Tell Them The Truth
Pairing: maybank!reader x soft!rafe
Synopsis: telling your friends about your relationship with Rafe goes terrible, which makes you hesitant about the whole situation. Rafe has never been more sure about anything im his life, and tries to convince you of that.
Wordcount: 1,8k
Content warning: pet names (baby), slightest bit of angst?, fluff, mean friends
Authors note: would anyone be interested in a taglist for all of my works? (I have one for my smau already) If so, please comment or ask in my inbox!
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You knew people would hate you for loving someone like Rafe Cameron, but you could’ve never imagined you’d started hating yourself for it.
He was everything you weren’t. Growing up on different sides of the island, raised with different standards and social positions. It would never work out.
That was until you really got to know him.
It slowly appeared to you that Rafe didn’t see himself as above you, like every other Kook did. Instead of talking down on your way of living, he admired it. To him, people working incredibly hard for their money was far more impressive than sitting back and letting daddy pay, like he did.
At first, you were hesitant. Being with him would mean breaking the unspoken rule; Kooks and Pogues don’t mix.
But being with Rafe made following those rules so much harder. Because somewhere during the months of sneaking around, you stopped caring. You fell in love with him.
Eventually, hiding that love became harder than admitting it. So you told your friends.
You had spent days imagining their reactions. Sitting in the Chateau, nervously fidgeting with the hem of your shirt as you tried to figure out how to tell them about the boy you growed to love.
They wouldn’t be happy, ofcourse not. But you hadn’t expected the room to go completely silent.
JJ was the first one to speak, his expression a mix of disbelief and mostly hurt. “Rafe? As in, Rafe Cameron?”
You swallowed before nodding.
When you found the courage to look up, his face made your stomach drop. His brows had drawn together, his jaw tense like he was waiting at you to tell him it was a joke.
“How long?”
You hesitated. “A few months.”
“A few months?” he repeated, almost laughing. “You were sneaking around with Rafe Cameron for months and you didn’t think any of us deserved to know? You didn’t think I deserved to know?”
You shifted uncomfortably beneath his stare, flinching at the hurt in his voice. “I wanted to tell you, Jay.”
Your brother scoffed, dragging a hand over his face while he shook his head. “But you didn’t. You waited fucking months before telling me.”
Tears started forming in your eyes, guilt flooding your chest.
Guilt for simply loving.
“I was scared,” you explained, the first tears rolling down your cheeks. “Because I knew you wouldn’t get it.”
JJ interrupted you before you could say anything more.
“Ofcourse I don’t get it. It’s Rafe. That guy doesn’t love you. You know how people like him are.”
The bitterness in his voice caused you to flinch.
You hated how he didn’t even give you a chance to explain. You hated how your brother automatically assumed the worst. You hated how your friends wouldn’t even speak up.
But mostly, you hated yourself for getting into this mess.
“He’s different with me.” Your own voice sounded smaller knowing, less defensive as you knew they wouldn’t accept it.
Kiara was the first one to speak up, her tone just as dissapointed as JJ’s. “You’ve only known him for a few months. He could switch up any moment. You don’t know.”
Her words made you frown, your sadness fading into anger. “Just like you are right now? You’re my best friends and you’re switching up on me because I’m in love.”
“Oh please, this isn’t love.” John B interrupted, scoffing. “This is you being delusional over a guy you’re not supposed to want.”
A bitter laugh left your lips. “You don’t have any right to say that! How is this wrong, when the exact same thing happened between you and Sarah?”
The brunette and blonde met eyes, Sarah’s cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Before they could reply, JJ intervened again. “It’s different because Sarah didn’t spend years tormenting us. Don’t act stupid.”
“I told you, he’s different now. He’s sweet and really funny, and he cares about me. He doesn’t care about me being a Pogue.” You cried out, a weak attempt at making them understand.
Instead of hearing you out, they had shut you out completely. Even Kiara, the girl who promised you that you could tell her anything, looked at you like you betrayed her personally.
When that realization hit, you walked out without another words, feeling completely failed by your friends. Without a second thought, your hands found your phone to call the one person who would be there for you.
Rafe.
He answered within seconds, his voice warm the way it always seemed to be while talking you. Halfway during your explanation of what happened just a minute ago, he got in his car and sped down The Cut to pick you up. He stayed on the call the whole time.
When he found you in front of the Chateau, the sight of you so shattered made his shoulders drop. He pulled you into his chest and pressed a kiss on the top of your head before leading you to the passenger seat.
