Whispers || Rafe Cameron

CHAPTER THREE

The next few weeks passed in a haze of sun-drenched mornings. Malakai was quick to settle in, bonding with the locals over surfing lessons and late-night bonfires at The Wreck. He seemed lighter, freer, like the weight he carried with him from Australia had been left behind on the plane.

I, on the other hand, was still finding my footing. Sarah was a constant presence, always inviting me to hang out or dragging me to whatever event was happening that day. She made it easier, though I couldn't help but feel like there was something she wasn't telling me-something about the town, or maybe even about Rafe.

Rafe. He was a whole other puzzle.

He wasn't always at the bonfires or the beach hangouts, but when he was, it was impossible to ignore him. His presence was magnetic, even when he didn't speak. I caught myself looking for him in crowds, listening for his voice in the din of laughter and music. He never said much, but when he did, it always felt deliberate, like his words were chosen carefully to mean more than what was on the surface.

I was sitting on the dock by the marina, my feet dangling over the edge, the sun warm on my skin. Malakai had taken off earlier with Kelce and Topper, leaving me with a rare moment of peace. The water lapped gently against the posts, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe. A soft whisper flowed into my ear sending a chill down my spine.

"You always come here to think?"

I jumped sound of Rafe's voice, startled to see him sitting only a foot next to me. How had i not noticed that?? his expression was unreadable. He wore a plain gray t-shirt and board shorts, his hair tousled like he'd just come from the beach.

"How do you know I come here?" I asked, my tone more defensive than I meant it to be.

He shrugged, stepping closer until he was leaning against the post beside me. "I notice things."

I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I turned back to the water, letting the silence stretch between us. It wasn't uncomfortable exactly, but it wasn't easy either. Being near him always felt like walking a tightrope, like one wrong move would send me spiraling into something I wasn't sure I could handle.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked after a while.

I glanced at him, surprised by the question. "A lot of things. This place. How different everything feels."

Rafe nodded, his gaze distant. "It takes time. This place... it has a way of testing people."

"Testing them how?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He hesitated, his jaw tightening like he was weighing his words. "Let's just say not everyone who comes here ends up staying. Some people can't handle it."

"Handle what?"

Rafe's eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like he could see right through me. "The secrets. The sides people don't show you until it's too late."

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I suddenly felt like I was teetering on the edge of something bigger than I realized. "Is that supposed to scare me?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

He smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching up in that way that was infuriating and captivating all at once. "No. Just a heads-up."

We sat there for a while longer, the sound of the water filling the silence. I wanted to ask him more-to pry into the layers he kept so carefully hidden-but I didn't know how to get past the walls he'd built.

"Rafe," I said finally, my voice quieter. "Why do you keep talking to me?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets as he looked out at the horizon. When he finally spoke, his voice was in a soft, yet serious whisper, "Because you're not like them."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving me with more questions than answers.

When Malakai got back that evening, his face was flushed with sun and exhilaration. "You should've come," he said, shaking the water from his hair as he collapsed onto the couch. "The waves were insane. Topper wiped out so hard, I swear I thought he was gonna cry."

I managed a laugh, but my thoughts were still on the dock. On Rafe.

"Did you see Sarah?" I asked casually, trying to steer my mind somewhere else.

"Yeah, she came by with Kelce. She mentioned another bonfire tomorrow night at The Wreck. You going?"

"I don't know," I said, shrugging.

Malakai gave me a look. "Come on, you should. You've been weird lately. You need to get out of your head."

If only he knew.

But I nodded anyway, figuring maybe he was right.

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A/N: Okay this was a short one but next chapter should be out shortly. Thanks for reading!