#pope heyward texts

[prettyg1irlstears]

obx boys

reacting to you accidentaly texting them instead of your friend :)

in the pope one, it’s supposed to be knew and not knee💀

[stargirlinterludefr]

More pope texts plss :3

Texting boyfriend Pope, part 3! 🤍

[999jess]

bestfriend!rafe

[boysssofthemonth]

If We Had It Our Way | Seventeen

Rafe Cameron Social Media AU

Synopsis: Growing up and living life as a pogue had its ups and downs. Mostly downs. Y/n studied diligently, a trait ingrained at a young age by her single mother. With her sharp intellect, Y/n was recognised as the top in all her classes, whilst attending a few subjects above her year level. To relieve some financial burden, Y/n tutored fellow students, some in her public school and if she was lucky, some students from Kildare Academy. She favoured tutoring opportunities from these families as they offered higher rates. She was proposed an offer by a teacher to tutor Rafe Cameron, only the scariest and richest Kook on the island. Actually second, as his dad took first place. Teaching was the easy part, interacting with Rafe? Now that was a different story.

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Masterlist

Tags: @leah-loves-lilies @rafeslittleangel @fals3-g0d @ynmunson @alexiskirkland @rafesdrew @urmomsgirlfriend1 @rafeinterlude @winterrrnight @the-tortured-poets-depxrtment

[blues-valentine]

OBX is lucky they got that S4 renewal because S3 doesn’t have rewatchability for me and I’m entirely confused about what the main plot was even about. Aside from the very few scenes involving the pogues and the relationships between them I didn’t care about anything else because the main plot wasn’t good. Big John wasn’t interesting enough to require that much screen time and he should’ve stayed as an invisible character. They could’ve made Carlos the new villain though out the season. He was more interesting and they had a lot to expand.

I feel like a lot of what was promised was taken out during the editing because kiarah barely had any screen time together despite what the original interviews said. I am sure the actor that plays Luke (JJ’s dad) was on set so they were going to expand on JJ’s abuse but cut it out? Sarah and Topped again was so old and boring. I feel like there’s a lot of content that got cut in favor of the treasure story line and it just…

Like, I hope they are seeing the general complains and realize that the main focus of their show is in the group dynamic, the adventure is not as exciting if it’s not the pogues participating in it. The found family trope is what carries the show.

[coryosbaby]

Spider-Man! Pope Heyward ⁉️⁉️

[softspiderling]

✦ . * ocean blue eyes pt. IV | r.c

pairing: rafe cameron x reader

author’s note: ive been working overtime on the plot so just be aware that i am cooking. Also this part is very text heavy! Tagging @zyafics bc i don’t wanna be yelled at again and @ghostofwriting bc <3 Hope you enjoyyy

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

liked by sarahcam, gracieabrams, rafe and 1.924.812 others

youruser new york i have a surprise coming for you soon

view all 13.570 comments

ynbrazil I guess you're in New York today

➞ ynswift I don't wanna need you this way

ynalways 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

ynsboyfriend WHY NEW YORK AND NOT DETROIT

➞ samira_johnson … I think you know why

ynsbaby New York how does it feel to be mother’s favorite

➞ sunburninmiami *everyone’s favorite

↳ ynsbaby you’re so right😔

sarahcam 🤭🤭🤭

➞ youruser 🤫

empirestatebldg on the edge of the seat

allhailyn booking my tickets as we speak

ynylnsbaby PLS no more, I have FOMO😔

ynswift HUH?

whationlylistentoyn YN PLS WAIT I HAVENT BEEN PAID YET😭

➞ ynonly REAL😭😭

────────────

Your phone:

────────────

Sarah’s phone:

────────────

liked by sarahcam, popeheywardphotography, youruser and 982.083 others

loewe Kildare’s own Rafe Cameron and Cleo Griffith for LOEWE’s Summer collection 2024 campaign

Photography Pope Heyward

Creative Direction Carla Limbrey

Creative Partner Ollie Walters

Styling Scarlett Peters

Hair Lana Grubbs

Make up Kiara Carerra

view all 5.721 comments

kiecarerra absolutely breathtaking

➞ kiecarerra and Rafe is there too, ig

➞ cleogriffith 💘

suckerforrafe It’s Rafe’s world and we’re just living in it

popeheywardphotography my baby did that

➞ cleogriffith YOU!!❤️

rafeonmymind this is so COOL

cleogriffith 🖤

sarahcam ATE

rafefan OMG

allaboutrafe I would use those strings on his pants to *** ****** ** *** ***

➞ jjsandrafes girl….

youruser 🤩

❤️liked by cleogriffith and rafe

rafesgf Kiara Carerra as in the Kiara who was at Rafe’s bday party?

➞ raferaferafe not you again…

eloiseeee Pope doing the photos for Cleo’s shoot is goals😭

────────────

Cleo’s phone:

Rafe’s phone:

────────────

liked by rafe, sarahcam, empirestatebldg and 2.941.031 others

youruser so excited to announce that I’ll be playing a show at Times Square on the 7th of June! This is such an iconic location and I can’t wait to celebrate 1 billion streams with you 🩷 get tickets through the link in bio and story, & hopefully I’ll see you thereee🫶🏼

view all 12.921 comments

empirestatebldg locked and loaded🫡

allaboutyn kfkajaoasoaolgksoflggwpap

ynfancam God (YN) only gives his strongest soldiers (me) the hardest battles (not being in NY when she’s doing a show)

sarahcam taking over NY🗣️

➞ youruser🫡

ynylnfan Nobody talk to me😔

jimmyfallon Wait so you’re in the neighborhood? What if you pop in for a chat?🙂‍↕️

➞ youruser Let me check my schedule Jimmy🤭

kiecarerra AHHHH IM SO EXCITED!!!!

➞ youruser can’t wait to finally meet youuu🤍

whationlylistentoyn sobbing

sunburninmiami OMFG I GOT TICKETS!!!1!1!!

➞ ynnnnn4lyfe HOW😭 the tickets were sold out in MINUTES

➞ ynylnsbaby So happy for you😭

cleogriffith queen is taking over New York👑

➞ youruser stoppppp😭😭😭

ynsgf this is so sick and twisted of you😭

➞ ynsunshine screaming crying throwing up😔

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

author’s note: tell me what you think 🙂‍↕️

[princessbrunette]

⊹ ᜊ(ᜊ ´ ˘)੭ ♡ … HOT TO GO! ♡

5, 6, 5678!

the day had come — and of course, at the busiest hour of pizzadeliveryboy!popes shift. they still had this janky red landline phone from the 80’s in the kitchen of the restaurant, with possibly the most obnoxious ring one could fathom. like, really — it was no wonder these things weren’t household items anymore. the sound was ear piercing.

popes too busy sprinkling cheese to pick up — so you’re greeted with a disinterested thirty-something year old who barely got out his ‘you’ve reached HTG Pizza how can i help ya—” before you were blasting his ear off with—

“PUT POPE ON THE PHONE!”

you had broken up with your boyfriend. one year of toxicity, pain and torment all in the name of saving face. kook life was cruel, and appearance so often mattered more than feeling — and though your boyfriend treated you terribly… the life was safe and sweet.

maybe you were the cruel one for making pope wait. he’d been too patient for his own good— watching you try to uphold your perfect reputation whilst confiding in him on the side. he knew you were a sweet girl, simply making a bunch of not so sweet choices, and pope would never condone cheating — but soon the two of you started fooling around, which lead to you screwing around (which is just fooling around without dinner.) and just like that, he’d caught feelings.

he’d do anything to break the two of you up. no really — the term ‘praying on someone’s downfall’ was never something that the heyward boy was familiar with until he met you. it started off as petty things, reporting every instagram picture of the two of you together. this quickly evolved into sending you check in texts at angel number hours like 11:11, so that maybe you’d think some divine figure was trying to guide the two of you together. terribly enough, he even dragged kiara down to that crystal shop downtown so he could ask the nice lady with pretty feathers in her hair what crystal he could use to break you up with your boyfriend.

kiara told him in was bad karma to pray on peoples downfall.

but now he’s cycling to your house, your empty house might he mention and all but dumping his bike on your front lawn because for once it doesn’t matter who sees. hell, he even ripped off the uniform visor on his head and tossed it. you’re there at the door waiting for him under the warm porch light in just a skirt and bra like you’d already worked on getting your clothes off for him.

“i’m so sorry i had to finish my shift i obviously would have come as soon as—” he’s rambling before he’s reached you, but you’re shaking your head with a purely lustful look in your eye, breathing out a—

“— shut up.”

and as soon as he’s reached you you’re diving into his arms, legs round his waist — lips to his and you really, really didn’t care who saw. you fumble for the door anyway, the two of you bumping into things as you slam it shut behind the two of you. he takes his lips away just for a second to suck in a breath and whisper “i didn’t bring any pizza this time—” but you clearly didn’t care, stuffing your tongue back into his mouth. well, that settles that. it was never about the pizza.

every surface. pope heyward was doing you on every flat surface of that egregiously large house of yours — and soon, after much loud and bordering on aggressive sex, you’ve finally wound up on your back in bed, staring into eachothers eyes as he rolls his hips, little “ohhh, ah, ah…”’s leaving your sore and sensitive mouth.

“god i’m so glad to have you now. i can have you now, right?” popes brows furrow, looking desperate and urgent. the two of you had sweat so much he doesn’t even smell like stuffed crusts and garlic dip anymore.

“was always yours. m’sorry pope i’m so sorry!” you sob when the curve in his cock nudges your cervix because he can’t help but bottom out fully when you say it. he kept anticipating that he’d wake up to his alarm and this had all been a beautiful dream, reminding him to hang on just another day.

“you’re okay i— i’d wait forever for this. fuck.” he shudders, face dropping for a moment to press an earnest kiss to your collar bone.

“can i tell you something?” you grasp him, speaking in a hushed tone, saved for a vulnerable moment like this.

“anything!” he promises, back to eye level.

