#ward cameron x oc

[babeydollx]

Ok plz don’t judge if this is too graphic and smutty. I was thinking it could be another Ward Cameron x Reader. The reader is purposely making Ward jealous by talking to other males at an important party and the reader is wearing a skimpy dress with lingerie that is very small and she does things to tease Ward?

Only For Me

Warnings: cursing, smut, age gap, cheating, lingerie, teasing, 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.

a/n: just because some people were asking, you can find my Ward Cameron fics on my Bonus Masterlist along with Rose Cameron's fics.

© Maybanks-Luver, please do not steal, copy, transfer, or translate 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.

a/n: I hope y'all enjoyed this fic!

Taglist ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

@gillybear17 @lovedetlost @luversgirl @vashappeningkevin @n-kkpoly @my-baexht-ls @ceceswriting @drewbooooo @bethoconnor

[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

[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 🌹❤️

[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

[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.

[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.

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[cleoluvrr]

The Last Days of Summer V (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: 4.2k+

↠━ღ◆ღ━↞

“I can’t believe I’m going to this shit.” I say angrily as I slip on my shoes.

I stare at myself in my friend’s mirror, body and mind filled with self-pity. I couldn’t help but feel sad as I looked at the beautiful, pink gown draped over my body. Tonight was Midsummers, and instead of being excited about going with my best friend, I’m dreading having to go with the guy who beat up my brother. Twice.

“Maybe your ass should’ve thought before you beat him with my golf club.” Londyn says, adjusting the flower crown on my head.

“I said I was sorry!” 

“Oh you’re sorry alright.”

Londyn and I left her house shortly after with her parents, moping in the backseat as we drove to the Island Club. I saved up all year to buy myself another Selkie gown, only to waste it on being a piece of arm candy at a dick measuring contest. Rafe made me send him a bunch of dresses, and I knew it was my fault for sending a picture of this one, but I still had hope he wouldn’t choose it.

“The pink one.” Rafe said over the speaker of my phone. I sighed heavily, looking at the dress laid out on my bed.

“But I wore pink last year…” I tried to protest, but he wasn’t going to give in.

“So wear it again this year.” He doesn’t leave any room to argue, hanging up the phone rudely before I can get another word in.

We arrive at the club, the sun setting on the horizon as we pull in. Londyn and I sneak away from the adults when they aren’t looking, avoiding the dick measuring the best we can. I see my Pope with our dad by the grill, and they spot me as well. I move to go talk to them, waving as a greeting, but am stopped with a firm grip on my bicep. 

I recognize who it is immediately by both the look on my brother’s face and the signature scent of Versace Eros. My smile drops almost instantly, my shoulders slouching in disappointment once again. I look up at Rafe, who is now waving at my brother with the same smug look he can’t seem to get rid of. Pope looks as furious and defeated as I feel and turns away.

“Get your hands off me, douchebag.” I say, shrugging his arm off my shoulder. Londyn looks at him in disgust, laughing when I pretend to shoot myself in the head and play dead.

“Hello to you too, Neriah.” He greets, smiling down at me. “Londyn.”

“Don’t talk to me.” She says, rolling her eyes. We all turn our heads when we hear her name called by her mom who motions her over to them. “I’ll find you later, sweets.” She sighs out before dragging her feet towards the tall woman.

Rafe leads me away as well, mentioning something about seeing his dad. I try to drag my feet in a way similar to Londyn, but the blonde places a hand at my back as we walk which prevents me from going any slower than him. We pass Topper and Sarah who seem to be having some kind of confrontation, but we walk past them without saying a word.

We walk through the familiar halls of the club, brushing past adults dressed rather flamboyantly. After a few minutes of me being dragged around in silence, we find Ward inside surrounded by a group of older men. I feel my heart about to crawl out of my throat at the sight. I feel only a little relieved when I spot Londyn’s father.

“Oh, there you are! I was wondering where you disappeared off to.” Mr. Woods says as we approach. He spots Rafe’s hand on me and the uncomfortable look on my face. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” I reply after the older boy squeezes my waist.

“Dad, you remember Neriah?” Rafe says to his father, whose eyes have landed on me finally.

“Of course I do.” Ward looks between the two of us quite strangely, as if he doesn’t understand why I’m standing here with him. “You look very beautiful tonight, Ms. Heyward.” I blink at the use of my last name, a reminder of my status amongst everyone else.

“Thank you! You clean up very well yourself, Mr. Cameron.” I reply sweetly, laying on the charm heavily. 

“Heyward? You’re Heyward’s daughter?” One of the men asks, his eyebrows scrunched together. The rest of the men show similar expressions.

“Yes, I am.” If I felt offended, I didn’t show it.

“Are you working here tonight?” Another man asks, quite rudely. I shake my head no, biting me tongue so as to not say something I shouldn’t.

“She’s here as my guest.” Mr. Woods interrupts, sensing me becoming uncomfortable as time passes by. “She’s my daughter’s best friend. They go to school together.”

“Oh?” The rude one says. “Really?” He asks as if he can’t believe it. I stop myself from rolling my eyes.

“She’s on a scholarship if I remember correctly.” Ward looks at me for confirmation and I nod. “She’s a very smart girl from what I've been told. Very hardworking.”

“Are you two here together?” One of them asks. Ward raises his eyebrows at his son, waiting for an answer.

“Yes, we are.” Rafe says, pulling me closer and looking down at me with a fond smile. “I’ve always been too much of a coward to talk to her, but after seeing her looking so beautiful under the sun of the golf course, I just had to ask her to be on my arm tonight.” 

“Well isn’t that just lovely?” The rude man says, eyeing my attire.

“She’s such a great influence on me, y’know?” Rafe continues, the hand previously on my waist now rubbing up and down my arm affectionately.

The motion gives me goosebumps.

“Really?” Ward’s eyes light up a little, his eyebrows far into his hairline.

“She just makes me want to be better for her. I think she’s too good for me, honestly.” 

I think my face has gone numb with how long I've been forcing a smile during this conversation. Hearing Rafe speak about me like this while knowing the things he actually feels is making me feel almost violent, my nails digging into my palms once again.

Ward leaves the group to join us, introducing me to a bunch of people I’m sure don’t even view me as the dirt under their shoe. The fact I’m a scholarship student and my father being Heyward is thrown around a lot, as if that’s something to be bragged about. Surprisingly, people find that interesting. My father is well respected, for a Pogue at least, and nobody knew that he had a daughter.

The adults seemed shocked that someone like me could end up in a school with their children, assuming that I’m some sort of prodigy to be able to get a scholarship. I’m dragged around like a show pony, which I didn’t sign up for. I guess Ward Cameron endorsing a little pogue girl is a big deal, but quite frankly, I want nothing to do with this family.

The whole ordeal makes me sick to my stomach.

At some point I’m able to sneak off, the men far too deep into their conversation to notice me slip away into the crowd. I ran up to Londyn, spotting her with a bunch of other girls our age. Sarah Cameron included. I don’t even care about the night of the beach anymore, just glad to see someone that isn’t a bunch of old rich men showing off their money.

“There you are!” A tipsy Londyn says as I approach. “Where have you been?”

“Hell.” I answer, grabbing a glass of water from a passing waiter.

“I thought you were with Rafe?” Sarah quirks up at that, eyeing me curiously.

“You were with my brother?” She asks, looking me up and down.

“Not willingly.”

“What do you mean ‘not willingly?’” She inquires. I sigh, taking a long sip from the glass in my hand.

“Well,” I start, putting the glass down on the table. “Your brother beat the shit out of my brother, so I beat the shit out of him. As a result, your brother made me come here with him or else he’d press charges. For some odd reason, Ward really likes me, so Rafe thought if I came with him it would somehow get your dad off his back.”

Sarah’s mouth gapes open slightly, as if she can’t comprehend what just came out of my mouth.

“So no, I did not come with Rafe willingly.” I say. “Your brother’s a pussy by the way.” She snorts at that, clearing her throat to cover up the sound.

“Agreed.”

I’m not sure how much time we spend dancing with each other. The music was kind of bad, but we didn’t let it stop us. We laughed so hard that my cheeks burned from smiling. Sarah apologized for that night at the beach, but all had been forgotten by now. I was having fun, more fun than I’d had in a long time.

I’m watching Londyn do the catdaddy in front of me when I see a head of blonde hair float by out of the corner of my eye. JJ somehow snuck into the event, well dressed in a vest and dress shirt. We catch each other's eye, the boy coming up to me with a smile on his face. I smile back gleefully, embracing him in a warm hug when he reaches me.

“You clean up well! I didn’t know you were coming?” My voice raises a question.

“I’m ‘working.’” He says vaguely, winking at me to hint he’s up to something else.

“Hm…right.” I laugh lightly, the blonde wiggling his eyebrows at me.

“You look beautiful as always.” He pulls back from our embrace to get a full look at my outfit, his eyes shining brightly. “The prettiest girl here, actually.”

“Don’t flatter me, JJ.” Smiling shyly I look down, my face burning up at the compliment.

“I'm serious! Don’t tell your brother I said that though,” He glances back at my brother by the grill before facing me again. “He’d kill me.” I giggle, shaking my head at the slightly nervous boy I’m dancing with.

“Thank you, JJ. And I won't, promise.” I hold out my pinky which he takes with his own, the two fingers interlocking. “But seriously, what are you doing here?”

