❪ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗘 & 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗘 ❫

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
liability. ╱ season one, episode three.
❛ 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗌, 𝗂 𝖺𝗆 𝖺 𝗍𝗈𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒, '𝗍𝗂𝗅
𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗄𝗌 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇
𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝖾, ❜

ANGER IS SOMETHING THAT Kennedy couldn't help but radiate as she counted the instances her phone buzzed in the past hour and a half. The house was quiet as she remained the only one in it. A day had passed since the traumatizing experience at John B's chateau and Kennedy refused to leave the safety of her room. Anxiety crawled across her skin, worried that something else bad would happen to her. If she didn't leave her room she wouldn't have to face anything, and she was content with that.

Kennedy felt peace for the first time since everything that erupted yesterday, she laid out on a chair on her balcony with a blunt softly tilted between her fingers. She heard the buzzing of cars passing by but she paid no mind to them. Things were solace, up until Riley started calling her incessantly. The blonde kook had been ignoring the boy since he unknowingly put her life in danger at John B's. Kennedy never thought she would feel anger towards her best friend, but here she was, ignoring the constant calls, texts, and voicemails from the boy.

Kennedy hoped he would wear himself out and eventually stop calling, she wanted to avoid him until the last possible second. It was what she liked to do best. It was comforting to procrastinate until the last second, it was what made her feel most relaxed in anxiety-filled situations. Kennedy should've known that people will never fully leave her alone.

The slam of her bedroom door made her jump, her stomach dropped instantly, memories of yesterday finally filling her brain. With shaky knees she stood, nervously making her way into her room. All anxiety flooded off her body seeing Riley stalk into her room with a look of franticness.

"Kenn, why the hell haven't you answer me?"

Kennedy sent him a bored gaze as she took a hit of her blunt, "You really aren't a priority to me right now,"

Riley rolled his eyes knowing her words were meant to hurt him, but he knew she didn't mean them, "Kennedy, I'm sorry about yesterday, you have no idea how guilty I feel about that,"

"Do you?" Kennedy scoffed humorlessly, slowly making her way to Riley with a look of rising anger falling on her features, "Last time I checked Riley, you sent me into a life or death situation because of a fucking sweatshirt,"

Riley closed his eyes at her words and a sigh slipped past his lips, "Kenn, I'm sorry, I didn't think John B was gonna get attacked by random people with guns,"

"That's right you didn't think," Kennedy hissed, her voice rising, "When you hang out with trouble that tends to happen,"

Riley glared lightly, "Kennedy that's not fair,"

"What's not fair?" Kennedy questioned, her tone mocking, "When you hang out with pogues, they pull you into their mess, that's how it's always been,"

"Kennedy, they're good people," Riley defended, his anger towards the blonde growing, "You don't know them,"

"Good people?" Kennedy snorted, finding amusement in what Riley said, "Could've fooled me,"

"You're acting a lot like Rafe right now," Riley snapped, shocked that his best friend would say something like this. He knew she hated the pogues but he knew she didn't think they were bad people.

Kennedy whirled her head towards Riley, anger spreading across her face, "Fuck you,"

"Has your mother made you make up with him yet?" Riley taunted, his frustration finally bubbling over, "Since you're acting so much like him, I can already assume that you have,"

Kennedy stared at him incredulously, so shocked that he would ever say something like that to her. The words hit her exactly how he wanted them to, "Get the fuck out,"

"Gladly," Riley scoffed, ready to get away from the blonde he was infuriated with at the moment, "Have fun at the rager tonight, I heard your lovely boyfriend was gonna sell coke to a bunch of underaged kids, make sure not to have too much fun watching girls flirt with him to get a free line,"

Kennedy's heart pummeled in her chest, watching her best friend storm out of her room with a harsh slam of her door. A tear drifted down her cheek, completely in disbelief that Riley would ever say something like that to her. Pain washed over her, the weed consumption being too little to block any of her rising emotions.

The blonde flopped on her bed, feeling the weight of her argument with Riley. Kennedy hated arguing with the person that meant the most to her. Whenever it happened her heart seemed to be left crumbled on the ground. Riley was a lifeline and with him angry at her, there was no one to lean on. Unwillingly she spiraled into a deep panic with no one around.

Kennedy's breath picked up, tears continuously slipped down her hot cheeks. Her arms rounded her waist, gripping her sides with vigor. The world around her spun, with her eyes clenched tight she tried and tried to focus on her breathing but it never seemed to work. Her problems spilled into her mind like a tidal wave, they flashed like neon signs that would never fade.

