Chapter Forty-Three

One month I had gone by on this island. I had finally come to terms with what had happened; my processing days were over. Everyone had pitched in to build our little house by the cave. Sarah was even making our beds were flax bushes she'd stripped from.

Pope and Cleo were finding some food further into the woods. John B and Sarah are by the home base, while Kie and JJ are finishing making spares and are going to bring us fish for dinner tonight.

I stood at the top of the hill I'd climbed, finishing the stack of wood we'd built a couple of days ago. Just in case we'd ever see a plane or a boat, we were going to set off a signal to let others know we were here. We're going to light it up in flames in hopes that not only the fire helps, but the smoke from it, too.

I sat on the grass, looking out towards the sea, meditating. I love to do afternoon yoga here. It was peaceful, I could gather my thoughts for the day. Feel some sort of peace at mind. I closed my eyes, just feeling the breeze, the wind going through my hair. I could use some shampoo and conditioner if I was honest. That would be really nice.

"Hey." I opened my eyes, spotting my sister sitting next to me and crossing her legs. I give her a small smile. "You ever feel like you're going crazy?"

I sighed. "Almost every single day."

She shrugs. "I swear I just saw our Dad's boat in the distance, but John B assured me there wasn't. But—But there was, I was so sure of it."

"I didn't see any boat," I assure her. "I've been here for a couple of hours, too."

"I know." She murmurs. "Do you want to go home?"

I bite the inside of my cheek. "Not really. We don't have anyone to go back to, S."

Sarah wrapped an arm around me. "Yeah, but we'll always have each other, right?"

"Duh." I rolled my eyes, leaning more into her touch. "I wonder if anyone misses us right now."

"Probably Topper," Sarah responds, snorting a little at the thought.

"Oh, don't." I groaned, not wanting to hear his name. "I bet he's still obsessed with you."

"Obsessed with me?" She retorts. "More like with you. Did you forget—"

"I would rather." I cut her off. "Trust me, he probably still loves you." Our conversation fell short. I heard some cheering for Kie and JJ down below. "You think they caught anything?"

"Shall we go find out?" Sarah asked, beginning to stand up and I nodded, taking her hand as she helped me stand up.

About five minutes later, we'd made our way down the main beach, seeing Kie holding up a sting ray with a stick stabbed in its head at the end. I grinned. "Woo!" I cheered for her, and she grinned at me. "We're eating good tonight, guys!"

JJ runs over to me. "You should've seen it, Kie did awesomely!"

The night was slowly rolling around and we'd have dinner, now we were all sitting by the rocky cliffs, playing a quick game of truth or dare. That was our routine, have dinner, and play a game. Only to pass time.

John B was handed the truth or dare hat by Sarah. "Okay, John B, your turn." Sarah insisted as I sat in between JJ's legs, leaning on his chest.

"All right, all right. Truth." John B nods, standing up.

"This is exciting." Cleo smiled.

"If you could do it all again..." Sarah begins. "What would you do different?"

"Uh, get the gold out before Ward did." JJ pipes up.

"Maybe hide the cross a little better," Pope suggested, and I winced.

"Sorry, our bad," I mumbled, gesturing towards me and JJ.

"Not yell murderer at Ward, maybe." Kie pursed her lips together.

"Uh, steal a couple of bottles of Rum before we jumped off the boat?" John B answers.

"Yeah, why didn't you do that, actually?" JJ questioned, playing with my hair.

I giggled along with Kie. "I don't know, maybe 'cause I was in a fight to the death?" John B retorts back.

"I would look both ways before crossing the street," Cleo added, shooting John B a look.

The girls laughed. "Yeah, my bad." John B smiled.

"Your turn, Chief." Cleo nodded towards him.

"All right, Kie." John B turned to her. "Truth or dare?"

John B puts the hat on Kie. She rolled her eyes. "Truth."

"All right." John B grinned. "Um, if you could go home to your parent's house on figure eight this instant... Would you do it?"

Kie crunches up her face. "No chance."

"Seconded." Sarah points at her.

"Amen." I raised my arm in the air slightly, before JJ took my raised hand in his, lowering them to the ground. I smiled at him.

"Hear, hear!" JJ then raises his coconut. "To no chance!"

"The showers tempting, though," Kie added, and I groaned out.

"Don't say that." I sighed.

"Ooh, I could have a fat shower right now." Pope agreed.

"JJ, truth or dare?" Kie asked him.

"I mean, do you even have to ask?" JJ questioned, taking the hat that Kie had thrown him.

