033
b's love language is anger

The Twinkie felt much smaller than usual.

The rain pattered against the roof, aching to come in. Tap. Tap. Tap. A thousand, million taps at once. They streamed down the windows, washing away the dirt, and mud of all their Pogue adventures.

The view outside was blurry and dark, so Bianca tried to focus on the hula bobblehead dolls on John B's dashboard. She pulled the towel around her shoulders tighter, one that JJ found in the trunk from when the Pogues last went surfing.

"Still cold?" He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and reached for the air conditioning controls.

"Mhm," Bianca hummed, nuzzling her nose into the soft fabric.

JJ switched on the heat, only for it to blast cool air before giving out with a heavy thunk. He winced, "I- uh, never mind."

Bianca smiled and bunched her knees up to her chest, "It's fine," It figures John B's van was holding on by a thread anyway.

JJ ran a hand through his golden strands, still dripping rain over his forehead. He tightened his hands over the steering wheel while his sopping t-shirt was discarded somewhere in the back.

Bianca had also removed her clothes, save for her bra, underwear, and one of JJ's spare flannels from the backseat in an attempt to conserve body heat. It was only when they reached the shelter of the van did they realize how unforgiving the cold truly was.

One of Kiara's Bob Marley CDs was playing but Bianca could barely hear it above the sound of her thoughts. She stared out the window, past the rivulets of rain and toward the looming trees bristling in the breeze.

"I'm sorry," Bianca swallowed thickly, without moving her gaze. "For not telling you before."

JJ shook his head even though he knew she couldn't see it, "I'm sorry for not realizing earlier."

Bianca chewed on her lower lip and gave a gentle shrug, "You couldn't have known."

They lapsed into a hollow silence, filled with unspoken words and endless apologies. The streetlights danced through the windows, illuminating their entwined hands resting in Bianca's lap. There was so much to say, and yet so little needed to be said.

"Why didn't you come to me?" JJ stared out into the dark road. This voice was empty. Hurt.

Bianca's eyes squeezed shut, "I thought I could handle it."

"No, you didn't," He called her out. In any case, she didn't do a very good job of hiding it.

Bianca nodded. JJ was always able to tell when she was lying, "I was terrified," She admitted under her breath, fidgeting with the rings on his fingers. "I let Rafe get in my head. Again."

"B, you were in a really shitty place and he took advantage of that," He reassured, though there was a frustrated lilt to his voice.

"I know but I hated him... for so long," Bianca pursed her lips. "For everything he did and then to hear him say we were the same..." She held her breath. "If you ever hated me like that, I don't think I'd ever forgive myself."

JJ could pick up on the fear bleeding between each word. He squeezed her hand, "I want you. However you are, whatever you are, I want you. Never forget that."

Bianca stared at him with parted lips. His words made her feel like she was floating. They were pure in their honesty and depth and gruffness and humility. And they were for her. How wholly he gave himself and how wholly she wanted to give herself in return.

"And I'll fight to get inside that pretty head as many times as it takes. Over and over and over," By the time JJ finished, his chest was heaving, as if the very idea he could ever hate her, angered him. "Don't you dare doubt me."

Bianca could do nothing except nod, at a loss for words. His speech left no room for argument, one she couldn't win anyway. JJ would fight her till she believed it or until his last dying breath, whichever came first.

Another silence encompassed them, except this one was warm. Comfortable. One of JJ's hands still rested in Bianca's lap although she stopped fidgeting with his fingers by then. They stayed like that, loosely interlinked.

Bianca's bones were achy and heavy with exhaustion and her eyelids were already fluttering closed. But she could feel JJ glance at her now and then as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to ask.

JJ cleared his throat, forcing her to straighten, "I, uh- I never told you this..." He began hesitantly, staring through the blurred windshield. "Mostly because- well, we kind of hated each other back then."

They shared a knowing look. Bianca stifled a muffled laugh into the towel at the memory of driving back after trying to sneak into her father's office. It was bittersweet, sitting here together after all this time. After all, this van was the first place they both realized that maybe, they didn't want to go back to hating each other's guts.

"But um, after..." JJ held his breath. "We sunk Topper's boat, Shoupe showed up to arrest Pope and I... I took the fall for him."

Bianca's eyebrows drew together, "I remember."

JJ's lips curved into a frown, as if reliving a part of his life he rather keep buried, "Yeah, well, my dad picked me up from the station. They told him about the restitution," His grip flexed on the steering wheel. "And when we got back to the truck, he, uh- he wasn't happy."

