✯ North Star ✯

29 - The Storm Doesn't Care

I was sitting on the edge of the boat with cleo when she suddenly stood up.

"Look" she said.

I followed her gaze. Dark clouds were rolling in fast, the sky bruised and heavy. Whatever was coming didn't look good at all.

Cleo and I rushed inside, moving quickly.

"Stuffs gonna fly all over the place if we don't lock it up. Tie down anything that can move." Cleo said

I nodded, grabbing ropes and baskets, trying to work as fast as I could. When I looked up, JJ was still sitting there, staring off, doing nothing.

"Can you please do something JJ? Please" I said softly but urgently.

I handed him a basket.
Instead, he lifted the bottle again.

My chest tightened.
"Give me that. Just- please" I said, taking the beer from his hand and shoving the basket toward him.

I looked at cleo, panic creeping in.
"I don't know what to do" I said

She turned toward him, sharp and firm.
"Hey rude boy. Group activity." She said

That finally snapped something in him. He started helping, slow, but helping.

"Hurry!" Kie yelled as we ran into one of the rooms.

"This storm is crazy man" cleo groaned.

"Did you see the size of those swells?" Pope asks as I slammed the door shut.

"Come here, grab onto something" pope yelled.

"Hold onto something!" Kie shouted.

We all clutched whatever we could.
Then I heard it.

"Hey! Hey! Get me out of here!"

Rafe.

My heart dropped.

"No! No!" Cleo said quickly when she saw my face.

"Do not let him out!" Pope yelled.

"He's gonna drown. I have too" I said, already shaking my head.

Pope grabbed my arm.
"Stella-" he started

"I have to" I repeated.

I stumbled around, grabbed a knife, and started down the steps.

"I'm coming!" I yelled over the roar of the storm.

I reached the door, hands shaking.

"Cut my loose come on" Rafe urged.

"Okay. Please don't make me regret this" I said, swallowing hard.

I cut the rope, and he stumbled free.

"You good?" I asked

"Yeah" he nodded.

"Let's go" I said, already turning back.