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𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲: 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲

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Kiara found the blunt that JJ had rolled for them and they climbed up underneath the top of the boat, shielding themselves from the sweltering sun since the boys seemed to forget to leave that sunscreen or tanning lotion. How thoughtful of them. "It's for the pain," Kiara told Sarah as she started to open the 'blunt kit.'

"JJ, bless," Sarah said breathlessly.

"Never thought I'd hear those two things said together," Cassie mumbled although she had also been grateful that JJ had left them some green. If she was going be stuck on this boat with Kook Princess Sarah Cameron, she was going to need to be somewhat drugged up.

Kiara placed the blunt in between her lips and lit it with JJ's lighter, sucking in and then puffing out some smoke. She then handed it to Cassie, who had done the same just with a deeper inhale.

She was about to give it to Sarah before she said, "Actually..." She brought the blunt back up to her lips, taking an extra hit.

"Really?" Sarah questioned before she snatched the blunt from her hand, placing it in between her own lips.

"Bitch," Cassie muttered with an eye roll.

"Go easy. It's JJ's cousin's Cripple," Kiara told Sarah as the girl sucked in and then started coughing uncontrollably once she tried to blow out.

Cassie and Kiara slowly looked at one another in disbelief at the girl. They then slowly looked back, Kiara starting to nod mockingly and Cassie poking her tongue in her cheek.

One thing was certain: this was going to be a long night.

And it was.

When the sun had finally gone down, Sarah had been laughing like a little kid due to the effects of the blunt. Cassie rested her forehead on the palm her hand, wanting to just jump off the boat and drown at this point. The high she had wasn't even helping her deal with Sarah's annoying voice.

"Wow," Sarah breathed out. "Hey, guess what? "Would you rather have," the blonde cleared her throat, "I was just imagining you guys like this just now. It was pretty funny. Would you ima — would you rather...have nipples for eyes or eyes for nipples?" She ended up asking. "Imagine if you get really old and your nipples — Your boobs get saggy, and your nipples, if they were your eyes, you could see if your shoes were untied."

Kiara slowly looked over at Sarah, an 'I'm so done with this' expression written all over her face. Sarah started to laugh quietly before she noticed Kiara's expression, making her shake her head to stop herself from laughing.

"Is this like your first time smoking or something?" Kiara asked her monotonously.

"No," Sarah answered after a moment and Kiara rolled her eyes.

"Oh, my fucking God," Cassie breathed out, squeezing her eyes as shut as she tried really hard not snap at the Cameron girl. First, she had to deal with Rafe and now she had to deal with Sarah. Did the universe just decide to burden her with stuck up, evil Camerons recently? She guessed so.

"Hey, Kiara," Sarah said after a second.

"Oh, my God. Enough of the 'Hey, Kiara!' bullshit," Kiara snapped. "Why'd you do it?" She cut right to the chase and Cassie pursed her lips, surprisingly not butting into the conversation just yet since she wanted to see what Sarah had to say for herself.

"Why did I do what?" Sarah replied with a shrug, not knowing what the girl had been referring to.

"We were best friends. We-we stole beers from your dad's fridge, we watched movies together, we cried about boys. And the next thing I know, I'm watching your birthday party happen from Instagram," Kiara detailed.

"It was one party," Sarah argued and Cassie side-eyed her, but still kept her mouth shut.

"You invited everybody except me. And then you told everybody I was the reason that the party got busted," Kiara pointed out with a scoff.

"Okay, well, who else would've called the cops?"

"You never asked. You guys just let the rumor go that I was a rat. You were my best friend and then you ghosted me, and I don't even know why!" Kiara exclaimed. "I mean, really, what did I do?"

"You liked me," Sarah answered after a moment, not meeting her eyes.

"What?" Kiara said in confusion.

"When...people get...close to me, I feel trapped. And...I bail. And then I blame them for it," Sarah admitted and Cassie sucked her bottom lip at the confession. "I'm really sorry..." She apologized before she took a deep breath in. "And I miss you. I miss both of you."

"Bullshit," Cassie finally spoke up, meeting Sarah's eyes.

