heyy, could you petty please do some heart aching angst of rafe having a girl bestfriend that reader is jealous of but rafe reassures her but then they argue and go on a break for a bit and rafe's girl bestfriend comes onto him and he's like "wtf" and then apologies to reader because he now knows reader was right about her from the beginning (sorry if this made no sense I just yearn for angst+comfort w/ rafe)
pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader
blurb: you and Rafe get in a fight because of his girl best friend, Emily. Rafe finds out you were always right about her.
warnings: angst, hurt/comfort, kissing
It was always you and Rafe. High school sweethearts. Perfect for each other. The It Couple. But she was there too. Emily. Rafe’s best friend. They’d known each other since they were kids. Shared summers on Figure 8, running along the beach, and having sleepovers at Tannyhill. She was there before you were. From the outside, it may have seemed like just a friendship. But to you, it was more than that. Emily and Rafe had their own inside jokes, their own joint memories, and their own special bond. Of course, Rafe wasn’t cheating or anything. Their relationship was perfectly normal. Right? Or at least that’s what you told yourself. You trusted Rafe.
However, it was hard not to notice the way Emily constantly lingered around him, her hand brushing his arm just one too many times. The way Rafe’s eyes always lit up when she walked into a room and stayed on her for a second too long. The way, when they were together, you just seemed… invisible. You couldn’t bring it up directly, otherwise you’d look like one of those crazy, controlling girlfriends. And what were you supposed to say? “Hey, Rafe, could you please get rid of your girl best friend, who you’ve been close to since childhood, because I’m feeling insecure.” He already opened up to very few people. What kind of girlfriend would you be if you tried to take the most important people out of his life?
You did try to bring it up subtly, though. You’d sit on his lap and wrap your arms around his neck, saying: “You’ve been spending a lot of time alone with her” or “She’s coming around a lot more, isn’t she?” Rafe would just assume you were feeling a little needy, tucking you against his chest, while keeping his eyes trained on the footie game on the TV. “You feeling alone, baby? Wanna go out somewhere tomorrow? Maybe the new restaurant downtown or that farmers market you’ve been wanting to go to?” he’d murmur while stroking your hair.
It always made you feel like shit. It was clear Rafe cared a lot about you. Every time you’d go quiet for a second, then look up with a little smile, nodding slowly. “Yeah… that sounds good.” Rafe would kiss the top of your head while you could feel his heartbeat under your cheek.
Now it’s been 2 hours since Rafe left to go out with Emily. You’ve been waiting, watching the minutes tick by, trying to busy yourself so you don’t seem insane. He said he’d be back home at ten. Where is he? You decide to settle on the couch with a book to distract yourself. Rafe walks in twenty minutes later. “Sorry, baby, traffic was busy,” he exhales, striding over to the couch. “What are you reading?”
“Where were you?” you blurt, seemingly out of nowhere.
Rafe seems taken aback slightly. “I was out with Emily… I told you, remember?”
“I mean… where did you go with her?” you clarify, closing your book. You don’t know why you chose today to start this, but you couldn’t deal with keeping quiet anymore.
Rafe sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Baby, don’t start this again. Please. It’s been a long day. Let’s just go to bed.”
“I just want to know where you were-”
“Why does it matter?” he says, voice rising.
“I was at a bar, okay!” His voice echoes through the house before he takes a deep, calming breath, trying to keep his cool. “I was at the bar with Emily. We had a couple of drinks. Talked a bit. And then I came home.”
The way he said it made you feel stupid for asking in the first place. They’ve been best friends for years. Gone out alone on hangout nights. And Rafe always came back to you. Why were you so worried? You gaze up at Rafe again. He looks pissed on the surface, but underneath, there’s a hint of hurt.
“No.” He cuts you off, voice firm like steel. “Don’t tell me you didn’t mean it because you did. You always have, haven’t you?” He laughs under his breath, but it’s hollow.
