WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Thirty-Two (Alana)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Alana

Kildare, NC

The Next Day

Rose lets me use Ward's truck to drive up to the old Tanny estate. I stop at Heyward's first and pick up some of those lead testing kits. I haven't seen Heyward in a while and he's all hugs and happiness when he sees me.

"You look great," He tells me kindly. "The Camerons been taking good care of you, little Pogue."

I smile and nod. "Yeah, Rose is great. Ward is too..." I add in.

"Heard you dumped JJ Maybank. Good for you." Heyward says. "But just be careful with that Cameron boy. Pope goes on these rants about him and I think maybe Pope is just worried for you but he's very passionate about how he dislikes that kid."

I tease him slightly. "You get passionate about how much you dislike JJ, Heyward. Maybe it's just in your blood to be passionate about your dislikes."

He waves me off. "You know what, Miss Alana... I think you're right. Maybe it's because I just don't like seeing you running off with any of those boys. You're too good for any of them but the best thing about you? You don't like them change your life. You still have so much drive for work and school and bettering yourself. Maybe you should rub some of that off onto Pope, huh?"

I give him another hug before placing the cash onto the counter. Twice what I should be giving him but after getting my first paycheck from Rose I am feeling extremely generous. I'll have a brand-new car straight off the lot in no time at all.

"You be safe out there, little Pogue." He tells me.

Pope comes down into the shop and nods to me with a smile. I flash him the keys to the truck and his eyes widen. He says bye to his dad and we head off to the truck. I toss the back to the floor of the passenger seat where my backpack is.

"What the hell is all this?" Pope asks.

"A go-bag."

"A... A what?" He questions.

"A go-bag. You know... In case you have to make a run for it. Or something bad happens. I have everything in there. Water bottles, snacks, extra clothes, matches to start a fire, flashlights, batteries- mind you I keep everything in water safe bags- tampons, toilet wipes, other toiletries, and water purifying tablets."

Pope laughs as I drive toward the estate where Kie and JJ will be waiting for us. Easier and less obvious if I pick them all up and go there. Plus... The last thing I want is JJ to be in a vehicle owned by Ward Cameron. Or to be in this small of an enclosed space with him. Pope I don't mind though. Especially with how understanding he has become with all of this.

"You laugh at me now but one day you'll need my go-bag and you'll wish you had one." I tell him. "There's also hand warmers in there too."

"For what? In case you get lost in the fucking arctic?"

"To keep someone from getting frost bite or hypothermia. Duh." I tell him. "Seriously for someone who used to be so obsessed with death you'd think you'd be the one to have a go-bag."

Pope rolls his eyes. "Should that become a new thing for all of us? Having go-bags?"

I nod. "Truly, we all should."

"I wonder if John B has one right now."

My eyes dart over toward him in a sideways glance. "He's dead, Pope..."