Pooks

Chapter 5

You drive back with Rafe and as you pull up to the house you see Topper's car. Sarah's car is still parked in the drive which means they're both here. Wonderful.
You follow Rafe inside, he goes straight into the kitchen. He makes himself a sandwich, he offered you one but you're not hungry. The lack of sleep you had is catching up to you and you're fighting to keep your eyes open.
Wheezie is asleep in the living room. The TV's on but the volume is so quiet you can't hear what the cartoons on the screen are saying. She's lying full starfish across their big white sofa under your favourite blanket.
You sit down at the table careful to not make a sound when you pull the chair out so to not wake Wheezie. When Rafe's done making his sandwich he sits down next to you. You fold your arms out onto the table and lay your head down. "Tired?" He asks smiling down at you, he doesn't speak with his mouthful like JJ did. You nod and sit back up straight, you'll fall asleep at the table if you stay sat like that. "You wanna watch a film or something?" You just nod, he finishes his sandwich and puts his plate in the dishwasher. You were going to make a joke about how you miss having a dishwasher but you don't even have any dishes.
You live in a different world to Rafe now.
Rafe turns the TV and living room lights off, Wheezie is snoring loudly oblivious to our presence. You follow Rafe upstairs which is when you hear a few bangs come from Sarah's room followed by giggling. Rafe pulls a face like he's about to throw up the sandwich he just ate. "Gross" Rafe practically runs into his room to get away from the sounds Sarah and Topper are making in her room, you run after him. He shuts the door and collapses onto his bed before rubbing his face with both hands. "I wish they'd shut up" he says even though you can't hear them anymore. You smile and sit down next to him. He sits up and searches for the remote. "What you wanna watch?"
"I don't mind" Rafe finds the remote and puts on the first thing that pops up. You kick your shoes off and lie back against his headboard next to him. His pillows are soft and you remember what it's like sleeping in a real bed. Barry's spring mattress and John B's sofa is nothing compared to a luxury king sized kook bed. It's even harder to keep your eyes open now. You try your best to stay awake but your eyes close and they're too heavy to reopen. When you finally open them again the room is dark, only lit up by the tv. You've fallen down onto Rafes arm but he's asleep too. You sit up and look at him, you had both fallen asleep sat up against the pillows. Looking at him asleep makes you smile.
You rub your eyes till you see fireworks again and get up. Your tongue is dry in your mouth so you go into the en-suite to look for a glass to get some water but there isn't one. Rafes bathroom is huge for an en-suite. There's a shower and a bath, a big marble sink and mirror against the wall. You don't even have a mirror in your bedroom anymore. You go back into the room, Rafe is still fast asleep. If he was awake you know he'd go and get you a drink but you don't want to wake him. He didn't sleep last night either remember?
You gently open the door and close it behind you, the house is deadly silent and dark. You have socks on and the floor is wooden floorboards so you can easily walk around not making a sound. Plus you know where all the creaky floorboards are so you know which ones to avoid. You make it down the stairs undetected and go into the kitchen. Wheezie is still asleep on the sofa but she's not a starfish anymore, she's curled up in a ball and Milo is asleep next to her. You almost didn't see him, he's a black German Shepherd-Golden Retriever mix. He opens his eyes when you enter the room and his tale starts to wag gently. "Hi baby!" you whisper, Rafe hates it when you talk like that to the dog but thats never stopped you. Milo closes his eyes again, you want to go over and give him a cuddle but you stop yourself. If you wake Wheezie no way she'll be as quiet as you are.
You get your drink and head back upstairs. You tip toe up the spiral staircase and back across the floor boards but something catches your eye. The light in Wards study is on but the door is closed. You can see his shadow moving from the gap under the door. You don't know why you did it but you walk towards the door, as you get closer you hear him talking to someone. You put your ear against the door and listen
"No Rose, no one can know" he's whispering but talking fast, he sounds panicked. He sounds scared. "Yes! The Routledge's boat!" he says, you didn't hear anyone else speak so he must be talking on the phone.