“You’ll see.” He smirks. I raise my eyebrows in suspicion as he glances around the venue for a moment. “I gotta go. I’ll see you around.” He says. Before he leaves, he plants a kiss on my cheek.

“JJ?” He gives me a thumbs up as he backs away grinning.

“Don’t tell Pope about that either.” Is the last thing he says to me before he gets too far for me to hear him over the music. 

A few minutes pass without seeing the blonde and I assume he left the party, off to cause trouble somewhere else. However, my assumptions are proven wrong when I turn around and spot JJ dancing with Sarah back to back, discreetly passing her a note and whispering in her ear. Before I can warn him, Rafe and his goons approach him faster than I can get a word out. 

I can’t hear what they’re saying over the music, but Rafe and his friends look very intoxicated and ready to pick a fight. A nervous JJ tries to talk them down, walking backwards to avoid them but they keep pressing up on him.

“Until then, help yourselves to hors d'oeuvres.” I hear him say as they pass by me.

“Guys,” Rafe motions the gaggle of Kooks to come follow him. “JJ’s gonna serve us some hors d’oeuvres.”

The group passes me, Rafe catching my gaze briefly with a look on his face I don’t recognize.

JJ says something to them before he takes off running, snatching open the door of the club and rushing inside with the Kooks hot on his heels. I shake my head and rub my temples, telling myself to stay out of whatever drama they have going on now despite every bone in my body telling me to go check on him.

When I turn back around, Sarah has also disappeared from the patio. I shrug and continue dancing with the rest of the girls.

It’s none of my business tonight.

That is until a disheveled JJ is escorted out of the building by one of the security guards.

“It’s okay everybody!” He shouts. “Do not panic.”

“Oh God…” I say to Londyn. “What the hell happened in there?”

“Leave it to the men and women in uniform!” He continues. “Let’s hear it for them. Rose!” He calls out, clapping at Sarah and Rafe’s step mother.

“Is he drunk?” Londyn whispers to me, watching the situation go down next to me.

“Let go of him!” Kiara says loudly, appearing on the balcony in a purple dress. Rafe appears beside her, drinking something I’m sure is alcoholic and laughing at the drama he definitely caused. “You can’t just boot him. I invited him here.”

JJ pushes the guard off of him, the man stumbling into a table filled with people.

“Mandatory power hour at Rixon’s, Kie.” JJ says, pointing up at the girl standing on the balcony with her parents before turning to my brother. “Pope, you as well, alright?”

My head swivels towards my dad and Pope, sure that nothing good is going to come from whatever he just said. I watch as Kiara slips away from her parents, running towards the beach after JJ, and John B who has appeared seemingly out of nowhere. My brother rips off his gloves and apron as my dad warns him not to leave the party. He runs off as well, leaving my dad to stand on his own.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” He calls out after his son, watching as he disappears into the darkness of the beach with his friends.

Heyward turns to look at me for an answer and I shrug, turning back to the balcony where Rafe is standing. He’s already looking at me, smirking as he watches me over his glass. The music starts again, everything going back to as normal as they can get after that. 

Rafe descends the stairs slowly, discarding the now empty glass on a random table. He approaches me, the smell of alcohol and cologne filling my nostrils strangely pleasant. He says nothing, grabbing my hand and leading me further onto the dance floor.

“I think you owe me a dance.” He says as he pulls me closer to his body. 

“I’ve already fulfilled my duties for the night.” I tell him, but I don’t pull away. “What did you do JJ?” He scoffs at my question like it was the dumbest thing he’s ever heard.

“Why do you care?”

“Because he’s my brother’s best friend?” I replied obviously. “What the hell did you do?”

“You guys looked very comfortable earlier.” He says smiling, a tinge of anger in his voice. I scrunch my face up at him. “Too comfortable.”

“Were you watching me?” I try to pull away from him but his grasp is firm. “I’m allowed to dance with whoever I want to. And I think you’re forgetting that he’s my friend.”

“I thought he was your brother’s friend?” He tilts his head at me.

“Two things can be true. What did you do to him?” I ask again, now irritated at his non-answers.

“I didn’t like watching a Pogue put his hands all over my date.” Rafe’s jaw hardens. “I especially didn’t like watching him kiss her with that dirty mouth.” He chuckles dryly, poking his tongue into his cheek.

“Rafe.” My brows knit together as I watch his tense shoulders and face covered in more than just irritation.

Is he…jealous? What right does he have to be jealous?

“Nothing he didn’t deserve.” He answers my previous question vaguely. I open my mouth to ask him to clarify but he cuts me off before I can say anything. “It’s none of your concern, princess. Your job right now is to dance with me.”

“I am dancing with you.” I say. We sway gently to the music amongst the crowd of people that have now joined us. Rafe’s hands are planted firmly on my waist, holding me against him as my own hands rest on his biceps hesitantly. He leans down to whisper in my ear and I wince.

“Try to look like you don’t want to kill youself.” He speaks lowly into my ear. He grabs my hands and wraps them around his neck instead before placing his own hands back on my waist.

We stay like that for a while, painfully close as the adults watch us from afar. Ward keeps a close eye on us especially, whispering to Rose as he takes in the scene of me dancing with his son. I started to enjoy it at some point, the feeling of his warm body against mine almost relaxing.

And that terrified me.

“I need to talk to you.” Rafe says pulling me away from the crowd suddenly.

“Can you slow down? I can’t walk that fast.” He ignores me, dragging me through the door of the club by my arm. I stumble over my heels trying to keep up with his fast pace.

People throw us quick glances of curiosity, the sight of a random girl being pulled to the club by an anxious Rafe Cameron barely capturing their attention long enough to spare us anymore than that. He opens a random door and flips on the light switch, pulling me inside with him before shutting and locking the door.

He releases me and begins walking back and forth through the room, stressfully running his hands through his hair. I hear him breathing heavily, whispering to himself as he paces. I watch him in silence, unsure of what his problem is this time.

“Jesus Christ, Rafe.” My voice dripped in irritation. “What’s wrong with you this time?”

He doesn’t seem to hear me, still pacing through the room. 

“Rafe. Rafe!” I call for a third time, finally capturing his attention. “What? What do you want? What’s the problem now?”

“You can’t talk to JJ, not anymore.”

“What?” I say in disbelief, eyeing him incredulously. 

“You can’t hang around him. He’s no good.” He keeps going, not making any sense. “None of them are any good, not for you. None of them.”

“Rafe.” I repeat, even more confused than I was previously.

“I can’t keep seeing you around those fucking Pogues. You’re too good for them. They don't deserve to have you.” He keeps pacing, not even acknowledging my presence in the room. Something in the back of my head tells me to start inching towards the door, but I don’t.

“Rafe, are you having a psychotic break right now?”

“I’m not fucking crazy!” He suddenly lunges at me, only stopping a few inches in front of me. “I’m not crazy, everyone needs to stop calling me that.”

“Okay, well are you high? Because you aren’t making any sense right now.” I push past him further into the room, learning from my past mistakes to not have my back against any wall when in a room with him. “And quite frankly, you’re creeping me out.”

“I’m making perfect sense.” He advances towards me again, stopping less than a foot away from my body. “You can’t be around those people anymore. You’re too good for them. I don’t like the way JJ looks at you.”

“Who are you to tell me who I can’t hang out with?” I ask angrily, poking a finger in his chest to push him away from me. He only moves a couple inches. “You don’t even like me, first of all, so what’s it to you?”

“No, No, that’s where you’re wrong, Neriah.” He says, shaking his head aggressively. “I do like you. I like you so much that i-it makes me feel crazy and I don’t understand why because you’re a fucking Pogue. And I sometimes think ‘maybe I am crazy,’ but I’m not!”

“What are you talking about?”

“God, Neriah. You just don't get it, do you?” He runs his veiny hands through his hair once again before looking at me with his blown out pupils.

“No, Rafe! I don’t ‘get it!’” I shout frustratedly. “The only reason I’m here with you is because you threatened me with criminal charges. You beat my brother and were going to let Topper fucking kill him! You, you-” I scoff, pressing a hand to my forehead with a slightly gaped mouth.

“And I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for that, really.” He pleads with his eyes, pulling my hand away from my face so I’d look at him. I snatch it back, stepping past him to get to the door. “But I didn’t know how else I’d convince you to come with me. I didn’t have a choice. You didn’t give me any choice.”

“Didn’t have a choice? You didn’t have a choice?” I spin around to face the stressed out blonde behind me. “Your choice could’ve been to leave me the hell alone!”

“But I can’t do that, Neriah!” He shouts back. “I can’t do that anymore. I’ve been doing it for so long and I just can’t anymore.”

“Yes you can.”

“No, I can’t.” He presses his fingers into the sides of head as he walks up on me. “Do you know I can’t sleep without listening to that video of you singing at the Club talent show a few years ago? I used to follow you around school and watch you during lunch to make sure nobody was picking on you. I only became friends with Brye because I know he’s your best friend and I needed a way to get closer to you.”

“Rafe, you’re fucking insane.” I say in shock, backing away from him and feeling around for the door behind me.

“No I’m not! Stop calling me that!” He corners me against the door, the handle pressing into my bottom uncomfortably. He wraps a hand around my neck tightly, not enough to stop my breathing, but enough to hurt. “I love you, Neriah.”

“You don’t love me, Rafe. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I place my own hand on top of his, shivering at the way he looks down at me. “You barely know me.”

