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We are bloody fucked. Was all I thought at this moment, as Pope stands beside us, his hands rested on his hips whilst he tried to catch his breath.
What did he mean, 'They know.' The only thing I could think of by that was Topper and Rafe. And bloody hell I did not want to think about Rafe, nor Topper.
Rafe.
"What?" JJ asked, confusion laced his tone. And I turned my head towards him briefly to catch sight of his eyebrows scrunching together.
But then it was as if something flickered inside of his brain. His eyebrows lowered whilst he shook his head. His arms now hanging very loose around my waist.
I turn my head back to Pope, who had a look of both frightened and worried clear on his face.
I sigh lowly, "P, they don't know shit, init? Just calm down." I confirm. Though I wasn't even sure myself.
JJ hummed in agreement.
"Topper knows I sunk his boat." Pope says, his voice full of worry. Whilst I shake my head in denial.
I hear JJ sigh, "How do you know they know?" He asks. Though I knew he was worried too. Fuck, we all had to be.
He can't know, right? There's no way.
Pope turns his back to us for a moment, and I see him raise his arms, whilst he ran his hands over his face before turning back to face us.
"Because Rafe and Topper posted outside of Heywards and mad dogged me." He explains, his breathing was harsh.
He's scared, and worried.
Fuck.
They posted outside? So that had to have been soon after I left the Cameron's.
I look at JJ from the corner of my eye. He shook his head, his blue eyes piercing into Pope. "Will you calm down and get a grip, man? They don't know shit." JJ tried to soothe his worries. But Pope was not listening to us.
I let my arms slowly fall from JJ's neck and in the little space between our body's, whilst I bring my hands together, repeatedly twisting my ring on my thumb.
My eyes follow Pope as he paces back and forth beside us, anxiously. "They have cameras. They could have seen me." He further explained.
Oh god. They could have. It was as if that thought finally clicked inside of my head. I was so glad we could finally get them back I never thought of that. It didn't even quite cross my mind.
I roll my tongue over my teeth.
"There was no power. How could they have seen you?" JJ asked, genuinely confused. I nudge his stomach with my knuckles. My eyes landing on him.
He turns his head my way, his eyes softening on me. "It's figure eight, Jayj. We have generators." I explained softly, my voice oddly calm.
His mouth parted, seeming as if he just realized. I nod. "Shit." He mutters, his voice hardened.
His thumb starts rubbing soft circles on my lower back, soothing me. I let out a soft breath. Whilst both of are heads reluctantly turned to Pope again.
He was still pacing back and forth, gesturing his hands out in front of him. "They don't give scholarships to kids who vengefully sink boats." He tells us, but more to himself. Like an reminder as if.
I shake my head back and forth, repeatedly. Topper deserved this. He deserved more.
JJ slowly takes his arms from around me, the slow motions of his thumb stopping as he gently pulls back from me. As if it was taking everything in him to do so.
My eyes follow him as his face scrunches up at Pope, slowly walking up to him until he was right in front of him. "Enough with the regret, man!" JJ resorts, his tone harsh. Whilst he raised one of his hands up, pointing his index finger at the purple bruise on the side of Pope's forehead.
I shake my head at the two boys. I cross my arms over my chest, the fabric of the strap of my backpack rubbing my forearm uncomfortably.
JJ let's his arm drop to his sides with a small thud to his shorts.
"They caved your face in." JJ sighed out. Wincing once he gets a better looks at the bruise. Whilst Pope tightened his lips together, shaking his head ever so slightly.
I eye them down. "They hit us, we hit them." I chimed in lowly. And I watch as JJ nods to my words.
"It's the law of the jungle." JJ agrees with me. And I could practically hear the smile in his voice.
He sighs lowly. Whilst I take a few steps forward, coming to a stop right beside JJ. "Now, if any Kooks come up to you and asks if you had anything to do with it, you walk up to 'em, look them right in the eye," He starts. Whilst he took a singular step forward, closer to Pope.
