Rogue | outer banks

024 - Hatred

The sliding glass door whispered shut behind me, and the antiseptic scent of the hospital greeted me like an unwelcome companion. After the tumultuous events of last night, I had retreated to my home, seeking solace in the ritual of washing away the chaos that clung to my skin.

Today was a new day, a day for facing the aftermath.

It wasn't unusual for me to burst through doors with an air of assertiveness, but this time, I consciously took a deep breath, a silent promise to myself not to unleash the anger that simmered within me upon John B and smother him with a pillow. Topper was the one who had pushed him, yet he remained elusive, not answering calls or messages.

As I quietly entered the room, the sight before me stabbed at my composure. Sarah sat on the edge of John B's hospital bed, her fingers entwined with his, the one that wasn't encased in plaster.

Sarah's eyes met mine for a brief moment and my jaw clenched involuntarily, redirected my attention to John B.

"You're alive," I stated, my words carrying a blend of relief and a tinge of something harder to define.

"It's good seeing you too, Lia," John B replied, his tone light.

Sarah stood up as I took a few measured steps towards the bed. The room seemed to contract, the air thick with unspoken tension, but I brushed it off, unwilling to engage in a silent confrontation.

My thoughts churned with a mix of concern, frustration, and a tinge of vulnerability. The lines between love and betrayal blurred, and I grappled with the conflicting emotions that threatened to spill over.

"Have you wondered how your other arm would look plastered too?" I threatened, my voice laced with a sharp edge.

"Fighting an injured man?" John B questioned, a wry smirk on his face. "Not so ethical, Amelia."

Unable to contain the mounting frustration any longer, I turned towards Sarah. The words pushed through clenched teeth, an accusation fueled by a storm of emotions. "I hope you're aware this is your fault."

John B tried to intervene, to reason, but his defense only fueled the fire within me.

"No, but you got pushed because of her," I declared, my gaze burning through Sarah's. "My brother is an idiot, but God, he becomes a maniac when you're involved! You know that!" The words snarled out, a raw expression of the anger that churned within me. "And after this incident, I'm pretty sure DCS won't waste any time to take your ass straight to foster care," I redirected my attention back to John B, the frustration bubbling over.

"They won't," a deep masculine voice interrupted, and my eyebrows furrowed as I turned around, my expression softening when I saw Ward Cameron, arms crossed. "Sarah told me everything," he began, unravelling the threads of their escapade. "About your little adventure, you running from DCS—"

"Running from DCS?!" I glared at John B, incredulous and betrayed. "Why the hell didn't you say anything?"

John B glanced at Ward, his eyes pleading.

"I'm going to kill you," I snarled, my gaze fixed on John B, my friend who seemed to have a knack for getting himself into trouble and lying.

"Your brother already tried to, so do you think you can postpone it for the end of next week?" John B twisted his mouth in a feeble attempt at humor, but it only fueled my frustration.

"Oh no, I'm gonna tie you and Topper to the same chair and set you on fire," I threatened, the anger in my voice matching the intensity of the situation.

Ward placed his hand on my shoulder, a gesture that momentarily untensed my body, and I let out a heavy sigh.

"Lia, John B was protecting Sarah in the tower," Ward said softly. "And I believe I owe him an apology," the man continued, "you were honest with me about a small indiscretion, and I went ahead and fired you anyway. I shouldn't have. Unfortunately, from time to time, I have a bit of a... short fuse. Ask Amelia — I'm sure she could tell you some stories about it," he smiled softly.