IN LOVE!!! I just love the way Rafe cares so much is so heart warming đ
Endings Announcement
Synopsis: A Social Media AU in which you find yourself at Kildare University along with your friends. Starting over at a new school shouldn't be difficult. Well, except for the fact that your ex-boyfriend is the quarterback, and you are the drum major. Add in a little bit of drama, a lot of friendship, an ex who can't seem to let you go, and a best friend who has been in love with you since you were kids and well? Welcome to KU!
Pairings: Past!Rafe x Reader, JJ x Reader, Rafe x Reader
Masterlist
Taglist:
@akobx @onelonelybitch @the-universe-and-karma @beeskisses @frankoceanluvr11 @ivy-34 @rafecameronsloverrrrr @k-k0129 @asyouwish-fromcabin3 @xoxo-ada @aariahnaa @strawberryforks @urbrunettebombshell @whatisoutside @spenceatiny18 @animalistic0 @modern-mermaid @ethanthequeefqueen @lilahrosee @angelicameron @aesthetic-lyss
No offense, but fuck you Jeff Davis
kinktober day 4 - incest?ish? sorta not really they don't touch.
lets all pretend that sarah is still kook princess and rafe is crazy but not murder people crazy for this okay? ok. they're all still a "happy" family.
rafe hated you almost as much as he hated sarah. he hated how you two whispered and giggled in your own language. how you moved in synch, like a hive mind. sarah couldn't have everything she wanted, and right now he wanted you too.
sarah was your best friend, so much so that when her family went on vacation so did you. to say you were attached at the hip was an understatement. ward used to say it was like you were the same person, two halves of a whole so to speak.
rafe saw it differently, he saw how sarah bossed you around. even when she did it with that sweet smile on her face, rafe swore there was a mean glint there. almost self satisfied. because if sarah said you were going out thats what you did, and if she changed your outfit even though you told her you liked it well you just trust her opinion. and when sarah told you to "ignore her weirdo brother" you did that too, darting your eyes away when he looked at you and scurrying behind her when she left you alone with him.
he thought he had you figured out. sarah had to own everything, even you, and it pissed him off.
now you thought you were better than him. you scoffed when he spoke and rolled your eyes every time he entered the room. just like sarah. and it made him ache with the need to wipe the smirks of both your faces. he would imagine pinching into your soft flesh, digging his nails deep until he broke skin and you were crying. just how he did to her when she was little. rafe figured nothing would be funny when he was done with the both of you, maybe then you'd respect him more.
but there was a little hope this vacation would be different, you were all adults and if he tried rafe wouldn't run into you at all. you and sarah spent your days on the beach and nights at beach parties and clubs just like he hoped. it meant he had time.
when everyone was gone rafe would circle back to the house, scavenging through you and sarah's shared belongings in the dark, flipping through newly updated scrapbooks and rummaging through dirty laundry. it was a rush every time, his heart would thud and his dick would pulse at the thought if the invasion. neither of you had any idea of what he was doing. he would spit in mascara tubes and drag pairs of clean panties across his balls. didn't matter who's it was--yours or sarah's--as long as something was defiled in some way. as long as rafe was included.
it was gonna be routine as usual when he picked up a pair of pink polka dotted underwear, could be yours, he saw you pull them out of your suitcase. could be sarah's, he saw her wear them.
but he stopped, you left your camera and it was still on, it's led screen slightly dimmed but rafe grabbed it. he started to scroll through. there's no way there's pictures he hasn't seen.
there was. and videos. you and sarah in the shower together, kissing and soapy. flashing the mirror in a dressing room. another in your room, grabbing each other's asses in the mirror with your skirts flipped up. you're wearing the panties this time.
"what the fuck..." rafe couldn't stop scrolling. he guesses topper's fears of you two being dykes werent unfounded because here you were, eating her out no less than what had to be 15 minutes before you left the house.
when you walked into the room, lip gloss already smudged and already tipsy off two vodka crans he froze.
"rafe you fucking pervert gimme that!" you lunged at him, tripping over your heels as he jerked back, holding the camera above his head.
he knows you can feel him hard against your stomach, he doesn't care, "mind telling me what this is about."
for once you look nervous, "none of your fucking business rafe give it here--"
rafe jerks back again, "now given how this shit is full of videos of my sister cheating on my best friend, i think it is my fuckin business." he dangles it over your head, watching as your expression shifts to a glare, "and need i remind you...you have a boyfriend sweetheart. there's a lottt of people who would be very interested in knowing the kook princesses are dyking every night."
you laugh, and rafe's taken aback, "please rafe give me a break." you laugh again, leaning closer against his chest with a smirk, "you're just fuckin jealous."
"of who? sarah? you fuckin wish." rafe's blood runs cold when you shake your head no, leaning up on your toes until your lips brush his.
"of me. cause i got to her first. but i'll share, just this once." you kiss him, tongue first with a flick against his own and he moans.
there's the taste of your lipgloss yeah--strawberry and sticky sweet, but something else. headier, muskier, that lights up his tastebuds and he almost melts.
sarah, still lingering on your lips with such potency rafe's sure you had one more round before coming back. he's so hard he's dizzy, letting you direct him to the bed with a hand shoved down his pants, rolling your palm over his tip.
"you think we don't know rafe? you think we just see your nasty fucking cum in our underwear and don't know where it came from? cmon now i'm a slut but not that big of one." you waste no time with build up, shoving his shorts down. you were only supposed to come back for a quick second for the camera and you needed to be back soon.
rafe's flustered, for once. bucking his hips up to chase your fist, mouth agape as he keeps licking his lips, "you-- think that's all i did? christ you're fuckin stupid." he lets out a pained groan when you smack his balls, but you snort when he lets out a sticky spurt of precum against his torso.
"as if, now shut the fuck up i have to go soon," in a slight fumble you reach under your dress, slipping off your underwear you shove them in his mouth. he barely has time to register it as you spit directly on his tip, making him shudder as you spread it across his shaft, "now hurry up and you can snoop to your heart's desire."
with a kiss to his panty suffed mouth you speed up, keeping one hand resting at his base as the wet schlick of your motions fill the room, "damn rafe, you almost get as wet as she does." your hands are covered in him, precum running down your knuckles and your wrists as he groans beneath you.
"fuckfuckfuck," rafe's voice is muffled, but his quickening breath and tense thighs are all you need to know he's close. already you can feel his balls drawing up, so you cup them in your hand, massaging and coaxing him along.
"fuckin finally, there you go let it out."
he cums so long and so hard you're worried he'll black out. hips stuttering as he struggles to catch his breath."
while he's still fazed you grab the camera, wiping his cum off on your shorts as you get up to leave, "make sure you clean up okay? if sarah finds out i did this without her she'll be pissed."
with that you leave, heels clacking as you rush down the stairs and the door slams.
rafe takes the underwear out his mouth--this time baby blue with little clouds on them.
sarah wore these earlier.
Gag them again Rick.
UGHHH WHAT A GREAT ENDING! This was so lovely to read, will definitely come back a reread it
Summary: Fresh off of a bad break-up and newly single for the first time ever, Y/N's friends whisk her away for a holiday vacation to try to bring her spirits up. Her best friend's brother, an up-and-coming influencer, decides to tag along to get some holiday content. Add in some meddling friends, a disastrous ski trip, crazy fans, and you've found yourself a romantic comedy so sweet it'll rot your teeth!
Social Media AU
Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader
AN: Thank you guys for all the support on this story! It truly means the world to me! This is my first completed story, it was supposed to be shorter than this, but I like to drag things out unintentionally đ Here we go!!!!
