𝕴. 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡

       The moon glows through the darkness. It halos Lilaea as her feet float across the floor. Her turns delicate as she her heartbeat beats to the rhythm of the music.

'Extend your legs!' Lilaea jumps as the gods pull her up in the air.

'Arms straight!' Lilaea turns, a spinning top in motion.

'Fix it! Tighter spins! Point your feet! You know better!

You've done this dance a million times! Higher jumps! Fix your—'

Suddenly the music stops.

Lilaea stumbles out of her turn. She withholds the wince expectating a disappointed glare from her mother instead her eyes meet the ocean. JJ Maybank.

He leans against the door of the studio, not fully entering her space. He smiles at her, and Lilaea could see his smile shine and breaks through the gloom midnight room that was starting to enclose around her.

It was the first time he'd been here since the night, it was the reason he refused to take a step inside and why he avoided eye contact with the corner of the room. The same spot Lilaea died three months ago.

Lilaea didn't remember much about that night it was a haze in her mind. She doesn't remember dancing for hours straight, not stopping till she perfected her routine similar to her tonight , or her body hitting the floor. Luckily fate twisted its way into her life, as JJ Maybank came stumbling into the assumed empty studio (in a desperate need to find a place to hide from the cops) to find a passed out Lilaea. She doesn't remember JJ performing cpr on her till she came back to life. She doesn't remember any of it. She does remember looking into his blue eyes. She could close her eyes and picture it so clearly, sometimes she'll close her eyes so she can see the  shade of blue.

That night a heartbeat was returned to Lilaea & just like that her life continued, dance.

Dance was the air between Lilaea's lungs. It was so intertwined in her, it started to rot on her soul. Since she took her first steps, she was destined to be her mother's shinning star.

Selene Sawyer's first love was admiration. She loved when she was praised for her pretty smile or when she was praised for her talent. She craved the feeling, it was drove her. Until the strip turned pink, and hope of having success was estiguised. When Lilaea was born, her mother moved out of her body and into her daughters.

Lilaea was going to drag herself & her mother out of the dirts that is Outerbanks ( Selene Sawyer's words ).

Lilaea will be the perfect dancer. Which includes being the perfect black swan for this year's recital. With the most important people coming, she must be perfect. Every inch of her body & soul is devoted to the dance pushing her limits till she dies (again).

Lilaea glances at the Maybank, before quickly walking over to the small beat up stereo that echoes—well echoed the room. Her finger on the play button when JJ stops her again.

"You going to acknowledge me?" He asks the girl, but Lilaea was replaying the dance in her mind. A non stop film, constantly on the screen of Lilaea's mind.

'Fix your hands, you look like an idiot with your arms bent, point your feet, match the music'.

"Juliet?" The blonde voice drowned by her thoughts. A nickname she earned the first time she meet JJ, after that night. Pope, her closest and honestly only friend continued to rave about his friends and how she had to meet them, until he finally dragged her to meet them himself

"I recognize you from somewhere" JJ first said to her, a boyish grin plastered on his face. She silently prayed to God who probably hated her guts by now, that JJ wasn't going to mention that night. It would be like opening Pandora's box.

"Juliet" He exclaimed, like it was obvious. "I saw you dance, you were Juliet." Lilaea simply blinked at him, an empty stare. It was her first lead performance, she was seven and a couple years younger than the other girls. It was her first step into her mother's body.

Instead of answering the blonde she pressed play on the music.

Her body a mind of it own as it went through the motions. A puppeteer controlling the strings.

Once she completed the routine from start to finish, she finally focused on the boy standing in the corner of the room. Surprisingly he didn't leave, his eyes watching her the whole time.

She raised her eyebrow, signaling 'what are you still doing here'

JJ broke out of his gaze, the sunshine that pumped his veins flew out. "We are having a party at the Chateau tonight. You should come." JJ had no idea why he's telling her this, why he made the walk towards the ballet studio where he knew she'd be, even though he was supposed to get beer.

Lilaea stares at him in confusion. "Yeah, I know. Pope told me." JJ awkwardly runs his hands through his hair. "So are you going?"

Lilaea bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt not to laugh at the boy. Leaving practice to go get drunk at a party the same as lucifer falling from heaven. A sin so wrong it sent her to destruction, she heard her mother tell her.

