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Same Day - Day One

Morning - Kildare Sheriff's Department - Interrogation Room

JJ was sitting at the table, waiting.

Peterkin walked in. "You're like a little rock in my shoe." She closed the door. "I shake my foot, I think I've gotten it out, then dang, there it is again."

JJ rested his hands behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. "Maybe watch where you're steppin'."

Peterkin dropped a file onto the table. "That little rock on the back of my heel makes me want to crush it."

"Okay," JJ said awkwardly.

Peterkin sat across from him. "Unlawful discharge with firearm." JJ crossed his arms. "Trespass on protected habitat. Felony destruction of property. All in the last two weeks. You're on a roll, chief."

"If you think I'm gonna rat anybody out, you got the wrong idea," JJ told her.

Peterkin sat back in her chair. "I know your little teen brain doesn't like to think ahead, but I want you to come with me to uncharted territory. The future. How you gonna feel six months from now, sittin' in juvenile prison in Wadesboro?" JJ didn't answer, looking away. Peterkin pulled out the photos of the shady men, showing them to JJ. "You know these two?" She stood, walking around the table toward JJ. "My question was, do you know these two?"

JJ hesitated before telling the truth. "They... they broke into Isa and John B's house, and I know they chased them down the street when Isa got electrocuted. And then chased us through the marsh with a gun. Kaylee got grazed by a bullet of theirs, but other than that, we were fine. Other than that, I have no idea."

Peterkin showed him pictures of their dead bodies. "Here's a more recent photo. Somebody gaffed them, then used them for chum.  Whatcha think, bull shark?" JJ looked sick from seeing these photos, trying not to retch. "Here's the bad news, chief. Whoever killed these two men is still out there, and I got reason to believe their next targets are friends of yours. Like you said, these two men already hurt Isa, John B and Kaylee. I'm sure the next targets from the person who killed these two men are Isa and John B. Who knows if any of your other friends could get hurt in the process. You kids don't think you're the only ones after the Royal Merchant now, do you? And yeah, I know about that, too."

Peterkin walked away.

JJ was worried. "Okay, Sheriff Peterkin, I can promise you they're not on it anymore."

Peterkin turned to face him. "So you say. I'm just trying to keep them safe. I want you to tell your friends Isa and John B to come in and talk to me, and let's see if we can keep you out of Wadesboro."

Peterkin walked out of the room. JJ looked down anxiously.

⚓️

Peterkin

Peterkin walked toward her desk, sitting down.

Shoupe was sitting across the desk from her. "How'd it go?"

"Hopefully he's not as dumb as he looks," Peterkin remarked. "Set up some eyes on the Routledge place. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Shoupe nodded in agreement. "Stealth mode on."

⚓️

Bullpen

In the bullpen of the sheriff's station, JJ's father Luke Maybank who was last seen at Barry's trailer was here, signing papers to get JJ out of the station.

Plumb was the one handling the paperwork. "You his guardian?"

JJ walked closer hesitantly, looking at Luke nervously.

Luke glared at JJ. "Sorry to say, I'm his father."

"Well, hearing will be in two weeks," Plumb told them. "If you fail to show up, you will forfeit your bail. The restitution will be based on the average of three outside estimates of the cost of the damaged article."

"Restitution?" Luke repeated.

"Pay for what he broke," Plumb explained. "It's part of the plea." Luke gave a glare to JJ. JJ looked down nervously, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, and... sign right here, please."

Luke signed, before turning to JJ. "Let's go. Go now!"

In her office, Peterkin watched JJ and Luke leave the station.

⚓️

Outside

After walking out of the station, Luke and JJ walked down the sidewalk toward Luke's car.

"I wonder what restitution's gonna be on a 2019 Malibu," Luke remarked bitterly.

"I'll pay it off," JJ told him. "All of it. I swear, Dad."

Luke scoffed. "Shit. 30K? When you gonna clear that, big guy, when all you do is smoke weed and hang out on the south side? Huh? Get in the car." He walked around the car to the driver's seat. JJ hesitated outside the car. "Let's go."

They both got in the car.

JJ looked at Luke. "Dad, I swear--" Luke suddenly punched JJ in the face, hard enough to make him hit his head on the window next to him, and for some blood to splatter the window. "No!"

Luke slammed JJ against the car door in rage, beating him. "30 thousand dollars! Do you know what you did to me?! Damn--"

Luke continued to beat JJ as JJ was groaning in pain and trying to cower and cover himself for protection.

⚓️

Maybank Trailer - JJ's Room

(Song:) December - Killimanjaro

JJ was pacing anxiously as he heard loud rock music blaring from the other room where Luke was yelling in a drunken rage.

"How you gonna get that money back?" Luke raged. JJ was pacing, holding his head in his hands, letting out low sounding growls. "By sittin' around doin' nothin'?"

Kaylee approached JJ's window and knocked.

JJ, surprised, walked over and opened it. "Kaylee? What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you," she replied, noticing his bruised face. "Oh, my God. JJ, your face."

"I'm okay," JJ assured her.

But Kaylee, shaking her head, disagreed. "No, it's not okay."

"It's happened before," JJ sighed. Kaylee, heartbroken, climbed up to the window. "Kay, stop. You shouldn't after what Tod did."

"I'm fine," insisted Kaylee, climbing through despite her pain.

They heard Luke blaring music from the living room, drunkenly yelling to JJ. "I'm gonna tell you right now! You are a worthless piece of shit! Your mama knew!"

JJ turned around to bang on the door angrily. "Shut up! Shut up!"

"You tell me where you're gonna get 30 grand now!" Luke snapped.

JJ turned to Kaylee, tears streaming down his face, hands clamped over his ears in a futile attempt to drown out his father's voice and the blaring music, teetering on the edge of a panic attack.

Kaylee enveloped JJ in a comforting embrace as he wept on her shoulder. "It's okay. I've got you. You're safe."

Kaylee gently stroked his hair, trying to soothe his distress.

JJ clung to Kaylee, burying his head in the sanctuary of her shoulder while she rubbed his back, his frame quivering with each sob as he began to crumble.

"Kaylee," JJ murmured, lifting his gaze to hers. "You really shouldn't be here."

Shaking her head, Kaylee's own tears welled up, pained by the sight of his suffering. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll never leave you." JJ, now somewhat calmer yet still visibly shaken and angry, remained close. "How about we get out of here for a bit? We could head to the Pogue Nest. I hate the thought of leaving you alone with your dad when he's like this."

JJ offered a sheepish yet touched smile. "I know, Kay."

With a sad smile, Kaylee pressed a kiss to JJ's forehead, a single tear trailing down her face.

The loud music finally shut off.

(Song Ends)

JJ opened his eyes and turned his head towards the door. "Stay behind me." He grabbed his backpack and took Kaylee's hand, leading her towards his window. Handing her his key, he gestured for her to climb out. "Go, start my bike."

"JJ..." Kaylee hesitated, reluctant to leave him alone with Luke.

"I'll be right there," JJ assured her. "Promise."

JJ kissed Kaylee's forehead gently. With a resigned sigh, Kaylee acknowledged that JJ was not going to accept a refusal. She nodded and climbed out through the window, feeling a bit more pain than when she had climbed in.

⚓️

Living Room

Luke was passed out on the couch.

JJ slowly walked closer, breathing shakily, glaring at Luke's unconscious form on the couch, his bag over his shoulder. He put his bag down, walking closer to Luke, shaking, tears in his eyes as he tried not to cry. He aimed his gun at Luke, lip trembling, like he wanted to pull the trigger just to end his own suffering, but he couldn't do it, crying, lowering the gun and turning away quickly, grabbing his bag.

⚓️

Outside

Kaylee stepped outside and approached the dirt bike. She sat on it, fired up the engine, and revved it while turning her head towards the house.

JJ emerged from the house, his cheeks stained with tears, and walked towards Kaylee. He climbed onto the bike, positioning himself in front of her. Kaylee encircled his torso with her arms and rested her head against his back. With a final rev, JJ propelled the bike forward, taking them through the woods.

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

Kildare County High School - Outside

Isa and John B arrived to the high school.

"So Lia's lead on the Denmark Tanny research in Chapel Hill did pay off?" Isa asked.

"Yeah," John B answered. "Big time. Sarah and I read a lot about most of the stuff that Lia already told us, but what's more is that Denmark used the money he made from Tannyhill to buy other slaves and set them free. And we found a letter that he wrote to his son in a language only they could understand, on the day he died."

"And you think that the letter contains the location of the gold," Isa finished. "Got it. Can't believe all time, fucking Lia Cameron had the missing information we needed because she knew that Denmark had the gold and used it to buy his freedom and Tannyhill."

John B chuckled at the irony. "Me too. And basically led us to the things that we need to find out where the gold is now, if we get this letter translated."

Isa nodded in agreement. "Thank God for history buffs." John B chuckled. "So that's why we're here at school. To get this letter translated."

"Yeah," John B agreed. Isa looked down, distracted. "You okay?"

Isa shrugged worriedly. "I don't know. I mean, the fight last night... Kaylee got hurt. I mean, it's nowhere near as bad as it could've been, and she still saved our asses like usual, this time with fire, but... she's got to be careful or a 2-3 week full oblique muscle recovery can become a lot worse. And JJ basically sacrificed himself to keep Pope out of jail and save his future, but you know what his dad will do to him, and Pope is gonna feel so guilty. I can't... I'm just so worried about them, and Kie. And Kay, the whole fire stunt and fight and getting hurt, it could be getting her closer and closer to be getting kicked out by her parents, even from the Pogue Nest. I don't..."

John B was also worried and concerned, putting his hand on Isa's shoulder. "Isa. Look. I'm worried too, about all of it. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you guys. I wish I could've been. And I know that this isn't gonna fix everything, but our mission, it might save a lot of us from a lot of our troubles. Getting the gold for all of us, it means JJ can pay whatever he has to for the damage, and get away from his dad permanently so he doesn't get hurt again. Kaylee will be able to get her own place that's not reliant on her parents that can be taken away from her is they disown her and kick her out, to where she can safely live instead of a treehouse, no offense to the Pogue Nest since we all got kinda attached to it." Isa smiled a bit in agreement, but was still worried. "Pope wouldn't have to rely on a scholarship to get into the school of his dreams, or do anything he wanted to do. Kie would be able to do whatever the hell she wants. All of us can. And you and me, we wouldn't have to worry about DCS taking us and putting us into foster care or splitting us up. It doesn't solve everything, but it fixes a lot."

Isa nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I just want to make sure that everyone's okay until then."

John B nodded in understanding and agreement. "Come on."

⚓️

Inside - Classroom

Isa and John B walked into a classroom with one of their teachers, Mr. Sunn.

Mr. Sunn looked at them in surprise. "Hell has frozen over."

"I guess it has," Isa agreed. "Uh..."

"Uh, I couldn't stop thinkin' about your class, Mr. Sunn," John B told him.

Sunn gave them a look. "You must need money."

"How much can you spare?" John B asked. "Yeah, uh, sorry. Just kidding."

"Actually, we were going through some history stuff with two friends of ours, and we, uh, we found this letter," Isa told him. John B took out the letter from his bag to hand to Sunn. "It's from a local landowner. We were wondering if you could translate it."

"Uh, it--it's in Gullah, and I remember that from our local history unit," John B explained.

Sunn sat down behind his desk. "It's gratifying to know some of it sunk in."

"Yeah, some of it," John B agreed with a slight smirk.

"Even though you spent half the class on a surf break," Sunn told him.

"Only the big swells," John B pointed out.

Sunn nodded. "Oh."

Isa looked at John B with a 'seriously?' look. "Right." She looked at Sunn. "So, uh, the letter."

Sunn put on glasses, looking over the letter. "Ah. Dated... 1844. 'To my beloved son Robert. I am awaiting the... hour of my public murder with... great composure of mind and cheerfulness, knowing I am soon bound for glory'."

"He was lynched," Isa explained.

Sunn continued to translate. "'Do not nurse grief to vengeance, but instead trust in God, with all your heart, for He doeth all things well. Until we meet again in heaven, your loving father, Denmark Tanny'."

"So that's it?" Isa asked.

"There's a postscript, but it's just a planter's log," Sunn answered.

John B and Isa exchanged a look, knowing that this could be relevant.

Isa walked closer to Sunn. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Can you read that for us, actually?"

Sunn looked at them curiously, but continued to translate. "'Matters applicable to the property and the estate. Uh, 'Bacca, cotton, corn, tomato. But lastly to Robert'..."

"That's his son," John B stated. "Yeah."

Sunn translated. "'Harvest the wheat near the water in parcel nine forthwith'. That's it."

John B frowned. "On the day that he dies, he writes a letter to his son telling him to harvest the wheat?"

Sunn took off his glasses. "It's a little odd, to be honest, but look."

Sunn pointed to the wheat symbol at the bottom of the letter.

John B realized the wheat was code for gold. "Mr. Sunn... I--I can't tell you how much this means to us." Isa frowned, raising an eyebrow curiously. "You just... you just helped us out so much. Thank you."

"I--I hope you have a great summer, and we'll see you this fall," Isa told him. "Thank you."

Isa and John B walked out of the classroom.

⚓️

Hallway

Isa and John B walked out into the hallway.

John B ran along, jumping up and cheering. "Whoo!"

Isa ran after him. "JB! What is it?"

John B turned to look at Isa in excitement. "The picture of a bar of gold that Sarah and I found at Chapel Hill, the bar of gold had a wheat symbol on it." He pointed to the wheat symbol on the bottom of the letter. "Just like this."

Isa realized what John B did, smiling. John B returned the smile, and they both ran off.

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Kaylee's Room

Kaylee and JJ were sitting in the Pogue Nest, in her room.

Kaylee was helping tend to JJ's wounds and bruises from his father. "Please never do that again. You don't know how worried I was about you."

"You were worried about me," JJ repeated. "Like always."

Kaylee raised an eyebrow, giving him a look. "Duh." They both chuckled. "Now take off your shirt."

JJ smirked. "Oh, so it's like that. What was it that you said last night when I said the same thing? 'How long have you been waiting to say that to me'?"

Kaylee tilted her head at JJ, replying with the same thing he said. "Maybe a while, but that's besides the point." JJ managed a small smile. "Come on."

JJ sighed, assuming the same position Kaylee had the previous night. She had refrained from lifting her shirt due to the severity of her wounds, but he had done so to aid her. Now, realizing Kaylee's desire to reciprocate, he raised his shirt. Kaylee's gaze fell upon the bruise marring his torso, her eyes glistening as if she were fighting back tears.

JJ gently placed a finger under Kaylee's chin, tilting her head upward. "Don't worry. I'm fine."

Kaylee's arms enveloped him, drawing JJ into a comforting embrace.

"I'm so sorry," Kaylee murmured. As they separated, Kaylee tended to his wounds with care. "There. All done."

"Thanks," JJ expressed his gratitude.

Kaylee nodded affirmatively. "No problem. It's going to be okay, JJ."

A soft scoff escaped JJ. "Really?"

With a resolute nod and a determined gaze, Kaylee responded, "I'll make it my personal mission to ensure everything improves for all of us."

JJ let out a chuckle. "Always playing the savior, aren't you, Kaylee?"

A faint smile touched Kaylee's lips. "I can't help it."

"Nope," JJ concurred with a smile. "You just naturally act on instinct."

"I mean it," Kaylee said firmly. "You're going to escape from your abusive dad. You're going to live in a spacious house, and you'll have your entire future ahead of you with anyone you choose. You're going to find happiness, just as you ought to, just as you deserve. That's a promise."

"Yeah," JJ murmured.

Kaylee tenderly swept a strand of his hair aside. JJ felt a wave of tranquility, closing his eyes to cherish the moment, now completely serene and feeling improved. Opening his eyes, he met Kaylee's gaze, which was filled with nothing but concern and care, as she wrapped her arm around him in a soothing hug. JJ relaxed into her embrace, encircling her with his arms, the two sharing a close and comforting connection.

Anna called from outside. "Kaylee! Get your ass out of that treehouse and get over here now!"

Kaylee rolled her eyes, as JJ and Kaylee had to pull away from their embrace.

JJ frowned. "What's happening?"

"Mom insists I attend the Midsummer's party with her, Kie, and Dad," Kaylee replied.

"Is that tonight?" JJ inquired. "I thought it was an important party for your family."

"It is for Mom," Kaylee said. "Not for me and Kie, though. I planned to skip it because..."

Kaylee glanced at JJ, her eyes conveying the desire to stay with him after the ordeal his father had caused.

Understanding her silent plea, JJ shook her head. "No, Kaylee, go."

"What?" Kaylee protested. "No way."

"I refuse to be the cause of your parents disowning you, leading to you losing your family," JJ declared.

"Skipping one party isn't grounds for exile," Kaylee reasoned, pausing briefly. "I don't think."

JJ tilted his head. "Maybe not, but skipping the party right after getting into a serious fight, getting hurt, using a lighter and hairspray to torch a movie screen in the middle of a park, and threatening to torch four Kooks might be." Kaylee knew he was right but still didn't want to attend the party or leave him. "Kay, I'm serious. If you get kicked out, you could end up on the streets, facing things even worse than what we've dealt with today and last night."

"You don't need to try and salvage my relationship with my parents," Kaylee pointed out.

"And you don't need to protect me from my father," JJ replied. "But you do it anyway." Kaylee knew he had a point and looked away, tilting her head. JJ gently placed a hand on her cheek, guiding her to meet his gaze. "Kay." She met his eyes. "I'm fine. You going to some silly Kook party won't change anything. I promise."

Kaylee hesitated, then relented with a heavy sigh. "Okay. But what about you?"

"I'm going to check in with Isa and John B," JJ said. "I need to discuss what Peterkin told me this morning. Don't worry, okay?"

Kaylee nodded. "Okay." She rolled her eyes with a hint of sarcasm. "Attending a Kook party with a bruised torso and strained or torn oblique muscles should be quite the experience."

JJ offered a sympathetic smile. "Just be careful." He pointed at Kaylee with earnest. "And if Rafe or Tod even glance in your direction, you tell me, okay? After what they did, I'd relish the chance to kick their asses."

Kaylee let out a soft chuckle. "I'll be okay. We've both had our share of fights and beatings recently. I don't want to add any more to that list."

"But--" JJ began.

Kaylee placed a finger over his lips. "No. We need to heal before we jump into any more brawls, agreed?" JJ exhaled, conceding her point. "Plus, I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that," JJ responded. "But you're injured."

"I'll be okay," Kaylee insisted. "I promise."

Leaning in, Kaylee placed a kiss on JJ's forehead, preparing to stand and leave.

JJ grasped Kaylee's wrist gently, drawing her in closer, cradling her face as they shared a prolonged gaze, then sealed their moment with a deep, lingering kiss until the need for air made them part. "You better be."

A faint smile graced Kaylee's lips.

⚓️

Outside

Kaylee watched as JJ got onto his dirt bike, both giving a slight wave, before JJ drove off to head to the Chateau.

⚓️

The Chateau - Outside

JJ had to leave his bike away from the Chateau when he noticed that someone was staking out the house, having to sneak along.

Isa and John B walked up to their house, after walking home from the school.

JJ came up from behind them, grabbing them to try and pull them into hiding.

Not knowing who it was and thinking they were yet again under threat, Isa and John B wrestled out of JJ's grip, and John B wrestled JJ to the ground.

JJ was stuck under John B. "It's me. JJ. Stop, stop, stop, stop. Fuck."

Isa sighed in relief. "Oh, my God."

John B sat up. "What are you doing, bro?"

"Shut up," JJ told them, pulling Isa and John B over to his hiding spot behind the canoe and pointed to the black car. "See that? They're watching us, okay?"

"Who?" Isa asked.

"I don't know," JJ admitted. "Let's go. Sneak around to the dock." They took off towards the water where the HMS Pogue was, all hopeful that they could get there unnoticed and unharmed. "Gotta go this way."

JJ veered off to the left instead of going right for the dock.

"Through the water?" Isa asked.

JJ jumped into the shallow water. "Yeah, come on."

JJ offered his hand up to Isa for her to step down, which she took and hopped into the water herself. John B followed them into the water. JJ and John B walked with their backpacks over the top of their heads while Isa led the way in front of them, being careful not to step in any drop off points that would cause her to go deeper than she already was.

Isa looked at John B. "Wait, wait, wait. Do you got the keys to the Pogue?"

"Yeah," John B answered. They continued on. "Isa, you first."

In the car staking out the Chateau, Shoupe was sitting watching the house, never aware of Isa, John B and JJ making a break for it.

Isa pulled herself up onto the boat, staying as low as possible. "Got it."

JJ pulled himself up, and then John B.

"Get the ties," John B whispered.

Isa quickly unlooped the rope from their boat, pushing them off of the dock. John B started up the boat, the three cringing at the loud noise it made. 

Luckily, from his car, Shoupe didn't hear the boat, looking through binoculars toward the Chateau. "Let's catch us a fish."

⚓️

Garage

In the garage that was seen at the end of 1.04 with the mystery man with the compass and the hook, Peterkin walked in. She found Big John's compass on the table, and finding a phone book open to the page filled with Redfield names, all highlighted as the person who found the compass also found 'Redfield' carved into the secret compartment and was trying to figure out what it meant.

Peterkin looked toward the mystery person with a coat on that hid his identity. "I appreciated your help in the past, but we even now. From now on, I do my job. I wanted you to know."

Peterkin walked out.

⚓️

Riverside

Isa, John B and JJ each sat on their own rock.

"First, I almost get strangled to death by Kooks, and now I'm on the hook for 30 grand," JJ explained to John B. "Kaylee and Pope didn't make it out of the fight unscathed, either."

Isa shook her head in concern. "JJ, I'm sorry. Kaylee, Kie and I... we tried to help you and Pope to make sure that you two didn't get hurt, but the fight already started, and Kaylee..."

JJ pointed at Isa. "First of all, it's not your fault, Isa. Don't do the blame game with yourself. You, Kaylee and Kie still saved my ass and Pope's ass, even if Kay did get hurt. But we're fine now. Though all of us should just dip."

"Okay, where do you wanna go?" John B asked.

JJ thought for a moment. "Yucatan."

