"Do you need a ride Coralina?" Rafe questioned as he walked out of The Wreck with her. "No, Rafe," Coral answered, "JJ comes to get me after his shifts. I've told you that the four hundred other times you've asked me in the last two weeks," she reminded him.
"I know. I just feel bad leaving you here waiting. I mean what if he doesn't show up one of these times?" the older boy said leaning against the wall of the restaurant with her.
"He's not gonna forget me so you don't need to feel bad," she told him, "And if he does I have two legs," she stated.
"I hate the idea of you walking all the way home," he said, "Let me see your phone. I'll put my number in and you can call me if you're ever stranded," he offered holding out his hand.
"Rafe, I told you. JJ and I are together," she reminded him. "I know. I know. There's no rule about us being friends though," he replied flashing a smile at her as he continued holding out his hand.
Sighing Coral handed him her phone, "I don't have a problem being friends with you Rafe, but that's it," she told him sternly.
"I know," he said, nodding, "I enjoy talking to you Coral. You're a thousand times smarter than my normal friends and I'll be honest you're the only one I've told about dropping out of school," he told her.
Furrowing her brow she looked up at him, "Rafe, you told me that last week. You still haven't told your dad?" she questioned.
Shaking his head he sighed, shifting to press his back against the restaurant wall "No, I can't. He's not the easiest guy to talk to, Coralina," he answered looking at the ground sadly.
Moving to stand in front of him Coral forced him to look at her, "Rafe, you have to be the one to tell him. If he finds out any other way he's going to be angry and then you'll never have a chance to explain it to him," she told him, "believe me I know."
"Did you keep something from your dad?" he asked. "Not my dad, but I kept something from my brother and things have been weird between us now," Coral admitted. "Were you guys close before that?" he asked.
Biting her lip Coralina nodded, "Yeah, our dad well let's just say he's gone more often than not so we kind of raised each other, but I kept a secret from him for months and now things aren't the best. I don't recommend that so you should tell your dad," she told him.
Sucking in a breath when he surged forward and wrapped her in a hug Coral awkwardly patted him on the back, "Uh Rafe," she began to say before she heard the screech of tires behind her.
Pulling away from Rafe Coral turned to find JJ tearing off on his dirtbike, "Shit," she mumbled, "JJ," she yelled taking a few steps in the direction he'd gone, "Fuck."
"Do you need a ride now, Coralina?" Rafe asked again from behind her. Narrowing her eyes Coral turned to the boy behind her, "No, thank you," she responded, grabbing her phone out of his hand, she ran off in the direction of the Cut.
By the time she made it to JJ's driveway she was out of breath and pouring sweat. Taking a minute to regain her breath she glanced around for Luke's truck.
Spotting JJ's bike parked by the back porch Coral entered the screened in porch and knocked on the back door. When he didn't answer she knocked again yelling his name, "JJ! I know you're here. Open the door."
Pursing her lips she pulled out her phone.
Coralš: JJ open the door
Pounding on the door again, "JJ I'm not leaving till you talk to me."
Taking a step back when the door opened Coral looked up at the angry blonde. "You need to get the fuck out of here before my dad gets home," he spat at her.
"JJ whatever you think you saw," she began to say before he cut her off. "So I didn't see you hugging that douchebag?"
Shaking her head she attempted to explain, "JJ we were just talking and then he hugged me."
"Well I didn't see you push him away," he replied, crossing his arms as he glared at her, "And this isn't the first time I've caught you two together."
"JJ you act like you've caught us doing anything but talking. It's not my fault he's been coming into the restaurant. I can't just throw him out because you don't like him talking to me," she responded exasperated.
"Oh just admit it Coralina you like the attention. King Kook has a thing for the poor little orphan girl from the Cut," he hissed at her.
Feeling her chest constrict Coral blinked back tears as she backed away from him, "JJ, why are you being like this?" she whispered.
"Well maybe I'm figuring a few things out about you. You weren't angry all those times Kie ditched us; you were jealous," he responded.
