THE PERFECT GIRL.

chapter four, barry the. . . drug dealer?
[ original episode ]

JULY 2018.

RORY CONSIDERS TURNING AROUND AND GOING BACK TO THE CHÂTEAU. Back home to her boys. Big John, John B, Pope, and JJ. She tells herself that she should turn around.

She should go home.

But she doesn't.

Rory takes a deep breath. Then she takes the first step forward. Then another step. Twenty more steps and she's standing in front of the grand front door. She stares at it, wondering if she should do this. She wonders if she should knock on the door.

She closes her eyes.

Why is she doing this? Why does she need this horrible drug? She hates herself for this. She hates herself because the night she took the cocaine, everything was okay. For the first time in her life, she didn't fear her father. She didn't worry about if she would be forced back into his custody, right back into the hand of the monster.

She didn't worry if she would be taken back to the Fernsby Estate. She wasn't worried worried about Big John's anger about her going to another party and trying coke.

She felt nothing expect euphoria.

When she reopens her ocean blue eyes, she raises her fist and knocks on the door.

She takes a step back, waiting. Her eyes fall onto her pink high top Converse. Those pink Converse, her prized possession. It's the one gift she's ever been given that's meant the entire world to her.

JJ spent an entire month saving up for the shoes. He thought it was ridiculous. . . ninety dollars for a pair of shoes. But that didn't stop him from saving up for them and buying them for Rory for Christmas. He knows she could've gotten them herself but he wanted to do something special for her. Rory is his girl, Rory and Kie.

Rory is ripped from her thoughts when the front door opens. Her eyes dart up. In front of her stands Rafe Cameron.

"Rory," he says, confusion lacing his voice. His brows furrow. "What're you doing here?"

"Um. . ." she doesn't know how to start this conversation. She doesn't even know what to say. "I— I was at the beach with Lyn the other day—"

"You tried it?" He raises his eyebrows. She nods. "Wow, Fernsby. I'm surprised and impressed. I didn't think you had it in you."

"She told me you're her supplier." Rory tells him.

Rafe rolls his blue eyes. "I told her not to say anything about that."

"So, you're a supplier?" Rory asks.

"I only sell to Lyn because she's a close friend. I get my shit from someone on the Cut. That's where everyone goes to get the good stuff." He informs her.

"The Cut? Seriously?" She asks. "Y'all all talk shit about Pogues until they're selling you Coke."

Rafe shrugs. "It's a win-win for everyone involved. We get what we want, drugs, and so do they, money."

"That's so stupid." Rory shakes her head.

"You're here for a reason, Rory. What is it?" He asks, his tone suddenly serious.

She heaves a deep breath. "I want more."

Rafe smirks. "I can do that for you."

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"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Rory asks hesitantly. She stares at the dirtbike. She knows JJ has one but she's never rode on it. They scare her. She's heard too many stories about people dying in motorcycle and dirtbike accidents.

"It's only, like, a fifteen minute drive," Rafe says. He grabs his helmet, handing it out to Rory.

Her brows furrow. "What about you? You need one too, Rafe."

"Nah," he shakes his head. "I'm fine. I've been driving this bad boy since I was your age. Now, put the helmet on Rory. Unless you want people on the Cut to see you with me."

She scoffs but she puts the helmet on. She watches from beneath the helmet as Rafe gets on the dirtbike.

"Get on." He instructs.

She listens.

She wraps her arms around his waist, interlocked her fingers. She rests her hands against his abdomen. Underneath her hands, she feels his abs flex, his shoulder tense.

Rory's brows crease with worry and confusion.

"You okay?" She asks him.

All he does is nod.

"I can move—"

"Don't." Rafe demands.

Rory's eyes widen at his tone. She's never heard Rafe sound like that before. For a moment, it frightens her. But then—

Her pupils expand.

Neither of them exchange another word as Rafe starts the dirt bike. He kicks up the kickstand. He reeves the engine.

Rafe doesn't hesitate to speed away from Tannyhill. Rory's heart rate soars, a small shriek leaves her lips at the sudden speed. She tightens her grip on Rafe.

"You good?" He calls over his shoulder.

"No!" Rory shouts back. She can tell Rafe is laughing by the way his back shakes against her front. Heat rushes to her cheeks.

"You get used to it!" Rafe informs her loudly.

"Doubt it!" She yells.

The older boy laughs again. Rory smiles to herself at the sound of his laughter.

The dirtbike races across the bridge separating the Cut and Figure Eight. Rory is thankful for the helmet and the tinted face shield as they pass by a man she recognizes fishing on the bridge.

Rafe reeves the engine as they race through the Cut. He doesn't dare shout anything rude at the Pogues they pass. Not with Rory on the back.

They finally reach their destination.

Rafe gets off first. Then he helps Rory off of his dirtbike. She stumbles, reaching up to take off the helmet.

"Oh, Sweet Jesus." Rory mumbles.

"You okay?" Rafe asks.

"Yep," Rory squeaks. "I've never been more grateful for solid ground in my life."

