CHAPTER THREE.
mr. not so perfect

MAYBE SHE WAS ACTUALLY CRAZY.

Just like Rafe had said.

After asking Zion for a tracking device—something he eagerly provided, knowing that his sister's drama would entertain him throughout the week—Serena decided to sleep on the idea. Rafe had never given her a genuine reason to doubt his character. He was the quintessential boyfriend, the kind every girl dreamed of. Maybe he deserved a little grace for his first real mistake, right?

But guilt gnawed at her as the night wore on, robbing her of sleep. In truth, the opportunity to reconsider her plan to put a tracking device in her boyfriend's car never materialized. Not that it would have made a difference; deep down, Serena knew she would have found any excuse to go through with it.

So, yeah, maybe she was a little crazy. And?

Clearly, she wasn't that crazy, because as she stood between her best friend and her brother, she hadn't heard a single reservation about her idea. Maybe it was because there was nothing they could do, considering she had already slipped the tracking device under Rafe's car, but Serena liked to think it was because she was a mastermind and they simply couldn't argue with a perfect plan. Whatever the reason, she was relieved there was no resistance. This was going to work. She was determined to figure out what was going on with her boyfriend and uncover the truth once and for all.

There was no way in hell she was going to sit back and let paranoia gnaw at her soul. No way, José! Whether the truth revealed that she was being cheated on or that her suspicions were completely unfounded, it didn't matter. As long as she got answers to her millions of questions, she would find some semblance of peace. Well, that was a lie. Serena knew she'd probably go berserk regardless of the outcome, but everyone already knew that. 

Sarah stood in confusion, glancing between Serena, Zion, and the computer screen. "I'm not completely against the idea, but do I really have to be here for this?" she wondered aloud.

Zion shrugged. "You know Rafe like the back of your hand—"

"You clearly think we're closer than we actually are," Sarah interjected, crossing her arms.

Serena chuckled softly, recognizing the truth in Sarah's words. There was a time when Sarah knew everything about her brother, but those days felt long gone. "You can at least help me figure out where he goes. He didn't mention he was going out today, so clearly he's hiding something," she explained.

"Or maybe he just doesn't share every detail of his life with you," Sarah shot back, raising an eyebrow at her best friend. "Do you tell him everything?"

Serena scoffed. "That's adorable, but this isn't about me right now."

As usual, Sarah had a sharp retort ready for the sass that spilled from her best friend's mouth. But before she could respond, the trio was jolted by a sudden beeping from Zion's desktop. Serena furrowed her brows, leaning closer to the screen to see what was happening. Rafe was finally on the move. The beeping indicated that the vehicle being tracked was in motion. After sitting in front of the computer for fifteen minutes, Serena had almost convinced herself that she might be mistaken—something that happened rarely, but it was possible. Now, however, her instincts were proven right: Rafe was heading somewhere without telling her, a breach of trust.

Serena's eyes locked onto the flashing dot as it darted across the screen, revealing Rafe's path. An anxious itch spread across the roof of her mouth as she tracked his speed. It didn't take long for her to recognize the route he was taking. Her mouth fell open in shock as she recoiled from the screen, shaking her head in disbelief.

"That's the bridge he's on. He's heading to the Cut," Serena observed as she glanced between the two. "Why would he be going there?"

"Maybe he has someone to meet," Zion suggested, shrugging.

"Rafe Cameron has no business being over there. No Kook does," Sarah replied firmly.

Zion rolled his eyes. "Do you have any other theories about why he'd be there?" he asked, turning to face the girls.

"No," Serena admitted, shaking her head. "But I'm going to find out."

"You're what?" Zion scoffed, watching as his sister hurried to gather her things from the bed. "You don't even know what he's doing out there. Why not wait until he's back on Figure Eight?"

"If I catch him in the act, he can't lie to me," Serena replied, grabbing her bag and keys.

Zion fell silent; there was no arguing with that logic. "Want me to come with you?" Sarah asked, clearly uneasy about the idea of Serena going alone.

"I'm good, Sar. Just stay here with Zi and keep me posted," Serena reassured her.

"Be careful," Sarah said softly, concern etched on her face.