In his eyes is a mixture of things, none that I can recognize immediately with the feeling of our breath mixing together. My heart skips a beat and my stomach drops into my feet, my brain begging me to fight against him but my body staying statuesque at the feeling of his against mine.

“I do! I do…” He trails off, swallowing dryly as he looks deeply into my eyes. “I know everything about you. I know your favorite place to eat, to hang out. I know all of your hobbies, how much you used to love singing. I know you used to dance when you were younger but stopped because your parents couldn’t afford it anymore.” What the fuck?

“Rafe…”

“I know your favorite color and your favorite places to shop. I know that John B was your first kiss when it should’ve been me.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

“I told you, I know everything about you.”

“Rafe, you’re scaring me.” He loosens his bruising grip on my neck, hand still firmly in place.

“I’m sorry. I just…” He sighs, pressing his warm forehead against mine. 

“You called me a dolled up gutter rat and told me in so many words to stay off Figure 8, so I’m really having a hard time believing your very…abrupt change of heart.”

“I was just scared to confront my feelings. I was a stupid boy then, but I’m not like that anymore.” He says, gently rubbing circles on the side of my neck with his thumb. “Please, Neriah.”

“Rafe, please stop touching me.” He hesitates at my request for a moment before reluctantly backing away. 

I swallow hard, touching my tender neck as I watch him warily. I shake my head, pressing on the door handle and briskly walk out of the room. He calls after me but doesn’t follow, leaving me to return to the party on my own.

“Hey, where did you go? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Londyn appears in front of me, her sudden appearance causing me to jump. She looks at my anxious and stressed out expression with concern, brows knitting together as she eyes the way I hold my neck. “Are you okay? What happened?”

I shake my head, moving to sit at a table near the corner of the venue and away from everyone else. I watch the door for the rest of the night, waiting anxiously for Rafe to return.

[oxpogues4lifexo]

P4L - Draft

Not proofread or edited

3k+ words

Warnings: mentions of alcohol and violence.

JJ's Pov:

My heads foggy, eyesight blurred, not able to make any sane thoughts. I need to find her. I need to find Bells.

I can't keep myself up on my feet, stumbling through the crowds of people, as I look for a small brunette, wearing a miniskirt that rides up her thighs and a top, too tight even for her. She never dresses like that, but Sarah insisted she dress up to go to the boneyard. It's the only party she's been to all year; 'she has to make an effort'.

It made it hard to find her, the drinks in my system toying with my memory, forgetting what her face looks like.

I catch a glimpse of Sarah, followed by a familiar laugh. I follow the sounds, not caring if I bump into the people in my way.

Having to check on her is my priority. I didn't want her to come. But ever since her and Sarah have become friends again apparently my opinions don't matter. To Sarah anyways.

"Bells!" I swing over to her, tugging at her arm as she turns to me, "Hey gorgeous," I grin, poking my finger on her nose causing a small smile to pull at her cheeks.

She giggles, "Your drunk.." She whispers against my lips, her arm wrapping around my waist to hold me upright as she moves the sticky hair off my forehead, not caring about getting my sweat on her skin.

"I don't drink, ma’.." I shake my head at her; my eyebrows jerking at my words.

Another laugh slips from her mouth, "No I don't drink Jayj. C'mon let's get you home," She lifts her head up to look at Sarah. "Could you drive us to TannyHill please? His dad will kill him if he comes home like this, and my dad won't let him round mine."

It's not that Bella's dad doesn't like me, it's that he doesn't like my father. Her dad has a lot of issues: doesn't let Bells talk to anyone, go out anywhere. He even took her out of school because he didn't trust her being there. He's paranoid. So like everyone else, he associates me with my father. It doesn't matter how much Bell' tries to convince him, there'll always be some doubt surrounding me. She's all he's got left, so Bella tells me to just let him be protective, but when it starts getting in the way of our friendship then it just pisses me off.

Sarah's face brightens, bobbing her head towards Bella as her eyes scan around at the crowd.

Despite what I say about Sarah, she cares. And I can't argue with that.

"You okay?" Bella questions as a frown takes Sarah's face.

My legs give out, falling slightly but I managed to catch myself; Bella's arm instinctively reaching to mine, without paying any attention to me, pulling me back into her grip. Her eyes focused on the concern on Sarah's face.

"Looking for Rafe."

I groan and Bella doesn't even try to hide the unamused expression that took her face.

Not too long ago Rafe beat the shit out of me for befriending Sarah and Bella hasn't let it go. She swore to her dad when she was young to never hurt anyone. So it's not like we expect her to do anything about Rafe, but it's kind of adorable that she still holds a grudge against him for me.

I get antsy; bored. My body aching to move, so I pull away, swaying my hips to the distant music playing. I throw my hands up and Bella and Sarah notice me, faces reddening as people begin to stare.

"JJ stop!" Sarah demands but I ignore her, not understanding why she cares what I'm doing.

Bella reaches for me, grabbing onto my cheeks, her face leaning up against mine, "Stop.. please.. you look like an idiot J."

I obey, my body coming to a halt, watching her brown doe eyes follow mine. A smile pinches my lips, teeth creeping out with a laugh, "I embarrassin' you, bumble bee?"

She lets go, huffing as she straightens her back, eyebrows dipping. She slips her hand into mine and glances back at Sarah, "Rafe won't snitch Sar, they'll know he was here too if he says anything, can we please just get JJ to bed." She lifts her hand out to Sarah's, still gripping onto mine so I wouldn't move, and Sarah reaches for it.

'The mum of the Pogues' That's what we call Bells.

She does anything and everything for everyone. Always looking out for us and being there when we need it. We all appreciate it more than she knows but it never stops her from caring. I could probably take a guess and say she'd even care about Rafe if something happened to him. That's just who she is.

It's come from her dad. Despite everything they've been through together, the only way to describe it all is hell, they always wore a smile and made sure no one went through what they did, or sometimes still do.

They have three unspoken promises they stick by (I only know them because I helped make them):

-Number one, to never hurt anybody unless their life is at risk.

-Number two, to always be there for others no matter what.

-And the most important one, number three, don't live in the past.

Bells has me. That's it. Since we were two years old, I've been the only friend she's had. She understands what I've been through and vice versa so I don't leave. I wouldn't anyways, but it gives me more reason not to. We're both more of a family to each other than our own, we would never pick anyone over the other. It's just like our little unspoken rule. And everyone knows it.

We reach the car and Bella sits beside me in the back, holding me close to her chest, hand in hand, as Sarah speeds home.

Bells tugs on my hand that was firmly gripped to her thigh. I blink my eyes open as I lift my head off of her chest to face her, a small groan falling from my lips.

A soft smile takes her face as her manicured fingers make their way into my hair, moving it off my forehead once again, "Sorry to wake you.." She giggles lightly, whispering to keep me from waking back up fully, "We need to get you upstairs." I gaze at her eyes, not hearing a word she's saying, fully mesmerised by the calming tone in her voice. The sound glazing my ears like honey, I fall in love with her everyday..

She's my booty call. My number one. My shoulder to lean on. Always. Anywhere, Anytime.

I love everything about her, everything: Her eyes, her voice, her personality.. her body..

My thoughts get cut short by the sound of a car door; Sarah steps out from behind me to help Bella get me inside. My arms hooked around both their shoulders as I get lugged up the stairs of the TannyHill estate. Guided to Sarah's room, all I could think was that I wanted Bells' lips on my own. Those soft, plump, strawberry-scented lips that I'd ache for quite regularly - on mine.

No! No.. Don't ruin it JJ.. Don't.. Don't even let it cross your mind. Your drunk. Yes drunk, that's it! That's what it is - playing with your mind. Ignore it!

They lay me down, Bells' fingers lingering across my shoes before gently pulling them off and placing them on the floor next to the door; tucking me under a blanket that sat across the foot of Sarah's bed.

Sarah makes her way around the room, turning off the lights and closing the blinds. "If you need anything Jayj give us a shout. Bell', see you downstairs?"

I lay still, my body finally hit it's breaking point, every part of me numb to the touch. The only sound I could make was a short 'Hmm'. Bella's head nods to Sarah with a small smile before the door shuts and she makes her way towards the head of the bed. My eyes follow hers as her body sinks into mine, a warm kiss placed to my temple; her arms take my body closer, "I'll be downstairs if you need anything okay..?"

She lifts her head to sit in front of mine, noses touching as she crouches beside me, fingers playing in my hair, "I told you not to drink so much Jayj, what happened..?"

You..

No words left my mouth, my eyes still fixated on hers, the only thing that seems to keep me sane anymore. She lets out a quiet chuckle before placing another kiss to my forehead, "It's not happening again.."

I watch her lead herself to the door, turn back to blow me a kiss followed by my favourite little grin, before exiting.

My body relaxes, a sigh of relief escapes my lips as I catch my breath. Holding back from attending to the bulge in my boxers as my eyes fall shut..

Just forget tonight happened..

Bella's Pov:

"Is he okay?" Sarah looks over the back of the couch as I make my way over, the TV quietly playing 'Friends' behind her - our favourite childhood show we always seem to pick when together.

I nod my head, jumping over the armrest to place myself beside her, "As far as I know." I let out a small laugh, a smile given to me in response.

Sarah and JJ's friendship has always been a mystery to me. They seem so close yet so different; they always argue yet still get along. The way I see it.. siblings split at birth. Doesn't make sense but neither does a lot of things - like their friendship.

