Kie's POV:

JJ stormed off pissed at us after he stole money from Barry. It had been a few hours and he hadn't shown up yet, I got worried and went to look for him in his normal spots and he wasn't there. Days went by and no one heard from him. We all had to accept that he was gone and probably not coming back.

I texted him every single day telling him to come home, or let me come get him, and to just let me know he was safe. Nothing.

I'm now nineteen years old and tonight I was with the Pogues at the beach for the 4th of July. John B and Sarah were together, Pope brought his girlfriend, Cleo whom he met in college and I was here alone. I never really even dated in college. I guess my heart always belonged to JJ and he left before I got the chance to tell him how I felt. Truth is, I don't know if he was ready to hear it which is why I didn't say anything.

John B, Pope, and Sarah all knew that JJ leaving had the biggest impact on me. They knew that deep down, I was in love with him. The 4th of July was always big for the Pogues, we'd come to the beach and hang out all day until the fireworks at night. It was our favorite holiday and I'm glad we kept the tradition alive.

"Holy shit" John B said and everyone looked in the direction he was looking and there was JJ

"John B" JJ said walking over to us and my heart started racing

"Where the hell have you been?" John B asked hugging his best friend

"Long story, bro! I'll tell you guys everything later" JJ replied going to hug Sarah and then Pope

"I freaking missed you man" Pope said

"I missed you guys too"

JJ looked at me and he didn't hug me. He looked down like he felt guilty and then he said, "Kie, listen..."

"You couldn't even respond to one of my fucking texts to let me know you were okay, that you were alive. You fucking left me thinking you were dead" I said choking back the tears before I had a total mental breakdown on the beach in front of everyone

"I'm sorry and I promise to tell you everything..." He started to speak but he got interrupted by a girl

"JJ, there you are" She smiled walking over to us in her bikini

She was blonde and she was beautiful. She must be his girlfriend. I couldn't do this. I walked away and left the beach in tears. I went to the chateau and laid in the hammock thinking about every possible reason JJ came back and what he did while he was gone.

JJ's POV:

Kie left and Ashley came over.

"Hi, you must be JJ's friends. I've heard so much about you guys" She smiled

"Who are you?" Sarah asked

"I'm Ashley, JJ's little sister"

"Dude, you have a sister?" John B asked

"Yeah, I found my mom and my sister and that's where I've been"

"Shit... JJ, we need to talk" John B said moving away from the group

"What's wrong?"

"Dude, when you left, Kie kinda shut down for a bit. She hasn't dated anyone or shown any interest in a single guy because she loves you. She saw Ashley and I think she thought you were together... You've always liked her, go fix this because she feels the same way"

I went to the chateau and saw her in the hammock. She was crying and so zoned out. I felt like shit. I didn't realize that me leaving would impact her so much. I didn't know how to start the conversation so I just told her.

"That girl is my sister, completely biological... Kie, I found my mom and then I found out that I have a little sister, Ashley... My mom was pregnant when she left my dad"

"Holy shit, you've been with your mom this whole time?"

"Yeah, she lives in Southern California. She's married to this incredible guy and they had two more kids together, my half-sisters"

Kie was quietly processing this and she asked, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, I'm always fine"

"No, you say you're fine but I can see through your bullshit. You aren't fine. You're pissed at your mom for leaving you with your dad" She raised her voice

"Damn, don't gotta bitch at me about it" I got defensive

"You're pissed at your mom for leaving you but you fucking left me here. You didn't even bother to call or text me to tell me you were safe. After a year, I thought you might actually be dead" She yelled at me with tears in her eyes

"I'm sorry, Kie... I just... I was trying to build this new life and I knew if I talked to you guys, I'd come home and I needed to know what it was like"

"And how was it?" She asked softly

"I'll tell you all about it later, right now I need you to know that I'm sorry I didn't call you or text you. I missed you so much and you're the reason I'm here... I don't think I'd ever be able to live without you because I love you, Kiara"

"You do?" She asked

"Yes, I have for a really long time but I never knew how to tell you or admit to even myself. I wasn't doing good you know when I left with my dad and all that shit, but finding my mom changed everything and I even did some therapy. I wasn't good enough for you back then and you could still do so much better, but I hope you realize that I'm trying and I'm better now and I love you"

"I love you too" She said kissing me

We broke apart and I said, "Tomorrow I'm going to tell you everything and let you meet my sister and I'd love for you to meet my mom and everyone else, but right now I just need to be with you" I said and she smiled as she kissed me again but this time we brought it into the spare room at the Chateau and didn't come out until the next morning.

Kie and I got up and went to our spot on the beach where I told her all about my family and then I took her to meet my sister. They got along super well, the two of them made plans to hang out tomorrow so I could catch up with John B and Pope. The following day, I told the boys about my family and they were all super excited for me. They also made sure I knew how badly I hurt Kie and I promised never to leave like that again.

Ashley flew back home to California and things seemed pretty normal between us pogues again. We spent the rest of the summer together in the OBX and then they were all going off to college again. I realized that there wasn't anything keeping me in the Outer Banks. I talked to Kie and told her I was going to California to be with my family. She was happy for me and thought it was a great idea. She was going to college in Florida so we were literally across the country from each other.

We did long distance for the Fall semester and then Kie transferred to a school in California that was only about thirty minutes away from me. I brought her over to meet my mom, stepdad, and two step sisters; of course, Ashley was there too. She was a senior in high school.

My mom adored Kiara and my step sisters got along great with her too. My mom was cooking and I told them that I was going to show Kie my room. I brought her to my room and she had the biggest smile on her face. The room was decent sized with a queen bed and a killer view. 

"Jayge, this is amazing"

"I know... It's everything that I dreamed out when I was younger living with my dad"

"Do you wish your mom took you with her when she left?" Kie asked hugging me

I kept my arms around her but we both pulled back slightly as I looked at her to answer her question and said, "It would have saved me from years of abuse from my dad but I also wouldn't have ever met you... So no, if I could go back and have the choice to stay with my dad or leave with my mom, I'd stay with my dad because it means I end up with you"

She had tears in her eyes as she said, "I love you"

"I love you too" I said right before she kissed me

A few seconds later, we were interrupted by Ashley walking by and saying, "At least close the door"

We broke apart laughing as we went back downstairs for dinner. Kie fit right in with my family and my mom even invited her to spend the night. She said she was worried about Kie driving back this late at night. Kie and I spent the night in my bedroom and that's when we started talking about next year getting a place together and living together. 

Things were all falling into place and I couldn't be happier. Kie's parents came out over the summer to meet my mom and family and they all got along really well. I finally had the family that I always wanted growing up and what made it even more special is that Kie was part of it.