no strings attached - rafe cameron

chapter five.

John B offered me a beer and I gladly accepted it, cracking it open and taking a long sip. We stood around talking and they were asking me some questions about where I was from and why I moved. For some reason, their questions didn't anger me nearly as much as the therapist's questions.

I told them the same jist as I told Dr. Garrison, I was from San Diego and I moved here with my dad. When they asked me why I moved, I told them that my dad got relocated for his job, which was an answer they seemed to buy.

I found out they were pogues, which made sense with the way they were dressed. I wasn't dressed any better, but I could tell they definitely weren't kooks.

I also found out that John B's dad went missing at sea about nine months ago and had been pronounced dead, though he believed otherwise. JJ mainly stays at John B's house because his father is an abusive drunk who is high on drugs all of the time.

Did everyone have daddy issues on this island?

I told them I didn't have the best relationship with my dad either, but I had no where to go so I was pretty much stuck at home all of the time. John B told me that he had an open door policy for his friends whom he considered to be family, but he opened that invitation to me as well, since I was by myself most of the time.

As I got to know these guys and Kiara, who also went by Kie, I realized just how cool they were. Meeting them for the first time was much different than meeting Rafe for the first time. They were so fun and carefree.

We hung out on the beach for the rest of the night, drinking, playing music, and laughing. I was so glad Kiara came over to me and invited me to hang out with them.

We knew it was time to head home when the wind started picking up and rain was starting to fall. A hurricane was coming in, though that didn't really mean anything to me because I've never experienced one.

John B offered to drive both Kiara and I home since we realized we both lived on Figure Eight and our houses were only down the street from each other.

I told John B where my house was and he pulled up. I thanked them for a great night and told them I would see them later. I hopped out of his van and ran up to the front door of my house since it was now pouring rain and I didn't want to get wet. I hated rain.

I noticed my dad's office light was still on and I winced to myself, knowing that he was still awake. I didn't know what time it was, but I knew it was late.

I prayed for a second, hoping that maybe he was really in bed asleep and he just forgot to turn the light off. I quietly opened the door and stepped in, gently closing the door behind me.

Since my dad's office was just off the foyer, I peaked in and saw him sitting in his office chair, looking out the window to the front yard where I just came from. He definitely saw me get out of John B's van.

I squeezed my eyes shut, cursing to myself as I knew I wasn't going to make it past him. I began to slowly tiptoe down the hallway, trying to be as quiet as possible, but I knew that didn't work when I heard my dad's gravelly voice.

"Same boy from yesterday?"

I winced as I heard that question leave his mouth.

I didn't know how to answer him, so I just shook my head, my back still turned to him.

"So now you're out all hours of the night with random guys, huh? Do you have any idea what time it is?" He questioned and I felt my blood instantly boil.

This was the second day a guy took me home, and the first time he took me home in the early afternoon. My dad was so dramatic.

"Uh, 10:30?" I softly answered him as I now turned around to see him looking directly at me, anger seething through his dark brown eyes.

"It is almost two o'clock in the fucking morning. Where the hell have you been for fifteen hours? And why is there $50 missing from my wallet?" He questioned me as he now stood up. I was praying he wouldn't come near me.

"I-I've been out." I hesitantly answered. If he found out what I was really doing, I think he'd kill me in an instant.

"Out where?" He threatened as he slowly began walking towards me, to which I slowly began backing up.

"O-On the island. I-I've just been exploring." I told him, feeling tears prick my eyes.

"You barely leave the house for a month, then all of the sudden you walk out on your therapist appointment, which you're going to pay for by the way, and now random guys are dropping you off?" He raised his voice and I flinched.

"I didn't ask you to set up that appointment." I muttered to myself.

"What did you just say?" He sneered.

"I didn't ask you to set up that appointment!" I answered him and he immediately raised his hand and slapped it across my face. Though it wasn't the first time, I was still taken by surprise, my jaw dropped open.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me." My dad said lowly. "You need help, Scarlett. And we can't go back to living a normal life until you get that help." He now yelled.

"We're never going to be able to go back to living a normal life!" I cried. I fucked up. I fucked up so badly. 

"And who's fault is that?" My dad questioned. "Scarlett, I'm doing this all for you. I moved us across the country for you. I had to pay off SDPD for you. A-And now you're going out, sneaking out, random boys dropping you off, and lord knows what else you're doing. This is how you repay me?"

"Dad, I'm finally comfortable enough to go out and pretend like things are okay, that's what you wanted, isn't it? I-I'm making friends, I'm getting to know the town, what's so terrible about that?" I argued.

"You don't know who you're going to come into contact with, that's what's so terrible."

I pursed my lips, my arms crossed over my chest. That answer wasn't enough for me. He wanted me to pretend like everything was fine, and now that I was, he was acting like I shouldn't pretend like everything's fine. I didn't know what he wanted from me.

"What do you want from me?" I asked him.

"I want you to get your shit together, Scarlett."

I hated the way he said my name.

I scoffed, not believing the way he was acting right now. I had no idea what he meant or what he wanted me to do.

I shook my head as I turned around and went upstairs, ending the conversation there. My dad called after me and I ignored him as I entered my room, slamming the door closed behind me. I locked it before leaning my back against it, sliding down the door and hugging my knees. I couldn't help but sob to myself as I thought about how everything that has happened in the last six months was because of me. 

Everything was my fault, and I didn't know if there was a way out of it.

*****

a/n:

hiii sorry i haven't updated in like a week. i promise come next week i'll be back to my regular updating schedule.

ik this chapter wasn't that great but i still hope u guys enjoyed it<3

hope y'all have a great weekend<3