CHAPTER THREE: GRAVE DIGGING CREEPS
( episode two: the lucky compass )

✲*'。

Arden practically threw herself out of the chicken coop, squatting down as tried to take in deep breaths. It felt like her lungs were closing in on her; it didn't help that her little bean refused to stop fluttering around. The movements, as constricting as they were, helped to ground Arden. The discomfort helped to alleviate the confusion and panic.

From behind her, Arden could hear the Pogue's arguing amongst themselves. Haven was with them, looking completely done with the situation that Arden had no idea she had been implemented to. She could talk to Haven later ---- Arden needed to get the fuck out of here.

Arden walked towards Haven, dumping her friends phone into Havens palm and didn't hesitate to break out into a run as John B called her name. She didn't look back once, just reaching her bike as John B picked up the pace to try and reach her. She took off, pedaling as fast as she could just as John B reached where her bike had been only a few seconds before.

"Come back Ard we need to talk!" John B screeched at the top of his lungs, but never once did Arden look back, too focused on putting as much distance between her and the Chateau as possible.

✲*'。

When Arden arrived back at the Cameron's mansion she immediately dove right into Sarah's room. Arden was not in the mood not to chance an encounter with Cameron Senior or the demon spawn. She really couldn't even attempt to handle another spat, not with her nerves completely fried. Arden felt overwhelmed, exhausted and nauseous all at the same time. All she wanted to do was sleep, but Arden felt her body was prattling with energy.

"Sarah?" Arden called out. Maybe she could convince Sarah to help do some online shopping with her to choose out some clothes for her or the baby. None of Arden's old clothes were beginning to fit right and finding cute maternity clothes was a struggle in itself. Groaning, Arden rolled off Sarah's bed, practically bouncing around the house to find the girl.

"You gotta be careful--- all these pogues are all low lives."

At Topper Thornton's words, Arden felt her blood beginning to boil over at this bastard's petty words. Arden was too worked up to hear Sarah's reply, only focusing in when she heard Sarah defending the Pogues.

"I'm just trying to protect you!" Topper cried, prompting Arden to roll her eyes. What century did this fucker thing they lived in.

Arden crawled out the window, trying really hard to resist the urge to throw Topper off the roof.

"Sarah, can you come here for a minute?" Arden called out. At her words, Sarah stood making her way to Arden away from Topper. Arden offered her friend a small smile, taking Sarah's hand and leading her away from the petty bastard.

"Want to talk about it?" She offered when the duo had settled back onto Sarah's bed, the girls head resting on Arden's chest as she scrolled through her friends phone, looking at the possible clothes items Arden had selected the previous night.

"I'd prefer if we didn't," Sarah murmured, Arden nodding along in response.

"Fair enough. Hey--- what has Rose said the chefs are make for dinner tonight?"

"The regular old Caesar salad .... why?"

"Bean and I are craving fish and fries."

Sarah shot an incredulous look up to Arden, the smallest of smiles working its way onto her lips.

"Again? You just ate that yesterday!"

Arden shrugged, smiling down at Sarah mischievously. "Bean also wanted me to tell you they want aunt Sarah to come with us."

"Bean can't talk just. All they do is kick, kick, kick. I've heard you complaining."

"That's their way of communicating bitch!"

"Well I wouldn't want to disappoint my little niece or nephew now, would I?"

"No you wouldn't!"

Arden giggled happily, her frayed nerves finally settling as she bounced up. "Lets go lets go! I have some energy I'm looking to burn off .....  by eating a bag of chips first of course."

✲*'。

When Arden and Sarah made their way down to the docks, Arden happily bounded ahead with Sarah dipping into one of the nearby shops to purchase a bag of spicy Doritos. For once, Arden felt completely peaceful, her stress levels finally lowering into range they had been before all of this ---- her pregnancy, her situation with JJ and the new accommodation she found herself in. Ever since the party at the boneyard, all Arden wanted to do was curl up into a ball and cocoon herself in a safe place for the next five months to protect her bean.

Arden knew that her and JJ .... would probably never look at her the same way all because of the lies she had told him. To this day, Arden ever regrets ever going along with her mother's little scheme. The whole island believed she was a slut---- despite the little running joke she had with Sarah, the consistent stares always gnawed on Arden's mind. She hated being the centre of everyone's little gossip pool. It was irritating.

