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''I only need your answer. I can buy you a thousand rings if you ask me to.''

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THE COOL EVENING breeze brushed against my face as I wandered across the deck, the sound of gentle waves lapping against the boat's hull filling the quiet moments. The golden glow of the setting sun spilled across the water, painting everything in soft amber hues.

I found Sarah leaning against the railing near the small galley, her arms crossed as she stared out at the horizon. She looked lost in thought, her blonde hair catching the light and her expression conflicted, as it so often was lately.

''Hey,'' I called softly, not wanting to startle her.

She turned, her lips curving into a faint smile when she saw me. ''Hey, Mavie. Hungry?'' she asked, holding up a chipped plate piled with what could only generously be called food—some sort of stew with a side of bread that looked as tired as the rest of us.

''Not really,'' I replied, my arms folding instinctively across my chest.

She glanced down at the plate, hesitating for a moment before handing it to me. ''Here, take this to Rafe, then,'' she suggested. ''He hasn't eaten all day.''

I stared at her for a beat, searching her face for any hint of uncertainty. Her eyes, though weary, held steady as they met mine.

''Sure,'' I responded, nodding slightly as I took the plate from her.

Sarah exhaled softly, her shoulders dropping as though she'd been holding her breath. ''Thanks,'' she murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before turning back to the view.

I lingered for a moment, watching her as she tightened her grip on the railing. There was something heavy in her gaze, something unsaid, but I decided not to press. Instead, I turned and made my way toward the wheelhouse, the plate balanced carefully in my hands.

The metal steps creaked under my weight as I climbed, the scent of the stew wafting up and mingling with the salty air. My stomach churned—not from hunger, but from the thought of what I was walking into.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. Rafe sat slumped against the wall, his hands bound in front of him with thick ropes. 

I stepped in cautiously, holding a chipped plate with a modest serving of food. His blue eyes darted up to meet mine, his gaze softened. I set the plate down on the floor without looking at him. Turning on my heel, I made for the door.

''Wait,'' Rafe's voice cut through the silence, halting me in my tracks.

I turned back slowly, my brow furrowed in confusion. ''What?''

''Please just stay with me,'' he pleaded, his tone uncharacteristically soft.

I shook my head, instinctively stepping back. ''Rafe, you know I can't do that.''

''Just for one minute,'' he urged, desperation lacing his words.

Against my better judgment, I sighed and sank down onto the floor, keeping a considerable distance between us. My back pressed against the wall, and I folded my arms, staring at a spot on the floor to avoid his gaze.

''I'm sorry,'' he whispered after a moment, his voice barely audible above the gentle creak of the boat.

I blinked, unsure I'd heard him correctly. ''What?''

''You're scared of me now, aren't you?'' he asked, his voice hollow. I hesitated, then nodded slightly, refusing to meet his eyes.

He let out a heavy sigh. ''I know the others are too. That's why I'm tied up. But I just want you to know that I'm serious. I always was. About you.''

''Rafe,'' I started, but he cut me off.

''I know you think I'm crazy. And maybe I am. But the day you told me to quit drugs, I did. I never meant to hurt you the way I did. Never intended it. In my head... you're the best thing that's ever happened to me.''

Something about his tone made me glance up. His expression was stripped of the arrogance he usually wore, replaced by something painfully earnest. ''I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I need you to know. I'd kill for you,'' he admitted, his voice low and steady. ''I will kill for you.''

A shiver ran down my spine, though I wasn't sure if it was fear or something else entirely.

''I'll do everything to make you safe and happy,'' he continued, his words pouring out like he'd been holding them back for too long. ''I'll work on my issues once we're back in the OBX, even if you don't want to stick by my side—''

''You're only saying this so I'll untie you,'' I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended.

''No, no.'' He shook his head vehemently. ''Please, check my pockets. Then you'll know how serious I am.''

I hesitated, the request catching me off guard. Slowly, I kneeled in front of him. He shifted closer, his movements careful, and I reached into the pocket of his pants. My fingers brushed against something small and cool. I pulled out a ring.

My breath hitched. It was simple but elegant. I stared at it, my mind racing.

''Even if you don't feel the same,'' Rafe continued quietly, ''I'll always choose you. I wanted you to know my side of the story... and how I feel about you. You're the only person I've ever trusted enough to open up to. Even just a little. You're the only person I trust. And the only person I...''

He paused, his jaw tightening as if the words were stuck in his throat ''The only person that I love.''

I looked into his deep blue eyes, trying to find even the slightest bit of hesitation or dishonesty.

''I love you.''

He repeated himself and even then I couldn't find what I was looking for. His eyes bore into mine, filled with a sincerity that terrified me. The words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. Before I could respond, the muffled sound of voices from behind the door reached us. The Pogues were calling my name.