"I have to practice" was all she said to the boy, ignoring her mother's voice in her head.

"You just did" This time she couldn't stop the eye roll that formed at the boys words.

'Don't come home, till it's perfect'

"I have to practice again" She amended. "I thought it was perfect" Genius sincerity laced his words. It made Lilaea almost—almost smile.

"No offense, but it's not you opinion i care about." The no offense doing nothing to mask her harsh words. "Ouch" The boy rolled of her words, used to it.

"Don't you think there a thing as practicing too much?"

Lilaea laughs as the question spills out of his mouth. "No" was all the dancer said.

"You look pale, you know." It was true her natural tan skin turning paler during recital season. The sunlight being replaced by studio lights.

"Can't have you passing out again" The boy attempts to joke but his words were cold water crashing over Lilaea. The small bubble of truce was popped.

That night was a sign of her greatest failure. It was weakness illuminating within her. It was pathetic. It was the main reason she hated the Maybank so much. He was a constant reminder that she was cut out for perfection.

"Fuck you Maybank." This time JJ really did flinch at her words. Her words have teeth sinking into the Maybank's soul till he bleds. The desire to feel the ichor that runs through his veins was something that seethes inside her. It clawed at her ribs in an attempt to get out, trapped within herself.

Lilaea's caines drip with the wounds of him, and she begged to take it back. She choked on the words as he started back at her. With that he left, the faint sound of Lilaea dancing veils around him.

౨ৎ

Lilaea sat on the edge of the deck, her legs hanging off with her feet skimming the water. She closed her eyes only focusing to the sound of the water and the feeling of the sun blaring against her. She kept her eyes closed, only opening them until she heard the sound of the HMS boat.

She made her way to Heywards, hoping to work clean up after the hurricane but he quickly sent her away.

The older man simply sent her a warm smile. Lilaea had been working for Heyward since she was twelve. Always stopping bye to see if he had jobs for her to do. There was something warm about the man who appeared to be stern, that Lilaea craved to feel.

It was how she meet Pope. The boy who she instantly became attached the moment he started rambling about some fact. They spent so much time together, that he introduced her to his friends and she was stuck with him since.

Heyward shook her head at her, mumbling something about how she worked too much. Before she could open her mouth in protest, he sent her away. He told her to take a break. Lilaea almost scoffed at his words, she doesn't know what that word meant. Heyward's words were so kind she wanted to groan.

Every part of her ached. The weight of well—everything crushing her, she was sure her bones would break.

"Thank you Mr. Heyward." She smiled at him, even as  he glared at her but Lilea knew there was no annoyance. He constantly reminded her that she didn't need to call him mister , and Laliea constantly promised she'd stop but it was instilled in her the moment she could babble. Selene Sawyer was going to have a polite daughter.

As she walked away , Heyward shouted after her. "Tell my boy, that when he gets back he's got a lot of work to do."

The sun continues to beat down against her as she sits in the sun. Her shirt long abandoned, showcasing her white bikini. It was a gift from Kie. She simply tossed it to her mumbling how it was the wrong size. It wasn't uncommon for the Carrera girl to give her things under false pretenses.

Lilaea felt guilty over the fact that this made her angry. It makes her clench her jaw so hard that she had to bite her cheek in order to keep her teeth from breaking. She didn't want pity. She certainly didn't want charity. But Kie looked at her with such innocence she had to smile and accept.

"There she is. Lea." She squints to see the Pogues in the distance, making there way toward her. The Pogues never called her by her name. They called her Lily, Lea, Sawyer, literally everything else in protest . They claimed her name was too weird. Who would name their child that. She glared at John B till he realized the irony in his words. He didn't .

"Welcome aboard Juliet"  JJ Maybank held his hand out for her to grab as she climbed on the boat. She places her feet on the boat, slightly jumping as she makes her way on. JJ hand dropping as she ignores him. He only smirks bigger in response.

JJ Maybank brought out the worst in her. Lilaea was an angry woman, anger often bubbling inside of her threatening to break through the smile she wears. Lilaea shoved it all down, she never dared to let it show except for—JJ. He knew how to chip away at the glass doll she was. Sarcastic comments and petty actions were the only interactions the two shared.

