WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Twenty-Three (Alana)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Alana

Two Days Later

It's been exhausting trying to maintain this imagine that I'm perfectly fine but I'm far from it. There's a storm coming in and John B is on the run and everyone on the island is looking for him. But the worst of it all?

Rafe is completely spiraling. He's going through withdrawal again and is fiending for fucking coke to the point he's just crying and in pain and there is nothing I can do to help him no matter how hard I try.

He's been talking to himself. Literally talking to himself and drowning in his thoughts. I know he feels guilty for what happened to Peterkin and for throwing the blame at my brother. All last night he was out "helping" look for John B for the cops but I know it's because he just wants to make sure no one points a finger in his direction.

Rose told me I need to just paint my face and do my hair and act like nothing is wrong at Tannyhill. That everything is normal and that we're keeping our routine. I called out of work which I never do and even though Kie's mom was understanding her dad told me if I call out again I'm fired.

When I hung up the phone Rose offered me to be her secretary and she'd pay me double what the Carrera's had been paying me. All I have to do is sort her emails and answer some phone calls. Fetch her a coffee or lunch and just tag along when she goes to show a home that's for sale. Pretty easy stuff and it makes me really feel a part of this family.

I watched as Rafe came hurdling down the spiral stairs of Tannyhill and flew out the front door toward where his bike was parked. Grunting and ranting to himself and even just letting out one long scream.

I jumped slightly and Rose slid a cup of hot cocoa across the counter. "My mom used to make me cocoa when I was stressed out. She used to add in one mini marshmallow at a time and let the spin and float around before adding in another. And then another." She said as she put in the marshmallows. "It didn't matter if it was summer or winter... It always made me feel a whole lot better. I tried to do it for Sarah before when she was younger but she dumped it out. Wheezie did the same just to follow Sarah's lead and Rafe... He's Rafe."

"I saw it all.." I tell Rose in a whisper. "I know the story that I have to tell and I'm going to tell it but.. The real thing has been haunting me whenever I close my eyes. I haven't slept and I know that what happened is what's causing Rafe to actually break right now."

She nods. Flipping her blonde hair back over her shoulder. "Rafe has always been sensitive since he was a kid. Little things would put him into a fit of anger. First time he freaked out was when Ward and I announced we were getting married... He said I'm not his mom and I'll never be his mom. I understood that and I knew my place but Rafe didn't think I knew that."

I sip the cocoa and damn... It's really good. Even though it's humid as Satan's ass crack outside this is absolutely hitting the spot. I place the mug onto the counter and blink at Rose as she tells the story.

"At first it was just little kid things he would do. Putting plastic bugs in my coffee cup to scare me and fake rats in the shower. I'd get scared then I'd laugh it off. Until one day there was a fake snake crawling on me in bed, I grabbed it to throw it back into Rafe's room when I realize it wasn't a toy... It was real and it was venomous. I got lucky that it didn't bite me and when I told Ward I was concerned about Rafe he told me that he's just a boy and that's what boys do."

I shook my head. "John B never did anything like that."

She agrees. "It's not just a thing boys do... It's just a thing Rafe does and when things don't go according to how Rafe plans he gets set off."