Bianca winced and her heart pounded in her ears at the thought of what Luke did. She recalled getting in the Twinkie for the first time and noticing all the bruises scattered across JJ's jaw and cheeks. At the time, she thought they were from Rafe, considering the boys got into it at the OBX Summer Cinema but she should've known better.

JJ rubbed his thumb over the back of Bianca's hand, drawing her eyes back to him, "Hey, story's not over," He mused with a small smile. "We haven't even got to the best part yet."

Bianca shot him a glare that told him she didn't appreciate his joke. He might been able to kid about things like this but she knew it was only a way to cope with it.

JJ chuckled, "Fine, sorry. But um, when we got home, my dad- he passed out on the couch. He was high off- I don't know, I didn't care," He shifted in his seat. "I snuck out to go see John B but then I saw him lying there, you know? And I was so angry at him."

JJ's adam's apple bobbed, his eyes following the windscreen wipers as they drove through the rain. Bianca watched the side of his face under the dull streetlights, the way his jaw clenched. It was like he was avoiding looking at her.

She placed a chaste kiss on the back of his hand and he finally, finally turned to face her. Just for a moment. But it was enough for him to keep going.

"I pointed the gun at him. Right between his eyes," JJ confessed in a rushed exhale. "I was gonna kill him. I was gonna do it- I swear I was," He blinked but his focus was no longer on the road. "I don't think I've ever been so close to actually pulling that trigger on someone more than right then."

Bianca held her breath for a beat, "But you didn't."

"But I didn't," JJ nodded, the corners of his lips quirking up ever so slightly.

Bianca's heart squeezed. She ached for JJ, for everything he'd been through. He was the strong one, the brave one. Not her. She didn't even come close.

JJ was the one who gave her the courage to keep going. It was always him, pushing her to get out of her comfort zone, calling her out on her bullshit, holding her hand through it all. It was he who gave her the strength to do better, to become a better person and she didn't know how she'd ever show how grateful she was for that.

"Thank you," Bianca whispered. "For telling me that story," It reminded her that she wasn't alone in all of this.

JJ shrugged, "I'm just saying. I know how it feels," His eyes flickered to her. "I know you never meant for this to happen, Bianca."

She exhaled within the quietness of the Twinkie, "...I don't think you'd do it."

JJ scoffed, shaking his head, "I could've pulled the trigger if I wanted to."

"I know," Bianca hummed, making the blonde boy turn back to her. "But I know you wouldn't."

JJ narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest, "How can you know that?"

"You can act tough," Bianca told him softly. "But you're not a killer, JJ."

His response was even swifter, "Neither are you."

Bianca cast her gaze down, avoiding his words. JJ knew it would take a long time for her to fully get over this. Maybe, she never would. But that was okay. They had all the time in the world because he wasn't leaving anytime soon.

JJ's hand remained in hers for the rest of the journey home. Even as she fell asleep huddled against the window with her knees pulled up to her chest and the towel draped around her shoulders, he never let go. He promised.

The moonlight illuminated Bianca's damp hair and flushed cheeks and despite the road ahead of him, JJ struggled to tear his gaze away. She was fast asleep but it didn't bother him because he knew there were times when she laid awake at night unable to sleep, no longer familiar with what it meant to find rest.

And so, he drove around the Cut, over and over. Even slowed down at speed bumps and drove around potholes so he didn't wake her. He must've passed the Chateau at least twenty times before he finally pulled up into the driveway when he knew she was deep enough asleep.

John B was still up, waiting for them on the stairs of the front porch. When JJ parked the Twinkie, he stood up, "Is she-" Only to be quickly shushed by the blond, nodding at Bianca's sleeping figure in the passenger side.

Gently, he lifted her into his arms to bring her inside while John B held open the front door for them. Too exhausted to shower, JJ laid her in the guest bedroom before stepping out of his boots and settling under the covers with her.

Bianca laid on top of him, her head against his chest, her ear to his heart. She pressed her cheek closer, the sound more soothing than any lullaby she'd ever heard.

JJ felt the pressure on his chest and ran his fingers through her hair, "'S yours," He whispered, mostly to himself. "Yours as much as it is mine," His eyes squeezed shut. "Please don't leave me."

Bianca was too tired to respond, her eyes already fluttering shut. But despite the haze, she heard his whisper and her fists tightened against the material of his shirt. JJ breathed a sigh of relief and felt her thighs loosen around his hips as he held her.

