𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟-𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑

Withdrawal

Abby's POV

Over the past six weeks, Rafe has been trying to improve himself. He has been completely clean of all drugs for five weeks and I know this because I may have someone sneak into his house and drug test him. Does he know? Absolutely not. Will he freak if he finds out? Most likely.

Over these past weeks, I have been trying to figure out why he is trying to get clean. To make me lower my guard so he can kill me or get the evidence? That's the most likely option and the option I'm leaning towards. The less likely but possible outcome is that he is trying to make things right. He can't change what he did, but he can stop himself from screwing things up further. I don't know if I believe that he is doing this for himself or his sister yet.

That's why I've been keeping tabs on him. Why I've been having him drug tested. Why I've been keeping in contact with Barry, the only drug dealer on the island other than JJ's cousin and this other woman on the island. I've been following Rafe for the past few weeks as well, needing to know where he goes and who he sees, not because I give a damn about him, but because I care about myself and my friends.

Is it stalking? Yes. Is it illegal? Yes. Is it creepy? Yes. Is it absolutely necessary? Also, yes. Once I have a definite answer on why he is getting clean, I'll stop. But until then, I will keep tabs on him and when I can't, I have someone else do it for me. On the topic of stalking him, I see him pull out of his driveway on his bike. I quickly duck down, not wanting him to see me before starting a rental car and following him, keeping at a distance so he doesn't see me.

I also placed trackers on his bike and truck so I don't have to tail him all the time. It makes it safer for me to follow him. I can be on a different street and still follow him. He can't think he's being followed when he can't see anyone behind him.

After about two minutes, I start my car, heading down the same road he is going down about a mile behind him. I follow him out of figure eight and onto the cut. As I look over to my phone, my eyebrows raise. The road he is on and the turns he is taking can take him to Barry's place. Fuck. I get off the road and head down a different one, speeding up as much as I can until I get to Barry's place. I'll have a minute at most to hide at Barry's.

I park the rental car out of sight behind some trees and run over to Barry's porch, heading inside his house. His eyes widen as he sees me, but I hold my hand up, stopping him from speaking. "Rafe is heading this way. I need to know what he wants. Pretend I'm not here," I say, running over to his bathroom. I close and lock the door behind me.

"You can't just keep showing up to my crib without calling first, damn it," Barry grumbles, banging his fist on the door. "I'll buy 3000 worth of cocaine if you shut the fuck up and pretend I'm not here," I sneer, keeping my voice quiet.

He seems to accept the deal considering he walks away from the bathroom door without a word.

About 30 seconds later, I hear the front door opening and footsteps as Rafe walks into the trailer. I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, bro. You're making it very hard.

"Hey man, I need something. Just one line. A half a line even. I've been clean for five weeks and I-I can't d-do this anymore," Rafe begs, stuttering like a special ed child. Damn it, Rafe.

"Man, do you see what this is doing to me!?" Rafe yells, causing me to jump slightly. I can feel the pain in his voice as it cracks. I went through the same thing. Just a different drug. "Please," he begs, his voice quieter. "Just one line. I need it. I can't live without it." The room goes quiet for a few moments before Barry clears his throat. "I'm sorry, country club. I can't." Silence fills the air for just a moment before I hear a crashing sound. Damn it, Rafe. I quickly unlock the bathroom door and walk out, heading for the living room. I see Rafe on top of Barry, throwing a number of punches at Barry and by the look of it, he is putting everything he has into those punches.