Rafe and Kie: Kook Year

Chapter 33: Shackasa

Four days in to winter break and I'm already bored. Usually I'd be happy to get away from school but this year I'm just ready for summer. The thought of going back to Kildare Academy for another 6 months is dreadful. It doesn't help that everyone's gone. I guess Kook's have enough money to travel three times a year. Even the girls on my swim team left the Outer Banks. It's not like I could hang out with them anyways, seeing as I'm grounded. No phone and no friends. I love the holidays...

For the past few days I've been taking long walks on the beach and hanging out at The Wreck. Which is always fun until my dad puts me to work. Cleaning shrimp is a pretty shitty way to spend the holidays. Besides that, the restaurant has been so comforting. All the Christmas decorations really bring warmth to the room. Pine garlands draped on each wall, wreaths hung with holly on every door. And quiet Christmas music playing softly in the back.

Baby, It's Cold Outside starts to play on the radio. I push my chair away from the bar table, getting up to change the song.

"Hey I was listening to that," my dad says shooting me an irritated glare.

"Why? It's a horrible song." I frown.

"Your mother and I used to dance to this by the fireplace." He smiles, reminiscing.

"You would dance to a date rape song?" I say, clearly judging them.

"You kids nowadays always read into things. The songs a classic, no one ever saw it that way." He continues to wash the dishes.

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley starts playing instead. I try to change it again before stopping to listen. Oddly enough I'm reminded of Rafe. How he's gone and I'm all alone here. We built a pretty good relationship before he left, and I don't know. I miss him. A lot actually.

"Don't you want to play something a little more...cheery?" My dad asks, looking over his shoulder at me.

"This is good," I sigh, moving away from the radio.

"You should do something fun with your time off."

"I'm grounded, remember?" I give my dad a bitter look.

"Kie...," he sighs. "That was for your own good."

"Ya because I'm doing so much better now." I fold my arms over the bar table.

"Listen, I'm tired of hearing you sulking. Just go out and, I don't know, do something productive." He waves his soapy hand in the air, shooing me away.

I slide my arms away from the table reluctantly, taking heavy steps on the ground as I walk out of the restaurant. I've never been this bored in my life, nor have I felt so irritated. How can my dad expect me to entertain myself when I'm practically cut off from everyone I know?

I head to the cut, trying to clear my mind. The cool air drifts past me, picking up speed the faster I walk. Each tree is lined with brown leaves, most resting with empty branches. The island feels still, as if I'm the only one around. I look to the road on my left, checking if any cars will pass by. But there's nothing. Suddenly the figure of a man catches my eye.

"JJ?" I call out, staring at the guys familiar scruffy blonde hair spread out from under a baseball cap.

He turns around, lowering his sunglasses to get a better look.