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Taglist:
@onelonelybitch @stoned-writer @charli123456789 @akobx @k-k0129 @urbrunettebombshell @empath-bunny @angelicameron @lilahrosee @stayonmars @elltheawkward @rafeycameronsgf @emmasclaws @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account @ayy1234567 @different-tale-student @f4irywor1d @callsign-mirage @my-name-is-baby @emmaaas-posts @marleymarleymarleymarley @lilithblackkk
THE CLIFFHANGER. This is awesome keep up the great work pookie đ
Summer Lovin'
synopsis: what if chandler groff had never abandoned his son with luke maybank? instead, larissa genrette divorced her seemingly abusive and power-hungry husband, chandler groff, and raised her son with the help of her father. enter jackson j. genrette, the playboy casanova, who is best friends with rafe cameron, also known as the "king kook." one day, while at the country club, he meets pouge!reader, the new summer server, and is immediately entranced. will these two people from opposite sides of the island fall for each other?
author's note: finals has been kicking my ass, so be gentle with me and sorry if there are any mistakes. i did do this at 2 am.
part seven | part eight | part nine
y/n's phone
jackson's phone
y/n's phone
jackson's phone
taglist (pls interact to stay tagged): @ivysprophecy @kimoralov3 @k-k0129 @xoxo-ada @rafecameronsloverrrrr @jjslaybank @vivian-555 @kolsmikaelson @papercranesandinkstains @yoongling @urfavbennett @augustbucky @writer-who-rarely-writes @spenceatiny18 @heraliveken @thxtmarvelchick @pixie-verse @212-apricity @slut-era @baocean @yulianie @just-another-writer18 @lovesanimals0000 @ellieluna26 @purplerose291 @aceofspades190 @ripleyswife @gujbbkouh @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account @mariamadison6-blog @elltheawkward @soulesstravlers @ren-ni @thepopcultureaddict @snowtargaryen @loverofmarsss @smoothbrainchicken @rafeyzbaby @charli123456789 @a-lovers-card @tess-08 @livelaughlovejackhughes
authors note: if you see you tag here but you didnât get tag that means your tags arenât on please turn them on. if you donât see you tag on next post that is because they didnât work when i tried to tag you. if youâd like to be tagged again pls turn on your tags and say youâd like to be tagged.
Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader
Summarize: A quiet morning at the Cameron estate becomes a turning point as the reader grapples with anxiety and a relapse in her eating disorder journey . Rafe, noticing the distress, offers comfort and support, reminding her that nothing is ever lost.
Warning(s): Eating disorders (compulsive eating), body dysmorphia, anxiety, emotional distress (shame, guilt), mental health struggles (depression, self-image issues), substance abuse (reference to past drug use).
A/N: To anyone reading this who is struggling right now, I want you to know that you are not alone. It's okay to feel lost, to feel overwhelmed, and to not have everything figured out. Healing is a journey, and it doesnât happen overnight. Be kind to yourself, even when it feels impossible. You are so much more than your struggles.
Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are people â therapists, counselors, loved ones â who can support you through this. You don't have to face it alone, and you deserve to find the peace and healing thatâs waiting for you. Please, take the first step towards getting the help you deserve. You are worth it. đ
The sun had just begun to creep over the horizon, casting a gentle, golden glow over the Cameron estate. Everything was deceptively perfect: the ocean's rhythmic crashing in the distance, the birds that chirped from the tree canopies, and the soft rustle of leaves carried by the morning breeze. Yet beneath this serene surface, a storm brewed in your chest.
You sat on the edge of the bed, legs folded underneath you, the light duvet twisted in your restless fingers. Rafe's side of the bed was empty, the indentation of his head still fresh on the pillow. He'd gone out for an early surf with Kelce and Topper, leaving you alone with your thoughts â a dangerous place to be.
The room felt stifling, the silence pressing into your ears like cotton. You glanced at the old Polaroid on the nightstand. In it, you and Rafe were beaming, arms slung around each other at some summer bonfire weeks before. Your hair was wild from the salt water, and his grin was as reckless as ever. It was weeks after your steady recover, before you tripped and the weight of guilt and shame began pressing down on you like lead.
Yesterday had started normally. Youâd woken up with the soft glow of the sun filtering through the curtains, feeling almost optimistic. It wasnât until you scrolled through Instagram that the first thread of anxiety wove itself around your chest. A picture from a girl you used to know, toned and confident in her bikini, had appeared at the top of your feed. The caption read âHard work pays off.â
Your thumb froze mid-scroll, your heartbeat pounding in your ears. Memories of skipped meals and endless calculations surfaced like unwelcome ghosts. A voice in your head, sharp and familiar, whispered, Why canât you be like that?
The feeling followed you through the day, clinging like a second skin as your whole algorithmic seemed to sense your mind and show you all the gorgeous and thin girls in your feed. By the time afternoon came, the anxiety had grown into a suffocating mass that sat heavy in your chest. You paced the kitchen, each footstep echoing in your head. The silence was unbearable, the ticking of the clock like a countdown to something inevitable. You knew you werenât going to settle down or forget until you did it.
The pantry door creaked as you opened it. Your fingers hovered over the neatly stacked items, trembling. Just a little, you told yourself, reaching for a handful of crackers. Just a few so I can cover this awful feeling â some good, old food comfort. But one taste turned into two, and soon, control slipped through your grasp like sand.
You moved on autopilot, the familiar numbness settling in as you grabbed chocolate bars, chips, anything you could find. Each bite was frantic, fueled by desperation and self-loathing. The last spoonful of ice cream melted on your tongue, its sweetness turning bitter as regret surged up, hot and suffocating.
When you came to, the evidence surrounded you: wrappers crumpled like discarded dreams, smudges of chocolate on your hands, the tub of ice cream half-melted on the counter. The kitchen, once a place of comfort, had become a cage, and you were the only prisoner.
Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, and you sank to the floor, hugging your knees to your chest. The weight of shame pressed down, crushing and relentless.
This morning, the mirror was your jury, and it was merciless. You tugged at your shirt, the fabric clinging to your skin as if conspiring against you. Your eyes, usually bright with laughter, were rimmed with red, dull and haunted. The internal monologue was relentless:
Youâre weak. Youâve ruined everything. How could you let it happen again?
The silence in the house was shattered by the sound of the front door opening and closing. Rafe's voice echoed through the hallway, carefree and light. âBabe? You here?â
You didnât respond, the shame was too raw, too close. You pulled your knees tighter to your chest, staring blankly at the mirror as if it would offer some kind of reprieve.
Footsteps approached and then paused at the threshold. The room was drenched in the soft, fading sunlight, but it did nothing to lift the heavy atmosphere.
âHey.â Rafeâs voice softened when he saw you, the smile fading from his lips. Concern clouded his eyes as he took in your hunched form, your tear-streaked cheeks. He set down his phone without a word, crossing the room in three long strides.
âWhat happened?â he asked, voice low and gentle. He knelt beside you, resting a warm hand on your knee. The weight of his gaze was heavy but not suffocating, it was grounding.
âI messed up.â You whispered, voice breaking. âI messed up so bad.â
Rafeâs brows knitted, and he took a breath, steady and patient. âTalk to me, baby.â he coaxed. When you didnât reply, he shifted to sit beside you on the floor, pulling you closer.
