𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 34.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 the Crain house felt like it was a dream.

As soon as we found the well, we practically ran out of the basement like sprinters, hopping into the van as fast as we could, every mind filled with anticipation. The ride mostly consisted of long sighs— happy sighs— and constant "I can't believe it" or words of amazement. To celebrate, Jj rolled a new blunt in the backseat, shared it with Kiara, while I sat in the passenger seat next to John B, who could barely focus on the road with his astonished eyes. My heart was beating through the roof, knowing that we were a step away from the gold, my hand on John B's.

I had decided personally that I wasn't getting a cut of the money. It wasn't my project, I was just in it to help my new friends, and I was okay with not getting anything, because they deserved it more than me. I hadn't been planning on telling them about my parents, either. Mainly because— I'm not allowed to. But also, even thought it hurt to think about it, I had an image in my mind that they would look at me differently if I did tell them. I had been lying since the beginning, and it didn't seem like my fibs were catching up to me just yet, so I was planning to keep quiet.

My excuse was going to be that I joined late, that I didn't need a cut of the money since I was only in on it to help. Now that we had actually found the gold, I was thinking of my excuses and if they were believable. I didn't want a cut of the money, anyways, because— although I never said it or admitted it out loud— my parents were famous. They're movie stars. Possibly, in the future, there could be a day where my parents take me out from hiding, and I wouldn't need that eighty-million in gold. I needed to tell the Pogues that, but somehow leave out my parents.

The thought of them treating me differently caused my heart to hurt. It made me think of John B's reaction, how he would think of me after realizing I'd been lying about my identity this whole time. I didn't want to ruin what we "had" so far, and I didn't want my friendship with the Pogues, or Sarah, to be any different, either. I've seen how it happens in the movies, where the new girl's big secret gets revealed in a dramatic way, and everyone suddenly turns on her because she's deemed as a liar from then on. I didn't want that.

The night of Midsummers was easily one of the best nights of my life. From getting ready with Sarah, deciding we were best friends, walking out with her family in the nicest dress I'd ever worn, meeting John B at the bag drop to give him the map, then to running away from the whole party, hand-in-hand with Kiara. Just thinking about the magical night, sent another rush into my veins, the kind of rush that makes it hard to hold in a wide smile. I didn't want to loose that.

I needed to see Sarah again, to explain my sudden and rude disappearance from the party. I didn't know if her dad was going to be angry with me, if she was angry with me, or if I was even welcome in her family anymore. So, I had planned to go and visit her house, to possibly hang out, after stopping home. In the van, when John B asked my plan for the rest of the day, I mentioned going out, and because John B still had to figure out the tactic to retrieve the gold, Jj offered to give me a drive later on.

I hadn't been home in over twenty-four hours. The towers were still down, and I couldn't have given Caroline and Daryl a call because of it, and so I prayed that they would understand. But, I had never intentionally gone out for so long without their permission before, since the day I introduced them to the Pogues, or stayed at someone else's house without asking. I was hoping they would be okay with it.

It was past noon when the van pulled up outside of my house, the beige truck parked on the lawn in its usual spot, and the tree still fallen. I could see them sitting on the futon through the thinly-closed blinds in the living room windows. While saying goodbyes, Pope helped me with my bike, settling it on the paved ground below, as John B placed a kiss on my cheek.

"I'll see you later," he said with a soft voice, the cheeky smile on his lips.

I couldn't help but beam a large grin back to him, feeling my cheeks heat up, as Kiara and Jj exchanged glances. "Yeah," I spoke back, while pushing open the passenger door.

"Say hello to Caroline and Daryl for us," he called, when I stepped out of the van.

"Will do." I gave him another sweet smile, hands latching onto the bike handles as Pope passed them to me. "Thanks, Pope," I smiled softly.

He casually nodded in response, and then settled himself into the passenger seat I just jumped out of. I let out a sigh, and turned the bike towards the house, flattening the tank top I was still wearing.

"I only need an hour, Jj," I shifted my eyes to him, when i looked back.

"Roger that." He gave me a thumbs up, finishing the last puff of the blunt.

