CHAPTER TWO, PILOT

❝ i 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 make it go 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚, by making 𝒚𝒐𝒖 a villain ❞

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You'll see, the parties in the Outer Banks were totally divided by one main issue━━the rivalry between Kooks and Pogues. Two tribes, one island. The Kooks were your tipical jackasses with pockets full of cash and enormous houses with views of the ocean. The Pogues were all the opposite, they worked too many hours to earn a good salary, they had shitholes as homes and couldn't care less for law.

Instead, Kooks revolved around the law like the Earth around the sun━━they relied that the police officers in the Outer Banks would fix every problem the Pogues protagonized in each chapter. There was something strangely free about not caring at all━━Mike Dovecot had seen it and went right for it.

Nova Dovecot sat on the sand, her gaze fixed on the ocean, the rhythmic sound of the waves mirroring the turmoil within her. She reflexioned on it all━━the preassure threatening to break her tinted glass to pieces, the mean bitch reputation crumbling down day after day. Slowly, poetically, and staying the same all at once.

     "Hey," Mike's voice broke through her thoughts, gravelly and hesitant. He approached slowly, hands stuffed in his pockets, his expression pained. He sat down next to her, a quiet silence between them at first.

Mike looked at her for a few seconds━━she wore a little white skirt accompanied with a crochét white top. He remembered the ring in her finger, he was there when Sarah Cameron gave it to her. Something new, though, was the sun necklace around her neck. Her tan lines and perfectly done nails. The seasons had passed by, and Mike realised that he had missed so much━━a birthday, an entire month with his sister. Everything.

     Mike opened his mouth, the words about to spill. "Don't," she said, not looking up. "Just sit with me in silence,"

     "Can we just talk?" Mike urged, desperation evident in his voice.

     "That's the opposite of silence," Nova retorted, clicking her tongue in annoyance. She knew Mike was trying to make an effort, but in some twisted way, his actions felt like betrayal.

     Mike sighed. "Come on, it's me, Novi,"

     "Really? Because it seems like you've completely changed. Hanging out with those Pogues? It's pathetic, Mike," Nova said, bitterness creeping into her words. His new friendships made her feel abandoned, and the anger bubbled up inside her.

     "Pathetic? What's pathetic is you acting like you're better than everyone else. You were fine with it until Rafe started throwing fits!" he fired back, frustration evident in every word. "You say you don't even know who I am, but maybe you're the one who's changed!" Nova felt his words like poisoned darts sticking in her heart. Maybe Rafe had made things turn for the worse.

But, oh no! Rafe would never do that! He loved her, he wouldn't change her opinions, especially not on her younger brother.

     "Changed? Look at you! Trying to save the Pogues like it's some noble cause. You've lost sight of what matters," she snapped, her breathing racing as the tension escalated.

     "Maybe what matters is figuring out who I want to be, not just fitting into your expectations!" Mike shot back, the anger in his voice matching her own. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "If you can't see how hard I'm trying to help, then maybe we're done here."

     "Well maybe we are!" Nova threw her arms in the air, even that his back was facing her she could tell he had heard her. She was glad he couldn't see her though, Mike couldn't see the tears she was about to shed.

She watched him go, a mix of stubbornness and regret swirling inside her. Part of her wanted to call him back, to take back her harsh words, but they were stuck in her throat.

Nova shook off the heaviness of her thoughts and pushed herself up from the sand. She needed a drink, something to numb the sting of her argument with Mike and the frustration that had been building inside her. The sounds of the kegger called to her━━laughter and music swirling in the air like an intoxicating blend of freedom and chaos.

Alcohol was her biggest target at the moment, the magic little red cup that would wash away all of her problems. At least for a night. She approached the clunky machine for drinks, distinguishing between the crowd John B Routledge and JJ Maybank. She rolled her eyes, sighing before the two boys focused their attention on her.

     JJ looked at her up and down, a cocky smile playing on his lips. "What Princess? Not enough of a good party for 'ya?"

Nova waited for John B to comment on that, a tiny phrase that would punch her right in the gut. Instead, he nudged his best friend his eyes slightly wide. That gesture surprised Nova━━John B usually added up into the jokes, teasing and usual banter the Pogues came with, but not this time.