“God, you know I thought maybe you’d grow out of it. Maybe you’d understand after all this time. That maybe-” his voice rises, before he pauses for a second. His tone is quieter now. Not soft. Just quiet. “That maybe you’d see that Emily and I are just best friends. That there is nothing else going on between us. There never has been and never will be.”
Your breathing is heavy now, a little shaky. Why did you say all of that? You knew it would lead to an argument. “I know that Rafe-”
He cuts in for the second time, bitter: “No, you don’t.” He runs a hand through his hair before continuing, “You’re just so caught up in your little fantasies, in your- in your paranoia that you can’t even see the truth anymore-”
You can’t take it anymore, finally speaking up. “She fucking wants you, Rafe! You don’t see the way she looks at you, how she lingers around, desperate-”
“She is my best friend!” He yells this time, voice echoing through the empty house, and you freeze. “Emily has always been there for me and never asked for anything. She was there before you ever came into my life! So don’t you dare talk about her like that when you don’t know me half as well as her.”
Rafe stops when he notices your eyes welling up with unshed tears, your lips trembling. He sighs, “Baby, I didn’t mean-”
“No. You did,” you bite out, throwing his own words back at him. “I don’t know you? Really Rafe? You’re acting like I haven’t been there too. Caring for you. Supporting you. Loving you.” You stare at him, trying to meet his gaze, but he’s staring at the floor now.
The next words out of his mouth are cold. Quiet. “I think we should take a break.”
You don’t move. Don’t think. Can’t. “W-what?” you manage to stutter out with a little laugh. Part of you wants to believe he’s joking. He has to be joking. Right?
When he looks at you, his eyes are firm. Unmoving. “We just… need some space. And time?”
“You want to break up? Over her? I-”
“This isn’t about her. You know that. It’s about… everything.” Rafe seems to be picking his words carefully, still not wanting to hurt you. “A break might be good for us.”
You laugh again, but this time it’s bitter. Sarcastic in a way. “Wow. Guess you have your priorities straight, huh? Good to know you’d choose her over me.” You stand up, pushing past him and rushing up the stairs.
Rafe turns and follows you. “Baby, I’m not choosing-”
“Don’t call me that.” Your voice echoes icily down the stairs. Rafe finds you shoving some clothes into a bag. He stares, like he’s processing the weight of his words from before.
“You’re leaving now? It’s midnight.”
“I’m giving you space. You said you wanted a break,” you reply, distant now.
Rafe sighs, like you’re the one who’s being difficult. “Don’t do this. It’s late. Just-”
“Don’t tell me what to do. I’m leaving.”
Part of you wishes he would, but Rafe doesn’t stop you after that. Not when you shove past him with the duffle bag in your hair. Not when you pace down the stairs. Not when you slam the door behind you.
The cold air hits you like a rush. You feel tears starting to prickle, but push them away. Just enough to walk down the street. Thank god your childhood home was always near his. The wind is chilly, the moon shining bright as you walk down the road as fast as you can. You try your best to unlock the door carefully with the spare key under the rug, not wanting to wake your parents. Only when you are alone in your room do you finally let the tears stream.
Ugly sobs crawl their way out of you as you bury your face between your knees, whole body shaking. How did this happen?
Rafe called Emily over, needing someone to talk to. A way to get his frustration out in a way that didn’t resort to coke or violence. She arrived with her usual perfect smile and a container of home-baked cookies, hugging Rafe tight. “I’m sorry,” she whispered with flawless sympathy. “I baked cookies…” She looked up at him with doe eyes.
“Mm… thank you.” Rafe hugged her back tight, feeling like he was proving something. Emily was just a sweet and kind best friend.
“Do you want to go up to your room or…” she suggested, innocently.
“Um… yeah sure.” Rafe has to admit, it was a little weird. They hadn’t really hung out in his room since freshman year of high school, when you and Rafe started dating. But he didn’t mind. He was just glad Emily had agreed to come in the first place on such short notice.
