PROMISE-ME ☼ outerbanks

chapter 13

The next morning I slept in, Rafe has been staying with me for the past week since Ward kicked him out. He's been helping a lot though, he's gotten close with my dad when I'm not here and they've been doing work outside. I was hella shocked because I didn't think he would do any work himself, he's always had things given to him on a silver platter.

"Ready" Rafe said, his hands covering my eyes as he led me throughout the house. "What are you doing?" I laughed, "wanted to show you what me and your dad did, baby", I could feel the breeze as we stepped outside, "Alright, there" he spoke, removing his hands.

I looked around confused until I saw the playground, My dad and Rafe had cleaned the weeds and vines growing on the playground. It looked so much better, "I know how important this is to you, so I thought we could make it look better" he smiled, looking down at me. I was speechless, small tears welled in my eyes, "aw bebe" I hugged his body as tight as I could, "i love it" I mumbled into his chest. He laughed, picking me up.

Here we were, 19 and 17 years old, playing on the playground. The only thing we could fit on was the swings but I made Rafe push me anyways. My dad got home, greeting us both, I have him a hug and an "I love you so much." In a way I feel like being with Rafe had brought me closer to my dad, this summer has felt like it brought back an old part of my life. I'm with the people I love and I couldn't be happier.

"So he's just MIA, that's so fucked up" I said, sitting on the couch. Rafe and my dad went to go pick up some things from a nearby hardware store, so Kie, Pope, and John B stopped by looking for JJ. "Everyone is okay right?" I asked, when they went to pawn the gold they had melted down, the lady shanked them, setting them up. "I heard you and Sarah kicked some ass though!" I gave her a high five, "Barry deserved it" my body froze at the mention of his name. "He jumped you guys?" I asked, "yeah fucking dick, then JJ had to go and steal his money, now we're fucked" I had to tell Rafe, they had fucked with Barry and if he knew Sarah was his sister then he would surely come to Rafe.

"Keep an eye out for him Chloe" John B hugged me good bye and they all left.

After dinner that night, Rafe and I went out to the hammock he set us for us. "I saw my friends today" I started, drawing circles on his chest, "they— got jumped by Barry" I said, he froze underneath my hand. "I don't know, but JJ got heated over it and then he went to Barry's and stole money" I whispered, "Chloe" Rafe tried getting off the hammock. "Rafe, I'm scared, Sarah was with them and— and if he knows she's your sister, he'll come here for you" I said, "fuck, do you know what they just did" he stressed, running a hand through his hair, "I was with you Rafe, I wasn't involved" I said, "you will be, Chloe, It's fucking Barry" he yelled, "I'm sorry" I replied, walking towards him. "Chloe, just give me some time" he moved away from me, I sucked in a breathe, "okay."

What the fuck do I do know?

Rafe stayed outside by the dock for an hour, I was laying in bed and trying to sleep. It was hot since we didn't have any power still because of Agatha, whatta batch.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, my door creaked lowly and I felt the bed behind me dip. He kissed my head, cuddling into me. I smiled to myself, getting snuggled up against him.

"I'm sorry, I love you for everything. I couldn't do it without you" he whispered as I fell asleep.

Rafe and I decided to go out and get breakfast, we were walking back to his truck when some guy on a dirt bike pulled up. "Fuck" he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to his side. "Rafe Cameron" the guy called out, walking towards us, "Why's your family think I'm just some bitch they can shit on?" he said, "first your dad kneecaps me in my house-" "you go your money, Barry" Rafe interrupted him, "that aint the point" Barry replied, hardly.

"then what? a bitch hm?" Barry continued, "no, no" Rafe laughed out. "Okay, so then why is your little sister and her little surf rat friends running around stealing 25k out of my house!" he raised his voice, I grabbed Rafe's arm, Barry's eyes shifting to me, "can you tell me that."

"My little sister robbed you?" Rafe spoke, acting like he didn't know anything, "Yeah Sarah robbed me, that's why I'm here" "She won't pick a dollar up off the street, what are you talking about?" Rafe said.

"Do I look dumb?" Barry stepped closer to Rafe and I, Rafe putting me behind him. "Cause I'm telling you right now, you better sort this out with your sister, or else I am" he paused his focus now on me, "cause I want my money or It's coming back down on you and Chloe" he threatened.

He left pissed off, "holy shit, what did they do" I whispered against Rafe's back. "You're good, you're okay baby" he wrapped his arms around me, "Rafe he's a druggie, you don't mess with them, he could fucking kill us" I panicked, feeling nauseas, "I feel like throwing up" I mumbled, sitting in his car and resting my head back against the seat.

Kie, Pope, and I walked to JJ's to check if he was there. Rafe went to find his sister with Topper and see what the fuck he was going to do about Barry, warn her at-least.

"What the hell" I said as we approached JJ's, there were lights strung up along the trees and a big ass hot tub on the lawn. "Who the hell is that?" Pope squinted, trying to make the person out. We heard a cork pop, "What did you do, JJ?" "I got a jet going straight in my butt right now" he giggled, "Y'all should get in immediately, you hear me?" he motioned for us to join him. "How much did this cost?" Pope questioned, "uh..." JJ mumbled, "well, with the generator, the petrol, and oh, hey, express delivery, pretty much all of it, yeah" he laughed, smiling. "You spent it all in one day??" I screamed,

"Yeah, burned a hole right through my pocket. But, I mean, like, come on guys, like look at all this!" he said splashing around some water, "Finest in jet-based massage therapy, that's what they told me" he scratched his head. "Kie, Chloe, what?" he stared at us, "can't a man have a little luxury in life?" We all were speechless, like JJ was not okay.

"Enough of this emotional shit. Get in the Cat's Ass. Come on" Pope looked at him confused, "In the Cat's Ass?" "Yeah, that's what I named her" JJ replied. "You're kidding me JJ! You could have paid for restitution" Pope yelled at him, "or literally given it to any charity" Kie said.
"Okay, well, you know what? I didn't do that!" he yelled back, "I got a hot tub! For my friends. You know what? No, you know what? Screw friends. I got a hot tub for my family!" he stood up, we all gasped at the gnarly bruises he had on his stomach and ribs. "What the fuck?" I gasped, my eyes welling with tears, "I got this for you" his voice cracked, "Guys, look what I did for you! All right?" his voice lowered, "JJ" I whispered out, he cried at seeing my reaction, "No, you stop being emotional. It's fine, okay?" I stepped into the tub, pulling him into my arms. I held him, we both sobbed. "I'm so sorry J" I barely made out, Kie and Pope joined in pulling both of us into a hug.
"I just couldn't do it. I can't take him anymore!" JJ cried into my chest, "I was gonna kill him. I just wanna do the right thing." He whispered, "I know. I know" Kie mumbled, "JJ we love you, we got you man, always. Don't ever forget that." Pope spoke.

In that moment my heart broke for JJ, he was such a good kid, but his dad fucked his life up and blamed him for everything. JJ deserved the world and so much more.

authors note;

a few more chapters before this is done :) I didn't think I'd get any reads with this, thanks to all who are reading.
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the hot tub scene broke ma heart 🥺🥺🥺
xx