#ward cameron x oc

[wambsroy]

beautiful crime

pairing: ward cameron x vydia reeds (oc)

warnings: gun use

word count: 700

a/n: this is just a draft also i hope it’s alright bc english is not my first language

—

The Druthers swayed calmly on the water, the moon was hanging tall, casting its reflection on the ocean like a sparkling reflect. Ward, in any case, had no time to appreciate the view. He had been busy, quietly planning the final subtle elements of his escape. He knew the walls were closing in, and he needed to vanish before everything unrevealed.

His expression was tense as he loaded bags onto the boat, filled with cash and documents. Ward had planned everything meticulously—except for one obstacle he hadn’t foreseen: Vydia Reeds.

As he climbs to the upper deck, he sees her standing there, a shadow waiting for him. Her arms crossed, her gaze icy. That wasn’t the alluring, mysterious woman he had shared kisses and intense moments with. It was an FBI agent, now fully revealed.

“Vydia,” he muttered, surprise laced with tension in his voice. “I knew you��d figure it out.”

She didn’t move. “So this is it? You were just going to run? Take the money and leave everything behind?” The sarcasm in her voice was palpable, but there was a deep hurt underneath. “Were you planning to just disappear without even a goodbye?”

Ward walked slowly toward her, his expression dark. “You know i don’t have a choice. They’re going to catch me. I couldn’t… i couldn’t let it drag you down too.”

“Oh, now you care, don’t you? Now that the truth’s out.” Vydia laughed bitterly. “You always knew who i was, didn’t you? from the start.”

Ward rubbed a hand over his face in frustration. “I found out before you confronted me, but by then it was too late. I was… too involved. Dammit Vyd, you have to understand, none of this between us was a lie.”

She stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger and bitterness. “How can you say that? You lied the entire time. You killed Big John, fooled everyone—including me! And now you expect me to believe that what we had was real?”

Ward felt the weight of her words. He knew she was right, but he also knew something real grew between them. “I can’t change what I did, but this… us, Vyd, that wasn’t a lie.”

She pulled back her jacket, revealing her gun, pointing it at him. “Do you think that makes it okay? Do you think I can just forget that you’re a murderer?”

He stared at her, the tension between them thickening. Ward then slowly draws his own gun, though he keeps it lowered, showing no intention to use it. “I’m not what you think. I did what I had to do to protect my family. To survive. You, of all people, know how dirty this game can be.”

“Don’t compare me to you,” she snaps, the sarcasm thick in her voice again. “I didn’t betray anyone. I didn’t kill anyone. And I sure as hell didn’t lie to someone I got close to.”

The boat is wrapped in a deadly silence, broken only by the soft sound of the water lapping against the hull. They stand there, guns in hand, but the real tension isn’t in the weapons. It’s in the things left unsaid. In what they feel but can’t admit.

“If you hate me so much, why don’t you just shoot?” Ward challenges, his eyes locked on hers. “You have the power, Vyd. You could end this right here, right now.”

Her lips tighten, her hands trembling slightly around the gun. “Because… I can’t. I hate what you did, Ward. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t hate you.”

Ward’s eyes soften, and he slowly lowers his gun, the pain of his choices reflected in his face. “And I can’t run from you, even though I know I should.”

She stares at him, and he steps closer, his voice low and raw. “I did it for my family. He was going to take it all—everything we’d worked for. I didn’t have a choice.”

Vydia’s jaw tightens, and her heart is torn between the love she feels for him and the betrayal of everything she stands for. “And what about me, Ward? What was I to you, just another pawn in your game?”

[honeybear-yammy]

Only For Me

Warnings: cursing, smut, age gap, cheating, lingerie, teasing, kinks, daddy kink, punishment, spanking, mentions of sex, slight degrading kink.

Pairings: Ward Cameron x Female Kook Reader

Summary: In which Y/N decides to tease Ward at one of his important business dinners.

© Honeybear-Yammy, please do not steal, translate, copy, or transfer my work.

When you arrived at Tannyhill, all eyes were on you. The men were practically drooling over you while the women at the dinner party were sending you dirty and judgmental looks, judging what you were wearing because of how skimpy it was. This dinner party was for Ward’s business. You had been working with Ward Cameron at his business for about 6 months now.

You were his assistant. And god, you loved your job. It definitely came with more perks than it usually would. At first you applied at his business because you really did want a good job and you thought you could learn a lot from Ward Cameron. But, as you started to work for him you realized that you may have had an attraction to him. You were never into older men before but, Ward was a fucking dilf. You had never felt this hot and bothered for a man twice your age before.

You smiled when you saw Ward standing with his family and you walked over to him to greet them all. You could see the dirty look Rose shot your way but, you didn’t care. Why would you care? You were already fucking her husband behind her back. “Hello Mr. Cameron. Mrs. Cameron.” You said with a smile. Rose smiled back at you but, you could tell it was fake.

“Hello Y/N.” Ward said with a smile. “Are you enjoying yourself?” He asked as his gaze lingered down to your tits. “Yeah, I am.” You said with a smile. “Well, I’m going to go talk to a few other people, see you soon, Mr. Cameron.” You said with a smile as you walked away from Rose and Ward. As you were leaving you looked back to see Ward’s gaze on your ass. You smirked a little and looked away before he could see you staring and began to make your way around the room.

You saw that Ward was watching you and then you smirked getting an idea. Since you knew that he was watching you, you decided to go around and flirt with some of the men at the party. As you were going around, flirting with any of the men in sight at the party, you could see Ward standing there with his jaw clenched, watching you saunter around the room talking to all the men.

You continued doing this until Ward came over to you. You smirked when you saw him coming over to you. “Y/N, can I talk to you alone for a moment please?” He asked politely but you could tell that he was beyond pissed at you. “Well of course, Mr. Cameron.” You said with a smirk. You walked upstairs with Ward and he led you to his office. Once you were both in his office he grabbed your jaw and forced you to look him in the eye.

“What the fuck were you doing down there? Acting and dressing like a little slut in front of all those men. You know that your body is for me only. You’re mine.” Ward growled. You just smirked, seeing how pissed off that made him. “Well, I’m not going to let you get away with that, babygirl.” He said with a smirk. Before you could say anything, he spun you around and bent you over his desk before pulling the skirt of your dress up over your ass. He swiftly pulled your panties down your legs before landing a hard slap on your ass making you yelp.

“You know what to do. Count.” He said as he continued the assault on your ass. You counted each and every slap and you counted up to 15 slaps which was more than usual. He must have been pretty pissed off at you. He pulled your panties back up and fixed your dress before pulling you back up by your hair so that you were now standing up. “Your punishment isn’t over, princess.” He said with a smirk. “Tomorrow Rose is taking Rafe, Sarah and Wheezie out so you’re going to come back here tomorrow so I can finish what I started.” Ward said with a smirk. God, you were in for it now.

Author's Note: tysm for reading!

[rafeandonlyrafe]

obsessive love

words: 2.1k

warnings: 18+ only!!!, smut!!!, MURDER!!!, SERIAL KILLER!RAFE, PSYCHO!RAFE but sweet with reader, best friends to lover, DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOOD AND STABBING, physical violence, psycho!reader as well!, romanticization/sexualization of murder?, mentions of stalking (in the past), road head, blowjob, p in v sex, semi public sex, rafe beating up your dates tehe, DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT (advisement to take caution and heed warnings! ty)

rafe is only half paying attention as the movie plays out on the screen. he’s far more focused on the way you’re tucked into him, squealing every time a jumpscare happens and ducking your head into his chest with a wide smile on your face.

it’s not unusual for you to get touchy with him, to cuddle in bed after a day together or hold hands when in a crowd. but lately rafe has found it difficult to not take things further. he has loved you since first grade. not had a crush on like some people like to say. no, rafe only knows deep, obsessive love for you.

it’s why you barely dated anyone high school, rafe was always there to beat your date up and make sure they didn’t reveal it was him. afterall, you’re his best friend. he just wants you to be happy. happy and with him. no one else deserves you, or can protect you the way he can, go to the extreme lengths rafe will.

rafe realized he was in deep shit when he was stalking one of your dates that he wasn’t able to get to. he dropped you off on your front porch and had the audacity to kiss you. rafe exploded the second you were inside. you found your date a bleeding and bruised pulp still on your doorstep the next morning.

“its not even that scary.” rafe chuckles, teasing you as you grip onto his forearm.

“yes it is!” you love getting scared. it’s what you often say is your worst feature. you may scream your head off at horror movies, but you’ll still drag rafe along to haunted houses come halloween and stay up late binging your favorite thrillers with a smile on your face despite the chills down your spine.

rafe forces himself to pay attention to the last couple minutes of the movie. its entertaining enough to distract him from wanting to pull you closer to him, to never let you go, to always keep you by his side where you're safe and happy.

an idea forms in rafes head as he watches the two characters finally kill the serial killer that had murdered all of their friends and tried to go after them. he watches the way they embrace, relief on their faces as they kiss, bonded together forever from the shared trauma.

rafe smiles as you ask him if he’s up for another movie, purposely navigating you to one involving an in love couple and people getting mysteriously murdered in their small town. rafe knows what he’s going to do to keep you close, to play into your fear and need for him.

--

“holy shit!” you grab the remote, unmuting the tv. you would apologize for using the language in front of wheezie, but she has just a bad of mouth as you do, and very little supervision now that ward is dead and rose fled with what little money she had left.

you both watch the news report on the edge of your seat, the anchor giving details on the recent murder in kildare. it’s a boy you went to school with, but haven’t spoken to since graduation. when the anchor begins to go over details of the murder, you click the tv off.

“hey!” wheezie argues, scrunching her brow as she looks at you, but you just shake your head. “you don’t need to be watching that kind of stuff, wheeze.”

you stand up to find rafe, eyes glancing around nervously, as if whoever murdered the boy could be lurking inside tanneyhill. you don’t realize that the murderer is just the man you want to see.

“rafe, oh my god!” you cry out when you round the corner to find him walking down the hallway. you fling your arms around his shoulders. he’s shocked for only a second before pulling you in, holding you by your waist as the words spill from your mouth, recounting the news to him.

“oh, that’s terrible.” he frowns, hand gliding up and down your back. “you better stay the night tonight, yeah?” he offers. it’s hours away from dark, but you certainly don’t want to venture home after hearing the news.

“yeah, if you don’t mind.” you feel your cheeks blush slightly, knowing you’ll end up sharing a bed with rafe as always.

“i never mind.” he smiles at you.

--

you wrap your arms around yourself as you watch the news report. the third murder in just under a month just took place last night. you lean against rafe, who presses a kiss to the top of your head.

“i can’t believe we knew all three people killed.” they weren’t particular gruesome deaths, most just a couple stabs with a sharp knife and leaving them to bleed out, there was no passion in the murder itself, no torturing or postmortem injuries.

“i know, it’s scary.” rafe is glad you can’t see the smile on his face. you already spent most nights anyways, but now you’re over more and more, only feeling safe when you have rafes arms around you. it makes it a little hard for him to slip away, but he finds the time.

“and not the fun kind of scary.” you pout. “although…” you trail off, almost like you didn’t mean to say it.

“although what?” rafe questions. 

you sit up a little straighter, wiping your hands on your pants. “it’s a little exciting, isn’t it?” you admit. “that makes me sick, doesn’t it?”

rafe shakes his head, pulling away slightly to see your big innocent eyes blinking up at him as you continue to explain. “obviously it’s terrible these people are dead but… god, it’s exhilarating!” your words switch to rambling as you finally get your feelings out. “like the thrill of knowing there’s someone out there killing people, it just makes me feel so alive! as long as i don’t get killed or anyone close to me-”

“i won’t kill you.” rafe says the words to stop your rambling, not even realizing his slip up. “i won’t let you get killed.” he quickly corrects himself.

“i know.” you look rafe up and down. he can tell when your face shifts into one of sheer concentration, mind slowly piecing the puzzle together. rafe needs to do something now before it all comes together.

he could scream or yell for wheezie or… rafe leans in and presses his lips against yours, mouths molding together. you hesitate for a moment before kissing back, much to rafes relief.

“i won’t let you get killed because i love you.” rafe says, hand cupping your jaw to bring you in for another kiss.

“oh, rafe.” you coo, smooching all across his face before landing on his lips again. “i love you too!”

--

it’s harder now that you’re moved in. you went from spending most nights in rafes bed to making tanneyhill your home as well, cuddling and kissing every night until you’re off to sleep.

he doesn’t need to kill as much now anyways, besides he’s got most of the boys from high school who looked at you a little too hard in your shorts for gym class, or said lude things about you when you weren’t around.

you’re well and truly his, but rafe can’t help himself. he loves the way you hide in his arms when a murder happens, how you kiss him deeply and tell him you love him so much, how you’re so glad that something good came out of something terrible and that you’re together now.

rafe waits until you’re fast asleep before slipping his arm out from under you. he grabs the knife from the back of his closet before heading out. he just needs someone. to stab and maim someone. it’s been months since the serial killers last appearance, and people are starting to relax again, including you, even asking if rafe minded if you went out with your girlfriends without him.

rafe does what he needs to do. he doesn’t enjoy the act itself, but he doesn’t dislike the feeling after either. he walks back into the house, knife bloody but wiped off on the victims own clothes as to not drip all over the house as he sneaks in.

his footsteps pause when he sees you standing there, robe wrapped around your shoulders. he knows you see it. he knows you know everything.

“baby, please don’t leave me i-”

“can i come with you next time?” 

“what?” your question shocks rafe, his voice raising before glancing up the stairs to make sure he didn’t wake wheezie.

“next time you kill someone. will you take me with you?” you ask, glancing at the knife, hating the rush you feel over your whole body when seeing it. it’s the last confirmation you needed for what you have been suspecting.

