, he broke the silence, his voice low and thoughtful. "You ever wonder where we'll be in a few years?"

You looked over at him, surprised by the question. "Sometimes," you admitted. "I think about it... but it's hard to picture, you know?"

He nodded, his gaze drifting back to the stars. "Yeah, I get that. It's like... everything feels so big sometimes. Like there are so many possibilities, but none of them feel real yet."

You felt a warmth in your chest at his words. You'd always known Rafe as confident, sometimes reckless, but there was something vulnerable in what he was saying now. It made you feel closer to him in a way you hadn't expected.

"I think the future's always going to be a little blurry," you said quietly, reaching for his hand. "But I know I want to be with someone who makes me feel safe. Someone who feels like home."

Rafe looked down at your intertwined fingers, his thumb gently brushing over your knuckles. "You know, I feel that way around you," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't say it a lot, but... you're the one thing in my life that makes sense. Being with you feels right."

Your breath caught, a soft smile spreading across your face as you squeezed his hand. "I feel the same way, Rafe."

He looked at you, his eyes reflecting the starlight as he studied your face, a small smile tugging at his lips. "So, maybe we don't have to figure everything out right now. Maybe we can just... see where this goes."

You nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over you. "Yeah, I'd like that."

For a moment, the only sound was the ocean, the waves lapping gently against the shore as Rafe leaned down, brushing his lips softly against yours. It was a slow, lingering kiss, full of unspoken promises and a warmth that spread through you like a fire.

When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, his hand still holding yours tightly. "You know... I don't bring a lot of people to places like this," he admitted softly. "But with you, it's different. You make everything feel different."

You smiled, resting your head against his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around you, pulling you close. "I think we're both a little different with each other."

The two of you stayed there, nestled together under the stars, as the waves continued their steady rhythm. Every now and then, Rafe would point out a constellation, and you'd both try (and mostly fail) to remember their names, laughing as you got them all wrong. But it didn't matter; you were both perfectly content, just wrapped up in each other.

As the night wore on, you started to drift off, lulled by the steady beat of Rafe's heart under your ear. Just as you were on the edge of sleep, he murmured softly, his voice filled with that same warmth you'd felt all night.

"I'm glad I found you," he whispered, his hand brushing gently over your hair. "I'm not always good with words, but... just know I mean it."

You smiled, your heart swelling as you snuggled closer, letting yourself fall asleep in the comfort of his embrace. And as the waves whispered against the shore and the stars shone brightly above, you knew that wherever the future took you, this was a moment you'd carry with you forever.