CHAPTER SEVEN: STOPPER, STOPPER!
( episode three: the forbidden zone )

✲*'。

"I didn't mean to stand on your toes!" John B hissed at the over dramatic teen who was sitting on the chair she been previously vacating, rubbing her right foot.

"You still did it!" Arden hissed as Kiara shook her head in amusement. "For all you know I could have a broken toe!" John B sighed to himself, resisting the urge to throttle Arden Kim as she glared up at him.

John B huffed, dramatically falling to his knees in front of Arden, moving his hands into a pleading motion. "I'm so sorry oh great one, please accept my sincerest apologies!"

Arden crossed her arms, tutting in contemplation. "I suppose I must forgive you oh stupid one!" John B rolled his eyes as Arden leapt to her feet, following after the others to the van, John B at her side.

"Are you staying tonight again Ard?" John B questioned as he hopped into the drivers seat. Arden shrugged, opening her mouth to say yes—— that was until she saw the silhouette of Sarah Cameron staring at her from about a three hundred metre distance.

"I—— I need to go, I'll see you guys tomorrow," Arden muttered, taking off as fast as she could towards Sarah who continued to walk towards Arden. Once Arden reached Sarah she squealed in surprise as Sarah threw her arms around her mid-section.

"Hey," Sarah began in a soft voice, leaning her head into her best friends shoulder. Arden began to lead them away, smiling up at Sarah. "Hey."

"We're you busy ... with them?" Sarah questioned weakly, her head titling back the pogues van which has just began to fade into the night.

"I was with them today yes, but now I'm with you," Arden answered, squeezing Sarah's hand in silent support.

Sarah sighed, her gaze dead ahead as Arden couldn't help but wonder what the fuck happened. "Ardie, why am I such an idiot?"

"Uh ... Saz that's a very broad statement for me to work with," Arden commented in a teasing tone. Sarah smiled weakly at Arden as they continued the walk to Tannyhill.

"Did you go to that party?" Arden asked and in response Sarah nodded. "Something happen?"

"Yeah, it's .... more what didn't happen," Sarah explained. Arden's eyebrows furrowed at the comment. She looked up at Sarah, gesturing for her to continue.

"I'm listening." Arden commented which seemed to be the trigger for Sarah to spill everything.

Sarah sighed again, abruptly stopping in the middle of the road much to Arden's annoyance. She didn't particularly want to spend a second longer walking if necessary. She wanted to kick back and get a goods sleep ... but Sarah needed to come first.

"I told Topper I was ready...." Arden blinked in surprise, her eyes widening as she realised what Sarah meant. "You did?" She asked while Sarah nodded. "Then when it came to it Ardie, I don't know— I couldn't do it."

Arden smiled at her friend softly, gently grasping Sarah by the shoulders. "Hey that's okay. You're first time should be when you feel ready. You shouldn't feel pressured to ....."

Arden abruptly stop speaking, horror dawning on her face as she quickly assessed Sarah over. "Don't roll me that bastard..." Arden trailed off, anger beginning to seep into his face. Sarah shook her immediately as she realised the root of Arden's thoughts. "He stopped!"

"He's a stopper," Sarah commented in a tired voice, a small breathy smile escaping her lips.

"Saz, you have always said it has to feel right," Arden began. Sarah stared at her friend with wide eyes as Arden smiled at her patiently. "It did feel right..." Sarah sighed as Arden wrapped her arm around Sarah's shoulders. "He was so sweet the entire day," Sarah continued on, not noticing the annoyed glower on Arden's face.

"I don't know why I couldn't go through with it." Sarah sighed as Tannyhill finally began to appear.

"Saz, it doesn't matter why you felt like that," Arden stated, her eyes meeting Sarah. "What matters is that you stopped it. Your first time should be when you feel completely into it." Sarah nodded in contemplation, taking Arden's words to heart.

"Can we do all that cliché shit we used to do?"

Arden giggled rolling her eyes as she followed Sarah into the house.

"I suppose you won't let me say no for an answer?" 

