Y/n POV
I found myself sneaking over to the Cameron’s house again, a place that had become both a haven and a prison in my life. For what felt like an eternity – maybe nine or ten months – Rafe and I had been entangled. Initially, it was a whirlwind, a thrilling secret romance. But the initial spark had long faded, replaced by something dark and consuming.
“Rafe,” I began, my voice laced with sadness, “you’ve got to stop using coke.” We were in his room, the familiar setting of countless arguments. To any outsider, the solution would seem simple: leave. Walk away from the toxicity. But Rafe had woven a web of threats, chilling promises of harm to my brother and friends if I dared to break free. Fear, cold and heavy, kept me tethered to him, the fear that he would turn his rage on me if I tried to escape.
“Oh my f***ing God, you’re not my mom,” Rafe spat, annoyance dripping from his words.
“I know that,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, but he cut me off with a roar.
“If you know that, then why do you keep acting like it?! It’s always ‘Rafe stop this’ or ‘Rafe don’t do that’, it’s not okay. Shut the f*** up! You are nothing to me, got that? You’re here for me. So don’t tell me what to do.” His voice was a weapon, each word a lash, delivered inches from my face. Tears pricked at my eyes. I was always sensitive, emotions close to the surface, and the constant conflict was eroding me. All I wanted was to disappear, to erase Rafe from my life. Every fight, every harsh word, every instance of his volatile temper crashed over me, and a desperate longing for my brother surged within me.
“You know what, Rafe?” I said, hurt and anger giving me a fragile strength as I stood up. He glared at me, his eyes hard and cold. “We’re done. I’m sick and tired of you treating me like sh*t! We’re done!” I yelled, the words finally breaking free. I turned to storm out, to put an end to this nightmare, but Rafe had other, violent plans.
The Violence Escalates: Rafe’s Physical Abuse
He grabbed my arm, his grip like steel, yanking me back into the room. He slammed the door shut, the sound echoing like a death knell, and turned to face me. Rage contorted his features; I could see it in his flared nostrils, the clenching of his fists. “Do you not remember what I told you?” he hissed, stepping menacingly closer. “You’re gonna regret saying that.” A growl rumbled in his chest, and then his fist lashed out, connecting with my right cheek.
Pain exploded through my face, a sharp, searing agony. I stumbled back, a whimper escaping my lips. I was no match for his brute strength. “Rafe,” I pleaded, trying to reason with the monster he had become, but he punched me again, harder this time. “Please stop,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face now, but my pleas were lost on him.
Sarah’s Intervention and a Desperate Escape
“Rafe!” A voice cut through the haze of pain and fear. Rafe froze instantly, his hand flying to cover my mouth, silencing my sobs. I was dizzy, lightheaded from the blows, but I recognized Sarah’s voice, clear and sharp, just outside the door.
“What Sarah?” Rafe yelled back, his voice strained, trying to mask the violence he had just inflicted.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, suspicion heavy in her tone. This was my chance. Mustering every ounce of strength, I kneed Rafe in the stomach. He gasped, air rushing from his lungs as he doubled over. I followed up with a kick to his groin, a desperate act of self-preservation. He let out a guttural moan of pain. I lunged for the door, throwing it open and stumbling out into the hallway.
I must have looked like a creature from a nightmare. Blood trickled from my nose, bruises already blooming on my face, stomach, and legs. “Y/n?” Sarah gasped, staring at me in horror as I stood there, a broken mess. I ignored her, adrenaline coursing through me, and ran. I sprinted down the hall, out of the house, and into the night, my only thought to reach John B’s. It was our sanctuary, the place JJ and I always sought refuge. Praying Rafe wasn’t pursuing me, I didn’t dare look back. I didn’t hear the roar of his truck, a small mercy.
Seeking Sanctuary with the Pogues
Finally, I reached the familiar, ramshackle house. “JJ!” I screamed, collapsing onto the ground, pain radiating from every part of my body, a symphony of agony orchestrated by Rafe. “JJ!” I screamed again, knowing I couldn’t make it to the door on my own. “John B!” I yelled, desperate for anyone, any help. I curled up on my side, clutching my stomach, each breath a fresh wave of pain.
