Lilah jolted awake after she felt a swift kick to her back. She slowly turned her body around but only to be met by JJ's hand in her face as he sprawled across her bed. She cursed under her breath before poking his side to try and wake up. In response, JJ let out a small snore and Lilah held herself back from smothering him with her pillow.

     In her final attempt to wake him up, she ended up kicking him back harshly which made him glare at her with his groggy eyes. "Ow! What the fuck?" He whined and shut his eyes again to snuggle into the pillow he laid on.

"Get the fuck up or I swear I'll kill you."

     "Let me sleep."

     "No! If I had to wake up to your foot in my back and your hand in my face then you have to get up too!"

     She got up from her bed before rubbing her eyes, trying to drain her sleepiness away. She looked back on her bed to see that JJ still hadn't move from his slumber and was back to being asleep. She waved her hand, giving up on waking him up than looked in her closet for something to wear for the day.

     Lilah decided on a light pink halter top with her favorite mid-rise jeans and softly walked out her bedroom door with the clothed in her arms. She shut the door quietly, trying not to wake up the Pogue in her bed.

     "Lilah, sweetie."

     The blonde jumped at the voice and whipped her body around to be greeted by Rose. Lilah put her hand on her heart, "Jeez, Rose you scared me!"

     Her step-mom laughed while putting in her gold earrings, "Sorry! Your father wanted me to tell you that we are going to run a couple errands before Midsummers which includes picking up Wheezie's dress so all three of us will be gone for a couple hours. Is that okay?"

     Lilah tried her best to hide her relief as she nodded her head, "Yeah, take your time. I have to drop Maia off and we might hang out for a little bit before but don't worry, I'll be back in time to get ready for Midsummers." She reassured Rose who just nodded and blew a kiss to her stepdaughter before walking down the steps.

     The Cameron girl finally made her way to the bathroom to do her morning routine which included showering, blow drying her hair, brushing her teeth, skin care, and her makeup.

     About an hour later, she was finally done with everything and she walked back into her bedroom. She scoffed in disbelief at the fact that JJ was still asleep. She threw her pajamas into her hamper before walking over to his side of the bed. His head was turned towards her so she took the opportunity to slap his cheek.

     The Pogue verbally groaned loudly as Lilah shook her head, "It's your turn to shower, Dude."

     He slowly arose from the bed, rubbing his eyes, "What time is it?"

     She looked at her phone, "Eight in the morning."

     She laughed out loud as she watched him groan again. She grabbed his hand to pull him up and pushed him out her bedroom door and showed him across the hall to the bathroom. "You can use Rafe's stuff."

     He shook his head, "I don't need to be smelling like Kook."

     "Why not? It'll be the first time you've ever smelled good."

     JJ turned his head around to glare at her and she let the smirk creep onto her face, "Just shower. I'll go make breakfast then we can eat and we can go wherever you wanna go." She shrugged, watching the boy nod his head.

     "Can you drive me by John B's house so I can change then you can drop me off at Heyward's?" He asked, still having his morning voice which made Lilah feel some type of way but she didn't comment on it or let it cloud her mind. She nodded, "Yeah, that's fine. Now, please shower."

     The Kook walked out of the bathroom and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She grabbed the pancake mix and decided to make chocolate chip pancakes with bacon on the side.

     Lilah loved to bake and cook but mostly bake. The first time she tried to bake by herself, she was ten years old and she ended up with flour all over her face and that's how her dad caught her. But then, Ward helped her finish her cookies and that's when she fell in love with it. She started watching Youtube tutorials on certain recipes which lead to her asking for cookbooks for Christmas and now, she bakes and cooks for everyone in the Cameron family when she can.

     Especially Sarah and Wheezie who love her sweet treats and always try and help her bake them but they usually fail at it.

     JJ walked out of her bathroom, finally feeling clean and awake, and was hit by the immediate smell of food. His stomach rumbled at the aroma and he tried his hardest not to run down the stairs. He froze at the bottom of the steps, realizing who's house he was at. He peaked around the corner to see Lilah putting the now done pancakes on plates.

     "Psst!"

     The Cameron looked up to see JJ snooping around the corner which made her giggle under her breath. He pointed up, signaling upstairs and Lilah automatically knew what he meant. "They're not here, Dumbass. Come eat." She put the two plates on the kitchen island, one for her and one for him.

     He walked over to look at the food closely and sat down to begin eating. "So, you just cook for fun or something?"

Lilah took a bite of her piece of bacon while shrugging her shoulders, "Yeah, it's just something to do in my free time."

"Well, I mean, you're good at it."

"Did you just compliment me?"