In reality, John B saw the blood-shot look Nova had, the little mascara scattered across the corners of her eyes. He thought she was probably at the verge of crying, and he assumed it had to do with the storming off Mike Dovecot. John B disliked Nova, that was for sure. She was mean, snobby and couldn't care less about him and his crew. But he did care for her brother, and maybe, just maybe, today the queen of the Outer Banks needed a hug.

Not that he was going to give to her.

     "Compared to her birthday one, I'm sure not," John B offered Nova a soft smile━━she almost missed it. "You could see the fireworks from here,"

     Nova let out a little laugh, barely there. "Yeah, Rafe really went all the way in with the spectacle," she commented.

     JJ sighed, patting John B's back. "Okay, that's enough chit-chat," he said, mostly to his friend. He filled up a red cup almost spilling the drink as he handed it to Nova. His fingers brushed hers for a few seconds, and he pretended it didn't cause any emotion on him. "Here you go, Princess,"

     Nova nodded, pursing her lips. "What's the Princess for?"

JJ chuckled, looking at the girl. He couldn't really believe that Nova Dovecot was actually not insulting him at the moment. She was . . . vulnerable. Sad, angry, who knew. But it had showed him that she was more alike to the kindness Mike had that he had thought. They were more similar of what she knew and wanted to admit.

     "Well, you just are royalty, am I right?"

     Nova supressed a smile, raising her brows. "Yeah," she started to walk away, slightly turning. "Thank you for the drink,"

JJ looked over at John B, who shrugged as he watched Nova stroll down the beach. She went over towards where Sarah and Topper were, wipping a falling tear off her face, even though the sadness wasn't as deep now.

Nova's footsteps were slow and deliberate as she made her way back toward the group. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore felt like a distant echo to the chaos swirling inside her head. She could already feel the eyes on her as she approached Sarah and Topper, the way they studied her, waiting for something━━anything, that could give them a reason to speak.

     Sarah was the first to break the silence, her voice low and almost sympathetic. "You okay?" she asked, her gaze flickering toward Nova's face as she wiped away the last of the tears. It was clear Sarah wasn't sure whether to approach her with pity or curiosity, and Nova didn't exactly welcome either.

     "Yeah," Nova replied softly, brushing off her skirt and smoothing the fabric for something to do with her hands. "Just... a lot." She didn't elaborate. Sarah didn't press.

Topper, standing beside Sarah, gave a shallow nod. He wasn't a fan of getting into people's business━━especially Nova's business, but there was something about her that he couldn't quite figure out. On the outside, she had everything, the perfect life, the perfect image. But behind that porcelain mask, there was a fragility he hadn't seen coming.

     "People don't get it," Topper muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His usual cocky smirk had softened, the irritation of the night slowly giving way to the awkward tension that hung in the air. "They think they can just throw their crap on you and walk away." he gestured towards John B and JJ, who were talking to some other Pogues.

Nova glanced over at him, surprised by the rare moment of honesty in his tone. She didn't answer him directly. Instead, she took another sip of her drink, letting the cold liquid numb the rawness in her chest.

     "They didn't do anything. It was just Mike being Mike," she said, her voice tougher than before. Topper frowned.

     "Well, he is a Pogue too after all,"

Sarah hit the boy on the shoulder, sending him a sharp look. Yet it couldn't beat Nova's.

     "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Nova felt her anger race, she stared at Topper. His look only moved from her brown eyes to JJ Maybank's icy blue ones.

Nova turned around, seeing JJ walking up to them with a cocky grin. She felt the anger bubbling on her chest, and for one minute━━sixty miserable seconds, she wished that she hadn't opened her mouth, because now Topper was just as outraged as she was.

     "Hey, hey. Hey, Sarah!" JJ called out, clearly in his element with the attention on him.

Nova couldn't help but roll her eyes, fingers gripping her cup harder. It was always JJ with his stupid stunts. His goofy smile and that fake charm made her want to puke. But Sarah was used to it, and Nova was already tired of the whole damn scene.

     "Can I interest either of you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?" JJ asked.

     Sarah shot him a look, polite but distant. "No, thank you."

Nova couldn't even muster a sarcastic comment, so she just stared at her brother, Mike, from the corner of her eye. His eyes looked blood-shot, just like hers. Nova pursed her lips as she thought of how he felt the same way she did. Betrayed, hurt, lost.

     Topper was already losing patience with JJ. "I'll take it," Topper interjected, his voice dripping with a fake charm that Nova could see right through. "Thanks, man," he added, but there was something condescending about it.

