i. fight! fight! fight!

Finally, the sky glowed over the dark grey clouds of the nighttime storm. The yellow hue sent by the sharp rays of the sun lit up the room with drifting curtains and old water bottles littering the bedside table. Warmth wrapped up the girl sprawled tiredly on the bed; comforter kicked to the foot of her bed in the heat of the summertime storm. Her arm dangled unknowingly off the edge of the bed and pillows spilled onto the floor.

It was slow at first. The eyelids of the once sleeping girl fluttered awake in the nuance of light and heat of the coming day. She blinked allowing her tired eyes to adjust to the light reflecting into her room from the glass of the paned balcony doors. She pressed the heel of her palm harsh against the eyes, making colors light up the blackness. As she willed herself in a sitting position her legs swung over the ledge of the queen-sized bed and landed on the white wood flooring beneath her feet.

She'd managed to fall asleep in the midst of howling storm. Screaming winds and razorblade like raindrops falling from the sky so quickly that she feared that it might shatter the glass of her bedroom windows. And with each strike of white lighting closing in on her house she feared that the next might be the one to hit it. She'd never liked storms. But the handful of melatonin gummy bears seemed to do her well.

"I see you slept well,"

Nolan Scott, the eldest of the Scott children, heir to the dynasty built by generations of Scott's before himself, spoke as he leaned lazily against the chilled refrigerator door. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, dripping from his hairline. He'd pressed a can of cold soda against his neck to help fight off the on-coming heat.

"Thanks to about a million of those sleeping gummies,"

Nova Scott, the youngest, grinned tiredly.

When she was young, Nova never could sleep through storms. She'd always end up between her mom and dad in their bed that was more than big enough to hold the three of them. Though, in an attempt to help cure her daughter of this fear, Tallulah Scott would make nights filled with drumming thunder one of fun and distraction. The four of them, Nova, Nolan, Tallulah, and their dad, Lincoln Scott, would make forts in the living room and eat sweet snacks until the early morning hours, when they'd all finally fall asleep as the storm subsided.

But then Tallulah Scott died. And Nova stopped sleeping through storms again.

"Yeah, your hair looks like the hurricane ran through it too," laughed Nolan as passed over to the other side of the kitchen so that he was standing beside of Nova.

Nova rolled her eyes but instinctively ran a hand through the knotted hair in a quick attempt to smooth it down to her head.

"I hate you..." she mumbled as she wrestled with the cap of a bright orange pill bottle that was nearing empty.

It'd be time for a refill soon.

Nolan laughed, "You love me," he sang loudly as he headed back up the staircase and toward his bedroom.

Nova, after swallowing down the capsule with a mouthful of water and quickly chasing it with a fudge Poptart, followed Nolan up the stairs, only she stopped at her bedroom door instead of rounding to his.

It took fifteen minutes alone to get a brush through one side of her hair. Almost thirty minutes passed before she could run her hairbrush through without scalping herself. With a claw clip she pulled the long brown locks from the back of her neck, allowing just a few pieces of strands to frame her face.

Another thirty or so minutes Nova spent looking through her closet. This was a daily issue. She never knew what to wear. It was lucky that Nova's school mandated uniforms or she'd be late every day. There was just too much to choose from. And it wasn't because she was picky, because normally Nova wore the same thing, it's just, she had too much to choose from.

Nova had dressed down. Knowing she'd likely be spending her day volunteering her help to those affected by the hurricane that swept through the small island. Though the pair of olive-green overalls that she'd pulled over a white shirt still had their tags when she pulled it from the shelves. Shoes were never an issue like clothes. The summer months usually meant she was wearing her old Birkenstocks.

And before leaving the uncleaned bedroom, Nova grabbed her phone of the bedside table and her purse hanging on the golden knob of her door.

"I'm heading out!"

Nova yelled over her shoulder as she passed by her brother who had once again wondered downstairs, but was now laying sprawled on the foyer couch with a battery powered fan inched from his face.

"Tell Sarah I said hi," he yelled after her. "And be safe."

The door shut behind her before anything else could be said.

Outside of the Scott residence there were already men in brightly-colored attire working around her house. Clearing out tree branches and other debris that had littered around the house. Some lifted high up onto the powerline poles, quick to fix the damages caused by the storm.

Nova greeted the company workers with a polite smile as she passed them on the way to her car. She already knew where she was going.

