LITTLE SECRET | RAFE CAMERON

75: 𝘊𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘴

The weeks went by. And it was quite strange.

Strange for Alice, who watched the last days of summer slowly but surely fade away with each passing week. As the leaves on the trees changed color, as the warm summer nights turned to cold rain showers.

All alone, even though she had been so sure that she wouldn't go through the winter months by herself this year.

It had been more than a month now. The night that everything she had with Rafe had fallen apart so suddenly that, looking back, she wondered if things could have turned out differently.

If she had treated him differently, would he have told her the truth sooner?

If she hadn't gone through his phone and read the messages, would he have told her about all of it at some point?

If Alice had had time that night to put her feelings aside for a moment and think clearly, to talk calmly to Rafe and put herself in his place, would they still be together?

Questions to which she still had no answers after so many weeks, and which still made her feel confused as she walked down the street.

She wanted and really needed to clear her head. To get out of her room that had pulled her into a dark place she was desperately trying to get out of.

And Ian's birthday seemed to come at just the right time.

It was his twentieth birthday, not that he cared much about his birthday, but Alice certainly did. She really wanted to surprise Ian with a party after he hadn't planned anything for the whole day, but after everything he had done for her in the last weeks, it was the least she could do for him.

ALICE
On my way to pick up the cake
Y'all need anything else?

SOFIA
More balloons
Lost some cause of Kelce

KELCE
I was just trying to help

ALICE
I'll buy some
Anything else?

JADA
Something to keep Kelce entertained
since he's just sitting around

SOFIA
Now they're fighting
Guess we don't need anything else
Just cake and balloons
And if you need us
Call us

As happy as Alice was that Jada, Kelce, and Sofia had volunteered to decorate Kelce's house for Ian's birthday party, she was also a little worried that it wouldn't turn out the way she'd imagined.

She wanted to give Ian something after not being the best sister the last few weeks.

Since her breakup with Rafe, the siblings had grown closer, but her constant whining - every time she couldn't sleep and came to his room because of it - had certainly gone to his head.

So for the sake of her brother's birthday, she would put aside all thoughts that usually started with the letter R and ended with afe.

The small bell above the front door of the store closest to her home rang, making the cashier behind the counter look up at her as she entered. She gave him a shallow smile that faded as soon as she started walking through the small aisles.

She didn't want to talk to him. Or to anyone.

So she walked around in search of the balloons, past the frozen pizzas and ice cream containers, along the beauty and bath products, until she stopped between the cereals and candy. Hesitantly, Alice grabbed one of the white chocolates from the shelf and walked further and further to the back of the store, where all sorts of birthday decorations hung..

„Alice?" The voice behind her stopped her.

Her fingers tightened around the chocolate bar in her hand as she dared to look over her shoulder, wishing she was just hearing things. But there she was. Blonde hair, white clothes, a soft smile. Sunlight personified, just as she always had been, only today Alice felt as if dark clouds were gathering above her head at the mere sight of her.

„Sarah." She said hoarsely.

For a moment, the two girls looked at each other without a word. As if there weren't memories floating between them that hadn't had a place in their lives for a long time.

Let alone in their thoughts.

„Hi..." Sarah smiled gently at her and took a few steps towards her, still keeping a certain distance. „...how are you?"

Alice nodded curtly. „I'm okay"

„Well, yeah uhm...that's good" Sarah rocked nervously on her heels, as if something was burning on her tongue. „so you're doing fine with the whole thing?"

„What thing?"Alice drew her eyebrows together sharply.

„You and...Rafe"

And even after she hadn't heard anything but his name for the entire month - in her mind or in reality - Sarah's mentioning of him hit her on the wrong nerve.

The same Sarah who had made such a big deal out of the relationship.

The same Sarah who suddenly forgot their whole friendship just because Alice had fallen in love with her brother.

„God, don't act like you're not glad it's over" She rolled her eyes and turned away from Sarah to head to the birthday aisle, grab what she needed and leave the store as quickly as she had entered it.

„What?" Sarah breathed out in disbelief. „of course I'm not"

Shaking her head, Alice grabbed a few of the balloons - as many as she could hold - and gave her a look that showed she wasn't exactly convinced. „and you expect me to believe that?"

„I...I really hope you'll believe it one day" Sarah looked down at the floor between them, no trace of the anger in her voice that Alice remembered so well. „I know I wasn't exactly the best friend when it came to my reaction, but I want you to know that I'm...here if you need someone to talk to"

Alice looked at her for a moment. But deep in her chest, right where her heart was, she felt absolutely nothing by the sound of her words.

„Yeah, I'll pass." She said curtly, before walking past her to the checkout and finally leaving the store.

Alice had had enough. Enough of people promising to love her only to fail to keep their promises.

She really needed a break. From everything.

Her thoughts, her heart, her feelings, every person who tried to get through to her. She just wanted another good night's sleep and, with the party in mind, she already had an idea of how she could finally get the rest she needed.