Serena nodded. She slipped her keys into her bag, casting one last glance around her brother's room to ensure she had all her belongings before leaving the house. A nagging doubt tugged at her. She didn't believe that this would resolve anything between her and Rafe. Was there even anything to resolve? Deep down, part of her wished she was mistaken. She knew that was the farthest thing from the truth though.

Something held her back from exiting the room. Serena couldn't voice it, but she understood what was keeping her rooted in place. She knew she was right: Something was wrong—terribly wrong—with the man she loved. Confronting him would shatter the illusion of the Prince Charming she had so foolishly clung to. She didn't want to see him as anything less than that.

She had to.

❁

SERENA WASN'T DRESSED FOR STALKING.

As she stealthily crept along the side of Rafe's house, Serena quickly realized that her heels and an armful of jewelry were far from ideal for this covert operation. She clutched her bracelets with one hand, trying to silence the clinking that would surely give her away. Each step was deliberate, her focus razor-sharp; she was determined not to be spotted before she was ready. As she passed a window, she ducked instinctively, feeling a sickening pop in her knee. Great, she really should have stretched first.

Now on the ground, Serena opted to crawl the rest of the way. Disgust washed over her as her hands and knees pressed against the gritty earth, crawling over a mix of dirt and who-knows-what. Was this really worth it? Probably not, but she had come too far to turn back now. She could almost hear her friends laughing at her ridiculousness. And Rafe—if only he could see lher like this. He would never let her live it down, especially if her efforts only revealed that there was nothing happening between him and some other girl.

Turning a corner, Serena paused beneath another window. This was her first time stalking someone—at least in the flesh, as opposed to lurking on social media—and she knew better than to dive in without a plan. Carefully rising from her hands and knees, she lifted her head just enough to catch a glimpse inside the dimly lit house.

Her heart sank as soon as her eyes landed on him. There he was, that infuriatingly smug bastard, lounging on a ragged couch that looked like it had seen better days—if it ever had any. A sharp pang of hurt pierced her chest. He looked... too comfortable, as if he didn't mind being in this rundown place. It struck her that this was Rafe's familiar territory; this wasn't his first visit here. How many times had he been to this house on the Cut? How long had he been seeing whoever owned it? The questions swirled in her mind, each one more painful than the last.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she continued to watch Rafe, his every action adding fuel to her simmering anger. She felt utterly deceived. There he was, a beer in hand, sinking deeper into the couch, oblivious to the turmoil he was causing her. Alarms blared in her mind; this was too much to process all at once, yet somehow she managed to piece it together. He was only this relaxed around her, which meant whatever girl had lured him into this shady place was making him feel something he reserved for Serena. Or rather, something that Serena believed only she could evoke in him.

This wasn't just some cruel joke at her expense. She had hoped to find nothing when she followed him to The Cut. Sarah's words echoed in her mind, a mantra she had clung to as she raced to catch up with him: He would never ruin what they had. He couldn't do that. Not to her. Right?

Wrong.

The realization hit her harder than any physical blow. The truth was there, stark and undeniable, and it shattered the fragile hope she had clung to.

Movement in her peripheral vision made Serena glance to the left, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the person who had lured Rafe to this place. It was the mistress. Though they were turned away from her, Serena felt a surge of confidence; whoever it was couldn't possibly compete with her. From what she could see, they didn't stand a chance. The girl had long hair—she'd give her that much—but it was slicked back into a greasy ponytail that looked thinner than a twig.

A scoff escaped Serena's lips as she stood up, her patience evaporating. There was no point in hiding any longer. Rafe clearly couldn't keep his dick in his pants, even with a beautiful girl like her willing to please him at any moment.

And now, it was time to show him exactly why he should have cherished what they had instead of taking it for granted. Standing to her full height, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, ready to confront him, ready to reclaim what was hers. No more lurking in the shadows; it was time to face the truth head-on.

Serena opened her mouth as she strode toward the front door. Taking one last breath—though it did little to calm her nerves—she grabbed the doorknob and burst through the entrance. The sound of her heels echoed against the wooden floors, a prelude to the slew of insults she had prepared for Rafe, who jumped in shock at her sudden arrival. But as her gaze settled on the "girl" sitting across from him, a wave of realization washed over her. She had been too hasty in her assumptions while lurking outside.