That night, JJ had never slept worse in his life. He didn't think he slept at all. Not even his father's yelling, or his fists ever disturbed him as deeply as Bianca's confession in the rain. The idea of her giving up, of leaving him in this world alone, haunted him. Somehow, somewhere along the way, losing Bianca became his worst fear.

JJ pulled her closer and there he lay, looking at her in a way no one ever looked at her before. She would not always be easy to hold onto for her heart was scattered with thorns and her past was knotted. Some nights she would be quiet and he won't know how to pull her from her weeded mind.

Some nights, she'll forget what he saw in her and lose her balance. Some nights, she'll trip over her own feet and apologize for the mess she made. On those nights, the one thing that would drag her out of her labyrinth was that look.

No one had ever looked at her quite like that.

When Bianca woke the next morning, it was with a throbbing headache. One she could only assume was because of the amount of crying she did the night before.

She groaned, running a hand over her face to shield her eyes from the rays of sunlight peeking through half-closed curtains. She shifted, peering through the brightness only to find the bed beside her crumpled and cold.

In JJ's place, was a small yellow sticky note on the pillow scrawled with messy handwriting. It read—

'gone to find big john. wanted to let you sleep,
will find you later. i'm sorry, it was an emergency.
i promise i'll explain everything soon.
i love you - jj
p.s i made pb&j'

Bianca smiled. She hated PB & J sandwiches but she appreciated the gesture nevertheless.

With a huff, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table before dragging her feet into the shower. She managed to make herself appear a little presentable with the help of Sarah's clothes and makeup she brought over from Tannyhill while staying at the Chateau.

Bianca emerged from the shower into the kitchen, her freshly washed hair dripping onto a black tank top, and a denim mini skirt. She grabbed JJ's sandwich from the kitchen counter before padding over to the front porch to settle on the couch outside. She made a little mental note to buy the boys some groceries later, considering there was nothing else in the pantries.

Light danced across the marsh, and the air smelled sweet. Humming bees darted through the air, and the breeze sifted through the girl's dark strands. She noticed her white sneakers from last night on the wooden steps, now air-dried and clean from the rain. Bianca's heart swelled, JJ really thought of everything.

Just sitting there, feeling the sun warm her skin was simple enough for Bianca's heart to flutter. Having been in her head for so long, she almost forgot what it was like to just smell the roses. Of course, at John B's Chateau, it was more like damp mildew and wet mud from the marsh, but in Bianca's opinion, it was just as sweet.

"Helloooo!" A grinning voice called from the end of the pier.

Bianca's eyes drifted towards it, finding Kiara docking her boat before hopping onto the wooden ledge. She wore a white crop top that read— 'Sustainability is hot'. A smile lit up Bianca's face, gone was her headache as she quickly finished the last bite of her sandwich and met her best friend halfway.

"Kie!" Bianca wound her arms around the girl when they were close enough.

"B, hey," Kiara exhaled heavily after jogging toward her. She pulled away, "You ready?"

Bianca's eyebrows drew together, "Ready? For what?"

"Uh, you texted me," Her frown deepened.

"...No, I didn't."

Kiara's eyes narrowed as she pulled out her phone from the back of her denim shorts and scrolled through. When she found the messages, she began reading, "7:30 am. 'Hey Kie, what are you doing today? I'm dying to get out of the Chât. JJ and John B are driving me crazy,' with three exclamation marks."

Bianca crossed her arms over her chest. She could already see where this was going.

"To which I responded, 'Hi hi, gotta run some errands for my parents' fifteenth-anniversary party at the Wreck— your mom would've got the invite. If you want, you can come help me prep?' – smiley face, smiley face," Kiara continued. "And then you said, 'Perfect. See you soon.'"

By then, Bianca had pulled out her own phone and began scrolling through the messages. She scoffed before locking the screen with an eye roll.

"I take it that wasn't you?" Kiara arched an eyebrow.

"Nope," Bianca ran a hand through her hair. "The boys ran off this morning, something about trying to find Big John. But JJ thinks I need a babysitter apparently."

She must've sounded annoyed to Kiara but she wasn't angry. She understood why JJ didn't want her to be alone, especially after what she told him last night. He was just looking out for her.

"Okay, well, the offer still stands," Kiara hummed with her hands on her hips. "I didn't ask before 'cause I thought y'all might get bored but I'm heading out to go pick up some food from the Island Restaurant now, wanna come?"