“i-baby, i don’t need to kill anymore. i’ll stop, it was just-”

“no.” you shake your head. “rafe, i don’t care. you can keep doing it. it’s… exciting.” you’re not ashamed this time when admitting it. you used to be worried about the murders but now you know there’s truly no need. rafe would never hurt you.

“okay.” he swallows, stepping closer, glad that you don’t turn away as you accept a kiss pressed to your lips. “okay, i’ll bring you next time.”

--

“shit, that was exciting!” you squeal, smiling as you turn to rafe. “seeing the life drain out of his eyes? and god, you were so hot when you stabbed him!”

“baby, you sound crazy.” rafe chuckles, easily gliding the car around the turns of the backroads, heading back towards home.

“rafe, you are a literal serial killer, i don’t think you should lecture me on sounding crazy.” you giggle, not even tired despite the late hour from all the adrenaline. “and god, you looked so hot stabbing that guy.”

you reach over and run your fingers down his forearm, remembering the way his muscles bulged and stretch when swinging the knife. your hand moves from rubbing his arm to his thigh, only pretending that your movements are innocent for a minute before you slide your hand up to his crotch, rubbing at his length, feeling it harden in his pants.

“baby-” rafe groans, eyes flicking between you, your hand, and the road in front of him illuminated by his headlights.

“just keep driving, it's okay.” you unbuckle so you can lean across the center console, lips pressing against his neck, tongue darting out to taste his skin.

you tug at the front of his sweatpants, rafe lifting his hips to assist you as the car engine roars. you grip his cock, teeth running over his jaw teasingly, never biting down as you stroke him eagerly, wanting to thank him for continuing his killing spree, for starting it for you and allowing you to take part.

“let me suck you off.” you gather your hair to one side, fucking your head until you're bent sideways. you hold rafes cock with one hand at his base while your lips sink down around the head, moaning at the familiar taste on your lips.

“fuck.” rafe swerves slightly, glad there's no one else on the road as you suck and lick at him, not caring that you're dripping spit down your chin from your movements.

“lemme pull over baby.” rafe says. he knows how much you like the excitement, the rare possibility someone could drive by, but he needs you hop0ing on his dick.

“fiiiine.” you say dramatically, going right back to sucking him off until rafe pulls on a dirt road. you work your shorts and panties off so the second the car is shifted into park, you swing your legs over to straddle rafe.

“shit, you're so wet.” rafe groans as you rub his cock through your folds.

“i told you.” you smirk at rafe. “you looked so hot killing that guy.”

you sink down before rafe can reply. 

the murders shift from rafe doing them in secret to make you rely on him, to force you closer, to something you do together, you often doing the planning while rafe finishes the task with violence.

you barely get back to the car before you jump on him, needing to feel his fingertips digging into your hips while he fucks ever, even if there are still specks of blood on him.

you know you won't get caught. no one would expect the former troubled teen turned happily domesticated man, raising his little sister after his father's death with his faithful girlfriend, to be the one behind the violence.

you see no reason to stop as rafe wipes his knife clean for what feels like the hundredth time.

taglist: @drewstarkeyslut @forstarkey @f4ll-for-you @dilvcv @drudyslut @jjmaybankswifes-blog @rafescokenostril @jjsmarijuana @seeingstarks @angelofcigs @cece45450 @babygorewhore @vanessa-rafesgirl @michelleisheres-blog @outerbankspov @drewstarkeyswifehoe @cutielando @kamninaries @rafeyslove @rafeinterlude @bellbottombaby @deeaardiary @rubixgsworld @wearemadeofstardust0 @leighbronk @starkeysheart @pradabambie @tobesolovelysstuff @alexiskirkland @rafestar @brioffthegrid @juniebugg @magicalyoura @cokepewpsii @mysticallystilinski @luvdella @aerangi @vogueprincess @auryyz @mayhem-72 @thestarlithideout @marvelfanfics1recs @rafesgiirl @ditzyzombiesblog @chiaraanatra @tobiaslut

[adoringmaybank]

Something in the Orange-

┈━═☆ in which JJ Maybank and Adelynn Cromwell navigate helping their friend on a search for gold while fighting the feelings they have for each other.

┈━═☆ warnings: mentions of alcohol, mentions drugs(weed), mentions of abuse, angst, mentions of death.

┈━═☆ The main chapters are based off of the show! The headcannons, blurbs, and thoughts are loosely based off of it depending on what they are

Chapters:

Headcannons:

Blurbs:

Thoughts:

[oxpogues4lifexo]

Keeping up with the Camerons

OBX_Updates

Liked by kelcey, bella_bee, rafe and others

Episode 4 coming soon! https://TumblrTV.Com

Jealousy, Honesty and Vulnerability. Join Rafe as he spends the day at the Island Club, helping out Bella and playing golf with the boys. Watch ‘til the end to see a different side to the known ‘Kook Prince’. This episode was definitely an interesting one to film..

New episodes weekly!

@Rafe @TopperThornbush @Bella_Bee @Kelcey @CallumB

#keepingupwiththecamerons #cameron #outerbanks #obx #northcarolina #hitshow #realityshow #tumblrtv

Taglist: @viawritesstuff @mymelodylvr @rafeinterlude @cerya @aariahnaa @42angelgirl @b1mb0slvt

[cdragons]

"Promise Me" Series - JJ Maybank x OC Series

Ellie loved her life in The Cut—there was no question about it—despite the endless cycle of an identity crisis, imposter syndrome, and…mild to moderate racism.

Until Ellie’s father, died while at sea, doing some research on the Royal Merchant. What’s worse, he never would have been in that situation…had it not been for Big John Routledge’s insistence. A bitter reality reminded by Ellie and her mom as they tried to navigate their lives without him.

Since then, her mom forbade any mention of the famous shipwreck at their house. His office locked away, Big John scorned, and a family with a gaping hole that was Charlie Chen.

Later, John B. searches for the Royal Merchant’s lost gold, and Ellie launches an investigation of her own, questioning the legitimacy of her father’s death. Soon, the carefully woven story of his death reveals itself as…murder.

Ellie is determined to rip apart the web of lies that is the serene façade of Outer Banks, bit by bit, and until she becomes part of something much bigger than she initially thought.

But while she seeks answers, is she prepared to reopen raw wounds? Or will she end up pushing away the people who have always been there for her?

Read on Archive of Our Own

[nolanhollogay]

i'm sorry I'm the one you love, no one will ever love me like you again

[kiarchs]

pleweeeeease look at my fanfic i swear it’s worth

https://www.wattpad.com/story/291570395?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_writing&wp_page=create_story_details&wp_uname=kiarchs&wp_originator=kmPFVbbBv23rmf35LbinCDxbyLPUdwWgc3xtUZmawB%2Bo%2FbCA48Gdq2feSvyT%2BQhxRwS8EyzLCg0eGMO75l5OruR6LyT10BKX5ehZsJ6VBgB5G541ruqWpAGeATqcgIpE

[awritessomething]

I have absolutely no ideas for writing whatsoever pleaseplease leave requests!!! Smut, angst, fluff, whatever y’all want I can probably do.

Ill write for these people and probably more that I forgot (all male character x fem!reader) :

Formula 1:

Max Verstappen

Oscar Piastri

Charles Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton

Carlos Sainz

Daniel Riccardo

Mick Schumacher

Franco Colapinto

Liam Lawson

Ollie Bearman

Criminal Minds

Spencer Reid

Aaron Hotchner

Derek Morgan

Marvel:

Bucky Barnes

Tony Stark

Thor

Deadpool

Steve Rogers

Spiderman (Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, Miguel O'hara)

Harry Osborn (James Franco)

Wolverine (X-Men movies)

Cyclops (X-Men movies)

Charles Xavier (James McAvoy)

Call of Duty

Keegan Russ

Simon "Ghost" Riley

König

Phillip Graves

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

Star Wars:

Anakin Skywalker

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Kylo Ren

Luke Skywalker

Han Solo

Outer Banks: (pls no spoilers s4 hasnt been watched yet)

JJ Maybank

Rafe Cameron

Topper Thornton

John B. Routledge

Ward Cameron

Harry Potter:

Harry Potter

Cedric Diggory

Draco malfoy

Ron Weasley

Fred Weasley

Blaise Zabini

Regulus Black

Severus Snape

Tom Riddle

Sirius Black

Lorenzo Berkshire

Oliver Wood

The Walking Dead:

Glenn Rhee

Daryl Dixon

Rick Grimes

Carl Grimes

Negan Smith

Sports:

Joao Felix

Jude Bellingham

Brock Purdy

Joe Burrow

Leon Draisaitl

Jack Hughes

Vince Dunn

Mitch Marner

Connor Bedard

Wayne Gretzky (young)

Miscallaneous:

Jack Champion (Ethan Landry)

Patrick Bateman

Batman (Christian Bale)

Johnathan Crane

Finnick Odair

Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark, Mike Schmidt, Sean Anderson, Clapton Davis)

Rodrick Heffley

Tristan Dugray

Dylan O'brien

Bellamy Blake

Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepherd, Ronald Miller)

Joe Goldberg

Timothee Chalamet (Wonka, Paul Atreides)

Minho (The Maze Runner)

Keanu Reeves (John Wick, Neo, Alex Wyler, Dr. Beckham, Julian Mercer, Ted Logan)

Jim Halpert

Farkas/Vilkas

Ulfric Stormcloak

Miraak

Ben Schnetzer (Max Vandenburg, Brad Land, Russ Sheppard)

Ralph Macchio (Daniel Larusso, Johnny Cade)

Dallas Winston

Sodapop Curtis

Robby Keene

Zuko (atla dallas liu)

Jet (atla sebastian amoruso)

Cillian Murphy (Johnathan crane, jackson rippner, Neil Lewis)

Evan Peters (all ahs characters, Luke cooper)

James Franco (Laird Mayhew, Harry Osborn, all characters)

What I wont do:

Pedophilia

Beastiality or anything animal-y

Waterworks

Male reader (sorry)

Character x character

Threesomes or anything not 1x1

Character x oc

Specific body types (i just don’t see the point)

Daddy/mommy kinks

Incest or stepcest

(I’ll prob have to add on but its midnight rn)

[livingdreams97]

Sarah Cameron -- "The Ice Cream" (Part 1)

Sarah Cameron x Male reader/oc

Summary: Being the Kook Princess has never mattered to Sarah, especially when her heart beats and her eyes are only been fixed on a certain Pogue since she shared an ice cream with him at the age of 11.

Words: 3.944

NEXT

Masterlist

Sarah POV

I flip through the magazine, reading about celebrity gossip and what's new in the fashion world. But my tranquility is interrupted when my little sister enters my room like a rocket and runs to the window.

Sarah: What are you doing? - I ask confused, seeing how she practically sticks to the window and looks at something through it.

Wheezie: He's already arrived.- she informs me and when I realize I get up quickly; and I run with my little sister.

Sarah: When did he arrive? - I ask looking out the window and observing the boy who is cleaning my father's car.

Wheezie: Five minutes ago, but I just found out now. - she answers and I quickly run to my closet.

Sarah: Do you think this dress is nice? - I ask her and she looks at me, then looks at the light blue dress with dark lilac and white flowers in my hands.

Wheezie : Yes.- responds with a thumbs up.

I run into the bathroom, taking off the clothes I'm wearing, leaving me only in my panties and putting the dress over my head. I do my hair and makeup very simply and fast, since I don't like overloaded makeup. I put on a little of my perfume and leave the bathroom in a bit of a hurry.

I put on some white converse to finish the look, rearranging my necklaces and picking up my phone. I say goodbye to my sister and leave my room; practically running to the front of my house.

When I reach the front door, I smooth the skirt of my dress and take a deep breath; to calm my nerves. I open the front door, stepping out and closing it behind me. I walk calmly towards where Y/n is, watching how he cleans the car with the sponge and how he leaves a trail of soap behind it.

I look at what he's wearing, seeing the navy blue strappy t-shirt he's wearing, along with some washed white shorts and some simple white vans .

Sarah: Good morning.- I greet him, walking to be close to him and avoiding getting wet.

Y/n: Good morning princess.- he greets with amusement, stopping cleaning the car and looking at me for a few seconds.

Sarah: Why you always have to remind me about the Kook Princess tag? - I claim with crossed arms, somewhat amused and somewhat annoyed that they always call me that; for being the daughter of Ward Cameron.

Y/n: Because you are the princess of the place, but not only on the kook side and you should thank me for that compliment. - he tells me with a small laugh and returns to what he was doing.

Sarah: Even so, I'm not a princess because my father is one of the richest men on the island.- I tell him honestly, because it's something that everyone calls me and that bothers me.

Y/n: Okay, I'll stop calling you that.- he says with a small smile, looking at me for a few seconds and running over my body very lightly.- I like the dress, it looks good on you.- he comments as a compliment.

Sarah: Thank you.- I thank him kindly. - What kind of adventures await you on the other side of the island today? - I ask interested, but trying to look casual and not too interested.

Y/n: There is going to be a party on the beach in the suburb. - He comments without giving it importance. -So I guess I'll go with my friends.- he responds, shrugging his shoulders.

Sarah: I think I've heard something about that. - I comment without giving it much importance, remembering Topper's comment about the party and going with some friends.

Y/n: Will you come? - he asks curiously, turning on the hose and rinsing the car.

Sarah: My friends have told me about it, but I'm not really sure if it's the most appropriate thing for some kooks . - I respond with a small grimace.

Y/n: You should come.- he comments looking at me with a smile. - As long as your friends don't stop by, I don't think there will be any problem and I don't even think anyone will notice you. Everyone will be too drunk to recognize you.- he comments amusingly and I laugh at that.

