Short n’ sweet

Sabrina’s hair is up in a messy bun, oversized Hollister hoodie on, a bottle steriliser hissing on the counter. The twins — Miles and Mason — are in the playpen, one gnawing on a teething ring, the other babbling at the TV. It’s hot, sticky, and she’s been on her own all day.

She checks her phone again. Nothing from Rafe. Sarah tho.

“Hey everything good? Seen Rafe earlier with Topper.” She sighs ignoring the text and placing her phone back down.

“Cool,” she mutters under her breath, wiping the counter down again even tho it’s clean.

Mason starts whining from the playpen. She sighs, drops the cloth and walks over scooping him up.

“Hey buddy,” she whispers kissing his head. “You’re the only one that doesn’t ignore me right now, huh?”

He giggles, that half toothless giggle that makes everything fade for a second.

Miles starts fussing too, jealous, so she places Mason down and picks Miles up.

“Okay, okay,” she coos rocking him, “mama’s got you. Both of use are so dramatic, get it from your dad.”

Her phone buzzes again, she glances over, this time Rafe.

“Yo you up?” She rolls her eyes, “It’s not even midnight Rafe.”

He doesn’t answer right away. She puts the baby down, opens the steriliser, steam rising, stacking bottles neatly on a towel.

A few minutes later, buzz again. “Sorry my phone died earlier out with the guys. Everything ok?” “Yeah everything’s fine.” “How they been?” She rubs her temple before typing back, “Tired, clingy, probs teething again.”

There’s a long pause. She waits, watching the three dots appear, disappear, then appear again.

“You good tho?” Her throat tightens a little. “I don’t know Rafe, You’ve barely been around this week.”

No reply for a full five minutes. She throws the towel over the bottles, slumps onto the couch, eyes flicking to the twins who’s now half falling asleep in the playpen.

Finally her phone lights up. “I’ll come over in a bit.”

Her thumbs hover over the keyboard, but she doesn’t type yet. Instead, she stares at the twins. The quiet hum of the TV fills the silence, some rerun of Pretty Little Liars.

She sets the phone down, rubbing her forehead. “Sure you will,” she whispers, not sure if she means it as hope or doubt.

Miles lets out a tiny sigh in his sleep, hand clutching Mason’s shirt. The two of them tangled together in their playpen like they came as one.

Sabrina leans back on the couch, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands, the smell of baby lotion in the air. Her phone buzzes again. “On my way.”

11:42pm

The front door shuts, too loud for the quiet house.

Rafe steps in smelling like smoke, alcohol and the beach, hoodie half zipped, voice low. “Hey.”

Sabrina is on the couch, baby at each side holding their own bottles. “Don’t need to whisper. They’re up.”

Rafe nods slowly, walking over and sitting on the couch next to her and the babies.

“Can you not sit so close to them when you’ve been smoking,” she says voice sharp, “it’s not good for there health.”

Rafe rolls his eyes, scoffing before he stands up. “Why the fuck you always got to act like a bitch?”

“Are you kidding me?” She snaps.

He runs a hand through his hair, “No, you’re always so fucking bitchy for no reason why is that huh? I’ll sit with my babies if I want i’ve not been smoking.”

“Bullshit.” Her voice rises, tension in every word, Mason and Miles wriggling at her side.

Rafe rubs the back of his neck. “So what if I have been Bree? What does it matter?”

Sabrina slams the now empty bottles down on the coffee table. “It matters because i’m here all day, every day, looking after our babies while you’re out drinking, getting stoned and god knows what else?!”

“Oh here we go again,” he mutters.

Sabrina stands up holding a baby on each hip, while they start whining and letting out small sobs. “Don’t Rafe. This is both our responsibilities now, we’re parents okay? You can’t keep leaving me to go out with everyone while i’m stuck at home with Mason and Miles all day.”

Rafe huffs moving towards the kitchen, “Well I can’t be locked up forever cause you can’t do this yourself.”

Sabrina follows him. “I can do it myself Rafe I basically have this whole week, but it doesn’t matter, you’re there dad and you should be helping no matter if i can do it myself or not.”

Rafe opens the fridge pulling out a beer that belongs to Sabrina’s dad, but as him and her mum are in Italy to help her sick grandpa not as if Rafe cares.

As Rafe takes a sip Sabrina calms the twins placing them in there playpen again. Then he speaks, voice harsh. “Sabrina don’t pull the ‘your there dad’ card on me, as there dad I deserve a break.”

She leans against the counter sighing, “Rafe i’m not saying you don’t, but I do too and I don’t think i’ve had one since before I was even pregnant, a break is one thing but going out every day off the week morning till night isn’t a break that’s just taking the piss.”

Rafe laughs, low and fake. “God here we go, everyone to feel bad for Sabrina.”

“I’m not asking you to feel bad for me!,” she yells, voice cracking, “they need a dad and your acting like you don’t give two flying fucks about me or the twins!”

Rafe slams his beer on the counter, taking a step closer to her. “I’m sixteen! What do you expect?! I’m not gonna sit around and play happy family’s when everyone else is out living there life’s!”

Sabrina’s eyes are watering now, but she doesn’t back down also taking a step closer the babies now crying from the playpen. “Well you should have thought about that before deciding you wanted to be a part of there life’s!”

Rafe full on snaps kicking one of the baby rockers it almost hits the play pen, making the babies cry’s grow louder. “I fucking hate you!”

Sabrina shoves at his chest, tears falling freely now, “what the hell is wrong with you?! you almost hurt the babies you fucking phsyco!”

Rafe pauses for a minute looking almost guilty before his face returns to anger. “Get the fuck out my face!”

Sabrina barges past him sobbing, picking Mason and Miles up, “shhh, it’s okay…it’s okay mummy’s here, i’ve got use.”

Mason and Miles snuggle more into her chest, feeling better in the comfort of there mum.

Rafe runs a hand through his hair, looking at the baby rocker, then Sabrina and the twins. “Sab I-“

She doesn’t even look at him just moving towards the stairs, “sleep down here tonight, there’s blankets in the laundry room.” With that she disappears upstairs with the twins in her arms.

Once upstairs Sabrina heads into her bedroom that’s a mess off, the babies stuff and hers and Rafe’s things combined.

She places Mason in the cot while settling Miles onto the changing table, grabbing a fresh diaper, onesie and wipes. “Okay, let’s get you settled first.” She whispers sniffling away the tears.

Once Mason and Miles are changed into fresh diapers onesies and sleep suits, she places them in there own cots at either side off her bed then heads to the kitchen to make bottles.

Once downstairs Rafe is sitting at the kitchen counter still sipping his beer lost in thought when he notices her. “They okay?” He asks, voice calmer.

She doesn’t answer with words, just nods once then starts boiling the kettle for the bottles.

After the kettle is done, she pours the water into two bottles then adds some formula to them. “You just not gonna talk now?” He asks. She ignores.

“Childish.” He huffs and she has to force her mouth shut before she snaps.

She tests the bottle warmth on the inside of her wrist when done heads for the stairs again until she hears, “really making me sleep down here?” She stops, doesn’t look back, just nods then walks upstairs again.

When she enters the room again both Miles and Mason are sitting up soundly in there cots, even tho there six months old and can sleep in the nursery on there own and also have cots in there she prefers to have them with her still.

She walks over holding the two bottles as she lifts one twin out, one by one placing them on her king size bed, lying with them on the right side both them close to her on the left .

She hands them both there bottles and they take them drinking as they hold eye contact she rubs both of there heads whispering, “what on earth are we gonna do with your daddy.” As if they’d know the answer.

After around fifteen minutes there both finished there bottles and she places the empty ones on the bedside table, before getting them back into there cots as they sleep peacefully.

As she finally has some time to herself she quickly gets in a warm shower, feeling amazing after such a long day. Once done she changes into a tank top and some pink shorts heading to the kitchen for a snack.

As she walks into the kitchen due to it being an open plan she sees Rafe sitting on the couch watching some shitty TV show. He glances up, “they sleeping?”

She nods, saying nothing, just continues to make a snack plate with some ready slated lays and sandwiches.

Rafe rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, before standing up moving slowly to the kitchen. “Look, Bree i’m really sorry okay?”

She still just ignores him, not even sparing a glance at him. “Bree come on don’t be like that.”

He walks behind her, placing a hand on her waist, but being the feisty girl that she is she pushes it off.

“God sake will you stop acting like a fucking child?” He eventually snaps.

She finishes her snack plate before saying quietly. “You can sleep in the bed if you want, the couch isn’t comfy, but don’t touch me.”

He nods before walking upstairs as she follows holding her little plate of sandwiches and chips.

Inside her room again the boys are still sleeping soundly in there cots she sits on her side of the bed again while he takes his usual side.

Her back rests against the headboard as she starts eating whilst reading her favourite book.

“They look like you when they sleep.” He whispers voice quiet, soft.

Sabrina nods as she continues to read and eat, her chest tight fighting the urge to break the silent treatment she’s giving him.

When finished eating she places the plate on the bedside table then lies down back to Rafe, not bothering to say a word. He follows lying down although facing her back, his hand reaches out unsure but then he gently starts to rub it.

She sucks in a breath, she told him not to touch her, but getting her back rubbed is what she made him do every night since she was five months pregnant with the twins, so, she says nothing just lets him.

“I really am sorry Bree,” he whispers placing a kiss to the back of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo, shaking hands rubbing circles on her back.

The next morning she wakes up to the feeling of tiny hands patting her back, little giggles and Rafe’s voice, she can’t remember falling asleep, but she isn’t complaining, it’s the best sleep she’s had in a long time.

She turns to see Mason, Miles and Rafe all sitting there like three copies off each other.

“Look boys mummy’s awake,” Rafe coos clapping his hands which make them join in.

Sabrina sits up placing a kiss to both there cheeks. “Hello babies,” she glances at Rafe “how long they been up?” she asks dryly, clearly still pissed.

“Only about ten minutes…look Sabrina, I really didn’t mean to be an ass last night, I was just,” he pauses as if trying to get the words right.

“I was a total dick, I shouldn’t have left you with the boys all week or said all the shitty things I said and especially not have kicked Mason’s chair, i’ve just been so stressed lately and I know I shouldn’t have took it out on you.”

Sabrina nods as if thinking about forgiving him yet, or waiting longer, but he continues.”

“You didn’t deserve any of it and I know you deserve a break too, I just really fucked up last night and I don’t hate you, I love you and the twins…I was a shit dad and boyfriend.”

“Yes. Yes you were,” Sabrina starts, calm voice but softer eyes, “I know you didn’t mean any of it but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt, you can’t act like that all the time just because your stressed it isn’t fair on me or Mason and Miles, I don’t want them to grow up with a mum and dad who argue all the time.”

Mason and Miles babble in baby language as if agreeing with Sabrina’s words which makes her and Rafe chuckle before he turns serious again.

“I know, I know god I didn’t mean to hurt or scare you as the boys especially when I kicked the chair. Tho Bree I am really sorry…”

It’s silent for a minute before Sabriba finally talks. “Okay, I forgive you but please just don’t do it again you scared me last night but not just me, the babies too, our babies.”

“I know, god I know I barely slept thinking about it…” He admits as Mason grabs onto Sabrina’s bracelet.

Sabrina picks Mason up as Rafe does the same to Miles, Sabrina speaks first, “well it’s done now, done and forgotten don’t let it happen again, so how about breakfast?”

Rafe kisses her cheek. “Sounds good too me Bree.”

Sabrina stood in front of it all, smoothing her silk white dress over her rounded belly, her hands instinctively resting against the curve that had grown so much in the last two months. Twenty-two weeks, and she looked every bit of it now—glowing, bigger, undeniably pregnant. Her blonde hair caught the light, soft waves framing her flushed cheeks.

Beside her, Rafe adjusted the cuffs of his crisp white shirt, his white trousers and blue suit jacket making him look sharper than usual. But his hand kept drifting to the small of Sabrina’s back, grounding her, even as his nerves buzzed.

Their parents hovered on opposite sides of the garden—Siobhan and James a little stiff, Rose warm and reassuring, Ward stony but present. It had taken weeks, but their families had come around just enough to start helping with the essentials: a crib, some onesies, a mountain of diapers. Even if the full support wasn’t there, it was something.

And then there were their friends—Kiara, JJ, Pope, John B, Kelce, Topper, and Sarah—who filled the garden with chatter and laughter, balancing paper cups of lemonade and sneaking glances at the balloons.

“Damn, Bree, you weren’t lying,” JJ said, his grin cheeky as he gave her belly a once-over. “You really are cooking double.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help but laugh. “Shut up, JJ.”

Kiara looped her arm through Sabrina’s. “You look beautiful. Like, glowing glowing. You ready?”

“Not even a little,” Sabrina admitted, biting her lip as she glanced at the two black balloons. “Feels like once those pop, everything gets more real.”

Rafe leaned in, low so only she heard. “Bree, it’s already real. This is just the fun part.”

Her lips curved into the smallest smile. “Fun? You’re not the one with two people kicking your bladder.”

JJ barked a laugh. “Ouch. Guess you’ll find out what you’re in for, Cameron.”

Rose clapped her hands lightly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone. Thank you for being here today. We’re about to find out what these two little miracles are.” She gave Sabrina a soft smile, her support a lifeline.

Ward stood with his arms folded, face unreadable, but at least he hadn’t stormed out.

Sabrina’s dad shifted uncomfortably but stayed quiet, one hand resting on Siobhan’s shoulder.

John B held up his phone, already recording. “Alright, history in the making. Go on, you two—pop ‘em.”

Sabrina glanced at Rafe, nerves sparking in her stomach. “You ready?”

He smirked faintly, though his hand was tight around hers. “Always.”

Together, they each reached for a balloon. The garden went silent, breaths held.

“On three,” Sabrina said, her voice shaking but strong. “One… two… three.”

Two loud pops echoed across the garden—blue confetti exploded from both balloons, showering the grass, the guests, and Sabrina’s white dress in shimmering color.

The silence broke into shouts and cheers.

“Boys!” Kiara squealed, throwing her arms around Sabrina. “I knew it!”

JJ whooped so loud the neighbors probably heard. “Double Camerons running around? Lord help us all.”

Rafe was grinning, the kind of grin no one saw often. He pulled Sabrina against him, spinning her once before kissing her forehead. “Two boys, Bree. Two sons.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears, laughter bubbling out. “I can’t believe it.”

Pope clapped Rafe on the shoulder. “Guess you’re gonna have some athletes on your hands.”

Topper smirked. “Or hellraisers.”

Sarah had tears in her eyes too, her voice soft. “Twin brothers… that’s actually kinda beautiful.”

Sabrina pressed a hand over her bump, overwhelmed. Two boys. Two identical little boys. She glanced up at Rafe, whose eyes were still lit up with awe, and whispered just for him: “We’re really doing this.”

He squeezed her hand tighter, confetti tangled in his hair. “Yeah, we are. Double trouble and all.”

Ward stepped forward clearing his throat. “So, two boys huh? Well at least the Cameron name will continue.”

Rafe’s smile dropped, he took a deep breath and answer. “Yeah dad, it will.”

“Good.” He started firmly. “Well anyway, Sabrina Rose wants to take you shopping tomorrow. 3pm.”

Sabrina swallowed hard, then nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

Rose smiled placing a hand on Sabrina’s arm. “Of course sweetheart, two boys, how exciting.”

Siobhan stepped forward to, her usual harsh tone gone. “Your dad will paint the nursery, he needs to know what colour you want it.”

Sabrina glanced at Rafe then the adults again. “We were thinking maybe beige and white, or blue and white, if that’s okay”

Siobhan nodded before James spoke up. “I’ll get the cots built, but Bree you do know the babies have to sleep in your room for at least six months before there on there own.”

“We know.” Rafe spoke before Sabrina could. “We plan on getting moses baskets for the bedroom. The doctor said it’s good for twins to sleep next to each other the first few months.”

Rose smile brightens. “That’s good sweetie, use are doing amazing. I’ll get the moses baskets ordered and delivered to Tannyhill.”

Sarah wiped her cheeks quickly, pretending she wasn’t crying. “Two little nephews. I guess I’ll forgive you now, Bree. Maybe.”

Sabrina laughed wetly. “You better, because they’re gonna need their Aunt Sarah.”

“Fine,” Sarah muttered, though her lips curved into a smile. “But don’t expect me to babysit every weekend.”

JJ snorted. “Oh, I’m definitely babysitting. Gonna teach those boys everything Rafe knows.”

Rafe shot him a glare. “Like hell you are.”

“Relax, bro,” JJ chuckled, clapping his back. “They’ll call me ‘Uncle JJ.’ Has a nice ring, doesn’t it?”

Pope shook his head. “More like ‘bad influence.’”

“Hey!” JJ barked a laugh.

Siobhan folded her arms but her voice was softer now. “They’ll need all of you, I suppose. It takes a village.”

Rose smiled warmly. “And they’ll have one.”

James finally sighed, muttering under his breath in Italian before switching back to English. “Two boys. Dio mio. I will… help however I can. Even if I do not agree with how young you are.”

Sabrina blinked at him, her voice cracking. “Thanks, Dad.”

10th October 2010

Sabrina blinked awake, sunlight pouring through the curtains of Rafe’s room. She stretched, groggy, her hands instinctively resting on the swell of her belly. Twenty-two weeks. Every morning it shocked her all over again how big she was getting.

The smell hit her first. Sweet, buttery, exactly what her cravings had been for days.

Her blue eyes flicked to the side—and there was Rafe, balancing a tray in his hands with the most smug grin on his face.

“Morning, mama,” he said, setting it carefully on the bed. “Special delivery.”

Sabrina pushed herself up against the headboard, eyes widening at the sight. “Oh my god, is that…?”

“Yep,” Rafe cut in, proud. “Cinnamon rolls with extra icing. And—” he lifted the lid off a small container— “strawberries dipped in Nutella, because apparently you’re obsessed with those now.”

Her stomach growled so loud she had to laugh, covering her face. “You’re ridiculous. You went out this morning?”

“Nah,” Rafe smirked, sliding onto the bed beside her. “Rose stocked up yesterday. Said you’d want ‘options.’”

Sabrina giggled, grabbing a strawberry and biting into it with a muffled moan. “Okay, this is the best thing ever.”

Rafe smirked, leaning back on his elbow, watching her demolish the plate. “Figures. All it takes is sugar to keep you happy.”

She narrowed her eyes at him playfully, licking the Nutella off her finger. “Sugar and you.”

His grin softened at that, the cockiness fading for a second. “Careful, Marino. Say stuff like that and I might think you actually like me.”

Sabrina snorted. “I’m twenty-two weeks pregnant with your twins. I think it’s a little late to play hard to get.”

Rafe chuckled, reaching over to steal a strawberry, but she slapped his hand away. “Uh-uh, no. These are mine.”

“Selfish,” he teased, but let her guard the plate like a dragon. He reached instead for the cinnamon roll, tearing off a piece and popping it into his mouth. “Mmm. Okay, yeah. You’re right. This is the best thing ever.”

Sabrina shook her head, amused, but her expression softened when she caught him watching her again, his gaze lingering on her belly. She instinctively rested her hands there, her silk nightshirt stretched tight across the curve.

“They’ve been moving like crazy this morning,” she whispered. “Want to feel?”

Rafe’s cocky smirk vanished instantly. He sat up straighter, hand hovering uncertainly until she guided it over the right spot. A second later, a sharp little kick thudded against his palm.

His breath hitched. “Holy shit.”

Sabrina smiled through her own teary eyes. “Yeah. That’s your sons saying good morning.”

For once, Rafe Cameron was speechless. He just kept his hand there, waiting, grinning every time the twins kicked again. “They’re strong already,” he murmured, almost in awe. “Definitely Camerons.”

“Or Marinos,” Sabrina corrected softly, leaning against him.

“Both,” he said firmly, dropping a kiss to the side of her head.

Sabrina popped another strawberry in her mouth, eyes half-closed like she was in heaven. “Okay, but hear me out… I want them to have the same initials.”

Rafe raised a brow, stealing the last bite of the cinnamon roll. “Same initials? Like… matching matching?”

“Yeah.” She licked chocolate off her thumb, unfazed. “I don’t want them sounding like two random kids. They’re twins, they should have a little connection in their names. Like—M and M.”

Rafe snorted. “What, like the candy?”

She glared at him over her plate. “Shut up. You know what I mean. Both starting with M. Classic. Strong. Cute.”

Rafe leaned back, watching her eat. “Alright, so you want M names? Let’s throw some out there… what about Matthew?”

Sabrina instantly shook her head. “Nope. Too common. Everyone’s uncle is called Matthew.”

He smirked. “Okay… what about Maddox?”

She chewed slowly, considering. “Hmm… I don’t hate it. It’s kinda cool, but it feels a little… strong, y’know? Like a rockstar or something.”

“Better than sounding weak,” Rafe muttered, teasing. “Alright… Marcus?”

“Ew, no.” Sabrina scrunched up her nose. “That sounds like a forty-year-old man with a briefcase.”

Rafe chuckled, reaching over to steal one of her strawberries. “You’re picky.”

“They’re our kids, Rafe. I’m allowed to be picky.” She smirked, then softened. “I just want something nice… not too out there, but not boring either.”

“Okay… Mason?” he tried again, his tone casual but testing.

Sabrina froze mid-bite, her eyes lifting to his. “Mason…” She repeated it softly, and then her lips curled into a smile. “I actually… really like Mason.”