Sarah Cameron had started protecting Nova a long time ago. It started when they were young. Preschool. A boy had torn apart a favorite stuffed animal of Nova's, Sarah spent the entire day consoling a weepy, four-year-old Nova. They'd been joined at the hip sense. And twelve years later, she was doing the same.

Only it wasn't her toys that the boys were breaking now, it was Nova's heart. And Sarah still spent hours consoling Nova. Every time.

Everyone on the island knew, there was no Nova Scott without Sarah Cameron, and there was no Sarah Cameron without Nova Scott. They'd been bonded by something stronger than friendship. They were a piece of the other needed to survive. They couldn't go more than two days without talking to one another.

Nova had long since become a regular at the Cameron household. Practically another resident. If she wasn't at her house, the next place you'd find her is the Cameron's. Always welcomed with open arms and a smile, so it wasn't uncommon when she didn't bother to knock as allowed herself into the front door of the house. Though it was empty. All the voices sounded from the backyard, through the kitchen.

"Ah, Nova, I was wondering if you'd make it by today," Ward Cameron greeted her warmly when he noticed her stepped out onto his concrete patio. He'd just been making his way back inside the house when she stepped out, leading Lana, a woman Nova knew well on the island, her husband Scooter was well known as well. "Sarah's back there somewhere, swatting at birds, maybe you can get her to stop."

Nova laughed, "Thanks, but I seriously doubt it."

Sarah had become a very enthusiastic animal preservationist. She took a lot of pride in it. And Nova supported her and volunteered to help as much as she could, but sometimes, Sarah took things to the extreme. Even refusing to accept the fact that some animals had to eat other animals in order to survive. But her heart was always in the right place.

"Wheezie," nodded Nova, passing by the drained pool. Sarah's younger sister was pacing the grounds, phone held high over her head, wishing for service. "What're you up to?"

She shrugged, her dark curls bouncing off her shoulders, "Oh, just trying to learn how cavemen entertained themselves without wifi!"

"Alright then."

Nova decided not to entertain herself with conversation. Sarah always denied it, but she and her little sister were a lot alike. Both incredibly dramatic, a little bit of a whiner, and hard-headed. The two of them fight constantly. Nova thinks it's because they're so much alike.

She scoffed when she neared the shaded part of the yard. Noticing Sarah standing in the high weeds of the bank near the sound waters. She held an old tennis rack, belonging to the school tight in her fist as she swung it ferociously through the air.

"Jesus, Sarah," called Nova, a hand over her eyes to shield herself from the blinding light shooting from above. "If you would've swung like that during our tennis portion in school, you wouldn't have had to take credit recovery."

"The burrows filled with water from the surge," panted Sarah, exhausted from her morning shenanigans. "The bords are having a field day."

"Yeah, probably because the birds are hungry too, Sarah," said Nova.

Sarah refused to hear it, continuing to swing the racket around like a mad woman. It worked somewhat, but the bords were getting sneaking. Swooping down when her back was turned the other way. Snatching the mice that had been flooded out of their safe burrows. Now scurrying to dry land. Nova found that the more she thought about the mice the more she felt sorry for them.

"It's mouse genocide out here!" yelled Sarah.

"I'll help," Nova rolled her eyes, picking up a stick from the grass to help wield off the hungry predators. "But you can't call it a genocide. I don't think that's politically correct."

The large oak tree planted long ago in Camerons' backyard offered a cool shade. Nova and Sarah had escaped the cruel, blistering sun hours after saving the mice and picking up stray debris from the sides of the water bank. There wasn't much else for them to help with. Though the two girls offered their time, they found that most of the time they were getting in the way more than they were helping.

The slight breeze spraying them with ocean water was more chill than the house air could offer. Much of the island was still without electricity, and even more were without proper air conditioning. The houses had become humid and hot. Nova wished for the cool chlorine water the pools offered, but it'd been drained due to the amount of trash that had been thrown into it from the strong winds last night.

Rose Cameron, Ward's younger bride had approached them late in the afternoon with an offer for lunch. She'd gone to town, not wanting to cook in this heat. Sarah accepted before quickly giving her stepmother the cold shoulder. Nova smiled apologetically before nudging Sarah to scold her for her cold behavior. Rose was nice, Nova thought so at least, she'd always welcomed her with open arms and gracious smile. But Sarah was still hesitant and quick to remind Rose that she wasn't her mother. It made it hard for their relationship to go past cordial.