I stood abruptly, my heart pounding. ''I'm sorry,'' I whispered, clutching the ring in my hand as I backed away.

Rafe's gaze followed me, his expression unreadable. 

''Mavie,'' he called just as I was about to step out.

I paused, glancing back at him.

''Thank you.'' he said, his voice quieter this time, almost genuine. 

I nodded and slipped out of the room, tucking the ring into my pocket as I closed the door behind me.

''I was worried about you. What took you so long?'' JJ's voice greeted me as soon as I rejoined the group.

''He was complaining about the food,'' I lied smoothly, brushing past him. ''I also made sure he had no way of escaping, you know, just in case.''

JJ nodded, seemingly satisfied, and the others didn't question it. But as the conversation moved on, my fingers brushed against the ring in my pocket, and I couldn't shake the strange feeling in my chest. I wanted to see if his words were actually true, but in order to do that, we need to go back to the obx. Go back to normal. I mean we weren't even dating and he proposed? Or whatever the hell that was.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

THE STORM WAS getting worse by the second. The wind howled, the boat rocked, and the swells outside looked like they could swallow us whole. We were all doing our best to keep our balance as the boat shuddered violently.

Pope's voice cut through the noise. ''The swells are getting worse, and we're making a beeline for it. So much for smooth sailing.''

Kie, her eyes wide with worry, glanced at John B. ''Okay, why can't we just go south?'' she asked, but even she seemed to know it wouldn't be that simple.

John B shook his head, his focus entirely on the horizon. ''The current's gonna be against us.''

Pope, always one to think through the options, added quickly, ''We could try to go north. We could try to get lucky.''

John B didn't waste any time on that idea. ''Pope, we can't go right into the face of it, all right? We've gotta turn towards the coast.''

"We're running on fumes as it is," Pope muttered. "We're just gonna have to blast through it. We're not far from Essaouira."

''So give me some juice.'' John B pushed the lever, his grip firm and sure.

I watched as Pope checked over his shoulder. ''Okay, something's going on with the engine. Can you handle it? I gotta check downstairs.''

John B nodded. ''Yeah, go. Go.'' Pope left without a word, and the rest of us were left in the chaos of the storm.

I moved swiftly towards the galley, my eyes scanning the room as I went. The boat rocked so hard that I had to brace myself against the wall. ''I'm gonna go help Sarah and the others. In the galley, batten it down,'' I called over my shoulder.

John B acknowledged me with a quick glance. ''Yeah. We got it. I got it.''

Cleo was already at work, tying down anything that could move. ''Stuff's gonna fly all over the place if we don't lock it up,'' she said.

Sarah was securing a chair. Her eyes flicked to JJ, who was sitting at the table, lazily spinning some sort of small blade in his fingers. The storm outside made everything feel more chaotic, but JJ seemed detached, as if the storm didn't even register in his mind.

''Can you please do something, JJ?'' Sarah's voice held a hint of frustration as she slammed a box onto the table next to him. ''Please.''

JJ didn't even look up. He took a swig of beer, barely acknowledging her. ''Give me that. Just...''

Sarah let out a deep, frustrated groan and walked away, muttering under her breath. ''I don't know what to do.'' She whispered to Cleo, who turned to her with a sharp look.

''Hey, rude boy,'' Cleo called out to JJ. ''Group activity.''

JJ rolled his eyes but got to work, tossing some supplies into the basket.

''Hurry,'' Kie urged, her voice high with panic as she moved quickly toward one of the rooms. ''This storm is crazy, man.''

The boat was now swaying heavily. Everyone was struggling to stay upright as we all squeezed into the small room, some of us still grabbing things to secure. Sarah was the last to enter, slamming the door behind her to shield us from the storm's fury.

''Come here, grab onto something,'' Pope called out as he grabbed Sarah's arm and pulled her towards the table. She sat next to him.

I stood near the back of the room, trying to catch my breath, but the sound of Rafe's voice cut through the tension.

''Hey! Assholes! Cut me loose, come on! Hey! Get me out of here! Hey!''

His screams echoed down the hall.

Cleo turned sharply toward the door. ''No!'' she snapped.

''Do not let him out,'' Pope warned.

''No!'' Cleo repeated, her gaze hardening as she watched me stand up.

But I couldn't just sit there. I could hear Rafe's voice growing louder. And it hit me—he was out there, stuck, and I wasn't just going to let him drown.

''He's going to drown!'' I spoke before I could stop myself.

Pope's eyes snapped to mine, fear flashing in them. ''Mavis, don't do this.'' 

He was trying to grab my hand. His grip was tight, trying to pull me back, but I shook him off.

Without another word, I turned and rushed out of the room, my heart hammering in my chest as I moved back towards the lower deck. I gripped the walls to steady myself, but the ship kept rocking, threatening to knock me off my feet with every turn. I was almost there when I heard Pope's voice calling after me, ''Mavis, no!''