I pull my lower lip in between my teeth, already knowing where this was going.
JJ raises one of his arms, putting his hand into Pope's shoulder, whilst using his other hand to point his middle and index finger to his eyes.
I hum, "And.." I say lowly. Whilst Pope's eyes flicker to me for a moment, softening. His face was serious though. Because this situation was serious.
God, we were fucked.
JJ hummed lowly, waiting for Pope to answer.
Pope's eyes flicker back to his, whilst he nods. "Deny the living shit out of it." He stated, his voice was serious.
I nodded, along with JJ.
"That's right." JJ chimes in, letting his fingers that were pointed at his eyes fall to Pope's chest, whilst he pointed there, repeating.
A smile forms on my lips slightly, "Deny, deny, deny." I confirm. Whilst I continued to twist my ring on my thumb, over and over.
I was almost one hundred percent sure if I took my ring off my thumb there would be a mark of redness.
JJ's head turned back slightly too look at me, "But just for safety, we don't go anywhere without protection." He spoke lowly. Whilst he took his hands off Pope fully. Rising one index finger to point at the backpack on my bag.
I couldn't help but let a grin form on my lip, as JJ gives me a soft smile. His eyes were connect with mine, and they were so soft. My heart warmed.
I nod slightly, "Hm, all right?" I say lowly. As my grin widens. I couldn't help it, having any excuse to use mine and JJ's gun made me quite beaming.
I watch as JJ's face lights up at my expression, because him also, loved any excuse.
His smile widened.
My eyes shift to Pope for a moment to see him nod his head. "Okay.." He murmurs, but it was loud enough for JJ and I too barely hear.
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I roll my eyes for the hundredth time with JJ. I dreaded coming to this, so did JJ. The only good reason was that I was with my best friend.
Though all I could think about was Rafe. And I'm hoping that this can take my mind off it at least. There was no way out of this anyways.
A movie, a boring movie. And I knew Pope and JJ were not happy about this either. But they've been taking it okay. JJ has murmured at least three times about how he could be doing something else, anything better then this.
But he came, and he said the only reason was because I was coming, as always. And I had a huge smile on my face the entire time he spoke them words.
I was now walking between Pope and JJ, with JJ having his free arm around my waist, pulling me as close as he could against his side. His other hand was holding our dark red cooler.
Pope was carrying two folding seats in the same hand, whilst Kiara walked in front of us with her white and grey stripped summer bag.
I had got changed at John b's with the clothes I had brung in my backpack which was now on my back again before we left. I had got dressed in an black cropped sleeveless shirt, with dark blue jean shorts, with little rips on the thigh part.
I had a different pair of sunglasses on the top of my head, my curly hair was still down. Whilst I had JJ's juul shoved into my back pocket.
"I'm so glad they are still doing this. Keep calm. Carry on. Back to the OBX life." Kiara hummed, her tone beaming. My eyes land on her back as her brunette hair flows back.
I almost pouted as if I was a baby, because I truly dislike coming here. As does Pope and JJ.
My head tilts to the side slightly, my eyes falling onto JJ's eyes, whilst he was already looking down at me. I smile softly, and his lips curl up into the most softest smile.
"This is your fault." JJ murmured softy. And his gorgeous eyes narrow on me playfully. "If you wouldn't have came, I wouldn't have. You know, we could both be watching a good movie right now." He continued lightly.
I roll my eyes playfully at his words. Oaf.
"Oh, it my fault, yeah? I'll show you who's fault it is." I began lowly, my tone laced with humor. Whilst I scrunched my nose up.
I go to move my arm, but before I could do anything Kiara's voice interrupted my movement. Making JJ give me a taunting grin.
"You know? Aren't you glad I made you come?" She asked all of us. I groan lowly, narrowing my eyes on my best friend who tilted his head with his little dimple on his cheek.
I couldn't help but soften my eyes at the sight.
