After the Storm- JJ Maybank (Outer Banks)

21.

Everything felt so right. Finally. We were all back together. I let my entire body fall into John B as we got back to the boat they had used to get to Charleston. I breathed in his scent, finding some comfort in it. I was so happy. I didn't want this feeling of euphoria to disappear.

"Okay Rachel, why do you get all of the love? Save some for us." I heard JJ whine from behind me.

I leaned out of John B and looked to Sarah. I hadn't seen her since Midsummers. I hadn't spoken to her since the night at the beach, where JJ stuck a gun to Toppers head. Memories from the previous summer were flowing into my mind.

"Hi Rachel. It's been too long." She broke the silence between us, making me realize I had just been staring at her this entire time.

"Sarah, hey. I'm so glad you guys are okay." I moved forward and held out my arms.

She smiled, leaning herself into me. She sighed into my shoulder.

"You know, I missed you. Things aren't the way they used to be." She mumbled into my ear, still holding on to me. I noticed her grip got tighter.

"I missed you too. I was worried you were mad that I sort of just disappeared. I'm so sorry."

"Don't get me wrong. I was but John B told me about Rafe. I'm sorry, I wish-"

"What did he tell you?" I leaned out of her, feeling the happiness leave my body. I had yet to tell John B about everything. I didn't really wanna dampen the mood.

"That he beat on you and Pope, you more than once?"

"Oh yeah. It's alright."

"It's not. And the JJ and Peterkin thing is not good either. He needs to get locked up, for a long time."

"You're right. We're gonna make that happen. We might've gotten something to clear him."

"That's great. We all need to catch up."

I lightly nodded, looking back to everyone.

"Woogity Woogity, baby." I heard the boys say as John B started up the boats engine.

"We're getting absolutely plastered tonight!" JJ started to yell out as the breeze picked up. I felt my hair flying in the wind. The sun beat down on my face.

"I'm starving." Kie leaned back into the boat.

"Me too." I held my stomach.

"Me three." Sarah smiled.

We all looked to each other and laughed.

"Don't worry, we're gonna get some hotdogs okay? Catch up, talk. It'll be great. I'm sure a lot has happened since we've been gone." John B turned around to us for a moment before looking back to the waves.

"You could say that."

-

The day slowly turned into night. We all sat around a fire, keeping warm. I laid my body into JJ, his fingers running through my hair. I placed my hand over his leg, listening to everyone talking. We all had a lot of catching up to do, and I don't think I was ready to tell them about it. I had turned my head to look up at JJ and he gave me a small smile, his hand grazing over my cheek. The moon had hit his eyes, making them even more blue than they normally were.

"You've been awfully quiet over there, Rach. How was your summer?" John B gave me a soft smile, throwing branches into the fire.

I saw JJ's smile turn to a frown.

"You don't have to talk about it yet."

"It's gonna have to be talked about sooner or later. I might as well get it over with."

"I'm right here, okay?" His hand squeezed my shoulder.

I nodded.

"Well, when you and Sarah left, my mom came by your place and tried to take me away. She beat on JJ and took me. We were going to leave the Outer Banks, take me to a private school. But, she never got the chance to get me out."

"What do you mean?" Sarah leaned forward.

"Rafe. He stopped my mom from hurting me. He shot her. She's- she's dead."

I looked to Pope and Kie, who were laying close together next to JJ and I. They sat with no expression, knowing what I was about to talk about next.

"Rafe killed your mom?" John B's eyes widened.

"Yeah, and he took me out of the car. I thought he was going to kill me right there. We were by the docks. That's when I heard the news and decided to try and blend with him. He took me to the Cameron's, and he held me there in his bedroom all summer. I just escaped a few weeks ago."

"He what?" Sarah's expression was anger, fear, rage.

"It was okay at first. I blended in, but then I started to get restless and he-"

"I swear to god, I'm going to kill him." John B mumbled under his breath.

"He beat me up pretty bad, tortured me for information about the Royal Merchant. Or he just did it because he liked to hear me scream. I don't really know. It's all a blur."

"Does the police know about this?"

"Yeah, we reported it a few days ago. I had to get interviewed and they documented all my injuries, they made me get a- a rape kit too. I haven't gotten any results yet."

"That's it. He's dead." John B got up and paced around, his hands through his hair.

"I'm not sure if it happened. I realized he started drugging me. Topper came by a few weeks ago and helped me escape. I was really lucky because Rafe had just drugged me a few minutes before he came."

"I'm so glad he was there to help you. I'm so sorry, Rachel. We will get justice, I promise that." Sarah got up and came over to me, her hand laying over mine.

JJ shifted behind me, his hand still remaining on my shoulder. He ran his fingers over my arm to comfort me.

"It's okay, Sarah. I just want to put it all behind me, try and forget it happened. I'm just glad you and JB are okay. I missed you guys so much. I missed all of us being together."

"Me too." I heard JJ mumble behind me.

Pope and Kie stood up and walked over to us. We all stood up and wrapped our arms around each other.

"Pogues for life?" I looked to John B, who looked upset.

I saw the tears in his eyes. He blinked them away and nodded to me.

"Hell yeah." He gave a half smile, walking into our hug.

We remained there for what seemed like forever, but yet it still didn't feel long enough.