Good Days •Rafe Cameron•

Secrets

My fingers along the scar that ran along my lower abdomen. The stab wound now spidering out into a web liked shape. The beautifully tragic memories faded into my skin.
The bathroom in John B's room was cold and dark as the overhead light didn't work; leaving me standing in the dim room, looking at myself in the mirror.
I pretended to stall as I didn't want to face the Pogues. Last night was not my proudest moment. But it was invigorating.
I quietly leave the bathroom. JJ and Sarah are sleeping on the pull out couch. My brows furrow as I wonder where John B is? I tiptoe to his room; only finding it empty.
The sound of the chickens from his chicken coop startles me as I realize John B is outside. I rush out the Château.
The cool breeze from early morning air leaves goosebumps on my brown skin as I walk up behind him quietly. John B doesn't notice. He's too busy feeding his chickens.
"Are the eggs any good? I asked, bouncing on the balls of my feet as my long locs fell past my shoulders.
John B turns his head to look at me then back to the the chickens. "No." He answers. "JJ killed the Rooster." He spoke, quietly.
"Um...I don't even want to know why-."
"What do you want, Phoebe?" John B asked, using my full name. He rolled his eyes and gave me an exaggerated annoyed sigh. The lines on his face tightened as he glared harshly at me.
"Honestly." I start. "I don't know." I answered. He scoffs. "Classic Phoebe." John B says. "You like to pretend that you're not into him. But deep down you care. And you make up these ridiculous lies. And do the most outrageous things." He exclaims.
"I'm sorry." I apologized. Not really knowing what to say. I stood there awkwardly as he yelled at me. "You're obsessed with pleasing everyone. God, Be, relax for Christ sake!" He shouts.
"What do you want me to do, huh!" I shout back. I was beginning to loose my temper and my the familiar feeling of burning behind my eyes. I wasn't really in the mood to be ridiculed.
"I want to know what's going on with you. You're like a fucking mystery!" He towers over me, glaring at me with hate.
"I don't have to explain myself to you. My love life is none of your god damn business." I scream. "Oh, yeah! It was my fucking business when you decided to fuck Rafe in my hot tub. You're like a fucking nympho." He snaps.
The tears began to pour. I hated feeling like this. Pissed and upset. The most terrible feeling in the world. The anger that makes you cry. The kind that doesn't allow you to say how you feel without sobbing. I was frustrated.
     "Really, that's how you see me? You're a jerk. Number one asshole." I shout. "Phoebe, why are you even with this guy? What's going on?" He asked.
     "It's complicated. I liked Rafe way before all this drama happened and I can't just drop him." I try to explain.
John B shakes his head. "No! I mean what's going on with you?" He asked. I tilted my head in confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"You know what I mean. I know you. This isn't you." John B demands. "I don't know." I spoke quietly.
"Dating Rafe. Lying to the Pogues. Lying to Mike and Anna. Keeping secrets. No therapy. Why did you stop going to therapy! He shouts.
I looked anywhere but his face. I felt ashamed. Embarrassed. He stood here judging me. Reading me like I was some kind of book.
    I was usually the pugnacious one. The girl quick to argue. Eager to say I told you so. I loved to argue. Demand my way and do as I please. But today. I was the one being put in my place by a boy I've only know for a few months.
    "It's complicated." I hesitated.
"It's not complicated-!" He shouts, but I quickly cut him before he can say anything else. "Don't do that!" I cry. "Don't pretend like you know me. We've been friends for all of two fucking months. And you were gone for half of it." I says.
"You stand here and judge me like I'm the fucking antagonist of your life. I'm dealing with a lot. But I'll deal with it how I want to. Cause at the end of the day, I'm alone. No parents. No family that really cares about me." I'm on the verge of sobbing.
My voice hiccups as I try to swallow the lump in my thought. My eyes begin to burn as I hold back tears. But is slowly became too much.
I fell to the ground. Sobbing in pain; covering my face with my hands. I feel John B pull my into a hug. I pull away, shaking my head.
     "No!" I shout. "Don't touch me." I demand.
