fee

──── ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴀʀᴇ ᴄʀʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴇ .ᐟ

ᡣ𐭩 ❝ ꜰᴀʀᴍᴇʀꜱ¡ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ⟡ ݁₊ ❞ 

⌗ with rafe cameron .ᐟ.ᐟ

₊ ⊹ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ

The heat of the day sat thick in the air, wrapping around the farm like an old, heavy quilt. It clung to your skin, made the air syrupy, and stretched the shadows long across the dirt path leading from the barn to the house. The cicadas had begun their evening song, buzzing lazily through the tall grass, their voices melting into the low rustle of the wind. You loved the way it all felt—slow, like honey dripping from the comb, like time stretching just for the sake of it.

Rafe was different in the heat, though.

It made him tense, restless. The sun turned his skin golden, kissed the bridge of his nose, the sharp cut of his jaw, and the dips of his collarbones beneath his damp, clinging shirt. He looked like something carved from summer itself, like he belonged to the season in the same way the fields and the dust did. But he had no patience for it.

You could see it in the way his hands clenched, in the sharpness of his breath as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He was a man who never quite stopped moving, even in stillness. The only time you ever saw him truly calm was when he was watching you. Not that he’d ever admit it.

──── ᴛᴇᴅᴅʏ .ᐟ

ᡣ𐭩 ❝ ꜱʜʏ¡ᴘᴏɢᴜᴇ ⟡ ݁₊ ❞

⌗ with rafe cameron .ᐟ.ᐟ

₊ ⊹ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ

You’ve been lying in Rafe’s bed for what feels like hours, staring at the ceiling in the soft glow of moonlight, twisting and turning, unable to escape the persistent thoughts circling in your mind. His steady breathing beside you should be calming, but it’s not. There’s a tension in the air that you can’t shake, a subtle pull of unease that you can’t ignore. You try to focus on him—on the comforting weight of his arm draped around your waist, the gentle pressure of his hand resting just below your ribs. His fingers brush your skin occasionally, a faint, warm touch that sends little shivers down your spine, but all you can think about is your teddy.

You know it sounds ridiculous. You’re an adult, after all. You should be able to sleep without it. It’s just... your teddy. Your bear. It’s been with you since you were little, an old, worn thing that’s seen better days, but it’s the one piece of comfort that you can’t seem to outgrow. 

The more you try to ignore it, the more your need for it consumes you, like a quiet hum under your skin. You want to sleep; you need to sleep, but the thought of not having it beside you gnaws at you, building into a suffocating pressure in your chest.

Rafe shifts beside you, his body moving closer, his warmth pulling you in like gravity. The bed creaks softly under his weight, and for a moment, everything is still. Then his voice, low and groggy from sleep, cuts through the quiet. 

“You okay?” he asks, his words gentle, concerned, the kind of tone that always makes your heart flutter. 

You can feel his fingers brushing against your side, the rhythm of his breath in your ear, and you can’t help but smile at how sweet he sounds. He’s always so attuned to you, always picking up on the smallest shifts in your mood. But you can’t let him know what’s going on in your head. Not this time. This is too embarrassing.

“Yeah, just... I’m fine,” you murmur, your voice almost too soft, too hesitant. You hope it doesn’t sound as off as it feels, but you can feel the lie hanging in the air between you, heavy and uncomfortable.

Rafe doesn’t buy it for a second. He presses in closer, his arm tightening around your waist as he buries his face against the back of your neck. His lips brush against your skin, the softest, lightest touch, and you feel the warm smile against your skin.

“You sure?” he asks again, his voice still laced with that sleepy concern. “You’ve been tossing and turning for a while now.”

You hesitate, your heart racing. What do you say? You don’t want him to think you’re crazy, or worse, childish. But you can’t lie forever. You try to shrug it off, hoping that if you pretend enough, it will go away.

“It’s nothing,” you say quickly, a little too quickly, your voice shaking just the tiniest bit. “Really.”