"See you guys later," my hand waved to all of them, right before the back door was slid closed.

John B smiled at me, the stupid cheeky grin, as the van drove off in a cloud of smoke down the rest of the street. A wide smile was on my face as I grabbed the bike handles tighter, and looked down at my feet, in which were heading up the front lawn. With a refreshing sigh falling past my lips, and a happy feeling circling inside of my stomach, the bike was placed leaning against the exterior wall, in its usual place next to the door.

When I positioned myself in front of the screen door, Caroline looked up to me immediately. Her and Daryl were sitting on the sofa, reading books and the newspaper. With a small smile on my face, I opened the door.

"Charlotte, you're home," Caroline breathed out unsteadily, and stood up from the couch, wasting no time in enveloping me into a tight hug. I slightly narrowed my eyebrows when she didn't use the normal nickname.

"Hey, guys," I said with a sweet tone, lightly waving to Daryl who was standing up.

He didn't have a smile on his face, and his jaw was rather slightly clenched, seeming angry. I figured he was just tired, and a bit annoyed at my short disappearance.

"Where have you been, oh my goodness," Caroline pulled away, and placed both of her hands on the side of my face. She was worried, and really scared.

I narrowed my eyebrows out of concern, "I was just out with my friends, remember, I was gonna call but the towers—"

"We were worried sick about you," Caroline exclaimed with a wavering tone, her blue eyes examining my whole face as if searching for bruises, or something.

"With all of the stuff going on," Daryl breathed out, stepping up behind his wife, "You should have came home last night." he said sternly.

"What do you mean?" I asked with a soft tone, eyebrows furrowed, "What happened, is everything okay?"

Caroline's eyes drooped with a sadness, her hands fell from my face, and gripped onto my wrists. She gently guided me over to the couch and pulled me down to sit, "There was a—" she stopped, glancing to Daryl beside her, searching for the right words. "There was a death, recently," she could barely get the words out.

"Death? Of who?" My questions were quick, confusion clogging my brain.

"Homocide." Daryl answered uncomfortably.

My jaw fell open, "Homocide—"

"It was two men," Caroline explained briefly, "Not from the island."

My stomach tightened at the thought of the square groupers that chased the Pogues and I. "I don't know what to say," I breathed out.

Caroline held my hands, "We were worried about you, Charlotte," she said with a sad tone of voice, "thought you went missing too, or something," she glanced to Daryl.

"I was with my friends the whole night," I assured.

"And, about those friends," Daryl cleared his throat, his tone of voice indicating that his next words weren't going to be pleasant for me to hear. He looked to his wife, but she looked down at her hands with the sad expression.  "We don't want you hanging out with them anymore." He said.

"What?" I felt my stomach drop.

"Well— Charlotte," he said uneasily, "I don't know how to say this,"

"That Jj kid," Caroline continued for him, her thumbs rubbing the tops of my hands. "He was arrested a few nights ago."

With sharply narrowed eyebrows, and my lips parting, I slowly pulled my hands way from hers, not believing my ears. "How do you know that." I asked.

"Bug, everyone does," Daryl responded, his tone lowering. "Surprised that you don't."

Just before I was about to say that I didn't believe them, I thought about my conversation with him and John B, back on the piece of land. Jj owed thirty-grand. Even though it sent a chill down my spine, the dots started to align in my head.

"And that Routledge kid," Daryl said with a slightly angered tone, "been running from DCS this whole week, even stole equipment from Ward Cameron's boat."

I slowly stood up from the couch, not liking the rude things they were already saying, "He didn't steal anything," I claimed, sure of it.

"Is he your boyfriend now, is that why you believe him?" Daryl stood up too, now suddenly more angry.

Caroline placed a hand on his chest, and glared at him. She knew about John B and I.

"Heyward's kid, too!" He spoke loudly, "ran off from him at Midsummers last night! You go to Midsummers with them, too?"

I blinked, staying quiet. I felt like crying. No one had ever yelled at me before, even though Daryl wasn't fully shouting just yet.

"These boys are trouble, Charlotte," he said lowly. "And you're getting all mixed up in their shit!"

