⇢ ˗ˏˋ SUMMARY ୨୧ Your parents won the lottery, which brings you to life among the Kooks. Regardless of your wealth, Rafe Cameron establishes from the first moment you that you do not fit in, hatred and obsession begin to blend together, and in Outer Banks, power always comes at a price.
WARNINGS: Non-Con, loss of virginity, depression, mentions of blood, semi-public sex, underage drinking, non canon ages, Carrera!reader, Rafe is an asshole with a capital A
➥ banner by @vase-of-lilies | ➥ divider by @firefly-graphics
summary: Rafe Cameron never thought of himself as the hunting type, but the more you hid, the more he wanted to find you.
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You curled up in the corner of the couch with your knees pulled to your chest as you faintly registered the conversation happening around you. You tried to engage enough to be considered present, but it was hard, and you didn’t think you were fooling anyone. You were positive that you hadn’t been fooling anyone for weeks, and when you glanced up you weren’t surprised to catch Kiara’s eye.
She was worried about you.
You never would’ve known if she hadn’t cornered you last week, not-so-subtly subtly trying to pry information from you to determine what had triggered this change in demeanor. You’d stupidly thought that you were behaving normally, somehow convincing yourself that you weren’t acting differently, at all. After all, you still hung out with your friends and laughed at their jokes and smiled whenever JJ showed you the fish he caught.
“You just seem…” Kiara shook her head. “…kind of spacey, I guess. Like you’re here, but…you’re not.”
That was what she’d said to you when you’d unconvincingly asked her what she meant.
You recalled letting out a near silent scoff, the realization washing over you that you weren’t doing as good of a job as you thought. It made you wonder how long the other girl had noticed without saying anything, and then, that only made you wonder about the rest of your friends too. Granted, Kiara was your sister, so she was bound to notice more than they did, but you’d also never written her off as the most observant.
Especially now that so much of her time was taken up by JJ.
So…if she noticed…
You swallowed, unable to sit here and put in more effort to appear somewhat happy. You couldn’t deal with Kiara’s periodic glances as well as wondering what they were saying about you when you weren’t around. You knew it wouldn’t be anything bad, but you suddenly felt like the elephant in the room. Even more so when all eyes focused on you the very second you started to stand.
“I think I’m gonna go home,” you said, shaking your head the moment Kiara started to stand too. “All I had today was an iced coffee, and it’s finally catching up to me, I think.”
“Even more reason to stay,” Pope told you, and you sent him a small smile.
“Even more reason to go lie down in my bed,” you chuckled.
When your eyes met Kiara’s, she stood anyway, a sigh leaving her as she reached for her keys.
“Well, I’m at least driving you.”
Her tone left little room for argument, and choosing to pick your battles, you simply gave her a small thanks. You waved everyone else bye after putting on your shoes, and you didn’t need to look over to know that your sister was staring at you as she walked at your side.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you? I mean, if you’re not feeling good someone should be home with you. Mom and dad are at The Wreck.”
“I’m literally just feeling a little lightheaded,” you assured her as you got in. “It’s nothing some noodles can’t fix.”
She didn’t look all that convinced, but she bit her tongue to whatever was clearly on her mind. The ride back home was pretty quiet outside of you flickering between stations here and there, and Kiara’s lack of protest over it clued you in on just how worried about you she was. Its why you weren’t surprised when you were prevented from hopping out the moment she parked in front of the house.
She’d reached out to you to stop you, and there was an unsure look flickering over her face. You could see that she was contemplating how to say whatever it was she was going to say, and eventually she just sighed.
“I know that I haven’t been available as much ever since JJ and I started dating,” she slowly started, eyeing you. “…but you know that if you ever want to talk, I’d blow him off in a heartbeat, right?”
You gave her a small smile.
“I know.”
She still didn’t look satisfied, probably hoping this would be an opportunity to really talk about whatever she wondered was going on with you. When it was clear you weren’t going to give her what she wanted, she merely pressed her lips together with a nod. She gave you a soft ‘okay’ before reluctantly unlocking the vehicle. You didn’t look back once you made it inside, but you didn’t need to to know she hadn’t driven off right away.
The sound reached your ears when she finally did.
You pressed your back to the wall the minute you were finally alone, and you stared at the wall before you for what felt like a long time before it eventually started to blur. Once the first tear escaped, the rest quickly followed, and your lips trembled as you roughly wiped your face. Your gaze rested on the family pictures on the wall, focusing on your smiling face in particular, and you wondered if you’d ever smile like that again.
You would never in a million years tell Kiara what was wrong. Not because you didn’t trust her and not because she wouldn’t believe you, but because you should’ve known better. You should’ve fucking known better, and instead of listening to what you knew, you ignored every instinct inside of you just to be nice. It was bad enough that two people in this world knew just how stupid and naïve you could be.
You didn’t think you could handle any more than that.
With a choked sob, you slid to the floor, head tilted back as you gazed at the ceiling. It was the same ceiling throughout the whole house, same color and all, and you found that gazing at it—as you’d done that night—brought you some comfort. It was all that had filled your vision when you’d felt more and more detached from your body, eyes tracing every inch of it as he’d pinned your wrists to your bed.
Staring at it calmed you, the sight of it much more enjoyable without Rafe Cameron’s heavy breathing in your ear.
“You want to hear something funny?”
The voice just at your ear was low, but the suddenness of it startled you, nonetheless, and when you turned, a familiar face was greeting you with a grin. His perfect teeth were winking at you as you slowly turned to fully face him, equal parts cautious and curious. Your grip on the red cup in your hand tightened for a half a second before you took a step back, thankful that no one was behind you to bump into.
“I was just at the beach,” the older guy said, leaning in so you could hear him. “…and your sister said you were at home because you’re in trouble.”
You felt all color drain from your face at his words, and by the look on his own face when he pulled back, he knew the exact effect they had on you.
“…but yet, here you are.”
Rafe Cameron looked nothing short of like the cat who caught the canary as he leaned his hand on the couch you both were standing next to. He had a drink of his own in his hand—although his wasn’t nearly as empty as yours—and his head was tilted as he eyed you. You watched him tilt his cup up to his lips, those blue eyes of his holding your gaze over the rim as his words—and what they meant—floated between you.
You scoffed at him.
“Kie would never talk to you,” was your best response, and you didn’t like the way his smirk grew.
“I never said she did,” he haughtily replied. “Only that she said it…and I heard her.”
Accepting that you’d been caught, you rolled your eyes, and the oldest Cameron only chuckled.
“You can relax, Carrera,” he drawled, laughing again before taking another sip. “Do I look like I care if Kie’s baby sister wants to sneak out to a party she has no business being at?”
“I’m not a baby,” the words flew out before you could stop them.
Of course, that didn’t need to be said, but despite the fact that you were only one year younger than Kiara and your friends, they had a moderately annoying habit of treating like you were a child. You suspected it was because Kiara always acted like she was much older than you than she actually was. The girl was twenty, not twenty-nine, and her behavior had long rubbed off.
You didn’t know if you liked the onceover Rafe gave you, blue gaze slowly taking you in from your hair all the way down to your platform flip flops and back.
“No shit,” he said matter-of-factly and leaning in, a crooked smile on his pink lips as he shook his head. “…but you’re two years younger than me, so unfortunately, that makes you a tad more childish than I am.”
“Rafe Cameron? Childish? Never,” you sarcastically said to him just before finishing your drink.
Rafe seemed to be really entertained by you for some reason, and when you lowered your hand, his gaze fell to your cup. When his eyes met yours again, he threw you a playful smirk.
“Do you want another drink?”
You held his gaze for a few seconds more before glancing away, eyes taking in the party that you weren’t supposed to be at. It wasn’t like your parents could actually legally stop you from walking out of their house and going to any party you wanted, but considering you were still at home with no means of independence whatsoever, you didn’t see the appeal in blatantly disrespecting them. Especially since you deserved your lashings for mishandling money they gave you.
You were starting to think you’d pushed your luck enough.
“I’m not even supposed to be here,” you told Rafe, throwing him a sheepish look. “I should probably go home.”
Rafe didn’t immediately respond to that, only staring at you for a moment before eventually nodding. You watched him take another swallow of beer, his eyes still on yours.
“You got a ride?” he wondered.
“Yeah.”
You answered too quick, and Rafe tilted his head at you, giving you a look that let you know he didn’t buy that.
“Really. Who?”
All of your friends were currently at the beach with your sister, and Rafe already knew that none of them knew you were even here. When you sighed in defeat, Rafe’s smirk grew, the corner of his lips pulling upwards.
“Fine, I walked…and I’ll walk back,” you told him with a shrug.
“Mm mmm,” Rafe hummed with a shake of his head as he downed the rest of his drink. “Come on, I’ll drive you.”
He took your empty cup, and along with his, set them both down on a nearby table. You hesitated as he dug in his pocket for his keys, lips parting as you mulled over if this was what you wanted to do. It wouldn’t be the first time you walked back home from a party no one knew you were at. Granted, thankfully nothing had ever happened, but you didn’t know. It could finally be the night your luck ran out.
Nothing hardly happened on this side of the island much, anyway, but you started to feel silly for contemplating turning down a perfectly fine ride home. Rafe could be kind of an asshole, but nothing worse than the average Kook you encountered on a regular basis. Besides, even though you were far from friends, it wasn’t like you didn’t know him. You were literally best friends with his sister.
“Are you sure?” you asked him. “I really don’t mind walking.”
Rafe chuckled at you like he thought you were cute, and he gently touched your arm as he guided you through the full house. His chest grazed your back as he remained close, keeping you steady and on track to the door.
“Walking home in Kildare County on a Saturday night?” he wondered in your ear. “Never mind the drunk drivers, but you never know what creep might come along and just pluck you off the street.”
You scoffed at him, and Rafe’s laugh was in your ear as he led you outside.
“Is it bad?” Kiara wondered, looking between your face and your plate. “If dad’s off his A-game tonight, you can tell me.”
Pope and JJ chuckled at that, and you merely shook your head, pushing your food around before sitting up.
“No, I…” you licked your lips. “I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought I was.”
When your eyes met Kiara’s, she was frowning, and you could tell that a small lecture about your eating habits was on the tip of her tongue when Sarah spoke up.
“It’s not good to eat so much on an empty stomach, anyway,” Sarah jumped in, throwing Kiara a look before smiling at you. “Just take your time.”
You appreciated that, and you sat back in your seat as Cleo asked John B. something about a noise his van was apparently making earlier. By the uptick in conversation at the table, you got the sense that the noise had some crazy story attached, and you tried to listen—you really did—but your mind kept floating somewhere else entirely, and when a familiar face flashed behind your eyes, you desperately craved a drink.
You had just set your empty water glass down when you heard a voice that might as well had been a bucket of ice for you. Your gaze was glued to the table as you froze, fingers grazing the glass, and even though you told yourself you were imagining things, your heart wouldn’t slow down. It felt like it was going to jump straight out of your throat, doubly so when the voice became so much clearer.
“I told you she’d be here.”
That haughty drawl made your hair stand on end, and you were so glad that your head was down so that no one could see the way your eyes watered. Sarah made a noise of disapproval, and you shared her sentiments completely. He wasn’t alone, Kelce and Topper’s voices reaching your ears too, and as much as you wanted to be anywhere but here…
You couldn’t move.
You were completely frozen in your seat, pinned down by some invisible force that wouldn’t allow you to get up and get as far away from Rafe Cameron as possible. You’d done a good job of avoiding him for damn near two months—avoiding any party or outing he might be at—but you were running out of excuses as to why you wanted to stay home or why you didn’t want to take advantage of a free meal at your parents’ restaurant.
You reached up to wipe your face just as he spoke again…closer this time.
“Rose said whenever you’re done doing…” he paused. “…whatever it is you’re doing to come straight home.”
You didn’t need to look up to know that small sneer was on his face. You could almost picture it, those blue eyes sparkling and those nostrils of his flared—almost in disgust. It was a very vivid expression, one you recalled being on the receiving end of when you begged him to stop. He’d looked at you like you didn’t have the right to even find the audacity to ask him such a thing.
“Did you ask what she wanted?”
Rafe didn’t answer, but the barked laugh that left his lips was answer enough.
You blinked at the table, still so…still, and some part of you—an irrational part—wondered that if you remained still, maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t see you. Maybe he wouldn’t acknowledge you. Even if he didn’t do it with his words, you didn’t know if you could handle being on the receiving end of that blue gaze.
However, the way that your skin suddenly pricked told you that your efforts were in vain.
“Lunch on the house with your friends?” he wondered to Sarah no doubt. “That’s cute.”
He dragged it out in a mockingly condescending way. After a beat of silence, you heard Rafe hum.
“I’d hurry up if I were you,” he advised. “Rose made it seem like it was urgent.”
You heard him walking, and it sounded like he and his friends were making their way towards the counter.
“Nice to see you all again. JJ, Cleo…”
He was slowly acknowledging everyone at the table, and you felt bile rising in your throat at the realization. The feeling became even worse once it became clear that Rafe was saving you for last, and your stomach violently turned when his lips finally curled around your name.
“Y/N.”
You felt light—too light—and where you once even felt maybe too cold you now felt overheated. Sarah was complaining about his lingering presence when you finally glanced up, hating the way your name fell from his tongue. You were unsurprised to meet his gaze, and if you thought for a moment that Rafe would look at you in a way that was anything like indifference or contentment…you were wrong.
It happened so fast as Sarah shooed him away. There was a glint in Rafe’s eyes when they looked into yours, and it was a look that spoke volumes. A small smirk danced along his lips, and there was nothing content about it. It said so many things without Rafe uttering a single word, doubly so when he gave you a quick onceover. Rafe had only said your name, but you understood him loud and clear.
We both know I had you and you couldn’t do a thing to stop it.
The moment he was at the counter with Topper and Kelce, you finally found the strength to move…and you used all of it to stumble to your feet and out of The Wreck. Kiara was quick to follow you out of the restaurant, on your heels just in time to witness you throwing up what little you ate all over the pavement. Her gasp was barely registered as your stomach heaved again, and you could hear that it was no longer just your sister with you.
“Cheese on bread,” you heard Cleo say in shock. “Pope, go get a napkin or something.”
By the time he came back, there wasn’t anything left in your stomach, and you thanked him as you took it. Kiara’s eyes were wide and concerned when you looked at her, wiping your mouth and tongue.
“Are you okay? Was it…the food? You barely ate anything,” she added, and you shook your head.
“My stomach’s been a little upset all day. Maybe Sarah was right, and I ate too much and too fast.”
Your words came out a bit slurred, and you noted how hot and lightheaded you felt. You remembered that vomiting dehydrated you, and Kiara seemed to remember the same thing, reaching for her keys.
“We should get you home,” she finally said, turning to glance at your friends. “We’ll see you guys later.”
You frowned at her when she pushed you towards her car.
“Kie, I’ll be fine. You can come back after you drop me off,” you told her, gesturing to them.
She merely gave you a look as you both slid into the vehicle. You could tell that she didn’t agree with that suggestion at all, but there was also something in her dark gaze that gave you pause. Worry clouded her face as she pulled out of the parking lot, and you found yourself eyeing her. Kiara was never one to keep her thoughts to herself when she clearly had something serious she wanted to say.
You were put out of your misery halfway to your house.
“Are you pregnant?”
Somehow that was the last thing you expected to hear her blurt out, and her concerned gaze met your wide one. While not entirely impossible, you were almost one hundred percent sure that you weren’t, and you gave her a ridiculous look.
“What? No!”
“Don’t…! Don’t look at me like that, alright? That’s not a crazy question-.”
“That’s not a crazy question…” you repeated, sounding more like a statement.
“No, it’s not,” she doubled down, looking between you and the road. “Not when you’ve been acting strange for two months! You’re not really here and I feel like we barely see you now and then today…”
She shrugged.
“You threw up in the middle of the day despite the fact that you’d barely eaten a thing.”
“…and you don’t think I’d be eating a lot more if I was pregnant?”
Kiara seemed to think that over, sitting back in her seat with a sigh. Her hands were tight on the wheel, and you could see her accepting how crazy that seemed. She roughly exhaled.
“Well, something’s wrong with you,” she forced out, sounding defeated, and you weren’t able to hold her gaze when she looked over. “I’ve been trying to be a good sister and just…let you know you can come to me in your own time.”
You wrapped your arms around yourself.
“…but I’m getting scared.”
Her voice was small, and you didn’t have a good response to that. Denying that anything was wrong would just insult her intelligence and probably make her worry more. You swallowed, fighting back tears and wondering how you could ever tell her what happened. You barely even wanted to think about it—despite how much it plagued your thoughts—let alone actually talking about it.
You didn’t know how to even begin to tell Kiara that your friend’s brother had raped you…in your own house…in your own bed, no less. You couldn’t stomach walking her through what happened that night and its eventual horrifying end. You didn’t know how to tell her that you’d been so stupid…and you especially didn’t know how to tell her that Rafe Cameron was walking around like he wasn’t even somewhat remorseful about what he did.
…but instead proud.