But of course, Rafe isn’t going to let it go. He never does. He’s the kind of person who sees when something’s wrong, even if you’re trying to hide it behind a smile. “Sweetheart,” he says softly, but with the kind of gentle firmness that leaves no room for escape. “If something’s bothering you, I want to know. I can’t help if you don’t tell me.”

And there it is—the moment when the secret spills out of you before you can stop it. You feel your stomach flip, your cheeks turning hot with embarrassment. The words rush out in a rush, like an avalanche you can’t stop. 

“I can’t sleep without my teddy.”

There’s a long pause. Long enough for you to feel your entire body tense with dread. You brace yourself, waiting for him to laugh, to make fun of you, or to look at you like you’re a little too strange for his taste. You feel like you’re about to disappear under the covers in shame. But then, when he finally speaks again, his voice is soft and almost... tender?

“Your teddy?”

You nod, trying to make yourself smaller in the bed, curling into yourself, wishing you could just sink into the mattress. Your face burns like you’ve just lit yourself on fire. “Yeah,” you mutter, your voice barely above a whisper. “I know it’s silly. It’s just... I’ve had him forever, and I just—I just can’t sleep without him.” 

For a moment, everything is silent. You hold your breath, waiting for his response. You can practically hear him thinking, trying to figure out how to respond to this little nugget of vulnerability you just dropped on him. 

Then, to your surprise, you hear a soft chuckle, a warm, affectionate sound that makes your heart flutter in your chest. 

“That’s adorable,” he says, his voice still low but filled with affection, as if your admission were the most endearing thing he’s ever heard. You feel a small wave of relief wash over you, mixed with something else—something sweet and soft. “Why didn’t you just tell me earlier?”

You bite your lip, feeling your cheeks redden even more. “It’s... embarrassing,” you mumble, trying to hide your face in the pillow, but you can’t help the smile that tugs at your lips. Despite your nerves, his reaction makes everything feel a little lighter. A little easier.

“No, it’s not,” he replies, his voice unwavering. “It’s sweet. I like that you have something that makes you feel safe.” 

You hear him shift beside you, the bed creaking softly, and then, just as you’re about to say something else, he surprises you again. “Why don’t I go get him?”

But before you can protest, he shifts again, and you hear him sit up. “I’ll go get him for you,” he says, sounding more serious than you expected. “You need him, and I’m not going to let you be uncomfortable.”

You blink in stunned silence. “Wait, no, Rafe, you don’t have to do that. Seriously.” 

But it’s too late. You hear the soft thud of his feet hitting the floor, the rustle of his clothes as he grabs his keys. “I want to,” he insists, and even though you can’t see his face, you can tell there’s that stubborn, loving glint in his voice. “I’m going. Stay here. I’ll be back before you know it.”

And just like that, he’s gone.

You sit up, your heart racing. He’s going to drive all the way to your place to get your teddy. Why?

A few minutes later, your phone buzzes on the nightstand. You pick it up, still in shock, and open a message from Rafe. It’s a picture of him holding your teddy in one hand, a goofy, triumphant smile on his face. The caption? “Mission accomplished.” 

You blink. A strange lump rises in your throat, and your heart swells in your chest. You can’t believe he actually did this. 

Before you can process it all, you hear the sound of his car pulling into the driveway. And then, a moment later, he’s walking back into the room, holding your teddy like a trophy. His eyes are warm, his smile wide, and for a moment, everything else fades into the background. 

“I told you I’d get him,” he says, his voice soft but full of pride.

You laugh, breathless, and take your teddy from him, pressing it to your chest as if it’s the most precious thing in the world. “I can’t believe you actually did that,” you murmur, your voice tinged with disbelief and gratitude.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he says, settling back down beside you, pulling the covers over both of you. “I like that you have something that makes you feel safe. And if that means getting you your bear in the middle of the night, then I’m happy to do it.”

You relax into him, your teddy nestled between you both. He presses a soft kiss to your forehead, his voice low and teasing. “Next time, you don’t have to go all the way back to your place. I’ll get you more.”

“More?” you ask, eyes widening in surprise. “You’re kidding.”

He grins, a playful glint in his eye. “Yeah, I’ll keep a few here. Maybe I’ll start you a collection.” 