âI ate. I ate everything yesterday. I couldnât stop.â you admitted, the words spilling out in a rush. Your voice trembled with the weight of confession. âAnd now I canât stand to look at myself or⌠or to look at food again.â
His jaw clenched, not out of anger but out of a protective frustration. âHey, heyâ he whispered, turning to face you fully. His hands found yours, fingers weaving together with tender insistence. âListen to me. You are not defined by one moment, alright? Not by yesterday, not by what happened.â
Tears welled up again, and you looked down, unable to meet his eyes. Rafe reached out, tilting your chin up so that you had no choice but to look at his blue eyes. âYou were there for me, remember?â he said, his voice thickening. âEvery time I messed up, every time I felt like I couldnât crawl out of that pit with coke. You pulled me through. Donât you dare think Iâm not going to do the same for you. For however long it takes.â
The room stilled, the truth of his words settling into the spaces between the pain and you couldnât help the sob that escaped your lips. You felt pathetic and mess, and yet Rafe was being understanding and loving â he was treating you like you should treat yourself.
He took your hand, placing a kiss to your palm as his eyes watched you tenderly. âWhy donât you take a nice bath?â he suggested, his voice gentle but firm. âItâll help you feel a little better.â
You blinked at him, the exhaustion and emotional weight making it difficult to argue. Reluctantly, you nodded, and with a small smile, Rafe guided you to the bathroom, making sure you were settled before stepping out quietly, having lighten up your favorite eucalyptus scented cantle on the way out.
As the warm water wrapped around you, easing the tension in your muscles, Rafe was already in the kitchen, brow furrowed as he watched a YouTube video on his phone, the volume low so you wouldnât hear. The video was one of those wholesome, comforting cooking channels, and he paid close attention, following each step precisely. He wanted this to be a surprise, a moment where he could make you feel seen and cared for like you had made him feel when he was struggling to keep clean.
Half an hour later, you slipped into one of Rafeâs sweaters, not wanting any fabric hugging your body. The scent of simmering herbs greeting you as you opened the bedroomâs door. Your curiosity piqued, and you made your way to the kitchen to find Rafe standing over the stove, a look of focused concentration on his face as he stirred a pot.
âRafe?â you called, the sound soft, hesitant.
He turned, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he caught your surprised expression. âHey, I thought you could use something warm and comforting.â
âYou didnât have toââ you started, but he interrupted with a warm look.
âYes, I did,â he said firmly. âItâs just a light soup to warm your stomach and keep you up. Something gentle to help you feel a little more settled.â
A few minutes later, he ladled the soup into a bowl, sliding it in front of you with a spoon. âThis is going to be the best soup youâve ever had.â He promised with a wink.
âAnd if you canât eat much, thatâs okay but you just gotta try, alright.â He pulled a chair, his arm sneaking around your waist as he brought you to his lap. His hand on your hip brushing a soft pattern under the fabric.
âThank you.â you whispered, the tightness in your chest easing a little as you blinked a tear away.
Rafe pressed a kiss to the side of your head. âAlways,â he said, his voice unwavering. âAnd remember, weâre in this together. Every single step.â
The first bite was warm and soothing and you felt your cheeks burning as he guided the spoon to your lips but his gentle whispers distracting you from feeling ashamed. He watched, eyes hopeful and patient. âItâs⌠really good.â you said, a small, genuine smile breaking through.
âTold you.â he grinned proudly, his lips moving to the bare skin on your shoulder. âAnd if we have to go through this a hundred more times, we will. Weâre in this together, okay?â
You nodded, the knot in your chest loosening, replaced with something warm and steadfast. Hope didnât feel so far out of reach.
âTomorrow, weâre booking an appointment with the best therapist in Charleston. Weâll find someone who can help, okay? Someone who can give you the support you need.â
The sincerity in his voice brought fresh tears to your eyes. It felt like an embrace, even though he hadnât moved further.
âYou can do this, baby. Youâre my tough girl, remember?â He whispered, his hand running up and down in a soothing rhythm on your back as he pressed a kiss to your lips.
x !FEM!reader ⢠MASTERLIST
SUMMARY: three times you sneak away to eat noodles, one time he does the same + bonus
WORD COUNT: +7.6k
GENRE: fluff
CONTENT WARNING: nothing
the first time
tannyhill was eerily quiet, bathed in faint moonlight filtering through the windows. you stirred in rafeâs bed, his arm thrown over your waist like a weighted blanket, his slow breaths warm against your shoulder. for a moment, you lay there, staring at the ceiling, willing yourself to fall back asleep.
but then your stomach growled. loudly.
you winced, glancing over your shoulder to make sure rafe was still asleep. he was, his face half-buried in his pillow, completely oblivious to your plight.
biting your lip, you slowly shifted out from under his arm, careful not to disturb him. he groaned faintly in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible, but didnât wake up. you grabbed your phone from the nightstand and slipped out of the room, making your way downstairs.
the house was dark, and as you padded down the hallway, a strange sound made you freeze.
whispers.
you tilted your head, straining to hear. the voices were muffled, coming from the direction of the kitchen. for a split second, your brain went straight to the worst-case scenario: intruders.
grabbing the nearest âweaponâ (a decorative vase from a side table), you crept toward the kitchen, heart pounding. the whispers grew louder, accompanied by the distinct sound of rustling bags.
you tightened your grip on the vase, poking your head around the cornerâand stopped dead in your tracks.
there, in the glow of the open pantry, stood sarah and wheezie, bickering in hushed tones as they dug through the shelves.
âwhat do you mean we donât have oreos? you said there were oreos,â sarah was whispering, pulling out random boxes and shaking them.
âthey were here yesterday!â wheezie replied, holding up a bag of chips. âjust eat these.â
âno way. i donât want something salty.â
still clutching the vase, you exhaled loudly, causing both of them to whip around, startled.
âuh⌠hi?â you said, setting the vase down and trying to calm your racing heart.
âhi?â sarah echoed, her hand frozen mid-reach into the pantry.
wheezie just blinked at you, her cheeks stuffed with chips like a squirrel caught hoarding food.
you looked between the two of them, raising an eyebrow. âso⌠weâre all just hungry?â
sarah raxed, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter. âapparently.â
wheezie nodded, swallowing her mouthful of chips. âwhat are you doing down here? shouldnât you be upstairs⌠with rafe?â
you shrugged, holding up the pack of buldak carbonara noodles youâd grabbed from the counter. âi got hungry. and, well, noodles.â
sarah squinted at the packaging. âwait, isnât that the crazy spicy stuff?â
âitâs not crazy spicyâitâs creamy and amazing. big difference,â you corrected, already moving toward the kettle to start boiling water.
wheezie craned her neck to get a better look. âis it actually good? i always thought those things were just for people trying to punish themselves.â
âitâs the best late-night snack ever,â you said, putting a pot on the stove. âwant to try some?â
wheezieâs eyes lit up. âyes. chips are boring.â
sarah made a face but eventually sighed. âfine. iâll try a bite. but only because i want to understand the hype.â
as the water began to boil, you leaned against the counter, glancing between the two of them. âwhat are you guys even doing up? i thought i was the only weirdo sneaking around for snacks at midnight.â
âwheezie woke me up,â sarah said flatly, glaring at her sister.
âi was starving!â wheezie protested, clutching her chips defensively.
âyou were also banging cabinet doors like a maniac,â sarah shot back. âitâs a miracle you didnât wake the entire house.â
âfair,â wheezie admitted, taking another handful of chips.
you laughed, shaking your head as you poured the boiled water in the pan and put the noodles in as well. âhonestly, i thought you were burglars or something.â
sarah smirked. âthat wouldâve been entertaining.â
ânot for me!â wheezie exclaimed.
the three of you dissolved into quiet laughter, the tension of the moment melting away. when you poured some water away and added the cream, cheese and spices a rich and spicy aroma began to fill the air.
sarah tilted her head, smirking at you.