Bianca thought about it. She didn't have much else to do today nor did she want to see her mother or Sarah anytime soon so she shrugged, "Yeah, I'm down," She grabbed her sneakers from the front porch. "Just let me change my password first."

The curly-haired girl laughed as they linked arms and headed back to the boat. Bianca complimented her hair as she untied the boat from the mooring.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in, like- five years," Kiara positioned herself at the steering wheel.

Bianca lounged on the white seats behind her, "Bitch, we saw each other yesterday."

"Oh, yeah," Kiara tilted her head with a giggle. "We did, didn't we?"

"It's fine, I get it," Bianca turned to her with a small smile. "I feel it too."

It was a shift in energy. The air was electrifying. Things were changing, and the girls could sense it was for the better.

"I missed you, B," Kiara glanced over her shoulder at her best friend.

Bianca's heart skipped a beat. The feeling was mutual but she'd never admit it, "Ew, Kie," She teased instead. "I knew you were obsessed with me."

Kiara scoffed dramatically, "Oh, go fuck yourself! You know, I thought we were having a cute little moment there."

"A moment?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Yes, a moment- and you ruined it!" Kiara feigned anger, although she was laughing. "Would it kill you to say something nice for once?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Bianca lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the sun's glare. "I'm so nice."

"You just called me a bitch," Kiara sent a pointed look over her shoulder.

"No, that was a term of endearment," Bianca peeked one eye open. "I was saying out of love."

Kiara grinned, "Aw, B," She cooed. "You love me?"

"Gross. Not anymore."

"It's okay," Kiara nodded. "I totally get it now. Your love language is like, the opposite of words of affirmation. It's like, words of hatred and resentment."

"Sounds like something a delusional person would say," Bianca snorted, crossing one leg over the other.

"Whatever," The curly-haired girl giggled, turning back to the open water. "No, but seriously, I missed you. I would've come over but my parents kind of flipped after the whole money clip thing."

"You told them?" Bianca hummed.

"I mean, they noticed it was missing," Kiara sighed, bowing her head. "He stole that money clip from my dad, and I'm still pissed about it. Like, I get why he did it but I just wish he wouldn't have. All it does is give my parents another reason to say 'I told you so.' Now, they don't want me going anywhere near the boys, and right now, I don't blame them," She looked over at her friend. "Does that make me a horrible person?"

Bianca shifted in her seat, "Not at all. JJ shouldn't have done that- it was wrong," She agreed. "I mean, I was pissed. I can't imagine how you were feeling."

"Honestly...?" Kiara pursed her lips. "A little betrayed. I don't know. I just feel like I've stuck by him through everything. I've defended him to my parents, to the Pogues, all the Kooks- just for him to pull this shit. He's just pretending he doesn't care. He won't talk to me," She vented, staring out at the open water. "I'd rather argue about it."

"I'm sorry," Bianca could understand the girl's frustration but she was even more annoyed at her boyfriend for not making things right. She knew he was better than that and he knew it too.

Kiara shook her head, "You don't need to be, it's fine," She gave a small smile. "We'll work it out. We always do- it's a Pogue thing."

Bianca hummed, "Well, there was no point of you coming over anyway- I went to school yesterday."

"Oh, shit- yeah," Kiara steered the wheel toward the dock as they neared the Island Restaurant. "How was it?"

"It was fine," Bianca shrugged. "They want me to do this accelerated summer program thing to like, catch up or- I don't know. School is the last thing on my mind right now," Her eyes flickered to the water. "But I did make a new friend."

"Oh, yeah?" Kiara perked up.

"Yeah- Elena. You remember her?" She mumbled. "Elena Reedy."

Kiara wracked her mind, "Kind of? Not really?"

"It's fine- I didn't really remember her either," Bianca shrugged. "All I remember was Sarah telling me about how she had this huge crush on Topper- and now she's dating him. Well, she was. They broke up yesterday."

"Oh," Kiara's eyebrows drew together. "How come?"

"Um," Bianca hesitated. She hadn't thought about the Topper-Sarah thing since she and her best friend got into that big argument at Mase, "I don't know. I did freak out on her a little bit though so she probably thinks I'm some kind of basket case now."

"I mean, that's pretty much the general consensus anyway," Kiara teased.

"Oh my god," Bianca scoffed, getting to her feet to shove the girl lightly. "I hate you- I will literally throw you to the oyster beds."

