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╰┈➤ 𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘚𝘐𝘋𝘌𝘙𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘛 𝘞𝘌 𝘋𝘐𝘋𝘕'𝘛  have any classes for two weeks, we should look around the Outer Banks and do an internship. Gather all professional experience and get a feeling for what it's like to go to work.

My brother waited tables at Kie's parents' wreck, JJ worked at Figure Eight selling boats. Pope was doing an internship at a law firm and Meggi was in high school. Sarah was housed with Kiara at an animal sanctuary.

I was the only one doing an internship at the sheriff's department. Maybe out of curiosity or to make a clean impression. I was interested one way or the other.

Today I was given the task of looking at old - actually discarded - files so that I knew how they were structured. Then I was supposed to carry them down to the basement in their boxes. So far nothing has been exciting about it. And I knew it was daring, but once the coast was clear, I sat back at my computer and looked at my friends' database.

There was nothing conspicuous noted in it, except for JJ. His was plenty full and I did him a favor and erased a few things from it so it wouldn't be noticeable. I manipulated the date on which you could see when something was changed in such a way that it was not noticeable. If you were familiar with electronics, it was child's play.

After that, I went back to the Internet home page, cleared my throat, and took a sip of coffee from my mug.

Deputy Shoupe knocked on the door and came over to me.

"Miss. Routledge, breaking news just came on the radio that two fugitives were caught selling cocaine illegally," he said. "I'm supposed to get you to go with me. You'll put the handcuffs on them, too, if they do."

My heart pounded in my throat for a second, expecting to be blown. I nodded in concentration, hurriedly got up from my chair and put the blanking pistol in the holster around my belt. They even put me in a full uniform, but I wasn't allowed to carry a baton or a real weapon.

Even on my first day, I had to sign a contract stating that I was sworn to secrecy about anything that might happen during my stay. Probably hence the oncoming trust.

Confidently, I rushed to the car with Deputy Shoupe, got in and got out on time at the spot. When the colleagues who had surrounded two criminals with their cars and I stepped forward, I recognized Rafe and his drug dealer Barry.

Oh damn. It had only been a matter of time before they would eventually be exposed. And especially when it came to young people, the police had fun smuggling them in.

I went ahead with my gun drawn. Shoupe steered toward Barry, which gave me a sharp fix on Rafe.

"Hands behind your head and on your knees!" I ordered him, probably having more fun than I should have.

From his scrutinizing gaze, I was aware that he knew only too well who was standing in front of him, and before he could say anything, I was behind him, holding him tight and handcuffing him.

"Emma-" he whispered.

"What did he say?", Shoupe asked suddenly, and I put on my poker face.

"Nothing, sir. You must have misheard me."

Barry fussed the whole drive, throwing insults and saying he knew a lawyer who would get him out.

Rafe, on the other hand, was speechless, the corners of his mouth pursed in anger and his gaze literally tore me apart. Sitting between them - to make sure they didn't attempt to escape - I felt Rafe purposely scooting closer, rubbing his knee slightly against mine, trying at all costs to get my attention.

I wasn't allowed to look at him.

I was sorry.

It would only be obvious that we knew each other and that would make things worse. I subtly returned the pressure against my knee, moistening my lips, causing him to clear his throat and lift his hips to sit more comfortably.

Barry was far too distracted and annoyed to even begin to notice the situation.

After the squad car pulled up outside the station, I grabbed Rafe's arm and led him inside. Shoupe in front of me with Barry, who needed help because he was on a rampage to somehow get free.

"Emma-" Rafe whispered again from beside me, touching my arm with his finger.

"Shhh, trust me, you're safe with me," I promised him in a whisper before switching roles and speaking to Shoupe.

"Which cell, sir?"

"The last one in the back, Routledge."

I nodded. "Understood."

Once we were out of earshot and I directed Rafe down the aisle, he couldn't hide his grin.

"Fuck, you must be the hottest cop I've ever seen."

"Rafe," I rebuked, trying to hide my embarrassment from him. "This isn't the place for it."