JJ looked up from his food to look at her with an irritated expression on his face. She stared at him back with a teasing look on her face before chomping on another bite of bacon. She swallowed the bite, "Kidding. Thank you."

"I'm just surprised you know how to. I assumed all Kooks had cooks and butlers."

"Ha. Ha. Ha." She deadpanned while shaking her head. "Well, actually, most do. My dad grew up poor and even though he has money now, his family is his biggest achievement. So, he teaches us how the real world works and I guess I have it down pretty good, so he says." She shrugged, taking a bite of her pancakes that she had previously cut into a smaller piece.

"So, that's why you work?" He asked, curiously as Lilah nodded her head, "Yeah, that and living off of my dad's money won't fufill me forever so might as well start saving up now."

JJ hmmed at her words, "And your dad is okay with that?"

She laughed slightly under her breath, "I mean, yeah. My dad's fine with anything I do. I'm kinda the favorite. As long as I don't turn out like Rafe, he accepts anything from me." She joked and didn't notice the tick in JJ's jaw.

The more she talked the more he remembered that she is nothing like them. She asked to get her own job while JJ was forced to get multiple because his dad would spend all his money on alcohol and drugs. Lilah was her dad's favorite child while JJ was his dad's favorite punching bag.

She was a Kook and she would never fit in their group. She was spoiled, bitchy, and unloyal. He knew she would pick any Kook over them in a heartbeat.

"You don't gotta work today?" He changed the subject, not wanting to talk about Ward Cameron anymore. She shook her head, "No, the golf course is closed because of Midsummers."

The Pogue scoffed, "They closed the entire golf course for Midsummers?"

"Well, yeah. Every Kook is invited even the owner so they decided to shut it down for the day."

"That's a waste of money. Midsummers starts at what? Four or Five o'clock while the golf course closes at like six." He ranted but the girl but her hands up in surrender, "Dude, take it up with my boss. I didn't make the damn choice."

"I'm just saying, it's a dumb decision. He should've kept it open and maybe close it early or find someone who isn't going, to close. Hell, I would have done it for a few bucks."

While JJ was talking, he grabbed his now empty plate and Lilah's and made his way to the kitchen sink to rinse them. She watched him in shock as he rambled while washing the two dishes then placing them in the dishwasher that was also filled with dirty dishes.

He turned around and leaned his back on the counter with his arms crossed as he saw Lilah looking at him, "What?" She shook her head, trying not to laugh, "Nothing. Let's go get your clothes, shall we?"

       The two teenagers finally made it to Heyward's Seafood after JJ changed at The Chateau. Lilah parked in a spot and looked at him in the passenger seat, "Alright, thing one and thing two await for you." She smiled, waving her hand towards the shop which made JJ laugh.

"You know what, uh, you should come in."

Lilah raised her eyebrows in shock, "Seriously?" She asked, watching him shrug his shoulders. "Might as well. We will probably talk about what happened last night and you were there plus Kie likes you now so, what's stopping you?"

The Kook thought for a second. She knew she had to be home at a certain time to get ready for Midsummers but that was a couple hours from then. She nodded her head, "Yeah, sure. I can hop in for a little bit."

JJ didn't respond, instead he opened the passenger door and got out of the Jeep. Lilah sighed while grabbing her keys and following his footsteps into the shop.

The two walked in together, "Sup?" JJ swung his legs over the counter and decided that was going to be wearing he sat. "Hey guys." Lilah waved slightly at Pope and Kiara who looked between the Maybank and Cameron with their eyebrows raised.

"She drove me because John B is still MIA. Mind your business."

Pope shrugged before walking over to the side to give a delivery to someone as Kiara put her hands up in surrender. "Glad you're here." Pope smiled at her when he turned around which made the girl smile back.

"How's your neck?" She asked Pope who sighed, "Just sore, thankfully. I'm so sick of their beatings. It's getting excessive." He rolled his eyes and the three teens nod their head in agreement. "Don't let it get in your head. Three of them and two of us. That's typical Kook shit right there." JJ juggled a lemon back and forth from his hands.

Kiara handed change back to someone as she was working the register, "Hell, yeah."

"What was your thought process, using your head?"

"Yo, you used your head? I can't believe I missed that! Who'd you do it too?" Lilah's jaw dropped as she giggled at the thought of Pope head butting somebody in the face.

"He nailed Topper right in the skull." JJ smirked and Lilah's jaw dropped lower, "Hell, yeah!" JJ and Lilah high fived as Pope shook his head at the two blonde's antics.

"Anyways, I don't know why I used my head, man. I just kind of acted off instinct. I was a cornered animal."

Kiara, JJ, and Lilah all looked at each other, nodding their heads in a teasing manner towards Pope's words. Their attention was cut off by Mr. Heyward coming in, "Hey, Pope, someone here to see you."