Sarah: Then I guess I'll go.- I say, biting my lip to contain the emotion. -But only if you invite me to something to drink.- I tell him and he lets out a small laugh.

Y/n: Then you have a deal.- he tells me with a smile. -You should go with that dress, because it really looks great on you and it's not excessive.- He flatters me again and I guess I don't have to think about what to wear anymore.

Sarah: Then we'll see each other at night.- I say goodbye and walk back to the house.

Y/n: You know it, princess.- he says again as a farewell, making me turn around walking backwards and give him the middle finger causing him to laugh.

I just shake my head in amusement, turning around again and walking into the house. As soon as I enter the house, I lean my back against the door and sigh with a huge smile. I look down, staring at the dress and biting my lip; knowing that he liked it and praised me twice for it.

POV You

I walk among drunk people greeting my acquaintances and stopping to talk to others. The air hits my body, opening my shirt and exposing my chest. I was wearing a open black shirt with a print of white and gray flowers, with a simple gray swimsuit and my slightly worn white vans .

I approach JJ, to help him get up from the ground; since he climbed the trunk of a tree and ended up falling from it. I approach him, stretching out my hand with a laugh and seeing his amused smile on his face; taking the hand that I offer him.

Y/n: Up my friend.- I say amused, pulling at our hands and helping him stand up.

JJ: They pushed me.- he says struggling a little, removing the sand from his body and smiling like a clown.

Y/n: Sure. - I comment amused, patting him on the back.

JJ: I dropped the beer. - He points to the now empty glass on the floor and placing a pout on his face.

Y/n: Let's go to the barrel and I'll give you a new one if there's still any left.- I assure him, placing a hand on his shoulder and pushing him a little towards the barrel.

JJ: And why don't you give me yours? - he asks with doe like eyes.

Y/n: Because I'm not going to run out of beer because you started climbing logs and fell off them. - I respond, laughing at his absurd question.

When we reach the keg, I pour JJ a new glass; thanking whatever god there is still beer left and giving him the glass filled to the top. He does a weird dance, causing me to laugh at him and watch him drink from the glass. 

Taking advantage of the fact that we are here, I fill my glass to the top; since I barely had two fingers left and so I don't have to come back in five minutes.

We sit around the campfire, since it's starting to get dark and that's where Pope is also. I sit next to the girl Pope is talking to, listening to their conversation a little and feeling the girl's discomfort.

Y/n: I don't think that the gases of a dead person are of interest to everyone, Pope.- I assure him, smiling at the girl in a friendly way and trying to get her to change the subject. -But I'm sure you like surfing, right?- I ask the girl, when I notice the bikini marks on her tan and the shell necklace on her neck.

XX: Well, yes i do.- she answers me with a smile.

Y/n: Well, Pope is one of the best surfers I know, in fact yesterday he surfed with John B and I during the storm. - I inform him and I see how he looks at my friend with surprise.

XX: Is that true? - she asks, clearly impressed and I wink at my friend.

Pope: Yes, the truth is that it was a little difficult and all. But I managed to catch a couple of good waves.- he answers and they begin to have a normal conversation; so I ignore them and start talking to the girl who just sat on my left.

The girl I'm talking to is quite attractive, she has come on vacation with her family and some friends. She has brown hair, beautiful blue eyes and a completely attractive smile. It's not thin as a stick, it's a little wider and the truth is that I love it.

She places her hand on my forearm, leaving sporadic squeezes as we talk and getting closer and closer to me. The conversation is pleasant enough, but it's interrupted by my best friend's voice behind me and I turn to look at her.

Kiara: What is she doing here? - she asks and I look where she is looking; finding Sarah climbing onto a buoy stranded on the shore of the beach.

Y/n: I guess coming to the party.- I answer without giving it much thought, seeing the annoyance on her face and how she walks away angry.

I look back at where Sarah is, unable to prevent a smile from reaching my face and watching her point to something in the sea. But my smile disappears in a few seconds, as soon as Topper appears in the picture and extends his hand to help her get off the buoy. When I see how she jumps into the boy's arms, I roll my eyes in annoyance and return to the conversation with Lara.

Y/n: Would you like another beer? - I ask her, when my glass is empty and I see that hers is too.

Lara: I would love to.- she answers with a big smile, so we both get up and walk towards the barrel.

I refilled her glass, starting another conversation about her vacation and how they chose to come to the Outer Banks. I also refill my glass for the fourth time and drink a little of the contents. Lara's hand is placed on my forearm again and she approaches my body, leaving a few centimeters between our bodies.

But our conversation is interrupted again, when someone clears their throat next to us and I look to my right; meeting Sarah, Topper and some more of their friends.

Topper: Can you serve us a beer or what? - He asks bluntly and I look at him with a raised eyebrow.

Y/n: There you have the tap and two hands, help yourself and don't mess around. - I respond annoyed, because it is believed that we pogues were born to serve them and that is the only thing we have to do.

Topper: But you're already here and ...- he begins but is interrupted mid-sentence.

Sarah: Come on, Topper don't start and serve the beer yourself. - She tells him in a low voice, so that the rest don't hear her and so that Topper doesn't respond badly.

I just watch everything, watching as he pours himself a glass with a frown and then walks away angrily. I drink from my glass, watching as the rest of her friends do the same and Sarah is left alone in front of me .

Y/n: Do you want that beer?- I asked her with a smile, trying to be friendly and remove the tension from the place.

Sarah: I'll be happy to accept it. - She responds, returning my smile.

I pour her the beer, making sure I fill her glass and offer it to her with a friendly smile. I start talking to her, ignoring Lara's existence and focusing entirely on the dark blonde with chocolate eyes in front of me.

Y/n: I see that in the end you kept the dress.- I point the glass at her clothes, seeing how well they fit and how pretty they are.

Sarah: The weather was good to bring a dress.- she comments with a beautiful laugh. -And I see that you are a little too exposed.- she says, showing her teeth and pointing to my exposed chest and abdomen.

Y/n: I didn't know that showing nipples in 2020 was something so wrong. - I commented amused, covering my nipples with my hands; when the wind hits and they open my shirt more in a joking manner.

Sarah: Well yes , it is very excessive and provocative.- she says with a big smile, making her entire face light up and look even more beautiful.

And yes, I've liked Sarah Cameron since we were 11 and I dropped the ice cream of the month in accidents. Since my grandparents could only pay me one a month in the summer, I was really sad and I knew that they weren't going to give me money for another ice cream. 

But Sarah appeared with her ice cream and offered me to share it with a kind smile; where you could see how one of her upper canines was missing.

Over time it became platonic, as I realized that nothing could ever happen between us and that it was just a dream. Since when we grew up, I realized that money is everything on this island and that unfortunately I don't have it and her family has plenty of it. So a relationship between the kook princess and me is something impossible, which is a dream more than a reality.

After talking for a while, she goes back to her friends and I join John B on the shore of the beach. He was telling some people from the suburbs; about how we surfed during the storm and how incredible the waves were.

John B: And this guy, he surfed a wave that was almost five meters tall and managed to reach the end of it standing up.- he says after putting his arm over my shoulder.

Y/n: You say it as if it were the biggest wave we have ever surfed. - I say amused.

John B: But it was during a hurricane and not just any hurricane, but Hurricane Agatha no less.- he says as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

JJ: John B, Y/n!- he shouts, approaching us. -Do you want the famous Milwaukee drink? - asks us, offering us two full glasses and I accept it.

Y/n: What does it have? - I ask, smelling the glass and taking a sip. -Fuck JJ, this is strong.- I say when the drink burns and scratches my throat when I swallow it.

JJ: It's the special drink.- he answers as if it were obvious. -Do you want yours or not? - he asks JB, but something catches his attention and he walks away from us.

From one moment to the next, we see how Topper and JJ begin to push each other. So we quickly approached them and tried to stop them. But Topper 's big mouth I had to talk and mess it up more .

Topper: Fucking pogues.- he says and I see how JB pushes him hard.

Pope: JB, we weren't supposed to mess it up and stay incognito.- he tells him, pushing him back and trying to avoid a fight.

But Topper pushes Pope out of the way and punches JB. Pope stops JJ and Kiara appears pushing me back, so we don't get into the fight.

Topper: Come on John B, or do you want me to drown you like your father? - he asks with sarcasm, making our friend get angry and respond by knocking him to the ground.

While everyone starts cheering for them to fight, I try to get rid of Kiara and separate them. When I see that JB is winning, I calm down a little and Kiara stops holding me back. But I still feel tense and ready to separate them if it gets worse.

Y/n: Fuck it.- I say when I see Topper sinking my friend's head into the water and drowning him.

I run towards him , tackling him by the waist into the water and separating him from my friend. But he breaks free and starts hitting me, so I start hitting him back and manage to hit him hard on the nose. I feel his nose crunch against my fist, making him hold it and start whimpering like a baby. I grab him by the collar of his shirt, starting to drag him and leave him at the feet of his friends.

Y/n: Either you take him or he doesn't come out of here. - I assure them, more than annoyed, releasing his friend and walking towards mine.

Topper: This will not remain like that orphan.- he shouts at me and I turn around fuming; walking quickly towards him, but JJ arrives first and points the gun at his head.

JJ: It is what you think.- he assures him with a crooked smile, causing everyone to flee in fear and Sarah to start screaming.

Sarah: JJ stop.- he yells in fear and Kiara also starts yelling at him.

JJ: You better leave, because otherwise I'll shoot you and I'll stay so calm. - he whispers and lets go.

An hour later, I find myself in my room wearing short black sweatpants and standing in front of the bathroom mirror. I look at my purple cheekbone, along with the eye and split lip that the idiot Topper left me with. I begin to heal the bruises, feeling the throbbing of the bruises and the stinging of the alcohol on my lip.

Sarah: That looks bad.- I hear from behind me and I jump scared.

Y/n: What the hell are you doing in my house and how did you get in? - I ask almost out of breath, feeling my heart racing and seeing the amused smile on her face.

Sarah: I came in my car, you left the window open and I came in that way. - she answers me, leaning on the bathroom door frame and giving me a soft smile.

Y/n: I'm impressed by you Cameron.- I commented with a smile, turning back to the mirror and continuing to heal my wounds.

Sarah: And can I know why? - aks with interest.

Y/n: Because you remember where I live, when you haven't been here in almost six years and you've snuck into my room without me or my grandparents noticing. - I respond, putting things away and turning to face her.

Sarah: It wasn't difficult to sneak in either and the house stuck in my mind. - She comments with a smile, passing her eyes over my body and stopping at the bumps on my face. - I'm very sorry for what Topper said to you.- she apologizes with a small grimace.

Y/n: He hasn't said anything that isn't true.- I assure her with a sigh. -Besides, you shouldn't be the one to apologize.- I say with a smile, although I'm sure it looks more like a grimace.

Sarah: Even if it's true, he doesn't have the right to tell you anything and even less so in such a low manner.- she says walking towards me and stopping a few centimeters from my body.

Y/n: Can I ask the reason for your night visit? - I ask her in a whisper, since we are really close and there is no need to speak very loudly.

Sarah: I wanted to see how you were doing, I was worried when Topper started hitting you and I wanted to make sure you were okay. - She answers me in a whisper, placing the palms of her hands on my chest and sticking as close to my body as possible.

Y/n: I think you can tell for yourself if I'm okay or not.- I whisper, placing my hands on her waist.

Sarah: I see that you are very well.- she assures in a whisper, and then lowers his gaze to my bare chest and bites her plump lip.

I can only swallow hard, feeling nervous at her closeness and the feel of her soft hands against my chest. My heart races as I look into her beautiful eyes, noticing the chocolate brown color and slightly dilated pupils.

My hands move along her waist, stopping at her lower back and feeling the softness of the fabric of her dress. She presses herself even closer against my body, moving her hands from my chest to my neck and clasping her hands behind my neck.

She starts leaning towards me and I just imitate her action, leaning forward and finishing joining our lips. At first we do not move our lips, but a few moments later we begin to move them calmly and without taking it any further.

Her lips feel plump, soft and warm against mine. The kiss is calm and is just a movement of the lips; without language or intentions to be deeper. 

When we break away from the kiss, I see the smile on her face and I'm sure I have the same smile on my face.

Sarah POV

I see his smile and I can't stop my heart from racing even more. I can feel the warmth of his body against mine. I put my hands in his hair, stroking his short dark brown hair and smiling into his eyes.

Y/n: What time do you have to go home? - he asks in a whisper, caressing my lower back over my dress.

Sarah: Are you already kicking me out? - I ask pretending to be offended.

Y/n: You know I'm not, but I just wanted to ask you and know how long you can stay with me.- he whispers with a small pout, looking somewhere between cute and hard from the bruises.

Sarah: I don't have to go home.- I respond, biting my lip. -My father thinks I'm at my friend's house, so I don't have to go home and he doesn't have to know I'm here.- I assure him with a smile.

Y/n: Is this your way of saying you want to sleep here? - he asks with an amused smile.

Sarah: I accept the proposal. - I say amused, leaving a small kiss on his lips and leaving his private bathroom afterwards.

Y/n: I didn't invite you.- he comments amused, walking behind me and laughing.

Sarah: You can't withdraw the offer now.- I say sitting on the bed and crossing my legs.

Y/n: Do you need clothes to sleep in or do you prefer to take off that beautiful dress and that's it? - he asks amused, standing in front of me and crossing his arms.

Sarah: Some clothes would be good.- I respond with a smile.

He walks to his closet, pulling out a baggy blue tie-dye t- shirt and gray sweat shorts. But I just grab the shirt and go back to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I change my clothes, leaving me only in the shirt that he left me; which reaches just below my butt and my panties.