His grin drops suddenly into a smile, whilst his eyes soften with mine. My lips curl upwards.
"Ecstatic." Pope poorly beams from the other side of me. Making my head reluctantly turn to flicker between him and Kiara. Whilst we finally reached a part on the grass where we were going to put our seats.
I hear JJ cough, "Uh, my couch with Mae mae was pretty comfy, I'll be honest." He murmured, only loud enough for me to hear.
I hold back my bubbly laughter that was threatening to come out of my lips.
My eyes travel around the people who were crowding around the grass in front of the large screen. There wasn't many people here, but it was still a lot.
My eyes flicker back to Kiara as she bends down slightly, the folded chair that was in her bag now out as she try's to unfold it.
My gaze is flickered between Pope and JJ as Pope lays the folding chairs on the grass one by one, "We're out of the green zone." Pope whispered to JJ and I.
Shit. That thought didn't even come to mind. Topper and Rafe could be here. I almost cringe at the thought.
I shake my head slowly between the two boys. "Come on. Tranquilo, okay?" JJ attempted to soothe Pope. Whilst I hummed in agreement.
Pope sighed, "We're in the middle of Kooklandia. This is the last place I wanted to be." He continued to worry. I could tell he was still scared just by the look on his face.
Pope finally unfolds both of the chairs, whilst they are sat by each other.
I sigh, though I wasn't really worried. I knew I should be, but for some reason I wasn't.
My eyes wonder to JJ as his gorgeous eyes scan our surroundings anxiously. "Shut up, Pope." He hissed out through clenched teeth.
Fuck, this is bad.
I ignore the two, whilst I quickly took off my black backpack, one strap at a time. I hold it by one strap in my hand before sitting it down gently beside the chair Pope folded out in front of me.
"Do you guys want anything to drink?" Kiara asked suddenly, making all three of our heads snap her way.
God, we were all hanging on by a thread today.
I give her a slight nod, "Hm, an lemonade and a sprite, please." I tell her softly. Whilst Pope shakes his head from the corner of my eyes.
JJ always gets a lemonade if we come here, he's practically obsessed with them. So, now, I know it by heart.
She nods, "I will be right back, and please, do not cause any trouble." She pleads lightly. Her gaze flickering between JJ and I, before she carry's her feet, shimmying past Pope.
What?
My face rolls up. She will be gone for not even an entire minute, and she thinks we'll cause trouble by then? Okay, maybe. But not this time, we have to be carful right now.
Pope sniffles a laugh, "I mean, she's not lying.." He commented from beside me, making me roll my eyes. Oaf.
But at least he is not worried anymore.
I turn my attention to JJ, who was staring down at me with soft eyes. "Did you bring our blanket?" He asks, his tone was so soft.
I nod slightly. Our blanket. It's the one we always share when we watch movies or just need a blanket. We've had it sense we were kids. It's fairly big, and it's black with white cosmic night sky shining stars, like are tattoos.
I smile at him, "Yeah, I did. It's in the backpack." I replied softly. My heart was beating fast.
He breaks his gaze from mine reluctantly, I watch as he moves his legs, moving beside his chair until he was in front of it, I do the same, my chair was right beside his. Pope's was beside mine, whilst Kiara's was on the side of his.
I sit down on the folded chair, JJ and Pope hurrying to follow my movements. I let a sigh surpass my plump lips. Before my eyes fall to Jayj as he bends down beside mine and his chairs, unzipping the backpack, he hurries to get the cover out.
His red hat was tipping down a bit.
He zips it back up, the noise making my face roll up. I lean over snatching the fairly large blanket in my hands and leaning back in my chair. The blanket laying in my lap.
It wasn't dark, yet. The sun has almost set though. It was pretty, really pretty.
I hear Pope sigh lowly, "Can I have some this time? You two always hog it." Pope complains from in his chair beside me.
My gaze flickers between the two boys, "We do not. And, no." JJ replied, as if Pope said the most outrageous thing. I had to sniffle my laugh by pressing my lips together tightly.