Nova understood, Sarah didn't want to replace her mother, she felt her father was trying to do that with Rose. But she didn't like the hostility that would sometimes come from Sarah. Nova didn't have a mother anymore either. And she feared the day that her father might decide to remarry. Because in truth it would be a final goodbye to her mother. But she wanted her dad to love again. She didn't understand why Sarah couldn't let her dad do the same.

"There's my girl!" Nova rolled her eyes at the familiar tone. She turned to see Topper strutting down the freshly mowed grass. "And Nova..."

Nova let out an annoyed puff of air as she sat up off the grass, "Great," she whispered with a fake enthusiasm. "Topper's here."

Sarah's enthusiasm was real though. She squealed happily as she pulled herself off the ground and ran into her boyfriend's embrace. Topper wrapped his arms tight around her waist and spun her, lifting her feet off the ground as he did so.

Nova watched, feeling as if she might be sick if they kept this up.

She and Topper had a history. Well known too. For most of Nova's ninth grade year they were the off and on-again couple. They were awful together, both of them knew it, but it took them almost nine months of toxicity to figure that out. Finally, they broke up and it stuck.

Almost a year later and Sarah came to her, telling Nova about how she had feelings for Topper. She was nervous, Nova could tell. She thought Nova would be angry. But in reality, when Sarah told her best friend about her feelings for a certain ex-boyfriend, she was worried. She knew first-hand what dating Topper was like. She knew his expectations. They were impossible to live up to because he fictionalized you in his head. And he'd get angry when you couldn't live up to the idea of you, he created.

But Nova gave Sarah her blessing. With caution of course. And an internal promise to be there when things inevitably go to hell between the two of them.

"There's supposed to be a party later tonight," said Topper, standing behind Sarah with his arms loose around her waist. It looked like they were posing for a prom photo. "You two wanna tag along?"

Saraha furrowed her eyebrows, "How late tonight?"

"When the sun sets, I suppose," shrugged Topper.

Sarah cast a glance to Nova. She wasn't going to make a decision until she knew Nova's.

Nova let out a long, tired sigh as she fell back into the shaded grass, "I dunno."

Partying was never something Nova actually enjoyed. And yet she'd always end up at one.

"Oh, c'mon Nova, it'll be fun," whined Topper in an attempt to change Nova's mind, knowing that if she doesn't come along Sarah probably wouldn't either. And he'd miss his time to show her off to a crowd. "Besides, Kelce will be there."

"That makes the party seem even less appealing, Topper," Nova glared at him.

Besides, Nova was long over caring about where Kelce would be anymore.

"Please, Nova..." Sarah jutted out her bottom lip and batted her eyelashes pleadingly at her best friend. "It won't be any fun without you."

That was a lie. In no world was Nova the life of the party. Most of the time she was taken against her initial wishing. This would be one of those times.

Sarah's smile widened with glee as she noticed the expression on Nova's face soften. Nova was going to give in... again, "Okay, I'll go. But if I hate it, I'm leaving."

"No, of course, and I'll leave with you," promised Sarah without even considering how Topper felt about that.

That happened a lot. And it made Topper incredibly annoyed. Sarah, even though in a relationship, put Nova first. And Nova would do the same with Sarah. It was always them. No one else mattered more to the girls.

Boneyard Beach. One of the only middle points on the island. Where Kook met Pogue. There'd been many attempts to claim the piece of deserted beach. Mostly the Pogues, who already felt neglected in what they'd been given. But it remained a neutral point of land. Where rich or poor you could come to get drunk and forget about your woes, whatever they may be.

The bassline in the speakers was already thumping when Nova stepped out of the backseat of Topper's vehicle. Against her wishes he drove them to the forgotten beach. He'd picked her up from her house about an hour ago where she'd gone after leaving Sarah's house to make herself seem a little more presentable.

A cold shower had been desperately needed after spending the day in the humid aftermath of Hurricane Agatha. The cold droplets of water cooled her burning skin. She once again pulled the hair out of her face and off her neck, and tied it into a ponytail. The few pieces of bangs that framed her face fell into loose curls around her cheeks.

Nova kept a pull on the back of her dress as she made her way down the slope of sand that dropped into the party zone. The short red fabric stopped high on her things. One wrong move would give a look to anyone who dared to glance her way. But the spaghetti-strapped dress was one of the most comfortable in Nova's closet. Made of red t-shirt material, Nova paired a pair of white Birkenstocks with it, leaving her filthy aged pair at home.

"Hey, Nova, you came."