When I go out to the room, the only light is on a camp lamp and Y/n is already lying in bed. I get in next to him quickly, moving closer to his body and placing my head on his chest.

Y/n: Goodnight princess.- he whispers against my forehead, leaving a kiss on the spot and hugging me to his body.

Sarah: Good night, idiot. - I respond a little amused, settling myself more against his body and closing my eyes.

I feel the beat of his heart against the palm of my hand, as well as the heat of his body against my hand and face, as well as his scent flooding my nostrils. All of it surrounds me and that makes my body relax immediately. So in less than two minutes I am completely asleep and in another world.

[going-to-ikea-for-the-fries]

Brass Balls. - OC Backstory.

pairing: F!OC: Kathleen "Brass" Moore x John Price words: 1.7K~ cw: yelling, threats, roasting (not even that aggressive really)

At the meager age of 23, Kathleen Mary Moore had succeeded in doing something that no one before or after her could get ever away with: becoming an unofficial charge nurse at the military hospital in Tidworth Camp. 

And all thanks to one skill of hers: Conflict Resolution.

Well… more like… Resolution through Conflict.

Didn’t matter if the person that needed their arse reamed out was a patient, a family member or a commanding officer. She had enough sass to last her a lifetime and metaphorical balls big enough to look a superior in the eye and call them a gobshite.

In her case, being a charge nurse means little else than being a glorified enforcer. She’d be called in by anyone, in any department of the hospital, whenever there was a Difficult™️ situation to be solved. And solve them she did.

Maybe it was the Leo in her, maybe it was the Older Daughter blood in her veins. Who knows.

Nonetheless, it earned her an unfortunate nickname: Brass. 

Not just because, according to the other medical staff and even some low rank enlisted, she had “brass balls”... but also because she had the brass (the high-ranked officers) by the balls.

And that’s, unfortunately, the way she met John Price.

On March 28th, 2013, the Tidworth Hospital received an influx of 20 SAS soldiers that, although housed in the nearby Stirling Lines Garrison, didn’t have a proper hospital at the base, and so, were placed in Tidworth for emergency treatment.

By April 7th, 2013, only one soldier of the group of 20 stayed behind, a Sergeant Craig Wallcroft, the rest having returned to Credenhill. Wallcroft wasn’t under Kathleen’s care, being in a completely different department, but, eventually, she was forced to pick up his case.

Called to her nurse’s admin office by her Lieutenant-Colonel, Lieutenant Moore watched a small pile of paper being placed in front of her, 14 or so pages long.

“Sergeant Wallcroft’s superior, a ‘Captain Price’ has been very insistent in the release of his Sergeant…” Lieutenant-Colonel Margot Ward, a no-nonsense greying-brown-haired woman explained as she stood face-to-face with Kathleen.

“Insistent, you say?” Kathleen asked, dipping her head slightly at an angle, an eyebrow raising in a display of displeasure. “What’s he done?”

“Very.” Margot explained with a sigh. “He took to filing request after request for the release and clearance for combat… Then to filing transfer requests to the medical ward in Credenhill… To downright harrassing us with phone calls on the matter.” She revealed.

Kathleen’s eyebrows raised and her head pulled back at the chin in a look of utter surprise. To have someone abuse the online request system or maybe the email inbox of the department was one thing… But to downright shout down the phone line over this? 

Oh, Kathleen was not happy, her hands already trembling with the anticipation of putting this man in his place.

“And, now, he’s sent one of his Lieutenants to… pressure us into releasing his teammate. The man’s shouted at Lieutenant Byers in the nurse’s station already.” Margot added.

That did it. Hearing that someone raised their voice at one of her closest friends? She didn’t even want to imagine the state her friend Felicity was left in… the poor girl, always prone to tears.

“Leave it to me.” Kathleen said as she walked out of the room, marching away quickly.

-

The trip to Credenhill was quick. It took no convincing at all for the helicopter pilot, who was meant to transpo Wallcroft back to Credenhill, to turn the chopper around to deliver her, and this Lieutenant he sent for him, Lieutenant Cameron, back to Credenhill.

Cameron then lead her across the garrison in the lightly pouring rain, to the training gym where ‘Captain Price’ was bound to be.

Her brown eyes flittered over the room very quickly, surveying it, to try and locate Captain Price. Most of the men there were on the young end, handsome-ish, muscular and strong, wearing tight clothing while they grappled and tossed each other around.

Before Cameron could lead her further into the room, she took two fingers to her mouth and let out a sharp, deafening whistle, that stopped all the sparring (and observing) soldiers, in their tracks.

“WHICH ONE OF YOU GOBSHITES IS CAPTAIN PRICE?!” She barked at the top of her lungs, the silence in the room so loud that her voice bounced off the walls.

One of the men straightened up from where he was sparring with another of the soldiers and he stood tall and imposing, even from across the room. “That’d be me.” John said. “Who are you?”

“I’m someone that’s sick and tired of your bullshit, Captain.” She told him directly. “Now, come over here, please.” She demanded as she beckoned him close with two fingers.

John approached with a certain swagger, confident steps and swaying hips, strong muscles wrapped by an army green t-shirt covered in sweat, beefy, burly and hairy forearms on display.

“Nurse Corps.” He acknowledged her uniform’s patches as he came to a stop before her, standing a bit below her, a few steps worth of a height difference, as she stood on a catwalk, and him on the gym floor. “You finally transferred my Sergeant?”

He was handsome. Bloody hell, he was handsome, stern blue eyes staring at her from below, stubble on his jaw that she knew would soon grow to be a thick shrub…

“No.” She replied as she set her hands on her hips. “Your Sergeant is still bed-bounded back in Tidworth, where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future because as you’ve been told many times by now, he’s not. fit. for. service.”

John looked at her blankly. “Is that what you came all this way for, little nurse?” He asked her with a cocked brow, his tone almost condescending. “This could’ve been a phone call.” He added and turned away. “Get back to work!” He shouted at his team.

Oh, how she hated being underestimated… And talked down to.

She lunged forward and grabbed John by the collar of his t-shirt like one would to a naughty child and tugged him back with an aggressive pull. “Get back here, you wanker.” She demanded.

John turned to look at her, eye-to-eye, faces mere inches apart, as she finally let go of him. “You’re gonna listen and listen good because I’m not bloody playing around and I have NO PROBLEM embarrassing you in front of your troops.” She gestured to the other soldiers in the room who had not heeded Price’s command to go back to work.

“You have no qualifications to decide what your soldiers need or do not need when it comes to their health. Hell, I wouldn’t trust you to tell your arse from your elbow considering the state of the First Aid that half of your soldiers came to Tidworth with.” She told him point blank, her hands now coming to rest on the railing of the catwalk that separated them.

Her voice grew louder with each word she spoke, venom slipping from her tongue as she continued her tirade. Her face had morphed into a wide-eyed, almost frantic look, her brows set low over her eyelids, and her jaw clenched tight.

“And even if you had qualifications, that gives you no right to talk down to me or my bloody staff. I’ve seen plenty of men like you in the last couple years and you all have one thing in common: hubris. You think that suddenly, what, cause you made Captain you can suddenly treat everyone as if they’re below you?” She confronted him as she leaned forward, getting right in his face.

“Just because your ego suddenly soared sky high thanks to your spiffy new title and shiny medals, it doesn’t mean that you can suddenly proceed as you fucking please. Your inability to fathom that your power over others is only in the scope of your immediate subordinates in the chain of command is not the Nurse and Medical Corps’ concern. We have better things to do than deal with little men with fragile little egos.” She shouted at him, pointing a finger right in his face, her teeth catching her lips as she spat pure vitriol at him.

“So you better hear me well and good-” She added and suddenly grabbed him by the front of the collar, tugging him close to her. “because I am not saying this again. If I hear so much as a PEEP about you, that you put in another request for Wallcroft’s clearance, or, God help you, that you called the nurse’s station and talked down on one of my sisters, again-” She warned him.

“I’ll print out the stack of over 30 requests you’ve already put in, come back here,” She pointed at the floor to mean Credenhill. “...roll ‘em up nice and tight and shove ‘em SO FAR UP YOUR ARSE that when I pull ‘em out your mouth, your teeth will work as a paper shredder. AM. I. CLEAR?!” Kathleen pointed her finger right in his face, almost poking him between the eyes with it.

John was dumbfounded. He had never been spoken to like this. Not since he became an adult. Even his mother wasn’t this intense as she reamed him out when he was younger, and there had been plenty of times where he had deserved it!

So, Price simply stared at her and blinked slowly, his breathing having hitched and his heart beating like a war drum in his chest. He swore he could hear his blood flowing inside his ears. His arms hung limply on either side of his body as he kept staring into the fiery woman’s brown eyes.

“AM. I. CLEAR?!” She repeated herself, eyes still wide, pupils blown, as she glared right into John’s blue eyes, his own pupils blown.

“Yes, ma’am.” John ended up saying and nodded imperceptibly.

Kathleen let go of his collar and leaned back. “That’s what I fucking thought.” She goaded in a vicious tone through her teeth.

Then, she turned around, facing Lieutenant Cameron and nodding at him before she marched off, forcing the lieutenant to rush after her to escort her back to the chopper, and leaving behind a stunned group of SAS soldiers… and her future husband.

[yuna542]

[4.]

~Dynamite~

Pairing: JJ Maybank x Reader/Oc

Genre: Fluff, Enemies to Lovers, Smut, Angst, Drama, Action

Warnings: Swearing, Bruises

Taglist: Open

Word count: 3k

Summary: The Kook princess is back after a year and reignites the war between Pogues and Kooks on Kildare. But she quickly realizes that after this year, nothing is the same as before. Deception, secrets from the past, and dangerous conspiracies sweep across Kildare, leaving her no choice but to work with the Pogues and her personal nemesis to find the truth and maybe even $8 million. A dangerous treasure hunt begins that turns her world upside down.

Soundtrack:

⏯️Play: I Ran (So far away) by A Flock Of Seagulls

“I never thought I'd meet a girl like you

With auburn hair and tawny eyes

The kind of eyes that hypnotize me through

... And I ran, I ran so far away

I just ran, I ran all night and day”

"Does it always have to be like this?" sighed Sarah, clearly annoyed, as the bubbling sounded from the bong whenever Rafe took a deep hit.

"Why don't you relax!" he shot back immediately, passing the bong to Topper, who was sitting next to him on the bench.

Sarah had taken a seat in the chair in front of me and gave her boyfriend a warning look. He actually seemed to consider for a millisecond, but then realized it wasn't worth the stress.

He passed the bong to me, but I shook my head in amusement.

Rafe looked at me in amazement.

"What, since when did we become so well-behaved?"

I straightened up a bit in the hammock hanging on the Camerons' large patio and gave Rafe the middle finger.

"I don't consume anything except alcohol," I asserted sanctimoniously, placing a hand over my heart, to which Sarah only snorted.

"You better believe it, cause no one else will," she muttered. So I nudged her shoulder with my foot and said:

"Hey. Don't say that! If Rick gets hears anything like that, he'll disinherit me.... Or worse."

Rafe laughed softly as he took the bong back.

"What else? Will he take your cell phone away for a few days then?" speculated Topper amusedly, stroking Sarah's legs as they lay across his lap.

I laughed, trying to hide the bitterness behind it. Of course, the three of them had no idea of the extent of the tantrums Rick had from time to time.

In the last year, I became painfully aware of how far he was willing to go.

I wanted them to continue to think that I was treated like a princess. The reputation of the rich spoiled girl appealed to me and brought with it many advantages.

Rafe looked at me calmly, which gave me goose bumps. He had this strange look on his face for days now. As if he wanted to read my mind and get inside my head.

Unconsciously, I pulled my skirt into place and tugged at the hem of my blue top.

Suddenly, we heard a car pull up in front of the driveway. Panicked, Rafe jerked his eyes open and tried to hide the bong under a pillow while Topper awkwardly grabbed the empty beer bottles so they clinked loudly.

"Shit, I thought Ward and Rose weren't coming back until tonight," he snapped as he jumped to his feet to catch a glimpse over the hedge.

"Yeah, that's what they told me," Sarah hissed, picking up a couple of the beer bottles as well.

I watched the commotion with amusement and stretched out in the hammock.

Let them deal with it. They were their parents, after all. That's when Rafe paused in his movement and listened to the sound of the engine.

"Wait a minute...", Topper now also mumbled and put the bottles back down.

Sarah was still hugging the empty bottles, pressing them to her chest and looked back and forth between Topper and Rafe, questioning.

Slowly I straightened up in the hammock and put my feet on the floor. That's when I realized it too.

"What's up? Why are we stopping?" asked Sarah frantically.

The engine was still running and that's when I heard the sound that confirmed my suspicions. The loud roar, followed by a bang.

The sliding door of a VW bus. A very specific VW bus.

Rafe started to walk off. He was already grinding his teeth furiously. Topper followed him and I also ran curiously behind.

Sarah followed only after a few seconds.

We crossed the garden and the sound of the engine became louder and louder.

"That's not... They're better not be serious," growled Rafe, who had already reached the big iron gate which separated the garden and the small path which led from the mansion to the street.

Behind it was a small courtyard of the estate, where there were only flower pots, an old garage and the big garbage cans.

Loudly squealing, it opened and we slipped through one by one.

That's when we finally discovered those responsible for the noise. The Pogues' shabby bus was still parked at the front of the street. John B was at the steering wheel while Pope sat in the back holding the sliding door open.

There were two missing. Rafe seemed to notice it, too, as he scanned the yard. He spotted the others, even before I did.

"Ey!" he suddenly yelled in the direction of the garbage cans.

Sure enough, there they were. JJ in a gray tank top that had probably once been white and with his hair sticking out under a bandana, shining in the sun, and next to him Kiara, who had her back to us.