You didn’t know how to voice any of that, so when she parked, you were quick to be the first one out. You fixed her with a look that was meant to reassure her, but you didn’t know if you pulled it off. Gazing into Kiara’s eyes, you lied straight to her face with a small smile.
“I promise, it’s nothing.”
You didn’t give her the chance to respond, making your way up the driveway.
You’d been standing at the top of the stairs for a minute too long when your mom called for you again. When she’d called you down the first time, you hadn’t even considered what it could be for, just acting on instinct and pulling yourself out of bed. You hadn’t given much thought to the fact that you’d heard her answer the door only moments before. However, the moment you reached the top of the stairs, you’d tried to tell yourself that you were imagining that voice.
That hauntingly familiar voice.
His soft laugh reached your ears at something your mom said, and the sound of it brought tears to your eyes. Like at The Wreck only just the other day, you found it hard to move. Your hand was on the staircase and one foot was already on the step below, but you were finding it so hard to will yourself to move—to act like everything was normal.
To act like Rafe Cameron wasn’t in your house.
Again.
“I wonder if she’s…” your mom trailed off when she rounded the corner, face lighting up at the sight of you. “There she is! Come on, you’ll never believe it.”
Her presence—and her hand reaching for yours—gave you the strength to finally put one foot in front of the other. The whole ordeal felt like an out of body experience, your lips parted and eyes fearful as she led you into the living room, forcing you to come face to face with those blue eyes yet again. There was a grin on his lips as he stood by your door. To your mom, it was charming.
It was predatory to you.
“You will never believe what Rafe found,” she said, sounding so pleased.
When the other guy held his hand out…you wanted to be sick.
“It was just there…at the beach,” his smooth voice explained, and you were certain now more than ever.
You were going to be sick.
When your gaze lifted to meet Rafe’s, finally pulling your eyes away from your wallet, your heart sank. Your mom was going on a tangent in thanking him while you had yet to utter a single word. You wanted to cry. You wanted to scream. You wanted to push him into the street, and you couldn’t even fix your mind to take the damned thing.
Rafe didn’t find your wallet on any beach.
You knew it, and he knew it.
He’d taken it the night he raped you.
Despite how terrified you were, you couldn’t break the gaze. Why? Why was he doing this? The oldest Cameron had gotten exactly what he wanted from you, so what did he get out of this? It wasn’t enough that he broke your trust and violated you, but now he meant to torment you too? You hadn’t even told a soul what he did. You hadn’t gone to the police, done a rape kit or anything, he got away with it, so what was the point of all this?
Beyond the despair and confusion, you could feel a hint of anger flaring within you, and that small flare must have made itself visible through your eyes…because the look Rafe gave you had you taking a step back. Your mom noticed, and she rubbed your back.
“Everything’s in there,” she assured you. “I know we got you a new one and everything, but at least you can know it found its way into good hands.”
Both her and Rafe chuckled at that, and your lips parted as you stared at him.
The look that Rafe had given you… For that brief moment when you felt a hint of anger, just a smidgen, the look in those blue eyes had made your blood run cold. There was a crooked smile on his lips and a softness to his visage, but Rafe’s eyes had told an entirely different story. There had been a glint in his gaze—a challenge—like he was almost itching to see what you would try and do to him.
At your mom’s urging—and with shaky hands—you hesitantly reached out to take your wallet, careful to avoid touching his fingers. You didn’t even recall thanking him, but you must have, because Rafe looked you over with a quickness your mom missed, that smile of his growing when your eyes met again.
“You’re welcome,” he slowly responded, almost dragging the words out in that smooth baritone.
“Rafe, would you like something to drink before you go?” your mom offered, and both of your minds seemed to go to the same place.
Tears kissed your eyes as her steps traveled to the kitchen, and Rafe full on grinned, briefly pulling his lip between his teeth as he brushed past you. You leaned away from him as he grazed you, and you didn’t imagine the way he’d turned his head to keep his eyes on you as he did.
“Just some water, thanks.”
Those words made your knees buckle, and you reached out, struggling to safely sit down on the couch. Your wallet fell from your hands as you heard him compliment her on the house, and the more he talked, the more your stomach churned.
“It’s so bright and cozy in here,” he praised. “I almost wish Y/N would lose her wallet again just so I have an excuse to come back.”
Wholly unamused by whatever he was doing, your tears spilled over, and you didn’t bother to make your exit known as you stood and stumbled through the front door.
“Hey, you mind if I can get some water?” Rafe said to you the moment he parked in your driveway, turning to you with a small smile. “I drank more than I thought I did, and I kind of want to sober up a little before I get back on the road.”
Your brows rose at that, stupidly under the impression that Rafe only had one beer, but there was no telling just how long he’d been at the party before bumping into you. You probably should’ve asked, and even though you knew Kiara—and maybe even your parents—wouldn’t approve of inviting a guy inside the empty house on a Saturday night, Rafe had driven you home. The least you could do was give him some water to make him feel better about driving.
“No, yeah, that’s fine.”
Rafe got out after you did, following behind you as you took your keys out. Saturday nights meant a packed restaurant, so you weren’t expecting anyone home for another few hours at the least. It wouldn’t take any time at all to give Rafe something to drink and send him on his way.
“It’s quiet in here,” he commented as you tossed your keys on the table by the door.
“The Wreck on a Saturday? Both of my parents kind of need to be there for that madness.”
Rafe amusingly agreed, and when you reached for a glass from the dishwasher, you glanced over to find Rafe’s gaze on you.
“What…?”
He was leaning against the entrance to the kitchen, arms crossed over his chest. You only just paid attention to his shirt and the way it pulled against him with every movement.
“Never pegged you as the type to sneak out. Seems more like Kie, to be honest.”
His comment made you laugh, and you tilted your head at him when you handed him the glass.
“One of us is just better at it,” you teased. “Besides, I snuck out for an hour and a half at the most. It barely counts.”
Rafe simply eyed you as he drank the water you gave him. You felt a tad awkward being alone with Rafe in your house, but it was only because you guys were far from friends, and you couldn’t recall a time you’d ever even had an actual conversation with him.
“I’m surprised you went to some Kook party,” he hummed, lowering his arm. “What? No boyfriend on The Cut you wanted to meet up with?”
Rafe’s gaze was so intense as he held eye contact, and it was then that you realized you didn’t think you’d ever been on the receiving end of it before. At least…not for an extended period of time like this. Having all of his attention felt strange.
“No,” you chuckled, shaking your head. “I don’t really date.”
Rafe blinked at you, folding his arms again as he tilted his head. There was a curious twinkle in his eye, and you didn’t miss the way he ran his gaze over your face.
“Why not?” he wondered with a frown.
“Um,” you said, rolling your eyes towards the ceiling. “…because a lot of you are assholes.”
Rafe laughed with you, nodding his head.
“That’s fair,” he admitted. “…and smart. A lot of guys wouldn’t know what to do with you, anyway.”
You gave a chuckle at that, not because you found it funny, but because you didn’t know how to respond. Your gaze traveled to his empty glass while his remained on you, and a silence descended between you that reminded you he shouldn’t be here.
“Do you want another before you go?” you asked him, trying to politely kick him out.
There was a faint smile on his pink lips as he stared at you, and when he handed it to you, the corner of his lips twitched.
“That’s sweet of you…”
His fingers brushed yours when you took the empty glass, and you could feel his gaze on your back when you made your way to the sink. Your own gaze was on the faucet, and you were thinking about the shower you were going to take when you felt something brush against your arm. The feel startled you, and the glass fell in the sink when you jumped.
You hadn’t heard Rafe move, so you were shocked that he was so close.
“What are you…?”
Your words died in the air when the blond kissed you, his lips covering yours so expertly that you might’ve appreciated the opportunity under different circumstances. When you reached up to push at his chest, Rafe only responded by backing you up against the fridge. The only way to get your words out was to turn your head.
“Rafe, what…? Stop,” you gasped, pushing at his chest.
You liked to think that he was more drunk than either of you realized, but when he reached up to grab your hand, holding you against him as he pulled his face away, that mocking grin on his lips told you otherwise.
“Why?” he asked you like it was the craziest thing he’d ever heard.
You ducked your head when he tried to kiss you again, harshly pushing at his chest, now, but Rafe was just as strong as he looked. When his lips met yours again, this kiss was rougher, and an uncomfortable gasp escaped you when one of his hands found the side of your neck. His teeth nipped at your lip, and following his lead, you bit him. Hard.
Blood welled on his lip when he snatched himself away from you, and the look he fixed you with broke you out of your momentary stupor. Your heart sank low in your chest, something in you screaming at you that Rafe wasn’t joking, and he wasn’t just trying to get handsy.
“Rafe, I think you should leave.”
Your words amused him, and he laughed to himself.
“…and if I don’t want to?”
You swallowed, and his eyes zeroed in on the movement.
“I’m serious,” you told him, voice cracking. “I want you to leave.”
Again, your demand clearly tickled him, and you realized then that this wasn’t going to work this way.
You made it as far as the hallway before his hand fisted your shirt, yanking you back so hard that the fabric pulled against your throat. The wind was knocked out of you when your back roughly collided with his chest, and once he got his arm around you, the door became farther and farther away.
“Rafe, you’re not funny,” you said to him, panicked and out of breath as you fought to get his hands off of you. “Rafe!”
Deep down, some part of you wanted it to be a joke gone too far, that maybe if he heard how scared you were then he would stop. To your horror though, Rafe seemed to like the fear in your voice, pinning you to the wall as he leaned in to press sloppy kisses to your neck. He was kissing you and yanking you up the stairs, and that only made your panic grow.
You hadn’t realized you’d started crying until your vision—and Rafe along with it—grew blurry. Your face felt cold as the air hit your wet skin, and in that moment, oddly enough, you were furious that yours and Kiara’s room doors were labeled because Rafe knew exactly which one to force you in. Your stomach turned at the thought of this taking place in your room.
Your safe space.
When it became clear that you wouldn’t be able to get away by fighting him off, you screamed.
Rafe had you pinned to your bed at this point, and he didn’t like the sound, fighting to cover your mouth. With one hand free, he could still pull at your clothes—the dress you’d warn to the party literally being ripped off of you. Everything was happening too fast, your mind fighting to understand how you’d just been downstairs getting him water not even fifteen minutes ago.
“Rafe, please,” you tearfully begged him, pushing against him and hitting him despite the little damage it was doing. “Get off, get off, please!”
The light from the hallway cast onto his face, and so you didn’t miss the sneer Rafe gave you. You didn’t miss the way his lip curled over his teeth, a look passing over his face like he couldn’t believe you dared to ask that of him. He even let out a soft laugh. He pushed against your chest as he reached between you, painfully holding you down, and your legs kicked around him, nails drawing blood on his arm.
You felt like you were having a panic attack when you felt the tip of him graze you. You couldn’t stop crying even if you wanted to, and Rafe didn’t kiss you again until he was inside of you, taking full advantage of your shock and agony. You felt frozen, eyes squeezed shut as the pain between your legs became unbearable, and when he tasted the inside of your mouth, you noted that there was hardly a hint of alcohol in his.
You sat behind some stranger’s car, arms wrapped around your knees as you fought to catch your breath. The sounds of the party on the beach reached you all the way to the parking lot, and you wondered why you fought so hard to act normal when nothing was normal. You weren’t okay, and it was growing increasingly more difficult to pretend you were.
You just wanted Kiara and your friends to stop worrying.
You hadn’t expected to see Rafe of all people on the beach when you joined the festivities. He tended to prefer a fancy house party with coke and other party favors. One look at him had you stopping in your tracks, and you’d made sure to look elsewhere before Cleo could notice.
“You okay?” she’d asked you, and unable to come up with a believable lie, you just told her you’d be right back.
That had to have been at least twenty minutes ago, and no matter how many times you started to, you couldn’t bring yourself to get up. Rafe was tormenting you…and you didn’t know why. You hadn’t missed the slight curve of his lips when your eyes briefly met his before you left the crowd. Before… Before you just thought that he’d sunk to a new low, just being an asshole about what he did. Now though…
Now, you were sure that he was seeking you out.
…but you didn’t understand why.
After that God awful day at your house, you rarely left it. Any annoyance your mom still had over that abrupt departure, it had long faded the more you holed away in your room staring at your wall. There were only so many excuses you could make, only so many times you could say you just didn’t feel good before someone demanded you go see a doctor.
Out of excuses—and just wanting to ease everyone’s worry—you tagged along tonight…and now you regretted it.
You didn’t know how to go back out there and pretend like he wasn’t in the crowd—watching you, no doubt. You wouldn’t be able to relax for a second, too busy looking over your shoulder and avoiding Rafe Cameron at all costs. You pressed your hand to your mouth, struggling to breathe as you cried and telling yourself that you had to do something because if they weren’t already, your friends would be looking for you soon.
With difficulty, you pushed yourself to your feet, thankful the car was an older model whose alarm didn’t go off at any mere touch. You didn’t know what excuse you were going to give to Kiara who’d no doubt been informed by Cleo that you’d been gone for too long. You wiped your face, and you told yourself that if anyone questioned it, you’d just claim you’d had some bad food that made you sick.
“Cute dress.”
No other voice could shatter any amount of composure you’d built up like that one. It was like being doused in cold water, all train of thought lost and only able to focus on how freezing and miserable you were. You didn’t even attempt to convince yourself you’d imagined it this time because you knew without a doubt now that Rafe was going out of his way to torture you about that night.
When you finally looked over, the man in question was leaning against someone else’s car. He was sprawled against it like it was his, and upon closer inspection, you recognized it as Topper’s jeep. You wrapped your arms around yourself at the sight of him, and you wondered just how long he’d been there…watching you.
“Rough night?” he quietly wondered, eyes raking over your frame, and you shuddered under his scrutiny.
“Leave me alone, Rafe,” you breathed, moving to go back to the beach when he blocked your path.
You tried to get around him, but Rafe wasn’t having it.
“Woah, hey, I just want to talk,” he laughed, reaching out to you.
You stumbled back away from him, fearfully eyeing him. You weren’t quite as alone with him as you were before, but it was just enough for Rafe to do whatever he wanted should he find himself determined enough.
“What could I possibly want to talk about with you?” you breathed. “…and what could you possibly have to say to me?”
You continued before he could say anything.
“We both know you’re not sorry,” you choked out. “You’ve done nothing but make my life hell…and I don’t know why because you got what you wanted.”
Trying to get by him only resulted in him reaching for you again, and so you reached for your phone. Rafe’s hand followed yours, and so as soon as your hand was around your phone, his was around your hand, and the fight over the device was quick. Tears of anger kissed your eyes when he held it out of reach, and your breathing was heavy when he leaned in.
His nose touched yours, and in your efforts to back away, you backed right into the car.
His eyes flickered between yours, and the more you leaned back, the more Rafe followed until he was practically on top of you. He shifted, and you both felt and saw both of his hands come down on either side of you to rest on the vehicle, effectively caging you in. He was so close that you could faintly smell the cologne he put on before he left the house, and when his gaze lowered to your lips, your heart sank.
You pushed at his chest, but Rafe wasn’t budging.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to get you alone?” he murmured.
His words made you freeze, and your eyes widened.
“…and I guess that’s my fault,” he said with a shrug. “You’re always…in the house or…with your friends, now.”
He leaned in some more despite the pressure you put against his chest.
“You make it so difficult to get you by yourself, now,” he continued with a small smirk. “So, all I’ve been able to do is just dream about that night…instead of reliving it.”
His hand on your face had you jerking away, hands pushing against his chest as he leaned in to kiss you. You made a noise of protest, and Rafe only shushed you, lips grazing yours. One of his hands completely dug into your hip at your attempt to scoot back on the car.
“Relax,” he whispered in what was probably meant to be a soothing manner. “Just relax.”
One of his hands was behind your neck, the other kneading into your upper thigh when he kissed you. He swallowed any noise you attempted to make, and like before, Rafe didn’t seem to care that you didn’t want this.
“You should’ve told me you were a virgin before I fucked you,” he murmured against your lips, smiling into the kiss. “I would’ve been nicer about it.”
The reminder of the blood that night made more tears spill over, and you were in awe that Rafe saw that night as something to look back on with the idea of fun while it had completely turned your life upside down…but maybe that was the fun part for him. He had to know how much what he did affected you.
He wouldn’t stop kissing you—wouldn’t let you make a sound—and when the hand on your thigh settled itself on your back, you tripped over your feet when he pulled you away from the car. You could hear your phone going off wherever Rafe had abandoned it, and you had no doubt that all of your friends and Kiara were looking for you.
Unfortunately, Rafe was forcing you into the back of Topper’s jeep.
Your hand was on the opposite door handle as soon as you were inside the vehicle, but with one successful yank back, Rafe climbed over you and closed it. You heard the resounding click of the locks, and you pushed against the seat when you felt Rafe lips trailing along the side of your neck.
“I didn’t get what I wanted,” he whispered against your skin, making you tremble. “…because I still want it.”