John B let out a laugh. "Yucatan?"

"No, I'm dead serious right now," JJ told them. "Surf all day, and then we can just live off lobsters we can't have with our bare hands."

"You just wanna leave 'cause you got your ass beat?" John B asked.

Isa gave her brother a look. "John B." She looked at JJ, taking a closer look at his face, knowing that he had more wounds than the night before from the fight. "Wait, JJ." JJ knew she noticed it, looking away. "You didn't get those from Rafe, Topper, Tod or Kelce."

"Yeah, I did," JJ replied.

Isa tilted her head skeptically in concern, worried. "Bullshit."

John B realized what Isa already had, looking at JJ, concerned. "JJ."

"It's nothing," JJ insisted.

Isa moved closer to sit next to JJ, putting an arm around him in a sisterly way, looking at him worriedly. "Your dad?" JJ sniffed, looking down, sighing. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," John B agreed.

JJ shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Nothing that hasn't happened before. And I was talking to you about the two shady guys that were coming after us. They're dead. You didn't see the photos."

John B hopped down from the rock he sat on. "Think about it. They're willing to kill for the gold, then it's gotta be out there."

JJ ripped his hat off. "Have you lost your mind?"

"JJ--" John B started.

JJ stood. "One hundred years, man. One hundred years, people have been trying to find this Royal Merchant, and no one succeeded. And you think you are gonna be the ones that actually find it? When will you get it through your thick skulls? If you keep going down this road, you're gonna end up just like your dad!"

Isa stood, turning away, pacing.

John B pushed JJ out of his face. "We can't give up, JJ!"

Isa turned back, separating JJ and John B. "Enough!"

"The last time we saw that dude, we got in an argument," John B admitted. "And then he took all of our rent money and dipped for this Royal Merchant. And then I told him he was a shit father, and you know how the rest of the story goes."

Isa looked down. "And I didn't do anything to stop Dad from leaving. And we never saw him after that."

JJ looked at them somberly. "Guys, that wasn't your fault."

"It doesn't matter whose fault it is, JJ," Isa told him. "Do you not understand that? We can't give up on the hunt, man. JB and I don't care who's out there, who's gonna try to kill him and me. Do you understand that? You know that. But that doesn't mean that you, or Kaylee, or Kie, or Pope have to help us. It's your choice, okay? Obviously this is dangerous shit, and I don't want you guys to put yourselves in danger, but it's your choice. Okay?"

JJ sighed heavily, nodding. "Okay."

"Like Isa and I were saying earlier," John B told him. "This money, this gold, can't fix everything, but it can solve a lot. You can pay the restitution, and get away from your dad. Kaylee won't have to be worried about getting disowned and kicked out onto the streets because she would be able to get her own place that's not a hurricane away from being destroyed like the Pogue Nest. Pope wouldn't need a scholarship, he would be able to do anything he wanted, and so will Kie, and the rest of us. And me and Isa won't have to worry about DCS taking us, splitting us up. This isn't just for us, JJ. It's for all of you."

JJ knew that, managing a small chuckle. "Between you two and Kaylee, don't know who ends up being the hero or savior more."

"Look who's talking," Isa replied. "Me and John B, you and Kaylee, everything we do is for the Pogues. You saved Pope this morning. You saved most of us a lot of times."

JJ nodded, tilting his head. "Guess us four original Pogues are always doing the saving, huh?"

Isa and John B managed small smiles.

"I've got a plan," John B told them. "You coming or what? Four hundred million, JJ. We've gotta at least try."

JJ thought for another moment before nodding, making his way to the boat. Isa got onto the boat. John B quickly pushed the boat out and started it up, heading back down the marsh.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Lia was laying down in bed, looking at the bruises she got from Tod and Rafe the night before, looking away.

Sarah and Wheezie walked in, dressed for Midsummers.

"You're not dressed?" Sarah asked.

"No," Lia answered. "I'm not going."

Wheezie walked closer. "I mean, it's Midsummers. We've been talking about going since last year. We were so excited, remember? To go as sisters, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," Lia answered. "But a lot's changed since last year."

Sarah and Wheezie looked at Lia sadly, both sitting down on the bed with Lia.

"I know, but we can still go and have some fun," Sarah pointed out. Lia fidgeted, and Sarah noticed the bruises on Lia's arm, though neither of them could see the bruises on Lia. "Hey, what happened?"

Lia crossed her arms, hiding her bruised arm behind the other unbruised arm, looking at Wheezie; the only reason she didn't tell the truth being that their little sister was there and she didn't want to make matters complicated and worse for her sisters. "Nothing. It's fine."

"That doesn't look like nothing," Wheezie pointed out.

"I'm fine," Lia told them.

Rose walked in, also dressed for the party, seeing the sisters sitting on the bed. "What's going on?"

Lia rolled her eyes, looking away.

"Lia says she's not going," Wheezie answered.

Rose scoffed. "The hell she isn't. Your father is being coronated as Guardian of Knights of the Rhododendron. You're going."

Lia tilted her head. "You're not my mother, so I don't have to do what you tell me."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Ward walked up to the doorway. Rose turned to her husband. "Lia says she's not going."

Lia tilted her head back, completely frustrated. "For the love of God. Why is everyone so shocked that I don't want to go?" She pointed at Ward. "You especially have been trying to keep me in lockdown." She pointed at Rose. "And you and Rafe have been helping him, so now you want to make a big fuss about me not wanting to go to a party and wanting to stay in?"

Sarah and Wheezie raised their eyebrows.

"She kinda has a point," Sarah admitted.

Wheezie nodded, popping the P on her answer. "Yup."

Ward sighed. "Sarah, Wheezie, please go."

Sarah and Wheezie hesitated, looking at Lia, standing, walking out.

Lia sighed in annoyance, looking up, turning her head to look at Ward. "What?"

"What do you mean, what?" Ward asked. "We're going together as a family like we've been planning since last year. Then you were excited for it."

"Yeah, well, like I told Sarah and Wheezie, a lot of things changed since last year," Lia replied. "I lost a friend I had last year. Another friend I had last year hates my guts and won't even talk to me. Everyone at that party, including that former friend, hates me and thinks I'm crazy. Rafe sure as hell didn't help with that."

"What does Rafe have to do with it?" Ward asked.

Lia sighed. "Rafe and his shithead friends were total psychos last night and started to beat and strangle teens from the Cut. They could've killed them, and hurt them bad enough as it was."

"Pogues?" Ward asked.

"What does it matter if it was Pogues or not?" Lia asked in exasperation. "No one deserves that."

Ward looked at the bruise on Lia's arm. "Is that from Rafe?"

"When he pushed me out of the way of Tod Laurent," Lia answered. "He protected me in a sick and twisted way, and yet when I tried to help him yesterday, he shuts down and calls me insane. So, yeah, maybe I'm not in the best mood for a family outing."

Ward considered all of this, sighing deeply, frustrated and agitated with the entire situation. "I will talk to Rafe, but going to the party isn't negotiable, Lia."

Lia scoffed, looking away, not surprised that Ward didn't change his mind about making her go even after all she said, when she had every reason not to want to go. "Dad--"

"I know, I know," Ward cut her off. "I know it'll be hard, but we have to present a unified family front for tonight."

Lia scoffed at that. "Right, because that's definitely not what we are. You just want to make it seem like we are because of your coronation award thing that I don't care about."

Ward gave her a look. "We will work it out. What if you just paste on a smile and you go, and we have a good time, all right? This isn't up for debate."

Lia just had a cold, hard look in her eyes as she stared off out the windows of her room, knowing she didn't have a choice, knowing she was going to hate every moment of that day.

⚓️

Island Club - Outside

Pope and Heyward pulled up outside the Island Club, where the Midsummers party was being set up.

Heyward parked their truck. "I don't know what happened to Topper's boat. Quite honestly, I don't want to." They got out of the truck to start unloading. "You were two seconds away from havin' a different life. You just about killed me." Pope jumped over the side of the truck to stand in the bed of the truck. "It would've killed your mama." They started unloading. "And you know the deal. One of these rich kids messes up, they'll still go to college and meet another rich person. Then they'll make more rich kids, who'll also get third and fourth chances."

"I know," Pope said. "I gotta do better. I get it. All right?"

They unloaded another crate.

"You wanna... spend your whole life grindin' it out like me?" Heyward asked.

"It's your grindin' keepin' us afloat in the first place," Pope pointed out.

"I expect better for you, Pope," Heyward told him. "I want better for you. And if you end up like me, I will consider that a personal failure. So please, keep it in check. At least until you have your--your scholarship interview. You need to wake the hell up. And you could start by picking better friends."

Pope looked down, muttering. "Don't talk about my friends."

"What'd you say to me?" Heyward asked. "You don't know nothin'. Friends. Shit. You'll see." He closed the tailgate of the truck. "You'll see."

A man in a suit walked closer, laughing. "Hey, my friend."

Heyward smiled, walking over to the man. "My man."

"Look at you," the man complimented. "There he is." Heyward laughed as the two shared a hug. "Look at you. You never age."

Pope took a shovel out of the truck, putting it to the ground.

"It was a scramble with the power out, but we're here," Heyward stated.

"Lucky for us," the man told him. "What would Midsummers be without Heyward's famous oysters?"

⚓️

Carrera House - Kie's Room

Kaylee was glaring at her dress and headpiece that her mother had picked out for her for Midsummers party. "This is disgusting."

Kie was glaring at her reflection at her own dress and headpiece that Anna had picked out for her, already dressed. "No kidding."

Anna walked in. "I know, it's just horrible. I'm asking you both to relax and enjoy a fun party."

"I look like Bourgeoisie the pig," Kie complained.

Kaylee scoffed a laugh.

Anna gave Kaylee and Kie a look. "Can you please not worry about socioeconomic injustices for one night?"

"One of our best friends was arrested this morning and got hurt," Kaylee told her. "As did I. And you still want to make us go to this thing."

"And that is expected Pogue before that your father and I told both of you that we don't want you hanging out with," Anna replied. "And soon enough, Kaylee, you might end up in that same position. You got the hurt part down. With the fire incident last night, I'm sure you'll end up just like your friend this morning."

"Mom!" Kie chided.

Kaylee rolled her eyes, not surprised in the least. "I was protecting myself and my friends and Kie from getting pummeled and choked out. The rich kids that you want me and Kie to hang out with? They nearly killed Pope and JJ, and did this to me. So what does that say about who you want us to hang out with?"

Anna looked slightly guilty. "Girls..."

Kie gave Anna a look. "What about the people who are not three miles from here have no power, no running water, and we're going to Midsummers. That's so tone deaf."

"Do you know how hard we had to work to get into the Island Club?" Anna asked seriously.

Kaylee scoffed. "Yeah, Mom. How could we forget? You had to grovel for, like, 10 years."

"12," Anna corrected. "And we also had to cough up a huge chunk of dough, and do you know why we did that?"

"To keep up with the Joneses?" Kie suggested.

Kaylee smirked.

Anna gave them a look. "No. So you both could have the same experiences that I had as a child. Girls, do you know what the Island Club is?"

"A factory farm for debutantes," Kaylee wittily remarked.

Anna smiled. "It is a nice place, with nice people, where you can do fun stuff."

"With out of touch rich people while the island sinks slowly into the ocean," Kie replied. "Who also tried to kill our friends and hurt Kaylee enough she had to go to the hospital this morning, and she won't be fully recovered for at least two or three weeks. No, thanks."

Anna gave her a serious look. "Okay, I want you to put on your party face, Kie. Kaylee, why aren't you dressed?"

"Because I'd really rather not wear a dress," Kaylee answered. "Or go to this stupid thing at all."

"Well, too bad," Anna replied. "You may be living in the tree house--"

"Pogue Nest," Kaylee corrected.

Anna ignored that and continued on. "But the treehouse is still on your father's and my property. So you will go to Midsummers, and you will go to the party in the outfit I chose for you. If you want to stay in that treehouse, and with us as a family, you are going to that party, no more arguing." Kaylee realized that JJ had been right about how seriously Anna wanted Kaylee to go to the party. Kie gave Anna a cold look. "Just ignore those stupid boys and focus on the other people, the nice people, where you can do better and have fun."

Kaylee and Kie both looked away.

Anna turned around, walking out.

Kaylee rolled her eyes, tilting her head, looking around.

Kie tilted her head. "Kaylee. Please. If I suffer through this, you suffer with me. And I don't want you to get kicked out. We need to stick together, all right? Even if it means going to this stupid party. We can make sure each other is okay."

Kaylee sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Kaylee went to go get dressed.

Just a little while later, Kaylee was dressed, looking into the mirror, glaring, hating how she looked.

Kie walked in to check on Kaylee. "Hey. You look pretty."

Kaylee scoffed. "I look like a poser. I think I'm gonna throw up. And do I really have to wear this stupid flower crown fucking thing?

Kie laughed. "If I have to, you have to." Kaylee sighed, placing the flower crown on her head as she looked sadly at her reflection, pensive. Kie walked closer sadly in concern. "You okay?"

Kaylee sighed heavily. "I just can't stop thinking about how JJ was in jail and what his dad did to him, and all Mom and Dad care about is making us go to this stupid Midsummers party. And Rafe and Tod..."

Kie looked at her sadly. "I know. I'm so sorry, Kaylee."

Kaylee frowned in worry. "Do you think JJ's gonna be okay?"

Kie looked down. "I don't know." She helped Kaylee with her makeup. "Here. Come on. Let's go crash this snooze fest."

Kie smiled, chuckling, and Kaylee managed a small chuckle in return. They walked out of the room and to their family's car.

⚓️

Flashback 1

Day - Tannyhill Estate - Kitchen

Kaylee and Kie were at Lia and Sarah's again for practice, now grabbing drinks in the kitchen.

Sarah, while preparing a bowl of fresh fruit, glanced at Kie. "How are things going with you and Kelce?"

Kie shook her head. "Nothing serious. Just a hookup, I guess."

Lia pursed her lips, nodding, her discomfort hidden. "Yeah, great."

"And you and Timothee?" Kie inquired, elbowing Lia.

Lia gave a nervous chuckle. "No, nothing like that. Just friends. More of an acquaintance, really... Besides, he's relocating at the end of the year, so he won't be around much longer."

"That's true," concurred Kaylee.

Turning to Kaylee, Sarah asked, "What about you and Tod?"

Inspecting a strawberry she had picked up, Kaylee shook her head. "It's not happening."

Sarah hopped onto the countertop next to her, playing with a piece of honeydew and taking small bites. "Why not?"

Kaylee gave a nonchalant shrug, vigorously shaking the whipped cream canister. She artfully dispensed a generous swirl atop the fruit bowl, then plucked a cream-drenched piece of fruit, sighing contentedly at the delightful sweetness that danced on her tongue. "Not my type. He's a dick acting like he's oh so gentle when you can tell that he thinks he's better than everyone else but is too afraid to say it to your face. I hate fake bitches out there like that. No, thank you."

Kie snorted. "Yeah, well, there's not exactly a wide variety of boys on this side of the island to choose from."

Kaylee gestured towards Kie.

Lia and Sarah nodded in agreement.

"That's true, but they're not all terrible," Sarah remarked.

Lia looked at Sarah with a hint of disbelief. "Like you and Topper?"

Sarah beamed. "Now that you bring it up, I think it's going well. I have a feeling he's about to ask me out. I'm really excited."

"Of course you are," Lia responded playfully, glancing at Kaylee. "But have you noticed how Tod looks at you? You might not be interested in him, which is totally fine, but he definitely has a crush on you."

Kie and Sarah agreed. "Definitely."

Kaylee sighed. "Not this again."

Kie hummed in a teasing tone as she dipped her finger into the whipped cream and licked it off. "Hmm. Seems like someone else has taken notice too. It's pretty clear."

"Rafe said the same thing," Kaylee remarked, her expression one of puzzlement.

Lia, Sarah, and Kie turned to Kaylee with surprise.

"Rafe?" Sarah echoed.

"When did he say anything?" Lia inquired.

Kaylee shook her head dismissively. "Forget it, it's silly. Let's drop it."

Lia, Sarah, and Kie shared a glance and shrugged.

Sarah cleared her throat. "Anyway, we need to go dress shopping. Rafe will be joining us since he needs to pick out his suit."

With a sigh, Kaylee shook her head.

The day seemed to only get better, Kaylee thought with a hint of sarcasm. Rafe Cameron had never been a frequent topic in her conversations, the only exception being their shared rides to and from school.

Yet, the debutante ball had unexpectedly complicated things, forcing her to think about him increasingly with each passing day. Rafe's persistent presence, whether through their bickering, conversations at practice, or their practice sessions at Tannyhill, ensured she couldn't ignore him. Seeing him several times a day certainly didn't help.

Descending the stairs into the kitchen, Rafe donned sunglasses and a backward baseball cap. He toyed with his key fob, nodding towards the door. "Lia, Sarah, hurry up. Some of us have lives to get on with."

In a playful retort, Lia stuck out her tongue at Rafe, slid off the countertop, and made her way to the door, giving Rafe a playful poke in the stomach as she passed. Rafe mockingly tousled Lia's hair in response, causing her to squeal and break free, though she didn't seem to mind as she shook out her hair and stepped outside. Rafe's smirk and a shake of his head suggested an eye roll hidden behind his shades.

Sarah, less amused, rolled her eyes at their antics, emptied the bowl, and turned on the tap to rinse it before joining Lia and Kie outside, Kie having already been on Lia's heels.

Kaylee turned towards them, sighing, resolved to avoid Rafe's gaze, yet her eyes inadvertently darted over him for a moment.

Rafe maintained his usual charming appearance, and Kaylee sensed he might be looking back at her, though she wasn't certain through his shades.

With a slight smirk, Rafe quirked an eyebrow in her direction.

Standing, Kaylee snatched her wallet and brushed past Rafe on her way to the door, catching up with the girls outside.

Following suit, Rafe shut the door behind them.

⚓️

On the Road

During the car ride with Rafe at the wheel, Sarah occupied the passenger seat, while Kaylee, Kie, and Lia settled in the back.

Sarah was animatedly discussing the various dresses from the shop. Rafe occasionally interjected to scold Sarah for being bothersome, yet he frequently adjusted his mirror and a subtle smirk appeared on his lips as he peeked at Kaylee in the rearview mirror.

Despite Rafe's sunglasses, Kaylee felt his gaze meet hers in the mirror. She knew his glances were typical, given the many rides to and from school, but with each day, it became increasingly difficult to overlook.

⚓️

Boutique

Rafe, Sarah, Kaylee, Kie and Lia got out of the car and walked up to the boutique, and when they walked inside, Rafe broke off from the girls in the direction of the men's aisle.

Sarah was practically vibrating with excitement at the sea of white gowns before her. "Isn't this just like a slice of heaven?"

Rafe, eavesdropping from the men's section, couldn't help but give an eye roll worthy of an Olympic sport.

Kaylee quirked an eyebrow, her tone dry. "Or hell, depending on how you look at it."

That got Rafe's attention, his own eyebrow arching as he glanced back at the debutante brigade before moving on.

Lia made a tsk sound, head bobbing in a non-committal nod. "True, true. It's all about perspective, right?"

Kie gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure, it's not like we're marching to a one-outfit-fits-all dystopia, so there's that."

Both Kaylee and Lia's eyebrows went for a little dance at Kie's comment.

Sarah, though tickled by the banter, feigned a pout before breaking into a grin. "Well, I won't deny it, dressing up can be a rare treat."

Sarah began selecting dresses, draping them over her arm.

Kie observed Lia and Sarah. "You at least look the part and fit in."

"That's not really applicable to me, as you know," Lia responded.

"Then we're in the same situation," Kaylee noted.

"True," Sarah concurred. She glanced at Kaylee and Kie. "I know neither of you want to be Kooks..." Her gaze shifted between them and Lia. "And you three don't mesh well with the others, yet you all certainly look the part, whether you believe it or not." Lia let out a sigh. Sarah turned to Kaylee and Kie. "It might not seem like a compliment to you, but I believe you have the best of both worlds."

Kie grinned at the comment. "That's my goal, to eventually find a balance."

Kaylee remained silent, choosing not to start another fight with Kie. Despite Kie's aspirations, she had abandoned their Pogue friends for this lifestyle to satisfy their parents, and Kaylee had no desire for it but understood the need to maintain appearances for the time being. "It sounds like a fairytale. That doesn't mean it'll come true. No matter how much we may or may not wish it."

Meanwhile, Rafe listened to their conversation, his lips pursed in contemplation, before selecting a suit and proceeding to the changing rooms.

Kaylee, Kie, and Lia were all in search of the perfect dress, each only wanting to try on one, while Sarah was set on trying many to find her ideal gown.

"Don't forget the gloves," Lia reminded them.

The girls picked up pristine white satin gloves and entered the dressing rooms to try on their dresses.

"How does it look?" Sarah inquired.

Kaylee, Kie, and Lia felt uneasy.

"I'm not sure," Kie confessed.

"Same here," Lia concurred.

Kaylee frowned, shaking her head. "This isn't good."

"It can't be that bad," Kie reassured her.

Sarah considered for a moment. "Let's count to three and then share our opinions. Ready? One, two, three."

The girls emerged from the dressing rooms, each wearing their chosen dress.

Sarah was confident she looked her best in the dress she currently wore, yet she gasped, hands covering her mouth, at the sight of Kaylee, Kie, and Lia.

Kie and Lia exchanged astonished, speechless glances. Lia, feeling nervous, looked down and turned away from Kie to prevent any misinterpretation of her expression. Kie, slightly puzzled, tilted her head but dismissed any concern, aware of Lia's tendency to be reserved yet outspoken, though her eyes lingered on Lia.

Kaylee shrugged. "As I mentioned, it's bad." She glanced at Kie and Lia. "But that doesn't apply to you two. You both look fucking good, I'll give you that."

At Kaylee's classic compliment, Kie and Lia's faces lit up with relief.

Sarah beamed. "She's right, you both are stunning. Actually, everyone is. It's just perfect. You all are perfect."

With a frown, Kaylee faced the mirror separating the rooms for another look. She adjusted the satin gloves trailing along her arms, viewing her reflection as if she were a stranger, despite her undeniable beauty.