âyou know rafeâs gonna freak when he wakes up and he canât find you?â
âprobably,â you said with a grin. âbut he can survive for five minutes without me.â
âbold of you to assume,â sarah teased.
you set three bowls on the counter, handing one to each of them. wheezie immediately dug in, her eyes widening as she took her first bite.
âokay, wow, this is amazing,â she mumbled through a mouthful of noodles.
âtold you,â you said smugly, taking a bite from your own bowl.
sarah hesitated but eventually took a small bite. her eyes widened slightly, and she cleared her throat, trying to play it cool. âitâs⌠decent.â
âdecent?â you repeated, raising an eyebrow with a smile.
âfine. itâs amazing,â she admitted begrudgingly.
as you were sitting around the island, slurping noodles and swapping stories under the dim glow of the overhead light. sarah was making fun of wheezie for the way she held her chopsticks, while wheezie defended herself with half-coherent arguments between bites.
you were laughing so hard you nearly dropped your bowl when you heard the telltale sound of heavy, uncoordinated footsteps padding down the stairs.
all three of you froze, turning toward the doorway just as rafe stumbled in, his hair sticking out in every direction, his hoodie slightly askew. his half-lidded, sleepy eyes scanned the scene, his brows furrowing as he tried to make sense of what he was looking at.
âwhat the hell is going on?â he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
âhi, baby,â you said, trying to stifle a laugh at how utterly confused he looked.
rafe blinked at you, his gaze shifting to sarah and wheezie, then to the bowls of noodles on the counter. âis this⌠a dream? am iâwhat?â
ânope, very real,â sarah quipped, taking another bite of her noodles. âwelcome to the midnight noodle club.â
rafe rubbed a hand over his face, clearly trying to wake himself up. âi thought you were in bed,â he said, looking at you accusingly.
âi was,â you admitted, giving him an innocent smile. âbut i got hungry. and, well, sarah and wheezie were already raiding the pantry, soâŚâ you gestured at the spread of noodles like it explained everything.
rafe stared at the scene for a long moment, then pointed at the bowls. âare those the spicy noodles?â
âyes,â you said proudly.
he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. âof course they are. why am i not surprised?â
âyou want some?â you asked, holding up your bowl in offering.
rafe shook his head, though his lips quirked in a small smile. ânah, you can keep your torture food. iâm good.â he shuffled over to you, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your shoulder. âyou left me for noodles?â
âi left you for the buldak carbonara noodles,â you corrected, twirling some noodles around your chopsticks and taking a bite.
âyouâve got issues,â he muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice.
âshe fits right in,â sarah said, smirking at the two of you.
âclearly,â rafe muttered, glancing at his sisters. âwhat are you two doing awake anyway?â
wheezie shrugged, still focused on her bowl. âwe got hungry.â
âand she woke me up,â sarah added, shooting wheezie a pointed look.
âwhatever,â wheezie said with a mouthful of noodles. âthese are worth it.â
rafe shook his head, his grip tightening slightly around your waist as he kissed your temple. âalright, noodle girl. finish up and come back to bed.â
âyou could just sit and join us, you know,â you teased.
he smirked, leaning closer to whisper in your ear. âor i could carry you upstairs and steal you back.â
your face went warm, nudging him away playfully. âlet me finish my noodles first, rafe.â
he sighed dramatically, but you could see the fondness in his eyes as he let go. âfine. ten more minutes.â
as rafe leaned against the counter, watching the three of you eat, you couldnât help but smile to yourself.
the second time
it was the middle of the night at tannyhill again, and once more, you found yourself lying in bed wide awake. rafe was snoring softly beside you, one arm slung possessively over your waist. for most people, this setup wouldâve been the perfect invitation to drift off into peaceful dreams.
but not for you.
you stomach growled, and the craving hit you like a truck. buldak noodles.
it had been a week since the first midnight noodle escapade, and rafe hadnât let you live it down. but this time, you promised yourself youâd be quick and quietâno waking him, no recruiting his sisters. just you, your noodles, and a late-night craving.
sliding out of bed, you tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. the house was silent. you slipped into the kitchen, grabbed your favorite noodle packet, and started boiling water.
as the water bubbled away, you heard a faint noise behind you. freezing mid-stir, you listened carefully. footsteps? whispers?
not again, you thought. for a moment, you were sure it was wheezie and sarah trying to raid the pantry like last time. but when you turned around, you saw two familiar figures sneaking in through the back door: sarah and john b.
both froze when they saw you standing there with a pot of boiling water and a packet of noodles in your hand.
âoh, hey,â john b said casually, as if it was totally normal to be sneaking into the house in the middle of the night.
âuh⌠hi?â you said, raising an eyebrow. âwhat are you two doing?â
sarah tossed her keys onto the counter, her expression completely unbothered. âwe went to the beach. felt like a midnight swim.â
âin jeans and sneakers?â you asked, eyeing their less-than-swim-friendly outfits.
âokay, fine,â sarah admitted, pulling a stray leaf out of her hair. âwe were climbing trees. john bâs idea.â
âclimbing trees,â you repeated, deadpan.
âdonât look at me,â john b said, holding his hands up. âshe started it.â
you sighed, setting the noodles aside for a moment. âand you thought sneaking back in through the back door at midnight wouldnât look suspicious?â
âwe didnât think anyone would be awake,â sarah said, sliding onto a barstool. âwhat are you doing up anyway?â
âi got hungry,â you said simply, holding up the bright pink packet of noodles.
âis this your thing now?â she asked, smirking. âmidnight noodles?â
âapparently.â
âi could get used to that,â she smiled as she sat down.
john b sniffed the air, his eyebrows raising. âwhat is that? smells good.â
âbuldak carbonara,â you said proudly, grabbing the seasoning packets.
âspicy noodles?â he asked, looking intrigued.
âtheyâre creamy and spicy,â you corrected.
âwant some?â
before john b could answer, sarah cut in. âyou do not want that, john b. itâs her thing, and sheâs obsessed, but trust meâitâs like eating fire.â
âitâs not that spicy!â you protested, tearing open the sauce packet.
âi had some last week,â sarah said, shaking her head. âpretty sure i saw my life flash before my eyes.â
âif youâre making it as spicy as last time, iâm out. that stuff nearly killed me.â
john b snorted. ânow i kinda want to try it.â
you rolled your eyes but grabbed a second packet, adjusting the ratio of sauce for her and john bâs bowls. âfine. iâll make a mild version for the babies,â you teased.
âthank you,â sarah said, watching skeptically as you stirred the sauce into the noodles.
once the noodles were ready, you served up three bowlsâyours with the full kick, and theirs with a more toned-down spice level. sarah and john b eyed their bowls suspiciously at first, but after a few tentative bites, they both relaxed.
âokay, this is actually good,â sarah admitted, twirling more noodles onto her fork.
john b nodded enthusiastically. âyeah, this is solid. creamy, just a little spicyâperfect.â
you smirked, taking a bite of your own bowl. âtold you. midnight noodles are superior.â
âalright, iâll give you that,â sarah said with a grin. âbut only if you keep making it like this. none of that fire-breathing dragon nonsense.â
âno promises,â you said, winking.
the three of you were mid-laughâsarah nearly choking on her noodles as john b tried to recount the time he got stuck in a treeâwhen the familiar sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs.
you froze, chopsticks halfway to your mouth.
âuh-oh,â sarah whispered, her eyes darting toward the doorway.