Lilaea ignored his sarcastic remark and made her way toward Pope giving him a quick hug before sitting next to him. "Oh by the way, your Dad said hi and he's going to kill you."

"I should have stayed" Pope's groans in annoyance, which JJ quickly shushes him. "Look at this. It a perfect day, you're going to go waste it working for you Dad." John B pats Pope shoulder for reassurance which does nothing to calm him but the boys have already moved on.

"Don't worry, I'll help you tomorrow." Lilaea smiles at him.

"Here Lil, you want some apple juice?" Lilaea laughs as Kie winks. She shakes her head, she had to practice tonight.

Her eyes focus on JJ who's standing on the edge of the boat, beer attempting to be flown in his mouth. A puppy excited to show the new trick he learned.

Suddenly JJ is flying overboard, the boat coming to a sudden stop. Lilaea's shoulder rams into the side of the boat, bruising her already aching body. She one more injury from breaking, but she'd never show it.

"What was that?" She stands up, lightly hitting Pope's arm in annoyance. "Sandbar. The channel changed." The rest of the group attempt to get up.

JJ, the boy who's lost at sea shouts at them, "I think the heels touched the back of my head". Lilaea rolls his eyes at the Maybank boy as shows off his beer that he saved.

"Guys I think there's a boat down there." They all turn to the water. Skepticism fills Lilaea, she almost scoffs. Before, she could realizes what happening, everyone is making there way in the water.

"You think there's a dead body down there?" Pope asks, Lilaea nods in response. "There definingly is a dead body down there. A sunken boat. Totally planned homicide." The Pogues simply stare at her.

"Well aren't you full of sunshine today" Lilaea fights the urge to tell JJ to shut up. Lilaea makes her way with the rest of the Pogues.  The water swallows them whole as they swim till they reach the boat. Lilaea's lungs starts to burn but she ignores it. The boat is new, rich, and was definitely sunken only a couple of days ago. She not sure who swam up first but a light tug of her arm has her swimming up with the rest of them.

Lilaea lets out a gasp of air. She should feel more affected by the loss of air, but the years of ballerina training has made her numb.

"Thats a Grady-White. A new one of those is like 500 Gs, easy." JJ's words only conform what John B is thinking "That's the boat I saw when I surfed the surge. Maybe it hit the jetty or something."

Lilaea sits next to Pope, she gently nudges his arm to get his attention. "Or it was homicide". Pope nods at her, glad someone gets his thought process. The duo is ignored as their attention is on the former part of John B's sentence. "You surfed the surge." Kie's scolds. Lilaea hums in faux disappointment. "Yeah. That's my boy. Pogue style." JJ wraps his arm around John B shaking him.

"Did you surf the surge, Pope?" Lilaea turns to her friend. "Nooo" His voice high and obviously lying. Lilaea simply laughs in response. Kie still grumbles about how idiotic is was.

"Do we know who's boat it is" Pope asks attention back on the boat. "No but we are about to find out." John B.

John B makes his way to go dive down. This was an idiotic plan, and Lilaea knew this just by the fact even JJ found it dangerous. "Dude it's too deep." John B only ignores him. "Only for the weak and feeble, JJ"

"Well I'm not resuscitating you. I'm just making that clear up front. " JJ's words should of made her laugh at the ridiculousness, but instead she was transported to that night.

All she remembers is waking up and seeing his ocean eyes staring back at her. The tears in his eyes made them look more bright blue, that she couldn't help but stare. She remembers him pulling her into a hug to soothe her or himself. Lilaea couldn't be sure.

JJ whispering the words "You're ok" the words were mumbled together. It was the softest she'd ever heard JJ speak. This was the only amount of comfort she had in years. Growing up in a house with sharp words and cruel actions, she basked in his comfort. Sometimes she would close her eyes and remember that moment, because for once she believed him, that everything was going to be ok.

She slightly flinches at the sound of John B emerging for the water. She had no idea how long she was in her head for.

"Any dead bodies" Pope asks. Lilaea nods in agreement . John B stares at them in confusion. "I'm ignoring you two."

"I found this motel key." John B holds it up in accomplishment. "Did he just say he risked his life and all he found was a motel key." She whispers to Pope, even though everyone can hear her.