Nova's chest tightened and she resisted an eyeroll when a familiar voice called from behind her. She turned, of course, Kelce had come up behind them, falling in step with her. He was the last person Nova wanted to see. They weren't exactly on the best of terms. Not since their latest breakup.

They'd been on and off for over a year now. Right now, they were off. Way off.

Nova offered the boy a tight-lipped grin, but the smile did not reach her bored eyes, "Hey Kelce."

"You want something to drink?" he offered, shuffling on his feet as if he was nervous.

With a sly look in her eyes, Sarah nudged Nova closer to Kelce. Despite the drama that was the two of them she did like them as a couple. Kelce was one of the only boyfriends that had gotten to know Nova. Sarah just wanted Nova to be happy. And she was sometimes happy with Kelce.

Nova was reluctant to agree. She didn't want to allow Kelce to get her alone so that he could attempt to sweet talk her like he would always do. And she'd always fall for it. But she also didn't want to be strung along with Topper and Sarah all night.

So, she agreed, with a firm nod, "Sure," she sighed, still unsure of her decision. "Why not?"

Kelce reached for Nova's hand. She didn't take, walking past him, leading the way to the line at the Keg. Kelce filled the red cups with the cheap beer, handing one that was overfilled to Nova. She sipped the foamy contents and cringed at the taste.

He cleared his throat, shuffling his feet again, "I've been trying to get ahold of you. But my calls and texts won't go through."

That would be because Nova had blocked Kelce two weeks ago. None of his attempts to reach her would go through. Not even private messages on their social media accounts. She didn't want to hear from him, so she cut him off completely. Until today. The first time they'd talked since the breakup.

"I've been ignoring them," admitted Nova with a nod.

She wasn't sorry, either. He deserved it.

"I am sorry, Nova," Kelce apologized for the millionth time in the short two weeks they'd been apart. "And I'm not sure how I can prove it when you refuse to see or hear from me."

"You don't get to prove it. Not this time, Kelce," said Nova. "Like I said before... I'm done."

She'd been as serious as she ever had before when she broke up with Kelce the last time. But she understood why he was having a hard time believing her when she'd tell him she was done with him. Because every time he'd run to her with his handful of apologies she'd believe him, and they'd end up right back where they started.

But she meant it this time.

"I like you, Nova," he told her. His tall-framed body turned to face her, his head facing down to try and reach her gaze. "I really like you. I liked you so much that it terrified me."

"And I believe you, Kelce. But you don't want to be with me. Not really."

Kelce furrowed his eyebrows. Confused.

Nova didn't doubt that Kelce liked her. She knew he did. He wouldn't have kept apologizing to her for an entire year if he didn't. But he didn't want her like she wanted him to. And she'd lied to herself for an entire year. Confused herself of her own feelings for him. Convincing herself that she loved him. And he loved her.

"Kelce, you cheated on me at a party that you took me to as your date," she shook her head, practically chuckling at the memory.

She'd walked in on him and Francine Bennett at a friend's party. He had her pinned on the outside of brick house, hands pulling her waist to his, her hands entangled around his neck. It was horrifying. Well, it should've been. But there was no reaction when she'd seen what she did. And when she finally told him that she was done it was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. A weight she didn't realize she'd been carrying.

That wasn't love. It couldn't be. There was no crash and burn when she ended things. She felt free not broken. That's why she blocked him. Nova didn't want to give up her freedom to be trapped by Kelce's need to be with her again.

He didn't love her. But he felt obligated to be with her. Why? Nova never found out.

"We shouldn't be together."

"Why?" he challenged.

Nova turned her head upward, finally looking at him, "Because it'd be out of obligation."

Their pairing hadn't even been natural. They'd been set up by mutual friends. Kelce liked the stories he'd been told about Nova Scott. She was the girl who gave her all to boys who only ever pretended to care.

In her desire to be loved she only became broken.

Kelce had nothing else to say. He'd been stunned by the truth. Truth that they've known for a while. Neither of them wanted to be together for the right reasons. They could be friends, maybe, one day. Nove liked Kelce as a person. He was charming and funny, and in his own way he did care about her. Just not in the way she wanted him to.

Finally, he opened his mouth to speak, but Nova's voice sounded first, "I'm going to walk away now. Bye, Kelce."

She left him standing alone beside the keg that neared empty. Though she knew he wouldn't be alone for long. Like she said, Kelce was charming, and he was cure, and popular, people flocked to him. He'd have a group of people around him and his dazzling smile would be on full display. Kelce knew how to say what people wanted to hear. That's why Nova always went back.

His words were prettier than reality.