"What are they doing?" came from Topper, but Rafe was already racing off, blind with rage.

"Guys, the Kooks!" shouted Pope loudly across the yard, causing the two to immediately look up and hurry off with whatever they were doing.

They were hunched over the big blue trash can that was right next to the yellow one. Slowly we followed Rafe across the cobblestones and as we got closer, I noticed that they must have broken open the trash can.

The lock was on the ground and next to it was a structure that looked suspiciously like marble. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was one of the statues of Rose's garden.

A disgustingly ugly angel that was now missing its head and one arm.

It really wasn't a pity about that. Still we didn't understand what the Pogues were doing and why they even dared to go to Figure Eigth.

Kiara had pried open the lid of the barrel with both hands and was holding it open while JJ was handling something.

Rafe had already passed halfway across the yard when he threw several things into the garbage can.

"Faster!", I heard Kiara shout, to which JJ looked to Rafe. In his face you could still see the traces of the fight with him, yet not even a spark of fear shone in it, as Rafe now rushed towards him like a bulldozer.

Quite the opposite. I watched in amazement as he grinned broadly, as if he had only been waiting for Rafe.

Then another click and JJ tossed the last oblong piece into the garbage can.

"Go, go, go!", he screamed.

Kiara let go of the lid, which slammed loudly shut. Sarah was close behind as Topper passed me.

"This is just for you, you spoiled assholes! A little revenge!" shouted JJ, towards Rafe who was now speeding up.

Kiara passed JJ and ran to the bus, where Pope and John B were loudly calling out to them and cheering them on to run faster.

While Rafe and Topper chased the Pogues, I wondered what this was all about.

The Pogues sprinted for the bus and Topper took up the chase. He actually managed to catch up and grab JJ by the wrist halfway. He pulled him back, but before the Pogue could even react, Kiara had lunged and kicked his arm with all her might while sprinting.

Immediately he let go and his arm was yanked back. His entire body followed, he lost his balance and went down. Like a tire thrown out the window at full speed on the highway, he rolled over and landed on his back.

Sarah cried out and ran to him. Immediately, a loud groan rang out.

If he was lucky, he hadn't broken anything. However, my attention was now back on Rafe, who realized that he would not catch the bus in time.

So he turned around and ran back to the garbage can.

Subconsciously, I moved toward it as well. What had the Pogues planned? Breaking open the garbage can was not very evil and certainly not a revenge I would have expected from JJ.

I tried to remember what they had thrown in there. That specific clicking had sounded so familiar.

Rafe had almost reached the barrel.

The things had been oblong and reddish. The click resembled something that had burned itself into my subconscious.

It was on the tip of my tongue and the dark foreboding was already making its way through my swirling thoughts, but I couldn't grasp it.

Then Rafe lifted the lid and looked inside the barrel.

All at once the penny dropped and I stared at the Pogues.

JJ's eyes and mine crossed. They were back on the bus by now and seemed to be waiting for just one thing.

He raised his eyebrows meaningfully as our gazes wedged, and the sudden realization on my face seemed to catch his eye.

In confirmation, he tilted his head in anticipation and winked at me.

Snapped out of my stupor, I turned to Rafe and yelled:

"Get away from that barrel!"

But it was too late and Rafe, too, now seemed to finally see what was in the barrel.

The clicking in my head complemented the image of a lighter lighting a fuse.

The dynamite in the barrel exploded and the sudden detonation threw Rafe backwards. His surprised scream was only echoed by Sarah's. Half of the barrel shattered and to make matters worse, it was the paper barrel. Immediately, the entire contents began to burn and the flames blazed higher and higher. Burning scraps flew through the air like pigeons whose feathers had caught fire.

Panicked, Sarah stared at the burning barrel while Topper sat up on the ground, eyes wide.

That's when Rafe jumped up and I realized what had him so upset.

The sleeve of his college jacket had caught fire.

The red flames hungry reached for the fabric and nearly engulfed his entire arm.

Panicked, he shook the jacket off and threw it on the floor. Then he kicked it off. Shock was written all over his face and he seemed to be in pain. After all, the dynamite had exploded right in his face.

When I could finally move again, I ran to him and immediately stopped as the heat of the flames hit me.

The fire was spreading more and more in the barrel and if we waited just a few more seconds, it would spread to the hedge.

"Sarah! Fire extinguisher, now!", I shouted, wondering at my cool head.

Instead of panic and anger, I felt nothing. The scene seemed like it was miles away and yet I was in the middle of it.

Sarah reacted immediately and jumped up. Topper gasped in pain, and I saw that his right arm was scraped up from the elbow to the wrist.

Rafe was still stomping on the jacket to smother the flames.

Sarah was quick and back only a few seconds later. Immediately, she put out the fire.

In that time, Rafe picked up his jacket, which was now completely ruined.

We looked over at the Pogues. The corners of John's mouth slowly lifted, Pope looked startled but quite amused, and Kiara put her hand over her mouth in shock.

But JJ didn't even bother to hide his gloating. He snorted loudly and looked more than proud.

That gave Rafe the rest.

"That was a $700 jacket, assholes!"

He launched the next attempt to grab the Pogues, but he had no chance.

Before he could reach the car, they drove off bawling and yelping loudly.

He shouted all the insults and curses after them, while in the background only the fire extinguisher could be heard.

The fire had been smothered by now, but Sarah was still holding onto it.

It stank beastly of burnt paper and melted plastic. The barrel was now only half as big and also no longer blue, but black.

I held the back of my hand in front of my nose as the smoke bit into my lungs. It had been clear to me that the Pogues would take revenge, but not in such an exaggerated way.

The war between the Pogues and the Kooks was probably more violent and emotional than I had thought.

When I thought of the pure rage in Rafe's eyes and the gloating in JJ's, it made me feel nervous.

Immediately, I wondered how far this war would go, if they were not going to stop at violence, arson, and damage to property.

Rafe was beside himself and kicked the trash can violently.

"Shit damn it! How are we going to explain this to Dad?"

Sarah set the extinguisher down, exhausted, and wiped her hands on her shorts.

"We'll figure something out."

"Just report the bastards," Topper gasped now.

He had picked himself up and dragged himself over to us. His arm really didn't look good and there were even pebbles stuck in the bloody bruise.

"Topper, you should take this to the doctor," I remarked. Sarah agreed with me.

He resisted at first, but then gave in.

Sarah and he went into the house and then made their way to the doctor.

In the meantime, I helped Rafe close the barrel again and roll it out to the street, as it really stank disgustingly.

"That was a close call," I muttered as we silently eyed the disaster.

For the first time I really looked at Rafe, as he had been so quiet all along.

His gaze was blank and expressionless.

I only now noticed the redness on his cheek.

"Rafe, you're hurt."

Carefully, I tried to touch his cheek, but he flinched violently. He looked at me icily and the sudden anger made me falter.

Something about his manner was not right. It was as if a volcano lay dormant beneath the surface of the water, ready to erupt at any moment and do immense damage.

"Sky, I'll handle this.... You can go."

His words were as blunt as his expression.

"I can help. You don't have to do this alone. Ward will surely understand, after all..."

"Just get finally out of here, Sky!" he interrupted me harshly, and for a moment he regretted his outburst.

However, his face immediately resumed that cool expression that scared the hell out of me.

I didn't know him like that. He had never spoken to me like that.

Just as he had never lashed out at anyone and punched them until they spat blood, but times changed and so did people.

I wanted to say something, but then decided against it and closed my mouth again. Then I nodded silently and turned around without another word.

My bicycle was still leaning against the fence.

I swung on it and rode past Rafe.

The sun danced its light seductively across the street and the cool sea breeze ran through my curls.

I pedaled harder, trying to shake off the chaos in my head.

Rafe was so different. That hatred in his eyes was something I had never seen in him before.

Upset, I pulled into our driveway and thought about what I should do now.

Automatically, my hand went to the pendant that was around my neck. The cool silver was soothing against my skin and whenever I touched it, I felt a hint of the security my mother had always given me.

But it was just an echo so far back that it hurt immediately.

I got off my bike and leaned it carelessly against the railing of ornate white stone that led up to our front door.

Rick hated it when I parked my bike here. Anything that detracted from the image of a perfectly manicured property, he hated.

But I didn't care at the moment. Let him yell at me again.

That's what everyone was doing at the moment anyway.

The pain in my chest only got worse with the familiar sea breeze. Everything on this damn island reminded me of Mom, and although I had successfully repressed thoughts of her for a year, I was now finding it harder and harder not to think of her in Kildare.

My fingers were still wrapped around the pendant. I ran over the small waves, lost in thought, imagining her smiling at me.

The mansion loomed over me, like a menacing turn, and it was foreign to me at the moment.

I had nothing left of her except that necklace.

Rick had banished anything that might remind him of her. He'd had the walls in the living room and bathrooms repainted, since lilac had been her favorite color.

Then he had given away the pretty white cabinets I had bought with her at a garage sale.

I thought it was awful at the flea market, among all the people from the Cut, and I had prayed that no one would see me there. Those cabinets were gray and worn, but Mom still wanted to take them home.

She had made me paint the cabinets with her and I finally had to admit that I really liked them.

Everything else she had even touched, he had gotten rid of thoroughly, almost pedantically.

Except me, although he probably would have liked to.

I paused for a moment as something occurred to me. The ripples on the trailer stirred a memory that was deeply rooted in my heart.

He hadn't made all of her disappear.

Excited, I jumped off and hurried over through the garage, through the big backyard and past the pool.

⬇️

© Yuna542 — 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝.

[oxpogues4lifexo]

Full Kook Masterlist

Intros:

FK - JJ Maybank

FK - JJ+Rafe

Next Part:

FK - JJ+Rafe P2

Masterlist

Will slowly be adding to both when I can find the time x

Thank you for all the support it’s all very appreciated 🌹❤️

[macadoodlewrites]

Dangerous Love - Part Twenty-Two (Rafe Cameron x Routledge!Reader)

Summary: Avery Routledge is John B's cousin, and she has just moved to the OBX - just in time for a treasure hunt. But with John B keeping secrets in order to protect her, he pushes her into the arms of the Kook King. She becomes tangled with none other than Rafe Cameron, but will she realise how damaged he is before it is too late, or will he ruin her before she can get away?

Warnings: death, smut, dub-con, non-con, toxic behaviour, abuse, kidnapping

Ships: Rafe Cameron x OC, minor!JJ x OC

I do put trigger warnings at the beginning of each chapter, but please read them again as there will be some triggering content in this chapter.

Main Masterlist

Dangerous Love Masterlist

Word Count: 2.5k

I woke up and the side of my head was throbbing, as if I had walked into something hard forcefully. I rolled over, reaching for my phone before opening my eyes and realising that I didn't recognise where I was.

It was a bedroom, larger than my own at The Chateau, with cream walls and a matching carpet. All of the furniture was dark wood, including a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside tables, writing desk and chair. On the desk was a stack of books, including some of my personal favourites. There were no windows.

I sat up quickly, ignoring the pounding in the side of my head as I did so. Where was I?

And then it came rushing back. The airstrip, Peterkin's death, Rafe and Ward threatening to shoot John B, but thankfully he had gotten away. I hope that he was with JJ, Pope and Kiara.

But none of these thoughts answered my question.

But then my answer walked through the door.

I heard a sliding lock and then a key in a second lock before the door creaked open, and in walked Rafe. He closed the door behind him, then locked it, placing a silver key in his pocket.

"Rafe," I whispered. I shimmied back on the bed, pressing myself against the headboard, tucking my legs up to my body. He watched my movements, looking down at me through his long golden eyelashes.

"Don't be afraid, Avery. You're safe here."

"And where is here?"

He walked over to me and sat at the end of the bed, placing his hand on the bed. His signet ring glinted off the warm light hanging from the ceiling. "You're at my house. This is one of the bedrooms in the basement of the mansion."

I paled, suddenly feeling sick. "And why am I here?"

He shifted along towards me, an odd smile on his handsome face. "Because you love me. You admitted it and I knew you weren't lying. I don't care if you only said it in the moment to save your cousin's life. I knew that you weren't lying. I know you too well, sweetheart."

"It's not true," I whispered, my voice hoarse. The pounding in my head wasn't going away. No surprise there. Ward was a strong man and his anger against me letting John B get away was immense.

"See, the thing is, Avery, I know that it is. I might have acted a little hastily yesterday, but I know that you'll forgive me."

“And how do you know that, Rafe? After everything that you’ve done?”

He chucked a low laugh, one that used to bring a smile to my face. “You said so yourself. You said you could forgive me for it all if I let your cousin go, and I did. I knew that you were saying whatever you could to get me to spare him, but I also knew that you meant it. I know you too we’ll. You’re too open with your emotions, always wearing your heart on your sleeve. And you told me everything with how you were looking at me back on the air strip. I knew you were scared, but I could still see your love for me in there.”

He had read me like an open book. It was like every thought in my head was on show to him, no matter how much I wanted to try to hide it from him. I shook my head at him.

“No,” I sobbed. “Rafe, please let me go.”

He moved even closer to me, closing the distance between us on the mattress.

“And now I just how much you love me, it only makes me want to protect you more. My father is angry at you and me for letting John B go, but he can see how having you here will work to our advantage.”

I scoffed at him. “I’m your insurance again?”

A small nod. “That’s how my dad sees you. You know that I think of you as so much more than that.”

“And what happens when John B goes to the cops and tells them everything? That you murdered Sheriff Peterkin? I will be useless to you and your dad.”

I waited for him to lash out at me. To hit me again. But he only reached over and wrapped one slim-fingered hand around my ankle, tugging my leg away from its curled up position against my body.

