𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐

CHAPTER TWO deal with the devil

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I STARED AT the group of boys in front of me with my jaw hung open, "No. No, no way." I repeated.

"C'mon, we've just come back from a fishing trip. We're starved." Kie pleaded.

"Without me? Wow, that weakens your chances."

"Well done, Kie. Told you I should do the talking." JJ glared at her.

"Shut up JJ." the group said in unison, causing me to giggle.

"Look, Agatha's been a bitch to The Cut. This is the only place we can get fresh food. You wouldn't want the blood of 4 dead Pogues on your hands 'cause you didn't wanna feed us, now do ya?" the blonde boy continued, despite the group's objections.

I paused for a second, mainly in shock that JJ had finally made a solid point in the first time of his life. I may have been annoyed that they came in just after I finished cleaning, but I wasn't going to let my only friends starve.

"Fine, but you're helping me clean up." I smiled.

The group exchanged a quick glance then all charged at me, throwing me into a tight hug. The smell of lake water and body odour suffocated me as I attempted to peel them off my body, struggling as they didn't want to let go.

"Thank you so so much, Camille." Pope cried, his grip on me being stronger than anything.

"Alright, alright." I patted his head. "Now let go before your smell kills me, were y'all swimming with dead bodies or some shit?"

"Close, but not quite." Kie laughed, helping me get the sweaty boys off from around my waist.

I'm not even going to ask what she meant by that. Frankly, I don't think I want to know.

I wiped my hands down on my apron, surprised at how dirty teenage boys actually are. I made my way towards the kitchen refrigerator, knowing that Maury, the chef, always leaves leftover food for himself hidden behind the egg cartons.

"Help yourselves to some water from the bar. Alcohol is off limits!" I shouted, walking out of the cold room.

I placed the saran-wrapped plates onto the worktop, examining what meals were left.

Salmon medallions, battered cod, and fish fingers.

Maury sure likes his fish, huh.

I unwrapped each dish and reheated them all individually in the microwave. Balancing all 6 hot plates in my arms, I kicked the dining area door open and crawled over to where Kie and the boys had sat down.

"Dinner is served. Hopefully none of y'all are allergic to fish, otherwise we're gonna have to kill John B's rooster."

"You didn't have to bring out all 6 plates, there's only 4 of us."

"Yes I did." I replied, looking at JJ.

"Yes she did." he said at the same time.

We all broke out into ridiculously loud laughter as JJ stuffed his face with salmon. Even though they were all a year younger than me, I had never had such great friends. Every time we hung out it just seemed to be smiles all around. There was not a moment where I felt out of place, which is exactly what you'd want in a group of friends.

"So, what's the plan for tomorrow. Y'all gonna finally take a shower?" I chuckled, pinching one of the fries from Pope's plate.

"Why do you say y'all in almost every sentence? That's a stretch, and we're friends with this guy." Kie said, ruffling JJ's hair.

"Firstly, get a room." I pointed to the couple who were now play-fighting. "And secondly, I just have a Southern mother, that's all."

"Hey, it's not like that!" she protested, with everyone at the table questioning her statement.

"How's May anyway?" John B spoke up.

"She's shit, heartbroken over her last boyfriend leaving her. Same as it always is really, I just have more alcohol bottles to clean up."

"Damn." he sighed.

The next few moments were filled with silence as the quartet practically licked their plates dry. John B's mention of my mother made me think of how I'd have to face her after I unexpectedly stayed longer at the restaurant. She hated that I worked long shifts as it was, little did she know I did so in order to avoid her and her drunken self. Hopefully she was passed out by now, as she usually was.

A rapid knock sounded on the restaurant door, startling the group- me included. We all exchanged questioning glances as none of us were expecting an intrusion so late at night.

"Shit, could it be Mike?" I panicked at the thought of my boss.

"Can't be, he called me saying he was on his way home." Kie reassured.

"Fuck, who is it then?"

"We should go check it out." JJ stated.

"Sit down, J. I work here, remember? Only I should be here, get in the kitchen whilst I check what asshole is knocking."

We all got up, no one bothering to tuck their chairs in. I turned back to see that they had all left their plates behind, even after they promised to clean up.

"Ahem." I coughed, pointing to the ransacked table.

The group scrambled to collect their plates and ran to the kitchen, Pope tripping on his shoelace in the process.

Another series of knocks sounded, after which I ran to unlock the door.

"Yes— Rafe?"

Air was almost taken out of my lungs as I stared at the face leaning on the doorframe. Rafe Cameron stood slumped on the foot of the restaurant, his dilated eyes meeting mine as the door swung wide open. His light brown hair was even scruffier than earlier, presumably a result of the drugs he was obviously under the influence of.

"Get the fuck out of my sight, Kook." I said before slamming the door in his face, only for him to hold it open.

"Don't make me report you for bad customer service, Foxy." he slurred, his breath making me aware that he had also been drunk.

"My shift's over, you bastard. Why are you here?"

"Well, since I'm your favourite customer, I reckoned you would do me a little favour." he took a few stray strands of my hair and tucked it behind my ear.

"Don't fucking touch me." I said, pushing away his hand that was now cupping my face.

"Look, we're having a party down at The Boneyard tomorrow. I just need a few drinks brought down and then I'll be out of your sight."

"No." I replied bluntly.

"C'mon, do it for me." he whined pathetically.

"And who the fuck are you to me?" I laughed.

"Someone who could get you fired, I heard your little 'jackass' comment earlier. That was on shift, wasn't it, darlin'?"

I don't know what I was more disgusted at; the fact that Rafe Cameron called me darling, or that he was attempting to blackmail me and somehow succeeding. I took a few moments to clear my thoughts before I noticed his hand trail to the waistband of his shorts, pulling out a set of neatly folded 50$ bills.

"You can have it if you just bring the booze tomorrow. I won't tell anyone, and I'm assuming you know better than to run that pretty mouth of yours." he waved the cash in front of my face.

"Fine." I snatched the paper from his fingers, tucking it safely into my back pocket. "This is the last time I ever do you a favour."

"Knew you'd come to your senses. Meet me on the Eastside of The Boneyard at 7, bring the drinks and then you're free to go."

I nodded before walking off, presuming that was the end of the conversation and I could go about the rest of my night Kook-free.

"One more thing." he started

Guess I was wrong.

"Yeah?"

"A 'thank you' would be appreciated."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Uh uh." he shook his head. "Say it like you mean it."

"Thank you."

"Who are you saying that to?"

I sighed, being done with his bullshit.

"Thank you, Rafe Cameron."

"You're welcome, Camille Fox." he smirked, putting emphasis on my name.

With the sound of the door closing, I tore the apron off my body, exhausted from today's antics. I still couldn't wrap my head around the conversation I had just endured, and how weird Rafe was being.

I guess that's why they always tell you not to do drugs.

With the loose apron still in my hand, I walked into the kitchen to reassure my friends that I was still alive and not kidnapped by some psycho- even though that would've been preferred.

"Oh my God, we started to think you died or some shit." Kie exhaled, pulling me into another tight embrace.

"Close, but not quite." I repeated her words from earlier.

"So, what was that about?" Pope asked.

To avoid an outburst from JJ, the only other person I knew who hated Kooks as much as me, I decided not to tell the group about what Rafe wanted from me.

I had other plans in mind.

"How would you guys like to crash a Kook party tomorrow night?"