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jpjasjourneytogether · 5 months

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Reputation - Rafe Cameron - Part 1

I had no intentions of posting this now because I literally only have about 2 sentences done of part 2 and have 3 deadlines coming up, but I love this fic too much not to share!

I also started writing this in 'she/her' then switched to 'you' halfway through without realizing it and then had to go back and change the tenses completely. :)) The joys of writing.

This series will have implications of 18+ content so minors DO NOT INTERRACT. Mentions of alcohol and 18+ content including implications of smut. Fluff, angst, fake dating trope because I love it.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy, any feedback is appreciated so much!

Love, love xoxo

Reputation was everything in the Outer Banks. The people you spent your time with, the places you hung out, how you respected people and how other’s respected you. You were judged for your family, your friends, your house, your grades, your job. Anything people could find out about you, you were judged on.

Y/N knew how to play the game and finesse the system. She was everything people hoped to be. She was kind, courteous, passionate with a beautiful aura about her that naturally sucked people in. An A* student, loved by all the teachers, even those that never taught her. An aspiring marine biologist, spending her weekends at the local turtle conservation site, collecting data, cleaning up beaches, looking after the hatcheries, earning the respect of all her colleagues, all her close and distant family of doctors, lawyers and scientists.

Everyone was longing to know her or be her. The Kook princess of Kildare. To live in her beautifully polished house on Figure 8, the most well known area full of money bags with her parent’s who seemed the most supportive and loving couple on the island with a clean history of nothing but smiles and hard work covered in shiny diamonds.

She did have one flaw though. One that had her ripping her hair out in her room at 3am when she couldn’t get to sleep as the guilt was eating her alive.

She was a filthy little liar.

Which was a tiny bit better than being a filthy little whore – she kept telling herself each time the lies rolled off her tongue when her parents asked her about her relationship with Kildare’s Kook prince.

“When will you finally bring Rafe round to officially meet us?” – Her mum asked her as she brought her signature lasagne to the table and sitting beside her father as they both turned their full attention to her.

“Soon, I promise. It’s still all very new.” She rolled her eyes while giving them her most honest, kind smile as she turned her attention to her dinner while her stomach churned in disgust of her behaviour.

She never lied to her parents. Not before this incident anyway. Frankly, she hated doing it. But it was better than being disowned and cut off by them.

“He is such a nice and respected boy Y/N. You picked a good one” – Her mum reached out to give her hand a little squeeze with glistening eyes filled with happiness at the though of her daughter’s promising future. She just gave her mum a nod with a slight blush creeping to her cheeks, while she took the biggest bites of food in order to get this dinner over and done with as quickly as possible.

She was in fact not in a relationship with Rafe Cameron. They weren’t even friends. But he was very charming. Which is why she ended up spending the night at his house – in his bed - after she had fair few drinks at one of his parties about a week ago, doing all sorts of sinful things. At least that’s what her extremely conservative surgeon parents called it when they ordered her to take a seat in the living room the minute she walked in the house a few days following the incident.

“I bumped into Margaret this morning” – Her mother started in a very calm sounding, sinister voice that had Y/N gulping at her tone, without even knowing where this conversation was going.

“The one who lives next to the Cameron household” – She continued with a raised eyebrow, trying to gauge a reaction out of her daughter.

“I really hope you can explain to me why she saw you walking out of their house at 11 in the morning on a Sunday, when she knows for a fact that everyone except Rafe is currently on holiday and you messaged me on the Saturday night that you got home safe following the party I agreed for you to attend.” She was raising her voice as her husband crossed his arm in front of him, staring at Y/N expectantly.

Y/N’s mind was now racing, trying to come up with an explanation. She knew what her parents thought at how the situation looked. Or rather what the situation actually was. She also knew what they thought about people in their town who did such things. And what other’s thought about people that did the things she committed.

Her parents were very vocal about her not sleeping with anyone, especially not in a relationship. Not their perfect girl. All who did were dirty and wouldn’t get anywhere in life. People that sleep around end up pregnant as teenagers, and have no future and don’t deserve supportive parents.

It was all dumb. She was an adult who enjoyed sex and was careful. But having never been in a relationship before due to the expectations her parents set on her and her not yet existing partner, she could never admit that she was in fact a girl who slept around. That would be the end of her support network and shiny life as she knew it and she was not ready to throw it all away.

“Mum, I did come home on Saturday night” – Y/N rolled her eyes and sighed, almost making her parents feel dump at how genuine she sounded.

“Don’t lie to us Y/N! How would Margaret see you if you were home? Her father now spoke up with an angry voice, stern, laced with disappointment that had Y/N’s throat tightening.