I know the reason is me: friends to both, always fighting for my company, competition for what feels like 24/7. But there's nothing I can do, in-fact they both know i'd choose JJ over anyone so I don't get his jealousy.

All I do know is that when it comes down to it, they do care.

Our attention turns back to the TV for at least another hour before the front door creaks open. The slow squeak of the hinges catches us both off guard and we cling onto one another, our eyes fixed on the doorway into the front hall. Both thinking the same thing.. Intruder.

We let the TV play to not alert anyone that there's people present; the footsteps on the wooden tiles still louder than the obnoxious laughs behind us. My heart begins to race faster, my grip on Sarah's hands only tightening painfully, as small grunts emit from the dark hallway that lie ahead of us.

Sarah slowly reaches to the coffee table to claw around for her phone, not taking her eyes away. I take a glance back at her as I watch her shaky fingers struggle to type out a full sentence; I look at the name above the messages - Dad.

Thank God..

"Hey!!"

Sarah and I freeze, our body's strike a halt as our eyes take one another's - wide as if we were some deer caught in headlights.

"Hey dumbass you deaf? Why'd you leave the party so early, if dad caught you we'd both be dead. You realise that?"

I feel Sarah's breath escape her lips relievingly, as she lets go of me and flashes her phone torch up past my head. I turn back with my eyebrows furrowed, confused to the sudden change in body language. Not recognising the voice but easily able to piece it together.

I catch a glimpse of the face structure: A sweaty mess, sticky bangs, blue eyes glistening from what I could only assume was some sort of substance as it complimented the redness on his lids.

Rafe..

His eyes take mine only for an instant, the way he looked at me was as if he'd never seen me before. Or at least he was going to act like he hadn't.

"Fuck Rafe! Could've given us a heart attack! And dad's out of town 'dumbass'." She mocks, somehow unafraid of how he'd react, the drinks in his system almost peeling away the 'mask' everyone knows him for.

I watch his eyes widen in shock, eyebrows dipping as her words sink in, "Out of town.." He repeats to himself, nodding slightly, the frustration growing obvious along his face, "He's out of town. An- and, no one told me this because?" His voice deepened, as he got louder, condescending even. It causes my skin to crawl at the fear of him lashing out. People getting angry hasn't ever been an easy deal for me.

"They did, Rafe.. many times. Just go clean yourself up your disgusting!"

He scoffs, eyes squinting in response, them taking mine again but this time it went on longer than I hoped. No words left his mouth yet it sat, lips parted.

"Rafe! Go away. We trying to watch something here!" Sarah shoo's him with her hand, waving for him to go upstairs.

I frown as his eyes began to glass over, not moving away from my own; I notice the pure pain behind them that led my own heart to ache for him. Someone who has always had a confident, unbothered look to them as if nothing could hurt them, suddenly starts letting go infront of me - of course I was going to show some concern. "Are you okay..?" I mouth to him, my head nodding towards him comfortingly, but he just blinks my question away before going upstairs, not wanting to make a scene like he would've if I wasn't there.

"God sorry about him. He's a wasted asshole, I'm sure you know that." She chuckles at the sound of her own words, causing me to only sink into the couch more, knowing even she didn't notice what I did.

How could you say that about your own brother? Your own brother who stood there and did nothing but ask a simple question?

Wait why do I care, he almost killed JJ.

Shit..

"Bell?" Sarah leans closer, her face inches from mine to grab my attention. My head jolts as I clock her eyes on my own.

"Sorry." I giggle and a smile pushes her cheeks apart as my voice calms her concern.

"Are you okay? What just happened?" Her eyebrows jerk as her eyes adjust, pulling a leg up infront of her to show she's willing to listen. Just the small action caused a smile on my face, the little moments like this remind me why I'm still with her.

"Oh no no nothing," I give her a smile of reassurance as I place my hand to hers that rested on her calf, "Just remembering what JJ looked like after he was done with him." A small chuckle takes my tongue as I try to cover the pure lie that just left my mouth.

"Oh.." She chuckles along, "Yeah that was the start of a war for sure!" I laugh along to her words, enjoying the small fraction of peace while it lasts.

"I'm just glad my dad stepped in when he did! God if one of them really did fall unconscious I would've finished the job."

"Wow Bells where's this coming from? Got some pent up anger somewhere in there?" She giggles causing myself to join in.

"You could say that. I practically live with JJ, there's definitely something there."

"Mm.. I can't argue with that." She turns herself to rest against my arm; I place it around her shoulder as her legs lift to the armrest. I pull a blanket onto my lap as we fall asleep, the laughs from the TV filling the silence throughout the night.

Me and Sarah became friends through our dads. They were childhood bestfriends. Did everything together. Dad, Ward, Luke, Mike and Bobby were all friends from a young age so growing up they were always at our house - gambling, drinking, watching football. This happened near on everyday despite me not being friends with any of their kids other than JJ but that was a given.

However because Dad and Ward were extremely close it just meant, me, Sarah and Rafe also had to do everything together. From about the age of 6 we'd spend every other day together with JJ coming and going for about 3 or 4 years. Rafe hated it, wanted to go out with his friends especially since he was much older than us. So he pretends it never happened which I understand to an extent.

I have nothing against Rafe, infact I don't mind him, it's just the fact that he almost killed JJ. But even then, JJ almost killed Rafe back. It was a draw; they called a truce. I never understood the big conflict between us Pogues and the Kooks, my mum and dad made it work, but it always led to unnecessary hate between us and the Cameron's which I never quite agreed with. I grew up with them, but now we hate them? It doesn’t make sense to me.

It wasn't until Sarah met Kiara in High School that we started to drift and it began to add up. She completely pushed me away. Dad and Ward didn't let it affect them but Sarah and Rafe stopped visiting. What pissed me off the most was that when she ended things with Kie, she came running back to me. Dad made me go along with it before him and Ward fell out last year - that's when shit began to hit the fan. He cut Sarah and any other person even remotely related to the Cameron's off from me and we hadn't spoken since, until two weeks ago.

JJ's my everything, and my dad knows that. Despite growing a disliking to his dad over the years after learning what he'd been doing, he let me and JJ still see each other because of the whole Sarah thing - not wanting me to be completely alone. I know he really does love JJ because he's been there for me since birth but it doesn't mean he gives him an easy ride. 'You can stay over whenever you want, but don't pull any shit with my daughter'.

JJ was the one to get Dad to let me speak to Sarah again, especially since she started speaking to our group so it would be unfair if I got pushed out because of it.

So yeah, there's a lot of shit to my story and this is just the beginning. But only time will tell how much worse it can get..

Masterlist

Yes I used the same name in all my fics, it’s easier and yes I have like 5 different story ideas I never get any finished

Thank you for reading hope you enjoyed I’m really happy with this one 🌹❤️ x

[rafecameronsslxt]

Hooked

Warnings: Toxic Relationship, jumping Pope, and Violence.

Synopsis:Rafe and Topper jump Pope, acting like nothing happened until Pope gets his revenge. Adriana goes to the beach for a break and JJ finds her, letting the words overflow, but the annual movie night becomes a complete disaster, filled with fire and hurt.

Rafe Cameron x OC

Part 3 of series. (Can be read as stand alone)

Part ONE- Part TWO- Part FOUR- Part FIVE- Part SIX- Part SEVEN

Masterlist

 I watch as my own boyfriend and brother jump my best friend. After they’re done beating Pope up, I run to his side with tears in my eyes. My knees slide against the sand. “Oh, my god. Pope, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.” I repeatedly say it until Toppers' hands grab my shoulders to get me up. Pope has blood in his mouth, covering the left side of his teeth. I feel Pope grab my hand and squeeze it before Topper drags me away. 

   The whole walk home, Rafe’s hand resides gripping my lower back. While he and Top casually talk like they didn’t just jump someone, I try to pry his hand off me, but I physically can’t. His grasp makes me think by the time we arrive home; my side will be completely red, maybe a little bruise. I see the glint of my pink golf club in Topper's hand, along with his club. I look down at my knees, scraped up and filthy, covered with sand. 

   Finally, we make it to Rafe’s house. 

   Rafe lets Topper go into the house and pulls me aside. “I’m sorry.” Rafe puts his hand on my cheek. “You’re always fucking sorry, Rafe. ALWAYS.” I start hitting his chest forcefully while tears freefall. He tries to grab my wrists, but I escape quickly and slap him across the face. I pause and look up at Rafe's towering body over mine. His cheek is red, and Rafe’s face shows no emotion. Rafe scoffs while shaking his head. I don’t say anything but look down at the gravel. 

   We stand there in silence until the front door opens. I quickly wipe my tears away, hoping my makeup will hold up. Rafe’s thumbs pat my cheeks, and he nods at me; he turns around, slinging his arm over my shoulder, and we plaster smiles on our faces. “Ward?” I say, surprised. “Dad!?” 

   “Hey, Adriana. Wow, what- um, happened to your knees?” Ward asks with a concerned look and comes up and kisses my head. Ward had been like a second father to me until he started getting physical with Rafe. “Ad and Top had been playing around while we were golfing, and she slid across the sand,” Rafe answered for me, and Ward seemed to believe because why wouldn’t he? Ward nodded, telling us he needed to go out. 

   Rafe and me watch Ward leave in his truck, and I throw Rafe’s arm off of me. “I’m going home. I don’t want you or Top to message me or come over to my house or anything. Leave. Me. Alone.” I state clearly, not missing a single syllable. I walk away, not waiting for a response back. 