Nova avoided following after Sarah and Topper. Still not wanting to be their third wheel. Though, Sarah would make it to where Topper was the tag-along. But that would lead to him becoming jealous and then Nova would have to hear his whining. So, she just stayed away from them as much as she could.

A familiar body came up to stand beside of her. Brown skin that glistened under the orange sky. Dark curls fell past the girl's shoulders. Nova turned to face Kiara who stared at Sarah with a pointed expression, "What's she doing here?"

Nova sighed. Once upon a time they'd been friends. All three of them. Kiara, Sarah, and Nova, they'd been inseparable their freshman year, when Kiara had been made to transfer to the private school. But there'd been a falling out between Sarah and Kiara. Which meant Nova was caught in the middle. Kiara wanted Nova to mad at Sarah too. She wanted Nova to choose a side. Nova never did. That led Kiara to believe that she'd picked Sarah, and so they stopped talking too.

It was sad because Nova liked Kiara. But she wasn't going to choose between the two of them. She still hadn't. After all this time she's yet to say a bad word about Kiara.

"It's a party... on Boneyard," Nova rolled her eyes, tired of the childlike behavior. "Everyone was invited."

Kiara scoffed. She still didn't like the idea of Sarah being on same ground as her. She even transferred schools to get away from Sarah.

"Yeah, well," she nodded to Sarah, who'd climbed high onto an ocean buoy that had likely been washed up by the storm. "Keep a leash on her, would you?"

Nova watched Sarah from afar as Kiara stalked off. Topper was losing his mind, trying to get Sarah off the washed-up debris. She only laughed at his worry. This is why Nova knew it wouldn't work between the two. Sarah was adventurous. She liked to live and take risks. Topper liked safety. He wanted a girl on his arm to parade around the island. Sarah wasn't that.

Looking down at her cup, Nova realized she'd drank all of her beer. She pouted slightly and turned on her heels to go and get refill. Luckily, Kelce had moved away. And just as she thought, was the center of another crowd's attention.

The sun had set finally. The once orange sky had darkened into a midnight blue that sparkled with dancing stars. It was a nice sight. To see a clear sky after the hurricane. Tiki torches buried in the sand lit up the area. Others wore glow sticks around their wrists and necks. A small fire had been made down the beach. Logs set aside for benches. Someone sat strumming a guitar. So out of tune that Nova cringed. She could tell Nolan hadn't made an appearance or he'd be over there to fix those mistakes in an instant.

Too bad that he and his band had a gig on the mainland this evening.

"You wanting a refill or are you just going to keep standing there all by yourself?"

John B. Routledge. The island's orphan. And the host of this party she'd found out earlier. He was a born Pogue. Not a silver spoon in sight.

"Yeah, thanks," Nova held out her cup for him.

He watched her as he filled the cup, "You having a good time tonight?"

"It'd be better if there was something other than beer to drink," she joked.

"Not a fan of the Natty Light?"

"Not a fan of beer period."

John B. nodded, "I'll remember that for the next time."

Nova smiled.

They'd never talked. Not before today. She's seen him around, it's a small island, but never has she stopped to talk to him. They shared the island, that was it. Nova and John B. lived completely different lives.

"What are you a fan of?"

"Capri Sun," Nova admitted. "You know, the ones in the pouch with the yellow straw?"

John B. laughed as Nova went on to describe the small pouches of juice that she never can seem to get enough of.

"I'm Nova, by the way."

He nodded, "I know who you are." Nova's cheeks heated under his smile. "I'm John B."

Nova nodded, now it was her turn, "I know who you are."

John B. Routledge was certainly a sight. Nova couldn't deny that. He had a charm too him. A realness that she's never encountered before.

She bit the inside of her lip as she turned away from him. Their conversation coming to a close. They didn't run into each other anymore as the night deepened over the neglected piece of beach. Nova had been taken in by a group of friends from school, talking about little nothings, and nothing that she'd care to remember later on.

Nova began to wish that she wouldn't have come this evening. The droning of materialistic conversation from her peers had become tiresome. Only caring how the Hurricane had impacted and ruined their summer.

The Scott's were supposed to go to Bora Bora for the last few weeks of June. But it was Lincoln's busy work schedule that had ruined their plans.

Nolan was the most relieved that their trip had been cancelled. He and his band had lined up gigs all through summer. Playing all over the state and even neighboring states some weekends. He was hopeful that this meant good things for his music. Nova didn't have a doubt that they'd go somewhere either. They were great. Nolan had always been a talented musician. He'd inherited that from their mother, just as she had.

