Yesterday, it finally came, a sunny afternoon

 Maddie was in the basement hallway at the school, waiting for her soda to slowly drop to where she could retrieve it. Rafe knew he wanted to kick the soda machine for her, but he didn't. They were alone now after the last bell.

"Can we talk?" He asked. Sure, he looked out of sorts. Nothing had been the same since his fight with Mercer. Rafe still detested the thought of his twin brother having sex with his boyfriend. It seemed Cade could always get what he wanted before he did even if Cade and Mercer spent so many winters and summers on the couch gaming. They didn't even know they liked each other that way back then. Now it left Rafe's lips chapped with worry. Why hadn't it happened for him and Maddie?

She turned scuring away like a little mouse.

"Don't do this to me!" He shouted. At least there was no one to listen, but her. He watched her stop, but she kept walking as if she had no time for him. But he caught up and stepped in front of the door that led out into the grassy soccer fields.

"I can fix this," he told her.

"Yeah, you really know how to fix that motor of yours on your scooter," she still knew it was in the garage at his house. "What makes you think you can fix this?"

Her snide look only made him wince as she hunched over with her heavy backpack.

"Let me carry that."

They could walk and talk. She must have been on her way to the library. She just needed a cheap soda before she got there. 

She shook her head no. She told him they were done.

"But..but you just don't understand." 

Rafe practically yelped.

"Oh, I understand a lot. You were just stuck with me anyway." 

Her little shrug made it all the more impossible to say anything more. 

"Why are you like this?" Rafe wanted to know. He came so close to touch her face. Really, he missed these times when they walked to the library together. And it was sunny out. The wind was warm on their skin. So inviting and mysterious.

"Why are you like this?" She shot back. "I want you to leave me alone! Just go on, do that thing you do. Someone will come along and be everything you want. I'm sure of it."

But he knew she was mustering up a tear or two, or maybe it was him. His eyes bit back tears. He couldn't believe it.

All the things he wanted to tell her. He didn't want to hurt her. She was his future. She wasn't like the others. He couldn't stand the thought of her thinking he might be some monster. Didn't she know how good they were together? She was precious. He only wanted to be cautious. Deep down, it was she who saw the good in him like nobody else.

She kept walking holding on to the straps of her backpack still on those little shoulders of hers. Of course, her backside was divine. He couldn't help but look. Why hadn't he noticed before? Yes, trouble stirred in a masculine kind of way, but he held on to his chilvery.

He took a deep breath to keep up to speed.

"You were so mean in the beginning."

She'd never expressed this grief before. 

"I knew I'd never be good enough. Maybe that's how they all feel about you."

Her look in her eyes was sad yet bitter as a frown persisted. She sniffed tears and so did he. Her hair got caught in the corner of her lip and a stray lock touched the corner of her pale eye. Perhaps she could not see clearly.

"We always had to do everything by your rules," she told him. It made Rafe's teeth gnash.

"I'm not going down that road again," Maddie cleared her throat as her hair tossed in the wind. The sun shined like a new day. "So don't come looking for me."

She ran from him. Rafe never knew she could run that fast.