"HE SAID WHAT?"

I sighed as I looked at Kie and nodded my head while dragging my hand through the luke-warm water watching as it rippled underneath me. My friend looked at me in pure disbelief, her brows furrowed deeply together and her eyes scrunched as she depicted her frustration clearly. She slapped her hand down on her board and shook her head.

"I know. It's ridiculous." I said to her then, glancing up at her.

"It's complete and utter bullshit is what it is." She rolled her eyes, "Ward is practically abusing the fact that you have concussion."

"Had." I mumbled.

"It's not right!" She cried incredulously, "Why would John B even try to manipulate you into committing murder? It doesn't make sense."

"Whether it makes sense or not doesn't matter." I said to her, "If he can think of a remotely believable lie they'll nod their heads like noddy dogs until it falls off their shoulders. They're police officers Kie .. they look our for those who are willing to scratch their backs. Ward is one of those people."

"But—"

"I know it's wrong." I interrupted her sharply then. I held her irritated gaze and nodded whilst clenching my jaw, "I argued until I was blue in the face that Ward was lying but they don't believe me because believing me creates more work for themselves."

"It's pathetic." She rolled her eyes, "What sort of world do we live in where the police just do whatever's convenient for them?"

"Apparently the whole world isn't like that y'know?" I said to her and watched as she pulled a face of disbelief, "Yeah, supposedly England has a good justice system but this is America, Kie. Bad shit happens here all the time and everyone always turns a blind eye."

"I'll believe that when I see it." She snorted as she kicked her legs in the water.

We sat in silence for a minute as I pressed my lips together, looking at my hands in thought, "JJ got fired yesterday." I eventually said, not looking at Kie as I told her. Instead I kept my gaze on my hands, trying to focus my energy into not getting worked up again.

"What?" She said, her tone high and shocked, "From the country club? Why. He's worked there for almost a year."

I shook my head as I allowed myself to look up, "He's been on a thin line for a very long time, Kie. We all knew it."

"Well .. yeah but that still doesn't—"

"Kelce and Shannon Preston were talking shit about John B." I told her before I shrugged, "JJ heard them. He made a whole speech in front of everyone there that Rafe killed Peterkin. Topper texted me last night, he said he tried to stop them but they got into a fight. JJ tipped a jug of water of Kelce and then they got into a massive fight."

"Shit, man." Kie muttered.

"Yep." I nodded, "Then he drove over the flower beds and shredded them to pieces."

Kiara pressed her lips together, "But your mom.."

"Was furious." I sighed, "I had to go over last night and do damage control."

"Ouch." Kiara sighed.

I nodded, "It's bad enough for her with me and now she's partly responsible for JJ too and he just doesn't understand that. I feel bad enough as it is. Her life was fine before we reconciled."

"Even if you guys didn't make up she'd still be on your side." Kie said to me, "She's your mom."

I nodded as I looked out at the water, "I was at hers for two hours last night and when I got home the first thing I did was pick a fight with JJ. I didn't even wait to hear his side of the story. How bad is that?"

"It's not bad." My friend reassured me, "You're getting it from both ends. It's understandable."

I turned my head and looked at the sun as it ascended further into the sky. I narrowed my eyes somewhat under the glare before I looked back at Kie, truthfully I didn't want to continue this conversation. I was stressed out enough as it was and I decided to change the subject entirely, "We should go. It's around seven, we'll be late if we don't make a move."

Kie pressed her lips together and looked down to her board. We were both thinking the same — neither of us wanted this day to come and yet here it was, forcing us to face reality. I'd never dreaded the return to school so much in all of my life and after a summer of horrific discoveries — discoveries that included me finding out I wasn't as fearless as I thought I was — I just wanted to curl into a ball under my bed and never come out again.

Kie looked at the sun fleetingly before looking back at me, "I really don't know how you can tell what time it is by looking at the sun."

"My dad is a fisherman by trade, Kie." I told her, "I spent half my life on water and he taught me."

"Still strange." She mumbled.

"And it's still strange that we're still sitting here when we know we've got one proactive boy and one lazy as hell boy to round up and get to school on time." I retorted, "And to add to it, it's your first day at the shabby school on the cut. You can't be late .. we can't be late."

"You're right." She rolled her eyes as she groaned, "We're stalling."

"We're stalling." I nodded.

The two of us looked at each other for a minute before I sighed and hooked my leg over the board and slipped into the water, dipping my head under completely before swimming to the land.