Nova was a dancer though. While well versed in many instruments and having years of vocal training under her belt, she'd gravitated to the art of moving. Though on occasion she'd be asked by the country club on the island to sing at their private bar.

Suddenly two hands grasped Nova's small shoulders. She heard drunken giggling in her ear and the blonde strands of hair falling onto her shoulder told her it was Sarah that had grabbed onto her, "Hey, Topper wants to head out. You ready to go?"

"I think that's the best idea Topper's had all night," said Nova, sounding just a little too happy to be leaving a party.

Sarah took Nova's hand into hers. The warmth of her skin blanketing Nova's chilled fingers. They started back down the beach to where the party was still in its prime. Nova hadn't realized she'd drifted so far away. She'd been so inside her own head.

The giggling didn't stop. Nova couldn't understand what it was that Sarah was finding so funny in her drunken stupor. But she laughed with Sarah, only happy to see her so happy. Usually, when out with Topper the night would end in a fight. And Nova would be consoling a sobbing Sarah.

"Hey ladies!"

The voice wasn't exactly slurred. But from the tone Nova could tell that whoever shouted at them might've had one too many beers tonight.

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

JJ Maybank. The island pretty boy. More pogue than his best friend, John B. Routledge. His blonde hair sat tousled on the top of his head. Looking as if he'd taken his hand through it one too many times. He stopped in front of Sarah and Nova. A mischievous grin masking his expression.

Nova glanced down at the cup in JJ's hand. It'd been filled to the brim with beer. She looked back up to JJ who watched her with an amused eye, "Okay, why not?"

His mischievous smile widened into one of amused shock. He hadn't been expecting either of them to take him up on his offer. His approach was at first a taunt. Two Kooks partying with Pogues on a darkened beach. He was messing with them.

But Nova met him. Nearly chest to chest with raised eyebrows, waiting for him to give her the cup. He finally did so, causing some of the beer to spill over the cup's paper edges. She managed a few drinks, but knew she was pushing her boundaries, and so she handed the cup back over to JJ.

He held the cup to Sarah, "What about you, Sarah Cameron?"

"Sorry, no, I might've had enough already," Sarah turned down his offer politely.

JJ faked a disappointed sigh, "Oh come on, is it not fancy enough for you?"

Sarah laughed knowingly. She or Nova was new to these types of comments. Especially from Pogues. They were resented for the wealth their parents had. And to an extent Nova understood. But the teasing was constant. And a lot of the time, unfunny.

But Sarah didn't falter, she remained civil in her tone, "Really, I'm good. Thank you, though."

"Hey, you know what, I'll take it," Topper, who had spotted the girls stopped beside JJ Maybank hurried in their direction to usher them away.

He pushed in front of them, blocking them from further interaction with JJ, "Thanks man, I appreciate it."

Topper reached for the cup. But JJ pulled his hand back.

"That's nice, but I didn't ask you," said JJ wearing a new kind of grin. One that told Nova he was looking for trouble. "But maybe, if you say pretty please..."

Topper also noticed this glint in JJ's eye, and played right into his cards, not willing to back down to a Pogue, "Pretty please..."

JJ's gaze shifted past Topper, once again he reached the cup out to Nova, "Here, you can have it."

There was a scoff and then the beer spilled all over JJ's face and down the front of his shirt. Nova gasped and Sarah stepped back, pulling Nova with her. The once tipsy gleam in JJ's eyes had gone. Replaced with red anger. And without hesitation, he lunged for Topper.

Topper fought back. Almost happily. He'd been waiting for JJ to lose him temper. To throw the first punch, so that he could fight back without being the bad guy. John B. was quick to scene to pull his friend away from the fight. Whispering calming words into his ear as he held back a thrashing JJ.

It seemed the fight was over before it had the chance to even begin. JJ had been pulled to the side by his friends and Sarah had reached out with her free hand to latch onto Topper's Ralph Lauren button-up shirt.

They'd just turned their backs to finally leave, "Dirty fucking Pogues!"

The fight was now far from over. But it wasn't JJ who'd pushed his way in front of Topper, no, this time is the normally calm John B. who'd run up and brought his fist across Topper's jaw. Quickly, Nova pulled Sarah into her side before she could be caught in the crossfire. Luckily so, because Topper was quick to respond, having no regard for his surrounds as he lunged back at John B. and swung at his face.

