Rafe Cameron Imagines

Until I Found You🤍

The sound of waves crashing against the shore had always been soothing to you. It was the kind of noise that made everything seem a little less chaotic, a little easier to breathe through. But tonight, as you stood on the edge of the beach, the salty air filling your lungs, everything felt different. Nothing felt calm. Nothing felt easy.

You watched the horizon as the sun dipped below the edge of the ocean, the sky streaked with vibrant hues of orange and purple. But your thoughts weren't on the beauty of the moment. They were on Rafe. The boy you loved. The boy who had become the center of your world, yet always seemed so far from you.

Rafe Cameron was complicated, to say the least. You had known him for years, and in that time, you had seen him become so many different versions of himself: the charming, charismatic son of a wealthy family; the wild, reckless troublemaker; the broken boy beneath all the bravado. The one thing that had always been constant, though, was how much he needed to be loved, even if he didn't always show it.

It hadn't been easy, being with Rafe. His moods were unpredictable, his behavior often erratic, and the world around him always seemed to be spinning faster than he could keep up. But no matter what happened, no matter how many times he pushed you away, you stayed. And he kept coming back.

You didn't know what it was about him. Maybe it was his charm, or his vulnerability that only surfaced in rare moments. Maybe it was how he made you feel alive—like the two of you were unstoppable, like you were meant to burn bright together even if it meant burning out.

But tonight was different. He hadn't come back. He hadn't called. And there was a gnawing feeling deep in your stomach that something was terribly wrong. You couldn't put your finger on it, but something had shifted. You just didn't know what.

You turned away from the water, pulling your jacket tighter around your body. The chill in the air didn't help the knot in your chest. You hadn't heard from him in days, and you couldn't shake the feeling that he was slipping further and further away.

Where are you, Rafe?

As if the universe heard your silent plea, your phone buzzed in your pocket. You fumbled with it, a mixture of hope and anxiety swirling in your chest as you looked at the screen.

It was a text from him.

"Meet me at the old pier. I need to see you."

Your heart raced, a sense of urgency flooding through you. Without a second thought, you grabbed your keys and ran to your car, the engine roaring to life as you sped down the familiar path to the pier. Your mind raced, trying to prepare yourself for whatever you might find, but deep down, you knew that Rafe wasn't someone you could ever truly prepare for.

When you pulled up, the dim lights of the pier illuminated the shoreline, but there was no sign of him at first. You stepped out of the car, the sand beneath your feet cold and uneven. The night was quiet, save for the occasional creaking of the old wooden pier.

You walked slowly, your eyes scanning the area for any sign of him. And then you saw him.

Rafe was leaning against the railing at the end of the pier, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his face shadowed by the dim light. His posture was slouched, his figure tense. He didn't turn when he heard your footsteps, but you could see the way his shoulders tensed when you came closer.

"Rafe," you called softly, your voice trembling with uncertainty.

He didn't respond right away. The only thing that gave away his awareness of you was the slight shift in his stance. Then, finally, he looked up, meeting your eyes for the first time in what felt like ages.

The expression on his face wasn't what you expected. It wasn't the usual cocky smirk or the guarded look he wore when he was hiding something. No, this time, there was something else—something raw. His eyes were heavy with guilt and confusion, as if he didn't know how to explain himself, how to even begin to make sense of everything he was feeling.

"You came," he said, his voice hoarse, as if he hadn't used it in days. "I wasn't sure you would."

You walked closer, your heart breaking at the sight of him. "Of course I came," you said, your voice soft but firm. "I always will."

He laughed bitterly, the sound cutting through the quiet night like a knife. "Yeah, but I'm not sure I deserve that anymore."

Your heart clenched, a wave of sadness washing over you. "What are you talking about, Rafe? You always deserve that. You just have to let me in. Let me help you."

He finally turned fully toward you, his eyes searching yours as if looking for something he couldn't quite find. "I'm a mess," he confessed, his voice trembling. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I thought I could handle it, but I've been spiraling. I've pushed everyone away, and I don't know how to stop."

You stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm, the touch grounding him. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

He exhaled, his breath shaky. "I've been running from everything—my family, my life, the expectations. And when it all got too much... I turned to something else. I started doing things I promised I'd never do. I started drinking too much, getting into trouble, and... I don't even recognize myself anymore."

You felt a sharp pang in your chest at his words. Rafe was always so strong, so proud, so untouchable. But hearing him admit this... it felt like the world was crumbling beneath you.

"You're not alone in this, Rafe," you whispered, the words almost pleading. "I'm right here. Please, let me help you."

He looked at you then, his gaze vulnerable and uncertain. "I don't know how to let anyone help anymore. I've been pushing people away for so long. And you... you're too good for this. You don't deserve someone like me."

"Rafe," you said, your voice shaking, "I don't need you to be perfect. I don't need you to have it all together. I just need you to be you. The person I fell in love with. The person I've always believed in."

He was silent for a moment, and in that silence, you saw something in his eyes that you hadn't seen in a long time—hope. A small glimmer of something like trust, something like the boy you had fallen for all those years ago.

He took a step closer, his hand trembling as he reached for yours. "I don't deserve you," he murmured, "but I can't lose you. Not again."

You smiled, tears welling in your eyes as you held his hand tightly. "You don't have to lose me. I'm not going anywhere, Rafe. Not until you find your way back to yourself. I'll be right here, every step of the way."

He squeezed your hand, the weight of his emotions heavy in the air between you. For the first time in a long while, you felt like maybe—just maybe—he was starting to believe it too.

And in that moment, standing there with him at the end of the pier, you realized that you would fight for him. You would be there, through the mess and the chaos, because Rafe Cameron was worth it.

And maybe, just maybe, until you found him, you had to be the one to help him find his way.