"Daryl," Caroline hit his chest lightly, "stop it."

"You keep hanging out with those boys, and you're gonna land yourself in a jail cell!" He shouted. "And then your father is gonna come and get you and you'll be sent all the way back to New York, you want that?"

My eyes became foggy.

"Daryl!" Caroline yelled.

"They're not bad people," My voice was barely higher than a whisper.

"Yeah?" his voice was louder than i'd ever heard it, a dangerous tone, "Maybank carries a damn gun around, gets himself into fights with all those damned Kooks, now he's arrested, not bad people, huh! Gets all of this shit from his dad too, biggest drunk on the damn island, son of a bitc—"

"Shut the hell up, Daryl!" Caroline pushed him back, cutting him off. "You don't have to yell at her for god's sake!"

I wiped my eyes before a tear was going to fall. "You don't know them." I said with a low voice, feeling my heart clench at the hatred in Daryl's voice. "They're not like that, they're just teenagers!"

"Teenagers that'll get you arrested!" He shouted back.

"Charlotte, they're a bad influence," Caroline turned to me, her voice staying soft, and her eyes delicate.

"Bullshit," I spat, angry at both of them. Caroline stepped back.

"You think it's bullshit, huh?" Daryl widened his eyes, growing angrier. "You gonna say it's bullshit when Danny comes and gets you?"

"They're not like their parents!" I finally screamed loudly, my voice cracking. "And I'm allowed to be friends with whoever I want!"

Daryl clenched his jaw, and Caroline looked at me sadly.

"They're the only friends that i've ever had," I said quietly, feeling my hands shake, and my eyes water, "And Sarah— Sarah is my first girl best friend. I'm sorry if you hate them but i've never been happier." I couldnt stop my voice from cracking.

"Don't even get me started on Ward Cameron!" Daryl scoffed loudly, his voice rising even more.

"Daryl, stop it," Caroline tried to stop him, her voice low and stern as if he were going to say something bad, something that he wasn't supposed to.

"All that shit he did to Cecile!" He spat loudly, "Biggest fake in the whole damn county!" He aggressively pointed his arm in every direction, his eyes aggressively pinned on me.

"My mom?" The words got caught in my throat. My mother's name, Cecile.

"Go to your room," Caroline told her husband seriously, a dangerous tone to her words, "Right— now."

Daryl looked at her, and then looked to me. A scary look of realization washed over his eyes, and he blew out a puff of air through his flared nostrils, clenched his fists, and stormed off down the hall.

"Charlotte, honey," Caroline lightly reached forward to grab my forearms. I had never seen her face so sad.

I pulled away, a small tear slipping down my cheek.

"We're just worried for you," she said with a low voice, "We don't want you to leave,"

I swallowed. "Jj is coming to pick me up in an hour. I don't care what you guys say, I am going." I said strongly, before turning on my heel and storming away.

When I got into my bedroom, I slammed the door. It felt rude to be angry at someone like that, and finally slam the door at the end of an argument, but I didn't care. I went straight for the bed, sat on top, and let the tears fall from my cheeks. My parents were never there to yell at me. Nor, was I allowed to be around other people, or have friends— to even argue with. The Pogues and I had never gotten into an argument. Sarah had never yelled at me.

Out of all people, I didn't expect it to be my grandparents. I understood that they were mad about me not coming home, and the unexpected homocide on the island pushed their worries, but I was still angry. I was also angry at Jj, for not telling me about his arrest. But I was more enraged at my grandparents, for telling me that I wasn't allowed to hang around the Pogues anymore. Jj would never hurt me. John B would never hurt me. I wasn't stupid enough to land myself in jail.

As I constantly wiped my cheeks to make them dry, the house quiet, I thought about my parents. When Daryl mentioned Ward, and all the "shit he did to 'Cecile'", Caroline gave him a specific look. It was like he said something he wasn't supposed to, but something grave— something big. Something serious that I wasn't supposed to know about, a secret. And I knew it for sure when he suddenly stopped yelling, looked at me, and stormed away into their bedroom. I didn't know if they were talking about my mom, because I was never told if she was from the island or related to Ward Cameron in any way, but something in Caroline's voice had me thinking she was.