Sarah, Kie, and Lia shared the sentiment, offering Kaylee smiles of reassurance.

Across the room, a dressing room door swung open to reveal Rafe in a flawless suit, absentmindedly adjusting his stark white bow tie. His gaze lifted briefly, meeting Kaylee's reflection in the mirror. He looked down again, but his hands faltered as he watched her, his breath catching as he took in the sight of her in the white debutante gown, an intensity in his stare that made Kaylee shiver in her gown. Rafe's tongue flicked across his bottom lip while his bright blue eyes took her in. Kaylee eyed Rafe's expression, elusive as ever, but caught the subtle bob of his throat as he swallowed and looked away.

His fascination with Kaylee, if not already an addiction, had become one now. She seemed out of place in his world, yet in that moment, Rafe felt it was more apparent than ever, as if she had stumbled into the realm of mortals and the damned by accident. Rafe, a man not known for his virtues, saw Kaylee as a creature belonging with deities, and he desired nothing more than to pull her down to his depths.

Kie spun around to face Lia. "So, do I look alright?"

Lia, with a nervous swallow and a nod, managed a small smile, her cheeks tinting with color. "Yes, definitely. You look great."

Kie's grin widened. "Thanks. So do you."

Now Lia blushed deeply, her smile growing. "Thank you."

Rafe's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed Lia's reaction to Kie.

Sarah gestured towards Lia. "It's really unfortunate that you're not with Timothee, especially since he's leaving and might be gay."

Lia simply nodded in agreement. "Right."

Turning to Kie, Sarah continued. "But if your fling with Kelce was just a one-time thing, I'm not sure it'll last much longer after he sees you now." Kie felt a sense of relief that she couldn't visibly blush. Sarah looked at Kaylee. "And Tod? He's definitely not going to be able to take his eyes off you."

"Or his hands," Rafe added.

The girls shot a glance at Rafe.

Rafe, meanwhile, adjusted his black blazer, straightening it out to make it look less wrinkled and more presentable.

"Ignore him," Lia advised.

Kie whispered to the girls, responding to Rafe's remark. "Sounds like someone's jealous."

Lia and Sarah gave a slight nod as they turned their gaze towards Kaylee.

Kaylee, shaking her head in disbelief, scoffed. "No way."

Rafe could still hear them, smirking as he ran his hands through his hair to slick it back, then winking at Kaylee. "Remember what I told you."

Kaylee responded with a challenging raise of her eyebrow.

Rafe retreated into the dressing room to change back into his clothes.

Lia was puzzled. "Okay."

"Uh, why does it seem like there's tension between you and Rafe?" Sarah inquired.

Kaylee let out a scoffing laugh. "As if."

Lia gave Sarah a grin. "By the way, you look perfect too."

Sarah beamed, twirling around. "I know, right? Do you think Topper will like it?"

"Like it?" Kie echoed. "He's going to adore it."

Lia, Sarah, and Kie entered their dressing rooms to change back into their clothes.

Kaylee paused for a moment, exhaling deeply. Turning to re-enter the dressing room, she caught Rafe's gaze as he stepped out, his smug smile spreading as she rolled her eyes and shut the door behind her.

⚓️

Now

Day - Dock

John B and JJ carried the small fishing boat over their heads toward the dock.

Isa rolled her eyes. "Congrats, John B, you've topped your own record for bad ideas."

"But that's the beauty of it," John B grinned. "The dumber the plan, the better it works. It's science. Stupid always works. You both would know."

Isa's laugh was as dry as a desert. "Hilarious. I'll let you geniuses prep. Don't forget the gas in the shed."

"Hold up, where are you off to?" JJ chimed in.

Isa looked down at her wet and mud-splattered clothes. "Oh, just off to crash Midsummers looking like a swamp monster, obviously."

JJ's grin widened. "Ah, gotta look sharp for Kie. Or is it Lia today?"

"Zip it, JJ," Isa shot back.

"And how will you pull off this fashion miracle, Isa?" John B teased. "Your wallet's on a diet."

Isa's smirk was all confidence. "Who needs cash? I've got a whole 15 bucks, and I'm rich in cunning. Saw a 'Kook charity' box at the store. They won't miss a dress and a flowery head thing for a day. Easy as pie."

JJ and John B shared a glance and a nonchalant shrug.

"Hey, if you end up in handcuffs, don't even think about whining to me," JJ quipped.

Isa tossed back a biting retort, casually giving JJ and John B the bird with both hands. "Oh, please. Jail is so last season for me."

⚓️

Donation Store

Isa walked up to the donation store, looking around, acting natural.

As she had expected, the owner lady was inside the store working.

Isa looked into the store, waiting for the lady to be busy with a customer, before she shifted through the donation box, finding a black slip dress which clearly did cost at least 100 bucks before, but was now donated by some Kook parents, and a simple, cute flower crown that would rest on the back of her head and hair, putting them into her bag, looking around to make sure that no one noticed. "Shit too easy."

Isa walked away casually.

The lady peered outside, looking around, having noticed at the last second that Isa had taken something from the donation box, but she only saw the back of Isa's head, not her face so she couldn't tell who it was. "Hey!"

Isa ran off before running around the corner, getting away before the lady could see her face or even do anything about it.

⚓️

Pogue Nest - Outside

Isa sprinted to the Pogue Nest for a rendezvous with JJ and John B.

"Jesus!" John B gasped. "You took an eternity! Midsummer's in full swing."

"Chill your jets, asshat," Isa shot back. "Ten minutes and I'll be shining like a new penny."

And with that, Isa dashed inside to switch gears before the boys could even protest.

⚓️

Inside - Second Floor

Isa pulled on the dress and some black sandals, wetting her hair, brushing it to make it look nice, though her hair was curly after being wet, placing the flower crown on which rested over the back of her head in her hair, and applied a little makeup.

⚓️

Outside

Once Isa was done, she walked outside, looking beautiful in her black Midsummers dress with her flower crown on her head.

John B was surprised by how Isa looked. "Who the hell are you and what have you done with my sister?"

Isa pushed John B lightly. "Shut up."

"Uh, that would be a love-crazed Isa Routledge, whether it's for Kiara Carrera or Lia Cameron is up to debate though," JJ replied. "Or most likely it's for both of them."

Isa pushed JJ lightly. "And you shut the fuck up. This doesn't have anything to do with Lia."

JJ nodded sarcastically, unconvinced. "Mm-hmm. Come on, Isa. I saw the looks you two kept exchanging at the movie yesterday."

"There were no looks," Isa denied. She looked at John B's clothing, tilting her head. "And you're one to talk. That's the best clothing I've ever seen you in."

John B shrugged. "The vest was Dad's for special occasions."

Isa raised her eyebrows. "Mm-hmm. Let's go, boys. We don't have a lot of time."

⚓️

Island Club - Outside

(Song:) Megaton Mile - Local Natives

The Midsummers party had begun, and while all the men were in suits, all the women were in fancy dresses with unique headpieces on their heads, like Kie and Kaylee's flower crowns.

Pope and Heyward were manning the grill for food.

Kaylee turned to Kie. "Have you heard from John B, Isa or JJ?"

Kie shook her head. "No, why?"

"'Cause JJ said he was going to John B and Isa's house," Kaylee answered.

Kie nodded. "You talked to him last night. That's right, I saw you two up in the Pogue Nest last night, and then earlier today."

Kaylee closed her eyes. "Oh, my God. No, you didn't."

Kie smiled wickedly. "Oh, yes. You and JJ kissed. Fucking finally."

Kaylee laughed. "Kie!"

Kie laughed in return. "So are you two a thing?"

Kaylee shrugged. "We haven't really talked about it, 'cause like I said, he went over to John B and Isa's house. What about you? Do you like anyone?" She leaned closer to Kie to whisper to her teasingly. "Like Isa?"

Kie shrugged. "I don't really know right now. I'm figuring that out."

Kaylee nodded, looking across the way, seeing Pope. "Hey, there's Pope."

Kaylee and Kie walked over to Pope.

Kie spoke in an English accent. "Excuse me, sir. Do we have to shuck these ourselves? 'Cause it might mess up our costume."

Pope laughed, trying to speak in an English accent, but failing. "We wouldn't want that, now, would we?"

Kaylee, Kie and Pope did their handshakes, turning around, looking at all the Kooks.

Kaylee shook her head at Pope teasingly. "That was a bad accent."

"It was," Kie agreed. "I was gonna let it go, but of course you know Kaylee can't let it go, Pope."

"Of course not," Pope agreed, teasing.

"You ever seen these many Kooks in one place?" Kaylee asked.

"Yeah, last year," Pope answered.

"We're in the lion's den," Kie told them.

Kaylee nodded in agreement, seeing Tod, Topper and Kelce across the way, glaring. "Exactly."

"Have you guys heard from Isa, JJ or John B?" Pope asked.

Kie smirked. "Not Isa or John B, but Kaylee's heard from JJ."

"What does that mean?" Pope asked.

"I caught Kaylee and JJ making out, twice, last night and today," Kie answered.

Kaylee pushed her arm. "Kie!"

Pope laughed. "No way. So, like, are you guys dating?"

"We haven't really talked about it," Kaylee answered.

"Well, you guys need to," Pope told her. "It's taking you two forever."

Kaylee laughed. "Oh, my God. Shut up." She held a hand to her torso. "Seriously."

Pope frowned in concern. "You okay, Kay?"

"I will be," Kaylee answered.

"How is JJ?" Pope asked. "Really?"

Kaylee looked down, knowing that JJ wouldn't want her to tell them because he didn't want them worrying about him. "He's fine."

"Kay, I can always tell when you're lying," Kie told her. "Did his dad..."

Kaylee didn't answer, looking away, so she wasn't telling them anything, but she also didn't say they were wrong.

Pope was horrified. "Oh, my God. Kay, Kie, I really feel so guilty. I feel like this is all my fault."

Kaylee shook her head. "No, it's not."

"You didn't do this, Pope," Kie told him. "Topper almost killed you, remember?"

Kaylee, Kie and Pope turned around when they heard clapping.

The clapping was because Ward and Rose were making an entrance. Rafe, Lia, Sarah and Wheezie walked behind them. Lia was not amused in the least by the party, looking like she would rather be anywhere else but there, looking around in boredom, and trying to stay away from Rafe without making matters more difficult for everyone.

"Here comes Lord Capital and the exploiters," Kaylee mocked.

Pope noticed the spiky gold crown that Rose was wearing. "She's definitely going to poke somebody's eyes out with that."

Kaylee sighed. "I need a drink."

"Me too," Kie agreed.

Pope nodded. "I'll go with you."

Pope, Kie and Kaylee walked away.

Once the entrance was over, Lia looked at Rafe numbly for a moment before walking away. Rafe opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it, sighing, letting her go.

Sarah gave Rafe a look. "What did you do?"

Rafe was annoyed with Sarah, wanting her to stay out of it. "Nothing, all right?"

Sarah scoffed, unconvinced, walking toward Lia. "Lia, hey. You okay?"

"I'm fine," Lia told her. "Don't worry."

Sarah grabbed Lia's arm lightly. "This says otherwise. Did Rafe do that to you?"

"It was to protect me," Lia muttered.

"Protect you from what?" Sarah asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"Our brother and his friends, including your boyfriend, are psychos, is what happened," Lia answered.

"What?" Sarah asked.

Topper walked up to them, overhearing what Lia said and interrupting before Lia could explain what happened. "Hey. Hey, Sarah."

Lia rolled her eyes, giving Topper an annoyed look. "Oh, of course you would swoop in so you can keep your dirty little secret a secret."

Topper glared at Lia, trying to change the subject, looking at Sarah. "I waited on you. You said you wanted to walk in together."

"Yeah, well, I came with my family, since this year was supposed to be a sister thing for me, Lia and Wheezie," Sarah replied. "Don't change the subject. What are you two talking about?"

Lia opened her mouth to speak.

Topper cut her off, looking at Sarah. "Can we talk? Alone?"

"No, I'm not going anywhere until you two tell me what the hell is going on," Sarah answered.

Lia gave Topper a fake smile smugly, before looking at Sarah. "Tod, Topper, Rafe and Kelce jumped the Pogues and beat them to hell. Tod hurt Kaylee pretty badly, tried to do the same to me before Rafe pushed me out of the way. And I'm pretty sure you hurt Isa and almost choked Pope to death, Top. And you were smiling as you did it. That is until, of course, Kaylee burned down the movie screen and sent you, Tod and Kelce running off like the pussies you actually are."

Topper sighed in frustration.

Sarah gave Topper an incredulous look. "What the fuck?"

Topper shook his head. "No, no, no."

"You can't deny that that happened, because I'm not the only one that saw it," Lia pointed out.

"Okay, okay, it happened," Topper agreed. "But there were extenuating circumstances."

Lia scoffed. "No number of circumstances would defend what you three did. They didn't deserve that. No one does."

Sarah shook her head in disbelief, disgust as she gave Topper a cold look. "I can't believe you."

Kelce and Tod walked closer.

Lia nodded sarcastically. "Oh, there's two of the other psychopaths. And you four had the nerve to call me and Kaylee crazy. You three Stooges can fuck off."

Lia flipped Topper, Tod and Kelce off with a sarcastic smile, turning around, walking away.

Sarah started to walk away.

Topper grabbed Sarah's arm. "Sarah--"

Sarah ripped her arm from Topper's grip. "Don't. I'm not talking to you right now."

Sarah walked away.

Topper, Kelce and Tod watched Lia and Sarah go, stunned with what Lia said and the way both sisters walked away.

At the bar, Kaylee, Kie, and Pope witnessed the confrontation, all taken aback by Lia's fierce defense of the Pogues against Topper, Kelce, Rafe, and Tod. Kaylee and Pope were openly impressed and appreciative, whereas Kie, despite her reservations about Lia, couldn't help but feel a reluctant admiration.

Tod looked at Topper. "Yo, how did you let Lia tell Sarah everything?"

"Shut up, Tod," Topper replied.

Kelce handed them both a drink. "Forget about them. Hey, let's get shit faced tonight, okay?"

Watching them, and seeing Tod's eyes on her, Kaylee looked overwhelmed, trying not to be.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Flashback 2 - Kook Year

Day - Dance Academy (After Practice)

Rafe, Kelce, Topper, Timothee and Tod, along with the other escorts, were hanging out, away from the girls, though the boys still had their eyes on the girls.

"So, Timothee, Lia said something about you moving at the end of the year?" Rafe asked.

"Yeah, I have to head back to France with my parents," Timothee answered. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Says the kid that was born in France, but got it," Kelce replied.

"I'm actually from France, too," Tod added. "My mom, at least. My dad's from Ireland."

Kelce nodded. "Sweet. Top, how's it going with Sarah?"

Topper glanced at Rafe, nervous.

Rafe shook his head. "Don't look at me. If you want to be stupid enough to date Sarah after her track record of cheating on every boyfriend she's had, that's on you, dude. Don't drag me into it."

"Well, I don't know if I'd go that far, but..." Topper trailed off. "I like her. If that's..."

"Doesn't bug me except you being an idiot falling for her shit," Rafe replied. "But if you wanna be her bitch, who am I to stop you?"

Topper frowned, quick to change the subject. "Kelce, you and Kiara?"

"It was good that one time, but we'll see," Kelce answered. "Tod, you and Kaylee? I mean, she's fucking hot. Might like her better than Kiara."

Rafe gave Kelce a hard look that had him backing down instantly. "Don't even fucking think about it."

Rafe's words were devoid of possessiveness; he understood the futility of unnecessary exertion. With a few words, he had made his claim on Kaylee, leaving Kelce no choice but to back down.

Kelce gave a compliant nod, aware of Rafe's usual antics and his unusual interest in Kaylee, which went beyond his typical pursuits.

Tod, on the other hand, was oblivious. "Why? You two aren't..." He was met with Rafe's hidden glare from behind sunglasses. "I was thinking of asking her out."

A knowing glance passed between Kelce and Topper, anticipating trouble.

To their surprise, Rafe kept his cool, chuckling softly. "Right."

"What?" Tod pressed.

"Just..." Rafe's voice faded. "You're not her type."

"And what's her type?" Tod inquired, eager to challenge Rafe's assertion.

"Anybody other than you," Rafe said bluntly. "Don't get your hopes up."

A smirk played on Topper and Kelce's faces.

Rafe gazed at Kaylee from afar, his shameless stare concealed by sunglasses as he intensely observed her, imagining scenarios to achieve his desires. Kaylee was a vibrant puzzle of reds, but to Rafe's dismay, he could only perceive it in monochrome. His desires were a paradox; he craved both nothing and everything from Kaylee, a confusion that even he couldn't unravel, yet he was willing to immerse himself in every moment he stole from her to understand.

Frequently, Rafe longed for a distraction from thoughts of Kaylee. Lately, neither weed nor alcohol sufficed. She dominated his thoughts most days, akin to a novel addiction. His usual emotions were limited to anger and emptiness, or sadness, which he found too painful, leading him to become emotionally numb. However, Kaylee stirred something different within him, a sensation he hadn't experienced in ages. Not just desire or longing, but a glimmer of hope. Despite the absurdity, given they barely knew each other despite they saw each other more and more now every single day. Her mere presence brought him a sense of lightness, a feeling that drew him back, time and again.

⚓️

Now

Night - Shoreline

JJ and John B pulled the small fishing boat up on shore outside the Island Club, as Isa was still on the boat.

"Ready?" JJ asked.

"Not entirely," Isa answered, gladly taking JJ's extended hand and hopping out of the boat.

Isa, John B and JJ walked together.

John B sighed. "Can you believe this Midsummers shit?"

"Of course I can," JJ answered with a shrug. "Happens every year. No matter how screwed up the rest of us are."

"Some patriarchal bullshit it is," Isa remarked.

"So, like, what's the plan, exactly?" JJ asked.

"Okay, look," John B said. "I need you to get this to Sarah, since you're going in there to see Kaylee, Kie and Pope, and possibly Lia."

John B held out the letter to Isa.

JJ perked up at the letter. "Ooh! Can I read it?"

"No, you can't read it," John B shot him down.

JJ looked down the letter anyways, seeing a word. "Who's Vlad?"

Isa smirked, trying to open the letter. "Some alter ego of yours we don't know about?"

John B snatched the letter from Isa, handing it to JJ instead. "Better yet, JJ, since you're going in there, you give it to Sarah. God, do you guys ever listen?"

"Only when I want to," Isa answered.

JJ looked at John B. "Hold up. Are you macking Sarah Cameron?"

"Would you just shut up?" John B asked.

JJ was very amused by all of this. "Holy shit. You're macking on Sarah Cameron." He pointed at Isa. "And you're crushing on Lia Cameron."

"Just shut up," Isa told him. "And no I'm not. We're doing it for everybody, all right?"

JJ smirked in amusement, knowingly, looking down.

"What?" John B asked.

JJ shook his head teasingly. "Nothing. Thanks for being team players, guys."

JJ set the bag in his hand down, pulling out a bowtie and vest from it.

"Yeah, well..." Isa trailed off. "Could you just hold still?"

Isa wrapped the bowtie around JJ's neck, helping him with it.

"So just give the note to Sarah, huh?" JJ asked.

John B snatched JJ's hat and chucked it into the bag. "Yes, just give it to Sarah."

"Vlad, really?" JJ ribbed. "Hey, don't worry, Isa. If you find Kie first, and I spot Lia, I'll point her your way."

Isa nudged his shoulder. "Zip it, JJ, and fix your hair." Spotting JJ's gun in the bag, she grabbed the gun, holding it firmly in her hand as she tilted her head, eyeing JJ incredulously. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not kidding you," JJ retorted.

John B grabbed the gun from Isa's hands, holding it in front of JJ. "If you get caught with this, you're going to jail."

"Fine," JJ gave in. "But if I get ambushed, it's on you two."

Isa tilted her head, grabbing JJ's hand and leading him toward the club. "Let's just go."

⚓️

Island Club - Midsummers

(Song:) Steal Away - Robbie Dupree

The band was singing and playing this song as Midsummers continued.

Isa and JJ approached the party, spotting a guard on duty outside.

"Any genius ideas for getting in?" Isa inquired.

"Already on it," JJ said, seizing Isa's arm and steering her towards the guard. "Hey. I found this one drinking way down the beach. Do me a favor. Try to keep 'em corralled, will ya? I thought you were security."

They breezed by the guard and into the festivities without a hitch.

Isa gave JJ a bemused look. "Really?"

With a smug grin, JJ shrugged. "Hey, it did the trick. But I'm curious. How did you pull off nabbing that dress?"

Isa just grinned. "You're better off not knowing."

Isa and JJ looked around the party, seeing Sarah and Wheezie dancing with Lia and trying to get Lia to dance with them. Looking in the other direction, they saw Kie dancing with Kaylee while Kaylee had limited movement due to her injury, but she could still sway a little bit from side to side.

JJ glanced between Lia and Kie. "Look, it's the objects of your affection."

Isa gave JJ a playful shove. "Shut up. And for the last time, Lia is not my crush."

JJ gave an unbelieving hum. "Sure, sure."

"How about you go back to staring at Kaylee?" Isa retorted.

With a laugh, JJ smiled. "Ah, the old diversion strategy. I know it well."

Pope noticed them, walking closer, placing his arms around Isa and JJ's shoulders, pulling them away from the crowd.

"Whoa," Isa said. "Dude, don't sneak up on us like that right now."

Pope wrapped his arms around JJ to hug him as tight as he possibly could.

JJ grunted from the force of the hug. "Whoa. Unexpected PDA there, Dr. Spock. But, uh, hey." He gave Pope a kiss on the cheek, patting his face. "Love you too, man."

They pulled apart.

Isa patted Pope on the shoulder. "Hey."

Pope sighed uneasily. "Guys, I'm sick over all this shit, man."

"You're sick?" JJ repeated, holding his palm to Pope's forehead. "You don't seem sick."

Pope pushed his hand away. "I'm sick on the inside."

JJ nodded. "Right. Well, I already knew that."

Isa gave JJ a look. "Okay." She looked at Pope. "You okay?" Pope nodded unconvincingly, sighing. Isa gave Pope a hug. "It's okay."