All Arden wanted was peace---- something she wasn't going to get with John B.

Arden had been originally sitting on the wooden pier ledge. Sarah had wanted to dip in to get some more snacks before they went to the wreck. Originally Arden hadn't planned on getting involved——that was until John B aggressively threw away the chips Sarah held in her hands.

"What the fuck!" Arden hissed, charging past Sarah who Arden didn't notice walk away, muttering under her breath. All Arden wanted was to scream at this boy for laying into Sarah. He had already done enough today and oh boy it felt way too soon to be seeing John B after what happened earlier that morning.

"Don't you run from me JOHN B ROUTLEDGE!" Arden screamed again, satisfied when she saw John B finally stop running.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Arden cried, aggressively jabbing John B in the chest with her index finger. "Why the fuck are you suddenly venting out that pissy attitude on Sarah huh?"

John B stared down at his former friend in annoyance. "Fuck off Ard, this doesn't concern you."

"Doesn't concern me? You just laid into my best friend who did nothing wrong!" Arden practically snarled back.

"I JUST LOST MY JOB!" John B shouted in response, finally getting sick of this conversation.

Arden crossed her arms in exasperation. "Don't you scream at a pregnant lady John B, it's very bad manners."

At the abrupt change in temperament, John B blinked, trying hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. He aggressively turned around, trying to focus on the burning anger while Arden cursed his name behind him.....

✲*'。

"Finally...." Arden Kim breathed out happily as she could smell the fish and fries the moment she walked into 'The Wreck'. Arden didn't care that she was acting rude. All she wanted was to enjoy a nice meal of the fish and chips she had been craving all day; especially after her pre-dinner snack was so rudely interrupted.

Just when she was about to dig in happily, Arden felt eyes tracking her every movement. Arden was used to the stares ever since the whole fucking island learned she was pregnant. But now? Not Arden felt frustrated. All she wanted to do was eat peacefully. Not be gawked at like she was a painting or clay figure in a fucking museum.

Arden looked around, ready to scream at who ever decided to blatantly stare at her like a creep ————— that was until Arden met JJ's icy blue, steely gaze. Immediately Arden cast her gaze back to her plate and the window. She could wait. JJ wouldn't dare come near her. No sir re. He couldn't stand to be near her. He had to have come here for Kiara. He would be gone again in a matter of moments.

Or so Arden Kim thought. 

Arden scowled into her plate she heard footsteps approaching. She sincerely hoped it was another waiter or waitress but of course, Arden had the worst luck.

Without any regard for an invitation, JJ sat down opposite Arden, pointedly staring at her while the brunette determinedly stared out the window.

"You owe me a new pair of boots."

Arden huffed, finally meeting JJ's steely glare. She sniffed the air, nose wrinkling in disgust as she caught a whiff of a truly bad smell.

"What is that god awful smell?"

"My boots! You vomited all over them."

Arden felt the nausea returning at the casual mention of what happened earlier in the today. Her hand moved to her stomach to try and settle the particularly bad bout. She decided to ignore JJ's words and focus on her food. However, instead of the comforting and desired scent Arden had smelt earlier, the fish made the nausea ten times worse.

"You ——— You're a little green."

Arden opened her mouth to give a snarky reply but before she could, she immediately bolted to the bathroom, heaving up the remainder of the contents of her stomach.

When she had finished, Arden blearily stood up. She quickly washed her face and wobbled back over to her table to grab her purse. All she wanted was to try and sleep. Her muscles were exhausted and protesting. For once, the little bean was in agreement for their weren't kicking up a storm. Arden ignored JJ's stare as she made her to the counter to pay, heavily leaning on the wooden top to keep her balance.

"That that will be eight— Arden are you okay?" Kiara asked after a few moments of Arden spacing out. Originally, Kiara had decided to be the one to take Arden's payment to get away from John B before she could answer him and his probing about why she refused to go with them and Haven who was outside with Pope.

"All good," Arden tiredly smiled, laying down a twenty dollar note. "Keep the change," she muttered, finally leaving 'The Wreck.'

She huffed to herself realising she'd have to make the twenty five minute trek to the Cameron Mansion on foot. The idea didn't sound at all appealing but there was no alternative.

Just as she was about to head off, Arden heard a set of feet running after her. She didn't turn around, not wanting to make any small talk with anyone her own age.