The group looked to see Officer Shoupe walking in behind Heyward and they all froze in place. JJ jumped off the counter and pulled Lilah closer to him by grabbing her wrist. "Evening, Officer." Pope gulped at the sight of the policeman in front of him.

"I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property."

Pope looked behind him at JJ and Lilah with his eyes as wide as saucers. The two looked back at him with the same look in their eyes, guilt. Pope Heyward was smart. He had his whole future ahead of him and it was about to be taken away like that. And it was because Lilah and JJ talked him into revenge.

Lilah looked at JJ who kept his eyes on Pope, "Deny. Deny. Deny." He gritted out but no voice was heard, Lilah just read his lips.

"Hands where I can see 'em." Shoupe went behind the counter and moved Kiara to the side, "Young lady, out of my way." Lilah felt frozen in her spot, she didn't know what to do and as she watched Pope get put into handcuffs.

"Woah, Shoupe, what'd he do?" Heyward asked but Shoupe just shook his head, "Take a look at the warrant, Heyward."

"Kay, I'm sorry. You're arresting him?" Kiara scoffed from behind the officer and Heyward had confusion masked all over his face, "You're just gonna arrest my boy?"

"Where's the proof?" JJ finally found his voice and Lilah looked at the handcuffs to see them cutting off Pope's circulation a bit, "Hey, be careful!" She exclaimed but Shoupe was not paying attention to anyone.

He didn't even notice Lilah Cameron was somewhere that she shouldn't be.

"Shoupe, are you listening?" Heyward asked out of desperation as the police officer was not answering anyone's questions. He started listing off the Miranda rights as they began to make their way outside of the shop.

"How much did they pay you, man?!" JJ kept his grip on Lilah's wrist as they all followed Pope and Shoupe outside. JJ ended up letting go as tried to stop the officer but it just led to him getting pushed off. Heyward ended up holding the boy back as Lilah pushed a hand through her hair, continuing to yell at Shoupe saying Pope didn't do anything wrong.

"It wasn't him!"

Everyone turned to the voice that belonged to JJ. Lilah looked at him in shock, "It was me." He looked back at her with a nod, trying to tell her that this is the story and that she better not twist it.

"He tried to talk me out of it, but I was mad because he'd just been beaten up. I was so sick of those assholes from Figure Eight that I lost my shit. I can't let you take the blame for somethin' I did. You've got too much to lose."

Pope looked at his best friend in confusion, "JJ, what are you doing?" JJ was quick to respond, "I'm tellin' the truth. For once, in my goddamn life, I'm gonna tell the truth. I took his old man's boat, too."

"What the hell?"

"JJ, come on." Pope tried but the blonde shut it down, "Just shut up, Pope! Just shut up." Lilah and Kiara stood side by side as they watched Shoupe shake his head.

     "Well, if you were the one that did it then he was with you. We have two people on the footage. Pope was just the obvious answer because of his boat but if your confessing, that means Pope here, was your partner in crime. So, seems like both of you are getting arrested today."

JJ and Pope froze even more, if that was even possible, and JJ cursed in his head that this didn't work. He was trying to save Pope, not bring him down with him. "Wait, what?" JJ asked in confusion as Shoupe brought out another pair of handcuffs that were in his belt.

"Even if you did the crime, Pope is an accomplice. He encouraged and you two were on the boat, I'm assuming. You two did this together meaning you get jail time together."

While Shoupe talked, Lilah looked at Kiara who was staring at her friends getting arrested in front of her. She nudged the Carrera who immediately looked at her. Lilah handed Kiara her car keys, "Make sure my car makes it back to my house. I don't care how you do it, just do it." Kiara took the keys and looked at the blonde beside her in confusion, "What the hell are you about to do?"

Lilah ignored her and just took a deep breath, "Actually, um, that's not true." She rubbed her hand over her face as everyone turned to look at her. Shoupe finally noticed the girl and his eyebrows furrowed, "Lilah Cameron?"

She ignored him, "Pope wasn't the one with him, I was."

Pope immediately started shaking his head while JJ eyes widened at the Kook's words. He didn't think she would do this, ever. Especially for them. Lilah getting arrested could ruin her reputation and her family's name, she had a lot to lose. And she knew that.

But not as much as Pope.

She remembered last night when Pope finally talked about the merit scholarship in the car and JJ and Kiara groaning but Lilah asking what it was about. He went on and on about how it was his dream and that we wanted to study medicine. He had a future ahead of him and Lilah was not going to let it slip away from him.

     No matter how short of a time they've been friends.