âdonât âuh-ohâ me,â you hissed back. âhe wonât care.â
âi donât knowâŚâ sarah said, a smirk already forming on her face.
before you could argue, rafe appeared in the doorway, looking half-asleep and entirely unimpressed. his hair stuck out in all directions, and he was wearing the same hoodie heâd been in earlier, though it looked like heâd thrown it on backward in his haste. His squinting eyes scanned the scene: you, sarah, john b, and three bowls of noodles.
for a second, he just stood there, rubbing his face like he couldnât believe this was happening again.
âreally?â he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. âthis is a regular thing now?â
âhi, baby,â you said, trying not to laugh at the way his brow furrowed.
ryafeâs eyes zeroed in on you first. âyou ditched me for noodles. again.â
then his gaze shifted to sarah, who was grinning around her chopsticks. âyou, i expected,â he said flatly.
finally, his eyes landed on john b, who had the audacity to look sheepish. âbut you, john b? really, bro? midnight noodles with my girlfriend?â
john b put his hands up defensively, a noodle dangling from his chopsticks. âhey, man, she offered. i wasnât gonna say no.â
âunbelievable,â rafe muttered, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the counter. âfirst my sisters, now you. whatâs next? dad sneaking down for a bowl?â
sarah snorted. âdadâs too boring for this. but wheezieâs probably mad she missed it.â
âdonât give her ideas,â rafe grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking back at you. âi thought we had a deal. you wake me up if youâre leaving bed.â
you smirked, twirling some noodles onto your chopsticks. âand ruin the surprise? come on, babe.â
rafe sighed dramatically, running a hand through his messy hair. âat this point, iâm not even mad about the noodles. iâm mad that everyoneâs in on this except me.â
âyouâre welcome to join,â you offered, sliding the half-finished pot of noodles toward him.
he looked at it skeptically. âdid you make it with that insane sauce again?â
ânope,â you said sweetly. âmild, just for sarah and john b.â
sarah nodded eagerly, her mouth full. âitâs really good. you should try it.â
john b held up his bowl. âyeah, man. itâs fireâbut, like, the good kind. not the âi need milkâ kind.â
rafe hesitated, then sighed, grabbing a fork from the drawer. âfine. but if this is some kind of trickâŚâ
âitâs not,â you promised, watching as he took a small bite.
to your delight, rafeâs eyebrows lifted slightly, and he nodded. âalright. this is actually good.â
âtold you,â you said smugly, taking another bite from your own bowl.
rafe shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he grabbed a barstool and sat beside you. âi swear, youâre corrupting this entire house.â
âjust making it more fun,â you said with a wink.
the four of you spent the next half hour sharing noodles and banter, the feeling of rafeâs initial annoyance melting away. by the time the pot was empty, even rafe seemed to admit that midnight noodles werenât the worst tradition to start.
and as you leaned into his side, your bowl empty and your stomach full, you couldnât help but smile. midnight chaos, sleepy rafe, and noodlesâwhat more could you ask for?
the third time
the house was silent, and the air was still, except for the soft snores of your boyfriend beside you. you glanced at rafe, his face half-buried in the pillow, the rise and fall of his chest slow and steady.
you tried. you really did.
gently nudging his shoulder, you whispered, ârafe⌠babe, iâm hungry.â
nothing.
you shook him a little harder. ârafe, come on. midnight noodles?â
still nothing.
letting out a sigh, you stared at him for a moment, debating your next move. but his peaceful expression convinced you otherwiseâit wasnât worth waking the grumpy side of rafe cameron just for noodles.
so, you slipped out of bed, grabbed a hoodie, and padded downstairs, the craving for your beloved buldak carbonara too strong to ignore.
the kitchen was eerily quiet. it felt strange not having sarah, wheezie, or even john b around, their late-night antics usually keeping the house alive. you moved quietly, grabbing a pot and filling it with water. the pantry drawer creaked softly as you pulled it open to retrieve your prized noodle packet.
but just as you reached for itâ
âooh, are we making noodles again?â
you let out a startled yelp, spinning around to see wheezie standing there, her arms crossed and a mischievous grin plastered across her face.
âwheezie! what the hell? you scared me!â you hissed quietly, clutching the packet like it was your lifeline.
she shrugged, completely unbothered. âyou were loud. i heard the drawer.â
âyou are supposed to be asleep.â
âplease,â she whined, hopping onto a barstool. âiâve been waiting for this. iâm still mad i missed it last time.â
you groaned, setting the pot on the stove and turning on the heat. âokay, fine. but this time, youâre helping.â
âdeal,â wheezie said, practically bouncing off the stool to join you. âwhat do i do?â
âstart by getting the bowls,â you instructed, grabbing the scissors to cut open the noodle packet.
as wheezie rummaged through the cabinet, she started her mini rant. âsarah told me all about last time, by the way. midnight noodles with you, her, and john b? and nobody thought to wake me up? rude.â
she was midway through her mini rant, waving the sauce packet for emphasis, when a voice interrupted from the doorway.
âthis, again?â
you froze, chopsticks clutched in your hand, and slowly turned toward the source. standing there, looking far too amused for someone who was supposedly asleep, was ward cameron himself.
wheezie nearly dropped the sauce packet. âdad?â
you tried to play it cool, giving him your best innocent look. âhuh? again? no idea what youâre talking about.â
ward stepped into the kitchen, arms crossed and a sly smile on his face. âwho do you think cleans this up in the morning? or keeps restocking the noodles? you guys go through five packs at a time.â
wheezie gasped, whipping around to face you. âyou knew!â
ward chuckled, shaking his head. âof course, i knew.â
you winced, trying to salvage the situation. âwell⌠uh, thank you for restocking?â
wheezie, recovering quickly, grinned. âwait, so you donât care?â
âi didnât say that,â ward replied, giving her a pointed look. âbut i figured it was harmless. midnight noodles are better than midnight parties, i guess.â
before you could respond, another voice chimed in from behind him.
âooh, itâs midnight noodle time?â
you turned to see sarah stroll into the kitchen, her hair messy and a gleam of excitement in her eyes. she took one look at the sceneâthe noodles, the bowls, and ward standing thereâand grinned. âguess i came down at the perfect time.â
wheezie raised an eyebrow. âyou werenât even awake five minutes ago.â
âi have a sixth sense for these things,â sarah said smugly, grabbing a bowl and plopping herself onto a stool.
ward sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose but still smiling. âthis houseâŚâ he muttered under his breath, though he didnât leave.
you decided to just embrace the chaos, handing sarah the next sauce packet. âfine. letâs make it a semi-family noodle night, i guess.â
âfinally,â wheezie said, grinning as she helped stir the pot.
âiâm not making my own, though,â sarah declared, leaning on the counter. âthis is your thing.â
âyouâre so lazy,â wheezie muttered, but she passed the finished noodles to you for seasoning anyway.
as the four of you stood thereâcooking, laughing, and chattingâthe kitchen felt strangely cozy. ward shared stories about catching rafe sneaking snacks as a kid, wheezie kept complaining about how long it took her to get in on the noodle tradition, and sarah teased you about how youâd turned her boyfriendâs house into a late-night ramen hub.
when the noodles were finally ready, the four of you sat down to eat, the conversation flowing easily.
âthis is actually really good,â ward admitted after a few bites, surprising everyone.
âyouâre just figuring that out now?â wheezie teased, twirling noodles onto her fork.
sarah leaned toward you conspiratorially, repeating rafeâs words from the last time. âyouâve corrupted the entire family.â
you laughed, glancing at ward, who just shook his head with a bemused smile. âmaybe,â you said. âbut at least weâre all well-fed.â
the kitchen was alive with laughter and the clinking of chopsticks against bowls. wheezie was dramatically recounting her missed opportunity during the last noodle night, sarah was making snarky comments between bites, and ward was suspiciously quiet as he polished off his bowl.
