Katherine could say what she wanted about the traditions, appearances and elitism that her lifestyle entailed, but she would be lying if she said that Midsummers wasn't usually her favorite celebration.

Extra emphasis on usually, because in the back of her mind, she was still in a funk about the people who were forced to suffer over on The Cut.

Usually, Katherine and Sarah would be together the entire morning, sneaking drinks and cracking jokes about who was going to look the most ridiculous for the evening, but they were off to a late start due to Sarah protesting even going. Thanks to her father being coronated as Guardian of Knights of the Rhododendron, she was forced into the event.

Katherine had called Sarah as soon as her phone turned back on from charging in her car, trying to explain why she didn't come over last night, without giving too much away. As far as Sarah knew, Katherine dropped JJ off at the chateau and went straight home, exhausted after the knock down drag out her brother initiated.

"So, are you going to break up with Topper?"

Sarah had just dropped the bombshell that she kissed John B after they got back to the island this morning, which of course prompted a thousand questions from Katherine.

Sarah sighed, leaning against the headboard of Katherine's bed. "I think so," she admitted. "Not even just because of John B, but how he acted at the party. I just..." she trailed off.

"I just can't believe you kissed him," Katherine gawked, as she layered on her mascara. "I didn't think that was your type."

Sarah rolled her eyes and pushed herself off of the bed. "Oh please," she scoffed. "I could say the same about JJ." Katherine closed her mascara and turned to face her best friend with an arched brow, urging her to elaborate. "He snuck in your window, you smoked weed together and you claim you came home last night—," she cut off when Katherine's jaw slacked in disbelief. "Your voice got all high pitched like it does when you're hiding something! You totally hooked up."

Katherine nearly choked on the air that she breathed at Sarah's accusation. "Okay, so I'm a bad liar," she sighed in defeat. "I fell asleep at the Chateau but that's it. We did not hook up."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, not completely convinced. "Best friend promise?" She held out her pinky.

Despite rolling her eyes, Katherine couldn't help but grin. The pair had created the 'best friend promise' when they were eight years old—it was like a pinky promise with a twist. In their minds, though, it was even more sacred than a pinky promise.

Katherine latched her pinky with Sarah's and they touched their thumbs together before rotating their hands around to form the shape of a heart. "Best friend promise." It was the silliest thing ever, but neither of them would ever change it.

They continued on with their tradition of laughing until their sides hurt and even managed to squeeze in a few drinks before they left for the Country Club.

Katherine's bright pink dress that fell right above her knees and hugged her curves was a stark contrast to Sarah's off-white and very flowy one. Both girls looked breathtaking, though, as they walked through the front entrance of the country club.

They parted ways, as Sarah went to find her family and Katherine found her parents.

Genevieve and Thomas were chatting with a gentleman that was far too interested in talking about how much the Bar Exam had changed over the years, to keep Katherine's interest.

Katherine found herself to be a lot like her mother in the sense that they hated social formalities, but they were willing to fake it for Midsummers. She nodded and smiled repeatedly, despite having no idea what her husband and the man in front of them was talking about.

Genevieve broke her attention from the man and to her daughter and grinned widely. "You look beautiful, sweetheart," she cooed. "Doesn't she, Tom?"

Her father nodded in agreement, moving forward to give his daughter a hug. "Absolutely stunning," he declared. "Adam, it was great catching up with you."

Katherine waved a polite goodbye, before following her parents through the door that just moments before, the Cameron family had gone through. Her father always appreciated making an entrance.

They were greeted by strangers and Katherine received several compliments on her dress from older women who were envious of the time they could fit into a dress like that.

The three rather quickly dispersed into their own groups, Ward stealing her father away, leaving Genevieve to chatter with Rose.

Katherine made eye contact with Kie across the way, who was standing next to Pope, glaring at her. In any other circumstance, Katherine would love to put Kie in her place, but her father would be mortified.

She spotted Sarah in what seemed to be an awkward conversation with Topper, but before she could intervene, Rafe blocked her view of them in his baby blue suit.

The frown that plastered itself on her face was involuntary, but much warranted. "Hi." Her tone was icy and Rafe detected it immediately.

His eyebrows knitted together. "Hi?"

Katherine pursed her lips into a straight line. "Well that was fun," she said sarcastically, starting to pass him.

He grabbed her wrist lightly and spun her back around towards him. "What's your problem?"

Her eyes narrowed at his question. "Are you serious?" Her tone elevated slightly, making him shift uncomfortably. "Last night was so messed up." She shook her head in disbelief that she was even having to explain herself. "Topper almost killed Pope and then you joke about it?" She lowered her voice once again, know oblivious to what repercussions could come of that statement.

He took a step towards her, his expression pleading. "Kat, you don't understand," he insisted. "That bastard, Maybank, held a gun to Topper's head!"

"Don't fucking talk about him," she said through gritted teeth. Her words caught the attention of passersby, briefly, before they continued on.