"Excuse me?" Shoupe asked, in surprised that a Cameron would do anything with these two boys. "Pope wasn't there. It was just me and JJ." She walked closer to the group, leaving Kiara behind.

"I was there when Pope got beaten up, I helped him which is how I ended up on Heyward's boat. There was one more delivery left but Pope didn't want to do it, obviously, so JJ said he would do it. We dropped off Pope at his house and JJ kept talking about how mad he was at the Kooks which led to me telling him about Topper's boat and I said he should drown it for revenge."

"It was all my idea. Topper loved that boat and I knew where to hurt him." She fibbed on the spot. Anything to make it seem like Pope wasn't there plus it wasn't a complete lie. Ruining Topper's boat was her idea, the boys just executed it.

Shoupe looked at her suspiciously then looked towards Pope, "That's the whole truth?" Pope looked at the police officer, not knowing what to say and JJ sensed that. "Whole truth, swear to God."

"I know what you think, damn it, I'm asking Pope."

Pope looked at JJ and Lilah once more as they simultaneously nodded their heads, telling him it was okay for them to take the blame. "Yeah, that about covers it." Pope looked down as Shoupe finally put the second pair of handcuffs on JJ and then uncuffed Pope.

Pope watched the Lilah Cameron get put into handcuffs and into the back seat of a police truck. JJ on one side and Lilah on the other. Shoupe drove out of Heyward's lot and the three made their way to the police station. As the truck drove away, Pope took his hat off and slammed in to the ground, "Shit!"

     Ward Cameron was going to kill him.

     JJ looked over at the Kook in handcuffs next to him, still in shock with what she did. "Why did you do that?" JJ whispered quietly to her, making sure Shoupe didn't hear from the front seat. She looked back at him, trying to make herself comfortable in the position she was in.

     "Like I said, if Pope goes down, I go down with him."

The two stopped talking when they saw Shoupe look at them, suspiciously, through the rear view mirror.

JJ and Lilah were separated when Shoupe took him to his own cell and Officer Plumb took Lilah to another side, to her own cell. "Get in." The woman deadpanned as she unlocked the Cameron's handcuffs and slightly pushed her inside. Lilah looked around the cell as she heard it lock behind her.

She suddenly felt her adrenaline rush fade away and felt her anxiety creeping in. The silence was so loud that her ears started ringing. She rubbed her chest, trying to make her heart stop thumping loud and her breathing became shallow. She sat on the bench and put her head in her hands as tears threatened to escape her eyes.

Maybe this Pogue shit, wasn't meant for her after all.

BEAU SPEAKS ( PLEASE READ ) !
okay HEYYY

so i hope you guys don't hate this plotline???? I DID IT FOR A REASON BC ...

1) i never understood why the video footage that is shown, jj is no where to be seen even though the boat he was on is in CLEAR view 😭😭😭 like i literally zoomed in and there wasnt even a BODY on it so i kinda put my own spin on it i guess???

— i did research on what jj got arrested for and if you were an accomplice to that, could you be arrested and surely enough, you can so one thing is that you cant say its unrealistic 🤷‍♀️

2) i tried to think of other ways i wanted lilah's storyline to go and this is the only one that like RLLY made sense bc the other ones were just lilah following into sarah's footsteps and thats something that ive never wanted to do, even from the beginning.

3) lilah getting arrested is actually A RLLY GOOD PLOTLINE for the cameron family as well. tbh the decision had like nothing to do with pope and/or jj 😭 you'll see it in the next two-three chapters but like i wrote it in for ward and lilah and rafe and lilah because it's very interesting how ward reacts and when rafe finds out HOW his dad reacted to that news, yk???

4) i want to preface that lilah did NOT get arrested bc of jj like i would never have an oc go to jail bc of the love interest 😭😭 she stood up for pope bc pope is someone that let her in quickly and actually appreciates her. it will be talked abt in chapter twelve about why lilah feels the way she does towards the pogues but its also heavily hinted already on why she likes pope and that's because he treats her like a normal person and not some kook.

— Lilah's whole PERSONAL plotline in season 1 is how she hates how Kooks act and how she has to act around them but with the pogues, (mostly pope as of right now), she likes how she doesn't have to act all fake and that she can truly be herself with them :)

ANYWAYS sorry for that long ass rant, i just wanted to explain myself bc i am kind of scared ppl wont like what i did to this storyline...it's in NO WAY diminishing what jj did or the luke storyline!! Actually, what happens to lilah isn't even correlated into it and it will still be two different storylines!

OKAY MWAH LOVE YOU ALL & THANKS FOR READING !!!!

dont forget to check out my tiktok (@skiestheiimit.wp) i post a new edit everytime i update 🤗