Pope sighed in relief from another well-needed hug, returning the embrace from Isa.

When they pulled away, Pope noticed JJ's black eye. "Did Shoupe do this?"

"Oh, this?" JJ asked, trying to play it off as no big deal. "No. This is... it's my dad. You know? Has that right jab. Can really snap it off at times."

"That looks like more than a jab, bro," Pope pointed out, studying the black eye.

JJ shrugged. "It's nothing that hasn't happened before."

Isa looked at JJ sadly.

"I'm sorry," Pope apologized. "I shouldn't have let you take the fall for all this. It's my fault."

JJ shook his head. "No, it's not."

"It's my fault!" Pope insisted.

"Shut up," JJ said softly.

"You took the fall for me," Pope added.

"Shut up," JJ said a little louder.

"I'm gonna tell the truth," Pope told him. "Go to the cops--"

JJ raised his voice. "Shut up, Pope!" He grabbed hold of Pope's head. "For once in your life, trust someone else. Isa, John B and I got it all sorted out."

Isa patted Pope on the shoulder reassuringly. "We're gonna be filthy rich, man. We're back in the G-game, baby."

"G-game?" Pope repeated. "I thought we lost the gold game."

Isa shrugged. "Yeah, well, we're in overtime now. Fourth and one. We'll explain it all later, I promise." She looked toward Kaylee and Kie on the dance floor, smiling slightly. "But I'll catch up with you two later, yeah?"

Isa tapped both JJ and Pope on the shoulders, walking off behind Pope toward the dance floor.

On the dance floor, Kie continued to dance around Kaylee, who was taking it easy due to her muscle injury, gently swaying and nodding her head.

Kie smiled. "See, you can still enjoy dancing a little. Just not too much for now, not until you're healed."

"Exercises and muscle therapy had better work quickly to fix this," Kaylee responded.

Kaylee noticed Rafe, Topper, and Kelce standing a few feet away on the patio.

Rafe was eyeing Kaylee up and down.

Angry, Kaylee glared at Rafe and turned away. The movement, combined with the dancing and walking, exacerbated her pain. A sharp twist in her torso as she turned caused her to stop and tenderly touch her torso.

Kie, concerned, looked at her. "Kaylee? Hey, Kay."

"I'm fine," Kaylee insisted, untruthfully.

"You're not," Kie insisted. "Maybe you should sit down."

"I'll manage, Kie," Kaylee assured her. "I'll be fine."

Kaylee walked away.

Rafe watched as Kaylee clutched her torso, realizing it was because of Tod. A mix of guilt and anger washed over him; he hadn't intended to hurt Kaylee in his game the night before, yet because he involved Tod, Kaylee had gotten hurt.

Tod, standing nearby, caught this exchange and allowed a smug smirk to play across his face, amused by the chaos he had orchestrated. He knew this moment could be leveraged to their benefit in the future.

Kaylee, catching sight of Tod's self-satisfied expression, glared at him with even greater fury than she had directed at Rafe, if that were possible, flipped him off.

⚓️

Flashback 3

Day - Dance Academy

After practice, Kaylee was hydrating herself.

Rafe approached her.

Kaylee became tense, unsure of the reason.

At that moment, Tod came into view.

Rafe stopped a short distance away, his lips forming a tight line. He lingered, adjusting his bag straps, then sighed deeply and retreated towards the exit. Amber intercepted him, clutching his arm with wide, earnest eyes, drawing his gaze.

Kaylee observed them with caution, only realizing after a moment that Tod was talking to her. She shifted her gaze from Rafe to Tod and asked, "Sorry, what?"

Tod didn't seem upset about repeating himself, despite Kaylee's apparent lack of concern. "It's okay," he said, watching her swap her sneakers for the ones in her backpack. "I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

The question caught Kaylee off-guard. She hastily packed her heels, donned her sneakers, and cleared her throat awkwardly. "You mean, like a date?"

As she fumbled with her laces, Kaylee looked up at Tod.

Tod appeared hesitant, influenced by Rafe's earlier comments; had Rafe remained silent, Tod would have been confident and without hesitation in asking Kaylee out. However, Kaylee's question made him choose his words with care. "It doesn't have to be a date. It could just be two friends hanging out."

Kaylee finished tying her shoelaces, stood up, and brushed off her knees. "Oh. Yeah, that sounds... cool. I..." Kie, who had been listening in, nodded her head enthusiastically. "Sure."

Tod, looking victorious, asked for her phone number to add to his contacts. "I'll pick you up, say around eight-ish?" Kaylee gave an awkward nod. "Cool, I guess I'll see you then."

Kaylee nodded again, at a loss for words, overwhelmed by fatigue.

Tod departed with a wave and a subtle smirk.

Kie approached Kaylee, eyebrows wiggling knowingly. "I saw that. Looks like someone has a date."

Kaylee shook her head, grimacing. "It's not a date. Just two friends hanging out, he says."

Kie arched an eyebrow, cocking her head. "If he treats you to dinner and lets you choose anything from the menu, it's a date." Kaylee sighed and tilted her head back. "But Mom's going to be thrilled."

Kaylee rolled her eyes and sighed. "Great. That's not why I agreed to hang out. But go ahead and tell her, just make sure she knows I'm indifferent."

Kie tilted her head. "Come on, you could try to make this easier for yourself."

Kaylee shook her head and shrugged. "That's not my style, and you know it."

Then, Kaylee turned and walked away.

⚓️

Now

Night - Midsummers

Kie remained on the dance floor amidst the Midsummer's celebration.

Isa approached Kie. "What was that about?"

Kie turned to Isa with surprise. "Do I even want to know how you got in here? Or why you're here?" They smiled and embraced, Kie eyeing Isa's black dress. "And how on earth did you get that dress?"

"I could tell you, but you might be disappointed," Isa confessed with a smile.

Kie shrugged. "Okay. I can't believe you're actually here. You've just made my day."

"Believe me, it's only going to get better," Isa assured her.

"Really?" Kie inquired. "How so?"

"You'll see," Isa said with a smile. Kie gave her a skeptical yet amused look. Isa surveyed Kie, clearly captivated by her beauty. "You look really pretty."

Kie smiled faintly. "You think?" She spun around. "This dress might just turn purple into my least favorite color."

Isa grinned. "Well, I don't know. I've always liked purple. Even more so now."

Kie felt a slight blush creep up, uncertain of the direction things were heading with Isa. She cherished their friendship and harbored fears that taking a step towards something more substantial could jeopardize what they shared, risking the loss of both their bond and each other.

A little ways away, Kaylee caught JJ posing as a waiter. "JJ, what the hell are you doing?"

"It's a long story, but I'm undercover," JJ explained, offering her a smile. "Hey, Kay."

Kaylee returned the smile. "Hi."

JJ glanced around. "I have a minute to spare, I believe. My mission targets are busy dancing with their little sister, so..." He turned to Kaylee, adopting a refined accent. "May I have this dance, Miss Carrera?"

With a chuckle, Kaylee placed her hand in his, letting JJ lead her to the dance floor, speaking in a British accent. "Certainly, Mr. Maybank. However, I must remind you that I am quite the valuable commodity."

JJ smirked, his hands finding her waist as hers encircled his neck, still speaking in the posh voice. "I'm fully aware, and I'm handling with utmost care."

Kaylee, biting her lip in curiosity, tilted her head, talking normally. "JJ, can we talk?"

"About what?" JJ inquired.

"About us," Kaylee answered.

"What about 'us'?" JJ probed.

"Is there even an 'us'?" Kaylee inquired. "After everything at the Pogue Nest? Or is this just a fleeting moment for you?"

"No," JJ replied firmly. "I don't want this to be a fleeting moment. I want it to be a constant."

Relief washed over Kaylee's face. "Same. So, what does this mean for us? What are we now?"

JJ's smile broadened. "Kaylee, would you be my girlfriend?"

A joyful smile spread across Kaylee's face as she kissed JJ, pausing briefly. "Absolutely yes. I was wondering if you'd ever ask."

Both beaming, JJ and Kaylee embraced each other tightly.

Sarah and Wheezie were still getting Lia to dance with them. The three sisters were smiling and holding each other's hands as they were dancing around, making a fun time out of this whatever way they could.

Lia could see other Kooks, specifically Tod, Topper and Kelce, glaring, all judging her and hating her like she knew would happen, thinking she was just the crazy girl, trying to ignore them.

Wheezie grabbed Lia's hand again. "Hey, just ignore them, Lia."

"Yeah," Lia agreed.

"I need a drink," Wheezie admitted. "I'm gonna go get some water."

"Hurry back, because when you get back, there's gonna be more dancing," Sarah told her. Wheezie smiled, running off. Lia and Sarah managed small smiles. JJ walked through the crowd toward the Cameron sisters now that Wheezie had run off. Sarah looked at Lia. "Are you okay?"

"Feeling a little bit better after going off earlier," Lia answered. "What about you?"

"Not so good," Sarah answered. "I just... don't feel like Topper is my splinter bean."

Lia frowned. "I don't know exactly what that means. But it sounds to me like you're finally waking the hell up and realizing how bad he actually is. Finally!" Sarah managed a small smile. "You should just dump his ass."

Sarah smiled in amusement, nodding. "I should, yeah. And plus, yesterday and this morning with John B... I..."

Lia looked at Sarah in realization, smiling. "You totally like him, don't you?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Yeah, I do."

"Did you two make out?" Lia asked. Sarah made a face, which was sheepish and amused, though it was happy. Lia smiled. "Oh, I knew it. Now I don't approve of cheating, but John B is someone who I can approve of you dating."

They both laughed lightly.

"Sorry to leave you and Isa out of the mission though," Sarah apologized.

Lia shook her head. "Don't be. I'm pretty sure Isa and I would rather not be third wheeling where you and John B ended up making out."

They both smiled.

JJ walked up to them. "Hey, Lia. Sarah."

Sarah frowned. "JJ?"

JJ nodded. "Yep." He danced around Sarah and Lia as they looked at him in confusion, holding up the note to Sarah. "I got a, uh, note from Vlad."

Lia frowned in confusion. "From Vlad?"

JJ put a finger to his lips. "Shh." He continued to dance around them, as Lia looked over her shoulder at JJ in amusement, confused. "Yeah. And Isa's also here, in case you're wondering."

Lia nodded, amused. "Okay."

Now standing in front of them, JJ looked at Sarah. "Just read the note." He gave Lia a wink. "And thanks for last night."

"I couldn't do a lot," Lia pointed out. "Sorry about everything."

JJ shrugged. "Not a whole lot we could do either, so don't feel bad."

Lia nodded, giving a small, sad and sympathetic smile.

JJ turned around, walking away.

Sarah opened the note, seeing that it read: Meet me at the bag drop. - Vlad

Sarah smiled, turning around, walking away.

Across the way, Topper saw Sarah running off.

Lia glanced across the area, noticing Isa emerging from the shadows with a smile, approaching closer to where they could be near the party yet remain unseen by others.

Isa smirked. "Hey, Lia. Surprised?"

"Seeing Isa Routledge at a party in a dress and a flower crown?" Lia responded rhetorically. "It's beyond surprising."

Isa grinned. "It's nice to see you too, Cameron."

Lia returned the smile, cocking her head. "I'm shocked to find you here. I had no desire to attend. My father insisted I come." Her smile waned. "That was despite me explaining what happened last night and my reasons for wanting to stay home. Because of Rafe and all that."

Isa's eyebrows shot up, incredulous. "You told your dad that you wanted to avoid this party because Rafe terrorized the rest of us, and you got hurt by Tod because of your brother's game, yet he still made you come?"

"Exactly," Lia confirmed. "It's all about this stupid coronation honor he's receiving. He demands that we all present a united family image. Although it's all pretend. Sarah, Wheezie, and I are fine, of course, but there's no harmony with Ward, Rose, or Rafe."

"Yeah, well, your dad, stepmom and brother suck," Isa told her. "You, Sarah and Wheezie are the best out of the bunch."

Lia managed a small smile. "Thanks. Have you told anybody about us hanging out?"

"No," Isa answered. "Secret friends, right? To keep things easier with you and your family even though it's already messed up as fuck."

Lia scoffed, "You don't know the half of it. But you and the Pogues, I bet they won't be happy. Especially Kie."

"I'd figure it out," Isa admitted. "I always do. But you... you don't want anyone to know, even about a friend, do you?"

Lia looked down, ashamed. "It's not that I don't want anyone to know, Isa. It's just..."

"Nobody knows about you," Isa stated. "Do they?"

"Knows what?" Lia asked.

Isa tilted her head, not pushing because it was Lia's choice to tell or not, but she knew either way and wanted her to know it was okay.

"Lia," Isa said gently. Lia sighed heavily. "Does anyone else know?"

Lia shook her head, looking down. "No. Nobody knows I like girls, except my brother, Rafe. He suspected it. And ever since last year, after whatever made him snap, he uses it to blackmail me. That led to something really bad where I had to push away a girl I liked, and now we're no longer friends. I don't want to do that to you. I'm not usually like this. I just couldn't risk what might happen. But I don't want to push you away. I actually enjoy hanging out with you. I was so happy not hiding who I was yesterday. I don't want that to go away, not like what happened with the last girl I really liked."

"Kie," Isa realized.

Lia looked up, her eyes meeting Isa's, a silent understanding passing between them. She nodded, turning away as tears welled up. "It's a long story, and I'm not sure how to explain everything, to you or to Kie."

"You don't need to explain anything," Isa reassured her.

"I feel like I should," Lia confessed. "I'm tired of hiding my true self, Isa. I want to help you in any way possible, with whatever I can. Whether it's historical research involving Denmark Tanny or something else. And I... I really like you."

Isa paused, biting her lip thoughtfully. "I think... I like you too."

Hearing this, Lia's face lit up with a tentative smile, though tears still glistened in her eyes. "But I'm not ready for everyone to know about me, especially with my father's attitude."

Isa nodded empathetically. "I understand. I felt the same before I decided to come out. The support from my dad, brother, and friends was overwhelming. I know not everyone has that kind of support, and I know you might not have it either. So, your secret is safe with me. About you liking girls, about you liking me, and that I... might return those feelings." Lia looked at Isa, a hint of surprise in her gaze, but it was fleeting. "But, I need to tell the others that you're helping with our mission. Your genius has been invaluable, and I can't tell you how much it's meant to us."

Lia nodded, her understanding clear. "Okay. Yeah, that's fine. Go ahead, even if I'm not fully aware of the mission I helped with."

Isa offered a small smile. "It's probably for the best, to keep your safe."

"Okay," Lia responded. "And Isa? Thank you."

Isa grasped Lia's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Of course."

"Is there anything else I can do?" Lia inquired.

"Actually, yeah," Isa replied. "Sarah and John B found a letter at Chapel Hill with a coded message about Tannyhill. To decode it, we need the plat map. Do you know what that is?"

"Yes," Lia said. "It's a blueprint of Tannyhill, containing all its details. It's in my dad's office. I can get it."

Isa's eyebrows lifted. "Really? Just like that? Not even gonna ask why?"

Lia gave a nonchalant shrug. "I don't really care why. As long as I'm help, and since I've been wanting to delve deeper into Tannyhill's secrets for some time now, it's an opportunity I can't pass up. Besides, if it helps you and fucks over my dad, I see it as a win-win situation."

Isa's smile broadened. "Fair enough."

"But I'm not stupid, Isa," Lia told her. "You and John B got really interested when I mentioned Denmark's gold. And now you want a map to Tannyhill, which he built." Isa nodded slightly, knowing that Lia would've figured it out. "You're going for the gold."

Isa shrugged slightly. "Maybe. Does that change your mind about helping?"

"No," Lia answered. "I don't care about the gold. I just wanna help and fuck over my dad."

Isa laughed lightly. "All right then."

Isa and Lia both smiled slightly, and when they realized that they were looking at each other again, they didn't look away this time, both content.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Inside - Bar

(Song:) I Can't Leave You - Destinations

Kaylee made her way to the bar for a drink.

Rafe sidled up next to Kaylee to place his order, positioning himself behind her, his whisper close to her ear. "You look stunning tonight, just like last year in that white dress."

Kaylee stiffened at Rafe's proximity, her jaw clenching as she felt his breath on her neck. She turned her head slightly, her voice low and dangerous. "Back off, Rafe. I'm not in the mood for your games tonight."

Rafe chuckled softly, not moving away. "Oh come on, Kaylee. No need to be so hostile. I'm just trying to pay you a compliment."

Kaylee spun around to face him, her eyes flashing with anger. "A compliment? After what you pulled last night? You've got to be kidding me."

Rafe's smirk faltered for a moment, a flicker of guilt crossing his features before he schooled his expression back to nonchalance. "Look, about last night... things got out of hand. I didn't mean for you to get hurt."

Kaylee kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.

Rafe, undeterred by her silence, leaned in closer. "Come on, Kaylee. Don't be like that. We both know there's still something between us."

Kaylee glared at him. "The only thing between us is my fist if you don't back off."

Rafe's lips curled into a smirk. "Feisty as ever. That's what I've always loved about you."

"Love?" Kaylee scoffed. "You don't know the meaning of the word."

Rafe's eyes darkened, his voice dropping low. "I know more than you think. I know that if your friends really loved you, then they wouldn't let you sacrifice your family for them. Your parents already kicked you out of your nice house on Figure 8, in case you need the reminder that you are a Kook princess. And the Pogues are constantly the reason why you get in trouble at home and why your parents are about to disown you for real. Where will you be if they finally did cut ties with you because you can't choose yourself over them?"

Kaylee was stricken by how much Rafe seemed to notice in her life. She knew he had noticed things like this last year when they had been friends - and more - but she hadn't realized just how much he had seen. The state of her family where her parents were willing to disown her just for her friendships with the Pogues, her parents constantly calling her toxic, poison infecting Kie and turning her sister into one of them, was damaging on her mind more than anything Rafe or Tod could do to her.

Rafe reached up to stroke a curl back from Kaylee's face. "Your parents and your friends might not care if you end up with nothing, but I do. I can give you anything and everything you wanted, if you just admitted we're the same. Last night proved that."

Kaylee shook her head weakly in denial, but even her conversation with JJ the night before proved her fear of what Rafe said was the truth. Her voice lacked conviction. "No. We're not."

Rafe's eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity as he stepped even closer to Kaylee. The air between them crackled with tension, thick with unspoken truths and buried desires.

"How long do you think you can keep resisting it, Kaylee?" Rafe asked, voice low and hypnotic. "That darkness inside you - it's not going away. It's part of who you are. Growing, feeding on every bit of anger and pain you try to hide."

Kaylee's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just her and Rafe locked in this twisted dance.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Kaylee insisted, but the doubt in her voice wasn't as concealed as she hoped it would be.

Rafe's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Don't I?"

Kaylee stood her ground, but a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.

The part that scared her the most was that when she gave into the darkness like she had last night, it made her feel electric, alive. More than any other time. Part of her wanted to lash out at Rafe, to feel that rush of power, but she contained herself, not wanting to prove him right about her.

Rafe noticed her internal struggle and pressed on. "I've seen it growing in you over the years. The way your eyes light up during a fight. The thrill you get from pushing boundaries. The joy when you set another fire. Especially last night when you almost burned me and my friends alive. It's intoxicating, isn't it?"

 Rafe's words struck too close to home. She tried to look away, but found herself captivated by his intense gaze.

For a moment, she was transported back to the night before - the rush of power she felt as the flames danced at her command, the fear in the Kooks' eyes as they backed away. It had been exhilarating.

Kaylee shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "You're wrong. You don't know me."

Rafe leaned in even closer, his lips nearly brushing her ear. "Really? Then why are you shaking?"

Kaylee hadn't even realized her hands were trembling until he pointed it out. She clenched them into fists at her sides.

"Face it, Kaylee," Rafe continued, his voice a seductive purr. "I know you better than anyone, Kaylee. Better than JJ, better than your sister. I see the real you - the one you're so afraid to show the world."

Kaylee shivered involuntarily, torn between pushing him away and leaning into the understanding of his words. She craved for understanding without caveats or fear - as much as the Pogues understood her last night, she could see the fear in their eyes as she had lost control, even in JJ's eyes. And every other moment, the Pogues were trying to control her darkest impulses. While it was to keep her out of control, it was also because they were nervous about how far she could go, and she knew it. They were her anchor to lightness, but it came at a price. She loved them without measure, and she would always choose them over everything, even herself no matter the price it cost her, even if it meant losing everything like Rafe pointed out.

"I'm not like you," Kaylee insisted weakly.

Rafe pulled back slightly, his eyes boring into hers. "Aren't you? We both know the rush you felt last night. The power, the control - it was intoxicating, wasn't it? Watching them cower before you, knowing you could destroy everything with just a flick of your wrist. You can deny it all you want, but I saw the look in your eyes. You loved every second of it."

Kaylee's breath caught in her throat, her heart racing. As much as she wanted to deny it, Rafe's words struck a chord deep within her. She wanted to deny it, to push him away and run, but she found herself rooted to the spot.

"That's not..." Kaylee started, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Not what?" Rafe pressed. "Not who you really are? We both know that's a lie. You've been fighting it for so long, Kaylee. Trying to be the good girl, the loyal friend. But it's exhausting, isn't it? Especially when those 'friends' are the reason you're losing everything, and they don't really understand you. They try to control you, keep you caged like a bird waiting to be set free."

Kaylee's breath hitched as Rafe raised his hand to touch her cheek, moving slightly away.

Rafe hummed. "You deserve to set that side of you free, firebird."

Kaylee felt her resolve wavering as Rafe's words hit too close to home, when he called her the nickname that he used to call her when they had been together. Part of her wanted to give in, to embrace the darkness he spoke of and feel that rush of power again. But another part of her, the part that clung to JJ and her friends and her moral compass, fought against it, recoiling as she thought of all the chaos Rafe had caused her friends.

"No," Kaylee said, her voice stronger this time as she took a step back. "You're wrong about me, Rafe. I'm not like you. I don't want to be."

Rafe's eyes flashed with frustration, but he quickly masked it with another smirk. "Keep telling yourself that, Kaylee. But we both know the truth. One day, you'll stop fighting it. And when you do, I'll be waiting."

