𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Cori couldn't remember a time in her life without JJ Maybank being there. That's a lie. But she had to think pretty hard to do so.

When John B. met JJ Maybank it was like someone bringing home a stray dog and begging their parents to let 'em keep it. That's what it was like when those two became best friends in the third grade. So, naturally, Cori and JJ also became friends, because where John B. was... Cori was not far behind. And the three became inseparable, and definitely a trio worth of trouble in school... but the three of them wouldn't have it any other way. Cori couldn't imagine life without her boys.

And now she didn't want anything to do with them.

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The next morning, Cori rolls over, immediately met with a pounding headache and nausea- though she did not puke. Cori has never thrown up any alcohol she's ever consumed before, not even when mixing.

But if it was a time to hurl, it would be now. Cori barely remembered the ride home, only that Topper and Sarah were angry over what had happened on the beach... which was also fuzzy at the moment.

"Ugh." She groans, seeing the light without even opening her eyes wondering why the hell her curtains weren't shut.

"Are you awake?" Sarah whispers, scaring the shit out of Cori.

"Jesus!" Cori hisses, jolting under the covers as her eyes pop open before she quickly pulls the comforter over her head.

"I'll take that as a yes." Sarah mumbles.

Cori's mouth tastes like battery acid, and all she wants to do is drink water until she bursts, but she also couldn't bring herself to get up, her limbs screaming at her to stay in Sarah's warm bed forever, realizing they were in Sarah's room after noticing the bedsheets and comforter were not hers and everything smelled like Sarah's perfume.

"Do you remember last night?" Sarah asks her gently, apparently silence not being an option now that Cori has exposed she's awake.

"Bits and pieces." Cori mumbles, squeezing her eyes shut she catches glimpses of the night here and there, though she wasn't sure she wants to remember anyway...

"What a psycho." Sarah continues, the words bitter and full of distaste. "You know he could've shot someone! Me, or you, or Topper!" Her voice raises with each word of her rant.

Cori's brows furrow together before it all comes rushing back to her... 'Princess.' JJ. Her throwing her drink in his face... Him and Topper arguing... The gun. Kiara screaming. Topper shoving John B.'s face in the water...

"Could say the same thing for your boyfriend." Cori sourly points out. She was angry with JJ, not John B. And what Topper did to him...

Sarah bites her lip, feeling guilty that Topper did that to John B. and in front of Cori. "You're right, I'm sorry." She sighs softly. "I can't even begin to imagine how hard that was for you."

Cori reframes from laughing- not needing Sarah to think she was psycho too, though she wasn't so sure these days. A year ago, Cori would've laughed in anyone's face, maybe spit in it too, of even the mere suggestion that her and Sarah Cameron would even be talking right now, little long close friends and sharing the same bed. And now she couldn't picture her day to day without her.

Cori sighs, nibbling on her lip. "Let's not talk about it anymore."

"You sure?"

"Yes." She huffs, shaking her head as she adjusts her arms before further into the mattress. "The sooner I forget about last night, the better."

But not even alcohol could erase JJ from Cori's mind...

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John B. didn't want to go there... he didn't want to think about how unfair his situation was compared to Cori. He didn't want to be bitter like JJ for whatever reason. Which only frustrated him further that JJ was acting the way that he was.

Sherriff Peterkin had just left the Chateau, warning John B. he was skimming on the line of foster care on the main land, or juvie. His place was a wreck. His eye had a large purple bruise around it... and where was Cori?

In a clean mansion. With a family. One she use to claim to despise. He wasn't sure anymore. John B. wasn't sure of anything about her anymore. She didn't wake up this morning alone.

But John B. has to remind himself she lost her dad, too. Her life as she knew was uprooted. He just wished she remembered too.

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The soft sound of bongos playing fills the air as seagulls squawk off in the distance. Every rock that JJ threw he pictured it hitting something of Cori's. He pictured hitting her house- The Cameron's house. He imagined the rocks splashing something on her. His nostrils flare thinking about the alcohol she poured on him last night, which only fueled his throwing power even more.

"Look, I'm callin' it off. All right?" John B. speaks up to the group. Pope looks up from his book. "Peterkin said, if I stay out of the marsh, she'll help me with DCS."

"And you believed her?" JJ questions him.

"Yes, I believe her, JJ." John B. snips.