Rafe had you completely pinned between him and the seat, and your struggle grew frantic when you felt how hard he was against the back of your thigh. One of Rafe’s hands snaked its way underneath you, circling around your throat as he left kisses along your skin. His other hand was trailing along your frame, and when it started to push at your dress, the hand around your neck tightened.
You could barely breathe properly now…let alone scream.
Rafe’s breathing was heavy, evident in the way his chest heaved against your back. It didn’t stop him from pulling your head back and kissing you though, all the while releasing himself, the sound of his zipper loud in the otherwise car. Your friends were long gone from your mind, now, with your only focus on how you were going to handle this again.
Tears kissed your face as you reached up to pull at Rafe’s hand, but his grip was tight, and your grip started to slip the moment you felt him press the head of his cock into you. Your toes curled, body going still as memories of the last time flashed behind your eyes. Your underwear pulled over his hand, his fist keeping them completely pushed to the side as he slowly pushed his way into you.
“Just like I remember,” he purred against your ear once he’d pushed his cock into you to the hilt.
His movements had you gripping the seat of Topper’s Jeep, your feet kicking back at the door. His thrusts were slow, reminiscent of the last time, but unlike now, Rafe had only slowed his pace then once he saw the faint blood on his cock. Now, you didn’t know if he’d meant what he said earlier about being gentler or if he was simply trying to savor it.
When his hand finally let your throat go, you greedily sucked in air, but your relief was short-lived when his whole arm found its way around your neck. You had no choice but to hold onto it as he snapped his hips against you, the slow plunge of his cock forcing a whine from you. Rafe’s forehead rested on the back of yours, and you could both feel and hear how much he was enjoying this.
“I almost didn’t want to leave that night,” he breathed, a gasp escaping when he curved his hips against you. “I could’ve fucked you all night.”
The inside of the Jeep was filled with the sound of your reluctant moans and Rafe’s heavy breathing and words. You could feel your body becoming lighter and lighter, and you knew it had nothing to do with Rafe’s arm around your neck. The feel of his thrusts became easier to bear, and like that night, you found your gaze focusing on the door…just as you’d done with the ceiling.
The knowledge that he hadn’t just been tormenting you but had been seeking you out for a reason left you feeling a little numb. The whole reason you hadn’t done a thing about it in the first place was because you just wanted to avoid Rafe Cameron at all costs. He was violent and terrifying, and those two things had scared you into simply scrubbing yourself raw that night before crying yourself to sleep. You thought that he’d gotten what he wanted and would leave you alone.
…but you never considered that it wasn’t about the sex or the power, at all.
It was about you in particular and the power he wanted over you, the gratification he wanted from you.
It was why he boldly acknowledged you knowing exactly how terrified you were of him. It was why Rafe dared to enter your home once again, knowing exactly what the sight of him in there would do to you. It was why he taunted you and challenged you to even dare to retaliate. You didn’t know if Rafe was just some bully who decided you were it, or perhaps something just a tad more sinister.
When he flipped you onto your back, he didn’t like the blank look in your eyes.
“Uh uh, look at me,” he softly demanded, lightly tapping your cheek. “Look right at me.”
When you refocused on his face, more tears spilled over, and you were sure Rafe liked the sight of them. He leaned down with a hand on your throat, your knees to your chest and your feet resting against his stomach as he leaned over you, stuffing you full of his cock. The sound of it sliding into you over and over again was loud in the vehicle.
Your eyes were on Rafe’s, and his blue gaze never left you, lips parting as he watched your face. He slowed his hips down, thrusting into you at a languid pace, and when you clenched around him, a slow smile danced along his lips—crooked and taunting. He studied your face like he was fascinated by it, and you were reminded of that night at the party.
He’d looked like the cat who caught the canary. In your own house, he’d reminded you of a wolf toying with some poor deer before putting it out of its misery when you looked back on it. Every time your eyes had met his in public—including now—Rafe looked like nothing would be more fun than taking you between his teeth.
As he continued to fuck you in the back of his best friend’s car, you had the realization that around Rafe Cameron, you very much felt like prey, and the man on top of you had long come to that same conclusion before you did.
…and he’d pounced the moment your back was turned.
To all the rafe fic writers who really nail down his personality even in a paratext like fan fiction which exists outside of the show/canon - thank u so much I salute you!!💋💋💋
she’s been talking about it for weeks, counting down days, sending him clips, explaining every little detail like he hasn’t already memorized it just from listening to her.
so when they’re standing in the crowd, lights flashing, music buzzing through her chest, she’s practically vibrating with excitement.
“i can’t believe i’m actually here,” she says, half to herself, half to him, grabbing onto his arm like she needs to ground it somewhere.
he looks down at her, amused, a little softer than usual. “you’ve only mentioned it a hundred times.”
she ignores that, already scanning the stage, already waiting.
and when Sabrina Carpenter finally comes out, she loses it completely — laughing, cheering, turning into him like she needs to share it with someone.
he just watches her for a second.
not the stage — her.
they’re deep into the set when it happens.
the opening of that song hits, and she immediately grabs his hand, eyes wide, grin spreading like she’s been waiting for this exact moment all night.
“okay,” she says, already laughing, “this is the one.”
he leans closer so he can hear her. “yeah? the famous one?”
“mhm,” she nods quickly, then lowers her voice, like she’s letting him in on a secret. “and whatever position she does—”
he groans quietly, already knowing.
“—we’re trying it,” she finishes, smug
he huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “you’re unbelievable.”
“you love it,” she shoots back instantly.
he doesn’t deny it.
the crowd gets louder, more chaotic, like everyone knows what’s coming.
and then sabrina pauses.
the pause.
the one everyone waits for.
she says the line — playful, teasing — and then she drops down into a low, exaggerated squat, one leg bent, the other stretched out, leaning back just enough to make the whole thing look ridiculous and confident at the same time.
the crowd loses it.
and she loses it too, laughing so hard she has to grab onto him again.
“oh my god,” she gasps. “did you see that?”
he’s laughing now too, shaking his head. “you’re not serious.”
she tilts her head, giving him that look. “you heard me earlier.”
“that was a joke.”
“was it?”
he exhales, eyes dragging over her face, the way she’s still smiling, still a little breathless. “you’re going to be the death of me.”
she just beams.
it sits between them the rest of the night.
unspoken, but there.
in the way his hand doesn’t leave her waist.
in the way she leans into him just a little more than usual.
in the way they both keep thinking about it.
the hotel room feels too quiet after.
like everything’s slowed down too suddenly.
she shuts the door behind them, kicking off her shoes with a small laugh, running a hand through her hair. “that was insane.”
“yeah,” he says, but he’s not really talking about the concert anymore.
she turns toward him, catching the shift immediately.
“what?” she asks, softer now.
he steps closer, not rushing it. “you remember what you said?”
her smile changes — smaller, more deliberate. “about what?”
he raises a brow.
she laughs under her breath, stepping into him, fingers curling into the front of his shirt. “you’re still thinking about that?”
“hard not to,” he admits.
there’s a beat.
then she tilts her head, playful but not backing down. “so?”
his hands find her waist again, slower this time, more intentional. “so you weren’t joking.”
“i don’t think you want me to be,” she murmurs.
that does something to him.
you can see it — the way his jaw tightens slightly, the way his grip shifts, pulling her just a little closer.
“you don’t even know if we can,” he says, quieter now.
she shrugs lightly, but her eyes don’t leave his. “guess we’ll have to try.”
there’s a pause.
then he laughs — low, almost disbelieving — before shaking his head. “you’re impossible.”
“and you still took me here,” she reminds him
“yeah,” he says, leaning down, voice dropping, “i did.”
and then he kisses her.
it’s not rushed.
not messy.
it’s slow at first, like he’s testing something, like he’s deciding how far this is actually going to go — until she leans into it, presses closer, and that hesitation disappears completely.
his hands tighten at her waist, guiding, steadying, and suddenly the space between them feels too small, too charged.
she laughs softly against his mouth at one point, breathless. “you’re overthinking it.”
“am i?” he murmurs.
“mhm.”
and she shifts slightly, just enough to remind him of the conversation, the joke that isn’t really a joke anymore.
he exhales, shaking his head again, but he doesn’t stop her.
doesn’t pull away.
if anything, he leans in more.
“you’re serious,” he says, like he’s still trying to process it.
she smiles, softer now, but just as sure. “i told you.”
another pause.
then his hands slide, adjusting, grounding, like he’s decided.
“fine,” he mutters.
she lets out a quiet laugh. “fine?”
“don’t push it,” he warns, but there’s no real bite to it.
just heat.
just that same energy from earlier, carried into something quieter, more private, but no less intense.
and whatever awkwardness there could’ve been fades quickly — replaced by soft laughter, by figuring it out together, by the kind of closeness that feels less like a performance and more like something just theirs.
by the time they finally settle, the city noise faint outside the windows, she’s curled into him, still smiling.
“worth it?” she asks, teasing.
he huffs out a quiet laugh, pulling her closer. “you’re never letting this go, are you?”
You are the First Lady of the United States. Your husband, President Rafe Cameron, belongs to the country… and his mysteries. When the truth finally spills out, the cracks in your marriage become impossible to ignore.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
No one could ever imagine how lonely the White House actually is.
It looks like it’s standing perfectly still while the room full of interviewers pretend not to notice detention between the President and First Lady.
The interview smiles kindly, question cards in his hand. “Mr. President,” he begins, “what is it like holding all the responsibility of leading the United States?”
Rafe doesn’t hesitate.
He straightens, shoulders squared, voice smooth practiced. “It’s an honor,” he says. “Every day I wake up knowing my duty is to protect this country. To protect the world from threats people don’t even see coming.”
A few approving nods ripple through the room.
“I don’t take that lightly,” he continues. “Leadership means sacrifice. It means strength. And it means making the hard decisions so others don’t have to.”
The cameras adore him. They always did.
You sit beside him, hands folded neatly, expression composed, the perfect picture of support, like he made you practice. No one asks what leadership costs the people closest to the President.
No one ever does
Rafe reaches for your arm not gently, not cruelly, just firm enough to remind you that you belong to him. His fingers dig into your sleeve as he pulls you half a step closer, positioning you the way he wants.
“Smile,” he mutters under his breath. “You look tired.”
You are tired.
But you smile anyway.
The interviewer turns to you next, voice softening. “And how do you feel supporting the most powerful man in the world?”
You open your mouth to answer, but Rafe cuts in before you can.
“She doesn’t worry about things like that,” he says, laughing sharply. “That’s my job.”
A few people shift uncomfortably. Someone behind the camera clears their throat.
You try again. “I think—”
Rafe’s hand tightens. “I said I’ve got it.”
Your heart stutters, but something in you small, desperate, aching pushes back.
“I can speak for myself,” you say.
It comes out quiet. Careful. Almost apologetic.
Rafe turns slowly.
“What did you say?”
You don’t answer. You can’t. The room feels too small, too full of eyes pretending to be blind.
He steps closer and grabs your face, fingers firm against your jaw, forcing you to look at him. His smile never reaches his eyes.
“No,” he says softly. “Say it again.”
Your lips part, but no sound comes out.
“That’s what I thought,” he snaps, releasing you like you’re something unpleasant. “You embarrass yourself when you talk. Let me handle it.”
The silence that follows is loud.
Too loud.
You can feel eyes darting between you and him, the way people look at something they’re not supposed to notice.
You stare at the floor. The carpet pattern is familiar. You’ve memorized it over the years.
When the interview finally wraps, Rafe doesn’t wait for the room to clear.
“When this is done,” he says flatly, turning to the producers, “I want to be in the editing room. I’ll decide what stays.”
No one argues.
You feel something sting behind your eyes sharp and humiliating. You blink hard, lifting your hand to wipe it away before it falls.
Too late.
Rafe’s head snaps toward you. His voice drops, dangerous and quiet.
“Don’t cry.”
You freeze.
“Not here,” he adds. “Get yourself together.”
The cameras are off now, but the room still feels watched. You nod, swallowing everything back down until it burns.
That afternoon, the West Wing is glowing gold with evening light, and Holly, you and Rafe’s six-year-old daughter, is standing at the window again.
She doesn’t hear you at first.
Her forehead is pressed gently against the glass, small hands cupped around her eyes like she’s trying to see farther than the world will let her.
“Holly?” you ask softly.
She turns, hopeful for just a second — then it fades when she sees it’s only you.
“I’m waiting for Daddy,” she says.
Your chest tightens. “What are you waiting for, sweetheart?”
“He said he might come home early today.” She shrugs like she’s trying to be brave. “He didn’t say for sure.”
You walk over and kneel beside her, pulling her close. She smells like soap and crayons and the safety he never seems to bring with him.
“Why is he never here?” she asks quietly. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” you say immediately, too fast. “No, baby. Never.”
She watches your face, too smart for six years old. “Then why?”
You look back out the window at the gates, the guards, the world he belongs to more than he ever belonged to either of you.
“He’s… protecting people,” you say carefully. “The whole world, really. It’s a very big job.”
Holly nods, thinking hard about that. “So he’s a hero?”
You hesitate. Just for a second.
“Yes,” you say finally. “He is.”
She smiles, satisfied for now, and rests her head against your shoulder.
You stay there long after the sun disappears, holding your daughter, staring at a window that never seems to open wondering how long you can keep lying to both of you.
You look back out the window at the gates, the guards, the world he belongs to more than he ever belonged to either of you.
This house never sleeps. It just pretends
The halls are too quiet tonight, the kind of quiet that presses against your ribs until breathing feels like rebellion. Somewhere down the corridor, a clock ticks with the authority of a judge. You wonder how many secrets these walls have swallowed whole.
You already know the answer.
Rafe doesn’t look at you when you enter the bedroom. His suit jacket is tossed over the chair like an afterthought, his cufflinks still on always half-present, even when he’s here. Even when he’s with you.
You are the First Lady of the United States.
And yet you have never felt smaller.
Holly is asleep down the hall. You checked on her twice already the soft rise and fall of her chest grounding you in something real. Rafe hadn’t noticed. He rarely does.
Tonight is supposed to be different.
You tell yourself that like it’s a campaign slogan.
You cross the room, the carpet swallowing your steps, and when he finally turns toward you, there’s a flicker of surprise irritation, maybe like he forgot you existed until now.
You don’t argue.
You don’t accuse.
You just reach for him.
For a moment, it almost works.
Your hands slide in his pajama pants, on his cock, familiar and practiced, fingers teasing as you press your lips to his neck. He inhales sharply like he’s starving and then suddenly the world tilts.
Rafe flips you onto your back without hesitation, his weight settling over you as if this is instinct. He lines himself up to your vagina before quickly, thrusting into you. There’s no patience in it, no tenderness — just urgency, just need, just habit.
The world narrows. The noise fades. There’s warmth, familiarity, the ghost of what this used to be. You close your eyes and pretend this is a marriage instead of a performance.
And then he moans her name.
It slips out of him like muscle memory.
Not yours.
Your body stills instantly. You pull away, pushing against his chest, the spell snapping so hard it hurts.
“What did you just call me?” Your voice is calm too calm.
Rafe stiffens. His jaw tightens, eyes darkening like he’s been waiting for this.
“You’re hearing things.”
He pulls back abruptly, the warmth gone in an instant. He looks at you like you’ve broken something.
“You see how you ruin everything?” he snaps. “I’m not even in the mood for sex anymore.”
He shifts away from you, already reaching for the edge of the bed, already done.
You sit there for a second, stunned, before tying your robe around yourself with shaking hands. The fabric feels too thin, too exposed. Rafe doesn’t look at you as he goes to the closet, yanking clothes from hangers, movements sharp and irritated.
You let out a laugh that doesn’t sound like it belongs to you.
“Don’t do that,” you say. “Don’t lie to me like I’m stupid.”
“I said nothing,” he snaps, already defensive. “You’re always looking for a fight.”
“No,” you say quietly. “I’m always finding proof.”
Silence stretches between you, thick and suffocating.
Something in your chest finally gives.
“I’ve loved you for years, Rafe,” you say, and your voice cracks immediately. You hate that it does. “Years. I gave you everything.”
He doesn’t respond.
“My life,” you choke out. “My name. My silence. I gave you a beautiful daughter.”
Rafe exhales sharply, impatient. “You’re being dramatic.”
That’s when it turns.
“You know,” you say, sitting up straighter despite the tears, heart pounding, “you are a terrible husband.”
His head snaps up.
“You cheat,” you continue. “You don’t even bother hiding it anymore. You know I know and you do it anyway.”
“That’s enough.”
“And you’re a worse father,” you go on, the words spilling now. “Holly barely knows you. She waits for you by the window when you say you’ll come home, and you never do. Do you even realize what that does to her?”
Rafe stands abruptly. “Don’t bring her into this.”
“She’s already in it,” you fire back. “Just like the rest of the world would be if they saw who you really are. If they knew how fucking shitty you are behind closed doors…how the great President Cameron treats his own family like—”
The vase hits the wall behind you before you can finish the sentence.
Glass shatters. Something crashes to the floor. Your heart slams into your throat as fragments rain down like fallout.
Rafe doesn’t flinch.
He just stands there, chest rising fast, eyes burning with something that isn’t regret it’s rage.