After an hour had passed, and I spent half of it crying and the other half packing a bag, I was ready to leave. I had packed clothes to possibly stay the night at Sarah's, and changed out of the stuff Kiara had let me take, newly wearing jean shorts and a simple blue tank-top. My eyes were puffy and red when I had looked in the mirror, and it was obvious that I had been crying, but I didn't have the energy to put makeup on. I flattened my hair and walked out of the room.

"I'll be home tomorrow." I said to Caroline without even looking at her, her eyes watching me from the couch as I stepped right over to the front door.

"Charlotte, honey, just please be safe," Caroline sighed, standing up.

"Yeah." I barely spoke, sliding my shoes onto my feet.

"Can you tell me where you're going," her voice was soft, she wasn't angry, just tired. I could tell she didn't like arguing.

I placed my hand onto the knob of the screen door, and footsteps were heard coming from down the hall behind us. "Sarah Cameron's house." I replied blatantly, and pushed on the door. Caroline let out a sigh as the door closed with a thud behind me.

I only glanced up to the brown van for a split second, to see Jj watching me from the driver's seat, before I looked down at my feet as they stepped off the porch.

"You've got to be kidding me," I heard Daryl say with a loud voice. I assumed he noticed Jj in the front seat.

I blinked long and hard, gripping tighter on the straps of my backpack, not looking back, while stepping down the front lawn.

"Danny never liked that Luke guy," Daryl scoffed loudly, spitting the name out with a pure hatred. "Just wait until Danny hears about this, Charlotte!" He referred to my father.

I hoped that Jj didn't hear what he said about his dad, but it was unlikely, since the shouting was loud. With a strong huff, I pulled the passenger door open and slid myself into the seat, my backpack falling on the floor between my knees. Jj was looking at me, more specifically, at my puffy eyes, his eyebrows sharply narrowed.

"Did something happen, Charlie?" He immediately asked.

I didn't look at him. "Just drive, please." My voice cracked. "Sarah's house."

Standing in the doorway, Daryl had his arms firmly crossed together, and Caroline stood beside him with soft eyes, her hands folded. They watched as I pulled the seatbelt over my chest. Jj was still looking at me with concern, but slowly pressed down onto the gas anyways, lightly waving at my grandparents. Caroline waved back softly, Daryl glared with a menacing look.

I didn't want to cry in the car beside him, so I tried my best to keep the tears back, as we drove in silence. He kept glancing over at me, while I stared out the window. My teeth were biting so hard on my bottom lip to hold in my sadness, that I might have drawn blood.

After many long minutes of awkward quietness, Jj pulled the van over on an empty street, Sarah's house nowhere in sight. When the car stopped, he griped his hands tightly on the wheel, and let out a strong breath. I assumed he was either waiting for me to tell him the reason for my puffy-crying eyes, or he heard what Daryl had said.

When he didn't say anything first, I let out a long sigh, and softened my eyes, looking over at him. "Look— Jj, if this is about what Daryl said about your dad, I'm sor—"

He cut me off, looking right into my eyes with a seriousness I'd never seen him hold before. With a particular expression that I couldn't identify, he said lowly, "Are Danny and Cecile Collins your parents."

✰༄✰

( 𝐢 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨

𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐨 )

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐇𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 *𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃* 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐉𝐎𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 ?????? 🥺🥺🥺🥺

- on a real note, thank you. after i finished watching Outer Banks, i really wanted to write a fanfic, but it was only supposed to be for myself to read in my drafts. but then i was like screw it and decided to fuck around and publish it to my 60 followers HAHAHA

and then i remember getting excited with 800 reads, and 20 votes

SERIOUSLY, I OWE ALL OF MY WRITING PROPS TO MY ENGLISH TEACHER (she was a biTCH but still) and to lacedangel  and eightics

literally the people who inspired me to actually start writing stuff HAHAH

love u 🥺

and thanks to everyone who votes and comments, love you guys to pieces <3

(you know who you are heheh)

𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞

𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫 !

𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐎: 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫?

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐑𝐍 🥰🥰

𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 !!