     JJ didn't miss a beat. "Nice of you to suggest that, Topper, but I didn't ask you." He grinned, enjoying the fight before it even started. "If you said pretty please, then maybe━━"

     "Oh, pretty please?"

     "Just drop it," Nova retorted, making the two boys move their gaze for a moment.

Topper's face contorted into something dark, and without any warning, he shoved JJ's drink out of his hand. The beer splattered all over JJ's chest, the kind of mess you couldn't ignore.

     Nova could practically feel her pulse in her throat. JJ was already taking a step forward, eyes flashing with anger. "You've gotta be kidding me, Topper."

     JJ staggered backwards from John B, hair a sopping wet mess from the remnants of beer. He snarled over in Topper's direction. "You're so funny, man!"

     JJ lunged, grabbing Topper by the collar and shoving him back with a grunt. The air around them crackled. "Dirty Pogues!"

It was then that John B froze, and Mike saw the change in his eyes. The switch was almost immediate. He rounded on his heel, and tackled Topper, shoving him back. He was angrier, filled with rage. It felt more personal now. It was an action so grave that it caught the attention of every other teen around them, who gasped at the rough impact.

Sarah pleaded desperately for Topper's attention, but the boy ignored her. And before anyone could stop him, Topper was standing just in front of John B, pulling his arm straight back and hitting the Routledge harshly in the jaw. John B grunted instantaneously, stumbling backward and losing his balance, where he fell onto the banks of the shore. By now, a crowd of partygoers had formed around the fight, shocked gasps and murmurs echoing amongst the many faces.

     "Guys! Guys! Chill!" Sarah cried helplessly.

     Nova moved her look towards her brother, she could see it in his posture━━he was too caught up in the crowd's energy, caught between wanting to help and the thrill of the fight. "Mike!" she called out, her voice cutting through the tension, but he didn't hear her. His attention was fixed on the confrontation unfolding before them, still too far away for her to reach him in time.

As John B attempted to clamber to his knees, Topper gave him a relentless blow to the stomach with his foot. The boy toppled onto the sand once more, rushing water from the rolling tides washing over his face.

     "Hey, John B━━" Topper was standing over him. "Don't make me down you like your old man, all right?"

     "Topper stop!" Nova gasped. "You fucking maniac!"

Another cruel kick to the boy's side had him falling again. Nova watched in horror━━the only boy who had made her smile in the entire evening. Who didn't really care if they were sworn enemies, just that his friend's older sister was crying. He offered Nova kindness.

     "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Topper turned to gloat at the whooping crowd, arms raised high as if in victory. In his moment of distraction, he didn't notice when John B pulled himself to his feet and charged at him, pulling them both into the ground. In an instant, the two boys were wrestling, kicking up the water that rolled in on the back.

     "John B, let it go!" Pope yelled. He held his hands on his head, having no clue of how to solve the mess. The calculator, the brains━━had no idea of how to help his best friend.

     "Stop, you guys!" Kiara shouted.

Somehow, the pair managed to climb to their feet, though they still wrestled. John B threw a set of consecutive jabs at Topper's side while he struggled to get him off. When Topper found a moment to shove the boy away, they'd fell back into the middle of the crowd further along the beach. Now, circling one another with the chants only making their anger grow bigger and bigger, they held the looks of crazy people in their eyes. 

Nova had seen that look before in Rafe Cameron━━in her one and truly only love. She had felt it in her skin when he did that one last line. Before the hospital. Before their fight. Before they were back sleeping on the same bed.

     John B threw the first punch again, aiming directly at Topper's cheek. "That's what I'm talking about!" JJ yelled, he cheered for his friend, watching the show in front of him.

     "Come on!" Topper growled. "Come on!"

Without thinking, Nova pushed past the people blocking her path and began running toward the fight, her heart pounding in her chest. She could see the way her younger sibling was starting to inch forward, but he was still too far away. She was about to lose it.

This time, Topper threw the next punch, causing John B to wobble back toward the water. He wound up to toss another jab at John B, but the boy was faster and learned to duck out of the way just in time.

     "Come on, Topper!" John B bellowed, his voice sounded different to Nova. It made a chill ran down her spine. "Come on!"

Topper growled, gaining the upper hand. He grabbed John B, tossing him over his shoulder and slamming him onto the shoreline. The impact sent a spray of water into the air, but Topper didn't hesitate. He climbed on top of John B, hands pressing down on the back of his head, forcing his face into the wet sand, holding him under the rolling waves.