âdad, youâre eating like youâve been waiting for this all day,â sarah teased, nudging his arm.
ânot true,â ward replied, his tone far too casual to be convincing. âitâs just good.â
you were mid-bite when the sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs. everyone froze, turning toward the doorway.
there stood rose cameron, her silk robe tied snugly around her waist, her hair perfectly in place despite the late hour. she took in the scene before her: ward sitting at the island with an empty bowl, sarah and wheezie slurping cheesy noodles, and you standing at the stove stirring yet another batch.
her expression was a mixture of confusion and mild exasperation.
âwhat is going on here?â she demanded, crossing her arms.
wheezie, unfazed, waved her chopsticks in the air. âmidnight noodles. want some?â
rose blinked, clearly processing the absurdity of the situation. âi beg your pardon?â
âmidnight noodles,â sarah repeated, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. âitâs kind of a thing now.â
roseâs gaze shifted to ward, her eyebrows lifting. âand youâre okay with this?â
ward shrugged, completely unbothered. âitâs harmless. besides, theyâre good. you should try some.â
âharmless?â rose echoed, gesturing to the cluttered counter and sink full of pots. âdo you know how much cleanup this is going to take?â
âiâll clean it up,â you offered quickly, not wanting to face her full wrath.
rose gave you a pointed look, then sighed, shaking her head. âi swear, this family is impossible.â
âoh, come on, rose,â ward said, a teasing lilt in his voice. âlive a little. have some noodles.â
sarah snorted into her bowl. âyeah, rose. donât knock it till you try it.â
wheezie chimed in, grinning. âi mean, if dadâs eating it, you know itâs worth it.â
rose hesitated, clearly debating whether to shut the whole thing down or give in. finally, with an exasperated sigh, she threw up her hands. âfine. one bowl. but only to see what all this fuss is about.â
wheezie practically cheered as you quickly made a fresh serving for rose, this time dialing back the spice even more. she accepted the bowl reluctantly, sitting down at the island with the rest of the family.
as she took her first bite, everyone watched with bated breath.
âwell?â sarah asked, smirking.
rose chewed slowly, her face giving nothing away. then, to everyoneâs surprise, she nodded. âitâs⌠not bad.â
ânot bad?â wheezie repeated, laughing. âthatâs basically a rave review coming from you.â
rose rolled her eyes but took another bite, and the conversation picked up again, the kitchen filled with warmth and chaos.
when the pot was finally empty, rose stood up, brushing imaginary crumbs off her robe. âiâm going back to bed. and this better be spotless by morning.â
âyes, maâam,â you said with a mock salute, earning a laugh from sarah and wheezie.
as rose disappeared up the stairs, ward leaned back in his chair, smirking. âtold you sheâd like it.â
before anyone could respond, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps came from the hallway.
and then rafe appeared, leaning against the doorway, his hair sticking up at wild angles, his hoodie half on and his face a mix of confusion and irritation. he squinted at the scene before him: ward sitting with an empty bowl, wheezie and sarah with noodles in hand, and you standing at the stove with chopsticks in one hand and a sheepish expression on your face.
âi really donât like this,â rafe said, his voice groggy. he gestured vaguely to the kitchen. âthis is happening again? and you didnât wake me again?â
âhi, baby,â you said with an awkward smile.
rafe just blinked at you, his expression unimpressed. âno, seriously. youâre downstairs, eating noodles with my entire family, and iâm⌠asleep?â
you shrugged, trying to keep a straight face. âi tried to wake you! youâre a very heavy sleeper, rafe.â
âthatâs notââ rafe started, but sarah interrupted with a laugh.
âoh, donât pout, rafe. you missed it because you sleep like a rock.â
wheezie grinned, pointing her chopsticks at him. âsheâs right. weâre over here having the time of our lives, and youâre drooling into your pillow.â
âi donât drool,â rafe said defensively, glaring at wheezie before turning his attention back to you. âyou couldâve tried harder to wake me up.â
âi shook you! i whispered! i even said, âmidnight noodles,â and you didnât budge!â you said, laughing now. âat some point, i had to just accept defeat.â
rafe let out an exaggerated sigh, running a hand down his face. âunbelievable. first wheezie and Sarah then sarah and john b, now my dad and wheezie and sarah again? whatâs next, rose?â
âalready happened,â sarah said, smirking. âshe had a bowl. loved it.â
rafe stared at her, then at ward, who gave him a shrug and a knowing look.
âeven rose?â rafe said, his voice bordering on betrayal. âreally?â
âwelcome to the club,â ward said with a chuckle. âyouâre late, son.â
rafe groaned, walking into the kitchen and flopping onto a stool next to you. âfine. whereâs mine?â
you grinned, handing him the last bowl youâd prepared. âright here. but itâs the mild version. i wasnât about to make a new batch just for you.â
he took the bowl with a grumble but didnât hesitate to dig in, the familiar taste of the noodles clearly softening his irritation.
âsee? now everyoneâs happy,â you said, leaning against his shoulder.
rafe looked at you, still chewing, and muttered, âbarely.â
sarah rolled her eyes. âoh, calm down. youâre here now. the chaos is complete.â
bonus
it had been one of those long, exhausting days. youâd been running around, working on a million things at onceâpicking up groceries, answering calls, finishing tasks, and just trying to survive the whirlwind. by the time you and rafe finally collapsed into bed, you were wiped out, barely able to keep your eyes open. you fell asleep almost instantly, the weight of the past few days finally catching up to you.
rafe woke up a few hours later, his stomach growling in hunger. the soft moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a silvery glow on the room. je groggily turned toward you, only to find you sound asleep, your body curled up against the blankets.
he smiled softly at how peaceful you looked, but his stomach was practically screaming for food. he nudged you lightly, hoping you might stirâafter all, you had made a habit of late-night noodles together.
âbabe,â he whispered, giving your shoulder a gentle shake. âbaby, you awake?â
but there was no response. you were out cold, snoring softly in a way that made it clear you werenât going anywhere anytime soon.
he sighed. âyouâve got to be kidding me.â
a deep hunger gnawed at him, and despite the temptation to just sleep through it, he couldn't ignore his cravings. grumbling under his breath, he got out of bed, slipping into a pair of sweatpants and making his way downstairs.
rafe padded down the stairs, grumbling to himself. he could always just raid the pantry, but that wasnât going to fill him up in the same way. he paused at the kitchen drawer and opened it, scanning for something sweet. when his eyes landed on a few cookies tucked in the corner, he grabbed one and took a bite, savoring the sugar for a moment.
still not enough to satisfy him.
he closed the drawer and walked further into the kitchen, noticing the faint light coming from the living room. there, sitting around the coffee table, were sarah, kiara, wheezie, and wardâall waiting expectantly.
when sarah heard the sound of footsteps approaching, she shot up, excited. âfinallyââ
she froze when she saw who it was. âoh. itâs just rafe.â
rafe rolled his eyes, taking a bite of his cookie and leaning against the doorframe. âyeah, thanks for the warm welcome. canât a guy just get a midnight snack?â
âand what are you doing here, kie?â
kiara, sitting cross-legged on the couch, flashed him a wide grin. âwell, i couldnât miss it. i heard so much about this midnight noodle thing from sarah that i had to try it myself.â she gave sarah a playful nudge. âi heard itâs become a legendary tradition in this family.â
wheezie grinned softly. âoh, itâs definitely legendary.â she took her chopsticks and tapped them dramatically against the counter as she readied the noodles. âweâve been having these late-night noodle sessions since last month. but guess who helped start this? me.â
rafe looked at her with an eyebrow raised, still processing the whole situation. âso, you guys just wait for me to wake up to make noodles?â
âno,â sarah chimed in, âwe wait for you to wake up so we can eat noodles. itâs a whole process, you know.â
rafe was about to make a snarky remark when he felt his stomach growl loudly again. âalright, alright. iâm hungry. but seriously, i tried to wake up my girlfriend, and sheâs a rock.â
âyou couldnât wake y/n up?â kiara asked, her brows furrowing.