“Maybe,” he says coldly, grabbing clothes from the closet, “if you weren’t so fucking ungrateful… if you knew how to keep your mouth shut and be a good wife”
You say nothing.
You don’t have to.
He yanks on his jacket, buttons it wrong, doesn’t care. As he storms past you, he doesn’t look back.
The door slams.
And for the first time, the White House feels exactly as empty as your marriage.
🦢𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑’𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄🦢
Hello everyone! This is my first ever fanfic that I’ve written, and I really hope you all love it. 🤍
Please don’t be shy if you have any requests, I’m open! I mainly write for Rafe Cameron, but I might be open to others too.
I hope you all enjoy it and find it as fun (and dark) as I did writing it. Also give me your guys honest opinions on what you guys think. I really wanna know some feedback and if there’s anything I should fix or do differently. I would also greatly appreciate it if you guys would re-blog it🤍
⊹ ࣪ ˖ SUMMARY ♥︎ rafe is looking after your daughter while you go out on a date.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ CONTENT TAGS ♥︎ fluff! ꒰ 𝟏𝐤 ꒱
⊹ ࣪ ˖ AUTHOR'S NOTE ♥︎ happy valentine’s day!! i don’t have a valentine but i do have an imagination!!
MOUSE READER જ⁀➴ ♥︎ RAFE CAMERON ⊹ ࣪ ˖
you hadn't been on a date since anastasia was born.
looking at your own reflection in the mirror, you smoothed down the floral dress you were wearing, turning around, trying to see yourself from every angle possible. having your daughter had made you feel somewhat insecure about your body, had caused you to question every single outfit you thought about wearing.
but then you thought back to how you'd met him.
you tried your best to take anastasia on a walk every day, knowing that fresh air was good for babies. now, the infant was sleeping peacefully in her stroller as you stood in front of the library shelf. you got on the tip of your toes, trying to reach a book that was on the top shelf, your fingers just about reaching it, only for a larger hand to easily pluck it up.
you turned to see a dark-haired man standing there, a smile on his lips as he held the book out for you, "here you go."
"thanks..." you mumbled softly, your cheeks feeling warm due to his closeness.
the two of you ended up talking for almost an hour, until anastasia started stirring and getting fussy, signaling that you should be getting home. however, you exchanged numbers with jonathan and you'd been texting each other the whole week, until he asked you on a date.
honestly, you looked much better now than you had on the day you'd first met him, or at least much more put together.
there was a knock on your door, and you pulled on your favorite cardigan, checking the clock. shockingly, not only was rafe on time, but he was actually five minutes early.
you went to the door, pulling it open to find your ex standing there, his hands in the pockets of his jeans; the injuries you'd patched up seemed to slowly be getting better. this time, instead of barging in, rafe waited for you to welcome him in.
as you held open the door, rafe walked in, looking around a little bit, "so, you were askin' me to look after stasia?" rafe turned to you.
"just for a few hours. i fed her, and i put her down a while ago, so when she wakes up, you're probably gonna have to change her. if she's hungry, there's some milk in the fridge that i pumped today, if she gets too fussy you can call me, my phone's gonna be unmuted, but if you can't get ahold of me, my mom's-"
"hey." rafe grabbed a hold of your forearms, stroking your arms with his thumbs, "anastasia and i will be fine. you've left me alone with her before."
"yeah, but that was a fifteen-minute walmart run."
"i can spend two hours with my daughter. if i feel like i can't, i'll call you immediately." you narrowed your eyes at rafe, only for rafe to widen his eyes.
"you're going on a date, aren't you?" you heard him mumble, your head nodding on its own. "i hope you have fun."
"if something-"
"-if something happens with our daughter i'll call you. if i can't get a hold of you, i'll call your mom. if i can't get a hold of her, 911." rafe laughed, pushing a strand of your hair behind your ear, "i'm not an idiot."
"are you sure you're alright with this?"
rafe swallowed the doubts he was having, cupping your cheek and smiling reassuringly, "have fun. i'll be here."
throughout the entire night, the only thing on your mind was anastasia and rafe.
when jonathan asked questions about you, or about your interests, you found yourself thinking about your daughter, about her interests. when he asked for your favorite book, you found yourself forcing yourself to not say charlotte's web.
but when you opened the door to your home, you could hear rafe baby-talking, and the moment you looked to the living room, you saw anastasia lying on her play mat, little legs weakly kicking in the air as anastasia's eyes struggled to stay open.
it was the most adorable thing you'd ever witnessed.
"she’s good." rafe spoke, turning to you with a smile, "ana woke up a bit after you left. i think she sensed her favorite person wasn't there." he chuckled, "i changed her and fed her, but she was still screechin'. then i found this thing." rafe looked to the play mat. "i showed her a video of you and she immediately started laughin’ and clappin’."
"she did not start laughing when she saw me." you crossed your arms. "she did. swear to god." rafe smirked, taking your hand, "i'll prove it to you. but you owe me a kiss if she laughs." "deal."
rafe brought his lips to yours, your eyes widening as you found yourself responding to his kiss.
"just claiming my prize early." rafe mumbled against your lips before pulling you into another kiss.
summary you work two jobs. by day, you’re a maid for the cameron household, where rafe teases you any chance he can get. by night, you’re a cam girl, hiding your face so nobody can recognize you. when you discover your new subscriber, the filthy-mouthed man obsessively paying you to do everything he can think of, is rafe, you’re not sure what to do next.
» masterlist
note this is a repost of series i wrote. the smut is FILTHY and KINKY!!! you’ve been warned <3
“Make sure to bend down real low.” Rafe’s deep voice startles you.
You’re kneeling down as you fill the freezer with the groceries that were just delivered. You thought you were alone in the kitchen, but sure enough, Rafe is teasing you again.
You don’t even need to turn to look at him to know he’s wearing a self-satisfied smirk. A depraved part of you is excited he’s there.
“Is there anything I can get you?” you mumble, your attention still focused on your work, trying to remain professional.
“Is that the only uniform they give you?” he asked. “You don’t have anything tighter?”
You stand and turn to finally look at him. His baseball hat is on backwards and his arms are crossed, large biceps bulging beneath the hem of his t-shirt.
You smooth down the loose gray knee-length dress you’re wearing and you swear he’s undressing you with his coy blue eyes. You hate that it arouses you when he looks at you like that. It always gets you so sexually frustrated.
But you’ve gotten used to Rafe teasing you. You’re sure he gets off on it. There are other maids but you’re the only one he does this to.
“Nope, this is it,” you say, trying to stifle the flirtatious tone your voice naturally lifts to around him. But you can tell he catches the smile tugging at your lips.
“Too bad.” Rafe knocks on the kitchen island before turning to leave. “I know you’re hiding a nice ass under there.”
You feel your cheeks burn as you go back to work. You only come to the estate on Wednesdays and Saturdays and you appreciate every dollar you can make as a struggling college student. Thankfully, your other job as a cam girl has been bringing in more and more money.
- - -
After you finish up your day at the Camerons’ home, you drive your rusted, old car to your apartment in the south part of the island. The space is tiny, but it’s yours, and it’s good enough for now.
You go live for half an hour at 10 pm every other night of the week. Getting your start as a cam girl took some time, but now you have 32 subscribers and are starting to make good money off the website.
Tonight, you’re dressed in a black push-up bra and matching thong. You never show your face higher than your lips, refusing to risk anyone recognizing you.
This is just for the money, although you can admit to yourself that you find pleasure in knowing you can turn on so many strangers with your body. You sit on your bed, your toys ready off-screen.
Over your last session, a new user with the screen-name figure8 joined your chat. It threw you for a loop for a moment, prompting you to worry it was somebody you know from the Kooks’ part of the island, but the chances are slim. Figure 8 is a general term and the man could be from anywhere.
“Hey,” you say slowly. “How was everyone’s day? Mine was so long.”
figure8 didn’t say anything the other night, just watched and subscribed at the end of the stream, but tonight, he types something a minute into the session as you sit in front of the camera, running your hands over your satin bra.
figure8: you gonna show those perfect tits?
You giggle, immediately stepping into your cam girl persona. You check to see that twelve users are now viewing your stream.
“You’d like that, huh?” you ask, peeling off a bra strap. “Anyone else wanna see what’s underneath?”
You notice the bouncing dots on the screen that tell you that viewers are typing.
v2bo: yes
dragon89: take it off
stonyon: play with your tits
You strip off your bra, touching yourself, your breath hitching as arousal tightens in your core.
Without hesitation, you picture Rafe’s hands on you. He’s always on your mind during your cam sessions as you impulsively imagine his broad frame on top of you, dominating you.
You try to play it off when he taunts you at work, but it’s not until you’re touching yourself that you realize just how much it turns you on when he talks to you the way he does in his deep, mocking tone.
figure8: you like to get your tits played with?
You smirk, surprised someone is asking you what you enjoy. Typically, viewers like to simply compliment you or order you around, but you never get asked about your preferences.
“I love getting my tits played with,” you purr.
You press your arms to squeeze your tits together.
figure8: you like a cock between your tits don’t you princess
The sexy nickname makes you quiver a little. You bite your bottom lip.
“I’m so wet already,” you moan. “And thinking about a cock right here…”
You take a dildo you keep off-screen and place it between your tits. You part your lips as you rub the toy up and down, hearing the chimes of tips from your chat coming in.
figure8: bet you’re so good at sucking dick. i’d fuck your tits and that pretty little mouth so nicely
“You wanna see how I use my mouth?” you tease.
v2bo: deepthroat
You put the tip of the dildo on your tongue, flicking and rolling it. When you finally put your mouth around it, you close your eyes, thinking of Rafe in his kitchen, thinking of getting on your knees and sucking him off.
dragon89: put it in your pussy
A new notification pops up on your screen: figure8 is requesting a private show. Your heart-rate skyrockets.
You’d never gotten the request before. You had set the rate at $250 for a private session, half-expecting that you wouldn’t get any takers. You’re excited about the money and the fact that this new, intriguing viewer is the one who requested it.
You quickly type privately to figure8: This session ends at 10:30 and then I’m all yours, baby.
You continue to play with the dildo using your mouth, getting it wet all over, when a private chat comes in from figure8. how much for u to end the live and go private with me right now?
You don’t want to risk asking for too much and scaring the man away, but the possibility of making more in a private session than you would in a live one is compelling.
You never know much the live sessions will bring, but a private show is guaranteed money. Ending your session early might piss off your subscribers and maybe even make you lose some of them… but you impulsively reply: $1000.
Within a few seconds, you get a tip notification.
figure8 tipped you $1000.
You quickly end your live session, deciding to later tell your subscribers that your internet went out, then open the private session with figure8.
“Hello,” you whisper. “You want me to be your own personal toy, huh?”
figure8: i dont share
You laugh. If he’s willing to continue to pay you for private sessions, you’re happy to oblige.
“What would you like to see?” you ask. “You wanna see how I’d suck your cock?”
figure8: tap it against your mouth
“You’d tease me, wouldn’t you?” you whisper. You tap the dildo on your lips, sticking out your tongue.
figure8: princess i’d go so slow with you until you’re soaked and begging for my cock
You feel yourself get wetter reading his words. He’s not like any of the other viewers you’ve had. He’s asking what you like, calling you a sweet name, not rushing anything.
“You want me aching for it, huh?” you purr. You put the dildo in your mouth again, slowly sucking and slurping.
figure8: that mouth is so fucking pretty
You continue to lick and suck, moaning on the toy, your panties drenched now.
“I want it inside me,” you say, realizing you’re not even speaking through your persona anymore. You’re actually turned on by him, actually wanting to fuck yourself with the dildo.
figure8: not yet. keep sucking it
You giggle, half-frustrated, and obey him.
“You touching yourself right now?” you ask.
figure8: yeah. wanna see?
You have the option of enabling media from viewers, but you never thought you’d want to see a stranger like that. But this man is something else. You click on the button to allow him to send you a photo.
“Send it so I can imagine you hard in my mouth,” you purr.
A few moments pass before the picture comes in. He’s lying down in bed, showing a bit of his toned stomach, his large hand at the base of his dick. It’s thick and long and so damn perfect.
“Shit,” you whisper. “Such a nice cock. I don’t think I could fit it all in my mouth.”
You’re not just saying it to flatter him. He’s huge.
figure8: you could if you tried hard enough
You lick your lips, pushing the dildo deep into your mouth, gagging a little.
figure8: the way you choke on it is so hot. fuck
“How am I doing?” you half-whisper.
figure8: such a good girl. let me see how you touch your pussy. keep the panties on
The praise makes you ache for it even more. This started off as a job, a way to make money, but now you’re genuinely excited, wishing this guy could fuck you for real.
You tilt your laptop down, spreading your legs in front of the camera as you sit on your bed. Your thong is still on, but it’s see-through. You watch yourself on the screen, tits still in view as you put your hand over your pussy.
figure8: be slow with it
“You’re torturing me, you know,” you giggle. “I’m not a patient girl.”
figure8: i’ll make u be patient. i want u to beg
“Please let me take these panties off,” you whimper. “I need to touch myself.”
figure8: put your panties to the side
You obey, moaning at the pleasure of your fingers finally on your clit. You rub in circles and up and down, trembling.
figure8: wish i could eat you out right now. you want my mouth on your pussy?
“Fuck, I’d love that,” you say, imagining Rafe looking up at you through his beautiful eyes as he licks you.
figure8: show me how wet you are. put your fingers up to the camera
You do as you’re told, showing him your wetness as it shimmers in the white light from the screen.
“See how much you turn me on?” you say.
figure8: take the panties off and stretch out your pussy for me
You eagerly slide your underwear off and throw them beside your bed. With your legs spread again, you pull your lips apart, giving him the perfect view.
figure8: good girl. you listen so well
You get a notification that he tipped you $500. You never thought you’d make this much money in one night.
“Thank you, baby,” you giggle. “You love this pussy, huh?”
figure8: ur so fucking perfect. i want to cum inside u. put the dildo in nice and slow, princess
“Finally,” you say. “Your cock would slide in so easily right now. I’m so fucking wet.”
The toy fills you perfectly, making you quiver. You start to slowly thrust it in and out, but the chat chimes again.
figure8: i know you’re needy but i said slow. put the dildo in and move your hand. i wanna see it inside you
“Sorry,” you tease. You move your hand so he can see the toy inside you. You watch yourself in the screen, the dildo hugged perfectly between your walls.
figure8: you’d squeeze my cock so fucking well
“What if you’re too big for me, hmm?”
figure8: princess we’d make it fit
You’re nearly writhing at this point. You scroll back up to see his nude photo again, imagining it inside of you.
“Your dick is so fucking nice,” you groan.
figure8: show me how you like to be fucked. make yourself cum. don’t fake it. i wanna hear u cum for real
You obey, thankful he’s finally letting you orgasm. You hold the base of the toy and plunge it in and out of you, the lewd sound filling your bedroom, and use your other hand to rub your clit. You whimper, making sure to keep your face out of frame, imagining this stranger thrusting into you.
You let the sounds of pleasure spill out of your mouth, uninhabited, knowing he’s stroking his dick to you right now.
The orgasm hits you hard, your legs shaking. You’re panting as you look at your screen to see what he said.
figure8: i just came so fucking hard
“I wish your cum was inside of me,” you say breathlessly. You try to catch your breath as he continues to type.
figure8: what’s ur favorite position?
“Doggy,” you say, surprised he wants to know more. “What’s yours?”
figure8: thats mine too. you can show me next time, princess
“You wanna do this again, huh?” you tease.
figure8: i dont want you showing your body to any other guy. i’ll pay you double what you make on your streams if you only do private shows for me
The idea intrigues you. It’s sexy how he doesn’t want to share you at all.
“How often you want to do these, baby?” you ask.
figure8: every night. i’ll give you 1000 for every show and tips for when you deserve it. i want to buy you some things and watch you use them. you’re mine and mine only
The thought of making $1000 a night is unbelievable. This guy is loaded with cash and wants to spend so much on you.
You would lose the following you worked hard to get, but you’d undoubtedly make way more money being this man’s personal cam girl.
“Deal,” you finally say with a disbelieving laugh. “Same time tomorrow?”
figure8: don’t be late
The chat window notifies you that he left. You’re still breathless, shocked at how you didn’t have to fake the orgasm with him.
You scroll to find his photo again, as if you’re addicted to looking at it. You turn your camera off and now that you can angle your screen up, you can take a better look at the image.
Your stomach drops. The gold ring around his forefinger. The bedsheets you change twice a week. You know who it is.
WARNINGS .ᐟ unprotected p in v, breeding kink if you squint, heavyyyy angst, rafe being an asshole (as per usual), brief mentions of guns/police raid and drugs
NOTES .ᐟ guys, i need him so bad, like actually. based on this concept from my silly little brain. dad!rafe stays in my mind 24/7, but this is me we're talking about, so of course, i had to put a lil spin on it. also this turned out way longer than i meant it to, woah
After almost four years, you were finally starting to feel like you were getting your shit together. You were living in a nice house in a nice neighborhood where everyone knew everyone—the kind of place where people literally asked their neighbors for cups of sugar. You had a stable job that allowed you to live comfortably and provide for yourself and your daughter, and you had a big St. Bernard, lovingly named Moonshine after you'd watched one too many episodes of Moonshiners, that provided a sense of safety and security when the nights were cold and the paranoia started to creep into your mind.