     "Be, don't be dramatic. Let me hug you." He sighs. I don't say anything. John B takes it as an okay. He pulls me into his chest rubbing my shoulders.
    "You really piss me the fuck off." I say, wiping the tears from my eyes. John B let's out a boisterous laugh.
     "Well you piss me off, too." He sassed. I suck my teeth, rolling my eyes.
Silence envelopes us for a few moments. I pretend to be interested in the uncut grass; suddenly not knowing what to say.
     You're wrong, Be." John B speaks up. "You're not alone." He says, holding me tighter in his arms. "And I'm sorry if we've made you feel that way." He apologizes.
"I'm sorry." He apologizes again. "I'm sorry, too." I apologize. And I'm sorry for ruining your hot tub. I'll get it cleaned." I smile.
John B laughs. Helping me off the ground. My long locs fall forward; framing my cheeks.
The back door to the Château opens, revealing Sarah and JJ. "You two make up?" Sarah asked, smiling at her boyfriend.
We nod. "Yes." I nod. "For now, at least. I swear there's always something with you and John B. Y'all but heads more than any of us combined." JJ jokes.
I roll my eyes at his comment.
"So, when do you think the two love bird will be back. Cause we need to go. It's obvious that Rafe knows we're here." John B asked.
Right on queue; Kiara and Pope pull up with the HMS Pogue. Kiara hops out before tying the bowline.
"Finally!" JJ shouts. He rushes over to the dock. John B helps Sarah I've too the dock as I follow behind them.
"Hey! Guys, don't tie up. Stop it." JJ says. "What?" Kiara asked as we John the two Pogues on the boat.
"We're dipping." JJ demands. "Wait, why?" Pope asked. He looked at us confused with the situation as we frantically began hopping on the boat.
"What are you talking about?" Kiara asked. "Where'd you guys go? What happened last night?" John B, asked as he helped Sarah into the boat.
"We slept on the break. What's up?" Pope asked again. "Slept. Right." JJ chuckles. Kiara rolls her eyes at JJ's comment. She takes my helping into the boat.
"We gotta get the hell up out of here." John B simmers, starting the engine to the boat. "Rafe knows we're here. So we have to leave like now." Sarah says with panic.
"Okay, come on." I say. Sitting next to Kie as John B drives the boat further into the ocean; away from the shore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The six of us sat in a circle on a small clearing in the middle of the marsh. "Look, if Rafe and Barry know it's only a matter of time" Kiara starts.
"Before everyone knows." Pope emphasizes. "I told you." JJ starts. He puts his hand over his heart. "We should have just gone south, man!" JJ scolds.
"JJ, please." I sigh, rolling my eyes. "Just stop it! South? Really? With what money?" I yell at the Pogue annoyed.
"I have an idea?" Sarah speak up. "With me back, my dad's going to have to choose between me and Rafe." She explains.
Everyone grows quiet as we try to comprehend Sarah's plans.
"Sarah..." John B says. "He's going to choose me!" She shouts. John B takes Sarah's hand; holding it tightly. "Just please listen." He starts. "Ward keeps lying to you, Sarah." He said.
Sarah stares at the grass not wanting to listen. "He won't agree after all that's happened." Kiara says. "I know it sounds crazy." Sarah whispers.
"Yeah, it does." Kiara agrees. "I know!" Sarah shouts, now looking back up at the five of us. "But he's my dad. And I know him, and I know he loves me." She says, holding back tears.
Everyone is silent. We share looks between each other, not really knowing what to say next. "Phoebe." Sarah says, trying to get my attention.
"If my dad doesn't agree. You have to get Rafe to confess. To tell the truth. He trust you. I know he does." Sarah pushes.
I shake my head. "He would never go for it." I say. "You don't know that." Sarah exclaims.
"Wait, wait! Why Phoebe? Why does Rafe trust her?" Pope asked.
"Rafe and I are kind of a thing." I say, not holding back. Pope jumps up from his spot on the ground. "You're dating Rafe!" He yells. "I did not say I was dating him. Slow down!" I shout. I get up from my spot on the ground as well, walking over to Pope.
