Kook Princess | Rafe Cameron

Ch 23: Bruises

I walked into the kitchen as Rafe sat at the table. I put my bag on the counter quickly glancing at his face. I looked back up doing a double take. I walked over to him.

"How the hell did you get that bruise?" I asked examining his face.

He shrugged my hand off his face walking away.

"Rafe! How did you get that bruise?" I asked.

He walked away not saying anything. I looked at Wheezie as she walked into the kitchen.

"What are you making?" She asked.

"Whatever you want" I smiled.

She walked over to the cabinets setting down pasta.

"Lasagna?" She asked. "You make it the best."

"Anytbing for you" I said.

I went on to boil the noodles as she sat watching me.

"Ya know you should learn how to do this" I said. "It's not that hard."

"But it's easier if you just do it. You're a pro" she laughed.

Wheezie and I sat at the table eating lasagna.

"Do you know how Rafe got that bruise?" I asked.

"No clue" she said.

~

I looked around at the restaurant smiling at the familiarness of the place. Being in Charleston was great but it wasn't home.

Sitting in the office I went through the numbers from the previous month. I smiled as the cooks began rolling in.

I grabbed plates for a table bringing them over.

"Enjoy" I smiled.

I turned around to the bell of the restaurant.

"Oh hey Top" I said awkwardly.

"Listen we need to talk" he said.

"Thought you didn't want anything to do with me?" I asked.

"It's about Rafe and Sarah" he said.

I looked at him confused following him outside.

"What about them?" I asked.

"Rafe tried drowning her" he said.

"What?" I said.

"He's losing it Liz. He needs help. You're just ignoring it but you know deep down he does. You don't see the way he is when you're not around" he said.

"Stop" I said. "I don't wanna hear it."

"Liz you know he needs help. For gods sake he tried drowning his own sister!" He said.

"Leave" I said.

"Liz don't do this" he said.

"Please leave Top" I said. "I need to go back inside."

I left Topper out in the parking lot as I walked back inside. I took a deep breath before helping the remainder of my customers.

After closing the restaurant I drove to Tannyhill. Instantly walking up to Rafe's room.

"Did you try to kill her?" I asked.

"Lizzy" he said.

He began pulling at his hair as he often does.

"Don't lie to me" I said. "Did you do what Topper said you did? Is that how you got the bruise? From Topper?"

He started breathing heavily shaking his head.

"Don't lie to me Rafe Cameron!" I yelled.

"Yes!" He snapped.

"What is going on with you?" I asked grabbing my hair. "Why are you doing all of this!"

"I'm not okay" he said softly.

I sat down as tears fell down my face. I quickly wiped them looking up. He had a blank stare and his leg was shaking.

"Do you regret killing her?" I asked.

He remained silent.

"I need to know" I said.

His mouth twitched as he began to talk.

"Rafe please answer the question" I said.

"I-I didn't want to kill her. I just- felt like I needed to" he said. "It jsut happened and I don't know how to explain it."

I grabbed his face forcing him to look at me.

"We're going to do this together. I promise" I said.

He nodded wrapping his arms around me. I held onto him as he began to cry.

"I'm sorry Lizzy" he cried.

"It'll be okay. We'll be okay" I said.

I looked at the ring on my finger. I wasn't going to leave his side.