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𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿: 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀

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After the Pogues, plus Emery, were able to make out of the house alive, they sat outside with soot all over their bodies and clothes, and watched as the house burned down right in front of them.

Cassie recalled all the memories she had at the Château: celebrating finding the gold after fleeing crazy Crain, John B welcoming her as an official Pogue, where she kissed JJ for the first time, where they welcomed John B back after he got released from jail, it being the first place she went when her mother got released from jail, where she and JJ became exclusive, secret partners...

All of the memories they all shared in this place were just...gone.

John B felt like a piece of himself had been burned with it, watching as the flames overtook his home of almost eighteen years.

Cassie almost felt the same way. The Château sort of became a safe haven for her when things turned ugly at her own house. And when she dreamed about coming home back on Poguelandia, this was the place she dreamed of.

And now it was just a bunch of burnt wood and ashes.

"Could've been a faulty electrical wire," Pope guessed as they all sat next to each other, watching the smoke dissipate after the flames had finally died down.

"Could it have been the oven from when you made the cookies?" asked Emery, turning to look at her cousin.

"No. I triple checked I turned it off, trust me," Cassie replied, shaking her head slowly. If she had been the one who caused this, she would've never forgiven herself. But she knew for a fact she turned the oven off.

"Place was all wood. A tinderbox," Kiara commented disappointedly.

"Thing just went up. Boom," Cleo spoke quietly.

"Verdict's in, bro. Whoever's up there...does not like you," JJ joked to try to lighten the mood, causing both Cassie and Sarah to give him a look. "Sorry," he added as he patted John B's shoulder before tossing a glass bottle at the burnt down house, causing it shatter.

The eight of them stayed there for a little bit longer, trying to process the fact that John B's home, which had all become their unofficial home at some point, really was gone.

After a while, they made their way over to the dock so they could get away from the smoke that was still in the air. "Sarah, when did you say the pilot was getting in?" John B asked, trying to focus on getting his dad back instead of brooding about his home.

"Probably like an hour? I mean, once he's here, my dad says we can leave whenever we want," Sarah responded.

"Okay, well, as much as I would love to ghost my parents again, I can't," Pope piped up.

"Pope, we're talkin' El Dorado here. Can you, like, just, like, slip out the back maybe?" JJ suggested as he turned to look at him.

"Great advice," Kiara remarked with a head nod.

"I mean, it always worked for me. How to avoid unpleasant circumstances 101. If there's a problem, you don't wanna face it, turn that face and keister around and walk the other way," JJ explained and Cassie gave him a sad smile, thinking about why he learned to do that.

"I'm not doing that, okay?" Pope replied as he hopped off the wooden railing that he had been sitting on before.

JJ sighed. "I just want you to be there, dog."

"I'm gonna be there. I'll meet you guys at the airstrip in an hour?" Pope said, looking over at John B.

"Yeah, we'll see you there," John B nodded.

"Okay, one hour, Pope. Not a second later," JJ told him sternly.

"Think you should let me talk, Pope. Think your mom kinda likes me," Cleo pointed out, following after Pope as he began to walk back down the dock.

"I don't think it's gonna be pleasant for either of us."

"I'm gonna take a stroll back to the shack. For old time's sake. I always wanted to go to South America. Great surf, cheap weed," JJ said as he began to walk away. "See you guys on the tarmac."

"Hey, Em. Do you think you can stall for me when I'm gone?" Cassie asked since she didn't need to pack anything. She was able to save her bag of clothes from when she brought them last time before their trip to Wilmington. "Tell your mom I'm staying at John B's? Or what's left of it, I guess. Think I'll go with JJ."

"Oh? Going with JJ?" Emery arched a brow mischievously.

Cassie rolled her eyes playfully. "Shut up."

Emery smiled, assuming that her and JJ had made up and were maybe even back together. She had never seen their relationship in action, but from what Cassie had detailed to her when she first arrived to the OBX, Emery could tell Cassie held a lot of love for the boy even though she didn't want to admit to his face.

"Yeah, of course I'll stall. I got you," Emery assured her before she practically skipped off the dock, causing Cassie to make eye contact with Kiara who had been behind Emery.

Kiara gave her a tight-lipped grin, glancing down at the shark tooth necklace that hung around Cassie's neck. "Guess you and JJ worked it out?" she guessed, meeting her eyes once again.

Cassie cleared her throat. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, we did."

"Boom shakalaka," John B whispered as he fist bumped Sarah, causing the girl to try to stifle her giggles so Cassie wouldn't hear them.

"That's good," Kiara nodded, looking away since she assumed the conversation had been over.

Cassie tilted her head at the girl. "Hey, Kie?"