Whimpers escaped her panicked lips as she cried and cried. She felt like she was dying and nothing was gonna stop it. Kennedy laid with her knees tucked into her chest with her body facing her window. The normal summer breeze did nothing to aid the growing panic that flooded her body. Voices flooded the hallway, they were close yet so far away.

"Kennedy? She's gonna call the cops on us for breaking and enter- Oh my god,"

The blonde didn't bother opening her eyes, but she recognized the panicked voice to be Kiara Carrera. She felt a touch on her arm but it was distant. Everything felt so close but at the same time, a million miles away.

The pogues felt their hearts thud in their chest watching a person they'd call an enemy, look so small. While Kie and JJ should've been enjoying their enemy's suffering, they felt a wave of panic flood over them. Kennedy tucked her head further away from them, not wanting them to see her in such a vulnerable position. Her wet cheeks were hot with tears as she shoved her face into the pillow, not needing the pogues to see her in this position. 

"She's having a panic attack," JJ concluded, recognizing the familiar signs he had to face when they were together. His stomach dropped watching the girl he used to care about crumbling in front of him. He wanted to help but he knew if he did he would completely out their secret and he knew Kennedy didn't want that. But his resolve was wearing down and all he wanted to do was help the girl even if he wasn't very fond of her.

"What the hell do we do?" John B hissed, watching the girl envelop further and further into herself. His face washing over with franticness as moments passed with the young kook spiraling in front of them.

"I know," Pope Heyward spoke, pushing past them all to squat down in front of a struggling blonde kook, "Kennedy, can I help you sit up?"

The girl snapped her eyes open, quickly moving away from him so he wouldn't touch her. Pope sighed, "Can you get up by yourself and plant your feet on the floor for me?"

Kennedy nodded and moved to do what he said, only looking at him and refusing to meet the concerned gazes of the other pogues. Pope smiled at the girl with his heart pounding, "Good, now put your hands on your bed, and think about a place that makes you happy, that makes you calm, while you're doing that focus on breathing,"

Kennedy hastily did what he said. Her blue painted nails gripped the comforter below her as she clenched her eyes shut flashing back to something that made her happy. Without thinking twice her mind flashed to last summer, the memories flooded her brain and moved her away from the pain that she feels now. Her breath was rhythmic as she focused on Pope's faint voice helping her through a breathing exercise.

Slowly but surely, Kennedy came back to the world around her. Her blue eyes reddened from the tears as she gazed at Pope in front of her with appreciation, "Thank you,"

"No problem," Pope replied with a polite smile as he slowly stood back on his feet.

Kennedy pushed her post-panic haze away and wiped the last of her tears away to look at the people around her. "Why are you guys in my house?"

"We wanted to ask for a favor,"

Kennedy stared at John B incredulously, surprised that they would even think that she would ever do something for them, "Did you guys just forget what happened yesterday? We almost died, I'd rather not get mixed up into anything like that ever again,"

"Look," John B sighed loudly, his restraint waring, "We were just as surprised as you, we had no idea who those men were, but they were after something that has to do with the Royal Merchant,"

"What the hell did I say yesterday?" Kennedy hissed, sending the tall boy in front of her a harsh glare, "I said I don't want any part of this,"

"Kennedy-"

"First, you break into my house, second you come in all nonchalantly and ask for a fav-"

"We know where the Merchant shipwreck is alright?"

Kennedy paused, her face falling in surprise, her stomach flopped as she turned to stare at the pogues, "I-I'm sorry you what?"

"Thornton, we found the shipwreck," JJ piped in, his voice filled with annoyance.

Kennedy shook her head, finding it hard to fathom that a bunch of teens know where the Royal Merchant is, "How the hell did you find it?"

"My dad," John B replied, his voice wavering with emotions, but he pushed them away as he cleared his throat, "He gave me a map and it shows exactly where the merchant is,"

Kennedy scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion, finding her way to her bed so she could take a seat, the weight of the sudden news finally hitting her, "And where do I come into this?"

"Remember last summer?" Kie sighed, swallowing the disgust in her mouth, remembering the time they were friends, "Remember when your dad brought Sarah, Riley, and us to do that stupid deep sea adventure thing he saw online?"

Kennedy snorted, the memory hitting her instantly, "Yeah I remember we hit a wave and you fell into the water, funniest moment of the day for sure,"

"Anyway," Kie glared lightly, "Does your dad still have the drone we used?"

