This is Me Trying ⭑ Rafe Cameron

sixty one

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE
[61]
song: angel of small death and the codeine scene by hozier

Cassie leaned against the edge of the ship, picking at the rusty, chipping blue paint. Tired eyes glued to the pile of tangled rope and anchor chains that sat in the middle of the deck. John B sat up on a red plastic crate, Sarah next to him, leaning on his shoulder, resting her eyes.

Turning her head, she saw Cleo and Kiara talking up at the bridge of the ship. Pointing at something in the water that'd they'd been bobbing up and down in for about twenty minutes so far.

Pope stood with his arms crossed, leaning against one of the walls, his eyebrows narrowed, deep in thought. Then, he looked over to JJ, and Cassie followed his eyes.

JJ sat at the opposite edge from Cassie, his knees up, his head hung low between them as he fidgeted with the string bracelets on his wrist.

Tensions were high, no one had really said much since they'd boarded this piece of junk. It was obvious no one was thrilled on how things were going, and they were taking it out on each other.

She couldn't imagine what was going through JJ's head right now. He'd still barely spoken to her— but she knew that there was a part of him that was relieved to know Luke wasn't his father. Relieved to get to know someone who first appeared to at least be slightly better.

He'd gotten his hopes up with Groff, seen a future that looked brighter and more promising than the life he had led so far. And now, they were chasing the guy down to Africa to get back what he'd stolen.

She knew that they weren't the luckiest group of people, but things were starting to get laughable. If any of them ever decided to go to therapy, the long list of tragic happenings would have that therapist rethinking their career.

The wind was loud as they slowly cut through the water, it was cold against the hot sun, and welcome on her goosebump-covered skin. She pulled the sleeves of the green half-zip sweatshirt farther down on her arms before crossing them over her chest.

Rafe was inside, at the helm of the ship, maneuvering their way through The Cut. She glanced up to the window, but couldn't see him.

Cassie looked up and over edge when everyone else did, as they passed right by their house. The Poguelandia flag whipping in the wind as it always did, like nothing had changed.

Part of her wondered if she'd ever go back there again. That if when they returned, it'd already be in the hands of the county. That she'd have to start scrambling for somewhere to live sooner than she thought. But she couldn't afford to think about any of this now, they were after Groff. She had to take it one issue at a time to stay sane.

"So what, we're just on our way to Africa now?" Kiara finally spoke up. "Quick little weekend trip?"

No one really had much logic or reason to respond with.

"What about Rafe?" Pope says. "We know what he did with the cross. And now we want to go after the crown with him? That makes zero sense."

Cassie felt John B turn and look at her, and she shifted uncomfortably, giving him a slight shrug. It truly wasn't her doing this time.

"Doesn't take Pope to figure that part out." Cleo says.

"How are we supposed to deal with him?" John B asks.