Kaylee glared at him, finding her footing again. "Don't hold your breath. And you're wrong about my friends. They help me be better."

Rafe scoffed softly. "Better? You mean weaker. They're holding you back, Kaylee. Keeping you from reaching your full potential."

Kaylee shook her head firmly. "My friends make me stronger. They give me something to fight for, to live for. That's more powerful than any darkness you're offering."

Rafe's smirk widened as he leaned in closer, his voice low and taunting. "Is it really, Kaylee? Then why are you still here talking to me instead of running back to your precious Pogues?"

Kaylee felt a flicker of doubt, but pushed it aside. "I'm not running from you, Rafe. I'm standing my ground."

"Are you?" Rafe challenged. "Or are you just afraid to admit that part of you wants to stay? That part of you craves the understanding I'm offering?"

Kaylee's jaw clenched. "You don't understand me, Rafe. You just think you do."

Rafe's eyes gleamed. "Oh, but I do. I see the fire in your eyes, Kaylee. The same fire that burns in mine. We're two sides of the same coin, you know. You're still shaking."

Kaylee clenched her fists, willing herself to stop shaking. "That's not because of what you're saying. It's because I'm trying very hard not to punch you in the face right now."

Rafe chuckled darkly. "There she is. There's that fire I love to see." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You can lie to yourself all you want, Kaylee, but you can't lie to me. I see right through you."

Kaylee felt her heart racing, torn between the urge to flee and the temptation to stay and prove him wrong, even with the lingering nagging feeling that he was right.

JJ had been watching, making his way closer, having heard Rafe's attempts to seduce Kaylee into giving into him and her inner darkness and the way Kaylee struggled but remained firm in her decision to stay with the Pogues - and stay with him. He knew that Rafe got into Kaylee's head like no one else did, and it infuriated him that he had this effect over her; without even trying, Rafe effected Kaylee's fear of herself. Kaylee wasn't afraid of Rafe like she was of herself.

JJ stepped up behind Kaylee, placing a protective hand on her lower back. "Is there a problem here?"

Kaylee tensed for a moment at the unexpected touch, but relaxed when she realized it was JJ. She leaned into him slightly, drawing strength from his presence.

Rafe's eyes flicked to JJ, his smirk turning into a sneer. "Well, if it isn't the knight in shining armor. Just having a friendly chat with Kaylee here. Isn't that right, firebird?"

Kaylee tensed at the nickname, her eyes flashing with anger. "We're done here, Rafe."

JJ's arm slid around Kaylee's waist, pulling her closer to him and away from Rafe. "I think it's time for you to leave, man. Kaylee's made it clear she's not interested."

Rafe's eyes darkened as he watched the two of them, realizing that whatever feelings between Kaylee and JJ from before were made official - when they had agreed to be together earlier that night.

Rafe's frustration turned smug as he smirked. "Is that so, JJ? Because I sure had Kaylee captivated enough to where she didn't want to leave. Do you want to hear about some of the things we said?"

Kaylee shot him a glare incredulously, not wanting him to ruin what she was just starting with JJ. "Rafe, don't."

JJ stared Rafe down. "You don't have to. I heard plenty."

Rafe and Kaylee both looked surprised that JJ had been around long enough to hear their conversation.

Kaylee swallowed nervously, afraid that this could change JJ's mind about being with her. "JJ..."

JJ tightened his arm around Kaylee's waist, his eyes never leaving Rafe's face. "I heard everything, Rafe. And you know what? It just proves how little you actually understand Kaylee."

Rafe's smug expression faltered slightly. "Oh really? And I suppose you think you know her better?"

"I do," JJ said firmly. "Because I see the true part of her. The light. And that's who I like more than just the darkness you're obsessed with."

Kaylee's breath caught in her throat at JJ's words, her eyes widening as she looked up at him.

JJ continued, his voice steady and sure. "You think you can tempt her with promises of power and understanding, but you're wrong. Kaylee's stronger than that. She doesn't need to give in to what you call darkness to be powerful. She already is."

Rafe's eyes narrowed as he glared at JJ, his jaw clenching in anger. "You don't know what you're talking about, Maybank. You didn't see her last night like I did. The fire in her eyes, the power she wielded. That's the real Kaylee."

JJ shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. "No, that's just a part of her. A part that she controls, not the other way around. And that's what you don't understand, Rafe. Kaylee's strength isn't in giving in to this darkness that you're forcing on her - it's in facing it head-on and choosing to be better."

Kaylee felt a warmth spreading through her chest at JJ's words, her eyes never leaving his face. She had been so afraid that hearing her conversation with Rafe would change how JJ saw her, but instead, it seemed to have only strengthened his understanding and acceptance of her.

Yet she knew that JJ was both wrong and right about her, just like Rafe. Her darkness controlled her most of the time. She didn't control it. And it was getting harder to face it directly and choose to be better. And Rafe wasn't forcing this darkness on her. It was always inside her. Rafe just saw it and knew that it connected them in a way that both scared and exhilarated them.

Rafe scoffed, his frustration evident. "You're delusional, both of you. You can't run from who you really are forever, Kaylee."

Kaylee turned to face Rafe, her voice steady and confident. "I'm not running from anything, Rafe. I'm choosing my path. And it's not with you."

Rafe's gaze flickered between the two of them. "You think you can save her, JJ? Make her into some perfect little Pogue? You're just holding her back."

JJ's grip on Kaylee tightened slightly, protective rather than possessive. "I'm not trying to save her or change her. I love Kaylee exactly as she is - fire and all. The difference is, I trust her to make her own choices. I don't need to manipulate her or make her afraid of herself."

Rafe frowned, truly confused by the words. "I'm not trying to make her afraid or manipulate anything. I'm trying to help her accept it. Not to lie or deny it."

"And we're done here," Kaylee replied. She intertwined her fingers with JJ's, squeezing his hand. "Let's go, JJ."

Rafe shrugged slightly. "Well, I tried to do this the nice way."

Knowing that he likely had another to jump JJ like he did last night, JJ immediately shoved Rafe back. "Don't even think about it."

In response, Rafe shoved JJ away with a hand to his shoulder.

Kelce materialized behind Rafe, and together they started to corner JJ.

"No!" Kaylee said, attempting to intervene.

Two more guys joined in as they held Kaylee back while Rafe and Kelce pushed JJ into the locker rooms just behind the bar of the building.

The two guys followed while closing the door on Kaylee before she had a chance to get in.

Once she was alone, Tod came up from behind Kaylee, seizing her and pulling her back. His grip was so tight around her waist that it exacerbated the pain in her already wounded muscles, eliciting a pained groan from her. "Yeah, I don't think so, Kaylee. I've been waiting all night just to get you alone."

Kaylee was stricken, knowing that Tod waited until Rafe and the others were gone because of what Rafe did to Tod the last time he hurt her, struggling. "Let me the fuck go, Tod."

"Yeah, you told me that last night and look how that ended," Tod replied. "We're going to stay out here for a little while."

Kaylee's heart raced as Tod's grip tightened around her waist, pain shooting through her already injured muscles. She could feel his hot breath on her neck as he leaned in close.

"You know, I've been thinking about our little encounter last night," Tod whispered menacingly. "How you took me by surprise. That won't happen again."

Kaylee struggled against his hold, her mind racing to find a way out of this situation. She knew she was at a disadvantage with her injuries, but she refused to give in to fear.

"Let go of me, Tod," Kaylee growled, her voice low and dangerous. "Or I swear to God, I'll make you regret it."

Tod chuckled darkly. "Big words from such a little girl. But we both know you're not in any position to make threats right now."

His hand began to slide down her waist.

Kaylee struggled more, but the pain in her side flared, making her gasp.

"Stop fighting," Tod growled. "You know you can't get away from me."

Kaylee's mind raced, looking for a way out. She could hear the muffled sounds of a scuffle from inside the locker room where JJ was outnumbered. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced it down, focusing on staying calm.

She knew that in her condition, she could not fight or break free on her own, but she could manipulate Tod into letting her go.

"You're right," Kaylee said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I can't. So why don't we go somewhere more private?"

Tod's grip loosened slightly in surprise. "What?"

Kaylee turned in Tod's arms, meeting his gaze. She hated herself for what she was about to do, but she knew she had to buy time and create an opportunity to escape.

"You heard me," Kaylee said, forcing a seductive tone into her voice. "Why don't we go somewhere more private? Away from all these people?"

Tod's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's your game, Kaylee?"

Kaylee swallowed her disgust and leaned in closer, her lips nearly brushing his ear. "No game. I'm just tired of fighting it. You want me? Fine. But not here where anyone could walk by."

Tod's grip loosened further as confusion and desire warred on his face. "You're serious?"

Kaylee nodded, her heart pounding. "Dead serious. But we need to go now, before I change my mind."

Kaylee steeled herself, running a hand up Tod's chest. Every fiber of her being revolted at the action, but she kept her face neutral.

Tod's eyes darkened with lust as he looked down at Kaylee, a smug smirk spreading across his face. "I knew you'd come around eventually. All that fighting was just foreplay, wasn't it?"

Kaylee forced herself to nod, suppressing a shudder of revulsion. "You got me. Now are we going somewhere or not?"

Tod's grip on her waist loosened further as he glanced around, looking for a secluded spot. Kaylee saw her opportunity and took it.

In one swift motion, she brought her knee up hard between Tod's legs. As he doubled over in pain, she shoved him backwards with all her strength, ignoring the screaming protest from her injured muscles.

Tod stumbled back, his face contorted in agony and rage. "You bitch!"

Kaylee didn't waste time responding. She turned and ran towards the locker room, both in an attempt to get away from Tod and to stop Rafe and his friends from hurting JJ.

⚓️

Locker Room

Rafe shoved JJ into the locker room, making him stumble away.

JJ backed away from the Kooks as they cornered him. "Hey, that's a cute outfit."

Rafe pushed JJ to the floor. "Shut up!" JJ got up instantly, but Kelce put his arms around JJ's neck in a chokehold to restrain him. Rafe pretended like he had a golf club in his hands as the other two Kooks surrounded them in a circle formation. "Hold him still. What--what do you think? A four iron, right? Keep his head still. I'm gonna line this up."

JJ struggled to speak with Kelce's grip around his throat. "Very Rafe of you, Rafe. Four on two?"

Rafe looked up at JJ in annoyance. "If you could please stop talking? I'm trying to hit a ball. It's very disrespectful. Learn your etiquette, my friend."

Kaylee burst into the locker room with Tod right behind her, stopping the confrontation with JJ and the Kooks before he could get hurt, as all eyes swung to Kaylee and Tod.

Kaylee quickly backed away from Tod as he advanced, and behind her, Rafe and JJ's eyes both filled with rage when they realized Tod went after her again.

JJ fought harder against Kelce's hold. "Kaylee!"

Kaylee swung around to face Rafe and JJ behind her, at a loss as she glanced nervously over her shoulder at Tod.

⚓️

Flashback 4

Night - Restaurant

Kaylee and Tod entered the restaurant, and Tod led her to a table.

"Thanks for coming," Tod said. "I wasn't sure you'd be interested. In this, or in me, to be more precise."

Kaylee didn't contradict him, instead echoing Tod's earlier words with a hint of sarcasm. "I thought we were here as friends." Tod offered a sheepish smile, unapologetic for the deceit. Kaylee rolled her eyes subtly, sighed, and rested her head on her hand, elbow on the table. "What made you think I wouldn't be?"

Tod dismissed the thought with a shake of his head. "Some guys mentioned you wouldn't go for someone like me."

Kaylee appeared surprised. "Who would say that?"

"They were all talking about it," Tod confessed, looking uneasy, nervously biting his lip. "Rafe, for one, said I wasn't your type."

"Rafe said that?" Kaylee's eyebrow arched in question.

Tod gave a slow nod. "He acted as though he knew you well, but I decided to try regardless."

Kaylee raised her hand, asking for a pause. "Wait, so according to Rafe, of all people, who definitely doesn't know my type, what am I into?"

Tod appeared uncomfortable. "To be fair, he said anyone but me."

Kaylee let out a scoff, amusement dancing in her eyes as she surveyed Tod; he was neatly dressed in a crisply ironed button-up shirt with a sweater vest layered on top. A pendant dangled from the silver chain around his neck, and he embodied the dream boy her mother might have envisioned for her.

Which, of course, meant he was the exact opposite of what Kaylee found appealing.

Yet, she couldn't help feeling irritated that Rafe would make such an assumption, particularly when he had no business meddling in her life. Although she wanted to be angry, she only felt frustrated and nearly laughed at the nerve.

Kaylee swept a curl behind her ear. "Rafe is the last person you should be asking for relationship advice."

Tod chuckled. "Yeah, I'm starting to see that."

"Though I don't like people who lie to me to get me alone with them," Kaylee pointed out.

Tod gave a sheepish nod. "Yeah, sorry."

Kaylee, disbelieving the lie, bit her lip and sighed, merely trying to endure the rest of the night. Being anywhere but home was preferable, even here.

⚓️

Carrera House - Outside

As Tod inevitably followed Kaylee to her front door, he paused. "I hope you enjoyed tonight."

Kaylee unlocked the door and stepped inside. "It was better than staying at home." She sighed, turning to give Tod a tight smile. "So, not entirely a loss."

Tod struggled to suppress a smug grin, but failing, he quickly leaned in and kissed her. Kaylee's eyes widened, her lips stiff in resistance, poised to push him away, but Tod deepened the kiss before stepping back.

Dazed, Kaylee tilted her head, as if to protest. "Um--"

Tod, seemingly elated, smiled. "I'll see you at practice this weekend. Goodnight."

Kaylee shook her head. "Wait. Whatever hint you missed, I didn't appreciate being tricked into a date, much less that kiss."

Tod's eyes fell. "Right. Sorry."

"You're not sorry," Kaylee retorted. "Just don't do that again unless I clearly want you to, understood?" Tod nodded slightly, looking down. "Let's call it a night."

Tod turned and walked away, shamed to hell.

Unperturbed, Kaylee exhaled sharply. She packed an overnight bag and made her way to the Chateau, seeking some rest and relaxation with the Pogues, craving the company of her friends at this moment.

⚓️

Now

Night - Midsummers - Bag Drop

Sarah slowly walked toward the bag drop, whispering to John B. "Vlad." John B turned to face Sarah. "Hi."

John B was stunned by the way she looked. "Wow, um... you look, um... beautiful."

Sarah walked closer quickly to close the distance between them with an embrace, both smiling and holding each other tightly. "Hi."

"Hi," John B whispered.

They pulled away.

"Oh, my God," Sarah said. "You would not believe what happened. As soon as I got home, I had to sneak past--"

"I'm sure that's great, but I--I gotta tell you something," John B interrupted.

Sarah looked at him curiously. "Okay."

"Isa and I found the gold," John B told her.

Sarah smiled. "You found it?"

John B nodded. "Yeah. And you're not gonna believe where it is."

"Where?" Sarah asked.

"It's at Tannyhill," John B told her.

Sarah looked at him in shock. "Wait, what?"

"Shh," John B shushed.

Sarah put a hand over her mouth. "Sorry. Shit."

"Look, Isa and I got the letter translated," John B explained.  "We got to get a plat map, and Isa said that she could ask Lia since Lia knows about all this stuff and knows where to find it, and--"

Sarah smiled. "John B, this is amazing."

"Yeah," John B agreed.

Sarah cupped John B's cheeks, kissing him. They continued to kiss for a moment.

They heard Topper's voice. "Hey, Sarah, is that you?"

Sarah pushed John B down in a hurry. "Get down! Shit! Okay. We've gotta get out of here."

Topper was watching from afar, able to see John B crawl away from Sarah into hiding behind the wall.

John B whispered to Sarah. "Meet me at the Hawk's Nest at midnight. Talk to Lia, and if she found the map, bring it to me."

Sarah gave a salute to John B in agreement, turning around, walking around the building toward Topper. "Hey."

Topper gave her a cold look. "Sarah, what are you doin' out here?"

Sarah pointed toward the bag drop. "Oh, um, Lia told me she had hidden some vodka or something."

"Oh, really?" Topper asked skeptically. "Lia?"

Sarah nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't find it though."

"Is that who you were talking to over there?" Topper asked.

"I wasn't talking to anyone," Sarah denied.

"Was I just seeing things?" Topper asked. "I thought, like, I don't know, I was watching you have a conversation over there."

Sarah shook her head. "I mean, I was talking to people from the party."

Sarah tried to walk past him toward the party.

Topper stepped in her way. "Hey, what--what's going on? What's goin' on? Where were you yesterday?"

"I was out of town," Sarah answered.

"Out of town," Topper repeated. "Where did you go?"

"Chapel Hill," Sarah answered.

"Chapel Hill," Topper repeated. "What, with your family, or--"

"No," Sarah answered, since she knew that Topper already knew that Lia was at the movie, and she wouldn't go with anyone else from her family.

"No?" Topper repeated. 

"A friend," Sarah stated.

"A friend," Topper repeated with a nod. "A friend. What friend?"

"What does it matter?" Sarah asked.

"What friend?" Topper asked. "It matters. Was this, like, a girl friend? Or--no, or was it--was it a guy? Was it a guy? Like a guy I saw over there with you? Who was he? Who was it, Sarah?"

Sarah shook her head incredulously. "You don't get to come at me with the third degree after what you did yesterday. My sister got hurt during that fight that you, Rafe and Kelce started. So you don't get to do this."

Sarah walked past Topper.

Topper turned after Sarah, grabbing her arm. "Seriously? Seriously."

Sarah looked down at her arm. "God!"

"I don't wanna make a scene," Topper told her. "Don't make a scene."

Sarah glared at him. "I'm not the one--"

"Just tell me what the hell is goin' on," Topper told her angrily. "Just tell me the truth."

"I am telling you the truth," Sarah told him.

Topper shook his head. "No. Cut the shit. Just tell me the truth."

"Okay, fine," Sarah told him. "I can't handle the constant interrogation, okay?"

Sarah turned around, walking inside.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Inside - Locker Room

Kaylee found herself trapped between Tod advancing from behind and the group of Kooks restraining JJ in front of her. Her eyes darted between them, mind racing to find a way out of this dangerous situation.

Tod quickly grabbed Kaylee from behind before Rafe or JJ could do anything.

JJ struggled furiously against Kelce's chokehold, his face red with effort and rage. "Let her go, Tod!"

Rafe's expression darkened, his earlier smugness replaced by genuine anger as he glared at Tod. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Laurent? I told you to back the fuck off."

Tod sneered, not taking his eyes off Kaylee. "Stay out of this, Cameron. This is between me and her."

Kaylee's heart pounded as she weighed her options. She was outnumbered and injured, but she refused to be a victim.

With a burst of adrenaline, Kaylee drove her elbow back hard into Tod's solar plexus. As he gasped and loosened his grip, she spun around and shoved him with all her might, sending him stumbling backwards into the lockers with a loud crash.

"I said don't fucking touch me!" Kaylee snarled, her eyes blazing with fury, though she stumbled in pain.

The room froze for a moment, everyone stunned by Kaylee's sudden attack.

Rafe was proud of her, though he was furious with Tod's attack on her.

JJ continued to struggle to no avail.

As Tod tried to attack Kaylee again in a rage, Rafe intercepted him, catching him off guard with a solid punch to the jaw, sending him falling to the floor, pulling Kaylee behind him before Tod could recover.

Kaylee pulled free from Rafe's hold on her arm as she turned to Kelce and JJ, her voice shaking but firm. "Kelce, let him go."

Without looking away from Tod beneath him, Rafe waved to Kelce, no longer focused on his game - or lesson - with Kaylee and JJ after Tod's attack on Kaylee. "Let him go."

Kelce was about to. However, before Kelce could release JJ, the lights began to flicker off and on before returning on.

A security guard walked in. "Lady. Gentlemen." Kaylee and JJ started to relax in relief. "Is there a problem?"

Kelce let go off JJ, pushing him forward.

JJ was breathless, instantly putting himself in front of Kaylee to keep Rafe and Tod away from her. "Pardon me, officer. No, there's not an issue. I just..." He glanced at Kaylee and back to the Kooks, he quickly got an idea to get them both out of there. "Actually, yes. No, there is an issue. Uh, we got a criminal trespass in progress here. Beep! Call it in, right? Blatant disrespect for private property."

Rafe made a face, scratching his ear. "Yeah."

"I'm in violation of all kinds of shit, sir," JJ told him, turning to Kelce, fixing his bowtie. "But these young gentlemen..."

Kelce slapped JJ's hand away. "Don't touch my shit."

"Uh, were taking advantage of that, and this lady here, sir, she was about to take me away," JJ told him. "And that's what you should do, escort me out of here. Kaylee, you too." He held his wrists up toward the guard. "You got me."

The guard grabbed JJ, pulling him toward the door. "Come on."

"All right," JJ agreed, glancing back at Tod, noticing that his tie was a mess after Kaylee and Rafe had both taken him down. "Fix that tie, son." He looked at all the Kooks. "You're looking spiffy, too. You Powerpuff Girls have fun."

Kaylee couldn't suppress a smirk. As JJ was escorted to the door by the guard, he placed a hand on Kaylee's back, and she walked with them, eager to leave the Kook assailants behind.

As they were about to leave, Rafe called out, his voice laced with bitterness and a hint of desperation. "This isn't over, Kaylee. One day, you'll realize I'm right. And when that day comes, I'll be waiting."

Kaylee paused for a moment, then looked back at Rafe over her shoulder.

Tod pushed himself to his feet, a cruel smirk on his face, aiming to get under Kaylee's skin and provoke JJ. "You're looking pretty hot for a Pogue, Kaylee. Almost didn't recognize you, baby."

Kaylee froze at the words, her heart racing as she watched JJ 's muscles tense with anger, his own gaze going to Kaylee to decipher her reaction.

Tod continued to mock Kaylee, but there was a glint of sincerity in his tone, even if he wanted to cut her down until she was nothing more than a Kook, just like them. "You're starting to look like the Kook you really are. Hit me up when you're ready to embrace it."