✲*'。

After, a few hours of a decent night sleep, Arden felt well rested and content. Sure there was the whole hunting gold thing, constantly lying to her friends but other than that? Arden Kim felt fine. In fact, Arden Kim felt excited. Why? Arden was finally getting to see her little jelly-bean again.

After dressing herself into a cami, mint green crop top with a matching mint green bikini underneath, Arden paired it was a black ripped denim skirt, with her usual white converse. She had grabbed an apple on her way out of Tannyhill and took off on her bike towards the private practice in the center of the figure eight. The medical center on the OBX was small, but practical. It was family run, so much so that Arden knew exactly who had run the practice since she was a young girl.

Dr. Moira Buckley, another one of Arden Kim's fathers few friends on the Outer Banks that remained. One of the only people that Arden had medically trusted with the true parentage of her baby. Arden knew she could count on her fathers trusted friend with the truth about their father. Moira Buckley was a young woman in her early-forties, sharp, clever and practical. She wouldn't betray her patient-confidentiality clause, especially to Arden's own mother which was the most important thing to Arden when she chose Moira to be her OBGYN. Arden loved the visits to Moira—that was when everything was perfect with her baby. Arden couldn't help that little bubble of panic that always bubbles over whenever a routinely appointment happens. All Arden wanted was a healthy, little baby.

As the cool jelly was spread across Arden's swollen belly a beaming smile quickly took root the moment Arden heard her little jelly beans heart beat.

"Everything looks good Ms Kim. I'll see you again in a months time?"

That was the line that helped Arden to know she and little bean were in perfect health....

As Arden Kim strolled out of the practice, she tightly clutched the sonogram of her baby, smiling loving at her little bean. She sighed to herself, gently folding the photo into her skirt as she walked towards her bike. Arden needed to go to just one more place before she could even think of meeting up with the pogues and Haven.

The graveyard.

After her father died, Arden had made it a habit to visit her fathers grave at least four times a week. It was unpractical with school sometimes but Arden always tried to visit her father. As morbid as it sounds, Arden felt at peace by her fathers grave. Whenever she was there, it was just her and him. No distractions or time limits. It was the best Arden Kim could get to having her father back.

When Arden learnt she was pregnant, she found solace in speaking to her fathers remains, helping Arden to solidify why exactly she had done what she did to JJ. What made Arden who she is the way she loves completely and whole heartedly. Arden was loyal to her core to her loved ones and unfortunately when it came to the choice of her father or JJ, Arden chose the former.

Arden had been wracked with guilt when she told JJ the lies her mother force fed. The only reason Arden Kim lied was to learn the truth. Learn what exactly happened to her father, something that laid in her mothers possession.

Arden Kim would be damned if she didn't find out what happened to her father.  Arden was determined to find out what he wanted to tell her. But unfortunately for the pregnant teen she never got to hear it.

Arden's only shot laid in the letters her mother had locked away. Arden's plan was to get those letters, get the hell out of the OBX. And of course finally tell JJ the truth. There was no other order it could fall in. The Royal Merchant's gold was the opportunity Arden needed. The lump sum John B was going to give her would be enough to financially support Arden and her baby for a few years at least. Arden and her baby could live comfortably away from  the grasp Arden's mother tightly held her to.

When she arrived at her fathers grave, Arden gently sat by the ledge. She leaned forward to press a kiss to the tombstone, a peaceful smile working its way onto her face.

"Hi Appa, little bean and I are back," Arden spoke in a soft voice, a hand gently caressing her bump.

Arden reached into her pocket, proudly holding out the sonogram to the tombstone. "Little beans doing really good, Dr Buckley says there's nothing to worry about."

"I've kinda made up with my friends," Arden continued, nervously wringing her fingers together as she thought back over the last twenty four hours. "Pope and I are back to joking with one another. John B is still looking out for me like you wanted."

Ever since her father died, Arden always did her best to hide her grief from everyone. Arden's attitude to get grief stemmed from her mothers own outlook to mask her emotions. Arden had coped by keeping her head down, only displaying her grief to her fathers grave. On the occasion when it got too much, when Arden couldn't fake the smiles, it was always JJ who would support the teen, hiding her away to vent her frustrations.