“I think you hit your head a little too hard, sweetheart. I didn’t kill Peterkin. John B did.”

I stared at him, open mouthed and gaping. And then I slapped his hand away harshly and bolted from the bed.

“How dare you,” I breathed. “How dare you try to pin this on him. He is innocent. You are a murderer.” He stood up also, hands clenched at his sides and I remembered the words he had said before I had passed out. No, Dad. I have a plan, okay? We will be fine. “It was your idea, wasn’t it? You’re the reason that that your father will blame John B.”

He shrugged, taking slow steps towards me. “My father is a smart man. He would have come up with the idea eventually, without my help.”

“You said you would spare his life.”

“And I did-“

“No you didn’t!” I screamed, rushing at him and slamming my fists against his solid chest. “They will arrest him and he will be locked up for the rest of his life! Peterkin was the sheriff! The cops will give him the death penalty if they get the chance!”

Rafe let me continue hitting him for a moment longer before one hand came up and wrapped itself around my wrists and the other placed itself on my chest, just below my throat. “I didn’t kill him. I did as you asked. My hands are entirely clean.”

“You are a murderer and a monster! How could I have ever thought that I loved you?”

He snapped. I’d been expecting it but it somehow still took me by surprise. He spun us around and shoved me away from him, my body flying into the bed. He slid himself over me, holding me down.

“Let’s get this straight, sweetheart. My father wanted to dispose of you - similarly to what your own mother wanted to do. Ironic, right? The only reason that you are here and safe is because I wish it. So do not piss me off. Let’s stop with the name-calling, shall we?”

I spat up at him, watching as it landed on his cheek and ran down his skin. He wiped it away, the anger replaced with a terrifyingly blank expression.

“I told you that in confidence, Rafe. How dare you.”

“And I haven’t told anyone else. But you need to know what will happen to you if you don’t have my protection. Everything I am doing is for you. You owe me.”

It was all I could do to bite my tongue, not scream up at him, claw at his face. I would only lose. He was stronger than me, had all of the power over me.

“I don’t owe you shit,” I hissed.

“I think that you do. I think I spared your cousin’s life. I’ve kept your secrets. I’ve done everything for you. So now it’s time for my reward.”

“What-“

He cut me off by gripping both sides of my flannel shirt and ripping it open. The buttons went flying as it flew apart, and my chest, only covered in a lacy blue bra, was bared to him.

“No, no, Rafe, no-“

“We were interrupted yesterday and I’ve been hard just thinking about how I could have taken you on that deck, in front of anyone who might have walked past.” He leaned down, his nose brushing mine. “You should at least appreciate the privacy that I am allowing you-"

So caught up in what Rafe was trying to do, I hadn't heard someone unlock the door and enter the room. But they subtly coughed from behind us - Rafe froze above me, and then turned to look over his shoulder. As he did so, I was allowed a view of who it was. Ward.

He stared at us with those piercing blue eyes with alarm.

"Rafe, what do you think you're doing?" he asked, surprisingly calmly, but I couldn't miss the cold fire in his stare aimed at his son. "Get off of her."

"Get out!" Rafe yelled, involuntarily squeezing the hand around my neck.

"I won't ask you twice, son."

They continued to stare at each other, before Rafe took a deep break and slid off of me. I quickly gathered the remains of my shirt and wrapped them around myself, covering my chest and bra from Ward. Thankfully, he still wasn't looking at me, he only had a hard glare for his son. I sat up, sliding back to the headboard, trying to move away from both of the Cameron men.

"What are you doing here?" Rafe spat. His cheeks were flushed and his hair dishevelled.

"I thought that you would care to know that Sheriff Peterkin is dead."

It was a blow straight through my chest. I'd known - I realised that now - no one bled as much as she did and survived, but I had try tried to hold a little hope. Hope for John B. Hope for myself. I finally noticed the dried blood on his hands. Sheriff Peterkin's blood.

Neither of them were smiling, but I could feel their relief thrumming through the room. If Sheriff Peterkin was dead, there would be no one to contradict their lies. Only my cousin. But who would believe him over Ward Cameron, king of the Kooks?

As if to hone the nail in the coffin, Ward added, "And there is a warrant out for John Booker Routledge. The police department has called in the FBI to assist in their search for him. By nightfall, he will be behind bars for the crime that he commited."

At this I sneered at him. "Who are you kidding, Ward? All three of us were on that airstrip. Don't lie for my benefit. I know what a monster you are. What you and your son did. Rafe killed the Sheriff, and you can lock me up, but the truth will come out. Sarah was there. She saw everything."

The truth was that I didn't know if Sarah Cameron could be trusted. I knew that she cared about John B, but did she care for him enough to turn against her family? I didn't know.

"My daughter will stand with her family, Avery."

I almost believed him, but I saw the way he swallowed heavily. He wasn't sure of Sarah's loyalty either.

"Now what am I going to do with you? I admit, keeping you here will keep your cousin away. For now. This little arrangement can only last for so long."

I couldn't help it - I looked at Rafe. He was glancing between myself and his father, panic taking over his handsome features.

"Dad, what are you talking about-"

"I'm not going to kill her, Rafe. But she can't stay here. Her friends will find a way to look for her."

"What are you suggesting?" Rafe asked, taking a step towards me. I curled further in on myself and watched as he noticed. Watched as he took in my movements.

Ward shook his head. "Nothing yet. But I will think of something. But for now -" he walked towards his son, pointing a finger at his chest - "you will not touch her, Rafe. We have enough problems at the moment without you assaulting her and god forbid, getting her pregnant."

It was like I didn't exist, for the amount of attention Ward was paying me. I couldn't even find it in myself to be grateful to him for his warning to Rafe. I hated him too much. He was dooming my cousin to a death sentence, and me to whatever fate he felt was most suitable.

They stared each other down, blue eyes locked on each other. Finally Rafe, nodded, barely a tilt of his chin. Ward looked him over, then looked at me. His eyes, thankfully, did not travel down to the remains of my shirt.

And then he left, leaving me alone with Rafe once again.

"He won't kill you, Avery."

"No, you're the only murderer here," I spat.

He clenched his fists at his sides, still standing as he was at the side of the bed. This was new. Rafe never tried to control his temper. I had witnessed that first hand on multiple occasions.

"I did what I had to do for my family-"

"And you doomed mine in the process!"

"I'm not going to argue with you, sweetheart. My father won't kill you, but we will figure out what we can do. You're not leaving me. Not again."

"I would never have left you if you hadn't tried to attack me."

"You slept with someone else."

"You attacked me before I ever told you that. Don't try to make excuses."

He had been looking down, taking deep breaths, but he finally looked at me. The flush was gone from his cheeks and his jaw was clenched tightly, but that wasn't what frightened me. No, it was the cold, dead look of his eyes.

"You love me still. And I love you. That will never change. You came to this island, with your fiery opinions and sweet smiles. You were so vulnerable. You needed me to take care of you," he breathed. "None of this would have happened if you had never come to the Outer Banks. All of this is on you."

He started walking towards the door as I sprung up from the bed.

"Are you fucking delusional, Rafe? Ward stole the gold! You shot the Sheriff! You and your father are holding me against my will! None of this is my fault, you psychopath."

He unlocked the door, the set of his shoulders tense. I lunged at him as he opened the door, but he was ready for me. He turned, his hands clasping my wrists before shoving me backwards. I fell to the floor, the remains of my flannel shirt loose and open as I breathed heavily, hatred coursing through me.

"Call me a psychopath or a monster if it makes you feel better. But you are also mine and you are not going anywhere. The rest of your life will be with me, so you better get used to it and stop fighting me. Or things could get very bad for you."

A choked laugh escaped my throat as I stared up at him. "What else could you possibly do to me?"

A cruel smile graced his full lips. "Let's hope you never have to find out.

And then he was gone, leaving me laughing to myself, feeling like I was starting to lose my mind. Rafe Cameron had taken so much from me. And now this. He was trying to blame me for this entire situation.

He was delusional. Crazy. Insane.

I couldn't let him make me that way too.

@miniaturenightmagazine @zombicupcake3 @flossiewrites  @harringtonstudios  @annellie  @steveharringtonswifey09  @hockeybabe87 @shikamaruscumrag  @urmomssidehoesposts @namelesssav  @www-interludeshadow-com @gh0stgirl33 @belcalis9503 @thebuttofcaptainamerica  @im-julessssss @screechingeggslovershepherd @okayyiamjade @dforever15 @belcalis9503  @iridescentimagines @sarahlizzie @magnificantmermaid @inspiredleonie @angrypeachtyrant @bunnietoof @anaposthudson @boo22sstuff

[cleoluvrr]

The Last Days of Summer XI (Rafe Cameron x Heyward!OC)

Warnings: violence, underage drinking, drug use, verbal abuse, jealousy, forbidden relationship, enemies to lovers, gaslighting + manipulation

Synopsis: Stuck in a situation she never dreamed of, Neriah Heyward blurs the line between Kook and Pogue; Rafe Cameron a witness.

masterlist

word count: 7.2k+

↠━ღ◆ღ━↞

It had been barely a couple weeks and I already feel like a damn fool for a plethora of reasons.

John B Routledge had been released from county jail; all charges dropped. A free man once again. And while I was happy for him, I felt nothing but anger and disappointment. For in his place is Rafe Cameron.

Rafe’s face had been plastered all over the news the moment John B was released, accused of the murder of Peterkin. Nobody had seen or heard from Ward’s son, besides me. He called me saying something about Sarah and Wilmington, but I hung up because he sounded drunk and frantic. I told him to call me back when he calmed down, but he never did. That was when I found out.

Turns out he had been arrested for first degree murder and probably an array of other charges. He was rotting away in some cell in the county jail, his father was MIA from what I’ve heard, and my brother and his friends were out celebrating.

I hadn’t left the house since I saw the first news report for anything but school, unable to stop beating myself up. I hadn’t told Londyn anything, but she could tell something was up and was practically itching with concern. My brother hadn’t been home long enough to notice my change in mood, though I doubt he would ask if he was.

Then at school Monday morning, all I could hear though the halls was the news of Ward Cameron’s death. I had never been more confused in my life at the ever-evolving situation. 

‘Rafe was framed.’ ‘Ward Cameron killed himself.’ ‘Mr. Cameron killed Peterkin.’ Whispers upon whispers talking about the events of Sunday night. Ward Cameron confessed to the murders of multiple people, including the sheriff, and then blew up his boat with himself inside it to evade police capture. They released Rafe that same day, apparently. Though, I hadn’t heard from him since that phone call on Friday.

I called him about ten times, four times on Monday when I got home and throughout the week. I even walked past Tannyhill on the way to Brye’s house, but it didn’t look like anyone had been there in a while. I stopped at some point, realizing that he was going through more important things that didn’t involve me.

My phone rings on my nightstand, the sound pulling my eyes away from the window where the moon shines through. I roll over, eyes widening at the name on the screen.

“Rafe?” All hear on the other end is soft breathing and no verbal answer. “Rafe, is that you? Hello?” I tried again.

“Neriah…” He says, voice calm as he trails off.

“Rafe? Oh my god!” I jump out of bed onto my feet. “What- Where have you been? What the hell is going on? I’ve been worried out of my mind!”

My heart nearly falls out of my mouth at the sound of his voice on the other end and I have to stop myself from yelling, parents sleeping not too far away. So many questions race through my mind that I can’t even pick one to start with. 

“Calm down, Neriah. I’ll explain everything.”

“Uh, I would sure fucking hope so!” I shout angrily into the microphone. “Do you know how many times I’ve called you? You got fucking arrested, Rafe Cameron! Then your dad blows up his goddamn boat and you disappear for days!”

“Calm down-” I cut him off.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I say, pacing around my bedroom.

“Calm down, Neriah.” He says again, more firmly this time. “Come outside.” He hangs up the phone after that, not giving me a chance to react.

I huff, slipping on a pair of spandex shorts and a zip up before quietly exiting through the back of the shop. I shut the door quietly behind me, shivering at the cool air against my practically bare legs. I peek around the corner and spot Rafe leaning against his blue Ford truck. I yank my head back behind the wall, taking a deep breath before entering his sight.

I walk towards him slowly, the sound of the gravel beneath my beat up shoes capturing his attention in the silent night. I wrap my arms around myself, all my anger from a few minutes ago dissipated as soon as I saw him for myself. Our eyes lock and are unable to pull away from each other.

I reach him, stopping a few feet away from the car. I look around to make sure nobody is out being nosy, especially not my parents.

“God, I missed you.” Rafe says. He moves forward the few feet that I did not, pulling me into a crushing embrace. The scent of his cologne seeps into my nostrils and I remain tense in the warmth of his arms.

I relax the longer he holds me, hesitantly returning the hug after what feels like an eternity of one-sided awkwardness. I hear him breathe in deeply, welcoming the smell of me to enter his nose as if he couldn’t go any longer without it. We stay like this for a second too long and I clear my throat, the sound clear over the crickets hiding in the grass.

“Can you explain what the hell is going on?” I mumble into his hard chest.

“You know what happened.”

“Yeah, I do.” I say, pushing him off me gently. “But I need you to tell me.” He sighs but nods,  running a hand through his hair.

He pulls me to the other side of the car, opening the passenger door for me. Before I can get in he grabs me again. He presses me against the frame and kisses me deeply, the sound of him inhaling through his nose filling my ears. I close my eyes, hand resting on his waist as I enjoy the familiar embrace. He smells like Versace Eros, as always, and his lips are even softer against mine than I remembered.

He pulls away after a few seconds, allowing me to get into the car and closing the door before getting in on his side. He pulls around the corner and parks behind an abandoned building, not too far from my house but far out of view of prying eyes. He stops the car and gestures to the backseat. I get out and move to the back, Rafe following after pulling something out of the glove box.

