𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑

CHAPTER THREEhome sweet home

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I KNEW RAFE told me not to tell anyone about our deal, but he never said anything about the party. Word spreads fast around the island, so why not add fuel to the fire? I had an opportunity to screw with Kooks, and I wouldn't pass it up.

"What do you mean 'crash a Kook party'?" Pope beamed with excitement.

"I mean, meet me at The Boneyard tomorrow at 7:30, and get ready to mess with some country club assholes."

"What's the catch?" Kie sighed.

"There's no catch. I'm presenting a once in a lifetime chance to get wasted and you guys think there's a catch?"

"Who's you guys, I'm down as fuck!" JJ cheered, throwing me a high-five.

"Count me in." John B smiled.

Pope took a deep breath and sighed, "If you guys get in shit, I swear to God, I will—'

The boys interrupted him with a loud series of cheers, jumping on each other like excited puppies. Shortly, everyone turned to look at Kiara, who was still unconvinced.

"He's right," she nodded in Pope's direction, "What if we get busted?"

"That's the point, babygirl. We're there to screw with them, not to be sneaky. They can't kick us out of The Boneyard, it's a public place on our side of the island. If anything they're the ones who shouldn't be there." I stated.

Kie ran her hands through her hair as her eyes darted to each person in the group. She looked at JJ for a longer second before linking eyes with me.

"Okay, but only to make sure this piece of shit gets home unharmed." she laughed, throwing her arm around JJ.

"See what I mean?" I whispered to the other boys, making them snort with laughter.

We spent the last few moments clearing up and making sure the restaurant was spotless. I could feel my fatigue catching up to me, so I knew it was best for me to make my way home.

"I gotta bounce, see y'all tomorrow?" I asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"You know it. How are you getting home?" John B replied.

"Same way I got here, by foot."

"No, you're not. We're not letting you walk home at this time."

"I'll be fine, JB. It's just a 20 minute walk, nothin's ever stopped me before, why now?"

"Because we said so." Kiara added on. "Get in The Twinkie."

"I'll be fine, promise."

There was a brief pause before John B picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder. It took me a second to register what was happening, but not long before I started kicking his muscular stomach in an attempt to get myself down.

"You're getting in the van." he stated bluntly.

"John Booker Routledge, you psycho, put me down!" I kicked again, causing more damage to my foot than he seemed to induce.

"Nope."

"I need to lock up, put me down."

He kept one arm firmly around my waist, moving the second one to grab the keys from my back pocket and toss them to Pope. I kicked him one last time, stopping as I feared I'd break my foot from his rock-hard stomach.

"Still no chance you'll put me down?" I pleaded.

"Not one." he said in the same monotone voice.

I sighed and let John B carry me to the brown van, despite my previous objection. It was nice of the group to ensure I got home safe, even though I was fine with walking. I guess it was just another 'friendship' thing I wasn't used to; having people care for you so much that they'll carry you into their car if needs be.

"Christ, JB, next time be a bit more careful with how you carry me. My whole tit could've popped out." I giggled, readjusting the red bikini top that provided little to no coverage.

"Nothing he hasn't seen before." JJ snarked, causing Kie to slap him over the head.

"Where am I driving you?" Pope attempted to switch the topic of conversation.

"Same way as The Chateau, just turn left at the last crossroad instead of right."

Most of the car journey was silent; John B had fallen asleep, Kiara had her eyes glued to her phone, and JJ sat hitting his juul. I stretched my legs out to the other side of the van, feeling a sharp pain in my lower back from standing for the whole day. I winced as I continued stretching, attempting to ease the pain.

"Alright Cami, you're out here." Pope turned back, a tired smile on his face.

"Thank you so much guys, get home safe."

"Love you." Kie waved.

"And you."

I breathed in deeply as I watched the van drive away, knowing that the previous happiness would be long gone by the time I stepped foot in my house. I reassured myself that my mother would be dead asleep on the couch, and I wouldn't have to face her before I went to bed.

My legs barely carried me onto my front porch, the chipped hardwood creaking with every small step I made. I twisted the lock a few times before the door opened, leading me to a sight I was least expecting.

"Finally, you're home. I was worried sick." my mother said in her Southern drawl.

I scoffed before ignoring the obvious drunken state she was in and heading for my room. I kicked each glass bottle out of my path, increasing in anger as I noticed how much she'd actually drank today.

"Fine, ignore me." she continued.

"Oh, I will."

"Baby, please, look at me." she walked up to me, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"What? You gonna lecture me about how I shouldn't stay out late meanwhile I'm out working double shifts because you won't get off your ass? Save it." I snapped.

"I'm sorry, sweetpea. It's just, with Adam leaving—"

"Stop. This happened way before Adam, or Larry, or Pete, or Scott, or any of the other countless men that you've brought home. I had to leave school at 15 because my mother was too drunk to keep a stable job. How do you think that makes me feel?" I shouted, tears welling up in my eyes.

I stood still, waiting for her reply. My eyes trailed the movement of her hand to her pocket, from which she pulled out a pack of Marlboro Red's. She placed the cigarette between her teeth, lighting it, and exhaling the smoke in my direction.

"Can you not smoke when I'm trying to speak to you, God dammit?" my voice cracked.

May had been smoking since I was a baby. Hell, she probably smoked when she was pregnant with me. I didn't hate cigarettes, partly because I smoked them too, but I just hated it when she smoked. I should've been used to it, but somehow I wasn't. It just brought back memories of her taking my pocket money to buy them, and how she failed to care when little 8 year-old me had caught a lung infection from her second hand smoke.

She was a shit mother, but I was an even shittier daughter for still believing she could change.

I knew from day 1 that I shouldn't have hope in her, but some sick part of me still did. No matter how much she hurt me, I would still tuck her in at night or clean after she'd throw up. I still loved her after all she put me through, no matter how much hatred I had for her actions.

"I'm going out tomorrow." I said quietly, wiping my eyes. "I don't have work for another few days, so I might stay at Kiara's house. Don't kill yourself waiting up for me."

"Okay baby, goodnight. I love you." she smiled, still smoking the cigarette.

"I love you too, mom."