"You're... not a girl," she stammered, her confidence faltering slightly.

"No, but you are," the man smirked, revealing a set of yellowed teeth as he scanned her from head to toe with a suggestive glint in his eyes. "And a damn good looking one," he chuckled, turning his attention back to Rafe, whose face had drained of color, leaving him looking as pale as a ghost.

"Serena?" Rafe muttered, blinking a few times as if trying to grasp the reality of the situation. "Serena, what the hell are you doing here?" he questioned, his voice a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Jesus Christ, Rafe, are you gay?" Serena scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief as he rose from the couch, clearly flustered. "I don't have time to be dating a closeted gay. That's so 1950s."

The words hung in the air, heavy with tension. Rafe's mouth opened and closed as he searched for a response, but the man beside him only chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Seriously, Rafe?" Serena pressed, her voice rising. "You're hanging out with this guy and didn't think to mention it? I mean, I guess it's a little late for 'surprise, I'm bi' conversations."

Rafe seemed to find his footing as he walked over to Serena, grabbing her shoulders firmly. "Go home. Now. I'm not fucking around, babe," he ordered, gently pushing her toward the door.

"And you think I am?" Serena spat, swatting his hands away. Rafe halted, taken aback by her unwavering stance. She wasn't backing down this time. "Something's going on with you, Rafe. Something I don't like. And if you don't tell me what it is right now, then fine, I'll leave. But I'll leave as a single woman," she declared, crossing her arms defiantly and narrowing her eyes at him.

Rafe was genuinely stunned, blinking as he tried to wrap his head around the intensity of her reaction. "Are you— right now? Seriously, Serena?"

"Yes, seriously!" she shot back, throwing her arms up in frustration. "Do you think I didn't notice how you went out of your way to hide your phone the other day? What am I supposed to think? You're clearly hiding something!"

"I'm my own person; you don't need to know everything I do," Rafe said, trying to assert himself. "I already share a lot. We may not have clear boundaries, and that's fine by me, but don't pretend we don't have any at all."

"Where are the boundaries when you're being dishonest?" she shot back. "I don't think asking for a little transparency from my boyfriend is too much."

"I'd say me telling you every time I take a leak is pretty transparent," Rafe chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood, but the gravity of the situation escaped him this time.

"I'm not joking, Rafe. Please don't throw everything we have away over a lie," Serena warned, her voice steady yet pleading. "Who is this man?"

Silence.

Serena scowled, staring at him in disbelief as he chose to remain silent instead of facing the consequences of his actions like a man. Maybe she had been wrong to confront him. It wasn't as if she hadn't heard the countless rumors surrounding her boyfriend's name before. He wasn't exactly known for his upstanding ways or loyalty to women. But she had believed she was different—or so she thought.

The illusion of safety in their relationship had led her to genuinely believe she was the exception to a man who had never understood the meaning of integrity or honor. And that was the kind of man she had sought to make her boyfriend. In this moment, she realized she had no one to blame for this situation but herself.

Serena took one last look at his face—his stupid face. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, yet it was still a face she adored. She loved this man, and this was what she received in return. She had to bite her tongue to keep from crying. She couldn't cry. No one could ever elicit that reaction from her, not even Rafe Cameron. After all, she was still the Queen of Kooks, even to him. She had a reputation to uphold and dignity to protect.

But how could she not cry? All she wanted was to collapse and sob her heavy heart out until everything felt better—or at least until it felt like it could.

Yet, she wasn't that type of girl. She would hold her head high and walk away from a battle before it drained too much of her energy. So that's what she did. She turned around and walked away from Rafe, fulfilling the same promise she had made earlier. With each step, she felt herself getting closer to being a single woman. She prayed he would say something—anything—that could keep her from leaving. Anything would be enough.

Except for what he actually said.

"He's a dealer!"

Serena stopped dead in her tracks; tucking her hair behind her ear. She must've heard wrong. That had to be it. "Excuse me?"

Rafe gnawed on his lip as he stared at his girlfriend. He couldn't bring himself to say it again, but as he stared at his girlfriend; seeing how much pain this was causing her on the inside, he knew that it was the right thing to do. Even if it didn't benefit him at all. "He's... my dealer."

