ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

clumsy girl ending up in an accident

"Bring on the night."

❥

"What's happened to your pretty face? Don't tell me Rafe's-" "No, don't worry about it", I interrupt James quickly, "I just.. I kind of fell on my face. Stupid stones just lay around the streets on the cut. I'm clumsy, you know." "Yeah, as far as I remember", he smiles at me, "Before you went MIA on figure eight from one second to the other. Heard you've just came back." 

"I was actually stranded on a lonely island", I tell him and let him get closer to me so he can take a look at my eye. "It doesn't look like an accident to me", he claims, "But I'd help cleaning you up." "Wait, is it that bad?", I gasp not having looked at it too closely. "I should at least take a look at it", James nods and lays his hand on my waist to guide me to the kitchen. As if I didn't know where it is. However, it's also nice of him to be so gentle with me. I can't remember a man being actually gentle around me. 

Rafe's rough, the pure definition of smokey bourbon and the finest coke. He'd fight with me and love me like no one else at the same time. JJ's been a fierce boyfriend, the one who'd go surfing during a storm, laugh when he causes a motorcycle accident and smells like the wildest summer evenings. But James.. he's really gentle. Every highschool has its jocks but there's always this one guy at a highschool who plays every kind of sport and is popular but he's got a good heart. James was one of them and I'm sure he's the same at college.

"How lucky am I that you chose to study medicine college", I chuckle. "Looks like it's your lucky day", James smiles at me. When we're in the kitchen, I immediately grab the bottle of vodka. Thank god it's hot and everyone's outside. I wouldn't want people watch my emotional crisis tonight. They've seen enough of it already. 

"That's not what I meant by cleaning you up", James chuckles looking for a first aid kid. "It's under the sink", I tell him. "Ah, right, thanks", he nods and comes back with the kit, "What are you trying to forget?" "Oh me? Nothing", I snort. As if there was something that I'd need to forget. Me? No. "The lonely island part or did you and JJ had a fight?", he asks and taps soaked cotton onto the part of my head which hurts. 

"JJ and I aren't together anymore." "Then it's Rafe?", he assumes, "You were pretty much watching him." I wasn't watching him. I was watching how this man who consists of alcohol, coke and egoistic decisions was close to that bimbo Sofia. God, I'd be annoyed already if they just started hanging out but him mocking on here right after I walked out the door frustrates me. It's not like I made a mistake. This time, it's been him who stole from my friend. He knew that there won't be endless chances that I'd give him. 

"That sounds like you were watching me", I retort to James playing his own game. "Maybe I couldn't believe that our kook princess, the one and only Isabella Scott, is back?", James smiles irresistibly. "Cheesy", I chuckle. James and I continue talking about what's happened on figure eight the past few weeks until he's done cleaning me up. I then take his hand and jump off the kitchen island. "Let's continue this conversation by the pool?", James suggests and I agree smiling. I'm not doing anything wrong so.. We're having a conversation as friends. James takes me hand to guide me outside of the kitchen and through the hallway. I follow him until I hear a certain voice. 

"Bella", Rafe's voice sounds behind me. He doesn't sound angry, sad or jealous. No, he sounds demanding. That's the tone I hate the most. "Come on", Rafe tells me when I turn around, James' hand still in mine. James gives me a certain look telling me that I don't have to follow Rafe but I shake my head. "He's right. We need to have a conversation anyways", I tell James and hug him, "Thanks for cleaning up the mess." "Of course", James replies softly, "And next time try not to be clumsy, Scott. It usually happens around certain people." 

In other words: Please stay out of trouble and far away from the wrong people. With the exception that John B and the pogues aren't the wrong people. They're the right ones who get pushed into trouble by others like Rafe, Singh, Ward. As soon as I let go of James, Rafe takes me by waist to guide me upstairs. "What in the hell were you thinking? You could-" 

"Oh shut up, Country Club", I snap at him only following him so I could tell him to leave me alone, "You're the one who just grabbed Sofia within a day to fuck her." "Whatever you thought you were seeing there, I'm not macking on her", Rafe hisses angrily and stops in front of his bedroom door to take a serious look at me. God, I need to go back to the chateau. Sorry, dad, but no way am I staying here with this hothead. 

"Yeah, sure. Looked different a few minutes ago", I laugh ironically hating the jealousy in his voice and the bourbon scent which tells me that he's already had a glass or two to celebrate his victory over the cross. "That's not even the problem right now. Have you seen your eye and what it-" Rafe stops himself from finishing his sentence when we open the door just to find Sofia laying in his bed. 

Sofia immediately covers herself with a blanket. God, I even feel pity for the girl for once. I sigh and turn to Rafe giving him a ‚what did you just say' look. "Rafe, what the-" "You need to leave", Rafe snaps at her, "We were making out and I admit you were a rebound, fine. But now it's time to go." Sofia scoffs standing up and takes all her stuff storming out. Somehow I feel pity for her and in another way I don't. She should have known what he's like. It's not like Rafe tries to maintain the look of a good guy. He seems to enjoy being an asshole. 

"What?", Rafe snaps at me when he sees the judging look on my face, "It's not like you let that pogue beat you but still I'm the bad guy, sure." "God, Rafe, don't you-" I'd expected Rafe to hit his fist against the wall or anything else to show his anger but instead I'm interrupted by Rafe pushing me against the wall as he presses his lips against mine.