Rafe laughs in response. "Alright, Rors. Let's go get some coke."

She sets the helmet on one of the handle bars. She pushes her hair away from her face. When she turns, she looks to the place.

It's obvious a Pogue lives here. The trailer is rundown, different car parts and God knows what else scattered around the overgrown yard. Empty beer cans glint in the tall grass like aluminum stars, and a rusted chain dangles from a half-dead oak tree, remnants of what might have once been a swing. The air smells of motor oil and something rotting in the summer heat.

She starts to make her way forward, the gravel crunching beneath her feet.

Rory's feet stop moving at the sight of the man leaving the rundown trailer.

The man looks up from the drugs in his hands. At the sight of the blonde girl he knows, Luke Maybank freezes.

"Rory—" Rafe cuts himself as he turns around to see why Rory isn't following behind him. "Shit." He mutters under his breath when he realizes what's happening.

"Aurora?" Luke's blonde brows furrow. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Um. . ." Rory doesn't know what to say.

Before either Rory or Rafe can react, Luke is storming towards her, moving with the dangerous grace of a predator. He reaches out, grabbing her oversized Kildare Island shirt in his hands. The fabric twists in his grip, and she can smell the stale cigarettes on his breath. Her eyes widen, a small gasp leaves her lips. Her heart hammers against her ribs like it's trying to escape.

"Hey, man!" Rafe hisses. He turns around, approaching them swiftly.

"Don't take another step closer, boy." Luke snaps, not taking his eyes off of Rory. "The hell you doin' with that punk ass Kook? Huh, Aurora? You want JJ to know you're here?"

"N— no!" Rory says.

"You better not hurt my boy, girl." Luke's nose scrunches in anger.

"Oh, you mean so you're the only one that does? I know what you do to him, you monster. You hit him. You're abusive." Rory snarls. "You're just another deadbeat drug addict."

Luke face twists in rage. He raises his fist in the air.

"Problem?" A voice comes from the doorway of the trailer. All eyes turn to the entryway.

A boy, about eighteen years old, stands in the doorway of the rundown trailer. The screen door frames him like a portrait. There's a handgun clutched in his hand, held with the casual comfort of someone who's used it before. His eyes stay locked on Luke, cold and calculating.

"Best you leave now, Maybank." The boy says, his tone deceptively light. His finger rests beside the trigger, not on it, a warning.

"You gone pick this little slut—" Luke's words cause Rafe to take a dangerous step forward. The boy's inside the trailer narrows his eyes slightly at Luke. "Over me?"

"She ain't done nothin' wrong. You went after her, started threatenin' her." The boy states. "You know I don't play about my best customers, Maybank. Now, get the fuck outta here 'fore I break your goddamn kneecaps."

Luke scoffs, but there's a flicker of something like fear in his eyes. He shoves Rory away from him. She stumbles back a step, catching herself on a rusted car bumper. Rafe surges forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her into his side protectively. His heart pounds against her shoulder.

The older man stares her down. "This ain't over." His words are a promise.

Rory's blue eyes trail after him as he stalks away, watching until he disappears around the corner of the trailer park. Her hands shake slightly at her sides.

"Ya good, Princess?" The boy asks from the doorway, his voice still sharp.

All Rory can do is nod.

"Whatcha doin' here, Big Shot?" He asks Rafe, tucking the gun into his waistband with practiced ease.

"Rory here wants some coke." Rafe nods his head towards Rory, still protectively holding her against his side.

"Really, now?" The boy raises his eyebrows, a smirk forming on his lips. "Well, Rory, I'm just the guy. I'm Barry."

"Hi, Barry." She walks toward, holding her hand out for him to shake. Barry smirks again, his eyes flicker to Rafe who watches them carefully. Rory's face falls. "Oh, sorry. Do you not—"

"Don' worry 'bout it." Barry says. He reaches out and shakes her hand. "Just neva had someone wantin' hard drugs shake my hand. Most folks 'round here ain't big on manners."

"Well," Rory shrugs, finding her footing again. "There's a first for everything, isn't there?" A breeze stirs the tall grass around them, carrying the distant sound of a dog barking.

Barry looks at Rory, really looks at her, like he's trying to solve a puzzle. Something shifts in his expression, almost imperceptible.

"Guess there is." He says finally, and for the first time, his smile seems genuine.

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word count: 1,526
episode: original episode

oops, sorry for not updating in ten hundred thousand years. i started college and am nearly done with my first semester (i hate college and it makes me want to end it all). but hopefully i'll be writing a little more now because i'm almost done with writing act one and then we'll finally be onto the actual plot of the show. 

but rory has now officially met barry and he was so fast to defend her against luke, which we will talk about that in a second. but let's focus on barry. so barry and rory do have a friendship during this act and it's extremely important.

from here on out, it gets crazy. like actually. rory and rafe are soon to be a couple (fuck him for manipulating her). i am not ready for y'all to read this next chapter omg.

but i don't have much else to say other than thanks for reading guys!!