[1] Good Trouble - JJ Maybank - Rafe Cameron - (An Outer Banks AU)

Chapter 6

THE DOCKS

"Submerged for 24 hours? You're looking at 25k-30k." The man says.

"And insurance won't cover it?" Dr. Thornton asks.

"Not for operator error. The plug wasn't in there." The worker at the dock says. Dr. Thornton looks at Topper in disappointment. Violet and their mom both stare at Topper, the only one who actually uses the boat.

"Why you lookin at me?" Topper asks

"Why do you think? You were the last one with the boat." Their mom says.

"She disappears for hours at a time and you don't say anything." Topper says, upset.

"Dude, I don't know how to drive a boat, you never let me!" Violet yells back.

"Your sister has a job. She's doing more than you ever did." Their mom says.

"I didn't forget to put the plug in mom! It's been here for a week!" Topper says.

"I thought that when you turned 16 you'd take a little more responsibility for your actions." Dr. Thornton says.

"Mom, I did not do this, okay? I'm not that stupid. Why's it always my fault? You never yell at V for anything cause she's this perfect little angel huh?" Topper says.

"I'm right here you know." Violet says.

"Cause it usually is your fault." Their mom says. Ever since Dr. Thornton and their dad got a divorce, there was always tension between Topper and their mom. Topper wanted to go live with his dad, but of course his dad did not want him.

THE COUNTRY CLUB - GYM

"Cause it's always my fault no matter what. She never even looks at V. She thinks that I did it even though there's no way that I could've! I mean how? It's always my fault no matter what, she just- she just wants me to be this little robot that checks all her boxes. You know what I mean? SAT prep? Check. Serving food at the shelter? Check. Cleaning up the beach? Check. I do everything she wants and I'm getting tired of it!" Topper rambles on, complaining while the guys were working out and lifting weights.

"You gotta give V a break man. She just got back." Rafe says.

"Rehab changed her whole personality. She's this stuck up bitch now." Topper says, annoyed.

"Well we all know who did it right?" Rafe asks, thinking it was the pogues.

"It was that little geek Pope." Kelce adds.

"Rafe if you wouldn't have jumped him maybe I'd still have a boat, right?" Topper asks, blaming Rafe for all the trouble he's caused. It was also Topper's fault too, he was too easily influenced by others.

"Sorry, if I had your back after the same pogues put a gun to your head." Rafe says, putting his hand on Topper's shoulder.

"Listen man, I am not the enemy here. Am I?" Rafe asks Topper.

"Nope." Kelce answers.

"I didn't sink the boat. Pope did." Rafe concludes.

"Alright" Topper says, calming down.

"And you need to force him to take some personal responsibility bro." Rafe says, encouraging him.