   Things go wrong every day for me. It’s either Rafe and Topper or something with the pogues. It’s hard to try and act ok when your boyfriend is becoming unhinged and a million other things on top of that.

   I pace quickly around my bedroom, clean and in changed clothes. We were having such a good day. I look at my lower back in the mirror; it’s still all red and hurting. There are hickeys all over my neck and breasts from this morning and the night before. I lightly trail my fingers over my neck, missing the way Rafe’s soft red lips feel against my skin. 

   I arrive at the Cut, the only place I can escape Rafe. I step into the sand feeling better and hold my surfboard to my side, looking at all the waves. I look down at the bracelets on each side of my wrist. I had one for Rafe and my pogue friends. Kie, JJ, Pope, and John B. 

   I stop reminiscing and start surfing—the calming noise of the waves crashing together and the wind breezing ever so lightly now and again. It had been peaceful. I can’t hear anything else besides nature overtaking me in its glory. I feel unstoppable. 

   Something touches me, and I fall off the surfboard into the water– wrong timing. Good thing I hadn’t been too far away from shore, or I’m sure I’d be dead right now. I wash up on shore, feeling sore. 

   JJ stands over me while white splotches go in and out of my peripheral vision. “Jesus, are you ok?” I sit up. My first time surfing JJ pushed me off my board since the pogues had taught me and to say the least I was mad at JJ for a while after that.

“Not the first time you’ve let the sea undertake me.” I laugh a little but hiss in pain. “Good day?” JJ questions me, most likely seeing all the hickeys Rafe had made on me. I look up at him and shake my head. “It’s been far from a good day,” I said, sighing. JJ puts his hand out for me. I take it, and he pulls me up. “Wanna talk about it?” 

   Within a second, I started spilling everything to JJ. The night at the party, the following morning (without details), and the golfing trip. “Pope told me he wasn’t mad at you. I mean, he was- you know how Pope is, Adriana, but it’s fine because he got his revenge.” JJ smiles out at the ocean. “What!?” I say aloud. Revenge? “Nothing, nothing.” He waves me off, changing the subject. We talked for over an hour about random topics, and the sun had started setting. 

   I look up into the orange and pinkish sky. The perfect view of the sun setting, which glares off the ocean like a painting. “You ready to leave?” I nod my head standing up. “See you at the annual movie night?” JJ questions me with a grin. “Obviously, I’ll be sitting with you guys.” I let out a breathy laugh. JJ and me wave to each other, and I get into my jeep driving away from the cut.

   I make it to my house and jog upstairs to my bedroom, needing to get changed for the third time today. I turn my bedroom light on and see Rafe lying on my bed. I shriek and drop my things onto the floor. I pick them back up.

“I told you specifically not to bother me today.” I throw my purse onto my desk. Rafe doesn’t answer me but watches my every move while I walk around my room.  

   Finally, I wander to the right side of my bed and tell him to get up. “Baby, can you just come here?” He pats his stomach, and I give in too easily, making my way on top of him. Now I sit on top of the guy that I should’ve kicked out a while ago.

   This was the problem with Rafe and me; even in fights, I saw him every day. It didn’t matter if he just beat up my best friend. I would always go back to him, and he’ll always come back to me, but I wish we hadn’t been like this because it hurts. 

   After arguments, I paced around my room, bit my nails and missed him, and it hadn’t even hit an hour. We’re so dependent on each other that I couldn’t imagine a life without him. I think I’d kill for Rafe.

   “Are you going to the annual movie night?” Rafe questions, and I feel his hands run all over my body. I nod my head. “Rafe, I think it’s time for you to go,” I tell Rafe, yet I don’t get off of him. Instead, he pulls me down to his chest, and I lay my head down on him. “Do you remember when we first had sex?” His hand rubs my cheek gently. “Yes, but why does that matter right now? I mean seriously.” I sigh. “Ninth grade, we had waited the whole day just for the night to come and for you to sneak in. In that moment, It felt like I was on cloud nine. Adriana Albright sneaking into my room!? I hadn’t thought that was going to be the night.” I let out a laugh.

   I picked up a random rock and threw it at my newly boyfriends' balcony door. I saw Rafe and smiled at him. I had been biting my nails all day till they got down to the ends. He gives me a thumbs-up and runs back into his room. 

   The front door opens up, and I see him. The moon glares off our faces, the only thing making light for us. The sky had been bright and starry. The stars shined more luminous than ever that night. “Come on.” Rafe takes my hand, quietly leading us upstairs until we hear a creak and stop in our tracks. “Shhh,” I say, putting my index finger over my lips and get in front of him, then looking into the hallway from behind the wall. I nod my head, and we keep walking to his room. 

   We finally make it, and he shuts his door quickly. “So, Adriana Albright, what shall we take pleasure in today. Smoke, watch a movie?” I look at Rafe sitting against his desk. I bite my lip and look at him seductively. 

   “You were bold for initiating the first move, especially for being a virgin. You’d actually been somewhat of a bad girl back then. Now you’re my good perfect girl. A woman, most men, would kill to have, but you went to me.” I move my head to look up at Rafe, and he runs his thumb over my bottom lip. 

   Young Adriana had thought of this a million times that day. That night had been one to remember for both of them. But, despite her first time being on a desk, and most would think it hadn’t been as memorable, it was, and then it was set. 

   It was officially Rafe Cameron and Ariana Albright against the world. No ONE would become in between them. 

   “That night was when we both agreed it was us against everyone. We didn’t have to say it. We just knew.” 

   “And then we got caught– red-handed.” Rafe chuckles. “God, I got grounded for a week, and our parents had to talk to each other about it the next day. It was so embarrassing. After that, I couldn’t look at your dad for long.” Rafe leans down and gives me an open kiss. He doesn’t push it. His fingers slowly run up and down my palm, hovering.

   Rafe’s door abruptly opens with no knock. “Oh my god!” Ward expresses in shock, shutting Rafe’s bedroom door. Rafe quickly throws his shorts on, and I fall onto the floor, trying to get mine on. Rafe burst out laughing. I kick his ankle, making him fall with me, and then I start laughing while I zip up my shorts, toss Rafe his shirt, and throw mine on. Rafe stands up. We look at each other sweaty and embarrassed but almost dying of laughter. 

   “Are you guys decent?” Ward inquiries suspiciously. We open the door together. “I’m sorry, Ward.” I didn’t exactly know what I was saying sorry for, but I did. He nods his head and looks between Rafe and me. Ward inhales and exhales. “Ok, children, let’s just– Adriana, I’ll take you home, and I’ll have a talk with your parents tomorrow. Rafe, you’re grounded.” Ward states firmly. We nod our heads and look at each other again. I put my hand over my mouth, and Rafe starts giggling. I wave bye to Rafe as Ward takes me in his truck and starts driving to my house. 

   Rafe sits us up against the headboard. “I just want you to know you will not be happy with me after tonight, but midsummers are tomorrow, and I still very much would hope for you to go with me.” My phone starts going off, and it’s JJ calling me. “Hello.” 

   “Where are you twenty minutes before the movie starts. Ad, I swear if you're with him after everything he’s done the past few days.” I sigh, looking at Rafe as he smiles. “Hey, Maybank-” Before he does any more damage, I cut Rafe off and cover his mouth. “Yes, JJ, I’m coming as we speak. Bye, love you.” I run my hands through my hair. “I love you too, Ad.” JJ hangs up, and I look at Rafe and get off of him. “Oh, that's what you’re doing now. Acting like you hate me after all of this, knowing tomorrow you’ll be at my side at midsummers. Mine, Adriana, not JJ’s!” Rafe yells at me, getting up from the bed. “Is that jealous, Rafe Cameron, I’m hearing?” 

   He scoffs. “Me? Jealous of JJ fucking Maybank- No.” He shakes his head that I’d even make such an accusation.

   I say fuck it and kiss Rafe. Instead of being anxious all night, I’d end this on something good. We kiss each other with the right amount of everything. It was chaste and a longing kiss, like maybe there wouldn’t be another tomorrow. He lays his forehead on mine. “Adriana, despite everything, I love you. It’s us against the world.” I press my nose against his and kiss him again. 

   “Rafe, I love you too. It’s us against the world.” I interlace my hands with his. He looks at me with only love. How do I react when he’s going to do something terrible, and I know he’s going to?

   I make it to the annual movie night ten minutes before the movie starts. Kie spots me and smiles. I sit beside her. “Not with lover boy?” She says teasingly, hitting my shoulder with hers. I shake my head, kicking her foot, look over at Pope, and fold my arms nervously. I hadn’t talked to him about what had happened, and I was scared of his response. Would it be terrible or good? “Hey, Ad, it’s not your fault,” Pope says reassuringly, but I still have guilt. He holds his hand out, and I take it. We both lock our hands together tightly and smile at each other. I start giggling, and Pope lets go of my hand. 

   “You guys must be a package deal, never without one another,” JJ says thoughtfully, looking over Pope’s shoulder and making us all turn our heads. Rafe, Topper, and Kelce look very threatening toward Pope and JJ. We all look away in sync. Kiara darts her eyes at JJ and Pope. “What did you guys do?” I question skeptically, looking at JJ in general. “Pope just got his revenge is what happened,” JJ says and raises his hands up in the air. “What does that even mean!?” Kie throws her hands out, confused about what they’d done. 

   The movie finally starts, and I sneak a look at the guys to find them sitting there, not looking like the happiest audience. I turn around slowly, fixing the hat I looted from Rafe. I take it off for a second to get my hair out of my face and then put it on backwards. 