"That's right," he teased, "you don't actually cuff me until I'm half naked."

I looked away, panting, shutting out images of ideas he'd projected into my mind.

Rafe grinned even cheekier.
"Don't be shy, love."

I just shook my head, unlocked the cell with one hand, and playfully pushed him in before uncuffing him.
"You promised to stop, Rafe. What should I think now," I said seriously now, closed the door again and waited for Shoupe to bring Barry so that I could lock it.

"Nice work, Routledge," he complimented me. "It would be an honor for our precinct to welcome you as a member in a few years."

I smiled thankfully. "For you being sheriff by then, sir," I coaxed, although I couldn't stand him to death.

Shoupe stepped away, leaving me with Barry and Rafe.

Barry ran a few laps in circles before he looked at me and stopped.
"Wait, wait- Rafe, isn't that your little miss country club?" He shook his head in disbelief and started to laugh.
"I can't believe it! The little girl has just arrested her loverboy!"

Grinding my teeth, I tried to control myself. After all, I couldn't really jump at his throat in the police station.
"First of all," I clarified, "I'm not short, nor is his miss Country Club. I could spit on your head and your fucking cocaine anytime. Secondly, if I were you, I'd be careful about what I say."

Barry didn't like my words at all, so he rushed to the bars and yanked at them with his hands. "What are you supposed to do?! You're the dirty pouge princess, who steals and lies, ya hear? Nothin' more!"

I nodded in disbelief for a second. His comment hit me harder than it should have.

Rafe yanked him away from the bars and punched him in the upper jaw, but held him so he couldn't fall.

"What did you call her, huh?" he asked, his eyes so angry I wanted to kiss him to calm him down.

"Never call her that again. And don't you even say her name or I'll kill you, do you hear that, yeah? I'm going to kill you." Barry freed himself from Rafe's grip, whose breathing was far too fast and I could tell he was about to freak out.

Barry spat right at his feet.
"Fuck you man. She will never love you and your fucked up brain, give it up."

I let the two of them, they had to clarify that among themselves. Barry turned his head to me, however, fixing me.
"Did you know he came up to me and asked for coke to get you out of his head? And even when he was staring into air so fuckin' high, a blind man would have seen your face in front of his eyes, am I right, Rafe?!" He locked at him.

Rafe said nothing, blinking the few tears I could see from his eyes.

"You are so in love that you lost yourself in the process. You have become weak. Got in debt, let your dad down, got into fights and shot your sister," he recounted, tapping his chest to clarify the point. "Man, she didn't just make your head spin, you lost your mind. She fuckin' tricked you! Manipulated you, boy."

Now he touched his forehead. I finally had enough.
"Just get out, Barry. You are disgusting. Giving other people complexes to look away from your own," I snapped, taking a moment to breathe before saying something bolder.

"Rafe is the most beautiful person I know. Maybe the most broken, but I'll stand by my feelings when I say I'd do anything for him ... because I love him even more as myself." Swallowing, I looked at Rafe, who actually had a tear rolling down his cheek as he cried his wrinkled nose.

"Emma-" he blurted out, speechless. It was the first time I had told him I loved him. When he first confessed to me a few days ago, I got scared and ducked, which only increased his anger. Possibly his craving for drugs too.

That was never the intention. Now he put his hands through the lattice and I clasped them gently.

"I wish I didn't have to tell you like that," I apologized. "And I wish I could kiss you now."

The whole situation was so screwed up and sad that I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed. "I'm sorry. I'll get you out of here. Shift change and handover is in two hours, I'm off work then and we can go. Promise."

Eagerly he nodded, wouldn't last long like this.

"I'll wait for you, Em," he breathed so that I could feel it against my lips.
"As always. No matter how long it takes. I'II be here."

I took a breath and am about to set off when Rafe said something again. "Emma?"

"Yes, pretty boy?"

His gaze was serious and so intimate that my knees almost got weak.
"Please take care of yourself, alright?"

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