SHE COULDN'T stop JJ from getting drunk and spending all the restitution money, no matter how hard she tried. The boy was upset and needed something to make him happy- it was just a shame that it costed 25K. Instead of partying to hide her emotions, like her brother, Aurora just needed someone to talk to.

She wandered the streets of the Outer Banks, as her legs carried her to a familiar building. She hesitated before knocking the door, and waited a while for someone to answer. The door slowly opened, revealing the face that Rory had walked miles to see.

"Aurora?" Sarah questioned tiredly, as her eyes adjusted to the nighttime darkness, "What are you doing here?"

Rory's lip quivered, "I didn't know where else to go."

Sarah secretly brought her inside and upstairs to her bedroom. She turned on the light as she guided Aurora to her bed and shut her bedroom door. Rory leant up against the headboard, as Sarah rummaged through her closet to find some supplies.

"What is that?" Aurora asked, as Sarah sat down opposite her on the bed.

"Rubbing alcohol." Sarah tried to smile, but just looking at Rory's face pained her. She sighed, as she gently cleaned her cuts, "Did your dad do this?"

Aurora nodded, as Sarah sighed sympathetically. She took a breath, "I'm sorry for what happened at Barry's house. I shouldn't of-"

"Don't apologise." Aurora interrupted, her voice dry and hoarse from crying, "I shouldn't of been a bitch about it, you were only trying to help."

Sarah smiled slightly, then her smile faded. She whispered, "Where's JJ? Is he okay?"

"No, but he pretends like he is." Aurora explained, as the burning sensation appeared at the back of her throat. Tears filled her eyes, "He spent all of the restitution money and I couldn't stop him. He nearly fucking killed him, whilst I've passed out... like the ungrateful piece of shit I am-"

"You're not a piece of shit." Sarah interrupted, as she stopped cleaning the cuts, "Aurora you're kind, loyal, and beautiful. You don't deserve a dad like him, okay? He's an asshole."

Aurora stayed silent, as she looked at Sarah. She hesitated, "Do you mind if I stay here for the night? I can't go back to the Château like this."

"Of course." Sarah replied softly, "You can stay for as long as you like."

Aurora tried to smile, then paused, "Hey, Sarah."

"Hey, Aurora." Sarah whispered back.

Rory hesitated, "Why are you so nice to me when I've treated you like shit?"

"Because you had a reason to." Sarah explained, "Cheating on you was the worst decision of my life, and I'm sorry. I was afraid people would treat me differently if I had a girlfriend...The truth is, I never stopped loving you."

Rory paused, "What about John B?"

"What about him?" Sarah questioned, "He's out fishing with my dad."

"No, as in, what about you and John
B?" Aurora frowned, "You're together."

Sarah hesitated before replying, and Rory could see the doubt and regret filling her facial features. She wanted Sarah more than anything, but she couldn't do that to John B, could she?

***

Despite the comfort of Sarah Cameron's bed, Rory didn't sleep all night. She was too focused on JJ, where he was, and what he was doing. Rory was distracted by Sarah too, and how close they were to each-other in her double bed. But they were just friends, they couldn't be anything more.

Aurora glanced at the clock next to the bed, reading 8:55am. She silently sat up, placing a hand on Sarah's shoulder,

"Sarah." Rory whispered, "Sarah, I need to go."

Sarah groaned, rubbing her eyes and rolling over. Rory took a moment to admire Sarah as she peacefully slept: her hair messy, her lips big, her tank-top strap which had fallen down her shoulder... Rory thought she looked beautiful, she could watch her all day.

Aurora left via the window, just in case she was spotted by Rose, Rafe, or Wheezie. She paused when she noticed herself in the reflection of the glass: a cut above her cheekbone, a bruise under her left eye and dried blood and bruised on her knuckles due to her attempt of fighting back.

"JJ?" Aurora called out when she arrived at the Château, her voice was dry and hoarse from crying, "JJ?"

Her mind began to panic, like it usually did, overthinking all of the possible locations JJ could be. Was he hurt? She thought, It was all her fault.

"JJ!" Her voice became louder and shaky, as she searched around the inside of the Château.

Aurora slammed the back-porch door open, making herself flinch, before noticing JJ, Pope, and Kiara in the back yard. She sighed of relief, before her brother ran up to her,

"Rory, where've you been?" He worried, as he examined her cuts and bruised eye, "Are you okay?"

"I went to Sarah's." Rory's voice was muffled, due to the tight hug from JJ, "Im sorry, J."

"It's not your fault, Aurora." JJ reassured, as they walked towards Pope and Kiara- who gave her a small wave.
JJ returned to his childish self, "John B's pullin' a Houdini."

Pope agreed, "Yeah, where is he? I got my scholarship interview tomorrow. We gotta get this done!"

"Sarah said he's out fishing with Ward." Rory explained, as she dipped her feet in the jacuzzi that JJ brought.

"Speak of the devil. Hey!" JJ said sarcastically, as everybody turned to look at John B, "Dude, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything."

"No, he did not." Pope argued, "I did that."

"Hey, John B." Kiara said softly, as the boy ignored his friends and stormed straight into the Château.

"Uh, what was that all about?" Rory questioned curiously.

JJ nodded, "I was gonna ask you the same question."

The four followed John B inside, watching him chaotically rummage around the cupboards. Rory frowned, sharing a confused look with Kiara.

"What are you looking for?" Pope questioned.

No answer.

JJ frowned, "Bro, what's going on?"

John B ignored them all, before pulling the gun out from behind the couch cushion.

"John B, what do you need the gun for?" JJ worried, as he walked towards him, only to be shoved onto the couch by the brunette boy.

"What the fuck?!" Rory raised her voice frustratedly, as John B stormed out of the Château.

Pope tried to block the door, but the boy shoved him so he fell onto the table. Kiara scoffed,

"John B, what the hell are you doing?!"

John B revved his motorbike engine, as his friends sprinted out of the house. Rory shouted over the noise of his motorbike,

"Where the fuck are you going?!"

"Ward knows about the gold!" John B blurted out emotionally, "He killed my father."

He drove away, leaving the four shocked. Their eyes widened, as they shared the speechless look on their faces.

a/n:
i would apologies but things are only gonna get worse :(