"Everyone knew?" Pope asked, looking around. "We found out yesterday." JJ says, pointing to Sarah, John B and himself. Pope then like to Kiara for reassurance.
"And you?" He asked her. Have you know about this before yesterday?" He asked, hurt. Before Kiara could answer, I speak up.
"Of course she knew!" I sassed. "She's my cousin. I tell her everything." I say. "Don't be mad at me Pope. Our main focus is getting John B's name cleared." I explain.
Pope shakes his head in denial. "Fine! Let's just worry about that." He says, still a little shocked from the information that was just dropped.
"Okay, now that we have that settled. Can I please go?" Sarah asked, annoyed with the situation. "I still think it a terrible idea." John B says.
"I'm just asking for two hours." Sarah pleads. She struggles to get of the ground as her bullet wound is still not healed properly.
She walks towards the boat, leaving us in our thoughts. "Sarah!" John B calls out, following the girl.
"I'm gonna get some firewood." I say, walking towards the forest a few yards away. "Kie, can you help me?" I asked. She nods, following me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My arms are full as I struggle to carry the pile of wood. Kiara's arms are full as well as the two of us begin to walk back towards the boys.
"Can I talk to you, Be?" Kiara asked, stopping in her tracks. "Yeah, of course." I say. I set the wood in the ground as does Kiara.
She doesn't say anything. Her lips are pulled into a thin line as she blinks several times.
"What's wrong?" I asked. My voice was sincere and filled with worry as I wondered what bothered my cousin.
"I had sex with Pope last night." She sighs. "You don't seem happy about it." I imply. I can't stand Pope right now." She says.
I smile. "Girl, I was wondering." I chuckle. Kiara smiles, sadly. "I don't know, he's like sweet and something good finally happens. And I'm like a million times more miserable." She explains.
"Well there's a difference between what you think you should want and what you actually want." I said. "How do I know what I want?" She sighs. "You don't." I shrug my shoulders. "Even I don't know what I want." I sigh.
"This is so hard. I'm just not into it anymore." Kiara admits. "Relationships are hard and confusing. The last thing you need is to feel worse because you're not feeling something you're supposed to feel. Do what feels good to you." I explains to the young Pogue.
"And Rafe feels good to you?" Kiara asked. I blink several times, think about what she said. "Sometimes. And other times he feels like a total fucking stranger." I say.
"I love you." Kiara smiles, pulling me into a hug. I love you, too."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Kiara and I walk back to the boys we notice Sarah coming back. She drives the boat towards the sandy marsh. I quickly set the wood down.
"Sarah!" Kiara calls out, waving her hands in the air. "What happened?" Pope asked, running to the boat to help Sarah off.
JJ begins to tie the bowline on the long leaves that poke out from the sand. "So how'd it go?" John B asked.
Sarah sighs. "You guys were right. It didn't work." She sniffles. Her cheeks are stained with tears. "Then that settles it, guys!" JJ shouts. "Y'all need to load up in the paddy wagon and get the heck out of Dodge right now." He demands.
"JJ's right." I agree. "You need too. I'll see if I can sneak some food from the Wreck. Enough to last you a few days." I explains. "Right. You need supplies. And then split as soon as possible." Pope says.
"Guys, I think it's too late." Kiara says, worried.
The sound of sirens wailing alerts my attention towards the ocean. Several police pull up in boats.

"STAY ON THE BEACH WITH YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" The police shout.

"Guys, we have to go!" I yell. Everyone takes off towards the woods that leads us to the other side of the island. "Go!" Sarah shouts.
We rush into the tall grass hiding our bodies below. I struggle to move through the damp ground as we all run from the police.
Once we finally emerge from the grass we fall into a deep water.
Kiara is the first to swim as I follow behind her. "JJ take her hand!" John B says, as he hands Sarah off, allowing her to swim with us.
Pope follows behind me panting from the sudden rush. We finally make it back on shore. "We're surrounded!" I panic, noticing the police arrive on scene. The sixth of us crouch behind a tree.
This was it. Our master plan screwed. The amount of plans we made and we still ended up loosening in the end.