“Yeah?” Rafe tilted his head, watching her reaction closely.

“Yeah. Mason Cameron.” She said it out loud, testing how it rolled off her tongue. “That’s good.”

Rafe smiled a little, proud of himself. “One down, one to go.”

Sabrina set her plate aside, leaning in now that she was properly invested. “Okay, so if one’s Mason, the other has to match. Same vibe. Same strength.”

“Mason and…” Rafe tapped his fingers against his knee. “Miles?”

Sabrina’s face lit up instantly. “Miles!” She clapped her hands together. “Yes. Mason and Miles. That’s it.”

Rafe repeated it, slowly, almost like he was trying to picture them. “Mason and Miles Cameron.” His chest rose and fell as he let the words settle.

Sabrina reached for his hand. “Mason and Miles Marino Cameron,” she corrected softly, adding her name into the mix.

Rafe rolled his eyes but squeezed her hand back. “Of course you had to sneak Marino in there.”

She grinned through a mouthful of waffle. “Obviously. They’re mine too.”

He smirked, shaking his head. “Fine. Mason and Miles Marino Cameron. Guess we’ve got ourselves two names.”

Sabrina leaned back against the pillows, satisfied. “Mason and Miles… my little M&M’s.”

Rafe groaned, throwing his head back. “Bree, no. Don’t start with that candy crap again, I was joking about that.”

Rafe froze, his heart lurching. He flicked the light on. The sheets were tossed back, the window cracked open.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, and stormed back down the hall.

He shoved the bedroom door open. “Sabrina—wake up. Maya’s gone.”

Sabrina blinked hard, groggy. “What do you mean gone?”

“Her bed’s empty, window’s open. She’s not in the house.”

That woke her up. She sat up straight, hair falling in her face. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m talking she’s not in her room, Bree!”

Sabrina shot out of bed. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Did she—did she leave a note or something?”

“Does it look like she left a note?!” Rafe snapped, raking a hand through his hair. “She snuck out. One in the damn morning and she’s out god knows where.”

Voices came from down the hall. Mason’s voice, groggy but curious: “Dad? Mom? What’s going on?”

Both twins appeared, Miles clutching a controller still.

“What’s wrong?” Mason asked, wide-eyed.

Sabrina turned, her voice sharp with panic. “Your sister’s gone. She’s not in her room.”

“Gone?” Miles blinked, paling. “Like… what do you mean gone?”

“Window wide open, genius. Where do you think she went?” Rafe barked.

Mason swore under his breath. “Shit. Did she—she’s with somebody, isn’t she?”

“Mason!” Sabrina hissed, but her stomach flipped—because of course that’s what this was.

Miles muttered, “We saw her texting somebody earlier. She wouldn’t tell us who.”

Rafe rounded on them, jaw tight. “And you didn’t think to say anything?”

“She’s our sister, not our prisoner!” Mason shot back.

“She’s fourteen!” Rafe’s voice cracked loud, raw panic spilling out. “Do you know what can happen at one a.m. out there?”

Sabrina grabbed her phone off the nightstand, hands shaking. “I’m calling her.”

The line rang and rang. No answer.

Sabrina’s voice was tight. “She’s not picking up.”

“Of course she’s not,” Rafe muttered darkly, pacing the room. “She knows she’s in deep shit.”

“Don’t you dare make this about punishment right now, Rafe,” Sabrina snapped. “She’s out there in the middle of the night. We need to find her.”

Miles sat down on the edge of the bed, pale. “What if something happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Rafe said, though he sounded like he was trying to convince himself. He grabbed his hoodie from the chair. “I’m getting in the car. I’ll find her.”

“You don’t even know where she is!” Sabrina’s voice broke, her hands pressing against her temples. “Oh my god, Rafe, what if—what if she—”

“I’ll find her.” His eyes cut sharp to the twins. “And you two—if you know who she’s seeing, now’s the time to spit it out.”

Mason glanced at Miles. They exchanged a guilty look.

Sabrina caught it instantly. “What? What do you two know?”

Miles hesitated. “We… we think it’s that kid from the soccer team. Ryan something. He’s older.”

“How older?” Rafe demanded.

“Seventeen.”

Rafe’s hands curled into fists. “Seventeen. Great. Fucking great. My fourteen-year-old daughter’s out in the middle of the night with a goddamn seventeen-year-old boy.”

Sabrina’s voice cracked. “Rafe—”

“I’m getting her back, Bree. Tonight.” He stormed toward the door, hoodie half on, fury in his chest and panic barely kept at bay.

The door slammed shut behind Rafe, leaving the house in a tense silence. Sabrina just stood there for a moment, hands on her hips, breathing hard like she might break.

Mason finally muttered, “He’s gonna kill that Ryan kid.”

Sabrina’s head whipped around. “Mason. Not helping.”

He threw up his hands. “I’m just saying. You know Dad. He’s already seeing red. If he finds them—”

“Enough.” Sabrina cut him off, pacing the room. “Your sister sneaks out in the middle of the night and you two knew about this boy—”

Miles groaned, “We didn’t know she was gonna sneak out, Mom! She told us to shut up about it. What were we supposed to do? Snitch?”

“Yes!” Sabrina snapped. “When it comes to her sneaking around with a seventeen-year-old? Yes, you snitch.”

Mason leaned forward on the bed, voice lower. “You used to sneak out, didn’t you?”

Sabrina froze, caught. “That is—completely different.”

“Not really,” Mason shot back. “You and Dad are acting like you never did stupid shit when you were our age.”

Miles nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I mean—didn’t you guys, like, get together when you were teenagers?”

Sabrina’s face flushed hot, her jaw tightening. “That’s not the point. The point is—” She pressed her hand to her forehead, groaning. “Jesus Christ. This isn’t about me and your father. This is about Maya.”

“She’s not dumb, Mom,” Miles said quietly. “She wouldn’t go with him if she didn’t feel safe.”

“Safe?” Sabrina’s voice cracked. “She’s a fourteen-year-old girl in the dark with a seventeen-year-old boy who wants one thing. Safe isn’t even in the equation.”

Both boys fell silent, shifting uncomfortably.

Sabrina sank down on the edge of the bed, finally letting herself crumble a little. “God, I should’ve seen this coming. She’s been off for weeks—snapping at me, sneaking her phone around. I thought it was just teenage mood swings, I didn’t think—”

Mason sat next to her, awkward but sincere. “It’s not your fault, Mom.”

Miles echoed softly, “Yeah. Maya’s just… Maya.”

Sabrina let out a shaky laugh, even through the tears building in her eyes. “That’s the problem. Maya’s just like your father. Stubborn, reckless, and impossible to stop once she’s decided on something.”

The twins exchanged a small smile at that, because she wasn’t wrong.

The silence stretched until Mason cleared his throat. “What if Dad doesn’t find her?”

Sabrina swallowed hard, forcing calm into her voice she didn’t feel. “Then I’ll call the police. I don’t care if she hates me for it. I’ll do whatever it takes to get her home safe.”

Miles bit his lip, looking at her. “You’re really scared, huh?”

Sabrina looked at both her boys, eyes glassy. “Of course I’m scared. She’s my little girl.” She paused, then added, almost whispering, “And your dad—he’ll never admit it, but he’s scared too.”

The boys nodded slowly, the reality sinking in heavy.

Not even twenty-minutes later, Sabrina’s phone buzzed in her hand, and she answered it so fast she nearly dropped it. “Rafe?”

His voice came through, low and rough. “I’ve checked everywhere I can think of, Bree. The beach, the park, the pier, even that stupid abandoned diner spot the kids sneak off to. Nothing.”

Sabrina closed her eyes, pressing her palm against her temple. “Oh my god…”

The twins looked up at her instantly, reading every word off her face. Mason sat forward. “What’s he saying? He didn’t find her?”

Sabrina shook her head slightly, still clutching the phone. “Where else could she be, Rafe?” she asked into the line, voice trembling. “Did you check—”

“I went by the Wreck, the movie theater, even the damn ice cream shop,” Rafe cut in, frustrated. “Nobody’s seen her. I don’t know where else she could’ve gone.”

Miles’ voice broke in, sharp. “What if she went with him to the Boneyard? That’s where everyone goes when they don’t wanna get caught.”

Sabrina turned, eyes wide. “The Boneyard?”

Mason nodded quickly. “Yeah. It’s like… everyone goes there to hook up or whatever. You can’t see it from the road, so…”

Rafe’s voice on the other end hardened. “The Boneyard. Of course.” A beat, then, “I’m heading there now.”

“Rafe—” Sabrina’s voice cracked, panic bubbling over. “Please. Don’t lose your temper, just—just get her home safe.”

“I’ll handle it,” he muttered.

The line went dead.

Sabrina let the phone drop into her lap, staring blankly for a second before whispering, “Jesus Christ.”

Miles shifted uncomfortably. “So… he’s probably right then? She’s at the Boneyard?”

Sabrina rubbed her face with both hands, pacing again. “If she is, she’s in so much trouble.” She stopped, looking at both boys. “And you two—how long have you known about this Ryan?”

Mason and Miles exchanged a guilty glance.

“Mason?” she pressed.

He sighed. “A couple weeks. She started texting him at night, then sneaking calls. We didn’t think she’d actually sneak out, Mom. We thought she was just being… Maya.”

Miles added quickly, “We swear we didn’t know tonight.”

Sabrina let out a shaky laugh, almost bitter. “God, I swear, one of use kids is gonna give me a heart attack before I’m forty.”

Fifteen minutes later the front door slammed shut so hard making picture frames rattle on the walls. Voices followed—Rafe’s furious and Maya’s sharp.

“You think your grown?!” Rafe barked. “Sneaking out in the middle of the night to meet a boy like your in some 80s movie!”

“I am grown!” Maya snapped back. “I’m fourteen, not a baby!”

Sabrina, Mason and Miles where already on there feet in the living room when Rafe stormed in practically dragging Maya by the arm. She yanked it out of his grip, crossing her arms.

Sabrina stepped forward, her voice tight but quieter than Rafe’s. “What were they doing when you got there?”

Rafe gestured his hand toward Maya his face red. “All over each other, making out in his car like she isn’t my fourteen-year-old daughter.”

Sabrina’s stomach dropped. “Oh my god.” She turned to Maya. “You were making out with him in his car, seriously maya?”

Maya’s chin jutted up, eyes flashing. “So what? Everyone does it. It’s not a big deal!”

Miles muttered, “It’s two in the morning, Maya…”

“Shut up, Miles,” she shot back instantly.

Mason shook his head, arms folded. “You’re insane. Ryan’s seventeen. He’s way too old for you.”

“Oh my god, you guys act like he’s fifty!” Maya shouted. “He’s only three years older. It’s not illegal!”

Rafe’s voice roared over hers. “The hell it’s not! Fourteen and seventeen? You think I’m gonna let some senior creep around with my daughter?!”

Maya’s face flushed hot as she turned on him. “He’s not a creep, he actually likes me! He treats me better than you do half the time!”

Rafe’s jaw clenched so tight the muscles jumped. “You don’t get to say that to me. You live under my roof, you follow my rules. Period.”

Sabrina stepped in, holding a hand up toward him but fixing her eyes on Maya. “Do you even realize what you’ve done tonight? Do you know what it’s like for us? Waking up and finding your bed empty, not knowing where you are? You’re fourteen, Maya. Fourteen. You don’t sneak out at night with a boy, let alone a boy that age.”

Maya scoffed, her voice rising to match theirs. “You guys are so dramatic! I’m not a kid anymore. You and Dad just want to control everything I do. I hate it here sometimes!”

Miles winced. “Maya, don’t—”

“No, I mean it!” she shouted, eyes blazing as she looked between her parents. “You don’t let me go anywhere, you don’t let me do anything. And the second I like someone, you freak out and act like he’s some predator. Maybe if you trusted me, I wouldn’t have to sneak around!”

Rafe slammed his hand against the back of the couch, making everyone flinch. “You don’t sneak out, period! End of story. I don’t care if you think you’re grown, Maya—you’re not. And Ryan? He’s done. You’re never seeing him again.”

“You can’t tell me who I can and can’t see!” she fired back.

“The hell I can’t,” Rafe growled.

Sabrina’s voice cracked in, sharp. “Enough. Both of you. Maya sit.”

Maya shook her head, arms crossed, eyes blazing. “No! I won’t sit down. I’m sick of use guys treating me like a kid. And you—“ she jabbed a finger towards Sabrina, “—you don’t get to say anything!”

Sabrina froze. “Excuse me?”

“You can’t lecture me for sneaking out to see a boy!” Maya snapped. “You literally got pregnant at fifteen and sixteen! You where doing worse then I am now”

The words hit Sabrina like a slap. She just stood there trying to swallow the sting as she sinks down onto the couch.

“Maya!” Rafe yelled. “Watch your mouth!”

Miles shifted uncomfortably on the couch. “That was messed up, Maya.”

Mason nodded, his tone sharper. “That’s low. Don’t say that.”

But Maya didn’t back down, she flipped the same blonde hair her mum has over her shoulder. “It’s true though! She acts perfect like she wasn’t running around getting knocked up at fifteen and sixteen!”

Rafe looks like he’s on the verge of killing someone. “Don’t you dare say that about your mum. She wasn’t just running around getting knocked up by random people. Me and your mum might have been young and stupid but we made it here didn’t we? You don’t know how hard it was for her, she chose to give up her teenage years to raise use so don’t ever say that.”

Maya’s lips curled in frustration. “Well it’s not my fault she got pregnant and had to give up her teenage years.”

“Nobody said it was your fault.” Rafe said his voice low, but firm. “But she chose to because she’s a good person and look where use are today. Your mum goes out her way to make sure use have everything use need and want from food, clothes, a roof over your head, she takes you to get your hair and nails done, makes sure everything use want for christmas’s is under the tree so don’t sit here and talk shit about her like she doesn’t do everything for you.”

Maya’s hands clenched into fists at her side. “Well maybe she should have given me up then! Because tonight I just—I hate use!”

Sabrina sniffles rising from the couch and walking upstairs without another word.

Rafe, Mason and Miles turn to Maya.

Rafe places a hand on his hips. “Go to your room. Now. Before I loose my damn mind.”

Maya glared at him before stomping up the stairs and into her bedroom letting the door slam shut.

Mason and Miles muttered goodnights as they trudged off to their rooms, leaving the house eerily quiet.

Rafe quietly padded up the stairs then down the hall to Mila’s nursery, checking the baby monitor and peeking into the crib. Mila was curled up in her blanket, eyes fluttering in sleep. Rafe breathed a sigh of relief, brushing a hand over her soft hair. “You’re okay, peanut,” he murmured.

Satisfied, he closed the door softly and headed to him and Sabrina’s shared room. When he stepped inside he noticed Sabrina sobbing quietly tucked away under the covers.

He carefully climbed into bed beside her, not wanting to startle her before wrapping an arm around her waist. “Bree, hey it’s okay.”

Sabrina doesn’t turn to face him yet. “She hates me.”

Rafe tightened his arm around her, rubbing small circles on her side. “No, she doesn’t hate you. She’s mad. Hormones, stress, teenage crap… it’s not personal, Bree.”

Sabrina’s voice cracked, muffled into the pillow. “It feels personal. Everything she said, Rafe… it’s like she hates me for existing.”

“She’s just…upset baby, I know what she said was wrong trust me she’s lucky she’s my daughter or else I swear...” He stops himself before he says something too harsh although he knows he would never do anything bad to any of his kids.

That earns a little chuckle from Sabrina. “Yeah well, she definitely is your daughter that’s for sure.”

Rafe rolls her over so she’s facing him. “Your her mum Bree, she didn’t mean any of it. You know what teenagers are like—I mean still tomorrow I will be having words with her that’s for fucking sure.”

Sabrina nods sniffling wiping at her wet face. “I know, but sometimes I feel like we’re being to strict on them”

“Babe.” Rafe starts raising a brow. “Most nights they come home drunk and we pretend not to notice, we don’t ground them and there curfews 10pm, we can’t get less strict then that.”

“Yeah…you’re right. God I just wish she at least told me about that boy, why didn’t she tell me? I mean i’m cool right?”

Rafe chuckles pulling her closer. “Oh you’re definitely cool.” Then he gets serious again. “But Bree sneaking out is a whole different level, no matter if we’re cool our kids aren’t sneaking out she should just have asked if he could have came over…although I would have said no anyway” He mutters the last part.

Sabrina cuddles closer to him. “Yeah, that’s the other thing it’s not as if he was even her age, he’s seventeen. I don’t care if that’s apparently still a minor it’s too old for a fourteen year old they only want one thing.”

“Oh I know. He won’t even be here to turn 18 if I get my fucking hands on him.” Rafe growls.

That makes Sabrina sit up more. “No Rafe. You’re not touching him I know it’s messed up but he could get you arrested. Promise me you won’t.”

“I mean I am Rafe Cameron. I won’t get arrested, i’ll pay Shoupe big money if I have to.” That makes him earn a glare from Sabrina so he huffs. “Fine. Okay promise I won’t touch him. Yet.”

She slaps his chest. “Rafe i’m being serious here. Maya will just hate us more if you do anything.”

Rafe takes her hand. “Okay. Okay I promise not to touch Ryan or whatever his name is.”

Sabrina settles back down lying with her head on his chest. “I really hope she doesn’t hate me tho.”

Rafe sighs rubbing her back. “She doesn’t. Trust me. Although what she said was wrong she didn’t mean it she’s just mad I ruined her make-out sesh, i’ll talk to her tomorrow get some sleep baby, yeah?”

Sabrina nods letting her eyes shut nuzzling further into Rafe’s chest.

The next morning, the kitchen was filled with the smell of coffee and toast, the quiet clatter of plates as Mason and Miles bickered halfheartedly over who got the last waffle. Mila sat in her highchair, babbling happily with mashed banana smeared across her cheeks.

Sabrina moved around the counter in silence, hair tied up messily, eyes tired and puffy from the night before. She slid the boys their plates without a word. Mason gave her a small, careful look but didn’t say anything. Miles mumbled a quiet “thanks, Mom,” trying to keep the peace.

Rafe sat at the table, jaw tight, coffee mug in his hand. He hadn’t said much either, but the storm in his expression hadn’t eased overnight. He was watching the stairs, waiting.

Finally, footsteps creaked down. Maya appeared at the bottom, arms crossed, hair messy, clearly not in the mood to face anyone. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard, poured herself some juice, and slid into a chair—without so much as glancing at Sabrina.

The silence was suffocating.

Rafe finally set his mug down with a heavy clink. “Eat something,” he said flatly.

“I’m not hungry,” Maya muttered.

“Didn’t ask if you were hungry,” Rafe shot back. “I said eat something.”

Maya rolled her eyes but picked at the edge of a piece of toast anyway.

Sabrina’s hand trembled slightly as she buttered another slice, but she didn’t say a word. She kept her eyes on Mila, who squealed when she dropped her spoon.

Rafe leaned forward, eyes narrowing on his daughter. “When you’re done, go upstairs and get dressed. You and me—we’re going out.”

Maya’s head snapped up. “Where?”

“Doesn’t matter where,” Rafe said, tone sharp. “Point is, you’re coming with me. And don’t think for a second you get to argue.”

Maya pushed back in her chair, scowling. “What, you’re gonna babysit me now? Watch my every move?”

“Damn right I am,” Rafe said. “You proved last night you can’t be trusted. So until you earn it back, you’re not getting an inch of freedom from me.”

Mason and Miles both exchanged looks across the table, wisely staying quiet.

Maya scoffed, muttering under her breath, “You’re unbelievable.”

Rafe’s jaw twitched, but his voice stayed steady. “Better unbelievable than having to bury my kid because she thought sneaking out with some older guy was harmless.”

That silenced the room. Even Maya looked away, her bravado flickering for a second before she shrugged it off.

Rafe leaned back in his chair, eyes never leaving her. “Finish your toast. Upstairs. Five minutes.”

Five minutes later, footsteps thudded softly down the stairs. Maya appeared in the doorway, hair brushed, hoodie zipped, jeans and sneakers on like she’d been waiting for this exact moment. Her face was set in that practiced teenage mask—chin up, eyes sharp, like she didn’t care about a thing.

Rafe was leaning against the counter, coffee mug in hand, still simmering. He clocked her outfit immediately, lips pressing into a thin line. “Good. You’re ready.” He pushed off the counter, grabbed his keys from the hook. “Let’s go.”

Maya rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, shoving her phone into her pocket. She glanced briefly at Sabrina—who was pointedly focusing on slicing fruit for Mila’s breakfast, not even giving her daughter the satisfaction of eye contact. The silence stung more than yelling.

Rafe opened the front door, gesturing out. “Come on.”

Once they were in the car, Rafe started the engine but didn’t pull out yet. He glanced sideways at her. “Where do you wanna go?” His tone was clipped, no-nonsense, but it was clear he was giving her the choice.

Maya shrugged, staring out the window. “I dunno.”

“Don’t play with me right now, Maya. You’re the one who wanted to act grown last night—so pick.”

She crossed her arms, chewing on her lip before muttering, “To get my nails done.”

Rafe almost laughed, but it came out as a sharp huff. “Your nails done? That’s what you want after sneaking out at two in the morning? Jesus Christ.” He shook his head, pulling out of the driveway. “Fine. Nails it is. But you and me—we’re talking on the way.”

Maya rolled her eyes again, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, lucky me.”

