𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 45.

"𝐒𝐎... 𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐇 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 your sister?" John B narrowed his eyebrows with confusion.

With both arms, he climbed up the ladder of the HMS Pogue in the back, glancing down at me as I floated in the water. I formed my lips into a tight line, moving my arms and limbs to stay afloat in the deep end, while I stared up at him— an uncertain look on my face from his question. The two of us were in the middle of the sea, somewhere close to the Chateau, the spaces around us completely deserted.

I had told John B about most of it. Even though it could land us in some form of trouble, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. And it didn't help that I had showed up at his doorstep crying, either. He was the only person I was going to tell.

Driving away from my grandparents was probably one of the hardest things I had ever done— and it felt similar to when I had driven away from the Pogues after our fight, I was feeling the same things, but more. The way they watched me leave, tears on Caroline's cheeks and Daryl's blurry eyes, it felt like I was leaving something behind. I did not know how long I was going to be away from them for. I didn't know if I was going to go back, or if I was going to stay elsewhere. It hurt to think about it.

When I had slowed down while nearing the Chateau, the sun gone down over the marsh, I had let my bike fall into the grass out front, and I wasted no time in heading for the door. I had waited and knocked. When the door flew open to reveal John B yawning, he was one step away from making a cheesy remark, a cheeky smile on his face, as usual. But the second he saw my red eyes and puffy cheeks, his face had softened drastically. He had immediately taken me into his arms.

For a while, we just sat in his bedroom, eating whatever junk food we could find in his cupboards. He didn't ask what was wrong until I stopped crying. It had taken me a minute to muster up the courage to actually say it, because somehow I feared that he might look at me differently. But he didn't. He had offered that we talk about it the next day, since I seemed far too tired and emotional to explain clearly. I could tell that his brain was clogged with confusion, though.

Now, we were out in the middle of the water, with the HMS Pogue, wasting the day away under the sun. We weren't even thinking about the Merchant, or the gold. I told John B nearly everything.

"How does that make sense," he squinted his eyes with curiosity.

"It doesn't," I claimed with a light shrug, while swimming over to the ladder. "It doesn't whatsoever."

I inhaled a sharp breath of air, holding it in as I ducked my head underwater. Coming back up, I grazed both hands over my hair, and wiped the droplets away from my eyes, before grabbing onto the ladder and pulling myself back up.

"Something's off, Charls," John B declared, with an uncertain tone, as he started the boat, "Neither of those stories seem right." He said, referring to the story about my parents told by Ward, and the contrary told by my grandparents. "And Sarah just showing up to your door?"

The motor of the boat started up, roaring loudly and bubbling the water. John B turned himself around and grabbed my t-shirt, tossing it to me casually.

"Yeah, and I'm the one who has to figure this shit out," I said, while catching the piece of clothing at my chest, "Like, I'm right in between both sides, and I don't wanna pick either one."

"What do you mean," he asked, with a calm voice, as he gripped the steering with one hand.

I pulled the t-shirt over my wet hair, "I can't just live at the Chateau forever," I chuckled, while beginning to step towards the front of the boat.

"Why not," he grinned over at me as I stopped beside the driver's chair, my hand along the top rim.

I let out a small laugh, while grabbing hold of my hair, letting it fall over my shoulders. "I don't know what to do." I said quietly. "I really don't."

John B turned the boat around, cruising us casually towards the marsh. "That's okay, Charlie." He sounded sure.

I stood behind his seat, tangling my fingertips in the ends of his hair white biting down on the inside of my cheek. "No, it's not okay." I mumbled, "Soon enough, I either go home, or stay with the Camerons. And the fact that either of them could be lying doesn't make this any easier."

I told him about Ward's story, and the story my grandparents had told me.

"What does Sarah think about all this?" He questioned, glancing up at me behind him, for a quick moment.

"She believes Ward, of course," I said with a slightly sad expression, "I mean, obviously, he's her father."

"She's all for it?" he squinted his eyes. "Like genuinely believes that the two of you are related." He commented, for clarification.

The water rose up on the sides of the boat, as we drove slowly.

"Oh, we are," I claimed, "That's the only thing I know for sure. "We're related. I just don't know how."

"I see," he nodded casually a few times, genuinely listening as he steered. "God this is just crazy. I mean, the Camerons?"

"Someone is lying to me," I ran my hands casually along the top rim of his seat, "And, like, it's only a matter of time before I have to pick a fuckin' side. It's so bullshit." I rolled my eyes, "And I don't know what to do, at all."