“I know you’ve probably been going through a lot but you could’ve at least texted me or something.” I say when he opens the back door. “Do you know-”

He kisses me again as soon as he joins me in the truck, cutting me off as his hand finds home on the small of my back. His other lands on my hip, pulling me onto his lap without disconnecting from my lips. I make a sound of surprise that is swallowed down by him, our teeth knocking together awkwardly.

I try to back away and he follows me with his head, noses smashed together as he holds me still.

He pulls away, trailing wet kisses along my jawline and repeating how much he’s missed me during each breath he takes. He pulls me impossibly close, bodies pressed together so tightly that my lungs stop expanding fully from the lack of space between us. 

“Rafe, stop.” I whisper breathlessly, trying to regain my composure as he continues the ministrations on my neck. “We need to talk.”

“We’re gonna have so much time to talk, I promise.” He mumbles into the column of my throat.

I gasp at the feeling of him reaching up into my hair and pulling my head back, exposing more of my neck for him to mark up. He brushes his lips down further, the soft skin leaving kisses along my collarbones. I feel his hair ticking the bottom of my chin as he nips at the thin, sensitive skin of my chest. 

The thought of him leaving bruises on my skin sends shivers of excitement down my body, which are turned into ones of worry when I think about what will happen if anyone sees them. My parents, Londyn, Pope. 

My hand reaches up to thread the back of his hair with my fingers and I reluctantly pull him away, the boy chasing after my neck with his lips.

“Rafe…” He looks at me with dark eyes. I can’t tell if he’s annoyed by my stopping him, or if something else that I’m far too embarrassed to even think about as I sit here in his lap. “Seriously, we need to talk. Now.”

“Okay.” He barely nods his head, his hands moving down to my thighs and away from my head. “I have a question for you…” He prompts. 

“I think I’m the one asking the questions here.”

“I told you we’ll have time for that later.” He chews on his bottom lip. “I have a question, seriously. Answer me seriously.”

“Okay, Rafe. What is it?” I say sighing. His hands gently kneading into the meat of my thighs has me slightly distracted, breath hitching every time they move up a little higher than I expect.

“Would you run away with me?” I throw my head back in laughter at the question, my voice filling the otherwise silent truck. “I’m being serious, Neriah. Don’t laugh at me.”

He looks unamused when I raise my head back, jaw clenched tightly as he fixes me with his sharp eyes.

“You’re being serious?” I ask incredulously. His fingers dig into my thighs a little deeper and I wince internally, the feeling only lasting as second before he lightens up.

“Yes, I’m being serious. I just said I’m being serious, so I don’t know what you’re laughing at me.”

“I’m sorry, Rafe. “ I pout at him, pushing his hair out of his face gently. “That’s such a random question. But no, I wouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Are you serious?” He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “Let me rephrase that. I’m in my senior year of high school, I hopefully leave for college next year, and as much as I would love to get the hell off this island, I would like to do it with a plan in mind.”

“You don’t think we can make a plan together?” He sounds absolutely serious, which has me worried about the impact the death of his dead has had on him.

Run away with him? We aren’t exactly madly in love and trying to escape our oppressive parents. Kildare may be a shit island, but I have a life here, and so does Rafe. And as much as I’m letting myself trust him and turn over a new leaf, I would not rely on him to come up with anything sane; especially not after the events of the past week.

“Rafe, I mean a reasonable plan. A real plan.” He scoffs at me, the expression one of offense.

“I have a real plan!”

“Rafe, I have my whole life ahead of me, and we literally just started dating.”  I shake my head at him which only seems to irritate him more. “Many of those days were spent alone because you were MIA. Not to mention you were just up for murder.”

“I didn’t kill anyone!” He shouts. I flinch my head back at the raising of his voice so close to my face.

“Okay, Rafe, I believe you. I do.” I say, hands placed on his shoulders and I lightly massage the tension out of his shoulders. “But you’ll have to forgive me if I’m more than a bit opposed to what you’ve just asked me.”

He throws his head back against the seat, poking his tongue through his cheek once again. He sighs heavily before tapping my thigh twice. He looks at me blankly, eyes swirling with something I have a hard time deciphering. 

When it comes to Rafe, he is two things. Extremely easy to read, or impossible to read. I can always tell when he’s high or intoxicated from his inability to cloak the emotion behind his dilated eyes and his need to spill every thought in his head out of his mouth. But at this moment, he is stone cold sober. Reading him when he’s like this is terribly hard and I haven’t yet mastered the skill.

“It’s okay, I’ll figure it out.” He says mysteriously, the sentence left far too open for my liking. Suddenly he smiles brightly at me. “I have something for you.” He says, reaching down near the floor of the car.

He pulls out a medium sized, white bag with a muted pink bow. My eyes squint at the boldly printed Pandora across the front. He pulls out a small ring box first and my heart starts beating against my chest so hard I think it just might escape.

“Rafe, I hope you aren’t about to propose to me because if you are,” I watch nervously as he opens the box. “I have some bad news for you.”

He pulls the jewelry out of the cushioned case and I almost gasp. The ring is shaped like a tiara and is absolutely covered in crystals that look far too similar to diamonds for my comfortability. He grabs my right hand gently and slips the ring on. He looks at it on my finger fondly, smiling down at it glittering in the moonlight.

“Rafe, get this shit off my hand before I freak.” He shakes his head at me, chuckling at my reaction. “Are those diamonds? Rafe, are you crazy?”

“It’s just cubic zirconia, calm down.” He kisses the finger decorated by the ring. “A tiara for my princess.”

“Rafe.” I look down at the piece in awe. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Think of it as an apology for my behavior.” He pecks my cheek lightly, lips brushing against the skin as he speaks. “You deserve everything in the world for giving me a chance.”

“When did you even have time to buy this?” I ask. He shrugs and reaches back into the bag.

He pulls out a larger, flatter black velvet box. He opens the box and pulls out a necklace. It’s a dainty silver chain with an RC pendant dangling from the middle. The initials glisten under the moon in a way similar to the ring. He opens the necklace and places it around my neck, clasping it behind my neck. The pedant sits right in the middle of my chest, the metal cool against my skin.

His smile gets even wider at the sight of me wearing it, the letters of his name and the fresh red, purple marks adorning my neck bringing him much joy.

“Rafe, I can’t wear this.”

“Why not?” He asks, a smile still bright on his face. “No one knows we even talk, I’m sure they won’t connect the dots just yet.”

I slap my palm against my forehead, cursing to myself quietly. 

How do I explain the origins of the gifts to people? The ring I can hide, but there’s no way I can get around my friends or family asking why I have a big, fat RC sitting on my neck. My parents may not care that much, I can thank my brother for their lack of curiosity in my mostly uneventful life. However my brother would have me under interrogation. JJ would too if he got to me first.

‘Where’d you get that?’ ‘What does that stand for?’ ‘How did you afford that?’ I can hear the barrage of questions now, the image of me sitting under a bright lamp in an interrogation room while JJ and Pope play good cop, bad cop with me heavy on my mind.

“Do you think I can walk around my neighborhood wearing this without someone noticing?” I say worriedly. “Without my parents noticing?” 

“I’m sure you can come up with something.” He shrugs, reaching up and fiddling with the necklace’s pendant. “You’re a smart girl.”

“You stress me out so much.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I don’t mean to.” He pecks my lips sweetly two times. “Those are real diamonds, by the way.”

The weight of the piece on my neck tripled as the words left his mouth. I almost rip it off and shove it back into the box it came from.

“Do not buy me anything else, Rafe Cameron.” He hums with a light, closed mouth smile dancing on his lips.

“We’ll see.” He says playfully. “When I see pretty things all I can think of is my pretty girl wearing them.” 

I have to force the grin from creeping its way onto my face, biting down on my lip harshly to prevent myself from exposure. I hear the blood rush into my ears and If not for the color of my skin, he would surely see the blush on my face. Though that did not stop him from figuring me out, the back of his hand reached up to feel my burning hot cheeks as if he just knew what I was hiding. 

His smile gets even wider, skin stretched across the beautiful set of teeth residing in his mouth.

“Why would you ask if I would run away with you?” I bring up the topic again to remove the attention off of me, thoughts racing through my mind. “You were pissed when Sarah ran off with John B, so what makes it any different if we did it?”

The smile drops right off his face, teeth hidden between the curtain of his lips once again as he remains quiet. He huffs through his nose, bright eyes riddled with irritation from the mention of the brunette boy that’s dating his younger sister.

“John B is a no good Pogue that corrupted my sister’s mind.” He shakes his head. “I’m better than him, I have more to give you than he could ever give my sister.”

“I’m also a Pogue.” I point out. He shakes his head again and reaches to twirl the ends of my braids with his finger. “You can pretend that I’m not, but you see what side of town you’re on. I am also friends with John B in some capacity.”

“I told you don’t hang out with him anymore. You aren’t like them.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I say scoffing.

“You’re better than them. You’re smart, and kind, and not a criminal.” He explains. “You’re even better than I am, and I love that about you.”

“That doesn’t make me not a Pogue, Rafe.”

“I know that, but you are more than just that.” He places a hand on my cheek softly, thumb caressing the skin beneath it. “So many of them are just that and nothing else. They have nothing going for them. Being born a Pogue isn’t their fault, but they don’t even try to change anything for the better. But you? You want to get the hell off this island and make a life for yourself, and that makes you different.”

“What about my brother? He works just as hard as me.” He chuckles dryly.

“He can’t stop running around with people that couldn’t care any less about his future, so what about him?” I sigh and shake my head at his words, knowing that I somewhat agree.

“What would your plan be?” 

He hums in response as a way to ask what I mean, eyebrows pinched and raised.

“If we ran away together, which I’m not saying will ever happen, what would your plan be?” I peel his hand off my face and hold it in my own. “You’re nineteen with no job, I haven’t even finished school yet. How would we survive? Where would we live? Do you plan to live off daddy’s money forever? Because it will run out at some point, Rafe.”

“My dad left Cameron Development to me. He taught me how to run the company, how to be the man of the house.” He says with a firmness. “I handle business, I know how to take care of my family.”

“That’s not what I asked.” My voice is inching on the edge of an attitude. “And are you sure it’s you taking care of business? Or have you left it for Rose to deal with.”

“That greedy bitch doesn’t know how to do anything right.” He practically growls out. “I know what I’m doing, Neriah. It’s not for you to worry about.”

I don’t know what the grift is with his stepmother but mentioning her seems to only make him angry, her name something of a trigger. I’ve never asked what happened to his real mom, but I don't think that conversation would go any better than this one.

He still doesn’t really answer my question, and I feel the conversation turning into more of an argument than anything else. I sigh loudly and squeeze his hand tenderly. 

“Okay, Rafe.” I say.

We’re interrupted by Rafe’s phone ringing in his pocket, the sound of it replacing our voices. He pulls it out, rolling his eyes at the name on the screen. He declines the call, opting to text the person instead. I assume It’s because I’m in the car.

He goes back and forth with the person for a few minutes, one hand texting and the other moving up and down my leg from my knee to the top of my thigh repeatedly. His thumb sneaks under one of the legs of my spandex, the finger brushing back and forth for a moment before he pulls it back out and continues his previous movements. I shift slightly in his lap, the feeling of his skin on mine making it hard to keep completely still. If he notices my maneuvering he doesn’t acknowledge it, the phone shining against his face taking all the attention off me.

He looks frustrated with whoever it is he’s talking to, throwing the phone down on the seat roughly. He sighs deeply, running a hand through his locks. I use my thumb to wipe away the crease in his brow. He looks at me fully, grabbing my hand and holding it against his mouth in a kiss. I feel the displeasure radiating off his body in waves.

“What’s wrong?” I ask curiously. He shakes his head, grabbing his phone again and gripping it tightly. His jaw ticks in vexation, the blonde’s short temper with whoever was on the other end of the device clearly getting the best of him.

“Sorry to cut this short, princess, but I have to go handle something.” He kisses the spot where my necklace sits, skin burning from the contact, before zipping up the jacket to my neck and throwing the hood over my head.

He drops me off back home, handing me the Pandora bag as he helps me out of the car. After pulling me in for a tight hug and kissing me on the top of my head, he got back into the truck reluctantly. I wave as he pulls off into the night, sneaking back into the house the way I escaped.

When I get into my room, I take off the ring and place it into the box it was gifted to me in. I lie down under the warm covers of my bed, playing with the jewelry hanging around my neck with a smile on my face.

“Where’d you get that?” A voice says, the sound capturing my attention.

I look up from my phone to find Pope standing in front of me. I raise my eyebrows at him as he takes a seat across the table. I hadn’t seen him in a couple days and I was surprised he still remembered where he lives, let alone that he has a sister.

“Get what?” I respond, voice monotonous as I look back down at my phone.

“That.” I see him point at the necklace draped around my neck through my peripheral. I reach and to fiddle with the pendant when he points out the ring too. “And that.”

Shit.

I’d been wearing the necklace confidently for the past few days since I got it, able to hide it behind the collar of my uniform during school and under the necklines of hoodies when I was home. My parents hadn’t asked or hadn’t noticed, and Pope hadn’t been home in so long I’d be surprised he remembered what I looked like, let alone notice if I was wearing a new piece of jewelry.

I was dumb enough to let myself forget to hide it, the low neck of my top leaving nothing to hide the necklace from plain sight. I wasn’t planning on my brother so suddenly showing up to the house as he chose to spend most days with his friends at the chateau lately.

“My friend gave it to me.” Is the most vague I can be without blatantly lying to him, something I try not to do when I can help it.

“What friend?”

“You don’t know them that well.” I say trying to brush him off. 