Arden sighed softly, smiling at her fathers photo on the tombstone. "It's a little bit awkward with the girls at the moment——don't even get me started on the mess with JJ." Arden attempted to joke, her fingers playing with the golden locket hidden beneath her top.

"I need to go Appa, I finally think I've found a way to support myself and bean." She smiled, standing up to stroke her fathers grave once more before she left.

"I love you so much and will do you proud," Arden murmured, wiping the lone tear that attempted to fall from her face. As she walked away, the grief that Arden carried around was forced away into a mental chest so it couldn't be opened.

Arden Kim needed to focus on her baby and getting herself off this island....

✲*'。

"Well, if it isn't Havey-Wavey," Arden grinned went she quite literally bumped into an oblivious Haven, who was Haven frantically trying to gather the money she clutched the she earned before it could fly away. "What are you doing out this way? Visiting your mum at work?"

Haven snorted at her choice of words. "I'd rather sit down for tea with Rafe Cameron." Arden scrunched up her nose in disgust. God she wouldn't wish that on anyone, and trust her, Arden had been forced to sit down with for longer than she could stand. The two girls shared a look before bursting into a fit of laughter. After the moment had passed, Arden followed Haven's eyes as they landed on the sonogram clutches in her hand, "Hey, did you get to see jellybean?"

Arden couldn't help the eager smile that spread across her lips as she went to eagerly reply. Her sweet little bean was something Arden could talk about. Before she could speak, Arden heard a pained cry from the direction of the Country Club's golf course. Arden could only blink in surprise as she caught sight of Haven's pale face as she took off leaving behind a very confused Arden. Weighing up her options, Arden followed behind to see what was about to go down.

"Haven, what was that?" Arden asked on in curiosity as she followed behind Haven, her nerves beginning to get the better of her. In the end, Arden's question was soon answered as they rounded the corner to see Pope on the ground with Rafe and Topper towering over him.

"What the fuck?" They both chorused together, the girls sharing a brief look with one another as they moved on autopilot. Arden couldn't help the wince on her face as she saw Pope pushing himself to his feet. He wasn't backing down. From behind Haven, Arden could see there were broken plastic bags on the floor, groceries strewn around on the dirty sand. If she had to guess, it looked like Rafe had forced them out of Pope's hands. That was no fucking surprise there. Both Rafe and Topper Thornton were holding golf clubs. The sight of the metal made Arden feel uneasy. She had to fight the urge to cup her belly protectively. Jellybean was fine. She was safe. It was Pope who needed them.

It didn't do a lot to reassure her, but to Arden, it seemed like Topper seemed was uncomfortable as Rafe swung at Pope's back, hard.

"Stay down, bitch!"

"Hey," Haven shouted, leaping right into action. "Touch him again, asshole. I dare you."

Rafe let out an amused laugh, terrifying Arden right down to her core. This was the man her mother wanted her to raise her baby with? Rafe's eyes blown as he looked to Topper for backup. He wanted to inflict pain on poor, sweet Pope who had never done anything wrong to him. Pope was innocent, Pope was innocent. He needed to be protected. Arden couldn't let her best friend be beaten to a bloody pulp by this bastards.

Arden unconsciously reached down once she caught sight of Topper's discarded golf club. The metal felt comforting. It gave Arden an edge. She could protect her loved ones. She wouldn't be defenceless. She could try her best to save her friends, unlike her father who she never got to see again. Arden Kim refused to sit back and be idle in this moment. Her friends needed her now.

Arden could feel the anger coursing through her veins as she saw Rafe stepping towards Haven. The smug smirk on his face was enough to make Arden only see red, completely overwhelming her senses. Her friends need her. She needed to act now.

"She might not do anything, but I'm going to!" Rafe barely had time to think before Arden appeared in front of Haven, tightly clutching Topper's discarded golf club in her hands. Arden screeched as loud as she could, using all the power in her arms as she swung the golf club at his jaw then a repeated motion between his leg.

He was down for the the moment.

Haven was safe. Pope was hurt but safe. Rafe couldn't hurt them.