"Bianca," Kiara began solemnly before she broke out into a wide grin. "That is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me."

The girls' laughter carried through the air as they got closer to the restaurant. Bianca's chest squeezed in warning, she couldn't recall the last time she genuinely let go like this.

"Sounds like you had an eventful first day back," Kiara mused, picking up the boat's rope.

"You have no idea," Bianca stepped off the dock and began tying the rope to the mooring.

"Kind of shitty of your mom to make you go," Kiara narrowed her eyes.

Her heart lurched at the mention of her mother, "It's fine. We made a deal- I can go to Wilmington only if I stop bunking classes," She sighed. "It's just like, she's so obsessed with trying to please everyone else, and put on a good front that she forgets I'm not some kind of doll she can manipulate, you know? I can't do a single thing without her stressing about how it will reflect back on her."

"I get that- it sucks," Kiara chuckled humourlessly. "All my mom's ever wanted was for me to be some kind of Kook Barbie she can dress up and show off like a bourgeoisie pig. But that's not me like, at all. The Island Club is nothing but a factory farm for debutantes and I refuse to conform."

"You're telling me," Bianca used to be one of them. "It's a Kook thing, Kie."

The two girls stared up at the wooden restaurant, a popular attraction for the Figure Eight side of the island. It was more common to find Kooks here but Kiara's parents wanted catering that wasn't from the Wreck so they could enjoy their day rather than worrying about the menu.

"Okay, this is it," Kiara planted both hands on her hips once the boat was docked. "I'll go grab the stuff."

"I'll come with you," Bianca nodded as they fell in step beside each other.

They only made it a few steps till Kiara piped up, "So, uh- how are you and JJ?"

Bianca managed a smile, "We're good," She knew Kiara played a big part in why JJ hadn't given up on her and for that, she was grateful. "Better."

"Good," Kiara nodded. "I'm glad."

Suddenly, Bianca's phone in her hand began buzzing and she lifted it to read the caller ID. Her eyebrows drew together, "It's my abuelita," She wasn't expecting a call from her so early in the morning.

"You take that," Kiara quickly dismissed when Bianca's hand hovered over the 'answer' button. "It's fine- it's only a couple of bags anyway. I called Sally earlier so it won't be long. I'll be out in a sec."

"Okay," Bianca called after her, stepping back. "Let me know if you need a hand!" She put the phone to her ear. "Buenos días, Abuelita." [Goodmorning, grandma]

"Ah, bien hecho! You remembered," Pilar cooed through the phone, glad her granddaughter was making some progress with their mother tongue. "Qué haces hoy, mi vida?" [Well done. You remembered. What are doing today?]

"Um," Bianca hesitated, trying to find the words. "Estoy... con mi amigo...?" [I'm with my friend]

"Oh? Cual amigo?" [Which friend?]

"Kiara," Bianca filled in, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. Her eyes flickered to the entrance where the girl had yet to come out.

"I see, estas con tu amiga," Pilar corrected, although the girl could hear the smile in her voice. "Vuelve a intentar." [You're with your friend. Try again.]

"Sí, estoy con mi amiga," Bianca repeated. She wondered if this call had anything to do with her mother, "Por qué? Qué pasa?" [Yes, I'm with my friend. Why? What's up?]

"I was just wondering whether we'll be seeing you this afternoon for your friend's parent's anniversary party?" Pilar hummed through the speaker.

"Uh," Bianca shifted on her feet. "I mean, I was kind of hoping just to stay home and watch a movie or something..."

"It'll be good for us to come all together," The disappointment was evident in her tone. "It's important for us to show up as a family. Especially with how much your family's name has been in the news as of late. I would like you to be there, Bianca."

"I don't know..." Bianca's frown deepened.

Yet again, she felt like a porcelain doll sitting on the highest shelf behind her showcase. Only now, the glass window was smudged and blurred with fingerprints of people trying to reach for her. Of them trying to make her their own.

"I promise, it'll be fun," Pilar sing-songed. "Tu amiga, Kiara, will be there and Reginald can drive you home whenever you get bored, vale?"

Bianca sighed. She didn't want to see her mother again but she guessed it was inevitable, "Sí, Abuelita. Voy a estar allí." [Yes, grandmother. I'll see you there]

"Perfecta," Her grandmother cheered. "And bring your dancing shoes. Abuelito loves to tango and with my hips- he's going to need a new partner after a couple of spins!"