“I didn’t want to tell you about this yet, because this only just happened” She continued, looking down and playing with her rings on her fingers as a distraction. She hated what she was about to do, but she didn’t feel like she had a choice.

“I went back to Rafe’s house in the morning for breakfast” – She carried on, now looking her parents in the eye who now looked more confused than ever.

“Rafe and I are together” She finished, her lie now complete as her parents looked at each other with amazement, their upset vanishing into thin air, now their excitement taking over as they stood up, with her mum embracing her in a cuddle right away. Her dad was nodding excitedly in the distance, them being pleased at how their daughter was dating the boy of the second most eligible family in the Outer Banks.

She had hoped she could keep the lie going for a few weeks maybe a month or so until the excitement died down and she could tell her parents that they had broken up before anything would go any further.

She carried on with her life, working hard in school and at her job the following week until another party emerged in the neighbourhood, thrown by Topper and naturally she was invited, as she always would be. She got ready, put on a pretty dress that showed exactly as much as she wanted and got ready to attend with her friends, to just forget everything going on for a few hours.

As the evening progressed, the drinks were flowing and Y/N was spending time dancing with her friends, just completely letting her hair down and enjoying herself. She tried to ignore the gazes that people shot her way, as although people were always looking at her, there was something peculiar about the strength in their eyes towards her.

As she walked towards the kitchen, slightly hazy from the alcohol but only enough to make her relax and ignite a happy light in her eyes, she accidently bumped into a solid chest, making her stumble back and looking up at the recipient of her clumsiness, only to be met with a cocky smirk that she knew all too well. She mumbled a “sorry” with a set of flushed cheeks.

“Hello sweetheart, I was just coming to look for you.” Rafe exclaimed as he held her arms after grabbing them in order to protect her from falling over.

“Look for me?” Y/N furrowed her brows as she took a step back, letting Rafe’s hands drop to his side as he smiled looking up and down at her, appreciating the sight of her sorry excuse of a dress.

“I had the most interesting conversation with my dad earlier.” He started, leaning against the wall of the hallway they were standing in, while slightly leaning his head towards her, so she could hear his words over the loud bass of the music playing in the background.

“He congratulated me for having you as my girlfriend” He grinned widely as Y/N’s eyes visibly widened at his sentence, mouth falling apart slightly as the realisation has set in.

“Rafe, I don’t know what you’re talking about” She rasped out, throat dry and a lump in her throat as Rafe took a step closer, closing the gap in between them.

“Are you sure Y/N? Because it was your mother who told Rose at the country club earlier. I don’t think she would be going around telling lies, do you? So why don’t you tell me the truth?” His body was now pressed against hers, his hot breath hitting her ear and neck with every word, making her breath hitch in the back of her throat. The situation made her nervous, almost as much as Rafe did as he towered over her, with all the power in his hands.

“I got caught leaving your place” She confessed, as she kept her eyes on his chest, not having the strength to look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry, I will tell them we broke up.” She mumbled, taking yet another step back, ready to leave this conversation behind, until Rafe stopped her with an arm snaking around her waist and a finger under her chin, making her look up at him.

“I had a different idea.” He spoke, leaving Y/N confused as to what this idea could possibly be.

“My dad seemed proud when he heard that we were together. I need to earn his trust so he can let me be a part of his business and work on my reputation with a few people. We could do each other a favour.” He leaned closer, his cocky smirk never leaving his face as he was eyeing her for her reaction. Y/N thought long and hard about his words.

Rafe definitely had a reputation of the player boy who partied, drank and did drugs. He was known to be an asshole and angry towards people. And although he never treated her badly, she has heard the stories of the big and bad Rafe Cameron.

“So what exactly are you saying, Cameron?” She crossed her arms over her chest, missing the way he bit his lip at her movements. He tightened his grip around her small waist, pulling her slightly toward him.

“I’m saying we will pretend to be together, act like a couple until your parents are convinced and until my dad sees that I can be trusted. People are already talking about it. Both of us get what we want and then we go our separate ways.” Y/N hated the idea, but she couldn’t lie, her parents were eventually going to get sceptical of her never being seen with Rafe and clearly, the rumours were spreading like wildfire, she had to diffuse the situation before she would be found out.

“Fine. But don’t think for a second this means you will get to see me naked again Cameron” She huffed out, making the boy laugh and bite his lip at the image in front of him.

“We will see about that sweetheart.” He chuckled as he looked at her, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ears. His touch had Y/N shivering, hoping he wouldn’t notice the goosebumps on her arm. As much as she couldn’t stand him, she couldn’t deny the effect he had on her body and mind, with the images of their last night playing in her heard constantly. He made her feel something, something no one has ever achieved before.