   I then start to hear whispers. I look past Kie’s body and see JJ and Pope quietly talking and hitting each other's chest about something. 

   JJ announces he and Pope are going to the bathroom. Kie and me looked at them as if they were people we didn’t know. Pope pushes JJ, getting him to move faster. “What’s up with them?” Kiara asks me. “I don’t know. They won't tell me.” I run my hands down my face and pinch the bridge of my nose in anger. Why do things always have to happen? It couldn’t just be a regular night. 

   A couple of minutes pass, and Kiara and me get worried. 

   So we took a hike to where the two boys had gone and quickly heard the sounds of people getting hurt. 

   I blacked out during the rest and got pushed to the ground along with Kie, but Topper hadn’t thrown me. Rafe did. “Ad- Adriana. Do you have a lighter?” Kie pushes my shoulder, and I look at her for a second. Kiara hits my face, slightly stinging, and I grab a lighter out of my pocket and throw it to her. 

The only reason I started carrying a lighter in my pocket was because John B never had one to start a fire wasting the gasoline and night to leave just the stars and friends inside his house.

   Kiara sets the projector on fire. After that, the mass of people who were watching started screaming and leaving rather slowly. Topper and Kelce get moving, but Rafe looks at me. I won’t spare him a glance or a look. 

   “Come on, pretty girl,” JJ says, coughing while holding out his hand. I don’t take his hand but instead, pull myself up. JJ nods, confused but doesn’t question me. He throws his arm around my shoulder stabilizing himself, and he starts breathing heavily. “Not so bad pretty boy.” I look up at JJ and smile. He’s got a couple of cuts on his face, but nothing I couldn’t manage. He laughs, and we start trying to catch up with Kie and Pope.

[runningfrom2am]

the sea around us; chapter fifteen

In which Rafe Cameron has to choose between his dad and a pogue who's changing his outlook on life more and more every day.

(rafe cameron x f!oc)

(eventual!jj maybank x f!oc)

warnings/tags: violence, drug/alcohol use, smoking, sexual content (if you squint), slowburn, older brother’s best friend, (these tags are obv not exhaustive but regardless it’s pretty PG13)

wc: 2.8k

my masterlist

series masterlist

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

"You take her home and come straight back here! I mean it!" I hear Ward yelling as I sit in the passenger seat of Rafe's car. Rafe is just standing there, nodding. When we got back about an hour ago, I went with Sarah up to her room to get my stuff, and then she disappeared. Rafe came and got me from her room when he thought his dad was done yelling, but apparently, he wasn't. I feel horrible. If I hadn't agreed to come this wouldn't have happened. If I had just stayed on the cut, this wouldn't have happened. I don't belong, and because they gave me a chance, I ruined their night. I feel my lip quiver and a tear threatening to fall from my eye as my chest tightens. I can't cry. I just can't.

I see Rafe coming up to the driver's side and I take a deep breath. He gets in and slams the door, driving off quickly without saying a word. I'm scared to look at him. After a few minutes, Rafe pulls over on the side of the road, just across the bridge onto the cut. "I'm so sorry, Rafe.." I whisper, and he doesn't respond, just staring straight ahead as I look at him now. His jaw is clenched, and he's gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles are almost white. I reach down and quietly take off my shoes, and open the door to get out. "Thank you for everything, again. I'll still pay you back I swear." I go to get out of the car, my bare feet hitting the pavement.

"Get back in the car," Rafe says suddenly and I freeze.

"No, it's totally fine. It's really not that far, I can walk." I smile, trying to come across as genuine since I still have tears on my cheek.

"You're not walking," He says seriously, "Get back in the car." I slowly sit back down, watching his expression carefully.

"I just- I just needed a second I'm not kicking you out." He tries to explain and I nod a little bit.

"Of course, I'm so sorry," I say, trying not to sound like I'm crying.

"My dad is just such a dick! I hate him..." He mumbles, letting go of the steering wheel and rubbing his face. "I hate him so much- I'm never enough for him and I am fucking sick of it!" He shouts, suddenly punching the wheel, making me flinch in my seat. That's when he looks at me.

"No, no, no wait don't cry..." His voice softens and he reaches over and wipes my tears with his thumbs, leaving his hands on my cheeks. "Hey, please don't cry... I'm sorry I scared you." He says and I shake my head, holding my hands against his on my cheeks.

"You didn't, I'm sorry," I say, shaking my head a little and sniffling. "I just- I knew this would happen, I knew I wouldn't fit in but I said yes anyways, and now your dad is blaming you, and you spent a ridiculous amount of money on me and all I did was ruin his party.." I ramble on until he cuts me off.

"Snowy, it's not like that," Rafe says, pulling his hands from my face. "My dad.." He sighs. "My dad just hates me, I'm not Sarah, that's what the problem is. I'm not Sarah and I'll never be good enough for him."

"I know that feeling..." I say, making him smile a little bit sympathetically. I wipe under my eyes, looking at the makeup smeared all over my palm. "I mean, screw him for not seeing how great you are. That's his choice." Rafe nods a little bit, thinking about it.

"I... I just-" He starts talking, rubbing his forehead. "Fuck it. Fuck it- it doesn't matter." He sighs, starting the car again.

"Hey, you can talk to me, you know.." I tell him honestly.

"I know... yeah." Rafe sighs, running his hand through his hair. "How do you know that feeling?" He asks me. I think he wants me to explain so he knows that I do truly understand- that I will listen to him.

"Well," I wipe my eyes again, trying not to mess up my makeup that I know is already beyond saving at this point, "Kegs is the golden child. My parents adore him. He's their first baby, and if I'm being brutally honest I was an accident, but everything was fine until the twins came along, and then I became a full-time unpaid nanny when I was six, and I don't know what happened but something shifted at that point and it's like I disappeared, almost." I ramble on. "I don't know if that makes sense, but like, they think he's so perfect. He literally does coke and smokes or whatever, one time I walked into the house smelling like weed and my mom hit me when Kegs will literally smoke on the porch and she doesn't bat an eye. He's so clearly their favorite and I'm so clearly their least favorite that it doesn't matter what I do at this point, It'll never make a difference, I guess." I shrug a little.

Rafe just nods a little, and I pull a section of hair from behind my ear and start wrapping it around my finger. I hope I said the right thing. "I didn't know you felt that way. Like about your brother and your family." He says, which shocks me that he doesn't want to talk about himself when he's the one so upset.

"I love them more than anything, of course, but I think that's part of the problem. I wish I didn't care so much for people who don't care about me." I explain.

Rafe shakes his head at that. "Your brother loves you so much. I think, like, your mom built him into this guy who will always rely on you or Erin or whatever girl walks into his life next more than he should for like basic shit. He cares, though, truly. He'd do anything for you."

"I don't want to talk about that." I shake my head. "I just like, want you to know that I understand you more than you think."

A small smile tugs at his lips while he looks at me. "We really are the meanest and scariest neglected kids in the OBX, huh?" He jokes, reaching out and grabbing a strand of my hair as well, twirling it between his fingers.

"Oh yeah, the A-team." I giggle.

"I just... I don't really want to talk about parents anymore." Rafe insists, his smile fading slightly.

"No, totally. I should probably get to that mandatory meetinganyways..." I agree, looking at the time on the dashboard.

"Wait, I... Can I, uh can we hang out more? I just don't want to go home yet." Rafe asks and I nod.

"Of course, yeah. Of course." I assure him. "I just need to text my friends and let them know.." I say, grabbing my phone from my bag, seeing like a dozen missed calls from all of them. "Shit.." I mumble, frantically texting them back. John B is in the hospital. I immediately call Pope.

"Everything okay?" Rafe asks, continuing to glance over at me as he drives. I shake my head and wipe my cheeks again and tap my foot as I wait for him to answer. "What's going on? Snowy?" He asks just as Pope picks up the phone.

"Pope- thank god you answered. What happened? Where are you?" I ask.

"We're at the hospital, can you come right now?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm on my way. Is JB okay? What happened?" I ask again.

"Apparently Topper pushed him off the tower, we're with Sarah, John B was up there with Sarah and Topper pushed him off," Pope explains, and I feel my heart stop for a minute.

"Holy shit... okay, I'll see you soon," I say, hanging up, I look over at Rafe and he's already looking at me.

"Snowy, talk to me what happened?" He asks me again and I shake my head.

"Can you take me to the hospital?"

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

When I got to the hospital last night, I promised Rafe I would hang out with him soon, and ran inside to my friends. Luckily, John B just broke his arm and is now rocking a sick cast- and a minor concussion. My friends gave me a rundown on what was happening with the gold, and how John B figured out it didn't actually go down with the Royal Merchant, and we still have a chance at finding it. We maybe even know where it is; Tannyhill. We can't believe it.

This morning, I woke up in last night's dress, leaning my head on my arms crossed at the side of John B's bed. It didn't feel right going back to The Chateau without him. JJ offered for me to stay with him, but honestly Luke makes me feel icky. I know I'm not safe there. I think when I fell asleep, the nurses just decided to leave me there. Visiting hours don't apply to kids who are borderline homeless, I guess.

I wake up to someone playing with my hair, and I hum, lifting up my head. "Morning, Snowy White." John B chuckles, and I rub my face.

"Morning..." I mumble, looking around.

"What are you doing here?" He asks with a slight chuckle as I adjust how I'm sitting.

