♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

𝟮𝟴. friends with the devil
» let me go «
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⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

𝘁𝘄: 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

my mum used to tell me when i was growing up

"when life gives you lemons, make orange juice and leave the world wondering how you did it"

i guess back then i would just laugh at about how silly she sounded

but right now, it made perfect sense.

as the sound of the plane whirling above our heads made us turn up to the sky with a frown
watching the wings spread out and fly into the clouds until it became nothingness

"there goes the gold" jj huffed in annoyance making kiara look at the ground in defeat

all she wanted to do was get the gold, it was what aven wanted.

"shit!" jj shouted out kicking the plastic chair next to him and leaving it splintering

making the blonde girl next to him sigh in defeat as she rubbed her forehead feeling the sweat coving it
glistening her fingertips

"fuck!" pope screams before picking up a can and launching it at the wall causing it to crest a ripple of noise before he grabs a metal bat slamming it into every corner

"pope!" kiara called trying to calm him down as the others watch the dark-skinned boy finally break

"god damn it!" he yelled smashing the bat into a table repeatedly while yelling curse words at the top of his lungs
letting out the pressure that had been stuck there for years.

smashing everything into smithers as it breaks and tumbles to the floor like a tsunami

before pope is grabbing a garbage can and launching it across the room hearing the smacking sound echo through the metal as he yells

"pope!" kiara yelled back making him stop for a moment in his actions as he let his hands scrape across his forehead
huffing and puffing in tiredness and anger

before he's letting his back slide down the wall and landing in a ball with his knees pressed against his chest

while the sweat and tears clump against his skin and glimmer in the light

"pope" kiara called out sympathetically

"yeah dude" jj huffed
"i was wondering when this was going to happen" he shrugs before walking in front of the boy and handing out his weed which pope looked at

making kiara roll her eyes at the blondes actions

"here you go chief" jj smiled lightly before noticing popes facial expression before shrugging at him

"a little weed never hurt no one" he whispered making popes mouth open before shutting again

"jj" kiara called
"you know he doesn't smoke" she explained making jj turn around to look at her before pope is grabbing the weed from his hand

"well maybe not until today" layla spoke up watching the boy take it from jjs hand, and watching the blonde boy drop to sit next to him

"yeah, what is that going to help?" kiara asked hinting at the weed

"calm him down? stop him from smashing everything to pieces" layla intervened making kie snap around and glare at the girl who just shrugged

"I lost my scholarship. walked out in the middle of the interview" pope explained making the group fall silent

"every-it's gone. it's not going to happen" he cried making kiara look down at the boy guilty

"you did that for us?" she asked

"no, not for us" he replied, pulling his body from the ground to look face to face with kiara

"for nothing" he spat

jj jumped up grabbing popes arm as pulled him back into jjs arms before tapping his chest
"im here for you pope. welcome to my world, okay" he whispered

"jj-" kiara tried to interrupt

"-what, kie! he's right" jj explained as kiara watched pope walk around his hands on his head

"it doesn't matter anymore" jj commented as pope leant against the beam that was supporting the building and held the weed to his lips

"you don't have to do that" kiara added looking at the boy sympathetically

pope turned top look at her before taking a puff and blowing the smoke in her direction before lightly glaring

"why do you care?" he asked making the groups expression drop

"great, he's gone emo" layla commented with a sigh slapping her hands on her thighs before pulling her body up

"next thing you know, he'll be throwing darts at photos with our faces on" the blonde girl sighed making kiara roll her eyes at the comments she was making

a snap of a twig caught her ear as she turned her head to see johnb covered in blood, making her heart drop

"johnb?" she called her heart burning at the sight of him, before running towards the brunette haired boy, making the rest of the group flip their heads around to look at the boy

"dude! dude! you good?" jj yelled as he ran to the boy, gripping his wrist and holding it up to see his bloodsoaked hands

"is this yours?" jj asked looking scared

"whose blood is that?" kiara asked looking at the boys shirt that was covered in it

before hearing the sirens grow closer and the face of johnbs grow colder

"johnb, are you okay?" kiara asked seeing his dull facial expression
before watching the police car pull round the corner making the group sprint to hide behind the planks of wood

before they quiet down, leaving the pogues in a moment to themselves

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

"w-what do you mean. rafe shot peterkins?" kie asked the boy walking around the wyatts kitchen

in which kiara and layla were helping johnb clean up while jj and pope were waiting outside in the wyatts jeep.

