The next morning Tasha ran her fingers through her neatly brushed hair, fixing the laces on her shoes and pacing the room, waiting for Rafe's arrival.

"Would you calm down? You're making me nervous." Sam shook his head at the girl, who continued to check her hair in the mirror. "My god, you really are infatuated with him, huh?"

"Shut. Up." Tasha replied, frowning as she turned to him. "Hair up, or down?" She showed him the two styles.

"I think up suits you. It shows more of you pretty face."

Tasha nearly died as Rafe walked into the room, a smug smirk on his face as he stared at the girl. Her cheeks went pink as she opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, simply nodding in reply before tying her hair back.

"Rafe," Sam greeted.

"Samuel."

Tasha was silent as the two spoke about the route they'd take to their next lead, instead opting to walk out to the car where Nate was sitting.

"Hey Nathan!"

•••

The four were walking through a forest, where there were plenty of cliffs to jump between. Tasha was at the front of the line, talking to Nate while Sam and Rafe were back a few paces.

"Ever since her parents died she's been more and more reckless." Sam explained.

"I'm sure Tasha can handle herself." Rafe said sincerely. "Didn't her parents die when she was sixteen?"

"You don't know her like I do." Sam replied as he shook his head. "Out here? She's a completely different person. And honestly you being here isn't going to help."

"Seems to be the same to me. Besides, why would me being here change anything?"

"Boy, you both are blind to each other." Sam sighed. "Just quit pushing her away. You can't just jump in and out of her life like a damn yo-yo."

"I don't need a pep talk from anyone let alone you when it comes to her."

"Right, so you're telling me that you actually care for her?"

"Obviously."

Sam sighed but before he could respond Nate yelled at Tasha. "Tash! Slow down!"

"C'mon, Nate! Boost me up!" Tasha replied back, looking up at a cliff as she tried to judge if she could make it, but at her five foot three frame, there was no way she'd make it alone.

"Awe, you're so short! It's adorable." Nathan teased her, nudging her waist with his elbow.

"Haha, asshole." Tasha gave him the finger before shoving him against the stone wall. "Hands out, princess."

"Manners, Tasha." Sam tutted his finger at her, a smug smirk on his face.

"Manners? Right. Because you boys are absolute gentlemen." Tasha rolled her eyes.

"I am!" Sam and Nate both said in unison, causing Tasha to bend over laughing for a moment.

"The only gentleman here is Rafe, now boost me up, Nathan!"

Rafe smirked at the brothers, enjoying Tasha's compliment.

"Let Sam go first so he can pull you up in case you can't make the ledge." Nathan before helping Sam to the ledge.

"If you weren't so short you could go first." Sam called down to her with a smirk.

"Yeah, yeah. Just grab my hand, old man." Tasha said as she let Nate lift her up. Her fingers were just shy of the ledge so she had to grab onto Sam's arm, who dangled her from the ledge playfully. "Sam! Pull me up!"

•••

Tasha stared at the hole in the wall, sighing deeply. "There's no other way, so let's get going."

Tasha stood back a few paces as Sam and Nathan squeezed through the space. She wasn't a fan of tight spaces, but it wasn't the worst situation she'd put herself in. Tasha nearly jumped when Rafe touched her arm, smirking slightly.

"Ladies first."

Tasha rolled her eyes, but squeezed into the rock, resting her hands on either side of her body against the wall. Sam was ahead of her by a few paces, leaving some space between the two. Rafe, however, left nearly no space between Tasha and himself. She could feel his fingers graze her hips with every move the two made.

She let out a shriek as rocks fell from above, frightening her enough she turns slightly so she could hold onto Rafe. He rested his hands on her shoulders, wiping the rubble off of her. "I got you." He assured her,

"You two alright back there?!" Sam hollered from further up the path.

"We're fine." Rafe replied.

Tasha took a deep breath, her hands rested against Rafe's chest. He felt warm, and she couldn't deny she enjoyed being this close to him.

"I'm sure you're enjoying this right now," Rafe smirked as he brushed her hair from her face. "But we should get moving before the rubble caves us in."

Tasha scoffed, "You wish, pretty boy."

"Pretty boy?" Rafe chuckled, staying close behind her as they traversed to the exit. "Cute." 

Before Tasha could exit, Rafe grabbed onto her waist with one hand, the other slipping around to hold her abdomen, pressing her back firmly against his front. She let out a shaky breath as she felt his thumb rub circles into the exposed skin of her waistline.

"Don't ever call me boy again." Rafe's voice was dangerously low, but a smirk could be felt as his lips brushed her ear.

"And if I do?" Tasha replied, trying to keep her tone even.

She let out a quiet gasp as Rafe slipped his hand down to the waistline of her shorts, before sliding his other hand to her knee and up her thigh, ghosting close to her inner thigh.

"Are you two coming?!" Nathan yelled from the exit, causing Tasha to jump slightly, pushing her body entirely against Rafe.

"Y-yeah! Calm your tits!" Tasha yelled back, trying to ignore Rafe's deep chuckle. "C'mon, we should go."

Rafe said nothing, slowly removing his hands from her body. When the two exited the crevice, he smiled smugly at her, his eyes dark.

What have I gotten myself into?

A/N: Ahhh so Rafe joins the group! So this is set before the prison. Please comment any ideas you have.