You laugh, shaking your head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I know,” he agrees, pulling you closer. “But I think you like me that way.”

And in that moment, with Rafe beside you and your teddy snug in your arms, you finally drift into sleep, warm and content, wrapped in the cocoon of his love.

©GIRLYRAFE

imagine hating us and this is literally us

frat boy rafe ⋆｡˚౨ৎ

in the clerb we all fam!

POV: you wake up from a mouse bite induced coma

Rafe & Sugar, the talk of the town ! ⭑.๋ ࣭

The supermarket parking lot smells like sun-warmed pavement and the faintest hint of smoke, but that’s just from the fire call Rafe and his team had been sent to handle.

Old Man Wheeler, bless him, had nearly set his kitchen ablaze again trying to bake peach cobbler. The firefighters hadn’t even needed their hoses, just a lot of patience and a stern talking-to about keeping an eye on the oven.

Now, Rafe and his crew are standing around their firetruck packing up, laughing about something when one of them, probably Issac, makes a sound like he’s just seen a ghost.

“Lord have mercy,” issac drawls. “Would you look at that?”

Rafe barely has time to register what’s happening before the rest of them start whistling and elbowing each other like a bunch of fools. He follows their line of sight, and then he sees you.

You’re walking past the supermarket in that little white polka dot dress, the one that cinches at your waist and sways around your thighs when you walk. Your hair is a little messy from the breeze, and Chip is trotting beside you, his leash wrapped around your wrist as he sniffs at every little thing like it’s the most interesting discovery in the world. You’re humming something, probably not even realizing you’ve drawn a whole audience.

“Oh, Rafee,” Michael drawls, dragging out his name like he’s savoring it. “Ain’t that your girl?”

“Shut up.” Rafe says putting away the first aid kit

“She sure looks like your girl,” Issac teases, arms crossed over his chest. “Ain’t nobody else in town she talks to like she talks to you.”

“She don’t talk to me like anything” he don’t even know what you and him are. You just live with him, bake sweet things for old ladies, and keep the puppy spoiled rotten. He doesn’t know what to do with you half the time. He doesn’t know what to do with himself, either, when you look at him all wide-eyed like you’re waiting on him to tell you something important.

Rafe grumbles under his breath, ignoring his team’s laughter as he strides toward you. You’re in the middle of debating with Chip about whether or not he’s allowed to stop and sniff a discarded wrapper when you notice Rafe approaching. Your face lights up like a porch lamp at dusk.

“Oh, hey!” you chirp, then tilt your head. “What’re you doing here?”

“Fire call,” he says, nodding toward the truck. “Wheeler near burned his kitchen down again.”

“bless his heart,” you sigh. “That man’s gonna set the whole town on fire one day.” You say laughing a little

“Yeah, well, we’ll be here to put it out.” Rafe shoves his hands into his pockets, glancing at the bag in your hand. “What’re you up to?”

“Oh! I’m just pickin’ up some strawberries. We’re bakin’ a cake for Mr. Thompson..well, me, and a few of the other ladies in the complex.”

“Hm” Rafe exhales sharply. His landlord was a grumpy old bastard to him, but the man had a soft spot for you. Not that Rafe could blame him. You had a way of getting under people’s skin in a way that made them want to keep you around.

There’s a little pause before you shift on your feet, eyes darting toward his crew still watching from the truck. You press your lips together, looking guilty all of a sudden.

“Are you doing a dare or somthin’?” you murmur.

Rafe frowns “What?”

You nod toward the guys, who are still hooting and hollering, and something in Rafe snaps. He turns slightly, shooting them a glare that could burn down Wheeler’s kitchen without a match.

“Don’t pay attention to them” he tells you firmly, turning back to you. “They got nothin’ better to do.”

“M’kay” You’re still looking at him uncertainly when he leans down and presses a quick kiss to your cheek. It’s nothing much, just a brush of lips against warm skin, but it makes your whole body jolt like you’ve been struck by lightning.