Routledge? Why does that name sound so familiar?
"Yes, yes! We stick to the plan" you lean against the door some more and hear the floorboards creak beneath you. You step away from the door and throw yourself behind the wall that is next to the study. You place your drink quietly on the floor so not drop it or make a noise and cover your mouth with your hand right before hear the door open. The hallway lights up from the light in the study and Ward steps out. You can just see the back of his head, lucky the corner you're in isn't touched by the light and he doesn't see you. Your heart is pounding in your ears, you watch him stand there for a second before going back inside and closing the door. You hear it lock.
You wait a few seconds to make sure he's not going to come out again and see you.
You don't like Ward, you never have. You can see right through him. One thing about growing up with kooks when you're not really a kook, you get really good at reading kooks.
The Famous Ward Cameron; good business man, better father. At least that's what the whole of the Outer Banks thinks. Ward has never been rude to you personally but you've seen the bruises, heard the fights, wiped the tears.
Sometimes when we were kids Rafe would sneak into your room 2, 3 even as late as 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning after arguing with his dad. We would make a fort out of pillows and bed sheets but when we went to go to sleep Rafe would just cry. You would hold his hand until he had nothing left to cry then you'd both fall asleep.
When we got older the arguments turned into fights. Rafe would turn up at your door with split eyebrows, busted lips, red knuckles. You were always there to pour alcohol on them and bandage him up.
Rafe has always been there for you, but you've always been there for him too. You and Rafe have been through everything together.
You even once walked in on them arguing. You and Rafe came home from school to an empty house and not long after you guys Ward got home. He called Rafe into his study and they ended up arguing so loud you had to go make sure Rafe was okay. You'll never forget the look on Wards face when you burst into that room, pure shock. Pure panic. He didn't know you were over and you had just witnessed first hand his glass breaking. The mask of his perfect act slipping. He stopped shouting almost instantly and let Rafe leave with you but Rafe was furious. That's night he made you promise to NEVER to get involved again. He said if I had come in a few moments later when by then Ward would have turned violent Rafe wouldn't forgive himself if I got hurt. That's one of the only arguments Rafe and I have ever had. I was angry at first saying that if I hear it again I want to help but Rafe wasn't having any of it. We didn't speak for two days, not until I promised him and meant it. Rafe can tell when you're lying. 
So I listened to him. I never went back in when I heard them fighting again after that. Once me and Sarah hid under her duvet for 30 minutes while they shouted at each other. I'll never forget staring into Sarah's tear soaked eyes listening to Ward scream at Rafe. Rafe hardly ever shouted back.
Rafe isn't scared of him though. Don't get me wrong he avoids a fight with his dad at all costs but he's not a kid anymore. Rafe is taller and bigger than his dad now, Ward only picks fights if he absolutely has to. Ward never shouts at the girls like he shouts at Rafe either, I don't know why that is. As a result of all that Rafe isn't close to his dad, can you blame him?
You run back to Rafes room and shut the door behind you but you're too loud and Rafe wakes up. "What are you doing?" He's barely awake, he sits up and looks at you through one eye. You hold your breath because you're breathing so fast, your heart still pumping in your ears. You turn around and smile at him "I was getting a drink-" MY DRINK. It's still on the floor by the study!
"What's wrong?" You quickly smile again and walk back over to the bed. No way I'm going back out there tonight, I'll get it in the morning.
"Nothing" you say as you move the pillows so you can lie down and not fall asleep sat up again.
"I'll go downstairs" Rafe says as he stands up and stretches his arms. He takes his hoodie off which brings his top up and you see his six pack. You understand why Rafe gets so many girls.
"Wheezie's still down there" you say as you lie down. You close your eyes as you speak. "It's fine, you can stay here I don't mind. I think Topper's still in Sarah's room his car's still outside" Rafe nods but he's already grabbing pillows from his side and putting them in the floor. You don't stop him there's no point, Rafe is a gentlemen like that. The same way he doesn't let you pay for anything. He lies down on the floor and it goes quiet. He's already asleep and it's not long after that you are too.