Rafe’s hands tightened on the wheel, but he didn’t snap. Not yet. “Yeah. Lucky you. Because if it were up to me, you’d be grounded for the next six months. But your mom…” He trailed off, jaw tightening. “She’s already torn up enough. So you and I are gonna have this conversation. And you’re gonna listen.”

Maya kept staring stubbornly out the window, earbuds halfway pulled from her pocket.

Rafe caught it instantly. “Don’t even think about it. Put ‘em away. We’re doing this the old-fashioned way. Talking. No distractions.”

Maya shoved the earbuds back in her pocket with a dramatic sigh. “This is so unfair.”

Rafe barked a humorless laugh. “Unfair? Kid, unfair is me at fourteen working for my old man’s approval and getting nothing but a fist in the jaw. You don’t know unfair.”

That made Maya glance at him, just for a second, her face softening—before the wall went back up. “Still doesn’t mean you can treat me like I’m five.”

“You’re not five,” Rafe said flatly, flicking his blinker. “But you sure as hell aren’t grown either. Fourteen, Maya. You hear me? Fourteen. And making out with some senior in his car at night?” His grip tightened on the wheel again. “That’s not happening under my watch.”

Maya’s jaw clenched, her voice low. “You can’t control everything I do forever.”

“No,” Rafe agreed, surprising her. “I can’t. But until you’re old enough to know better, I sure as hell can try. And I will. Because that’s my job.”

The nail salon smelled faintly of polish and acetone, soft music humming through the speakers. Maya dropped into the chair like she owned the place, sliding her phone out the second the nail tech approached.

Rafe slouched into the chair beside her, arms crossed tight over his chest. He wasn’t here for a manicure—he was here to watch. To talk.

“You’re not sitting there the whole time staring at me, are you?” Maya muttered, not looking up from her phone.

Rafe raised a brow. “Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

She groaned dramatically. “God, you’re so embarrassing.”

“You don’t know embarrassing yet, kid. Keep pushing me.”

The nail tech laughed softly under her breath, sensing the father-daughter dynamic instantly. Maya shot her a look, but Rafe ignored it.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You know what the problem is, Maya?”

“Everything?” she deadpanned.

“You think we’re your enemies,” Rafe said. “Me and your mom. You act like we’re just out to ruin your fun. But last night? Bree cried herself to sleep because she thought you hated her.”

That made Maya’s fingers still on her phone. She glanced at him, quick and guilty, then dropped her eyes. “I don’t hate her.”

“Could’ve fooled her,” Rafe said evenly. “And me. You think words don’t cut, but they do. You don’t get to throw that shit about her being pregnant young in her face like it’s a joke. You weren’t there. You don’t know what she gave up for you.”

Maya’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t ask to be born.”

Rafe sucked in a breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “Nobody asks to be born, Maya. But we do the best we can with what we’ve got. And Bree? She’s done nothing but fight for you since the day she found out she was pregnant.”

Maya fiddled with her phone, avoiding his eyes. “She doesn’t get it, though. She acts like she was never my age.”

“She does get it,” Rafe shot back. “That’s the whole point. She knows exactly what happens when you’re fourteen and think you’re grown. That’s why she’s scared.”

The nail tech gently asked Maya what color she wanted. Maya mumbled, “Pink,” then looked back at Rafe, voice softer but still defensive. “Ryan’s not a bad guy. He actually likes me.”

Rafe’s eyes narrowed. “He’s seventeen. Liking you doesn’t make it right. If he really cared, he wouldn’t have let you get in his car at two in the morning. He’d have told you to go home.”

Maya’s mouth opened, then closed. She looked down at the bottles of polish on the counter.

Rafe leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Listen to me. You are smart, stubborn, and beautiful—boys are always gonna want something from you. But not all of them are worth giving your time to. You gotta know the difference.”

Maya’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. “So what—you’re just never gonna let me date?”

“Not what I said,” Rafe replied. “You’ll date. Sure. But not like this. Not sneaking out in the middle of the night. Not with someone who’s old enough to know better. You hear me?”

Maya’s eyes finally flicked up to his, just for a moment, watery. “I hear you.”

“Good.” Rafe sat back, letting the tech take her hand. “Because I swear, Maya, if I ever catch you in another boy’s car at night—”

She cut him off, rolling her eyes, but her tone was softer. “Yeah, yeah. You’ll kill him. We get it, Dad.”

Rafe smirked despite himself. “Damn right.”

The two of them sat in silence for a beat, the hum of dryers and the clink of polish bottles filling the space.

Maya finally muttered, almost under her breath, “I don’t actually hate Mom, you know.”

Rafe glanced sideways at her. “Then tell her that. Because she thinks you do.”

Maya stared at her half-painted nails, chewing her lip. Her voice came out smaller than before.

“Does she… hate me now?”

Rafe’s head snapped toward her. “What? No. Jesus, Maya. Your mom couldn’t hate you if she tried.”

Maya shifted in her chair, still not looking at him. “I said some really messed up stuff.”

“Yeah, you did.” Rafe didn’t sugarcoat it. “But hate? Nah. That’s not even in her vocabulary when it comes to you. She’s just hurt.”

Maya’s brow furrowed. “So she’s mad at me.”

“She’s disappointed. There’s a difference,” Rafe said, his tone firm but calm. “Mad fades. Hurt sticks around. You cut her deep last night, Maya.”

Her throat tightened, and she blinked quickly. “I didn’t mean to. I just—I don’t know. I was pissed. You guys never listen to me.”

Rafe leaned back in the chair, rubbing his jaw. “We listen. You just don’t like what we say back. That’s the real problem.”

Maya gave a half-hearted snort. “You always think you’re right.”

“I usually am,” Rafe said, smirking. When Maya rolled her eyes, he leaned forward again. “Listen, kid. Your mom has spent every damn day since she was fifteen putting you and your brothers first. And yeah, she lost her temper last night, but that doesn’t erase everything she’s done for you. If anything, it proves how much she cares.”

Maya whispered, “So she doesn’t hate me?”

Rafe shook his head, softer now. “She loves you. More than anything. That’s why it killed her to hear that crap come out of your mouth.”

The nail tech switched hands, and Maya stared at her dad finally, eyes glassy but guarded. “What do I even say to her?”

“You start with ‘I’m sorry,’” Rafe said simply. “Then maybe try ‘thank you.’ She doesn’t hear that enough.”

Maya looked back down at her nails, voice quieter still. “I’ll talk to her when we get home.”

Rafe let out a long breath through his nose. “Good. Because I don’t want another night like last night. I thought I was gonna lose my damn mind.”

That pulled the tiniest smile from her, even if she tried to hide it.

It was just after lunch when Rafe’s truck pulled up the drive. Maya climbed out clutching a bouquet—pink tulips with little white daisies tucked in, the kind Rafe had nudged her toward in the shop.

“They’re her favorite,” he’d told her. “Trust me. She’ll melt.”

Now Maya held them awkwardly to her chest as they walked up the porch. Rafe gave her shoulder a squeeze before pushing the front door open.

Inside, Sabrina was on all fours in the living room, chasing Mila across the rug while the baby squealed with laughter. Her hair was messy, loose from the bun she’d tied up that morning, but the smile she gave Mila was soft and pure.

Neither noticed Rafe and Maya at first. From the back door came the muffled sound of Mason and Miles yelling over their football game in the yard.

“Bree,” Rafe called gently.

Sabrina sat back on her heels, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Hey. You’re back.” Her eyes flicked past him, landing on Maya. Her smile faded just a little.

Maya shifted uncomfortably, clutching the flowers tighter. Rafe nudged her forward with a quiet, “Go on.”

Maya shuffled closer, voice low. “Um… these are for you.” She held the bouquet out stiffly, like she wasn’t sure how to do it.

Sabrina blinked, caught off guard. “For me?”

Maya nodded quickly. “Yeah. I… I’m sorry. For last night. I shouldn’t’ve said what I said. It was… really mean.”

Sabrina’s throat tightened. She took the flowers slowly, her fingers brushing over the soft petals. “Pink tulips,” she whispered, almost to herself. She looked at Maya then, eyes softening. “You remembered.”

Maya gave the smallest shrug. “Dad helped me. You don’t hate me, right?”

Sabrina set the bouquet gently on the coffee table, then pulled Maya into her arms without another word. “Oh, honey. I could never hate you.”

Maya hugged her tight, her voice muffled against Sabrina’s shoulder. “I was just mad. And I didn’t mean to say all that.”

“I know,” Sabrina whispered, kissing the top of her head. “But it still hurt.” She pulled back enough to look at her daughter. “You’ve got to understand, Maya—everything I do, everything I say, it’s because I love you. I want you safe.”

Maya nodded, her eyes watering. “I get it now. I’m sorry.”

Rafe leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed but eyes soft. “Told you she doesn’t hate you.”

Mila clapped her hands on the rug, babbling nonsense like she wanted in on the moment. Sabrina let out a teary laugh, swiping at her eyes before scooping the baby up. “Your sister made me cry, Mila.”

Maya rolled her eyes but smiled. “Sorry.”

Rafe stepped in then, wrapping one arm around both of them. “Alright. Family peace restored?”

“Yeah,” Maya muttered. “For now.”

From outside came Mason’s voice shouting, “Dad! Miles punched me!”

Rafe groaned. “Jesus Christ. Can’t even get five minutes of peace in this house.”

He’s been sleeping over at her’s, she’s been sleeping over at his, helping with morning sickness, mood swings, cravings, tears, sore backs, he’s been helping with everything.

Today is the 12 week scan, the ultrasound room was dim, the machine humming softly. Sabrina lay back on the paper-covered bed, her hands gripping her hoodie zipper like it might anchor her. Rafe sat in the chair beside her, bouncing his knee, trying not to look as freaked out as he felt.

The doctor smiled gently. “Okay, Sabrina. Let’s take a look at your babies.”

Sabrina glanced at Rafe, whispering. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”

He smirked faintly. “Yeah, well, you threatened to kill me if I didn’t come. Remember?”

She rolled her eyes. “Shut up. I’m nervous.”

The gel hit her stomach, cold and shocking. Sabrina gasped. Rafe leaned closer, whispering, “You’re fine. You got this.”

The doctor pressed the wand and suddenly the screen flickered to life—two little shapes, moving. Heartbeats filling the room in quick, echoing thumps.

Sabrina’s eyes filled instantly. “That’s… that’s them?”

The doctor nodded. “Yes. Both babies are measuring right on track. About two inches long each.”

Rafe’s mouth parted. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the monitor like it was showing aliens. “Holy shit. That’s—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “They’re real.”

Sabrina reached for his hand, squeezing tight. “You thought I was lying, huh?”

Rafe winced. “Not lying, just… I dunno. I couldn’t picture it. And now…” He gestured helplessly toward the screen. “Now it’s there. They’re there.”

The doctor chuckled softly. “That’s a common reaction. Would you like pictures?”

“Yes,” Sabrina blurted, almost desperate. Then she glanced at Rafe. “We can keep them somewhere safe. Not at my house. I’ve hid the last ones well but, my mum always deep cleans, like, everywhere.”

Rafe nodded quickly. “I’ll keep them at Tannyhill. No one touches my shit anyway.”

The doctor printed out the ultrasound photos and handed them over. Sabrina took them carefully, like they might crumble. “They’re so small. And there’s two.”

Rafe rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, “Double trouble.”

She shot him a look. “Not funny.”

He smirked weakly. “Kinda funny.”

The doctor started going over details. “At twelve weeks, risks drop significantly. You’ll need to keep eating well, take your vitamins, and we’ll schedule your next appointment at sixteen weeks. Do you have any questions?”

“So I’m… definitely twelve weeks? Not, like, ten or eleven?”

The doctor smiled. “Yes. Based on the measurements, you’re right around twelve weeks and two days. That lines up with what you told me about your last period.”

Rafe frowned. “So… that means she’s been pregnant since… what, May?”

The doctor nodded. “Yeah, just about.”

Rafe blew out a breath, leaning back in the chair. “Jesus. That feels like forever ago.”

Sabrina glanced at him nervously. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he said quickly, then looked at the doctor. “When can we, like… find out the gender? Or is that way too early?”

The doctor shook her head. “Not too early to plan. Usually between 18 and 20 weeks we can see the sex clearly on an ultrasound.”

Sabrina tilted her head. “So… like October?”

“Exactly,” the doctor said warmly.

Rafe raised his brows, glancing at Sabrina. “Halloween gender reveal?”

She smacked his arm. “Shut up.”

The doctor chuckled. “You’ll get another scan at sixteen weeks to check growth, but the big anatomy scan is at twenty. You’ll also hear both heartbeats at each appointment again.”

Sabrina bit her lip. “They both sound healthy?”

“They do,” the doctor reassured. “Two strong heartbeats.”

Rafe leaned forward again, squinting at the blurry shapes on the screen. “I can’t tell what’s what. Like, which one’s the head and which one’s…”

Sabrina groaned. “Rafe, don’t embarrass us.”

The doctor laughed kindly. “It’s not easy to read. Here—” She pointed to the monitor. “That’s Baby A, you can see the head here and the body curled. And that’s Baby B, just above.”

Sabrina’s eyes softened. “They look like… little peanuts.”

“Moving peanuts,” Rafe muttered. “They’re actually moving.”

Sabrina squeezed his hand tighter. “So… I’m definitely twelve weeks. They’re okay. And we’ll find out if they’re boys or girls in October.”

“That’s right,” the doctor confirmed.

Rafe sat back, running a hand down his face. “Holy shit.” Then he looked at Sabrina, trying to keep his voice steady. “We’re really doing this.”

Her throat felt tight, but she nodded. “Yeah. We are.”

Sabrina stared at the grainy shapes on the screen, chewing her lip. “Um… how do you know if they’re identical? Like, when do you find that out?”

The doctor nodded. “Good question. Sometimes we can tell early by looking at the sac and the placenta. At twelve weeks, it’s not always clear yet, but we can get clues.”

Rafe leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “So… are they? Or not?”

The doctor smiled patiently. “From what I see right now, they appear to be sharing one placenta but have two sacs, which usually means they’re identical twins.”

Sabrina blinked, her voice small. “So they’d… look the same?”

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “Same sex, same genetic makeup. They’ll be as close to identical as possible.”

Rafe sat back, shaking his head slowly. “Great. Double trouble. Two of me.”

Sabrina elbowed him. “God forbid.”

The doctor chuckled. “We’ll confirm at your twenty-week scan, but for now, I’d say they’re most likely identical.”

Sabrina’s hand tightened on Rafe’s. “Wow. Identical twins. That’s… insane.”

Rafe muttered under his breath, though she caught it: “Kinda cool though.”

Sabrina and Rafe walk out the hospital, Sabriba still holding the envelope with the scans inside them, the August sun shining down on them.

Rafe shoved his hands deep in his pockets, walking a little too fast before slowing down so she could catch up. “So…identical twins huh?” He muttered as if trying to test the words out loud.

Sabrina gave a little laugh. “Yeah. Two little copies. That’s scary.”

Rafe shot her a sideway look. “What if there both boys and are as charming as me? You’re screwed.”

“God, that’d be tragic.” She groaned bumping his shoulder.

“Twelve weeks. That’s like almost the second trimester”

Sabrina raise a brow. “You’ve been doing your research?”

“Yeah, thirteen weeks is the second trimester and what did the doctor say you where? 12 weeks and three days.”

Sabrina fidgeted with the silver rings on her fingers. “That makes it sound so real.”

“Princess it is real.” He said softer this time. “We just some them moving around. Like…those are actual kids, our kids.”

Her throat tightened, eyes burning. “I know. I just… I can’t even picture telling people. Telling my mom, your dad, Sarah—”

“Don’t,” Rafe cut in quickly, shaking his head. “Don’t bring up Sarah right now. I can’t deal with that explosion yet.”

Sabrina let out a long breath. “She’s gonna hate me forever.”

“She’s not,” Rafe said firmly, but there was doubt in his voice. “She’ll hate me before she hates you.”

Sabrina nods wishing she could believe his words. “Well, she did say she doesn’t care if we’re together anymore maybe it won’t be as bad as we think.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Maybe. Guess it’s me, you and the peanuts now.”

She smiled a little, despite her nervousness. “Peanuts?”

“That’s what they looked like on the screen.” He shrugged. “Couple of tiny little peanuts. And they’re ours.”

“Right, ours” Sabrina whispered.

Rafe glanced at sabrina. “When are we telling our parents Bree?”

Sabrina let out a long sigh. “We need to, soon, i’m already basically showing Rafe, but i want to tell them together. We could, I don’t know get both family’s at the Country Club, you know all the kooks go there on Sunday for brunch”

Rafe nodded agreeing with Sabrina. “Yeah. Okay, that’s like two days away, i’m dreading this.”

“I know, but we have to do it eventually even if we don’t want to.” Sabrina looked at Rafe. “There gonna kill us.”

Rafe ran his hand down his face, “Yeah, especially Ward.”

Two Days Later-13th August 2010

It’s another sunny day in OBX already only at 10am. Sabrina and Rafe sit at a long table in the Country Club, full of different breakfast fruits, bacon, pancakes, it all. Ward, Rose, Sarah, Siobhan and James sit at the table with them, oblivious to the storm that’s about to come.

Sabrina sits awkwardly, in her loose, yellow, summer dress trying her best to hide the small baby bump, Rafe’s hand squeezing hers under the table while his leg bounces nervously.

Ward looks between Rafe and Sabrina. “So, Sabrina summer ends on Wednesday then back to school, you excited?”

Sabrina forces a smile and nods. “Yeah. A little.”

James chuckles, “Sweetie, you don’t really look excited.”

Siobhan takes a sip of her orange juice then places the cup down. “Well, it is school of course she’s not excited.”

Sarah glances between Rafe and Sabrina noticing there’s something off about them, although she says nothing yet.

“Well, we actually—need to talk to use about something, really important.” Rafe adds pushing his plate away.

“Okay, what’s wrong? Use look like use robbed a bank.” Rose says with a chuckle fixing her pearl necklace.

Sarah looking between them, “What is it?”

Sabrina avoids everyone’s gaze, dropping it to the food in front of them. “I—i’m pregnant.”

Everyone freezes. Sarah’s jaw drops open, Sabrina’s dad—James—drops his fork, Sabrina’s mum—Siobhan—almost chokes on her orange juice, Rose almost rips her necklace of her neck and Ward looks like he’s ready to kill someone.

“What did you just say?” James asks.

Sabrina still avoids his gaze and whispers. “I’m—pregnant”

Siobhan jumps up from the table her cup almost flying. “What the fuck do you mean you’re pregnant?!”

Sabrina’s eyes water, “Mum, sit down please.”

“No. I won’t sit down! What the hell do you mean your preganant?!”

James places a hand on Siobhan’s arm, which makes her sit back down then he talks, voice low, scary, “With Rafe’s baby?”

Rafe looks at Ward then James “Yes, with my baby.”

“You—how?—what.” Rose stutters out as if she doesn’t believe it.

Ward glares at Rafe, “You got a girl pregnant. Not just any girl. You got Sabrina pregnant.”

“You’re not keeping it.” James spits out.

Sabrina wipes a tear, glances at Rafe then her dad. “Yeah, I am dad, you can’t make me get rid of it it’s my baby”

Ward chimes in, “Sabrina you are not ruining my son’s life by keeping a goddamn baby.”

Rafe’s head snaps towards ward, “She isn’t ruining my life, we both want to keep the babies.”

“Babies?” Rose asks.

“Twins.” Sabrina whispers.

Ward throws his napkin down on the table. “Oh hell no! That’s just worse, twins?! Your fucking shitting me right now, in no circumstances use are keeping these babies.”

Sarah’s eyes tear up and she looks at Sabrina, “Being with my brother is one thing, but getting pregnant with him? I can’t believe use”

Rafe runs a hand through his hair. “Don’t start sarah. Not now. This isn’t about you.”

Rose’s puts her hand out signalling for them to stop bickering, “How far along are you?”

“12 weeks.”

Siobhan takes a deep breath, “You can’t keep them Bree”

Sabrina’s full on sobbing now, “Mum you can’t make me get rid of them—there my babies, not yours”

Ward interjects, “Use are ruining you’re life’s, Rafe you had a great future ahead of you, keeping up the cameron name, you aren’t staying under my roof until use get rid of them and that’s final.”

Sabrina grabs the scan out her bag and slams it down on the table, “See these? There our babies, it’s me and Rafe’s decision we’re not getting rid of them.”

Everyone looks at the scan photo, Siobhan’s eyes watering. “I can’t believe you’ve done this to yourself.”

James starts ranting in his Italian language, like always does when he’s pissed, “Sabrina Marino Sono così deluso da te, hai quindici anni, non venticinque! Ti stai rovinando la vita!” (“Sabrina Marino i’m so disappointed in you, your fifteen years of age not twenty five you are ruining your life!”

Sabrina runs a hand through her blonde hair, “Dad i’m sorry okay, it’s not as if we planned it.”

Rose looks between Siobhan, James and Ward. “okay let’s all..take a deep breath okay, Sabrina and Rafe won’t be finding this easy either, we need to be there for them not make them get rid of it. It’s there life’s after all.”

“There’s no way i’m letting this happen Rose, he’s fifteen, he’s a child” Ward says voice low, dangerous.

Sabrina sniffles, voice breaking, “I didn’t want it to happen like this. But it did. And I’m sorry.”