     "Topper!" Sarah yelped. "Topper, stop! No!"

Nova's breath caught in her throat as the scene unfolded before her. Time seemed to stretch, everything slowing down around her. The crowd's chants became a dull murmur in the background, fading from her ears. All she could focus on was the horrible sight of John B struggling beneath Topper's grip.

And then she saw it. Mike Dovecot━━had finally had enough. His jaw was clenched, his eyes fixed on the two boys, but his gaze was sharper than Nova had ever seen. He moved, fast, charging forward through the crowd and heading straight for Topper.

     "Mike━━" Nova whispered to herself, her heart racing.

With a swift movement, Mike shoved through the crowd, his shoulder connecting with Topper's side, knocking him off John B just enough for Mike to step into the fray. Nova saw it━━John B was not moving.

     "Get off him!" Mike shouted, his voice steady but full of determination.

Topper turned toward him, eyes narrowing as he saw the younger boy standing his ground.Without warning, he swung a fist directly at Mike. The punch hit Mike square in the face, sending him stumbling backward. The force of it knocked Mike to the ground, his body hitting the sand with a thud.

     Nova's blood boiled as she watched her younger brother lie there, dazed and vulnerable. Topper stood over him, clearly relishing his superiority. "No!" Nova shouted, her voice cracking with fury.

Before anyone could intervene, Nova charged forward, her legs carrying her faster than she realized. Her white dress dirty with the sand the ocean carried, stained with little drops of blood. She was only a few steps away from Mike when she heard another yell.

     "Topper!" Sarah screamed, her voice full of desperation.

Nova's focus was locked on her brother. She could barely register the chaos around her, her vision narrowing only on Topper's smirk as he prepared to deliver another blow to Mike.

And that's when it happened.

Time froze for Nova as she watched JJ pull the weapon from his waistband, his grip tight on the cold metal. Her heart leapt into her throat. The crowd's murmurs grew quieter, but in that moment, all Nova could hear was the sharp sound of the hammer clicking into place. A gun.

JJ was pointing the gun directly at Topper's head.

The world seemed to come to a shuddering halt. Nova's chest tightened as she stood frozen, horror seizing her body. She held Mike, who had just stood up. The brunette had her arms wrapped around his head, dripping wet. He was standing as he could.

     "Yeah, you know what that is," JJ taunted. He pressed the nozzle of the gun a little more harshly against the crown of Topper's skull, "Your move, broski."

     "Put it down, JJ!" Sarah called.

     Nova's eyes squint from the salty water, maybe because the scene in front of her didn't seem real. It couldn't be. "Put the gun down!"

     "Did you say something, princess?" JJ asked, looking over in her direction. He catched for a glimpse of a moment how she held Mike, who shaked his head with a bleeding cut.

But hell, Topper wasn't as much of an idiot as he let on. He raised his hands slowly from John B's head, up into the air in a resistant manner. Slowly, he stood to his feet, though JJ hardly moved a muscle.

     "We're good! We're good," Topper said, fright quivering in his voice. "Alright? Come on, man!"

     "Kie!" Sarah yelled. "Can you check your psycho friend, please?"

     As Topper turned to face JJ and recoiled away "Okay, everyone, listen up!" JJ bellowed. He lifted the gun high into the air, carelessly waving it about. "Get the hell off our side of the island!"

Nova flinched at the sound of two fireshots being sent into the air, she opened her eyes to see John B laying down on the waves. Being soflty moved by the current as JJ fought with Pope and Kiara. Everyone screamed, and Nova almost didn't see Topper grabbing Sarah's arm.

     Sarah searched for her best friend in the crowd. "Nova!"

The Dovecot did not hear her, she barely registered the chaos around her, her eyes locked on John B, who was still lying in the shallows. The waves gently tugged him further in, his body limp and lifeless, the faint trickle of blood mixing with the ocean.

     JJ's voice rang out as he argued with Pope and Kiara, but Nova barely heard their words. She looked down at Mike. "Mike... Mike, are you okay?" Nova's voice trembled, her hands shaking as she cupped his face in her palms, tears spilling over as she inspected him.

     It shocked him. Nova was not one who cried much━━she always hid it, too scared to show vulnerability or anything similar to it. "I'm fine, Nova," Mike mumbled, his voice weak but trying to reassure her. His cheek was already bruising from Topper's punch and bleeding from a little cut, but he'd get through it. He always did.