"An actual cop, John B. You believed a cop." He continues.

"All I gotta do is stay out of the marsh for a couple days, and she'll help me out." John B. raises his voice. "We can't all have rich families in Figure Eight like Cori!"

"Hey, don't say her name." JJ points at him.

"It doesn't help that your ass was the one shooting a gun." John B. tosses down the large stick he was leaning on.

"You know what I should have done, man? I should've just let Topper drown your ass." JJ huffs.

"Yeah, because Topper was gonna drown me?" John B. retorts.

"Sure looked like it." JJ stands.

"Funny."

"Have you looked in the mirror."

"Tell me some more. Come on." John B. eggs him on.

"They always win, don't they, man?" JJ leans against the porch. "Kooks versus Pogues. They always, always win! And Cori chose her side!" He punches one of the tether balls hanging down. "Goddamn!" Cori left with them last night. She arrived with Kooks, she left with Kooks, SHE IS A KOOK! And JJ fucking hated it. He hated her. She was a liar. A deciteful bitch.

"Look, it's okay!" Kie shouts at him.

"No, it's not okay!" JJ turns around. "It is not! They don't want us to go down into the marsh. That means there's something valuable down there, and you know it.  I know you do." He points at John B. "And Cori's one of them! She doesn't need whatever's down there, man. She's set for life! And I understand why you don't wanna go." He throws his hand in Pope's direction. "You're the golden boy. You got way too much to risk. And you-" He turns to Kie. "I mean, you're already rich as fuck anyway. Why would you bother? Just like Cori." Kiara blinks at him, knowing she has no comeback. He was right, unfortunately. "But you and me, man, we got nothin' to lose!" He focuses on John B. once again, yelling the last part. "We really don't, all right?"

"JJ." John B. sighs. Of course he knows Cori chose her new life over them. And it hurt like hell. And he knew him and JJ had nothing to lose. But he had a lot to lose...

"And I know it didn't use to be that way for you." JJ says.

"I don't want to talk about this." John B. shakes his head. "I don't want to talk about it." He mumbles, shoving past JJ.

"So that's it?"

"Just get out of my way, bro." He starts off.

"John B., list to me. I have a plan." JJ stops him. Kiara and Pope glance at each other. "You got the key to Cameron's big boat, right?" JJ walks over to him, wrapping his arm around John B.'s shoulder.

"No, JJ." John B. immediately dismisses.

"There's scuba gear inside, man." JJ tells him. "We borrow that, and then we go down to the wreck this afternoon, and that is what's gonna save you, man." He smiles. "You don't see rich kids going into foster care, do you? Did Cori?" John B. looks off, scoffing smally. "No." JJ emphasizes, "She didn't." He spits out. "And neither should you."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

𝟘𝕓𝕦𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕦𝕚𝕥𝟟 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕤!

Heyyyy... long time no read, huh... well, welcome back!! <333

So... let's get into... & address the elephant in the room first, shall we? First of all, sorry for not updating on OBX S4 PT2 Day lmao... I was gonna & then got unmotivated like a mf... I genuinely do not think I will be continuing/finishing this show. And let's be real... it fell off anyways. (Ooo js... js...) If you haven't watched S4 I will not spoil it, but honestly don't fucking bother!!

With that being, I think I will be ending this series after S3. I think it is the right decision for not only this book but for Cori as well. And don't worry!! I will end it right! (Just wanted to get all that out of the way lol.)

MOVING ONNNN... WHAT'D Y'ALL THINK OF THIS CHAPTERRRR?! I'm actually living for Sarah & Cori's friendship sm, it's taken me far more by surprise than I thought it woulddd!! I can't WAITTTT for yall to find out more of the lore behind Cori's dad... & behind her & JJ!!! ;) CAUSE I GOT PLANSSS (AND WILL NOT LET THEM BE RUINED BY SHITTY ASS WRITING)... :)

So, I hope y'all enjoyed this chappp!! And getting John B. & JJ's thoughts & feelings on the situation too!! I've honestly missed this book & Cori SO MUCHHH!! And I hope y'all did too!! Don't be afraid to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactionsss!!

AND HAPPY 2 YEARS (WHAT) TO S3 & HAPPY 2 YEARS TO THE ORIGINAL PUBLISH OF THIS BOOK!!! Until next time, mwah!! <3333