Pope groans in protest, "That's not even funny, 'you know? It gets chilly at night, I get goosebumps." Pope resorted, and I watch as his face rolls up in displeasure at the thought of it.
JJ leans forward slightly, giving me a side glance. His lips parted in disbelief of having to share the blanket at all.
But before I could say anything more I hear Kiara sigh in frustration as she approaches our chairs, "Just saw Rafe, and he said, and I quote, 'Tell the boys that we know what they did.'" She quoted. Whilst she slowly steps in front of the chairs, reaching her arm out to us, handing each of our drinks to us, one by one.
I freeze at the mention of Rafe, while the cold drink sits in my hand, numbing it slightly from the coldness. I turn my head to JJ and our eyes connect immediately, his blue eyes were slightly wide with worry.
Rafe, god.
His lips.
His hands on me.
Oh... god.
"What is that?" Kiara questioned us lowly. And I hear the squeaking of her chair as she sits back down.
Bloody hell.
Fuck.
I lean down, setting my beverage onto the grass before leaning back up, and clasping my hands together on top of mine and JJ's black, star covered blanket. My eyes reluctantly move from JJ's widen ones, to Pope, then Kiara.
I felt a hand cover mine, and I immediately knew who's it was, JJ's. And it soothed me. It made everything better.
"Um.." Pope murmurs, clearly not knowing what to say to Kiara. And she was eyeing us all down, waiting, just waiting for an explanation. She had a look on her face I knew too well. But I keep my face masked.
I clench my jaw slightly, "Where is he?" I ask lowly. Whilst I pulled my bottom lips in between my teeth. This is bad, god. This is so bad.
And I knew Pope and JJ thought the same, just by the glances they gave me.
Kiara narrows her brown eyes on the three of us before tilting her head to the side, motioning where he was. And I immediately spun around, along with Pope and JJ.
"Right there," Kiara tells us. My eyes fall on where Rafe, Topper, and Kelce were. They were all three standing beside each other, Rafe at the end.
My eyes connect with them, them bloody blue ones. And the thing was, his eyes were already on me. My eyes fall onto his lips, seeing them fall into a small frown as if, and it was full of emotion? Along with his facial expression. Though his eyes softened.
It was as if he meant it. God.
'Don't. Don't say we, speak for yourself, Aria. I never hated you.' His words are still engraved inside of my head.
He never hated me? Fuck. I hate that I can't get them words out of my head.
"Great, the whole death squad," Pope croaked, his back twisted in an inhumanly flexible way. I felt a sudden hand on my head, spinning me back to face forward, making my eyes leave Rafe.
Why did I not want too? What's wrong with me?
My eyes fall onto JJ, as he slowly takes his hand from my dark hair. "Don't stare, Mae mae," JJ said softly. His hand had left mine, he was also who had been spun around so quickly.
I watch as Pope spins back around from the corner of my eyes. Shit, this is bloody bad.
JJ's eyes flicker to mine, "Mae mae," JJ spoke lowly. "If they corner me, I'm coming out swinging, okay?" He confirms. His blue eyes soften on me. I nod, immediately.
He wanted me too know, so I knew what was going to go down. But, no one is touching them. Never.
And it wasn't a lie, it was another thing JJ and I had in common. Fighting. It was one thing I was proud of, I was good at fighting. And so was JJ.
JJ takes his hand back off his lap, and gently placing his index finger onto my forehead, pushing a piece of my dark curl that fell there when he spun me back around.
He slowly let his hand drawl back to his lap, "I'm on edge right now." He said lowly. And I take a deep breath through my parted lips.
"And if that doesn't work, we got this right here." I speak quietly. Whilst I leaned down, grabbing the black backpack strap in my hand and bringing it up to show JJ, and Pope.
The gun. If we need it.