"Is this the favor? You wanna use my dad's drone?" Kennedy questioned, her eyes turning into slits.

"It goes down to a thousand feet right?" Kie clarifies, ignoring the glare on the enigma's face.

"Yeah? Why can't you find another one?"

"Would you rather us steal one?" JJ asked, his eyes filling with frustration.

"That's not fair," Kennedy seethed, crossing her arms feeling a wave of uneasiness flow through her. "You're giving me like no leeway here,"

"Please, we'll owe you," John B pleaded, his eyes desperate as he stared down at Kennedy with frenzied eyes.

"I'm not even allowed to touch his things after last summer, I'll be dead if I take it without asking,"

The three in front of her traded questioning looks, "What happened last summer?"

Kennedy sent JJ a fleeting glance, knowing full well he remembers exactly what happened, but her eyes wandered back to the three in front of her, "I got into a tiny accident with my dad's convertible,"

"I- as much as I would love to unpack that, can we please use the drone? We'll bring it back unscathed I promise," John B concluded, his features wild and pleading, making it harder for Kennedy to say no. She always felt indifferent about John B, he always seemed like a nice and trusting guy, but she doesn't know if she could put her ass on the line for him.

"I don't know John B-"

"Come on Sunshine, we all know you got a wild side,"

JJ's words rung incessantly in her ears, the words ringing true and making it even more difficult for her to say no. Kennedy let out a sigh, "Fine,"

A large smile washed over John B's face, excitement shining in his eyes, "Awesome! We'll-"

"I want to be a part of this," Kennedy interrupted, the pogues paused their happy commotion to look at the small blonde, "Look, I want it to come out unharmed and the only way I will let you use it is if I'm there,"

"Kennedy-" John B began, Kennedy knew he was about to argue out her involvement.

"I know you're doing this for the gold," Kennedy interrupted John B's rebuttal, his eyes were glued to hers, surprised that she saw right through it, "I don't want any of it, I just want to make sure I don't die at the hands of my father, I'm young and have a full life to live, I would like to keep it that way,"

John B's paused, deep in thought. Kie sent Kennedy a glare as she examined her expressions to see if she was lying whatsoever, "If you help us, you won't get any of it, we don't care,"

Kennedy rolled her eyes, seeing the disdain filling Kie's features, "Look, if I do this, if I help you guys, Kie you need to stop looking at me like I shit in your cereal. I'm not in the mood to attack each other over every little thing, can we just put our feud aside, just for a little while?"

Kie's face washed over in surprise, completely thrown off that Kennedy would ever say those words to her. She never thought she'd see the Kennedy Thornton ever compromise. The other pogues paused watching the short girl with confusion, they had never seen her like this.

Kennedy had the knack to make anyone fear her, with a simple glance, you could tell not to fuck with her or else she would destroy you emotionally. But here she was, looking emotionally exhausted as she waved her white flag at the person she had been furiously feuding with for over a year.

The shock never left Kie's face as she stared at Kennedy in amazement, she swallowed her distaste for the situation and nodded reluctantly, "Y-Yeah sure,"

Kennedy smiled softly, but the smile never fully reached her eyes as she reached her hand out to Kie's so they could shake on it, "Truce?"

Kie looked to John B, and with the look of desperateness on his face, she turned and shook Kennedy's hand, "Truce,"

"Great," Kennedy concluded, but she felt the harsh gaze of JJ Maybank's on the side of her face, she turned to reciprocate the glare, "No truce for you, you're still the bane of my existence,"

JJ sent her a sarcastic lopsided smile, "Wouldn't have it any other way Sunshine,"

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ANXIETY FLOODED off of Kennedy in waves as she felt the bass thundering throughout the large mansion. People circulated through the doors, giving Kennedy welcoming smiles as she passed them by. She felt awkward as she filtered through the house with no one by her side. She didn't think Riley was an option since they weren't exactly on speaking terms, and she already knew that Sarah was coming with Topper and she didn't want to feel like the third wheel to their weird love fest.

She knew Rafe was gonna be here but she decided against coming with him because going alone was much better than going with Rafe. Kennedy knew she would repeat the same mistakes with him tonight, she knew he would find her, they'd get drunk together, and in the morning she would wake up indecent in his arms in his plushy bed.

Their relationship was predictable, the same circle, the repetition, it was all never-ending. It consumed Kennedy's every breath, all her emotions poured into this simplistic and irritating relationship that she didn't know if she was able to get out of. The party was raging, in motion, as Kennedy pulled a bottle of beer from a cooler next to the entrance of the patio. The screams of delight caught her attention as the hoard of people called up at people on the roof. She wasn't surprised as she heard the call of her brother's name and the cheers following it. 