"A key?" John B rolls his eyes at the two. "Yes a key"

"Guys, we should report it to the coast guard. Maybe, we'll get a finders fee" Kie the reasonists says. "Thanks Agatha, ya batch." JJ shouts.

They start to head to head to the coast guard. Lilaea walking in with John B and JJ. Kiara and Pope deciding they needed supervision. She slightly pushes through the crowd, saying sorry as she moves through. She rest her arms on the counter next to JJ with John B on the other side. " Hi, excuse me." She starts to say, interrupted by the group of people.

"Hey, your going to want to hear this." John B starts to say as the man cuts him off placing a hand up. "Hey! Calm down." He turn his attention back to the lady with the dog. JJ plays with the pen he stole before Lilaea takes it away. "Why what's the point?" He shrugs shoving one into his pocket. "Kleptomaniac" Lilaea bites back at him and he simply smiles, jeering.

"We'll that went well" John B says in defeat. "So what's the plan."

"I think, I know how we're gonna find the guy who owns that boat." John B holds up the motel key, plan already in mind. Lilaea makes eye contact with Pope, a shared vexation.

"We don't know whose room that is. It could be anyone." Pope emphasis in an attempt to reason, but it did nothing to the boys who had already decided.

"I'm in" JJ tosses the key to Kiara, who smiles at Pope. "C'mon I'll be lookout."

"Well, as full proof, and sound this plan seems, I'm going to have to pass." Lilaea utters sarcastically. Pope lets out an exasperated breath. "You're going to leave me alone with them." He points to the trio who are vibrant with the thrill of their scheme.

Lilaea places her hand on his shoulder, squeezing as she turns him around to the group. "Sorry, I have to go to the studio." She makes her way away from them. "Don't let them die or do anything stupid Pope."

She makes the walk to the empty studio, abandoned due to the hurricane. She uses her key as she finds the bag she stashes with a change of closes. She goes to practice the routine she's been perfecting for weeks.

There is a slight orange radiance that cloaks the studio as the day starts to turn in to night. She could already feel the sweat clinging to her body as she restarts her music. The lack of A.C in the studio is the reason practice was postponed. She couldn't get the routine to be flawless over the past couple of days. The shame filled her, and made her feel nauseous.

Her mother's words branded into her brain. She couldn't face her mother until she was perfect. Her body ached for a break, but she refused to give in.

Her eyes catch on to the Cameron who is standing at the entranceway. Lilaea has to start locking the door behind her.

Lilaea was supposed to hate Saige Cameron. She heard her mother spill vile words about the Cameron princess. She was her competition in this town. The only ballerina that threatens Lilaea Sawyer's fate.

The moonlight glows against her skin. Everything about Saige was alluring. From the midnight dress that hugs her skin, to the way her pearly teeth shows when she smiles, it begs you to consume.

Lilaea looked at her and it felt like the universe was laughing at her. She was the complete opposite of the Sawyer girl. She seemed to smile at the thought of dance. It was her passion. To Lilaea was her fate. Lilaea couldn't separate herself from dance. It was rooted in her, intervened on the air between her lungs.

"What are you doing here, I thought the studio was closed." She points the the darkness of the studio."I have to get this routine down." Lilaea simply says. Saige brushes her off. "You look like you could use a drink." Lilaea glances at her with fatuousness.

"Sorry I saw the light on, I thought you'd be at the party your Pogue friends are throwing." Lilaea hums at her words . She pretends not to be surprised at the new information she was hearing.  It was the first she heard of a kegger, but to her friend's defense she had disappeared, for hours.

At the girl's silence, she shrugs "Listen I just thought you'd need an excuse to escape." Lilaea blinks at her. She couldn't fathom the need to escape but she directly feels hunger for it. With that, the Cameron princess left, but something in her eyes conveyed she knew Lilaea would be there.

౨ৎ

Lilaea can already feel the headache starting to pound as she steps on to the beach. She pushes her way through the crowd of people. 

"Sawyer" She turns to find John B whos holding out a cup of beer toward her. She instantly takes a drink, that she immediately regrets. Lilaea hates the taste, but she takes another drink. She knows it'll hit her soon, because she probably shouldn't drink on an empty stomach. 