"And when in the world were you going to tell me that you smoked marijuana?" Serena wondered, crossing her arms. "I mean, it's not a big deal I guess, but that's something I should know about my boyfriend, no?"

Serena's eyes shifted over to the man that now peaked his head over Rafe's shoulder, a smug grin on his face as he looked between the couple. "I don't just sell weed, sweetheart.

Serena raised an eyebrow, keeping her eyes on Rafe whose face paled even more, "What does he mean?" she questioned. "What else does he sell?"

Her voice was sharp and stern. In moments like these, with her domineering presence, Serena reminded Rafe of his father—in all the worst ways imaginable. He had never lied to her; he couldn't bring himself to intentionally break her trust. That's why he had hidden as much as he could. It wasn't a lie if she never questioned it. But now, as his heart raced with every passing second and fear coursed through his veins, all he wanted was to lie his way out of the situation. Unfortunately, it was a bit too late for that.

He was grateful, at least, that he wasn't dating someone who would fall for any lie he spun. But standing face to face with his dilemma—tell the truth or risk losing the girl he loved—he didn't feel very fortunate at all.

Serena's fingers brushed against the diamond necklace around her neck, the one she had received a few months ago, adorned with the initials of the man standing before her. She gnawed on her lip, a sense of impending doom settling over her. Everything was falling apart. In this moment, she could only brace herself for the reality that whatever the truth was, it wouldn't be ideal. She knew he wasn't foolish enough to try to lie. While he was secretive—exemplified by the current situation—she also knew one thing: he wouldn't disrespect her.

So, she steeled herself for the truth, hoping it wouldn't shatter everything she had built with him.

"Cocaine."

Serena laughed incredulously, unable to summon any anger—only shock, confusion, and, most importantly, disappointment in the one man she thought she could trust. So much for hoping the truth wouldn't ruin everything. "You've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed as she turned on her heels.

Rafe sighed heavily, realizing this was a nightmare come true. Knowing Serena, this would only worsen their relationship, and he couldn't blame her for reacting to such a betrayal. He hurried after her as she stormed around the corner, nearly tripping over the uneven terrain. "Serena, please, just listen to me—"

"What could you possibly say that would make me feel better?" Serena shouted, refusing to look back at him. All she wanted was to reach her car and escape.

"I wanted to tell you, but how could I?" Rafe replied, frustration evident in his voice. "I knew you'd react like this."

"Of course I would!" Serena shot back, stopping abruptly to face him, tears brimming in her eyes. "My boyfriend is a coke fiend. Excuse me for being a little upset!"

Rafe clenched his jaw. "I am not a coke fiend!" he protested.

"Then what do you call it?" she scoffed. "When did you even start using drugs? It's like I don't even know you," she said, shaking her head as the tears finally spilled down her cheeks.

Rafe's anger faded at the sight of his girlfriend shedding tears—tears born from his inability to open up and let her in. Never before had he been the reason for her sorrow; he had always been the one to wipe them away after long, exhausting days. He was the one who comforted her when she needed someone to lean on. Now, he was the source of her pain.

It broke his heart to see Serena abandon her tough-girl facade, tears streaming down her face as she looked at the man she loved. Unable to contain himself, he reached out to wipe her tears, but she flinched away, her expression filled with disgust.

A pang of hurt shot through him as he retracted his hand. He could feel his own tears welling up as the reality sank in—she hated him in this moment. "What can I do? Just tell me how to make this better, Serena. Please, what the hell can I do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

What could he do? What could he possibly do?

Serena echoed those questions in her mind, praying that one of them might discover an answer to ease the gut-wrenching tension of the moment. But nothing came to her. For the first time, she was at a loss, and the realization gnawed at her insides.

"Rafe..."

This was too much for her. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, caught in a relentless cycle of inner turmoil from which there was no escape. As she gazed into the eyes of the man she loved, she noticed a flicker of hope still lingering there. A part of him clung to the belief that there might be a way out—one that could spare them both the anguish that lay ahead. But it was too late for that. Their hearts, battered and on the brink of breaking, had drifted too far apart to ever reconnect. Not in this moment.

Empty and hollow, her eyes reflected the desolation within, as devoid of emotion as the calloused heart beating inside her chest. She parted her glossy lips, ready to utter the words that would bring her world crashing down.

