ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

cooperation

"Sometimes the closest people are the ones who push us down."

❥

"Listen, I've got a boat that we can use to get away from here, okay? But we have to work together", Rafe suggests straightly. When we hear voices and the doors of a car, we look out the window once more. "They drive away", I comment the situation and turn away from the window trying to sort my thoughts, "They drive to John B and to your sister." 

"That's not so great for them but for us, it might be the only chance to get away from here." Rafe and I look at each other knowing that this is the moment in which we have to put our emotions aside and concentrate on a plan. When we've finished the plan, I take a second to look at him. He's concentrated but hurt. 

"I didn't mean it like that, Rafe. I was hoping that Singh would let you leave when I go to bring him the diary. I would have told you, I trust you. But you wouldn't have let me try it. You don't have to save me all the time. It's my turn to do something for you." "You've done enough for me, Bella. I was worried sick when they pushed you out of the room. Just don't get yourself in such danger.. not for me, okay?" I nod slowly. 

"I'm sorry for mentioning Peterkin. I can't deal with you thinking I wouldn't trust you. I just wanted this plan to work out.. get you out. After getting back into this room I felt like I had failed. One try to save you and I couldn't make it. What a stupid try. I didn't want you to know that I've failed whereas you took care of me many times before." 

"Never underestimate what you did, Bella. You're the only one who could safe me", Rafe whispers looking back at me emotionally as we're about to fulfill our plan. "You're not a monster. Not to me", I make clear before we start our imaginary fight until the guard who pushed me back comes in and we attack him by surprise. 

God I even have a gun in my hands and put chains around his hands. In a silent moment downstairs we change the gun for the cellphone. Rafe's a bit better with guns than me. We leave through the door to the backyard and run through the garden hundreds of meters only to jump on a van. Rafe immediately reacts and fights back against the man who sits on the straw on the van. 

"Rafe, it's enough", I state harshly right before he throws the man onto the street. Dear god, when is all of this over? I sigh heavily and lay down underneath the straw next to him. "Just like I've told you.. We have to cooperate." My heart throbs quickly and unregularly as I'm still shocked by everything that's happened. Am I the reason for Rafe becoming who he is now? 

"Listen, Bella, I'm sorry that you had to see it and that I've done this but we had no chance. It's either them or us", Rafe states and I actually know that he's right. I just can't deal with the guilt. 

"Look at me, babe", Rafe tells me so I concentrate on my breath and glance at him slowly, "I understand why you did what you did. I appreciate you wanting to take care of me but there's no need for that, okay? I understand you but don't ever get caught up in danger because of me. What you've said hurt me but you were right. You're the only I'd listen to. We had to talk about it eventually so we did today. We've promised each other to get out of this and we will." 

"How?", I whisper. "I've got my boat at the port. You're going to come with me. I'd be willing to drive you wherever you want to go but we're not going to help the pogues. I can't trust them and something tells me that you shouldn't trust them either." 

Affected by the shock that I got due to the circumstances, I nod. Would I leave the pogues behind? They didn't come to save me but they found another way trying to get me out of this place. They didn't give up on me. I can trust them. No, I can't leave them behind. No pogue is left behind. We belong together. I just have to find a way to get back with Rafe and my friends.

As soon as the van stops we jump off it and run to the port where Rafe has parked the boat. God, how do I get out of this? How can I make him stop for my friends? "We should have enough petrol to get to St. Lucia." I follow Rafe to get on the boat slowly. 

I'm still halfway shocked but I'm also thinking about my possibilies. What if I take the boat and leave Rafe behind? It's Rafe against my six best friends. I could come back with help later on and get him back. They're not looking for Rafe in the first place but they'd kill any of my friends. Even if it wasn't for them as individuals, the risk and the amount of people in danger speak for themselves. 

So when Rafe loosens the rope, I do the only thing that I could think of that would help these six people I'd risk everything for. I'd still risk anything for Rafe but I had to make a decision. I push him off the boat and take over the helm turning it to the right to go and safe my friends. 

"Bella! Hey, Bella! Where do you go?", Rafe shouts. "I have to save my friends but I'll come back!", I yell back ignoring his screams. He'll be fine. John B and the others won't. So I finally send them a message where they could find me. Now I have to wait until I finally see them again. This is Rafe's decision. I regret turning myself against Rafe but I won't leave this island without all six of my friends.