But I didn't stop.

I reached the locked room and could hear Rafe shouting from the other side. His voice sounded distorted by the storm.

I grabbed the knife and moved toward the door. ''Please don't do anything stupid,'' I murmured as I crouched down to start cutting through the ropes.

''Wouldn't dream of it.'' Rafe replied.

The rope snapped free with a sharp tug. Rafe was free, but he didn't immediately rush out. Instead, he stepped back, rubbing his wrists, his eyes flicking to me.

''We need to get somewhere safe,'' Rafe said, his voice hoarse as he stumbled toward me. The boat rocked beneath us, and his hand shot out, catching my waist to steady me.

The impact of his touch made my breath catch, and for a split second, I forgot about the storm, the boat, everything. He pulled me into his chest, and I felt the heat of him against me.

Then, I felt something small and cold slip from my pocket. The ring. It tumbled from my jacket and hit the floor, rolling away from us as I tried to reach for it.

''The ring—'' I began, but Rafe stopped me, pulling me back into his embrace, not letting me go.

''I don't care about that stupid ring,'' he growled, his eyes wild with something I couldn't quite place. ''I care about you.'' His words echoed in my mind, louder than the storm itself.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Rafe cut me off. ''I only need your answer. I can buy you a thousand rings if you ask me to.''

I stared at him for a moment, trying to make sense of it all. Then, without thinking, I pulled him in, capturing his lips in a kiss. It was soft and slow, the storm outside still raging, but in that moment, it felt like we were the only two people left in the world.

Rafe melted against me, his hands threading through my hair, but before I could get lost in the moment, I pulled away.

''Something's wrong. Something's happened up there. I'll go check it out.'' I could hear the panic rising in my voice, but I tried to mask it.

Rafe grabbed my wrist as I moved to leave, but I slipped free from his grip.

''I'll come back, promise.'' I said quickly.

We did a quick pinky promise, and then I was off, stumbling over the uneven deck as I made my way upstairs to check on my brother.

The sound of the wind whipping through the sails was deafening, and the storm was relentless. My grip on the railing was shaky, my knuckles white, as I tried to hold my ground against the violent rocking of the ship. The waves were crashing harder, the storm roaring like a beast intent on swallowing us whole.

And then I heard him—John B. His voice cutting through the roar of the storm.

''John B!'' I yelled, trying to be heard over the thunder.

''Mimi!'' His voice was almost frantic, and when I looked up, I saw him standing by the railing, his eyes wide with panic. ''Mimi! Hold on!''

I barely had time to process it when the water around us surged—huge, monstrous swells rising up like towering walls. My heart pounded in my chest as I saw the wave coming, too fast, too big.

I screamed as the ship tilted, throwing me off balance. The wave hit us with a force so powerful that I was flung overboard, my body crashing into the cold, merciless water. The salty sting burned my eyes as I gasped for air, the water pulling me under in a vicious wave.

''No! No!'' My voice was lost in the spray, the water pushing me down, choking me as I struggled to keep afloat. My limbs felt heavy, my vision blurred.

Through the panic and the roar of the storm, I heard John B's voice again. ''Mavie! No!'' He yelled. ''Hold on! I'm coming! Hold on, Mavis!''

I tried to reach for him, my arms flailing, but the water was dragging me under again. I felt my breath leaving me, the cold filling my lungs.

And then, out of nowhere, I heard it again, louder this time, cutting through the panic:

''Mavis!''

It was JJ. Without thinking, without hesitation, I saw him running toward the edge of the ship, grabbing the life device and throwing it into the water. 

''JJ, what are you doing?'' John B yelled, his voice full of panic. ''JJ, no, no, no!''

But JJ didn't hesitate. He was already in motion, running for the water, the storm not even slowing him down. His focus was on me, and I could see the determination in his eyes.

''I'm coming, Mavie!'' he shouted.

I could barely keep my head above the water, my body feeling numb, my muscles too tired to fight against the waves. And then, just as everything seemed to fade, I felt something pull me up. A hand.

JJ's hand.

I gasped for air, my head breaking the surface, and I blinked against the rain as JJ's grip tightened on me. His face was inches from mine, his eyes wide with worry, but there was relief in his voice as he shouted, ''I got you, Mavie! Hold on!''

I clung to him as he pulled me, my body trembling from the cold and the shock of it all.

''Mavis!'' I heard Rafe shout, his voice cutting through the chaos. But I didn't have time to respond. I didn't even look up at the ship. JJ was pulling me toward the life device, his grip tight as he struggled against the waves.

Every breath was a battle, but JJ was there, keeping me above the water, his arms strong and sure as he fought against the storm.

We didn't speak much, but I could feel the urgency in his movements, his hand never leaving mine, guiding me. The storm felt like it would never end.

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