Tod's smirk widened, sneering, feeding off the tension in the air.

Unwilling to show that she was shaken, Kaylee tried to brush of them off with an eye roll, knowing it would only make things worse. "Fuck's sake."

Kaylee shot JJ a cautionary glance, but it went unnoticed.

In a surge of anger, JJ broke free from the guard and lunged at Tod.

Tod, smirking with satisfaction at the reaction, stood his ground as they shoved each other, ending up in a violent scuffle with Rafe glaring at Tod, and Rafe's friends standing by in confusion, uncomfortable with the way things turned out.

Desperate to stop JJ before things got out of hand, knowing that JJ would be the one to pay the price again, Kaylee stepped up. "JJ, stop! Let's just go!"

Her words fell on deaf ears as the boys shoved each other aggressively.

The guard grabbed a hold of JJ before the fight escalated further, dragging JJ to the door. "Come on!"

JJ glared at Rafe, Tod and the others. "You think I'm afraid of you?"

"Come on!" the guard repeated, dragging him out of the bathroom. "Come on."

"Hey, safe travels back to the Cut," Tod called mockingly.

Kaylee glared at Rafe, Tod and the Kooks, raising her hand to flip them all off before turning around and walking out of the room.

The boys all did "Oohs" at the gesture, laughing mockingly.

"This ain't over!" JJ yelled as the door was starting to close.

"Hey, hey, it was really nice seeing you again, Kaylee!" Tod told her mockingly. "You too, JJ! Let's do it again sometime!"

Tod laughed, throwing his head back at Kaylee and JJ's defeat.

Rafe suddenly turned on Tod with a savage punch to the face, as promised if Tod hurt Kaylee again, eliciting "Oohs" from the other boys as the sound of breaking bone echoed through the room as Tod writhed on the floor, blood gushing from his nose.

With a final glare, Rafe walked out of the locker room, followed by Kelce and the other two Kooks in triumph, leaving Tod on the ground, defeated and humiliated.

⚓️

Flashback 5

Day - Pizza Shop

Kaylee had been dodging texts from Tod all weekend, and only showed up at the pizza shop on the island when Tull summoned all the debutantes and their escorts for a pre-training celebration before the ball.

Kaylee and Kie entered.

Three tables had been merged at the center of the establishment.

Tull, who had arrived early, was making a spectacle of welcoming everyone at the door. "Ah, Carreras. Delighted you're here, please have a seat; we'll order shortly."

Kaylee and Kie took seats close to Topper and Kelce, who acknowledged them with a glance.

Kaylee was determined to avoid drawing Tod's attention.

Lia, Sarah, and Rafe arrived and promptly joined Kaylee, Kie, Topper, and Kelce.

Kaylee breathed a sigh of relief as there were no remaining seats nearby, forcing Tod to sit elsewhere.

"Kaylee, you've got to dish," Sarah urged. "I need to hear it all."

"Only if you're comfortable," Lia interjected, shooting Sarah a warning glance.

Rafe arched an eyebrow at Lia and Sarah, then shot a glance at Topper and Kelce, the trio exchanging a knowing look as they observed Kaylee.

Unaware, Kaylee kept her gaze down, not to dodge the questions but rather the type of attention they brought, which was quite apparent to the onlookers.

"She hardly told me anything," Kie confessed, casting a glance at Kaylee.

Kaylee's eyes flicked towards Rafe, recalling what he had relayed to Tod before he even asked her out.

Rafe feigned disinterest, casually flipping through the menu, his tongue pressed against his cheek as he perused the options.

Kaylee, not keen on discussing this in Rafe's presence, found his surreptitious glances both irritating and challenging, stirring a defiant streak in her. "Tod pretended we were just hanging out as friends, then he took me to dinner, drove me home, and kissed me, even though I didn't want it. Even after I told him I don't appreciate people who lie to get their way with me. Is that detailed enough for everyone?"

At her words, Rafe looked up, his expression one of disbelief, his eyes growing steely.

Topper and Kelce shared a glance, sensing the tension was far from a positive sign.

Kie, Lia, and Sarah were upset, instinctively defending Kaylee.

"What?" Kie demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to talk about it," Kaylee replied, shooting Rafe a pointed look. "I guess he's not my type."

Rafe understood the implication; Kaylee was aware of what he had said to Tod before Tod asked her out. He pressed his lips together, his gaze shifting to Kaylee, locking eyes with her. She held his stare without flinching, then deliberately looked away, displaying her disinterest. Rafe gave a slight nod, a smirk playing on his lips as he shook his head.

Topper and Kelce struggled to maintain their composure, smirking at Kaylee's discreet dig at Rafe, which the other girls were oblivious to. The boys found the confrontation between Kaylee and Rafe amusing, as if Kaylee was the first to ever challenge Rafe in such a manner, making it particularly intriguing for the three Kook boys to see if their wager could sway her indifference and if Rafe could eventually charm Kaylee.

Tull, seated at the head of the table, captivated everyone's attention. He gestured to each person, doling out praises and words of encouragement, clearly satisfied with the progress they had all shown.

Waiters navigated the three tables, taking orders from the numerous kids who were all shouting out their choices, managing to keep track of the requests by a narrow margin.

A waiter approached the side of the table where Kaylee, Kie, Lia, Sarah, Rafe, Topper, and Kelce sat, ready to take their orders.

Kaylee dropped a menu onto the table. "I'll have the Hawaiian, thanks."

Lia smiled. "Same for me."

Rafe, who often picked on Lia for her preference for Hawaiian pizza, seized the opportunity to rib Kaylee again, especially after she had subtly called him out just moments earlier. "I've mentioned this to my sister countless times, but she ignores it." Lia nodded with exaggerated sarcasm, anticipating Rafe's typical remark whenever she ordered her favorite pizza. "Pineapple on pizza is an abomination. It's revolting."

"The words of someone who's never given it a chance," Lia retorted.

Sarah tried to suppress her laughter.

Rafe shot a quick look at Lia and Sarah, then fixed his challenging stare back on Kaylee, as if daring her to retort. "No surprise that the outcasts, both Kook and Pogue, would enjoy it. Such a lack of culture."

"Don't be an ass," Lia chided him.

Unfazed, Sarah simply shook her head. "Really, Rafe?"

Kie rolled her eyes. "What does being an outcast or a Pogue have to do with taste?"

Rafe gave Kie only a fleeting glance. "You just ordered a salad in a pizza place, and you're lecturing me about taste? That's the most Kook thing I've seen in a while. Yet, you pretend you're better than us, even when you act like us, when you are one of us."

Kie frowned, stung by his words because she knew there was some truth to them.

Lia and Sarah also frowned.

Rafe turned to Kaylee. "And you? At least you're not as hypocritical as your sister, but..."

Lia poured several packets of sugar into her sweet tea, aware this was far from over, stirring aimlessly as she rolled her eyes. "Here we go."

Sarah and Kie nodded in agreement.

Kaylee met Rafe's gaze with defiance, aware of his tactics and unwilling to back down. "My sister might be hypocritical, no offense, Kie."

Kie frowned but remained silent, recalling that Kaylee had previously mentioned this and she had been correct.

Rafe didn't expect Kaylee to concur with his criticism of her sister, but he wasn't surprised when she did, knowing she would call out anyone's nonsense.

Kaylee returned her defiant gaze to Rafe. "At least I don't behave like those I dislike. I don't pretend to like them or try to fit in like my sister. But all of this still doesn't justify your being an asshole, so how about we drop it?"

Rafe and Kaylee continued their standoff, as Lia, Sarah, Kie, Topper, and Kelce watched, a mix of amusement and bewilderment on their faces.

Kaylee stood her ground with determination and stubbornness. "And don't knock my pizza topping choices if you've never tried them."

Rafe gave a derisive laugh, absentmindedly playing with the drink before him, a smirk playing on his lips as he took a leisurely sip, his gaze fixed on Kaylee. "Oh, it's not just your pizza preferences that are questionable."

Kaylee's eyes narrowed in challenge. "Care to elaborate?"

"Let's not forget your little escapade with Tod," Rafe pointed out. "Boyfriend or not, you certainly caught his attention."

Kaylee let out an exasperated sigh. "For the last time, he's not my boyfriend."

"You made that clear, but him?" Rafe pointed out. "Could've fooled us with what he said about you. Are you even sure what your 'type' is, Kaylee? I bet I could help you name it."

Rafe's emphasis on 'type' was a clear jab at Kaylee's calling him out about what he said to Tod, and how Rafe had been right all along, stirring up more irritation within her.

Kaylee's patience was wearing thin. "Get over yourself."

Rafe's grin only widened, thoroughly enjoying the banter and getting under Kaylee's skin, as he continued to sip his drink.

Topper and Kelce struggled to stifle their laughter beneath their breaths.

Kie, Lia, and Sarah observed the exchange with keen curiosity, their attention fixed on Kaylee. Kaylee shook her head, silently pleading with them to drop it, which they did, though their expressions remained telling.

The pizza arrived, occupying almost the entire table. Rather than serving individual slices, the waiters had placed multiple large pizzas in the center of each table for communal access.

The group began to dine.

Kaylee propped her elbow on the table, cupping her head in her hand, while the other hand lifted a slice of pizza to her lips. She took a bite, eyes closed, savoring the flavor.

From the corner of his eye, Rafe watched.

Lia sent a knowing glance towards Rafe as she enjoyed her pizza.

Feeling Lia's gaze, Rafe averted his eyes and continued with his meal.

⚓️

Outside

Everyone was getting ready to depart.

Rafe caught sight of Tod, waiting until the girls had left before approaching him.

Tod regarded Rafe with suspicion. "I'm aware your little sisters are friends with the Carreras. Have they been over to your house yet? Make sure you invite me next time Kaylee is there."

With startling speed, Rafe seized Tod by his shirtfront, pulling him in close. "Never speak about my sisters and their friends like that."

Tod's eyes bulged, and Rafe took pleasure in the fear he had instigated. His aim was to intimidate Tod to such an extent that he would never dare cross him again.

Of late, Rafe's aggression and irritability had escalated, increasingly spiraling out of control. And Tod's actions, despite Rafe's warnings, had sparked his protective and possessive instincts.

Tod remained silent, his lips curving into a smirk.

Summoning all his might, Rafe shoved him away, causing Tod to stagger back and collide with the wall. "Did you get that?!"

Rafe advanced.

Topper intervened, positioning himself between Rafe and Tod. "Rafe! Calm down, man."

Reluctantly, Rafe conceded. His desire was to flatten Tod, but he knew Topper was right, so he backed down.

Tod sneered. "You'll regret this. Seriously, what the hell is your problem?"

Rafe pondered the same question, yet he was on the verge of hitting Tod when Topper intervened, pulling him aside. They crossed the parking lot, giving Rafe space to calm down. He exhaled deeply.

Topper shot him questioning glances.

Rafe was irritated. "What now?"

"Why did you do that?" Topper inquired. "What did he say?"

With a scoff, Rafe's voice dripped with bitterness. "He insulted Lia, Sarah, Kaylee, and Kiara."

At Sarah's name, Topper's anger was palpable, his understanding evident; he recognized Rafe's  fury was not just for his sisters but also for what Tod had done to Kaylee, compounded by Rafe's feelings for her.

"If he says anything again, hit him," Topper advised, with a caveat. "Just not during either practice."

Rafe chuckled softly, despite the anger coursing through him from Tod's words and actions. He believed that only seeing Kaylee could quell his turmoil.

He hoped that merely watching her would quench his desire, but he knew it was futile, despising the way his mind operated. It was either everything or nothing; moderation was a concept foreign to him. He would be engulfed by everything. He realized he would inevitably engulf her too, yet he was powerless to halt the inevitable.

⚓️

Now

Night - Midsummers - Outside

The guard was escorting JJ through the party by the arm as Kaylee followed behind, holding her torso in pain.

"Look--look, man, I can walk myself," JJ told him. The debacle drew everyone's attention. "I got legs. Can you see that, brother? I really appreciate what you did back there. Let me just walk myself out. Oh, Mr. Dunleavy, I see you got your drink. Good, that's really nice of you. I'm actually gonna down that." He took the glass of alcohol, drinking it swiftly in one drink, shaking his head at the bitter taste. "Whoo!"

Kaylee smirked.

The guard looked at Mr. Dunleavy. "Sorry, sir."

JJ turned to the guard. "I really like the discretion, Daryl, you know. It's okay, everybody! Do not panic!"

Lia and Sarah watched from the dance floor, surprised and confused.

Isa walked toward JJ and Kaylee.

JJ cheered. "Let's leave it to the men and women in uniform! Let's hear it for them!" JJ clapped his hands. "Rose! You look like Lady Liberty!"

Kaylee walked closer, giving the guard a hard look. "Okay, he gets it, let go of him."

Anna and Mike tried to keep Kaylee from making a scene in front of everyone. "Hey, hey, hey."

Kie ignored their parents in order to help Kaylee defend JJ. "You can't just boot him. We invited him here. We're members of this club."

"Kaylee, Kiara, stop it," Anna warned.

Isa walked closer. "Shit."

Rafe leaned against a column nearby the Carreras, smirking, winking at Kaylee with a drink in his hand.

(Song:) 198 - Hundred Visions

Kaylee glared at Rafe, flipping him off.

JJ pushed the security guard off of him, causing the guard to hit into a table behind him. "Hey, sorry about that. Hey, mandatory power at Pogue Nest, right, Kaylee? Kie and Pope, you as well."

JJ turned to point at Pope, who was watching all of this go down behind the grill.

Kaylee nodded. "Pogue Nest. All right."

Isa pointed between the three. "Let's roll. All right, Kay! Kie! Come on, Pope."

JJ grabbed onto his wrist in the air before breaking his arms apart. "Workers for the world unite! Throw off your chains!"

JJ pumped his fist in the air.

Anna and Mike grabbed Kie and Kaylee's arms to keep them from going.

"You can't hang around these kids," Mike told them.

Kie shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not," Kaylee replied. "I'm out of here."

Rafe pushed away from the column he was leaning on next to the Carreras, standing in Kaylee's way, smirking. "Oh, really?"

Glaring, Kaylee pushed past Rafe on the way to the others. Rafe watched her go with a hint of a smirk.

Kie ran after Kaylee.

Anna and Mike called after their daughters. "Kaylee! Kiara!"

John B stood on the open field nearby, cheering. "Whoo-hoo!"

Isa waved her arms in the air as she cheered. "Yeah!"

Isa and JJ laughed, running over to John B.

JJ saluted. "Colonel."

John B saluted back. "Captain."

Isa saluted. "Missions accomplished, sir."

Pope looked at Heyward, shaking his head.

"No," Heyward warned. "Pope... Don't, Pope."

Pope took off his apron, tossing it aside.

On the way to the others, Kie grabbed Kaylee's hand and they jogged toward Isa, JJ and John B, though having to go a little slower, smiling slightly.

"Come on, Kay," JJ told her. "Come on, Kie."

Heyward gave Pope a look. "Enough of this, son. Don't do this. Don't do this!" Pope started running away. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

Pope ran faster than the Carrera sisters did, reaching the other Pogues, and when he did reach them, John B gave Pope a hug when he joined them, and Isa and JJ both patted Pope on the shoulders. When John B and Pope pulled away, Isa and Pope embraced.

Kie sprinted to Isa, and the two girls embraced in a spinning hug, both laughing joyfully and cheering. "Whoo!"

Kie and Isa then stepped back, clasping each other's hands.

Lia strolled to the tent's entrance, peering out at Kie and Isa, her smile tinged with a bittersweet joy at their happiness.

JJ opened his arms wide, and Kaylee dashed into his embrace. JJ lifted her off the ground, spinning her around, eliciting her laughter as she wrapped her arms around his neck. To the onlookers' wariness, Kaylee gave a passionate kiss to JJ, who reciprocated with equal fervor, while the other Pogues cheered them on. After the spin, JJ set Kaylee down, both beaming at one another.

Rafe observed with a scowl, gulping down his drink in one go, attempting to erase the sight of Kaylee and JJ from his memory. He had anticipated this moment would come, but he had never wanted to witness it, and he despised the intense jealousy it stirred within him.

John B looked at the Kooks. "Later, losers!"

As the Pogues ran off, laughing and cheering, Sarah looked at Lia in amusement with a slight smile, and Lia watched the Pogues go, smiling.

As Rafe glanced from the Pogues to Anna and Mike, and seeing how badly they treated their daughters, especially Kaylee, he remembered the first night he met the Carrera parents.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Flashback 6 - Kook Year (Same Day as Flashback 5)

Night - Tannyhill Estate - Living Room

Lia, Sarah, Kaylee, and Kie were practicing the dance once more.

Kaylee, feeling frustrated with the relentless practice, allowed the girls to guide her, making the process less tedious.

Rafe, having just returned from his lacrosse practice, noticed them from inside. His gaze settled on Kaylee; the intensity from the practice and his earlier encounter with Tod was still present. Yet, the sight of Kaylee dancing with the others brought him a measure of calm. However, the thought of Tod using Kaylee to provoke him after their altercation stirred a darker emotion, urging him to vent his anger.

Ward caught Rafe's attention from the window and beckoned him. "Rafe." Rafe approached. "Lia and Sarah are planning to take Kaylee and Kiara to Chapel Hill for shopping and a concert, a sort of cotillion pre-celebration. Could you drive them?"

Rafe was about to check his schedule when he realized it was unnecessary; Ward was well aware of his free time post-sports practice, and any personal plans would be disregarded for his father's requests.

"Yes, I can take them," Rafe confirmed.

Ward's smile conveyed his pleasure. "Excellent. Unfortunately, I'm fully committed that day. You might enjoy the pre-celebration as well. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make a call."

Rafe gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Ward departed to make the call.

Lia, Sarah, Kaylee, and Kie entered, quenching their thirst with water after an intense practice session, and noticed Rafe.

"So, are you..." Kie began.

"I'll be taking you guys," Rafe declared, his gaze shifting between his sisters and the Carrera sisters.

"You're welcome to join," Lia added. "We have a ticket for you, and for our escorts, except for Tod after..."

Rafe gave a nod of understanding, pleased that Tod would be absent, believing it was for the best for more than one reason, his eyes briefly meeting Kaylee's. "Good." Kaylee remained silent, simply sipping her water. Rafe looked questioningly at Lia, Kaylee, and Kie. "It surprises me that you three are up for this."

Kaylee gave a noncommittal shrug, glancing at Sarah. "You know who wouldn't give up until she convinced us."

Rafe acknowledged this with a knowing nod.

"Topper, Kelce, Timothee, and you are all invited," Sarah added. "In case you want to talk to your friends."

"Will do," Rafe replied.

Lia and Kie gave a slight shrug; despite their differences with Topper and Kelce, they were open to the idea of enjoying a night out, acknowledging the hard work everyone had put in.

Sarah's smug smile revealed her triumph, with everything falling into place after persuading Lia, Kaylee, and Kie, and having Ward convince Rafe to come along and extend the invitation to the other three escorts.

Rafe's eye roll was subtle as Sarah once again got her way, but this time it also meant he got more of what he wanted, which made him more agreeable to the plan, his gaze briefly meeting Kaylee's.

Unaware of Rafe's glance, Kaylee looked down, sipping her water. She wasn't thrilled about the outing but agreed to it to end the ongoing tension and quarrels with Kie since their transfer to Kook Academy. She longed for peace and the restoration of sisterly bonds, even if it meant spending time in Kook company, which wasn't her preference.

Nearby, Wheezie overheard the conversation. "I want to go too."

"You're too young," Rose responded, shaking her head.

Lia offered a comforting smile to her younger sister. "Don't worry, Wheezie. After we come back, we can blast some music and have our own little concert."

At that, Wheezie's face lit up with joy. "Okay!"

Sarah grinned. "Yeah, sounds like fun."

Rafe couldn't suppress a chuckle.

Kaylee and Kie observed the four siblings with cautious amusement, aware that it was rare to see all four smiling simultaneously, especially Rafe, whose smile was subtle due to his fondness for Wheezie, and at that time, for Lia as well.

The doorbell echoed.

Rafe's brow furrowed. "Who could that be?"

Wheezie sprang up, dashing to the door. "I'll get it!"

Wheezie swung the door open.

Mike and Anna stood there, ready to collect their daughters.

Seeing their parents, Kie adopted a more solemn demeanor, seeking their approval.

Kaylee's cheerful expression vanished, her body tensed, and she became impassive. Rafe noticed her emptiness, a reflection of his own, which explained why Kaylee had recognized the hollowness in Rafe previously. It was a mirror image of her own experience with her parents, a realization that struck Rafe profoundly, as he recalled how he had appeared to her during the first Cameron/Carrera family dinner.

Ward exited his office to greet the Carrera parents. "You must be Anna and Mike. I'm Ward." Rose approached. "And this is my wife, Rose."

Rose offered a smile and a handshake. "Hello."

Mike and Anna were overly eager to make an impression on Ward and Rose, prompting Kaylee to roll her eyes and ignore their conversation with the Kook parents.

Lia and Sarah greeted Anna and Mike with their usual sweetness.

"I'm Sarah," Sarah introduced.

Lia extended her hand. "And I'm Lia."

Ward cast a stern glance at Rafe.

Rafe approached, offering a handshake and a reserved smile, partly to win his father's approval and partly because he didn't want Anna and Mike to think less of him. "I'm Rafe."

Wheezie chimed in cheerfully. "And I'm Wheezie!"

Lia, Sarah, and Rafe couldn't suppress their smiles at their youngest sibling's introduction.

Kaylee and Kie shared small smiles as Wheezie beamed at them.

Ward, Rose, Anna and Mike chuckled.

"Rafe, you play lacrosse, right?" Mike inquired. "I've heard your last junior season was one of the best Kook Academy has ever witnessed."

Rafe beamed with pride at the compliment, chuckling bashfully. "Yes, and I'm aiming to top it this coming season."

"That's the spirit," Mike responded with a smile. Kaylee rolled her eyes and sighed. Kie shot Kaylee a glance, moving closer to their parents. Mike addressed Ward. "You have wonderful children, but we must leave. The morning calls us early."

Ward offered a smile, its sincerity unreadable.