Rafe rubbed his jaw, chuckling dryly as it all came together. "So that's what this is about." Katherine's face faltered. "What, are you hooking up with that piece of shit," he scoffed in disbelief. "I guess I should've listened to Todd when he called you a whore."

"Fuck you," Katherine whispered, ignoring the stinging of tears in her eyes.

This only fueled Rafe more. "I guess I'm with the rest of the island when I say 'I already have.'" He shook his head at her. "Oh, by the way, I don't think they do conjugal visits at Kildare County." Katherine narrowed her eyes, unsure at what angle he was playing. "You didn't hear?" He laughed smugly. "Your boy got locked up for sinking Topper's boat. You remember Topper, right? Your friend?"

Katherine swallowed thickly, trying not to show that her mind was racing in a million different directions. Judging by the look on Rafe's face, she wasn't doing a very good job. His head popped up in the direction where someone had called his name. He gave them his dazzling smile, before looking back at Katherine. "I get it, okay." His voice was far less hostile than before. "Everybody has a rebel phase and that's all he is for you. A phase." His words felt like a kick in the gut. "Whenever he inevitably fucks you over, I'll still be here, Princess." He tilted her chin up slightly, before walking off in the direction of Kelce and Todd, who Katherine was surprised to see still matched her.

Katherine could feel a tear that slid down her cheek, betraying her. She was quick to wipe it away, though, hoping that nobody saw.

"You okay?"

So much for that. Katherine turned to see Pope had walked up behind her and she offered him a small smile and nodded her head. Her smile was quick to fade though and concern replaced her facade. "What happened with JJ? Is he okay?"

Pope's frown mirrored hers, but his was filled with guilt. "I can't believe I let him do that," he shook his head ruefully. "They came to arrest me. It's all my fault. I-it all just happened so fast, I didn't know what to do—."

Katherine put a hand on his arm to cease his rambling. "JJ knew what he was doing, okay? You can't blame yourself for that." Her voice was soft. Much more caring than Pope had anticipated. "Is he still...?"

"I haven't heard from him," he admitted. "Kie, either."

Katherine lifted her wristlet up, looking through her credit cards. "I can bail him out," she muttered. The thought of him spending a night in jail was sickening.

Pope shook his head. "The office is closed," he explained. "Plus he's a minor, they have to call his dad and he's the only one that can bail him out."

"Fuck," she sighed. "So basically we have to just hope that his dad got him out of jail. Great."

Pope nodded, sticking his hands in his pocket. He caught his father's gaze, who was mouthing for him to get his ass back to work. "I-uh, I gotta go. If I hear anything, I'll let you know. I promise."

Katherine gave him another small smile, watching him as he trailed back over to his father. She let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her beach waved hair. She needed a drink, stat.

She trailed her blue eyes along the venue in search of her best friend, who was no longer speaking with Topper. She spotted her, finally, amongst some other kids from the Academy, snatching a champagne glass off of a waiter that was passing by.

She let out a heavy sigh and walked over to join them. Sarah's face lit up when she saw Katherine heading her way. She passed off the champagne to her best friend, sensing she needed it a lot more, at that moment. Katherine ducked behind the wall of people, to prevent any adults from seeing her.

It became increasingly easier to relax, once Katherine got a drink or two in. The thoughts in the back of her mind still made her chest burn worse than any alcohol ever could. JJ could still be in jail, while she was there at Midsummers, drinking and laughing with her friends.

Meanwhile, Pope was serving oysters to ungrateful Kooks who held their plates out expectantly without so much as a 'thank you'. He just so happened to look up at just the right time, to see JJ scanning the crowd. He dropped his tongs on the serving tree and pulled his gloves off. "I'll be right back," he told his father, who had less than pleasant words about his departure.

He made a beeline for JJ and didn't stop until he had his arms wrapped around his best friend. The action made JJ nearly jump out of his skin. "Dude, don't sneak up on me like that right now," he sighed, eyes darting around nervously. "Unexpected PDA there, Dr. Spock." Pope pulled back, but JJ playfully planted a kiss on Pope's cheek. "But hey, love you, too, man."

After JJ told them that they were back in the game for the gold, Pope insisted that he find Katherine and let her know he was okay.

And just like that, in an instant, her world got a little bit brighter. "Hey ladies." Katherine felt her heart jump to her throat, when his voice came from behind her.

"Oh my God," she breathed, wrapping her arms around him, ignoring the confused looks around her for a brief moment before pulling back. "You scared the hell out of me." Her eyes scanned his face, frowning at the new marks on his face. "Did Shoupe do this shit?"

JJ frowned, shaking his head. "I'll tell you all about my time in the pen tonight, okay?" He promised her. "Right now, we've got bigger fish to fry." He looked up at Sarah, who was listening intently. "Note from Vlad." He held up the piece of folded up paper between his pointer and middle finger and Sarah was quick to pull it from his grasp. He turned his attention back to Katherine, grinning widely at her. "In your mom's office she had this...this plat map—almost like a blueprint of Tannyhill."