Then, the sound of a door creaking open, followed by a rush of footsteps. “Y/n?” JJ’s voice, laced with concern, cut through the fog of pain. I felt hands gently on my side, rolling me onto my back. A chorus of gasps filled the air. I opened my eyes to see the entire Pogue crew surrounding me, their faces etched with shock and alarm. “Y/n, who did this?” John B asked, kneeling beside me, JJ mirroring his posture.
I shook my head, tears welling up again. “JJ, it hurts,” I cried, reaching for my brother, the pain overwhelming. His face crumpled, mirroring my distress, seeing his sister in such a state. “I know, I know,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m gonna lift you, get you inside, alright?” He asked softly. I could only manage a weak nod as he carefully lifted me from the ground.
Confession and the Aftermath of Abuse
Inside, they were gentle, tending to my wounds with a mixture of anger and concern. Advil was pressed into my hand, and they worked together, cleaning cuts and applying ice to bruises. I sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, as John B finished cleaning a cut on my arm. “Y/n, who did this?” JJ asked again, sitting beside me, his voice dangerously low.
I looked at each of them, fear and shame warring within me. “Um. Uh, well,” I stammered, unsure how to begin. “Before you do anything, let me tell the whole story, okay?” I asked, pleading with my eyes. They nodded, their expressions a mixture of apprehension and support.
“About ten months ago,” I began, my voice trembling slightly, “I started dating someone.”
“Who?” JJ interjected, his voice sharp with anger. I shot him a look, silently asking him to let me finish. I was already terrified to reveal the truth, dreading their reactions. “I was dating Rafe Cameron.” The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. “For a little bit, it was… okay. We had a great relationship, at least at first. I never told anyone because of, you know, the whole Pogue-Kook thing.” I explained, my voice barely above a whisper. “Anyways, he just… changed. For a while, we’d just yell, argue, but then we’d make up, sleep together, and pretend nothing happened. But then that changed too. He started getting… cough physical.” Shame burned in my cheeks as I admitted the truth. I didn’t understand why I felt embarrassed, but the vulnerability of admitting to being a victim was almost unbearable. “And tonight was the worst it’s ever been… as you can see,” I finished, gesturing weakly to my bruised face.
I looked up at their faces. Pope’s was etched with shock. Kiara’s burned with anger and outrage. John B’s jaw was clenched tight with fury. And JJ… JJ was a storm of emotions. Upset, mad, angry, shocked – it was all there, swirling in his eyes.
“Y/n, why didn’t you leave him?” Kiara asked, her voice flat and hard.
I gulped, the question hitting me like a punch to the gut. “He threatened to hurt you guys. And he threatened to hurt me. Which he did. But I couldn’t let you guys get hurt because of him!” I said frantically, trying to make them understand my twisted logic.
“I’m gonna kill him,” JJ growled, rising to his feet and storming out of the house. John B and Pope were instantly on their feet, chasing after him. Kiara helped me stand, my body protesting with every movement. We rushed outside as quickly as my battered body allowed. I watched in horror as my brother sped off on his dirt bike, a man driven by rage and a fierce need to protect his sister.
“Shit!” John B yelled, running a hand through his hair. “Guys, we have to go after him.”
“She’s right, we’ll take the van,” Pope nodded, already moving towards their beat-up vehicle.
“Y/n, where would Rafe be?” John B asked as we piled into the van, speeding out of the Cut.
“His house, I assume,” I said with a shrug, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach. I never wanted to see Rafe again, but the thought of JJ facing him alone, of my brother potentially getting himself into serious trouble, was even more terrifying. I had to stop him.
Confrontation at the Cameron’s and Brotherly Love
“There’s his bike,” I said, pointing as we pulled up near the Cameron’s opulent house. I jumped out of the van, my heart pounding in my chest, the Pogues close behind me. I doubted they were inside the house, knowing Rafe’s tendency for outdoor confrontations. I ran towards the backyard, the Pogues following close behind. “JJ!” I yelled as I rounded the corner.