A knowing look wafted onto Kennedy's face as she saw the fleeting scream escape Sarah Cameron, as she gripped Topper for dear life as they tumbled down into the glowing pool under them. A large splash followed the two teens as they hit the water, droplets of their impact fell on Kennedy's open feet, her purple strap heels doing nothing to protect her.

While Kennedy wanted to stay and greet Sarah briefly, a grip on her waist made her pause. Before she could open her mouth to say something, a head dived into her neck, giving her light and compassionate kisses. She quickly recognized the needy lips to belong to Rafe Cameron.

"Hi," Kennedy mumbled, her eyes fluttering, getting lost in the feeling, already predicting herself fading.

"Hey Babe," Rafe mumbled, lifting his head to give her a soft smile, his grip grew tighter as he turned her around so her arms rested on his chest, her grip still tight on her beer bottle, "I was hoping you'd come tonight, I haven't seen you in a few days,"

Kennedy sighed to herself, reaching one of her hands to play with the collar of his striped peach polo, "I've been busy, my mom's been on my ass a lot lately, plus my sister's had some time off so I've been hanging with her,"

All lies. The pogues have been taking up her time. But he didn't need to know that.

Rafe nodded his head in understanding, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ears, "I just miss you, we haven't hung out in a while,"

Kennedy shrugged, circling her arms around his neck, "I wouldn't worry, we have the rest of the summer,"

"Good," Rafe smiled, kissing her on the head, but he paused when his lips met her hairline, "I have blow, you wanna go downstairs and get fucked up with me?"

Kennedy froze, an awkward laugh slipping past her lips as she untangled herself from the boy, "Rafe, you know I don't do that,"

"I don't know," Rafe shrugged, sending her a hopeful gaze, "I thought maybe tonight you would let loose and spend some quality time with me,"

Kennedy scoffed at his words, sending him an irritated look, "I wouldn't exactly say snorting coke is quality time,"

The boy sent her a glare, shushing her lightly, "Don't be that loud, you don't need to broadcast it to the whole party,"

"I'm sorry," Kennedy quipped, but her tone did not show a lick of her feeling bad. "I just thought tonight we could just hang out together without the use of hard drugs and alcohol,"

Sympathy wafted over his features, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "Babe, I have to move the product, I don't have time to hang around with you all night,"

Kennedy stiffened, her face turning cold, "Fine, have fun with snorting the said "product" up your nose, I bet your dealer would be very proud of you,"

Rafe snapped, his features morphing into anger, Kennedy lost her breath as soon as he got in her face. His breath wafted in her face, making a chill run down her spine, "Don't talk about shit you don't understand,"

Kennedy took a step back, startled by the unnerving glare washing over Rafe's face, "What's wrong with you?"

The boy rolled his eyes, feeling nothing but annoyance towards the teen in front of him, "Just go find my sister or something, I've got shit to do and I don't feel like babysitting you tonight,"

With that the boy stalked off, leaving Kennedy stunned to silence by his harsh words. She gripped the half-empty beer bottle in her hand, quickly chugging the rest without a second thought. With the way today was going, she definitely needed to get drunk as soon as possible. There was no way out.

The stars were infinite in the midnight sky, they last for miles upon miles around the blonde kook as she laid out on the grass a few feet away from the party. There was a calming breeze flushing over her buzzed skin as she stared up at the stars. The party still boomed with life behind her, but to her, it felt as if it was merely background noise.

After chugging two beers, she stopped herself from getting shitfaced, knowing that it always leads to trouble. Instead of numbing the pain with alcohol, she let it muster, feeling as if she deserved all the hurt that made her body and heart ache. No one bothered the blonde kook, they acknowledged her but quickly went back to what they were doing, as if she was only an afterthought.

That was the thing that she hated about being the center of attention, she was a fleeting moment of thought. Once she was out of sight, she was out of mind. No one cared enough to get to know her, they just sufficed with spreading harmful rumors that broke down every aspect of her. Nothing about her life was real, everything that the public knew was simply a fabrication that had been built up over time.

She wasn't a part of a beautiful family that loved and cared for each other, she was a part of a broken one that cared about image more than love. She wasn't in a loving relationship, she was with a boy that never lived up to what she had with someone else. He felt different, every kiss, every touch, was something she didn't want, but she was stuck with him. She couldn't leave and he didn't want to.