Kie smiled and pointed to the cliff with her knife. "Big jump. No one's done it yet. Dare."

"I would like to nominate someone to do it with me." JJ quickly spoke, and he looked over at me with a dare-deviling smile.

My face dropped at this as the others cheered for me. "No, no, no—"

"Yes!" Kie giggled, pointing the knife towards me. "Stormy and JJ. Dare."

"Hey, I didn't agree to this!" I exclaimed as JJ stood up and then pulled me up along with me.

"Come on, Hollywood," JJ whispered, a small smile spreading across his lips. "It'll be fun."

I felt the pressure as everyone started to chant my name. I looked over at Sarah for help, but she was already chanting and grinning. "Fine." They were excited. I chucked Sarah my ring, and she caught it quickly. I did not want to lose that.

JJ and I made our way up through the rock wall, JJ helping me along the way. We are now both standing on the tip-top rock where I'd been yesterday.

"Hey, you said you wanted to do this." JJ stepped closer to me, his hands touching my forearms.

"I know." I groaned, the wind whipping our hair around messily. I glanced down at the others who all stood close by; they were still cheering.

"Go, Stormy!" Sarah yelled, jumping up in down in excitement.

"Come on, guys!" Kie called out.

"Sent it!" Pope screamed, cupping his hands for more volume.

"They're not gonna do it!" Cleo smirked. "They're not gonna do it!"

"Oh, we won't, huh?" JJ grabbed my hand and gestured towards the water below. I felt the nerves hit. I gulped uneasily. JJ looked at me. "On three."

I nodded. "One."

"Two, three—"

"Hey—" I was cut off as JJ jumped in, and I was quick to follow, considering he was holding my hand the entire time. We'd let go of our hand's mid-air, falling rapidly.

I hit the water, sinking deep and hoping it wasn't shallow. Which it wasn't, thank God. It felt nice to be in the water, though. It was hot out. I submerge from the water, bouncing back up with JJ seconds later, hearing our friends scream our names excitedly.

JJ swam towards me. "Yeah, baby!" We reached each other, and he grabbed my ass with his hands, pulling me closer to him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck like a baby. I giggled. "Coolest chick on Poguelanida!" He pointed at me, and I laughed. He kisses my cheek and lets go of me, the two of us making our way back towards our friends as they meet us on the water's shore.

I ran over to Sarah, and she was laughing at me, my arms wrapped around her swiftly. "No!" She whined but accepted, defeated and hugged me back closely. Kie walked towards us, her eyes shining with glee.

"Was it fun?" She asked.

"Yeah." I managed to get out, smiling widely. I glanced over at John B and Pope, who hugged JJ's side. At this moment, we felt carefree and happy.

"I actually thought I was gonna die." JJ piped up, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Sarah then gives me back my ring, and I slip it on.

"You looked like you were gonna die," Pope added with Cleo laughing.

✫✫✫

I never thought the day would come when we'd be rescued.

But, this morning was the day.

The seven of us were lying on the ground on our homemade beds when I first heard it. I was cuddled next to JJ, using his chest as a pillow. One of my legs was wrapped around his waist; my hand was around his body. One of his arms was wrapped around my shoulders, holding me close as he slept.

I was always the first one up in the morning. I liked seeing the sunrise. Life is too short not to.

I felt like I'd always had good hearing. My eyes darted towards the sky, wondering if I'd heard it correctly. Surely. I sat up a little, hearing the faint sound of an aeroplane, my heart pounding.

Is it my Dad? Is it Rafe? Have they come to get me?

Before I could worry any further, someone said something. "Guys." I looked over and saw Pope hissing at everyone. No one even tried to wake up. "Stormy, you heard that, right?"

I nodded. "I think so. Aeroplane?"

"Yeah." He breathed out, and that's when it clicked. Our signal. He stands up, only to look out at first. I stood up, too, pulling away from JJ. "Plane." He whispered, finally seeing it like I was. "Guys. Guys. Guys. Wake up. There's a plane."

"Go, go, go," I tell Pope. "I'll wake them up; you go do the signal." He nodded before sprinting off. "Guys." I kicked John B's side lightly and shook Sarah. "Wake up; there's a plane."

The two woke up along with Cleo. Kie and JJ still seemed to be out of it, snoring away. "What?" Cleo mumbled.

"There's a plane. Pope's—" I tried to explain to her, but she was already off, running after Pope. "There's a plane." I panicked, my breathing becoming rigid. My eyes dart worriedly towards Sarah, who sat up in confusion, looking out towards the sky, and seeing the plane flying by. Her face turns pale too.

