Changes//Rafe Cameron

Chapter 1 (ep.1)

The Outer Banks, paradise on earth. It's the sort of place where you wither have two jobs, or two houses. So there's figure eight the rich side of the island, home of the Kooks. So I guess the sort of place where I don't live. Then there's the south side of the island or the cut, home of the working class who make a living busting tables, washing yachts, running charters. That's were myself, my brothers and their friends fall into place. We're called the Pogues. Pogues, pogies, the throwaway fish, lowest member of the food chain.

I didn't mind being pogue sometimes I look at the rich kids and feel sorry for them. They have the pressure of the parents on their backs forcing them to be perfect, not letting them be a kid. But also there are negatives to being a Pogue moneys always tight and getting treated like shit from the Kook's is never fun but I guess that's life.

My alarm went off at off at the usual 5.30 am, and I got up out of my warm covers to get changed out of my pyjamas and into my uniform. Today was jam packed, I had an opening shift at the diner , then working at the country club, and  finally I had babysitting for the Smiths. I liked baby-sitting Smith kids, they were the kindest little kook children I had ever met, their parents had brought them up well teaching there manners and to respect everyone. I opened the door to the hallway and slung my bag over my shoulders walking down the  dark hallway a peered into John B's room which was slightly ajar and saw him and JJ sleeping in there beds fast asleep. I had kind of adopted JJ when when the abuse got too much, John B and I made the decision that this was the only safe place for JJ, so we ended up just buying another bed for John B's room.  I closed the door quietly so as not to wake them and walked into the kitchen opening the cupboards, they were bare. I made a mental note to go food shopping when tomorrow morning before work. I ended up just grabbing a granola bar deciding i'd get food after work at the diner.

It was only quick walk to the diner, and I loved it. At this time of the morning I could hear the birds and the ocean in my ears. It was peaceful. It was the only real time I had to myself during the day and i savoured it . I made it to the diner five to six and met Jake. Jake was in his late 20's and was a hard worker like me he sis everything to support his family, in his case his wife and mother . We bonded over our similarities sharing stories, of growing up on the outer banks. I don't have any friends here now, they all left outer banks in a rush after high school ended. 

The Diner was busy today, I liked it, it made the shift go faster so before I knew I was saying bye too Jake grabbing a sandwich and on the way to the country club. The country club was on figure eight and was clean, classy and full of kooks. It was quiet today I guess many people didn't want to come out because of the hurricane warnings, so I spent majority of my shift cleaning. I was cleaning the fridge when I heard a ding and quickly made my way to the counter. I wasn't surprised when I saw the faces of Rafe, Topper, and Kelce, they were regulars, 'Hi Boys' I said in a cheerfully. Rafe was the first to reply "Hi Harper, How are you?' and the other boys chimed a quick hi hello after. 'I'm good thank you, what would you guys like', this time Kelce was the first to reply 'I'll have a burger and coke', 'say please' rafe said sternly, 'please' Kelce said looking embarrassed. 'Actually ,make that two' topper said, 'make it three' rafe said smiling at me. I handed them there table number and they walked away, I was confused Rafe was never nice to anyone especially a Pogue.

About 20 minutes I brought out the food, topper and Kelce mumbled something about being starving and Rafe said ' Sorry about them Harper they just get little hangry when they haven't in a while' I laughed he said it in a baby voice which made it 10 x funnier, I gave him a quick smile and left them to there food. An hour or so later  Rafe came up to the counter to pay he paid on his card and then handed me a $100 dollar note, 'um what's this for' I said, 'It's your tip' he said and smiled, 'No, no its too much' I said quickly, 'No keep it, you work so hard, I literally see you working everyday' I smiled 'Thank you so much, this means a lot' he smiled and replied 'No problem'. I was left just standing there surprised why would Rafe do that, and then thinking of how this money could help start JJ's adoption process.

By the end of the shift I was tired but never the less I walked to the Smiths house ready to babysit. I was met at the door by the kids and was covered in hugs and kisses, there was Hamish who was just 3, Isabelle who was 4, and Olivia who was 6, I hugged them all back and talked to Mr and Mrs Smith who explained that they had a business meeting and would be back in 5 hours. The parents left and the fun began, we went for a swim in the pool played in the garden cooked homemade pizza for dinner and cookies for desert and then I bathed them and got them ready for a movie until bedtime. As I curled up on the couch with the kids I wondered if I would get the chance to raise my own kids like this, giving them the chance and opportunity to try everything they needed, enough money to travel the world and experience new thing. I put the kids to sleep at 7 and not long after the Smith's returned home, I declined there offer to take me home by saying something about John B and JJ picking me up which was a lie.

I had just started walking when the rain started to chug down, my clothes were drenched in seconds and I wrapped my arms around my body, desperately trying to keep my body warm. As I was walking I saw bright lights hit my eyes as a car stopped. It took me a second to see who's car it was and then i remembered, it was Rafe Camerons.

I saw the black tinted windows slide down into the car and Rafe's face appear ' You alright Harper, do you need I lift' he said, 'I'm fine' I said not very convincingly. "No you're not it's raining, its late and a hurricane's coming. Your lips are turning blue your so cold, I'm not leaving you out here to get hypothermia so get in the car' he said almost angrily. I walked around to the passenger side and opened the door 'Thank you Rafe, I really appreciate you driving me' I said and he handed me one of his jumpers from the back seat 'here you go put this on, it'll help you warm up', I smiled at him and put on the jumper back on making my body feel instantly warmer. We sat I in silence for bit and I watched the scenery pass outside the window. The silence was broken when Rafe said 'You work so much Harper, do you ever relax?', I sighed 'I guess I do work a lot, but it's the only way I can live you know with both my parents dead so I gotta make sure i can look after John B and JJ so DSC doesn't take them away from me, they are all I got' he looked at me sadly 'Your so brave Harper, I could never know what your life is really like because I've just had everything handed to me on a silver plater my whole life, if you ever need anything just let me know okay' 'okay, Can I ask you something Rafe' I said looking at him, 'anything' he replied, 'Why are you being so nice to me, you hate Pogues' He laughed softly ' You are different, your nice, friendly and a hard worker, I honestly don't know why I was ever mean to you at the beginning', we continued chatting until we made it to the Chateau.

'This is my stop' I said 'Thank you Rafe' I continued and I got out the car 'Anytime' he said, I was about to close the door when I remembered ' Oh I need to give you your jumper' I said ' No you keep it, gives me a reason to see you again' he said and gave me a wink. I blushed and closed the door and started walking up into the Chateau, as I walked into the house the first thing John B and JJ said as i was through the door was 'Who's jumper is that?' both staring me down like eagles, 'Um...it's Rafe's' they both looked at me like goldfish now 'Cameron' they said in unison. 'Yes' I laughed 'that's the only Rafe we know isn't it, he gave me a lift home from the smiths when I was in the rain seeing as neither of you thought to come pick me up'. 'Sorry Harper' John B said and JJ continued on 'we got kind of caught up' they were both looking at their feet embarrassed. 'Let me guess you were running away from cops' both boys said nothing in response to me, "wait seriously" I said, 'sorry Harper' the said in unison. I took a second to regain my thoughts and calm down ' Don't worry about it' I said lying, 'Now who wants taco's' both boys looked up and smiled 'yes, i'm starving I haven't eaten in hours' JJ said.

Later that night sitting at the table eating warm food next to my family, I was happy, I lived for moments like these, we talked for a while as the rain pelted down. Once my eyelids could no longer stay open i said goodnight to the boys and went to bed with Rafe still in the back of my mind.