     "I'm so sorry, Mike," she sobbed, her voice thick with guilt. "I should've stopped you, I━━"

     "Don't apologize, Nova," Mike interrupted, his voice softer now, the concern in his eyes matching her own. "I knew what I was doing."

     Nova choked back another sob, pressing her forehead to his. "I don't care, Mike. The gun was so close to you. I━━" She took a shaky breath. "I can't lose you,"

     Mike reached up, pulling her into a tight hug, his arms strong around her despite his pain. "You won't lose me, I promise," he whispered. "I'm right here."

Nova squeezed him even tighter, ignoring the muffled cries and chaos still surrounding them. For a moment, it was just her and Mike, breathing together, her hands gripping him as if she could anchor herself to him and shut out the madness unfolding all around them. 

     "You fucking dumbass,"

     Mike chuckled, shaking his head. "Crazy bitch,"

Then, she pulled away, her eyes wiping furiously at the tears streaming down her face. Her eyes flickered back to John B, still half-submerged in the water. Her heart hammered again, and she pushed herself to her feet, her voice breaking.

     "We need to help him."

Mike didn't question her. Without another word, they rushed toward the shoreline where John B lay. Nova moved through the crowd like a ghost, ignoring the murmurs and stares of the onlookers who were too scared to get involved. She knelt beside John B's limp body, her hands trembling as she tried to lift him.

They didn't deal well with drowning━━Cassandra Dovecot died in a storm. Drowned. Nova was with her as a child, she barely remembered much about her. The little five year old held onto her mummy's cold hand, terrified that the enormous waves would engulf them both into oblivion. Closely to the shore, in a half-million dollars boat, Cassandra was taken away by the ocean, just as the helicopter saved Nova.

The girl grew to be afraid of storms near the sea, and couldn't quite handle the possibility of someone drowning. Not again.

     "John B!" she gasped, desperation clawing at her throat as she checked for signs of life, her fingers pressing to his pulse, praying for any sign of a beat. She could feel it━━his pulse was faintbut there. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

     "Come on, John B," she whispered, shaking him gently. Mike helped, gripping him under the shoulders and lifting him with her, together struggling to pull him from the water.

Behind them, the yelling continued, but Nova barely noticed. She could feel John B's dead weight in her arms, the saltwater dripping from his hair, his body cold and unresponsive. She couldn't stop herself from almost falling down as they dragged him out of the water.

     "Come on, man, stay with us," Mike muttered under his breath, as he hoisted John B higher. His body was heavy in their arms, and they moved in sync, struggling to get him to dry land.

Kiara, JJ, and Pope were behind them now, their expressions tense. Nova could hear them calling out to each other, but it wasn't until they saw her and Mike struggling with John B that they stopped arguing, suddenly aware of what was happening.

     "Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Kiara demanded, her voice harsh, stepping forward. She glared at Nova as though she had no right to be there. "Get away from him!"

     But Nova didn't flinch. She only tightened her grip on John B. "Just help us," Nova spat, anger bubbling up from deep within her. "Get him up, or don't. But get out of my way, now."

     Kiara hesitated, her jaw clenched tight as she looked between Nova and John B, but Pope stepped forward and nodded. "She's right. Come on,"

JJ lingered a few steps back, his face unreadable, but Nova noticed the way his eyes flickered between her and the unconscious boy in her arms. His hand tightened around the gun in his pocket. She didn't know if he was trying to stop this or if he was ready to fight again.

She and Mike helped John B to his feet, one of them on either side of him, half-dragging, half-carrying him to a safer area on the beach. The others reluctantly followed, but the tension in the air thickened, and Nova could feel it in every muscle in her body.

━━━━━━━━

The night seemed endless as they finally managed to get John B into the back of the Twinkie. Nova observed the vehicle━━that peeling off brown paint, both the outside and interior packed with stickers. The dirty seats and empty beer cans. In a way, it was almost homey.

Nova slid the side door open, her hands still shaking from the ordeal. Mike helped her get John B settled on the seat, his chest rising and falling shallowly. She couldn't stop thinking about how everything had escalated so quickly. She looked over at the Pogues, they weren't the people she was used to; there was a tension between them, as if they didn't know how to deal with her, how to act around someone like her.