"Arden!"

Arden only stopped, turning around to smile blearily at Haven who gazed at her in a worried manner. "Haven, hello my friend!"

Arden missed the odd look Haven gave her at her choice of words.

"Where are you heading to? You look tired?" Haven gently probed, worried about the state of her friend in the manner she currently was in. Cautiously she wrapped an arm around Arden's shoulders to support her friend, lest she decided to take a dip into the bushes.

"The Cameron's. Moms out of town since the hurricane hit and I've been made to stay there 'since I'm not trusted to be alone!"

Haven nodded understandably, running a comforting hand up and down Arden's back. "Why are you so tired?"

"Little bean wouldn't stop moving last night, John B snuck into the boat this morning and woke me up at five am! That moment in the chicken coop also seemed to completely drain my energy."

"Arden have you managed to keep down anything you've eaten today?"

"I'm fine! Don't worry about me, I want to talk about you! I feel like we haven't talked in ages."

Haven sighed in exasperation, making a split second decision. "C'mon. You can stay with me tonight. My mom likes you. We can explain it to the Cameron's tomorrow. I'll ask John B to give you a lift."

Arden snorted in response.

"Like that will happen."

Haven shot her friend a toothy smile, laying her hand around her friend. "Don't you worry Ard, I got this."

Arden shot her friend a doubtful look but felt too tired to shake off Haven's grip. "Having you around is going to bring back some sense of normality!"

Arden quirked an eyebrow in confusion at her friends words, shrugging it off as Haven dragged her back to the VW van. "Have I'm not sure about this..."

Arden blinked in surprise as Haven forced her onto the ground, peering down at her friend. "Like I said Ard, I got this."

Arden watched on warily as her friend marched away inside back to where John B, JJ and Kie were inside the wreck ... leaving Arden alone with Pope who determinedly was not looking at her. Throughout all of the years of friendship with the Pogues, Arden was never too sure where she stood with Pope. They weren't the closest of friends, unlike her and John B or Kiara. They didn't just click like Arden had with JJ. Sure, they were always friendly with one another, sharing the same quips and banter but with Pope Heyward, Arden just never found that common link that she could bond herself to him in the three years of their former friendship. The only real time Arden could ever remember them truly bonding was when Arden swooped in to save Pope from the crash and burn of his attempts to pick up a girl. Arden can remember that whenever Pope wanted to chat up a girl she always sat nearby, waiting to jump ship and save her friend.

Pope had a ... unique charm that not many teenagers appreciated ( now that Arden's forced to think about it was a charm she thought Haven would find charming.) That was something Arden appreciated about her old friend. She had been one of the few who would listen patiently to Pope as he eagerly listed the reasons why he wanted to a be Coroner.

"So ... how are things with you?" Pope awkwardly trailed off, forcing Arden to look up at him. Man she hated small talk.

"Good .... just good. Doing ... pregnant things?"

"Great, great!" Arden huffed biting her lip as she tried to wrack her head for anything to break this silent tension.

"Did you ever hear back about that scholarship interview you wanted?"

Pope blinked in surprise before a genuine smile melted on his face. Arden felt relief curl up inside her at the sight. She had chosen the right topic—finally.

"I got it Ard! My dad's been so proud you know?" Pope sighed, staring off blankly like he was deep in thought. Arden did know, and it certainly didn't help the guilty feeling growing inside of her. She was delighted for Pope—he was going to smash that interview and finally get to go to the college of his dreams—something he deserved. Arden couldn't help the bitter feeling beginning to grow towards herself. If only she hadn't been an idiot to go along with her mothers idea. She wouldn't have missed out on that incredible moment for Pope.

The silence wasn't as awkward but a tension lingered in the air as Arden tiredly waited for Haven to come back. All she wanted to do was flop into a bed and get some little bit of sleep.

She shot up in alarm as Haven appeared from behind her, forcing her up onto her feet again. "Don't say a word. Don't say a word!"

"Wha?" Arden questioned as Haven shoved her gently into the van, proudly sitting down beside her.

"I told you I got this!"

Arden blinked in surprise but nodded slowly, finally resting her eyes, not wanting to deal with the fallout of JJ's dark glare. She blearily closed her eyes, leaning her head against Haven's shoulder, allowing her heavy eyelids to shut and sleep take root...