Being a single mom was not easy, and it definitely hadn't been a part of your life plan, but then, you met Rafe Cameron—the ever charming, sweet talking man that he was. He swept you up and made you feel like the only girl in the world, like nothing else mattered as long as you were by his side, so when you found out you were pregnant, you were over the moon at the idea of starting a family with him.
But Rafe Cameron was a liar. He was selfish and manipulative, and he turned your life right on it's head.
You could still remember the day the police kicked in the door of your apartment, bursting in with guns drawn, pointed directly at you. You were eight months pregnant and having a gun pointed at you—at your baby—made you physically ill.
They had raided the apartment and found copious amounts of drugs. Your heart dropped, and you immediately felt like an idiot. How had you not known? You knew he made more money than he realistically should have, but the thought never even crossed your mind that this could be the reason. You were heartbroken and angry. Angry that he had lied. Angry that he put you in this position. And, angry that he was leaving you.
Rafe was arrested, and eventually charged with possession with intent to distribute due to the amount of drugs they found, which resulted in a five year sentence. You were sad and angry, not only because you were losing the man you always thought was the love of your life, but also because now, you were alone, and your daughter wouldn't know her father for the first five years of her life.
This anger and resentment festered, mixing with longing and a deep, aching sadness. You couldn't bring yourself to answer his calls or letters, let alone visit him. You didn't know who he was anymore. The man that you saw sporting handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit at his trial was not the same man you fell in love with, and you wouldn't pretend like he was.
You had known Rafe's release date was approaching, but you were under the impression that you still had a little over a year to plan on what you were going to do when it finally came. That's why you were so unsuspecting when you went to answer the harsh knock at your door.
It was a Thursday night, and you were cuddled up on the couch with Moonshine, who was practically the size of you. A horror movie was playing on the TV before you, one you'd seen practically a million times, and every few minutes, your gaze would flicker to the baby monitor on the coffee table that displayed the feedback from a camera in your daughter, Rhiannon's, room.
You jumped a little at the harsh sound of a knock on your front door, the horror movie already having you on edge. You could be paranoid sometimes, especially being a single mom, so realistically, you knew you shouldn't have been watching it so late at night, but they were your guilty pleasures that you couldn't indulge in the light of day because of your toddler.
Moonshine immediately jumped up, a low growl escaping his throat as his hair stood on end. Your brows furrowed at his odd behavior, pausing the movie and unfurling yourself from your comfortable position. Your steps were soft on the hardwood, your socks cushioning the sound as you padded over to the front door, patting the dog's head comfortingly as you unlocked the door, completely unaware with what would greet you on the other side.
As you opened the door, the cool night air hit you, carrying with it the faint scent of cigarette smoke. You blinked in surprise, expecting to see a neighbor, but instead, you found yourself face to face with Rafe Cameron.
Your eyes widened, the air knocked from your lungs as you took him in. He was changed, broader and more imposing, his muscles flexing under his tight black t-shirt as he crossed his arms. His hair was buzzed, his chiseled jawline sporting stubble that made him look older, more mature.
He looked so different, but still, somehow, the same. You were hit by a wave of emotions—longing, love, sadness, but most presently, anger. Who did he think he was showing up unannounced in the middle of the night after all these years, especially looking so unapologetic and devastatingly handsome.
His piercing blue eyes bore into yours, captivating and dangerous like a wave pulling you under when you least expected it. "Hey, baby," he greeted, his voice low and smooth, like honey dripping off his tongue. The term of endearment fell from his lips without any semblance of warmth as he stared at you with an intensity that made you want to shrink in on yourself.
"What are you doing here?" You asked, your jaw clenching and grip on the door's edge tightening. You shivered a little as the cold air bit at your bare skin, barely registering the low growls of Moonshine behind you due to your tunnel vision on the man standing before you.
He smirked confidently, knowing the effect he had on you—the effect he always had on you. His eyebrow arched as he took in your appearance, his eyes lingering on your bare thighs, courtesy of your pajama shorts. "Aren't you going to invite me in, sweetheart? It's been a long time." He took a step forward, his broad frame filling the doorway intimidatingly.
You swallowed hard, resisting the urge to step back and let him intimidate you into getting what he wanted. You craned your neck to look up at him, his close proximity looming over you, making him seem even taller and more imposing than he already was. "And whose fault is that?" You managed to say, despite the pit in your stomach—a mix of dread, anxiety, and strangely, desire.
Rafe's gaze sharpened, his eyes glinting dangerously. He uncrossed his arms and braced one hand on the doorframe beside your head, leaning in closer. It made your breath catch in your throat, but you held firm. You couldn't let him see that he was getting to you. "Let me in," he clenched his jaw. His anger at you for abandoning him in there had been bubbling up, and your defiance was bringing it to the surface.
A light flickering on in the house across the street caught your eye. Old lady Flanigan had a habit of making everyone else's business, her business, and she was a nasty gossip. Unless you wanted people talking, you either had to let him in or get him to leave, and one of those would be a nearly impossible feat. "Rafe, you can't be here. You can't just barge back into my life after all this time," you told him firmly, your own eyes blazing with a fiery intensity.
"And why not?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. His body was practically vibrating with pent-up anger, his muscles taut as he leaned in closer, his breath fanning across your face. "Did you ever think about me? Did you ever think about what you did to us?"
"What I did?" You scoffed, anger bubbling up inside you at his accusation, blaming you as if he wasn't the one that went to prison and left you alone. "Are you fucking kidding me?" The old woman across the street was now shamelessly watching through her window, and you knew you had no choice but to let him in before her nosey ass called the cops on the strange, clearly out of place man lurking in the neighborhood.
He followed your eyes, looking over his shoulder to the nosy neighbor, his expression darkening. Without another word, he pushed past you, entering the house and forcing you to step back.
Your jaw clenched at his blatant disregard or respect for your wishes as you gently closed the door behind you. Moonshine barked, baring his teeth at the intruder, clearly sensing the tension and jumping into action to protect his family. "Moonshine, stop," you told him firmly. You were proud of him, but you didn't want his barking to wake Rhiannon. The last thing you could deal with right now was Rafe and a crying toddler. You could only focus on one temper tantrum at a time.
Rafe's eyes narrowed as he watched you control your dog, a muscle ticking in his jaw. His gaze then swept the interior of your home, taking in every detail as if memorizing it. "Nice place," he commented flatly, turning back to face you. "Where's my kid?"
You took a deep breath, your gaze hard at him calling your daughter his kid, like he had any right. He didn't even know her name or that she was a girl. "She's asleep," you told him, crossing your arms over your chest.
His piercing eyes bore into yours, unyielding. "Her name." he demanded gruffly.
"Rhiannon," you informed him hesitantly, your gaze darting to the monitor on the coffee table, making sure she was still asleep.
His expression flickered briefly, a flash of something softer, almost vulnerable, in his eyes before it was quickly concealed. He nodded once. "I want to see her." It wasn't a request. His posture remained tense and coiled, ready to react to your response.
You huffed, running a hand through your hair and heading to the kitchen with him hot on your heels. Maybe you wanted to busy yourself. Maybe you wanted an excuse not to have to look at him. Maybe you just wanted to walk away from him, to assert some kind of power. Either way, your next words were spoken with your back to him. "I told you. She's asleep. It's the middle of the fucking night, Rafe, what did you expect?"
He followed you into the kitchen, his presence overwhelming in the small space. The air felt charged, thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension. "I don't give a fuck what time it is," he growled, his voice low and intense. "I've missed four years of her life already."
You rounded the kitchen island, planting your hands on it as you turned to face him, feeling more comfortable with the counter between you. Not because you were scared of him but because, despite yourself and despite your anger, you longed to touch him and have him touch you. "And whose fucking fault is that, huh?" You asked angrily, echoing your earlier words that he had ignored.
Rafe's expression darkened, his jaw clenching as he stared back at you. The muscle in his jaw clenched as he ground his teeth together, trying to rein in his anger. "Yours," he bit out. "You left me in there," he accused.
"You left me out here!" Your voice raised slightly before you caught yourself, letting out a hard breath. The only way you could keep yourself from getting sad, from crying over the loss of the only man you'd ever truly loved, was getting angry at him.
"You think I wanted to go to prison?" He hissed, rounding the island and backing you against the counter. "You think I had a fucking choice?"
"You did have a choice," you said sharply, bracing your hands on the counter behind you as you stared up at him. "You chose to deal drugs, and you chose to keep dealing even after you found out I was pregnant. Prison was just the consequence of all your shitty choices."
His hand came up, slamming on the cabinet beside your head, the sound making you jump slightly. "And what about you?" He seethed, his chest heaving as his breath came in short, angry bursts. "What about your choices, huh? You could've waited for me."
"I did what I had to do," you said, glaring at him. You weren't quite sure what else to say. You had to protect yourself, your own feelings, and your child. You couldn't have stayed in touch, sick with worry every night while you soothed a colicky baby all by yourself. You had to forget him; it was better that way, easier.
"What you had to do," he repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm and the faintest hint of hurt. "You moved on pretty quick, didn't you? Found some new dick to warm your bed, is that it?"
"Fuck you," you spat, the words stabbing you like a knife to the heart. You hadn't been able to bring yourself to even look at another man since he went away. You told yourself it was just because of Rhiannon, that you were focusing on raising her and being the best mother you could be, but deep down, you knew it was because your heart would always belong to Rafe.
"Is that it?" he repeated, his face inches from yours. His voice was low, his eyes searching yours for something. "You found some other man to replace me?"
"Maybe I have," you said stubbornly. You knew you were being petty, wanting him to hurt like you hurt, but you also knew you were a shit liar, so there was no way in hell he would actually believe you. "Maybe I have moved on."
His other hand shot out, gripping your chin roughly as he forced you to look at him. "Bullshit," he growled, looking down at you, his blue eyes darkened. "I can see it in your eyes. You haven't moved on to shit."
You stared up at him defiantly, your chest heaving with anger, which only intensified when you felt the wetness between your thighs. Even after all this time, all it took was a look and a simple touch to get you so wet, and as much as you hated it, you couldn't deny that something about his post-prison appearance—how rugged and large he was—made your knees week.
His hand tightened on your chin as he leaned in, pressing his lips to yours in a brutal, demanding kiss. It was clear he was angry, punishing you for the words you'd spoken, and you knew you should've pushed him away—yelled at him and told him to get the fuck out of your house—but you didn't.
Instead, you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer as you kissed him with an intensity that matched the war going on within you—the jumbled mess of love and hate that he had brought up within you.
He groaned into the kiss, his hands gripping your face roughly as he devoured your mouth. He pushed you further back against the counter that was now digging into your lower back, his body pinning you in place. You could feel his anger, his frustration, his desperation, and it only fueled your own emotions.
The kiss was raw and charged with a passionate mix of need, longing, and pure, unbridled anger, both of you trying to show the other that this wasn't a surrender of power or giving into the other and accepting blame. The kiss itself was an argument, a fight all of its own that didn't require words.
He hands went to your hips, lifting you onto the counter and stepping between your parted legs. Tearing his mouth from yours, he began kissing along your jawline and down the column of your throat. His lips were hot and insistent, his teeth nipping at your skin as he continued to mark you.
You panted, your chest heaving for an entirely different reason now as you let out soft gasps and breathy sounds of approval, your head falling back against the cabinet behind your head. You had forgotten how good he was with his mouth, always knowing exactly how to drive you wild.
He took advantage of the exposed column of your throat, sucking hard enough to leave a mark. His hands gripped your thighs, pulling you to the edge of the counter. You let out a low moan, your nails raking against his buzzed scalp. As sexy as he looked with a buzzcut, you wished you could run your fingers through his hair, tugging on it slightly everytime he touched you just right.
"Mmm," he hummed against your skin, his voice a low vibration that seemed to go straight to your core. He kissed his way back up to your mouth, his hips pushing forward to press his hardness against your core. "Did you forget how good I am, baby?"
You internally rolled your eyes at his cocky tone, like he had won. "God, do you ever shut up?" You asked, sounding less annoyed and effective since you were still breathless from his kisses.
His hips thrust forward again, making an involuntary whine fall from your lips at the feeling. "Not when I'm right." He smirked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. His smirk was as frustratingly handsome as it had always been, and it made you want to smack him and kiss him all at once. "And I am."
"Don't be a dickhead," you glared at him, his arrogance and your own unyielding need for him only heightening your frustration. You were desperate and aching for him, but you refused to give in and beg him like you wanted to.
"Then quit acting like you're not soaking wet for me." His grip on your thighs tightened, calloused fingers digging into the soft flesh. "I bet if I slipped my hand into your shorts, I'd find you drenched and ready for me, wouldn't I?"
His smug tone infuriated you and turned you on all at once. "Shut up, Rafe," you demanded, balling your fist into the fabric of his shirt and pulling him closer, so you could press your lips to his, forcing him to shut up and quit pissing you off.
Your grip on his shirt loosened, hand sliding down his hard, muscular chest to his waistband. You had always seen the trope of guys working out their frustrations in prison movies, but you didn't know that was actually a thing. Your fingers fumbled with his belt as he slipped his tongue into your mouth, sliding it along yours in a way that had you moaning against his lips
He groaned low in his throat as you finally worked the belt buckle open, sliding the leather through the loops and dropping it to the floor with a clank. His hands immediately slid up your thighs, hooking into the waistband of your shorts and pulling them down your legs—with the help of you awkwardly shifting to lift your ass enough to do so.
He discarded the garments to the floor with his belt, his palms running along your bare thighs as he parted your legs wider, opening you to him. His calloused fingertips brushed against your center, feeling your slick folds, making you gasp into his mouth. "Told you," he grinned against your lips, finding it in himself to be a complete dick, even when he was about to be inside you.
"Asshole," you mumbled, fingers deftly popping open the button of his jeans and unzipping them. You hooked your fingers in his waistband, shoving his pants and underwear down as he had done to you.
He kicked his pants and boxers off the rest of the way, stepping between your thighs again. His hard cock was flushed, the tip glistening with precum. He gripped himself at the base, rubbing the head through your slick folds teasingly. "What was that, baby?"
Your breath caught in your throat. "Just put your dick inside me before I kill you," you threatened him, though you both knew you wouldn't do anything, not really.
He chuckled lowly, the sound sending shivers down your spine. "You want it so bad, don't you?" He teased, his tip nudging against your entrance but not pushing inside. "Beg for it, baby. Let me hear how much you need my cock." He didn't need to be angry when he could punish you like this. He knew begging was the last thing you wanted to do, but he also knew that you'd do it.
"Don't piss me off right now, Rafe," you gritted your teeth, the feeling of him against your entrance making you dizzy with desire.
"Or what, baby? You'll what?" He pressed against you again, the tip of his cock pushing inside just slightly before pulling back out. "Tell me what you'll do if I don't give you what you want." He was pushing your buttons, knowing exactly how to make you snap.
You practically whimpered at the feeling of him pulling out. "Fuck- fine, please, Rafe," you panted, furious with yourself and him that you were giving into him. "Please just fuck me already."
The confident, victorious smirk that instantly appeared on his face had you wanting to slap him. "Now was that so hard?" He condescend. Your annoyed retort died in your throat as he finally pushed into you, making you moan, your head falling back against the cupboard at the feeling of him inside you after so long.
He groaned as your tight heat enveloped him, his fingers digging into your thighs hard enough to bruise as he started to move. His body tensed, using every ounce of his self control not to cum on the spot. Four years of fucking himself in his hand was nothing compared to the way you were squeezing him right now.
One hand moved up to your mouth, muffling your growing moans and whines. "Shh," he cooed. You were thankful for it. You knew you had to be quiet, but the way he was pounding into you made it nearly impossible.
"Did you miss me, baby?" He leaned down, breathing hotly against your neck as he nipped at your throat. "Did you lay awake at night thinking about me stretching you like this?" He flexed his hips, driving deep inside you.
You nodded, letting out a muffled "mhm" against his palm as your back arched into him. He felt so good, better than you'd remembered, and you hadn't had sex in four years, so you were so worked up.
"Good," he purred, his teeth scraping against your skin as he continued to pound into you relentlessly. "Because I missed you too, baby. Missed this tight little cunt wrapped around my dick." The hand on your thigh dipped down between your legs, his calloused thumb rubbing circles on your clit.
You gasped against his palm, your eyes rolling back at the mix of sensations. You were already so pathetically close, feeling that familiar aching deep within you.
He could feel your weepy cunt starting to flutter around him, and he was more than glad that you were so close so quickly because he didn't know how much longer he could hold back. "Gonna cum inside this pretty little pussy, baby. Gonna get you pregnant again, and this time I'm not gonna miss a damn thing"
His words turned you on more than they should have, snapping that coil inside you and sending you over the edge. You tensed around his dick, feeling your orgasm wash over you as you cried out his name.