     Mike, who had been quiet since they left the beach, turned to Nova and broke the silence. "You need a ride home?"

Nova sighed, considering his offer. "No," she replied quietly, her voice tight as she pulled her gaze away from the window. "I'll call Rafe." Pope gulped at the sound of his name.

The overdose, his fight with Nova, his harsh words and her broken sobs.

Rafe Cameron, the boy who would probably be outraged after Topper snitched everything to him. But come on, Rafe wouldn't hurt Nova, right? He loved her, dearly.

     Mike's brow furrowed slightly. "You sure?"

Kiara was sitting across from her, arms crossed tightly. Her eyes flickered nervously from Nova to John B, as if still unsure of where they stood, of whether or not they were really allies or enemies. It didn't help that Nova had always kept her distance from her. She wasn't part of her world, her circle. Not anymore.

     "If you're sure..." Kiara said, her voice softening just a little. She hesitated, then added, "Won't he be, like mad?"

     Nova's jaw clenched. She could feel Kiara's gaze on her, heavy with something unspoken, a kind of understanding that wasn't even needed. "I'm sure," Nova replied, though she wasn't sure of anything. She was still trying to keep her head above water, to pretend that everything was fine when it wasn't.

Kiara nodded her head, but noticed how Nova hadn't answered her question. Her heart fell slightly as she realised that Rafe would be mad.

     "Sorry to ruin the little moment, but we gotta go," JJ raised a brow, standing near John B. He met Nova's eyes━━her running mascara, her bitten lip and dirty dress. Her sun necklace and stack of rings. He looked down at his own shark-tooth string around his neck. Nova let out a shaky breath, licking her lips before smiling softly.

     "Yeah, he needs help,"

     Mike wrapped his arms around his sister's back, hiding his teary eyes in her dark brown hair. She sniffled, hugging the boy back. "Let me know how he is, okay?" she whispered. She felt Mike nod his head.

Nova stood alone on the road near the beach, the van disappearing into the distance, leaving nothing but the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the distant murmurs of the night. She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. Her thoughts were swirling. She needed to talk to Rafe, needed to hear his voice, even though she knew it wouldn't be the calm reassurance she might have hoped for.

She pulled out her phone, her hands slightly trembling as she found his name in her contacts. The relationship between her and Rafe was far from perfect, and there were moments where she wondered how long it could last. He was protective━━and she was sure he'd hate that she'd gotten involved with the Pogues. But still, she needed him.

Nova hit the call button, waiting through the rings, the silence weighing heavily on her. After a moment, he picked up.

     "Nova?" His voice was groggy, still heavy with sleep. "Where are you? What happened?"

     "I'm at the beach," Nova said, her voice unsteady as she tried to find the words. She bit her lip to avoid tears from falling again. "There was a fight, Topper tried to drown John B," She hesitated, trying to get her breath under control.

     He ran a hand through his hair. "Jesus," Rafe muttered under his breath, clearly more awake now, his protective instincts kicking in. "Did they touch you?" His voice was rough, but there was clear concern beneath the edge of his tone.

     "No, I'm fine," Nova said. "Mike━━" she stuttered, sniffing softly. "Mike got hit and John B almost━━almost drowned to death," the brunette couldn't help but let a sob out.

     Rafe swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew this was a senstive subject for Nova. "Don't move, I'm coming right now,"

     "Just stay where you are, okay?"

     "Okay," Nova said, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her was relieved to hear Rafe's voice, to know he was coming. "I'll be here. I promise."

     "I'll be there soon. Just stay put," he said, before the line went dead.

Nova stared at her phone for a moment, feeling the weight of the night settle into her chest. She could hear the waves crashing against the shore, but they didn't comfort her the way they normally did. She knew that the next few hours would be filled with more tension, more frustration. Rafe would want to know everything, and she had no idea how to explain it all without making things worse.

Not that she really knew what she was expecting from him. Rafe didn't like the Pogues, and no matter how much she'd tried to keep him from being too involved with her life and theirs, he would always come around, acting like a protective shield.

She hated the Pogues too, but after tonight, after Mike, maybe they weren't so bad after all.

A few minutes later, Nova saw headlights in the distance. Rafe's car pulled up, and he immediately stepped out. His face was hard, but the moment his eyes found hers, they softened ever so slightly. He didn't say anything as he approached, but Nova could tell he was already mentally running through what had happened, his mind on overdrive.

