______________________________________

"So, what? You and your mom are okay now?" Kie asks as she and Estrella walk into a restaurant

"I wouldn't say that." Estrella says as Kie tells the cashier the order they were picking up, "But it's better than having no where to stay."

"I guess so, yeah." Kie chuckles. Estrella looks past her and sits up. Kie frowns, "What?"

"Either I'm going crazy or Sarah's over there with Topper."

"Topper?" Kie repeats as she turns. Topper waves to the two as Sarah smiles awkwardly.

"Here you go. Have a good day." The cashier smiles as she hands a box to Kie and a bag to Estrella. The two take it with confusion written on their faces before rushing out of the restaurant.

"That was weird right?" Kie asks

"Extremely." Estrella says, "What the hell is she doing with Topper?"

As they walk down the dock to Kie's boat, they hear fast steps trailing behind them. Estrella gets on first before taking the box from Kie, "Kie! Estrella, wait, can we..." Sarah says as the two finally turn to her, "Topper and I were getting breakfast."

"It's none of our business." Kie says

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

"Breakfast?" Estrella says with raised brows

"Yeah, breakfast."

"With Topper?" She says turning to Kie, "That sounds like my worst nightmare."

"Yo, Kie! Estrella!" Topper calls out as he comes down the dock

"Yo, Top." Kie says mocking him

"I had nowhere to go last night." Sarah says, "Cleo and Charlotte are at Pope's. I couldn't find JJ. John B and I got into, like, a thing. 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?" Estrella asks

"Estrella! Kie! What's up? Random, right?" Topper says holding out his fist. Estrella looks down at it as Kie crosses her arms

"Look, we're just gonna go." Kie says, "So we don't want to impose."

"Oh, perfect." Topper mumbles

"Gotta help her parents set up for their party." Estrella says

"You know what? I'm gonna go too." Sarah says

"Wait. Wait, what?" Topper says, "Our food literally just came out."

"I know."

"How are you gonna smother your hunger?" Topper says. Estrella frowns while Sarah lets out a chuckle.

"Topper. Um..."

"Yeah, I'm leaving." Kie mumbles

"I'm going with Kie and Estrella. But thank you." Sarah says before kissing his cheek, "I'm gonna call you."

"All right. See you, Sarah." He says before walking back up the dock

"Sarah, what are you doing?" Estrella sighs

Sarah shakes her head, "I don't know."

______________________________________

"All right, Sarah." Kie sighs, "It's time to come clean. What happened? You and Topper?"

The three girls brought out blankets and pillows and sat up against Kie's house. Sarah groans, "Oh God! It's actually so embarrassing. He caught me slugging beer at the Tiki Bar."

"You weren't." Estrella cringes

"Yeah." Sarah says, "Shot drinking."

Kie turns away, "I'm not judging."

"I wouldn't blame you if you were." Sarah says, "And then a couple kids from KCD rolled up, and they were already going to Mase. And then... I kissed him."

Kie and Estrella could've guessed that that's what Sarah was going to tell them, but it didn't hurt them any less. The girls are silent as they look ahead, "Do you guys hate me?"

Kie shakes her head as Estrella sighs, "Hate's the wrong word."

"So you and John B are just done?" Kie asks

"No. Well, I don't know." Sarah stammers, "I don't want to be. Like since the island, everything has felt so... abnormal, and it just felt nice to feel something normal again. And I, like... I'm a mess. I feel like such a mess."

"I think we're all a little messed up." Estrella says

"Yeah."

"You two, me, JJ." Kie says rolling her eyes. After finding out JJ took the wallet from Kie's dad, Estrella was the one that gave it back to her. When she told her that JJ was the one that stole it, Estrella could practically see smoke coming from her ears, "He stole that money clip from my dad, and I'm still pissed about it."

"And he's just pretending he doesn't care. He won't talk to me." Estrella says, "I'd rather argue about it. That or argue about the fact that he almost killed himself."

"Right." Sarah says as her phone chimes

"Wouldn't be the first time." Kie mumbles causing Estrella to roll her eyes playfully

"Wheezie?" Sarah says

"What?" Kie says

"I texted her when we got in." Sarah says as she clicks on the message

"Sarah, don't be mad, but I ran away. I'm in the OBX, and I have to see you. Come to our rental condo on Greensboro Street, okay? But, Sarah, please don't tell anyone."

The message ends leaving the girls in silence. Kie and Estrella look to Sarah who seemed to be battling with her own thoughts.

______________________________________

"You know something, Mr. Heyward?" Cleo says. She and Charlotte were helping the man unload some food, "I have this jerk shrimp recipe that'll have people lining up out the door."

"I like that." The man nods, "I like it. I like that."

Charlotte turns as Pope passes by them with his backpack on, "Hey, where you headed to?"

"School. On a Saturday." He says, "Sucks, but I got no choice."

"Who needs school when you have that El Dorado gold making up for your scholarship?" Cleo smiles

"Yeah, I don't have it yet, but..." He mutters, "Hey, thank you guys for last night."

"You know we got your back." Charlotte smiles

"Keep your head up, Pope. You're a Heyward. You hear me?" Cleo says as Pope starts to walk off, "Now, I want straight A's this semester." Charlotte and Cleo laugh before Cleo turns to Heyward, "I think we raising him right. What you think?"

"I think we raising them right too, Cleo."

Charlotte giggles before going back to unloading the boxes.

______________________________________