"Yo, JJ, man." John B nudged JJ. "Kie. Guys, get up. There's a plane." JJ and Kie woke up around the same time, furrowed eyebrows.

"What's going on?" Kie asked, sitting up slightly as she examined our faces.

"There's a plane." John B smiled hopefully. JJ walked off. John B, Sarah, and I walked towards the shore. John B was waving his arms, yelling out to the seaplane. "Hey! Hey! We're over here."

JJ and I glanced at each other. We both had the same thought. We didn't want to leave. JJ sent me a small, tight-lip smile before reaching out to me, our hands intertwining. Kie and John B were yelling at the plane, waving their hands. Sarah, JJ and I watched in shock.

I can't believe this is happening.

"Hey! We're over here!" John B waved but the plane kept moving, not noticing us, and for a moment, I was happy. Truth be told i don't want to be saved. I have nothing left in Outer Banks.

But never the less, it does turn around. The hope on everyone's faces says it. It comes towards us. "He sees us," Kie spoke hopefully. "Guys, guys. He sees us."

"He's gonna go to the pond." John B informed us, and I nodded, feeling my feet move slowly towards the pond. "Come on, come on, come on!" John B yelled out. I eventually started sprinting along with the others.

We made it to the pond in a matter of five minutes. We watched as the white and blue plane landed in the pond beside the shore. I eyed the yellow writing on the plane, the flying fish.

John B, Sarah, and Kie run over to it, JJ hanging back with me. I pursed my lips together. I don't trust it. JJ held my hand, his thumb rubbing my palm gently for comfort. He lowered his gaze with tight lips before pulling me along with him. "Come on." He whispered.

Pope and Cleo joined us a few seconds later as he neared the plane. "Hey!" Pope called out. A white man with a long ponytail emerges from the plane, climbs down the steps, and grins widely at us. Pope runs over to John B, grabbing onto his shoulders. "Hey, we're getting out of here. We're finally getting out of here."

I pursed my lips together and walked to Sarah, leaving JJ with Kie. She was looking at the man suspiciously. It may not be our father himself, but what if he was working with him? Trying to lure us in?

"Well, what do we got here?" The man questioned.

"Uh..." John B trailed off slightly. He glanced at us. "You know, just some castaways."

"Well, cross that off the grocery list." The man joked. "Uh, hang on. I got just the thing for y'all."

John B looked at Sarah and me. He noticed something off with us instantly. "Hey, no." John B tried to shove those thoughts away from our heads. "Look at this guy."

I looked at him. "Two things you need on a deserted island." The man spoke his head into the door of his plane, reaching for something.

"You think he works for your guys Dad?" John B gestured towards the odd man. "It's okay."

"First aid and rum!" The man reveals, holding up the two items. "In coming!" Sarah had a rum bottle, but I stepped in front and caught it easily, eyeing the man the entire time. "Atta girl! She knows how to drink." He then throws Pope the first aid. He caught it. "So, what's the story? You guys sank a boat?"

John B hesitated. "Jumped off one. Their Dads." He gestured towards Sarah and me. Sarah and I glared at him.

"In-laws, man." The man joked. "They're tough. Well, have no fear. Jimmy's here. I got you."

"Well, all hail Jimmy, guys!" Cleo called out, grinning. "Let's go." I stayed put while John B ushered Sarah along, Pope following along with Cleo. Kie eventually went in, and I stayed put with JJ. I glanced down at the bottle of rum.

"At least we've got our rum," I whispered to him jokingly.

He cracked a small smile before it slowly faded, and he frowned. "Come on." He muttered, gesturing towards me to go first. We both weren't sure, but we had to.

"Welcome aboard the Flying Fish." Jimmy welcomed us. "I'm Jimmy Portis. I'll be your Captain today. Is this all? Seven of you?"

"Uh, yeah." John B confirmed as we stepped onto the seaplane. "Too heavy?"

"Nah," Jimmy informs. "Uh, technically, maybe. But, I think old Fish there'll probably be okay. We could always throw someone overboard, right?" He laughs uneasily, and John B gives him a tight lip smile.

"See you, Island!" 

A/N 

I have such mixed feelings about this season tbh. I'm not sure if I liked it. But, for the sake of my babies Stormy and JJ, I shall continue. 

Also. 

BRING IT ON HOME JOHN B! BRING IT ON HOMEEEE!