Without a word, Nova climbed into the passenger seat, feeling the weight of his gaze on her as he drove. The tension in the car was thick, but she didn't know what to say. She couldn't tell him everything, not yet.

As Rafe drove, the silence between them was thick, only broken by the occasional sound of the engine humming and the soft hiss of tires on the wet road. Nova could feel his eyes on her, his concern evident in the way he stole glances at her from time to time. She wanted to say something, to make him understand everything, but the words just weren't there.

The car rolled to a stop outside her enormous house━━with it's white columns and big entrance. It's large open floor plan that includes a spacious living room, a kitchen with an island, and a large backyard complete with a pool.

Rafe immediately killed the engine. He didn't move, though. Instead, he sat there for a moment, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. Nova could see the tension in his posture, his jaw clenched tight.

     "Nova..." His voice was low, quiet, but there was a raw edge to it. "You're sure you're okay? You're not hurt?"

Nova didn't answer right away. She stared out the window, feeling the weight of the world press down on her. Rafe was looking at her now, his gaze intense. The same protective fire she'd always known was in his eyes, but tonight, there was something else too━━fear.

She turned to face him, her heart pounding in her chest. He'd been worried. He always worried. But it was different tonight. His tone was softer than she expected, despite the anger she knew was simmering underneath.

     "I'm fine," she said, the words coming out quieter than she'd intended. She couldn't help it━━there was a part of her that needed the comfort, the reassurance that only Rafe could give.

He didn't respond right away, and then, before she knew it, Rafe had opened his door and was walking around to her side. The car door creaked as he swung it open, his hand reaching for hers without hesitation. She didn't pull away, allowing him to gently pull her out of the car and into his arms.

For a moment, they just stood there, his arms around her, holding her close. The tension that had been building all night seemed to melt away in the silence between them. She felt his heartbeat, steady and strong.

     "You scared the hell out of me," Rafe murmured, his voice low and rough. "I don't ever want to see you in that kind of mess again, Nova. Not with them... not with any of them."

Nova closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest. She could feel his protective hold, the warmth of his body, and despite everything, it comforted her more than she expected. Rafe wasn't perfect━━far from it, but in this moment, he was hers.

     "I'm sorry, Rafe," Nova whispered. "I couldn't let John B━━" Her voice cracked slightly, and she swallowed hard. "I just couldn't. And Mike━━"

     Rafe's hand slid up her back, his fingers brushing against her hair, as he pulled her in even closer. "I know. I just hate seeing you involved with those people. They're dangerous, Vi. I don't trust them."

     "I know," Nova said quietly, pulling back slightly to meet his eyes. "I know you don't. But sometimes people can surprise you," she thought of how to put the words correctly. She thought of John B's effort to make her smile. Of JJ's Princess. Kiara's little smile before they left. Pope's silent appreaciation and loyalty. "I thought they were all bad, too. But maybe I was wrong. At least about some of them."

     Rafe's jaw tightened at her words, his expression hardening again. "You can't let them get too close, Nova. I won't stand by and watch you get hurt by them."

     "I won't," Nova promised softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just think━━"

     He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't care what you think about them. I care about you, Nova." Rafe's hand cupped the back of her head, his thumb running gently over her hair. He pulled away slowly, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to memorize every part of her. "Call me," he said softly.

     Nova smiled faintly. "I will."

She pressed her lips against his, holding on for a moment longer than she expected. The kiss was soft, tentative, but it grounded her, offering a sense of comfort amidst the storm inside her.

Rafe pulled away as he gave her one last, lingering look before he turned to leave. As the car disappeared into the distance, Nova stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath.

It was the one moment of the entire night in which Nova cried, alone.

━━━━━━━━

BROOKS' NOTES!

Welcome to the second chapter of Mamma Mia! I adore this chapter, and I think it's important to start seeing a bit of John B and Nova's dynamic (which is very dear to me), and Nova and Mike's. I also want to clarify, I love Kiara with my entire heart and she will NOT be villanized in this book. For now, she and Nova don't get very well, and so she will snap sometimes like in this chapter. But after a while, my girls will be happy!

I am so so so excited to finish season one lol, and finally get started with season two, three AND four. I love season one and it's my favourite, but I have much drama and pain planned for the next seasons. So I can't wait.

Anyways, that's all, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I will surely see you soon<3

Toodles xx, Brooks!!