"Hey JB" Her voice was soft. It took her a while to form the sentence from the haze that filled her mind. John B turns away from the group of Tourons he just handed the beer to. His friend all abandoned their jobs as host leaving him with the kegger.

They are indentions from the metal that engraves his arm as he leans against it, so he was closer to the girl that was practically whispering. "Lil" She finally meets his eyes at the sound of the nickname. She looked at him like she forgot what she was going to say.

"Can I stay at the Chateau tonight." John B could tell she was hesitant to ask, like she was afraid he was going to say no. It was as if Lilaea forgot she's been friends with them for two years.

John B faintly laughs. "Yeah Sawyer, I'll kick JJ out of the guest room for you." That makes Lilaea smile for the first time tonight.

"You good Lil" Kiara wraps her arm around her pulling her closer to her. She (not very discreetly) takes the cup out of her hand. She rolls her eyes at John B, like it was his fault. Lilaea typically doesn't drink , it gives her a hangover that makes it hard to dance the next day. The Pogues take advantage of it, John B instantly shoving his keys into her hand. Where at the end of the night she'll drag all the Pogues into the car, and drive them to the Chateau.

She mouths to John B to give her another one, when Kie cannot see. He does, handing her a cup when Kiara's back was turned. Lilaea takes another sip in accomplishment, she messily wips of the sticky substance on the corners of the mouth.

"Did you know she was coming" Kiara turns and points to Sarah Cameron. From where she's standing she could hear Sarah Cameron laughing at something her sister said. The blondes were in their own world, hands locked together.

She turned to Kie, who started at them with disdain, but Lilaea could tell there was hurt in her eyes. From the vile eye contact the girls hold and sharp words Kie spits out, Lilaea knew there were wounds too deep to heal. No one hurts you more than the people close to you.

Lilaea hums a c'mon as she laces her hands with Kie pulling her away, shouting 'Bye JB' as they abandon him.

She plays with the strings of Kie's bracelets as she walks aimlessly. A group of people of people calls Kie over, and she attempts to drag Lilaea over there, but Lilaea simply squeezes her hand and makes her way toward Pope.

She keeps her distance as he talks to a girl. "It's kinda weird when on tv , we see people die, and they just kinda sit there, but in actuality, they would be shitting and farting up a storm."

Lilaea winces from where she stands. The girl simply hums and starts to make her way up to leave. She mumbles a poor excuse to Pope before she's gone.

It only takes two seconds for the empty seat to be filled. Lilaea sitting with Pope, shoulder to shoulder. Pope's eyes widen at the sight of her, it takes Pope two looks to fully accept that she was here.

"Hey bubba" He beams at her presence. "What are you doing here? You never come to these things." Lilaea lets out a fake gasp and attempts to leave in faux anger. Pope wraps an arm around her shoulder pulling her down before she could even stand up.

"How bad did I mess it up" He points behind him, somewhere in the crowd is the girl. "Umm" She takes a large sip of her drink. "You know what if she doesn't like your death talk then she's not the girl for you." Lilaea pauses as she thinks back to the words she just said, but she nods in conformation. Pope understood what she met.

Pope watches as she drowns the rest of the red solo. "How much have you drink." No judgment laced his words, pure curiosity.

Lilaea stares at the cup in question. " Two-ish. But it doesn't matter, this is cheap beer. It can't even get me drunk if I tried." Lilaea lights up as a thought comes to her mind. She nudges her side into his his, leaving no room between them. She leans closer to him, "If only there was other alcohol here." Her words leaving Pope in confusion. Lilaea rolls her eyes at his cluelessness. "If someone had brought a little thing that is filled with alcohol on them." Five seconds later, Pope understood what she meant. He was not as onboard with Lilaea's scheme as she hoped.

"Go ask him." Lilaea looked at Pope with the most betrayal. "Him?" Pope nods, and Lilaea shoves him. "You have to ask him" She emphasis the you. Pope opens his mouth to protest but she cuts him off. "C'mon on, you're his favorite."

"This loathing between you two, needs to stop." This time Lilaea gasps. "It him" Is all she can spit out. The rest of the words are stuck in her throat. A pill she can't swallow.

