Outerbanks Imagine

Love on the line - Rafe Cameron

The sun was setting over the Outer Banks, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange as you drove down the familiar backroads leading to Tannyhill. Your hand was resting on the gear shift, the wind whipping through your hair as you sang along to the radio, your favorite song blaring through the speakers.

You laughed as you belted out the chorus, glancing at your phone that sat in the cup holder. It lit up with a text from Rafe:

*Rafe:* Hurry up, babe. Dinner's waiting on you 😘

You smiled, your heart fluttering at the thought of seeing him. You turned up the volume, your favorite song still playing, and began singing louder, feeling the happiness bubble up inside you.

You were so caught up in the moment that you didn't notice the car speeding up behind you. The next few seconds felt like slow motion. The blinding headlights filled your rearview mirror, and before you could react, there was a deafening crash. The force of the impact sent your car spinning off the road.

The music from the radio distorted, fading into a hollow static as your head slammed into the steering wheel. Pain radiated through your entire body, your vision blurring. You tried to make sense of what just happened, but everything felt foggy, like you were underwater.

Your ears were ringing, and the world around you was a blur of shattered glass and twisted metal. You tried to lift your head, but the pain was unbearable. You could feel something warm trickling down your forehead. Blood.

"No... no, no," you whispered weakly, trying to move, but you were trapped. The seatbelt dug into your chest, pinning you against the seat. Your hands fumbled with the latch, but you couldn't muster the strength to free yourself.

You were alone. The road was eerily quiet now, the other car long gone. A hit-and-run.

Panic surged through you. Your phone was just out of reach, the screen cracked from the impact. You stretched your fingers towards it, but it was no use. The darkness at the edges of your vision was closing in, and you felt your eyes flutter shut.

*Stay awake,* you told yourself, fighting the pull of unconsciousness. But your body was giving in, exhaustion weighing down your eyelids.

"Rafe," you mumbled weakly, your voice barely a whisper. You could see his face in your mind, the way he'd smiled at you this morning, the way he'd kissed you goodbye. The thought of him kept you holding on, even as the world around you grew darker.

---

Meanwhile, at Tannyhill, Rafe was pacing in the kitchen, his phone in hand. He'd called you three times already with no answer. Topper leaned against the counter, watching his friend with growing concern.

"Maybe she's just running late," Topper suggested, but even he didn't sound convinced.

Rafe shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. "No, she would've texted me back. Something's wrong." He grabbed his car keys, already heading for the door. "I'm going to find her."

Topper nodded, following him out. "I'm coming with you."

They drove down the familiar roads in silence, the air tense. Rafe's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. He couldn't shake the feeling in his gut that something bad had happened.

"She's okay," he muttered to himself, as if saying it out loud would make it true. "She has to be."

As they rounded a bend, the headlights illuminated something on the side of the road. Rafe's heart sank. It was your car, crumpled and mangled, half-hidden in the ditch.

"Shit, Y/N!" Rafe yelled, slamming on the brakes. He jumped out of the car before it even came to a full stop, sprinting towards the wreckage.

Topper was right behind him. "Y/N, can you hear us?" he called out, his voice filled with panic.

Rafe reached the driver's side, his heart nearly stopping when he saw you. You were slumped against the seat, blood smeared on your forehead, your eyes barely open.

"Y/N, baby," Rafe whispered, his voice breaking as he crouched beside you. He gently cupped your face, his hands trembling. "I'm here, okay? I'm right here."

You blinked slowly, trying to focus on his face. "Rafe..." you breathed, your voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

Topper leaned into the car, assessing the situation. "She's stuck. We need to get her out, now."

Rafe's hands were shaking as he fumbled with your seatbelt, cursing under his breath when it wouldn't release. "Hold on, baby, I'm going to get you out of here," he promised, his voice thick with emotion.

Topper moved to the other side, managing to get the door open. He glanced at Rafe, his eyes filled with worry. "We need to be careful. She could be hurt worse if we move her wrong."

Rafe nodded, swallowing hard. He met your eyes, his thumb brushing gently over your cheek. "Stay with me, Y/N. Keep your eyes on me, okay?"

You tried to nod, but everything hurt. It was hard to keep your eyes open. "Rafe, I'm so tired," you whispered, tears welling up in your eyes.

"I know, baby, I know," he choked out. "But you have to stay awake for me. Just a little longer, okay? I need you to stay awake."

With Topper's help, Rafe carefully pulled you free from the wreckage, his hands supporting your head as they laid you gently on the ground. You whimpered in pain, your fingers weakly gripping his shirt.

"Shh, I've got you," Rafe soothed, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "You're going to be okay. I promise."

Topper was already on the phone with 911, his voice urgent as he relayed your condition. "We need an ambulance, fast. She's losing a lot of blood."

You could hear Rafe's voice, but it felt like it was coming from far away. The darkness was creeping back in, no matter how hard you tried to fight it.

"Rafe..." you managed to whisper, your eyes fluttering shut.

Rafe's heart clenched, panic surging through him. "No, no, no," he muttered, cradling your face in his hands. "Y/N, stay with me. Please, stay with me. Don't leave me, baby."

He felt your pulse, faint but there, and it gave him the smallest bit of hope. He held onto your hand, squeezing it tightly. "I love you, Y/N," he whispered desperately. "You hear me? I love you."

---

The sirens wailed in the distance, but for Rafe, it felt like an eternity. When the paramedics arrived, they quickly assessed you, lifting you onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. Rafe climbed in beside you, refusing to let go of your hand.

The ride to the hospital was a blur. Rafe couldn't take his eyes off you, his heart breaking at the sight of you so still, so vulnerable. He kept whispering reassurances, his voice thick with tears.

When you finally arrived at the hospital, they wheeled you away, leaving Rafe standing there, his hands covered in your blood. He felt like he was going to collapse, the weight of his fear crushing him. Topper placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"She's going to be okay, man," Topper said, his voice steady even though his eyes were red-rimmed with unshed tears. "She's strong. She's going to make it."

Rafe nodded, swallowing hard as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. "She has to," he whispered, his voice barely holding together. "I can't lose her."

And as he sat there, waiting for any news, he made a silent promise to himself and to you: He would never take a moment with you for granted again.