ᯓ★ Your hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

Cold sweat clung to your skin as you sat in the car, the sound of your heartbeat louder than the engine itself.

You were helping them.

Helping John B Routledge escape.

So why did it feel so wrong?

Because you knew something they didn’t.

You told him.

You told Rafe Cameron everything.

You hadn’t meant to—it just slipped out while you were in his room, too comfortable, too distracted by him. And now—

Now you didn’t know what side you were on anymore.

You were never really a Pogue.

Just a Kook who tried to be one.

And now?

You were stuck in between.

── .✦

By the time you reached the warehouse, your nerves were shot.

You forced yourself to move anyway, helping JJ Maybank and Kiara Carrera get the Phantom ready, your hands working while your mind raced.

Then—

A motorcycle.

Your stomach dropped instantly.

You knew that sound.

That wasn’t Pope.

You turned quickly, about to grab Kiara—

Too late.

Rafe walked in.

“Thanks, babe,” he said, flashing you a quick wink.

You hissed under your breath, stepping back as JJ and Kiara both shot you looks.

Seriously?

You couldn’t even answer them.

Because everything fell apart at once.

Barry walked in right after.

And then—

Chaos.

Fists. Shouting. Movement everywhere.

“Rafe—stop!” you yelled, but he didn’t even look at you.

Of course he didn’t.

You stood frozen, stuck in place—

Not knowing who to help.

Not knowing what to do.

Until—

He grabbed Kiara.

Hands tight around her throat.

“Rafe—Rafe, stop it!” you shouted, panic rising fast—

But then—

A hit.

Barry.

You barely saw it coming before it knocked into you, pain shooting through your side.

And that—

That got Rafe’s attention.

“Hey—not her—”

That split second was enough.

Pope Heyward took it.

Punch after punch.

Then the pipe.

Your breath caught as he forced it on Rafe’s neck, tightening it around his neck.

“Stop—!” you cried, stepping forward—And then you saw it.

Blood, alot of blood.

At the corner of Rafe’s mouth.

Your chest tightened.

“Pope, stop!” Kiara pulled him back just in time—

And you didn’t even think.

You ran straight to Rafe.

Because no matter what—

You always chose him.

── .✦

You sat on the pavement, your hands still shaking as you wiped the blood from Rafe Cameron’s mouth with the hem of your shirt.

He didn’t stop you.

Didn’t say anything at first.

Just sat there, breathing heavy, jaw tight—humiliated, angry, barely holding it together.

You could feel it. The way he was about to snap. Then his eyes shifted to you.

“What about your little Pogue friends, huh?” he muttered, voice low.