"Shit, baby," he groaned, burying his face into your neck, his facial hair tickling your skin as he pushed himself deep inside you, painting your insides white with his release. His breath was hot against your already heated skin, a thin layer of sweat coating both your bodies as he slowly softened inside you.
Your chest rose and fell rapidly as you tried to catch your breath, his hand falling from your mouth to brace himself on the counter. You couldn't believe that after all these years of promising yourself you wouldn't let him back into your life, you had so easily opened your legs and even let him cum inside you—because clearly that worked out so well for you last time.
He stayed buried inside you for a moment, enjoying the warmth and the feeling of finally being home where he belonged. He eventually pulled out, his softening dick slipping from your tender cunt.
You had to tell him that he couldn't stay, that it would confuse Rhiannon to wake up to a strange man in the house, but you didn't know how, not after what just happened.
He stepped back, allowing you to get down from the counter. A silence fell over both of you as you got dressed, neither one knowing what happens now. He finished buttoning up his jeans, his eyes flicking up to you as he ran a hand over his buzzed head. "So... what now?" He asked gruffly, breaking the silence.
"You can't- you have to go," you told him, pulling your shorts back up and crossing your arms. It seemed unfair to say such a thing after sharing such an intimate moment, but you needed to think of your daughter. She didn't even know who Rafe was.
"You're kicking me out?" He echoed, as if he couldn't believe it. "After... that?" He gestured vaguely, a muscle in his jaw ticking.
You pinched the bridge of your nose, both of you finding yourselves right back where you started. "You cant just... be here. Rhiannon doesn't even know who you are." The words seemed cruel as soon as they left your lips, but they were true. You wished they weren't, but they were.
"I know. Fuck, I know that. Don't you think I know that?" He was frustrated, your words like a slap to the face. "But goddamn it, I want to know her. I want to be a part of her life."
"I'm not saying you can't be, but... she's four, Rafe. She's old enough that you can't just walk in and call yourself her father," you told him firmly. "It's going to take time. I don't want to overwhelm her."
"Time?" He asked incredulously. Deep down, he knew you were right, that you were doing what was best, but he was so angry at himself, and instead of facing that anger and acknowledging that this was his own doing, he was taking it out on you. "I've already missed four fucking years. First steps, first words, first everythings."
"I can't keep going in circles with you, Rafe," you ran your hand through your hair, utterly exhausted. "You do this my way, or you don't do this at all." It hurt you to be so cold. You wanted Rhiannon to know her father, but she was just a kid. She wouldn't understand why her dad just showed up out of the blue, and you didn't know how to explain it to her.
He stared at you, his face unreadable. For a long moment, neither of you said anything. Then, he spoke, his voice low. "Alright. Fine. Your way. But you better not shut me out again. I'm not gonna miss anymore. Understand?"
You nodded, thankful that he was going to stop fighting you on this. "Do you have a-a number or something?" You asked, unsure how long he'd been out, if he got his phone back and was able to pay the bill or if he bought a burner. You didn't even know where he was staying.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "It's the same as my old one," he said gruffly, clearly annoyed by your previous ultimatum.
"Right, okay," you nodded, your fingers drumming against your upper arm. You two stood in silence for a long moment. Rafe didn't want to leave, and you didn't want to tell him to.
Rafe's gaze fell to the floor, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed thickly. "Can I see her before I go?" He asked softly. "Just... just to see her."
There was a shift in his demeanor, a vulnerability about him that told you he really did care about Rhiannon, even if he'd never met her. "Yeah," you found yourself nodding, turning to lead him to her room. As you entered the living room, you could've sworn Moonshine was giving a disapproving side eye. "Don't judge me," you mumbled.
He followed you down the hallway, his heavy boots thudding on the floor. He paused in the doorway of Rhiannon's room, looking in on her sleeping form. She was curled up on her side in a princess toddler bed, her little arms wrapped around a stuffed cat. Rafe's expression softened as he took her in.
His eyes swept over the room, the nightlight plugged into the wall illuminating the space. The walls were painted a light shade of pink, toys strewn about. A small bookshelf sat tucked in the corner, various children's books inside, some sitting on the floor in front of it.
He stepped into the room, moving closer to the bed. He crouched down, his eyes fixed on Rhiannon's sleeping face as he reached out, his large hand gentle as he brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "She's so little," he murmured softly, almost reverently.
You leaned on the doorway, a small, sad smile pulling at your lips as you watched the exchange. You found yourself wondering what life would have been like if Rafe never got locked up, your heart aching as you thought about sharing all of Rhiannon's firsts with someone, bickering over whether she would've said mommy or daddy first. The wobbly first steps, the soothing and band-aid applications after she scraped her knees. What would it have been like to share those moments with him?
Rafe's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "She's beautiful." He turned his head to look at you, and you saw the sheen of moisture in his eyes. He blinked it away quickly, clearing his throat as he stood, masking his emotions as he always had. "I should go."
You hesitated, for a moment wanting to throw everything you'd said out the window and tell him to stay, but you knew you couldn't. You just nodded, letting him push past you. You didn't move from your spot, even after you heard the front door open and shut. You simply closed your eyes, leaning your head against the doorframe as a few tears rolled down your cheeks.
i absolutely adore it when y/n has a distinct background and personality. i adore it even more when a piece is completely self-indulgent, such as having race, features and all that.
ofc as long as it's all properly tagged. i'm very picky with what i read, so i understand anyone's dislike for such, but what i never do is actively voice my dislike for them, let alone ridicule them.
a reminder as old as time: x reader fics are written mostly to indulge ourselves first before anyone, so not every fic will cater to you.
find a writer that does what you're looking for or be the one to present yourself in the fic you want to see yourself in.
LET WRITERS HAVE FUN WITH THEIR Y/N
idgaf if y/n does things that i wouldn't have done, "mis-characterizing me" "couldn't be me" "id never do that" idgaffffff shut up.
if the fic is clearly not a blank slate kind of work, then that's an immediate tell that it's not written for everyone to just fit into it which is a sign for you to not read it.
those kinds of comments have done its course a long time ago, and it's time for you to start writing if you still have that mindset.
Patrick Stump | Everybody Here Wants You (Jeff Buckley Cover)
I know everybody here wants you
I know everybody here thinks he needs you
I’ll be waiting right here just to show you
How our love will blow it all away
summary: Joseph Quinn Character Fall 2025 Fic Exchange: Eddie Munson | It’s Eddie’s girls first day of school.
warnings: single dad!eddie, henderson sister!reader, teacher!reader, some tears are shed.
notes: This fic is a contribution to the @jqficexchange and was written for @xemmjx! Three lovely underwriters worked on this after the original author could no longer participate! So big thank you to, @punkrockmlchael and @peachyproserpina for writing the biggest portions of the story so quickly and to @glassbxttless for editing. We hope it’s enjoyable!
Eddie rubs over his face, wishing that he could ring the grogginess of a hazy Monday morning from his bones and wash it away as his alarm begins to sound for the third time this morning. It’s loud and sharp and never fails to wake him. The noise he’d always found to be obnoxious shoots a pain through his skull with each and every ring. He reaches over to hit the snooze button once more before finally gaining the motivation to roll himself out of bed. His bare feet hit the carpet of his bedroom before he takes a deep breath. He’s gotten barely any sleep once again, but he’s gotta get the ball rolling today, someone has to in this house. And he doesn’t quite entrust that task onto his oldest daughter quite yet. Moving with ease, he slides into the cleanest set of coveralls and socks he has— all of which were soaked in oil stains that just wouldn’t come out no matter how many times he’d washed them. He gives himself a quick once over in the mirror hanging above the dresser. His eyes flick up to his hair as he stands there long enough to sort his bangs out, his fingers moving quickly against the curls that lay flat against his temples and then down through the rest of his long curls. They get tangled with each movement he makes, accidentally tugging his own locks a little too roughly for his liking.
And then he’s off, padding down the long and tightly crowded hallway of his trailer. He stops at the second bedroom door, the only other occupied room in the place he’d been calling home since he left his Uncle’s. He opens the door as quietly as he possibly can and peeks his head inside. He can see the tops of two heads of dark brown hair cuddled up with one another. Both on the bottom bunk.
He smiles, pulling the door shut as he works his way back down into the kitchen, carefully and quietly turning on the coffee pot to help rejuvenate himself for the long day ahead. Today was finally the day both of his baby girls would be in school for the entirety of the day. Jane, now eight, was starting her first day of third grade and she couldn’t be more excited, she had told everyone at the store last night as they finished their last minute back to school shopping. Ashley, on the other hand, was a bit more timid and nervous to start kindergarden— she was freshly five years old with so much curiosity it would be her downfall one day. In fact, both of his girls were always wanting to learn and grow as much as they could about themselves and the world around them.
Eddie swears they got that from his ex, they had to have. The only thing he was curious about these days was why she decided to leave the state and give him full custody of their daughters— don’t get him wrong, he definitely was not complaining about that. He was just so utterly confused and struggled each time his daughters had asked where their mother was (yet another reason he hated all of the random questions they had always come up with). After a while, though, Jane understood. Maybe it was because she was getting older and seeing other kids around her going through similar situations. Maybe it was because she had always heard her father and Uncle Gareth talking late at night when she was supposed to be tucked into bed. Maybe it was because she was far wiser and more in tune with her surroundings than Eddie had ever wanted to admit. Be that as it may, he felt helpless that his daughters were struggling with these thoughts and feelings and he couldn’t help much. He knew they were yearning for some sort of motherly figure in their lives, and it hurt more than he wanted to admit that he just couldn’t fill that hole.
The beeping of the coffee machine brings Eddie back to reality. His eyes catch on the flashing green numbers of the microwave clock. He sighs softly, walking over to the girls’ bedroom again with a bit more speed than he had earlier, not wanting either girl to be late today. It was a big day for them, and despite being a single dad, he still wanted to make a good first impression on the girl’s teachers. Last he knew, both of their teachers had been there for ages— both being the backbone of the school, as they called themselves. Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Clarke, both of whom he was sure were older than the dirt the school was built on. And, while that’s mean to say (trust him, Jane would be the first one to tell him that), it meant that they was probably more strict than any other teacher in the entire Hawkins area.
Once Eddie enters the threshold of his daughter’s bedroom, he leans down, his spine creaking with each movement reminding him of just how much strain his job and age is putting on his 32 year old body. He shakes the thought from his mind, twisting on the little pink lamp on the bedside table.
“Girls? It’s time to get up.” His voice is softer, lighter than anyone in this town that had ever known Eddie could imagine his voice being. He smiles down at the brown eyes beginning to peer up at him. Their hair stands up every which way. If he was any other parent, he might’ve gotten choked up at the thought of it being his five year old’s first day of school and his eight year old’s first day of third grade; his girls just seem to be growing up so fast.
“Jane.” He tries again, the lightness of his tone beginning to melt away, replaced with something a bit more stern— with just a bit more urgency. They’d be late if they didn’t get a move on. And that’s the last thing he needed today… a target on his back for the entire school year from the teachers and other parents he had needed to impress so desperately.
Jane sits up slowly and lets out a groan of annoyance. Which as soon as he hears, he knows he'd done this part of his job flawlessly. He hears Ashley, giggling at something her sister mumbles as she gets herself dressed in her favorite outfit at the time, the light blue ruffled dress with her little ankle high white socks and the cutest little Mary Jane shoes known to man. Eddie smiles at that, he loves watching his daughters get ready on their own, expressing their own creativity no matter how unique they may be.
Eddie quickly makes his way back to the kitchen to pop a few pop-tarts into the toaster. He then darts into the bathroom himself to finish getting ready for the day as quickly as he could. He reaches into the jewelry dish on the back of the sink and slid his rings on— except for the very one he loathes to see but can’t bring himself to get rid of. Despite how everything ended, every time he looks at that specific ring he remembers the moments from his daughter’s lives that mean so much to him. Like finding out they were girls, the days they were born, the days they came home for the first time, the first times they had called him Daddy; there were too many memories involved with that little ring that sat dormant on the back of the sink. Maybe it was time to hide it deep in the safe and never look at it again.
“Daddy, can you do my hair?” Eddie looks down next to him where he hears Ashley’s voice. Her smile stretches wide across her face, revealing that she had lost one of her bottom front teeth. Eddie nods, setting her up on the edge of the sink as carefully as he can. He grabs her hair brush and a ponytail holder and brushes out her hair quietly, seemingly lost in his own head. He hears the quiet hums coming from Jane across the hall as he braids Ashley’s hair quickly. It turns out to be a very messy end product with a lot of loose hairs flying out but the smile on her face told him all that he ever needed to know: Ashley loves her daddy and was always so grateful for him.
The toaster pops up just as Jane stops at the counter. Eddie gently ushers Ashley to the table behind her. “All set?” He asks softly as he shoves his wallet off the counter into the back pocket of the coveralls.
Jane smiles, quietly eating her pop-tart as her sister stands on her tiptoes to reach the other pop-tart from the toaster quickly. “All set, dad.” Her voice has always reminded Eddie of himself. Something he used to wish she would’ve gotten from her mother, but now is so thankful for. Jane grabs her backpack, holding Ashley’s up for her as Eddie grabs the keys.
The drive to school is uneventful. The traffic is easy going and the parking lot is suspiciously empty as he snags a spot right near the front entrance. He’s barely got the car turned off before Ashley is unbuckled and jumping up and down backpack on and ready to go. Jane stays put, not as outwardly excited but he can see that sparkle in her eye that makes his heart ache with how much he loves her.
“I think we’re early, Dad.” Eddie has to strain to hear his oldest over his youngest nearly vibrating out of her skin with excitement. Glancing around the parking lot he thinks she’s right— there are no kids running in the grass, no tearful goodbyes from mothers sending their babies off for the first time, or the click, flash, and wind up of cameras catching the first day of school. Turning sharply he blows out a long raspberry-sigh hybrid aimed at the backseat, shoulders slumping and head thrown back in dramatics as his girls giggle at his show.
“I think you’re right, Janebug.” Eddie unbuckles himself and unlocks the doors. “The most punctual family in existence… The Munson’s…” He trails off with a smile. If the Munson’s truly became the most punctual school children, hell might have indeed frozen over. Eddie hopes that these girls inherit their mother’s attendance record going forward (much better this his, or Wayne’s, or his pop’s, or…)
“Can we go?” Ashley is somehow not out of breath as she asks. “May we go in?” She corrects herself, before Eddie even has a chance to chide her, strict on his girls’ grammar. Jane’s got her backpack on and looks about as ready as a girl can be for third grade, sporting that smirk that reminds him more of Dustin than him or her mom. The trio makes their way into the school without incident, teachers found at the handy dandy list taped to the front door of the school. Jane is dropped off at the door, a friend from the previous year is waiting in her classroom and Eddie is heartbroken at the half hug and goodbye he gets as she rushes off to find her desk. Fighting back tears he leads Ashley down the familiar hallways of Hawkins Elementary, ready to see the crab-faced kindergarten teacher that's haunted these halls since before he could remember.
What they walk into is not the classroom he remembers, it’s been transformed into this almost cozy place filled with bright colors and shiny new teaching implements. Ashley’s hand is warm in his as she makes her way to her very own desk with her name printed in letters across a piece of tape in the corner. Something about seeing Ashley Munson on her desk in big, bold letters makes Eddie smile softly. She pulls out the chair to sit before beaming up at Eddie with pride. He can’t fight the tears that sneak their way down his cheek— both of his girls are in school, he’ll be back at 3 pm to pick them up before dropping them off with Wayne until Eddie’s got the shop closed up for the night. His heart is aching at the thought. He tries to wipe those traitorous tears before Ashley sees and worries about him.
“Why, hello!” The greeting is chipper and sounds almost surprising. Eddie turns in what feels like slow motion to see who else is dropping off their kid this early when he’s met with the sight of you. It’s as if the world slows down as he rakes his eyes from head to foot, nearly bordering lecherous, not missing any detail. Your smile is so genuine it pains him, hits that spot right in his chest that hasn’t worked in a long time. No, seriously, he’s pretty sure there’s cobwebs deep within that spot in his chest.
“Miss Ashley Munson. It is so nice to finally meet you.” You’re moving down to her level to address her and Eddie’s able to catch a healthy peek down your button up top. He wants to kick himself for taking advantage of the opportunity. It’s almost alarming the way Ashley warms up to you, a… Stranger? Parent? No way you’re the teacher… you look like you could barely pass for twenty-one. You stand and extend a hand towards him— “You must be Eddie? I‘ve heard so much about you over the years.” There's a smile there that Eddie knows means trouble.
“Heh, yeah. And you are?” He trails off, not trying to sound rude in his tone but with the way you wince at his question leads him to believe he’s failed that objective. “Sorry, I thought Mrs. Clarke taught kindergarten.” He scrambles to fix his mistake, glancing back at Ashley before looking at you with a smile.
“Well, yes,” you smile softly. “She did, but decided to take advantage of retiring this year, she said something like Florida was calling her and her husband’s names and she needed and wanted to take full advantage of it.” His hand meets yours, warm and calloused as he shakes it with a firm yet soft grip. “This is my first year teaching entirely on my own,” you admit, gesturing around the room you had decorated to fit your teaching style.