Rafe finally speaks up, tone sharp, “You all think we don’t know what this means? You think I don’t know how serious this is? But I’m not abandoning her. Or them.”

Ward scoffs, leaning forward, “You don’t have a choice, Rafe. You’re not ready to be a father, you can’t even take care of yourself.”

“Maybe not,” Rafe bites back, “but I’ll learn. Because I am ready to take care of her. And I’m not letting anyone tell her to get rid of them.”

James slams his hand against the table, making everyone jump. “Rafe, you are a Cameron. And Sabrina, you are my daughter. A Marino. Do you both understand the shame this brings on our families? People will talk, they’ll whisper—”

“I don’t give a shit what people whisper!” Sabrina snaps through tears. “It’s my body, my choice, and these are my babies.”

Siobhan rubs her temple, her voice softer now but still furious, “You don’t even understand what you’re signing up for. Sleepless nights, no childhood, no freedom. You’re only fifteen, Bree. Fifteen.”

Rose interjects again, firm but calm, “And what happens if you push them away? If you force them into something they don’t want? You’ll lose them both. And those babies. Is that really what you want?”

Ward growls under his breath, “Rose, don’t start. This isn’t about being supportive—it’s about being smart.”

“Smart?” Rafe barks a humorless laugh. “You think I’ve ever been smart by your standards, Dad? You never thought I’d amount to anything. But this—” he points at the scan on the table, “—this is mine. Mine and hers. And for once, I’m not walking away.”

Sarah shakes her head, whispering almost to herself, “This is insane. Actual insanity.”

Sabrina wipes her eyes, voice steady despite shaking, “No, what’s insane is thinking you all get to decide for me. I didn’t ask to be fifteen and pregnant, but here I am. And whether you like it or not, we’re keeping them.”

A long silence fills the room. The only sound is James muttering another curse in Italian under his breath.

Finally, Siobhan exhales shakily, “Then God help you both. Because I can’t.”

Rafe shifts closer to Sabrina, pulling her hand under the table. He leans in, low voice meant only for her but everyone hears it anyway: “We’ll figure it out, Bree. Just you and me. No matter what they say.”

Ward pushes his chair back, standing so fast it scrapes across the floor. “You think you’re some big man now, Rafe? You’re not. You’re a stupid boy who’s thrown his life away over a girl.”

Rafe shoots up too, fists clenched. “She’s not just a girl—she’s Sabrina. And she’s not ruining my life. She’s the only good thing in it!”

“Don’t you raise your voice at me,” Ward growls, stepping closer.

“Then stop talking like she’s nothing!” Rafe yells, chest heaving.

“Enough!” James shouts, standing now too, his accent thickening with rage. “Do you both hear yourselves? My daughter, my only daughter, pregnant at fifteen—because of you.” He jabs a finger at Rafe. “You are reckless, Cameron. Reckless!”

Sabrina stands now, trembling. “Stop blaming him! It’s not just him—it’s me too. I made mistakes. But don’t stand there acting like it was forced. I wanted him. I love him!”

Siobhan gasps, like the words slapped her. “Love? You don’t know what love is. You’re a child. He’s a child. And now you’re bringing children into the world?!”

Rose steps in, her voice cutting through the chaos. “Enough, all of you! Screaming won’t change anything. The fact is—it’s happened. Sabrina is pregnant. With twins. You can rant, you can scream, but it won’t change what is already here.”

Ward’s jaw tightens, his eyes dark and cold. “Not under my roof. You want to play house, Rafe? Then find somewhere else to live. Because you and her and those babies won’t be doing it here.”

Rafe barks a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Fine. Don’t worry. I won’t ask you for a damn thing.”

Sabrina’s chest caves, tears spilling again. “You can’t mean that, Ward. They’re your grandchildren.”

“They’re a mistake,” Ward spits.

“Stop it!” Sarah finally bursts, eyes glassy. “Just stop. You’re all acting like this is some nightmare, but it’s real. She’s pregnant, Rafe’s the dad, and none of us can change it. So either you deal with it or you don’t.”

The room falls silent again.

Rafe takes Sabrina’s hand properly this time, squeezing hard. “Come on, Bree. We don’t need to hear any more.”

They head for the door, Sabrina’s scan clutched tightly in her other hand.

Siobhan calls after her, voice cracking, “Sabrina… you’re still my little girl.”

Sabrina stops for a moment, shoulders shaking, but she doesn’t turn back. “Then act like it, Mum.”

Rafe shoves the double doors of the country club open, the hot August air hitting them as they step outside. Sabrina’s clutching the scan photo like it’s glass, her cheeks still streaked with tears.

They start walking down the long drive, silence hanging for a moment until Sabrina finally whispers, “I can’t believe they all hate us now.”

Rafe kicks at a pebble, his jaw tight. “They don’t hate you. They hate me.”

“That’s not true, Rafe,” Sabrina says, clutching the scan to her chest. “They’re just… scared. My mum, my dad—they don’t know how to deal with it.”

“Ward knows how to deal with it,” Rafe mutters bitterly. “Throw me out. Call me a mistake. Like always.”

“Stop,” Sabrina says softly, reaching out to grab his wrist. “You’re not a mistake.”

He looks at her, eyes glassy but angry. “Feel like one.”

They keep walking until they reach the end of the country club drive, the road stretching quiet and wide.

“Where even are we going?” Rafe asks.

Sabrina shrugs, pushing her blonde hair off her damp cheeks. “I don’t know. Just… away.”

Rafe exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “We can’t just wander around. They’ll come looking for us.”

“They always come looking for us,” Sabrina mutters. Then she looks at him, suddenly serious. “What if we went to the Château?”

Rafe blinks. “The Château? John B’s place?”

“Yeah,” she nods. “The Pogues are probably there. They won’t care. And Big John… well, he’s gone half the time anyway, right?”

“You really think Kiara and Pope are just gonna be cool with us showing up and being like, hey, surprise, we’re having twins?” Rafe says, half a laugh but no humor in it.

“They’ll support us,” Sabrina says quickly. “Trust me, and it’s somewhere we don’t have to listen to Ward and my dad screaming in our faces.”

Rafe studies her for a long moment, then sighs. “You trust them that much?”

“They’re my best friends, Rafe,” Sabrina whispers. “And… they’re yours too, even if you don’t admit it.”

He snorts. “Yeah, sure. JJ loves me.”

Sabrina manages a tiny laugh through her sniffles. “He’ll come around. They all will. If they can accept John B doing dumb stuff, they can accept us.”

Rafe runs a hand down his face, still walking. “You know what’s crazy? We’re fifteen, Bree. Fifteen. We should be stressing about summer, school, not… bottles and diapers.”

“I know,” Sabrina whispers. Her fingers brush his as they walk, and finally she slips her hand into his. “But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Rafe squeezes her hand, shaking his head like he can’t believe it. “You’re insane, you know that?”

“Maybe,” she says softly. “But I love you.”

He glances at her, his lips twitching despite everything. “God, you’re such a pain.”

“And you’re stuck with me,” she teases weakly, though her eyes are still red.

Rafe finally cracks a real smile, just for a second. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

After a couple minutes of walking the Château finally comes into sight, Rafe’s grip on Sabrina’s hand tightens as they step inside the smell off beer, wood and ocean water hitting them.

Kiara is sitting on the couch going through a magazine, JJ is smoking a joint at the other end of the couch, John b and Pope throwing a football around hitting everything in sight.

Kiara’s the first to speak, “Jesus why do use look like you’ve just ran from a storm? We’ve been looking for use today, started to freak out.”

Sabrina raised her hand, signaling for John b and Pope to stop throwing the ball about. “We know okay? But we had stuff to figure out.”

Kiara’s eyes narrowed. “Stuff?”

Sabrina nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yeah stuff like…me being pregnant.”

There was a beat of silence, before Rafe spoke up, “It’s true, she’s pregnant with twins. We’re keeping them.”

Kiara blinked, arms crossing. “Twins. As in two babies?”

“Yes.” Sabrina said firmly. “And before anyone asks our parents know, and yeah it didn’t go well.”

John b spoke his tone soft, “You sure use are ready for this?”

Sabrina sighed shaking her head. “No. But we’re not getting rid of them.”

JJ raises an eyebrow. “And sarah?”

Rafe rubs his temples. “Well…Sarah’s Sarah, she’ll come around. Hopefully.”

Kiara’s face is filled with excitement now, as she places a hand on Sabrina’s stomach. “Hey little ones, it’s auntie kie.”

Sabrina smiles, “Omg auntie kie, that’s adorable.”

“Okay so when do use find out the genders?” JJ asks.

Rafe sits next to him, taking a drag of the joint making sure not to blow it in Sabrina’s way. “The doctor said between 18 and 20 weeks so late September, early October time.”

Pope raises a hand. “I’m betting boys, Sabrina’s family is boys mostly, like i swear your dad has six brothers”

Sabrina chuckles nodding. “Yeah, six Italian uncles I have”

Rafe smiles, passing the joint back to JJ. “Yeah but then my side is like mostly girls, maybe we’ll get one boy, one girl.”

Sabrina sits down too, hand on her stomach. “Yeah but remember the doctor said there most likely identical, boy and girl twins can’t be identical.”

“True.” Rafe adds. “I don’t really care what they are, boys would be good they’d be just like me, but then two little girls would also be cute.”

Kiara places her magazine away. “Honestly, I think there’s a good chance they could be boys, as Pope said Sabrina’s family does have a lot of them.”

Sabrina in a daydream speaks up. “I just can’t believe it’s real, it feels like a dream I can’t wake up from.”

Rafe sighs softly placing a hand over Sabrina’s. “I know Bree, but hey there our peanuts remember?”

That earns a chuckle from everyone until Sabrina continues, “and god i’m dreading the birth, like, what do you mean i have to deliver not one but two babies?”

Kiara looks at her. “You’ll do good. Your strong Bree, and remember we’re all here for you, you ever need a place to stay talk to me yeah?”

Sabrina nods, “Thanks kie.”

John b pats Rafe’s back “Same with you Rafe, crash here whenever, both of use, hey it will be like a big sleepover with no parents you know what my dads like he’s never home.”

JJ not being one to want to skip the waves for a day speaks, “Okay, okay how about we hit the beach? It’s still early.”

Everyone chuckles and agrees Sabrina looks at Kiara. “Do you have a spare swim suit here? I am not taking the risk of going home, they’ll probably lock me up.”

Kiara nods. They both head into one of the small bedrooms of the Château. Kiara starts going though some off the drawers pulling out different bikinis until she throws a white one at Sabrina.

After around 15 minutes of everyone getting ready for the beach they make there way down stepping into the soft golden sand. In the bikini Sabrina notices how her bump looks bigger and can’t help but place a hand over it as Rafe sets a towel down for her to sit on.

“Okay there we go.” Rafe mutters to himself as him and Sabrina sit down on the trowel.

“You need to put sunscreen on the bump Sab.” Kiara speaks being the mum of the group “Even tho it’s still small it can harm you and the babies maybe cover it with Rafe’s t-shirt”

Rafe hands his shirt to her “Yeah princess, here put my t-shirt over it.”

Sabrina smiles, adjusting the shirt over her growing bump. “Thanks”

JJ, John b, Kiara and Pope hit the waves with there surfboards leaving Sabrina and Rafe on the beach towel.

“You okay?” Rafe asks rubbing her back.

Sabrina nods, “Yeah, I just—I hope our parents come around, I don’t want to do this without my mum.”

Rafe’s face softens and he kisses her forehead. “Hey listen, your mum is your mum Bree. She’ll come around it might just take a while, although my dad—he probably wont and look we have our friends. We’ll get through this together, i’m not going anywhere either.”

Sabrina holds up her pinky, “Promise?”

Rafe hooks his pinky around hers, “Promise.”

She took a breath and pushed through, walking up the long driveway. The big white house stood tall and intimidating, the sound of muffled music spilling out from an upstairs window. She knocked before she could talk herself out of it.

Sarah opened the door. Her blonde hair was messy from the humidity, her expression instantly sour when she saw who it was. “Wow,” Sarah said flatly, crossing her arms. “Look who finally decided to crawl out of hiding.”

Sabrina flinched, but forced herself to stay. “I came to talk,” she said quietly. “Please, Sarah. Just… hear me out.”

Sarah sighed heavily but stepped aside, letting her in. The cool air-conditioning inside was almost enough to make Sabrina’s knees buckle. She followed Sarah into the living room, where Rafe was sprawled across the couch, tossing a baseball up and down in one hand. His blue eyes snapped to hers the second she walked in.

“Oh, look who it is,” Rafe muttered, tossing the ball harder. “The runaway.”

Sabrina’s chest tightened. She wanted to cry, to scream, to tell him everything—but she couldn’t. Not here. Not now.

“I didn’t run away,” she said, voice sharp despite her nerves. “I just… needed space.”

“Space?” Sarah barked out a laugh, sitting on the arm of the couch near Rafe. “Sabrina, you dropped a bomb in Florida. You were what? My brother’s girlfriend maybe even doing it with him! Behind my back, then you ended it in front of everyone like some soap opera. And now you just vanish for a week? What the fuck did you expect?”

Sabrina’s throat burned. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she said, looking at Sarah first. “You’re my best friend. I should’ve told you sooner, but I was scared. I was scared of exactly this happening.”

Sarah shook her head. “Scared? Or selfish?”

“Sarah, come on—” Rafe started, but Sarah cut him off.

“No, Rafe. She lied to me for months. Months! And you—” Sarah jabbed a finger at him. “You knew what it would do to me, and you still didn’t care.”

Rafe sat up straighter, his jaw tense. “It’s not that simple. I—” He hesitated, glancing at Sabrina, and then ran a hand through his hair. “I liked her. Okay? I liked her and I didn’t give a shit if it was messy. That’s the truth.”

Sabrina’s chest ached at his words, but she couldn’t let herself sink into them. She swallowed, voice shaking. “I’m not asking you to forgive me overnight. I just… I don’t want to lose both of you. Please. I can’t.”

Sarah looked at her for a long moment, anger flickering with something softer underneath. Hurt. Betrayal. “You already did,” she said finally, her voice quiet but cutting. “I don’t know if I can ever trust you again.”

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of the AC. Rafe leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. “So what now?” he muttered. “We just… pretend none of this happened? Act like strangers?”

The silence was choking until Sabrina broke it, her voice sharper this time. “Sarah… what does it matter? If me and Rafe were together—or are together—how does that affect you? It’s not your life.”

Sarah’s head snapped toward her, eyes blazing. “It matters because you’re my best friend, Sabrina. And he’s my twin. You don’t get it—”

“No, you don’t get it,” Rafe cut in, standing now, his voice low but firm. “It doesn’t change your life. It doesn’t make you less my sister. And it doesn’t make her less your best friend. You’re just pissed you weren’t in control of it.”

Sarah gaped at him. “Control? Rafe, you hid it from me! Both of you did. For months.”

Sabrina’s throat tightened but she pushed on. “We didn’t tell you because we were scared you’d react exactly like this. Screaming, cutting me off, making it all about you. We just… liked each other. That’s it. That’s all it was.”

Sarah’s face flushed, her hands balled into fists. “ ‘All it was’? Do you even hear yourself? You betrayed me. Both of you.”

Rafe rolled his eyes, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Jesus, Sarah. You act like we murdered someone. People date. People hook up. It happens. You don’t own either of us.”

That hit like a slap—Sarah’s face crumpled for half a second before she straightened, her voice going cold. “Fine. If that’s how you both feel, then maybe I don’t need either of you.”

She stormed out of the room, the slam of the back door echoing through Tannyhill.

Sabrina stood frozen, heart racing, her tote bag still clutched to her side like a shield. She didn’t know whether to cry or scream, and for a split second, she almost blurted out the truth—the pregnancy, the reason this all felt so much bigger than Sarah even realized.

Instead, she just stood there, staring at the door Sarah had left through, while Rafe sank back onto the couch, muttering, “Un-fucking-believable.”

Rafe leaned back against the couch, jaw tight. “She’s outta her damn mind.”

Sabrina hugged her arms around herself. “No… she’s not. She’s hurt. And maybe she has a right to be.”

Rafe snapped his head toward her. “Don’t defend her, Sabrina. She called you a slut in front of everyone. Best friend or not, that’s not okay.”

Her throat tightened. “I know. But… she’s still my best friend. I don’t wanna lose her.”

“You think I wanna lose her either?” Rafe asked, softer now. “She’s my twin. She’s all I’ve had my whole life, and now she hates me for—” he gestured between them “—this.”

Sabrina’s eyes welled, and she shook her head. “I told you this would happen. I told you.”

Rafe leaned forward, elbows on his knees, voice dropping low. “And I told you I didn’t care. I meant it.”

“You say that now,” Sabrina whispered. “But what if she never forgives us?”

Rafe looked at her for a long moment, then said, steady, “Then screw it. I’d rather lose her than lose you.”

Sabrina’s breath caught, her hands trembling. “Don’t say that—”

“I love you,” Rafe cut her off. “I don’t care if it’s messy. I don’t care if people find out. I don’t care if Sarah hates me forever. I’m not giving you up.”

Her eyes stung, her voice cracking. “But I already gave you up, Rafe. On that beach. I ended it.”

“You didn’t mean it,” he said immediately.

“I did,” Sabrina whispered, wiping at her face. “I had to.”

“No,” he shot back, shaking his head. “You did it because Sarah was screaming and everyone was watching. That’s not the same as meaning it.”

Sabrina bit her lip hard, unable to look at him. “It’s too complicated.”

Rafe’s jaw flexed, his voice breaking just a little. “I don’t care how complicated it is. I just want you.”

Sabrina finally lifted her head, eyes red. “You make it sound so easy.”

Rafe leaned closer, his voice low but certain. “It is easy. It’s you and me. That’s all I care about.”

Her heart pounded, and despite everything, she reached out and took his hand. “I hate that I still want this.”

He gave a small, crooked smile, relief flickering in his eyes. “So don’t fight it. Don’t push me away again.”

Sabrina let out a shaky laugh through her tears. “You’re impossible.”

Rafe squeezed her hand tighter. “And you love me anyway.”

For the first time since the beach, she let herself smile—just barely. “Maybe I do.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. “Then we’re back together. No more breakups. Promise me.”

Her stomach twisted with guilt, but she nodded. “Promise.”

A few minutes later, Sabrina glanced at the time on her phone, panic sparking in her chest. “Rafe, I—I have to go.”

“What? We just fixed things, and now you’re bailing?” he frowned.

She shoved her phone into her bag, trying not to sound shaky. “It’s important. I just… I can’t tell you right now.”

His eyes narrowed. “Sabrina”

“Please,” she cut him off, forcing a small smile. “Just trust me, okay?”

He sighed, reluctant, but finally nodded. “Fine. But don’t keep disappearing on me.”

Sabrina leaned in, kissed him softly, then whispered, “I’ll see you later.”

As she walked out the Cameron’s front door, her hand pressed against her flat stomach. She wasn’t going to the mall, or home. She was going to her doctor’s appointment—the one that might change everything.

The sterile smell of the doctor’s office made Sabrina’s stomach twist worse than it already had. She sat on the paper-lined exam bed, clutching her tote bag, her foot tapping against the floor.

The doctor—a calm woman with glasses—sat across from her with a clipboard. “So, Sabrina Marino, you took a home pregnancy test, correct?”

Sabrina nodded, voice barely there. “Yeah. It said positive.”

The doctor adjusted her glasses. “When was your last period?”

Sabrina chewed her lip. “Um… like… I don’t know. Two months ago? Maybe more. I didn’t think much of it. My period’s never been regular.”

The doctor hummed, writing. “That would put you at approximately eight weeks pregnant, maybe a little more. We’ll do an ultrasound today to confirm how far along you are. Does that sound alright?”

Sabrina’s throat closed up. “An… ultrasound?”

“Yes. It’s nothing to be afraid of. It helps us see how far you are, and make sure everything looks healthy.” The doctor’s tone was gentle. “Do your parents know?”

“No.” Sabrina’s eyes filled. “No one knows. Not even my—” she stopped herself. “Not even my best friend.”

The doctor studied her. “Alright. For now, this is just between us. But eventually, you’ll need support.”

Sabrina’s fingers twisted in her lap. “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”

The doctor leaned forward slightly. “That’s okay. You have options, Sabrina. Some girls your age choose adoption. Some choose to end the pregnancy. And some decide to parent. Whatever you decide, you’ll have support here.”

Sabrina shook her head quickly. “I don’t want to think about that right now. I just… I need to know.”

The doctor nodded, then stood. “Alright. Let’s get the ultrasound.”

Minutes later, Sabrina lay on her back, her stomach exposed, cold gel smeared across it. She stared at the ceiling, heart hammering. The doctor pressed the wand lightly against her skin, eyes narrowing at the screen.

Sabrina swallowed. “What? What is it?”

The doctor’s lips curved slightly. “You see this?” She turned the monitor toward Sabrina. “There are two heartbeats.”

Sabrina blinked, her entire body freezing. “Two?”

“Yes.” The doctor smiled softly. “You’re having twins.”

Tears pricked Sabrina’s eyes instantly, but not from joy—pure panic. “No. No, no, no. I can’t—I’m fifteen. I’m barely—” She covered her face with her hands, sobs breaking out.

The doctor’s voice was gentle. “I know this is overwhelming. But you’re not alone. We’ll talk through everything. You have time.”