"Is that why you came here," he asked, with a softer voice, looking up at me.

"I needed someone else's opinion," I nodded, "Not just my own, or someone who's, you know."

"Someone who's... not related to you, now, I guess," he laughed.

"Yeah, exactly," I agreed, chuckling. "Someone who'll actually listen to me instead of just shoving more information down my fuckin' throat."

We pulled up to the side of the dock, the Chateau coming into view. John B pulled out the key as he stood up, twirling the ring around his finger. I gathered my stuff while he tied the boat to the post.

"You seem, so," he was saying, trailing lightly, "Calm, about all this, Charlie," he stepped onto the dock.

I let out a strong huff of air, "Im practically shitting bricks." I said, as I grabbed his hand that was struck out for me.

He laughed loudly, pulling me up onto the dock next to him. He intertwined our fingers, and we began walking down the dock side by side, the soft wind ruffling past us.

"And I'm sorry for just showing up last night, like I did," I admitted, feeling guilty, "I don't think I've apologized yet." I felt bad that I had shown up at his door crying, out of the blue.

"It's okay, Charls," he said, swinging our hands back and forth.

"No, like, I would've called, but you know," I referred to the cell towers being down, "I was a mess, and I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, Charlotte," he laughed, "You know I'm always here," he placed a kiss on the side of my forehead.

I laughed at the cheesiness, looking down at my feet as we walked. "Yeah," I giggled.

Instead of leading us over to the Chateau, John B was stepping towards the fallen tree trunk outside of the house. He sat down on the bark, not letting go of my hand. I sat down next to him.

There was a few moments after that where we were simply silent, sitting on the fallen tree next to one another, as droplets from my wet hair landed on the ground.

After a minute of the comfortable quietness, I perked up slightly.

"Don't you think it's crazy," I said, with a tiny hint of admiration to my words.

"What's crazy," He hummed, tangling our fingers.

"Like this whole thing," I smiled down at my legs, "It's just crazy."

"Sarah Cameron?" He questioned, not knowing exactly what I was on about.

"No, everything that's happened," I looked over at him, "of course, that too."

He crossed his legs on the tree trunk, perching his chin on his free palm. "Elaborate," he smiled.

"Like, look— first, my parents tell me that I'm going to live with my grandparents, live with my grandparents on an island." I grinned, "On and island. That I'm finally going to be leaving New York City for a whole year, maybe more." I stopped for a second, John B looking at me with interest. "And then I actually do leave the city, end up in this place, and what do you know, a fuckin' hurricane hits, the second day I arrive." I laughed.

He chuckled, "Good timing,"

With a soft laugh, I continued. "And what are the odds that I run into a surfer boy on that second day, who's the most ignorant guy I've ever met," I squeezed his hand lightly, and his jaw fell open, jokingly looking offended. "And whisks me along on his galavant to find missing treasure, in which literally everyone thought was a coping mechanism at first," I giggled, "but then it turns out, that the four hundred million in gold wasn't just a myth, because us five stupid teenagers found all of it in the basement of an axe murderer's house."

He widened his eyes, realizing how insane it really did sound.

"And then Jj and I tried to keep a secret— which only backfired in the end—" I side-eyed him, "to only later spill the whole truth about my parents to everyone, which, I should've done in the beginning, might i add." I pulled my lips into a tight line.

He grabbed my hand tighter.

"Finally, Sarah and I. Somehow we became friends— best friends— in the midst of all this shit," A small laugh fell from my lips, "She became my first girl best friend, you know, other than Kie." I smiled to myself. "But, now it turns out that she's my half-sister, my grandparents have been lying, my parents have been lying, and Ward Cameron wants me to live with him so we can become a 'family'." I rambled the last sentence.

"Jesus Christ," John B let out a scoff, shocked.

"Oh, and Jj got arrested, Pope sunk Topper's boat, and we've gotten shot at— at least four times, now— and nearly died on the side of the road by a drug dealer." I finished.

"Wow," his eyes were wide, "I've never thought about things that way."

"It's crazy, right?" I nodded, "Completely ludicrous, this whole thing." My eyes were wide too. "Absolutely ludicrous."

"That's the right word to describe this," he laughed, "ludicrous."

I laughed as well, mine coming out more softly, as I looked down at my hands.

"Also, still can't believe I'm sitting here with Danny and Cecile Collins' daughter," he laughed loudly, joking.

"Shut up," My face broke out into a smile, knowing that it was a harmless joke that the Pogues were most likely going to be using on me from then on.