JJ gave me a small grin, whilst I flickered my gaze between him and Pope. I lower my backpack back into the ground beside my chair, before leaning back into my seat quickly.
"Yeah, yeah." Pope hummed, agreeing. "So, we just got to stay in the group." He continued. Whilst JJ and I nodded to him.
If we stay in a group, the less chance they have too corner us. But they wouldn't, right?
I swallow harshly, "They can't get us in a group." I say my thought out loud. I pull my lower lip back into my mouth, anxiously.
JJ lowered his eyebrows, "Yeah, we stay together. The whole time. Mae mae, don't leave my side, please?" He lowered his voice to a whisper. His tone was soft, so soft.
I let my bottom lip fall from my mouth, "I will, I promise, Jayj. Always." I whispered softly. But my attention falls to Kiara as she sighs lowly.
"I'm sorry, Mae.." Kiara hummed. Her head was lowered slightly before she flickers her gaze between us three.
Oh, god.
Her eyes fall onto me again, "Please tell me that you did not bring a gun here." She continued, her tone was full of confusion and disbelief.
I immediately shake my head, trying to cover up my lie. "No, no. No, I didn't, Kie." I lie right through my teeth. She can't know, I don't want something happening to her, too.
She shakes her head in disbelief, clearly not believing me. "Mae, there are kids." She whisper-shouts.
My eyes flicker between all of my mates, whilst JJ immediately shook his head with me, "No, she didn't. Why would we bring a gun?" His voice was believable, to me at least. And his face was rolled up in disbelief.
I almost smile at the sight of his face, he looked so defensive of me. He always is. No matter who the person was.
"Yeah, why would she bring a gun, Kie?" Pope continues with us, his face scrunching up in fake confusion. But it looked real.
I turn my eyes back to Kiara for a moment. "Everything's fine, okay?" I confirm lowly, a reassuring smile placed on my lips. Whilst she raised her hand, placing her index finger onto forehead.
"Wow, thank you. That's really convincing. I love that, Mae." She spoke with clear sarcasm. But I knew she didn't mean it. She was just scared of what could happen.
Pope sighed in disbelief.
I shake my head, moving my eyes from her and leaning my head back against my fold up chair. I close my eyes, whilst I took a deep breath. The gun is needed, I didn't have to explain myself. I couldn't, even if I wanted too.
Fuck.
We needed it for protection.
I hear JJ let out a hiss of breath from the side of me, he was pissed, clearly. "Don't speak to her like that, ever. What gave you the impression that you could ever talk to her like that? Are you out of your fucking min—" He seethed out, but I cut him off before he could say anything too rude to her.
"Kie, just trust us, okay?" I say softly. Whilst I opened my eyes, flickering my gaze over to her. I knew Kiara was worried, and she's one of my best mates. She's worried. I could never say anything rude to her, not now, not ever.
Kiara sighs, her eyes were full of frustration and sorrow, "I'm sorry, Mae. it's just, founding principle, you know? No secrets amongst Pogues." She explained, sorrow laced her tone.
I nodded, pushing my face further into JJ's gentle hand, "I know, I know." I say softly.
She furrowed her eyebrows, her softened eyes locked on mine. "What is Rafe talking about?" She asks, though it was questioned towards all of us.
"Kie, it might go down tonight." Pope warned her. And my gaze flickers to him, whilst his eyes were zeroed in on her, as he leaned his head forward.
I almost laugh at the sight of his seriousness, but I hold it in. "What does that mean? 'It might go down tonight?' What did y'all do?" She barked, demanding answers, her eyebrows scrunched together.
I huff out a breath, my gaze flickering between JJ and Pope as they both glance at me. "Deny, deny, deny." I muttered underneath my breath.
They both nodded in agreement, immediately.
Though all I could bloody think about was Rafe, Rafe Cameron.
And it was as if something he said earlier today clicked. Do I not hate him?
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This one is one of my favorites to write.
I hope you mates liked this.
Be ready for Rafe...
Comment and vote if you want.
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