"Jealous?" she cried incredulously, "What the hell would I be jealous of?"
"Look around Coralina," he yelled, "This right here is all I'm gonna be. Some dirt bag salt lifer who's never getting off this island. He's your ticket out of here."
Jaw dropping Coral stared at JJ, "I don't want a ticket out of here," she started to say before he interrupted her.
"Yes you do. You hate living on the Cut. Constantly working just to scrape by. You're not made for this life so don't let me stop you from fucking that kook to get out of here," he yelled, before stepping back into the house and slamming the door.
Stumbling forward she slammed her fist on the door yelling for him, "JJ, that's not true. I love my home. I'm a fucking pogue same as you. JJ!," she screamed pounding on the door with tears streaming down her face, "Fuck you then you stubborn prick!"
Shoving the screen door open she raced across the yard into the woods that led back to The Chateau. Collapsing at the bottom of the porch steps Coralina gasped for air as she dry heaved and the tears continued down her cheeks. "Coral?"
Looking up at her brother standing on the back porch steps Coral cried harder, "Coral Bug you're bleeding. What the fuck happened?" he asked, coming down the steps to kneel next to her.
"Iā¦...Iā¦..think...JJ...broke up...withā¦.me," she gasped out, before turning her head and throwing up. "Fucking hell," he muttered, pulling her hair out of her face, "Come on let's get you cleaned up and then you can tell me what happened," he told her, helping her up off the ground.
Taking her into the bathroom he sat her on the closed toilet lid before going to get the first aid kit. Walking back in the bathroom he kneeled in front of her, "You've got scratches all over your face," he commented, using a washcloth to wipe the cuts.
"I ran through the woods," she whispered as he nodded. "What happened?" he asked. "Rafe's been coming into the restaurant the last few weeks and we've talked a couple times. JJ doesn't like him and he told me to stay away from him, but it's a public place, JB," she cried, looking up at her brother.
"It is," he agreed with her. "Anyway today we were outside. I was waiting for JJ to come get me and Rafe hugged me and JJ saw it. He took off so I went to his house and he accused me of hating this side of the island and Rafe was my way out, but I swear JB I don't hate where we live and I don't like Rafe like that," she told him, crying harder.
"I know you don't Coral Bug and JJ knows that. He's just lashing out. You know he does this when he's hurt or angry," John B attempted to assure her.
"He called me a poor orphan girl from The Cut," she told him, "And accused me of sleeping with Rafe to get out of here, like I'm a prostitute."
Taking a deep breath John B clenched his fist, "Coral you know this is him doing his JJ thing. He wants to make you hurt like he's hurt," he reminded her. "I know, but he used dad. He knows how worried I am about daddy and he called me an orphan," she whispered.
"Coral I don't know what to say to you. You knew going into this that this is JJ. He does this," he reminded her. "He hasn't done this since we've been together. He hasn't been this angry in months and he's never been hateful to me," she said.
Sighing John B took an alcohol wipe from the first aid kit, "I've got to clean your cuts and it's going to hurt," he told her. "Do your worse," she told him, gritting her teeth.
After John B wiped her cuts clean Coral retreated to her bedroom. Curling up on her bed she looked to see if she had any new texts from JJ. When she didn't have any she sent one to him.
Coralš: I love you
Waiting she watched her text go unanswered for close to an hour before she finally cried herself to sleep.
"Coral. Coral, you have to get up," came the frantic voice of her brother as he shook her awake. Blinking up at her brother Coral asked him what his problem was. "It's JJ. He's flipping out and I can't get him to stop," John B told her quickly.
Jumping out of bed she followed her brother out to the living room, "Where is he?" she questioned. "In the shed. I heard the dirtbike pull up and went out to kick his ass for what he said to you earlier, but he was already flipping shit," John B told her as they hurried outside.
As they hit the yard Coral could hear a commotion coming from the work shed. "Wait," John B told her, grabbing her arm before she could go in, "I think his dad got him. His face," he warned her.
