dirty little secret / chapter four

"Don't ask me something if you're
not going to be happy with the answer."

THE POUNDING HEADACHE Adelaide had lessened as they drove through The Cut. The day was still bright and sunny, as any other regular day in Outer Banks.

The only thing that had changed was the crew, she noticed they had all been distant — even Pope, and she couldn't figure out why that was. It was as if they had found something incriminating and were leaving her out of it. But of course that was just a silly thing she had on her mind that in no way could be possibly true.

So she kept ignoring it — until she couldn't anymore.

"What is up with you guys?" She spoke out once she realized it had been a quiet long ride. "You've been acting off ever since Hurricane Agatha."

Both John B and JJ glanced at each other before the blonde cleared his throat, eyes still on the road as he spoke. "It's just hard, Addie. We're still adjusting-"

"That doesn't explain why you all have been avoiding me. And I thought it was because of the whole Rafe thing, but it's not. It's like you're hiding some dirty little secret."

JJ scoffed at her words while he focused out the window. "Yeah, since you seem to care about him so much lately. That's no secret."

"JJ." John B glared at him, earning a stare back from the blonde. "Not now."

"I'm sorry, Addie." He apologized, eyes still on the road.

"Did I do something?" The girl asked more confused than ever. "What changed? Because really, I'm getting tired of whatever this is."

"Well-"

"Nothing, Addie." Her brother spoke out before the blonde could finish his sentence. "Don't worry about it. And we're here."

Adelaide scoffed in disbelief. Now she knew for a fact they were hiding something by the way they were glancing at each other, and the fact they couldn't keep two seconds of eye contact with her. They were lying straight to her face. "Way to avoid my question."

"You two are assholes." She muttered as she got off the Volks, storming her way into The Wreck where Sarah was already waiting.

Seconds later both boys followed behind her, John B grabbing her sister's shoulder which forced her to turn his way. "Hey, hey. Remember the deal? We go in with you or we go drive back home. Your choice."

"Screw you and the deal." She said in an angry tone, detaching his hand from her arm and walking away. "Let me know when you two want to be honest with me. Otherwise fuck off."

JJ chuckled, only adding fire to the flame. "Looks like someone needs a timeout. Let's go Routledge."

"JJ." John B voiced.

"Shut the fuck up, JJ."

"Woooah! Someone is being a bad girl." The blonde placed his hand on his chest as to suggest he was hurt by her words, then looked at the other boy who stood there with hands on hips and shaking his head. "John B? Any help here? She is your sister after all."

"Addie, I think we should just go home and talk about it." John B said nervously, looking at the many pair of eyes staring at the scene playing out, including Sarah.

"Fuck you." Was all she managed to say, but of course the two didn't let it go. They looked at each other before grabbing onto each arm of the girl and putting her in the car against her will. "Let me go you fu-"

"Save it, princess."

"Let's go." John B rushed, placing one hand on top of the roof while his other was on the steering wheel. "I'm sorry Adds."

"Are you two stupid?! You brought me all the way here to meet Sarah, just to drive me all the way back without even going in?!" Adelaide roared from the back of the Volks.

"Are we really doing this?" JJ asked in all seriousness, completely ignoring the girl in the back who sat with a puzzled expression.

"Doing what?" She asked. "Kidnapping me?!"

"I guess we are." The brunette said as they started to drive away while everyone else stared in disbelief.

"You are embarrassing."

꒰ 🌊 ꒱

"You guys WHAT?!" Adelaide yelled out this time looking at the whole crew in front of her.

"Well in our defense, we didn't ask for anything of this to happen." JJ said in a calm tone while he sat on the couch, Kie next to him.

"They dragged me into this you know." Pope pointed the finger at the three, earning a nasty look from them.

"What?!"

"Not true."

"Wow dude. I thought we were in this together." JJ said dramatically.

Adelaide rolled her eyes, moving on from his little theatrics. "Anyway, JJ — why in the hell did you think it was okay to take that gun?!"

"Oh.. that."

"Are you out of your mind?!" She continued, so upset that the veins from her forehead started to pop out. "What the hell were you thinking dummy?!"

"Well—"

"Shut up!" She threw a pillow at him, earning a giggle from Pope while Kie eye rolled. "Did you ask for that to happen?? Yes, you dumbass! Do you know how much trouble you could get us all into!?"

"Thank you!" Pope added, hands in the air. "Finally someone with a brain."

John B stood with his arm resting on the wall, deep in thought. "She does have a point."

"She does have a point." Adelaide mocked, sighing as she glared at every single one of them — including Pope (especially him).

"And really, pope?!" She looked at him with sad eyes. "I'm disappointed."

"Hey, it wasn't his fault." Kiara came to his defense. "Cut him some slack."

"Kie, it's okay. She's right."

Adelaide scoffed at her words. "You're one to talk."

"You wanna say it again?" The brunette responded, getting up from the sofa to approach her.

"Woah! Woah!" JJ blurted out, getting in between them to avoid another fight, following Pope's voice.

"Guys, right now is not the time."

"Kie, stop." John B spat, catching Kiera's attention.

"Well your sister is being a bitch." She snapped, both JJ and Pope eyeing each other with their mouths wide open. Adelaide wasn't as upset as her brother was, as she turned to look at him — his face filled with rage.

"Alright, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." He said in a monotone voice.

"Come on John B, she didn't mean it." Pope tried coming to her defense, while at the same time glancing at Adelaide with an apologetic look.

"Let's just all calm down." JJ added.

"Are you serious?" She scoffed, looking at him and then looking at her. "You're going to choose me, over her?"

"Oh, that's not—" JJ covered his mouth, deciding not to finish his sentence.

Everyone knew that was a stupid question, even Kiera. But it was already too late for take backs. "John B-"

John B took one step closer, not giving her a yes or a no answer. "Don't ask me something if you're not going to be happy with the answer."

"Screw this." Kiera shook her head as she picked up her stuff, tears in her eyes as she stormed her way out and slammed the door — but not before whispering something to Adelaide. "I hope you're happy."

JJ pursed his lips together, scratching his head before looking at John B for approval.

"Go." Was all John B managed to say, and just like that JJ had gone after her. Adelaide didn't even bother looking JJ's way, knowing very well he was seeking for her approval too.

There was a long silence between the three, unaware of what the next move would be.

Pope huffed, giving a small awkward smile. "Anyone hungry for some burgers and fries?"

Adelaide blinked a few times momentarily forgetting the real reason they were there in the first place.

The lies.

"What else are you hiding from me Routledge?" She scoffed as she grabbed the compass she had made eye contact earlier. "This is dad's?! But how— Why?"

"Adelaide—"

"Adelaide what!?" She spat out, tears streaming down her face. " I don't want to hear another bullshit excuse from you, okay?! I'm sick of being left in the dark. Always!"

"I think I'm gonna go." Pope pointed to the door, wasting no time in getting up from the couch and leaving. "I'll see you guys another time."

John B brought his hand to his forehead, letting a long sigh before turning to look at Adelaide with a frustrated expression.

"Adelaide.." He began before stopping himself, pointing at the compass the girl still had in her hand. "That right there, is the beginning of all our answers, and the end of all our problems."

"What? I don't understand." She said confusedly. "Where did you get this?"

The brunette let out a deep sigh before approaching her sister, taking her hand where they both touched the compass. "We didn't tell you this earlier because I asked them not to. I didn't want to get you involved because of your safety and because—"

He stopped, hesitating for a moment while Adelaide grew impatient.

"Because what?!"

"I think dad is out there." He quickly confessed with a small smile appearing on his face. "This is only the beginning."