ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

fairytale

"If only fairytales were true." 

❥

"What's your plan for today?", Rafe asks me interestedly in the morning. "I should stop by the chateau making sure everyone else is still alive", I tell him hoping that he'd not freak out when I mention the pogues. I mean I could just lie to him or pretend they don't exist as long as Rafe's next to me but I'm not a fan of lies and he needs to get used to it anyways. Otherwise, our upcoming relationship won't work. 

"Yeah, good idea", Rafe nods to my surprise, "Actually.. Would you mind if I join you?" "Uh.. no?", I reply confused and accept him trying to be all in for me, "Well, I don't know how the others would react but I'd be glad if you joined me." "Good", Rafe nods and looks like he's surprised himself, "Let's go after breakfast?" "Sure."

Rafe and I sit on his back, he's driving us to the cut. It still feels weird going there with him by my side but I also appreciate him taking time for this. It's not like the cut is his favorite place to be except when it comes to Barry and the snow. When we arrive at the chateau I get up from the bike. I wonder if Rafe and I should go there together or if Rafe should come after me after I've warned them. 

"Do you want me to come with you?", Rafe asks softly looking down to me and holds my hand lightly. "That'd be great", I whisper nodding shyly, "But I've got no idea how they're going to react." "That's fine, Bella." As promised, Rafe joined me on my way to the chateau. He might be fine with it and trying to become better each day but the pogues might hate me for bringing him here. They wouldn't literally hate me.. but closely.

"You don't need to join me", I let Rafe know quickly when we get off his bike. "If you want me to stay here, it's fine. But I'd be glad to join you. It's us, Bella, and I need to deal with your friends somehow someday. I'll take a look at what your life on the cut is like." "I don't know what's happened to you but it just makes you a lot more attractive, Rafe Cameron", I smile softly and give him a kiss on his cheek. 

"I promised you.. I'd do anything for you. I'll stay behind you, okay?" I nod and take his hand guiding him to the chateau's garden. "Iz, there you-", Pope interrupt himself when he sees Rafe appearing behind me, "No." "Pope, let me-" "What is he doing here?", Kie immediately snaps at me. I'm surprised John B is being quiet. Him and Sarah just look at us unbelievingly. 

"If you want to finish what you started, I'll gladly pay you back", JJ threatens Rafe standing up and pulls the sleeves of his shirt back. Rafe is surprisingly calm next to me and just raises his hand signalizing that he's coming in a peaceful manner. "You letting him fuck you is one thing but bringing him here?", Kie scoffs, "Kook-style." 

"We'd be a lot smarter if you guys would let her speak", Cleo adds sighing. "Thank you, Cleo", I whisper shyly and take Rafe's hand in mine, "Rafe didn't join me to start or end a fight or whatever. There might have been some.. issues between us all but.." Rafe must notice the nervousness in my by now trembling voice. My hands are usually not as sweaty as well. 

"I'm here to say that I might not have been nice to you or.. well, I could have kept myself out of your business but I want Bella and I.. our relationship to work out this time so I try to make amends for our difficulty that I've partly caused." All of my friends look at us surprisedly, some focus on our entangled hands, others raise their eyebrows skeptically. All I'm waiting for is John B's opinion. 

"Sure, you're apologizing and we're becoming kooks. Sounds equally unrealistic", Kie mutters. "So we're getting the gold back?", Pope adds and I pray that Rafe would just nod. Our attention turns to John B instead. "What you've partly caused?", John B repeats his words angrily, "Partly, Rafe? Are you even aware of the problems that you're caused?" Rafe scratches his temple with his free hand nervously as far as I can watch him from the side. I can't take my look away from John B's angry face. Hopefully, Rafe just apologizes or else I've got no idea how our visit would end. 

"As far as I remember JJ macked on my girlfriend", Rafe mumbles without any reproach, it's just a blank statement. "I was taking care of what you broke into pieces. You're welcome", JJ replies shrugging, "Even if you gave us the gold - which you wouldn't do it even if someone threatened to kill Iz - we're enemies." 

"I get that you're angry, alright? But don't speak about something that you've got no idea about", Rafe nods calmly, "First, I'd give it all up for Iz, all of the money, Tanneyhill, everything. I don't have the gold but I.. I know where it is and I'll help you get it back." "Yeah, sure", JJ laughs shaking his head, "You stole it from us and you made sure we don't get it anywhere near it. Hell, you'd almost killed Sheriff Peterkin for it! You've got some nerves coming here expecting us to watch you destroy Iz as well." 

We all look at each other for a moment probably trying to figure out what the best way is. Would Rafe really give them the gold just to make me happy? I glance at Rafe who nods in my direction making me forget where we are for a second. Rafe squeezes my hand lightly. He'd do it. He wants to finally move on from this fight for us. 

"Fine", I hear Sarah agree and look at her quickly but surprised. "We don't trust you, Rafe, that's sure. But you offer us the chance of getting the gold more conventiently and you're getting the chance to prove Iz that you really mean it. It all depends on you. We can't lose anything, you can. I say we give it a try." "Sarah, have you-" 

"I agree with Sarah", John B interrupts Kie's doubts, "We don't have to be friends in order to help one another. If we get the gold, we're even. If not, we'll make sure that Iz understands how little she means to you compared to the gold." "She doesn't-" "No need to argue", Pope adds giving in, "Our conditions are clear. Prove the seriousness of your apology." I turn to Rafe who quickly nods. "We'll be even, Bella. No more fights. No more hatred", he reassures me in a whisper.

"Dear god, it's way too early to wake up", I mutter when I hear the sound of my alarm clock and hit the snooze-button, "Who even-" "You told me to make sure that you wake up this early. You planned to help Kie prepare the party for her parents", Rafe explains to me as he stands in front of the bed half-naked picking out a shirt from his drawer. 

"This early?", I furl my eyebrows, "I'd rather enjoy the view." "That's what you told me. I'd love to have you under me now but I don't want to deal with an angry Kie again." Wait, wasn't Rafe just on the cut with me? Aren't we looking for the gold? "When did we come back?", I ask Rafe confused. "Back from where? The party? About-" 

"No, the cut. You went to John B's with me and-" "Don't be ridiculous, Bella", Rafe chuckles, "Me on the cut at John B's? You must have had a nightmare." Was it all a dream? JJ said Rafe tried to kill Peterkin.. so he didn't.. in my dream. God, here I lay believing Rafe would be friends with the pogues. What a joke.