Once I felt the sand under my feet I stood up and walked the rest of the way out and over towards mine and Kiara's bags while she pulled her board out of the water. I picked my towel up and squeezed the water out of my hair as Kie picked her bag up and looked at me.

I thought she was going to say something but she didn't, she just continued to look at me until eventually I met her gaze and widened my eyes, "What?"

She shook her head to herself for a second as she looked to be contemplating her words. Water droplets ran down her sun kissed skin, still tanned from the summer and she wrapped her towel around herself, "I-uh— I'm just surprised."

I picked my bag up as I draped my towel over my shoulders, slipping my feet into my sliders, "Surprised about what?"

"That after all you've been through you can still look at the sea, never mind step foot in it." She said to me, "I just don't understand."

I pursed my lips as we walked up to the changing shack at the top of the beach, "To be honest .. neither do I."

I'd never even thought of it. One morning I was out on the deck and the next thing I knew I was in the water. I thought I was afraid but I wasn't .. and since I'd dipped my toe in the water the nightmares had stopped. The nightmares where I was drowning had anyways. My mind still managed to conjure exceptionally creative ways for Rafe to murder me.

"You're okay though .. aren't you?" Kie asked me as we reached the shack.

I put my hand on the handle to the door as I stopped and looked at her, "Yeah." I nodded after a minute, "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Good." She nodded, "Just .. you know you can talk to me Mal, don't you?"

I smiled at her gratefully, "Yeah, I know."

She returned my smile before opening the door to the cubicle next to mine. I walked into my own cubicle and locked the old door, drying off and changing into the clothes I'd brought. I shimmied into my high waisted jeans and put my halter top on before putting my white and black flannel on. I forced my feet into my scruffy white converse and wrapped my bikini up in my towel, shaking my hair out one more time and leaving it to dry naturally.

When I finished Kie was outside waiting for me and the two of us walked up to her newly repaired SUV. We headed for Pope first knowing he'd be ready and waiting before we headed back to mine to force JJ out of the house. I dropped my swimsuit and wet towel off before Kie and I pushed JJ out of the house while he dragged his feet the entire way.

I heard my dad laughing from the kitchen but he didn't say anything to intervene. Instead, he called his goodbyes as Kie shut the door behind us while we continued to force JJ into the back of the car. He complained every minute of the way as he rolled a joint in the back but before he had the chance to light it I turned around in my seat and snatched it out of his hands and put it into my bag. The last thing I needed at our first day back at school after our now dead best friend had been branded a murderer and I his accomplice was JJ higher than a kite.

Kiara parked the car and the four of us climbed out silently and hesitantly. Pope and I walked round to meet Kie and JJ and the four of us stood for a minute — still as statues and unwilling to move.

JJ however couldn't stand still and he bounced up and down on the spot, eliciting Pope to look at him, "Hey, chill out."

JJ rubbed his nose, "If I black out, just don't remind me."

"That's not funny." Kie retorted.

I leaned forwards to look past Pope and at JJ while narrowing my eyes, "You're already high aren't you?"

JJ met my gaze but he didn't say anything. Instead, I examined his eyes and saw how bloodshot they were — how dilated they were.

I shook my head to myself and mumbled under my breath, "Fuck my life." 

Kie slung her arm over my shoulder as the four of us began to walk towards the school. I noticed immediately how quiet the grounds became as everyone grew sidetracked by our appearance. Everyone was looking at us, there was no escaping it.

"It's them."

"They showed up."

"I heard they got arrested."

"I heard John B kidnapped her."

"I heard she had a mental breakdown."

"That wouldn't surprise me."

"You think the rest of them had something to do with it?"

"They had to."

We'd barely walked ten steps before we stopped in front of a memorial for John B, the four of us looking down at it. I sighed upon seeing my friends face though I wished I was seeing it in person as opposed to looking at a photograph. I missed him.

"I feel like people are staring at us." Kiara said lowly.

"That's because they are." I muttered in response, keeping my eyes on the memorial.

"Oh, yeah." JJ said from beside us.

Silence seeped between us and I found it difficult to tear my eyes away from the picture of John B. It was so weird .. so incomprehensible. One day he was here, walking along the same street as me, breathing the same air as me, sharing the same drink as me and the next .. well, the next he was..

He was dead.

My best friend.

"Guys, I can't be late." Pope said aloud then and he pulled me away from my thoughts. I looked at our friend as he began to walk away.

"Hey, hey!" Kiara chased after him, "We need to stick together."

Pope glanced back at her and he sighed while looking at her extended hand. Eventually he took it, lacing his fingers in hers.

