The Fine Line - Rafe Cameron

Chapter Nine

The morning was peaceful as Alexandra slipped out of bed, stretching in the soft sunlight filtering through her curtains. Tomorrow was her eighteenth birthday, but the excitement felt unexpected, especially with so much weighing on her mind. Things had been complicated lately, and although her birthday should be a time to celebrate, she still hadn't sorted out her feelings for Rafe.

As she entered the kitchen, her footsteps halted. Draped over the back of a dining chair was a dress—a stunning midnight blue with intricate lace detailing and sequins that caught the morning light.

Her mom stood by the kitchen counter, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Happy early birthday, Alexandra," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I know the party is tomorrow, but I wanted you to see this first."

Alexandra's breath caught as she approached, her fingers brushing the fabric. "Mom, this is... wow. It's perfect," she whispered, awe in her voice.

Her mom's smile widened, clearly thrilled with her reaction. "I hoped you'd love it. You'll look beautiful."

"Thank you, Mom. This is amazing," she replied, pulling her mother into a tight embrace.

Her mom held her close for a moment before stepping back, pride shining in her eyes. "I'm so proud of you."

With a burst of excitement, Alexandra dashed back to her room, flung open the curtains, and settled onto her bed. She quickly texted Sarah, eager to share her thrilling news.

Blondie

You're going to die at my dress

OMG yes! I need to show u mine

Cant wait to see it!!

I'll be over later sexy ;)

A smile spread across Alexandra's face as she approached her dresser to choose her outfit for the day. Just then, a new message flashed on her phone.

Rafe Cameron

Look out your window

Curious, Alexandra moved to the window. There was Rafe, grinning widely as he held up a piece of paper.

"T-1 day"

A blush rose on her cheeks as she smiled back at him.

The idea of being being friends with Rafe again was something that still didn't feel real to her. It seemed like just yesterday she wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. But here he was, grinning like an absolute child.

One thing Rafe was always good at was knowing how to make her feel special. Even as kids, he turned her birthdays into the biggest deal, holding up pieces of paper from his window to count down the days. Sarah always teased him about it, saying that she was her best friend and not his.

His excitement always made her feel like she was the center of his universe, and today was no different.

The thing about Rafe, was that he made it nearly impossible not to want to fall at his feet. Whenever he would go out of his way to make her feel appreciated or flashed that signature Rafe Cameron smile, she couldn't help but feel like she wanted to be suffocated in him—an all-consuming suffocation. It was as if her entire existence breathed and lived for just a taste of him.

Even when she had hated him with every fiber of her being, the way he made her feel was undeniable—it was nearly impossible not to love him.

With each moment she continued to spend with him, she wanted nothing more than to blur the lines between friendship and something more. But the beauty of wanting what you can't have lies in the fine line between reality and dreams. The truth was, best friends are rarely lovers, but damn, could she dream about it.