─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
i think we should take a break.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

         Kennedy had woke the following morning to her house in chaos. There was a bunch of yelling coming from downstairs—voices she knew to be her mother, brother and father. She had rolled out of bed, mumbling to herself as she slipped her feet into her pink fuzzy slippers by her bed before heading downstairs to see what all the commotion was about.

         Wearing her oversized Kildare County t-shirt, she slipped down the stairs and headed into the living room, "Mom, I don't know how many times I can repeat myself—this wasn't my fault!" Topper was yelling as he paced back and forth in the living room.

         Kennedy leaned against the wall, folding her arms at her chest. No one was aware of her presence yet and so she decided she would eavesdrop for a while, "Then whose fault is it, Christopher? Because last time I checked, that boat was your responsibility," Caroline was saying from where she sat on the sofa, wine glass in hand, still wearing her silk robe. "You're not being punished, darlin'. Your father and I just want you to take some accountability for your actions—"

          "My actions?" Topper repeated in disbelief. He threw his hands up, turning to his father. "Dad, listen to me, alright? I did not forget to put the plug in. The boat had been sitting there for a week! You believe me, right?" He pleaded, turning to his father for help.

          Dallas sighed heavily, "The plug wasn't in the boat, son," He reminded him, making Topper do a double-take. Dallas sat up a little straighter. "But if you can tell me who is responsible other than you then I'll hear you out." He said, his newspaper long forgotten by his side.

          Topper came to a halt. Kennedy watched him, knowing that her twins mind was going through all the possibilities, then after a moment, he spoke, "That Pogue," He nodded his head, agreeing with he was about to say. "It had to be him. Pope Hayward—he's the one responsible." Kennedy's brows furrowed together. She didn't know the full story, but from the just of things, she had assumed her brother's boat had sank and he refused to take the blame. So he was pinning it on someone else—someone who would have cause for wanting to sink his boat.

         Dallas screwed up his face, "Heyward's son? You mean to tell me that Heyward's son sunk your boat?" He asked in disbelief. Just about everyone on the island knew who Heyward's was—he was the man of the island, anything you wanted, he could get it for you. He was a worker—and a hard one at that, and as far as everyone was aware, he had raised his son right.

          "It had to have been him!" Topper exclaimed, gesturing with his hands.

          Caroline looked up at her son, "Now why would that boy want to sink your boat?" She asked him, a frown on her face, being familiar with the Heyward's.

          Topper mulled it over before shaking his head, "I—I don't know," He lied, making Kennedy's eyes narrow. "Probably some Pogue bullshit—"

           Kennedy stormed into the living room, "Are you seriously going to sit there and lie?" She demanded, announcing her presence. Her twin turned, his face paling at the sight of her. She'd already told on him once and he knew she'd be more than happy to do it again.

          Caroline looked to her daughter, "Pumpkin, do you know something about this?" She softly inquired as Kennedy stood there, eyes glaring at her liar for a brother.

         Topper stared her down, his eyes pleading her not to blab—to keep her mouth shut for once. She nodded her head, "Yeah, I know all about what happened," Topper hissed under his breath, turning his back on her. She looked between her parents. "If Pope did sink his boat—he had every single right." She said, looking to glare at her brothers back.

         Topper swivelled around, "You know what, Kennedy? I am so fucking sick to death of you," He snapped, making both of his parents stand to their feet, yelling at him for his language—but he didn't listen. "You can't keep your mouth shut for all of two seconds! Like, why do you hate me so much, huh? You keep standing up for these Pogues over your own brother!" He yelled at her, his nostrils flared, face turning red.

         Kennedy stepped closer to him, "Because I don't recognise you anymore!" She yelled back. "You've become so consumed with hate for the Pogues that you've became a totally different person! You're not my brother anymore, Top! I don't know who the hell you are!" She exclaimed, her eyes burning with angry tears.