“i…i really don’t like the pizza you’d bring, i mean papa johns is just way better—”

“no yeah that’s completely understandable. i mean totally—”

you’re rolling him onto his back now. the undying urge to make up for lost time taking over and instantly you’re sinking down onto his length and grinding like your life depended on it.

“shit. oh my god.” he groans, dishevelled in your pink sheets. a hand comes to his forehead in disbelief at the sight of your naked body riding him like this, so different from your usual rushed encounters before anyone returns home or in the back of his pizza fan — and the other thumb grazes your clit, eyes glued to the way you’re swallowing him, leaving a creamy ring at his flushed base.

you follow his gaze, reaching down to spread yourself for him. quite the sight.

“who’s is it?” he presses your clit and you howl, clutching his wrist. “who’s baby? tell me please.”

“yours pope!” you cry.

“who’s?”

“s’all yours pope! it always was!”

perhaps he knew this already, but god did it feel good to hear.

[loveharlow]

SEVEN [SEASON 2] - 002 (PART 1)

PAIRING ‧₊˚ JJ Maybank x Fem!Reader

SYNOPSIS‧₊˚[8.2k] A trip to Charleston leads to a wild chase through Kooksville and an unexpected reunion that turns the pogues worlds upside down, amongst other heartbreaking events...

WARNING(S)‧₊˚ swearing, mentions of death, mentions of firearms, unestablished relationship, poor communication, tw // jiara mentioned, mild angst

NOW PLAYING‧₊˚

A/N‧₊˚ don't shoot me pookies, it's for plot value😬

˗ˏˋ series masterlist ˎˊ˗

IT WAS THE NEXT MORNING AND THE FOUR OF YOU WERE RIGHT BACK IN MR. SUNN’S CLASS. You had a permanent smile on your face from last night and something had shifted between you and JJ in the hours between then and now. While you were driving to school in the car you two had fixed up together, you’d made a joke about him being your passenger princess, the blonde laughing and then absentmindedly planting his hand on your thigh for the rest of the ride.

You were starting to feel like yourself after weeks of walking around like a ghost and you were holding out hope that after this was all over, once the cloud passed fully, that you could give JJ the answer he deserved. 

Right now, you were muffling laughs as Mr. Sunn rambled about the current unit topic, you and JJ sending tiktoks back and forth, phones hidden under the desks. 

“Mr.Sunn,” A man emerged in the open doorway, dressed down in a suit with an envelope between his fingers. Your laughter died as your attention went to him. “Can I borrow Mr. Heyward for a moment?”

The teacher looked dumbfounded between Pope and the man at the door, chalk clutched between his fingers. “Uh, we’re in the middle of a lesson.”

“My apologies, it won't be long. I’m from the Vanderhorst Foundation, Mr.Heyward was previously in the running for our scholarship.” He pressed once more, Mr.Sunn sighing and giving in, motioning for Pope to get up. Pope looked at the three of us before getting and leaving the room. 

Your eyes met JJ’s across the room, both shrugging. Kiara was too engrossed with trying to peek out of the door from her seat. Even though the classroom was fairly quiet, it was still too far to hear any part of the conversation. 

Maybe he was there to offer Pope another chance which would be, for one, great but also impeccably poor timing. You glanced up at your teacher as his attention turned back to the board, slouching in your chair and shooting a text in the group chat the four of you had.

You

think they’re giving him his spot back?

Kie

doubt it, the deadline’s more than dead :/

JJ

maybe they still want him, pope’s a certified genius

Just then, Pope came power walking back into the classroom, turning a few heads as he did so. He practically fell into his seat, turning around to face you, JJ, and Kie, holding the envelope the man from the foundation had in his hand just minutes ago — flipping it to reveal the very same wheat symbol that was branded into the gold bars.

“What the fu-” JJ started, gaining the attention of Mr.Sunn who had very teacher like expression of warning, causing JJ to trip over his words. “Fu-fudge…” He cleaned up. The teacher gave him a look and turned back around in his chair.

“We’ll talk about it after class.” Pope whispered, nodding and turning around his seat. 

THE FOUR OF YOU BOOKED IT TO THE LIBRARY AS SOON AS THE BELL RANG, the middle-aged hag of a librarian shushing you at the door. You found an empty table and crowded it as soon as possible, all ears waiting on Pope.

“That was the guy from the scholarship committee.” He started, putting the envelope in the middle of the table. “But that’s not all. Read it.” He urged, JJ being the first to swipe up the letter but he hesitated to read. You were sat next to him, the both of you across from Kie and Pope, so you leaned over his shoulder.

“What? What’s wrong?” You asked. JJ angled the paper in your direction, eyeing the two people in front of him nervously as you immediately spotted the problem — the letter was written in cursive. JJ couldn’t read cursive. “Oh, it’s fine, I got it.” You reassured, gently taking the letter from the blonde’s hands.

“What?” Kiara asked, brown eyes fleeting between the both of you. JJ shook his head, wiping his palms on the fabric of his cargo shorts.

“Nothin’. I just, I can’t read cursive.” He dismissed cooly but you could tell the subject made him slightly insecure. “What does it say?” He deflected, looking back at you.

You cleared your throat before reading, paper clutched between both of your hands. “Dear Mr.Heyward, I am reaching out because I may have material evidence that can exonerate John Booker Routledge…” You trailed off, shocked eyes meeting those around the table before you continued reading. “...It is of vital importance that you come and meet with me in person at my offices at twenty-seven King Street, Charleston at eight PM sharp, tonight. Please come alone…?” Your face twisted at that. No way in hell was that happening. “Regards, C.Limbrey.”

“Charleston?” JJ exclaimed incredulously, eyeing Pope’s endlessly pacing figure. “That’s like an eight-hour drive.”

“Plus, the ferry.” You added. “If you want any chance of getting there tonight we’d have to leave, like, right now.” 

“I have a free period.” Kie shrugged, sighing. “I gotta tell my mom, though…”

“Alright but guys?” You piped up, meeting each of their eyes before continuing. “If we get it this time, there’s no way in hell we are giving it to Shoupe. It's gotta go to higher ups or some shit.” 

“Agreed.” JJ nodded, standing from his seat and grabbing his backpack, you following his lead before Pope, who was crouched in front of the library computer, spoke up.

“I think whoever this Limbrey person is, they might be related to the captain of the Royal Merchant.” He told the three of you, JJ and you sharing a look before rounding the table to stand behind the boy at the computer, a webpage pulled up — a biography for ‘Captain Herman Limbrey’. 

Well. Charleston it is, then. 

“I AM SO SICK OF THIS SHIT!” Kiara’s mom’s voice traveled through the rolled down windows of Heyward’s truck. You, JJ, and Pope were sat with the music playing lowly as Kiara attempted to reason with her parents about where she was going. 

The family of three was visible from the driveway, but you could no longer hear the conversation as their voices lowered. 

“They’re takin’ it really well.” JJ quipped sarcastically. You were sat in the middle of the two boys, Heyward’s truck not having a backseat made this drive even more dreadful. “How’d you get this rig?” The blonde asked the boy in the driver’s seat, referring to his father’s truck. “I know your old man didn’t let you have it.”

Pope spoke absentmindedly, eyes too focused on the girl arguing with her parents some feet away. “I undid the intake valves on the carburetor, made it start pinging.” 

JJ nodded his head in approval, shifting his weight in the seat. “Mm, and now you’re just gonna 'take it to your cousin Jeff’s house, just gonna get it fixed, and crash overnight’.” He suggested to which Pope agreed. “I think I’m rubbin’ off on you, Pope. Lyin’ to your old man, stealin’ his truck…”

You quickly nudged the blonde in his side, shooting him a look. He held his hands up in mock surrender and bowed his head. “Ma bad. Sore subject.”

Pope simply sighed, tipping the hat on his head. “I’d say we have about eighteen hours before my pops loses his shit. So long as we get it back before then, we should be good.” Just then, Kiara came storming in the direction of the vehicle, yelling at her parents over her shoulder.

“I’m not going to boarding school!” She shouted, JJ opening the door for the both of you to get out and allow her into the car but she paused in her tracks when her dad began shouting.

“Look at your life, right now! Look at your life!” Kiara looked around at the three of you and then back at her father, shrugging carelessly and not sparing a word. Pope then peeked his head out of the driver’s side window. 

“I, um, I promise to have her back at a reasonable hour and safe.” He threw out, holding his hand up as if he was asking permission. Kiara looked at him, shaking her head. 

“Kiara, listen to me,” Her mother started, not exactly yelling but her voice traveled clearly. “You wanna go? Then go. But if you don’t come back at the proper time, then don’t. Come back. At all!”

You turned to Kie from your place next to JJ. “Hey, don't even worry about it. It’s the same threat each time, you know they won’t go through with it.” You told her quietly, in hopes of not offending her parents but offering her some sort of comfort. 

Kiara didn’t say a word as she ducked into the car, you piling in as JJ squished himself in next to you. 

“This shit would be so much easier without parents...” She scoffed, throwing her bag down on the car floor as JJ shut the passenger side door.

You and him both shared a look, knowing Kie probably didn’t fully think about what she was saying or who was around. You both grimaced at one another before looking away.

“God, 's so hot in here.” She complained throwing her head back. “Remind me why we didn’t take your car again?” She directed the question at you. “I mean, isn’t it drive-able now? You and JJ spent like every day working on it…”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t have the willpower to make it to Charleston and back just yet.” You told her with a small shrug. The girl simply groaned, trying to adjust herself in between you and Pope so it wasn’t so tight.

“Okay, could you stop moving like that? It’s making it hard to drive.” Pope inquired, pulling out of her driveway and heading down the road.

“There’s no space dude, there’s twice as many people in here than this car was built for.”

“Okay, JJ and Y/N, can you guys lap up or something?” The suggestion almost made you cough. Sitting on JJ’s lap for the next few hours did not seem like a good idea, considering recent events.

“Why can’t she sit on my lap?” Kiara asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Because she’ll block the rearview.” Pope threw out, annoyance growing in his tone. 