"What?"

"If you really missed us...if you really missed me, you would have done something about it sooner," Cassie began and Sarah looked down guiltily. "Do you have any idea what I went through when you just decided to up and leave? I thought I would have my best friend by my side when my father died, but I all I got was to see you walking the halls with my replacement."

Kiara sighed, "I'm sorry."

"No, Kie, it's not you that needs to apologize. You didn't know. You didn't know that she just replaced me without saying a word," Cassie shook her head at her friend before her gaze flitted back over to Sarah. "I mean, did you even think once about how I felt?"

Sarah swallowed hard. In all honesty, she did. She had been planning on ghosting the girl before her father's death, but when it happened, she used it as an excuse to drift away since Cassie had been holed up in her house all summer anyway. She had felt terrible for doing it, but something in her made her think she had to. It was just how she was. She was a bailer. A bolter.

Once Sarah didn't answer, Cassie scoffed. "That was the most alone I had felt in years. It had gotten so bad that I..." She trailed off, breathing out as she looked out into the ocean. Kiara placed her hand on Cassie's shoulder to comfort her. "It had gotten so bad that I l-I had turned to drinking. It was the only thing I had."

"Cassie..." Sarah whispered, her lips twitching into a deep frown at her admittance. She had felt even more terrible than before, hearing that she was the reason Cassie had developed this unhealthy coping mechanism.

"And I still do it. God! I don't even know why. I shouldn't-I shouldn't have let you affect me like this," Cassie continued, starting to grow more frustrated with herself than with Sarah that her face had gotten all flushed and her eyes had become glossy with tears. She didn't even know why she was sharing all of this to her; probably because of JJ's blunt. Damn you, JJ. "It's just...it's so hard for me to-to make friends with people. My personality...isn't the best and—"

"Cece, don't say that," Kiara scolded her gently.

"But it's true, Kiara. I mean, be honest with me. Would even be my friend if it weren't for the fact that she both wronged us?" Cassie questioned her genuinely.

Kiara tilted her head at her with a frown, not liking how insecure her friend was. Cassie had genuinely been one of the best things to happen to the girl and it didn't even seem like Cassie knew it. She just didn't know how to express that to the girl without Cassie denying it. "Of course I would, Cece. You're my best friend."

Cassie shook her head. "See, no, you're just saying that! I know you are! I mean, I've tried to have other friends. I've tried to be friends with Kooks and that didn't work out. I've tried to be friends with Pogues and that also didn't work out."

"What? Cassie, the boys like you," Kiara tried to tell her. She could tell that Pope and John B enjoyed her company. JJ was a different story, but even with him...There was no way he actually hated her. Kiara guessed that he just liked getting her mad since he was an asshole.

"Oh, but they don't. No, they're always gonna see me as a Kook no matter what I do," she went on, a few tears dropping from her eye. "Like, I've tried s-so hard to fit in with both sides of the island, but none of it e-ever works. I'm just so...tired."

She didn't like this. Feeling so vulnerable in front of people. She had already broken down in front of JJ at Midsummers and here she was, breaking down in front of her current best friend and ex best friend. It seemed like all of anger had turned to sadness, exhaustion.

She just wanted one thing to go right for her. And it never did.

She then sucked in a breath and wiped away her tears, getting up to walk away from the two girls. "Cece, wait," Kiara softly called out.

"I just...need some time alone," Cassie said to her as she traveled to the other side of the boat, not being able to face them right now.

Kiara let out a sigh, looking toward Sarah who had a pit in her stomach. "I can't believe I...I caused her to..." Sarah shook her head, looking down. "I feel terrible."

Kiara pursed her lips. She had hated Sarah for ghosting her and she had also hated her for what she had done to Cassie, but seeing the look on the girl's face...she could tell Sarah truly felt guilty.

"Sarah, it's not your entire fault," Kiara began, making Sarah look over at her with furrowed brows. "She was also coping from her dad's death. It was just...everything at once. Don't fully blame yourself for it."

Sarah nodded slowly, although she still felt horrible. She waited a moment before she asked the Carrera girl, "Do you think there's a chance that we could be okay again? Me and you, at least?"

