But I won't be caught standin' still, I won't

 

Rafe guessed it was a bad beginning when he looked back on the occasion. They were supposed to go to Homecoming with Cade and Mercer, but he threw a fit and Cade got mad. Of course, arguing about the Chinese food at Jade Palace didn't help either. Yes, they were giving each other the silent treatment. Rafe liked to think it was a bad case of teen angst and Maddie came through at the end. She could drive her uncle's old car.

"Well, why can't I drive it?" Rafe just couldn't help himself to be in a pout. 

"Because, I have to be the responsible one," she pointed out that if anything were to happen she would be at fault.

It really was a bitter evening. Yes, he knew he was horrible. Especially, to her who looked really amazing in her little homecoming dress. His mother made him buy a corsage down at Bakers (even if he thought it was a waste of money, who wore things like that anymore?) and she wore it on her wrist. It was pink. Her favorite color.

Of course, she wasn't in roses like Harley. Honestly, Brick was everything one needed in a boyfriend. He was dressed in a suit while, Rafe wore a white tee-shirt under his dad's suit jacket and some joggers along with his Adidas. 

OK, so maybe he wasn't the most desirable date, but he didn't know. And they went to the Korean place instead of to Jade's where everyone else was going. He knew even then the old grandma who dished up Korean barbecue for them with all those Kemchi salads was disappointed in him too. She even brought out a special tofu stew for Maddie that he didn't even ask for. And she didn't charge him either.

He guessed Maddie looked nervous. Really, it was best when they didn't have anything to say to each other. And it was at its best when they watched everyone else having a good time. Of course, he showed her his moves under the disco ball with the Pitbull montage of tunes, but she didn't seem all that impressed. She hardly moved on the dance floor.

But they held on to the night. Everyone was going to IHOP afterward. But Rafe was being mysterious and said maybe they should be alone. Something was bothering Maddie.

She didn't look to be wanting food, anyway. "If only you'd let me drive," he kept insisting.

"No." But they went to the park. Only that wasn't enough. There were people in their campers. Even a late-night volleyball game was in action. 

"There are too many people here," Rafe snubbed. He pointed to the off off-road into the trees by the river. Maddie only frowned and drove on until it was complete darkness. 

"Aren't you scared?" She finally looked at him a little bug-eyed.

"No." He hugged himself. "I don't know what's wrong with you." He looked at her in the corner of his eye. If it had been anybody else he was certain they would have made their way to the backseat. "Why should I be?"

"It's nothing," she shook her head as if he might leave her stranded here.

"You shouldn't be thinking about KC." There, he said it. It had been on his mind for a very long time. Didn't girls get over boys faster than the other way around? Of course, he guessed he wasn't supposed to think like that these days, but hell, he wasn't as advanced as some.

"I'm not." There were tears in her eyes.

"Really?" He was serious. It felt as if he was on to something.

"No, I know I mean nothing to him."

He looked at her blankly. "What?"

He didn't know things would unravel after that. But she sniffed back tears as she told him her woeful tale with KC. It was like she'd never be the same again. Rafe didn't know so much emotion could be that way after a one-time shot. She made it sound as if it was a year of romance. She was broken.

"You'll just hate me," she finally yelped. 

"No I wont," he promised. Rafe remained even-lipped. "You know, I really like you." 

 Although, it was far different from what he'd ever felt for anyone. It was the kind of LIKE that he knew he had to be there for her in every way. Not to see how far he could get with her.

"Just let me drive, OK?" Rafe would take control.

She melted into tears. They needed to get somewhere. At least a shake at Sonic would do. He could at least afford that.  Yes, he would show her he was serious. Very serious about her. 

Except, he didn't go in reverse once he got the car started. No, they sank into the river's edge and that's when he realized he would need his brother and Brick to help him out of this after all.