The impact of Topper's hit made John B. stumble backward where he was knocked onto his knees by a wave that had crashed behind him.

Topper smirked at the sight as he wiped the blood off his chin, using his thumb, "Hey, John B, don't make me drown you like your old man, alright?"

Stepping forward, Nova reached for Topper's sleeve in an attempt to pull him away from the forming crowd hoping to see a fight, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you say that?"

The supposed fate of Big John Routledge was one known by the entire island. The man was well known. And his disappearance didn't go unnoticed. Not even by the Kooks. There'd never been a body. But for the amount of time he's been gone, and last seen on the waters, everyone knew what happened.

And Nova knew how it felt to lose a parent.

Sarah knew what was about to happen. And their previous roles had reversed. Now, it was Sarah who reached for Nove when she noticed John B. standing up from the water so that she wouldn't be caught in the middle of their fight.

Topper had stupidly turned his head to gloat to his school friends. Laughing at his sick joke. He'd let his guard down. Not remembering that he didn't knock John B out, and he'd just made a joke about his presumed dead father. Topper was unsuspecting when John B. came up from behind him and tackled him into the salty waters.

As they rolled around in the water punching and kicking each other, the crowd around them screaming, either pleading for them to stop, or chanting: Fight! Fight! Fight!

Nova was neither. She found only annoyance at the sight of the fighting boys. She was tired. She'd been hoping to go home. But Topper had to go and get himself into a fight. Now, she was expected to wait until it died down or Sarah's cries managed to stop Topper's fury.

It looked like she was going to be here for a while.

Topper managed a hit to John B's jaw that sent him falling into the water again. And with the antagonizing crowd cheering him on, encouraging him to go further, he walked over, stopping beside of John B. who was struggling to pull himself up this time, and he took ahold of the back of hair and dunked his face into the water.

Nova almost didn't believe it at first. There was no way this was happening. Topper would not intentionally drown someone. Would he? But her eyes were not lying to her. Topper stood triumphantly over a struggling John B.

In an attempt to keep Topper from a murder charge Nova moved toward the action, but a strong arm wrapped hooked around her waist, refusing to let her go any further.

"Don't get into the middle of it. You'll end up hurt," said Kelce.

He'd been watching the whole time and made no move to do anything. He'd rather watch his friend become a murderer.

Angrily, Nova pushed him off her and snarled her lip at him, "Topper will kill him if someone doesn't do something!"

And much to her father's disliking, Nova had never been the person to not do something.

She'd just turned away from Kelce, determined to get Topper off this beach, when she heard the click of a gun. Nova's eyes widened in horror, JJ had beat her to the scene, and he had the barrel of a gun resting on the back of Topper's head.

Sarah's scream sounded over collective gasps from the once cheering crowd, "JJ, put the gun down!"

The fight circle began to break around them. Teenagers scattered in an attempt to miss any flying bullets.

"Seriously JJ, just drop the gun," pleaded Nova, her voice beginning to tremble. She'd never seen someone get shot. She had no desire to start today. "He's not worth it. He's not worth the trouble this will cause you."

Topper let go of John B, letting him drop face first into the water, only to quickly turn around and sputter for a breath of air.

"We're good," Topper's hands shook as he moved them to rest on his head in an act of surrender. "We're good, man, okay?"

"Jesus, Kie, can you check your psycho friend, please?" yelled Sarah angrily.

Nova turned to Sarah, willing her to shut up with a hard stare. Thankfully, she listened.

Before a bullet could be shot or another fight break out, Nova stomped toward Topper, taking a handful of his wet, crumpled shirt and pushed him in the other direction. The one toward his car. Where they should've been a long time ago.

Nova wanted to turn around and apologize. Tell them how embarrassed she is. But she didn't even bother to look over her shoulder before sliding into the back of Topper's vehicle once again.

"Maybank's a fucking psycho, man!"

Topper punched his steering wheel as he sped down the lonesome, dark roads, adrenaline running rampant through his veins. The fear of staring down death had now turned to anger.

Nova yawned, "You were drowning his best friend," she shrugged. "I would've shot you too."

Sarah gasped, turning her seat with horror-struck eyes, "Jesus, Nova,"

"Just being honest."

Nova didn't go home last night. Knowing she'd still be without air conditioning and alone until the early hours of the morning, she decided to bunk with Sarah. Which took no convincing at all, Sarah was happy to have Nova.

