ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

fathers and children

"I truly am my father's child."

❥

"I can't speak for JJ but I'm right here, I promise. I'm sorry for it and I'm really thankful for how understanding you are. No lies anymore", Kie promises me. I wish I could be pissed for a little longer but after all, she's my cousin. It's not like I don't understand her. "No lies anymore", I agree so I make the first step, "No lies.. Well, I've slept with Rafe." 

"What.. When.. Iz! He's the enemy!" "I know but it was hot, okay", I mumble, "It's been sex only. It's not like we're dating again." "But you'd want to date him again", Kie suspects and I look at her innocently. "I mean.. if he's being a better person.." "Kook", Kie calls me half jokingly. 

"Pogue." "Kook princess." "Pogue princess." "Kookiest of them all." "No, that's Topper", I correct her and we both end up laughing. "God, have you been on drugs?", Kie jokes but I look at her with wide eyes as I think she's being serious at first. Now she gives me a suspicious look. "Iz.." "Noo, I'm fine. Really." "Iz, no. Please don't-" 

"There you are", Rafe appears next to us in the garden making me gulp nervously. Him and Kie right here.. Let's hope for the best. "Let me guess.. Rafe's dragging you into his drug shit?", Kie snaps standing up and points at Rafe. "God, Kie, you need to learn how to deal with your own business", Rafe mumbles annoyedly. 

"Kie, it's not like that, honestly. I'm not addicted or something", I try to defend myself and Rafe but I sound like I fail. "It is my own business when you pull my cousin into your drug business. God, she could become an addict, you selfish asshole", Kie hisses at Rafe who gets closer to us now giving me a skeptical look as I turn my face away from him. God, why'd he come back so early? 

"Bella, look at me", Rafe mutters strictly but I shake me head. I quickly feel his hand around my neck and he makes me turn around. "That hurts, Rafe, stop it", I snap at him lying so he would stop it but he just weakens his grip. "Look. At. Me", Rafe spits out. "God why'd you be so worried about me now?", I reply when he makes me look at him for real. 

"You're freaking me out, Bella", Rafe huffs and storms uptstairs. I assume he'll be hiding the coke again. "Why'd you do it, Iz?", Kie asks confused but I shake my head. "Just for fun. I'm allowed to have some fun, right?" God, I sound like JJ. But I won't sit here and admit that my life's got messy in every way since we've found Grubb's boat last summer. 

I've got no idea what's going on with me myself. I'm just done with people having expectations towards me. I'm neither the damn kind kook nor the fun pogue all the time. "Listen, you've apologized. Everything's fine", I state, "I'll deal with Rafe now, okay?" "Iz, you-" "Thanks, Kie." I leave her standing there knowing she wouldn't come in. I'm really glad Kie came here but I also hate the fact that she knows what I've done. 

She'd tell Sarah and JJ and Pope who would tell Cleo and in the end, John B would know about, too. John B treats me like his little sister so I'm not excited to have him freaking out. Firstly, I'd have to deal with Rafe anyways. When I get upstairs, he's not in his room. The coke's been put away. I walk around the rooms and stop when I hear his voice on the balcony. It sounds like he's talking to someone and he doesn't sound amused.

"Dad? Yeah, I can hear you now." He's talking to Ward. This is getting interesting so I hide behind the balcony door. "Oh my god.. wait who stole it?" What is he talking about? The gold.. or the cross? "Wow.. that's sick.. anyone could have done it." Well, we didn't succeed so who else would steal it? "Well.. I mean we would have donated it anyways so who cares?", Rafe shrugs and I can see a devilish smile on his lips. 

No way.. did he? What if he stole the cross? Where could it be and how can we get it back to Pope? "Yeah, you know that's what I wanted to talk to you about.. I think we should keep the offices. Yeah, I think I should stay here for a while.. building up the business. I think that would be great for us." So Ward wanted to sell the offices and leave Kildare behind for real? What about my dad? He must be with him.. do they plan this together? 

"No, no. You listen to me, okay? Do you hear me? Remember how you've told me I should be useful? That's exactly what I do right now. I am useful, okay? I can chose a good option and I think it's best for all of us that I stay for a while. Bella and I are can handle this together." Rafe must have turned on the speaker because I can hear Ward sigh in the background. 

"Rafe, listen up. You've been sent there for two exact reasons.. do what Harvey and I empowered you to.. finish the business and get Isabella back to the family. If you don't do this-" "If I don't do it so what?", Rafe yells jumping up from his chair, "Then you get on the airplane and come here? I mean that'd be as if someone saw Elvis. Ward Cameron, what? Oh my god, he's alive. The family's ring is mine now, dad. It's my turn. You're dead." 

"Rafe, listen to me", I hear my dad say strictly, "You stole the cross.. okay fine. You want to keep the offices? Fine. But I gave you one job." "I've told you, Harvey, Isabella will be home with you soon. But right now, she's here with me and she's having fun. Do you hear me? She doesn't think about being with you anytime soon so-" 

"God, Rafe", my dad suddenly shouts through the phone making me flinch, "Ward my not come back but I'm not dead and I do certainly not risk anything coming back to Kildare. So if you don't want me as your enemy you'll do what I empowered you to or I swear to god, I'll forget that you're Ward's son." 

"Relax, Harvey. Isabella's fine, alright? She's never been better. Isn't that what you wanted? Her away from Maybank? They broke up, Harvey. Everything's alright", Rafe laughs. "Rafe, please. I don't care about this damn cross or whatever you've planned but bring Isabella home to us", Mom begs him sadly. The sorrow in her voice makes my heart break a little. 

God, mom.. Why can't she just come back and stay with me? "I wanted her here with us", dad huffs, "You had one job, Rafe. I've trusted you with my daughter. If I don't hear from you tonight and if I don't have the confirmation that you've dragged her into this damn airplane back to us, you're going to regret this." Silence. They must have hung up. Dear god, what's happening this time?