"Who" The two snap there heads up towards the voice in sync. Pope draws back at the blue eyes staring at him, like he was guilty. He turns to Lilaea, who glares at the blonde's smirk.

"Lae is trying to get drunk." Pope spit out, he couldn't take the heated silence.

JJ looks at her, something crosses his face for a second before it is gone. Replaced by a smugness. "Really" Lilaea doesn't take her eyes off of him. "I can't, anyway. There's only beer here" JJ's hand ghost over his pocket, where they both know his flask is. Filled with whatever hard liquor Kiara stole from her parents.

"This is ridiculous" Pope groans at the two. They both turn to the boy before looking back at each other.

Pope annoyed,  stands up pulling Lilaea up with him. "Just give her the flask JJ"

He instantly pulls out the flask, unskewing the top and taking a drink. "Here Juliet, you're free to get drunk." He holds out the flask towards her baiting her to take it. Lilaea is stubborn. She's tempted to turn away, but she craved something strong.

She takes it from him, taking a long sip. The boys watch her in caution, her behavior different tonight.

The rest of the night carries on. Lilaea latching herself to Pope, who is grateful for the girls company. It's not often she spends time with them before she leaves for dance. Even when she is with them, she's with dance.

By the time she takes the last sip of the flask, she is drunk. She holds out the empty flask to JJ. "It gone" He beams as she laughs. He longs to see her smile at him all the time.

"Thanks Jul". JJ was a little bit tipsy but when wasn't he. He basked in the fact she was close to him, without the look of shame that usually covered her face when she's with him. This only fueled his addiction. He lets his touch on her hand linger for a second as she hands him the flask. John B pulls his attention away as he continues to tell him something.

Lilaea was drunk, and it felt good. She was able to ignore the flashing warning sign that told her it was a bad idea and how she was going to regret it tomorrow morning.

"Hey, Hey Sarah. Can I interest you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?" She doesn't know how she was able to block out everyone else and only hear the sound of his voice. She didn't catch the last part of Pope's rant over some true crime case that the two read about.

"That's not good" They watch as JJ continued to hold out the drink to Sarah, so forcefully it splashed on to his hand.

"No, thanks". Sarah smiles the painfulness seeping through. "Cmon, is it not fancy enough for you." JJ taunts.

Lilaea already knows this is going to end bad. Whatever bubbly feeling the alcohol gave her was gone and now annoyance was creeping in. She leans on Pope, the heaviness in her seeping in. "Should we do something" Pope's need to take control of the chaos working it's way through. Lilaea mumbles no as she rest her head on his shoulder.

Topper forces his way, appearing patronizing . "Hey, you know what? I'll take it" His smirk prominent, as if they were dirt.

Lilaea could see the anger that flowed through JJ's veins as he mirrored Topper expression. "That's nice, but I didn't ask you. If you said pretty please, maybe, but you didn't."

"Oh, pretty please." Topper mocks, while JJ holds out the drink to Sarah. "Yeah. Sarah, you can have it." Before JJ could finish his sentence, the drink is splashing onto his face drenching the roots of his hair.

Lilaea stands up, no longer being supported by Pope. "Now should we—" Lilaea is making her way over there before Pope could finish.

JJ grabs a fistful of Toper's shirt shoving him back. John B holds him back, his hand resting on his shoulder "No, No, No." Pope stands next to him mumbling something about staying incognito. Lilaea stands a couple steps back, her eyes never leaving JJ.

"Dirty Pogues" Topper shouts at them, his egocentric smirk plastered on his face. Topper is instantly shoved back. Lilaea eyes widen as she watches not JJ but John B shoves him back.

Pope instantly pushes John B back towards them. While JJ instantly takes a step forward, his eyes locked on Topper. Pope keeps a hand on his chest, keeping him back. Lilaea wraps a hand around John B arm continuing him to pull him back.

Lilaea turns to Topper, who takes a step toward them with rage that is embed in his fist as it land John B's jaw, sending him to the ground.

Lilaea stumbles back, as John B falls. Hands wrap around her waist pulling her back behind him. She collides with his back as Pope continues to push him back.

