Chapter 3 Before She Fell
POV: Rafael “Rafe” Vega
I wasn’t supposed to care.
That’s the thing.
I wasn’t supposed to notice her at all.
Nico’s talking.
Elena’s laughing at something he said.
And I’m standing there, half listening, half watching a situation I already know is about to go sideways.
“Just go inside,” Elena says, nudging my arm lightly.
“I am inside,” I reply.
She gives me a look. “You’ve been standing by the door for ten minutes.”
“Good view.”
Nico snorts. “You mean good exit.”
That too.
But that’s not why I haven’t moved.
Because Jason Reed is outside.
And so is she.
We saw her walk out a minute ago.
Fast.
Head down.
Like she was trying to get away from something before it caught up to her.
Then Reed followed.
Of course he did.
“Elena,” Nico says quietly, leaning closer to her, “you see that?”
She glances toward the door.
“Yeah,” she mutters. “That’s not going to end well.”
No.
It’s not.
We can’t hear everything from here.
But we don’t need to.
Body language tells you enough.
She’s standing there with her arms crossed tight across her chest.
Not defensive.
Holding herself together.
Reed is talking.
Too relaxed.
Too controlled.
Like this is something he thinks he can smooth over.
He gestures once.
She laughs.
But it’s not the kind of laugh you want directed at you.
Elena shifts beside me.
“That’s bad,” she says under her breath.
Nico nods. “Yeah… she’s done.”
I don’t say anything.
Because I’m watching her.
Really watching.
The way she holds eye contact longer than she should.
The way her chin lifts just slightly like she refuses to let him see anything break.
Then—
she steps back.
And even from here—
I feel it.
That shift.
It’s over.
Reed says something else.
Sharp.
She doesn’t answer.
She just turns.
And walks away.
Not running.
Not rushing.
But not staying either.
And that?
That’s what gets my attention.
Because most people hesitate.
Most people turn back.
Most people need one more word.
She doesn’t.
“She’s not coming back,” Nico says.
Elena nods slowly.
“Nope.”
Reed stands there for a second.
Watching her.
Like he’s trying to decide if this is real.
Then someone calls his name from inside.
And just like that—
he turns back toward the house.
But not before glancing once more in her direction.
I catch it.
That look.
He’s not done.
Not even close.
“Elena’s right,” Nico says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “We should go in before we get dragged into whatever that was.”
“I’m not getting dragged into anything,” I say.
Elena smirks. “You already are. You’ve been staring at her since she walked in.”
I don’t answer.
Because she’s not wrong.
And that’s exactly why I should walk away.
Instead—
I move.
Not toward the party.
Toward the side of the house.
“Rafe—” Nico starts.
“I’ll be right back.”
Elena looks between me and the door, then back at Nico.
“Told you,” she mutters.
I don’t hear the rest.
Because I’m already outside.
The air is cooler.
Quieter.
And she’s there.
Standing a few steps away from the wall.
Arms wrapped around herself.
Trying to breathe through something she doesn’t want anyone to see.
For a second—
I almost stop.
Because this isn’t my problem.
Because I don’t know her.
Because whatever just happened in there?
It belongs to her.
And Reed.
Not me.
Then she moves.
Fast.
Not looking where she’s going.
And walks straight into me.
Hard.
“Hey—watch it.”
She stumbles.
I catch her without thinking.
One hand at her arm.
The other steady at her waist.
“I’m so sorry—”
She looks up.
And everything pauses.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Because now I see her up close.
And yeah—
she’s wrecked.
Not obvious.
Not loud.
But it’s there.
In her eyes.
In the way she’s holding everything too tight.
“You good?” I ask.
She blinks.
“I’m fine.”
Too fast.
Too automatic.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
She exhales slowly.
“Long night.”
I glance back toward the house.
Through the glass—
I catch movement.
Reed.
Standing just inside.
Looking out.
Looking at us.
And there it is.
That shift again.
Interest.
Possession.
Something that doesn’t sit right.
I look back at her.
“Yeah,” I say. “Looks like it.”
No pity.
No pressure.
Just enough acknowledgment that she knows I saw something—
but not enough to make her explain it.
She straightens slightly in my hold.
I let go immediately.
No lingering.
No assumptions.
She folds her arms around herself again.
“I’ll survive,” she says.
There’s something in that.
Not confidence.
Not fully.
But refusal.
I study her for a second.
Then nod.
“Yeah,” I say. “You look like you do.”
A pause.
Short.
But not empty.
“Rafe.”
“Valeria.”
The name settles.
Fits.
From inside, someone calls my name.
I don’t move right away.
Because I can still feel it—
Reed watching.
I glance back once more.
He’s still there.
Still looking.
Still calculating something.
Good.
Let him.
Because whatever this is—
it’s not his to control anymore.
I look back at her.
“You’ll be alright,” I say.
Not a question.
A decision.
Her expression shifts slightly.
Like she didn’t expect that.
Then I step back.
Turn.
And walk away.
But this time—
I’m aware of two things.
One—
she didn’t break.
And two—
he saw me with her.
And that?
That’s going to matter.