         Kennedy and Topper used to be close—as close as twins could be. They shared everything together and spent almost every waking moment together. They'd surf, they'd sneak out, they'd talk about everything and anything. But things had changed. Topper had become closer to Rafe and Kennedy had noticed a change in him. He was more aggressive, more full of hatred. He had gone from sweet, kind and caring to someone she couldn't even recognise anymore. And it angered her.

          "You don't recognise me? Shit, I don't recognise you!" Topper shouted at her, making her shake her head, trying to hold the tears back. "It used to be me and you against the world, Ken. We used to always be there for each other, but now you're constantly against me! You're always against me!" The parents of the twins exchanged glances, choosing to allow them to get out all of their frustrations, hoping that somehow, it could help ease the tension between them.

          Kennedy sniffled, "Because I can't defend you anymore." She told him, the tears coating her lashes before she shook her head, turning her back and retreating to her bedroom. It was beginning to feel like some kind of ritual—her bedroom felt like the only safe place in the entire house.

           Kennedy threw herself onto her bed, wrapping herself up like a burrito with her blankets, heaving out a deep breath, "Pumpkin?" The voice came from her mother as she entered her room, poking her head in before entering fully.
     
           "I just wanna be alone, mom." Kennedy grumbled.

          "Alright," Caroline said, but she didn't leave. Instead, she sat down on the edge of Kennedy's bed. "I'll just sit here and let you stoop. Don't worry about a thing, pumpkin." She drawled out, wrapping her robe tighter around her body.

          Kennedy sighed as she sat up, keeping the blankets wrapped around her head. Caroline turned to face her daughter, smiling brightly, "Ah, there's my beautiful daughter," She gleamed, reaching out to touch her cheek with her thumb. She tilted her head. "You wanna talk about it?" She prompted.

          Kennedy shook her head, "I don't even know what to say." She said.

           "How about we start with that Heyward's boy? Why don't you tell me what happened?" Caroline suggested, reaching out and putting her hand on Kennedy's knee from over the blankets.

         Kennedy stared at her mom before sighing, "You know the whole Kooks vs Pogues thing, right?" Caroline hummed out a response. "It used to just be this silly thing—like we'd all tease each other and shit, but nothing ever went too far. But ever since that night at the Boneyard, it's like everyone's out for each other's blood and I just—I don't get it. I understand we all have nothing in common, but do we really have to fight over it? It's just... it's all so out of control now—and Topper, he's at the very centre of it." She tried explaining, her eyes glued onto the patchwork material of her blanket.

          "Pope delivered the groceries we'd ordered at the clinic. I'd just seen him the day before, but his entire face was beaten to a pulp," She continued saying. "He let me clean him up and told me about what happened. He'd been at his delivery before ours—at the golf course... Rafe and Topper beat him up, mom—just for being on their side of the island." Caroline watched her daughter speak, her lips parting at her words.

           "He bet the kid up?" She asked in a small voice.

         Kennedy nodded, "It's so stupid—like it's an island. People should be able to go where they want." She said in exasperation.

        Caroline sighed, wrapping Kennedy up into a tight hug, "My sweet girl," She cooed as Kennedy leaned against her, resting her head against her chest. Caroline pushed the blanket down, running her hands through her daughter's hair. "I wish you'd let other people know how much of a sweetheart you are." She whispered, holding onto her tightly.

        Kennedy laughed a little, "Maybe one day."

        Later on that night, Kennedy found herself at the OBX Summer Movie Series. She'd had no previous intentions of going, however her mother insisted it would do her some good to get out instead of sitting at home binging Netflix. Kennedy had argued at first that it was basically the same thing. Why would she want to be surrounded by random people watching a movie when she could do it in the comfort of her own home? But Caroline had been having none of it—swearing that her daughter wasn't going to become some kind of recluse.

           She was by the snack van, buying an overpriced Diet Coke when she felt a presence walk up beside her, "Hey, Ken. Can we talk?" It was Rafe.

