NINETEEN CATCH ME UP

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     Midsummer was everything Helena hated about the Kooks, if she were being honest. Aside from the formal dresses and sweltering summer sun, there was nothing more to it than fake smiles and champagne flutes. It was exhausting, really. Her parents paraded her and her sister around so everyone could see how well-off they were doing even though, in reality, they were falling apart at the seams. With the knowledge she had been given earlier about her parents' upcoming divorce, she was bursting with the urge to lash out and spill the ugly truth. However, she held back. She smiled and let her father's friends pinch her cheeks and talk about what a beautiful young woman she's growing into. 

"I think I'm contemplating suicide," Hayley whispers in her ear as the two of them search around for their other friends who are scattered around the party. Helena can see Maude wrapped up in conversation with Kie, but Evie and Tanya are nowhere to be found. "Where the fuck did our friends go?"

"Maude is flirting with Kie," Helena whispers, pointing over to the two girls with a fond smile, "But more importantly, where the fuck is my boyfriend?"

"Boyfriend, that's new," the blond replies with an unreadable expression as she takes a sip from her drink. She doesn't say anything more than that, though, and Helena is thankful. Her eyes scan the scenery, looking for the telltale shaggy blond hair and bowtie. It's downright awful that her boyfriend is a part of the waitstaff, but it's the way things are. Maybe they'll change one day, but for now, she's looking at the staff for the person she wants to see the most.

Right as her eyes lock on JJ, another person blocks her vision. Topper stands in front of her, prohibiting her from getting to the boy across the room. She groans, crossing her arms as she takes a step back. "Can I help you?"

"You're running with Pogues, I didn't forget the movie night," Topper comments, a disdainful expression on his face. "You're better than that, Helena, you know it, but you've chosen your place and I frankly don't care that much."

"Then why are you bothering me?" she bites back, picking at her nails boredly. All she wants is a kiss from her boyfriend, not whatever this bullshit is. She's distinctly aware of not only JJ, but all of her friends around the room staring at them. Topper takes a step closer to her and she reaches out, pushing her hand against his chest with light pressure. Not enough to push, but enough to threaten. It's a warning, at best.

He leans in, his voice dropping to a low whisper, "Tell your boy's buddy, John B, to quit sniffing around my girlfriend, okay? I'm not fucking around, she's mine and he knows it."

"No girl belongs to you, you massive dickwad," Helena finally pushes back against his chest, taking another step to get in his face. "And I am not your goddamn messenger. If you have a problem with John B, bring it up with him yourself. I'm not a pipeline to the Pogues nor am I a complaint box. Fuck off somewhere else, please, Topper, I just want to talk to my boyfriend."

The boy tries to say more, but Helena pushes him aside and heads over to the man she really wanted to see. Knowing her parents, they would want her to be more cautious about approaching a Pogue during the middle of the biggest Kook event of the summer, but she really doesn't have a care in the world as she walks over to JJ. His tray is empty so she just pushes it away, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.

The whispers start almost immediately, but she doesn't care. Instead, she focuses on the voice in her ear, "You are trying to get me fired. Your mom looks pissed."

"I'll pay your fucking salary, I'm dying here," Helena laughs, using her grip around his neck to pull him into a hug. "And fuck her, she's leaving us anyway."

"Woah, woah, what do you mean?" JJ asks, holding her waist as he puts enough distance between them to be able to meet her eyes. "She's leaving?"

Helena nods, "They're separating, I don't wanna talk about it. I just want to talk to you."

"I have a job to do, baby," JJ smiles softly, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he begins to walk towards the station to replenish his tray. "I also have a mission. Gotta deliver a message to Sarah, whenever the fuck she was supposed to show up."

"Oh, she's showing up in three... two... and..." she turns around, pointing towards the doorway to where Sarah was emerging with her family. Finally, the eyes on her and JJ dispersed as everyone in the room began to focus on the tall blonde, the white dress on her form making her look fantastic. Sure, Helena wasn't the biggest fan of her, but even she could admire a damn good dress. She understands the appeal, that's for sure. "Damn."

"She doesn't hold a candle to you," the blond boy responds, pressing a small kiss to the skin beneath her ear. She smiles softly, trying to fight the blush that's making its way to her cheeks and failing miserably. JJ walks away from her, finding Sarah who has begun to dance with Topper as if the two of them weren't in a lovers' quarrel at the moment. Helena just scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"They're gross, everyone's staring at you and your man, though," Evie comes up beside her with a laugh, nudging the blonde's shoulder as she takes a sip from her drink. "Y'all are cute, though. I'll give you that. Why's he sniffing around Sarah?"

The sniffing in question was JJ dancing behind Sarah with his tray, slipping the girl a piece of paper that would go unknown for anyone who didn't already know he was delivering a message. Helena just shakes her head, "He's doing something for John B. I don't know what's going on with them. John B is on some sort of mission and I guess it involves Sarah. I don't know, but Topper's been bugging me about it which is where I draw the line."

"I fucking hate Topper," Evie replies with a grimace.

"Amen," Tanya joins them with a scoff, "All the Kook boys are the fucking worst. I think I'd rather start hitting up Pope than any of the boys we have to deal with."

"Pope's cute," as if on cue, Maude joins them. Helena has to admire the telepathy the girls seem to possess whenever they sense that it's time to talk shit. It's practically a sixth sense. "Speaking of, where's he going?"

"I wonder if it has something to do with where Sarah disappeared off to," Evie comments, looking around the party where the aforementioned blonde is suddenly nowhere to be found.

Someone comes up behind Helena, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her off her feet. She panics for just a moment, a slight yelp leaving her throat before she's turned around to face JJ, the boy pressing a kiss to her lips and grabbing her by the wrist, "Come on, we're escaping."

"Escaping?" Helena asks with a laugh, shooting a nervous glance towards her friends where her sister has now joined them. "Where exactly?"

"I'll catch you up on the way, c'mon," JJ smiles broadly, tugging her along as they meet up with Kie and Pope who are also running away. She hears the calls of her friends behind her, but she just shrugs and lets herself be pulled.

Laughing the whole way they're running, she catches up JJ and says, "You are an idiot. My parents are gonna be pissed."

"I don't care just kiss me," JJ laughs and the girl obliges happily.

"Gross, come on," Kie laughs as all of them meet up with each other. "John B met with Sarah, he's gonna tell us about it. Helena, good to see you again."

Helena laughs, lost in the moment, but she doesn't even care. "Just catch me up, yeah?"

Hey y'all I know it's been... a while. I'm not going to promise consistency with updates, I just started watching season two and remembered how much I loved this show and I got a sudden burst of motivation for this story so who knows maybe y'all will get some more chapters :p happy to be back for now