"he shot her, i-i um" he paused letting the guilt flood through his body like a bathtub carrying tears

"i tried to stop the bleeding but she told me to run, a-and i did" johnb explained washing his hands

"you sure it was rafe?" layla asked quietly from the counter making johnb stop for a moment before turning around to face her

"you think im lying?" he asked her with slight frustration and anger hitting his words

"no!" she defended herself
"no, i don't think your lying, it's-its just i didn't expect rafe to kill anyone" she shrugged her shoulder taking a breath before making eye contact with the boy who rubbed his forehead

turning back to the sink and splashing his face a few times while kie spoke up

"why not? he's a psycho" kiara muttered to the blonde girl making her snap her head up to her

"he wasn't always" layla shrugged making kie scoff in annoyance at the blonde

"why are you defending him? again!" she exclaimed making the blonde girl roll her eyes

"i am not defending him!" she shouted back at kiara who glared

"because once upon a time kiara, he was my friend!" layla called out
"you know he was the first person i became friends with when i moved here"

"my unc-" she cut herself off, "scott, was showing us around when we bumped into rafe with his friends."

"aven didn't like him but we clicked, im not sure why but we did" she dragged on looking at the floor as she spoke

"and he was a sweet boy, kind and loving, that boy wouldn't have killed anyone" she explained

"so i am so sorry if it is so hard for me to think of that boy as a killer" she finished looking up to kiara who wore a stern look

as the brunette girl shakes her head with a sigh before looking back up to the blonde
"after all the crap he has put you through and you're still defending him"

"that's not right, layla" kiara shrugged making layla scoff and reaching into her pocket and pulling out the keys to the house before slamming them on the counter

"you need to stop being such a judgemental bitch, kie" layla glared walking out of the house leaving kiara and johnb in the kitchen

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

the slam of the door caught the two boys attention as they turn their head to watch the blonde girl walk down the pathway leaving the house before slipping out the side gate

"rosie!" jj called making the girl turn to face the direction of the yell as he ran over to her stopping her in her tracks

seeing the pissed off expression that rested along her features made him furrow his own brows

"what's wrong?" he asked the girl who took a deep breath shaking her head

"nothing, i just..." she dragged on
"i just need to go on a walk, okay" she asked the boy

forcing a smile onto her features
jj could tell it was fake but he knew she needed time to herself

giving her a small nod and a supporting smile and watching as the girl leant up on her tiptoes pressing her lips to his own before pulling back

leaving a smile on jjs features and the unconditional love she showed him
he'd never had anyone care about him the way layla did

but he never wanted anyone else to care for him the way she did
he wanted her and that was it.

walking back towards pope who rested against the car leaning back into it with his head resting against the window

jj couldn't help but open his mouth

"have you spoken to layla, recently?" he asked the boy next to him, feeling the awkward tension fill the air as pope turned his head to look at jj confused

"uh, no" pope responds

"oh, right. right" jj replied nodding while licking his lips before tucking them in and biting his teeth down on them

"why? did she need me for something?" pope asked which jj just screwed up his face shrugging making pope let out a sigh

"spit it out" pope commented making jj turn around to face him defeated

"do you love layla?" jj asked making pope blink multiple times in a row trying to understand the question that tumbled from jjs lips

"like, in love with her?" jj added swallowing a lump that had forced its way into his throat as he turns around to look at pope

"um" pope thought about his answer for a moment making jjs face drop in defeat, yet his skin became more wet with sweat that danced upon his flesh

"no" pope whispered so quietly jj thought he didn't hear it for a moment

"no" pope answered more confidentially shaking his head before turning to the boy that stood next to him

"im not in love with layla" pope responded
"not anymore anyways" he shrugged making jj roll his eyes with a smirk before bumping shoulders with pope

"she's hot isnt she" he smirked thinking of the blonde girl

"beautiful" pope agreed
"but i think, i wanted to be in love with her. you know im jealous of you jj"

"you have someone that would literally die for you, like you would her and i-i want that with someone" he spoke making jj turn to face him

"so yeah, im not in love with layla. im just envious of what you two have because i want someone like that too" he responds nodding his head along

"i want someone to be in love me, like laylas in love with you" he spoke making jj bite his lip before raising hand to place on his shoulder