âyeah,â rafe sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. âshe didnât budge. i was this close to dumping a glass of water on her just to get a response.â
wheezie looked over at him with a raised brow. âyou shouldâve just offered her some noodles. you know, she never says no to these.â
rafe frowned. âthatâs not the point, wheeze.â
he leaned back against the counter, still holding his cookie. he glanced over at his dad, who was sitting casually on the couch, watching the chaos unfold with a hint of amusement.
âokay, so i tried to wake her up,â rafe added, running a hand through his hair. âbut sheâs completely dead to the world. like, no reaction.â
ward raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. âwell, if she doesnât wake up, whoâs gonna make the noodles?â
the entire house went quiet for a moment. everyone turned to look at each other, the realization hitting them all at once. without you, there would be no noodles. the dreaded no noodle night.
wheezie, ever the problem-solver, jumped to her feet. âwe can do it. right, sarah? weâve got this. weâve watched her do it like a thousand times.â
sarah stared at her, blinking in disbelief. âare you crazy?â she said, her voice incredulous. ânone of us can make the noodles like she does! you think weâre capable of pulling off the perfect midnight noodle recipe? youâre out of your mind.â
wheezie held up her hands, trying to calm the storm. âno, seriously. itâs simple. boil water, add noodles, dump away some water, add cheese and cream, dump in the sauce. done.â
âyeah, except we always argue over how much of sauce to use,â sarah countered, throwing her hands in the air.
âokay, but we have to use right ingredients now,â wheezie said, her confidence growing. âi mean, last time y/n wasnât here, was a disaster because you decided to add soy sauce to everything.â
âi was going for flavor,â sarah shot back defensively. âyou just donât understand the artistry of seasoning.â
kie, who had been quietly observing, suddenly broke in with a laugh. âhonestly, iâd like to see you try, wheezie. if you can make them as good as she does, iâll eat the whole pot.â she was clearly egging them on, just to see where this would go.
rafe glanced between his dad, sister, and the others, amused by the chaos. âi think theyâre underestimating you, wheeze. you might be onto something.â
wheezie flashed a smug smile. âexactly! iâve got this. just leave it to me.â she pulled out the packets of noodles, looking at sarah for confirmation. âso, are we doing the spicy ones, or the mild ones this time?â
sarah sighed dramatically. âi told you, weâre doing mild. mild. we donât need another spicy incident like last time.â
âcan we do both?â kiara interjected, leaning forward from the couch. âitâs not that hard, right?â
âyeah, no, we canât,â sarah replied, arms crossed. âif we mix flavors, itâll be a disaster. like last time.â
wheezieâs eyes narrowed. âyou ruined the noodles last time, not me.â
âi did not ruin them,â sarah snapped back. âyou ruined them by adding too much sauce, and then they were like⌠liquid lava. you can't make noodles that spicy.â
âitâs the right amount of spice!â wheezie shot back. âif you canât handle it, thatâs on you!â
âokay, okay,â rafe said, stepping between them, looking a little exasperated. âhow about we just stick to one thing and avoid turning this into a nuclear war?â he glanced at ward, who was sitting quietly at the table, clearly enjoying the chaos. âdad, tell them itâs not worth arguing over noodles.â
ward took a slow sip of his drink and grinned. âiâm just here for the noodles, kid. not getting involved in this one.â
it was clear that, in this family, noodles became a big deal. and while he wasnât sure theyâd survive the night without you, it seemed they were determined to try. all of them deiced to move towards the kitchen, watching the scene unfold before them as wheezie and sarah tried to make the noodles.
âalright,â rafe said, grabbing a chair and sitting down at the table. âiâll just sit back and watch this trainwreck.â he looked at kiara. âif they mess this up, weâre all gonna starve.â
kiara grinned and took a seat next to him. âiâm here for the drama.â
wheezie set the pot on the stove, clearly in charge now. âwatch and learn, people.â she added the noodles with a flourish, clearly more confident than anyone else in the room.
sarah crossed her arms. âiâm just saying, if this goes south, iâm not taking the blame.â
wheezie rolled her eyes. âtrust me, itâll be perfect.â
ward watched the entire scene with a quiet smile, shaking his head. âi canât wait to see how this ends.â
as they started getting the noodles cooking, chaos resumed. sarah grabbed the spoon to stir the pot, only to have wheezie take it from her and dramatically announce, âyouâre stirring wrong. youâve got to spin it, not just swirl it around like youâre mixing a salad.â
âoh, seriously, can we just cook the noodles?â sarah groaned, rolling her eyes. âyou make everything more complicated than it needs to be.â
âiâm just trying to make sure we donât ruin the noodles, alright?â wheezie shot back, obviously taking her task very seriously.
you stirred awake, groggy and slightly disoriented, as faint sounds drifted up the stairs. it started as a low hum of voices, but as you became more alert, it was unmistakably the sound of laughter, bickering, and... was that a pot clanging?
you glanced over at rafeâs side of the bed and found it empty. typical. his late-night hunger strikes again. sitting up, you stretched and yawned, your stomach grumbling faintly as if to agree with your decision to investigate.
quietly padding down the stairs, you followed the familiar smell of something spicy and savory. the closer you got to the kitchen, the more chaotic the scene revealed itself to be.
the first thing you saw was rafe and ward sitting at the table, both looking more amused than anything else. rafe was slouched in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, clearly over the chaos, while ward nursed a glass of something that was definitely not water, a small smirk playing on his lips.
but that wasnât all.
kiara was the next to catch your eye. she stood up the moment she saw you, beaming. âhey! youâre awake!â she said, crossing the room in a few steps to pull you into a warm hug. âwe missed you for the start of this noodle madness.â
âwhat... what is even happening here?â you asked groggily, still half-asleep as you glanced around.
âwelcome to the show,â rafe called from the table, flashing you a lopsided grin. âapparently, if you donât wake up to make noodles, the entire house loses its mind.â
at the stove, wheezie and sarah were engaged in what could only be described as a full-on noodle battle. wheezie was stirring a pot while sarah tried to take over, her voice rising with irritation.
âyouâre stirring it wrong!â sarah snapped, reaching for the spoon in wheezieâs hand. âyouâre not mixing the sauce properly. itâs gonna be uneven!â
âexcuse me, i know what iâm doing!â wheezie retorted, pulling the spoon back. âyouâre the one who always burns it. back off!â
âi donât burn it!â sarah shouted, throwing her hands up dramatically. âi caramelize it for flavor!â
âthatâs just fancy talk for burning it!â wheezie shot back.
you blinked, taking it all in. âis this... about noodles?â
âyup,â kie said with a laugh, guiding you toward the table. âand itâs been like this for almost twenty minutes. honestly, i donât know how they havenât burned the kitchen down yet.â
âthey might still,â ward said casually, taking a slow sip from his glass. he gestured toward the chaos. âthis is what happens when you donât wake up. no one can agree on anything.â
âi tried to wake you,â rafe chimed in, shrugging. âyou didnât even budge. you were out cold.â
you gave him a small, apologetic smile as you slid into the chair beside him. âitâs been a long day. i didnât even hear you.â
âwell,â rafe said with a smirk, leaning closer, ânow you can witness this mess firsthand.â
your stomach growled, pulling your focus back to the kitchen. âare they even close to being done?â
âdefine âclose,ââ rafe replied, gesturing toward the stove where the two sister were still fighting over the sauce packet.