Farewells were exchanged as Lia embraced Kie.

Anna extended an arm around Kie, smiling warmly, pleased to see her bonding with the Camerons. Mike also gave Kie an approving nod, recognizing her efforts to earn their commendation. They scarcely acknowledged Kaylee, aware that her actions weren't for them, and that she was persuaded into them, only intensifying her discomfort in the presence of those outside their family circle, oblivious to the Carreras' internal strife.

Kaylee's gaze fell as she noticed her parents' blatant favoritism towards Kie over her, an act unnoticed by most of the Camerons.

Rafe, however, did realize it. He noticed the signs, familiar from his own experiences, and glanced at Kaylee before turning to Anna and Mike with a tense, yet politely forced, salute. "Nice to meet you."

Anna responded to Rafe with an eager smile, her arm still around Kie. She glanced from Kie to Kaylee, then met Kaylee's gaze with a stern look as she guided Kie outside.

Mike shot Kaylee a look before turning to follow Anna and Kie outside.

Lia seemed to pick up on the tension within the Carrera family, though she didn't grasp its depth, and she looked at Kaylee with concern.

Rafe gave a knowing glance, curious to see if it was indeed something akin to his own experiences.

Kaylee, on the other hand, didn't acknowledge their looks, maintaining an air of indifference as she walked out of the house and closed the door behind her.

Ward, Rose, and Wheezie moved away from the door.

Rafe approached the window next to the door, which overlooked the front yard and driveway, and watched the Carreras approach Mike's truck. He couldn't tear his gaze away, feeling like a stalker, yet fixated on Kaylee and the tension evident between her and her parents.

Lia and Sarah joined Rafe, peering out the window alongside him.

Sarah flashed Rafe a knowing smile. "I like them. They're both incredible. And Kaylee's cool, don't you think?"

Rafe's frown betrayed his confusion about Sarah's intentions, aware of her tendency for mischief. "She's cool."

Rafe's thoughts about Kaylee extended beyond 'cool', but he kept that to himself, not wanting to reveal too much to his sisters.

When Kaylee and Kie climbed into the truck, they noticed the Cameron siblings through the glass.

Lia waved with excitement.

Kie returned the wave, her face breaking into a sincere smile directed at Lia.

Kaylee's wave was less enthusiastic in comparison. Rafe, noticeably affected by her tepid gesture, turned and walked away, not daring to look back.

⚓️

Now

Night - The Pogue Nest - Outside

Still dressed to the nines from Midsummer's festivities, the Pogues lounged around the fire pit outside the Pogue Nest.

Kaylee, armed with her lighter and hairspray, crafted a fireball that danced into the wood in the pit, sparking a bonfire for the crew.

JJ, with a smirk, settled beside Kaylee. "Told ya, my little firestarter."

Kaylee beamed a smile.

John B, eyeing the duo with a grin, quipped. "So, you're an item now?"

Kaylee glanced nervously at JJ, unsure if he would still want to be with her after everything that had happened with Rafe and Tod. But JJ just grinned and pulled Kaylee closer to his side.

"You bet we are," JJ declared proudly, pressing a kiss to Kaylee's temple.

Relief and joy flooded through Kaylee as she relaxed into JJ's embrace. The other Pogues cheered and whistled.

"About damn time!" Kie exclaimed with a laugh.

"Seriously, the tension was killing us," Pope added.

Isa smirked. "I'm just glad I don't have to watch you two dance around each other anymore."

John B raised his beer bottle in a toast. "To JJ and Kaylee - may your love burn as bright as Kaylee's fires!"

"Here here!" Kie cheered.

Kaylee and JJ smiled at how happy their friends were for them, the tension from earlier in the evening melting away in the warmth of their friendship and the crackling fire.

Isa triumphantly threw her hands up. "And ka-ching! Cough it up, losers."

Kie, John B, and Pope moaned, reluctantly forking over ten bucks each to Isa. Isa's grin widened, eyeing the crisp $30 in her grasp.

JJ's brow furrowed. "Hold up, you guys bet on us?"

Pope laid it out. "Isa's the only one that thought that you two would eventually figure things out while John B, Kie and I had our doubts that you would ever stop the will-they-won't-they dance."

"And Isa takes the pot," Kie declared, tipping an imaginary hat.

Isa flaunted her trio of ten-dollar bills like a personal summer breeze, her smirk and wink dripping with mischief.

Kaylee and JJ couldn't help but chuckle.

With a peck, JJ affirmed Kaylee. "It's about time, don't you think?"

Kaylee beamed. "Definitely overdue."

Pope, the rare jester, chimed in. "You two are nauseating. Also, total rulebreakers."

JJ's grin was all in good fun. "Ease up, Pope. Your day for a smooch will come."

Laughter erupted from Kaylee and Isa, while Kie and John B couldn't hide their entertained grins.

Pope rolled his eyes with feigned exasperation. "Yeah, real funny."

"Look, this just happened," Kaylee explained. "And I know about the no Pogue-on-Pogue macking rule, but I don't care. That rule is stupid. So if you have a problem with it, I don't care. Especially after last night and all day today with the arrest and Rafe, Tod and Kelce and their idiots coming after us again."

The others looked at JJ and Kaylee sympathetically.

"Kaylee, I don't care that you're with JJ or that you broke the rule," Isa told her. "As long as you're happy, we're happy."

John B and Pope nodded in agreement. "Same."

Kie smiled. "You already know my answer. Just remember to use protection. I don't want to be an aunt yet."

JJ snorted, looking away with a blush.

Kaylee smiled sarcastically at Kie, flipping her sister off, causing the Pogues all to laugh.

Kaylee and JJ exchanged a warm smile, both relieved and touched by their friends' support.

John B cleared his throat, his expression growing serious. "So, what exactly went down with Rafe, Tod and the others tonight? You guys okay?"

JJ's arm tightened protectively around Kaylee as he recounted the events in the locker room. The other Pogues listened intently, their faces a mix of concern and anger.

"I can't believe those assholes," Kie growled when JJ finished. "Especially Tod. He needs to learn to back off."

Isa nodded in agreement, her eyes flashing. "Seriously. Next time I see him, I'm gonna fucking kill him."

"No," Kaylee cut her off firmly. "He's not worth it, Isa. He'll just get us in trouble, because his family is almost as powerful as Rafe's family who the cops will always believe over us, and I don't want you guys getting in trouble for me. You and John B are already on the run from child services, and if you're caught by the cops, then it's a straight shot to foster care. Just let it go."

The Pogues were not surprised by Kaylee's selflessness to try and protect her friends and keep them together, but they were worried because it meant that Rafe and Tod likely wouldn't stop.

"They're not going to stop, Kaylee," Kie told her sister worriedly. "We have to do something."

"We will, but until we actually have the power to do something about it, we have to let it go," Kaylee pointed out.

Everyone hated that Kaylee was right - right now, they were powerless to stop it, and it left them feeling defenseless.

"Can we just talk about something else?" Kaylee asked softly.

Pope nodded. "Yeah. Guys, so like, my dad's already gonna kill me. So what's the mandatory meeting about?"

John B did finger guns at Isa and JJ.

"Might as well tell them, guys," JJ told them. "Before we're gaffed."

"Tell us what?" Kaylee asked.

"You ready for this?" John B asked. "So, the gold never went down on the Merchant."

Pope rolled his eyes, his elbows resting on his knees. "Oh, my God. Here we go again with this."

"No, all right, wait," JJ said. "Hear them out."

"It's been here the whole time," Isa told them. "It's on the island."

"Are you serious?" Kie asked.

Isa nodded. "One hundred percent."

"Oh, my God," Kaylee said.

"I'd like to voice my skepticism," Pope stated.

John B stood. "I'm sure you would, Pope."

"But we're not gonna let you, because we don't care," Isa told him.

"Let us present you with our evidence, sir?" John B asked, walking around the fire.

Pope nodded, granting permission with a wave of his hand. "Proceed."

John B smiled, grabbing his bag, rummaging through it. "All right, so. In my backpack, I have a letter from Denmark Tanny."

John B pulled out the letter.

"Who the hell is that?" Kie asked.

"Denmark Tanny was a slave who survived the Royal Merchant wreck," Isa answered. "Slaves weren't mentioned as crew members on the ship, but a source tipped us about the missing information we needed. This source explained that Tanny used the gold from the Merchant to buy his freedom."

JJ whistled.

"After that, he bought his farm," John B continued. "Drum roll, please, because that farm is..."

"Tannyhill Plantation," Isa finished. "Or Estate or whatever you wanna call it."

"Tannyhill?" Kaylee repeated.

John B nodded. "Yeah. So after that, he used his money to free even more slaves, and then he sold a shit ton of rice which pissed off all the white planters, and then they decide to lynch him. So on the day they were coming to get him, he writes a letter to his son as a farewell, and in the last line of that letter, he leaves a coded message about where to find the gold."

Isa showed them the letter. "Harvest the wheat in parcel nine, near the water. Except there's no wheat. You see, wheat is code for gold."

John B took the letter and the picture of the gold to show them all the same wheat symbol on both the letter and the bar of gold in the picture. "Check this out. The gold is in parcel nine near the water."

Isa and John B smiled excitedly.

Kaylee laughed. "Holy shit."

Kie and Kaylee looked at each other, their mouths open wide in surprise as they both laughed.

"All we need is an original survey map of the property, and we found the gold," Isa told them, throwing her arms up with a smile.

"Okay, so this might have a small chance of being actually true," Pope gave in.

JJ got up from his spot next to Kaylee, walking around the fire toward John B.

Kie smiled. "It's like King Tut."

John B opened his arms for a hug, as JJ walked over to John B, hugging him, picking him up in the big bear hug, as the force of the hug caused them to step back toward the fire.

Kaylee put out her hand to stop them. "Hello! Fire! You're near the fire. You're gonna burn."

JJ patted John B on the cheeks. "I'm so proud of you right now." He turned to Isa and picked her up in a bear hug, making her squeal in surprise. "Both of you. I'm very proud of both of you."

"Put me down, clown," Isa told him, laughing. JJ put Isa down with a small laugh. "But thank you. That's really sweet of you."

Kaylee smiled, standing, walking over to embrace Isa. Isa smiled, returning the embrace.

Kaylee turned to embrace John B. John B smiled, fixing Kaylee's flower crown on her head. Kaylee smiled a bit at John B fixing that for her.

"You good, Kay?" John B asked.

"Yeah," Kaylee answered, backing away to go sit down again. "Okay, so guys, what's the plan?"

John B pointed to her. "Good question, Kay. So, Sarah Cameron's coming tonight. She's gonna bring an original survey map that Lia can get for us--"

Kie frowned. "Hold on. Lia and Sarah? Why are Lia and Sarah involved?"

Isa hesitated. "Um..."

JJ smirked, sitting down, taking off his hat. "This is gonna be good."

"When John B and I got into that accident on the bike, Lia and Sarah were the ones to help us out," Isa explained. "Lia's actually the one that told us the most about what we know of Denmark Tanny at their house. She knew basically all of it, actually, except for the letter."

"And after Lia explained everything, Sarah got me into the archives at Chapel Hill, yesterday, and that's how I got the letter," John B explained.

"Wait, Lia and Sarah Cameron helped you with this?" Kie asked.

"Yeah," Isa answered. "Um..."

"John B was macking on Sarah, and pretty sure that Isa wanted to mack on Lia," JJ teased.

Isa lightly hit JJ on the shoulder. "No, I didn't."

"And I wasn't macking," John B denied.

"You were totally macking Sarah Cameron," JJ insisted to John B before looking at Isa. "You totally wanted to mack Lia Cameron."

"I did not want to mack on Lia," Isa denied.

"I wasn't macking on Sarah, okay?" John B asked. "I was using her for access."

"There was access, all right," JJ remarked.

Kaylee raised an amused eyebrow at JJ, before looking at Isa and John B. "Did you tell Lia and Sarah about the treasure?"

"We were just trying to get the archives," John B defended.

"Is that a yes?" Kaylee asked.

"I didn't tell Lia anything about the gold," Isa answered, not lying because Lia had figured it out herself.

"And I left out key details to Sarah," John B rambled.

"Yo, what?' Kie asked. "You let two Kooks in on our secret? What about Pogue Lyfe? What about the T-shirt company, bro?"

"I did not tell Lia about the gold," Isa repeated.

Kie tilted her head. "But if Lia's the source that you were talking about, she's smart enough to figure all this out, she's smart enough to figure out you were going for the gold. Did she figure it out? You don't even have to answer. I know how smart Lia is. I used to be best friends with her and I know how much of a history buff she is. I know she figured it out."

Isa hesitated. "I--maybe."

"Okay," Kie scoffed. "Isa, you may not have told Lia, and maybe she figured it out, but was JJ right? Do you like her? Is that the reason for all the looks she kept sending our way yesterday?"

"No," Isa denied. "And all of us kept looking over to her, so--"

"That's not answering my question," Kie told her. "Do you like her? Does she like you?"

Isa took a deep breath, knowing she didn't want to out Lia since that wasn't her choice. "No."

Kie tilted her head skeptically, giving Isa a look. "Why don't I believe you?"

Kaylee, JJ and Pope exchanged a look, knowing that Kie was blowing this way out of proportion.

"We're trying to make us filthy rich here," John B told them. He looked at JJ. "Okay, so that we can pay off the boat." He looked at Pope. "Or send you to autopsy school to study dead bodies. So we can eat. Look, you guys know me. Do I look like the type of guy to fall for Sarah Cameron?"

"And do I look like the girl that could fall for Lia Cameron?" Isa asked.

"Uh..." JJ trailed off.

"Do you want us to answer that, or..." Pope trailed off.

Isa pointed at Pope. "Just--just... just stop."

Pope looked down with a nod.

"Look, you don't know them yet," Kie told them. "I do. You can't trust them."

"Kie..." Kaylee trailed off.

"Their brother did hit me with golf clubs, and fought with all of us," Pope pointed out. "Look what he did to Kaylee and JJ just tonight, or last night."

John B shook his head. "Sarah and Lia are completely different from Rafe."

"Proved by the fact that Lia stood up against her own brother to defend all of us, even though she couldn't do anymore than Kie and I could," Isa pointed out. "She went up against Tod to protect Kaylee last night, even when she got hurt in the process. And she tried to stop Topper from drowning JB, like Sarah did."

Kaylee, JJ and Pope nodded in acknowledgement.

"That's true," Kaylee agreed. "Yeah, at the party, Kie, Pope and I heard Lia telling Sarah about last night, and Lia completely went off on Topper, Tod and Kelce for what they and Rafe did to us and to her, calling them psychos and everything."

Kie shook her head, not wanting to admit that they were right because of her own history with Lia. "That's not the point."

"Then what is the point?" Pope asked. "Because Lia's the only one that has publicly defended us, repeatedly."

JJ looked at Kie. "What did Lia do to you, exactly?"

Kie pointed with her hand. "The Cameron sisters are like--like spitting cobras. First they--they blind you and then..."

They all looked at Kie in confusion, wondering where she was going with this.

Pope shook his head. "This is a bad analogy."

Kaylee rolled her eyes. "And you're being way over dramatic, Kie. What Lia did was not as bad as you make it out to be."

Kie sighed in frustration. "Listen to me! Whatever we get, Lia and Sarah are gonna try to take."

Isa just looked at Kie, knowing she was reacting way overdramatically about all of this after what she and Lia had been talking about at the party, looking away.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Ward's Office

Still in her Midsummers outfit, Lia snuck into Ward's office, looking around for the map, finding the maps in the last place she saw them.

Ward walked in. "What are you doing?"

Lia turned her head to see him, playing it off. "I just wanted a copy of one of the old plat maps."

Lia stood with the map.

Ward walked closer with a skeptical laugh. "A plat map? Of Tannyhill."

Lia nodded, sitting down with the maps to look through them to get the one she was looking for. "Yeah. You know how appreciative I am with the history of this beautiful property that we call home. They're so beautiful I thought maybe I could get them framed and hung in my room."

Ward frowned. "Okay. Come on, Lia, seriously. What is this, a history thing?"

Lia found the right map, folding it up, standing. "Yeah. That's what I just said, isn't it? Maybe I'm tired of having my room look more like a therapist's office and want to decorate it with something that I'm actually passionate about. You know all the times I used to go research about the house history." Ward nodded in agreement. "Bye."

⚓️

Foyer

Lia walked out of the office, smirking slightly at lying to Ward again, walking over to Sarah by the door.

"Hey," Sarah whispered. "Did you get it?"

"Yeah, I got it," Lia answered, handing the folded up map to Sarah. "Good luck, going to give this to John B."

"Yeah, thanks," Sarah agreed, wrapping an arm around Lia. "Thanks, Lia. Love you."

"Love you too, Sarah," Lia replied.

They pulled away.

"So since I know that Dad and Rose will check to see if you are in your room tonight, I can't ask you to stay in my room because then they'll know you're not in your room, and when they find you in my room, they'll know that I'm gone," Sarah pointed out. "And I don't want you getting in trouble for me and helping me sneak out. So I asked Wheezie to stay in my room as a cover, since they won't check her room, since she never sneaks out."

Lia nodded in agreement. "Okay. Good luck."

Sarah smiled.

⚓️

Ward's Office

Ward locked the door to his office, walking over to a large painting on the wall, opening the hidden door behind it, revealing a safe, putting a code into the safe, taking out a yellow cloth, before closing the safe and the painting/door, going to sit down, unwrapping the yellow cloth, revealing Big John's compass. Revealing him as the mystery man with the gaff hook and the person that Peterkin had been talking to earlier.

⚓️

On the Road

Rafe, Topper and Kelce were driving in Topper's car, all heavily drunk. Topper was driving. Rafe was in the passenger seat. Kelce was in the backseat.

Rafe looked at Topper, talking about Sarah. "You're better off without her, Top. Trust me. I live with the bitch."

"Rafe, don't call your sister a bitch, man," Topper told him. "Come on."

Rafe laughed mockingly. "Yo, I'll call Sarah and Lia both whatever I want, man. All right? And they're both bitches."

Kelce patted Topper on the back. "Come on, bro. Drink up, all right? Go!"

"Drink up," Rafe agreed.

Topper drank from a beer bottle.

"Let's go," Kelce said. "Just chill out, okay?"

"Good idea, man," Rafe told him.

Topper shook his head, tapping his hand on the steering wheel. "I gotta see her, man. We're not--we're not good right now."

Rafe snorted some coke. "Shut up, shut up, shut up. Shut up, dude. Bad idea, muchacho."

"Just stick with the bevo, all right?" Kelce asked.

"If you go there now, there is a high likelihood you go fetal," Rafe told him.

Kelce nodded. "Exactly."

Topper scoffed. "I'm not--I'm not going fetal."

"I'm gettin' fetal vibes," Kelce remarked. He looked at Rafe. "Are you gettin' fetal vibes?"

Rafe shrugged. "All right, it's your funeral. It's your funeral."

"What's up, man?" Kelce asked. "Jeez. Drink up."

Topper drove them up toward Tannyhill.

Rafe shook his head. "Shitty idea, man."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Topper pulled the car over.

Kelce offered Topper more to drink. "Liquid courage, boy."

"Don't screw this up," Rafe told him. "Let's go. Hurry your ass up, okay?"

Topper got out of the car, drinking more. "Chill, chill."

"Let's go," Rafe told him. "Make it quick, okay?"

"He looks terrible," Kelce remarked. Topper finished his beer, walking around the car. "Bro, we're gonna leave your ass if you don't make it fast, okay? You look terrible."

Rafe whistled, adding a sarcastic remark. "Hey, give Lia and Sarah a hug for me."

"Oh, God," Kelce said.

Topper put his finger to his lips to shush them. "Shh!" He reached the front door of the mansion, nearly falling because of how drunk he was, catching himself against the door. "Oh, shit." Rafe and Kelce laughed. Topper looked back at them with his finger over his lips. "Shut the--shut the fuck up."

Rafe smirked. "Oh, my God, man."

Topper snuck into the house.

⚓️

Inside - Lia's Room

Lia was laying in bed.

Rose knocked twice before opening the door, making sure she was there.

Lia forced a smile, waving. "A little late for your nightly checks, aren't you, prison guard?"

Rose just gave Lia a look, walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.

Lia smirked slightly, laying down to go to sleep, able to do so easily for the night.

⚓️

Foyer

Topper walked up the spiral staircase, stopping when he heard Rose walk across the top landing of the stairs, and when he heard her close a door to her room, he continued up.

⚓️

Sarah's Room

In Sarah's dark bedroom, Topper peaked into the room. "Hey, Sa--hey, Sarah? Are you awake?" He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Hey, I just--I just wanna talk. I--I know this is random. I don't wanna freak you out. I just--I--I wanna talk, and... and like, I'll leave. I'll leave if you want me to. I--I will skedaddle right now."

Since Sarah had snuck out to meet with John B, Wheezie was laying in the bed under the covers, eyes closed. She opened her eyes, a slight smirk on her face as she listened to Topper ramble like an idiot.

Topper walked closer to the bed. "Just let me know. Just, uh... okay. I gotta--I have a few--I gotta say something, Sarah." He sat next to Wheezie on the bed. "I am, uh... I am so sorry for--for making you feel, you know,  claustrophobic at the Midsummers party. Like, I, um, I don't care who you went to Chapel Hill with. I mean, if I did know who it was, like, I would for sure, like, put his skull into the ground."

Wheezie's eyes widened at the psychotic remark.

Topper went on like he didn't say something deeply disturbing. "But like I said, I'm not a jealous guy. I don't really care at the end of the day. It's just--just like--listen, listen. I'm--I'm... that was gonna be a big deal tonight. That was our coming-out party, and I just, like... I got upset. I'm thinkin' about you when I wake up, when I go to bed at night, like it's--I--I never knew love could make you so anxious, and I just feel like--like something's off between us, like I--And I just... I need to talk to you, Sarah. Hey, Sarah, listen. I... I don't wanna break up. I don't wanna break up. I... I love you."

Wheezie's eyes went wide again.

Topper was becoming increasingly irritated by the lack of response. "Hey, Sarah, come on. I--I said I love you. Like... can't you say anything back to me?"

