DVNO

The eye of Istar. 1897. Cover art.

EGO

Rafe Cameron…

Rafe Cameron was awful to everyone. That was just the truth of it.

He smiled like he owned the room and talked like no one could touch him. Girls followed him around like it was a sport and he let them. Not because he liked them but because it fed the thing inside him that was always hungry. Attention. Control. Proof that he mattered.

Except with you.

You were the only person who didn’t flinch when he snapped. The only one who didn’t look impressed when he bragged. You didn’t chase him. You didn’t try to fix him. You just existed near him like you weren’t scared of the storm everyone else tiptoed around.

That drove him insane.

You were sitting on the hood of his truck when he came back from the party. Loud music still thumping in the distance. You had your arms crossed and your face was calm in that way that meant you were anything but.

“You had fun tonight” you said without even looking at him.

Rafe laughed sharp and defensive. “Don’t start Y/N.”

You finally looked up. “I watched you flirt with three girls. Right in front of me.”

He rolled his eyes like you were being dramatic. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

That was his problem. He genuinely believed that.

You slid off the hood and stood in front of him. “You don’t touch them. You don’t kiss them. But you want them to want you. You like knowing you could if you wanted to.”

His jaw tightened. He hated how well you saw him.

“You don’t get to be mad. We’re not together.”

You laughed then. Not soft. Not amused. “Yeah. Because you never figured that part out did you.”

That hit harder than he expected.

Rafe stepped closer. Voice low. “I don’t do relationships.”

“I know” you said. “You do egos.”

Silence stretched between you. The kind that felt dangerous.

“You don’t understand me” he said finally.

“You’re right” you said. “Because if you cared even a little you wouldn’t make me feel small just so you can feel big.”

That did it.

He snapped. “You think I don’t care. You think I let anyone talk to me the way you do. You think I’d let anyone see me like this.”

You swallowed. Your voice softer now. “I think you’re scared. And instead of admitting it you hurt people first.”

Rafe looked away. Hands clenched. He wanted to yell. To walk away. To find someone else to remind himself he was wanted.

But all he could think about was how you stayed. How you always stayed.

“You’re the only one” he muttered.

You frowned. “The only one what.”

“The only one I don’t pretend with. The only one who doesn’t feel temporary.”

Your chest tightened. Then you said “Then stop treating me like I am.”

He looked at you then really looked. Eyes raw. Ego cracking.

“I don’t know how to be good” he said. “I just know I don’t want anyone else.”

You stepped closer. Forehead nearly touching his. “Then figure it out Rafe. Or lose me.”

For the first time in his life the idea of losing someone scared him more than losing control.

And that’s how you knew.

Attraction and Repulsion. Modern views of electricity. 1892.

José del Castillo, 1737-1793

The Prophecy, ca.1770/71, oil on canvas, 42.6x42.5 cm