Through her tears, Sabrina whispered, “I can’t even tell him. I can’t even tell anyone.”

The doctor handed her a wad of tissues. “Breathe, Sabrina. One step at a time.” Sabrina wiped her eyes, shaking her head. “Twins? Like—two babies? You’re sure?”

The doctor nodded calmly. “I’m sure. Both have strong heartbeats. You’re measuring just over eight weeks.”

Sabrina’s hands pressed over her face again. “Oh my God. I can’t even babysit without freaking out, and now… I can’t do this.”

“You don’t have to make every decision today,” the doctor reminded her. “What matters is your health. You’ll need to take prenatal vitamins, and come back for regular appointments. Do you have a pharmacy nearby?”

Sabrina sniffled. “Yeah… but if I buy vitamins, people will ask. My mom will know something’s up.”

The doctor softened. “You don’t have to tell everyone yet. But you will need someone—at least one trusted adult. Keeping this all inside will be too heavy.”

Sabrina bit her lip so hard she thought it might bleed. “I can’t tell my mom. Not yet. She’ll… she’ll kill me.”

“She might be upset at first,” the doctor said carefully, “but she loves you. Most parents come around once they understand what’s at stake.”

Sabrina shook her head furiously. “No. She’ll hate me. She’ll hate me forever. And Sarah—if she finds out…” Her voice cracked. “She already hates me for being with Rafe. If she finds out I’m pregnant with his—”

She stopped. The words burned on her tongue. His babies.

The doctor didn’t push. “You’re in shock right now. That’s normal. For today, all I need from you is this: will you promise me you’ll take care of yourself? Eat, rest, stay hydrated. And think about who you could trust to tell first.”

Sabrina nodded stiffly, stuffing the tissues in her tote bag. “Fine.”

The doctor printed out a couple of blurry black-and-white ultrasound photos and slid them into an envelope. “These are yours. Keep them safe.”

Sabrina stared at the envelope like it might explode. She stuffed it deep into her bag without looking.

When she finally left the office, the sun outside hit her face, too bright, too hot. She wrapped her arms around herself, whispering under her breath, “Two heartbeats.”

No one could know. Not yet. Not Sarah. Not her mom. Not even Rafe. Especially not Rafe.

Sabrina pushed open the glass door of the small Figure Eight pharmacy, the bell jingling above her head. She walked slowly, grip tightening on her tote bag making her way towards the vitamin aisle.

The woman behind the counter noticed her hesitation and walked over. “Hi there, can I help you find something?”

Sabrina’s cheeks flushed. “Ugh…yeah-yeah i need vitamins. Prenatal ones.”

The woman smiled warmly, leaning on the counter. “Prenatal? Okay, you’re planning ahead. Do you know if you want gummies, tablets, or capsules?”

Sabrina bit her lip. “I… I don’t really know. I guess… whatever works best?”

“They all work,” the woman said reassuringly. “Gummies are easy to take if swallowing pills is hard. Tablets are standard, capsules are usually stronger. Do you have any allergies?”

Sabrina shook her head quickly. “No… nothing.”

“Okay,” the woman said, pulling a few options from the shelf. “These are all good. And just to be safe, you’ll want to take one a day, preferably with food. That way your stomach won’t get upset.”

Sabrina nodded, glancing around nervously. “Do… do I need anything else? Like, I mean… for… um…” She trailed off, wishing she didn’t sound so dumb.

“For pregnancy?” the woman asked gently. “Well, folic acid is included in all prenatal vitamins, which is the most important for early development. If you want, I can show you some extra iron supplements too—it helps if you’re anemic or get tired easily.”

Sabrina tilted her head, frowning. “Yeah… maybe? I don’t… I don’t know.”

“That’s fine,” the woman said softly, guiding her down another aisle. “You’re thinking about the right stuff. You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Take the vitamins, eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and get regular checkups. That’s it for now.”

Sabrina exhaled slowly, gripping her tote. “Okay… that sounds… doable, I guess.”

The woman handed her a small bag with the vitamins. “And remember, if you have any questions, you can come back anytime. You don’t have to tell me anything about yourself. No one needs to know except your doctor.”

Sabrina smiled faintly, a little relief washing over her. “Thanks… I… appreciate it.”

“Of course,” the woman said warmly. “Take care of yourself, alright?”

Sabrina nodded and hurried out, feeling slightly more in control than she had in days, though the weight of her secret still pressed down on her shoulders.

Sabrina walked in the door of her house, the humid OBX air still clinging to her skin. She closed it softly, kicked off her flip-flops, and shuffled to the kitchen.

She grabbed a small glass of water, pulled the prenatal vitamins from the bag, and swallowed them, grimacing slightly at the taste. Once done, she made her way to her bedroom, tucked the bag into the back of her closet, hidden behind some old tote bags and shoes.

Her phone buzzed on the counter. She froze, then picked it up. It was Rafe.

Rafe: Yo. Party at Kelce’s tonight. You in?

Sabrina stared at the screen, stomach twisting. I… don’t know.

Rafe: Come on, you’ve been hiding for days. Everyone’s gonna be there. You can’t ghost the summer.

Sabrina: I’m not feeling great. Maybe not.

Rafe: Pfft. You’re always “not feeling great.” Stop being lame. I’ll save you a drink 😉

Sabrina rolled her eyes. Sabrina: You think I want a drink. I just… I don’t know if I can.

Rafe: Fine, no drinks. Just come for the music. For me. Please?

Sabrina bit her lip, staring at the ceiling. Sabrina: You promise no drama?

Rafe: Promise. Well… no drama from me. Can’t speak for everyone else.

She laughed quietly, shaking her head. Sabrina: Okay… maybe I’ll come. But just for a bit.

Rafe: That’s my girl. See you at at 8?

Sabrina: Yeah. 8.

Sabrina: Okay… I have no idea what to wear. Help me.

Rafe: lol. Just something tight. You know, like that black skirt you wore last summer.

Sabrina: That’s… too short. I’m not trying to get grounded.

Rafe: Nah, you’ll be fine. Wedges or flats?

Sabrina: Flats. I can’t handle wedges for a whole night.

Rafe: Good call. Don’t wanna see you faceplant in front of everyone.

Sabrina: Ha ha. Very funny.

Rafe: I’m serious though. Keep it cute, simple. Tight top, short skirt, easy to dance in, or a dress.

Sabrina: Okay… maybe. But not the one I wore to the beach last month.

Rafe: Perfect. You’ll look amazing. Promise I won’t flirt too hard… well, maybe a little.

Sabrina: lol. You’re impossible.

Rafe: And you love me for it.

Sabrina smiled nervously, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed. Sabrina: Fine… I guess I’ll get ready. See you at 8.

Rafe: Can’t wait.

She set the phone down, staring at her closet, the weight of the secret still pressing her down. But for tonight, she could pretend—just a little—like everything was normal.

Sabrina pulled on a plain, tight, short, pink dress and white flats, swiping on some mascara and lipgloss, before she stood in front of her mirror. She looked down noticing the bloated look in her belly, gently placing a hand over it and letting out a deep breath, no one will notice, you just look like you ate to much, she tells herself.

As Sabrina arrived at kelce’s house, Rafe was already waiting for her at the mailbox, plain black tee and some jeans. She walked towards him fidgeting with the silver rings on her finger.

Rafe looked her up and down gaze, lingering on her stomach, just a second too long to make Sabrina’s heart beat faster. “You look good.”

She plastered on a smile. “Thanks…not to much right?”

He stepped closer, taking her smaller hand in his. “Not to much at all, your perfect, c’mon let’s go inside I heard Kelce got some off those good beers.”

“Rafe I-I told you i’m not drinking, not in the mood tonight.”

“Right, okay no beers for you but I want some.” He says and starts guiding her into the house his hand still in hers.

As they step into the house together the party is in full swing, someone’s hanging from a light that looks like it’s ready to give in as if there in Project X, people are doing shots in the kitchen and other people are walking about taking photos on there digital cameras, it’s pure chaos already.

Rafe and Sabrina make their way towards the kitchen, there’s sodas and alcoholic drinks scattered all over the kitchen counters, Rafe turns to Sabrina. “Okay, so no drinking for you what soda do you want?”

Sabrina’s eyes scan over the options, her hand resting on her stomach, without her even realising she’s doing it. “Hm…Dr Pepper or Mountain Dew.”

Rafe nods, pours some Dr Pepper into a red solo cup, hands it to Sabrina, and then grabs himself a beer taking a long sip before Kelce and Topper come over.

“Yo Rafe.” Topper says then continues. “Bree, why you not drinking?”

Sabrina’s heart feels like it’s about to come out her mouth, but she just smiles slightly, leaning into Rafe more. “Not really in the mood, don’t know, feel like i might be coming down with something.”

Kelce takes a slow sip from his red solo cup, where it’s that strong you can smell it, then places it down on the counter. “Oh that’s a shame, best party of the year tonight as well!” He basically shouts, obviously already too drunk.

Rafe wraps an arm around Sabrina’s shoulder pulling her closer, looking down at her with a soft smile. “Well next party, right?”

She glance’s at him, puts on a smile and nod’s, little does he know she won’t be able to drink for another what?, eight months?, seven?, as she’s already two months along.

Sarah approaches them, she looks calm, compared to this morning. “Sabrina.” She simply says and nods her head in greeting.

“Hey…” Sabrina says quietly, then continues. “Look sarah, I know you hate me and I know i was a bitch and didn’t tell you about me and-“

She cuts her off before she can finish, looking between Sabrina and Rafe, face to calm for someone who cares. “I don’t care.” Sarah states simply.

Rafe and Sabrina glance at each other then Rafe speaks up. “What do you mean? You don’t care?”

Sarah lets out a sigh, her head dropping for a second before she brings it back up. “I mean, I can’t—control use, and i’m sorry for saying i don’t trust you Sabrina, I guess i just…don’t want to loose you as my best friend Sab, or Rafe as my brother”

Sabrina steps forward, which makes Rafe’s arm that was around her shoulder drop, she pulls Sarah into a hug. “S, you aren’t gonna loose me, or Rafe, ever.”

Sarah hugs Sabrina back, after a minute they both pull back and sarah lets out a chuckle “Hey, i’m just gonna look at it this way, my sister-in-law, and one day maybe use will maybe actually get married.”

Sabrina bursts out laughing, almost forgetting about the secret life’s that’s growing inside of her, meanwhile Rafe almost chokes on his drink. “Woah—woah i’m fifteen, I don’t wanna think about marriage or any of that shit yet, wanna live first.”

Sabrina freezes, he doesn’t wanna think about marriage, he wants to live first, how’s he going to react when she needs to tell him about the pregnancy, he’s not gonna want her anymore, he won’t want the baby’s, he’ll think it’s all-

She’s snapped out her thoughts, when kelce snaps his fingers in front of her face. “You still with us?”

She blinks. once. twice. “Yeah, yeah i’m just—i need the bathroom.” She quickly says, and hurries off towards the bathroom upstairs.

Rafe, Kelce, Topper and Sarah share a look not knowing why she’s so dazed out. “I’ll go check on her.” Rafe says and follows after Sabrina.

Once Rafe is upstairs, he turns left, and makes his way to the end off the hall, where the bathroom is. He knocks on the door, hearing the sound of puking. “Hey Bree, can I come in?”

No response. He knocks louder. Still no response only the sound of retching. He takes a deep breath and walks in, seeing Sabrina sitting hunched on the floor, head in the toilet, trying to hold her hair back.

He quickly walks over, and makes her hair into a make-shift ponytail getting it out her face, as he rubs her back. “Hey, hey Bree it’s okay, just let it out.”

He continues rubbing her back in circular motions, helping keep her hair out the way. Eventually she sits back and leans against the bath wiping her mouth with the back of her hands, eyes teary from throwing up so much.

He crouches in front of her. “Sabrina—hey look it’s okay, your okay, i’m here, what’s wrong, why are you so sick?” He says, brushing strands of hair out of her face.

Panic sets in her body she can’t tell him, she has too, but she can’t, she glances at her bloated stomach then away quickly. “I’m okay, just a bug I already told you.” She lies.

“You sure that’s all it is? Because you’re acting hella weird, you know you can tell me anything right? Is it cause of the whole no thinking about marriage shit I said? Because if it is i’m sorry—I just meant we’re only-“

Sabrina quickly shakes her head. “No it’s not that, i mean it, it’s just a bug, i’m okay.”

He looks at her, as if not sure whether to believe her or not, but eventually he nods. “Okay. Just a bug, let’s get you some water then some fresh air okay? I’ll walk you home.”

“No. You don’t have to walk me home, we’ve barley been here half an hour i’ll stay.” She quickly says.

Two Weeks Later-28th July 2010

It’s been three weeks since Sabrina found out she was pregnant, and two weeks ago since she found out it was twins. She still hasn’t told a soul, not her mum, not her dad, especially not Rafe, she’s around 10 weeks now she’s been taking her prenatal vitamins everyday, making sure she isn’t doing anything that’s bad for the baby’s.

Over the past two weeks she’s been way more bloated, anxious, morning sickness almost everyday due to the pregnancy and stress of it all, she cries herself to sleep most nights when she thinks about it all whilst looking at the ultrasound photo, it’s hard on her, but in front of people she tries to put on the biggest smile.

Rafe has noticed Sabrina’s slight distance towards him, he figured it was her period, or maybe she really did have a bug like she said, but after it’s been two long weeks there’s no way, he knows somethings off he just hasn’t called her out on it yet.

Today is the big day on figure eight, Midsummers, an annual party for kooks at the country club, Sabrina never really understood why it’s such a big deal but she’s been going to them since she was born, so of course she’s getting made to go to this one.

Sabrina and her mum—Siobhan—are standing in front of Sabrina’s mirror in her bedroom, the OBX sun shining through the window, making there tans and blonde hair stand out more.

It’s only 2pm the party starts at 5pm, but of course Siobhan is making Sabrina try on the dress to make sure it’s still perfect looking.

Her mum stands behind her trying to pull up the zip off the long, light blue, silk, thin spaghetti strap, dress with the slit up the thigh. “Why won’t it zip.” Siobhan mutters almost to herself as she struggles with the zip.

“Maybe because you bought it in April mum, people gain weight you know.” Sabrina says, trying to hide her panic.

“For heaven sakes Sabrina you never gain weight. You’ve always had a flat tummy, this dress was expensive as hell it better zip.”

Sabrina huffs. “Why are we even getting ready right now? We have three hours.” She says trying to breathe in.

Siobhan tugs at the zipper of the dress again. “We have to be there an hour early to make sure everything’s set up properly, I already told you this.”

After a lot of struggle, different positions, breathing in so hard it hurts the dress finally zips. Her mum stands back and wipes at sweat on her forehead letting out a sigh of relief. Sabrina stands there the dress feeling like it’s about to burst off her any minute.

“Mum i can’t wear this, it’s too tight.”

Siobhan glances at Sabrina up and down. “Sweetheart what else are you going to wear? We got this made for you months ago it looks okay now.”

Sabrina not being one to make her mum upset, nods and puts on a smile. “Okay yeah, you’re right it’s okay.”

Siobhan smiles, she walks over to Sabrina’s hair curler and plugs it in getting ready to help curl her hair.

Three long hours later of waiting around and making sure everything’s perfect it’s officially just after 5pm and the party’s already busy with rich people, classic music on, a champagne fountain at the side all the teens are already sneaking drinks from.

Sabrina stands at the side about to burst out her dress, watching her mum and dad dance together, thinking about how they smiles will disappear as soon as she tells them she’s pregnant with not one. but two babies.

She’s snapped out of her thoughts as soon as she hears Rafe’s voice and hand slip around her waist. “Wow. You look amazing.”

Sabrina smiles barely being able to breath in the dress but trying not to show it. “Well, you look okay.”

Rafe raises an eyebrow. “Just okay?”

Sabrina forces a chuckle. “I’m joking you look, well, handsome in a suit.”

Rafe chuckles too, he glances at her stomach a little noticing how tight the dress is but doesn’t say anything about it.

“Well, Rose won’t shut up about how she wants a photo of us two together for memories or some shit.” He says with a slight roll of his eyes.

“Well she is walking this way, like, now, good timing.”

A few moments later Rose approaches with her silver digital camera. “Okay, okay use two young lovers get closer and smile.” Rose says cheerfully.

Sabrina and Rafe get closer his hand on her lower back and they both smile but all sabrina keeps thinking about is how one day when she sees this photo again she’ll remember how lonely she felt hiding her pregnancy.

Sabrina’s parents come over, James and Siobhan, holding hands. “Aww use are the cutest.” Siobhan coos.

“Rafe you’ve gotten taller, how tall are you now son?” Your dad—James—asks.

“I’m around 5,10ft now, Mr Marino.” Rafe answers.

“Damn boy, I remember when I was your age I was always a tall one too, once you reach eighteen you’ll be around 6,2ft no doubt, and please no Mr Marino i’m James, to you.”

“Then we have our little Bree who’s only 5,2ft” Your mum adds with a chuckle.

“Yeah, yeah thanks mum, I get it from you, but I swear i’ve stopped growing, like, i’m gonna be this height forever.”

Later in the night it’s now dark, the party’s still going on all the rich kooks are more or less tipsy. Right now Sabrina, Sarah, Kiara, Kelce, Topper and Rafe are at the side of the Country Club, Kelce is standing lighting a joint for everyone to smoke.

Kelce takes a long drag, before passing it to Rafe who also takes a long one. “Shit this stuffs strong.” Rafe says laughing and coughing.

He goes to pass it to Sabrina but she shakes her head. “No, I don’t want any thanks.”

Mostly everyone in the circle raise an eyebrow at her. “What do you mean you don’t want any? This is Midsummers of course you want some.” Kiara whisper shouts.

Sabrina shakes her head, cheeks going bright red. “No really, i’m fine, thanks tho.”

Sarah raises a hand. “Okay hold up—Sabrina what is happening to you? Your like, different these days, one, you haven’t drank since that night in Florida, two, your like—always sick and boring now and three, you just said no to a joint, what’s fucking going on?”

Sabrina’s heart drops, they know something’s wrong, and there not gonna give up until she either snaps at them, or tells them the truth.

“I’m just not into that stuff anymore, is that such a problem?” She snaps and Rafe takes a step towards her placing a hand on her hip.

“Wow, chill, okay?” he mutters as if he’s already stoned of one drag, she pushes his hand off her hip.

“Don’t tell me to chill okay? Maybe I don’t want to become fuck ups in the future like use, because sitting around smoking and drinking all day isn’t gonna get use anywhere in life.” She snaps before she can stop herself then thinks, she can’t call anyone a fuck up, she’s pregnant at fifteen. Fifteen.

Everyone seems taking back by her harsh words and Topper chimes in. “Not cool Bree.”

Her head snaps towards him. “Stay out of this Topper.”

“Why are you getting so annoyed by this? We’re only trying to figure out why you’re being weird as shit the last few weeks?” Kiara snaps at her.

“Maybe, I don’t want to tell use cause I don’t need use all up in my shit, happy now?”

Kiara takes a draw of the joint, before passing it to Sarah. “You’re being such a bitch right now.”

One off Sabrina’s hands move to her stomach as she gets a cramp but she doesn’t back down even tho she feels like her dress is suffocating her. “Whatever kiara, it’s none of your fucking business so why don’t you keep your mouth shut? You’re giving me a headache.”

Rafe glances at Sabrina’s hand on her stomach. “Okay, okay stop, use are embarrassing yourself’s”

Sabrina’s eyes water and before she can stop herself, she’s full on crying, pregnancy hormones are really taking over her body, between the secrecy of it, the stress, and that stupid fucking too tight dress altogether, she can’t hold it in anymore.

Everyone stops talking as soon as Sabrina’s tears fall, all there faces soften slightly.

Rafe try’s to pull Sabrina into a hug but she pushes at his chest and turns her back to him. “Unzip this fucking dress.” She says through sobs.

Rafe hesitates before unzipping it slightly (the dress still on her body obviously just the zipper down a bit) before she lets out a sigh of relief, finally being able to breath properly.

Kiara takes a step forward. “Hey, Sab i’m sorry—i didn’t mean all that, we’re just worried about you, you’re not acting like you these days.”

Topper continues. “Yeah, we didn’t mean to push you, you don’t have to smoke if you don’t want to, we just want to know you’re really okay.”

Rafe glances at them with a look that says i’ll take her for a minute, then he places a hand on your back. “Hey, princess let’s walk.”

Sabrina wipes at her face then eventually nods, her and Rafe start walking away from the others more towards the front of the Country Club that faces on to the beach.

Rafe and Sabrina walk in sync, he doesn’t touch her yet waiting till she’s a bit more calm. “Sit? Or keep walking.”

Sabrina sniffles. “Sit, if that’s okay.”

“Of course princess, there’s some benches, c’mon.” Rafe says softly, guiding her to the bench, as they both take a seat close to each other there.

Sabrina fidgets with her hands on her lap, sobs turned into little sniffles, Rafe reaches out and places his hand over hers that’s resting in her lap.

Sabrina glances at his soft, baby blue eyes as he speaks. “Bree, talk to me, please, what was all that about?”

“Everything Rafe, my life is ruined and I can’t do anything to fix it.” She spits out as she starts sobbing again.

“Wow, wow, wow, what do you mean your life’s ruined? What’s wrong Sabs, talk to me.”

Sabrina shakes her head, biting down on her lip to stop the words from coming out.