Kiara looked back at her, a hopeful tone to her voice as she replied, "Yeah?"

"I should really talk to you. About what happened at the anniversary party," Cassie began. "But I'll tell you what. I'll tell you on the plane. Just to make sure you get on."

"Oh, really?" Kiara raised her brows with a growing grin, glad that Cassie was willing to speak with her again. Even if she had to wait until later.

"Really," Cassie confirmed before she started to walk off the dock.

"I'm gonna hold you to that," Kiara said from behind her.

"I'm sure you will," Cassie replied cheekily.

"So glad you're not stalling."

Cassie laughed quietly to herself, glad that they were at least bantering again, before she jogged after JJ. "Hey, Jay!" she called out and the boy turned around, a smile making its way to his lips. "Thought I'd come with you."

"You sure?" he inquired.

"Of course I'm sure." She reached her hand out for him to take, causing him to glance down at it with hearts in his eyes.

He grabbed it before meeting her eyes again. "Then let's go, baby." Her face flushed before the two walked hand in hand, making their way to JJ's as they conversed with one another.

Although the Château had burned down, talking with JJ like this again had already made her feel better. She missed the way they used to talk normally, like how they did back on Poguelandia. It wasn't forced or uncomfortable...it just felt natural.

Once they arrived at JJ's house, Cassie helped him pack a backpack of things he may need while they were down in South America. She still couldn't believe that they would actually be going there to save Big John, but she couldn't be too surprised. They had somehow ended up in Barbados once for crying out loud.

"Hey, I'm sorry about the Château, by the way," Cassie spoke up when they were done packing his backpack, her own duffle bag with her items set aside for now. "I know that place was, like, your real home."

JJ shrugged, releasing a sigh. "It's fine. I just...can't believe it's really gone. Grew up with that place, you know?"

She gave him a lopsided frown before she stepped toward him, reaching out to fiddle with the bracelets on his wrist. "Well, when we get back from South America, you can stay with me if you want," she offered, knowing he wouldn't have this place much longer. And she wasn't sure if he would even want to be at this place anyway from all the terrible memories it held.

JJ raised his brows, looking down at her. "Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'd just have to convince my Aunt Bea and she'd probably make you sleep on the couch," he laughed at that, "but it's better than nothing, right?"

"Living with you? I can't think of anything better," he gushed and she grinned at him. Something suddenly darkened in his eyes, almost hungrily. "And when we have the house to ourselves, just the two of us...I can think of a few things we could do."

Her stomach fluttered as she tilted her head at him before she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, checking the time. "Well, we still got some left. Wanna show me what one of those things could be?" she suggested coyly before she put her phone back in her pocket.

He glanced down at her lips. "Gladly," he gruffly said in response. His hands suddenly made their way to her waist as she placed her's behind his neck, bringing their lips together.

Cassie's back arched slightly as he gripped her hips tighter and she brought her hands up to cup his face, deepening the kiss further. She felt his right hand maneuver to downwards to cup her ass but before anything more could happen, they heard a car's engine rev outside.

They pulled apart, furrowing their brows as they panted a bit. "What the hell?" JJ questioned before he made his way over to the window, seeing who it could be. "Oh, shit," he cursed.

"Who is it?" Cassie whispered in concern.

"Shit, shit, shit, it's Barracuda Mike," he answered as he ducked down, causing her to duck as well.

"Barracuda Mike? What the hell is Barracuda Mike doing here?" she questioned, knowing that he was a local drug dealer. But what the hell was he doing here? Could it be because of Luke? He hadn't been in the OBX for a while now though.

"Long story short, John B and I were supposed to deliver some weed for him but we kinda lost it and the cops found it," JJ explained quickly and her eyes widened at him.

"Why were you and John B doing that?" she hissed.

"We were trying to get a plane to South America, I don't know, it was our only shot before Ward decided to suddenly be a miracle worker!" he whisper-shouted.

"JJ! Your ol' buddy, Mike!" Barracuda Mike called out from outside as the couple stayed crouched. "You lost my load. Time to pay up!" he said as JJ grabbed Cassie's hand and pulled her through the house so they could try to make an escape. She quickly grabbed her duffle bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "All right, we're gonna do this your way. Hmm? I'm coming in, JJ! Yeah, I know you're in there!"

JJ and Cassie pressed their backs up against the wall before they heard the door open. "We're gonna do this your way!"

"Come on," JJ panted as he grabbed Cassie's hand again and two ran outside, sprinting away from the house as fast as they could.

Once they got far enough away, they stopped and turned back to the house to still hear Barracuda Mike screaming for the blonde boy. Cassie looked over at JJ, seeing the look on his face. "Come on," she urged him and he looked over at her. "Let's go before he sees us."

