When the Tide Switches - Rafe Cameron

Chapter 2- Homeboy Likes You

At 5.00 a.m. the sound of my phone buzzing woke me up, I threw my hand on Sarah's nightstand and started looking for my phone. After two seconds I found it and turned it on to see who was texting me that late. When I turned it on my eyes flinched due to the brightness but I quickly got used to it. I saw that Jj had been texting me:

Jj🌊🤙🏄

Lilli, I need you.

Please come over now.

It's my dad again.

Lil answer.

Lillian

Alright, fuck you.

Me

Sorry J, I was sleeping, I'm omw

Jj🌊🤙🏄

Thanks, Lil

Me

Ofc, c u in 20

Jj's dad had been hitting him for years, mostly because of drugs and alcohol. It was horrible to witness how Jj reacted to what his dad would do to him, Jj never really had anyone that he could consider a parent and that's why he cherished the pogues so much. We were his family.

I quickly got out of Sarah's bed and wrote her a note saying where I was and what I was doing. I changed from my pajamas to an oversized T and some jean shorts and headed downstairs immediately. I didn't want to make Jj wait alone, when he was alone he would get in his head and even though he would never admit it I knew that his thoughts would pile up on him for ages as he didn't like confiding in people, other than me.

I ran down the stairs and took my purse from the kitchen counter. That's when I saw Rafe scrolling on his phone on the couch. I rolled my eyes thinking about how many times his presence had bothered me tonight.

I walked to the front door and that's when he saw me.

"Where are you going?" He asked with an unbothered tone.

"None of your business," I answered coldly.

"Well it kind of is because I am the one who is babysitting you and Sarah while Simon and Ward are at your house, so if you're leaving at 5.00 a.m. to go somewhere I don't know and you don't come back in the morning I will be in deep shit" He let out roughly.

"It's already morning. And if it makes you sleep at night I'm going to Jj's." I said and put my hand on the door handle.

"Why are you going to that dirtbag's house huh? Is he your boyfriend? I wouldn't be surprised if your standards would be that low considering that you hang out with pogues" Rafe said with a smug look on his face.

"None of your business," I said calmly and stormed out.

Why did he care so much about who I was with? Why was he even talking to me?

I entered my car quietly which was parked at my house, I figured my parents were sleeping so they wouldn't notice. I drove to the cut which kind of scared me during that night but nothing bad happened so that feeling quickly left my mind.

In about ten minutes I made it to Jj's house. It was chillier than I expected, so the breeze gave me goosebumps when I left my car. I didn't have a sweater because a few hours prior it was hot so I didn't think of bringing one. Outer Banks weather was truly bipolar.

I entered the house and saw Jj alone on his couch, he had clearly been crying. I went over to him and hugged him softly, knowing from experience that that helped him more than anything.

"Hey," I said softly. He stayed quiet.

"Do you want to talk about it? I asked him with a compassionate smile.