"I just thought you'd want someone here." I yawn, stretching my arms.

"Nice makeup." He comments and I laugh.

"Ew, don't even mention it," I say, grabbing a napkin from his side table, and attempting to remove what's left of my makeup with it.

Before I'm done, we're interrupted by a nurse saying John B has a visitor. We look at each other and smile, already assuming it's the rest of our friends.

Our hopes were slashed when Sarah and Ward walk through the door.

"Hey, John B." Ward says, smiling at us both. I can hardly look him in the face after last night.

"I- uh, I'll go.." I say, quickly pulling my shoes on and standing up. God, how did I walk in these last night?

"No, Snowy- I'm glad you're here. Take a seat." Ward smiles, and I share an uncertain look with John B as I sit back down.

'What can we do for you, sir?" John B asks.

"Oh please.." Sarah chuckles.

"Please, you guys can call me Ward." He says and I smile a little. "So, Sarah told me everything. How you, John B, are on the run from DCS, how you were protecting her at the tower." He says and John B nods, his face turning a little red. "John, I believe I owe you an apology. I'd like to make it up to you'd let me. I spoke to Sheriff Peterkin, and.." He looks at Sarah, who's smiling at her dad. "I've offered to be your legal guardian- if you'll have me."

I look at John B in shock. He shares the same expression.

"And Juliette- no, Snowy, sorry," Ward says, turning his attention to me with a smile on his face. "Kegs told me your parents gave you the boot, and Rafe is a big fan of yours, so you are more than welcome to stay at Tannyhill with us too." Mentally, my jaw hits the floor. After everything that happened last night, he wants me to come live with him. I look at John B again, and in about three seconds, through facial expression only, we have a mutual understanding of 'I am if you are.'

"It will mean a roof over your heads, no DCS, no being homeless, something to eat every day.." At this point, I think Ward is being a little dramatic, but three meals a day does sound incredibly tempting.

"Does Rafe know?" I ask before John B can respond.

"Well, no, but I don't imagine he will have any objections. There will be rules in place, of course, for both of you, but I know you will both feel welcome and safe with us." Ward explains.

"Sure, uh, yeah. We'll do it." John B nods, smiling as he looks at Sarah and Ward as she sits down next to him on the bed. I nod as well.

"Thank you, Mister Cameron," I say, smiling at him.

"It's settled then!" He grins, clapping his hands together. "Welcome to the family."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

When John B is released later in the day, we went back to The Chateau to grab our stuff and get changed, and then to the Wreck to reconvene with everyone.

"Sorry, you're staying where?" Kie asks, clearly upset.

"Tannyhill." John B says again.

"So you're living with Sarah Cameron. Sweet." She nods. I can hardly put into words how much Kie hates her.

"Okay, look, the only reason I'm doing it is that her dad bailed me out, okay?"

"So, do you have a membership to the clubs now?" Pope asks and I laugh, shaking my head. "What about those little golf carts they drive around, do you have one of them?"

"I don't know." John B responds.

"Look," Kie says, interrupting them again. "You promised. You said you weren't with her."

"Bro, just own it, she's got you." JJ pipes up and I gently smack his arm that he has wrapped around my shoulder.

"If you guys wanna hang out with her and her douchebag brother, that's fine. But I'm letting you know right now I'm not doing anything with Sarah Cameron."

John B rolls his eyes. "Do you guys see her here? No. Right, okay. So a little focus would be fantastic. We've literally got the map right in front of us." He says, referring to the map of Tannyhill we have, which is apparently what Sarah was smuggling to him when she slipped out last night.

"It's all out of whack because the guys who drew it were straight Ganja'd." JJ says, laughing and looking at us to read our reactions.

"The coast has changed," Kie explains flatly and he nods a little, looking down like he didn't just say something stupid.

"We just have to look for landmarks that haven't changed," Pope says, running his finger along the print.

"What about the old forts? Battery Jasper." John B suggests.

We decide that's the best idea we've got, and since we don't have to be at the Camerons until later, we decide to all go and check it out.

"So we just need to find this wall..." I mumble, looking at it on the map, then looking up and around out the window.

"Something like that?" Kie asks, pointing as John B slows to a stop.

"Yeah.. just like that," Pope says, and we all stare at the house just behind the wall. Shit, the Crain house. We all climb out.

"Are you kidding me?" Kie asks, voicing all our thoughts.

"Worst case scenario." John B nods.

"Why'd it have to be here? Of all places?" Pope asks and I shrug.

"Because we have such incredible luck."

"I heard that Mrs. Crain killed her husband and buried his head on the property," JJ says, in a poor attempt to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, I heard that too." I agree and he points at me and snaps.

"Right? And that she fed his body to the cats!" I laugh.

"This place gives me the creeps, guys." Kie sighs.

"I don't believe that crap, guys." John B says, shaking his head. "JJ always spouts crap, and Snowy's two brain cells only think about serial killers and Rafe Cameron shirtless."

"How dare you!" I laugh, my cheeks burning.

"Not me? I'm hurt." JJ says, holding his chest. I shake my head and give him a gentle shove.

"Regardless," I sigh, "It's one hundred percent true, JJ knew Hollis." I turn it over to him.

"I did! She was my babysitter. She said she heard her parents fighting, then a loud bang! And then she said her mom said he left them in the middle of the night. When she went downstairs, he mom was washing her hands in a sink full of blood. Then, she went to take a piss in the outhouse, and saw her own dad's head looking up at her." JJ says, and everyone rolls their eyes.

"Like I said- full of shit." John B says.

"It's all true, man!" JJ insists. By now, were standing beside the house, outside this old cellar entrance.

"Are we sure about this?" Kie asks. "I mean, she's an axe murderer and you have a cast on."

"I don't give a shit if she's an axe murderer!" John B says, turning back to us. "I've got nothing to lose- you're either with me or you're not." He says and we all nod.

We go into the basement and decide to split up, looking around for any sign of water that could hold the gold. After a brief slapping match between John B and Kie because of a domestic dispute that I, unfortunately, missed all the drama from while I was out with Rafe the other day, we stumbled upon a well under the floorboards.

"Well, well, well..." Pope says as we finished pulling up the flooring. Kie and I collectively roll our eyes.

"That was a good dad joke." John B tells him, as we all look into the abyss in front of us.

"This is where she hid the bodies," I whisper and JJ nods in agreement.

"We found the water..." Pope says, smiling.

"We're gonna need a long ass rope." John B says, looking around at us, grins plastered on our faces.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

I really hope you guys are liking this as much as I loved writing it! at this rate, Tumblr will be caught up to what I've written so far in about two or so weeks if I post every day.

-R

taglist: @boo22sstuff@madelynie (lmk if you want to be added!)

[pxnsneverland]

Autumn Roses | Young Ian x OC (part 1)

plot summary: As a half black half white slave in colonial North Carolina, Rose has struggled with her place in the world. After her mother's death in childbirth and finding out that the recently deceased River Run plantation master was her father, the mistress of River Run, Jocasta Cameron, took her in treating her as more of a daughter than a slave. Jocasta educated and raised Rose with no one outside the house ever being the wiser. But the arrival of Jocasta's nephew Jamie Fraser and his wife Clare threaten to turn Rose's world upside down especially when they bring along their bright haired, blue eyed nephew Ian Murray.

pairings: Young Ian x OC

fandom: Outlander

word count: 2286

warnings/notes: Hey guys! I've had this Outlander fan fiction idea for awhile and I finally put pen to paper so to speak. I hope you all enjoy it! And those of you that know me from my Elvis fan fiction, no worries. I'm still writing it and will be updating soon :) 

Chapter 1: The Fateful Meeting

               River Run was not a locale where one could expect to encounter a plethora of thrilling events. Each day followed a set routine, a carefully crafted plan. Each individual was aware of their designated position. All but myself, I presume. There wasn't much of a place for negros in North Carolina society. They were considered slaves or possessions by the affluent white individuals who possessed the financial means to acquire them. I, too, followed in the footsteps of my mother, as countless others have done before me. From the moment of my birth, I was thrust into the cruel and inhumane world of slavery. Yet, despite my lowly status, I was afforded a modicum of respect and deference that set me apart from my fellow slaves. The circumstances surrounding my birth were shrouded in mystery, as my mother had passed away during delivery. It was not until years later that I was able to uncover the identity of my father, and the reasons behind my unique position as a lighter-skinned slave who resided within the household rather than toiling in the fields alongside my peers. Upon the passing of Master Cameron, I was summoned by his wife, Jocasta Cameron, at the tender age of eight. It was then that she imparted upon me the knowledge of my origins - a child born of a man who wielded his power over his possessions. Devoid of any offspring to call her own, she developed a fondness for my company. From that moment forward, my status shifted from that of a mere slave to that of a ward, receiving a different kind of treatment. Under the veil of secrecy, within the confines of River Run's protective isolation, Mistress Cameron imparted upon me a wealth of knowledge and skills. She taught me the art of reading and writing, the importance of proper speech, the intricacies of chess, the melodies of the piano, and any other subject that she would have typically taught her own flesh and blood. Tears streamed down my face as I contemplated the plight of my brethren who toiled ceaselessly in the fields and within the confines of the main house. For I, too, was akin to them - a mere possession adorned with precious jewels. In due course, I succumbed to the monotony of everyday life, much like the masses. However, my place left much to be desired, and the apprehension of never discovering my rightful place consumed me, as if such a haven was merely a figment of my imagination.   

