ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

late nights

"Night is the mother of thoughts."

❥

"Slow down, Rafe, we're not in a hurry", I tell Rafe huffily as we get off his bike and walk back into the house. "Are you tipsy?", Rafe asks surprised as he stops walking to take a look at me, "How many drinks did you have?" "I don't know. Two with you, two with Topper. I'm not used to alcohol anymore. You know a lonely island doesn't offer a bar otherwise it wouldn't be lonely." 

Instead of slowing down, Rafe lowers his upper body and before I can realize what he's doing, I lay in his arms. "I didn't mean to be carried like a baby", I giggle as he brings me back into the house and only lets go of me when we're on the balcony. Rafe sets me down on one of the chairs. 

"I'll get us something to drink", he tells me and leaves for a few minutes just to be right back with two glasses in his hand. "Are you trying to get me drunk?", I chuckle when I realize it's whiskey. "You're good at getting yourself drunk", Rafe counters making me smile. I like a relaxed and feistily joking Rafe. 

It feels like when we were younger and didn't try to make our parents proud full-time. I think meeting Kelce and Topper kind of relaxed him. They're not involved in this drama about the gold. "You know I used to think you're Bambi but you're more like a bird", Rafe tells me as we sit across each other and enjoy the calmness of the moment. 

"Why?", I chuckle not understand any of these comparisons when it comes to me. "You seem like the typical sweet girl from next door. Daddy's little girl. I soon realized that you're not. But I just noticed that you're a bird a few days ago. You're free like a bird or at least you try to be." I smile at Rafe appreciating the meaning behind his words but I also think it's funny because John B's the actual Bird in my eyes. Not because of his character but because Big John. 

"Big John and I used to call John B Bird when we were younger." "Great, I finally came up with a new nickname and already need another one." "It's fine. I'm just indescribable", I shrug grinning, "Mr. Hothead." "Sure, little miss runaway", Rafe mocks me. "We're not quoting song titles from the eighties here, hothead." 

"We're doing whatever I say we do", Rafe claims in a flirty way. Well.. it's not like he doesn't have a sexual affect on me. The sexual tension's always been great between us. "Why runaway in the first place?" "A, you like to run away from figure eight. B, you run away from the cut." 

"That's not true, Rafe. I just have friends on both sides of the island and I actually make myself stay even with my family. I've got no idea where my parents are. Still, I stay here on figure eight hoping that they'd come back around." 

"You'll be together soon, I promise. Look, I know how you feel and I'm working on it. I just need some time and you'll be with your family again if that's what you want", Rafe promises me so I decide to say nothing. He's right. Good things take time. If he tells me to be patient it must be right. He's the one who's mainly talking to our dads. 

"Let's play a game, sunshine", Rafe suggest but I furl my eyebrows. "Sunshine.. really? You need to stop with these nicknames." "Fine, firecracker", Rafe shrugs, "What game?" "Twenty questions", I suggest. "Fine. You go first, firecracker", Rafe decides and gives me a dirty look, "I wonder what happens when hothead and firecracker sleep in the same room." 

God, his dirty look is hot. Apparently, his appearance has never been an issue to me. Same goes for the way he adores me, in the bedroom as well as outside of it. I feel like this night could end in a different way from what I've expected. "Did you mack on anyone while we've been broken up?", I ask interestedly. "While we've been?", Rafe repeats, "What are we now?" 

"You know what I mean." "Of course I macked on some girls.. not as hot as you though, but I did." "Did you take them home with you?", I immediately ask curiously but Rafe shakes his head grinning like he'd already won a game. "Is that your second question, Isabella?" "No", I sigh, "Continue, Cameron." "Thank you, Scott", Rafe nods politely, "Pogues or kooks?" As if I didn't expect that question..

"As in friends or myself?" "Friends." "Love Topper, like Kelce but would die for the pogues." "That's a serious statement. Should we get you checked up?" "Is this your second question, Cameron?", I gasp playfully and he sighs knowing I can play his own game. I mean it like that. I'd die for the pogues, every single one of my six friends. 

"Who did you mack on when we weren't together?" "You're pretty interested in my love life, Bella. Take care or you might fall for me again", Rafe smiles cheekily at me as he touches his chin with his hand. God, he always does that when he thinks about something interesting or steamy, mainly something steamy. I can't deny that it's hot. 

"Just answer the question, freaky." "Freaky? That's not nice." "You shot your own sister. I think it's fair", I grin so he understands that I'm back at having a dark humor. "The only freaky part of me is who I am in the bedroom", Rafe twists my plan grinning at me. His words leave a shiver over my skin and he's not even closer to me than before. He still sits in front of me. "So?" 

"Some random girls, mainly tourists. You're princess kook, why would I level down with some random kook here?", Rafe admits, "Would you die for me?" "I would", I nod without hesitating. Rafe might be broken but he means the world to me. I might have suppressed the this feeling towards him but the more I spend time with him the more I know that my feelings for him haven't changed. "You would?" "I would." "Wow", Rafe gasps surprised.