lovers - obx

• FIVE •

Katie sat on her bed just staring off into space. The group had made plans to hang out later, but the boys were currently out fishing, which meant that JJ wasn't around to cure Katie's boredom.

For the past few days, her friends had done everything in their power to keep Katie from falling apart and falling off the deep end. They wanted to keep her as her normal spunky self. They didn't want her to fall back into old habits that she had when she was with Rafe.

Katie sighed as she ran her hand through her hair. She pursed her lips, an idea formulating in her head, before hopping out of bed and walking out to the living room.

"Hey," She said to Kie as she plopped down on the couch next to her.

"Hey," Kie replied, looking up from her phone, "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Katie said, assuring her friend that she was fine, "I was just wondering if you wanted to watch a movie."

"Sure," Kie said, setting her phone down, "What movie?"

Katie gave Kie a knowing smile, informing the girl of what movie Katie had in mind. Kie let out a laugh as she grabbed the DVD case. She pulled out the overused disc and quickly placed it into the DVD player before turning on the TV.

The girls sat back on the couch, covered up with the blanket, and got ready to indulge in their movie.

"JJ and I are so Flynn and Rapunzel," Katie said, looking over at Kie.

Kie laughed, "Totally," She agreed, "I hope I find my Flynn Ryder one day."

"You will," Katie said, poking Kie in the arm, "Be patient."

Kie smiled, loving her best friends support. Both girls looked back over at the screen as the movie began to play.

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Hours later, the group was sat around a fire, chatting and relaxing. JJ and Katie were cuddled up to in another on the hammock while the others all sat in their own chairs. JJ drew circles on Katie's back to keep her calm.

"We caught about 12 fish," John B said before taking a sip of his beer.

Pope nodded in agreement. The boys had brought back their catches from that afternoon and cooked up some for dinner. Katie and Kie both loved fish, so they were very happy.

Pope, Kie, and John B went on to discuss their fishing technique. Kie standing to make fun of how Pope stands while holding a fishing pole. Everyone laughed at Kie as she pretended to stumble over as Pope always managed to do while fishing.

Suddenly, Katie felt her phone buzzing. She pulled it out of her pocket to see an unknown number on the screen. She furrowed her brows before hopping out of the hammock and walking off to the dock.

She answered the phone, placing it to her ear.

"Hello?" She said, confusion lacing her voice.

She looked out to at the water, watching the moon light up the small waves as she awaited an answer.

"Katie, it's Sheriff Peterkin," The voice said.

It was Peterkin. Katie let out a breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Rafe Cameron was just arrested on sexual harassment and domestic abuse charges," Peterkin informed the girl.

"Wait, what?" Katie said, "I thought charges were dropped."

"I did too. But, apparently someone else pressed charges and they picked him up for it this time," Peterkin said.

"Who was it?" Katie asked, "Who pressed the charges?"

Peterkin sighed on the other end of the line. She didn't want to say too much, but she had to say just enough.

"Sarah Cameron," She said.

Katie gasped, moving her free hand to cover her mouth.

"Don't be alarmed," Peterkin continued, "They want you to testify against him."

Katie's hand dropped. Her eyes glossed over and she took a small, ragged breath.

"The trial starts next Tuesday," Peterkin said, "Your friends are welcome to come, as long as they don't make a scene."

"Okay," Katie said, letting out a breath.

"I will warn you," Peterkin began, "But, the cross examination is going to try and accuse you of pushing yourself onto Rafe. Don't let them do that to you. Stay strong, tell your truth."

"Okay," Katie repeated.

"See you Tuesday," Peterkin said.

"Yeah," Katie said, "See you Tuesday."

Katie hit the red button in her phone screen, listening to the end dial tone as it rang through her ears. She took a deep breath as she slid her phone back into her back pocket.

She wiped her hands on her shorts as she began walking up the small hill back to her friends.

"Who was it, doll?" JJ asked, holding his arm out to welcome her back to him.

She didn't move. She stood still, picking at her skin.

"Katie?" Kie said, breaking the girl from her thoughts.

"Peterkin," Katie spoke, "It was Peterkin."

Everyone immediately sat up, focusing their attention on Katie.

"What did she say?" Pope asked.

Katie laughed, dropping her arms to her sides.

"Rafe was just arrested," Katie said, "They picked him up on sexual harassment and domestic abuse charges."

The group fell silent. They never actually thought Rafe would be arrested. They all knew Ward Cameron was capable of making any charges pressed against him or his family disappear.

"Who pressed the charges?" John B asked.

Katie eyed her brother, knowing this would come as a shock to him—to all of them.

"Sarah," She said.

She watched as all of her friends' eyebrows crinkled in confusion. She licked her lips nervously. She didn't want to tell them the next part, but she knew she had to because she knew that they would want to be there to support and comfort her.

"There's one more thing," She said, stepping closer to JJ, who still lay in the hammock.

"What?" Kie asked, "What is it?"

Katie took a deep breath and looked at each one of her friends before speaking.

"They want me to testify against Rafe in court."

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A/N: well, well, well...she's gotta testify in court, and sarah has pressed charges. wtf.

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word count: 1,028 (includes author's note)