OCEANS APART - 𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻

4.

i stared at rafes ceiling, waiting for him to come back. i couldn't believe i was even here right now. i couldn't believe what i just witnessed. i was scared and i didn't know how to get out of this. the tables have surely turned.

the door swung open and rafe stepped inside. i slowly turned to him, seeing him staring at me. his eyes were full of tears and i couldn't help but feel bad. this situation was fucked but i couldn't help but find sympathy for rafe.

i thought back to how distraught he was finding out his father murder yet another person.

he sat next to me on his bed and i looked down at my hands. they were still shaking and i didn't try to conceal them. i waited for him to explain, eager to understand, to know the truth of what happened last summer.

rafe started talking, stumbling over his words and growing frustrated. neither of us looked at each other but i knew he knew i was listening to every word, every breath he endured.

i collected this.

gold, there was gold, lots of it and ward had been trying to find it for years. half a billion worth of gold and somehow the pouges found it, and who helped them? sarah, his sister and once ward heard of this, he immediately got the gold himself and had a plan to fly it to the bahamas, away from the pouges and anyone else trying to find it.

they were on the tarmac, about to leave— sarah and ward.

sheriff peterkin showed up and turns out, she wasn't after john b. that's when rafe arrived, full of anger and jealousy that his dad didn't choose him over sarah. when rafe arrived he didn't know what he was getting himself into, and as the sheriff made her way to arrest ward, his dad pulled a gun and shot her in the chest.

john b and sarah got away, that's when ward asked rafe to call 911, and saying it was john b. rafe said he didn't want to do it but his dad told him that he needed his help and that made him feel... wanted. rafe did it, afraid for not only his life but his dads.

"a-and now i thought we were okay, but he went and did it again." rafe stuttered. he ran his hands through his hair, panic in his eyes. "please sunny, you have to believe me. i'm trapped and- and i don't know what to do." he turned to me now, eyeing me trying to figure out what i was thinking.

i looked at him, "rafe, your dads a killer w-we can't just sit back and let him get away with this." i whispered, afraid to set him off. "n-no my d-dads just confused right now and is grieving sarah." he shook his head and i grabbed his hands.

"no rafe, he's a killer. just because john b and sarah are gone... doesn't make him any less of a killer. you blamed them rafe, they didn't do anything.." i said and rafe stood up, throwing my hands off of his. i sighed, trying not to cry again.

"sunny, you weren't there i- i just need you to believe me please. i'm- i'm scared." he cried, pacing across the room. i stood up, pulling him against me. he looked down at me, confused.

i hugged him.

"i'm sorry rafe, j-just calm down." i said and rafe finally wrapped his arms around me. his body shook and we stood there, taking in the reality of the situation. "okay.. okay just breath." i whispered, "it's going to be okay." i don't know why i was soothing him but a strange part of me understood. rafe was just trying to protect his dad and i thought about my mom, my dad and if something happened of course i would take their side. my parents mean everything to me and it feels like shit when you mess up or disappoint them.

you want nothing but validation from them. i see now rafe never got that from his dad. he deserves to be understood, and in this moment i know i could help him. i can help him bring down his dad and help him understand himself. i could do it and i will do it.

"i believe you rafe just, you need to shower and get some sleep." i nodded, pulling away. i made sure i had my keys, ready to get the hell out of this house. "no wait don't leave me." he said, grabbing my hand so gentle, so softly that i wanted to crumble to the floor.

why.

"rafe i'm not staying here." i pressed, showing him the fear i now have for his dad. he nodded, understanding and letting me go. "i'll see you later?" i said, hoping to make him feel better.

he nodded and i let myself out, practically sprinting to my car and peeling out the drive way.

the tears fell rapidly as i drove down the dark roads. everything hit me, the terrible fate of sarah and john b. i now see why jj was so upset, i didn't blame him. my heart aches for the friends and family but i couldn't help but feel bad for rafe too.

his fate was unfortunate and i knew he didn't deserve it. as much as i say i dislike him, he didn't deserve this. i wanted to be there for him but i wanted him to understand that i was not sticking up for ward. i will not stand for him and i didn't want to be near him, ever.

i worked on my homework, ignoring the chit chat around me. "oh come on sunny." masie laughed and i felt her stare burning into me. i ignored her, trying to finish the calculus problem. i had a test on friday and i wanted to be prepared.

my grades mean everything to me, i wanted to go far in life. i want to get there all by myself, not just with daddies money.

"jesus." matt said and i could practically hear him roll his eyes. i finished the problem and looked up, "what?" i asked, wanting to break my pencil. i swear these 'friends' of mine love to push my buttons.

"party on friday night, you in?" masie snorted and i rolled my eyes, pushing my glasses up. they tended to fall down, i needed a knew pair but that would have to wait for another time. i needed these glasses most of the day, i only took them off if i was swimming or sleeping.

"no." i grumbled, feeling my cheeks heat up. they knew i wouldn't come, i hated parties. the whole drinking scene and drug scene was not for me. that could ruin my life in an instant and i wasn't going to risk that.

i felt a presence behind me, hearing a camera click. i whipped around, seeing rafe smirking. he had his phone out, zooming in on the homework answers. i covered my paper quickly, "thanks sunny!" he mocked and i felt my eyes prick with tears.

he's likes to embarrass me, so bad that i would cry.

and that made it worse.

"you said no to the party on friday? shocker." rafe laughed, rounding the table so he was directly in front of me. i kept my eyes down, not even daring to look at him. "sunny you should come." masie said, desperation in her voice. "no thanks." i mumbled, pushing up my glasses again.

rafe pulled them off, "geez for being a kook you'd think you could afford new glass." rafe tossed them in the air, catching them. i stood up, "please give them back." i stared at the ground, hands shaking, tears welling.

"or what?" he laughed again and everyone watched, no one came to my defense. he held them up high, watching me reach for them. suddenly, he dropped them and i watched them shatter to the ground. my vision was blurry so i couldn't seem to grab them at the right time.

"seems like the only thing you're good at is school work." rafe shrugged, walking to my seat and grabbing my homework. he stuffed the papers in his pockets and walked away.

"thanks by the way." rafe said as he got into my car. i ignored him, pulling out of the driveway. i thought a lot last night about the events, piecing together a way to take down ward while also leaving rafe out of it. when rafe asked to talk and also asked for a ride to the cut i was hesitant but agreed because my plan was to find jj maybank.

"listen i-i want you to know that i'm really sorry about last night and that night on the beach.." he said as i focused on the road. "it's fine rafe, i'm sorry too." the beach fight seemed like nothing now. this was more important to me.

the need to protect rafe came on so quick it was almost annoying. i don't owe him anything, all the years of him bullying me seemed to be thrown out the window. ward was a terrible man and i know he didn't treat rafe with any respect. i'm sure horrible things go on in that house and rafe doesn't have anyone there for him.

"i didn't mean what i said... you're not like your dad rafe." i clenched the steering wheel.

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