He only nodded in response before the two took off jogging, wanting to make it to the tarmac on time.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Once they made it to the tarmac, Sarah and John B had already been there with the Twinkie. Cassie stared up at the large private plane owned by Ward Cameron, knots forming in her stomach.

Her father "died" on a Ward Cameron plane. Although it had been planned to crash from the start, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She didn't think Ward would plan on crashing the plane with his own daughter in it, but at this point, she wouldn't past him.

She started to braid her hair anxiously and JJ noticed, knitting his brows in concern. "Hey, you good?" he asked, placing a hand on her arm.

She looked over at him. "Yeah, it's just..." she trailed off, looking back at the plane.

It clicked for JJ. "Right. A Ward Cameron plane."

She nodded, her jaw clenching. "Yeah."

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. Trust me. And if anyone does try anything, they'll have to deal with me," he assured her and she gave him a soft smile. "No one comes for my girl and gets away with it, I'll tell you that right now."

She blushed, looking down sheepishly. "Thanks, Jay."

"I guess that means the lovebirds are back together," John B piped up and Sarah smacked his arm. "Hey, what?"

"Let them be," Sarah scolded him.

"What? I mean, am I wrong?" John B questioned, gesturing over to them since they looked pretty comfortable around each other once again.

Cassie rolled her eyes at him. "I forgot. You've been waiting for this since Poguelandia, haven't you? With your stupid, little truth or dare question that was trying to get me to admit to being with JJ," she pointed out and John B's eyes widened. "Yeah, you're not slick."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well...can you blame me? No one believed me, but the chemistry was definitely there," John B told her.

"Glad you think so, JB," she deadpanned and he sent he sent her finger guns, making her roll her eyes once more.

The four of them continued to wait at the tarmac for a lot longer than they should have been, causing JJ to get antsy and frustrated.

"Dude, where is everybody?" JJ questioned John B angrily, throwing his backpack down on the ground.

"I don't know, man," John B answered truthfully, holding his arms out.

"We should get 'em. We should get in the Twinkie and we should just get 'em," JJ demanded as he pointed at the van.

"Five minutes, okay? Just give 'em five minutes, all right?" John B reasoned.

"Five minutes? I don't wanna give 'em a second!"

"Guys, guys, guys!" Sarah cut in, pointing behind them. "There's Pope and Cleo, right there."

They turned, seeing Pope and Cleo riding up on a motorbike. "God!" JJ exclaimed.

"JJ, calm down," she told him even though that was rich coming from her. She just didn't need him getting all worked up over this and stressing everyone out.

"You guys waiting for us?" Cleo teased.

"Yes, we were. You're late," JJ scolded as he picked his backpack back up from the ground to sling it back over his shoulder. "Now, did you actually convince your pops this time or...?"

Pope pointed at Cleo with his thumb. "Cleo convinced him."

Cleo held her hands out and JJ gave her the Pogue handshake as he said, "My girl! That's what I'm talkin' about. I thank you for being a part of thy crew."

"Anytime."

"Hey, where's, uh...where's Kie?" Pope asked after he noticed the Carrera girl wasn't there.

"No, I don't know. It's gotta be her parents, dude. They've been up her ass," Sarah guessed.

"They must've said she couldn't come. We're gonna have to do this without her," Pope voiced.

Cassie and JJ shared a knowing look. Cassie wasn't about to get on this plane without Kiara. She promised her she would talk to her on the plane and if she wasn't on the plane...how would she ever make up with her?

She wasn't sure how long they would be in South America for and she knew that every moment where she hadn't made up with her best friend, it would be eating at her alive.

She needed to make sure Kiara was here.

Cassie piped up, "No." She made her way over to John B. "Gimme the keys."

"No, dude. No, no, no, no," John B denied.

"Give her the keys right now," JJ demanded, backing his girl up from behind her. He knew why she was doing this and he was going to help her despite him being the mad one about everyone being late just before this.

"It doesn't seem like a good idea right now, guys," John B reasoned.

"JJ will come with me, it'll be fine," she assured him.

"Yeah, her parents already hate me, so I got nothing to lose. Just give us an hour," JJ said and John B sighed. "It'll be like a black ops mission, in and out."

"Okay, okay—"

"Surgical removal type shit."

"Plus, I owe her," Cassie added. "So gimme the keys."

John B nodded slowly for a second, seeming to mill it over, before he finally let up, "Fine." He held up the keys in front of her face. "Just hurry back. We're already late."

She took the keys from the Routledge boy. "Just give us an hour," she promised as her and JJ made their way toward the Twinkie. She tossed JJ the keys. "You're driving."

