𓆉⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖦹𓇼𖦹⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𓆉

𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜

𓆉⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖦹𓇼𖦹⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𓆉

We're the Pogues. And our mission this summer is to have a good time all the time.

Except Cornelia.

Cori. Neli. Lav. We know her by many names, but the only one that mattered to us was our Pogue Princess.

Cornelia Hendrix. Man, is she something. We've all wanted to kiss, or even date her at some point or another, probably even Kie. They were each other's first kiss when we played spin the bottle in seventh grade.

Cori and I met when we were merely babies, before we could even talk or walk, so we've been told. Our dad's were best friends and that's how our friendship started, attached at the hip ever since.

But after our dads went missing she had to move to the Figure Eight side of the island with her mom. Aka, home of the Kook's. I know better than anyone what that kind of situation is like. Uncle T is supposed to be watching me. So I get it, she had to go, she couldn't avoid not living on her own forever. But what I didn't get was her change.

She could've easily kept hanging out with us. Just because she had to move doesn't mean she wasn't a Pogue. But she started ignoring us... distancing herself. And last we saw her, we almost didn't recognize her. She went total Kook and now her and the step-sister she complained about so much are best friends now. It's strange. Cori was as Pogue as it gets, and now she's this?

That didn't matter to us though, at least not to me. I can't understand the pressure she's under, really. Having her life uprooted like that and having to live with a family she despises, or did. But a part of me does feel a little betrayed. But you know who took it worse than all of us?

JJ.

You would've thought Cori murdered his family. All he ever does now is bitch about her. I know she abandoned us, but JJ took it very personally. Almost too personally. He wasn't even this mad when Kiara ditched us. I don't understand. We all miss her. We're all a little offended at her treatment. But JJ just flat out seems to hate her guts now.

Like today. We went out fishing on the boat and caught a huge load. We dumped it right out on deck and then all dog piled beside it, wrestling around. We smelled of sweat and fish, laughing til we couldn't breathe... But then JJ had to open his mouth.

"I bet Cori would hate this now." He scoffs.

"Ugh, JJ!" Kie and Pope groan. It's like all that could ever come out of his mouth anymore were insults thrown Cori's way.

"No, I mean seriously, look-" He picks up a fish with his bare hands. Pope and I glance at each other wearily, unsure of what he was gonna do. "She probably couldn't even stand the sight of one now unless it was poached and prepared for her or something." He rolls his eyes. I'm actually more shocked that he knows the word poached than at his behavior. "Ew, it smells like fish! The smell is gonna ruin my Prada bag. Gag me." He uses a high-pitched girly voice as he flings the fish side to side, waving his arms around like a crazy person.

"Okay JJ, that's enough." I tell him. Kiara rubs her temples as Pope rolls his eyes. Every. Day. I can only take so much, and I always give in to the urge to defend Cori. It bubbles up in my throat and I know it always sets JJ off even more, but some of the things he says bothers me more than they should. I guess it's cause I just don't want him to be right. I don't want our Cori, my Cori, to be this nasty Kook JJ paints her out to be. She can't be, she just can't.

"Why do you always defend her man!" He snaps. "Huh? She wouldn't do the same for you. Hell, I bet she shit talks all of us every day with her new little side kick." He says with so much distaste you would've thought he took a bite of the raw fish.

"Because she's our friend." I state matter-of-factly, slapping the fish out of his hand.

"No, she's not!" He takes a step towards me, pointing his finger angrily at my face.

"JJ..." Kiara uses warning tone.

"Come on, dude." Pope sighs. We're all sick of his shit at this point.

"No, you guys come on! She doesn't give a shit about any one of you!" He points to each of us before throwing his arms up. "Screw this why are we even talking about her." He huffs.

"You're the one who brought her up." Kie mutters. Pope and I snap our heads towards her with pleading eyes, begging her not to get him started back up.

"Whatever." JJ grumbles quietly, ripping off his cut up T-shirt before diving into the water.

"What is with him?" Kie huffs while he's still under.

I know JJ is just proud and cares about his friends more than the world, and even himself, but Cori was supposed to be part of that.

And now she's one of them...

𓆉⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖦹𓇼𖦹⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𓆉

Author's Note:

Hey heyyyy, Happy Outer Banks Day🫶🏼

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! I know it isn't much, but don't worry this is only the beginning <3

Y'all will get to meet Cori in the next chapters so stay tuned ;)

Updated Author's Note:

Hey heyyyy!! Happy August, also known as Lavender & Seashells month bc that song is SO this book <333

I decided to change the face claim for this book & my oc's name soooo meet the new & improved Lavender & Seashells!! I also made Cori a new aesthetic & redid the playlist for this book, hopefully all of this skyrockets my motivation even though summer break is almost over :(

Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed the updated version of this chapter, & part 1 of episode 1 is out now!!