"Sticking together." JJ said in disinterest as he walked passed both me and Kiara and Pope, "Yeah."

Kie dragged him back, wrapping her arm around his and it took a while before my friends realised that I wasn't among them. Had they learned how to function as a three when John B and I were missing? Was I so uncharacteristically quiet that they thought I wasn't here? That I was still missing..

I'd never thought of that possibility before.

It was Pope who stopped and I saw his head turn as he looked at Kie and JJ. They hadn't even realised until he looked back at me and met my gaze immediately. His brows softened and he let go of Kiara's hand to walk back over to me.

I squeezed the strap of my bag in my hand once he reached me and I stepped back, "It's okay." I fumbled, "I-I'm just gonna—"

Pope shook his head, "No." He said to me calmly. He used what I called his 'Pope voice'. It was a tone so loving and caring. It was what drew a person towards liking him so much. It was his way of showing that he cared, "You're not going home." 

I looked at him but no words formed in my head. I didn't know what to say so I had no choice to but to allow him to somewhat force me in to the school as he put his arm around my shoulders and guide me.

But all I could think of was how my friends seemed to function so well as a three.

• • •

The staring never stopped.

I wasn't sure if I was more attentive than usual. If people used to stare at me before I never noticed it but now it was unbearable. The whispering I could tune out but the starting .. god, the staring was something I just couldn't deal with. With every new class I walked into I headed right to the back of the room and I tucked myself away in a corner.

I wasn't Mally anymore. Not to them anyways. To them I was the girl who ended up in the wrong crowd. They couldn't decide if I was forced into it against my will or if I willingly helped John B 'murder' Sheriff Peterkin. They didn't know if I was in the midst of a mental breakdown, confused from the head trauma like Ward said I was or if I knew what I was doing and I deserved to be rotting in a prison cell.

That's why I headed for the back, that way they couldn't stare.

Mr. Sunn's voice was just that in my mind .. a voice. Whatever he was saying, or rather teaching, wasn't setting in. It went in one ear and out the other as everything did when I was so distracted. My brain just wouldn't allow me to focus on anything besides the staring.

Three separate text tones echoed through the room and I perked up, lifting my head from my arms and looking at the only thing I had on my desk. It wasn't my phone. I hoped it would've been my mom or dad letting me know they'd decided to pick me up from school but they hadn't. My screen was blank with no new notifications besides a suggestion on who to follow on Instagram, ironically one of them being Rafe.

I was about to put my head back into my arms when JJ scurried out of his seat and crept over to Kiara and Pope, ducking between their seats as Mr. Sunn had his back to us. I watched them with furrowed brows, unsure of what they were doing but all it did was reinstate the same thought I'd had earlier.

It felt like they were forgetting about me.

My eyes widened in surprise as JJ got up quickly and ran out of the classroom. My back straightened as everyone — including Mr. Sunn — stared at the door he'd just ran through.

Kiara scooped her things up quickly and she grabbed her bag as she moved to follow JJ. Meanwhile, Pope raised his hand into the air, "Um, can I be excused to help them in the bathroom?" He asked politely.

"Family emergency!" Kiara spilled as she ran out the room.

Pope gathered his things and tried to shove them into his backpack while he ran out of the classroom, all three of them leaving me behind. I sat back in my chair, dropping my hands on the desk in exasperation, "What the hell?"

Mr. Sunn seemed to be at a loss for words as he stared at his students and I was just as dumbfounded as him.

Kiara reappeared in the doorway again after a few seconds and she looked at me with wide eyes, "Mally, come on." She said to me.

I looked at her incredulously, my bum still in my seat as everyone in the class turned to look at me .. again. I rolled my eyes this time, pushing my hand through my hair in vexation while Mr. Sunn too rose his brows, "Miss Davis, are you leaving my class or not?"

I glared at Kiara for drawing this attention upon me before I snatched my bag up off the floor and grabbed my phone, storming across the classroom as people began to whisper to one another.

I literally couldn't take it anymore and before I crossed the threshold into the hallway I turned around and looked at my classmates. The second I turned to them they silenced and they looked at me expectantly.

"I think it's pathetic that all you've got to talk about is me." I said to them all, my voice loud at first, "A whole summer and all you people can talk about is what happened to John B and I. It's truly pathetic .. really. Each and every one of you need a life." I nodded, "Because yours are .. well, they're pathetic and that must suck because while mine went so drastically south at least I had a good summer before it happened .. unlike the rest of you boring assholes."