Though her house was just as humid and stuffy as the outside. They only lasted an hour in the house before packing up their things and walking down the pier and into Ward Cameron's yacht. Which ran on gas, and had air conditioning. Nova never thought of this. Though her dad's yacht was kept in a storing unit further down the pier for safety purposes. Even if she wanted to, she wouldn't be able to sleep there.

With the cool air finally enveloping her and cooling her body it was easy to fall asleep.

They were rose early in the morning. By Rafe Cameron hitting the wall above them to draw them from their slumber.

"Sleeping on the yacht, not a bad idea," Rafe observed their make-shift bedroom with his eyebrows raised, impressed.

Sarah threw the covers that had been tucked over her and Nova both to the side so that she could stand from the bed, "Don't even think about stealing it. I have dibs. And Nova will be staying with us until her air is turned back on."

"Nova stays with us even when her air is on," Rafe scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Still lying in bed Nova grinned, looking up at the eldest Cameron sibling, "You love my company."

"Sure, I do," Rafe gave her a tight-lipped grin before turning back to his little sister. "Anyway, dad wanted me to wake the two of you. We're having family breakfast on the patio. Don't know what that's all about."

Rafe left the girls to finish waking up and to rub the sleep out of their droopy eyes. They lingered for a few moments longer before Sarah's charging phone lit up with a text from her father demanding them to be on the patio in five minutes.

They didn't even change before leaving the yacht.

In fact, Nova didn't plan to dress until after breakfast. After filling herself full of waffles, bacon, fruit, and whatever else she was able to fit onto her plate, Nova had showered. She borrowed an outfit from Sarah's closet, though there was a good chance that what she was wearing could be hers, since she and Sarah are always trading outfits.

Her hair was still wet when she started back down the dock. She was on her way to get the clothes she'd worn last night at the party. Since Rose offered to throw the garments in with their own load of laundry. It'd likely be a while before Nova ever saw the dress again now, since it'd end up in Sarah's closet. She wasn't overly upset about it though, she had plenty more dresses at home with the tags still attached.

The last thing Nova expected to happen when she turned to go inside the boat was to bump into someone. She'd first suspected Rafe. He'd been intrigued by Sarah's plan to hideout in the boat until their home was air conditioned again. Nova wouldn't put it past Rafe to try and claim the boat for himself while Sarah and Nova were occupied elsewhere.

But the body she'd collided with was not Rafe Cameron.

Nova had come face-to-face with John B. again, and with a hand over her rapidly beating heart, she asked, "What're you doing here?"

"I work here," he answered a little too quickly, stunned to see someone else on the boat. "What're you doing here?"

Nova furrowed her eyebrows, her fear now turning to skepticism, "Air conditioning is out in the house. I slept here last night."

Though she didn't owe John B. any sort of explanation. She'd been invited to stay here. And with the nervous, mission-oriented look on his face, Nova would say his being here had more to do than working here.

"That's weird," he mumbled as he quickly pushed past her.

She spun to watch him walk away, "It was hot in the house!"

Nova attempted to defend her choice to sleep on a boat.

"I didn't ask for an explanation."

Though she heard a laugh as he dropped down into the boat he'd parked below the yacht. Side-by-side it was a comical sight. His ragged, worn, and aged speed boat, beside a million-dollar yacht that gets cleaned daily. Comical, but also sad.

"Are you alright?" called Nova, hurrying toward the edge of the deck, looking over to see John B. looking up at her confused. She pointed to his blackened and bruised eye to clarify what she was talking about. "It looks like it hurts."

"I'm fine, but tell your friend Topper I'll get him next time."

"He's not my friend," said Nova. "And don't talk to me like you know me."

John B. grinned, finally looking up to fully meet her gaze, "I know exactly who you are." The same words he said to her last night. It'd taken Nova a little by surprise. "Nova Scott, Kook royalty."

She scoffed, "You're an asshole, John B."

Though her insult didn't seem to strike him. As she heard him laughing as the engine of his small boat shook to life, filling the once silent waters with motion. Water splashed up onto the yacht as he sped into movement. Nova rolled her eyes, knowing the move had been intentional, and stuck her middle finger high into the air so that she knew John B. could see it.

Nova watched until he drove out sight. Far off into the waters. She didn't know why she stayed so long, watching him. But she did know that she wasn't fond of the boy at all. There was no chance the two of them could ever be friends.

And she was right.

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outfit inspirations for Nova

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Introducing Nova for the second time. Yes, this is a rewrite. Some stayed the same and some changed. I hope you enjoy.

edited: 12/03/2021