Infatuation ~ Rafe Cameron

seventy-six

"Like what?"

"That she was a snake and that I wished her parents would send her to boarding school." Iris winced.

"Yikes."

"I know."

"She shouldn't have told him though. That was low of her, but she did it for a reason."

"Because she likes JJ..." Iris whispered.

"I think she loves JJ." Sarah corrected her.

Iris nodded, "Yeah, I think you may be right."

"How does that make you feel?"

"How is it supposed to make me feel?" Iris muttered, "Obviously I still love him, but she can probably give him more than I ever could."

"I don't think he likes her that way, sadly, and I think she knows that. That's why she envy's you and always has." Sarah spoke, "I think that's why she didn't want us joining the group originally, because not only would I be taking John B's attention, but you would be taking JJ's, whom she valued much, much more."

"I never thought about it that way."

"You're okay though?"

"Yeah, I just don't think I'll be around with the Pogues anymore. I've got some Kook catching up to do." She half smiled, "Tatum's home. We talked and I've convinced Rafe to have a Kook party."

Sarah laughed slightly, "Classic. I'm sure you guys will have fun. I think you need that, honestly."

"I think so too."

"So, the Kook Queen is back then?" Sarah raised an eyebrow at her.

"I guess so." Iris smiled back at her.

While this was going on, Kie went to the Chateau to let John B know about the cross. Instead of finding John B, who wasn't home, she found JJ who eventually showed up and she told him about the cross.

"Sarah overheard Rafe saying that the cross is coming to Wilmington tomorrow night. He must be trying to sell it."

"Great." JJ groaned, "Does Pope know?"

"Yeah, Sarah went to tell him. He's on lock down." Kie picked up a piece of paper that was left lying around, "And I guess John B and his dad went to go get the Twinkie and they're off to god knows where."

"Of course, just when we need them." JJ scoffed, pacing around, "Hold on, wait a minute, we know where the cross is gonna be. That means it's still on the field, okay, alright, so we can come in and swoop. We're still in this, Kie. We gotta get everybody together then we'll come up with a plan and get our asses to Wilmington-"

"Jayj, wait, I just need to talk to you-"

JJ stopped in his tracks, glancing back at her, "What, Kie?"

"I'm sorry for earlier, okay? I just, I need you to know that I'm here for you and I care about you."

"I know." He muttered, nodding.

"And you called me a Kook."

"Okay, well, hold on-"

"Which is lame!"

"I know, that was lame."

"It was uncalled-for. It's a low blow, alright?"

"Look, Kie, you're right. I flipped, you know how I be. Let's just call it a truce, okay? Just Etch a Sketch it, you know? Clean slate. Truce?"

"Truce." She smiled up at him as they did their handshake.

"So, how we gonna jack this cross?"