She can barely see over his shoulder, as Toper continues to send John B further into the water. "Hey John B, don't make me drown you like your old man." Topper towers over him with such hatred that deems almost impossible for someone so young. They were young, too young to carry around this enmity that was carved into their bodies and etched onto themselves.

John B stands up staggering as he makes his way toward Topper, who back with turned as he faced the crowd in victory. John B's body rams into Topper's sending him falling into the water. Both boys wrestle as they ignore the shouts of protests and encouragement.

Toppers sends John B face first into the water, his hand wrapped around his neck as he hold him there. John B gurgles as he struggles to gain air. Lilaea waits a second, expecting Topper to stop, but he doesn't. He keeps his grip on John B not wavering as he starts to get weaker and weaker. Lilaea could feel it, the rage, how it was overpowering Topper and how it wouldn't stop until John B —

She catches JJ rusting through his bag, looking for something. "JJ. No." Her voice soft and full of panic but he was still able to hear her and he stopped as he felt her hand lightly wrap around his wrist.  "He's drowning him." Was all JJ said with such helplessness that had Lilaea letting go. Their friend was dying.

The sound of the gun clicking as it pressed against Topper's head instantly quieted the crowd. "Yeah you know what this is." JJ threatens as the gun slams against his head. "Your move broski"

The crowd around them start to run away.  "JJ.Put the gun down." Sarah shouts taking a step toward them. "Did you say something, princess?" Topper lifts his hand up slowly getting up. "We're good. We're good." JJ slowly takes the gun off his head, turning toward the crowd.

"Ok, everyone, listen up! Get the hell off our side of the island." He fires two bullets, the sound echoing the entire beach. Lilaea flinches with each shot. Shouts of panic from her friend fill her ears all fazing together.

Her feet carry her into the water toward John B who was wavering in the water. He drops down into the water, and Lilaea crouches down next the him.

"Guys" She shouts trying to gain attention as they shout at each other. "Hey" Her voice louder causing them to finally turn to her. They instantly panic at the sight of John B slouched against her. "JJ." She looks to the boy for help. He makes her way toward her lifting the boy up. He sling his arm over his shoulder carrying his weight.

"We should take him to the hospital." Kie exclaims with worry in her voice. "No, No he's great. Right John B." JJ slaps his cheek in an effort to wake him up but John B makes no reaction still limp in JJ's arms.

"Great." Pope sarcastically mutters the words a slight bite at the blonde. He lifts his other arm helping him carry John B to the Twinkie. Once the boys have him laid down in the back, his head resting on Kie's laps, Lilaea searches his pockets for the keys, hoping they weren't lost in the water. Lilaea finds the keys, which were not hard to find as it was a jumble of keys and keychains attached to one key. She opens the drivers side, when JJ takes the keys from her.

"You shouldn't drive." His voice was uncharacteristically soft compared to the aderlinline that was buzzing through him. Lilaea goes to grab the keys mumbling about how she was fine. JJ didn't have to say anything. She could read his eyes, telling her she was not good to drive. He hands the keys to Pope who makes his way toward the driver seat forcing her to the back with Kiara and a passed out John B.

The drive to the Chateau was silent, the events from that night weighing down the teens. It wasn't till John B was safely carried til his bed, Kiara said a goodnight and headed to her home.

The thought of her mother was drowned away by the night, until she was standing outside John B's. She couldn't move, her feet were stuck to the ground already growing roots in the dirt. Pope lightly pulled her arm gaining her attention. She hummed as she watched JJ get further and further probably going to his own home. She'd been so in her head she missed him leaving.

"You can stay the night at my place. My mom's still got the bed made from last time." Any other time she would have pushed him away, proving she was fine, but the idea of going back to her mother's filled her with a sick feeling she couldn't explain.

She placed a smile on her face even if it pained her to do so and let Pope drag her away.

authors note— i finally wrote a chapter, about time. is this kinda of rushed and do i hate it... yes. as much as i love the nostalgic, happy feeling of episode one, i kinda of hate writing it. so i shoved a bunch of scenes together, but hopefully it establish lilaea's dynamics with everyone :).

my babies jj & lilaea have so much angst. do they say they hate each other and then are super soft and cute with each other yes. they need to get it together.

i hope you all liked this chapter, please don't ghost read and please comment. it honestly brings me so much motivation. <3 <3