Rafe Cameron Imagines

A Quiet Place to Rest🤍

The alarm blares way too early, piercing the silence of the room. You groan, reaching over to hit snooze, barely finding the energy to open your eyes. You'd spent the whole night tossing and turning, unable to shake off the nightmare that kept creeping back each time you drifted off. You feel Rafe's arm tighten around your waist, pulling you a little closer. He murmurs sleepily, "Five more minutes..."

"Wish it could be five more hours," you whisper, shifting to rest your head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat is calming, and the thought of school feels so distant. You're exhausted enough to want to skip entirely, but you both know that wouldn't fly, especially with his dad watching.

Rafe's hand starts tracing gentle patterns across your shoulder, like he's trying to ease the weight pressing down on you. After a quiet moment, he whispers, "You good?"

"Just...couldn't sleep," you admit, hoping he'll drop it. But he doesn't; Rafe isn't one to let things slide.

"Nightmare again?" His voice softens, and you nod, not trusting yourself to say much more. He leans down and kisses your forehead, his touch reassuring, as if silently promising he'll be there tonight to chase it away if it comes back.

Getting ready feels like a blur. Every step feels slower than usual, and the fatigue hangs over you like a weight. Rafe doesn't let you skip breakfast, though. He practically hands you his toast when you're about to head out the door, making sure you eat at least something before you leave.

When you finally pull into the school parking lot, you spot Kelce and Topper leaning against their cars, already deep in some random argument that you can't quite make out. They look up as Rafe parks, and Topper's the first to spot you.

"Look who decided to show up," he calls out with a grin, raising his eyebrows as you and Rafe climb out. Kelce nudges him, both of them chuckling.

"Shut it, T," Rafe mutters, but he's smiling too, his arm instinctively wrapping around you as you walk over to join them.

"Late night?" Kelce teases, giving you a playful nudge. But when you stifle a yawn, he drops the teasing, his expression shifting to something softer. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just...tired," you answer, forcing a smile. It's clear that Kelce and Topper notice, but they don't press, their expressions sympathetic.

The morning classes drag on painfully. Every few minutes, you find yourself glancing at the clock, silently counting down to lunch. Rafe, seated next to you in history, slips a note onto your desk halfway through the class. Wanna skip next period? We could hide out in the library, let you catch a nap.

You smile at his concern, shaking your head in response, determined to push through. He sighs but doesn't argue, though you catch him glancing your way every now and then, checking to make sure you're still okay.

By the time lunch rolls around, the fatigue feels nearly unbearable. Rafe notices immediately, frowning as you sit down, picking at your food. He exchanges a look with Kelce and Topper, who both nod slightly, understanding. Finally, Kelce leans over, his voice gentle. "Why don't you go take a nap in the car? Seriously, you look like you're about to pass out."

Topper nods, backing him up. "We'll cover for you. It's just one afternoon—you need a break."

You hesitate, glancing at Rafe. The idea of slipping away for even a short nap sounds like heaven, but you don't want to make a big deal out of it. "Alright," you say, smiling a little. "But only if you guys come with me."

A few minutes later, you're all heading to Rafe's car in the parking lot. Rafe opens the back door and helps you climb in, guiding you down to lie across the seat with your head in his lap. His fingers immediately slip through your hair, stroking softly, the gentle, rhythmic motion lulling you. You close your eyes, feeling the weight of the morning finally start to melt away.

Kelce and Topper settle in the front seats, keeping their voices low as they chat about random things—something about the upcoming game, or maybe about Topper's weekend plans. Their conversation is a comforting background hum, and every so often, Rafe's hand brushes across your shoulder or through your hair, his touch gentle and reassuring.

"Close your eyes," he murmurs, leaning down slightly. His hand rests warm and steady on your back, grounding you, while his other hand continues its soothing path through your hair. You feel him lean down to press a soft kiss to your forehead, his presence so calm and reassuring that you can't help but finally relax fully, letting go of the last bits of tension.

In what feels like moments but must have been much longer, you're drifting into a deep sleep. The nightmare that had haunted you the night before is nowhere in sight, replaced by the quiet comfort of Rafe's touch, his fingers playing through your hair as he hums softly under his breath, the sound and feel of him keeping you anchored.

Eventually, the gentle knock on the window pulls you back to the surface. You blink, groggy, squinting as the afternoon light filters into the car. Kelce's face appears at the window, and he gives you a soft smile as you sit up, rubbing your eyes.

"Feel better?" Topper asks, grinning from the front seat as he turns around. Rafe's still beside you, his hand resting on your shoulder, watching you with that same quiet concern.

"Yeah," you murmur, smiling a little as you take in the three of them. "Thanks, guys."

Rafe pulls you close for a moment, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead before you all gather your things, ready to head back inside. Despite the exhaustion that had dragged you down all morning, that nap has left you feeling more grounded, more yourself, and with Rafe, Kelce, and Topper by your side, you feel ready to face the rest of the day, knowing they're always there to watch out for you.