"That has got to be up there in my 'Top Ten craziest things that have ever happened to me' list." He joked. "Like, the odds of my girlfriend having famous parents? Impossible."

I felt my heart skip a beat, realizing that I'd never really heard him call me 'his girlfriend' before. My smile grew even bigger.

"Tell me about them," his voice slightly dropped, after a moment of silence.

I turned myself on the tree trunk, facing him. "There's not much to know," I shrugged, honestly.

"Sure there is," he smiled, "Just say anything."

I looked up and met eyes with him, noticing how he genuinely seemed interested in just about anything I was going to say.

"Well they weren't really around that much to begin with," I said, trying not to sound upset, "I mean, of course, cause they're movie stars and all— but I don't know."

"What do you mean," he tangled our fingers together, listening closely.

I let out a long sigh, "Put it this way. My mom's assistant, Anne, took me everywhere, since I was born. I've never left the house with my parents, ever."

"Privacy stuff, I guess," He nodded slightly.

"Yeah— but," I nodded once, "I don't know, it's not just about that."

He trailed his thumb over my hand, signifying i could continue.

"I've never seen their movies, ever, if that says anything. Or I've never been allowed to watch those award ceremonies, like the Oscars." I explained. "They've sort of, like, kept me from all of it. The most expensive thing I own is probably this bracelet," I looked down at the gold band, next to the friendship bracelet that Kiara gave me.

He only narrowed his eyes a little bit, "Maybe they just don't want you in the media world, like them." He suggested kindly.

"That's what Caroline and Daryl told me," I nodded, "And yeah, that's the only part I believe, cause it makes sense. They're so famous, that their daughter would inevitably end up in the media if they weren't careful." I had years to think about this, and finally I was saying it out loud.

"I get it," he nodded.

"But I wasn't even allowed to have, like, friends." My voice dropped dramatically with the last word.

"What?" He sharply narrowed his eyebrows.

"I don't know, my parents were, like, afraid that I'd, like, spill something about them, and then that kid would tell their parents, and then sooner or later the whole world knows about me." I shrugged.

He thought.

"And so it was just me, living in the same penthouse apartment, in the tallest building on fifth street, for all my life, every single day." I pulled my lips into a tight line again. "My parents weren't really home, at all. I did online school."

"But how did no one find out that your parents had a kid," he seemed confused, "Like, what about birth records, or school registrations?"

"That's where my mom's assistant, Anne, comes in." I faked a small smile, thinking about Anne. "I'm not too sure about the birth certificate and everything, I don't know how they did that, but anyways. When I was really little, only a baby, Anne became my legal guardian."

His face slowly lit with a small realization.

"And she was the one who signed all of the papers, hospital things I guess, school records, all that. Basically all the things that your parents are supposed to do." I shrugged, looking down. "I don't know how it worked, but it did." I trailed my finger along the tree bark.

"So, Anne, like, adopted you?" He asked, his voice soft. I knew he was trying to be as kind as he could, not wanting any of his words to hurt me.

I let out a tiny laugh, never really thinking of it that way, "Yeah, kinda like that." I said. "She was basically my mom."

"And so your parents, that's how they kept you away from everything?" He asked lightly.

"Yep," I nodded. I hoped he wouldn't take notice in my slightly sad tone of voice.

"Would you want it any different?" His voice was softer than I had ever heard it before. "Like, do you wish you could change anything,"

I thought to myself, feeling my body grow emotional. It was quiet for a long moment before I spoke up. "No." I mumbled out. "I don't think so."

He grazed his thumb over my hand lightly.

"They're my parents. And even though they were never there to, you know, celebrate my birthdays, play catch with me, or take me shopping," Suddenly, my eyes were becoming foggy, "I still love them, so much."

John B's face fell when a small tear slipped down my cheek, his eyes immediately going soft.

"And yeah, sometimes it hurts," I shrugged, and sniffled, "That I've never had a birthday party, ever, but I'll get over it eventually." I stared down at the tree, "God— this is so stupid, I don't know why I'm crying—"

He cut off my words by reaching forward and wrapping his arms around my body. He suddenly pulled me into him, my head buried in his chest. I tried not to sob too hard.

"Charlie," he whispered, his tone of voice sad.

"It's okay, John B," I sniffed, "Really, I'll be fine." I mumbled into his chest. He had his hand on my head, holding me close to him. I felt guilty for putting my problems onto him, and suddenly regretted telling him everything, because I knew that he would feel bad for me, and I didn't want that. "I'm sorry—"

"Stop saying that." He cut me off, his voice quiet. "You don't have to say that."