“What’s their name?” He keeps pushing, leaning forward and resting his hands on the table as he stares at the jewelry.

“Don’t worry about it.” I snip at him. He hums, looking into my eyes curiously.

“Is it the same friend that keeps leaving bruises all over you?” I avert my eyes at the question, opting to watch the people walking around outside the Heyward’s where we sit. “So it is.”

I had also clumsily forgotten about the fading bruises Rafe left all over my neck in the car that night. I thought that they had disappeared enough that they’d be undetectable, but my brother was clearly too observant to let it slide.

“What are you talking about, Pope?” I choose to play dumb with him in hopes that it’ll get him off my back for now, but that rarely ever works with him. He knows me too well.

“You don’t think I noticed those bruises on your neck the night I came home? After Midsummers?” He looks severely unamused and my heart is beating against my chest so hard that he might just be able to hear it.

No, I didn’t think he noticed. I should’ve covered them up better.

“I didn’t know it was any of your business.” I say. He scoffs and tilts his head at me as if he can’t believe what he’s just heard.

“I don’t care about your hickies, Neriah, you’re eighteen. But I’m not supposed to say anything when my sister comes home with random bruises on her neck like someone tried to strangle her? Or on her arms and wrists?”

“I don’t ask what you do when you disappear for days at a time, do I?” I’m met with silence. “You have your life, and I have mine.”

“You come home with mysterious bruises, sneak out of the house and don’t come back until its past dark-”

“You literally do the same thing-” He cuts me off just as I did him.

“But I’m not the one trying to hide it, am I?” He shouts, slamming his hand down on the table. “And now you come home with some jewelry I’ve never seen in my life and refuse to tell me who it’s from.”

“It’s none of your business, Pope, just as I keep telling you.” I say, chuckling humorlessly. “I don’t understand why you’re making it such a big deal; it’s just a necklace.”

“A necklace from Rafe Cameron!”

My heart drops into my feet and my stomach begins to churn violently at the mention of the person that gave me the piece of jewelry. My mouth is glued shut for a moment, my brother and I staring each other down outside of our parents’ shop. I leave my face blank so as not to expose myself, but I already feel far too exposed. I lick my lips and squint at him slightly.

How did he know? It’s Rafe’s fucking initials, of course he would know.

“You’re being ridiculous.” I laugh dryly as he stares at me frustratedly. “How did you even come to that conclusion?”

I contemplate completely denying his accusation, but decide not confirming it is the better choice. If I lied to him and he found out about it, not only would he have my head and likely never trust me again, but he would surely tell his friends as well. Having Pope on my case is punishment enough.

“You went to Midsummers with him-”

“Not by choice, you know that.” I say cutting him off.

“You went to Midsummers with him, you sneak off with him in his truck, which I have to find out through people in the neighborhood sending me pictures of you talking to him not even twenty feet away from the store.”

“I’m not allowed to talk to people just ‘cause you don’t like them?” He gapes at me in disbelief.

“He jumped me, Neriah!”

“Yeah, Pope, I know. I was there both times.” I look at him incredulously, setting my phone down on the table. “Need I remind you I was the one that saved your ass?”

“So you should understand why I’m pissed.” He says and I nod at him.

“I understand, I just don’t really care because what I do has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me!” He bangs on the table with his closed fist angrily.

“No, it doesn’t.” I reply flatly. “Just like how everything you do in your free time has nothing to do with me, what I do has nothing to do with you. I’m not understanding what you don’t get!”

“I’m just supposed to let my sister walk around with that motherfucker’s name on her neck after he punked me?” He asks vexedly. “That in itself is him punking me again, and you’re letting him do it.”

“I’m not letting him do anything!” I raise my voice at him.

“So what do you call it?” He crosses his arms with a face painted in irritation. 

“I call it wearing a necklace that was gifted to me.” I say flatly once again.

“Oh, that's all?” His tone is smart and I roll my eyes at him. “It doesn’t mean anything else?”

“Pope, how do I put this…” I trail off, thinking about my words carefully. “You never take into consideration how your family feels when you disappear without a word for days, or how our parents feel when you throw away opportunities that will greatly impact your future to go be a criminal with your friends. You are clearly willing to ruin your relationship with us for them, so why would I care about you being a little pissy because I’m talking to someone you don’t like?”

He doesn’t answer my question but I can feel the rage radiating off his body across the table. I feel like I’m about to cry but I don’t let it show, opting to mirror his look of anger.

“He’s not a good person, Neriah. He’s a thief and a murderer.” Pope forces the words out of his mouth, teeth grinding down on each one. “He’s already hurt you, what’s to say he won’t do it again? I thought you were smarter than this?”

“He’s not a murderer, and what constitutes a ‘good person’ is subjective.” I say firmly. “Whatever happens between me and him is our business, unless otherwise stated. And I’m not stupid, I know what I’m doing and I really don’t need your input on my decision making.”

“He killed Peterkin, Neriah!” Our argument is beginning to draw attention to us, the people walking by turning their heads to watch us in curiosity. “He steals from our family and kills people to get his way; he’s dangerous and you shouldn’t be around him.”

“You literally watched his dad confess to the murder and then blow himself up his boat. Like, front row seats. Yet you still try to find a way to blame Rafe for it.” I stare at him in bewilderment. “And he has never stolen anything from our family, unless you’re withholding information from me?”

“His dad stole the gold from the Royal Merchant, Neriah. Gold that Denmark Tanny left for us.” I look at him, absolutely puzzled. 

“That ship John B’s dad was looking for? Denmark Tanny? As the owner of Tannyhill?” He nods. “What does Denmark Tanny have to do with us? Or that ship; what are you talking about?”

“God, there’s so much you don’t know.” He says running his hands over his face. “Denmark is our ancestor, Riah. He hid the gold he took from the Royal Merchant for his son to find but he never found it. Then we found it! But Ward stole it from the well before we got a chance to do it first. That was our gold, Neriah, and he took it from us.”

“What?” Is all I can muster up.

This conversation has taken a turn I wasn’t expecting.

“When I went down to Charleston I was basically kidnapped by this crazy white lady and her ancestor was the captain of the ship that Denmark Tanny was on, She was talking to me about some key and I didn’t know what she was talking about so I asked Heyward, and he told to ask Mee-maw. Mee-maw said that the key was his and that we’re related to him-”

“Pope, please stop.” I say. His talking halts abruptly at my request and he looks more confused than I do. “This sounds like a really cool story, really. But, and I don’t mean this to offend you, you sound like a crazy person.”

“It’s true! You can ask Mee-maw or dad!” 

“Pope, I’m not saying I don’t believe you, because I do. I’m saying that you sound kinda insane right now and you need to calm down.” I exhale deeply as I think about my next words. “Even if all that is true, and I’m not saying it isn’t, that has nothing to do with Rafe. His father’s actions are not his, and Ward is dead now.”

“You aren’t understanding me, Neriah…” He says. I shake my head, phone buzzing on the table. The screen lights up with a text from Rafe and my brother makes a sound of disapproval when he sees the name. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“Listen, Ward is dead. John B is back and out of jail, and you guys are free to do whatever it is you wanna do. Go enjoy that! Rafe is the absolute least of your problems right now.” 

“How is he the least of my problems when he’s basically branded you?” He says. My jaw drops, my face covered in bewilderment at his choice of language.

“Excuse me?” I finally closed my mouth after a few seconds of staring at him in shock. “What the fuck did you just say? Branded me… What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t even see it do you?” He continues, not even caring that he’s offended me in the slightest. “Why do you think he has you walking around town with his name on your neck? Do you think it was just a thoughtful little gift?”

“Pope, you need to stop talking.” My voice is dangerously calm. There’s a long list of nasty things sitting heavily on the tip of my tongue but I swallow them down, preferring to end the conversation before it gets any worse.

‘Branded me,’ he says. What the hell is he talking about? It’s a necklace with random letters on it that nobody will give a second glance to. He’s acting like I have Rafe Cameron’s Bitch tattooed across my forehead, like I have a hot iron mark of his name burned into the spot where the necklace sits.

I feel offended that my brother thinks I lack autonomy, like I can’t take off this necklace if I want to. I wear it because I can, not because I have to. Rafe doesn’t own me or make me do anything I don’t want to, and it rubs me terribly wrong for Pope to say something like that as if it wasn’t up to me to wear the damn thing. It only makes me more angry for him to think that anything I do with Rafe has some kind of hidden agenda.

I like Rafe, so I’m wearing his necklace. I shouldn’t have to face interrogation and be called a piece of property in so many words just because he doesn’t like it.

My phone buzzes on the table again, this time a call instead of a text. Before I can reach for the phone, Pope staches it up from the wooden surface. He swipes right and accepts the call. I jump out of my seat as well, moving to take the phone away from my manic brother.

“Stay away from my sister, you piece of shit!” Pope yells into the microphone.

“Pope, stop! Give me my phone!” I reach for the device in his hand and am met with a stiff arm to the chest.

I think I hear Rafe say something of a ‘hello’ to my brother, which only seems to vex him more.

“Fuck you, bitch.” Pope spits at the boy over the phone. “Are you trying to mess with me? You’re using my sister to-”

“Nobody is using me, Pope.” The boy ignores me, pushing me away again when I reach for the phone.

I don’t know what Rafe says this time, but it sends Pope into a rage. He says nothing for a moment, staring blankly at the large Heyward’s sign as his chest heaves. His eyes cut to me and if he weren’t my brother I’d flinch from being at the receiving end of the look I’m given.

“I’ll fucking kill you, Rafe Cameron.” He says lowly and my eyes widen a bit. “Dead under water just like your daddy.”

“Okay, Pope, you’re done.” He doesn’t resist when I snatch the phone out of his hand. “You need to calm down because you’ve really lost your mind.”

“Yeah, Pope, go calm down.” Rafe says loudly. I almost hung up on him for that but restrained myself.

“And you shut the hell up.” I tell Rafe, bringing the phone to my ear. “Don’t provoke my brother, you’re already on thin ice.” He chuckles lightly in my ear, the sound only annoying me further.

“He’s the one that provoked me.”

“I don’t care, Rafe. Don’t do it.” Pope watches me carefully, silently seething as he listens to my conversation.

“Sorry, princess.” He says still chuckling. 

“What do you want?” I say shortly. I wave my brother away and he rolls his eyes, storming off down the street. I watch as he picks up a rock and throws it at an unsuspecting garbage can.

“Do you wanna go to the mainland with me this weekend?”

“Oh you’ve lost it too, I see.” I almost laugh at his question.

“What do you mean?” He sounds genuinely confused and I actually do let out a sharp laugh.

“What do I mean?” I say. “My parents don’t even know we’re together and you think they’d let me go to the mainland with you? You’ve really lost your mind.”

“Well you don’t have to tell them.” He suggests and I laugh again. “What’s funny?”

“You! You’re very funny.” My laughter dies down after a few seconds of silence on the other end. “Go to the mainland for what, Rafe?”

“I don’t know, I just think it would be fun.” He says, humming. “I can show you around Charlotte, or Chapel Hill. We have property up there, Y’know.”

“I’ve been to both of those places before, Rafe. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” I’ve spent plenty of weekends in Charlotte with Londyn and visits with extended family. I visited Chapel Hill early in the summer for a college tour as well, it was my dream school.

“Well, you haven't been there with me.” He states matter-of-factly and I feel like he can hear me roll my eyes over the phone. “Please, princess? It’ll be fun, I promise.”

As much as I like him, going out of town with him is absolutely off the table. There was no wasn’t a lie in the world I could tell my parents that would convince them to let me go, and the truth would have them locking me up in my like Rapunzel.

“What am I supposed to tell my parents?”

“You can figure it out, can’t you?” He hums. “Have they asked about the necklace?”

“No, they haven’t but I think they’re too preoccupied with Pope and the shop to even notice.” I sigh, sitting back down at the table I was at previously. “Pope did, but I’m pretty sure he figured it out on his own before I even said anything.”

“Pope knows about us?”

“Well I didn’t outright confirm it, but yes, he knows.” I say. “So, if my parents ask, I’m not lying to them about us. They’re mildly wary about you but my dad kinda liked yours before everything went down. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Are you saying we don’t have to sneak around?”

“I’m not saying we should be flaunting each other, if that’s what you’re asking.” I clarify. “My parents may not hate you but Londyn will have my head if she has to find out through someone that isn’t me.”

My dear friend would have a heart attack if she found out what I’ve been up to. I’ve been pushing off telling her for a while, one-hundred percent sure she’d be anything but happy about my decision. If anything, she would think I’ve been brainwashed and tell her parents about the Midsummers incident, the stalking, and the phone calls. I definitely couldn’t tell her the means of how I ended up giving him the time of day either.

‘He shoved me into the back of his truck after chasing me through a dark parking lot’ doesn’t sound like something a sane person would say when telling their best friend how they ended up with their boyfriend.

“Who cares what she thinks?” He scoffs from behind the phone.

“I care.” I say flatly. “I’ll let you know about the mainland thing later, okay?”

I was already set in my answer of no, but I know he won’t accept that. He was used to getting what he wanted, and I’m what he wants. Hearing ‘no’ is something that isn’t normal for him to hear when most kook girls throw themselves at the richest boy on the island. He knew I wasn’t one to give in to whatever he wants immediately, but he still tests his luck in hopes that maybe I will someday.

I hear him chuckle quietly over the speaker at my words.

“You know I won’t take no as an answer, right?” He only proves my point and I roll my eyes.

“Rafe, you’ll take whatever answer I give you.” I tell him annoyedly. 

I end the call abruptly, setting the phone face down on the table and exhaling loudly through my nose. The device vibrates again and I lazily grab it, one-hundred percent sure of who the sender is without looking.

RC: I’ll see you soon. Be ready.