Me and the Devil

4.

We love throwing keggers. Booze, drugs, the best people around. We try to do at least one every summer over in The Boneyard, a secluded beach on the water. You can't understand the Outer Banks without understanding The Boneyard. It's kinda like a three-layer burrito. There's us and our friends, the working-class derelicts. Then, there are the Kooks, the rich second-homers. Despite the rivalry between the Kooks and the Pogues, it always seems like it doesn't matter at a kegger. And then there are the tourons. Totally clueless. Here for a week on vacation with their families.

We all head our separate ways to get ready for the party. John B is in charge of the keg, while I got put in charge of cups. I head into town to stop by the convenience store to pick some up. As I walk in, I happen to notice that the bulletin board that usually has ads and news articles posted from years ago has a new addition.

WANTED SUMMER HIRE FOR CAMERON DEVELOPMENT.
Be able to perform Hurricane Agatha clean up and light construction duties
Interested? Call 555-9273

I take down the ad and stuff it in my pocket. Just in case this treasure thing doesn't work out, I should probably find a job. I get the cups and head back outside. When I get to my jeep, I pick up my phone to dial the number on the ad. The line rings and after a few seconds Ward answers.

"Ward Cameron. Cameron Development."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Cameron. It's y/n y/ln. I was calling about the summer position you have available."

"Ah, y/n! Of course. It's still available, and I'd love to hire you. Wasn't sure what kind of response I'd get from posting the ad at a convenience store, but I'm glad it was someone like you. Can you start tomorrow?"

"Absolutely. Thank you so much!"

I hang up the phone feeling relieved. I may not have exactly wanted a summer job but working for Ward didn't seem like the worst thing. Ward seemed reasonable and fair, and the few times I talked to him at events he was always friendly. Despite Rafe Cameron being an absolute ass, his father seems like a decent guy.

I go home after securing my job to get cleaned up and changed. I want to look effortlessly attractive tonight in hopes of finding a cute touron to hook up with. I'm going to try and party it up tonight in some sort of celebration of getting one step closer to moving on.

After a nice shower, I throw on a beige, knit vest top with only one button and some black denim shorts. After applying a light, natural makeup look, I tie up my black high-top converse and head out the door. I arrive at The Boneyard a few minutes later, cups in hand.

People are just starting to arrive. John B is getting ready to tap the keg, so I head over to him and put the cups down. John B is always in charge of handing out the beer at our keggers. Comes with the territory of being the Pogue leader I suppose. I don't mind. I like taking some time to just soak in the kegger without being directly involved.

I walk over to a log near the water and take a seat. I pull out a blunt I rolled earlier and take a hit as I look around. I see Kiara sitting on another log not too far away talking to a handsome man (definitely a touron) about star signs. Pope is desperately trying to flirt with some girl near the bonfire. I can tell it's not going well by the uncomfortable look on the girl's face. Poor Pope. I look around for JJ as I hear a voice behind me.

"Mind if I take a hit of that?"

I didn't need to turn around to know it was Rafe mother-fucking Cameron. The air changed when he was around-sharp, electric, like something was about to explode. I should have told him to fuck off right then and there, but instead, I let him sit beside me. Maybe because a part of me wanted to see just how far he'd push it. And the way he looked tonight? Even more dangerous than usual. Too dangerous for someone like me. But that didn't stop my pulse from quickening.

"I didn't say this seat was open." I curtly say.

"Well, if you want to move, I got a seat open for you right here." Rafe winks and pats his lap.

I fake gag. He looks good tonight, though. I may not like Rafe, but I can certainly admit he is an attractive guy. His usually slicked back hair is now wind-blown and falling on his forehead. He is wearing a grey long-sleeved T-shirt with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. Baby blue shorts that mimic the color of his eyes. Speaking of his eyes, while slightly bloodshot, glimmer in the dim light provided by the fire.

"What do you want?"

"I came over here hoping for a hit of that blunt."

"I'm sure you got some of your own. You don't need mine."

"Actually, I heard you got a job working for my dad, so I thought maybe we should get to know each other better." Rafe holds up a bag of powdery white substance.

"And that's how you think we are going to 'get to know each other better?' I know what I need to know about you. Annoying, better-than-thou kook, who thinks he can get away with treating people like pieces of shit. Well let me tell you something, look in the mirror sometime. You're the piece of shit."

Rafe moves closer and smirks at me "I hope you're not going to regret talking to me that way."

Luckily a cheer from the crowd breaks the tension that is happening between me and Rafe. I look up to see Topper Thornton, kook, swatting a cup of beer out of JJ's hand. The beer splatters all over John B, and I just know John B isn't going to like that. I was right. John B pushes Topper into the low tide. Topper gets up and shoves John B back into the water from where he came.

"Don't make me drown you like your old man." Topper yells. John B, enraged, lunges at Topper.

"What the hell, are you going to do something to stop your friend!?' I yell at Rafe.

"Looks like he can handle this on his own"

"You're an idiot" I growl at Rafe as I make my way over to Topper and John B. I see JJ at Topper's side though. gun brandishing in the firelight against Topper's temple. Topper stands up hands in the air. Surrendering.

Suddenly not so confident that Topper can handle it on his own. I feel a cold, callused hand brush the skin at the small of my back. I stop. I know it's Rafe. He slides up next to me and whispers in my ear.

"Get your psycho friend in check, y/n." He whispers. Sending a chill down my spine. He spins me around so we are face to face now. His bloodshot eyes piercing mine. "Or else you'll pay. I know where you work."

His hand grazes my back, and I freeeze. There was nothing soft about the way he touched me, but it still sent a chill through my skin. When he whispered in my ear, his breath too close, I should have been disgusted. Instead, all I could think was how easy it would be to close that distance, to kiss him. His warning should've made me hate him more. Instead, it made me want to dive even deeper into this dangerous game we were playing. I nod my head slightly. He releases my wrist, aggressively shoving me backwards while doing so.

I rush to John B's side. His hand is bleeding, and a black eye is starting to form. JJ shoots two warning shots telling everyone to get the fuck off our side of the island. On our way back to The Chateau, Kiara is yelling at JJ about his recklessness with the gun tonight. I agree for once. We are trying to lay low.

I get some ice (well more like a very cold rag since we are still out of power) for John B's already swelling eye and help him to the couch. I was going to head over to Barry's, but after my encounter with Rafe tonight I'm not willing to risk the potential of seeing him there. I settle into the guest room, staying the night in case John B needs anything.

Closet