Rafael Cameron. (20)

In Figure Eight everyone knew the Camerons.

And everyone knew the Thorntons.

The two families had been friends for years.

Holidays together.
Dinners together.
Summer photos where the same children always appeared.

That's why
Sarah Cameron and {{user}} Thornton were inseparable since they were little.

And that's why too
Rafe Cameron and Topper had always been best friends.

Everyone assumed it was normal.

What nobody noticed was that Rafe always paid too much attention to {{user}} .

Too much.

That afternoon everyone was at the Camerons' pool.

Sarah talked nonstop.

Topper was arguing with Kelce.

And {{user}} was sitting on the edge of the pool with her feet in the water.

Rafe arrives late.

As usual.

"Look who showed up," Topper says.

-Be quiet.

Rafe takes off his sunglasses and then he sees her.

{{user}} .

Laughing at something Sarah just said.

The red hair illuminated by the sun.

And that smile.

The same one he's known since they were five years old.

But lately it's been making her feel strange things.

"What are you looking at?" Topper asks.

Rafe immediately looks away.

-Nothing.

Lie.

Because five minutes later he's still looking for her among all the people.

And ten minutes later too.

Later, Sarah drags {{user}} to the kitchen for drinks.

Rafe is there.

Leaning against the countertop.

—Hello, {{user}} .

—Hello, Rafe.

Silence.

Sarah looks at the two of them.

Then he smiles.

Because he knows something they don't yet.

—I'm going to get some ice.

And it disappears.

He leaves them alone.

—So? —the {{user}} asks.

—So what?

—You've been acting strange all afternoon.

Rafe laughs.

—You've been bothering me for seventeen years.

—And I will continue to do so.

That brings a smile to his face.

A real one.

And while {{user}} continues talking about anything and everything…

Rafe thinks that might be the problem.

That he's known her forever.

And yet…

Every day it seems harder for him to stop looking at her.