"you'll find one, pope" he spoke trying to comfort the boy beside him
"you'll find one"

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

he stood there.
he didn't know whether to cry, or laugh.

he didn't know what he was feeling and that scared him, it scared him a lot.

walking around the house after the shower that he took, to clean the blood from his body before opening his bedroom door and seeing the pitch black room

using his hand to flip on the switch before connecting eyes with the familiar green ones that sat on his bed

legs crossed, with her blonde hair pushed up into a messy ponytail, and her green orbs filling with panic as she came face to face with him

"what are you doing here, layla?" rafe asked quietly shutting the door behind him and locking it

turning around to place the bag on the desk while unzipping before her broken voice spoke up

"tell me its not true" she spoke making rafe stop in the moment of unpacking before rising his head slowly
she knew.

"what's not true?" he played dumb not turning around to face her before a gently hand pressed against his shoulder making him freeze at the touch of her skin

"don't lie to me rafe" she begged, and he could hear the desperation in her voice

swallowing and feeling his adams apple bop harshly in his throat before turning around to face the girl who looked straight into his eyes

"did you, or did you not kill peterkin?" she asked lightly making rafes jaw clench as he sucked his front teeth

"yes" he whispered

its strange how one word can break down your entire world, your entire expectations of one person and how they can all be crushed in one second

she felt her heart break, at the thought of the boy she thought was getting better had snapped
and the worst part was, she didn't see a trace of guilt on his face

it's was just nothing.
his face showed no signs of emotion, it was gone.
he was gone.

"oh my god" she whispered out to herself biting on her lower lip to stop the tears from falling

peterkins was the only person who knew.
knew about scott

she was going to find him, bring aven peace and justice.
that's what she told layla the day she found her covered in her sisters blood.

"i won't sleep until i find him" peterkins whispered to the blood girl who sat in tears watching the group of professional gather around her sisters lifeless body

"you can trust me, layla-rose" she smiles sympathetically at the blonde who looked into her dark eyes

"i do" layla whispered back

she feels her skin become more wet as she feels her body begin to hyperventilate with the amount of pressure that one word put on her body

the pain that it caused her to feel inside

"rafe, w-why, why did you do it?" she stuttered, she didn't know what to say, what to think.

the same boy that had once made her feel safe, the same boy that would climb through her window and help bandage up the burns that scott had caused

the same boy that taught her how to bandage each blister and burn he had given her

he killed someone innocent.
he killed someone that was going help layla, with the death of her sister.
the only one who knew the truth.
he killed peterkin.

rafe saw her expression as her teary eyes dropped towards the ground and her lower lip shook

"lala" rafe called her name lightly making her eyes snap up to his own

her green ones that had a light shimmer of tears covering them, and his blue ones which showed no emotion.

"did you shoot anyone else?" she asked fluttering her eyelashes to try get rid of the tears that had formed

waiting for a response and not hearing one made her head snap back up to his figure
as he stood there silent, biting his lower lip, in frustration

"p-please tell me you didn't ki-hurt anyone else" the words felt like poison dripping for her lips which began to burn just like her throat

"i missed" rafe whispered shrugging as if the whole situation was nothing

stepping from the bed and looking up at the boy who never left eye contact

"who?" layla asked worried about the answer that he was about to respond with
"tell me what happened" she nodded for the boy talk about it as he rubbed his forehead

"um, i was protecting my dad" rafe shrugged before looking up at the blonde girl in front of him

"she was going to shoot him, so i shot her first" he answered without any emotion which scared layla as she sighed looking at the boy in front of her that had evolved to become so damaged.

the boy looked at the girl who now had tears sliding down her rosey cheeks
rolling his eyes at the girls emotions while reaching forward to wipe the tears under her eyes

but not getting the chance too as she pulls away from his hand making him look at her confused

"why are you being like this?" rafe asked

"like what?" she spoke quietly her throat hurting as she stared into his eyes that looked more dull and grey than a glimmering blue

"difficult, you're being difficult" he replied before turning around and unpacking his bag that lied on his desk

"what has happened to you?" layla spoke up trying to hold herself together

she didn't know how to feel, she was upset, heartbroken, scared, and angry
he took the person away that was going to help layla.