“First year,” Eddie repeats, nodding as his eyes follow after your movements.
“Oh, where are my manners,” you audibly correct yourself. You’re introducing yourself in the next breath, giving Eddie a quick nickname that means something more than it should. “I doubt my kids will be able to pronounce, Miss Henderson,” you laugh slightly. “So I chose the next best thing: a simple and easy nickname.”
Your kids.
The words tug at Eddie’s heartstrings more than they should as looks back at Ashley. He runs his fingers through her hair softly, pushing the loose strands behind her ears before he crouches to her level, taking in the excitement in her eyes. “Have fun today, sweetie,” he smiles, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see you after school, okay?”
Ashley smiles, nodding at her dad as her tiny arms wrap around his neck. “Bye, daddy. Have a good day at work.” She giggles, a sloppy kiss landing on his cheek before she pulls away. Her attention is quickly taken back by the room around her, the decor on the walls drawing her in.
Eddie stands up with slow and painful movements, maybe it’s the pain in his joints, maybe it’s the pain in his heart that he doesn’t want to accept— either way, he’s standing as tears start to pool in his eyes. He sniffles them back quickly, blinking away the tears one last time before looking back at you.
“She’s in good hands,” you reassure him, smiling. “I promise. While you’re at work, she’s my responsibility and I will ensure that she is safe.” The words threaten more tears to fall as Eddie nods, meeting your eyes.
“Thank you.” Is all he can muster up. He makes his way back towards the door, glancing back at Ashley one last time. She giggles at something you say, going through her colored pencils and crayons one by one.
You meet his eyes one last time, giving him one more smile before turning your attention back to his daughter.
Right now, Eddie’s not only entrusting you with his life, he’s entrusting you with his whole world. But he knows Ashley will be fine— all of your kids will be fine.
He just wishes his baby girls would stop growing up.
"Again?" She sighed at the sight of Dustin in his Hellfire shirt. Blood dripping from his nose from yet another fight with Andy. She knew it was Andy and his goons, had to be. She stepped aside and let the poor teen into her trailer where he crashed on the couch. Little John sitting on the ground with his building blocks, he was getting so big now. His curly brown hair stuck out in different directions.
"I'm sorry, they wrote on his headstone again. It was worse this time around." Dustin said nasally, there was so much blood coming out of his nose. Y/N walked to the kitchen and pulled out the first aid kit she bought just four months earlier. She kept it here specifically for Dustin, he always came to her after fights and whenever he visited Eddie's grave. Munson was the one thing that connected them, made them friends. Dustin had so many nice things to say about Eddie, Dustin and his friends were the only people in this town that stood up for her and little John after everything happened. Wayne was at work, doing whatever he could to provide now that Y/N lost her job at the Hawk.
"I know it's important to you, it's important to me but you have to stop getting into fights." She sat down next to Dustin, setting the open first aid kit on the coffee table. John got to his feet and waddled over to the couch, he's started liking Dustin a lot lately. He always smiles when he's around.
"Hey buddy, I'm okay." Dustin ruffles the toddler's hair and sniffles. She poured some disinfectant onto a piece of gauze, gently wiping the area under his nose. Dustin groans miserably, he seems to have all his teeth intact which is good. Everyone knows how long it took for them to grow in. He's a sweet kid, Dustin was always welcome here but this just worries her.
"I know you loved Eddie too, I appreciate everything you've been doing for him and for this family. For my son." Y/N leans back to look at Dustin, his left eye was bruising. It'll look pretty bad for the next couple of days. She looked at John who was busy pulling and playing with Dustin's coat. Why was he wearing that thing again?
"You have to stop all of this fighting, stop poking the bears. One day you'll get seriously hurt and I'd rather not want John visiting you in the hospital if I can help it."
Dustin sunk into the sofa cushions, there is a guilty look on his face. He always seems to feel bad about what happened to Eddie, saying he could've done more for him but the earthquake wasn't his fault. No one could've seen it coming, Y/N was lucky when the earthquake ripped through the old trailerpark. It went right through her kitchen back then. She managed to get John out, Wayne took her to the school gymnasium where a lot of people were gathering after all the damage.
"He deserves better..." Dustin sniffled, taking the bloodied gauze from her hand. He pressed it against his nose.
Picture the moment when your mom or dad first saw you as something other than a pretty, tiny version of them. You as them, but improved. Better educated. Innocent. Then picture when you stopped being their dream.
Bitter nostalgia Pt.1 Dark!Rafe Cameron x Plus size!reader
You after many years you move back to the outer banks when your father gets a job opportunity he can't pass up. Only to realize your childhood best friend is well...different than you remember.
PART TWO HERE
Content warning: NON CON/DUB CON. Bullying, body shaming, manipulation, series cannon violence, power play, slowburn?? not really alot of plot tho. (This is a really dark and trauma induced fantasy, if anyone irl ever treats you like this please beat their ass!! Rafe's behavior is NOT okay)
A pleasant sigh escaped your mouth as you lean against the warm car window, taking in all the sights and sounds of the water. You roll in your seat, now facing your father.
"So, how'd you get this job anyways? We're hours away from home, how'd you even hear about it?" You ask your dad, mindlessly fidgeting with the strap of your bag.
"Well, an old friend of mine recommended me for it, put in a good name for me and the pay was almost too good to believe, so here we are honey."
You smile softly at your father, knowing he only wanted what was best for the family. The extra funds were needed for paying off your school, and if spending a summer in an unfamiliar place vanishes your student debt then so be it. Still, the thought of spending the summer in a place where you knew nobody made your stomach twist in knots, a pout placed on your face in thought of your friends you left behind.
Your father glances your way and sends an empathetic smile, resting a comforting hand on your shoulder.
"Don't worry peanut, it's only for the summer" He reassures, you smile back at him, holding back a huff at the nickname.
Before you can remind him, you're an adult and prefer not to be called such names, he pats your knee, exciting exclaiming,
"Look peanut!! We're here!" He points at the beachy resort ahead that made your jaw drop.
The clean, soft sand blanketed the premises of the luxurious resort, from the car you could see employees in pristine white polos whisking away people's luggage's into the different colorful villas, above swung tall palm trees, moving with the ebb and flow of the wind. Everything had an air of wealth to it, from the guests in their designer beach bags, to even the staff, who seemed to keep a dignified, almost regal aura despite lugging around bags and cleaning all day. You gawked at the lavishness of it all and blurted out.
"We're staying here?? How?!" You looked down at your clothes and suddenly felt all too out of place. Realizing the wealth gap between you and the other guests here.
"Well, my old buddy Ward Cameron who got me the job also got me a killer deal on lodgings for the summer. I can't believe it peanut, he's a great guy, really" Your father said giddily, the sand hitting the cars wheels as you slowly made your way towards parking.
A valet in a polo, chinos, and a white visor with the resort emblem approaches, along with another employee. They make quick work of your car and luggage, showing you to your villa.
"Ward..." You dragged out the name, wracking your brain to try and figure out why the name was so familiar.
"We used to be very close friends when we lived down here a long time ago honey, I used to take you to play dates with his kid all the time, you guys were pretty close too."
"Hmm" You hum, pretending to remember who he was talking about, you searched the back recesses of your brain to try and remember your childhood friends, you vaguely remember your time living in the outer banks. You remember visiting a large house pretty often, but the contexts of those days have been lost with time.
The villa was as breath taking up-close as it was far away, the employee sat down your bags, and you went to your room to unpack, reveling in the soft duvet of the queen-sized bed, it felt like heaven compared to the springy twin sized one you had at home. You rolled over when you heard your father open your door.
"Hey peanut, Ward wants to meet for dinner to go over some last-minute arrangements, put on something nice we gotta leave soon." He sing-songs, practically dancing around the villa, it warmed your heart to see your dad so happy, so, as tired as you were from the drive, you try to get ready quickly.
You pull on a white sundress, some sandals, and fix your hair as best you could, along with a simple makeup look. You did a once over in the mirror and realized how short your dress was, it was an older dress, and you've gotten taller since then. You nervously play with the hem of the dress, exposing your plush thighs, your eyes trail up your body, and you realize you fill out the dress more than you used to. It makes your cheeks heat up in embarrassment and you go to change when you father knocks on the door, telling you to hurry up. You sigh, and resign yourself to feeling a bit self-conscious, rather than your father being late upon the first meeting and looking unprofessional.
The restaurant wasn't far from the resort, a fancy seaside restaurant with waiters in suits, and different sizes of spoons and forks. You felt intimidation prick at the back of your neck, and you look to your father for reassurance. He looks too happy to notice your concern as he eyes the gorgeous interior of the restaurant. You approach the host station where a family of five seems to be standing in wait. They were all dressed immaculately, an older, yet handsome looking man, with his pretty blonde wife on his arm. Next to them were two daughters talking amongst themselves, and off to the side an annoyed looking son who wouldn't look up from his phone.
The father looked up and smiled at your dad going in for a hug.
"My man! It's been too long!" Ward smiles and bear hugs your dad. He glances down at you and his eyes brighten.
"Look at you honey! You've grown so much I remember when you were this tall" Ward chuckles, gesturing to his hip.
You smile politely and nod. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Cameron." You say meekly.
He chuckles "no need for the formalities sweetheart, just call me Ward" He assures, he pauses and looks back at his wife and kids, introducing them one by one.
"Man, last time I saw you guys, you were dropping this one off for a playdate at my place" Ward laughs heartily. You suddenly feel your face heat up, not knowing which of his daughters he was referring to. The one with black hair looked for too young to be an old playmate, so you settled on the one who looked only a little younger than you, Sarah.
You clear your throat and smile towards the blonde daughter.
"Uhh, long time no see Sarah haha" You joke nervously, only to be met with a confused look from Sarah and a few seconds of miserable silence, broken by Ward's hearty laugh.
"Oh honey, Sarah wasn't who you played with, she's a bit younger than you, I'm talking about my son Rafe."
He gestures towards the tall man; you got a better look at him this time. Dirty blond hair hung in a middle part down his face. His cobalt eyes locked you in an intense stare, his eyes raked up and down your frame, giving you a look of barely concealed disgust. He rolled his broad shoulders back and you ripped your eyes away, looking down at your feet instead, the weight of his gaze too much to bear.
No one acknowledged the obvious glower Rafe was sending your way and you figured this was just his normal behavior his family had come accustom to. You laughed nervously, nails digging into the straps on your bag. You begin to wish the night was ending already, anything to break this unbearable tension. Thankfully your prayers were answered by a host coming to seat you all.
You all made your way to the large table outside. The salty wind ruffled your dress, and you gasped softly, grabbing the hem of the dress and pulling it down. You hear a mean snicker behind you, you snap your head towards the source of the noise, and you see Rafe smirking cruelly at you, he leans in close and whispers.
"Maybe if you picked a dress that actually fit, you wouldn’t have all this, on display” he pinches the fat on your thigh meanly, making you yelp and stop in your tracks, looking at him in disbelief, your eyes bulged from your head and your face burned with embarrassment. Rafe could only chuckle at your reaction and tap your thigh, right underneath your ass.
“Keep it moving thunder thighs” Rafe chides as he brushes past you, making sure to shoulder check you as hard as he could without being noticed.
You felt anger simmering deep within your stomach as you stomped to the table.
“Who the hell did this guy think he was anyways? He can’t talk to me that way! what a pretentious asshole!” You thought to yourself, steam basically puffing from your ears.
You then saw your dad making conversation with Ward, they looked happy, and it was enough to ground you. ‘This wasn’t about you’ you told yourself, reminding yourself that even if his son was being a selfish prick you didn’t have to engage. 'Just one night', you reminded yourself, then it’s relaxing at the resort and no more seeing that dudes obnoxious face.
There were two seats left, you frowned when you realized you'd had to sit next to that spoiled little prick. You sat down with a soft huff, anger still fuming from your body. The table was huge, and seats had a good amount of space between them. A few other colleagues of Ward's had joined you guys and had already claimed their seats You hear the chair scrape next to you and you hold back a sigh. Rafe sat down and scooted his chair a little closer to you, you raise your eyebrow at him but choose to ignore it, crossing your arms over your midsection, feeling even more insecure due to the jackass next to you.
"Look at them, just like old times" Your father laughs and you look up, you attempt to smile but your cheek twitches and decide to hide your face in the menu. Ward, his collogues, and your father are catching up, as well as discussing business, Rose is listening intently, Sarah and Wheezie are on their phones, and you wouldn't dare look over at Rafe. Your eyes scan the rather large menu and your eyes bulge at the prices. You settle on the cheapest thing when you feel Rafe lean in behind the menu, pressing his nose behind your ear. You freeze in place, your grip on the menu becoming tighter. You could smell his expensive cologne and feel the warmth he radiated. He whispered,
"Don't worry, my dad knows you guys are poor as shit, its on us tonight."
He mocks and you feel your heartbeat speed up, whether it was from anger or Rafe's close proximity you didn't know. Rose's giggle cuts through the air.
" Aww what're you two whispering about over there?" Rose teases and you lower the menu, looking a bit frazzled but before you could reply, Rafe cuts in.
"Just showing her what's good on the menu, right?"
He looks at you sweetly and it makes your stomach sour, you can easily see the smile doesn't reach his eyes and beneath lays a thin layer a patience ready to pop. You swallow, attempting to rid the dry feeling in your mouth
"Mhm" you nod simply, and Rafe smiles wider.
During dinner everyone seemed to be preoccupied with each other, eating expensive seafood and talking. You decided it would be better if you just kept to yourself, scrolling though apps on your phone and wishing you could vanish out of thin air. You mindlessly prodded at your plate with your fork, appetite long gone.
"It's rude to not accept what you're given."
Rafe says, nodding towards your food, you huff and look the other way, not giving him the satisfaction of responding.
"Or...are you afraid of gaining more of this?" He asks, his voice full of spite, his hand snaking under the table to grab your stomach.
You smack his hand away, looking around to see if anyone saw what he just did to you, sighing when no one even glanced your way, too enveloped in either business talk or social media.
You're red in the face, heart pulsing loudly in your ears when you lean in and snarl "Fuck off".
Rafe shoots back an amused smirk and leans back, ignoring you for the rest of the night, except for the occasional stare that made you want to crawl out of your skin. You spend the rest of dinner trying to calm yourself down.
After dinner, Ward asks if you guys can come over for drinks and dessert.
"Rose makes an amazing cherry pie" Ward smiles,
"And I've got some scotch you just have to try" He tells your dad.
You shoot a pleading look to your father, but he was already agreeing happily. As you're walking out of the restaurant, you pull your dad aside.
"Dad, do we have to go?" You ask, exasperated.
"Aw peanut, I know you're tired, but Ward and I have a few more things to cover." He says apologetically
You sigh and cross your arms,
"No no, it's not that I'm tired, it's just...well...Rafe, he-"
"I know honey, it's awkward, you haven't seen him in over a decade let alone remember the whole family, but just promise me you'll at least try and get along with them? Just for tonight, then you can relax at the resort all you want while your old man works his butt off." Your dad chuckles.
You let out a long sigh, it was always hard saying no to your dad, or anyone really, so you give in.
The drive to the Cameron residence was awfully quiet.
Series summary: You’re resigned to a life in your best friend’s shadow, letting her walk all over you in designer heels because life is just easier that way. But when she takes the one thing that matters, you decide enough is enough. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
WC: ~4k
Warnings: angst, jealousy, pining, unrequited love (for now), brief mention of f!masturbation, reader has poor self-image, swearing, heartbreak, eventual smut, eventual witchcraft/occult themes, eventual dark-ish!reader, everyone is 21+
A/N: Originally posted 09/10/24
18+ MDNI MASTERLIST
Over the years you had come to realize that in life there were certain indisputable truths — things that you could count on happening time and time again without fail.
A fumbled slice of bread would inevitably land on the floor butter-side down. The checkout line you picked at the supermarket would end up moving the slowest every time. And, perhaps most notably, your best friend Georgina Banks would always get whatever she wanted.
If it wasn’t enough that Georgina had been born into a life of wealth and privilege, she’d also been blessed with perfect skin, hair and posture. With a face kissed by the gods and perky breasts pushed sky-high in pink cashmere cardigans, she was the living, breathing embodiment of feminine grace.
And after nearly a decade of friendship you’d learned that fate would always side in her favor.
During Georgina’s reign as the queen of Hawkins High, she’d ruled her faithful minions with a well-manicured iron fist. Most of your fellow students would have given their right arm for a spot at the lunch table over which she presided, but only a select few ever managed to make the cut.
And for some reason, that included you.
People who saw you and Georgina together probably thought you made a very odd pair, and in all honestly you were just as perplexed by your friendship as everyone else.
You never understood why she’d chosen you to be her best friend out of all her available options, but as much as you hated to admit it, her attention made you feel special — not a sentiment with which you were overly familiar.