âiâm adding all of it,â wheezie declared, her voice resolute as she began to tear open the packet.
âno, youâre not!â sarah said, grabbing her wrist. âdo you want everyoneâs mouths to catch fire? weâre adding halfâhalf!â
âitâs not my fault you canât handle spice!â wheezie quipped, holding the packet out of sarahâs reach.
âstop!â you called, finally stepping in. âwheezie, sarah, justâlet me do it, okay? sit down before you two kill each other over noodles.â
they both froze, blinking at you like children caught misbehaving. Reluctantly, sarah handed you the spoon while wheezie stepped back, muttering, âi was doing fine, but okay.â
you took over, quickly finishing the noodles with a practiced ease. in no time, the pot was off the stove, and you were dividing the steaming noodles into bowls.
as you placed a bowl in front of rafe, he gave you a look of pure gratitude. âthis is why i need you, babe. no one else can handle these lunatics.â
ward chuckled. âtrue. if you hadnât come down, we mightâve been here all night.â
kie grinned, holding up her chopsticks. âwell, iâm glad i stayed for this. midnight noodles are officially my new favorite thing.â
sarah huffed, still glaring at wheezie. ânext time, weâre doing it my way.â
ânot if i get to the kitchen first,â wheezie shot back, smirking.
you rolled your eyes playfully as you took a seat beside rafe, finally ready to enjoy the meal. âremind me to never sleep through this again.â
âplease donât,â he said, leaning over to steal a bite from your bowl. âi donât think my sanity can take another night like this.â
with laughter echoing around the room and the comforting warmth of noodles filling the air, you couldnât help but smile. midnight noodles were chaotic, ridiculous, and absolutely perfect in their own way.
+ one time he cooks for you
the house was unusually quiet, with rose and ward away in the bahamas for business, wheezie holed up in her room, and sarah at the chateau with john b. normally, the lack of chaos wouldâve been a treat, but today, the stillness only amplified how awful you felt. you were bundled up in a blanket on the couch, sniffling and surrounded by a collection of crumpled tissues, trying to find some comfort in the familiar melodies of frozen 2.
rafe sat beside you, his arm draped lazily across the back of the couch, occasionally glancing at you with concern. âyou need anything, baby?â he asked softly, careful not to disturb you too much.
you sniffled, curling further into your fluffy blanket. âiâm kinda hungry,â you admitted, your voice hoarse.
he gave you a small smile. âalright, iâve got this. how about your favorite noodles?â
your face lit up, despite your exhaustion, and you nodded. âthat sounds amazing.â
rafe stood up, stretching briefly before leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead. âbe right back,â he murmured, heading for the stairs. quietly, he knocked on wheezieâs door, sticking his head in when she called out. âhey, iâm making noodles for her. you wanna help?â
wheezieâs eyes lit up immediately. âobviously. letâs go!â
the two of them got to work in the kitchen, keeping their voices low and trying not to make too much noise. wheezie buzzed with excitement, pulling out the noodles and sauces while rafe set a pot of water on the stove.
âdonât forget to stir it, or itâll stick to the bottom,â wheezie reminded him, sounding like a seasoned pro.
âi know,i know, wheezeâ rafe said, rolling his eyes but smiling. âyouâre not the noodle boss here.â
âactually, i am,â wheezie retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. âyou just donât wanna admit it.â
suddenly, the front door opened, and john bâs voice echoed down the hall. âanyone home?â
sarahâs voice followed. âoh my gosh, it smells so good in here.â
âliving room!â you called weakly, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself as they appeared in the doorway.
sarah gasped when she saw you. âoh no, my baby, what happened to you? you look awful.â
âgee, thanks,â you said, smiling faintly. âjust a cold. nothing dramatic.â
john b plopped down in the armchair while sarah sat on the edge of the couch near your feet. her eyes flicked to the tv. âfrozen 2 again?â
âitâs her favorite,â rafe called from the kitchen, his voice full of affection.
âitâs the best,â you said passionately, sitting up a little. âthe music is incredible, the animation is stunning, and elsaâs whole journey of self-discoveryâugh, itâs just perfect.â
sarah smiled. âokay, until olafâs whole âdyingâ scene. that was devastating and uncalled for.â
you nodded fervently. âdonât remind me. i cry every single time.â
john b chimed in. âbut he comes back! like, i get itâs sad, but heâs fine in the end.â
âthat doesnât make it less emotional,â you countered. âand donât even get me started on elsa being an absolute badass in the glacier. her solo scene? literal chillsâno pun intended.â
sarah laughed. âi think youâve seen this movie too many times.â
ânot possible,â you said firmly. âthe frozen movies are cinematic perfection.â
âalright, noodle delivery!â rafe interrupted, entering the room with a pot in his hands. wheezie trailed behind him, carrying extra napkins and plates.
âfor the first time in foreverââ wheezie began to sing, only for rafe to cut her off.
ânope. weâre not doing that.â
âbut itâs perfect!â wheezie protested as she set the napkins down. âyouâre no fun.â
the noodles smelled amazing, and you wasted no time digging in, the spicy warmth soothing your throat. everyone else followed suit, and for the first time ever, you all ate together on the couch, passing bowls and joking about the movie.
as the night wore on, your exhaustion crept back in. your head gradually drifted to rafeâs shoulder, your bowl empty in your lap. he adjusted his position slightly, careful not to wake you, and wrapped an arm around you protectively.
âout like a light,â john b said, nodding toward you with a small smile.
rafe glanced down at you, a soft smile tugging at his lips. âsheâs had a rough day,â he said quietly. âshe deserves some rest.â
sarah pulled a blanket over you both. âsheâs got a good one, rafe. donât screw it up.â
he chuckled softly, his hand resting on your arm. âyeah,â he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. âi know.â
and with the movieâs credits rolling in the background, the warm camaraderie of the group filled the quiet house, leaving the night feeling cozy and perfect.
CURRENT TAGLISTââË・â
@maybankslover ⢠@diorstarkey ⢠@user28388727 ⢠@jznyy ⢠@honeyluvsatj ⢠@hypnotizedstarkey
AHHHH I LOVE THIS AND RAFE IS GOING TO PHILLY?!? I JUST CANT THIS IS TOO GOOD FOR ME
Endings Announcement
Synopsis: A Social Media AU in which you find yourself at Kildare University along with your friends. Starting over at a new school shouldn't be difficult. Well, except for the fact that your ex-boyfriend is the quarterback, and you are the drum major. Add in a little bit of drama, a lot of friendship, an ex who can't seem to let you go, and a best friend who has been in love with you since you were kids and well? Welcome to KU!
Pairings: Past!Rafe x Reader, JJ x Reader, Rafe x Reader
Masterlist
AN: I just posted about two new SMAU's I am going to be starting once this one is finished for the holiday season! Check them out on my blog masterlist!
Taglist:
@akobx @onelonelybitch @the-universe-and-karma @beeskisses @frankoceanluvr11 @ivy-34 @rafecameronsloverrrrr @k-k0129 @asyouwish-fromcabin3 @xoxo-ada @aariahnaa @strawberryforks @urbrunettebombshell @whatisoutside @spenceatiny18 @animalistic0 @modern-mermaid @ethanthequeefqueen @lilahrosee @angelicameron @aesthetic-lyss
Theyâre finding out about usâŚ.
@h3yk1ttyg1rls