You looked to JJ for some kind of reassurance, he simply nodded and motioned his hands for you to come on. The car was still moving so you tried your best to be careful, the blonde spreading his legs to make a little more room for you to sit between them.

Once you had yourself settled, it was almost like JJ didn’t know where to put his hands. He had them planted on his on thighs beforehand so he accidentally laid a hand on your thigh before quickly removing it.

“My bad.” He muttered nervously. You could see his face faintly in the passenger side mirror.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind. I’m the one kind of in your space, right now.” You shrugged, trying your best to come off nonchalant, as if this whole scenario didn’t make your heart go crazy. 

“You sure? I mean, I got pockets, I can just-”

“It’s cool, JJ.” You cut him off reassuringly, the blonde hesitating before letting his hand make home on your thigh. You didn’t know how to sit, if you should lean back on him, anything. But you figured if you made it awkward, it was going to be awkward. So you took a deep breath and simply leaned back into him, the boy making no protest about the movement. 

The only thing you couldn’t ignore was the growing erection that was pressing against your leg, harder by the minute. Heyward’s truck was no smooth riding vehicle, so the ride was quite bumpy. You could still see JJ’s face in the passenger side mirror and he looked mortified.

Neither of you were stupid — if you could feel it, you knew he definitely could. And if he could feel it, he felt terrible knowing you could too.

“I’m so fucking sorry.” He muttered out, coming out more like a sigh as he ran a hand down his face. You shifted your eyes to the left to see Kie on her phone and Pope was too occupied with driving, probably deep in thought about how much trouble he was going to be in if his pops found out about all this.

“It’s-” You cleared your throat before speaking, shrugging one shoulder. “It’s fine. Shit happens.”

“Nah, it’s not.” He groaned. “I can try and move so you can sit more on the seat-”

You cut him off quickly. “We’ll be at the Ferry dock soon. Honestly, JJ. Don’t sweat it.” You said finally.

The action did make a small well of discomfort bubble in your stomach with your last sexual encounter being non consensual and traumatizing. Just because it was JJ didn't quell any of your anxiety but you were trying not to live life as a victim.

A few deep breaths and you were calming down.

You could understand his humiliation and had your relationship with him been in different place, maybe you two would have laughed it off. But with this newfound depth of your “friendship”, it had you both sitting in silence the rest of the ride.

“MY PARENTS ARE SO PARANOID ABOUT ME BEING A POGUE LIKE IT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN…” Kiara complained leaning against the passenger door of the truck. The four of you had it made it to the ferry just in time to catch the current ride. You and JJ, who was rolling a blunt, were sat in the back of the pick-up truck across from one another, Pope leaning on the side paying the three of you no mind. The awkwardness between you two had alleviated by the time you reached The Ferry, but the situation still lingered in your mind.

Seagulls squawked as the boat sailed the water, the sizable ship making its way slowly but surely. 

“Hey, I hear they got good weed at boarding schools, though.” He replied optimistically. “Y’know, ‘cause all the rich kids got a shit ton of money to blow.”

Kie shrugged, dismissing the blonde’s hopeful piece of information. “I’m not going to boarding school.” She protested firmly. “If they want me to go, they’ll have to kidnap me. I don’t even know what their problem is. I mean, my dad was a pogue, you know that, obviously…” She trailed off, throwing an arm out in your direction. “They’re so hypocritical and overbearing. Why can’t my parents be more like yours?”

You couldn’t contain your expression of offense at Kiara’s words, the statement flowing so freely from her lips. So carelessly. “...You want a dead father and an underlying criminal mother who couldn’t give less of a shit about you?” The question was rhetorical but you wondered how she planned on explaining herself.

“Of course not, I didn’t mean it like that.” She cocked her head as if you were being unreasonable. “It’s just that, you can’t deny that this whole thing has been easier for you without parents watching your every move and breathing down your neck. That’s... all I was saying...”

You drew your lips into a thin line, arms crossing defensively. “Okay, well, my dad was murdered and my mother probably had something to do with it. Not to mention she tried to kill me, so not having two parents hasn't really been a choice for me, Kiara. But hey, ‘can’t deny that this whole thing has been easier’ for it, right?”

“I wasn’t saying-” She tried to defend with half a scowl on her face before Pope jumped in, JJ tapping your shoulder and offering you the blunt he’d been preparing. You took his from between his fingers, taking a long drag as Pope spoke.

“Okay, can we not argue? Please? I’m already mildly seasick enough as is.” He suggested, Kiara muttering a ‘fine’ under her breath as she adjusted her ponytail. “Kie, have you tried to hit JB back on that number?”

“Like, twenty-million times.” She groaned. “Some random lady at a hotel keeps picking up the phone.” 

Pope sighed, shifting his weight. “Well, until they contact us again, we gotta keep trying to clear John B’s name. Right now? This letter is our best bet.” He concluded, rubbing his hands over his head. You turned slightly to be able to see him, offering the joint to the boy.

His eyes fleeted between Kie and the smoking object, contemplating. She simply crossed her legs and arms, offering the boy a mischievous smile. “What Pope are you gonna be today?” She asked.

He seemed to ponder for a few more moments before shaking his head, you retracting the blunt and passing it back to JJ as he spoke to Kiara. “I’m good, gotta stay focused.” 

“I’ll take that.” JJ offered himself up, plucking the rolled object from your fingers with a smile.

Kiara simply nodded, her smile flattening out into a grimace. “Good Pope…” She said. “Boring Pope.” And you didn’t miss the way Pope’s face fell.

“I’VE READ THIS LIKE A THOUSAND TIMES AND IT STILL MAKES NO SENSE.” Kie explained from her place between Pope and JJ, you once again on the blonde’s lap as Pope cruised through Charleston. You’d gotten off the ferry a few hours ago, the sun now lower in the sky. “The Limbrey’s own like half of Charleston. What do some elite Kooks from Charleston known about a murder on Kildare?”

“I’m more concerned about why Pope specifically?” JJ questioned, eyes looking up at the driver. 

“Yeah. ‘Please come alone’? That’s off-putting, to say the least.” You added, sitting almost slanted in JJ’s lap in order to lean on the door. You were both a little hazy from the weed so your nerves were a lot calmer. 

“I had the same thought.” Pope chipped in. “I was thinking it’s probably because-” He cut himself off as a cloud of smoke erupted from the hood of his dad’s truck, blinding the road ahead. “Aw, shit, come on!”

“Pull over.” Kie demanded. “Jesus, that’s a lot of smoke. Even for your dad’s truck…” JJ began cough, you using your hand to cover his mouth as he rolled up the window. When he had it successfully rolled up, he gently removed your hand from his mouth. 

“Pope, I got sensitive lungs, dude.” He coughed out. A filter of smoke filled the car, you trying to wave it from in front of your face as it made your eyes burn. 

“I’m pulling over, okay?” Pope assured, but the car wasn’t slowing down. Pope swerved to the side but instead of pulling over, the car kept going off the curb until it was cruising through a patch of grass next to a quiet farm and you didn’t miss the rim that fell off of one wheel fly by the driver’s side window.

“Every time we let Pope drive, nothing goes right.” You muttered as the car came to an abrupt stop, the hood still smoking. You heard the engine die as Pope put both hands on top of his head. 

“No, no, no…” He whined as he hopped out of the car, JJ following suit and helping you before jumping out himself.

“It’s gonna blow up.” Kie worried, crawling out of the passenger side herself. 

“It’s not gonna blow up.” JJ told her, coughing one last time and rounding the hood as Pope attempted to fan the smoke away with his hat. “You most likely unhooked the radiator, Pope.” JJ suggested, eyeing the state of the vehicle. “Damn, you knocked the entire hubcap off.”

“Yeah, the Limbrey’s might have to take a rain check for tonight.” You added, scratching the back of your neck and eyeing Pope pitifully. The boy had a look on his face — somewhere between terror and disbelief.

“There’s still, uh, public transportation?” Kiara tried to reason, not seeming completely sure about the suggestion herself. You took it upon yourself to life the hood and examine the parts yourself, picking up a little bit about cars here and there from JJ.

“Yeah, it’s definitely the radiator…” You said aloud, sighing. Pope groaned loudly behind you.

“My dad’s gonna kill me!”

“No, he won't. I’m sure-” You were about to reassure the boy before you took one glance back at the car. The smoking, hubcap-less, mess of a car. “Okay, he might. He might…”

“Look, Pope, buddy, I’m sure there’s somethin’ we can do, right?” JJ offered, putting a hand on the solemn boy’s shoulder. You took the time to pull out your phone, you didn’t have many bars out here but enough to open up the ‘Maps’ app on your phone.

“There’s a mechanic garage about fifteen miles south of here.” You announced, looking out at your three friends. “Think your dad’s truck can make it fifteen more miles?”

THE SUN HAD COMPLETELY SET BY THE TIME THE FOUR OF YOU MADE IT TO THE GARAGE. What should’ve been a mere thirty-minute car ride took nearly an hour, Pope being too afraid to drive more than twenty miles an hour and making a pit stop to check under the hood again.

The boy in question was inside, negotiating with the owner of the shop. It was some place called Archie’s Auto Repairs, right next to a gas station and rest stop. You figured you were killing about three birds with one stone – car repair, refuel, and food.

JJ and Kiara were waiting in the truck while Pope spoke to the man in charge and you went inside to relieve yourself and get snacks. You were in the gas station bathroom, finishing up with washing your hands when you looked at yourself in the mirror.

Surprisingly, you didn’t look like complete shit. Your hair was a bit frizzy and you look tired but you looked better than you had in the last month. You felt better than you had in the last month. Ever since that text from John B came through, it felt like everything was returning back to it’s normal state, like your life had hit the refresh button.

And maybe after everything settles and John B is cleared, things could be different but in a good way. This new life you were building, with JJ and Marley, it was starting to make you envision you had never really seen before. A life with JJ as something more than a best friend. You’d thought about him like that a few times throughout your friendship but it was JJ. You needed him and you didn’t want to ruin something so special because you had an on and off crush. But this one stuck. Maybe it was the kiss, or the almost sleeping together, you didn’t know. But something in your head was screaming at you to give it a shot. Something inside of you was reaching for him, calling out for him.