The whole ride, his hand stayed on yours. You didn’t speak, the weight of your brothers words heavy on your heart. Rafe didn’t push, yet he couldn’t help but feel a little pride at the fact you called him.
Once the two of you arrived at Tannyhill, he led you through the foyer and up to his room. You tried to avoid Ward’s eyes, but his scolding gaze was hard to miss. Rafe also seemed to notice, since his hand squeezed yours a little tighter whilst passing him.
After Rafe closed his bedroom door, he stayed silent while he watched you settle on the edge of his bed. He noticed how the guilt ate you up, your eyes red from earlier tears.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” His voice was gentle when he spoke up, careful not to make you even more upset.
You didn’t trust your voice enough to speak up without breaking down, so instead you shook your head.
The silence that followed made it obvious Rafe didn’t exactly believe you. If anything, your silent gesture caused him to soften even more.
“Baby,” he started, sitting down next to you. He took your hands, a comforting look in his eyes as he turned you to face him, your knees touching. “Please?”
His gentle tone made you feel even worse.
A shaky breath left your lips as you forced yourself to meet his eyes. “They’re so disappointed, Rafe.”
He shook his head immediately. “That’s not true.” The words were meant to be soothing, but caused you to spiral instead.
“JJ says I don’t even know the real you. He’s mad because it’s been months, and I didn’t tell him,” you continued, the words weak as they left your lips. “They don’t understand how you could ever love me.”
Rafe sighed, knowing how your brother and your friends thought of him. “They aren’t exactly my fans, are they?”
He felt relieved when he heard the soft sound of your laugh, a small smile appearing on his own face.
“That’s one way to put it.”
However, your laugh quickly faded into the same sadness you had been carrying since you told your friends about him. Your eyes glinted with unshed tears, the weight of the situation sinking in. “Your dad also doesn’t approve, Rafe. I saw the way he looked at me.”
Rafe tensed at the mention of his father. “I don’t care. He doesn't need to approve anything.”
“I care,” you replied, your voice breaking. You knew how important Ward was to Rafe. He didn’t anything to please his dad, to make him proud. “You’re dissapointing your father because you’re throwing your status away for a Pogue.”
“That’s bullshit,” the boy intervened, his voice still gentle but firmer now. “I don’t care about my status or whatever the hell you think I care about. I’m in love with you, that’s what matters.”
You tried to speak up, but he wouldn’t leet you argue him on this.
“What my dad thinks, doesn’t matter. It doesn't change how I feel about you.”
That was what he never seemed to understand. You weren't questioning whether he loved you. You knew he did.
That was the problem.
Because every time he looked at you like you were worth choosing, you couldn't stop thinking about everyone else who had been left behind because of that choice.
“I feel like I'm ruining everything.”
His eyes softened, his hand brushing a lost strand of hair behind your ear. “You're not.”
“Rafe.” You fought weakly.
“You're not.”
You swallowed, your eyes falling down. “I don't want my brother to hate me.”
“He doesn't. That boy loves you to death.”
When you finally looked up, the question felt heavy on your tongue yet impossible to ignore. “What if this was all a mistake?”
“What?” Rafe's expression tightened. “You mean you wish we hadn't?”
You hesitated.
That was all the answer he needed.
He was the one who looked away now, his his brows furrowed. For the first time that night, he looked genuinely hurt. And seeing it made something twist painfully in your chest.
“I don't regret you,” he said quietly.
You swallowed.
“Maybe I do.”
His eyes snapped back to yours.
You immediately wished you could take it back. But you were tired. Tired of pretending you weren't scared. Tired of watching people you loved become angry with you. Tired of feeling like loving Rafe Cameron had turned your entire life upside down.
“You don't understand,” you whispered. “You have no idea what it's like to feel like everyone is disappointed in you because of one person.”
Rafe's expression softened.
“Yeah, I do.”
You shook your head. “No, you don't.”
His eyes met yours again, his hands squeezing yours a little tighter. “I know what it's like to spend your entire life trying to be what someone else wants.”
You looked at him.
“And I'm not doing that with you.”
Your eyes burned. “I don't want you to have to choose.”
“I already did.”
You stared at him.
“I chose you.”
“You shouldn't.”
“Maybe,” his mouth lifted into the smallest, saddest smile. “But I did.”
For once, he didn't try to convince you that everything would magically work out.
He knew it wouldn’t.
Your brother might stay angry. Your friends might keep their distance. Ward might never accept you. There were still going to be days when choosing each other felt like the hardest thing in the world.
But Rafe wasn't asking you to fix any of that tonight. He was only asking you not to give up on him because everyone else hadn't learned how to accept you two yet.