"She's only joking, corazón!" She could hear her grandfather's voice through the other end of the phone.

Bianca laughed, "Okay, adiós, Abuelita. Hasta pronto." [Bye, grandma. I'll see you soon]

"Hasta pronto, cosa linda," Pilar sent kisses over the speaker. "Te quiero mucho!" [See you soon, beautiful. I love you so much]

Bianca's next words fell short when she saw Kiara storming out of the restaurant, "Te quiero, Abuelita," Her eyebrows furrowed before cutting the call. "Kie?"

Kiara didn't respond, carrying brown paper bags of takeout in either hand. Her sneakers were heavy against the wooden dock, and Bianca's question as to why she was so pissed didn't remain unanswered for long.

"Kie!" Sarah cried, jogging down the dock after her. "Kie, wait can we..."

Bianca's lips formed a scowl as the two girls neared, "What is she doing here?"

Kiara scoffed, storming past her to dump the food in the boat, "See for yourself."

"Bianca?" Sarah reared her head back, still wearing the same clothes from the bonfire last night.

Bianca remained silent. She took the food bags from Kiara and helped her load them, ignoring the blonde girl completely.

Sarah rolled her eyes at their antics, "Okay, listen- Topper and I- we were literally getting breakfast-"

"It's none of my business," Kiara shook her head without sparing her a glance.

"That's it. You should join if you want to!"

"I'm sorry- Topper?" Bianca's lips parted. She couldn't believe, even after the argument they had yesterday, Sarah was still hanging out with him.

Kiara turned around with a humorless laugh, "Breakfast?"

"Yeah, Topper," Sarah's eyes flickered between them. "And yes, breakfast."

Bianca's gaze narrowed into a glare. She knew Topper considered it more than just breakfast, he was still in love with her. Maybe Sarah thought she could bullshit Kiara but she sure as hell couldn't lie to her best friend.

"Yo, Kie!" Topper waved in greeting, jogging down the meet them.

"Yo, Top!" Kiara mocked his tone, throwing her arms up.

He turned to Bianca next, "What's up, B? What's poppin'?"

Bianca rolled her eyes and stepped back, no longer interested in participating in this conversation. She was having such a good morning, and she wasn't going to let another fight with Sarah ruin it.

"I had nowhere to go last night," Sarah whispered harshly before Topper could reach them. "Cleo's at Pope's. I couldn't find JJ. John B and I got into, like, a thing. And then so did B and I. Like, I'm- he found me and took me to Mase with a group of people."

"Okay, so you bring him to the middle of the Island Restaurant on a Saturday?" Kiara deadpanned.

"B, yo," Topper grinned, attempting to fist-bump her but she kept her arms crossed. He turned to the curly-haired girl, "Hey, Kie. Random, right?"

"Look, we're just gonna go," Bianca interjected, nudging her friend subtly.

"Yeah, we don't wanna impose," Kiara ignored Topper's fist bump. "Gotta help my parents set up... for their party tonight," The two began backing away.

"You know what- I'm gonna go..." Sarah chimed in, turning to face Topper whose face screwed up in confusion. "Too."

"Wait. Wait, what?" He glanced over his shoulder and jabbed a thumb toward the restaurant. "Our f- our food literally just came out-"

"I know-"

"Uh, h-how are you going to smother your..." Topper trailed off, smiling like it was an inside joke. "Hunger?"

"I don't even want to know what that means," Bianca whispered to Kiara who snorted in amusement. She turned to the couple, "Yeah, we're leaving."

"Topper, um," Sarah trailed off, studying his face which was slowly falling in disappointment. "I'm going with Kie and B. But thank you," She hesitated before reaching up on her tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. "I'm gonna call you."

Bianca's glare never faltered, watching the whole ordeal with disgust. Kiara shared a knowing look with her as she undid the rope around the mooring while Sarah got in the boat.

"Alright," Topper walked away, as the blonde bent down to undo the other rope. The girls watched him leave, "See you, Sarah."

Seagulls squawked in the distance above them, flying through white clouds. Bianca stared out into the open water, refusing to meet her best friend's gaze. The cool breeze did nothing to cool her heated blood after what they saw.

"Sarah," Kiara shook her head. "What are you doing?"

Sarah swallowed thickly, "...I don't know."

author's note. hi, what did you think of the chapter? this was such a nice wholesome chapter to edit compared to the last few heavy ones lol <3 have a great day u guys! <3