Rafe squeezes your hand tighter and whispers “Bree don’t do that, don’t shut me out, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

Sabrina lets out a deep breath, squeezes her eyes shut and then. “I—I’m pregnant.”

Rafe bursts out laughing at that. “Funny, why don’t you try telling me the real-“ but then when he glances at her serious, terrified face he stops talking and his face goes dead serious.

“Y-you’re pregnant? As in like you Sabrina Marino, fifteen, my girlfriend, you—you’re pregnant.”

Sabrina nods, hands shaking, quiet tears still slipping.

“No you’re not.” He says as if trying to convince himself and Sabrina she isn’t.

“Rafe—i’m not lying, why would I lie? I was at a scan two weeks ago”

Rafe runs a hand down his face. “You—you were at a scan? You didn’t, didn’t tell me.”

“Rafe—I, I didn’t know if I was 100% in Florida, the day me and sarah fell out and we broke up I took a test, it came back positive and the day of kelces party was the day I had the scan”

“Does your parents know?”

“No.”

“Does anyone?”

“No.”

Rafe starts throwing lots of questions at her. “How, how did the scan go? Are you okay? How far along are you? Is the baby healthy?”

“Babies.” Sabrina whispers.

That makes Rafe jump up from the bench. “What the fuck do you mean babies?!”

“Rafe shut up someone might hear you, sit your ass down!” Sabrina whisper yells as she glances at the country club in front where everyone’s still dancing, drinking and having fun.

Rafe takes a deep breath, sits back down, leg bouncing now. “Babies as in what? Twins? Triplets? Quadruplets?”

“Twins.”

“Boys or girls?”

“I don’t know the genders yet, I’ve only been to one scan, my next one is in two weeks then i’ll be twelve weeks along.”

Rafe looks like he’s ready to pass out at this point, his face is pale, he’s shivering and it’s not even cold, he leans forward resting his elbows on his knees and Sabrina places a hand on his back.

He turns his face back to look at her. “You’re—you’re not keeping them, are you?”

Sabrina’s hand drops at that. “Yeah. Yeah I am.”

Rafe scoffs shaking his head. “You’re joking right? Sabrina we’re fifteen this isn’t as if we’re seventeen, eighteen or nineteen! we’re not even old enough to drive.”

Sabrina sighs squeezing her eyes shut for a second before opening them again. “Look Rafe, i’m not gonna sit here and beg you to help me i get it, we’re kids and no it won’t be easy, but these are our babies, ours, do you really just want to—get rid off them? Because honestly I can’t do that to myself or them, if you don’t want to be a part of this then—I get it, i’m not gonna ask you to throw your life away, it’s your decision wether you want to be in there life or not.”

Rafe’s eyes actually tear up and for a minute he looks so vulnerable. “I don’t know what I want Sabrina, I never thought this would happen to us.”

“I’m sorry Rafe, I—I don’t know what to say.” Sabrina whispers her own eyes tearing up again.

“It’s—you don’t have to be sorry, it’s not just your fault, how are we going to tell our parents Bree? There gonna kill us.”

Sabrina brushes a strand of her blonde hair out her face. “I know, I know and that’s why I want to wait until the next scan, if I can i’ll be 12 weeks by then, but i’ll have more of a bump so if we can hold off till then, i’d appreciate that.”

Rafe slowly nods wiping a tear from his eye. “Sarah’s gonna kill us, especially me.”

That earns a small chuckle from Sabrina. “Oh yeah, she’s definitely not gonna be too pleased I mean remember I was a slut when she found out we were together now—it’s a whole different level.”

Rafe sits back on the bench looking at Sabrina’s stomach and hesitantly places a hand on it, Sabrina’s breath hitches before placing a hand over his.

“Forget what I said Bree, don’t get rid of them, you where right, there—there ours.”

Because ever since November 1st, she and Rafe Cameron had been more than just friends sneaking looks across the cafeteria. They’d been boyfriend and girlfriend — in secret. And not just because their classmates would never shut up about it, but because Sarah Cameron, Rafe’s twin and Sabrina’s best friend, could never find out. Not yet. Not when she’d made it so clear she hated the idea of her brother dating anyone, let alone her best friend.

So for months, Sabrina and Rafe had been living in this strange middle ground. Stealing kisses in dark hallways. Brushing hands under the lunch table. Passing folded-up notes in math class. Late-night phone calls that ended with whispered “goodnights” when they were too tired to keep talking. To everyone else, they were the same old Rafe and Sabrina — bickering sometimes, sarcastic always, rolling their eyes at each other. But when no one was looking, they were everything else too.

Now, trapped on a trip with the whole grade, surrounded by their friends — Kiara, JJ, John B, Pope, Cleo, Topper, Kelce, Sofia, and ugh, Ruthie — Sabrina had never felt more aware of how close Rafe was. Or how badly she wanted to kiss him without worrying who was watching.

Secrets had been fun for a while. But secrets were also exhausting.

The bus ride down had been long, filled with half-asleep teachers, sticky air conditioning, and way too much yelling from the back where JJ and Kelce were trying to out-do each other with dares. By the time everyone spilled into the massive Orlando hotel, the energy was buzzing again. Luggage carts rolled, kids darted through the lobby, and teachers shouted over the chaos, trying to organize room keys.

“Rooming lists are on the board!” one of the chaperones barked, waving a clipboard.

Sabrina, suitcase in hand, scanned the chaos. Sarah was already squealing with Kiara and Cleo, comparing room assignments, while John B and Pope stood off to the side, grinning at whatever joke JJ had cracked. Topper and Kelce were pushing each other near the elevator like five-year-olds.

And then there was Rafe.

He leaned against one of the marble pillars in the lobby, arms crossed, duffel bag slung at his feet, watching the chaos with his usual bored expression. But when his eyes flicked up and caught Sabrina’s across the crowd, that bored look softened, just for a second.

Her stomach flipped.

“Bags upstairs, then pool at five!” the teacher yelled, and the crowd roared in approval.

Sabrina’s room ended up being on the seventh floor with Sarah and Sofia. The second the door shut, Sarah flopped on the bed dramatically. “This is so much better than camping trips. We have a pool, and air-conditioning, and room service.”

“Bet the boys trash their room by tonight,” Sofia muttered, scrolling on her phone.

Sabrina laughed weakly, trying not to let her nerves show. Because all she could think about was five o’clock at the pool — and how hard it was going to be, pretending she didn’t want to sit next to Rafe.

When the girls finally changed into swimsuits and headed downstairs, the pool deck was already packed. Music played from someone’s speaker, kids were cannonballing into the water, and the smell of sunscreen hung in the humid Florida air.

Rafe was there, of course. Sitting at a lounge chair with Topper and Kelce, sunglasses pushed up into his messy hair, the beginnings of a smirk tugging at his mouth as he watched the chaos.

By the time the sun started dipping lower, the pool deck looked more like a spring break movie than a freshman trip. Teachers sat off to the side, half-asleep in their chairs, letting the kids run wild as long as nobody drowned.

Ruthie was already strutting around in her bikini, tossing her hair and laughing too loud at every dumb thing Kelce said. Sabrina rolled her eyes and sank lower in her lounge chair. She had Sarah and Cleo on one side, JJ cannonballing dangerously close to splash her every five seconds, and Rafe across the pool pretending to listen to Topper while his eyes flicked her way every other minute.

JJ dragged himself out of the pool, dripping wet, and flopped onto the chair next to hers. “So,” he said, shoving his wet hair back. “What’s the plan tonight? Don’t tell me you’re all seriously gonna sit here drinking Coke like we’re in middle school.”

“Where exactly do you think we’re getting alcohol?” Cleo asked flatly, sipping her Sprite.

JJ grinned like he’d been waiting for the question. “Florida convenience stores don’t ID if you look confident enough.”

“That’s such bullshit,” Sarah said, laughing. “You’ll get caught in two seconds.”

“Not if we send the right person,” JJ shot back, eyes flicking toward Rafe and Topper across the pool.

Topper caught the look, raised his brows, and sauntered over with Kelce in tow. Rafe followed slower, towel draped around his neck.

“Alright,” Topper said, smirking down at them. “Who’s brave enough to hit the gas station with us after bed check?”

“You’re idiots,” Kiara muttered, but there was a spark of curiosity in her tone.

Kelce spread his arms. “Come on, what’s a Florida trip without a little smuggled vodka? We’ll stash it in water bottles. Teachers will never know.”

Sabrina tried to hide her grin behind her soda can. Her heart was already pounding not just at the thought of sneaking out, but at the way Rafe had leaned against the chair next to hers, close enough that his knee brushed her arm when he sat down.

“So?” JJ pressed. “We in or what?”

Sabrina glanced at Sarah, who was clearly on the fence, then at Rafe. His mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile.

“Yeah,” Rafe said finally, low enough that only she caught it. “We’re in.”

Her pulse kicked. Of course they were.

By the time the chaperones finished bed check and the hallway went silent, the group was already buzzing. JJ cracked his door first, whisper-yelling down the corridor, “Coast is clear!” before nearly tripping over his own flip-flops.

Sabrina slipped out of her room last, heart racing, palms clammy. She’d spent twenty minutes nervously pulling together an outfit that felt way too grown up, but also exactly right for tonight. She wore a tight black mini skirt, a shimmery silver tank top tucked in, and her mom’s black wedge heels that she definitely wasn’t supposed to have packed. Her blonde hair was curled loose, bouncing over her shoulders, and she’d dabbed on a bit of her mom’s perfume before leaving.

“Damn, Marino,” JJ whispered when he saw her. “Didn’t know we were sneaking into a nightclub.”

“Shut up,” she hissed, tugging her skirt down self-consciously. Rafe’s eyes lingered just a beat longer than they should have before he looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets.

They moved fast, keeping to the shadows, until they were off hotel property and onto the dimly lit street. The Florida air was thick and humid, clinging to their skin, and every sound felt ten times louder than it was.

“There’s gotta be a gas station around here,” Topper muttered, squinting at the road signs.

“I told you I saw one from the bus earlier,” Pope said. “It’s like, ten minutes that way.”

“Ten minutes in wedges,” Sabrina grumbled, wobbling slightly on the uneven pavement.

“Should’ve worn sneakers,” Kiara teased.

They finally spotted the glowing fluorescent lights of a small convenience store at the end of the block. The group slowed down, gathering in a huddle just outside the parking lot.

“Alright, who’s going in?” JJ asked, rubbing his hands together.

“Not me,” Pope said instantly. “I look twelve. They’d card me in a heartbeat.”

“Kiara and Sarah,” Topper suggested. “Girls get away with it easier.”

Sarah folded her arms. “Yeah, except if we get caught, my dad will literally murder me.”

Kelce snorted. “Nah, we need someone who looks older. That’s me, obviously.”

“Please,” JJ shot back. “You look like you still get grounded for not eating your vegetables.”

Voices started overlapping, Sarah protesting, Pope groaning, Kelce swearing that he could do it, JJ daring him to prove it. The whole thing devolved into a low-key shouting match right there under the flickering streetlight.

The argument outside the store was hitting peak volume. JJ and Kelce were shoving each other’s shoulders, Sarah was hissing for everyone to shut up before a teacher found them, and Pope just looked like he wanted to disappear into the pavement.

Finally, Rafe stepped forward, rolling his eyes. “You’re all fucking useless. I’ll go.”

“Bro, you’ll get caught,” Topper shot back.

Rafe smirked. “Not if I act like I know what I’m doing. That’s the trick. Walk in, no hesitation, grab the bottle, and own it like I’m supposed to be buying it.”

Kiara laughed under her breath. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”

Rafe just shrugged, pushing past them.

Sabrina’s heart dropped into her stomach. She grabbed his wrist before she could think, nails brushing his skin. “Don’t. Seriously.”

His eyes flicked down at her hand, then back up at her face. Something unspoken passed between them, the kind of moment that would scream suspicious if anyone else saw. He leaned just slightly closer, murmuring so only she could hear.

“You worried about me, Marino?”

“Maybe,” she whispered back, throat tight. “Just don’t be dumb, okay?”

For a split second, his expression softened—then he winked, peeled her hand off his wrist, and strode inside like he owned the place.

The group scattered into the shadows, watching through the store window. Rafe moved smooth, too smooth, grabbing a bottle of cheap vodka off the shelf and tossing a bag of chips on top like it was nothing. He dropped it all on the counter, and the clerk barely blinked before ringing him up. Not even a question.

When he walked out with the brown paper bag in hand, JJ let out a low whistle. “Holy shit, Cameron, you’re a legend.”

“Didn’t doubt him for a second,” Topper grinned, clapping Rafe on the back.

Everyone was buzzing, laughing, half-relieved, half-hyped. But Sabrina stayed quiet, her stomach still twisting. When Rafe’s gaze found hers in the dark, there was a flicker of something smug, but also a hint of that softer look from before.

By the time they made it back to the hotel, the group was buzzing, whispering too loud in the hallways and stumbling over each other like they were already drunk. JJ nearly knocked over a housekeeping cart, and Sarah had to grab his hoodie and yank him down the corridor.

“Shut the fuck up,” she hissed. “You guys sound like elephants.”

Sabrina shushed them too, nervously glancing toward the chaperone’s room at the end of the hall. Her wedges clicked way too loud against the patterned carpet, and every creak of the floor made her stomach clench.

Finally, they made it to the girls’ room—hers, Sofia’s, and Sarah’s. Sabrina slid her keycard in, the green light blinking, and the door opened with a soft beep.

“Quick, quick, get in!” she whispered, waving everyone inside.

Suddenly the room was packed wall to wall with bodies—Rafe, JJ, John B, Pope, Kiara, Cleo, Topper, Kelce, and the three girls. Someone shoved a chair against the door for good measure.

“Alright,” JJ announced, hopping onto one of the beds like he owned the place. “Time to party.”

Rafe dropped the brown bag on the desk with a smirk, pulling out the bottle of vodka like it was treasure. “Courtesy of me. You’re welcome.”

“Damn,” Kelce grinned, already grabbing it. “Big man Cameron saving the night.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the tiny flicker of pride in her chest. She flopped down on the other bed, smoothing her skirt as Sarah started digging through the mini fridge for cups. Sofia, of course, was already snapping grainy 2010-era pics on her pink digital camera, shrieking about how “legendary” this was.

Kiara wrinkled her nose as Kelce poured. “We seriously don’t even have mixers? Just straight vodka?”

JJ grinned. “Guess we’re hardcore tonight.”

The first burn of cheap liquor hit hard coughing, laughing, making faces. Pope swore it tasted like nail polish remover, and even Sarah gagged halfway through her sip.

Sabrina took hers slow, grimacing at the taste, but trying not to look like a total baby about it. Across the room, Rafe was watching her over the rim of his cup, and when their eyes met, he smirked like he could read her mind.

Her cheeks heated. She tipped the rest of it back, trying not to wince.

The music on someone’s iPod dock blasted tinny early-2010s hits, and soon the room was a blur of laughter, bad dancing, and too-loud whispers. They weren’t supposed to be here, weren’t supposed to be drinking, but that was the whole point.

And under all the chaos, Sabrina couldn’t stop feeling the weight of Rafe’s eyes on her, like he didn’t care if the whole damn room was there he only saw her.

An hour later, the room was hot, buzzing with energy, smelling like cheap vodka and body spray. The half-empty bottle sat crooked on the nightstand, cups scattered everywhere. JJ had his shirt off for no reason, blasting Lil Wayne from the iPod dock, while Sarah kept hissing at him to keep it down before they got caught.

Topper and Kelce were arm wrestling on the floor, yelling over each other. Kiara and Cleo had taken over the bathroom mirror, trying to redo their eyeliner with shaky hands. Sofia was sprawled across one of the beds, cackling at everything Pope said, even when it wasn’t funny.

And then, JJ shouted: “TRUTH OR DARE?!”

Groans and laughs filled the room, but no one actually said no. That was the thing about nights like this, you went along with the stupidest shit just because everyone else did.

Sabrina sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, sipping what was left of her drink, pretending she wasn’t nervous as hell. Rafe had ended up beside her, his knee brushing hers every time he shifted. The contact felt casual, maybe accidental—but it made her whole body hum.

“Alright, Marino,” JJ pointed at her dramatically. “Truth or dare?”

Sabrina snorted. “Truth.”

JJ’s grin widened. “Do you think anyone in this room is hot?”

Her throat went dry instantly. The group hooted, Sarah leaned forward with a smirk, and even Sofia’s eyes gleamed, waiting to roast her.

Sabrina forced a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Wow, subtle. Real creative.”

“Answer the question!” Kiara called from the bathroom.

Sabrina’s heart raced. She glanced sideways—Rafe was already watching her, lips twitching like he knew. Heat rushed up her neck, and she took a long sip before muttering, “Yeah. Obviously.”

The room erupted with ooohs and whistles.

“Who?” John B pressed, grinning.

Sabrina shook her head quickly. “Not saying. Next.”

“Lame,” JJ groaned, but the game moved on.

“Alright, my turn.” Rafe leaned back on his hands, voice cutting through the noise. “Dare.”

JJ’s grin was instant, wicked. “Oh, hell yeah. I’ve been waiting for this one.”

“JJ,” Sarah warned, narrowing her eyes.

“What?” JJ smirked. “Relax. I’m not gonna make him jump out the window.” He paused for dramatic effect, then pointed straight at Rafe. “I dare you… to kiss someone in this room.”

The reaction was immediate, shrieks, whistles, groans, laughter. Sofia practically sat up straight, hair flipping like she was already ready to volunteer.

Sabrina’s stomach dropped. Her face burned hot, heart thudding so loud she swore someone else could hear it. She glued her eyes to her cup, praying no one would notice how panicked she looked.

Rafe didn’t flinch. His smirk deepened, eyes scanning the room with slow exaggeration—Sofia giggling, Kiara rolling her eyes, Sarah glaring daggers.

And then, his gaze landed on Sabrina.

Her throat went dry. Her grip tightened on her cup. For half a second, the whole room blurred out, like it was just the two of them.

“C’mon, bro, don’t pussy out,” Kelce heckled.

Rafe tipped his head, like he was weighing his options. And then, with maddening calm, he leaned back against the wall, smirk still firmly in place. “Pass.”

The room erupted with groans and boos. JJ threw a pillow at him. “You can’t pass! That’s illegal.”

“Yeah, that’s cheating!” Sofia pouted.

“Don’t care,” Rafe drawled, totally unbothered. “Not kissing any of you just for your entertainment.”

The others rolled their eyes, whining about him being lame, but the moment passed quickly as JJ targeted someone else with a new dare.

Sabrina forced herself to laugh, to act like it didn’t mean anything but when she dared to glance sideways, Rafe was already looking at her again, smirk softer now, almost knowing.

Her stomach flipped so hard she nearly forgot to breathe.

The dares only got worse as the vodka burned lower in the bottle. By now everyone was loud, reckless, sprawled across the beds and floor in a heap of giggles and bad decisions.

“Kiara,” Cleo grinned, “dare you to prank call Mr. Turner.”

Kiara snorted vodka out her nose but still grabbed the hotel phone, dialing the chaperone’s room and pretending to be housekeeping. The entire room bit their fists to stifle laughter while Kiara asked if he “needed extra towels… or extra company.” She slammed the phone down and everyone exploded, falling over themselves.

JJ dared Pope to shotgun the rest of someone’s vodka. Pope nearly puked but earned a roaring cheer anyway.

Sabrina sat half-tucked into the corner of the bed, trying to keep herself together. The vodka had loosened her up, but the heat in her chest wasn’t from alcohol. It was from the way Rafe kept brushing against her, like it was nothing. His thigh pressed against hers, his arm stretched behind her on the headboard, his fingers close enough that if she leaned back just a little, he’d be touching her.

“Alright,” JJ slurred, “Topper. Dare you to—” he hiccuped, “—go knock on the chaperone’s door and run.”

“No way,” Sarah groaned. “We’ll get caught.”

Topper grinned, already stumbling to his feet. “Bet.”

Before anyone could stop him, he sprinted out the door. The room went dead quiet.

Thirty seconds later, distant shouting echoed down the hall. Topper burst back in, doubled over laughing. “He opened the door in his boxers!”

Everyone howled, clutching pillows to their mouths to muffle the noise. The whole room buzzed with the dangerous thrill of almost getting caught.

In the chaos, Rafe leaned down, voice low against Sabrina’s ear. “Wanna get out of here?”

Her heart stopped. “What—like now?”

He nodded, smirk tugging at his lips. “Before JJ dares me to do something even dumber.”

Her pulse hammered, heat rushing to her face. The others were too busy laughing and shrieking to notice when Rafe’s hand brushed hers, fingers hooking for just a second before pulling away.

No one noticed when she nodded. No one noticed when they slipped out of the room together.

The hallway was quiet, carpet muffling their footsteps as Sabrina followed Rafe, heart pounding so hard it felt like the whole hotel could hear it. He didn’t say where they were going, just shot her a crooked grin over his shoulder and motioned for her to keep up.

They slipped past the elevators, up the emergency stairs, sneakers and wedges echoing against the concrete. Rafe pushed open the heavy door at the very top, and a wave of hot, sticky Florida air hit them.

The roof.

The city lights stretched out below, neon and headlights buzzing against the dark sky. Palm trees swayed in the humid night breeze, and the sound of distant traffic mixed with the faint thump of bass from somewhere down the strip.