So maybe, once everything was okay again, you could figure that out.

Leaving the restroom, you cruised down the aisles of the shops — candy bars, chip bags, and sugary drinks, the whole selection look appetizing when you hadn’t eaten in over five hours. You grabbed four sodas and two family sized bags of chips and took them up to the register, the older, gross looking man eyeing you up and down as he scanned your items.

“That’ll be nineteen sixty-eight.” He slurred, bagging your goods as you fished for the twenty in your back pocket. “You’re a pretty little thang, aren’t ya? How old are ya, darlin’?” He asked, leaning his arms on the cashier’s counter, bumping the register. You cringed, sliding the bill across the surface.

“Not old enough.” You sassed, snatching the bag from the counter and leaving out the door, the bell ringing above you as you left. “Perv.” You scoffed, rolling your eyes as your rounded the corner of the shop to see the truck come into view.

Just as quickly as you rounded the corner, you hid behind it. Your heart had stopped for a moment as your registered exactly what it was you had just seen. Biting your bottom lip, you slowly peeked your head around the corner to find that your eyes had in fact not deceived you — Kiara and JJ were kissing in the trunk of Heyward’s pick-up. She had both of her hands on his cheeks, pulling his face into hers as his own gripped the side of the truck for stability.

You immediately tore your eyes away when they pulled apart, hiding behind the wall once more. You couldn’t hear them. Maybe you were grateful for that. You were torn between wanting to cry and wanting lash out on them both. But maybe you had no right, maybe you were the fool in this situation.

It was JJ. JJ Maybank. Half of the female pogue population could probably describe in detail what was hidden beneath his pants. And Kiara? Well, who would turn her down? But she was supposed to be “with” Pope and JJ was giving you all types of green lights. But maybe you were blind and couldn’t see them for the red flags that they clearly were.

But you refused to cry. But that didn’t mean you weren’t pissed. You felt a bit played, in all honesty. And by JJ of all people. And how could Kie do that to Pope when he’s less than ten feet away? They weren’t together or anything, sure. But rules of friendship and respect just seemed so thrown out of the window in the past sixty seconds. 

So, shaking it off, you rounded the corner with the bag in hand. JJ was scratching the top of his head while Kie fiddled with her fingers in her lap before his eyes found you, immediately perking up.

“And the potty princess returns!” He threw his hands up in celebration. “Ooh, did she bring snacks? What’s in the bag?” He asked, coming closer. When he reached you, you pressed the bag into his chest, attempting to keep him at a distance. Letting him have the bag and not even sparing the two another glance, you hopped into the passenger side of the vehicle, absentmindedly slamming the door shut in your silent rage. You hadn’t realized that one of your hands was balled into a tight fist. Loosing your hand, you left crescent-shaped marks in your palm.

You didn’t know how you felt or what you wanted to do about. So you just sat there, listening to the night air, the crickets, the cars that passed by. You felt like JJ had just stomped on your heart and you weren’t even sure if you could be mad at him for it. But you should’ve known.

You’re a pogue. There’s always a calm before the storm. Nothing good comes without something bad.

A COUPLE HOURS HAD PASSED. Pope had found an empty field to park the truck in — shaded by a large, thriving willow tree. None of you really had enough money for a hotel and the money spent on one would be a waste, anyway. 

Surprisingly, there was no night chill in Charleston. The four of you opted to sleep in the trunk of the pick-up, using your jackets and flannels as blankets for comfort. You hadn’t spoken since witnessing what happened at the garage, even Pope was taking weird glances at you the entire ride.

At this moment, Pope was knocked out, Kiara right behind him. You felt a snarl of disgust edge your way onto your face when she leaned over to peck the curly-haired boy on his cheek before closing her own eyes and drifting off. What was she doing?

A part of you was angry that she and JJ kissed, of course. JJ had led you on with this ruse of giving yourselves time to figure out what was going between you two — whether is was grief-driven or genuine. And Kiara had been playing tug-o-war with Pope’s feelings for weeks, months almost, and the moment he has his back turned, she locks lips with his best friend.

As a friend group, you all had your moments. But you never went behind each other’s backs. Especially never like this.

So, you slept alone. As alone as you could, anyway. You were curled up in the farthest place in the trunk from the other three, closest to the front of the vehicle itself. The pit in your stomach was finally starting to settle as the beginning of sleep started to overtake you when a warm hand curled itself around your shoulder, startling you.

Your eyes shot open as you whipped your head to the side to find JJ’s face hovering over yours.

“Jesus.” You whisper-yelled, rolling your eyes before looking at the blonde once more. “What do you want?”

At your standoffish tone of voice and straight to the point question, the boy drew his lips into a thin line, letting his hand slide from your shoulder. “Okay, someone’s grumpy.” He tried to joke, a lazy smile on his face.

You stared blankly at him for a few beats, blinking. “Goodnight, JJ-”

“Okay, sorry sorry…” He protested quickly, looking behind him to make sure he didn’t wake the other two when the volume and pitch of his voice raised before looking back at you. You shifted to lay flat on your back, staring up at JJ as he stared down at you, leaning his weight on one of his arms. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been actin’ weird since we left that sketchy ass gas station.”

You simply cocked your head. “What’s wrong with me?” You whispered in response, an air of frustration surrounding your voice. “What’s wrong with you?”

He reeled his neck back at your reversal, his face twisting in confusion. “Wh-Nothing’s wrong with me. You basically threw a bag full of snacks at me and jumped into the truck. Did I say something? Was it the potty princess thing ‘cause you know I was just messin’ around.” He guessed, taking your lack of reaction and response as a sign that maybe that wasn’t the problem. “Did I do somethin’?”

“I don’t know, JJ. You tell me.” You pressed, eyes never leaving his own. He genuinely seemed to rake his brain for answers before settling on one that made your blood boil.

“No, I don’t think I did.” The statement sounded more like  a question when it tumbled from his lips. You couldn’t do anything but scoff and roll your eyes, prompting the blonde to try and clean up his answer. “Yes? I don’t know what you want me to say here-”

“Nothing.” You snapped. You were so hurt and angry that you could feel your eyes twitching as you looked at him. “I don’t want you to say anything else to me.” You warned, shifting to turn on your side and effectively away from him. “Ever again.”

“...C’mon, Y/N. Are you just fuckin’ with me or somethin’?” When you didn’t reply, he put a hand on your shoulder, attempting to pull you over to face him. You just shook him off. “Can you tell me what I did?”

The sadness in his voice almost made all the anger fall from your bones but you couldn’t allow yourself to be the weak and vulnerable. Especially not for him. Not anymore.

“No. Now, leave me alone.” You mumbled, shifting to get comfortable for the last time, hearing him sigh and lay down himself behind you. You felt one single tear fall across the bridge of your nose before you closed your eyes. Maybe it was a misunderstanding or something, but your brain couldn’t come up with any explanation of excuse that could explain what you saw. You wanted to talk about it but then again you didn’t. But you knew eventually you’d have to, tonight just wasn’t that night. In a million years, you never thought you’d feel this way because of your best friend.

For the first time in your entire life, you didn’t trust JJ.

“THEY’VE RUN CHARLESTON FOR, LIKE, THREE-THOUSAND YEARS.” Pope explained as the truck pulled to a stop in front of a large, three-story, gated property. It was the next morning and the sun had quite literally just set in the sky. Pope had woken the three of you up at the very first crack of dawn so you could make it there ‘on time’. You’d tried to remind him that ‘on time’ would’ve been last night, but you let him hang on to hope.

It didn’t help that the truck was significantly more crowded. You weren’t eager to sit on JJ’s lap this time around and surprisingly, Kiara wasn’t eager to take your place. Thankfully, the house was only a couple hours from where you slept.

“These Kooks make our Kooks look like Pogues.” JJ proclaimed, staring out of the window and up at the large, standing building. “You sure this is the place, Pope?” He asked, in awe of the property.

“Pretty sure.” The boy sighed, opening the driver’s side door and exiting, JJ following right after as you and Kie exited the vehicle as well, closing the doors behind them. The four you walked up the black, wrought iron fence. Pope held the note in his hands, reading off the address in confirmation.

“Talk about home security…” JJ trailed off, looking at the rather sizeable, sharp points at the top of the fence.

“Are those spikes to keep people out?” Kiara inquired.

Taking a good look at the property through the bars, you noticed a couple of things. You shook your head, a look of disappointment on your face. “No.” You spoke for the first time in hours, the three of them turning to you as you pointed to a section of the yard. “The slave quarters are over there.” You explained, looking at the three of them. “The spikes were to keep people in.” Was the last thing you said before heading up the steps to the front door, the three of them following behind you.

You let Pope take the reigns when you reached the door, him knocking three times on the structure before you heard heavy footsteps coming towards it from the other side. Despite the footsteps, almost a whole minute went by before anything happened.

Pope, nervous and jittery, went to knock again — getting two good ones in before someone opened the door. A middle-aged white man with small, beady eyes and short light brown hair. The expression on his face didn’t look like one of someone who was expecting guests.

Leaning against the door frame, he eyed the four you individually before settling on Pope, an odd smile growing on his features as he pointed at you friend. “You must be Pope.” He said almost excitedly, crossing his arms. Pope stumbled for a response. “Ms. Limbrey was expecting you yesterday.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. My car…broke down on the way up here.” Pope explained, trying to mask his  uneasiness. 

“Carburetor blew up in the middle of Nowheresville.” JJ voiced from behind Pope. He didn’t look nervous at all, he looked ready for anything. “Sorry ‘bout that.” He said, little emotion to his voice despite the apology.

“Yeah, she was, uh, real upset when you didn’t show up.” The man told Pope, a southern twang to his voice, almost as strong as Shoupe’s. 

“We tried to call but there’s no number on the invitation.” Kiara piped up smally, looking at the invitation as she spoke. “We got here as fast as we could…”

“She also expected you to come alone.” The male said, eyeing you, Kiara, and JJ as he said it. 