Topper reached for Wheezie's shoulder, turning her to face him.

Wheezie sat up. "Hi, Top."

Topper was so startled that he jumped up and fell back off the bed. "Whoa! What the--" Wheezie smirked. Topper pushed himself up. "What the--Wheezie?"

"You okay?" Wheezie asked.

Topper turned the lamp next to him on, hilariously confused and shocked. "Wheezie, what in the world are you doing in Sarah's bed?"

Wheezie tilted her head. "I can't say."

"What do you mean, you can't say?" Topper asked.

"I mean, she told me to stay here as a decoy," Wheezie answered.

"As a decoy?" Topper repeated. "What is she doin'? Where is she?" Wheezie mimicked zipping her lips. "Seriously, where is she?"

"I can't--" Wheezie started.

Topper gave her a deadly serious, angry look. "Where the hell is Sarah?"

Wheezie looked nervous by how deadly serious and angry he looked.

⚓️

Kildare Hawk's Nest State Park

(Song:) Pity - Royal Headache

Rock music was blaring from the radio as Twinkie pulled over in the middle of the park by the woods nearby Hawk's Nest.

John B pulled over. "All right."

JJ slid the back door open. "Hit it, guys! We're goin'. Recon mission."

"Yo, uh..." John B got out, turning back to face the rest. "So, uh, I think I'm gonna do this one by myself tonight."

Kie rolled her eyes.

JJ raised his eyebrows, leaning back against the seat of the van that Kaylee was laying across, removing his hat. "Really?"

John B looked over them, not seeing the problem. "What?"

Isa shook her head. "Nothing, brother."

John B came up with an excuse. "I don't want to spook Sarah with the peanut gallery."

Kaylee put a joint between her lips. "Oh, I'm sure that's it."

JJ reached over with his lighter to light the joint for Kaylee. Kaylee took a hit, winking at JJ as she released the smoke. JJ smirked, taking his own hit.

"I just don't understand why we're involving her or Lia at all," Kie admitted in annoyance.

John B threw his head back. "Kie, we're not involving them, okay? It's just, uh, like a--a business meeting."

"Yeah, that's convincing," Kaylee told him sarcastically.

JJ took his joint, pretending to deep throat it, looking at Kaylee. Kaylee put her hand over her mouth, laughing.

Pope smiled in amusement.

John B attempted to assure Kie. "Look, once we get what we need, we cut them loose. All right?"

Kie rolled her eyes at him. "John B, you're a horrible liar when it comes to Sarah. Isa, promise me nothing is happening between you and Lia."

"Nothing is happening, Kie," Isa told her.

"I'm serious, Isa," Kie told her. "This isn't about you and this isn't about us. This is about them. Guys, they're gonna get inside your heads. Just promise me nothing is happening between you guys."

"I promise," John B lied once more.

"Yeah," Isa said, as she and Kie looked at each other for a second, not liking to lie, but knowing it wasn't her choice to out Lia like that, even if they already suspected it.

Kaylee nodded sarcastically. "That was really believable."

"A hundred percent believable," Pope continued with the sarcasm.

Isa cast a skeptical glance at the group. "Really, what makes you all think there's a secret romance brewing between Lia and me? She could very well be straight as an arrow, you know."

JJ chuckled. "Well, for starters, we're not buying that theory, and secondly, even if Lia were as straight as a ruler, there isn't a soul out there, barring your brother, your honorary brother like me and Pope, or your sister-in-arms Kaylee, who could withstand the legendary Isa Routledge charm."

Isa just gave an eye roll of epic proportions. "Sure, whatever you say."

John B looked from Isa to the others. "Anyways, um... I'm gonna take care of business."

JJ smirked playfully. "You're gonna take care of it so well."

Pope looked around. "I tell you, we'll just sit here. In the hot ass car, while it's lightning."

Kie leaned her head against her hand, a sad look on her face but she refused to look at Isa. Isa looked at Kie sadly, not knowing what to say that could make it better, knowing anything she could say would make it worse for either her, Kie or Lia.

(Song Ends)

John B got out of the car, heading for the Hawk's Nest.

Topper pulled his car up a distance away, drinking, getting out of the car without any of the Pogues noticing him.

Thunder crashed in the sky as Kaylee played with the fabric of her dress. The Pogues could feel the cool breeze coming in from the back door of the van that was still open.

"Kiara, holding onto your grudge is like drinking poison thinking Lia will die," Pope told her.

"Exactly," JJ agreed.

"Thank you," Isa told them.

Kie gave Isa a cold look. "Of course you would say that. But none of you know what happened."

Kaylee sighed. "And I'll say it again. It is not big or bad enough to compare Lia to the other Kooks who actually talk down on us every single day and beat our asses."

"Yeah," JJ agreed. "Whatever it was, it was like a year ago. And every time we see Lia, she's always trying to talk to you or apologize, Kie, but you're the one that shuts her down and leaves her behind. And she's always defending us against the rest of the Kooks. She doesn't even hang out with them."

Isa scoffed softly. "Hell, she may hate other Kooks more than we do, Rafe included."

"Sarah has been way worse than Lia ever has," Kaylee pointed out.

Kie was fed up with all of them. "Their brother is like obsessed with you, Kay, and he, with Tod, hurt you and was tormenting you and JJ tonight, and fought with JJ and Pope how many times? And Sarah's boyfriend almost drowned John B and helped fight us all the time."

"Not tonight," Kaylee pointed out. "But that's not really the point."

"And why are you using Rafe and Topper to define Lia and Sarah?" Isa asked, exasperated. "They are completely different people. And Sarah tried to stop Topper from fighting and drowning John B, if I have to remind you, as did Lia, and Lia tried to stop the fight at the movie too."

"Yeah, standing there and screaming to stop really helped a lot," Kie stated sarcastically. "Both cases."

"What exactly did you or Pope do to try and stop the fight on the beach where Topper almost drowned JB?" Isa replied. "Just stood there and screamed for the fight to stop." That brought Kie to silence, as Kie knew that Isa was right. Isa continued. "And Lia put herself in between Tod and Kaylee, and you, by the way, even though it got her hurt in the process. She protected both you and your sister and you still treat her like the fucking devil."

Kie looked down. "I--"

Isa went on. "And Kaylee, Pope and you all said that she told Sarah what happened and was defending all of us against Rafe, Tod, Topper and Kelce at the Midsummers party. So I don't want to hear it."

"Look, we're not saying that we side with Lia or Sarah," Pope stated. "We're just saying that maybe you should give them a chance. I trust you, Isa. And John B."

Kaylee and JJ nodded. "Me too."

Isa nodded to Kaylee, JJ and Pope. "Thank you."

⚓️

Hawk's Nest

John B made his way to the Hawk's Nest, where he saw Sarah standing up high, still in her Midsummers outfit. "Whoa."

John B walked up to the top of the structure.

Sarah turned to face him, smiling. "Hi." John B walked closer. "Lia gave me the map. Do you wanna see?"

John B took the map to look it over. "Shit. Holy hell."

Sarah smiled. "Yeah." Topper walked up to the Hawk's Nest, glaring up at Sarah and John B, walking closer. "Did you and Isa tell your crew about me and Lia helping? Or that you were here with me?"

"Yeah," John B answered. "Did you?"

"No," Sarah answered. "I will, though. I don't care. And I'm breaking up with Topper."

John B raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "What, you don't think that's a good idea?"

John B shook his head reassuringly. "No, no, no, um, it's... it's, uh... Yeah. Yeah, yeah."

Topper started to walk up the stairs of the structure.

When there was an extra loud thunderclap, Sarah jumped and hugged onto John B tightly. "Oh, my God!"

John B held Sarah, smiling. "You okay?"

Sarah laughed. "Yeah. What are we doing up here?"

"I have no idea," John B admitted. "You wanna go down?"

They pulled away from their embrace, but stayed close, noses nearly touching.

"No," Sarah answered.

John B smiled, cupping her cheek. "Neither do I."

John B and Sarah started to kiss passionately.

Topper walked closer from behind John B. "I knew it, Sarah. I knew you were lying to me."

John B and Sarah jumped and pulled away from each other.

"Topper?" Sarah asked.

Topper glared at her. "You're a stupid, lying whore. You know that?"

Sarah nodded sarcastically. "So first I'm a prude and now I'm a whore?"

Topper nodded. "Yeah, you are."

John B pushed Topper lightly away from them. "Topper, stop, man."

Topper pushed John B in the chest. "You stop, man. You don't wanna do this." He looked at Sarah. "Tell him to back off." He looked at John B. "'Cause I'm about to beat your fucking ass."

"You're drunk, man," John B told him. "Go home. Go home."

"You know what I'm gonna do?" Topper asked furiously. "I'm about to drown you like your old man."

Topper gave John B a heavier push.

"Quit it," Sarah demanded. "Get out!"

Topper pointed from John B to Sarah. "Tell your bitch boyfriend to back off!"

"Go home!" John B repeated.

Topper ignored him. "Sarah, let's talk."

John B guided Topper back away from Sarah. "She doesn't want to!"

Topper glared at him. "What did I tell you, man?" When he pushed John B this time, he pushed him right into the unsteady railing behind him, which broke, and caused John B to fall all the way to the ground. Sarah and Topper both looked down in shock. Sarah gasped in horror, shock. "Shit. What the--Sarah--Sarah, the railing must have been rotten. I hardly touched him, okay? I barely--" Sarah ran away toward the stairs. "He lost his bal--Sarah!"

John B was barely conscious, groaning in pain.

Sarah ran down the stairs, toward John B, crying in hysteria. "No! John B!" She knelt next to John B. "John B! Shh. Oh... oh, my God. Hey, can you open your eyes, please?" Crying, Sarah screamed. "Someone help!"

⚓️

Twinkie

The rest of the Pogues were still in the van.

Isa turned her head toward her window like she thought she heard something. "Wait, do you guys hear that?"

Kaylee, Kie, Pope and JJ spoke together. "What?"

The thunder continued to crash outside, but they could hear the faint yelling of Sarah. "Please, somebody help!"

"Oh, wait, no, I hear that," JJ answered.

"Shit," Pope muttered.

"What the fuck?" Kaylee asked.

They jumped up from their seats, out of the van, and running to the direction of the screaming toward the tower.

"Sarah!" Pope called. "What happened!"

They all froze when they saw John B on the ground, barely moving with Sarah hovering over him, sobbing.

"Oh, my God," Kaylee said in horror.

Isa was absolutely horrified and could hardly breathe at the sight in front of her, fearful of losing her brother, sliding to her knees next to John B's side, taking his hand. "John B. JB! Wake up."

Sarah was crying. "I don't know what to do. He needs help. Topper shoved him."

"Where the hell is he?" JJ demanded.

Further away, Topper glared at the Pogues and Sarah, turning around, walking away.

Isa begged through her tears. "Oh, please, please, please get help. I don't care who. Just call someone."

Kaylee turned to Pope, gesturing for him to run and call for help. "Go. Pope, go!"

Pope ran off.

Sarah continued to cry. "Help, please."

Isa shook John B worriedly, crying. "JB, wake up. I can't lose you."

"Pope, hurry!" Kie yelled.

The wind was blowing through Kaylee and Kie's hair as they looked worriedly at Isa, Sarah and John B. JJ was freaking out silently. Isa and Sarah were both crying and sobbing as wind blew through their hair.

Sarah grabbed John B's face, leaning down to kiss him. "John B, stay with us."

Isa held John B's hands. "Please don't leave me. I can't lose you too. Not like Dad."

Kie, Kaylee and JJ looked at Isa sympathetically and in pain from seeing her so torn up about the possibility of losing John B like this, glancing at Sarah.

"John B?" Sarah asked.

JJ yelled to the van. "Pope! Come on!"

Isa choked out a sob as she leaned her head down on John B's chest, trying to listen for a heartbeat to make sure he was still alive.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Rafe's Room

Rafe paced the length of his opulent bedroom, his jaw clenched and fists balled at his sides. The memory of Tod's smug face as he deliberately hurt Kaylee both at the movie and at Midsummers replayed in his mind.

He could still hear Kaylee's pained gasp, see the way she crumpled, holding her side. The image of her walking away from the Midsummers party, hand-in-hand with JJ after their passionate kiss, only fueled his rage further.

With a growl, Rafe grabbed his phone and fired off a text to Tod: "Meet me at the docks. Now."

⚓️

Docks

The night air was thick with humidity as Rafe waited, leaning against his sleek sports car. The gentle lapping of waves against the wooden pier did nothing to soothe his temper.

Tod's headlights cut through the darkness as his car pulled up to the docks. He stepped out, his nose still swollen and bruised from Rafe's earlier punch.

"What's this about, man?" Tod asked warily as he approached.

Rafe's eyes flashed dangerously in the dim light. Without warning, he lunged forward and grabbed Tod by the shirt, slamming him against the side of the car.

"You think you're clever, don't you?" Rafe snarled. "Hurting Kaylee again at Midsummers?"

Tod's lips curled into a smirk despite his predicament. "Come on, Rafe. We both know you enjoyed seeing her in pain. Admit it."

Rafe's grip tightened, his knuckles turning white. "I told you not to hurt her. That wasn't part of the plan."

Tod's smirk widened. "Plans change. Besides, it worked, didn't it? She was shaken up, like you wanted, even if she left with JJ."

Rafe's fist connected with Tod's jaw before he could even register the movement. Tod's head snapped back, colliding with the car window with a sickening thud.

"That's not the point!" Rafe roared, his face inches from Tod's. "You don't get to make those decisions. You don't get to hurt her."

Tod spat blood onto the ground, his eyes narrowing. "What's the matter, Rafe? In your feelings for the little poser? Little Kook princess pretending to be a Pogue?"

Rafe's vision blurred with rage. He pulled Tod away from the car only to slam him back against it harder. "Now she's hurt and it's my fault. JJ will be there to comfort her, to be her hero. That wasn't supposed to happen!"

"Since when do you care about being the bad guy?" Tod sneered. "Isn't that your whole thing?"

Rafe's grip loosened slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Tod seized the opportunity, shoving Rafe back and breaking free of his hold.

"You're losing your edge, man," Tod taunted, wiping blood from his split lip. "What happened to the Rafe who didn't give a damn about anyone but himself?"

Rafe's fists clenched at his sides, his breath coming in short, angry bursts. "Shut up. You don't know anything."

Tod laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Oh, I know plenty. I know you've been watching her for years. I know you've been finding excuses to be wherever she is. And I know you're too much of a coward to admit what's really going on."

Rafe's expression hardened. "You don't understand. This isn't about being the bad guy. It's about control." He released Tod abruptly, stepping back and running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Kaylee was supposed to be scared, yes, but she was supposed to turn to me for protection. Not JJ. Never JJ."

Tod straightened up, rubbing his jaw. "So what now? You gonna try to play the hero? Because I gotta tell you, man, that ship has sailed."

Rafe's eyes glinted with a dangerous light as he regarded Tod. A slow, predatory smile spread across his face, sending a chill down Tod's spine.

"You're right, Tod, that ship has sailed," Rafe said, his voice eerily calm. "But you've forgotten one very important thing."

Tod took an involuntary step back. "Yeah? What's that?"

Rafe advanced, matching Tod's retreat step for step. "I don't need to be the hero. I just need you gone."

With lightning speed, Rafe's hand shot out, grabbing Tod by the throat and slamming him against the car once more. Tod's eyes widened in panic as Rafe leaned in close, his breath hot against Tod's ear.

"Let me paint you a picture, Tod," Rafe whispered, his grip tightening. "Imagine what would happen if you suddenly disappeared. No one would miss you, Tod. Your so-called friends? They'd forget about you in a week. Everyone else? They'd probably be relieved."

Tod struggled against Rafe's iron grip, his face turning red as he gasped for air. Rafe loosened his hold just enough to let Tod draw in a ragged breath.

"You can't... You wouldn't..." Tod wheezed.

Rafe's laugh was cold and humorless. "Oh, but I would. And I could. Do you know how easy it would be to make you vanish? A tragic boating accident, perhaps. Or maybe you just decided to skip town, fed up with this place. Who would question it? Especially if I told them what you tried to do to Kaylee last year, that I had to stop you from doing. They would never believe her over you, but they would definitely believe me. Hell, Kaylee would probably thank me after what you did if it meant you were out of her life for good. She'd need someone to comfort her, someone to protect her from you."

Tod's eyes bulged as he gasped for air. Rafe loosened his grip just enough to allow Tod to draw in a ragged breath.

"You're insane," Tod choked out. "You can't do this."

Rafe's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "Can't I? You forget who I am, Tod. You may be someone high and mighty in France and Ireland, but my family owns this town. I can do whatever I want."

Tod's face paled as the reality of his situation sank in. He had always known Rafe was dangerous, but this was a level of ruthlessness he hadn't anticipated.

Rafe suddenly released Tod, letting him slump to the ground, coughing and gasping. He crouched down, grabbing a fistful of Tod's hair to yank his head up.

"But I'm feeling generous tonight," Rafe said, his voice low and menacing. "So I'm going to give you a choice. You can disappear on your own. Leave town, never come back, never contact anyone here again. Or I can make you disappear. Permanently."

Tod's eyes darted wildly, searching for an escape. Finding none, he nodded frantically. "Okay, okay! I'll go. I'll leave town. You'll never see me again."

Rafe stood, brushing off his hands as if ridding them of something distasteful. "Smart choice. You have 24 hours. If I see you after that, well..."

The threat hung in the air, unfinished but unmistakable. Tod scrambled to his feet, stumbling backwards towards his car.

"You're crazy, man," Tod muttered, fumbling for his keys. "Absolutely fucking crazy."

Rafe's expression remained impassive as he watched Tod stumble towards his car. "Remember, 24 hours. And Tod?" He called out as Tod fumbled with his keys. "If I even suspect you've told anyone about this conversation, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your very short life."

Tod nodded frantically before practically diving into his car. The tires squealed as he peeled out of the parking lot, leaving the acrid smell of burning rubber in his wake.

For a long moment, Rafe stood motionless, staring out at the dark water. The rage that had fueled him moments ago was fading, leaving behind a hollow emptiness. He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over Kaylee's name in his contacts.

With a frustrated growl, he shoved the phone back in his pocket. It was too soon. She'd still be angry.

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't approach Kaylee directly, not yet. Probably not for a while. She would still be too wary, too hurt.

He couldn't be the hero, not yet. But he could give her time to calm down, to heal, even if it took a while.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Rafe started the engine and pulled away from the docks.

⚓️

Day Two

Morning - St. Olive's Hospital - Waiting Room

Isa was in the hallway of the hospital after getting a change of clothes from the night before, seeing Sarah there. "You're still here?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered softly as she gave Isa a tight smile.

Isa nodded.

⚓️

John B's Hospital Room

Isa and Sarah walked into John B's room to check on him.

Isa sat directly next to John B, holding her brother's hand.

Lia knocked on the door, looking in. "Isa. Sarah. Hey."

"Hey, Lia," Sarah said softly.

"Can I come in?" Lia asked.

Isa sighed, nodding. "Might as well."

Lia walked closer. "John B's gonna be okay. You Pogues seem to have survival skills of cockroaches."

Isa smirked slightly. "That's true." She looked out into the hallway, suddenly on high alert when she saw Cheryl out in the hall talking to Ward. "Why is DCS here?"

"Oh, she was just talking to our dad," Lia answered. "He's offering to take the two of you in."

Isa looked at them in shock, not sure how to react to that.

Soon, John B was waking up, opening his eyes.

Isa looked at her brother in relief, smiling, biting her lip. "Hi."

John B's fingers moved gently under the black cast that they put on his wrist. "Hi. Where am I?"

"St. Olive's," Sarah answered. "You fell from the Hawk's Nest."

John B looked between the three girls, disoriented and confused. "Oh."

"You just have a concussion and a broken wrist, hairline fracture," Lia explained. "You were very lucky."

"Whoa," John B mumbled.

"Pretty cool," Sarah commented.

Isa embraced John B, being careful to not hurt him at all. "Thank God you're okay."

John B placed his good hand on the back of her head. "Please, it's gonna take more than that to kill me."

"More than falling from that high?" Isa asked. "Like Lia said, you're lucky you walked away with just a broken arm and concussion."

John B simply smiled.

Lia smiled a bit because of her earlier comment about the Pogues' survival skills.

John B attempted to get up from bed, groaning in pain. "We need to get outta here."

Isa stopped him from getting up. "Whoa, hey. You need to rest."

John B shook his head. "No. DCS is gonna find us."

Ward walked in. "Hang on there, kid. Hang on. Sarah told me everything. About your little adventure, about you two running from DCS." He looked at John B. "About how you were protecting her in the tower." John B looked at Sarah and the two shared a small smile. "John, I believe I owe you an apology." Ward walked closer. "You were honest with me about a small indiscretion, and I went ahead and fired you anyway. And I shouldn't have. Unfortunately, from time to time, I have a bit of a... short fuse." He turned to Lia and Sarah. "Ask them."

Sarah nodded. "It's true."

Lia scoffed softly. "It's an understatement."

Ward gave her a look. "Lia."

Lia raised her eyebrows in response, not caring about the look she got.

Isa and John B looked between Lia and Ward, sensing the tension between them as clear as day.

Ward turned to Isa and John B. "Anyway, I'd like to make up for it, if you'll let me. I spoke with Sheriff Peterkin, and... I've offered to be the legal guardian for both of you, if you'll have me."

John B frowned. "What?"

"It'd mean a roof over your heads, and no more running from the DCS," Ward told them. "Also, you two won't be split up."

Ward turned his head to look between Lia and Sarah. Sarah bit her lip, letting out a small laugh.

Lia felt like something was off about Ward's sudden act of kindness, looking at Isa and John B, giving them a small smile as an expression of worry was reflected in her eyes.

John B sat up slightly. "Sure, yeah. Uh... sounds good."

"Isa?" Ward asked.

"I go wherever he goes," Isa answered. "So, yeah, I guess."

Ward chuckled softly, putting one hand on John B's shoulder and the other on Isa's, giving them a smile. "Okay, then, it's settled. Welcome to the family."

Isa just returned the smile awkwardly, unsure of what to say or do next.