And there he was. Rafe. JJ was already on him, fists flying, landing blow after blow on Rafe’s face. “JJ, stop it!” Kiara yelled as we reached them. John B tried to pull JJ off, but it was futile. JJ was consumed by a righteous fury, fueled by the sight of his injured sister. Rafe had laid his hands on me, and JJ was determined to make him pay. “JJ, stop, please!” I screamed, tears blurring my vision. I hated violence, even when it was directed at someone who deserved it. “JJ, stop, you’re scaring Y/n!” Pope yelled, his voice rising above the chaos.
JJ hesitated, his eyes flickering towards me, his rage momentarily faltering. Rafe seized the opportunity, kicking JJ off him, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Rafe, no!” I screamed again, lunging forward to intervene, but Kiara held me back, her grip firm. Instead, John B tackled Rafe, wrestling him to the ground. They grappled, a tangle of limbs and fury. I rushed to my brother’s side. “JJ,” I cried, cradling his face in my hands. He was bruised, blood trickling from his lip, but otherwise, he seemed okay. “I’m okay,” he said, his voice still laced with anger.
“JJ, stop, please,” I pleaded, pulling on his arms as he tried to get back to his feet. “You’ll end up in jail. I can’t have you in there.” Tears streamed down my face as I begged him to stop. He looked at me, his anger slowly giving way to concern. His gaze dropped to the ground, shame replacing the fury. “John B, let’s go,” Kiara urged, seeing that John B was gaining the upper hand in the fight against Rafe. John B got to his feet, spitting on Rafe before turning back to us. “Don’t you ever f***ing lay a hand on her again,” he growled, his voice menacing. And then, we were gone, leaving Rafe in the dust, Ward and Rose nowhere to be seen.
The car ride back to the Chateau was silent, heavy with unspoken emotions. Guilt gnawed at me. My brother and John B were hurt, all because of my terrible choices. We pulled up to the Chateau, and everyone piled out, but I remained in my seat, legs dangling out the open door. “You guys go ahead, I gotta talk to her,” I heard JJ say quietly to the others. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw JJ sit down beside me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, finally meeting his gaze, shame and regret washing over me.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” he said, a small, reassuring smile touching his lips.
“If I just hadn’t fallen for Rafe’s stupid self, then we wouldn’t be in this situation,” I mumbled, my voice thick with self-reproach.
“Well, that is true,” JJ conceded gently. “But Rafe could have also not been a piece of sh*t, and we wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s not your fault, Y/n. It’s his. You didn’t do anything wrong by being with him, alright?” He said, his voice firm but kind. I managed a tiny nod. “Are you hurt?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, referring to the fight just moments ago. He let out a small chuckle. “I’m perfectly fine,” he assured me. “You’re the one I’m worried about.” He gently touched a bruise on my face, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me, a stark contrast to Rafe’s violence. “I’ll be okay,” I sighed. “It’s nothing we haven’t had before, right?” I mumbled sadly, the unspoken reference to our father’s abuse hanging heavy in the air.
“Don’t say that,” JJ grumbled, his face darkening with remembered pain. “Sorry,” I mumbled again, instantly regretting my words. JJ hated talking about our father, the darkness of our past. The Pogues knew snippets, but the full extent of it remained unspoken. “I love you, big brother,” I said, hugging him tightly, seeking comfort and reassurance. “I love you too,” he laughed softly, hugging me back. “Next time,” I said, pulling away to look at JJ, a small smile playing on my lips, “if you’re gonna fight Rafe, maybe don’t do it at his house.” I chuckled, finally feeling a sliver of lightness break through the gloom. JJ nodded, a matching smile spreading across his face as he followed me inside. I knew, with a certainty that settled deep in my bones, that if Rafe ever dared to come near me again, JJ would unleash a fury that even Rafe Cameron wouldn’t be able to withstand.