“Well, he didn’t, so…” You added in, crossing your arms and eyeing the man up and down. “Where’s the ‘she’ with all these demands anyway?”

Pope edged in front of you when the man took a threatening step forward, JJ also shuffling forwards. “Look, these are my friends. They helped find the Royal Merchant, too-”

“The instructions were explicit.” He cut Pope off mid-sentence, eyes boring into yours as he leaned forward, his voice lowering to a condescending whisper. “Your friends…can stay outside.” He reprimanded, straightening out and turning back to Pope.

“We’re kind of a package deal, man.” JJ turned his nose up at the man standing between the four of you and the inside of the house. 

Pope turned to the blonde. “JJ, it’s okay. I got this.” He assured, sending a small nod his way. JJ took his words at face value, sending a nod in return and taking a step back. 

“We’ll be right here…” Kiara trailed off in support, sliding a gentle hand down the length of Pope’s arm. You simply rolled your eyes, something JJ didn’t fail to notice. 

“We’ll keep the car running…” You warned, eyes never leaving the suspicious man in the doorframe. 

“Well, c’mon now. Ms.Limbrey can’t wait to see you.” He said, stepping aside to allow a weary Pope into the mansion. The boy in question entered the home, not without a glance back at the three of you out on the front step, the door closing menacingly slow behind him.

“Fucking creep.” You scoffed, turning and heading down the steps swiftly.

“Hey, where are you going?” Kiara asked, running after you, watching as you walked the length of the wrought iron fence, examining the spikes. 

“What does it look like? I’m gonna find a way into this…house of horrors.” You mumbled, shaking each of the poles for a weak spot, failing to find one. You resorted to attempting to climb the fence but didn’t even manage to get both feet up onto the structure at once. 

“And do what exactly? What if you trespass and ruin all our chances at clearing John B’s name?” The girl asked, her face twisting in annoyance as you sighed and hopped down off the fence, turning to face her. Shifting your weight, you shoved your hands into your back pockets before speaking.

“Oh, like you did when you made Pope drop the camera?.” You shrugged, jutting out your bottom lip. “Y’know, the one that had the video of Ward killing someone-”

“That wasn’t even my fault!” She defended.

“I think we all collectively agreed that it was…” You argued nonchalantly, shooting the girl a grimace before walking off in the direction of the parked truck that JJ was leaning against, watching the entire interaction occur.

Before you’d turned away you could’ve swore Kiara opened her mouth to reply, but one warning head shake from JJ and her lips were sealing themselves shut. You were about to open the passenger door when JJ’s hand gripped your upper arm, the blonde staring out in front of him with a stoic yet pointed look on his face.

“Can you let go of me-”

“Does that look voluntary?” He asked, tone deep. You followed his unwavering gaze to find a blonde woman and the man who opened the door leading Pope further into the yard behind the gate. Pope was looking back pitifully at the three of you as the man pushed him forward and the woman, a cane by her side and a limp in her walk, led them both further into the greenery.

“Not at all.” You practically whispered back, attempting to take a step forward when JJ tightened his grip. 

“Hold on, hold on.” You turned to him an impatient and questioning look on your face, throwing a hand out as a way to ask ‘what?’. “They’re goin’ around the back alley.” He said hurriedly, rounding the driver’s side of the truck as you hopped in the passenger side, Kie piling in beside you. “We’ll meet ‘em on the other side.”

JJ started the car, driving it slowly in order to draw too much suspicion — with the Limbreys or surrounding neighbors. You could almost hear all three of your hearts beating in panicked unison with every turn made. You didn’t know what these people wanted with Pope, but if they didn’t drop this whole super secret act, they wouldn’t be getting anything.

Driving and driving, and still no Pope. JJ eyes were focused ahead as you and Kiara looked to the sides of the road for any sign of him. “Where did they go?” Kie asked, peering out of the window. She sounded sad. The trio of you continued driving around, Pope nowhere in sight. You were starting to get worried, extremely worried.

If the Limbreys were like the Camerons of Charleston, there was no telling what they could be doing with your friend right now.

“Okay, stop the car.” You said, putting your hands on the dashboard.

“What?” JJ asked, although he slowed the vehicle down, bringing it to a stop on the side of the road. You reached over key and threw the passenger door open before climbing over the girl. “Where the hell are you going-”

“Ouch, that’s my- Ow!” Kie shouted.

You threw yourself out of the vehicle before standing up and dusting yourself off, looking side to side before deciding to go back in the direction the alley was in. Even if you didn’t see Pope, there was a way in and there was no way in hell you weren’t taking it.

You set off quickly in the direction of the alley, Kiara and JJ calling out for you before two pairs of footsteps were trailing behind you. You passed a few people on the sidewalk, unintentionally shoulder-checking them in your haste.

“Watch it!”

“Hey! Rude…”

Reaching the alley, you made a sharp turn into the greenery. You could hear grunts and groans that stopped you in your tracks — you were no stranger to the sounds of violence. Your power walk turned into a sprint, pushing leaves and branches out of your path before reaching Pope, who was beating on the creep who opened the door.

He had him pinned down to the concrete, both of them reaching for what seemed to be a taser. Your eyes fleeted between the two brawling guys and the weapon before you decided to kick the object behind you in the direction of Kiara and JJ.

Pope delivered one last blow to the man’s face before getting up. “C’mon.” You demanded, being the first to run away, back in the direction of the truck. The four of you took the short way — hopping over a cement wall that guarded a small portion of the yard. 

The car was a few feet away since you ditched the scenic route, the four of you wasting no time in jumping in. JJ in the driver’s seat with the three of you piled in as well.

“Who the hell were those people?” Kiara panicked, out of breath as she slammed the passenger door shut.

“I don’t know but they’re crazy as shit!” Pope’s voice cracked as he settled into the vehicle. “We need to get out of here now.” He warned, wide eyes drifting in JJ’s direction as the blonde started the engine and hit the gas almost all in one motion as the vehicle leaped forward, sending you all down the road.

Near moments after JJ had hit the gas, leaving a smoke trail in his wake, you looked behind you to see a car speeding behind you, the fishbowl windows allowing you to see the driver clearly. “Creepy guy recovers fast.” You panted, looking back ahead of you and prompting JJ to peek in the rearview mirror, pressing the gas a little harder.

“Here we go now!”

Heyward’s truck was going faster than you ever deemed possible, flying down the road. “Hey, JJ, slow down. This is a one-way.” Pope warned, the truck never slowing down. JJ was too focused to hear much of anything, you were gripping the seat for dear life. “This is a one-way!” Pope got louder as JJ started to reach a busier part of the town. A car suddenly appeared in front of you, the headlights blinding.

“Car, JJ! There’s a car!” You warned, grabbing a hold of the steering wheel yourself and making a right turn before the truck could collide with the SUV. Rounding the corner, you almost collided with two pedestrians — the two heads of blonde and light-brown hair looking eerily familiar for the slightest of moments.

“Jesus, look out!” Pope and Kiara said in unison as JJ took back control of the wheel and avoided hitting the two people.

“Get out of the road!” JJ shouted as he redirected the car on the street.

“Those were pedestrians!” Kiara reprimanded, gripping the passenger door for stability. 

“That was evasive driving technique right there, y’all!” JJ patted himself on the back as you turned to look out of the rear window to see the man still hot on your trail.

“You sure about that ‘cause he’s still following us.” You warned, looking at the blonde for the briefest of moments.

“Hang on, I’ll lose him.” JJ assured you all, making a sharp turn that sent the three of you crashing into each other. Just as he turned into an empty alley, a pop sound following a hiss of air and smoke came from the truck. “I thought you said he fixed carburetor!”

“He did!” Pope said as the car came to a stop of its own.

“No, Pope, he clearly did not!” JJ retorted as he opened the door, Kie doing the same on the passenger side. The four of you got out of the truck, fanning the air and coughing.

“Number one rule, never trust mechanics.” JJ spoke mainly to himself as you all grabbed whatever you brought along with you out of the trunk of the car just as the car following you pulled in the alley as well. “Shit. Go, go, go!”

The four of you booked, the smoke hopefully giving you a bit of time as you ran through the alley. You and Kiara looked behind you as you ran, seeing the man get out of his own car and tuck something into his jacket.

“He has a gun.” You muttered, looking back ahead as you ran. “He has a fucking gun!”

Pope and JJ glanced behind themselves, past you and Kie to see the man not far behind. The squad of you picked up the pace, making the first turn available but you swore you heard someone calling your names.

The man was picking up the pace as well, getting closer to you all. “We might have to split up!” JJ suggested from the forefront of the group.

“Are you crazy?” You shouted, being right behind the blonde. “No way!” You continued, almost tripping over an unleveled section of the concrete. JJ, not paying attention, ran into a mailman, sending the packages in his hand flying into the air.

“Sorry ‘bout that!” He apologized over his shoulder. JJ led you all into another alley, this one much narrower causing you all to run in a line. The guy was falling behind, which was a plus.

Coming out of the alley, you all came face to face with a couple on a bike almost getting run over by them. But after taking a longer look at the two people who almost pummeled you all with their bike, your heart dropped farther down in your body than it ever has.

Every single one of your five senses seemed to cease to exist in this moment. You couldn’t hear anything, white noise filling your ears as your vision blurred on the edges, only allowing you to see what you could only logically explain as two ghosts standing in front of you — a very much alive John B Routeledge and Sarah Cameron standing in front of you, covering in mud and dirt and who knows what else.

Whatever breath you had been holding in your lungs released itself, the release of air allowing your senses to return, almost like coming up out of the water.

All of your expressions were somewhere in between a blank stare and a smile. You wanted to reach a hand out to see if they were real.

“...Get in. Get in! Get in!” John B broke the silence. His voice hadn’t changed. It was exactly like you remembered. The four of you did as he said, still partially in shock, piling into the bike. You, Kiara, and Sarah crowded into the cab of the pedicab as JJ and Pope pushed it from the back as John B pedaled as hard as he could. 