Kiara whistled lowly behind me as my peers stared at me in bewilderment. I felt better for the most part but I knew it would be short lived. I shook my head to myself, ready to leave before I realised I had one last thing to say. I looked at Mr. Sunn who seemed nonplussed and I smiled apologetically at him. I'd been in his class for a year now, he knew what I was like so I wasn't sure why he seemed so surprised.

"Sorry Sir."

He didn't move a muscle and so I grabbed the door handle and pulled the door shut before turning to look at Kiara sternly, "What is so important that you had to come back for me?"

"We didn't forget you." She assured me, "We thought you were following us."

"Why would I when I had no idea why you were leaving in the first place?" I responded as I caught Pope and JJ waiting for us at the top of the corridor.

Kiara shoved her phone in my direction as she dragged me up the hallway and I took it. I saw a photo on the screen — a selfie actually of two people I thought I'd never see again. It made me halt and forced Kiara to stop too but all I could do was look at that damn photo.

I'd practically memorised the exact spots of blood stains on that ugly yellow shirt that I truthfully hated but didn't dare tell him because he was already having such a bad day. I remembered the two necklaces she'd never taken off in the time she's spent with us, the shorter star choker and the longer chain with her initial on it. I'd never forget the details because the day they declared them dead I told myself I'd never allow it.

The smiles on their faces were totally unexpected and it took me by surprise so when I looked at Kiara I didn't expect her to be smiling too.

"Is this a joke?" I asked her quietly, my voice shaking.

Her face dropped, "What?"

My heart pounded in my chest, "Because if it is this is a pretty sick fucking joke, Kiara." I snapped, "It's not funny. They're dead."

Pope ran back to Kiara and I then and he looked at me, "We just got sent it from an unknown number." He said to me, "It could be them."

"They're dead, Pope." I said to him harshly, "It's some sick idiot trying to pull a prank."

"We can't believe that." JJ called from down the corridor, "It could be them."

Kie looked at me, "We're going outside to see if it's them, okay?"

Was it okay though? I didn't even know how it was possible and that's what made me believe it was a joke. I knew people on this island who would play a sick joke like this but how would they have a selfie of all things of John B and Sarah in the same clothes they were wearing the day Peterkin was shot because I know we barely had time to sit down following her death, never mind grab a phone and take a photo.

So when I mumbled the quietest okay I'd ever muttered in my life Kiara took off down the corridor and she grabbed JJ's arm to pull him out the building, leaving Pope and I to follow them. By the time Pope and I had made it outside Kiara and JJ were charging for a table but I had to voice my skepticism, it was weighing on my shoulders.

"How is this even possible? Shoupe said they didn't make it."

"Okay, but, I .. I think we're overreacting 'cause we can't rule out the possibility of this being some weird, cruel, hoax."

"Right." I nodded my head in agreement with Pope as Kiara sat down on the table outside.

Pope and I sat on the wall opposite her as she dropped her bag and said, "I'm just gonna ask."

JJ paced between the two tables, "What if it's actually him though?"

I dropped my head into my hand and pulled my fingers through my hair in anticipation before linking my fingers together and holding my hands to my face as my knee bounced nervously.

"Then I don't know, okay?" Pope replied, "I don't know."

I heard a phone ding and I swallowed, "Has he responded?"

"He's typing." Kie muttered.

Pope withdrew his phone from his pocket and I leaned closer towards him to see the group thread as the three dots continued to taunt us until a response came through.

Unknown
Is JJ there?

I glanced at JJ to see a faint but emotional smile on his face as he nodded to himself and Pope's phone dinged as JJ responded.

JJ
I'm here Bree

We waited in trepidation until the ding echoed around us again.

Unknown
Did you pimp my short board?

I stifled a gasp as my jaw dropped and I held my hand over my face in shock. JJ looked to the three of us as his eyes glistened with unshed tears yet the grin on his face was so bright it hurt. He chuckled under his breath as we all laughed quietly in disbelief to ourselves, "It's him."

I covered my face with my hands as my nose burned and I shook my head in disbelief, "Oh, my god."

"It's him." Kie nodded.

Pope wrapped his arm around my body and hugged me, "It's definitely him."

I sniffled as I wiped my teary eyes and looked at my friends. I couldn't believe it. It was already a miracle that I'd survived but now all three of us had made it? It was wholeheartedly the best feeling ever, even if I was shocked to the core.