You stumble back a little, eyes wide, cheeks so red they could outshine the sun. “Hey! What was that for?” You say tugging chip behind you

Rafe just shrugs, completely unaffected despite the way his ears are still burning. “Get home safe.”

And then he turns and starts walking backward, a little smirk tugging at his lips. Behind him, his crew erupts into a chorus of hollers and wolf whistles, and you swear you hear Issac yell, “That’s our boy!”

You huff, crossing your arms even though your heart is beating like Chip’s little paws on hardwood floors. “Let him go, he’s a loser,” you mutter, which would be a lot more convincing if your face wasn’t about to catch fire.

Chip whines, pulling at his leash like he wants to chase after Rafe, and you let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, hush. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

But even as you turn to speed walk home, your fingers brush against your cheek where Rafe kissed you, and the warmth lingers the whole way back.

⭑.๋ ࣭

Miss Patsy’s apartment smells like vanilla and fresh-brewed tea when you step inside, the screen door creaking shut behind you. It’s cozy and cluttered in the best way, crocheted blankets draped over the couch, a dozen knickknacks crowding the mantel, and a lemon pound cake cooling on the kitchen counter waiting to be drizzled in strawberry syrup. The other ladies are already there, gathered around the table like a little council of wisdom, sipping their tea and gossiping about town happenings.

“Well, don’t you look flustered,” Miss Patsy drawls, setting her cup down and giving you a knowing look. “Something happen out there?”

You hesitate, then huff, dropping into the empty chair. “Rafe kissed me.”

Every single woman at that table straightens up like they just won the jackpot at bingo.

“He what?” Miss Patsy’s eyes go wide with delight.

“On the cheek!” you clarify quickly, face burning. “And it was real quick, but his crew was all teasin’ him, I don’t know, it was probably a stupid bet or somthin”

There’s a beat of silence before Miss Patsy nods sagely. “Oh, he likes you.”

You nearly choke on air. “Wha- No, he doesn’t.”

“Oh, honey.” Miss Maybelle shakes her head, reaching over to pat your hand. “He most certainly does. You don’t just go ‘round kissin’ girls you ain’t sweet on!” She said in her high pitch sales woman voice

“Y’all are readin’ too much into it,” you mumble, though your heart is thudding. “I mean, he just—he—maybe he did it to shut his dumb posse up?”

Miss Carol raises an eyebrow. “And what about the way he looks at you, hm? That boy is like a hound dog with a bone when it comes to you.”

Your lips part to argue, but then you pause. You don’t really know what it looks like when someone is sweet on another person. You never had the chance to learn, not when love in your household came with conditions and quiet threats. You never had the chance to be a normal girl with normal crushes, sneaking out to meet boys or giggling with friends over sweet nothings whispered in the dark.

You swallow hard, voice small. “You think so?” You say playing the fabric of your dress

“Oh, darlin’.” Miss Patsy’s face softens. “We know so.”

The ladies all start talking at once, getting way too excited about how cute you guys would be together, throwing out wedding colors like you haven’t barely figured out if he even likes you. It’s overwhelming but… kinda nice. Like you finally got yourself a little group of women looking out for you. You listen, letting their words wash over you, and for the first time, you let yourself consider it.

Maybe, just maybe, he does like you.

The thought sends a thrill up your spine, but right on its heels is doubt. “What if..what if I mess up? Say somethin’ dumb? Embarrass myself?” You say slouching a bit in your chair

“Oh, honey,” Miss Carol snorts, “embarrassin’ yourself is just part of the game.”

The women start sharing their own stories, things they’ve done in the name of love. Miss Patsy talks about the time she tripped into a pond trying to catch the eye of her high school sweetheart. Miss Maybelle once baked a whole pie for a man only to find out he was allergic to cherries. The stories go on, and soon, you’re laughing, your worries easing just a little.

They don’t know what you’ve been through, not really. No one knew but rafe and he barely knows the surface. But they know they’ve gained a new friend. And even though they don’t pry, their kindness is enough to remind you that you aren’t alone anymore.

And even if they leave, you still have rafe.

as a friend….obviously

© 𝐅𝐀𝐖𝐍𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