“Now let me kiss you and give something for the people to talk about” Before Y/N could protest, he was pulling her into his body, chests melting together as he leaned down and connected their lips, a small sigh leaving her mouth as he smiled into their kiss. Seconds later he pulled back, his arm leaving her waist as he winked at her.

“See you later sweetheart” He turned around, leaving her dumfounded with rosy cheeks as she bit her lip, then realising the people who were staring at her with shock and whispering between themselves, she turned the opposite way, walking back towards her friends, trying to come up with a story to explain to them before they would hear it from someone else. Her and Rafe Cameron were dating. Fake Dating.

It didn’t take long for the word to spread across the island. Soon enough Y/N’s friends were gasping, jaws to the floor as she explained to them the complete lie of her new boyfriend. Her colleagues wanting to know every detail of how they met, which she wasn’t even sure of if she was being honest. She left it at “we have known each other a long time but got closer recently” every time the question was asked with no concrete scenario she could have given. Technically she wasn’t lying about that. Y/N has known Rafe for an unimaginable length of time having always lived on Figure 8 with her parents, becoming friends with Sarah in school, spending a lot of time with each other and naturally with her family, which includes Rafe. Which was why having this conversation with Sarah was the most difficult one out of all of them. She knew Y/N like no one else and has, seen her with her brother countless times, barely acknowledging each other, let alone being loved up. Her and Rafe were different on so many levels, had nothing in common, and barely shared the same crowd apart from in social situations like school or parties where they naturally both had to attend.

“I’m just saying, as much as I’m happy for you, I’m not convinced he’s good for you. It’s Rafe we’re talking about here!” Sarah exclaimed for the fifth time during the two hour conversation they have had with her on her sofa in her living room. Y/N wanted to confess to her so badly. To tell her she got drunk and horny and hurt because no one had asked for her number the entire night and Rafe was there flirting with her shamelessly, looking down her tiny top and she just couldn’t help herself and slept with him, because it was not supposed to be anything else. But she couldn’t tell her, how could she? Her family life, reputation and inheritance was on the line. She worked hard to be who she is and to be seen as a golden girl and she wasn’t ready to let one silly mistake be the end of it all.

“Glad to hear my sister praising me to my girlfriend” Y/N looked behind her to find none other than her boyfriend standing in the doorway of his house with a smug expression, arms crossed, making eye contact with her although he was talking to Sarah. She rolled her eyes the way the word ‘girlfriend’ fell from his lips, full of sarcasm that could only be detected by her.

“You two better not PDA in front of me! Sarah exclaimed with a fake gag following her words, which earned a small chuckle from Y/N and a groan from Rafe.

“Shut up Sarah!” He called out while making his way towards Y/N on the couch, earning a middle finger from the younger sister.

“I need to talk to you!” He looked directly at Y/N, making her gulp. He snapped his head towards the stairs signalling her to follow him to his room. Although she would normally never do what he’s asked of her, she had a role to play calling her to be the loving girlfriend that she was. Which is why she stood up, said her goodbye to Sarah who was now on her way out to meet with her friends and followed in his tracks to his room.

Y/N looked around as she stepped foot in his room, her heart skipping a beat at the memory of her first and last time she ever visited here prior to now. Mentally smacking herself each time the memory creeped into her mind, just wishing she never done it. Seems like Rafe had similar images running through his mind as he bit down his lip to stop the smirk making his way on his face, completely unsuccessfully.

“I would show you around, but I think you know your way around in here just fine.” She huffed at his snarky comment, smacking his shoulder in disgust as he let out a chuckle, loving the small blush on her face at his torment.

“What did you want?” Choosing to not bite anymore, she crossed her arms and sat down on his bed, putting as much distance between the two of them as possible. That was until Rafe also decided to take a seat right next to her, arms and legs touching, sending shivers down her whole body.

“Just wanted to get my girlfriend all to myself” He exclaimed as he turned towards Y/N a bit more, a shit eating grin on his face that seemed permanent whenever the two of them were having a conversation.

“You’re insufferable Cameron.” She sighed, with a small smile on her face. As much as he was irritating and annoying and knew too well how to get under her skin, she also found his constant teasing and attention on her sort of endearing. She couldn’t deny that she found him attractive and liked how he paid attention to her, even if it meant putting up with his frustrating attitude.

“I do think we need to lay down some ground rules though if we’re doing this.” She pointed between the two of them, no better way of describing what ‘this’ was. Her comment seemed to have peaked his interest as a laugh left his lips, but as soon as he heard silence from her end, he frowned and raised an eyebrow, mouth slightly agape.