All the people around her used her, they took and took until there was nothing left. She was left shattered at sixteen, and no one cared to notice. The only time she felt alive was with someone who now hates her guts. The person who made her feel real love is now the bane of her existence. The only consistent part of her life is the constant disappointment that gets thrown into her arms. She was stuck. With nowhere and no one to run to.

"There you are,"

Kennedy jumped at the sudden voice of Sarah Cameron as she sullenly made her way to the small blonde laying in the grass. Kennedy sent her a confused glance, "What happened to you?"

"Just something with Topper," Sarah sighed as she rested her head against the grass, "Now he's off snorting coke with Rafe,"

Kennedy closed her eyes in frustration, "Of course he is,"

"Why are you here all alone?" Sarah questioned, finally noticing that there wasn't a single soul around Kennedy.

"Riley's mad at me and I got in a fight with your brother so I'm fending for myself," Kennedy quipped, sitting up so she could get a view of the beach in front of her. The sound of waves crashing soothed the ache in her veins.

Sarah paused in shock, instantly sitting up, surprise wafting over her features, "Wait, wait, you and Riley got in a fight? About what?"

Kennedy sighed, her eyes casting down to her hands, "Just something stupid that I said in the heat of the moment, now he won't return my calls or texts,"

Sarah rested her head softly on Kennedy's shoulder, soon intertwining their hands together, "I'm sorry Kenn, you guys will make up soon, you guys are each other's ride or die, there's no way this fight will last long at all,"

The blonde nodded at her words, her emotions finally bubbling over, tears brimming in her eyes, voice cracking in the process  "God Sarah, I fucking hate this,"

The Cameron girl lifted her head to look at the girl next to her, panicked as tears drifted down Kennedy's cheeks, "What do you hate Babes?"

"Everything," Kennedy remarked, her voice wavering as she wiped the tears away, "My life is so shitty, I hate everyone except you and Riley, I'm so sick of being perfect, I don't wanna live up to this image that everyone's created for me. I hate being in a relationship that leads to nothing but fights, and I'm sick of my mother trying to run my life and not caring about my happiness. I'm just so tired of it Sarah, I can't do this anymore,"

"Kenn," Sarah started, but she couldn't finish her words as she attacked Kennedy in a hug, the small blonde melted into the hug, letting her tears fall free as she gripped Sarah as if she was a lifeline, "I'm so sorry you have to go through this, I had no idea it was this bad,"

"It's like each day I'm getting ripped away, and all that's left is the shattered version of who I am,"

"Babe, I'm here for you, and if you ever wanna run away, I'll steal my dad's yacht and we'll sail to a different country," Sarah joked softly, her voice soothing and filled with nothing but sincerity.

Kennedy laughed, wiping the remainder of the tears that dripped down her cheeks, but the throbbing pain never dulled, "I'm feeling that I'm gonna have to take you up on that offer sooner rather than later,"

"Good," Sarah smiled, resting her head back onto Kennedy's shoulder, "I'm thinking of the Bahamas, that sound good to you?"

"Any place is better than here," Kennedy sighed, eyes glued to the ocean in front of her, "By the way, I hate your brother,"

Sarah snorted, send the blonde a lopsided smile, "It's funny you say that, I hate yours too,"

Kennedy laughed, "Guess we aren't so different,"

"Break up pact?" Sarah remarked jokingly, lifting her pinky for Kennedy to take.

The blonde kook smiled lightly, intertwining her pinky with Sarah's in excitement, "Fucking absolutely,"

There are moments that Kennedy is lucky to have in her life, and this is for sure one of them. These moments show her that she's not completely alone in this, even if she doesn't exactly know it yet.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

↝↝↝↝↝ 𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐒... ↜↜↜↜↜

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬 silverfalcons 

HEY IM NOT DEAD 🤪🤛

The more I read it, I lowkey hate it but what the fuck ever. I'm sorry I like died, but the OBX season 2 trailer brought me back to life! It was so good and I'm so ready to plan JJ and Kenn's story for season 2!

I miss JJ and Kenn like a lot, they're always on my mind even if I don't write shit for them. I love them with all my heart. They've owned me since I made this story last July.

Which also bring me to this fic being a year old! I can't believe I've been in love with this story for a whole year now! Im so excited to write and give you guys Kenn and JJ's story. It's a page turner that's for sure!

I love you guys and thank you so much for all the love and support you give this book!

Hope you enjoyed!

BUT IMPORTANT THING.

What did you all think?

I really would like your feedback on this, so please leave a comment.