           She passed the worker the change for the coke and turned to look at her boyfriend—or ex? She wasn't entirely sure. Their argument had left things unsaid, neither of them knowing quite where they stood with each other. And Kennedy didn't even know where she stood with him, especially after finding out what he and her brother had done to Pope.

          She settled one of her hands on her hips, "Start talking." She demanded.

           Rafe crouched down to her level, "I'm sorry about what happened at the party, alright? I was just trying to make some extra cash after I used the generator money," He tried explaining. He took ahold of her shoulder. "But I—I swear to you, Kennedy. I'm not taking that shit, alright? I was just selling." He reassured her—but Kennedy had seen him that night. Well, not exactly. But she had witnessed him putting out the lines and there was no convincing her he hadn't participated.

           "You swear to me?" She repeated, making him nod his head. She chuckled in disbelief. "Rafe, you had that shit lined out on the table. Are you expecting me to believe that you didn't take any of it?" She asked him in disbelief, wondering how much of an idiot he thought she was.

          "Baby, I swear to you—I didn't take any of it. I was just dealing." He promised her.

          "Yeah, to my brother," She said. "I saw y'all. Like seriously, Rafe, what the fuck is going on with you two? You're causing fights just about every other day and now you're both doing drugs?" She demanded, her eyes narrowing.

           Rafe stepped back, throwing his hands up, "It was one night—your brother hasn't touched the shit since." He told her.

          She laughed, "Oh, and I should reward him because of that?"

           Rafe let out a breath, "Look, I'm not playing the blame game here, alright? But who's the one out of us that started taking drugs first, huh?" Kennedy blinked, her gaze hardening. Rafe stepped closer to her. "After the shit with your dad, you're the one that started using them, alright? I mean, shit, Ken. You think I don't know what you were getting up to with that Drew guy when we were on a break? You were high out of your mind when you were showing up to fucking class." He reminded her of one of the darkest times of her life—given, it had only been a few months prior.

         Kennedy stared at him, non-blinking, "You're a fucking asshole, you know that?" She hissed. "I was struggling, okay? Like really fucking struggling—but I got over it. You couldn't pay me to take that shit now! And do I have to remind you that I was never once aggressive the way you are? Like, fuck, Rafe—you almost killed that Touron kid." It was her turn to remind him of just how badly he'd reacted when that Touron boy had spoke to her. He'd been so high out of his mind that he'd knocked the living daylights right out of them.

         Rafe's lip twitched upwards, "Well then, I guess we're both fucked up."

          "Yeah, I guess we are." Kennedy agreed, staring him down.

          After a moment, Rafe sighed heavily, "Look, can we just stop with this petty bullshit? I just—"

         "I think we should take a break," Kennedy spoke over him before she could stop herself, the words slipping from her tongue. Rafe's jaw tightened as he stared at her. She nodded her head slowly. "We should take a break, Rafe." She repeated, solidifying her words.

           "A break?" He asked, making her nod her head. "You wanna—you wanna take another fucking break?" He demanded in a hushed whisper.

          She nodded, "I do."

          Rafe stared at her for the longest of times before he laughed in her face, "Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts," He said, taking a few steps away from her. He gestured with his hand. "Hit me up when you're over this whole power trip thing." He told her, waving her off dismissively as he walked away.

         Kennedy watched him go, her chest tight. She hadn't known where the break had come from—and part of her knew it was futile. If it wasn't for her habit of always running back to him, then it came down to her parents and his. Their entires lives bad basically been planned out—her mother even had a folder dedicated to their fucking wedding. But still, she couldn't stand to be around him for any longer after everything that had happened and she was going to try and resist for as long as she possibly could.

( authors note )

       hi! i'm struggling to write this book SO bad bc I've rewrote s1 like three times already and it's all just so repetitive. like i just wanna be able to get onto the other seasons already🥹

          — taylor x