WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Seventeen (Alana)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Alana

I left before Ward could pick up John B after his accident last night where he fell and landed himself in the hospital and bring him back to Tannyhill. I didn't want to be late for my first shift at The Wreck since moving into Tannyhill and the drive is a few minutes extra which meant I wanted to be an hour early just to make sure there was no traffic.

Rose found me waking up on the couch and folding all the blankets and fixing the pillows. She stood in the dining room with her cup of coffee and raised a brow at me.

"You know you have a room here now." She said trying to be funny. "Why'd you crash down here?"

"Rafe took my bed." I tell her as I check myself in the mirror, my makeup smudged but I fix it with my finger as best as I can. Tossing my hair into a high ponytail and realizing I'm wearing Rafe's clothes. "And he uh-"

Rose giggles. "I won't tell Ward as long as this outfit change is a one-time thing. At least until you're eighteen and technically we don't have to be legally responsible for you anymore. Can you imagine a social worker coming to do a check and-"

"Don't jinx it. Please." I sound pathetic pleading with her. "Damn it, he's probably still asleep in my room and I need to change for work."

I rush up the stairs and sure as shit, Rafe is literally wearing just his underwear and socks in my bed. Drool dripping down the corner of his mouth while he snores loudly.

The funniest part is while I'm changing into shorts and a tank top that has the logo for The Wreck on it, I can hear Kelce across the hall snoring too. Whenever Rafe quiets down... Kelce revs it up. It's like they're communicating to each other through their drunken snores.

I grab my bag and before I leave the room Wheezie is standing there with her arms crossed. "Dad said for all of you to stay out of each other's rooms."

"I slept on the couch." I counter back. "I only came up here to get ready for work."

"Then why is Rafe in here?"

I roll my eyes. "Because Rafe does whatever Rafe wants but I don't give in to what Rafe wants." Even though I did last night but it was when he was sober. I like Rafe when he's sober... And all that time I spent helping him stay sober through his withdrawal just... Gone.

Wheezie shrugs. "I would have thrown him back into his bed."

"Do you not hear Kelce chopping lumber in there?" I point across the hall and then check the time. Still early but not early enough. "I got to run, I have work today."

"You don't have to work." Wheezie says. "You're a Cameron now. Dad will give you an allowance."

"I'm still a Routledge and just so you know... Your Dad has had to work his ass off for every penny he has and for every penny he gives you guys so you don't have to work. Money doesn't come free."

-

Three hours into my shift I'm already exhausted. Kie shows up and doesn't say much to me. She gives me a faint half smile but there's pain in her eyes. I know she didn't want me to cause a rift in the friend group but her and JJ both putting me in impossible situations is what caused the rift. Not me.

She brings drinks to a table and I see my brother sitting there with Pope and JJ. Kie looks at me almost pleadingly. I hold a finger up to her, signaling for her to just hold on a minute. I bring table seven their check, table twelve their appetizer, and table two their drinks.

Making my way over to where Kie and the others are. I stand there for a minute and Pope looks at me with a grin. "Oh look who it is. Mrs. Cameron."

"Pope." John B grits. "I told you to drop it."

"Like how she dropped her panties for Rafe last night?" Pope scoffs. "Everyone's talking about it."

"Who the fuck-"

"Rafe told Topper and Topper threw in John B's face and-"

I smack my brother in the back of the head and his hat flies across the table. "What happened to not spreading each other's business around? Especially if it's not true."

"So you didn't hook up with Rafe?" Kie finally speaks to me but she won't look at me.

"No. I didn't." I lie. "Why would I fuck Rafe? You all know I protect my virginity at all costs."

JJ snorts but doesn't say anything to me. "Well this is Pogue business here. You can go, we don't need a check. It's on the house."

I look over John B's shoulder. "What are you looking for?"

"Gold." He replies quickly. "Dad was so close to finding the gold from the Royal Merchant... Alana if we find it then that means he didn't get lost for nothing."

"It would mean he didn't die for nothing." I mutter. "What do you need from me?"

"Distract Ward Cameron." John B says quickly. "He started questioning me this morning about treasure hunting and I think he's onto me."

"Because you're dating his daughter."

"No I'm not."

All eyes fall onto my brother now. "Both of you dating Camerons? Really?" Kie shakes her head. "I can't fucking believe this shit."

"Enough." I grit. "This is about finding what Dad was looking for.. Right?" John B nods. "Then that's the focus. Not who's dating who or allegedly fucking who. This is about Dad and his research and finding the damn gold.. I'll try to distract Ward as best as I can. Maybe I can convince him to help me with college applications and shit?"

John B nods. "You've really been working on that?"

"Since freshman year." I shrug and then point down at the map. "Coasts have changed since this was made. My suggestion-"

"We didn't ask." JJ sips from his cup. His face even more fucked up from what Rafe had done to him on top of what happened a few days ago at the movies and then when he got arrested and I'm assuming Luke gave him a welcome home gift.

Kie looks at me. "What's your suggestion?"

"Landmarks. Forts, things like that. That's where you want to start. Cross them off your list as you go. Speaking of which, I've got to finish my last few tables and then I'll be out of here. I'll distract Ward as best as I can."

The Pogues leave and I'm circling the restaurant to finish off my tables. But when one of the closing girls calls out it falls onto me, which I don't mind. More tips for me. And more tips are exactly what come my way.

After an additional four hours added to my shift I see Ward Cameron pull up outside The Wreck. Rafe in the front seat. I slide into the back and thank Ward for the ride and I promise him that with my savings I'll get my own car soon. He tells me not to worry about and he had to head down this way anyways to bring Rafe to see a friend for a moment.

Rafe says nothing but I can tell something is wrong. He's pretending like I'm not even here at all. As we continue to drive I realize I know the area really well and when we pull up to the ragged trailer I know this place.

JJ used to take me here to pick up his Dad when he'd be plastered and couldn't function on his own. We'd have to literally sling Luke Maybank over our shoulders and throw him into the truck and drag his ass home. My dad came with us one time because the time before that Luke had tried to grab me inappropriately. Let's just say Big John Routledge knocked Luke out cold and left him in the yard until he found his own way home.

"You two stay in the car. I'll be back." Ward slammed the door of the car shut and Rafe turned to look at me. His arm had a burn on it and I looked at his eyes. He was fucking high and I wanted to slaughter him for it. Rafe then left me alone in the car and my heart shattered.