“Oh you’re serious?” He confirmed, looking confused at Y/N.

“Okay princess. And what rules would we need to date”? He now turned completely towards her, a glint of humour in his eyes as she grunted and stood up, starting to pace around his room, annoyed at how he was so relaxed and seemed to be enjoying this way more than her.

“Well first of all, we have to act like a couple.” She said as she stopped for a second, taking a look at Rafe who was yet again smiling at her.

“I think that’s fairly obvious sweetheart” He teased as she shrugged his comment off, continuing to walk the distance of his room with her mind racing.

“My parents want me to invite you to dinner. To get to know you better.” She listed holding two fingers up as if she was making a note of all the things she had to remember for this arrangement.

“We have to agree on a story of how we met. I told them we started spending more time together because I have known you since meeting Sarah. You have to play along with it.” She ran a hand through her hair, feeling more stressed the more she thought about actually having him in front of her parents, them oblivious to the fake relationship.

“So we’re not telling them how you couldn’t resist me and how you were moaning my name in this room?” He raised an eyebrow as he stood up, walking towards her.

“Stop enjoying this so much Rafe. We have to be believable.” She sighed, hands creeping up to her face in frustration as it seemed she was the only one actually making reasonable arrangements. Rafe frowned at the noticeable change in the atmosphere as he forced her to take her hands off her face and relax her shoulders as she looked up at him, as he was standing right in front of her a serious look on his face.

“Y/N stop stressing. We will go to your dinner, you will answer their questions as so will I, following your lead and playing your perfect little boyfriend” She rolled her eyes at his comment, but visibly relaxed at his reassurance and willingness to cooperate.

“What else?” He asked, taking a step back, allowing her to carry on thinking, finding her pacing amusing. He always knew that whenever she was frustrated or needed to use her brain she had to walk around or fidget, she couldn’t just stay still. And the realisation that he knew this about her settled deep in his stomach, making it churn with a weird, unknown, scary feeling.

“No kissing unless absolutely necessary” To this, Rafe snapped his head in her direction, opening his mouth to protest, but Y/N carried on before he could. “We can hug or whatever couples do. You don’t have to kiss me though.” An unhappy huff left Rafe as he made his way back onto the bed, a deep line on his forehead appearing.

“You have to be joking. What do you think people will think when they don’t see us kissing?” He threw his arms up displeased, laying back on his bed, head swirling at the realisation that maybe he was unhappy, although convincing himself that his reputation was on the line as much as hers, and he wanted to look convincing.

“I said when absolutely necessary Rafe. Not negotiable.” Rafe just threw his arm up dismissively, knowing he won’t win this fight right now. Which does not mean he will not try to later.

“Whatever. Anything else sweetheart?” He asked, not bothering to look up, just listening to her footsteps as he memorised the way her feet shuffled on his floor, how many steps it took her to get from one end of the room to the other.

“Couple in public, we’ll make arrangements for when we’re seen together. Only talk when we have to. We act for a few months until we’re both out of whatever shit we’re in. Then we have an amicable breakup.” Y/N nodded with a deep breath, happy that she said whatever she needed to say with Rafe seemingly on board. Although he hasn’t confirmed it, she took his silence and absence of sarcastic comments as such. “If it gets too much at any point, we talk to each other. Got it?” She finished, with a hand now on his doorhandle, ready to leave this room and this conversation as far behind as she could. That was until Rafe stood up and walked over to her, dangerously close with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“What, you’re scared you’re going to fall in love with me princess?” A low chuckle left his lips as he looked at her like he wanted to torment her. Crossing her arms Y/N took a step closer to him, feeling his breath on her face, making her breath hitch, but determination lingering in her veins, she refused to take a step back.

“Oh I’m not scared of that.” She smiled wickedly, raising to her tip toes as she balances herself on his shoulders, bringing her face as close to his as she could, while he without thinking leaned down towards her, touching his lips to hers, swallowing at how close what he wanted was. But before he could close the so excruciatingly painful gap, she spoke again.

“I’m more worried I’ll break your little heart, Cameron.” She stepped back, the gap leaving her feeling achy and like fighting against a strong current. Nevertheless, she turned around, opened his door and without looking back, she grabbed her bag from the lounge, making her way out of the house towards her home. All the while Rafe stood frozen in his tracks even after hearing the front door close, breath knocked out of his lungs. Wishing for her to still be there. Wishing he could just kiss and hold her like he was lucky to that one night. Wishing this was all real.

Part 2 HERE

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