You couldn’t take your eyes off of his back as he pedaled, unless of course it was to direct the same blank stare in Sarah’s direction. The Limbrey guy plus two other men were chasing the group of you now, JJ and Pope hopping onto the sides after it gained enough speed to ride smoothly with the six of you on it.

The entire ride to the boat, your friends were whooping and cheering. And on the inside you couldn’t be happier or more relieved at how well the universe seemed to work in your favor but for some reason, your body wasn’t so eager to show it on the outside. 

For a whole month, you’d grieved someone who wasn’t dead.

Once you reached one of Ward’s boats the Sarah knew the location of — My Druthers Too, you all wasted no time jumping into it, sailing in the direction of The Outer Banks. Back home.

feedback is appreciated! thanks for reading.

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©loveharlow.

[miley1442111]

what about reader (jj's sister) and rafe getting into a fight and they go to a party separately, and reader makes him jealous and he ends up exposing them to the pogues and it's huge fight

omg this is such a fun idea! idk if i did it justice but I hope you like it <3

family feud

a/n: this isn't exactly canon rafe bc this rafe isn't fully insane so sorry if that bothers you lol. i wrote this for a fem reader and reader wears a dress but imagine whatever you want :) also sorry, jj is kind of an a-hole in this one :(

pairings: rafecameron x reader, brotherjjmaybank x sisterreader, platonicpogues x reader

summary: rafe pisses you off, you got to a party and piss him off... but what happens when jj, your brother, finds out about him?

I'm mad. I'm really fucking mad. I want to piss Rafe off just as much as he pissed me off. The one day a month that my house is empty and we can actually spend time together, Rafe ghosts me and goes fucking golfing. So yeah, I go to the party in a dress that he got me, one he wanted me to wear for him. So…. I wear it to dance with Pope. Pope and I will never see each other like that, we're like siblings, but he’s the only pogue who knows and is even slightly ok with Rafe and I dating. He still hates him, so he’s enjoying this. I catch a glimpse of him. His eyes are dark and he’s staring, a red solo cup in his hand. He nods at me to come over, I shake my head and focus on dancing. The music is loud, really loud. My feet hurt from dancing and honestly I want to make up with Rafe. I want to be near him. I want to stop ignoring his texts. His hundreds of texts. His hundreds of calls.

I had to start leaving my phone at home he was calling me so much. I feel bad, but the idea of reconciling with him feels far-fetched and I'm not bothered to text him back. I don't even know where my phone is.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“He’s looking,” Pope shouts over the music. I haven't seen Rafe for an hour, I don't even see him now.

“Let him look!” I chuckle back. “He fucking deserves it!”

Is this the best way to communicate my feelings? No. Should I probably just tell Rafe how upset I am? Maybe, but knowing him he’d just treat me like one of his groupies, which I am not. I’m his girlfriend of 8 months. 

I feel a hand grab my arm and I gasp. I look up to see Rafe. 

“What the fuck is your problem?” I hiss, trying not to draw attention to ourselves. Pope steps away, saying something about getting another drink.

“You. You’re my fucking problem. You come here, in that fucking dress I bought you and you dance with Pope fucking Heyward. You don’t give me any fucking attention after I’ve been blowing up your phone for days,” He’s mad. He’s really fucking mad.

“Sorry, I was too busy,” I smirk, snatching my arm back. 

“Busy doing fucking what exactly?” He smiles one of his bitter-angry smiles and my sense of pride strengthens. I’m making Rafe Cameron mad. I’m making Rafe Cameron jealous.

“Golfing,” I smirk and his face drops.

“That’s what this shit is about?! If you would’ve just fucking asked baby- I would’ve come over, and none of this would’ve fucking happened! I wanted to be with you that day- fucking Topper pissed me off all fucking day- baby, you should’ve told me-” He gets cut off by a swift punch to the face.

“Get the fuck away from my sister Rafe, or I’ll kill you myself,” Jj shouts, John B holding him back. Rafe gets up from the ground, I can see how furious he is and I grab his hand, leading him away from my brother. He obliges and follows behind me. I weave him through the party-goers, Kiera and Jj shouting my name as we slip away. I bring him into the bathroom, sitting him on the counter as I search for a first-aid kit. 

“He shouldn’t have done that,” Rafe sighs, his breathing sporadic. “Topper, he’s- he’s gonna- he’s gonna beat him u-up. He-he’ll kill him i-if he gets the chance.”

I look up at him, first-aid-kit in hand. “Baby, breathe. I’ll text him now.” I take out my phone and send Topper a message, making him promise to not touch my brother or friends. He promises he won’t, but I know better and tell him to get the car started and that I’ll bring Rafe out to him in a few minutes. “See,” I show Rafe the messages. “He’s going to the car.” 

“Ba-baby I’m so sorry,” His eyes start to water, and my heart breaks. “I shouldn’t have-”

“It’s ok Rafe. I was just mad, I’m sorry,” I smile and start to clean his cut lip. His hands find their way to my waist, holding me gently. 

“I love you,” He blurts out and I drop my hand from his face. His face goes red and he looks down, I smile. Rafe Cameron; Kook King- loves me. Hm. 

“I love you too handsome. But right now, let’s focus on not getting mauled by my brother again, yeah? Let’s get you to the car and then home,” I smile and kiss his cheek, taking his hand to bring him home. He nods and follows. Outside the bathroom is Jj.

“What the fuck are you doing with him?” He grunts, stopping us from walking by.

“We’ll talk about this later Jj-”

“We’ll talk about this now,” He pushes. 

“Jj, fuck off!” I push past him and bring Rafe behind me. We get out of the house to the backyard where almost everyone is and I hear Jj practically scream my name. Everyone looks either to him or me and Rafe and I sigh. 

“Jj please-” I try but he cuts me off.

“You wanna tell me what’s going on between you two? Or do I have to ask around?” Jj shouts and grab someone’s collar, “You know somethin’?” The guy shakes his head, cowering back. He drops him and walks closer. 

“Jj, stop being a dick-”

“We’re dating. We have been for 8 months,” Rafe pipes up from behind me and Jj’s mouth drops open. He lunges forward, but instead of getting to Rafe, he knocks me to the ground. My head hits the hard ground and I whimper in pain. Rafe is immediately by my side.

“You’re ok baby, don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine,” he soothes as he cradles my head in his hands. 

“Rafe,” I start to cry into his touch as I feel Jj’s hand in mine. 

“I-I’m sorry,” Jj sighs. “I’m so sorry.”

“Dude, back up,” John B pulls Jj away as Rafe helps me up. 

“Can we go home?” I whisper to Rafe as I wrap my arm around his bicep, holding onto him for steadiness. 

“Of course baby.”

I knew I would inevitably have to deal with Jj but tonight, tonight is for Rafe and I.

[thepinkmermaidprincess]

OBX MASTERLIST ˚⋆🎀｡⋆♡.🍰✧˚

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ jj maybank

🎀 icecream baby

🎀 deep like the sea

🧁 kook!pink!bunny!reader x jj

text between them

strawberry cinnamon rolls

🧁 pogueprincess!reader

butterfly

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ john b

🎀 something sensational

🎀 pink lingerie

🧁 unicorn!reader x john b

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ pope heyward

🎀 the boy is mine

🎀 nasty girl

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ rafe cameron

🎀 please please please

🎀 tanned skin,light eyes

🎀 always be my baby

🎀 dance for you

🎀 brat

🎀 fashionjournalist!reader x rich!ceo!rafe moodboard

🧁 kook!princess!doll!reader x soft!pogue!rafe

text between them

🧁 butterfly!pogue!reader x rafe

🧁 pogueprincess!reader x rafe

[stargirlinterludefr]

texting with boyfriend pope heyward <3

[boysssofthemonth]

If We Had It Our Way | Fifteen

Rafe Cameron Social Media AU

Synopsis: Growing up and living life as a pogue had its ups and downs. Mostly downs. Y/n studied diligently, a trait ingrained at a young age by her single mother. With her sharp intellect, Y/n was recognised as the top in all her classes, whilst attending a few subjects above her year level. To relieve some financial burden, Y/n tutored fellow students, some in her public school and if she was lucky, some students from Kildare Academy. She favoured tutoring opportunities from these families as they offered higher rates. She was proposed an offer by a teacher to tutor Rafe Cameron, only the scariest and richest Kook on the island. Actually second, as his dad took first place. Teaching was the easy part, interacting with Rafe? Now that was a different story.

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Masterlist

Tags: @leah-loves-lilies @rafeslittleangel @fals3-g0d @ynmunson @alexiskirkland @rafesdrew @urmomsgirlfriend1

[blues-valentine]

*OBX3 SPOILERS*

Cleo’s transition to being a pogue was executed seamlessly. I really love how she just seems like she belongs in there already. A lot of shows fail to introduce new characters in established dynamics but this one was handled beautifully. She’s such an important part of the group now. Her relationship with Pope was so energetic and sweet to watch and I cannot wait for season 4 to give us more of them together but I just wished they gave us Cleo interacting with everyone in the group and not just Pope.

[cherienymphe]

When The Party’s Over XII (Rafe Cameron x Reader)

Warnings: NON-CON, mentions of DUB-CON, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, forbidden relationship, violence, public sex, jealousy, underage drinking, drug use, manipulation, corruption, forced pregnancy, innocent reader, Heyward!reader

➥ banner by @vase-of-lilies​ | divider by @silkholland​​

➥ series masterlist

summary: Manipulated into a secret relationship with Rafe Cameron, you’re finding it much easier said than done to do the right thing and walk away…especially when he refuses to let you.

~

You felt heavy.

You remembered reading books and watching movies and tv shows that featured some traumatic event or another, and the narrator or character always described the aftermath feeling as ‘numb’. You thought that made sense, that their entire body would just seemingly shut down, mind retreating within itself to protect themselves from the trauma. You thought it was fascinating how the brain, the thing that made everything else work as they should, would kick into overdrive to protect itself and its person from completely losing it.