They walked up the stairs and into his room… or what used to be your shared room. Most of your things were still scattered among his. Your hairbrush. Your favourite perfume. Your sweater. Rafe ignored it, trying to focus on Emily now. She made herself at home on the bed, as if it hadn’t been years since she’d been up here.
“It’s changed a lot,” Emily murmurs, looking around the room with curiosity.
“Yeah, I guess…” Rafe agrees. He can honestly barely remember what his room looked like before, aside from the mess and the fact that it lacked colour. The shift from all black to lighter shades was obvious.
“She had some… tastes, huh?” Emily remarks, with a slight hint of disgust.
Rafe picks up on it immediately. “Good tastes,” he corrects. You both may be on a break, but he can’t stand to see anyone insult you in any way. Even if that person is his supposed best friend.
“So tell me what happened.” Emily switches the subject, patting the spot on the bed next to her. Rafe stares for a second, then sits a little further away.
“She just gets so… worked up and paranoid, you know?” He shakes his head incredulously. “Like I’ve never given her any reason to doubt me. I’ve always been loyal and she just-”
Rafe turns to look at Emily for a second. She seems a little closer, her eyes drifting between his and his lips. “Keep going,” she whispers. Rafe turns away, running a hand through his hair, deciding to ignore it. He’s probably seeing things.
“She just always thinks that something is going on between you and me, no matter how many times I’ve told her we’re just friends. She never seems to believe it and I-”
“What if she’s right?” Emily breathes, her tone low. Suggestive.
Rafe spins to look at her. Face blank for a second. Then he laughs, almost nervously. She’s joking. “You’re joking, right?” He tries to mask his panic. Panic that maybe you were right. No, that can’t be it.
Emily smiles, sweet as sugar. “Don’t play stupid, Rafe. You’re not with her anymore. You can admit it.”
“Admit what?” Rafe’s voice comes out almost shaky. No. No, no, no. This cannot be happening right now. Emily is a friend-
That thought is interrupted when Emily laughs softly before leaning forward. Rafe barely processes it as her lips meet his. No. This is wrong. You were right. Fuck. He pushes her back a little too hard, enough that she’s taken again.
Emily looks up at Rafe, a slight smile still on her face, but now fading. “What the fuck, Rafe? C’mon, it’s me. You know I’ve always liked you-”
Rafe stands abruptly, pacing. “No. No stop. You don’t mean that. You’re my friend, Emily. We’re best friends-”
“You know that’s always been a cover-up, Rafe. She’s gone now. I know you’ve been waiting to get rid of her for years. All because you didn’t want to hurt her stupid feelings-”
“Don’t!” Rafe's voice is sharp, full of the sting of betrayal. How is this happening? Rafe stares at the wall, like the pieces are finally falling into place. “She was right…” he whispers, under his breath.
“What did you say?” Emily's voice is cold now, all traces of sweetness gone.
“Oh my god, she was right,” Rafe muttered, louder now. He looks at Emily in a completely different light now. “She said that you were into me. That you had that look in your eyes. I didn’t want to believe her, but-”
“Who cares, Rafe? You know I’m the one you really want. I’m so much better than that little slut-”
“Get out,” he growls, heaving now.
“Rafey… you don’t really mean that.” Emily pouts.
“Get the fuck out of my house. I don’t want to see you ever again. You understand?” Rafe snapped, eyes blazing.
“Get out!” He finally yells. Shock paints Emily’s face, but only for a second before she picks up her purse and storms out with a: “Fine. Fuck you, Rafe.”
Rafe just stands there, frozen, like he can’t believe what’s happened in the past 24 hours. Now he’s lost both his girlfriend and his best friend. But the only thing on his mind is the fact that you were right.
You were curled under the plush blankets in your room, eyes red and puffy as you scrolled through your camera roll. Going through every single photo of you and Rafe. Trying to memorise every single detail. You’d probably never see him again after this. You should’ve known how much Emily means to him.
Your thoughts are interrupted when a text pops up. It’s from Rafe. His name still has that stupid heart emoji next to it. You open the text.