"Tannyhill? Why do you need—?"

"The gold, Kat," he urged, grabbing her shoulders gently. "I promise you I'm going to explain everything. Tonight. We're meeting by the Hawk's nest at midnight."

Katherine's head was left spinning, when he walked off. When she turned to hash out the details with Sarah, she discovered the girl had seemingly vanished. All that was there were the girls that only seemed passively interested in her rendezvous with JJ.

Katherine watched as JJ disappeared into the sea of Kooks until he was no longer visible. She wandered in the opposite direction, in an attempt to leave the party undetected.

"Katherine?"

Fuck. She whirled around a planted a wide grin on her face. "Mom, hey," she hummed. "Just needed to get some air."

Genevieve nodded, though her expression showed she was unconvinced. "I saw you with...JJ, was it?" Katherine's heart sank and her face fell. "I told you that you can be honest with me. I know that John B is looking for that gold, just like his father who just couldn't leave it alone." She closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Sweetheart, I only want to keep you safe. This is a very dangerous path you're going down and JJ..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "I know he seems fun and—."

"You don't know him," she cut her mother off defensively. "Nobody here does because they won't give him a chance because he's a Pogue. I thought that you, of all people..." her voice cracked, betraying her solidified composure.

Her mother was quick to wrap her daughter in a hug and Katherine didn't fight it. "I know, Katherine, I know," she whispered into her daughter's hair, before pulling away. "I can't get involved, but I can help you from a distance, okay? So, w-what do you need?"

Katherine felt weary about dragging her mother back into the treasure hunting nonsense that Katherine still wasn't even sure would amount to anything, but she needed into that office again. Without JJ, there was no way Katherine would manage to break in on her own. "I need to get into your office...again." The words fell from her mouth hesitantly slow. "I need the plat map for Tannyhill."

Genevieve nodded, reaching into her purse without further questioning her. She held the key out for her daughter, before quickly pulling it back. "On one condition." Katherine stifled a sigh, but her jaw twitched. "Tell JJ to stop sneaking in your window. He can come through the front door like a civilized boy."

Katherine's eyes widened. "D-does Dad know?"

"No, but you shouldn't keep it from him," she hummed. She placed the key in Katherine's hand and clamped it shut. "All we want is what's best for you and running around town with...John B—,"

"John B?" Katherine scoffed. "You and Big John were practically inseparable until right before he disappeared. What do you have against his son?"

Genevieve realized that the conversation was soon going to spiral into a dark place that she didn't want to venture to. Especially not in public. She put her hands up in surrender. "You're right," she agreed. "I just want you to be careful with them. That's all. Luke Maybank—,"

Katherine was abrupt to cut her off at the mention of JJ's father. "JJ is not his father," she countered. "He is sweet a-and funny, and selfless."

As if on cue, and not possibly at a worse time, JJ was pushed through the doors of the country club by security. "Look, man, I can walk myself," he insisted, only making the man push him along quicker before he started a scene. "I got legs. Can you see that, brother?"

"Oh, God," Katherine groaned.

"Let me just walk out by myself." JJ continued to struggle against the security guard, only making the man grip him harder. "Mr. Dunleavy, I see you got your drink. Good, that's really nice of you. I'm actually gonna down that." He grabbed the cup from the older gentleman's hand and threw it back with ease.

Katherine glanced sideways at her mother, who didn't seem too indifferent to the situation, which made her stomach clench. It was like she expected him to act out in that way. "It's okay, everybody, do not panic." Katherine narrowed her eyes at him. It was like he was trying to pull all of the focus on him. "Leave it to the men and women in uniform."

She took a step towards the railing, eyes trailing him as the man shoved him closer to the exit with force. Katherine's head turned to Kie, who was only a few feet to her left, when she spoke. "You can't boot him!"

The security guard paused, looking over at her. "Excuse me, ma'am?"

Rafe walked out of the same door JJ had been shoved through, with a smug grin. Katherine should have known he'd had something to do with it.

"I invited him here," she continued, despite her parents protests behind her. She only spoke over them. "I'm a member of this club."

No sooner than the security guard's grip loosened on JJ's arm, did the blonde shove the man backwards unnecessarily. "Hey, mandatory power hour at Rixon's, Kie," he called over to her. "Pope, you as well, alright? Rixon's cove let's roll." He started backing towards the exit that led to the beach. "Alright, Kie, come on. Workers of the world unite!" He gripped his hand around his wrist for emphasis. "Throw off your chains!"

Kie's parents tried to keep her there, but it was no use. She really was a Pogue, through and through. Katherine watched after her wistfully, knowing that she would never have that kind of freedom from the Figure Eight lifestyle and, as she watched her leap into JJ's arms, who spun her around, she knew she'd never be her.

Genevieve's jaw twitched at the scene, but she was quick to turn her attention back to her daughter. "The plat map is on the left bookcase. Get that and get out, understand?"

Katherine was taken aback by her mother's abruptness, but nevertheless, she nodded her head in agreement.