Me and the Devil

15.

After gathering myself, I leave Ward's office quietly. Work is the last thing on my mind now. I slip down the hall but hear familiar voices from the room across. My stomach twist - John B and Sarah? Here? Together?

I creep closer, straining to hear.

"Look-- God. I know this sounds crazy, but I really need to borrow that pass. The less you know, the better. Okay? You've just-- you've gotta trust me." John B says.

"No. I don't trust anyone. Especially not with a trustee pass."

"I need to go now." John B pleads

"Okay, then I'm coming with you. One last mission, and then I'm out of this dirty, dirty game." Sarah says definitively.

I freeze. Sarah Cameron's been in on this? How much does she know> I barely have time to process before I hear footsteps approaching. Quickly, i back away and slip out of the house, my mind racing.

As I head home, their voices echo in my head. I can't judge John B for siding with a Kook - not when I've been sneaking around with Rafe. But at least I haven't told Rafe anything about the hunt.

When I arrive at the house, my mom's on the porch, gin and tonic in hand.

"Sweetie," she calls, patting the seat beside her on the porch swing.

For a moment, I see a glimpse of the mom she used to be. I hesitate, then sit down.

"We have to get you a dress for Midsummer's. And of course, a date. Your dad's up for Grand Knight of the Rhododendron." she says, an air of pride in her voice.

I roll my eyes, catching the smell of gin on her breath. "He's not my father," I reply, standing up.

Hand shoots out, gripping my wrist. "He's the only father you have, and you will go and put on a smile to support him." she snaps, her fingers digging in. "And if you don't get a dress and a date, I'll find them for you."

I pull my hand free and storm inside. She can make all the threats she wants; she can't make me go.

Upstairs, I throw on a flannel over my cropped tank and jean shorts and send a quick text to Kiara.

Me: Hey girl. Movie in the park at 8?

Kiara: Hell yeah. Pope and JJ are coming too. John B is MIA.

I slide my phone back into my pocket without replying. It's not exactly a lie if I say nothing about John B. If he's choosing Sarah Cameron, he's going to have to tell the others himself.

The low murmur of people spills out into the humid night, mingling with the distant sounds of waves crashing on the shore, as I arrive at the movie. I perch myself on top of the block wall on the outskirts of the park, searching for Kiara, JJ, and Pope.

The movie starts, and they are still nowhere to be seen. They had all agreed to met here. Something's off.

Just then I see Pope and JJ standing stiffly in the distance, surrounded by Rafe, Kelce, and Topper, their shoulders tight and jaws clenched. My stomach flips asI catch the cold glint in Rafe's eyes, even from afar.

I push off the wall and start walking toward them. I know this has to be about Topper's boat. Despite how I may feel about Rafe Cameron, I know that once the switch flips in him, he's unpredictable. Please don't do this. Not now, not here. I think as if I can telepathically speak to Rafe. But as I get closer, I can hear Topper taunting Pope.

"Hey Pope, do you feel good about yourself stealing shit. Is your mom proud of you? Is your dad?"

Pope head butts Topper right in the face, and JJ starts swinging at Kelce. At this point, I start running. Kelce grabs JJ and holds him while Rafe starts using him as a punching bag. Desperate, I throw myself between Rafe's fist and JJ.

"Rafe, stop" I plead, bracing for impact. but he stops mid punch and narrows his eyes at me. For a brief second, his expression softens in surprise, but it's gone as quickly as it came. His jaw clenches.

"Stay out of it," Rafe growls and pushes me aside as he throws himself at JJ once again. I see Kiara out of the corner of my eye, start whacking Topper with the backpack in order to save Pope. I try again to get through to Rafe.

I grab the back of Rafe's shirt and pull him off of JJ. Rafe's anger transfers off of JJ and onto me. He picks me up, kicking and screaming, and is about to throw me on the ground, when I plat my last card.

"Rafe...please. If you care about me at all, just stop."

There's a flash of something in his eyes. Hurt, maybe? But he puts me down.

"Don't ever do that again," he says, voice low and expression dark and dangerous.

At that moment, the movie screen goes up in flames, and Rafe, Kelce, and Topper storm off leaving all of us worse for wear. I watch Rafe walk away feeling like I just crossed a line I can't come back from.

"We gotta get out of here," I say as the screen continues to burn. The last thing we all need is to get caught in this incriminating position.

Closet