I grasped his shirt tighter, keeping my mouth closed as he rubbed a hand on my back. I hoped that I didn't stain his shirt with tears.

"When's your birthday, Charlie." He questioned, after a long moment.

I softly narrowed my eyebrows, "August twenty-first," I mumbled, wanting to know why he was asking.

"You know what," he seemed to cheer up, and the he pulled me away, "I'm gonna throw you a birthday party for your birthday," he looked into my eyes, and smiled, genuinely. He pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. "And I'll teach you how to drive, get you your license, and then with the gold, we'll buy you a car." He said it, half-joking, half-serious.

I couldn't help but let my lips open up into a smile, "That's ridiculous," I laughed.

"Any car you want, Charls." His cheeks creased from smiling so widely.

"No, the part where you're going to teach me how to drive," I said, "I'd rather not die."

He let out a loud laugh, throwing his head back. I smiled, from seeing him so happy. I intertwined our fingers, giggling as I looked down at them.

"You know, I was a real dick to you last week, Charls," he sighed out— the aftermath of a good laugh. "I'm sorry for that."

"Yeah you were," I smiled, "But you know, we all make mistakes." My shoulders met my ears in a slight shrug.

I turned my head towards the water, staring out at it. Suddenly, it all felt even crazier. The day before that, I was told that Sarah was my sister, running around town, learning things about my past, getting caught between sides of people I care about, and crying uncontrollably. And now, I sat next to John B, my boyfriend, on a fallen tree outside of the Chateau, with dry tears on my face, staring out at the sun beginning to set over the marsh.

As I stared mindlessly at the hues of orange and yellows in the sky above the water, John B was staring at me. And it wasn't anything ordinary. It was that same meaningful look he always tended to give, but this time is was something more. Like when we were on the docks late at night, that time after the graveyard. It was the same look he was giving me then, really, really looking at me.

"You're beautiful," he said, his voice not much higher than a whisper, just like when he'd said it that night, "And I know I've already said it before, but I really mean it this time."

I felt a heat rise to my cheeks, causing me to look down at my hands. "Stop it, you're making me blush." I giggled, nudging my shoulder into his.

"No, I'm serious, Charlotte." He only tilted the corner of his mouth up a little bit. "And I'm not just saying this because you just so happened to open up. And even though it's coming from me, you don't need a guy to tell you you're beautiful, Charls, ever."

He was serious. The childish smile fell from my face, and I really looked at him.

"I like you," he spoke, "A lot."

I felt my heart skip a whole beat, and I couldn't help but smile at him, a huge smile, feeling an instant wave of happiness spread all over my body. The feeling, which was rushing through my veins, caused my hand to rise up and meet the side of his face. I leaned in.

The moment our lips touched, it took me back to our first kiss— outside my door, in the pouring rain. He placed his hand along my waist, pulling me into him as much as he could, for we were sitting on a stupid tree trunk. He kissed me slowly, and it was like something out of a movie, the way I was feeling. It wasn't anything ordinary, like simple butterflies. And as he trailed his other hand up to meet the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my wet hair, I felt something different— like I knew something. As if my feelings for him shifted, but for the better.

After a second, he pulled away.

"Answer me this," he said with a growing smile, our faces remaining inches apart.

I bit down on my bottom lip, smiling.

He pushed another strand of hair away from my face, "If you weren't allowed to have friends, back in New York, that means boyfriends, right. So... was I like, your first, you know," he shimmied his shoulders childishly.

"Yeah," I laughed, "Does that freak you out," I couldn't hold in my laughter, at how cheesy we were acting.

"No," He chuckled, "not at all." he smiled brightly.

"Okay," I grazed a finger over his bottom lip, as my hand remained on his cheek.

"Okay." He hummed back.

"Maybe okay will be our 'always'," I wheezed, throwing my head back in laughter.

He clutched his stomach, "Fuckin' cheesiest shit ever," he said through laughs.

"Let's just pretend we're in, like, a movie," I giggled, "Okay?"

"Okay," he laughed again, rolling his eyes jokingly.

I bit down on my bottom lip, smiling uncontrollably, "Okay."

✰༄✰

𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.

definitely didn't tear up

whilst writing the birthday

part 🥺

probably one of my favorite chapters

HOPE IT MAKES SENSE LMFAO

𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐬 <3

𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 !!