Briefly, Arden cocked her head behind her, only to see Haven staring at her in a mix of shock and horror. Arden had never been this violent around her friends. She had a temper, everyone knew that but this was the first time Arden had given into the tempting impulse to lash out around her friends.

Arden was beginning to feel awkward under her friends stare, nudging her head back in the direction of Pope. "Why are you just standing there? Help Pope." Arden bossed, relief flooding through her as Haven finally stopped staring at her.

Arden refocused her attention on one Rafe Cameron as she heard him groan loudly. Rafe was breathing heavily, kneeling onto the sand, dropping the beers that Arden happily caught.

"Stupid bitch!" Rafe snarled but backed down the moment Arden held up the golf club again.

"That shit you just poached. That's mine. I'd advise you to not do that again honey cakes," Arden sarcastically called as she strolled away back towards her friends—well that was until Rafe aggressively grabbed Arden by the hair. She harshly bit down on her lip harshly to keep herself from crying out in pain. Arden refused to give this bastard the satisfaction of hearing her cry out.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Arden snarled as Rafe tugged her backwards, grabbing her by the chin.

"You are! I think she needs to be taught a lesson don't you Tops?"

"Rafe, seriously let her go man," Topper shouted but his attempts were left in vain for not even a second later, Arden let out a wail of pain as Rafe's palm made a hard indent into her cheek. Arden sunk down onto her knees, glaring at the ground as Rafe stared down at her in anger.

"Stupid Pogue bitch."

Arden let out a squeak of surprise as she saw another gold club made contact with the back of Rafe's neck. She breathed in a sigh of relief as Haven continued to swing the head of the golf club towards Rafe.

"Don't. Ever.Touch. My friends. Again!" Haven snarled, in between of the hits she landed.

Arden breathed in deeply, missing whatever it was that Rafe hissed in reply to Haven as he took off, Topper quickly taking after him. As Haven slumped onto the ground in exhaustion, Arden mustered all the strength she had left to crawl to Haven. "Haven, check on Pope." Arden called out, finally stirring her friend into motion again.

As she kept her eyes focused on Pope and Haven, Arden remaining on the ground for a moment longer to try and collect herself. She was fine. Her friends were safe. Jellybean was as active as ever, wrecking hell with their little feet in her stomach. She had somewhat succeed. Haven and Pope was clearly effected by just what happened, judging by the way they clung to one another but they were safe.

That was all that mattered. As soon as she felt steady, Arden wobbly stood,  limping over to join them, patting them both on the back. The thought of trying to hug them set Arden's mind ablaze in panic as the thought of being confined and trapped overwhelmed her. It was almost like they caught onto her fears, for not a moment later, they stepped away to look at her.

"Those weren't for you..." Pope trailed off a few moments of silence, gesturing towards the ruined groceries with a frown. Arden could only imagine Pope was thinking about his dad's reaction.

She just sighed in response. What else could she say. Pope didn't deserve to get into trouble with his dad over this. "They weren't, but I'll cover the cost of whatever he destroyed. Who were they for?"

When Pope didn't reply, Haven nudged his arm gently. "The Riley's."

She nodded, deep in thought. "It should be alright. They work for my mum. I can take care of it."

Pope finally seemed to be coming back into the moment because, before Arden could say anything else, he gasped and reached out to push up her jaw, despite her incessant twisting away. It only took a few seconds for Pope's eyes to lock onto the irritated mark Rafe had made on her skin.

"Arden..."

"I'm fine, dude. You should take a look at yourself," Arden insisted, but he paid her words no attention. His gaze never left the bruise. "You know, we should be thanking Haven here," Arden declared bounding away from him to give Haven a hug and a nudge into the limelight. Better Haven than her. "Don't you think so, Pope? She had quite the go at that fucker for hurting you."

Arden beamed as Haven blushed and Pope stammered out a nervous 'thank you.' Her ship was slowly but surely going to sail!

Arden didn't even attempt to fight off Pope as he led the two of them away from the area, determined to get back to his dad's boat before JJ did. The day they returned to the Country Club would be too damn soon in Arden's opinion.

✲*'。