You didn’t get that feeling.

No, you felt heavy.

The weight of Rafe’s actions on the boat pressed down on you like the very water he held your head under. You felt so heavy and overwhelmed. You felt like your body was filled with sand, like you could barely move, and maybe that was why you spent your prison sentence in bed. Pope’s failure to properly come up with a reason as to why your dad shouldn’t go into your room had resulted in your discovered absence.

You hadn’t even cared when he tore into you, going on about irresponsibility and danger. In fact, you’d been relieved. You’d been so relieved that you had cried, throwing yourself at him and taking him by surprise as he slowly hugged you back.

“I’m sorry,” you had mumbled, meaning those two words more than you ever had.

You were sorry that you’d snuck out to see Rafe, resulting in being isolated with the volatile boy. You were sorry that he’d gotten drunk, proceeding to go on a jealous tirade and accuse you of sleeping with Topper, or at the very least, wanting him. You were sorry he’d attacked you, holding your head underwater like some asshole he was fighting at a party instead of…well, his girlfriend.

You were sorry that Rafe was sorry, crawling back to you later that night, filled with regret and desperation as he pleaded with you to forgive him. You were sorry that he scared you so bad that you genuinely didn’t know what he’d do if you kept refusing him, shaking at the thought of being stuck in the middle of the ocean with someone who was not who you thought they were. You were sorry that you let him kiss you, allowing your body to move on autopilot as he laid you down.

You were even more sorry that you forced yourself to hold him, nails digging into his skin and eyes squeezed shut as he fucked you into the bed, a million apologies leaving his lips as he pressed kisses along your skin. You cried the whole time, beyond thankful for the darkness, Rafe mistaking your uneven breathing for excitement instead of fear. How funny that two of the worst experiences of your life happened on the same day…by the same person.

After being grounded for two more weeks, you couldn’t run to your room fast enough.

…and that was where you’d been ever since.

Every call or facetime request from Rafe went ignored. Every text was met with some dry half excuse as to why you couldn’t talk or see him. You knew that it couldn’t go on forever. You knew that you would have to build the courage and actually have the conversation with Rafe, the conversation that you genuinely didn’t think you’d have. At least, not anytime soon.

Every time you remembered what happened, you wanted to cry all over again. You thought you didn’t have any more tears left in you, but every new day proved you wrong. Genuine coke fueled accidents were one thing. Rafe being unaware of his own strength and anger in the middle of the street could even be another thing, but the way he’d deliberately hurt you? The way he’d gone out of his way to intimidate you and dole out a punishment that he felt was justified? That was something else entirely.

It hurt even more to think about the fact that the little incidents you’d accepted as nothing to linger on were actually signs all along. It hurt to think about the grace you’d given him and the faith you’d had in him had been in vain. You’d thought that Rafe was just a good guy who was deeply troubled, someone who so badly wanted to be better but just fucked up sometimes.

You didn’t want to even consider that he might just be a bad person.

Or at the very least, bad for you.

It was rare that you were grounded, and while your family probably expected some moping, you could tell that your voluntary seclusion was worrying them. It was evident in the way Pope had started to knock on your door, asking if you were going to eat. Sometimes you did, reluctantly getting up and telling yourself there was no sense in starving yourself. Sometimes you didn’t think you could keep anything down, too overcome with a heavy sadness that had you telling Pope ‘no’.

Beyond the sadness though…was fear.

You needed to break up with Rafe.

Even just the thought of that conversation had your stomach turning, feeling like you were going to be sick every time his name flashed across your screen. His calls and texts were becoming more frequent, and sometimes you had to turn your phone completely off just to feel like you could breathe. When he was drunk and filled with a delusional jealous rage, he’d tried to drown you. The thought of what he might do if you broke up with him made you lightheaded, but that was exactly why you needed to do it.

The next time he called, you finally answered.

You’d always been under the impression that everyone deserved a proper breakup, a respectful one, but if you could help it, you would never even see Rafe again. Not even to dump him. It hurt to say that he didn’t deserve that, and quite frankly, you didn’t know how he’d react.

“She lives,” he drawled when you picked up the phone, the sound of his voice making you feel too many things to differentiate them all. “I was starting to think you’d been kidnapped, and someone was just using your phone to fuck with me.”

You didn’t join him when he chuckled, and you could tell that he noticed.

“You okay?”

No, you weren’t. You could barely eat, you could barely sleep, and you needed to break up with your boyfriend, but he terrified the crap out of you.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?”

“Rafe, you can’t call me that anymore.”

The words had just slipped out before you knew it, and once they were out there, there was no taking them back. You closed your eyes, rubbing your forehead at the silence on the other end. Your heart was racing, and you were so beyond sure that you were going to throw up any second, but you couldn’t stop. You’d taken the first step, and you couldn’t just stop walking.

“In fact…you can’t call me, at all anymore,” you rushed out. “I don’t want to see you anymore.”

The silence was loud, and you slowly sat down on the floor, your back against your bed as you stared at your dresser. You counted the number of knobs, skin growing cold as you waited for him to say something—anything.

“Is this about what happened on the boat?”

“No-.”

“Bullshit.”

He was right. That was bullshit, and you didn’t even know why you’d lied. Maybe because it wasn’t just about what happened on his boat. It was horrible, sure, and had probably traumatized you in ways you weren’t even aware of yet, but it was also a wakeup call. It wasn’t all your fault for choosing to have faith in Rafe, for being forgiving when you thought he was genuinely sorry and was going to change. Especially when he hadn’t gone out of his way to hurt you, but that day on the boat had you rethinking everything.

Now, you didn’t even know if all those other times had been as accidental as they’d seemed, as he’d made them out to be. You didn’t know what to believe anymore, but you did know for a fact that that day on the boat was no accident. It was no small thing you could just brush aside like all the rest.

“Rafe, you tried to drown me,” you whispered, continuing when you heard him take a deep breath. “You accused me of sleeping with Topper and-.”

“I said I was sorry,” he breathed, and you shook your head.

“Maybe you really are sorry, I’ll give you that, but surely you get why that doesn’t change anything…right…?”

He was silent for a few moments, and there was no desire in you to see what he looked like, right now.

“What can I do? What do I have to do to fix this?”

“You can’t! You-.”

You cut yourself off, taking a deep breath.

“I’m terrified of you.”

More silence met you at your confession.

“I can’t be with someone who scares me, who I feel like I can’t trust,” you whispered. “You can’t fix this.”

“So, that’s it?”

His voice was harder, now, icier, and you swallowed.

“I don’t get any say? I don’t even get the respect of you looking me in my fucking face and telling me it’s over?”

“I don’t want to see you,” you honestly told him. “Ever again if I can help it.”

You heard Rafe release a shaky breath, and the chuckle you heard was filled with bitterness.

“I make one mistake-.”

“It’s not just one mistake! Never mind the fact that this isn’t the first time you hurt me, but what you did wasn’t some little thing,” you cried. “If anyone else knew what you did to me…they’d be dragging me to the police station to get you arrested. Do you get that?”

“I don’t care about anyone else or what they might think. I care about the fact that you know what I’m dealing with, and you know how hard it is for me, and you decide you’re going to leave me over some little fuck up,” he quietly said, voice scarily calm. “I care about the fact that you think you can just end this like this-.”

“I am,” you told him, tone incredulous. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry about your family and your dad and-.”

“No, you’re not,” he laughed.

“Yes, I am! I’m sorry, Rafe, I really am-.”

“If you were, you wouldn’t be trying to break up with me, right now! You would understand!”

You looked towards the ceiling, tears kissing your eyes, and you swiped your tongue between your lips. You’d learned that Rafe lashed out when he was hurt, and you tried not to let his anger get to you, but you couldn’t deny the way you shook.

“I am sorry, Rafe. I… I promise that I am,” you choked out. “I’m really sorry.”

You heard him heave a heavy sigh, and he chuckled to himself, and you could almost picture the way he’d look down, tongue pressed to the inside of his cheek with that humorless grin on his face.

“Nah,” he drawled. “You’re not. You’re not sorry.”

You opened your mouth when he continued.

“…but you will be.”

You froze, knees kissing your chest as you stared ahead.

“If this little tantrum or whatever makes you feel…powerful, good about yourself, then have at it,” he softly chuckled. “Spend the next month hiding out in your bedroom just to feel like you actually did something, if you must, but…”

Rafe paused, humming to himself.

“I will make you sorry for trying to leave me…and especially now when I really fucking need you.”

His voice was cold, tone venomous and nasty and unlike anything you’d been on the receiving end of. You hadn’t even realized you were crying, reaching up to wipe your face. You’d been holding your breath, and when you exhaled, it was shaky.

Rafe heard.

“I’ll show you just how mean I can be…and then you’ll really have something to cry about.”

You pulled your phone away, not bothering to hear anything else he might’ve had to say, and your fingers shook when you hung up the phone.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come by Topper’s later? One of Kelce’s friends got them a ridiculous amount of beer,” Cam said, lightly bumping her shoulder with yours.

It was the first night you’d left your house in weeks. You’d officially been ungrounded just a week more than that, and you didn’t need to be a mind reader to know that your lack of desire to leave your room, let alone the house, was throwing your family for a loop.

“You know you’ve been off punishment for almost two weeks, now,” you dad had said one day, awkwardly standing in the doorway of your room with his hands in his pockets.

“Just not up to much,” you had lied. “Tired, mostly.”

It was a half-truth. Rafe’s words had left a sour taste in your mouth, and there was nothing in you that wanted to get out and do anything. You told yourself that he’d just been lashing out, letting his anger consume him for what he felt was a slight on your part. However, there was a good portion of you that shook your head at that. There was something in you that told you that Rafe was completely serious, his anger nothing to scoff at, and the thought that he could turn on you so easily both hurt and scared you.

You’d expected that he wouldn’t take it the best, but that kind of anger from him was something you had only been on the receiving end of once…and he’d been drunk out of his mind.

