𝐓𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫 ~ 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧

22. Promise

A/N.: This probably needs more proofreading. So, be nice <3

Time felt weird. It felt like it was going too fast and too slow at times. When you walked out of that building, the cold outside made everything too real. All the words. The expression on your parents' faces. All of it. They kept replaying yet again in your memory, making you more nauseous by the second. And, with each second that went by, your parents never seemed to finally walk out of the building.

You tried to prepare yourself for when they did, what to say, and how to act so that nothing could become much worse for you by not knowing what to say. You thought of saying a whole speech about how you regretted not telling them, and how you will explain everything. You thought of maybe even calling Rafe out of the room, but that felt even worse. You thought of not saying anything at all, but you could already see how that would just leave them to assume more and more of what went down.

When the doors of the building behind you opened, you almost lost your footing, watching as your parents walked out. They looked composed at first, like nothing had happened. But the closer they got to you, right beside the car, you noticed your father's tense posture and your mother's eyes, reddened and moist with tears ready to burst out.

You opened your mouth to talk, your chin shook when her broken eyes met yours, and, with much disappointment on your side, no words that you practiced came out, just a small sob. Your father's eyes moved to stare at you once the sound came out, but he didn't say anything just yet.

You tried to reach for your mother when she was close enough, but she didn't respond, simply sniffled and moved her hand to clean the corner of her painted eyes, careful to not smudge a thing. As your father reached for the car keys, you swallowed some of the tears and tried to speak, letting out a short and ridiculous "I can explain", but it met deaf ears. No one responded.

Once the car was unlocked, your mother opened the door and walked right in, but your father stood there, watching her as she did it, deep in thought. You tried to open your mouth to talk to him instead, but when his eyes met yours again, all he said was, "Get in the car."

You did, and the trip home was horrible. You held your tears in, feeling your chin shake and your face wet from tears you didn't care to wipe away. Your mother cried in small sniffles, ones which at times got the response from your father as an understanding look or a hand over hers. No words were said, and it all hurt more by the second.

Once inside your house, you felt like it all broke loose. Your mother put down her bag at the entrance, and her eyes met her feet as she let out a sob for the first time. Your father does not move, standing mere inches from the door that was just closed behind him.

"I can try to explain." You blurted out again, heart beating out of your chest, and panic beginning to rise higher and higher.

"Is there anything to explain?" Your father asks, almost spitting his words in your direction.

"Yes." You nod, trying to sound convincing, but your following words, with the nerves, just shoot out of your mouth, "I didn't mean to hide it like this- It was not really planned- It all just started as a... I'm not sure- But there is nothing wrong with Rafe. I love him, and he treats me well. I promise. He is nothing like people say he is-"

"Do you hear yourself?" He asks you, his expression morphing into a worried yet angry look.

"Yes, Dad, please. You have to believe me!" You step closer to him, wanting to hold his attention and make him believe your words, "Rafe is not as bad as you think he is. Please don't be mad."

He shakes his head and pulls his hand away before you can even reach him. Your heart breaks, and he walks away from the door, creating a larger distance between the two of you as he needs space to think. Your eyes stupidly fill up with tears again as you grow more and more helpless, and it all seems to get worse just because of it.