"i remember the sweet boy, that made me laugh, and gave me gifts." she called out to him as he lifted his head from the bag to listen to each word that slapped him in the face

"the boy who took care of me, and snuck me books from your fathers library" she explained

"how could you have fallen so far?" she called him out, making him turn around to face her a look of anger on his face

"why are you acting like this? like you're treading on glass around me" he replies making the girl freeze for a moment as he took steps towards her letting her hit the edge of his bed

"you killed someone rafe!" she shouted in a low voice

"you killed peterkin! you know she was going to help me find scott, lock him up for a long time!" she argued
"she was the only one who believed me, the only person in that stupid police station that believed every word that fell out my lips!"

"you took that away!" she shouted a little louder causing rafe to rush forward grabbing her body and pressing his hand to her lips to stop her from shouting

feeling the struggle in every motion she wriggled as one hand clamped around her mouth the other holding her in his arms as he stroked her head
he loved her.

a little too much.

"stop struggling, id never hurt you lala" he whispers in a low voice before looking down at the girl who had tears

she was scared, terrified.

"i love you" he smiled and she could see it, the side of him that terrified her because she knew he meant it.
but she knew he'd hurt her if he had too.

"let me go, rafe" she mumbled from behind his hand as he hushed her

"no, no." he mumbled bringing her body closer to his, as he didn't want to let go of the girl that pulled and twisted in his arms

"let me go!" she yelled lifting her foot to stamp on his own foot making him pull back from her before turning around and slapping her harshly

sending the blonde to the floor as the tingling sensation of the slap fades, allowing the girl to look back up to the boy who is looking down at her

"im sorry, im so sorry" he mumbles kneeling next to her reaching for her cheek to hold it in his hands but watching the girl flinch away from his touch

"lala" he whispered making her heart break slightly at the desperation in his voice as her green eyes scan his features looking at the stone-cold boy she no longer knew in front of her.

"don't call me that" layla snapped under her breath making rafe cringe at the spiteful tone she used

"you killed someone rafe!" she snapped at him, "you killed an innocent women, and you're acting as if nothing happened, that's not okay! you need help, or you're going to get locked up!"

"i sorted it, it's fine!" he called out making her expression drop in confusion

"what do you mean you sorted it?" she asked watching as rafes face scrunch at the realisation he had confessed

staying silent he sighs letting his hands rough up into his hair as he traces around the room, allowing the girls eyes to follow his pacing figure

"rafe, what does that mean?" she asked again but the boy still ignored her
"rafe!" she yelled making her snap to face her with annoyance on his features

"my dad told them it was johnb!" he yelled making laylas face pale

they blame, that's what the camerons are known for.
they blame other people for their own problems because it allows them to come out looking like the victim where the unfortunate people that can't defend themself get in trouble.

the devil plays a hard game.

"you think that makes everything better!" the blonde girl yells back
"you've just ruined another persons life because you can't take responsibility and face the consequences of your actions!" she calls him out making the boy snap

"not my problem" rafe spits before turning back to the bag and unpacking it once more

"grow up rafe" layla glares before reaching into her back pocket while his back was turned

turning to face the window, while pulling up her contacts and clicking on the carrera girls number as she let it ring in her hand, before bringing it up to her ear

hearing each ring echo, in match with her pacing heartbeat, wishing for the girl to answer her phone
before hearing the line pick up

"layla, where are you?" kiaras voice echos through the line
"look, im sorry about earlier okay. you're right, i know you and rafe have history and i pushed at it but we're at the police station now, so please don't be mad-"

layla turned around while kiara spoke into the phone to see rafe still unpacking before she took a deep breath

"-don't tell the cops, they think johnb did it because that's what ward told them!" she whispered into the phone trying to not alert rafe, but it was too late

the room was silent, you could hear a pin drop, so he heard every word she whispered into that phone

his head snapping around seeing the alerted girl with her eyes wide open before hearing muttering at the end of the line

"put the phone down" rafe demanded her dropping the bag onto the ground, allowing her eyes to travel down to it, seeing his bloody shirt that lie inside

"rafe shot her, ward made sure she wouldn't live" she whispered into the phone before the boy charged at the blonde girl making her drop her phone in the process as she ran over to jump over the bed scurrying to the door

her hand grasping at the handle feeling the cool metal ripple through her fingertips before it's ripped away from her as shes being flung back hitting the edge of the bed and smacking her head

the feeling of coldness is repeated but instead of her fingertips she feels it travelling down her forehead
before a crushing weight is dropped onto her legs opening her eyes to see rafe pinning her body down with his own

his own fingers reach up to caress the blood, letting it dance between his skin as he tries to wipe it away