"Oh, you want the princess treatment? Okay, I see how it is," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes playfully at him. "Well, it seems like you calling me princess all the time has got to my head so, really, you're one to blame."

JJ laughed at that before he suddenly started to sprint to the car which caused John B to yell out, "No, don't, don't, don't, no!" However, his shouts were fallen on deaf ears once JJ dove through the passenger seat window instead of just opening the door.

"That door opens, bro!" Pope called out as Cassie scoffed at her boyfriend in disbelief before opening the door, getting inside like a normal person.

JJ put the keys into the ignition once he crawled into the driver's seat and started driving. "Feather-feather-feather the throttle, you know?" John B reminded him, already regretting letting them take the keys. "You got 59 minutes, guys!"

JJ drove the Twinkie to Kiara's house, parking in their driveway as they saw Mike and Anna sitting on the porch steps. JJ let out a low exhale and Cassie turned to him, promising, "It'll be fine. Just let me do most of the talking, yeah?"

"We'll see. Depends if they piss me off," JJ replied and Cassie pursed her lips before the two of them got out of the Twinkie. "Howdy, y'all! Lovely afternoon."

"JJ. Do not come on my property. Not even a little bit," Mike demanded instantly.

Cassie made her way over a bit in front of JJ. "Cassie?" Anna spoke, a bit confused why she was with JJ by herself. It seemed like Kiara had drifted from her parents so much that she hadn't gotten around to telling them that Cassie and JJ had started to get along or were even together.

"Hey, um, I promise he'll be fine," she said as she pointed with her thumb back at JJ, and the blonde boy rolled his eyes behind her. "But we're just here to see Kiara. We were supposed to hear from her, but we haven't yet, so that's why—"

"Cassie, she's not here," Anna interrupted her.

"Like we're supposed to believe that," JJ piped up from behind Cassie, causing her to sigh quietly as he moved to stand next to her. Normally, she would've been fine going with the "bad cop" approach, but they had to be smart about this if they wanted Kiara's parents to let them see Kiara again. "All right, um, well, then where is she?"

"Let's just say you're not gonna see her for a while. All right?" Mike said, and Cassie and JJ shared a look with one another.

"We sent her to someplace where she can try and rebuild what you and your friends destroyed, JJ," Anna spoke.

"You sent her to that wilderness camp?" JJ realized.

Mike nodded. "Yup."

"Are you kidding? You sent her away? How could you do that?" Cassie gaped. And here she thought Mike and Anna hadn't been as bad as Ward and Savannah, but no. They had their own daughter basically kidnapped and sent away against her will.

"She needs help, Cassie. You don't know what it's like for us to have our daughter not come home for days and show up like everything's fine," Anna explained. "I mean, your mother would understand now that you've been sucked in by these Pogues."

Cassie fumed. "Well, my mother's in jail now so she wouldn't have to go through such a tragedy anymore," she responded mockingly, causing Mike and Anna to share a glance.

"God," JJ breathed out before he lightly hit the Twinkie. "You know, y'all really are some Kooks."

Mike scoffed. "How can you say that when you're here with Cassie, right now? Who's a 'Kook,' by the way," he pointed out and Cassie glared daggers at the man.

"She may have been born a Kook, but she's not an asshole like you are," JJ spat in defense of his girlfriend and Mike laughed ironically before he got up to go after JJ.

Anna tried to step in front of her husband. "No! Just—"

"You gooned her. You gooned your own daughter?" JJ questioned in disbelief as the couple made their way back inside the Twinkie.

"Hey! You gave us no choice! You gave us no choice, JJ!"

"Don't yell at him like that," Cassie warned before she opened up the passenger seat door, sitting inside.

Mike narrowed his eyes at her before he looked back at JJ. "I don't wanna see you around my family again," he ordered him.

JJ stuck his head out the window. "Don't worry, Mike, you won't."

He then backed the Twinkie out of the driveway, leaving the Carreras as the couple began their search for Kiara.

authors note!
topper burning down john b's house
was the final straw for me. at the end
of s1, i thought they were gonna give
topper a redemption arc in s2 and they
kinda did for a second even tho he was
still a lil bitch but i thought it would be
so cool to see topper break away from
the kooks and help the pogues even if
he didn't become one himself. i feel like
it would've made his character so much
more interesting but nooo s3 ruined it.
like istg i feel like they had no idea what
they wanted to do with his character bc
he would flip flop every episode and then
in s4 he was just a fuck ass bitch with his
annoying girlfriend like omg. i still wish
they gave him a redemption arc bc the
scene where he saved sarah from rafe
actually made my jaw drop i actually
liked him for a little bit after that. sorry
for that rant but sometimes the obx writers
just don't know what they're writing