"We're over."

❁

A BED WAS MADE FOR SLEEPING.

The silence in her room was deafening, a stark contrast to the constant hum of activity that typically filled her life. She lay on her back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, tracing the patterns in the paint as a distraction from the whirlwind of thoughts threatening to engulf her. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand—a reminder of the outside world, a world that seemed to move on without her. She chose to ignore it; engaging with anyone felt like a monumental task.

Instead, she pulled the covers tighter around her, seeking solace in their warmth, as if they could shield her from the ache that had settled deep in her chest.

Serena had always prided herself on being a go-getter, the one who could juggle a hundred tasks at once and still find time to lend a hand to a friend in need. But now, as she lay there, she felt like a shadow of her former self. It was strange, she thought, how she had spent so much time avoiding stillness, fearing it would lead to complacency. Yet, in this moment of quiet, she realized that it was precisely this stillness that was necessary to confront the truth she had been evading. The ache in her heart wasn't just about loss; it was about the void left behind, the absence of someone who had once been her anchor.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and allowed the memories to wash over her—candid moments filled with laughter, late-night conversations that stretched until dawn, the way his smile could illuminate even the darkest days. Each recollection felt like a double-edged sword, cutting deeper as it reminded her both of the joy they had shared and the stark reality of its absence.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, unbidden and raw. The incessant dinging of her phone—Rafe relentlessly trying to apologize—only fueled the anger and hurt that accompanied those tears. She had always prided herself on being the strong one, the one who held everything together. But now, she allowed herself to feel the weight of her emotions. For the first time in a long time, she didn't need to be productive or put on a brave face. She just needed to be.

As her tears flowed freely, her moment of catharsis was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a knock on her bedroom door. She recognized that knock instantly. Only one person had that rhythmic pattern when knocking. It was Sarah, the unmistakable scent of bubblegum being the dead giveaway.

"Go away!"

It was foolish of her to think that would actually work. When the bedroom door creaked open, Serena rolled her eyes and pulled her blanket over her head, hoping it sent a clear message that she wanted to be left alone. Unfortunately, it didn't. But a girl could still hope.

Sarah cautiously peeked through the crack in the door, finding Serena still buried under her blankets. It wasn't surprising. After thirty missed calls and a hundred unread messages, worry had begun to settle in. Sarah had sensed that her best friend's quest for the truth would end poorly, even before Serena had left that morning. Now, witnessing her intuition confirmed, a wave of sadness washed over her. It always hurt the most when someone who was usually so composed and strong finally reached their breaking point.

"Want to talk about it?" Sarah asked, closing the bedroom door behind her as she stepped inside.

Serena wasn't in the mood for company. Sarah knew that before she even walked it, bur she knew she couldn't just go away when her best friend needed her the most. "Not right now, Sarah."

"Good, because you can't really eat ice cream and complain about your problems at the same time," Sarah said with a grin, noticing Serena perk up a little.

"Strawberry shortcake?"

Sarah smiled widely, holding up a bag filled with ice cream pints as she sat on the bed. "And chocolate mint!"

A small smile crept onto Serena's face, despite everything. Nobody knew what she had discovered earlier, and the embarrassment felt too heavy to share, not even with Zion. So she locked herself away in her room, hoping no one would notice something was wrong. She seemed to forget that, despite her desire to be alone, she had a best friend who could read her like a book. Sarah had sensed the shift in the atmosphere the moment Serena uncovered her boyfriend's hidden addiction, which was why she now used her key to the Mason residence to check on her.

Serena often wondered what she had done to deserve someone as wonderful as Sarah in her life, and she was grateful for it. While she thought solitude might be what she wanted, she quickly realized that wallowing in misery alone wasn't appealing. At least with Sarah there, she had someone to share her struggles with—and there was no one else she would rather have by her side.

"Okay, fine," Serena muttered, pulling the blanket from her face. "I guess you can stay."

❁

authors note.

it was fun while it lasted but rafe and serena's relationship has taken a major hit! will they work it out? will it truly be over? who knows?

i originally had rafe cheat on serena but that isn't like him. i figured why not involve rafe's struggle with addiction in the first season? it'll play a big role in this act.

anyway, i hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter. see you next time!