On a stunning autumn day, I made the decision to settle beneath the grand oak tree in my front yard. With a book in hand, I whiled away the hours in peaceful solitude. Mistress Cameron sat on the porch, accompanied by her attendant Ulysses. He was a slave who assisted her in all her endeavors, given her blindness. Despite residing in the house slave quarters, he was treated almost as well as I. However, I had been granted my own room years ago, located in a separate wing of the house, far from any visitors who might chance upon it. I sensed the unwavering gaze of Mistress Cameron upon me, despite her lack of visual confirmation. Her admiration for me was so profound that I made every effort to avoid disappointing her. With my head bowed and my lips sealed, I remained hidden as instructed. The stakes were high, for if anyone were to discover that Mistress Cameron was imparting her knowledge upon me and treating me with her customary kindness, both she and I would face certain death.

            The day was a delight, with the gentle autumn breeze causing small ripples to form along the river nearby. The season of autumn had always held a special place in my heart. The leaves underwent a stunning transformation, displaying a vibrant array of colors. The fruits of one's labor were bountifully harvested. Perhaps I could have continued to relish the moment, were it not for the gradual approach of a boat traversing the river, its sound growing ever louder. With haste, I rose from my spot and sought refuge behind the towering tree, ensuring that I remained concealed from the body of water. The boat glided past me before coming to a halt just a stone's throw away from the walkway leading up to the house. I cautiously poked my head out, curious to catch a glimpse of the unexpected visitor. Anticipating the arrival of esteemed guests at River Run, I envisioned the likes of the governor, a soldier, or a lord, among the customary high-ranking individuals who graced us with their presence. In lieu of that, my gaze fell upon a towering, robust Scottish gentleman in the prime of his life, boasting locks of hair so fiery that they appeared to ignite in the sun's rays. He gallantly assisted a slender woman, who appeared to be slightly senior to him, in disembarking from the vessel. Her hair, pinned to the back of her head, was almost as curly as mine. Her skin was as pure as freshly fallen snow, unmarred by any imperfections, unlike that of so many other women. As she emerged from the boat, her gracefulness was striking.

Mistress Jocasta had risen from her seat, bringing Ulysses along with her. She now stood before them, a smile adorning her countenance. “Jamie. Welcome to River Run.”

            Jamie respectfully nodded his head. “Auntie Jocasta.” With a gallant gesture, he removed his hat and bestowed upon her a graceful bow.

            With open arms, Mistress Jocasta welcomed him into her embrace. Accepting her invitation, he embraced her tightly, conveying through the hug the length of time that had passed since their last meeting. “Blessed be,” she whispered softly, “You’ve grown to be a giant. That’ll be the Mackenzie blood flowing through ye.”

            A soft smile graced Jamie's lips. “I was no more than a bairn when you last saw me. Had nowhere to go but up.”

            So, the individual in question was Jamie. Mistress Cameron had devoted considerable time to recounting to me the tales of her family's history in Scotland and her formative years. Jamie, the youngest son of her sister Ellen, had been a name that had reached my ears. Mistress Cameron spoke of him in a manner akin to how she conversed with Ulysses about me, as if he were her very own offspring. Finally, I had the pleasure of putting a face to the name.

             “I recall ye had a most gorgeous heid of red hair,” she remarked, “Oh, how yer mother adored you.”

            “She adored you as well. Always spoke of you wi’ love.”

            “I miss her still.”

            “As do I,” he replied. Jamie hesitated for a moment before proceeding, “Ah, Auntie, may I present my wife Claire?”

            With a confident stride, Claire advanced towards Mistress Cameron, who lowered her head in deference. A smile appeared on Claire's lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mistress Cameron.” Her English heritage piqued my interest slightly. The union of a Scotsman and an English woman was a rare sight indeed.

            “Oh, I hope you’ll call me Auntie, dear. We are kin after all.”

            “Of course,” Claire replied with a soft chuckle, “Auntie it is then.”

            “It’s lovely to meet you, Claire.” Mistress Cameron enveloped her upper arms with a warm embrace.

All of a sudden, a boy emerged and began to make his way up the path, catching my attention as I had not previously noticed his presence on the boat. He appeared to be no older than myself, perhaps even the same age of 16. With his lengthy blonde locks neatly tied back, his complexion, which was of a light hue, glistened with perspiration from diligently transferring their possessions from the vessel. With a wide and sincere grin, he drew near. The sight of that smile was enough to elicit a reciprocal grin from anyone who caught a glimpse of it. His striking good looks caused my heart to flutter uncontrollably, and I desperately willed it to cease its erratic beating.

            Ian. His name perfectly complemented his countenance - unassuming and charming.

            Ian clutched a bushel of wildflowers in his hands. “I’m very pleased to meet ye, Great-Aunt Jocasta.” He extended the bouquet of flowers towards her.

            “Ye’re welcome, lad.” You are most welcome, young man. I realized when she didn't take the flowers that Ian probably didn't realize she was blind. After all, he had never laid eyes on her.

            Ulysses came to the rescue, his voice a soft whisper in Mistress Cameron's ear as he spoke of the flowers that Ian had presented to her. As the realization dawned on her, her eyes widened with a sudden spark of understanding. Without hesitation, she reached out and took hold of the bushel, her fingers curling around it with a sense of purpose. “Thank you kindly, Ian. Forgive me. It is a long time since my sight had left me, though I still see shapes and shadows.”

            “I’m sorry to hear, Great-Auntie.” His countenance reflected the genuine distress he felt upon receiving the news. His kindness was palpable.

            “Oh, fear not, lad. It has been a blessing. I am now gifted with hearing that would be the envy of many a gossip, and the ability to sent truth from lies, if ye catch my meanin’.” His face lit up with a smile. Mistress Cameron spoke the truth. Throughout the duration of our acquaintance, she had consistently refused to regard her lack of sight as a hindrance. She navigated her surroundings with remarkable ease, almost as if she possessed perfect vision. Ulysses, her trusted companion, provided only sporadic assistance. I held great admiration for her actions. In that moment, a canine hastily approached Ian, positioning itself by his side with an uncontainable wag of its tail. With a joyful bark, he bid farewell to Mistress Jocasta and sprang off into the distance. “Oh goodness. Who have we there? Another acquaintance to be made.”

            With a quick movement of the eyes, Jamie stole a glance at Ian. “Young Ian’s…mongrel, Rollo. Take hold of your beast, lad.”

            With a nod, Ian chased after Rollo. No matter how hard he attempted to seize him, the dog darted beyond his grasp. A chuckle escaped my lips as I observed the comical sight of their cat-and-mouse game. Lost in my own amusement, I remained oblivious to Rollo's presence until he gently nudged the hem of my skirt from behind the tree. With a grin adorning his face, he patiently awaited my reaction. However, I found myself unable to respond. As Ian drew near, my heart nearly ceased beating, until he finally caught up to Rollo. “Rollo, you mangy beast, you can’t just go running off on Great-Auntie’s land.” He lifted his head to meet my gaze, his blue eyes widening as if he had just seen a ghost. Despite his pleasant demeanor towards Mistress Jocasta, I couldn't help but feel apprehensive about the potential harm he could inflict upon me. With a swift kick, I sent the book I had been engrossed in hurtling behind me, out of sight.

A lump had formed in my throat, impeding my breathing. Nonetheless, I persevered and managed to bow to him, my gaze fixed on the ground. “I’m sorry, Master Murray. I dinna mean to have any association with yer pet. Please forgive me.” At no other moment had I been as cognizant of the Scottish lilt that had been adopted from Mistress Cameron as I was presently.

Ian remained silent, leaving me on edge. I braced myself for any possible outcome, whether it be a physical altercation or an attack from his canine companion. My jaw tightened in anticipation. With a look of astonishment in his gaze, he uttered, “Ye’re the bonniest lass I’ve ever seen.”

My gaze was irresistibly drawn upwards, away from the ground. “What?”

Ian shook his head, as if to snap out of the current stream of consciousness that had been occupying his mind. “I’m sorry. I shouldna have been so forward. I’m Ian, Ian Murray.” In a swift motion, he grasped my hand and pressed his lips upon it with the grace of a chivalrous protagonist from a timeless tale. He bestowed upon me one of those smiles that had the power to make my heart flutter even from a distance. But now, as he stood before me, my heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

            As I was preparing to respond to him, my attention was diverted by the sound of my name being called out, “Rose!”

            With haste, I withdrew my hand from Ian's grip as Mistress Jocasta, accompanied by Jamie, Claire, and Ulysses, approached our vicinity. Mistress Jocasta's countenance betrayed a hint of displeasure, yet it was overshadowed by an air of apprehension. “I thought I told you to stay out of sight when we have company.”

            With a subtle movement, I placed my hands behind my back. “I was, Mistress Cameron, but Rollo…he found me…”

            “It was my fault, Great-Anutie,” Ian interjected, “I should have caught up wit’ Rollo before he went sniffin’ around.”

            Her fingers tightened around his shoulder. “It’s alright, lad.” A deep sigh escaped her lips. “We should all go inside. If you all are going to stay here awhile and since ye’re family, there are some things ye must know. I hope ye’ll keep an open mind.” Thus, we trailed after her as she led the way towards the main house. Ian strode alongside me, even though his legs surpassed mine in length. Every now and then, he cast a fleeting glance my way, but I refrained from reciprocating.

Stay tuned for part 2!! Click HERE to view!