ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

one second

"Everything can be over within one second but everything can be won at the same time."

"Rafe, please", I whisper, "This doesn't solve any issues." "Rafe, can't you see?", Ward asks quietly, "The devil's got you captures in his hands." Each moment, every second, his face tightens, his veins throb even more, his hands are shaking stronger. Ward on the other hand just stands there as if he was waiting for Rafe to shoot. 

"You want to shoot me?", Ward exclaims like a psycho, "You can't, boy. Because as angry as you are, I'm yet your father, and you love me." Ward raises his arms in the air looking like he's waiting for Rafe to shoot him. Rafe's hand tightens around the gun. "Please, Rafe. Don't", I whisper examining every movement he makes clearly. 

If he looks into another direction for once, I could just grab the gun and throw it away. I could- no, wait. He's about to pull back. I can see each millimeter that he moves the gun down. But before he can actually decide for stepping back, someone grabs his arm and pulls him down to the ground when a shot is fired. 

I wince when I hear the shot and a few tears drop down my jaw. When I open my eyes to see if someone got injured, I have a clear vision of what just happened. Dad stepped in taking the gun away. I see where the shot was fired to, right next to Ward. Thank god he looks anything but injured. His face expression isn't even shocked. He doesn't look surprised. Another shot is fired and I turn back to my dad who's now holding the door at the wall behind Rafe. Dad fired a shot. My dad used a gun. 

"You come here threatening to kill your own father?", dad laughs loudly but angrily, "He was right, Rafe. He was so right about you. You're only making more problems after putting all of us into this situation. You're going to go back to Tanneyhill and pack your stuff. You'll drop Isabella off at John B's. I can't believe that I thought he was more risk for her than you. Even for a second." Rafe's face looks blank. No, he looks rather afraid. Anxious. Would dad- 

"I've told you to leave, Rafe. Don't worry, I'm man enough to shoot you if you keep on being a threat to our lives. Isabella would never forgive you if you hurt any of us. You know there's nothing you can do so take your chance and leave." Even Ward looks shocked. My hands are shaking watching this scenario. Dad's probably right. I would never forgive Rafe if he shot my dad.. but if Dad did.. I don't know.. but he'll always be my father. Rafe finally raises his arms peacefully. He looks like he's about to apologize but he can't speak a word. He's shocked himself. To lower the tension I grab Rafe's arm and pull him out so we can drive away. Hell.. what's just happened?

"Why are we here, Rafe? I told you I wouldn't leave you alone for today", I complain when he stops in front of the chateau. Since when would he want me to stay with the pogues? What is he planning? "Your dad's right. You're not safe with me", Rafe mumbles as he takes off his helmet, "This is a safe place for you for now." "No, Rafe, don't-" "Bella, trust me", Rafe interrupts me, "Please. Trust me." "I want you to be safe, too", I reply seriously. 

"Hey, what are you doing here?", I hear John B shouting, "Leave!" He's probably more than surprised to see Rafe here.. Anger is the correct feeling. "Izzy", John B whispers when I turn around, "Why are you here?" When he's talking to me, he's speaking so soft as if he thought he'd never see me again. I can even feel the fear around him. I'm the last person he expected to be here. 

John B approaches me but before I can greet him with a hug, Rafe gets off his bike and holds John B back by his chest. "Don't dare touching her", Rafe huffs, "See what you've done to her face? Bella will stay here until I come to pick her up again but don't you dare-" "Hurt her? You mean like you did before?", John B confronts him. 

Honestly, I'm glad he said it. Rafe can't be mad about something he did himself. As soon as Rafe's hand forms to a fist, I lay my hand on his. I can't stop wondering how dangerous his plans are if he considers me safe on the cut but I need to calm him down first. "Don't start a fight, please. I'll stay here. Just don't do anything stupid, okay?", I sigh looking at him as he steps back from John B. Rafe finally turns back to me. "Good. I won't", he nods, "I'll be back. Until then, stay here. Not as close but in this place." "Fine", I agree before Rafe hops back on his bike and drives away fast.

"Feeling nostalgic?" John B stops ringing the bell to turn around. His face speaks volumes. He turned around and left me standing alone when Rafe drove away. He's feeling guilty so he tries to stay away from me. 

"I would have stayed away from here if you'd got me harder but a blue eye, that's all that you can do to me? God, John B. That's a Rafe kinda thing. Try something else." John B looks at me in a sad, hurt, angry, disappointed but also relieved way. All of these emotions pressed into that little dickhead. I didn't expect him to hold so much space for emotions when his storage is full with stupid ideas. 

"God, Iz", John B sighs and runs into me with open arms, "I'm so glad you're alright. Well, mostly. I can't believe this happened and that-" "You're being a Pope, boy. It's alright." "No, Iz, I-" "No, J, I'm fine", I cut him off seriously, "It was an accident. I understand why your dickhead thought it'd be smart to beat up a kook but that's fine by me. I look a lot better than Topper probably but that's nothing new." 

"How can you be making jokes right now?" "You're my best friend, that's why. How could I not, J? This is my home", I smile at him and walk up to a sleeping JJ just to wake him up without any consideration regarding his sleep. It's eleven in the morning. Beating up people isn't a full time job. 

"I didn't mean to hurt you", John B whispers as he shakes his head regretfully, "You look bad." "I look great, alright? No need to insult me", I snap at him jokingly and lay my arm around his shoulder, "I know you didn't want to hurt me. It happened and it's fine. But you wanted to hurt Topper, huh?"