“Jesus,” Sabrina whispered, stepping out onto the gravel. “We’re literally not supposed to be up here.”

“Exactly,” Rafe smirked, letting the door fall shut behind them. “Best place to be.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, the warm night still making her skin prickle. “You’re insane, you know that?”

“Yeah, but you like it,” he shot back, coming to lean against the low cement wall overlooking the city.

Sabrina rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. She walked over, standing beside him. Their shoulders brushed, sending sparks down her spine.

For a minute, neither of them spoke. They just looked out at the sprawl of lights, the humidity curling her blonde hair and making his shirt cling to his back.

Finally, she said softly, “We’re gonna get caught one of these nights.”

He turned, eyes sharp even in the dark. “You regret it?”

Her throat tightened. She shook her head. “No. I just—Sarah’s my best friend. She’d hate me if she knew.”

Rafe smirked, but it wasn’t mean. “Let her hate me, then. I can take it.”

She laughed under her breath, nervous and warm all at once. “You’re ridiculous.”

He nudged her side lightly. “Admit it. You like sneaking around with me.”

Her cheeks burned. She ducked her head, smiling despite herself. “…Maybe.”

His hand brushed hers on the cement ledge, fingers curling until they hooked together. It was such a small thing, but it felt huge, like the whole secret balanced on that one touch.

Sabrina leaned forward on the cement ledge, her arms folded, hair falling into her face as the humid breeze tugged at it. Rafe was still holding her hand, thumb brushing lazy circles over her knuckles like he didn’t even realize he was doing it.

She let out a long sigh. “I’ve been feeling… weird lately.”

Rafe glanced over, brow raised. “Weird how? Like, from drinking? ’Cause you barely had any. Half, if that.”

She shook her head quickly. “No, it’s not that. I mean, yeah, the alcohol made me feel fuzzy for like two seconds, but…” She hesitated, chewing on her lip, eyes fixed on the parking lot far below. “It’s different. I dunno. I’ve been tired. My stomach feels off sometimes. And like… mood swings, I guess? I keep snapping at my mom over nothing.”

Rafe gave a low chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “Sounds like teenage girl stuff to me.”

Sabrina shot him a look, rolling her eyes. “Wow, thanks, Dr. Cameron. Very insightful.”

He smirked, but when he saw her serious expression, he softened. “Okay, okay. So… what, you think you’re sick or something?”

She shrugged, a knot tightening in her chest she didn’t understand. “Maybe. It’s probably nothing. Just… weird.”

He bumped her shoulder gently. “Well, you’re not dying. Pretty sure it’s just you overthinking like usual.”

Sabrina laughed, though it came out thin. She didn’t want to push it, didn’t even know how to explain the strange heaviness sitting in her chest lately, the way her body didn’t quite feel like her own. She just leaned into him instead, pressing her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes for a moment.

Rafe shifted, wrapping an arm around her without hesitation, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Hey. You’re fine. And if you’re not… I got you, okay?”

Her heart flipped, and for the first time all night, the uneasiness faded a little. She tilted her face up toward him, and in the glow of the city lights, he kissed her—soft and warm, nothing like the awkward pecks back in November.

June 29th, 2010

The next morning, Sabrina woke up groggy. The hotel’s thin curtains hadn’t done much against the Florida sun, and her head pounded like she hadn’t slept at all. Sarah was snoring in the other bed, and Sofia was face-down, half off the mattress.

Her phone buzzed under her pillow. One new text.

Rafe: meet me in the lobby before breakfast? 8 sharp.

She glanced at the clock—7:45. With a groan, she rolled out of bed, grabbed her denim shorts and a pink Hollister tank top, and slipped into her pink slides. Her stomach churned again, but she ignored it, tossing on lip gloss before sneaking out.

Rafe was waiting by the vending machines, baseball cap pulled low, hands shoved into the pockets of his khaki shorts. His face lit up when he saw her. “Hey, Marino.”

Sabrina smirked. “You texting me like we’re in some spy movie now?”

“Gotta keep the cover, right? Can’t have Sarah finding out her best friend is secretly dating her twin.” He leaned closer, voice low. “She’d probably murder me in my sleep.”

Sabrina laughed, but her stomach flipped not the good kind. She pressed a hand to her side. Rafe noticed instantly. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she lied quickly. “Just hungry.”

He squinted at her, clearly not buying it, but didn’t push. Instead, he handed her a bottle of Sprite from the machine. “Hungover cure.”

They ended up skipping the hotel buffet altogether, sneaking out the side doors and walking down to the strip of shops near the boardwalk. By 9:15, they were splitting a powdered sugar funnel cake on a bench, her legs tucked close to his, like magnets even in the sticky heat.

“You ever think about how weird this is?” Sabrina asked suddenly, licking sugar off her thumb.

“What? Us sneaking out?”

She shook her head. “No. Us. Like… everyone thinks I’m just your sister’s dorky friend, but…” She trailed off, cheeks flushing.

Rafe smirked, leaning back like he wasn’t fazed. “But you’re actually my girlfriend. Secret girlfriend. The hottest kind of girlfriend, if you ask me.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help grinning. “You’re so full of yourself.”

He leaned forward, brushing sugar from her lip with his thumb before popping it into his mouth. “Maybe. But I’m still right.”

Her heart thumped against her ribs—so hard, it almost drowned out the little wave of nausea that followed a second later. She pressed her Sprite bottle against her temple, trying to cool down.

“See?” Rafe teased. “You get all flustered just from sitting next to me.”

She forced a laugh, but deep down, she couldn’t shake it. The heat, the tiredness, the queasy edge in her stomach… it wasn’t going away.

Sabrina’s phone buzzed so hard in her hand that she almost dropped it into the funnel cake. She squinted at the little screen of her white iPhone 3GS, thumb swiping clumsily over the laggy keyboard.

One notification after another.

The Group Chat —Florida 2010🌴

Sarah: WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS???

Kiara: teachers doing a headcount rn ur names were called

Topper: lmao u two r dead

JJ: nahhh they ran off to kiss behind the vending machines I bet

Sofia: be serious idiots. Mrs. Taylor is PISSED.

Ruthie: im telling

Sabrina’s stomach dropped. She looked up at Rafe, wide-eyed. “Shit.”

He tilted his head, unconcerned, reaching over to steal another bite of funnel cake. “What?”

“They’re looking for us. Like, right now. We’re officially screwed.”

Rafe leaned back against the bench, smirking. “So what? Let ‘em sweat. We’re fine.”

Her phone buzzed again.

Sarah: Sabrina I swear to God if you got lost—

Kiara: no they didn’t get lost Sarah they SNUCK OFF

JJ: 💋💋💋

Sabrina groaned, clutching her face. “Oh my God, they think we—” She cut herself off before saying too much, cheeks flaming.

Rafe chuckled, completely unfazed, like he got a thrill out of watching her panic. “Let them think what they want. It’s not like they’ll guess the truth.”

“But if they catch us outside the hotel…”

He leaned closer, voice low and teasing. “Then I’ll just say I dragged you out here. I’ll take the blame.”

“You’d actually do that?”

“Course. I’m your boyfriend, aren’t I?” He smirked when she shot him a warning look. “Secret boyfriend,” he corrected with a wink.

Her phone buzzed again, harder this time—Mrs. Taylor herself had posted in the group chat (which made everyone go quiet for a second).

Mrs. Taylor: Everyone in the lobby. NOW.

Sabrina’s eyes went wide. “Shit, shit, shit.” She shoved the rest of the funnel cake at Rafe and scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping in her pink slides. “We have to run.”

Rafe stood slower, licking powdered sugar off his thumb. “Relax, Marino. Worst case, we get detention. Not the end of the world.”

The hotel lobby was buzzing when they walked in. Every freshman was gathered in messy clusters, pajama pants, flip-flops, and rumpled hoodies. Teachers stood at the front, red-faced, clipboards in hand. Mrs. Taylor looked about two seconds from a stroke.

The second Sabrina and Rafe slipped in through the glass doors, it was like the whole room turned. Heads whipped. Whispers broke out instantly.

“Where the hell were you guys?” Pope muttered, half in awe, half terrified.

Kiara smirked, elbowing John B. “Told you they were sneaking off.”

“Shut up,” Sabrina hissed, cheeks burning.

Mrs. Taylor’s voice cut through the whispers like a whip. “Cameron. Marino.” Her heels clicked across the tile like gunshots as she stormed over. “Do you two want to be sent home?!”

Sabrina’s throat went dry. “We—we just—”

“Don’t even try it,” Mrs. Taylor snapped. “We’ve been tearing this place apart looking for you! It’s nearly eleven o’clock! You are freshmen on a school trip, not college students on spring break!”

Rafe just stood there with that infuriating smirk, hands in his hoodie pocket like he wasn’t phased at all. “Relax, we didn’t go far.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, relax.” His tone had that cocky bite, the one that made Sabrina’s stomach clench in panic. “We grabbed food. No big deal.”

“No big deal?” Mrs. Taylor’s nostrils flared. “That’s it. Both of you—detention when we get back. And you’ll be escorted for the rest of this trip. I am done.”

Behind her, the other freshmen were whispering harder, phones out, thumbs flying.

Sarah pushed through the group, eyes wide and suspicious. “Where the hell were you?”

Sabrina froze. Her best friend. Rafe’s twin. She couldn’t exactly tell the truth.

“Uh—” Sabrina started, fumbling.

“Food,” Rafe cut in smoothly. “She wanted funnel cake. I wasn’t gonna let her go alone.”

Sarah blinked at him, then back at Sabrina, eyes narrowing. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Sabrina nodded way too fast. “Funnel cake.”

John B coughed into his fist to cover a laugh. JJ leaned toward him, whispering way too loudly, “Bet it wasn’t just funnel cake.”

“Shut the fuck up, JJ,” Rafe barked, making a few kids snicker.

Sarah folded her arms. “You ditched breakfast and morning check for dessert? You’re insane.”

“Worth it,” Rafe muttered under his breath, shooting Sabrina a look that made her heart stop.

Sarah caught the glance, though. Her brows pinched together, suspicion blooming across her face.

Mrs. Taylor clapped her hands, cutting the tension. “Everyone upstairs. Now. Not another word.”

As they all shuffled toward the elevators, Sarah walked close beside Sabrina, her voice low but sharp. “Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”

Sabrina’s palms went clammy. “Because you’re paranoid.”

Sarah studied her, like she was trying to read every twitch of her face.

Meanwhile, Rafe was a step ahead, hands in his hoodie, looking way too satisfied with himself.

The second the door to their room clicked shut behind them, Sarah pounced.

Sabrina barely had time to kick off her pink slides before Sarah rounded on her, hands on her hips. “Okay. Spill.”

Sabrina blinked. “Spill what?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Marino.” Sarah’s blue eyes narrowed, piercing. “You disappear for, like, an hour. With my twin brother. And then you both stroll back in like nothing happened? No. I know you.”

Sabrina flopped onto the bed, pulling a pillow over her face. “We literally got funnel cake. That’s it.”

Sarah yanked the pillow away. “Then why are you blushing?”

“I’m not—”

“You are.”

Sabrina groaned, shoving her face into the mattress. “You’re so annoying.”

Sarah perched on the edge of the bed, grinning like a shark who smelled blood. “Do you, like… have a crush on him or something?”

Sabrina sat up so fast she almost head-butted her. “What? No! Gross!”

Sarah smirked, unconvinced. “Mhm. Sure.”

“Sarah—”

“I mean, he’s a pain in the ass, but I guess some girls think he’s cute.” She wrinkled her nose, like the idea was still disgusting to her. “Not my type, obviously. He’s my brother.”

“Exactly.” Sabrina’s voice cracked, a little too defensive. “So drop it.”

Sarah studied her, head tilted, like she was filing away every reaction. “You’re hiding something.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m literally not.”

There was a knock at the connecting door, followed by JJ’s muffled voice: “Yo, are we sneaking out again or nah?”

“Go to your room, JJ!” Sarah shouted back, rolling her eyes.

Sabrina used the interruption to bury herself back under the blanket, praying Sarah would let it go. But her best friend’s gaze still lingered, sharp and suspicious.

“You seriously think I won’t notice if something’s up?” Sarah asked, eyes scanning Sabrina like she was dissecting her brain.

Sabrina rolled her eyes, pretending to care about the crumpled hotel brochure in her hands. “What do you mean? I literally went to get funnel cake. That’s it.”

Sarah stopped mid-step, crossing her arms. “Funnel cake at 8 a.m.? Seriously? And why did Rafe magically show up too? Don’t tell me you two were—”

Sabrina cut her off immediately, her voice sharp. “No! Absolutely not. We were just… hanging out.”

“Uh-huh,” Sarah said slowly, arching an eyebrow. “Hanging out. What? Almost three hours. At that hour. You expect me to buy that?”

Sabrina shrugged, keeping her voice light, even though her heart was thumping. “I’m telling the truth. Honestly.”

Sarah’s blue eyes narrowed, suspicious as ever. “You’re hiding something.”

“I am not,” Sabrina insisted, fidgeting with the hem of her tank. “You’re imagining things. Honestly.”

Sarah huffed, pacing again. “I don’t know why I even bother sometimes. You’re impossible.”

Sabrina let out a little laugh, though it was shaky, trying to keep things casual. “Yeah, yeah. Your imagination’s running wild. Let’s just… go grab breakfast before the teachers lose their minds again.”

Sarah didn’t seem fully convinced, but she finally flopped onto her bed, giving a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But if I find out you’re lying… Marino. You’re screwed.”

Sabrina smirked to herself, letting a tiny bit of relief wash over her. She wasn’t about to tell Sarah about the secret relationship—especially not now. Not when the thrill of sneaking around with Rafe still made her stomach flutter.

The sun was high over the Florida coast, glittering off the waves like scattered diamonds. The teachers had stationed themselves a safe distance away, sunglasses on, clipboards ready, eyes flicking constantly between the group of freshmen sprawled across towels and the rolling surf.

Sabrina sat on her towel, legs stretched out, pink bikini bright against her tanned skin, the straps slightly crooked from rolling around earlier while trying to apply sunscreen evenly. Her iPhone 3GS rested beside her, plugged into earbuds, though she wasn’t listening to anything—just pretending to scroll to avoid awkward conversations.

Around her, the group had set up a messy little territory of towels, coolers, and beach bags. Kiara and Cleo were digging through a cooler for sodas, JJ and John B were wrestling in the sand while Pope tried (and failed) to build a sandcastle, and Sarah was lying on her stomach a few feet away, sunglasses pushed up into her hair, notebook beside her where she’d been doodling.

Rafe was nearby, standing just at the edge of the water, tossing a football with Topper and Kelce. Every so often, he’d glance back at Sabrina, a little smirk tugging at his lips whenever their eyes met.

Sabrina felt the familiar flutter in her chest, part excitement, part nerves and she shifted slightly on her towel, careful not to draw too much attention. No one knew they were secretly together. Sarah had her suspicions, sure, but she had no proof.

JJ came running over, sand kicking off his sneakers, waving a bottle of sunscreen. “Oi, Marino! You’re gonna burn!”

Sabrina groaned, reaching for it. “Thanks, idiot.”

“Anytime, babe,” JJ teased, and Sabrina shot him a look sharp enough to make him grin sheepishly.

Rafe walked over then, barefoot and dripping from the surf, casually tossing the football to Topper before leaning down beside her. He didn’t touch her, not yet—but the moment he sat, close enough that their thighs brushed, she felt that same spark she’d had all trip.

“You’re quiet today,” he said, voice low, meant only for her.

“I’m… fine,” she mumbled, though she felt a little off. Tired, a bit dizzy, and her stomach felt funny in a way she couldn’t explain.

Rafe raised an eyebrow, but didn’t press. Instead, he nudged her shoulder lightly. “You sure? ‘Cause you’ve been fidgeting like you’ve got sand in your brain all morning.”

Sabrina laughed softly, brushing it off, but she made a mental note to keep an eye on herself. Something felt different—she couldn’t explain it—but right now, with the sun, the surf, and Rafe sitting just inches away, she didn’t want to ruin the moment.

While the group fussed over sandcastles and sunscreen, Rafe leaned a little closer to Sabrina, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Wanna get out of this chaos for a sec?”

Sabrina’s stomach fluttered. “Where?” she whispered, glancing at the teachers stationed further down the beach.

He smirked, eyes glinting. “Follow me.”

Before she could protest, he stood and held out his hand. She took it, letting him lead her a few dozen feet down the shoreline, where the tide lapped gently at their feet and the rest of the group seemed like a world away.

Sabrina sat down on the warm sand, letting the breeze toss her hair around her face. Rafe sank down beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed, small grains of sand sticking to their skin. He didn’t touch her beyond that, but the quiet closeness made her heart pound.

“You’re really quiet today,” he said, nudging her with his elbow.

“I’m… just thinking,” she murmured, looking out at the water. “About everything.”

“About me?” His grin was teasing, but soft, careful.

Sabrina bit her lip, shaking her head. “No… maybe.”

He laughed quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” she said, laughing too, though it came out soft.

They sat like that for a few minutes, the only sounds the waves rolling in and the faint laughter of their friends in the distance. For a moment, everything else—the group, the teachers, the chaos of the trip—vanished.

Sabrina and Rafe had just been leaning close, the heat of the sun and the thrill of their secret making everything feel electric, when a cluster of footsteps and voices approached through the sand.

“Oh hell no,” JJ muttered, waving his arms as he came over with Sarah, John B and Kiara following, all laughing and carrying half-eaten sandwiches and chips.

Topper was at the back, grinning, holding a tray stacked with Sabrina’s old favorites—cheesy nachos smothered in chili and extra jalapeños, the exact things she had loved devouring before.

Sabrina jolted upright, cheeks flaming, Rafe immediately pulling back beside her like they’d just been caught mid-sin.

“Uh… hey,” Rafe said casually, though his hands were twitching, like he wanted to reach for hers again.

“Hey!” JJ greeted, oblivious.

“Seriously, we need to get some shade,” Kiara said, plopping down on a towel nearby, sandwiches in hand.

Sabrina’s stomach twisted violently at the smell of the nachos. She gagged, hand flying to her mouth. “Ugh… oh god.”

Rafe’s head snapped toward her, concern flickering across his face. “Sabrina? You okay?”

She shook her head, feeling dizzy and nauseated. “I… I don’t know. I’m fine, I just…” The smell was overpowering. That tray of nachos things she had eaten a dozen times before made her stomach rebel in a way she couldn’t explain.

Topper noticed, looking confused as he munched on a chip. “You’re acting weird. Did you just smell that?”

Sabrina tried to laugh, though it came out strained. “It’s… nothing. Just… hot.”

Sarah, sitting across the towel, tilted her head, suspicion flashing in her blue eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Rafe put a steadying hand on Sabrina’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “She’s fine. Probably just overheated.”

“You sure you’re okay?” Kiara asked again, handing her a bottle of water.

“Yeah, really, I’m fine,” Sabrina mumbled, voice tighter than she meant it to be.

“Seriously, you’re acting—” John B started, but Rafe shot him a warning look.

“I said I’m fine!” Sabrina snapped, sitting up so fast she nearly knocked over her pink slides. Her cheeks were hot, and her hands trembled a little not from anger, but from the sudden wave of nausea and weird heaviness she didn’t understand.

Rafe’s eyebrows furrowed. “Sabrina—”

“No!” she cut him off, standing up so fast she left her towel behind. “I just… I need some air.”

Before anyone could react, she grabbed her small bag and marched down toward the edge of the beach, away from the group, sand crunching under her feet. She didn’t look back. Her stomach churned again, and she pressed a hand against it, hoping whatever weird feeling it was would just go away.

Rafe stood up, heart racing, ready to follow, but he stopped when he saw her gripping her stomach slightly. Something wasn’t just embarrassment or anger—he could feel it.

Topper frowned, looking from Sabrina to Rafe. “What the hell’s wrong with her?”

“She’ll be fine,” Rafe said quickly, though his voice lacked conviction.

Rafe glanced after Sabrina, jaw tight, but he stayed put with the group. He could feel the tension in the air, everyone shifting uncomfortably on their towels.

“She… she just walked off,” John B said, frowning, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, and she looked like she was about to throw up or something,” JJ added, nibbling at a granola bar.

Kiara frowned, standing and brushing sand from her shorts. “Do we go after her or…?”

Rafe shook his head quickly, keeping his tone light, though inside he was buzzing with worry. “Nah. She said she needed air. Let her cool off. We’ll check on her in a minute.”

Topper, munching another nacho from the tray he’d grabbed earlier, frowned and muttered, “She’s acting weird. Like, really weird. Something’s up.”

Sarah’s eyes narrowed, scanning the shoreline where Sabrina had disappeared. “Do you think she’s… mad at me? Or at someone?”

“She’s probably just hot and overwhelmed,” Rafe said, leaning back on his hands. “We all know the sun’s killer in Florida. No need to freak out.”

John B exchanged a glance with JJ. “She’s not just hot. Something’s off. Did anyone see her stomach? She’s…bloated that’s for sure”

“Whoa,” JJ said, eyebrows raised. “Seriously?”

Rafe clenched his jaw slightly, shooting them a pointed look. “Guys, enough. She’s fine. She just needed a second. She’ll come back.”

Kiara shook her head. “I don’t know, man. She looked… off.”

Pope, who had been quietly poking at a sandcastle, finally spoke. “Maybe we should just let her breathe for a few minutes. No one’s gonna die, it’s Florida, the beach, whatever.”