"look what you made me do, lala" he whispered as he stroked the girls hair back watching the silent tears that fall down her skin

"you can't tell anyone, you'll get me into trouble" he muttered lifting her head up and pressing a kiss to her bloody forehead

"again" he spat, pushing her back letting her head smack against the floor allowing the girl to let out a cry of pain

she lifts up her knee making the boy get a plunge to the stomach making the boy jolt back holding his stomach as she scatters to her legs rubbing towards the window

grabbing the bar to push it up she hears the click of the window unlock as she pulls it up to feel the cold wind hit her face before it's being slammed in front of her causing the tears in her eyes to stream

leaning against the window as the feeling of his head rests on her shoulder, making the tears flow stronger

"layla, listen to me-" rafe begins before being cut off by the sound of the door handle rattling making him turn tip to face the door

"rafe!" the voice of ward cameron could be heard making layla bite her lip harder to try suppress the tears that fell

"why is your door locked?" he called out making rafe think of an excuse before a soft whimper catch his hearing

"let me go" the blonde broken girl whispered gently making rafe turn to her again

she wasn't facing him but he could tell she was begging him, he could hear it in his voice
and he knew she was hurting, because she sounded the exact same as she did all those years ago when she'd go crying to him after her uncle had hurt her

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.ғʟᴀsʜʙᴀᴄᴋ.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

"layla?" rafe asked as her small figure appeared in the window, seeing her hands cling to his frame

locking his bedroom door, 16 year old rafe ran towards the window sill unlocking it and helping the small 14 year old girl climb through

seeing the blood that trickled down her thigh with the small slice that was evidently obvious

"he hurt you again" rafe whispered looking back up to her face
"didn't he?" he asked watching as the fragile girl nodded

rafe took a breath before picking the girl up and placing her on his bed before grabbing the first-aid kit from underneath before coming face to face with the girl

"i didn't mean to upset him" she whimpered
"i just wanted to get the book, martha had put away in his office. i didn't realise he was home" her voice broke as she let the tears gently flood her skin

dropping onto her leg and mixing with the blood, to create a streaming river of tears, sweat, and blood

rafes hand rests up to her cheek, caressing her cheek as he stroked away the pain from her face

his blue eyes dancing with her green ones as they made her feel safe
he made her feel safe

cleaning up the wound and holding her hand through the stinging sensation that burned through her flesh as he wiped away the blood

"i won't let him hurt you, layla" he whispered making the girl smile sadly as she knew scott still would, no matter how hard rafe tried

"i promise" he said as his eyes dance their way to her her soft lips watching as they parted with every breath that escaped her mouth

looking back up to her eyes which connect with his, he holds her hand in his own, pressing his lips to it and making the young girl blush at the action

"you make me feel safe, rafe" layla whispered back making rafe blink at her, he'd never had that effect on someone before

making them feel safe
having this urge to protect them

but he liked it
and he liked her, a lot.

"lala" he whispered back making the girl smile up at him as he leant forward a bit making the girls eyes open wildly at his actions before he uses his thumb to caress her bottom lip

feeling the girl nod in his grasp as he smiles gently pressing his lips to her own, he knew it was wrong
and he knew it would be frowned upon

which is why he kept it a secret
why she was his secret

kissing her in the small moments alone, while sleeping with other girls for him own pleasure.

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

"let me go" she repeated hearing the continued knocking on the door as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder blade making her tighten her eyes shut

before hearing the window open, looking at the boy one last time before hopping out and sliding down the ledge

she ran, she ran as quick as her legs could carry her as she sprinted wanting to get away from the moment
the pain and throbbing in her head and throat as she felt herself grow more tired

running and running, growing more tired yet running faster and faster
her shoes hitting the pavement and stone cold road as each step grew longer

white.

that's all layla saw, the bright headlights that open out of no where
driving down the road as she freezes mid-step the feeling of time growing slower as the car brakes squeal trying to stop in time before the girls life ended.

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥

what do you do after you've given all that you have and you have nothing left to give.

after repeatedly trying, over and over again. after you've cried and cried.

before coming to realise that this is not how you want to live, and who you want to love.
what do you do?

sometimes it's not about having the strength to hold on
but the courage to let go.

♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♥