It's the day before school starts again. A familiar, sinking feeling settles in my chest. It's hard to believe the summer's almost over, and it's even harder to accept that my life hasn't gotten any easier.
For the past few days, I've been avoiding Rafael. Ever since that dinner at the garden event, I've kept my distance, mostly by burying myself in textbooks and pretending I don't notice the way he looks at me, or the way I feel when he does.
But that doesn't mean I'm not aware. I know he's been watching me, just as I've been watching him from a distance. Everything's different. Everything feels... fragile.
The night we went home from the garden dinner, there was a weird tension between us. The drive back was silent, with only the hum of the car's engine breaking the quiet. But when we got to the gate of the Montgomery mansion, Rafael turned to me as I was about to get out.
"Amanda" he said, his voice low but steady. "Can I have your number?"
I blinked, surprised and I smirked, Tsk I knew my charms worked on everyone, "What for? You want to date me now?"
He looked at me brows furrowed, his fingers gripping the wheel tighter. "So I can check up on you while I'm at work. Your parents asked me.... remember? "
My mind went blank.
OH MY GODDDD, AMANDA!!!! Shit shit shittttt! Lord, please take me now!
I wasn't sure what to think, I just gave him my phone and was so embarassed, then I just pretended to be asleep.
For the past few days, his texts have been relentless. At lunch, he'll ask how I'm doing, and in the evening, he'll let me know when he's home from work. But each time I read one of his messages, I get more irritated. I know I'm being petty, but why does he have to follow my parents order?
It's not like he owned them something. It's not like I needed it, I'm an adult!!!
I glance at my phone now, scrolling through yet another text from him.
"I'll be picking up some things for school tomorrow after I finish at work. Let me know if you need anything."
I feel a twinge of irritation bubble up. Why does he think I need him to buy me anything? My finger hovers over the screen as I think about replying. But I don't. Instead, I lock my phone and set it aside.
After a moment, I decide it's time to deal with the one thing I've been putting off for too long. James.
I dial his number, my heart heavy in my chest.
"Hey," I say when he picks up. "We need to talk."
"What's wrong?" he asks, his voice already tinged with concern.
I take a deep breath. "I think it's time we broke up."
There's a long pause on the other end of the line. Then, in a voice that's quieter than I expect, he asks, "Why?"
"You know why, James. It's just… it's not working anymore," I say, my voice firm.
He lets out a short, frustrated laugh. "So, this is it, then? After everything? You're just throwing us away?"
"James," I say softly, "It was always going to happen."
I hang up, It just feels like a mess.
As I sit there, trying to push away the guilt, my phone buzzes again. This time, it's a message from Rafael.
"We're heading out to buy things for school after work. I'll be at the house. Let me know if you need anything."
I sigh, frustrated. This whole thing is getting out of hand.
But before I can respond, my phone rings. It's James.
"I'm coming over," he says, his voice sharp. "Let's meet in the nearest cafe."
I sit up, feeling the urge to protest, but I don't. I'm not sure why I'm still bothering. I went to the nearest cafe, and sat there as I waited.
When James came, he immediately sat.
"Let's get this over with," I mutter, feeling the exhaustion crawl up my spine.
James doesn't waste any time. He orders coffee for both of us, but I can barely bring myself to drink it. He talks, and I listen, his voice trying to convince me that we can work things out, that we can fix everything.
But I'm done. I don't want to fix anything.
"You know this was coming, James," I say, keeping my voice level. "You knew this was going to happen."
James narrows his eyes. "Oh, I get it now. Is this because you found a new man to buy you all the things?" His voice grows louder, more accusatory. "Is that it? A sugar daddy who can keep you in designer bags now that you've gone broke?"
His words sting more than I expect. How dare he?
"You're disgusting," I snap, rising to my feet. Before I even realize it, I raise my hand and slap him hard across the face.
I feel a strange sense of satisfaction in the action, but then James lunges at me, fury in his eyes. His fist is raised, and for a split second, I fear he's going to hit me.
But before he can, I heared a voice, that same voice who always mocked my spoiled self.
"Touch her, and you'll never get to see the sun again." Rafael said with so much authority.
I turn, startled, as Rafael steps into the cafe, his eyes cold with anger. Without warning, he punches James square in the jaw.
James stumbles back, eyes wide. "What the hell is your problem?"
"You've got one chance to walk away or you will never get to walk again," Rafael says, his voice low and dangerous.
James sneers, wiping blood from his mouth. "What? Is this your next toy, Amanda?"
Rafael doesn't hesitate. He punches James again, knocking him off balance.
"Shut your mouth," Rafael growls and looks over at me.
I feel frozen, unsure of what to do. The words I should say aren't coming out.
James, still seething, shoots me one last glare. "You'll regret this. You're going to pay me back for what you spent with my cards."
I can barely process the words before Rafael steps forward, pulling out his phone. "Send me your bank details," he orders.
A second later, Rafael transfers one million to James's account without a second thought. The transaction is done, and I barely know how to react, my mind went blank from all that happened.
As we leave the cafe, the weight of everything that just happened hits me. Rafael just defended me. He just threw his money at someone who insulted me.
I look at him, but he doesn't meet my gaze. He just walks ahead, his jaw set in determination.
I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever truly understand Rafael Montgomery.