As a teenager you’d spent an embarrassing amount of time in front of your bedroom mirror mimicking your best friend’s style and gestures, hoping some of that Georgina magic might eventually rub off on you. That it would transform you into someone more like her — popular and beloved, instead of the dull, awkward girl you saw staring back at you in the mirror.
Of course it never worked, and as you grew older Georgina continued to float through life with infuriating ease while you just…didn’t.
In the grand scheme of things, without Georgina by your side to open all the right doors and secure all the right invites, your social status was even lower than the outcasts and unpopular kids, who at least got some attention, albeit negative.
You were invisible.
A true nobody. An afterthought who barely registered as a blip on anyone’s radar. A stagnant weed unable to flourish in the ever-looming shadow of Georgina’s lofty branches.
Sometimes, deep down, you wondered if that was the real reason she kept you around. It made perfect sense; you, of all people, would never pose a threat to her position as Hawkins’ queen bee. She could rest easy knowing you would never try to steal her spotlight or put your own needs first. That you’d never dare step out of line, lest you fall victim to social ruin.
You hadn’t found it easy to make friends after moving to Hawkins during middle school, and once Georgina had scooped you under her wing she’d completely taken over. You had no one else in your corner and she knew it.
She knew you would continue to take what she dished out, all while making her look more vibrant by comparison. You became a drab extra in the background of her life, blending into the scenery while she got to shine.
And oh, how she shone.
Perfect grades without opening a book. Lead actress in each year’s drama production. The hostess of every highly anticipated party or social function Hawkins had to offer.
Georgina was a natural born star.
To you it felt like everyone who met your friend instantly fell under her spell, and you watched with thinly veiled disgust as people would fawn over her to a sickening degree. Teachers, children, even small animals — it didn’t seem to matter. Nobody in town was immune to Georgina’s winsome charms.
Growing up, you’d even had a sneaking suspicion that your own parents had wished she’d been their child instead of you — a laughable scenario at best because there was no way in hell that Georgina Banks would ever have endured an ordinary existence in your simple family home.
No maids? No avant-garde cuisine? No, thank you.
You found the way people worshipped her to be a very curious phenomenon because even though she was beautiful, rich and well-dressed, she wasn’t a good person. Just like a piece of spoiled fruit that still looked ripe and sweet on the surface, when you finally peeled back the layers, Georgina was rotten to her core.
If you were being totally honest with yourself, you hated her.
You hated her fake smile and the way her perfect lips would curl in callous mockery of anyone she felt was beneath her. How she could be so casually cruel without a second thought, twisting the knife in deep to make sure it inflicted maximum damage.
You hated how she treated people in general, but especially the ones she had labeled the “weirdos” and “freaks” — a wide-ranging group that consisted of anyone whose interests veered outside of shopping, parties or anything else Georgina deemed normal.
As time went on, that part of her behavior started to bother you most of all because you just so happened to be fond of one of those aforementioned “freaks”. Very fond.
You’d become friends with Eddie Munson shortly after starting your first semester at college when you’d taken a part time job at the local record store.
The first time he stopped in to buy some cassettes you had thought he looked familiar, but you couldn’t quite place him. At least not right away.
When you’d heard the bell over the store entrance chime and looked up from behind the counter to see a handsome man with wild, long hair walk through the door, you’d been intrigued.
Right away you’d noticed he wore a battle vest covered in heavy metal paraphernalia, and even though you couldn’t quite put your finger on it, you could have sworn you’d seen it somewhere before.
As you sat there watching him browse the music displays, you couldn’t help but notice he was cute, really cute — with big brown eyes, a defined jaw and full lips that lent a softness to his face. You wondered how such a hot guy had been living in Hawkins right under your nose, undetected. You swore sometimes it was like you lived under a rock.
After looking around a bit, he had approached you at the counter and you'd silently willed yourself to try and play it cool — something that was much easier said than done.
“Hey, is the new Metallica album in yet?” he’d asked in a deep voice that had caused a slight clench of your thighs. All you could think in the back of your mind as you’d stared into his big brown eyes was that it wasn’t fair how attractive he was.
“Sorry, it’s not in yet,” you’d informed him, to his obvious disappointment.
“We’re supposed to be getting it in on Friday,” you’d added with a shy smile. “If you want to leave your name and number I can give you a call when it gets here.”
“Yeah sure, thanks.” The smile he’d given you in response was wide enough to make his eyes crinkle at the corners, and the sight had caused an unfamiliar tightening in your chest.
You’d pushed a pen and paper across the counter towards him.
“I’m looking forward to hearing it too,” you’d volunteered as you watched him write his name and number on the sheet. He’d looked up at you immediately, his big eyes widened in surprise.
“You like Metallica?” Eddie had tried to keep his voice casual but could barely contain his excitement at meeting a fellow heavy metal fan — something few and far between in the small town.
“Yeah, I love them. Their last record was amazing,” you’d said enthusiastically, before trailing off in shyness. You’d wished you could think of something else a bit more insightful to say about Master of Puppets, but unlike Georgina who was a gifted conversationalist, you always struggled to find right words. Especially around someone as handsome as the brown-eyed metalhead.
After he’d left the store with a promise to come back that Friday, you’d looked down at the sheet where he had written his name and everything finally clicked into place. Eddie Munson. Of course!
You were immediately hit with a vivid memory of him atop a cafeteria table back in high school, making a scene while loudly calling out the preps and the jocks. You remembered being amused by his obnoxious antics at the time but had only dared to cheer him on inside your head. You hadn’t been brave enough to laugh out loud with Georgina perched at your side, especially considering she was one of his intended targets.
Other than the occasional cafeteria rant, you’d never really crossed paths with Eddie while you were at Hawkins High — not surprising considering his reputation and the fact that Georgina kept you on a pretty tight leash. You may have forgotten about him back then, but after that fateful day at the record store you hadn’t been able to get him off your mind.
Eddie had started to visit to the store on a much more frequent basis and before long he became one of your favorite customers. Ok, the favorite.
He was one of the few people you’d met in Hawkins who made you feel comfortable in your own skin. It felt amazing to spend time with someone who wasn’t always looking over your shoulder and judging everything little thing you said or did. You and Georgina had moved into an apartment together after starting college, so you felt more trapped than ever within her controlling grasp.
You started to live for those shifts at the record store.
After a while Eddie asked for your number and you started to hang out with him outside of work, meeting up to go to rock shows on the rare occasion that a decent band came through town. He also invited you his own gigs at the Hideout every Tuesday night, and you quickly became Corroded Coffin’s number one fan. Well, you and the other five drunks.
It didn’t take long for you to fall head over heels for Eddie; it was like he had been created in a lab specifically for you. He could be sarcastic yet super sweet, rough around the edges but still a bit of a dork — a perfect combination that quickly swept you off your feet. It also didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes.
As your feelings for Eddie grew stronger, so did a raging battle inside you; torn between wanting him but not having the confidence to tell him how you felt. Adding to your confusion was the fact that he could be a bit flirty at times, but you were never sure if he meant it or if he was just kidding around.
You weren’t used to being the object of anyone’s desire and you found it hard to believe that someone like Eddie would be interested in you. For as long as you could remember every time a guy had glanced your way, he was just trying to look past you to get a better view of Georgina.
As much as you wanted to be with Eddie, you couldn’t help but worry his flirting was all in your head. If you confessed your feelings and he turned you down, it would have shattered the one fantasy that got you through the day.
You decided it would be safer to keep things between the two of you platonic and continue on as friends, at least until you could be absolutely sure.
Still, when you touched yourself at night, it was his face you imagined. His eyes on yours — his hands, his mouth, those perfect lips. And when you would finally spill over the edge into the most exquisite pleasure, it was his name you would sigh out in the dark.
Afterwards you would lie alone in your bed, wishing you could feel the warmth of his body under the sheets. Sometimes the yearning was almost unbearable.
Of course, you never dreamed of telling Georgina about your crush. Eddie was so far beneath her on the Hawkins social ladder that there was no way she would have approved.
It wasn’t that you cared about her opinion of him at all, but you didn’t want to let her taint that part of your life as she would no doubt try. Your time with Eddie was something special, just for you.
To keep from having to explain things to Georgina, you hid your outings with Eddie, telling her that you were heading to the library to study whenever the two of you met up. It was the perfect white lie you knew she would never figure out. The library was one place Georgina Banks would never be caught dead.
Your ability to hide your friendship with Eddie was one of the few times Georgina’s disinterest in you worked out in your favor. She never noticed what was going on with you unless it affected her in some way. In fact, even though you spent most of your free time with each other, you were pretty sure she didn’t know a single thing about you. All of your energy was spent talking about Georgina — her interests, her crushes, her problems.
It was never, ever about you.
So you were understandably taken aback when the week before your birthday she asked what you wanted to do to mark the occasion.
“I cleared my whole night,” she announced haughtily, as if you should thank her. You just stared at her blankly, not quite knowing what to say.
It just so happened that Corroded Coffin was playing a show at the Hideout that night, and Eddie had promised there was going to be a special birthday surprise just for you.
It was going to be a much bigger crowd than usual because they were opening for a popular rock band traveling from out of town. Naturally you wanted to be there front row center to support your friends, but not with Georgina in tow.
She never wanted to do anything unless it benefited her, so when you begrudgingly admitted that you wanted to spend your birthday at a metal show of all places, you expected her to dig in her heels and refuse to go.
You were unpleasantly surprised when she agreed to join you.
That night when you arrived at the entrance to the Hideout, you could tell that Georgina was horrified by her surroundings. The old dive bar wasn’t exactly the Ritz, after all.
She sniffed at the burly doorman when he asked for her ID as if he’d somehow managed to offend her to her core. It didn’t get any better once the two of you got inside.
“I’m not sitting on these,” she hissed in a horrified whisper, gesturing at the bar stools you’d suggested as a place to wait for the show to start. “Look, they’re all grimy. This skirt is suede.”
You just rolled your eyes and did your best to ignore her complaints because you were there for Eddie, not her.
The show that night had the potential to be a really important one for Corroded Coffin. They’d heard a rumor that a talent scout for a record label was going to be in the audience and if everything went well, it could be their chance to finally land a record deal.
You waved at Eddie when you saw him walk out onto the stage during soundcheck, and when he smiled and waved back your stomach did an excited little flip. You were so happy that not even Georgina’s presence could ruin your good mood.
Once the lights went down and the show started you decided to move closer to the stage, dragging a very reluctant Georgina behind you. The entire set you stared up at Eddie from the front row like he hung the moon, your eyes locked on his large hands as they coaxed the most incredible sounds out of his guitar that you’d ever heard. You’d never seen him play with such fiery passion.
You got a lump in your throat when he finally zeroed in on you in the crowd, flashing you an adorable dimpled smile as he shook his head to move the sweaty curls out of his face. Then he stepped up to the mic and announced they were going to do a cover of your favorite song.
“This one goes out to my special girl on her birthday.”
He winked at you before counting it down, and you felt like your heart might burst out of your chest. You couldn’t get his words out of your head.
He had just called you his special girl in front of everyone in the bar. Not his friend or buddy or pal — his girl. Was it possible that you hadn’t been imaging things after all and he actually liked you? You stared up at him with love struck awe as the first notes of Master of Puppets filled the air.
And that’s when Georgina finally noticed Eddie.
Well, not him exactly.
She noticed the way your eyes lit up while you watched him play on stage. Saw the dreamy smile plastered on your face. It was pretty obvious you had it bad for the handsome metalhead and from the way he was looking down at you, the feeling appeared to be mutual.
“You like him.” It wasn’t a question, but a matter-of-fact statement, spoken just loud enough that you could hear it over the buzz of the boisterous crowd.
You snapped your head in her direction and watched as the realization dawned on Georgina’s face. She suddenly understood why you had wanted to spend your birthday squished alongside sweaty bodies in the front row of a metal show instead of somewhere more dignified with her and her other posh friends.
“No, I don’t.” You shook your head in denial, but the flame you carried for Eddie burned too bright for you to hide. You’d always been a terrible liar and Georgina could see right through you.
“Don’t lie. I think it’s cute.” She gave you a tight-lipped smile and even though the pleasant expression didn’t quite reach her eyes, it was a much tamer reaction than you had anticipated. You had always imagined her angrily scolding you for spending time with a “freak” who might make her look bad by association.
Realizing there was no longer any point in lying, you nodded and even dared to flash her a relieved grin. You couldn’t believe Georgina was being so calm about the whole thing. It felt amazing to finally be able to admit your feelings out loud to someone. You’d been dying to let it out for so long.
“Ok yes, but he doesn’t know. Please don’t say anything,” you begged, and she nodded, motioning with her finger and thumb like a zipper across her lips.
When the set ended, Eddie made his way through the crowd to greet you, wiping the sweat from his brow as his warm eyes assessed the ripped cropped top and tight jeans you’d squeezed yourself into for the show — not a Georgina-approved outfit by any means, but she had let it slide seeing as it was your special day.
“Hey, get over here birthday girl.” He laughed as he grabbed you by the hips and pulled you into a tight embrace. You shut your eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne and relishing in the feeling of his body against yours. For that short moment you could almost imagine that you and Eddie were the only two people in the crowded bar. But you weren’t, and when he finally let you go and stepped back with a bashful smile, Georgina quickly slid in front of you and cleared her throat.
For a split second you thought she was about to be rude and tell Eddie to get lost. You were just about to rush to his defense when your annoyance quickly turned to confusion.
You heard a soft giggle pass through Georgina’s glossy lips — and not just any old giggle. No, you would have recognized that high-pitched girlish sound anywhere. It was the extra special kind of giggle she reserved especially for flirting.
Like a switch had suddenly been flicked, Georgina’s sour grimace from earlier had been replaced by a dazzling smile, directed squarely at the man you adored.
“You guys were on fire tonight. Especially you,” she purred as she moved close enough to run her hand down Eddie’s sweat-glistened bicep. Her flirtatious words echoed and bounced around your uncomprehending skull as you watched Eddie’s dark eyes gleam and his front teeth protrude just enough to bite his lower lip.
What. The. Fuck.
“I love your rings…they’re so sexy.”
You could hear Georgina’s voice but it sounded far away, muffled by the pounding in your head that had started to make things go out of focus. You watched as she reached out to touch the jewelry that decorated Eddie’s hand, her manicured nails gleaming as they caressed the fingers that you’d imagined on your skin so many times.
No, no, no.
On the outside you were frozen in place but inside you were screaming. Your fleeting hope, now swallowed whole and sinking slowly into a bottomless pit of despair that knew no end.
You stood there, helpless, watching them make eyes at each other for a few moments before you finally found your voice and jostled Georgina’s arm.
“We’d better head out now. It’s getting late and I’ve got that paper I need to work on, remember?”
You hoped your words might trigger Georgina’s memory and remind her that she wanted to go home. That she would realize you were offering her an escape from the dingy bar that she’d wanted to leave since the moment she’d stepped inside.
Instead, she turned to face you, her eyes widened in confusion as if she had suddenly just remembered you were there.
“Then go,” she said breezily, her ice cold eyes a stark contrast to her forcibly casual tone. “I want to stay.”
“But — I’m your ride.”
You were still struggling to make sense of what was happening. It felt like you were losing your grip on a situation that was rapidly spinning out of control. You couldn’t have prepared yourself for the turn of events that was unraveling in front of you. Not in a million years.
“Uh, I can give you a ride if you want,” Eddie offered in a low voice while he gazed into Georgina’s eyes. It was like he was hypnotized and couldn’t look away.
Georgina raised a seductive eyebrow at the obvious double entendre before turning her head over her shoulder to fix you with a triumphant smirk.
You just stared in angry disbelief.
Your eyes stung as you fought back tears, completely crushed by Eddie’s betrayal. You had learned to always expected the worst from Georgina, but not him. You had told him about her nastiness so many times and he’d seemed genuinely disgusted. All it took was a pretty face and a low cut shirt, and suddenly everything he’d shouted about on table tops was forgotten?
“There, it’s settled. Eddie will give me a ride,” Georgina said coldly as she dismissed you from their presence with a wave of her fingers. “You can go.”
You looked helplessly at Eddie one last time, hoping he’d try to convince you to stay, but he wasn’t paying any attention to you. He was too wrapped up in Georgina, just like the soft lock of his hair she already had twisted around her finger.
Feeling ill and in desperate need of air, you turned on your heels and rushed out of the bar into the parking lot. Once outside, you fought to catch your breath, trying to keep your tears at bay until you could make it to the privacy of your car.
You drove home through a haze of tears, barely able to see the road. It felt like your whole world had suddenly been flipped upside down and nothing made any sense.
Back at your apartment, you stormed inside and proceeded to pace the floor, impatiently waiting for Georgina to return. The bar would be closing in a couple hours, and when she got home you were finally going to give her the piece of your mind that had been a long time coming.
You had taken her shit for years and never once fought back, but this time she had gone too far. This? This was unforgivable.
But as the hours passed and the night wore on, Georgina never came home.
You waited up all night until finally, exhausted and heartbroken, you fell into a restless sleep on the sofa, lying on top of the decorative party banner that had fallen off the wall behind it.
Happy birthday, indeed.
Thank you for reading! 🖤
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