Not to mention that you were in fact tired these days. You chalked it up to stress, completely oblivious to just how much your relationship with Rafe had taken out of you. It would make sense that now that he was gone, your body and mind were playing catch up, forcing you to actually stop and get back the energy you’d unknowingly been expending.

However, when Bunny had texted you repeatedly, begging you to come out with them, you’d reluctantly agreed. It was mostly because you didn’t need your family worrying or prying, but you’d also missed their faces. It didn’t seem fair to let Rafe ruin every aspect of your life.

So, that was how you found yourself on the beach with a drink in your hand.

“I’m not really in the mood,” you told the redhead with a shrug, no doubt in your mind that Rafe would be there.

Besides, even if you were bold enough to look Rafe in the face and show him he didn’t scare you, you wondered if Topper would even let you in the door. You could only imagine what Rafe had said to him to make him that scared to even hold eye contact with your for a few seconds. The reminder of that angered you, and you took a sip.

You glanced around, recalling that you’d seen John B. in passing a while ago, and you were unsurprised to spot him with his friends, your brother included. They were all looking towards Sarah…who was arguing with Rafe. You paused at the sight of him, pulling your lip between your teeth and turning away. Kelce was here with Cam, but he had come alone.

You should’ve expected Topper to show up at some point too, and expecting him without expecting Rafe was laughable.

The blond had been periodically calling you, leaving a string of voicemails that you didn’t dare listen to. You didn’t even want to see what he’d texted you, and it got so bad and suffocating that you’d just blocked him. You wondered if all the messages were filled with apologies, and while you surmised that some probably were, you knew better. Rafe’s anger on the phone that day didn’t seem like something going away anytime soon.

You forced him out of your mind while somehow remaining conscious of your decision to avoid him. It worked, spending your night at Bunny’s side. She seemed to notice your desire to steer clear of the boys, lingering alone whenever Cam ran off to find Kelce who was with the two blondes. However, you were forced to think about Rafe again when he got into a fight that drew everyone’s attention.

You didn’t know how it started, but you could only be sure that you weren’t the cause this time. Both seemed drunk or high, but that didn’t deter Rafe. Funnily enough, you’d say that whatever was in his system actually helped him, wincing as he punched the other guy without any intent of stopping.

Now that you were broken up, it was like seeing him in an entirely different light.

He didn’t look troubled, he looked absolutely terrifying. You didn’t watch him with concern for his wellbeing coursing through you, but instead fear and an intense desire to get very far away. He looked mindless, blue eyes cold and alight with a violent fire all at the same time, muscles spasming as he punched the guy over and over again.

Watching Top and Kelce try to get him to stop had you swallowing.

You recalled that night at the party, the night that resulted in a bruise that didn’t heal for weeks, and you wondered what could’ve possessed you to go towards him when he was like that. Your lips trembled, and your stomach churned, the beer not settling so well. The sight made you want to be sick.

You paused and blinked.

You were going to be sick.

Bunny’s attention was drawn away from the fight when you coughed, vomit spilling out of your mouth as you rushed to lean over.

“Oh my God,” she cried, grabbing your cup, her other hand coming up to rub your back.

You turned away, and she helped you walk, guiding you towards some bushes. You were shocked to find that you weren’t done, and when you were finally able to catch your breath, you felt more hands on your back.

“What happened?”

Your heart sank at the sound of Pope’s voice, and you wiped your mouth, desperately wanting that salty taste to go away.

“I-I don’t know. Maybe too much beer on an empty stomach because she just started throwing up,” Bunny explained.

You rolled your eyes at the disappointed sound Pope let out.

“The first night out since you’re not grounded anymore and-.”

“Will you shut up?” you snapped, turning to look at your brother.

His deep frown at your tone had you swallowing, but with everything you were dealing with, you didn’t have the patience to hear whatever snarky thing he wanted to throw on top. You could feel Kie’s eyes on you from by his side, and you turned away, taking a deep breath and waiting for your stomach to settle.

“Cam and I will take her home,” Bunny, said, trying to ignore the awkward atmosphere.

“Your redheaded friend who’s been drinking all night, too? Uh uh. I don’t think so,” Pope said. “Kie can take you.”

You were going to protest when your stomach started turning again, and you reluctantly accepted that you should just call it a night. When you glanced up, your eyes met familiar blue ones, and you watched the way his gaze fell onto Pope. He seemed calmer, now, but his face was as stony as ever as Topper tried to give him some water, looking back to you.

Rafe kept his gaze connected with yours, and you swore it was like he could see right into you. You watched him take a sip, looking at you from over the rim of the cup. Looking into his eyes for the first time since the breakup didn’t make you as conflicted as you feared it might. If anything, it only made you more resolved in your decision, especially as you watched Rafe toss his cup to the ground and take a step towards you.

You turned away just as Topper placed a hand on his chest.

“Let’s go,” you grumbled, crossing your arms over your chest and hurrying to get off of the beach.

You were home alone when Pope came storming into the house, slamming the door so hard that it actually made you jump. You were getting something to drink in the kitchen, not having a taste for much of anything lately, and when he breezed by, you could tell by his demeanor that something was wrong. Maybe you still felt like crap for snapping at him the other night, and that’s why you followed after him, calling his name.

He ignored you at first, but when it became clear that you were choosing now to play the concerned sister, he stopped and sighed. He threw his head back, just standing there for a moment as he seemingly gathered his thoughts. At least, that was what you had assumed…until he turned around.

Your sharp inhale was loud in the house.

“What the hell?” you breathed, reaching for him. “What happened?”

There was still a bit of blood on his lip, and the knot on the side of his head was as nasty as it was obvious. You watched Pope’s jaw clench, taking a deep breath as he licked his lips, licking the blood away.

“Rafe and Topper jumped me.”

You felt like you got the air knocked out of you.

Pope’s words hung in the air, and your hands fell, mouth falling open. You stared at him in disbelief, not quite processing what he’d said despite how clearly he’d spoken them. The longer your mind lingered on them, the sicker you felt, and you took a step back.

“What?” you breathed.

You could feel a burning behind your eyes, and you struggled to swallow, a dangerous cocktail of emotions flowing through you. Rafe? Topper? Your mind went to Midsummers and the small argument you’d had with Rafe when him and his friends had jumped JJ. You remembered your anger and disappointment with his actions, but you also remembered your concern when it came to your brother. Rafe had assured you they were unfounded, promising you that he’d never touch Pope…

So long as you were with him.

An angry tear escaped, and Pope mistook it’s meaning.

“I’m fine,” he sighed, shaking off his hat. “Just those assholes being assholes.”

You pressed your lips together, chest growing tight.

“Why?” you finally asked, voice thick with emotion.

It didn’t matter what reason Pope gave you. You knew why.

“JJ sort of got them back for what happened at Midsummers and well…you know how it goes around here…”

You clenched your jaw, knowing that was bullshit. Rafe could’ve easily retaliated against JJ, but no. He chose to take it out on Pope for a reason, and when Pope finally disappeared into his room, more tears fell. You went into your own room, stomach churning at the thought of Rafe jumping Pope just to hurt you. You sniffed, pressing your hand to your mouth as you made your way to your bathroom, dreading the salty taste along the inside of your cheeks.

You leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths and forcing yourself to calm down. Your stomach still turned, but it was lessening some, and you finally let out a sob. It didn’t feel real, none of it, and you slid to the floor.

It didn’t make sense to you, and you didn’t know if you were just that blind or if Rafe was just that good. You’d known of Rafe’s reputation long before that night he’d picked you up, but you weren’t crazy to think he’d become better, especially with the way he was treating you. He’d been so sweet, and while not perfect, he’d been good to you. Even that night at Midsummers, you’d believed him when he said he wouldn’t touch Pope.

It had never occurred to you that he would should you ever broke up.

Why would it? It was such a cruel thing to do, and a fresh wave of tears spilled over. You thought about his hand in your hair, holding you under water. You thought about his voice on the phone that day, so cold and unlike what you thought he was. Thinking about his words still made you shudder, and you brought your knees to your chest. You were realizing that this Rafe, the Rafe who was an enemy, the Rafe who got mean when he didn’t get his way…was a stranger to you.

It was like night and day, and it terrified you…because you didn’t know him, at all.

You wiped your face, trying to hold back more tears when you glanced up.

You didn’t register what you were seeing, at first, but the more you stared at it, the more you frowned. You felt your heart skip a beat, and suddenly, Pope was the last thing on your mind. For the first time in weeks, over a month really, you felt numb. You finally felt numb.

Your pads were on top of your toilet like they always were…

…and you couldn’t remember the last time you’d used one.

[princessbrunette]

Deer!reader who’s always getting lost in crowded places and bf!pope who panics every time (tries to remain calm but fails😔)

"⭒˚｡⋆🦌⋆⭒˚｡"

“dude, we’ll find her it’s fine.” jj slaps his shoulder, undoubtably more chill than the heyward boy was feeling in that moment — standing up straight as he scans over what seems to be a million heads looking for yours.

“okay well do you see her, jj? because i don’t.” pope tries to keep his voice level to convince himself that he’s really calm. now of all times was the worst for you to just disappear.

your heart was racing, you hated being separated from pope as it was — and now you stood in the centre of a moroccan market, far from home with no cell service to be able to text him and ask him to come get you. you hug yourself, trying not to cry. be a big girl, that’s what pope would tell you to do.

you’re really about to give up and start freaking out, before a hand shoots out of seemingly nowhere and grabs your wrist, yanking you towards the familiar body.

“what did i tell you? no running off!” pope exasperates, and you could tell he was frustrated but you throw yourself at his chest anyway, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“pope!” you breathe.

“are you shaking?” his voice softens a little, pulling back to check you over. you shrug, shy all of a sudden because you knew it was silly to get so scared — but you truly couldn’t go anywhere without him. “you’re okay, yeah?”

“yeah, i’m sorry.”

“no you’re… fine. i need to take better care of you. come on, so not letting go of your hand this time.” he extends his palm, wiggling his fingers and you take it happily, bounding along at his side.

"⭒˚｡⋆🦌⋆⭒˚｡"