Pope and JJ hugged boyishly before our — my — blond counterpart looked at me. He seemed at a loss for words for a short while but as I looked at him I saw something I hadn't seen in years.

Faith.

JJ looked complete again. He looked happy — truly happy and that made my heart burst so much that it forced a sob of happiness to take over my body. He climbed on to the grass verge and stood between my legs to pull me into a tight embrace. I rested my head against his chest as he held me tightly before I felt his lips press against my forehead.

I savoured it and hoped this was us on the way to forgiveness after our argument last night that continued on into this morning.

My friends phones pinged again signalling another message from John B and JJ pulled away to look at his phone as I leaned over Pope to view his screen.

Unknown
Did Mal make it?

My smile broadened and Pope opened his camera and angled his phone to take a photo of me sitting besides him. He sent the photo with no caption and I wiped my eyes again to look at the picture of myself. It had to have been the worst photo I'd ever seen — worse than the ones my friends had snapped of me in the past when I'd been high or drunk — but I didn't care because I was happy.

The three dots appeared on the screen to indicate he was typing and we waited patiently for his message to come through.

Unknown
What a sight for sore eyes😍

I shook my head and took Pope's phone out of his hands after reading his joke.

Pope
John B I hate you

Kiara laughed as JJ sat on the wall underneath Pope and I and clutched his red cap to his chest. The four of us waited patiently yet longing for another response at the same time. Now we knew he was alive we needed more.

Unknown
Laying super low in Nassau

I shook my head to myself while smiling as Kiara read the message out loud again. 

"Nassau." I muttered in disbelief.

"How in the hell did they get to the Bahamas?" Kiara wondered.

"I bet it's nice in Nassau right now." I groaned, "Warm, sunny."

"You can't seriously be wishing you were in the Bahamas right now?" Pope turned to me.

I glanced at him and shrugged, "Would you judge me if I said yes?"

He didn't respond, instead he shook his head to himself while JJ chuckled, "You can't kill a Pogue, dude."

"Especially John B." Pope nodded in agreement.

Their phones dinged again and I turned my attention back to Pope's phone.

Unknown
Can you clear my name? Wanna come home

"Hell, yeah, we'll clear your name boy." JJ said aloud.

I took Pope's phone again and rubbed my nose with one hand while formulating a response.

Pope
Even if it kills me
That was Mal btw

Silence ensued and out my peripheral vision I saw all three of my companions look at me. I chose to keep my eyes on the phone however, waiting eagerly for John B's response.

Unknown
If you die before I get home mally
I'll resurrect you so I can kill you
myself.
Stay out of trouble, yeah? I already have
no idea how you're not in prison

I smiled to myself.

Pope
I'm special :)

Unknown
Tell me something I don't know

Laughter followed again and the three dots appeared indicating our friend was in the middle of composing another text. We waited for whatever he had to say and when it came through my heart warmed as another smile claimed my face.

"Be in touch. P4L." Kiara read aloud.

I laughed heartily as Pope pulled me into his side while we enjoyed the overwhelming happiness that consumed us.

"P4L, man, that's what I'm talking about." JJ beamed while he jumped on to the chair of the bench and shouted, "P4L, baby!"

I dropped my face into my hands in shock before getting up off the wall as JJ jumped down off the bench.

"Holy shit, dude!" Kiara said in disbelief.

JJ turned to me and without warning he lifted me off my feet and span in a circle. I yelped in shock and wrapped my arms around his shoulders tightly while squealing as he continued to spin. He put me back on my feet and grabbed my cheeks before kissing me quickly, "They're alive."

I nodded as I placed my hands over his and beamed, "They're alive."

How? None of us knew but we didn't care to question it. We were just happy that they were still roaming this earth because without them it had become dull. Happiness had been restored and for the first time in over three weeks I felt complete again.

Pope and Kiara jumped up and they joined JJ and I in an embrace where we all squeezed the life out of one another while laughing and crying at the same time.

When we parted JJ proceeded to jump around the courtyard shouting in elation while I dropped to a crouch and threaded my hands into my hair for a second before holding them over my face. I shook my head, grinning from ear to ear like an idiot all the while I couldn't stop thinking about what John B had said.

'Can you clear my name .. want to come home'

Clear his name.

Clear his name .. clear his name. How can we clear his name? How could I clear his name?

And then, as if he was reading my mind, Pope spoke up, "Guys .. we need to clear John B's name."

I nodded, "We need to clear his name."

And then I had an epiphany, all thanks to Sheriff Shoupe.

We needed evidence .. solid evidence.

• • •