Topper muttered under his breath, still chewing, “I don’t like it. Something’s weird.”

Rafe ignored him, though inside he was twisting. He knew Sabrina. He knew when something was wrong, and he felt it. He just didn’t want to push her, not yet. Not until she was ready to let him in.

About ten minutes later, Sabrina’s pink slides appeared first, peeking through the sand, then her sun-bleached hair bouncing as she walked back toward the group. She tried to keep her expression casual, forcing a small smile, but her stomach still felt off, a fluttering ache she couldn’t explain.

Rafe immediately noticed, his brows knitting together as he watched her approach. Her shoulders were slightly hunched, and she was rubbing at her arms like she was cold, though the sun was blazing.

“Hey,” she said softly, sliding onto the towel beside Rafe, trying to act like nothing had happened.

“Hey,” Rafe replied, voice even, though his hand itched to brush against hers.

Kiara raised an eyebrow. “Feeling better?”

Sabrina nodded, keeping her tone light. “Yeah… I’m fine. Just needed a second.” She gave a quick laugh, though it sounded forced.

Topper frowned, suspicious as ever. “You sure? You looked kinda… pale.”

“I’m fine, Topper,” she said quickly, brushing it off. “Really.”

Sarah, lying on her stomach, eyes still sharp behind her sunglasses, tilted her head slightly, studying her best friend. “You’ve been acting weird all morning. You okay?”

Sabrina smiled, hiding the fluttering panic in her stomach. “I’m okay. Promise.”

John B and JJ exchanged a glance, muttering under their breath but not pressing it.

“So,” JJ said suddenly, plopping down beside Sabrina with a grin, “you been seeing anyone lately?”

Sabrina froze for a second, heart hammering. She forced a casual shrug, pretending to flip sand off her towel. “Nah… no one.”

Rafe’s jaw tightened just a fraction, but he didn’t say anything, letting her handle it.

“Really?” Kiara teased, leaning back on her elbows. “No cute crushes? Nobody stealing your heart yet?”

“Uh… not really,” Sabrina said, voice light, trying to smile. She glanced at Rafe quickly, who returned a faint, teasing smirk that made her stomach flutter.

Sarah shifted on her towel, propping herself up on one elbow. Her gaze lingered on Sabrina a little too long. “You sure about that?” she asked quietly, almost to herself.

Sabrina’s throat went dry. “Yeah… I mean… why?” She tried to sound casual, but her fingers fiddled with the edge of her towel nervously.

Sarah didn’t press further but didn’t look entirely convinced either. Her eyes flicked to Rafe now, noticing how he subtly leaned closer to Sabrina, hand brushing against hers when no one was looking.

Topper, munching on some chips, chuckled. “Haha, you two are being weird. Just admit it, huh?”

Sabrina laughed lightly, shaking her head. “We’re not weird. Just… friends, that’s all.”

Sarah’s eyes narrowed again, clearly unconvinced by Sabrina’s repeated reassurances. “Come on, you two. You’re acting like… like you’re hiding something.”

Sabrina’s fingers dug into the sand, tension building in her chest. She could feel her stomach flutter oddly—part nerves, part nausea she still didn’t understand—but the frustration was rising faster.

“So what if we are?” she finally snapped, voice sharp and cutting through the playful chatter around them. The frisbee rolled lazily across the sand, unnoticed. “So what if Rafe and I are together? You think I’m ashamed of it? I’m not! I don’t care if anyone believes it or not!”

Rafe’s jaw dropped slightly, not expecting her to be so vocal, but there was a hint of pride in his eyes. He didn’t say anything, letting her words hang in the salty air.

The group froze for a second. Kiara blinked. “Uh… okay?”

John B and JJ exchanged wide-eyed looks. “Wow,” JJ muttered.

Sarah crossed her arms, lips pressing into a thin line, eyes flicking between Sabrina and Rafe. “You’re ridiculous.”

Sabrina shrugged, cheeks flushed. “Maybe I am. Maybe I don’t care what you think. Maybe I like him, maybe he likes me, maybe we’ve been hiding it because we don’t want drama, but so what? None of it’s your business.”

Topper muttered something under his breath about teenagers being ridiculous, but even he seemed a little stunned at her outburst.

Rafe finally reached over, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “She’s right,” he said quietly, just for her. “We don’t need anyone’s approval.”

“How long?” Sarah’s voice snapped across the sand, sharp enough to make heads turn. Her blue eyes blazed, hands on her hips, voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.

Sabrina froze for a heartbeat, then grit her teeth. “Before Christmas… November,” she admitted, voice tight, defensive.

“Before Christmas?!” Sarah practically screamed, taking a step closer. “Sabrina! You’re my best friend! And he’s my brother!”

“I know!” Sabrina yelled back, frustration finally spilling over. “I know! I don’t want to hurt you, Sarah!”

“You should have thought about that before you put your tongue down his throat!” Sarah shouted, hands flying.

Sabrina’s eyes widened, heat rising to her cheeks. “Oh my God! I didn’t! It just… happened, okay?! And it’s not like I meant to—”

“Not like you meant to?!” Sarah’s voice cracked. “You’re supposed to be my best friend!”

“I am! I am your best friend! But I like him, Sarah! I can’t just turn off my feelings!” Sabrina yelled, the wind whipping her hair around her face.

Rafe stepped forward, trying to keep his voice calm, though tension coiled in his shoulders. “Sarah… hey, just… chill. Please.”

Topper held up his hands, looking guilty and a little panicked. “Woah, woah, okay. Everyone just… take a second.”

Kiara and Cleo tried moving between the two girls, waving their arms. “Girls! Stop! You’re gonna get in trouble!”

John B and JJ both held up their hands helplessly. “Seriously, calm the hell down!” JJ shouted.

But Sarah wasn’t done. “You’re my best friend, Sabrina! I trusted you!”

“I am your best friend!” Sabrina screamed back, voice cracking. “I’m not trying to hurt you! I—” She took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together, but her chest was heaving.

Rafe stepped closer to her, putting a steady hand on her shoulder. “… breathe,” he said softly.

Sabrina’s eyes filled, still furious but trembling. “I can’t… I just—”

Kiara grabbed her arm gently. “Breathe. Please. Just breathe.”

“You’re a slut, Sabrina!” Sarah’s voice cracked as she stood up, eyes blazing, hands shaking with rage.

Rafe immediately stepped in front of Sabrina, putting himself between the two girls, jaw tight, trying to shield her.

Sabrina’s tears were spilling freely now, her hands flying to wipe them away, but the sobs only made it worse. “I told you this would happen!” she yelled, shoving Rafe lightly.

Rafe stumbled back a step, hurt flashing across his face, but he whispered, low and raw, “But I love you…”

Sarah was screaming again, high-pitched and furious, flailing and lunging toward Sabrina. Topper grabbed her from behind, holding her back, his arms straining, trying to keep her under control.

“Okay, Sarah!” Sabrina yelled through her sobs, cheeks red and wet. “I’ll end it, okay? I’ll end it right now!”

She turned sharply to Rafe, brushing past him, eyes full of heartbreak, and gave him one last pleading look. Then, as much as it tore at her to do it, she ended it right there, in front of everyone.

Rafe’s chest tightened, eyes shimmering dangerously, but he clenched his jaw and blinked quickly to hold the tears back. He sat down slowly on the towel, sand sticking to his damp skin, voice forced casual, but strained, “Cool… plenty more fish in the sea, right?”

Sabrina’s voice was trembling, but sharp as she faced Sarah. “Happy now?” she spat, chest heaving, tears still streaking her cheeks. She couldn’t believe she’d just ended things with Rafe in front of everyone, and her heart felt like it was being ripped out.

Sarah’s mouth opened, then closed, words failing her. She hadn’t expected Sabrina to fight back like that. Her blue eyes softened, guilt flickering as she realized the weight of what she’d pushed her best friend into.

Rafe, sitting beside her, jaw tight, blinked back his own hurt. He forced a crooked grin, trying to mask the heartbreak, and let his voice slide into teasing territory. “Ah, don’t worry about it. Plenty of other girls out there anyway,” he said, flicking sand off his hand like it didn’t matter.

Sabrina glared at him, heart aching that he was trying to act casual, but she understood the move—he was protecting himself, pretending he didn’t care.

“There’s better ones anyway,” he continued, voice light, almost joking, though his blue eyes betrayed him. “Way better.”

Sarah’s eyebrows knit together, guilt tightening like a vice. “Rafe… I—”

“Don’t,” Sabrina cut in, voice cracking but firm. “Just… don’t.”

Sarah looked down at the sand, shame settling over her. She hadn’t meant for things to blow up like this. Seeing her best friend break down, and knowing she’d played a part, made her stomach twist.

Rafe leaned back slightly, still maintaining the façade, tossing a small pebble toward the water. “Relax, Sarah,” he said lightly, voice carefully casual. “Really, it’s fine. Happens all the time. Nothing to cry about.”

Sabrina’s chest tightened further, and she pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling that fluttering, heavy, confusing sensation again—the nausea and discomfort she didn’t yet understand. She forced herself to breathe, though everything in her wanted to collapse right there on the sand.

Sarah finally spoke, voice small, almost whispering. “I… I didn’t mean for it to get this bad, Sab. I’m sorry.”

Sabrina shook her head bitterly, trying to mask her heartbreak. “Yeah… well. Too late now.”

Rafe finally let a sharp edge creep into his voice, bitterness lacing every word. “Honestly? You’re… I don’t know, Sabrina. Compared to some of the other girls here… you’re kind of… annoying,” he muttered, trying to sound casual but failing spectacularly.

Sabrina froze, jaw dropping. “Excuse me? Annoying? Really? That’s what you’re going with right now?” Her voice cracked, both angry and heartbroken.

“Yeah!” he snapped, running a hand through his damp hair. “You—every time I try to talk to you, you’re crying or screaming or—ugh, I don’t know. It’s exhausting!”

Sabrina’s hands flew up, face flushed and wet with tears. “Exhausting? You think I enjoy this?! You think I wanted to break up in front of everyone?!”

Rafe blinked, realizing he’d gone too far, but the words had already escaped. He tried to soften them. “I’m… I’m just—”

“No!” Sabrina yelled, cutting him off. “You’re mean. You’re being mean and cruel and—ugh, I don’t even know why I like you!”

Rafe flinched, hurt flashing across his face, but he kept his jaw tight. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t,” he muttered, voice low, almost to himself, but loud enough for her to hear.

Sabrina shook her head furiously. “God, you’re impossible! I can’t deal with this right now!” She stood abruptly, kicking sand away with her pink slides, hands trembling. “You can sit there and call me annoying all you want, but I’m done listening!”

Rafe ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “Fine. Go. Leave. Be done. Plenty more fish in the sea anyway.”

Sabrina’s chest heaved as she spun on her heel, glaring back at him. “Yeah, okay. Fine. Whatever.”

Sabrina yanked her light, flowy beach cover-up dress over her shoulders, tugging it tight as she muttered under her breath at the group, “Whatever. I’m done with all of this shit.”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, she slipped past the distracted teachers and the murmuring friends, toes sinking into the hot Florida sand as she made her way across the street toward the small row of shops. Her heart was still hammering, chest tight with a mix of anger, heartbreak, and a fluttering unease she couldn’t explain.

Her eyes caught the familiar blue-and-white sign of a pharmacy, and she pushed open the door, stepping into the cool, artificially-scented air. The hum of the fluorescent lights was almost comforting compared to the chaos she’d just left behind.

Sabrina wandered down the aisles, picking up random things without looking—sunscreen, candy, gum—before her gaze landed on the small section labeled pregnancy tests. She froze for a moment, a strange pang twisting in her stomach.

Her fingers hovered over the boxes, reading the labels, unsure why she was even drawn to them. She hadn’t thought anything like this could happen to her—not now, not at fifteen. And yet, a small, nagging suspicion tugged at the back of her mind, making her palms sweat as she picked up a box and turned it over in her hands, trying to make sense of the fluttering, confusing feelings inside her.

For a moment, she just stood there, heart hammering, staring at the tiny sticks that could change everything, unaware that the life growing inside her was already taking control, even if she didn’t know it yet.

A quiet shuffle behind her made Sabrina jump slightly. A friendly-looking woman in a blue polo and name tag stepped up, smiling gently. “Hi there… can I help you find something?” she asked, nodding toward the pregnancy tests in Sabrina’s hands.

Sabrina froze, cheeks flushing. “Uh… no, I’m… I’m fine,” she stammered, trying to act casual, though her fingers were trembling.

The woman tilted her head slightly, keeping her tone soft and nonjudgmental. “It’s totally okay. You know, if you want one, I can help you pick the right one. And if money’s an issue… well, don’t worry about it. We’ve got ways to help.”

Sabrina blinked, heart hammering. “I… I have money,” she said quickly, digging into her small wallet and pulling out a stack of cash, trying not to look too nervous. “It’s… it’s fine.”

The worker’s smile didn’t falter. “Perfect. Just making sure. These are all pretty straightforward. If you want, I can show you which ones are fastest.”

Sabrina nodded, still gripping the box, stomach fluttering like it was tied in knots. “Yeah… that’d be… helpful.”

As the worker led her gently down the aisle, explaining the differences between the brands, Sabrina felt a strange mix of panic, anticipation, and confusion. She was fifteen, she wasn’t supposed to be thinking about this, and yet here she was—heart racing, holding the possibility that everything could change in a single moment.

Sabrina set the box on the counter, hands shaking slightly as she counted out the cash. “Uh… I’ll take this,” she said, voice barely above a whisper.

The cashier smiled warmly as she rang it up. “Of course. That’ll be $12.50,” she said, sliding the small box across the counter.

Sabrina handed over the money, trying not to fidget too much. “Um… do you… uh… have a bathroom or somewhere I can… you know… use it?” she asked, cheeks blazing.

The woman’s eyes softened with understanding. “We do have a small restroom in the back,” she said. “It’s private and you can lock the door. No one’s going to rush you. Just go through that door over there and let me know if you need anything else, okay?”

Sabrina nodded quickly, clutching the box to her chest like it was a lifeline. “Okay… thanks,” she muttered, trying to steady her breathing.

She slipped through the door, heart hammering, stomach fluttering, and closed it behind her. The fluorescent lights of the small restroom felt harsher than she expected, reflecting her pale, nervous face back at her in the mirror.

Sabrina’s hands shook as she set the box down on the counter beside the sink. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Fifteen. Florida. A tiny stick in her hands that could change everything she thought she knew about her life.

Sabrina’s hands trembled as she opened the small box, carefully pulling out the tiny plastic test. She read the instructions quickly, trying to memorize every step, heart hammering so loudly she was sure it echoed in the tiny restroom.

She followed the directions as best as she could, her stomach twisting with nerves and anticipation. Every second dragged, each heartbeat echoing in her ears, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

Finally, she set the test on the counter, leaning against the sink for support. Her eyes flicked down, wide, frozen in disbelief.

Two pink lines.

Sabrina’s breath caught in her throat. Her mind went blank for a second, heart slamming in her chest. She stared at the test, unable to process it fully. She was fifteen. Pregnant. The reality of it slammed into her like a tidal wave, leaving her knees weak and hands shaking.

A wave of nausea hit her again, and she leaned over the sink, gripping the edge. “Oh… oh no,” she whispered, barely audible.

Sabrina pushed the restroom door open slowly, her face streaked with tears, lips trembling. She clutched the little box against her chest like it was a shield, every step feeling heavier than the last.

The pharmacy worker glanced up from behind the counter, immediately noticing the state Sabrina was in. “Hey… are you okay?” she asked gently, voice soft. “How did it go?”

Sabrina swallowed hard, trying to catch her breath, hands shaking. “I… I—I don’t know,” she whispered, voice barely audible. Her eyes darted around the store, avoiding the worker’s gaze as panic churned in her stomach.

The woman stepped closer, giving her space but keeping her tone calm and kind. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “Whatever it says, it’s okay. You’re not alone in this.”

Sabrina shook her head quickly, tears spilling over. “I… I just… I didn’t expect…” Her voice broke, and she bit her lip, trying not to sob in the middle of the pharmacy.

The worker offered a small, reassuring smile. “Take your time. You can sit down if you need to, and if you want to talk or have any questions about what to do next, I can help you. No judgment, okay?”

Sabrina sank onto the small bench near the pharmacy counter, clutching the pregnancy test like it was a lifeline. Her knees shook, and her chest felt tight, the tears still streaking down her cheeks.

The worker, sensing how overwhelmed she was, quietly pulled up a chair and sat beside her, giving her space but offering silent support. “Hey… it’s okay. Just breathe,” she said softly.

Sabrina hiccupped, wiping her face roughly with the back of her hand. “It’s… it’s all gone wrong,” she whispered. “It’s… it’s my best friend’s brother… Rafe. And we—” Her voice cracked. “We broke up… literally five minutes ago. My best friend found out we were together, and… I don’t know what to do. I… I don’t know what to do now.”

The worker nodded, keeping her tone gentle. “I hear you, sweetheart. That’s… a lot for anyone to handle, especially at fifteen. And you’re holding this secret… the pregnancy… all of it at once.”

Sabrina shook her head, tears falling again. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t… I just—ugh, I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know how I’m gonna tell anyone… or if I even should…”

The woman reached over and gently placed a hand on Sabrina’s arm. “You’re not alone, okay? You don’t have to make any decisions right now. Just… take a breath, sit here for a second, and think about what you want, not what anyone else expects.”

Sabrina leaned against the wall, trembling, letting herself cry a little more. “I… I just wanted to be with him… and now it’s all—”

“It’s overwhelming, I know,” the woman said softly. “But you’ll figure it out. One step at a time. Right now, just… breathe. That’s all you have to do.”

Sabrina leaned forward, voice quivering but gaining a little steadiness as she tried to explain everything. “I… I’m here with my school for the massive freshman trip. It’s before we officially become sophomores after the summer. I just… I just turned fifteen a few weeks ago, and I… I don’t even know what to do.”

The woman nodded slowly, keeping her tone calm and nonjudgmental. “Okay… that makes sense. It’s a lot for someone your age to handle. And this… this isn’t something you have to figure out all at once.”

Sabrina fiddled with the edges of the test box in her hands, staring down at it. “I mean… what are the options? I don’t… I don’t know what’s possible. I’m so young… I can’t… my parents, my school, everything…” Her voice cracked, tears threatening again.

The worker gave her a reassuring smile. “Well, there are a few paths you could consider. You could speak to a trusted adult—someone you feel safe with—who can help guide you through your choices. You could also make an appointment at a doctor or clinic to confirm the pregnancy and discuss your options safely. At fifteen, it’s important you have support while you figure out what’s right for you.”

Sabrina bit her lip, eyes wide. “I… I don’t know if I can tell anyone yet. I just… I don’t even know who to tell first. And I… I have no idea what would happen if anyone found out. I’m only fifteen.”

“That’s completely normal,” the woman said softly, putting a gentle hand on her arm. “You don’t have to make any big decisions right now. The first step is just knowing what your options are and having someone you can talk to safely. That’s all. You’re not alone, okay?”

Sabrina nodded slowly, taking in a shaky breath, still gripping the test.

Sabrina’s little pink iPhone 3G vibrated violently in her pocket, screen lighting up with a barrage of notifications. The massive Florida 2010 🌴 group chat was blowing up—teachers, classmates, even a few chaperones—all asking where the hell she was, reminding everyone that they were leaving the beach soon.

“Oh… shit,” she muttered, cheeks burning as she fumbled for her phone, thumbs flying over the screen. Messages from Rafe, Sarah, Kiara, and even JJ flashed across her display.

The worker leaned over slightly, smiling gently. “Sounds like you’ve got people looking for you,” she said softly. “You okay?”

Sabrina nodded quickly, heart hammering, and shoved the tiny pregnancy test into the bottom of her tote bag, making sure it was completely hidden. “Yeah… thanks so much for… you know, helping me,” she whispered. “I really… really appreciate it.”

The woman gave her a small, understanding nod. “Take care of yourself, okay? And remember, you’re not alone.”

Sabrina shoved the tote over her shoulder, clutching it tightly as she bolted for the door, stepping back into the glaring Florida sun.

Sabrina ducked back toward the beach area, adjusting her tote bag to make sure the test was hidden. Her heart hammered so hard she was sure everyone could hear it, and every step closer to the group made her stomach twist tighter.

By the time she reached the towels where everyone was gathering, teachers hovering and classmates whispering, the tension was thick. Rafe sat a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes glinting with frustration—but Sabrina didn’t dare look at him.

“Where the hell were you?” Kiara asked first, eyebrows raised. “We were all wondering what happened. You just… vanished.”

Sabrina swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. “Oh… uh… I just… went to get some sunscreen. I didn’t want to get burned,” she lied quickly, forcing a weak smile.

“Really?” Sarah said suspiciously, blue eyes narrowing, still fuming from their argument earlier. “By yourself? On your own?”

Sabrina nodded, biting her lip, wishing she could disappear entirely. “Yeah… I just… needed some air. That’s all.”

Topper and Rafe both glanced at each other, Rafe’s jaw tight, but he said nothing. Sabrina avoided his gaze like her life depended on it. She didn’t want to talk. She didn’t want to explain. She barely even wanted to breathe around anyone right now.

“Okay… if you say so,” Kiara muttered, shrugging, but glancing at the teachers to make sure nothing escalated.