COUNTRY CLUB

FIFTEEN

My breaking heart might die in relief, knowing that we're meant to live under the same sky, you and me. And before you know, I'll nibble on your skin, your skin that twisted my dreams with ease, and my heart will be at your doorstep piece by piece.

"I do my best to exist just for you," whispered Dune, slowly pulling her soul away from Rafe's. The longer her soul got used to his, she'll have to mend her own wounds by herself. It'll get heavy on her shoulders, it'll consume every aspect of her being, it'll chew on her bones until they grow all thin and weak. She won't be able to look at herself into the mirror again, it's not like she had a problem with no longer recognizing herself, but she was afraid of the person she might become because of him. It tears her skin apart, it makes her pull at her own hair and wake up every night with a pounding heart. She never knew how fatal a human's presence can take a toll on her, they were the same after all. Yet her walls crumble and collapse, she wakes up everyday from under the rubble, holding on to a dying rose for hope. But hope, hope meant running for her dear life, until her knees weep from exhaustion. She doesn't know who suffocates who when they're around each other, they're the same after all. 

"But people like us don't exist forever," he mumbled, opening his eyes slowly. They froze as they let time run by itself, they were in no rush, their moments together were few. Being a killer's slave turns time into a treasure, a treasure hunt they won't chase. He stopped her, feeling a lump give birth into his throat, he never noticed how cold his skin was until she pulled away from him. That's why people fear his embrace, cold embraces were never safe. 

"They seek safety in danger," Pope said once. He was not wrong. The pogues were still waiting outside, watching from afar. Rose called Shoupe in search for Ward, he's on the hunt. The thought of Ward showing up again sent shivers down Dune's spine, making her teeth melt into her gums. She waned to smile at Rafe but feared parting her lips, scaring him with a toothless smile. 

"People like us don't die together, too."

"Says who?" he asked, positioning himself into a more comfortable position. The place suffocated him, yet it happens to be the only place where he could have a decent conversation with Dune.

"Remember my words, one of us has to bury the other first."

Standing up on her feet, making the angels and demons and their wannabes wrap her head in plastic. Lacking sleep, food, water and blood, she felt the world spin. Looking outside, they didn't leave, and they weren't leaving anytime soon. She squeezed Rafe's hand as in to wait for her, she'll be back. Dune made her way towards the patio, peering her head from behind the door. 

"One more favour is all I'm asking for,"

They looked at each other as she finished what she had to say, more like whisper because she didn't want Rafe to hear. Could this fix the bridge between the Pogues and Kook King for once? Where did Dune stand in between? Her stance was written in invisible ink, no on knew, not even herself. She felt her heart drop in her hands, they accepted her offer. 

"Another thing, if we all get stuck, we either stay together or drown altogether."

Going inside, she shook Rafe gently, he didn't bulge. She tried ruffling his hair, nothing. She crouched and breathed against his skin, he jolted immediately. She offered him her hand, with no questions asked, he entangled his hand with hers, watching as she paved the way. 

"I'm not getting into this thing with them, we already stole dad's car. We can take his car instead." he hissed in her ear, digging his nails into her palm. She smiled through the pain, giving the Pogues a thumbs up with her free hand. This is her worst idea ever, but a fugitive whose soul attached to a runaway has no choice. They need to act, otherwise they lose everything. 

They already lost a lot, Rafe lost blood and she lost her glow. "We could leave right now, or have our heads hung on the Druthers," she said through gritted teeth. They walked in harmony towards the Twinkie, this time Rafe led the way. Ecstasy beamed in the waves, cheering them on, maybe it's the best decision they've done. Two wrongful people making one wise decision, two wrongful people mustn't stay in the same place, they must not be recognized by strangers. They have to detach from who they were and go through a rebirth. A rebirth was what they needed, who they became wasn't by choice, yet by force. 

"Where are we going?"

"To an island where every bandit went to die, far away from poison and brittle bones, far away from drugs and guns and blood. I don't care where they drop us, the paralyzed star must move eventually. We can't stay in the same place forever."

"What if we don't survive together? What if one of us relinquishes and decides to leave?" asked Rafe, his eyes were burning JJ's back. He wasn't safe between the Pogues, but Dune the safest with them, JJ taught her how to be safe with them. She got used to staying safe that danger, at some point, felt safe. 

"I'm not running away with a stranger, I know you more than you know yourself, more than I know myself. You don't give up easily, you don't surrender, you're just afraid I might leave."

"Away from tides, away from sinful water, away from country club."

"Away from country club." assured Dune, intertwining her fingers with Rafe's. The feeling of linking their fingers together was like signing a last minute deal with the devil, so close to sell their souls. 

Dune was accepting the fact that a person can live without defining his emotions. Hate, she chose to hate Rafe because she knew if love collided with greed, he won't stay. He would be afraid of her, he would cut all the knots and threads with his teeth. He will whisper in her ear beautiful harmonies that'll soften her heart. She didn't wan her heart to soften, it's not the right time, two strangers who see beauty in one another so quickly crumble vastly. A liability, a mistake, a curse was what they needed to build a dynasty. 

"Dune?"said Rafe, cupping her chin with her fingers, eyes growing dark.She gulped, scratched her throat. He won't ask me about her, he won;'t mention her, he won't bring it up again.

"Yes?"

"Promise me that you will tell me everything about that day." 

Kiara's head snapped, along with the rest of the Pogues, except for John B who observed through the mirror. They were all watching her, they all knew except for Rafe. The dynasty shall not be built, they'll live on rocks and sticks until they break each other's bones.

She put her hand on his, pushing it away with slight aggressiveness. She looked at the window, they're getting farther away from water, from waves, where the true story lives, where it shall die. The waves will go mutant after they disappear, that's what she believed. 

"Promise."