This is Me Trying ⭑ Rafe Cameron

fifty seven

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
[57]
song: movement by hozier

The cicadas buzzed loudly as Cassie stepped onto the front porch, leaning against the open door to keep it open. She watched curiously as Rafe brought his car to a stop, then got out.

She didn't say anything for a moment, she wanted to see what reason he'd give for showing up here before she asked. But Rafe just shut the car door behind him and stood there, scratching the bridge of his nose with his thumb.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you want?" She asked, her tone more accusatory than intended.

Rafe took a slow breath, letting his eyes wander over the worn landscape of her property. The day was still and hot. "Kind of a shitty place to build if you ask me," he said offhandedly, his tone indifferent, like he was making a passing observation about a place he'd never care to visit again.

Cassie was unsure of the vibe between them, recently and right now specifically. She shifts, still holding the door, as she takes another drink and watched him. "I didn't." She responded.

He gave her a quick glance before a small smile appeared on his lips. "Look, I—" he a his palm over his shaved head. "I know things have been weird between us, and— you know, I don't think there needs to be any hostility."

She hummed out a laugh, bringing the glass up to her lips.

"What?" Rafe asked, his politeness cracking, a sharp edge of frustration creeping into his voice.

"Nothing." She shakes her head pleasantly, then waves him on to continue.

He takes a moment, his gaze lingering on her frustratedly before he continued. "I just— it's a small island, and we're gonna cross paths, so I think it'd be mature if we—" he spoke very calculated, almost rehearsed. Like he had just put on this same front he used on people at parties to impress them, to come off as calm and cool.

"Mature?" Cassie interrupted with a laugh of disbelief, her lips curling into a half-smile. "Wow, that's— thank you, Rafe." The sarcasm was thick.

Rafe faltered, clearly not understanding her reaction. "Do you not agree?" His eyes searched hers, almost pleading, but the frustration was growing, creeping into his voice.

"I've been mature about all of this, it's you and your batshit friends who keep getting involved, and I'm just reacting to it?" She spoke pointedly, like it was plainly obvious.

"That's what— that's what I'm saying." Rafe's voice cracked, the frustration breaking through slightly. His arm swung wide in the air, the other hand pressed to his chest like he was trying to hold himself together. "We're gonna cross paths, Cassie. So let's just quit the bullshit, alright?"

She didn't like the way he was coming at her like this was solely her problem, but in turn, she didn't have the wherewithal to try and argue with him right now. "Whatever, Rafe, sure." She nodded, a forced nod to her head.

"Whatever? What's— what's that mean? Yes you agree?" He was shaking his head, confused, trying to draw a real response out of her.

"It means I honestly don't really care right now." Cassie shrugs lazily. "I just lost my house. I lost—" she stopped herself, now was not the time, and Rafe was not the person she was ready to dump her shit on. "You're kinda the last thing on my mind right now."