Swallowing Coral nodded before opening the door to the shed. Stepping inside her eyes widened as JJ was taking a hammer to a piece of plywood. Blinking the tears away she stepped further inside, "JJ," she called inching forward.
Moving around the toppled tool bins and chairs she called his name again. This time he paused in the swinging of the hammer, "Go away Coralina," he choked out. Moving quickly Coral came up behind him and hugged him, "I'm not going anywhere JJ," she whispered laying her head on his back.
Breathing deeply he lowered his head to the plywood and as she stepped up next to him she cautiously placed her hand on his shoulder, "JJ what happened?" she asked. When he didn't answer she gently pulled his face towards her sucking in a breath at the split lip and bruises on his jaw.
"My dad found out we were seeing each other and he kindly reminded me that this is all I'm gonna be Coral. I can't give you what he can," he said taking her hand off his face. "You're right. You can give me more than what he can," she replied.
Shaking his head he stood up straight, "You don't get it. I'm never gonna get off this island. I'm never gonna get out of the Cut. I'm gonna end up just like my dad."
"JJ, you're nothing like that asshole and you never will be. I don't care if we never get out of here. This is our home and I'll be happy as long as I'm with you. Rafe Cameron could offer me his house in the Bahamas, and I wouldn't give a shit because you're the one I love," she told him.
Running his hands through his hair he took a deep breath, "I'm sorry about earlier," he whispered. "So am I," she responded. "You don't have anything to be sorry for," he told her, "I let my dad get to me and took it out on you."
"You told me to stay away from him and I'm to nice to tell him to fuck off," she said, making him smile. "That's what I love about you. You see the good in people," he said, stepping closer to her, "Even an asshole like me."
"Hey, that's my boyfriend you're talking about there," she said, giving him a slight smile, "At least I hope he's still my boyfriend."
"I should be asking if you're still my girlfriend after what I said to you earlier," he said, "I shouldn't have called you an orphan."
"No, you shouldn't have or suggested I'd sleep my way off this island," she agreed, "But you may not be wrong about being an orphan," she said, shrugging. "Coral," he began before she cut him off. "What happened to your face?" she asked.
"I was angry. My dad was angry. Not a good combination," he told her. "What happened to your face?" he asked, stepping forward to run his fingers over the cuts on her face.
"I wasn't watching where I was going through the woods earlier," she replied, "You need to come inside so I can clean your lip." Looking around the shed he sighed, "I made a mess," he stated.
"Yeah you did. We'll clean it up tomorrow," she told him before taking his hand and leading him out of the shed where they found John B leaning against the outside wall.
"I didn't realize you were still out here," Coral said looking at her brother. Nodding he looked between the two, "You guys good?" he asked. "Yeah, sorry about that," JJ said, pointing to the shed, "I'll clean it up tomorrow."
"Yeah you fucking will," John B told him, "You sure you're okay, man?" "Yeah, I was an ass earlier, but luckily Coral's willing to forgive me," he responded.
"I meant whatever went on with your face?" John B clarified. Sighing JJ nodded, "You know my dad," was all he said, before Coral started tugging him towards the house.
"Well it's summer. You have no reason to go home so just stay here," John B told him as he walked to the house with them. Looking at her brother in surprise Coral asked if he was serious.
"Yeah, I'm serious. As much as you two being all touchy makes me want to hurl it's obvious you two aren't going anywhere so guess I have to get used to it," he answered, shrugging.
Laughing Coral let go of JJ's hand to hug her brother, "It's about time you stubborn ass," she said, kissing his cheek.
"Yeah well I do reserve the right to kick his ass if he ever pulls what he did earlier again," John B grumbled, looking at JJ over her head.
"I took some shit out on her and I shouldn't have," JJ admitted, "If I do it again I'll kick my own ass," he promised, as Coral wrapped her arms back around his waist.
"I'll kick your ass if you ever let Rafe Cameron try to come between us again," Coral told him.