"Honestly...I don't know," Kiara admitted and Sarah slowly again, inhaling deeply and looking down. "But with Cassie," she spoke again, making Sarah look back up, "I know she's told me how much she wants to know why you left. And I know you said it before, but saying it directly to her...It could provide her some closure, you know?"

Kiara didn't know why she had just helped Sarah out, but she just hated seeing her best friend like this. She was always so used to seeing her so energetic and witty, but whenever she got so low and melancholic...it always hurt Kiara just the same.

Some more time had passed and Cassie had still been staring off into the ocean on the opposite end of the boat. She had stopped crying a while ago and was just...thinking. Thinking about everything.

That's when Sarah decided to come over. "Hey," she greeted quietly. Cassie didn't say anything nor look over at her. "I just...I wanted to come over and say I'm really sorry. About what I did to you. I didn't realize how much...how much it affected you. I always just thought you were mad, not...you know..."

Cassie sucked in a breath and looked over at the Cameron girl, seeing the way she stood with her hands wringing together and the glossiness to her eyes. It really did look genuine, but Cassie didn't want to believe it.

"You don't have to forgive me. That's not why I'm doing this," Sarah continued. "I know you hate me and don't trust me, but...I do really like John B. And he really wants us to work together on this. I really want to work together on this. I made a huge mistake dropping both you and Kiara. You guys were, like, the best friends I ever had. And-and sometimes when I see you guys together, I feel...jealous," she admitted.

Cassie knitted her brows together. "You do?"

"Yeah," Sarah breathlessly replied with small nod. "When I see you guys, it just reminds me of what I lost out on because I just feel this need to always...bail. And I don't know why I do it, I just do. And I'm sorry I did it with you. I'm sorry I did it when you were grieving. It's unforgivable, I know. So I'm apologizing to you so you know I truly regret what I did. I'm not apologizing to you to forgive me because you really shouldn't. I just want you to know that I know I fucked up. Really bad. And I made you...go down this-this dark path. And I'm sorry. I really am sorry, Cassie."

Cassie felt tears start to prick at the corners of her eyes once more as Sarah's apology. That's all she ever wanted. To know why Sarah had left her and to just get an apology. To just get...closure. And now she finally got it. Just because some stupid Pogue boys stranded them on a boat together.

Guess their plan really did work out. Ugh.

She was then reminded of what she had done with Rafe and she felt her stomach drop. Now that Sarah had apologized, she felt even worse, if that was possible, since she only came up with that plan to get back at her. And her plan was useless because Sarah didn't even know what has occurred. Cassie intended on keeping that way, unless JJ decided to run his mouth. She just had to hope he didn't. Not anytime soon anyway. If they found the gold soon, however...she knew she was fucked.

Once Cassie still hadn't said anything, Sarah quickly cleared her throat, "Oh, and you can also hit me."

Cassie blinked back her tears in puzzlement. "What?"

"You can hit me. I know you've been wanting to and, uh, it might help. With the emotions and stuff," Sarah clarified as she took a step forward.

Cassie's eyebrows raised. "Are you serious?"

"Oh, come on, Cassie, don't back down now. You've been saying you wanted to fight me since the kegger," Sarah joked around a bit.

Cassie chuckled softly as she looked down, nodding. "Yeah. You're right. God, I really should get anger management classes or something." They both laughed at that and it suddenly started to feel like old times again, when they were in eighth grade joking around with one another without a care in the world.

But Cassie had to remind herself that she couldn't forgive the girl that easily. Sarah still had to prove that she really meant her apology.

"Okay, I'll hit you," the Blake girl finally said once she stopped laughing as she stood up in front of the girl.

"Okay, okay," Sarah nodded, getting ready. "Just tell me—"

Slap!

Before Sarah could even finish her sentence, Cassie had slapped her across the face. "Oh!" Sarah gasped, holding her hand up to her face with a surprised expression.

Cassie winced. "Oh, I didn't know you wanted a warning. Oops."