Rafe ❤️: hey can we meet up?
You just stare at it for a few seconds, unsure what to do. How to reply. Eventually, you type back.
Rafe smiled on the other end, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief that you were actually willing to see him after everything. He was grateful you hadn’t blocked him and deleted his number. His fingers moved swiftly.
Rafe ❤️: the pier. in 10?
There were a lot of piers in Figure 8, but you knew exactly the one he was talking about. The half-broken one with falling pieces down by Shire Road. Nobody ever bothered to fix it, so that spot became yours years ago when you stayed up talking about nothing and everything.
You arrived a little early, arms wrapped around yourself to shield from the biting wind. Rafe arrived moments later, hair tousled, eyes bloodshot. From crying or from coke? You didn’t know, but you didn’t ask. Just waited for him to say what he wanted to.
Rafe noticed instantly that you were cold, shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it around your shoulders, as if nothing had changed. You let him. He only seemed to realise after that things weren’t right between you two.
“Sorry, I didn’t…” He trailed off, unsure.
“Why did you call me here?” you whispered, wanting to get this over with. He probably wanted to break up with you officially or something. Instead, the next words he spoke were the last thing you were expecting:
“I fucked up. Like really bad,” he doesn’t know how else to admit it. Rafe’s never been good with his feelings. He takes a deep breath before continuing. “I thought… it doesn’t matter what I thought. What matters is that I was wrong. You were right.”
You blinked, barely able to take in the words. You manage to snap yourself out of the shock. “A-about what?”
“Emily,” he forces out her name, looking everywhere but at you. The words just spill out, his voice frantic like he needs you to hear all of it. “I called her over, and she was all sweet at first. She came up to my- our room, and I was venting, and she tried to come onto me. I couldn’t believe it. I shoved her off, and she admitted she’s always liked me, and I told her to get out and…”
He finally meets your eyes again, his full of guilt. “You were right. I should’ve seen, and I shouldn’t have yelled at you, and I’m so sorry, baby, I…” When Rafe notices how quiet you are, it makes him feel more shitty. “Please, say something.”
“Is she gone? For good?” you whisper, hopeful.
“Yes, I promise. I don’t want anything to do with her. I… I want to be with you.” Rafe’s voice is sincere, something rare. When you don’t reply, he keeps going. “I know I messed up badly, but I’m willing to do whatever takes to make it up to you, just… please, baby?”
“I want to be with you, too,” you murmur, soft as always.
Rafe’s whole face lights up as he steps closer, cupping your face with one hand. He leans down slowly, giving you time to pull away, but when you don’t, he presses his lips to yours. Soft at first, then a little deeper.
You kiss him back, wrapping your arms around his neck, gasping softly as he pulls you closer by your waist so you’re completely pressed up against him. He walks both of you back until you’re leaning against the railing of the pier, the wood cold against your back, his jacket still enveloping you.
“I missed you,” he mumbles when he finally pulls back, his forehead resting against yours, both of you breathing heavily. You smile softly, “It’s only been a day.”
He shakes his head, pressing more pecks down your jaw and neck. “Mm, feels like it’s been weeks.” You giggle softly, leaning into him. “I love you.” The words just slip out of your mouth.
Rafe freezes, pulling back for a second to look at you before his lips curve into a little smile. “I love you too, baby.” The moment lasts a few seconds before:
“You owe me ice cream tomorrow.”
Rafe laughs, real for once, pulling you into his arms. “Baby, you can have all the ice cream in the world, okay?”
You smile, resting your head against Rafe’s chest, knowing that she’s finally gone.
a/n: im sorry this took so long to do, but tysm to whoever sent in this request! i loved the idea so much and wanted to make sure i did it right. also like apologies if your name is emily lol, im sure you're a wonderful person. more headcanons are coming tomorrow!✨ feel free to send in requests for fics, headcanons or moodboards ꫂ᭪݁
taglist: @rafesgreasycurtainbangs