Sarah waved her off, trying to act like it didn't hurt as bad as it did. "No, you're-you're okay," she assured her hoarsely. "I didn't deserve one anyway....Do you feel better, though?"

Cassie inhaled deeply, the corners of mouth twitching into a small smile. "Honestly...yeah."

Once it had gotten even later, the girls had tried falling asleep on the boat. Kiara didn't know what Sarah had said to Cassie, but she could tell that Cassie seemed to be in better spirits. And she was pleased with that. So much so that she decided to give Sarah a chance.

"Hey, Sarah," Kiara spoke up, making Cassie turn her head over to look at her since she also hadn't fallen asleep yet.

"Hey, Kiara," Sarah replied tiredly, her eyes still shut.

"Promise me that you won't bail on John B," she said and Sarah opened her eyes at that. "He's not just...some other guy. And he really, really likes you."

"I won't," Sarah responded after a moment.

"Promise me."

"I promise."

Kiara then turned her head, sighing. "Also, I'm sorry I called the cops."

"I knew it," Sarah smirked before they both started to laugh. "I knew it, you bitch! I told you!"

"You-you should've invited me," Kiara said and Cassie laughed at her friend, slightly proud of her for coming up with that idea.

"So you called the cops?!" Sarah laughed.

"Yes!"

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"Uh-oh!" Pope called out the next morning as he, John B, and JJ stood on the HMS as it neared the stranded boat. The girls had been sitting on the edge, dangling their legs over as they waited for the boys to reach them.

"You guys forget your keys or something?" John B teased the three girls.

"You guys need a tow?" Pope asked jokingly.

"Don't give them the satisfaction of thinking this worked," Kiara whispered to the both of them.

"Absolutely not," Sarah replied.

"Fuck no," Cassie shook her head with a slight smirk.

"You gotta admit, it was kinda funny," John B said as they neared the girls sitting on the edge of the boat, making Cassie push away the smirk on her lips and replacing it with a thin line.

"John B..." Kiara started to say.

"Uh...what's that?"

"Mastermind, huh?"

"I'm always plannin'."

"Some patriarchal bullshit," Kiara deadpanned as she pretended to act upset.

"Yeah, that sucked," Sarah agreed, dusting herself off as she got up.

"You still love us though, right?" JJ asked before he tossed Kiara a rope. "Here."

"Yeah, whatever," Kiara muttered.

"Hey, you still hate me?" John B asked his girlfriend.

"A little."

"You're scarily quiet, Cassandra," JJ pointed out, looking at her through his sunglasses.

"Oh, you know, just planning a murder of three Pogue boys," she replied nonchalantly and Pope gulped a bit at that, not knowing if she was being serious or not since he had a feeling she was capable of murder.

"Yeah, we're all gonna get you back when you least expect it," Sarah told them with crossed arms.

"Better watch your back, boys," Kiara said with a smirk as Cassie and Sarah hummed in agreement.

"Well, I, for one, welcome that challenge," Pope replied.

"Me, too," JJ agreed.

"So, did you guys, you know..." Pope trailed off, holding his hands up.

"Reconcile all our differences?" Kiara finished for him and Sarah shook her head, humming negatively.

"Not even close," Kiara breathed out, also shaking her head.

"Like at all," Cassie added.

"But we're...willing to work together?" Sarah said, but it sounded more like a question as she looked at the two of them.

"You know what? That's victory!" John B exclaimed.

"Yep!" JJ said before he reached out towards Pope and began twiddling their fingers together. "Woogity-woogity-woogity!" He and Pope whooped at the same time.

Sarah then winked at the two girls without the boys seeing, and they smirked back at her knowingly. "You know what it was guys? Hydroponic," JJ concluded.

"Don't say that," Pope scolded.

"Yeah, hydroponic my ass," Cassie rolled her eyes.

"All right, shut up. You guys ready to jack some loot?" John B asked them all.

"Yeah, whatever," Kiara said before the girls hopped onto the HMS Pogue, getting ready to search for some gold at the Crain house.

authors note!
this chapter was depressing as hell
oopsies. but get ready for jj and cassie
interactions next chapter 🙏